2009 SKODA FABIA service

Fuel181
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
FuelPetrolGrades of petrolThere are various grades of petrol. Please read the chapter Technical Data in order
to know which grade of petrol your vehicle requires. You will also find the same
information affixed to the inside of the fuel filler flap of your vehicle ⇒page 182,
fig. 178.
A distinction is made between unleaded and leaded petrol. All Škoda vehicles with
petrol engines are equipped with a catalytic converter and must therefore be only
driven with unleaded petrol. Unleaded petrol must comply with the standard
EN 228.
The individual grades of petrol are distinguished by their octane number (RON).
Please adopt the following procedure if the grade of petrol which you normally use
is not be available in exceptional circumstances:•
Engines which need unleaded premium petrol 95 RON can also be run on
unleaded regular petrol 91 RON. This does, however, result in a slight loss in
performance.
If, in an emergency, the only fuel available is one which has a lower octane number
than that required by the engine then only drive at medium engine speeds and
lower engine loadings.
You can make unlimited use of fuel which has a higher octane number than that
required by the engine. There will, however, be no advantages gained by this in
terms of engine performance and fuel consumption!
The handling, performance and life of your engine are determined to a significant
extent by the quality of the fuel. Do not use any petrol additives. Use fuel which
complies with the standard EN 228.
You can find further information on refuelling ⇒page 182.
Caution
•
Filling the tank even only once with leaded petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.
•
Operating the engine with petrol of a lower octane number than that prescribed
can result in engine damage at high revolutions or severe engine loading.
DieselDiesel fuelYour vehicle can be operated with diesel fuel, which complies with the standard
EN 590.
Fuel additives
You must not use fuel additives, so-called “flow improvers” (petrol and similar
products) in diesel fuel.
If the quality of the diesel fuel is poor, it is then necessary to drain the fuel filter
more often than stated in the Service schedule.
You can find information on refuelling ⇒page 182, “Refuelling”.
Caution
•
Use fuel which complies with the standard EN 590. Filling the tank even only
once, which does not comply with the standard, can result in damage to the fuel
system.
•
Water which has collected in the fuel filter can result in engine problems.
•
Your vehicle is not adapted for use of biofuel (RME), therefore this fuel must not
be refuelled and driven. Using this fuel (RME) can lead to damage to the engine or
the fuel system.
s3f4.1.book Page 181 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Inspecting and replenishing 188•
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prevailing to top up with oil. Switch the engine off and obtain profes-
sional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine
damage.
Replenishing engine oil– Inspect the oil level ⇒page 187.
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening.
– Wipe off the oil from the sealing surface of the cover and on the coun-
terpart using a clean cloth.
– Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres ⇒page 230.
– Inspect the oil level ⇒page 187.
– Carefully screw on the cap of the filler opening and push the dipstick
in fully.
WARNING
•
Avoid dripping oil onto hot parts of the engine when topping up will oil -
a risk of fire!
•
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 185, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no account be above the range ⇒page 187. Oil will other-
wise be drawn in through the crankcase ventilation and may pass through the
exhaust system to atmosphere. The oil may combust in the catalytic converter and
damage it.
Changing engine oilThe engine oil must be changed at the intervals stated in the Service schedule or
according to the service interval indicator ⇒page 17.
WARNING
•
Only carry out the engine oil change, if you have the required profes-
sional knowledge!
•
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 185, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
•
Let the engine cool down - risk of burning from hot oil.
•
Wear an eye protection - risk of caustic burns due to oil splashes.
•
Oil is toxic! Store old oil in a safe place out of the reach of children and
unauthorized persons until you dispose of it properly.Caution
You must not pour any additives into the engine oil - risk of engine damage!
Damage, which results from such product, are excluded from the warranty.
For the sake of the environment
•
You must on no account pour oil into the ground or into the sewage system.
•
In view of the problems involved in properly disposing of old oil, the necessary
special tools and the knowledge required for such work, we recommend that you
have the oil and oil filter change carried out by a specialist garage.Note
After your skin has come in contact with the oil, you must thoroughly wash your
skin.
Aa
s3f4.1.book Page 188 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Inspecting and replenishing189
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Cooling systemCoolant
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) for topping up the system.
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.
A specialist garage 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 levelThe 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 185.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒fig. 184.
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.
Fig. 184 Engine compart-
ment: Coolant expansion
bottle
AB
AA
s3f4.1.book Page 189 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Inspecting and replenishing 192
WARNING
•
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 185, “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! Obtain professional assistance.
Replacing brake fluidBrake 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.
One may only use new genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto. The specification for
the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced by a specialist garage 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 specialist garage.BatteryWorking on the batteryThe battery is located in the engine compartment below a plastic box.
Fig. 186 The battery: pull up
the cover (automatic
gearbox)Fig. 187 The battery: pull up
the cover (manual gearbox)
s3f4.1.book Page 192 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Inspecting and replenishing 194•
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 196, “Disconnecting and recon-
necting the battery”, also after connecting the battery.
Battery with a two-tone indicatorAn indicator for the electrolyte level, the so-called magic eye ⇒fig. 188, is located
on the top of the battery. The indicator changes its colour in line with the electrolyte
level in the battery.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully knock
on the indicator before carrying out the check.•
Black colour - electrolyte level is correct.
•
Colourless or light yellow colour - electrolyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you
have the battery checked or replaced by a specialist garage.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 ⇒
in “Working on the battery” on page 192.
Note
•
Batteries with two-tone indicator, which are mounted as of factory, are marked
with a code which always begins with 5K0. The exact marking can be e.g.
5K0 915 105 D.
•
Replacement batteries with two-tone indicator, which were obtained from
Škoda original accessories, are marked with the code 000 915 105 Dx, whereby
“x” stands for a variable. The exact marking can be e.g. 000 915 105 DB.
Battery with a three-tone indicatorAn indicator for the electrolyte level and the charge state, the so-called magic eye
⇒fig. 188, is located on the top of the battery. The indicator changes its colour in
line with the charge state and the electrolyte level in the battery.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully knock
on the indicator before carrying out the check.•
Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•
Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•
Colourless or yellow colour - electrolyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced.
Fig. 188 The battery: Show
s3f4.1.book Page 194 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Inspecting and replenishing195
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you
have the battery checked or replaced by a specialist garage.
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 ⇒
in “Working on the battery” on page 192.
Note
•
Batteries with three-tone indicator, which are mounted as of factory, are
marked with a code which always begins with 1J0, 7N0 or 3B0. The exact marking
can be e.g. 1J0 915 105 AC.
•
Replacement batteries with three-tone indicator, which were obtained from
Škoda original accessories, are marked with the code 000 915 105 Ax, whereby
“x” stands for a variable. The exact marking can be e.g. 000 915 105 AB.
Inspecting the electrolyte levelThe 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 specialist garage when outside temperatures are high or when
driving on long trips. You should also have the electrolyte level ⇒page 195
checked each time the battery is charged.
The electrolyte level of the battery will also be checked as part of the Inspection
Service.
Operation in winterThe 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 specialist garage
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 192 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.
– When charging is completed: switch the charger off and unplug the
mains cable from the power socket.
– Only then should you disconnect the terminal clamps of the charger.
– Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “nega-
tive”).
s3f4.1.book Page 195 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Breakdown assistance 212•
We recommend purchasing jump-start cables from Škoda Service Partners as a
Škoda original accessory or from retailers who sell branded batteries.
Start engineIt is important to connect the jump-start cables in the correct order.
Connecting positive terminals
– Attach one end to the positive terminal ⇒fig. 200 of the
discharged battery .
– Attach the other end to the positive terminal of the battery
supplying the power .
Connecting negative terminal and engine block
– Attach one end to the negative terminal of the battery supplying
the power .
– Attach the other end to a solid metal part which is connected
firmly to the engine block, or to the engine block itself ⇒.Starting engine
– Start the engine of the vehicle providing current and run the engine at
idling speed.
– Now start the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
– Interrupt the attempt at starting an engine after 10 seconds if it does
not start right away and wait for about 30 seconds before repeating
the attempt.
– Disconnect the cables on the engine in exactly the reverse order they
were connected up.
WARNING
•
The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never make contact
with each other. Furthermore, the cable connected to the positive terminal
of the battery must not come into contact with electrically conducting parts
of the vehicle - risk of a short circuit!
•
Do not affix the jump starting cables to the negative terminal of the
discharged battery. There is the risk of detonating gas seeping out the
battery being ignited by the strong spark which results from the engine
being started.
•
Do not affix the cable end to parts of the fuel and brake system.
•
Run the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any rotating
parts in the engine compartment.
•
Do not bend over the batteries - risk of caustic burns!
•
The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly.
•
Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering cigarettes etc.)
away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
•
Never jump-start the batteries which have a too low electrolyte level -
risk of explosion and caustic burns!
Fig. 200 Jump-starting using
the battery from another
vehicle: A - flat vehicle
battery, B - battery providing
current
A1AAA2AB
A3
AB
A4
A4
s3f4.1.book Page 212 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Breakdown assistance 214
Installing the towing eye
– Grasp the grille at the points marked with the arrows and take it out
⇒page 213, fig. 201.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand to the left up to the stop ⇒fig. 202.
– Tighten up the towing eye using the wheel wrench (push the wheel
wrench through eye).
Removal of the towing eye
– Unscrew the towing eye.
– Put the grille in place on the side opposite the marking.
– Press into place the protective grille onto the side facing the marking.
– The protective grille must engage firmly.
Rear towing eyeThe rear towing eye is located below the rear bumper on the right ⇒fig. 203.Tow-starting a vehicleIf the engine does not start, we generally do not recommend to tow-start
your vehicle. One should attempt to start the engine using jump start
cables ⇒page 211 or call on the services of the SERVICE mobile.
If your vehicle has to be towed:
– Engage 2nd or 3rd gear with the vehicle stationary.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully and keep it depressed.
– Switch on the ignition.
– Wait until both vehicles are moving then release the clutch pedal
slowly.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully when the engine fires and take the
vehicle out of gear.
Fig. 202 Front bumper:
Installing the towing eye
Fig. 203 Rear towing eye
s3f4.1.book Page 214 Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:07 AM