2010 SKODA FABIA warning light

Inspecting and replenishing
170

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 166.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
fig. 142
. The coolant
level when the engine is cold must lie between the “MIN” and “MAX” mark- ings. The level may also rise slightly ab
ove the “MAX” marking when the engine is
warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too lo
w, this is indicated by the warning light in
the instrument cluster
 page 29. We nevertheless recommend inspecting the
coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to time. 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 expansion
bottle which is completely free of leaks if
the coolant boils as a
result of overheating
and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes
page 166, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as s
oon as possible if the source of overheating
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
fig. 142
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 169, “Coolant”. Do not use an al
ternative additive if the coolant
additive G12 PLUS - 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.
Fig. 142 Engine compartment: Coolant expansion bottle
AB
AA
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Inspecting and replenishing
171
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 orig-inal container out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning!
If any splashes of coolant get into yo
ur 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.
Radiator fan The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.The radiator fan is driven by an electr
ic 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 igni
tion is also off. It may also
switch on suddenly after a
certain time, if
the coolant temperature has risen beca
use 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 fluidInspecting the brake fluid levelThe 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 166.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir
fig. 143
. 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 brak
e 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. If the brake fluid level is too low, this
is indicated by the warning light
 lighting up in the
instrument cluster
page 32. In this case
stop immediately and do not drive any
further! Obtain professional assistance.
Fig. 143 Engine compartment: Brake fluid reservoir
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Inspecting and replenishing
173
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WARNING

The battery acid is strongly corrosive
and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care. Always wear prot
ective 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 create
s 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 batt
ery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings. Protec
t the eyes with safety glas
ses or a shield! There is
the danger of suffering blindness! If an
y battery electrolyte
gets into your eye,
rinse out your eye immediately with cl
ear 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 swal
low 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 cabl
e 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, explo- sion 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. Avoi
d creating sparks when working with
cables and electrical devices. Strong sparking represents a risk of injury.
Before carrying out any work on the el
ectrical system, swit
ch 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 th
e 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 batt
ery. 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 other-
wise 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 wast
e 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 176, “Disconnectin
g and reconnecting
the battery”, also after connecting the battery.
WARNING (continued)
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Inspecting and replenishing
176
Caution
On vehicles with the “START/STOP” system,
the pole terminal of the charger must not
be connected directly to the negative termin
al of the vehicle battery, but only to the
engine earth
page 192, fig. 158
.
Disconnecting and reconnecting the batteryOn disconnecting and reconnecting the batt
ery the following functions are initially
deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free. We recommend having the vehicle checked by a specialist garage to ensure full func- tionality of all electrical systems.Replacing the batteryYou should only replace a battery with a ne
w battery of the same
capacity, voltage (12
V), amperage and of the same size. Specialist garages have a range of suitable batteries available. We recommend that you only have an old ba
ttery disposed of by a specialist garage
since it does require special disposal.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain poisonous substances such
as sulphuric acid and lead. They must be
disposed of in accordance with local environmental protection regulations and on no account as domestic waste.
Windshield washer systemThe 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 of
the engine compartment on the right side of the vehicle
fig. 146
. On some vehicles,
the reservoir is located on the left si
de of the vehicle next to the battery.
The
filling level
of the container is about 3.5 litres and about 5.4 litres on vehicles
which have a headlight washing system. Clear water is not sufficient to intensivel
y 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 cleani
ng water in winter even
if your vehicle is
fitted with heated wind
screen 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 anti
freeze protection at this concentration is
only adequate down to -5°C.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes
page 166, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window
(operational faults)
page 45
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operat
ing Instructions
Set hours
page 18
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are deleted.
 page 19
Fig. 146 Engine compartment: Wind- shield washer fluid reservoir
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Wheels and Tyres
181
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The
date of manufacture
is also stated on the tyre wall
(possibly only on the inside of
wheel).
DOT ... 13 10...
means, for example, that the tyre was ma
nufactured in the 13th week of the year 2010.
If the
spare wheel*
differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or low-
profile tyres), the spare wheel* should only be used for a short time in the event of a puncture and when adopting an appropriately
cautious style of driving. It should be
replaced as quickly as po
ssible by a normal wheel.
WARNING

Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved for your
model of Škoda Auto vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licencing of your vehicle on public roads may also become void as a result.
You must on no account drive at a high
er speed than is permissible for your
tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control over your vehicle.
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an approp
riately cautious style of driving.

Never fit tyres which have already b
een used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Tyre
s age even if they have not been used
at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional cases and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
Do not, where possible, replace individu
al tyres but at least replace them on
both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed
of in conformity with
the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels from
other models of cars for technical reasons.
This may also apply in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same type of vehicle.Wheel boltsWheels and
wheel bolts
are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time you
fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres - you must therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the corr
ect length and shape of spherical cap. This
is essential to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that the brake system oper- ates properly. If you retrofit
wheel trims
(or have this done), please
also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system. The specialist garages are informed about the technical possibilities which exist regarding converting or retrofitting wheels, tyres and wheel trims.
WARNING

In case of incorrect treatment of the
wheel bolts, the wheel
can loosen when
the car is moving - risk of accident!
The wheel bolts must be clean and must
turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim can
lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent deformation of the contac
t surfaces on the rims.
Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wh
eel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels is
120 Nm.
H
210 km/h
V
240 km/h
W
270 km/h
Speed symbol
Permissible maximum speed
s3j8.a.book Page 181 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Breakdown assistance
187
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing a wheelPreliminary workThe following steps should be carried ou
t before actually changing the wheel.
– If it is necessary to change a wheel, park
the vehicle as far aw
ay as possible from
the traffic flow. The place you choose should be
level
.
– Have all the occupants
get out
. While changing a wheel, the occupants of the
vehicle should not stand on the ro
ad (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 185 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 si
tting 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 wheelAlways change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible. – Take off the full wheel trim*
page 188 or the caps
page 188.
– Slacken the wheel bolts
page 189.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to
be changed is clear of the ground
 page 189.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them
on a clean surface (cloth, paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.– Fit on the spare wheel* and tighten the wheel bolts slightly.– Lower the car.– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly, alternatel
y and diagonally using the wrench (cross-
wise)
page 189.
– Mount the full wheel trim/wheel trim cap or the caps.
Note

All bolts must be clean and must turn easily.

You must never grease or oil the wheel bolts!

When fitting on unidirectiona
l tyres, ensure that the tyres rotate in the correct
direction
page 178.
Subsequent stepsAfter changing the wheel, you mu
st perform the following steps.
– Stow the vehicle tool kit in the space provided.– Stow the replaced wheel in the luggage compartment.–
Check
the
tyre pressure
on the spare wheel just mounted as soon as possible.
– Have the
tightening torque
of the wheel bolts
checked
with a torque wrench as
soon as possible. Steel and light alloy wheels must be tightened to a tightening torque of
120 Nm
.
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Breakdown assistance
190

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 sl
ackening 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
into the inner toothing of the head of
the safety wheel bolt .
– Insert the wheel wrench fully onto the adapter .– Slacken the wheel bolt, or tighten it firmly
page 189.
– Reinstall the full wheel trim/wheel cap afte
r 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 th
e code number hammered into the rear side of the adapter
or the rear side of the safety wheel bolts. You can purchase a replacement adapter from a specialist garage, if necessary, by quoting this number. We recommend that you always carry the ad
apter for the wheel bolts with you in the
vehicle. It should be stow
ed 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 specialist garage.
Jump-startingInitial stepsYou can use the battery of another vehicle fo
r jump-starting yours if the engine does
not start because the battery on your vehicle
is flat. You will require jump-start cables
for this purpose. Both batteries must have a rated voltage of 12 V. The
capacity
(Ah) of the battery
supplying the power must not be significantly
less than the capacity of the discharged
battery in your vehicle.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 156 Safety wheel bolt with adapter
ABAA
AB
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Breakdown assistance
192
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!Jump-starting on vehicles with the “START-STOP” systemOn vehicles with the “START-STOP” syst
em, the jump-starting cable must not be
connected directly to the negative terminal
of the vehicle battery, but only to the
engine earth
fig. 158
.
Tow-starting and towing vehicleGeneralPlease pay attention to the following instru
ctions if you are going to use a tow rope:
Driver of the towing vehicle– Do not drive off until the tow rope is taught. – Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off.Driver of the towed vehicle– Switch the ignition on so that the steeri
ng wheel is not blocked and you can also
operate the turn signal lights, the headlight flasher, the windscreen wipers and windscreen washer system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position
N if your
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is
running. You will require significantly greater physical force to depress the brake pedal and to steer the vehicle
if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught. Tow rope or tow bar A tow
bar
is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You can use
a tow
rope
only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect the
vehicle. Thus one shou
ld only use plastic
fibre rope or a rope made out
of a similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the
towing eyes
provided for this purpose
 page 193, “Front towing eye” and
page 193, “Rear towing eye”.
Driving style Towing another vehicle requires a certain am
ount of practice. Both drivers should be
familiar with the particular points about to
wing a vehicle. Unskilled drivers should not
attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in.
A4
Fig. 158 Jump-starting - START-STOP system
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