2010 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Towing a trailer
152
Towing a trailerTo w i n g a t r a i l e rTechnical requirements The towing device must satisfy certain technical requirements.Your vehicle is designed primarily for tr
ansporting persons and luggage. It can,
however, also be used for towing a traile
r - provided certain technical equipment is
fitted. If your vehicle has been eq
uipped with a towing device
from Škoda Original Accesso-
ries, then the towing device satisfies all technical and legal requirements. Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power so
cket for the electrical connection between
the vehicle and trailer. If the tr
ailer which you wish to tow has a
7-pin connector
, you
can use a suitable adapter
12) from Škoda original accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance
with the manufacturer's specifications if
a towing device is retrofitted. Specialist garages are familiar with details re
lating to retrofitting a towing device and
for any necessary modifications to the cooling system.
WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from Škoda original accesso-ries installed by a specialist garage. He
is familiar with all the relevant details
relating to retrofitting such equipment. There is a risk of an accident if the towing device is not properly fitted!General Maintenance There are a number of points to pay attention to when towing a trailer.Trailer load The permissible trailer load must
on no account be exceeded.
You can negotiate appropriately steeper inclin
es and descents if you do not make full
use of the permissible trailer load. The trailer loads specified only apply for
altitudes
up to 1 000 metres above mean sea
level. On petrol engines without forced indu
ction, the engine power output drops with
increasing height due to a lowering of air pr
essure and thus the ability to climb, this
means that the trailer load must be reduced by 10% for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above sea le
vel. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle
and the (laden) trailer together. One should ta
ke this into account before driving up to
higher altitudes. Petrol engines with forced induction use an air pressure correction method, so that their power output does
not depend on the he
ight above sea level.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device are merely test data for the towing device
The data relating to your vehicle, which
is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration docu- ments. Distribution of the load Distribute the load in the trailer in such a
way that any heavy items are located as close
as possible to the axle. Secure th
e items to preven
t them slipping.
Tyre pressure Correct the tyre inflation pressure on yo
ur vehicle for that of “fully laden”,
page 178.
The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to
the trailer adjust in accordance with the
manufacturer's recommendation. Exterior mirrors You have to have additional ex
terior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the traffic
behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors 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, al
so check the setting of the headlights. Alter
the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster
page 51.
12)In some countries the adapter is supplied with the towing device.s3j8.a.book Page 152 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Towing a trailer
153
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Detachable ball head The ball rod is detachable on
vehicles with towing devi
ce 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 inter-
vals if you tow a trailer frequently.
The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decou-
pling 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 temperature 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 combina- tion. Driving speed Do not drive faster than 80 km/h for safety
reasons. This also a
pplies for countries in
which higher speeds are allowed. The fact that the driving stability of the
vehicle + trailer comb
ination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allo
wed speed should not be used when there
are unfavourable road, weather or wind cond
itions as well as on downhill sections.
You must always reduce your speed immediat
ely 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 downhill 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 engi
ne 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 170,
“Inspecting the coolant level”. Please refer to the following guidelines
page 29, “Coolant temperature/coolant
quantity
 ”.
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 of the
engine speed. One should also not drop a gear
for this reason when towing a trailer as
long as the engine can manage th
e slope without any drop in speed.
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Towing a trailer
154
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
155
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
General MaintenanceTaking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicleGeneralProper care retains the value of your vehicle.Regular and proper care retains
the value
of your vehicle. It may also be one of the
requirements for the acceptance of warranty
claims relating to corrosion damage and
paint defects on the bodywork. We recommend using a preserva
tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer. Please follow the instructions for use on the package.
WARNING

Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the
instructions.
Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk
of poisoning!
For the sake of the environment

Always select environmentally-friendly
products when purchasing vehicle care
products.
Do not dispose of residues of ca
re products in domestic waste.
Care of the exterior of vehicleWashing the vehicle Frequent washing protects your vehicle.The best protection for your vehicle agai
nst harmful environmental influences is
frequent
washing and wax treatment. How of
ten you should wash your vehicle
depends on a wide range of factors, such as:

Frequency of use;

The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.);

Season of the year;

Weather conditions;

Environmental influences.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar, soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the paintwork of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be. High temperatures, such as those caused by intensive sun'
s rays, accentuate their caustic effect.
It may therefore be necessary, in ce
rtain circumstances, to wash the car
once a week
.
It may also be sufficient, however, to wash the car
once a month
followed by appro-
priate wax treatment. It is essential to also thoroughly wash the
underside of your vehicle
at the end of the
winter road salting and gritting period.
WARNING
When washing your vehicle in the winter
: Water and ice in the brake system can
affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident!Automatic vehicle wash systemsThe paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be washed normally in automatic vehicle wash plants
without any problem. The actual stress to
which the paintwork is subjected, however,
depends primarily on the design of the
vehicle wash system, the filtering of the wa
ter and the type of washing and care prod-
ucts used. If the paintwork of
your vehicle appear
s mat after being washed or even has
scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle wash plant. Use a different vehicle wash plant, if necessary.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
156
There are no particular points to note be
fore washing your vehicle in an automatic
vehicle wash system other than the usua
l precautionary measures (closing the
windows, unscrewing the aerial, etc.). If you have any particular atta
ched parts fitted to your car
- such as spoiler, roof rack
system, two-way radio aerial - it is best to first of all consult the operator of the car wash plant. It is important to degrease
the lips of the windscreen
wiper rubbers after passing
through the automatic
vehicle wash system.
Washing vehicle by handIt is important to first soften the dirt with
plenty of water and rinse it off as thoroughly
as possible before washin
g your vehicle by hand.
One should then clean the vehicle using a soft
washing sponge
, washing glove
or a
washing brush
and only slight pressure. Work from
the top to the bottom - beginning
with the roof. Only place slight pressure on
the vehicle paintwork during cleaning Only
use a
car shampoo
for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.Rinse off the vehicle well after giving it a wash and dry it off using a chamois leather.
WARNING

The ignition should always be switched off when you wash your vehicle -
risk of accident!
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when you are
cleaning the underfloor, the inside of
the wheel housings or
the wheel trims -
risk of cuts.
Caution

Do not wash your vehicle in bright
sunlight - risk of paint damage.

Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed di
rectly at the locking cylinders or at the
door and panel joints if you spray your vehi
cle in winter down with a hose - risk of
freezing.

Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitc
hen sponges or similar cleaning products
- risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash your vehicle at wa
shing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This
ensures that no water which may be contaminated by oil flows into the sewage system. It is not even permitted to wash your vehicl
e in certain areas except at such specific
washing bays.Washing with a high-pressure cleanerWhen you wash your vehicle with a high-press
ure cleaner, it is essential to comply with
the instructions for use of the cleaning equi
pment. This applies in particular to the
pressure
used and to the
spraying distance
. Maintain a sufficiently large distance to
soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulation material. On no account use
circular spray nozzles
or so-called dirt cutters
.
WARNING
It is particularly important that you do not clean tyres with circular spray jets. Damage may occur even at a relatively la
rge spraying distance and if sprayed
only for a short time.
Caution
The water containing wax must be no hotter
than 60°C, otherwise the vehicle can be
damaged.Wax treatmentGood wax treatment is an effective way of
protecting the paintwork from harmful envi-
ronmental influences and
minor mechanical damage.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quali
ty hard wax polish at the latest, when no
more drops form on the clean paintwork.
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Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
A new layer of a high-quality
hard wax polish can be applied to the clean bodywork
after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recom- mend that you treat the paintwork of the ve
hicle at least twice a year with hard wax.
Caution
Never apply wax to the windows.PolishingPolishing is only necessary if the paintwor
k of your vehicle has become unattractive
and if it is no longer possible to
achieve a gloss with wax preservers.
You must treat the paintwork with a wax pr
eserver if the polish you use does not
contain any preserving elements
page 156, “Wax treatment”.
We recommend using a preserva
tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
Caution

You must not treat mat painted parts or plas
tic with polishing products or hard wax.

Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicl
e in a dusty environment, otherwise the
paintwork can be scratched.Chrome partsFirst clean the chrome parts with a damp clot
ch and then polish them with a soft, dry
cloth. If it does not prove
to be adequate, use a chrome
care product from Škoda orig-
inal accessories.
Caution
Do not polish the chrome parts in a du
sty environment, otherwise they can be
scratched.
Paint damageSlight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage must be treated immediately
before
any corrosion can result. You ca
n of course have this work
carried out by a specialist garage. Specialist garages have a range of matching
touch-up pens
or spray cans
available in
the colour of your vehicle. The paint number of the original paintwork of
your vehicle is indi
cated on the vehicle
data sticker
page 207.
Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thoroughly. Apply a corrosion protection primer
and then the paint to the affected point. You can of
course have this work carried
out by a specialist garage.
Plastic partsExternal plastic parts are cleaned by norm
al washing. Plastic parts and synthetic
leather can also be treated with
special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents
if a
damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care pr
oducts are not suitable for plastic parts.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack th
e material and can damage it.
WindowsOnly use a plastic ice scra
per for removing snow and ice from the windows and
mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one direc-tion on the window which you
are cleaning in order to avoid any damage to the surface
of the glass. You can best remove residues of rubber, oil,
grease, wax or silicone by using a special
window cleaner or a special silicone remover. You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.Do not use window leathers which you have us
ed to polish the vehicle body to dry off
the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the window and reduce visibility.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
158
Do not affix any stickers over the inside of
the rear window to avoid damage to the
heating elements of the rear window heater
.
We recommend using a preserva
tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
Caution

Never remove snow or ice from the glass pa
rts with warm or hot water - risk of
formation of cracks in the glass!
When removing snow or ice from the windows and mirror lenses make sure not to
damage the paintwork of the vehicle.The headlight lensesPlease do not use any aggressi
ve cleaning or chemical so
lvent products for cleaning
the front headlights - risk of
damage to the
plastic lenses.
Please use
soap and clean
warm water.
Caution
Never
wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the plastic
lenses, this may result in damage to the
protective paintwork and consequently in
formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g through effect of chemical products.Door and window sealsThe rubber seals on the doors, boot lid,
bonnet and windows remain supple and last
longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with a spray with silicone-free oil). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and prevent leakages in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which are well cared for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.Locking cylinderWe recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with regreasing and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as
little water as possible gets into the locking
cylinders.WheelsSteel wheels You should also thoroughly wash the wheels
and wheel trims when giving your vehicle
its regular wash. This prevents any brake dust, dirt and road salt from sticking to the wheel hubs. You can remove stubborn brake
abrasion adhering to the wheels with an
industrial cleaner. Touch up
any damage to the paintwork on the wheels before rust is
able to form. Light alloy wheels Regular care of light alloy wh
eels is necessary in order to retain their decorative
appearance over long periods. It is particul
arly important to remove any road salt and
brake abrasion from light alloy wheels every two weeks, otherwise the surface will suffer. Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a protective product for light alloy wheels which does not
contain any acidic componen
ts. You should provide the
wheel hubs with a hard wax layer every thre
e months. You must not use any products
which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any damage to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately. We recommend using a preservative from Šk
oda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning th
e wheels that moisture, ice and road
salt may adversely affect braking ef
ficiency - risk of an accident!
Note
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also
result in wheel imbalance. This may show
itself in the form of a wheel vibration which
is transmitted to the steering wheel which,
in certain circumstances, can
cause premature wear of the
steering. This means it is
necessary to remove the dirt.
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Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Underbody protectionThe underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechanical influences. One cannot, however, complete
ly rule out damage to the
protective layer
when
driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of your vehicle and on the
chassis at certain intervals - this is best done at the beginning
and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas. Specialist garages have suitable
spray products
available as well
as the necessary
equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use. Therefore, we recommend you have such touch-up work or additional
corrosion protection measures carried out
by a specialist garage.
WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, di
esel particle filter or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating
temperature, these substances might
ignite - risk of fire!Protection of hollow spacesAll the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for life by a layer of
protective wax
applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. Please remove any small amount of wax which flows out of the cavities at high temperatures with a plastic scraper and clean the spot using petroleum cleaner.
WARNING
Safety and environmental pr
otection regulations should observed when using
petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!
Engine compartmentGood corrosion protection is very importan
t, particularly in winter when one often
drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the entire engine compartment before and after the salt spread
ing period, in order to prevent the salt
from being destructive. Specialist garages have the cleaning agen
ts recommended by the manufacturer and
also the required equipment.
WARNING

It is necessary to observ
e the guidelines given in the chapter before working
on the engine compartment
page 166.

Let the engine cool down before cleaning the engine compartment.Caution

Engine cleaning may be only be un
dertaken when the ignition is off.

It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine compart-
ment.
For the sake of the environment
The dirty water produced by washing the engine has washed away petrol, and residues of grease and oil and should therefore be
cleaned by an oil separator. This is why
engine washing should only be undertaken in garages or at filling stations (when these are fitted with the required equipment).Care of the interior of vehiclePlastic parts, artificial leather and clothsYou can clean plastic parts and artificial le
ather with a moist cloth. You should only
treat such parts with special
solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products
it does
prove to be adequate.
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