2011 SKODA FABIA light

A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean body-
work after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we
still recommend that you treat the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year
with hard wax.
CAUTION
Never apply wax to the windows. 
Polishing Polishing is only necessary if the paintwork of your vehicle has become unattrac-
tive and if it is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservers.
You must treat the paintwork with a wax preserver if the polish you use does not
contain any preserving elements
⇒ page 145, Wax treatment
.CAUTION
● You must not treat mat painted parts or plastic with polishing products or hard
wax.
● Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle in a dusty environment, otherwise
the paintwork can be scratched. 
Chrome parts First clean the chrome parts with a damp clotch and then polish them with a soft,
dry cloth. If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific
chrome care product.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment, otherwise they can be
scratched. 
Paint damage Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage
must be touched up immediately with paint (Škoda painting pen)
before any cor-
rosion can result. You can of course have this work carried out by authorised
ŠKODA Service Partners.
The authorised ŠKODA Service Partners 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 indicated on the ve-
hicle data sticker
⇒ page 193.
If an corrosion arises, this will need to 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 authorised ŠKODA Service Partners. 
Plastic parts External plastic parts are cleaned by normal 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 products are not suitable for plastic parts. CAUTION
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it. 
Windows Only use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and
mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one di-
rection 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 used to polish the vehicle body to dry
off the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the
window and reduce visibility.
Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid damage to
the
heating wires of the rear window heater . CAUTION
● Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts 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. 146
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

The headlight lenses
Please do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products for clean-
ing 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 conse-
quently in formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g. through effect of
chemical products. 
Door and window seals The rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and
last longer if you treat them regularly 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 cylinder Use specific products for de-icing locking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the
locking cylinders. 
Wheels Steel 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 wheels is necessary in order to retain their decorative
appearance over long periods. It is particularly important to remove regularly any
road salt and brake abrasion from light alloy wheels, otherwise the light metal will
suffer. Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a protective product for
light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic components. We recommend
to apply a hard wax layer onto the wheel hubs every three months. You must not
use any products which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any dam-
age to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning the wheels that moisture, ice and road
salt may adversely affect braking efficiency - 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. 
Underbody protection The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechanical
influences.
One cannot, however, completely 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 be-
ginning and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas.
The authorised
ŠKODA Service Partners 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 an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner. WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for
the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances might
ignite - risk of fire! 147
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Protection of hollow spaces
All 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 stains using petroleum cleaner. WARNING
Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when using
petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire! 
Care of the interior of vehicle Plastic parts, artificial leather and cloths You can clean plastic parts and artificial leather with a moist cloth. You should on-
ly treat such parts with special
solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products it
does prove to be adequate.
Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on the doors, luggage compartment cover, head-
liner etc. are best treated with special cleaning products, using if necessary a dry
foam and a soft sponge or brush. CAUTION
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it. 
Fabric covers of electrically heated seats Do not clean
the seat covers moist as this may result in damage to the seat heat-
ing system.
Clean such covers using special agents, for example dry foam. Natural leather Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.
Leather should be treated from time to time according the following guidelines
depending on how much it is used.
Normal cleaning
– Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen
cloth.
Severe soiling
– Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy solution (2
spoonfuls of natural soap to 1 litre of water).
– Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no water
gets into the stitching of the seams.
– Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Removing stains
– Remove fresh stains which are water-based (e.g. coffee, tea, juices, blood etc.)
with an absorbent cloth or household paper or use the cleaner from the care
set for a stain which has already dried in.
– Remove fresh stains on a fat base (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate etc.)
with an absorbent cloth or household cleaning paper or with the cleaner from
the care set if the stain has not yet penetrated into the surface.
– Use a grease dissolver for grease stains which have dried in .
– Eliminate special stains (e.g. ball-point pens, felt pen, nail varnish, dispersion
paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.
Leather care
– Treat the leather every six months with a special leather care product.
– Apply only a small amount of the care product.
– Dry the leather off with a soft cloth £148
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

CAUTION
● You must on no account treat the leather with solvents (e.g. gasoline, turpen-
tine), floor wax, shoe cream or such like.
● Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight in order to
avoid bleaching the leather. If you leave your vehicle parked in the open for
lengthy periods, protect the leather from the direct rays of the sun by covering it
over.
● Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the surface.
● The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface
of the steering wheel. Note
● Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect regularly and each
time after cleaning the leather. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove fresh soiling each time this oc-
curs.
● Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
cream, etc., as quickly as possible.
● Care also for the leather dye. Refreshen areas which have lost their colour
with a special coloured leather cream as required.
● The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the
vehicle, minor optical changes can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g
wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers). 
Seat belts –
Keep the seat belts clean!
– Wash seat belts which have become soiled using a mild soapy solution.
– Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition.
Belt webbing which has become severely soiled may prevent the inertia reel from
reeling up the belt properly. WARNING
● The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.
● Never clean the seat belts chemically as dry cleaning may destroy the fab-
ric. The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into contact with corro-
sive liquids (such as acids etc.).
● Seat belts which have damage to the webbing, the connections, the inertia
reel or the lock should be replaced by a specialist garage.
● Inertia reel belts must be completely dried before being reeled up. 149
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Fuel
Petrol
Unleaded petrol Your vehicle can only be operated with
unleaded petrol, which complies with the
standard EN 228 (In Germany: standard DIN 51626 - 1 or E10 for unleaded fuel with
octane rating 95 RON and 91 RON or DIN 51626 - 2 or E5 for unleaded fuel with
octane rating 95 RON and 98 RON). On the inside of the fuel filler flap, you will
find the information regarding the RON required by your engine ⇒ 
fig. 125 - right.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol 95/91 RON
Use unleaded fuel with the octane rating 95 RON. You can also use unleaded pet-
rol 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 continue driving at medium engine
speeds and low engine load. Driving at high engine revs or a high engine load can
severely damage the engine! Refuel as soon as possible with petrol of the prescri-
bed octane number.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol min. 95 RON
Use unleaded fuel with the octane rating 95 RON.
In case of necessity, you can refuel with petrol with the octane rating 91 RON if
petrol with the octane rating 95 RON is not available. You must continue driving at
medium engine speeds and minimum engine load. Driving at high engine revs or a
high engine load can severely damage the engine! Refuel as soon as possible with
petrol of the prescribed octane number.
Even in case of necessity, you must not use petrol of a lower octane number than
91 RON, otherwise the engine can be severely damaged!
You can find further information on refuelling ⇒ page 151, Refuelling.
Unleaded petrol with higher octane number
You can make unlimited use of unleaded petrol 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 RON 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 RON does not result in a power increase or a lower
fuel consumption.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol 98/95 RON
Use unleaded fuel with the octane rating 98 RON. You can also use unleaded pet-
rol 95 RON, but this leads to a slight loss in performance.
In case of necessity, you can refuel with petrol with the octane rating 91 RON of
unleaded fuel with octane rating 98 RON or

95 RON is not available. You must
continue driving at medium engine speeds and minimum engine load. Driving at
high engine revs or a high engine load can severely damage the engine! Refuel as
soon as possible with petrol of the prescribed octane number.
Even in case of necessity, you must not use petrol of a lower octane number than
91 RON, otherwise the engine can be severely damaged!
Fuel additives
Your vehicle can only be operated with unleaded petrol, which complies with the
standard EN 228 (in Germany: standard DIN 51626 - 1 or E10 for unleaded fuel with
octane rating 95 RON and 91 RON or DIN 51626 - 2 or E5 for unleaded fuel with
octane rating 95 RON and 98 RON). These meet all requirements for troublefree
engine operation. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of fuel additives. CAUTION
● All ŠKODA vehicles with petrol engines are equipped with a catalytic converter
and must be driven only with unleaded petrol. Filling the tank even only once with
leaded petrol will result in the catalytic converter being destroyed!
● If you use petrol with a lower octane number than the one prescribed, the en-
gine can be severely damaged!
● The use of improper fuel additives can cause serious damage to the engine or
the catalytic converter. In no case may fuel additives with metal components be
used, especially not with manganese and iron content.
● Fuels with metallic content may not be used. Risk of engine or catalytic con-
verter damage!
● LRP (lead replacement petrol)

fuels with metallic components may not be
used. Risk of engine or catalytic converter damage! 150
Fuel

Inspecting and Replenishing
Engine compartment
Bonnet remote release Fig. 126 Bonnet release lever
Bonnet remote release
– Pull the unlocking lever below the dash panel on the left-hand side ⇒ 
fig. 126 .
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force. 
Opening and closing the bonnet. Fig. 127 Radiator grille: Locking lever/securing the bonnet with the bonnet support
Opening the bonnet
–
Unlock the bonnet ⇒ 
fig. 126 . –
Ensure that the arms of the windshield wipers are correctly in place against
the windshield before opening
the bonnet, otherwise damage could occur to
the paintwork.
– Pull on the locking lever ⇒ fig. 127 - 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. 127 - right.
Closing the bonnet
– Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the bonnet sup-
port into the holder designed to hold it.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height of about 20 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 driv-
ing. One should therefore check that the lock has in fact engaged properly af-
ter 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! 
Working in the engine compartment Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the en-
gine compartment!
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the en-
gine 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 safety. The engine compartment of your car
is a hazardous area ⇒   .
£ 153
Inspecting and Replenishing Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Engine coolant expansion reservoir
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Windshield washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Engine oil filler opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Brake fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Battery (below a cover) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and die-
sel engines is practically identical. 
Engine oil Check engine oil level The dipstick indicates the level of oil in the engine.
Fig. 129 Dipstick
Checking the oil level
– Ensure that the vehicle is positioned on a level surface and the engine has
reached its operating temperature ⇒  .
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒  in Working in the engine compartment on page 154.
– Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil sump. Take out
the dipstick.
– Wipe off the dipstick with a clean cloth and insert it again fully.
– Then withdraw the dipstick again and read off the oil level.
1 2
3
4
5
6 Oil level within range
a –
You must not top up the oil.
Oil level within range b –
You may top up the oil. It is possible that the oil level may then be within
range a after doing this.
Oil level within range c –
You must top up the oil ⇒ page 156. It is sufficient, once this is done, to keep
the oil level is within range b .
It is normal for the engine to consume oil. The oil consumption may be as much as
0.5 l/1 000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which
you operate your vehicle. The oil consumption may be slightly higher than this
during the first 5 000 kilometres.
One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time
after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches.
We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range a if the engine has
been operating at high loads, for example during a lengthy motorway trip during
the summer months, towing a trailer or negotiating a high mountain pass, but not
above this .
The warning light in the instrument cluster will indicate whether the oil level is
too low ⇒ page 23, Engine oil  . In this case, check the oil level as soon as
possible. Top up with an appropriate quantity of oil. CAUTION
● Always check the oil level on vehicles with engine 1.2 l/44 kW when the engine
is cold. Otherwise the measuring result is incorrect und oil could be incorrectly re-
plenished - risk of engine damage!
● The oil level must on no account extend beyond the range A . Danger of dam-
aging the catalytic converter.
● 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 en-
gine damage. Note
Engine oil specifications ⇒  page 195.  155
Inspecting and Replenishing Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

When refilling, we only recommend you use the same antifreeze described on the
antifreeze expansion tank.
Please contact an authorised
ŠKODA
Service Partner if you have any questions re-
garding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant.
An authorised ŠKODA Service Partner can also supply you with the correct coolant
additives.
Coolant capacity Petrol engines Capacities (in liter)
1.2 ltr./44 kW - EU5 5,5
1.2 l/51 kW - EU5 / EU2 DDK 5,5
1.2 ltr./63 kW TSI - EU5 7,7
1.2 ltr./77 kW TSI - EU5 7,7
1.4 ltr./63 kW - EU5 5,5
1.4 ltr./132 kW TSI - EU5 6,6
1.6 ltr./77 kW - EU4/EU2 DDK 5,5
Diesel engines Capacities (in liter)
1.2 ltr./55 kW TDI CR DPF - EU5 6,6
1.6 ltr./55 kW TDI CR DPF - EU5 8,4
1.6 ltr./66 kW TDI CR DPF - EU5 8,4
1.6 ltr./77 kW TDI CR DPF - EU5 8,4
CAUTION
● Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in particular,
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 level Fig. 130 Engine compartment: Coolant
expansion bottle
The 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 154.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒ fig. 130. The cool-
ant level when the engine is cold must lie between the “MIN” B and “MAX”
A markings. The level may also rise slightly above the “MAX” marking when the
engine is warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the warning light
in the instrument cluster 
⇒ page 23. We still 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 expan-
sion bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a result of over-
heating and is forced out of the cooling system. WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒ page 153,
Working in the engine com-
partment before working in the engine compartment. £ 157
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