2008 SKODA FABIA engine

Inspecting and Replenishing187
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Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the system. You should not merely top up the coolant in the reservoir. It is also important to have the cooling system inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
Losses can only occur through the pressure relief in the cap of the coolant expan-sion bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a result of over-heating and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as soon as possible if the source of over-heating itself cannot be determined and removed, since there may be grave damage to the engine.
Replenishing the coolant
– Switch the engine off.
– Allow the engine to cool down.
– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir
⇒page 186, fig. 172 and unscrew the cap carefully by turning it to the
left ⇒.
– Top up the coolant.
– Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.
The coolant which you use for replenishing the system, must comply with one specific specification ⇒page 186, “Coolant”. Do not use an alternative additive if the coolant additive G12 PLUS is not available in exceptional cases. Just top up the
system with water and as soon as possible arrange adjustment to correct the mixing ratio of water and coolant additive again by a specialist garage.
Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not fill up over the “MAX” marking! Excess coolant which is heated up is forced out of the cooling system through the pressure relief valve in the cap of the coolant compensation bottle.
Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a major loss of coolant before pouring in coolant. This is necessary to avoid engine damage.
WARNING
•The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the coolant expansion bottle if the engine is still hot - risk of scalding!
•The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health. Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are also harmful to the health. It is important, therefore, to always safely store any coolant additive in its original container out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning!
•If any splashes of coolant get into your eyes, rinse out your eyes immedi-ately with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
•You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inadvertently swallowed coolant.
Caution
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Switch the engine off and obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Do not re-use coolant if it is necessary to drain the coolant in the system. It should be collected and disposed of in compliance with environmental protection regulations.
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Radiator fan
The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.
The radiator fan is driven by an electric motor and controlled by a thermostat according to the coolant temperature.
The radiator fan may continue running for up to 10 minutes after the engine has been switched off - even if the ignition is also off. It may also switch on suddenly after a certain time, if
•the coolant temperature has risen because of an accumulation of heat or
•the warm engine compartment is heated up additionally by strong sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when working in the engine compartment that the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!
Brake fluid
Inspecting the brake fluid level
The brake fluid reservoir is located on the left of the engine compartment.
The brake fluid reservoir on right-hand steering models is positioned on
the other side of the engine compartment.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 181.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir ⇒fig. 173. The level must
be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-tear and automatic adjustment of the brake pads, and is perfectly normal.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” marking. A situ-ation where the brake fluid level is too low is indicated by the warning light  lighting up in the instrument cluster ⇒page 28. In this case stop immediately and do not drive any further! Obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
•Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
•If the fluid level has dropped below the MIN marking, do not drive any further - risk of accident! Contact a Škoda dealer to obtain professional assistance.
Replacing brake fluid
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. This causes the fluid to absorb moisture from the surrounding air over a period of time. Excessive water in the brake fluid may be the cause of corrosion in the brake system. The water content also lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid. This is why brake fluid must be replaced every two years.
Fig. 173 Engine compart-ment: Brake fluid reservoir
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One may only use new genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto a.s. The specification for the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced by a Škoda Service Partner as part of an Inspection Service.
WARNING
•Using old brake fluid can result in severe stress on the brakes because of the formation of vapour bubbles in the brake system. This greatly impairs the braking efficiency and thus also the safety of your vehicle.
•Brake fluid is toxic! It must therefore be kept safely in closed original containers and well away from children and unauthorized persons.
Caution
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the problems involved with proper disposal of brake fluid, the special tools and the professional knowledge required, we recommend you have the brake fluid replaced by a Škoda Service Partner.
Battery
Working on the battery
The battery is located in the engine compartment below a plastic box.
– Unlock the interlock on the positive terminal side of the battery
⇒fig. 174.
– Open the cover in direction of arrow.
– The installation of the battery cover on the positive terminal side takes
place in the reverse order.
Removal and installation of the battery is not recommended since it can, under certain circumstances, lead to major damage to the battery and fuse boxes. Contact a specialist garage.
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out any work on the battery and on the electrical system. For this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions ⇒ stated below and with the general applicable rules of safety.
Fig. 174 The battery: Open up the cover
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WARNING
•The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with the greatest of care. Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling batteries. Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivitis and inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and creates deep wounds after contact with the skin which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin cracks). Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant development of heat.
•Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the battery vent openings. Protect the eyes with safety glasses or a shield! There is the danger of suffering blindness! If any battery electrolyte gets into your eye, rinse out your eye immediately with clear water for several minutes. Contact a doctor without delay.
•Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. Contact a doctor immediately if you swallow battery electrolyte.
•Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
•Hydrogen is released when you charge a battery and a highly explosive gas mixture is produced. An explosion can be caused through sparkling over during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.
•Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through metal objects, cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit: Melting of lead struts, explosion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
•It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or to carry out any activities which produce sparks. Avoid creating sparks when working with cables and electrical devices. Strong sparking represents a risk of injury.
•Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the engine, the ignition as well as all electrical components and disconnect the negative cable (-) on the battery. If you wish to replace a bulb it is sufficient to switch off the appropriate light.
•Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic burns! Replace a frozen battery.
•Never use a battery which is damaged - risk of explosion! Immediately replace a damaged battery.
Caution
•You must only disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched off, otherwise the electrical system (electronic components) of the vehicle may be damaged. When disconnecting the battery from the electrical system of the vehicle, first disconnect the negative terminal (-) of the battery. Then disconnect the positive terminal (+).
•When reconnecting the battery, first connect the positive terminal (+) and only then the negative terminal (-) of the battery. You must on no account connect the cables wrongly - risk of a cable fire.
•Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the vehicle body otherwise damage could occur to the paintwork.
•Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the battery housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
For the sake of the environment
A removed battery is a special type of waste which is harmful to the environment - we recommend that you contact your Škoda Service Partner regarding disposing of the battery.
Note
•Please also refer to the guidelines ⇒page 192, “Disconnecting and recon-necting the battery”, also after connecting the battery.
WARNING (continued)
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Battery with a charge level indicator, the so-called magic eye*
There is a so-called magic eye ⇒fig. 175 located on the top of the battery. The “magic eye” changes its colour in line with the charge state of and electrolyte level in the battery.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the “magic eye”. For this reason carefully knock on the “magic eye” before carrying out the check.
•Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•Colourless or yellow colour - we recommend you have the battery checked by a Škoda Service Partner.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you have the electrolyte level inspected and adjusted to the correct level or the battery replaced if necessary by a Škoda Service Partner.
Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will discharge because certain electrical components consume electricity (e.g. control units) also in idle state. You can prevent the discharging of the battery by discon-necting the negative terminal or charging the battery constantly with a very low charging current. Please also refer to the notes when working on the battery ⇒page 189, “Working on the battery”.
Inspecting the electrolyte level
The battery is practically maintenance-free under normal operating conditions. We do, however, recommend that you have the electrolyte level inspected from time to time by a Škoda Service Partner when outside temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also check the electrolyte level ⇒page 191 each time the battery is charged.
The battery acid level will also be checked as part of the Inspection Service.
Operation in winter
The battery has to provide greater amounts of electricity during the winter. It also has only part of the initial power output at low temperatures that it has at normal temperatures.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a Škoda Service Partner before the start of the winter, and recharged if necessary.
Charging the battery
A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting the
engine.
– Read the warning notes ⇒ in “Working on the battery” on
page 189 and ⇒.
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery
terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”).
– You can now plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket
and switch on the charger.
Fig. 175 Battery with a charge level indicator
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Windshield washer system
The windshield washer reservoir contains the cleaning fluid for the windscreen or rear window and for the headlamp cleaning system*. The reservoir is located in the front left of the engine compartment ⇒fig. 176.
The filling level of the container is 2 litres, 5.5 litres on vehicles which also have a headlight washing system.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and headlights. We therefore recommend using clean washing water together with the screen cleaner from Škoda genuine accessories (in winter additionally with antifreeze) which is capable of removing stubborn dirt. Follow the instructions for use on the packaging when using screen cleaning products.
You should always add antifreeze to the cleaning water in winter even if your vehicle is fitted with heated windscreen washer nozzles*.
It is also possible in exceptional cases to use methylated spirits when no screen cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated spirits must not be more than 15 %. Please note, however, that the antifreeze protection at this concentration is only adequate down to -5°C.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
•On no account should you add radiator antifreeze or other additives to the windscreen washer fluid.
•If the vehicle is fitted with headlight cleaning system, you should only add cleaning products which do not attack the polycarbonate coating of the headlights to the windscreen washer fluid. Please contact your specialist garage, who will tell you which cleaning agent you can use.
Note
Do not take the filter out of the windscreen wash container when filling it up again with liquid otherwise dirt can get into the liquid transportation system and can lead to faults in operation of the windscreen wash system.
Fig. 176 Engine compart-ment: Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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•The spare wheel provided with a car fitted with unidirectional tyres has different dimensions. The wheel is provided with a warning sticker.
•After fitting on the wheel, the warning sticker must not be concealed (e.g. by the wheel trim).
•Do not drive with this spare wheel at more than 80 km/h - risk of accident. Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
•The inflation pressure for this spare wheel is identical to the inflation pressure of the standard tyres.
•Use this spare wheel only to reach the nearest specialist garage as it is not intended for continuous use.
Changing a wheel
Preliminary work
The following steps should be carried out before actually changing the
wheel.
– If it is necessary to change a wheel, park the vehicle as far away as
possible from the traffic flow. The place you choose should be level.
– Have all the occupants get out. While changing a wheel, the occu-
pants of the vehicle should not stand on the road (e.g. behind a crash
barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
–Engage 1st gear or if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox,
position the selector lever into position P.
– If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
– Take the vehicle tool kit and the spare wheel ⇒page 202 out of the
luggage compartment.
WARNING
•If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard warning lights system and place the warning triangle on the side of the road at the prescribed distance from your vehicle while observing all national legal provisions. In this way you are protecting not only yourself but also other road users.
•Never start the engine with the vehicle sitting on the raised jack - danger of suffering injury!
Caution
If you have to change a wheel on a slope first block the opposite wheel with a stone or similar object in order to secure the vehicle from unexpectedly rolling away.
Note
Comply with the national legal regulations.
Changing a wheel
Always change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible.
– Take off the full wheel trim* ⇒page 204 or the caps ⇒page 205.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap
⇒page 205.
– Slacken the wheel bolts ⇒page 206.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is clear of the ground
⇒page 206.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth,
paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.
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Breakdown assistance207
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
surface or use a wide and stable base. Use a non-slip base (e.g. a rubber foot mat) if the surface is smooth, such as cobbled stones, a tiled floor, etc.
WARNING
•Always raise the vehicle with the doors closed - risk of injury.
•Take suitable measures to prevent the base of the lifting jack from slip-ping off - risk of injury!
•Place the lifting jack only on a solid and even surface.
•Not positioning the lifting jack at the specified points can result in damage to the vehicle. The jack can also slip off if it does not have sufficient grip - risk of injury!
•Never start the engine if the vehicle is lifted - risk of accident.
•Never lie under the vehicle if the vehicle is only lifted with the vehicle lifting jack.
•It is important to support the vehicle with suitable supporting blocks if you wish to work under the lifted vehicle - risk of injury!
Securing wheels against being stolen*
You need a special adapter for slackening the safety wheel bolts.
– Pull off the full wheel trim/cap from the wheel hub or cap from the
safety wheel bolt.
– Insert the adapter with its toothed side fully into the inner toothing
of the safety wheel bolt right down in such a way that only the
outer hexagon is jutting out ⇒fig. 187.
– Insert the wheel wrench fully onto the adapter .
– Slacken the wheel bolt, or tighten it firmly ⇒page 206.
– Reinstall the full wheel trim/wheel cap after removing the adapter or
place the cap onto the safety wheel bolt.
– Have the tightening torque checked with a torque wrench as soon as
possible. Steel and light alloy wheels must be tightened to a tightening
torque of 120 Nm.
The safety wheel bolts on vehicles fitted with them (one safety wheel bolt per wheel) can only be loosened or tighten up by using the adapter provided.
It is meaningful to note the code number hammered into the rear side of the adapter or the rear side of the safety wheel bolts. You can obtain a replacement adapter from a Škoda Service Partner, if necessary, by quoting this number.
We recommend that you always carry the adapter for the wheel bolts with you in the vehicle. It should be stowed in the vehicle tool kit.
Caution
•Damage can occur to the adapter and safety wheel bolt if the safety wheel bolt is tightened up too much.
•On steel wheels, the theft-deterrent wheel bolt must always be installed in the hole, which is close to the valve. Otherwise the full wheel trim cannot be mounted and the full wheel trim can be damaged during the assembly.
Note
The set of safety wheel bolts can be obtained from a Škoda Service Partner.
Fig. 187 Safety wheel bolt with adapter
AB
AA
AB
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