2010 SKODA FABIA engine

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.
s3j8.a.book Page 153 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
159
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.
s3j8.a.book Page 159 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Fuel
162
FuelPetrolGrades of petrolYour vehicle can only be operated with
unleaded petrol
, which complies with the
standard
EN 228
. The individual grades of petrol
are distinguished by their octane
number (RON). On the inside of the fuel
filler flap, you will find the information
regarding the RON required by your engine
page 163.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol 95/91 RON Use unleaded petrol
95 RON. You can also use unleaded petrol
91 RON, but this leads
to a slight loss in performance. If, in case of necessity, the vehicle must
be refuelled with petrol of a lower octane
number than the one prescribed, you must co
ntinue driving at me
dium engine speeds
and low engine load. Driving at high engine speeds or a high engine load can severely damage the engine! Refuel as soon as possib
le with petrol of the prescribed octane
number. Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol min. 95 RON Use unleaded petrol
95 RON.
In case of necessity, you can refuel with petrol
91 RON
if petrol
95 RON
is not avail-
able. You must continue driving at medium
engine speeds and minimum engine load.
Driving at high engine speeds or a high engine load can severely damage the engine! Refuel as soon as possib
le with petrol of the prescribed octane number.
Even in case of necessity, you must not
use petrol of a lower octane number than
91,
otherwise the engine can be severely damaged! You can find further information on refuelling
page 163, “Refuelling”.
Unleaded petrol with higher octane number You can make unlimited use of unleaded pe
trol which has a higher octane number
than the one prescribed.
On vehicles with prescribed unleaded petrol
95/91 RON
, the use of petrol with a
higher octane number than
95 does not result in a noticeable power increase or a
lower fuel consumption. On vehicles with prescribed unleaded petrol
min. 95 RON
, the use of petrol with a
higher octane number than
95 does not result in a power increase or a lower fuel
consumption.
Caution

All Škoda vehicles with petrol engines are equipped with a catalytic converter and
must be only driven with unleaded petrol. Fi
lling the tank even only once with leaded
petrol will result in the cata
lytic converter being destroyed!

Only use unleaded petrol which
complies with the standard
EN 228
.

If you use petrol with a lower octane num
ber than the one prescribed, the engine
can be severely damaged!
Note
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.DieselDiesel fuelYour vehicle can only be operated with
diesel fuel
, which complies with the standard
EN 590
(standard
DIN 51628
in Germany, standard
ÖNORM C 1590
in Austria).
Fuel additives You must not use fuel additives, so-called “flow improvers” (petrol and similar prod- ucts) in diesel fuel. You can find information on refuelling
page 163, “Refuelling”.
s3j8.a.book Page 162 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Fuel
163
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Caution

Therefore, your vehicle can only be operated with diesel fuel which complies with
the standard
EN 590
(standard
DIN 51628
in Germany, standard
ÖNORM C 1590
in
Austria). Filling the tank even only once wi
th diesel fuel which does not comply with
the standard, can result in damage to the engine parts, the lubrication system, the fuel and exhaust system.
If by mistake you have refuelled with a different fuel other than the diesel fuel
which complies to the above mentioned standards (e.g. petrol), do not start the engine or switch on the ignition! This can result in
severe engine damage! Contact a specialist
garage and have the fuel sy
stem of the engine cleaned.

Water which has collected in the fuel fi
lter can result in engine problems.

Your vehicle is not adapted for use of biofue
l (RME), therefore this fuel must not be
refuelled and driven. The use of biofuel (RME) can lead to damage to the engine or the fuel system.Operation in winterWinter-grade diesel fuel A different grade of diesel fuel is available at
filling stations in winter than during the
summer. Using “summer-grade diesel fuel” at temperatures below 0°C can result in operational problems because th
e diesel becomes viscous as a result of paraffin sepa-
ration. It is therefore the case that the standard
EN 590
(standard
DIN 51628
in Germany,
standard
ÖNORM C 1590
in Austria) is the diesel fuel class prescribed for certain
periods of the year which can also be purc
hased at the correspond
ing time during the
year. “Winter-grade diesel fuel” will still operate properly even at a temperature of - 20°C. It is often the case in countries with different climatic conditions that diesel fuels avail- able have a different temperature characte
ristic. The authorised Škoda Service Part-
ners and filling stations in the country concer
ned will be able to provide you with infor-
mation regarding the diesel fuels available. Prewarming fuel The vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter prewarming system. This secures operation of a vehicle using diesel fuel down to an environmental temperature of -25°C.
Caution
It is not permitted to add the various fuel
additives on the market, including petrol, to
diesel fuel in order to improve its flow properties.RefuellingFig. 137 Right rear side of the vehicle: Fuel
filler flap / fuel filler
flap with cap unscrewed
Opening the fuel filler cap– Open the fuel filler flap with the hand
fig. 137
- left.
– Unlock the fuel filler cap on the fuel fi
ller tube to the left using the vehicle key.
– Unscrew the fuel filler ca
p anti-clockwise and place the fuel filler cap from above
on the fuel filler flap
fig. 137
- right.
Closing fuel filler cap– Screw on the cap by turning it to the right until it is heard to lock. – Lock the fuel filler cap on the fuel filler tube by turning the vehicle key to the right
and withdraw the key.
– Press the fuel tank flap closed. The correct grades of fuel for your vehicle are stated on a sticker affixed to the inside of the fuel filler flap. Further information on fuel
page 162.
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Fuel
164
WARNING
Pay attention to any legal requirements if you do carry a spare canister in the vehicle. We do not recommend carrying any fuel canisters in your vehicle for safety reasons. The canister can be damaged
in the event of an accident and fuel
may leak out.
Caution

Remove any fuel which has spilled onto th
e paintwork of your vehicle immediately
- risk of paint damage!
On vehicles fitted with a catalytic converte
r, never let the fuel tank run completely
empty. An irregular supply of fuel to the engine can result in misfiring and unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system, which may
result in overheating and damage to the
catalytic converter.
Make sure that the valve is not pressed into the filler tube when inserting the pump
nozzle into the filler tube.
Otherwise you are unintentiona
lly filling up the volume,
which in case of heat can caus
e an expansion of the fuel. This can lead to an overflow
of fuel or damage to parts of the fuel reservoir.
The fuel tank is full just as soon as th
e pump nozzle switches off for the first time,
provided the nozzle has been operated prop
erly. Do not continue refuelling - other-
wise the expansion volume is filled up.
Note
The fuel tank has a
capacity of about
45 litres
, containing a reserve of
7litres
.
s3j8.a.book Page 164 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Inspecting and replenishing
165
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Inspecting and replenishingEngine compartmentBonnet remote releaseBonnet remote release– Pull the unlocking lever on the left below the dash panel
fig. 138
.
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force.Opening and closing the bonnet.Fig. 139 Radiator grille: Locking lever / se
curing the bonnet with the bonnet support
Opening the bonnet– Unlock the bonnet
fig. 138
.
– Ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are correctly in place against the
windscreen
before opening
the bonnet otherwise damage could occur to the
paintwork.
– Pull on the locking lever
fig. 139
- left, 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
 fig. 139
- right.
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 properly
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. Othe
rwise, there is a risk of damage to the
paintwork.
Fig. 138 Bonnet release lever
s3j8.a.book Page 165 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Inspecting and replenishing
166
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, acci
dents 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 safe
ty. The engine compartment 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 anti-
freeze 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 expans
ion 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.

Do not let objects, such as e.g cleaning cloth or tools lie in the engine
compartment.
If you wish to work under the vehicl
e, you must secure the vehicle from
rolling away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is not sufficient for this - risk of injury!
In cases where it be necessary to carry out inspection work when the engine
is running there is an additional risk fr
om rotating parts (e.g. the V-ribbed belt,
alternator, radiator fan) and from the high-voltage ignition system. Please observe in addition the following:
 Never touch the electrical cabl
es of the ignition system.
 Absolutely avoid any jewellery, loose it
ems of clothing or long hair from
getting into the rotating parts of the
engine - Hazard! Therefore remove any
jewellery beforehand, tie up your hair and wear tight fitting clothing.

Please also comply with the warnin
g instructions st
ated below when
carrying out any essential work on the fu
el system or on th
e electrical system:
 Always separate the car battery from the electrical system.  Do not smoke.  Never carry out any work close to naked flames.  Always keep a working fire
extinguisher at hand.
Caution
When replenishing fluids in the engine, always
ensure that the fluids are on no account
mixed up. This may result in major oper
ating problems and also vehicle damage!
WARNING (continued)
s3j8.a.book Page 166 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM