2008 SKODA FABIA coolant level

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights10
Avoid high engine speeds during the driving time and always if the engine has not yet reached its operating temperature ⇒page 159.
Caution
The needle of the revolutions counter must on no account move into the red zone of the scale - risk of engine damage!
For the sake of the environment
Shifting to a higher gear in good time helps to reduce the fuel consumption, mini-mises operating noise levels, protects the environment and contributes to a longer life and reliability of the engine.
Coolant temperature gauge*
The coolant temperature gauge ⇒page 9, fig. 2 operates only when the ignition is switched on.
In order to avoid any damage to the engine, please pay attention to the following notes regarding the temperature ranges:
Cold range
If the pointer is in the left-hand area of the scale* it means that the engine has not yet reached its operating temperature. Avoid running at high engine speeds, at full throttle and at severe engine loads.
The operating range
The engine has reached its operating temperature as soon as the pointer moves into the mid-range of the scale*. The pointer may also move further to the right at high engine loads and high outside temperatures. This is not critical provided the warning symbol  in the instrument cluster does not flash.
If the symbol  in the instrument cluster flashes it means that either the coolant temperature is too high or the coolant level is too low. Observe the guidelines ⇒page 24, “Coolant temperature/coolant level ”.
WARNING
Pay attention to the warning notes ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment” before opening the bonnet and inspecting the coolant level.
Caution
Additional headlights and other attached components in front of the fresh air inlet impair the cooling efficiency of the coolant. There is then a risk of the engine over-heating at high outside temperatures and high engine loads!
Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge ⇒page 9, fig. 2 only operates when the ignition is switched on.
The fuel tank has a capacity of about 45 litres. The warning symbol  in the instru-ment cluster lights up when the pointer reaches the reserve marking. There are now about 7 litres of fuel remaining in the tank. This symbol is a reminder for you, that you must refuel.
The following will be displayed in the information display*:
PLEASE REFUEL
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
Caution
Never run the fuel tank completely empty! An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter.
A4
A7
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Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights19
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
There is at least one error message to be read when the term VEH. STATUS is flashing in the menu. The display will show STATUS 1/2 (for example) if a number of error messages are displayed. This display indicates that the first of a total of two error messages should be displayed.
Actuate the rocker switch , to call up the individual error messages.
If a fault occurs, a warning signal will also sound in addition to the symbol and text in the display:
•Priority 1 - three warning signals,
•Priority 2 - one warning signal.
Red symbols
A red symbol signals danger.
Proceed as follows if a red symbol is displayed:
– Stop the vehicle.
– Switch the engine off.
– Check the functions indicated.
– Obtain professional assistance.
Meaning of the red symbols:
Three successive warning signals will sound if a red symbol appears.
If several operational faults of priority 1 exist, the symbols appear one after the other and are each illuminated for about 5 seconds.
Yellow symbols
A yellow symbol signals a warning.
The meaning of the yellow symbols:
AA
Fig. 13 Information display: Oil pressure is low
Coolant level too low/coolant temperature too high⇒page 24
Engine oil pressure too low ⇒page 25
Fuel level low⇒page 24
Check engine oil level, engine oil sensor faulty⇒page 25
Brake pad worn⇒page 25
Washer fluid level low⇒page 26
Fig. 14 Information display: Fuel level low
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Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights21
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
WARNING
•If you do not pay attention to the warning lights coming on and the corre-sponding descriptions and warning notes, this may result in severe body injuries or major vehicle damage.
•The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the engine
Turn signal lights (to the left)⇒page 22
Turn signal lights (to the right)⇒page 22
Main beam⇒page 22
Low beam⇒page 22
Rear fog light⇒page 22
Dynamo⇒page 22
Fog lights*⇒page 22
Cornering lights*⇒page 22
Electrohydraulic power steering⇒page 23
EPC fault light (petrol engine)⇒page 23
Glow plug system (diesel engine)⇒page 23
Turn signal system for vehicles towing a trailer*⇒page 23
Coolant temperature/coolant level⇒page 24
Electronic immobiliser⇒page 24
Fuel reserve⇒page 24
Engine oil⇒page 25
Brake pad wear*⇒page 25
Open door*⇒page 25
Fluid level in windshield washer system*⇒page 26
Control system for exhaust⇒page 26
Traction control system (TCS)*⇒page 26
Tyre pres su re*⇒page 26
Selector lever lock* (automatic gearbox)⇒page 27
Electronic stability programme (ESP)*⇒page 27
Antilock brake system (ABS)*⇒page 27
Brake system⇒page 28
Airbag system⇒page 28
Diesel particle filter* (diesel engine)⇒page 29
Seat belt warning light*⇒page 29
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Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights24
The indicator light  does not flash if a turn signal light on the trailer or on the vehicle is not operating.
Coolant temperature/coolant level 
After the ignition is switched on the warning light  lights up blue until the engine reaches operating temperature 1). Avoid running at high engine speeds, at full throttle and at severe engine loads. The blue warning light goes out once the oper-ating temperature has been reached .
The coolant temperature is too high or the coolant level too low if the warning light  lights up red or flashes red while driving.
3 peeps sound as an additional warning signal.
In this case stop and switch the engine off and check the coolant level; top up the coolant as necessary ⇒page 187, “Replenishing the coolant”.
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Keep the engine switched off and obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
If the coolant is within the specified range, the increased temperature may be caused by an operating problem at the coolant fan. Check the fuse for the coolant fan, replace it if necessary ⇒page 216, “Fuse assignment at battery”.
Do not continue driving if the warning light does not go off although the fluid is at the correct level and also the fuse of the fan is in proper order. Contact a specialist garage to obtain assistance.
Please also refer to the additional instructions ⇒page 186, “Cooling system”.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
STOP CHECK COOLANT OWNER'S MANUAL!
WARNING
•If you must stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe distance from the traffic and switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning light system ⇒page 48, “Switch for hazard warning lights ”.
•Pay attention to the following instructions ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment” before checking the coolant fluid level and opening the bonnet.
•Take care when opening the coolant expansion bottle. If the engine is hot, the cooling system is pressurized - risk of scalding. It is best to allow the engine to cool down before removing the cap.
•Do not touch the coolant fan! The coolant fan may switch on automati-cally even if the ignition is off.
Electronic immobiliser 
Data is compared between the ignition key and the control unit when switching on the ignition. The indicator light  will light up for a few seconds when ignition key authorisation is confirmed.
The warning light will start flashing continuously if a non-authorised ignition key (for example the wrong ignition key) has been used. The engine cannot be started ⇒page 31.
It is only possible to start the engine of your car with a Genuine Škoda key with the matching code.
Fuel reserve 
The warning light  comes on, if the fuel level is still about 7 litres.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
PLEASE REFUEL
1)Not valid for vehicles with information display.
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Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights25
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Engine oil 
The warning light  lights up red (low oil pressure)
The warning light comes on for a few seconds 2) when the ignition is switched on.
Stop the vehicle and switch the engine off if the warning light does not go off after the engine has started or flashes while driving. Check the oil level and top up with oil as necessary ⇒page 184.
3 peeps sound as an additional warning signal.
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the conditions prevailing to top up with oil. Keep the engine switched off and obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
Do not drive any further if the warning light flashes even if the oil is at the correct level. Do not run the engine not at idling speed either. Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
STOP OIL PRESS. ENGINE OFF! OWNER'S MANUAL!
The warning light  lights up yellow* (oil quantity too low)
If the warning light lights up yellow, the quantity of oil in the engine is probably too low. Check as soon as possible the oil level or top up ⇒page 184 with engine oil.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
CHECK OIL LEVEL
The warning light will go out if the bonnet is left open for more than 30 seconds. If no engine oil has been replenished, the warning light will come on again after driving about 100 km.
The warning light  flashes yellow* (engine oil level sensor faulty)
A fault on the engine oil level sensor is indicated additionally by an audible signal and the warning light coming on several times after the ignition has been switched on.
In this case have the engine inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
OIL SENSOR WORKSHOP!
WARNING
•If you must stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe distance from the traffic and switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning light system ⇒page 48.
•The red oil pressure light  is not an oil level indicator! One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably after every refu-eling stop.
•Pay attention to the following instructions ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment” before checking the coolant fluid level and opening the bonnet.
Thickness of the brake pads* 
If the warning light  comes on, contact a specialist garage immediately and have the brake pads on all of the wheels inspected.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
CHECK BRAKE PAD
Open door* 
The warning light  comes on if one or several doors, the bonnet or boot lid is opened.2)The warning light  on vehicles fitted with information display does not come on afterswitching the ignition on, but only if a fault exists or the engine oil level is too low.
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Towing a trailer167
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you with an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights. Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster ⇒page 47.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles with towing device and suppliable from Škoda original accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting instructions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Note
•We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service intervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
•The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decoupling the trailer.
•Keep the mechanism of the ball head of the towing device clean and take proper care of it with a suitable preservative.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.
– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the
trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in
particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temper-
ature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for coun-tries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when there are unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions, particularly near accident black spots.
You must always reduce your speed immediately as soon as you detect even just the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a down-hill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engine speed when the outside temperature is very high ⇒page 10.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or even the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light  in the instrument cluster begins flashing. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒page 186, “Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 24, “Coolant temperature/coolant level ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independent
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Inspecting and Replenishing186
Cooling system
Coolant
The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.
The cooling system does not require any maintenance under normal operating conditions. The coolant consists of water with a concentration of coolant additive of 40 %. This mixture not only provides antifreeze protection down to -25°C but also protects the cooling and heating system from corrosion. It also prevents the formation of scale and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant.
You must therefore not reduce the concentration of antifreeze agent in the coolant by adding water, also not during the summer months or in countries with a warm climate. The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at least 40%.
You can increase the amount of antifreeze in the coolant if a higher concentration of antifreeze is necessary for climatic reasons but only up to 60% (antifreeze protection down to approx. -40°C). The antifreeze protection tails off above that concentration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a cold climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland) are already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to about -35°C. In these countries the concentration of coolant additive should be at least 50 %.
Coolant
The cooling system is factory-filled with coolant (purple in colour), which complies with the specification TL-VW 774 G.
We recommend that you use the antifreeze agent - G12 PLUS - PLUS (purple in colour).
We recommend that you contact your Škoda Service Partner if you have any ques-tions regarding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant.
Your Škoda Service Partner can also supply you with the correct coolant additives.
Caution
•Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in partic-ular, involves significantly reducing the anticorrosion effect.
•Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of coolant and, as a consequence of this, result in major engine damage.
Inspecting the coolant level
The coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compartment on
the right.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 181.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒fig. 172.
The coolant level when the engine is cold must lie between the “MIN”
and “MAX” markings. The level may also rise slightly above the
“MAX” marking when the engine is warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the warning light in the instrument cluster  ⇒page 24. We nevertheless recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to time.
Fig. 172 Engine compart-ment: Coolant expansion bottle
ABAA
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Inspecting and Replenishing188
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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