2008 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Lights and Visibility48
All seats occupied, luggage compartment laden.
Driver seat occupied, luggage compartment laden.
Caution
Set the headlight beam adjustment in such a way as to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
Switch for hazard warning lights 
– Press switch  ⇒fig. 37 to switch the hazard warning light system on
or off.
All the turn signal lights on the vehicle flash at the same time when the hazard warning light system is switched on. The indicator light for the turn signals and the indicator light in the switch also flash at the same time. You can also switch on the hazard warning light system if the ignition is switched off.
Please comply with any legal requirements when using the hazard warning light system.
Note
Switch on the hazard warning light system if, for example:
•you encounter traffic congestion,
•your vehicle breaks down or an emergency situation occurs.
The turn signal   and main beam lever 
The parking lights and headlight flasher are also switched on and off
using the turn signal and main beam lever.
The turn signal and main beam lever perform the following functions:
Right  and left  turn signal light
– Push the lever upwards or downwards ⇒fig. 38.
– If you only wish to flash three times (the so-called convenience turn
signal*), push the lever briefly up to the upper or lower pressure point
and release it.
– Turn signal for changing lanes - in order to only flash briefly, move the
lever up or down to the pressure point and hold it in this position.
Main beam 
– Switch on the low beam.
– Push the lever forwards - the main beam and warning light in the
instrument cluster come on.
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Fig. 37 Dash panel: Switch for hazard warning lights
Fig. 38 Turn signal and main beam lever
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Lights and Visibility49
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– Pull the lever back into the initial position in order to switch the main
beam off again.
Headlight flasher 
– Pull on the lever of the steering wheel (sprung position) - the main
beam and warning light in the instrument cluster come on.
Parking light 
– Switch off the ignition.
– Push the lever up or down - the right-hand or left-hand parking light
is switched on.
Information concerning the function of the lights.
•The turn signal system only operates when the ignition is switched on. The corresponding indicator light  or  in the instrument cluster also flashes.
•The turn signal is automatically cancelled after negotiating a curve.
•The side light and rear light on the appropriate side of the vehicle are switched on when the parking light is selected. The parking light function only operates if the ignition is switched off.
•An acoustic warning signal will sound when the driver's door is opened if the lever is not in the middle position after removing the ignition key. The acoustic warning signal will stop just as soon as the driver's door is closed.
Caution
Use main beam or the headlight flasher only if this does not risk dazzling other road users.
Note
Use only in accordance with the legal requirements the described lighting and signal systems.
Interior lighting
Front interior lighting and storage compartment on front
passenger side
Door contact switching mechanism (on the front and rear* door)
– Press the switch to the right, the symbol  appears ⇒fig. 39.
– On the version without reading lights press the switch into the
middle position .
Switching the interior light on
– Press the switch to the left, the symbol  appears.
Switching the interior light off
– Press the switch into the middle position O.
– On the version without reading lights press the switch to the right,
the symbol O appears.
Reading lights 
– Press on one of the switches ⇒fig. 39 in order to switch the right
or left reading light on or off.
Fig. 39 Detail of the head-liner: front interior lighting
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Lights and Visibility50
The interior light is switched on for about 20 seconds when a vehicle with a central locking system is unlocked, when a door is opened or when the ignition key is removed. The requirement for this is that the switch is in the door contact position. The inner light goes out out immediately after the ignition is switched on.
A time delay switch* causes the inner lighting on vehicles without a central locking system stays on for a few seconds after the doors have been closed. The inner light goes out out immediately after the ignition is switched on.
The interior lighting is switched off after about 30 minutes when a door has been left open in order to avoid discharging the battery of the vehicle.
Rear interior lighting* - type 1
The rear interior lighting ⇒fig. 40 is actuated by moving the switch to the symbol , O or to the middle position .
The same principles apply for the interior lighting at the rear as for the for the inte-rior lighting at the front ⇒page 49.
Note
We recommend having the bulb replaced by a specialist garage.
Rear interior lighting* - type 2
The rear interior lighting is operated by pressing the button on the left side or the right side of the light ⇒fig. 41.
The buttons have two positions for the interior lighting at the rear. In the first posi-tion, the interior lighting is switched on permanently, in the second position (after pressing) it is switched via the door contacts.
Note
We recommend having the bulb replaced by a specialist garage.
Luggage compartment light
The lighting comes on automatically when the boot lid is opened. The luggage compartment lighting will switch off again automatically if the boot lid remains open for more than about 30 minutes.
Fig. 40 Roof liner light at the rear
Fig. 41 Roof liner light at the rear
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Visibility
Rear window heater
– Press switch  ⇒fig. 42 to switch on the rear window heater.
The rear window heater only operates when the engine is running. An indicator light in the switch is illuminated when the rear window heater is switched on.
The rear window heater switches off automatically after 20 minutes. If you press the switch  once again, the rear window heater is switched on permanently - the automatic deactivation is thus deactivated.
For the sake of the environment
You should switch off the rear window heater as soon as the rear window is clear. The reduced current consumption will have a favourable effect on fuel economy ⇒page 163, “Saving electricity”.
Sun visors
Using the sun visors can contribute to increasing road safety.
You can pull the sun visor for the driver or front passenger out of the fixture and swivel it toward the door in the direction of the arrow ⇒fig. 43.
The vanity mirrors* in the sun visors are provided with covers. Push the cover in direction of arrow .
On vehicles which are equipped with double sun visor*, you can also unfold the auxiliary visor after swivelling the sun visor⇒fig. 44.
Fig. 42 Switch for rear window heater
Fig. 43 Sun visor: swivelling out
Fig. 44 Double sun visor
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Lights and Visibility52
WARNING
The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into the deploy-ment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as ball-point pens etc. are attached to them. This might result in injuries to the occupants if the head airbag is deployed.
Windshield wiper and wash system
Windshield wiper
You can operate the windscreen wipers and automatic wipe/wash
using the windscreen wiper lever.
The windscreen wiper lever ⇒fig. 45 has the following positions:
Finger-operated wiping
– Position the lever down into position if you wish to wipe the wind-
screen only for a single wipe - spring-tensioned position.
Intermittent wiping
– Position the lever up into position .
– Set with the switch the desired break between the individual wiper
strokes
Slow wipe
– Position the lever up into position .
Fast wipe
– Position the lever up into position .
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel into position and the
widescreen wiper and wash system will operate - in the sprung posi-
tion.
– Release the lever. The windscreen wash system stops and the wiper
continues for another 1 - 3 wiper strokes (depending on the period of
spraying of the windscreen).
Wiping the rear window pane*
– Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position
⇒fig. 45, the widescreen wiper will operate every 6 seconds.
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window pane*
– Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position - the
widescreen wiper and wash system will operate - in the sprung posi-
tion.
– Letting go of the lever will cause the windscreen wash system to stop
and the wiper to continue for another 1 - 3 wiper strokes (depending
on the period of spraying of the windscreen). The lever will stay in
position after releasing it .
Switching windscreen wipers off
– Move the lever back into its home position .
Fig. 45 Windscreen wiper lever
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
The windscreen wipers and the windscreen washer system only operate if the igni-tion is switched on.
The rear window will be wiped again if the front window wipers are on when reverse gear is selected.
The windscreen washer nozzles are heated* when the ignition is switched on.
Top up with wash liquid ⇒page 193.
WARNING
•Properly maintained windscreen wiper blades are essential for clear visi-bility and safe driving ⇒page 53.
•Do not use the windscreen washer system at low temperatures, without heating the windscreen beforehand. Otherwise the window cleaner could freeze on the windscreen and restrict the view to the front.
•In the event of a freezing up of the windscreen, first of all eliminate the ice ⇒page 172 and then operate the windscreen wiper otherwise the wind-screen wiper blades could be damaged.
Caution
In frosty weather, please first of all check whether the windscreen wiper blades are not frozen to the windscreen before switching them on. Switching on windscreen wipers when the blades are frozen to the windscreen may result in damage both to the blades and the motor of the windscreen wipers!
Headlight cleaning system*
The headlights are being cleaned after the windscreen washer system has been operated for the fifth time, the low beam or main beam are switched on as well as the windscreen wiper lever is held in the position ⇒page 52, fig. 45 for about 1 second.
You should remove stubborn dirt (such as insect residues) from the headlight lenses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 172, “The headlight lenses”.
You should remove any snow from the fixtures of the washer nozzles and clear ice in winter with a de-icing spray in order to ensure proper operation of the cleaning system.
Replacing wiper blades for the windscreen wipers
Taking off the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm away from the windscreen.
– Press the locking button, in order to unlock the wiper blade and pull
off in the direction of arrow.
Attaching a wiper blade
– Push the wiper blade until it locks up to the stop.
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
– Fold the windscreen wiper arm back onto the windscreen.
Wiper blades in proper condition are essential to obtain good visibility. Wiper blades should not be allowed to become dirtied by dust, insect remains and preserving wax.
Juddering or smearing of the wiper blades could then be due to wax residues left on the windscreen by vehicle washing in automatic vehicle wash systems. It is
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Fig. 46 Wiper blade for the windscreen wiper
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Lights and Visibility54
therefore important to degrease the lips of the wiper blades after every pass through an automatic vehicle wash system.
WARNING
•If the windscreen wipers are handled carelessly, there is a risk of damage to the windscreen.
•You should clean the wiper blades regularly with a windscreen cleaner in order to avoid any smears. Clean a wiper blade with a sponge or cloth if it is very dirty, for example from insect residues.
•Replace the wiper blades once or twice a year for safety reasons. The wiper blades are available from Škoda Service Partners.
Replacing the wiper blade on the rear window wiper
Taking off the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm out from the windscreen and position the
wiper blade at right angles to the wiper arm ⇒fig. 47.
– Hold the window wiper arm at the top end with one hand.
– With the other hand unlock the locking button in the direction of
arrow and remove the wiper blade.
Attaching a wiper blade
– Position the wiper blade onto the wiper arm and lock the locking
button .
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
The same remarks apply here as for ⇒page 53.
Rear mirror
You can adjust the exterior mirrors electrically*.
Adjust the rear mirror before commencing to drive so that there is a clear
view to the rear.
Dimming the interior mirror
– Pull the lever on the bottom edge of the mirror toward rear (the lever
on the interior mirror must point forwards in it home position).
Heating of the external mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position  ⇒fig. 48.
Fig. 47 Wiper blade for rear window
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Fig. 48 Inner part of door: Rotary knob
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Lights and Visibility55
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Adjusting the left-hand exterior mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position . The movement of the mirror surface
is identical to the movement of the rotary knob.
Adjusting the right-hand exterior mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position . The movement of the mirror
surface is identical to the movement of the rotary knob.
The vehicle can also be equipped with a second rear mirror*, which is attached above the inner main rear mirror. The second rear mirror* enables an extensive look into the area of the rear seats, e.g. to check on the seated passengers. You can adjust it in the horizontal as well as vertical direction regardless of the inner main rear mirror.
The exterior mirror heater only operates when the engine is running.
WARNING
•Convex (curved outward) or a spherical exterior mirrors increase the vision field. They do, however, make objects appear smaller in the mirror. These mirrors are only of limited use, therefore, for estimating distances to the following vehicles.
•Use whenever possible the interior rear mirror, for estimating the distances to the following vehicles.
Note
•Do not touch the surfaces of the exterior mirrors if the exterior mirror heater is switched on.
•You can set the exterior mirrors by hand, if the power setting function fails at any time, by pressing on the edge of the mirror surface.
•Contact your specialist garage if a fault exists with the power setting of the exte-rior mirrors.
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