2010 SKODA FABIA coolant level

Instruments and warning lights
16Shift into the next higher gear or select th
e selector lever position D of the automatic
gearbox before reaching the red zone of the rev counter scale. Avoid high engine speeds du
ring the driving time and before the engine has been
warmed up to operating temperature
page 145.
For the sake of the environment
Shif ting to a highe r g ear in g ood tim e hel p
s to reduce the fuel
consumption, minimises
operating noise levels, protects the environment and contributes to a longer life and reliability of the engine.SpeedometerWarning against excessive speeds* An acoustic warning signal will sound when
the vehicle speed exceeds 120 kilometres
per hour. The acoustic warning signal will switch off again when the vehicle speed goes below this speed limit.
Note
This function is only
valid for some countries.
Coolant temperature gauge*The coolant temperature gauge
page 15, fig. 15
operates only when the ignition
is switched on. In order to avoid any damage to the engine,
please pay attention to the following notes
regarding the temperature ranges. Cold range If the pointer is in the left-hand area of the scale it means that the engine has not yet reached its operating temperatur
e. Avoid running at high engine speeds, at full throttle
and at severe engine loads.
The operating range The engine has reached its operating temperature as soon as the pointer moves into the mid-range of the scale. The pointer may
also move further to the right at high
engine loads and high outside temperatures. This is not critical provided the warning symbol
 in the instrument cl
uster does not flash.
If the symbol
 in the instrument cluster flashes it means that either the coolant
temperature
is too high or the coolant
level
is too low. Observe the guidelines
 page 29, “Coolant temperature/coolant quantity
 ”.
WARNING
Pay attention to the warning notes
page 166, “Working in the engine
compartment” before opening the bonn
et and inspecting the coolant level.
Caution
Additional headlights and other attached components in front of the fresh air inlet impair the cooling effi
ciency of the coolant. There is
then a risk of the engine over-
heating at high outside temper
atures and high engine loads.
Fuel gauge*The fuel gauge
page 15, fig. 15
only operates when the ignition is switched on.
The fuel tank has a capacity of
about 45 litres. The warning symbol
 in the instrument
cluster lights up when the pointer reaches the reserve marking. There are now about 7 litres of fuel remaining in the tank.
This symbol is a reminder for you,
that you must
refuel
.
The following will be displayed in the information display*:
Please refuel!
An audible signal sounds as an additional warning signal.On some vehicles, the fuel gauge is shown
in the display of the instrument cluster.
A4
A7
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Instruments and warning lights
26Warning lightsOverview The warning lights indicate certain functions or faults.
Fig. 22 Instrument cluster with warning lights

Turn signal lights (to the left)
 page 27

Turn signal lights (to the right)
page 27

Main beam light
page 27

Low beam light
page 27

Rear fog light
page 28

Failure of the light bulbs
page 28

Dynamo
page 28

Fog lights*
page 28

Electrohydraulic power steering
page 28

EPC fault light (petrol engine)
page 28

Glow plug system (diesel engine)
page 29


Coolant temperature/coolant level
page 29

Fuel reserve
page 29
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Instruments and warning lights
29
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Glow plug system

(diesel engine)
The warning light
 lights up for a
cold
engine when switching on the ignition (pre-
heat position)
page 89. Start the engine after the indicator light goes out.
The glow plug indicato
r light will come on for about 1
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
.
There is a fault in the glow plug system if the
warning light
 does not come on
or
lights up continuously
; contact a specialist garage as soon as possible to obtain
assistance. If the
warning light
 begins
to flash
while driving, a fault exists in the engine
control. The engine management system
selects an emergency programme which
enables you to drive to the nearest specialist garage by adopting a gentle style of driving. The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Engine fault: Workshop!
Coolant temperature/coolant quantity


The warning light
 lights up until the engine reaches operating temperature
3). Avoid
running at high engine speeds, at full
throttle and at se
vere engine loads.
The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched on.
The coolant temperature is too high or the
coolant level too low if the warning light

lights up or flashes while driving. An audible signal sounds as a warning signal.In this case stop and switch the engine off
and check the coolant level; top up the
coolant as necessary
page 170, “Replenishing the coolant”.
Do not continue your journey
if for some reason it is not possible under the condi-
tions prevailing to top up with coolant.
Keep the engine switched off
and obtain
professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
If the coolant is within the specified range, the increased temperature may be caused by an operating problem at the coolant fan.
Check the fuse for the coolant fan, replace
it if necessary
page 199, “Fuse assignment at th
e battery (automatic gearbox)”.
If the warning light
 does not go out although the coolant is at the correct level and
also the fuse of the fan is in proper order,
do not continue driving
. Contact a specialist
garage to obtain assistance. Please refer to the following guidelines
page 169, “Cooling system”.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Check coolant! Owner's manual
WARNING
If you must stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe distance from the traffic and switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning light system
page 51, “Switch for hazard warning lights
”.
Fuel reserve

The warning light
 comes on, if the fuel level is less than 7 litres.
An audible signal sounds as an additional warning signal.The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Please refuel! Range...km
Engine oil


The warning light

lights up red (low oil pressure)
The warning light comes on for a few seconds
4) when the ignition is switched on.
Stop the vehicle and switch the engine off
if the warning light does not go off after
the engine has started or flashes while driving. Check the oil level and top up with oil as necessary
page 167.
3)Not valid for vehicles with information display.
A2
4)The warning light
 on vehicles fitted with information
display does not come on after switch-
ing the ignition on, but only if a fault exists or the engine oil level is too low.
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Instruments and warning lights
303 peeps sound as an additional warning signal. Do not continue your journey
if for some reason it is
not possible under the condi-
tions prevailing to top up with oil.
Keep the engine switched off
and obtain profes-
sional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage. Do not drive any further
if the warning light flashes even if the oil is at the correct
level. Do not run the engine
not at idling speed either. Contact the nearest specialist
garage to obtain professional assistance. The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Oil Pressure: Engine off! Owner's manual!
The warning light

lights up yellow* (oil quantity too low)
If the warning light lights up yellow, the quantity of oil in the engine is probably too low. Check as soon as possible the oil level or top up
page 167 with engine oil.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Check oil level!
The warning light will go out if the bonnet is le
ft open for more than 30 seconds. If no
engine oil has been replenished, the warning light will come on again after driving about 100 km. The warning light

flashes yellow* (engine oil level sensor faulty)
A fault on the engine oil level sensor is indicated additionally by an audible signal and the warning light coming on several times after the ignition has been switched on. In this case have the engine inspected without delay by a specialist garage.The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Oil sensor. Workshop!
WARNING

If you must stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe
distance from the traffic and switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning light system
page 51.

The red oil pressure light

is not an oil level indicator! One should there-
fore check the oil level at regular interval
s, preferably after every refueling stop.

Pay attention to the following instructions
page 166, “Working in the
engine compartment” before checking
the coolant fluid level and opening the
bonnet.Open door

The warning light
 comes on if one or several doors are opened or if the boot lid is
opened. If one of the doors opens whil
e driving, the warning light lights
 up and an
audible signal sounds. The warning light comes on even when the ignition is switched off. The warning light lights up for a maximum of 5 minutes. On vehicles with information display* this wa
rning light is replaced by a vehicle symbol
 page 23.Windshield washer fluid level*

The warning light
 comes on when the ignition is swit
ched on if there is insufficient
fluid in the windshield washer system. Top up with liquid
page 176.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
To p u p w a s h f l u i d !
Control system for exhaust

The warning light
 comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
If the warning light does not go out after starti
ng the engine or it li
ghts up when driving,
a fault exists in an exhaust relevant co
mponent. The engine management system
selects an emergency programme which enables you to drive to the nearest specialist garage by adopting a ge
ntle style of driving.
WARNING (continued)
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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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Inspecting and replenishing
167
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Overview of the engine compartment The main inspection points.Fig. 140 Diesel engine 1.6 ltr./77 kW
Coolant expansion bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windshield washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engine oil filler opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brake fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery (below a cover) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Note
The location of the inspection points in th
e engine compartment of petrol and diesel
engines is practically identical.
Engine oilCheck engine oil level The dipstick indicates the le
vel of oil in the engine.
Checking the oil level– Ensure that the vehicle is po
sitioned on a level surface.
– Switch the engine off.– Open the bonnet

in “Working in the engine compartment” on page 166.
– Wait a few minutes and pull out the oil dipstick

.
– Wipe off the dipstick with a clea
n cloth and insert it again fully.
– Then withdraw the dipstick again and read off the oil level.Oil level within range –You must
not
top up the oil.
Oil level within range –You
may
top up the oil. It is possible that the oil level may then be within range
after doing this.
Oil level within range –You
must
top up the oil. It is ideal, once this
is done, to keep the oil level within
range .
A1
170
A2
176
A3
168
A4
167
A5
171
A6
172
Fig. 141 Dipstick
AaAb
Aa
Ac
Ab
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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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