2011 SKODA FABIA service indicator

Charging the battery
A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting the en-
gine.
– Read the warning notes ⇒  in General information on page 160 and ⇒  .
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect both battery cables (first of all “nega-
tive ”, then
“positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals
(red = “positive”, black = “negative

”).
– You can now plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and
switch on the charger.
– When charging is completed: switch the charger off and unplug the mains ca-
ble from the power socket.
– Only then should you disconnect the terminal clamps of the charger.
– Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not normally necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you recharge
the battery using low amperages (as for example from a mini-charger). Please al-
so refer to the instructions from the charger manufacturer.
A charging current of 0.1 of the total battery capacity (or lower) is that which
should be used until full charging is achieved.
It is, however, necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the battery
with high amperages, so-called “ quick-charging”.
“Quick-charging

” a battery is dangerous ⇒  in General information on page 160.
It requires a special charger and specialist knowledge. We recommend having the
quick charging of vehicle batteries undertaken by a specialist garage.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0°C ⇒  . We
recommend that you no longer use a battery which has thawed out because the
casing of the battery may be cracked through the formation of ice and this would
allow battery electrolyte to flow out.
The vent plugs of the battery should not be opened for charging. WARNING
● Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns. Replace a frozen battery.
● Never charge a battery which has a too low electrolyte level - risk of explo-
sion and caustic burns. CAUTION
On vehicles with the “START/STOP” system, the pole terminal of the charger must
not be connected directly to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery, but only
to the engine earth ⇒ fig. 148. 
Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery On disconnecting and reconnecting the battery the following functions are initially
deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free.
Operation Operating measure
Electrical power window (operational faults) ⇒ page 38
Enter the car stereo/radio navigation system
code number see operating instructions for the
car stereo/radio navigation sys-
tem
Setting the clock ⇒ page 13
Data in the multi-functional indicator are de-
leted.
⇒ page 14
We recommend having the vehicle checked by an authorised ŠKODA Service Part-
ner to ensure full functionality of all electrical systems.

Replacing the battery When replacing a battery, the new new battery must have the same capacity,
voltage (12


V), amperage and be the same size. Suitable types of vehicle battery
are available from an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner.
We recommend you have a battery change carried out by an authorised ŠKODA
Service Partner, who will properly install the new battery and dispose of the origi-
nal one. £162
Inspecting and Replenishing

WARNING
● You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn down. The legally permissible minimum tread
depth should be observed.
● Worn tyres do not provide the necessary adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One could experience “ aquaplaning
” (uncontrolled
movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface). 
Changing wheels around If significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing
the front wheels around with the rear wheels. You will then obtain approximately
the same life for all the tyres.
It may be advantageous to swap the tyres over
“

crosswise” when uneven wear
characteristic arise on the running surfaces of the tyres (but not in the case of uni-
directional tyres). We recommend that you contact an authorised ŠKODA Service
Partner. They have extensive knowledge about the possible combinations.
We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to
achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life. 
New tyres and wheels Tyres and wheel rims are important design elements. One should therefore use
the tyres and wheel rims which have been released for use by
ŠKODA. They are
exactly matched to the vehicle type and therefore contribute significantly to good
road holding and safe driving characteristics ⇒  .
Only fit radial tyres of the same type on all 4 wheels, size (rolling circumference)
and, if possible, the same tread pattern on one axle.
Authorised ŠKODA

Service Partners have access to the most current information
about which tyres we have released for use on your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any work relating to tyres or wheels carried out by
an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner. Authorised ŠKODA Service Partners have
all of the necessary special tools and replacement parts available plus the re-
quired specialist knowledge and are also in a position to properly dispose of the
old tyres. A large number of authorised ŠKODA Service Partners also have an at-
tractive range of tyres and wheels available. The tyre/wheel combinations which are approved for your vehicle are indicated in
your vehicle documents. Approval and licensing may differ according to the legis-
lation prevailing in individual countries.
Proper knowledge of the tyre data makes it easier for you to select the correct
type of tyre. Tyres do, for example, have the following
inscription on their walls:
185 / 65 R 14 86 T
What this means is: 185 Tyre width in mm
65 Height/width ratio in %
R Code letter for the type of tyre -
R adial 14 Diameter of wheel in inches
86 Load index
T Speed symbol
The following speed restrictions apply to tyres.
Speed symbol Permissible maximum speed
Q 160 km/h
R 170 km/h
S 180 km/h
T 190 km/h
U 200 km/h
H 210 km/h
V 240 km/h
W 270 km/h
The date of manufacture
is also stated on the tyre wall (possibly only on the in-
side of wheel).
DOT ... 20 11...
means, for example, that the tyre was manufactured in the 20th week of the year
2011.
Any spare wheel which differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter
tyres or low-profile tyres) should only be used only 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 possible by a normal wheel. £166
Wheels and Tyres

Paint damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Parking
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Parking aid
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Parking light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Parking ticket holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Passive Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Payload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 85
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Petrol engines Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Operational faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
R
Radiator fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Rear-view mirror Interior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Rear fog light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Rear mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Rear window heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Recharge battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Recommendation for changing gears . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Synchronisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Removing the seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Replacement of parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Replacing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Replacing fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Replacing the wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Roof aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Roof luggage rack system
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Running in the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
S Safe securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Safety information Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Saving electrical energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Seat belt height adjuster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
fastening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Height adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
taking off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Seat belt warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Selector lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Selector lever-emergency unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Selector lever lock Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Selector lever positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Service reminder indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting temperature Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Setting the clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Stability system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Start-stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
Diesel engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Petrol engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Steering force assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Storage compartment Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Storage facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Sun visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Switching off the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Switch off Anti-spin regulation (ASR) Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Systems Start-stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
T
Tailgate Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Taking care of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
TCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Temperature outside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
The first 1 500 kilometres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Top Tether . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tourist light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Towing eye front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Towing protection monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Traction control system (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 211
Index Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data