2009 SKODA FABIA check engine

Lights and Visibility61
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Technical 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 spherical (differently curved) 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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Heating and air conditioning system95
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Technical Data
Using the air conditioning system economicallyThe compressor on the Climatic uses power from the engine when in cooling mode
which will effect the fuel consumption.
It recommended to open the windows or the doors of a vehicle for which the inte-
rior has been strongly heated through the effect of direct sunlight in order to allow
the heated air to escape.
The cooling system should not be switched on while travelling when the window is
open.
The desired interior temperature can also be achieved without switching in the
cooling system just by switching to fresh air mode.
For the sake of the environment
When you economize on fuel, you also reduce pollutant emissions.Operational problemsIf the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher than +2 °C,
there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be:•
The fuse of the Climatic is defective. Check the fuse, replace it if necessary
⇒page 216.
•
The cooling system has switched off automatically for a short time because the
coolant temperature of the engine is too hot ⇒page 16.
If you are not able to rectify the operational problem yourself, or if the cooling
capacity decreases, switch the cooling system off. Contact a specialist garage.
If there is a fault at the Climatronic, all symbols on the display flash after switching
on the ignition for 15 seconds. Contact a specialist garage.
Climatronic (automatic air conditioning)*Description
The Climatronic system is a combination of an automatic heating,
fresh air and cooling system which provides optimal comfort for the
occupants of the car.The Climatronic maintains a constant temperature fully automatically, once it has
been set. This is achieved by automatically varying the temperature of the
outflowing air, the blower stages and the air distribution. The system also takes into
account sunlight which eliminates the need to alter the settings manually. The
automatic mode ⇒page 97 ensures maximum wellbeing of the occupants at all
times of the year.
Description of Climatronic system
The cooling operates only if the following conditions are met:•
engine running,
•
outside temperature above +2°C,
•
the button is not pressed.
If the cooling system is switched on, the temperature and air humidity drops in the
vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of this
particularly at high outside temperatures and a high air humidity. The system
prevents the windows misting up during the cold season of the year.
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full heat
output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating temperature.
It is possible to briefly activate recirculated air mode in order to enhance the
cooling effect ⇒.
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves in order
to ensure that the heating and cooling systems operate properly.
The AC compressor is switched off at a high coolant temperature in order to provide
cooling at a high load of the engine.
ECON
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Starting-off and Driving101
Using the system
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Technical Data
•
The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine - the
starter then only has to crank the engine.
•
Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage
to the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic valve
clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒page 211.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox. The tow-
starting distance must not be more than 50 metres ⇒page 214.
WARNING
•
Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The exhaust
gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon
monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause uncon-
sciousness and death.
•
Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.Caution
•
The starter may only be operated (ignition key position ), if the engine is not
running. If the starter is immediately operated after switching off the engine, the
starter or the engine can be damaged.
•
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
engine has not yet reached its normal operating temperature - risk of damaging the
engine!
•
Vehicles which are fitted with an exhaust gas catalytic converter should not be
tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.
For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away. When
driving the engine reaches its operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant
emissions are lower.Petrol enginesThese engines are fitted with a starter system which selects the correct fuel-air
mixture for every external air temperature.•
Do not operate accelerator before and when starting engine.
•
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start
right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•
It is possible that the fuse on the electrical fuel pump is defect if the engine still
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 216.
•
If the engine does not start, contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain
professional assistance.
It may be necessary, if the engine is very hot, to slightly depress the accelerator
after the engine has started.
Diesel enginesGlow plug system
Diesel engines are equipped with a glow plug system, the preglow period being
controlled automatically in line with the coolant temperature and outside temper-
ature.
The preglow indicator light
 comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
•
You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light

has gone out.
A3
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Starting-off and Driving 102•
The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is
at a normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature is above +5°C. This
means that you can start the engine right away.
•
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start
right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•
It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine
still does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 216.
•
Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
Starting the engine after fuel tank has run dry
It may take longer than normal to start the engine after refuelling if the fuel tank has
run completely dry - up to one minute. This is because the fuel system must first of
all be filled while the attempting to start the engine.
Switching off the engine– The engine can be switched off by turning the ignition key from posi-
tion into ⇒page 100, fig. 124.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary - risk of acci-
dent!
•
The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater
physical effort for braking is required when engine is switched off. Because
if you do not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.Caution
you should not switch the engine off right away at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated for a lengthy period at high loads but should be allowed
it to run at idling speed for about 2 minutes. This prevents any accumulation of heat
when the engine is switched off.
Note
•
The radiator fan may continue running for a further 10 minutes or so after the
engine and the ignition have been switched off. The coolant fan may, however, also
switch on again after some time if the coolant temperature rises because of an
accumulation of heat in the engine or if the engine is warm and the engine
compartment is additionally heated by strong sunlight.
•
This is why particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment ⇒page 185, “Working in the engine compartment”.
Shifting (manual gearbox)Shift into reverse only when the vehicle is stationary. Depress the clutch pedal and
hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before engaging reverse gear in order to
avoid any shift noises.
The reversing light will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the ignition
is on.
WARNING
Never engage the reverse gear when driving - risk of accident!
A1
Fig. 125 Shift pattern on
models fitted with 5-speed
manual gearbox
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Driving and the Environment 166Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consumption
but also positively influence environmental pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid exploiting the top speed of your vehicle wherever possible. Fuel
consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at
high speeds.
The ⇒page 165, fig. 175 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your
vehicle. You will cut your fuel consumption by half if you only make use three-quar-
ters of the possible top speed of your vehicle.Reducing idling
Idling also costs fuel.It is worthwhile switching off the engine in a traffic jam or when waiting at a level
crossing or at traffic lights with a lengthy red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds
you will have saved more fuel than that is needed when you start the engine up
again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly high
in the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the
engine. Do avoid high engine revolutions at this time, however.Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consumes an unnecessarily high amount of
fuel.Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy
one of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your
journey. Keeping your vehicle properly serviced not only has a positive effect on the
safety of your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10% higher than
normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the
Service schedule by a specialist garage.Also check the oil level after refueling. Oil consumption is dependent to a consid-
erable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be as
high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and
reaches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not
possible to correctly assess the oil consumption of a new vehicle until after you
have driven about 5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
•
You can achieve additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high-
lubricity oils.
•
Check the ground below your vehicle at regular intervals to detect any leakages
in good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any
stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Avoid driving short distances
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
Fig. 176 Fuel consumption
in litres/100 km at different
temperatures
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Driving and the Environment167
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Technical Data The engine and catalytic converter must first have reached their optimal operating
temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emis-
sions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately
after starting. Fuel consumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The
engine reaches its operating temperature (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then
stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
⇒page 166, fig. 176 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance,
on the one hand at +20°C and on the other hand at -10°C. Your vehicle has a higher
fuel consumption in winter than in summer.
Checking tyre inflation pressures
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at all times. The
rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is too low. This will not
only increase fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will
worsen.
Always check the inflation pressure of the tyres when cold.
Do not drive with winter tyres all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel.
Winter tyres are also louder.No unnecessary ballast
Transporting ballast costs fuel.The fact that every kilogram of extra weight increases your fuel consumption
means that it is worth taking a look in the luggage compartment to avoid trans-
porting any unnecessary ballast.
It is par ticularly i n town tra ffi c, whe n one is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle
weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of thumb here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase in fuel
consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
You may frequently also leave a roof rack fitted on just out of convenience,
although you no longer need it. The increased aerodynamic drag of your vehicle
causes it to use about 1 l more fuel than normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, even
when you are not carrying a load on the roof.
Saving electricity
Generating electricity costs fuel.– Switch off electrical components as soon as you no longer need them.When the engine is running, the alternator generates and supplies electrical power.
If more electrical components of the electrical system are switched on, more fuel is
needed to operate the alternator.Keeping a log of your fuel consumptionIf you really wish to keep a close check on your fuel consumption, it is best to enter
the figures in a logbook. This does not take much time but is a very worthwhile exer-
cise. It enables you to detect any change (positive and negative) at an early stage
and to take any appropriate action.
If you find that your fuel consumption is too high, you should reflect on how, where
and in what conditions you have driven the vehicle since you last refuelled.Environmental compatibilityEnvironmental protection has played a major role in the design, selection of mate-
rials and manufacture of your new Škoda. Particular emphasis has been paid to a
number of aspects, including:
Design measures•
Joints designed to be easily detached
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Towing a trailer171
Using the system
Safety
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General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical 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 53.
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/h for safety reasons. This also applies for countries
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 16.
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 189, “Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 29, “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 replenishing185
Using the system
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Technical Data
– Pull on the locking lever ⇒page 184, fig. 180, the bonnet is then
unlocked.
– Grip the bonnet and lift it up.
– Take the bonnet support out of its holder and set it in the opening
designed for it ⇒page 184, fig. 181.
Closing the bonnet
– Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the
bonnet support into the holder designed to hold it.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height of about 30 cm into the lock -
bonnet do not press down on it!
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scalding! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•
For safety reasons, the bonnet must always be properly closed when
driving. One should therefore check that the lock has in fact engaged prop-
erly after closing the bonnet.
•
Stop your vehicle immediately while driving if you notice that the lock is
not properly engaged and close the bonnet properly - risk of an accident!Caution
•
Before opening the bonnet, ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are
correctly in place against the windscreen. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the
paintwork.
Working in the engine compartment
Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment!There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the
engine compartment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. For
this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions stated
below and with the general applicable rules of safety. The engine compart-
ment of your car is a hazardous area ⇒.
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scalding! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•
Switch off the engine and pull out the ignition key.
•
Apply the handbrake firmly.
•
If your vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever
into Neutral, or if it is fitted with automatic gearbox, move the selector lever
into position P.
•
Allow the engine to cool down.
•
Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
•
Do not touch any hot engine parts - risk of burns!
•
Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the
antifreeze contained in the wash liquid) may ignite!
•
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
•
Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!
•
Never open the cap of the coolant expansion bottle as long as the engine
is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
•
Cover over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir with a large cloth
when opening it as protection for your face, hands and arms from hot steam
or hot coolant.
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