2012 SKODA FABIA tow

Table of Contents
Abbreviations
Using the system
Cockpit 7
Overview 6
Instruments and Indicator Lights 8
Instrument cluster 8
Multifunction display (onboard computer) 12
MAXI DOT (information display) 15
Warning lights 17
Unlocking and locking 25
Vehicle key 25
Locking/unlocking the vehicle without central
locking 26
Central locking system 27
Remote control 29
Anti-theft alarm system 31
Interior monitor and towing protection 31
Emergency locking of the doors 32
Boot lid 32
Electrical power windows 34
Electric sliding/tilting roof 36
Lights and visibility 38
Lights 38
Interior light 43
Visibility 44
Windscreen wipers and washers 44
Rear window 47
Seats and Stowage 49
Front seats 49
Head restraints 51
Rear seats 52Boot 53
Variable loading floor in the luggage
compartment (Combi) 57
Net partition (Combi) 58
Bicycle carrier in the luggage compartment 60
Roof rack system 62
Cup holders 63
Ashtray 64
Cigarette lighter, 12-volt power socket 64
Storage compartments 65
Clothes hooks 69
Parking ticket holder 69
Heating and air conditioning system 70
Heating and air conditioning system 70
Air outlet vents 71
Heating 71
Air conditioning system (manual air conditioning
system) 73
Climatronic (automatic air conditioning
system) 76
Starting-off and Driving 79
Starting and stopping the engine 79
Brakes and brake assist systems 81
Shifting (manual gearbox) 85
pedals 85
Parking aid 85
Cruise control system (CCS) 86
START/STOP 88
Automatic gearbox 90
Automatic gearbox 90
Communication 95
Mobile phones and two-way radio systems 95
Universal telephone preinstallation GSM II 95
Voice control 99
Multimedia 101 Safety
Passive Safety 103
General information 103
Correct seated position 104
Seat belts 107
Seat belts 107
Airbag system 111
Description of the airbag system 111
Front airbags 112
Side airbags 113
Head airbags 114
Deactivating airbags 115
Transporting children safely 117
Child seat 117
Driving Tips
Driving and the Environment 121
The first 1 500 km 121
Catalytic converter 121
Economical and environmentally friendly
driving 122
Environmental compatibility 124
Driving abroad 125
Avoiding damage to your vehicle 125
Driving through water on the street 126
Towing a trailer 127
Towing a trailer 127
General Maintenance
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle 129
Taking care of your vehicle 129
3
Table of Contents

Inspecting and replenishing 136
Fuel 136
Engine compartment 138
Vehicle battery 145
Wheels and Tyres 150
Tyres 150
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts 157
Introductory information 157
Changes and impairments of the airbag
system 157
Do-it-yourself
Do-it-yourself 158
First-aid kit and warning triangle 158
Fire extinguisher 158
Vehicle tool kit 158
Changing a wheel 159
Breakdown kit 162
Jump-starting 165
Towing the vehicle 166
Fuses and light bulbs 168
Fuses 168
Bulbs 171
Technical data
Technical data 177
Introductory information 177
Data on the vehicle sticker and the type plate 177
Dimensions 178
Specifications and engine oil capacity 179
Vehicle-specific details per engine type 180
Index
4 Table of Contents

An audible signal sounds as a warning tone.
The following is displayed in the information display: Check coolant! Owner's manual!
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, check the level of the coolant » page 143,
and refill the coolant if necessary » page 143.
If the coolant is within the specified range, the increased temperature may be
caused by an operating problem at the radiator fan. Check the fuse for the radia-
tor fan, replace if necessary » page 170, Fuses in the engine compartment .
Do not continue driving if the warning light   does not go off even though the
coolant level is correct and the fuse for the fan is in working order!
Seek help from a
ŠKODA specialist garage.WARNING
■ If you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe dis-
tance from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard warning
light system » page 42.
■ Carefully open the coolant expansion bottle. If the engine is hot, the cooling
system is pressurized - risk of scalding! It is therefore best to allow the engine
to cool down before removing the cap.
■ Do not touch the radiator fan. The radiator fan may switch itself on auto-
matically even if the ignition is off. ÐElectrohydraulic power steering 
The warning light  comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched
on.
If the warning light after switching on the ignition or when driving lights up con-
tinuously, a fault exists in the electrohydraulic power steering. The power steer-
ing operates with reduced steering assist or does not function at all.
Seek help from a

ŠKODA specialist garage.
Further information » page 80. Note
■ If the yellow warning light  goes out when you restart the engine and drive
for a short distance, it is not necessary to visit a

ŠKODA specialist garage.
■ If the vehicle battery has been disconnected and reconnected, the yellow warn-
ing light  comes on after switching on the ignition. The warning light should go
out after driving a short distance. ■ There is no power-assisted steering support when the vehicle is being towed
without the engine running or when the power-assisted steering is defect. The
vehicle is fully steerable however. There is however increased force required to
turn the steering wheel. Ð Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 
The warning light flashes  to show that the ESC is currently operating.
If the warning light  comes on immediately after you start the engine, the ESC
might be switched off due to technical reasons. Switch the ignition off and on
again. If the warning light does not light up after you switch the engine back on,
the ESR is fully functional again.
If the warning light  lights up, there is a fault in the ESC.
The following is displayed in the information display: Error: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Seek help from a ŠKODA specialist garage.
The ESC cannot be switched off, the button  » page 84
only deactivates the
TCS system and the warning light  in the instrument cluster lights up.
As the ESC operates in conjunction with the ABS, the ESP indicator light will also
come on if the ABS system fails.
Further information » page 83, Stabilisation control (ESC) . Note
If the vehicle's battery has been disconnected and reconnected, the warning light  comes on after switching on the ignition. The warning light should go out after
driving a short distance. Ð
20 Using the system

Note
■ Lock the opened rear doors and front passenger door by closing them and
pressing the securing knob. ■ It is not possible to lock the opened driver's door using the securing knob. This
prevents against inadvertently locking the key in the vehicle. ÐCentral locking system
Introductory information
When using central locking or unlocking, all doors are locked or unlocked simulta-
neously. The boot lid is unlocked when opening. It can be opened by pressing the
handle above the licence plate » page 33, Opening/closing .
Warning light in the driver's door
After locking the vehicle, the warning light flashes for around 2 seconds in quick
succession, afterwards it begins to flash evenly at longer intervals.
If the vehicle is locked and the safe securing system » page 27 is not operating,
the warning light in the driver door flashes for about 2
seconds fast, goes out and
starts to flash evenly at longer intervals after about 30 seconds.
If the indicator light first flashes fast for about 2 seconds, then lights up for about
30 seconds continuously and then flashes slowly, there is a fault in the central
locking system or in the interior monitor and in the towing protection » page 31.
Seek help from a ŠKODA specialist garage.
Convenience operation of windows
The windows can be opened and closed when unlocking and locking the vehi-
cle » page 35. ÐIndividual settings
Opening a single door
This selection function makes it possible to only unlock the driver's door. The oth-
er doors remain locked and are only unlocked when the command is repeated.
Automatic locking and unlocking
All the doors and the boot lid are locked automatically once the car reaches a
speed of about 15 km/h. If the ignition key is withdrawn, the car is then automatically unlocked again. In
addition, it is possible for the driver or front passenger to unlock the car by press-
ing the central locking button  » page 29.
The doors can be unlocked and opened from the inside by a single pull on the
opening lever of the respective door. WARNING
Locked doors prevent unwanted entry into the vehicle from outside, for exam-
ple at road crossings. Locked doors do, however, make it more difficult for res-
cuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency - danger to life! Note
■ Upon request you can have custom settings activated by a
ŠKODA Service Part-
ner. ■ In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed, the locked doors
are automatically unlocked in order to enable rescuers to gain access to the vehi-
cle. ■ Only the driver's door can be unlocked or locked using the key if the central
locking system fails » page 28. The other doors and the boot lid can be manually
locked or unlocked. ■ Emergency locking of the door »

page 32.
■ Emergency unlocking of the boot lid » page 33. Ð Safe securing system
The central locking system is equipped with a safe securing system. The door
locks are blocked automatically if the vehicle is locked from the outside. The
warning light flashes for around 2 seconds in quick succession, afterwards it be-
gins to flash evenly at longer intervals. It is not possible to open the doors with
the door handle either from the inside or from the outside. This acts as an effec-
tive deterrent for attempts to break into your vehicle.
The safe securing system can be deactivated within 2

seconds by double locking
the vehicle.
If the safe securing system is not operating, the warning light in the driver door
flashes for about 2 seconds fast, goes out and starts to flash evenly at longer in-
tervals after about 30 seconds. £
27
Unlocking and locking

Anti-theft alarm system
Introductory information
The anti-theft alarm system increases the level of protection against people
seeking to break into the vehicle. The system triggers audible and visual warning
signals if an attempt is made to break into the vehicle.
How is the alarm system activated?
The anti-theft alarm system is activated when the vehicle is locked with the radio
remote control or the key in the driver's door . It is activated 30 seconds after
locking the door.
How is the alarm system deactivated?
The alarm system is deactivated by pressing the unlock button on the radio re-
mote control. The anti-theft alarm system is reactivated if the vehicle is not
opened within 30 seconds after transmitting the radio signal.
If the vehicle is unlocked by inserting the key into the driver door, the key must
be inserted into the ignition lock and the ignition switched on within 15
seconds
of unlocking the door to deactivate the alarm system. The alarm is triggered if
the ignition is not switched on within 15 seconds.
When is the alarm triggered?
The following security areas of the locked vehicle are monitored: › bonnet;
› boot lid;
› doors;
› ignition lock;
› Vehicle inclination
» page 31;
› Interior of the vehicle
» page 31;
› A drop in voltage of the on-board power supply;
› Socket of the factory-fitted towing device.
An alarm is immediately triggered if either of the two battery terminals is discon-
nected while the anti-theft alarm system is activated.
How is the alarm switched off?
The alarm is switched off by unlocking the vehicle with the radio remote control
or switching on the ignition. Note
■ The working life of the alarm siren is 5 years.
■ Before leaving the car, it must be checked that all of the windows, doors and
the electric sliding/tilting roof are properly closed to ensure the full functionality
of the anti-theft alarm system. ■ Coding of the radio remote control and the receiver unit precludes the use of
the radio remote control from other vehicles. Ð Interior monitor and towing protection
Fig. 15
Button for interior monitor and
towing protection
The interior monitor detects movements inside the car and then triggers the
alarm.
Switching off
› Switch off the ignition.
› Open the driver door.
› Press the button
 » Fig. 15 in the driver's door.
› Lock the vehicle within 30 seconds.
The interior monitor and the towing protection are switched on again automati-
cally the next time the car is locked. £
31
Unlocking and locking

Note
■ Switch off the interior monitor and the towing protection if there is a possibility
of the alarm being triggered by movements from (e.g. children or animals) within
the vehicle interior or if the vehicle has to be transported (e.g. by train or ship) or
towed. ■ The opened glasses storage compartment reduces the effectiveness of the in-
terior monitor. To ensure the full functionality of the interior monitor, the glasses
storage compartment must always be closed before locking the vehicle. ÐEmergency locking of the doors
Fig. 16
Rear door: Emergency locking of
the door
An emergency locking mechanism is located on the face side of the doors which
have no locking cylinder, it is only visible after opening the door.
Locking › Remove the panel A
» Fig. 16
.
› Insert the key into the slot B
and turn it into the horizontal position in the di-
rection of the arrow (mirror-inverted on the right doors).
› Replace the cover.
After closing the door, it no longer be opened from the outside. The door can be
unlocked from the inside by pulling on the door handle again, and then opened
from the outside. Ð Boot lid
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening/closing 33
Automatic locking 33
Emergency unlocking 33
WARNING
■ Ensure that the lock is properly engaged after closing the boot lid. Other-
wise, the boot lid might open suddenly when driving even if the boot lid lock
was closed - risk of accident!
■ Never drive with the boot lid fully opened or slightly ajar otherwise exhaust
gases may get into the interior of the vehicle - risk of poisoning!
■ Do not press on the rear window when closing the boot lid, it could crack -
risk of injury! Note
■ After closing the boot lid, it is automatically locked within 1 second and the
anti-theft alarm system is activated. This applies only if the vehicle was locked
before closing the boot lid. ■ The function of the handle above the licence plate is deactivated when starting
off or at a speed of 5
km/hour or more for vehicles with central locking. The func-
tion of the handle is activated again when the vehicle has stopped and a door is
opened. Ð
32 Using the system

The fog lights with the function CORNER are adjusted according to the steering
angle or after switching on the turn signal light
1)
in the following circumstances:
› the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running or it moves with a speed of
maximum 40 km/h;
› the daytime running lights are not switched on;
› the low beam is switched on;
› the fog lights are not switched on;
› no reverse gear is engaged. ÐRear fog light
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 38.
Switching on
› First of all, turn the light switch
» Fig. 23 on page 40 to position  or .
› Pull the light switch to position 2
.
If the vehicle is not fitted with fog lights » page 40, the rear fog light is switched
on by turning the light switch to the position  or  and is pulled out directly to
the position 2
. This switch does not have two positions, but only one position.
The warning light 

lights up in the instrument cluster when the rear fog light is
switched on » page 17.
Only the rear fog light on the trailer lights up if the vehicle has a factory-fitted
towing device or a towing device from ŠKODA original accessories and it is driven
with a trailer and the rear fog light switched on. Ð
ä Headlight beam adjustment
Fig. 24
Dash panel: Lights and visibility
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 38.
›
Turn the control dial
» Fig. 24 to the desired width of illumination.
Settings
The positions correspond approximately to the following car load. Front seats occupied, boot empty.
All seats occupied, boot empty.
All seats occupied, boot loaded.
Driver seat occupied, boot loaded. CAUTION
Always adjust the headlight range adjustment in such a way that:
■ it does not dazzle other road users, especially oncoming traffic;
■ and the range is sufficient for safe driving. Note
We recommend you adjust the headlight beam when the low beam is switched
on. Ð
ä -
1
2
3
1)
If both switch on versions are conflicting, for example if the steering wheel is turned to the left and
the right turn signal light is switched on, the turn signal light has the higher priority.
41
Lights and visibility

Switches for the hazard warning light system
Fig. 25
Dash panel: Switch for hazard
warning lights
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 38.
›
Press switch
 » Fig. 25 to switch the hazard warning light system on or off.
All the turn signal lights on the vehicle flash at the same time when the hazard
warning light system is switched on. The warning light for the turn signals and
the warning light in the switch also flash at the same time. The hazard warning
light system can also be operated if the ignition is switched off.
The hazard warning light system is switched on automatically if an airbag is de-
ployed in the event of an accident. Note
The hazard warning light system must be switched on if, for example:
■ you encounter a traffic congestion;
■ your vehicle breaks down or an emergency situation occurs. Ð
ä Turn signal and main beam lever
Fig. 26
Turn signal and main beam lever
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 38.
The parking light and headlight flasher are also operated with the turn signal and
main beam lever.
Right  and left  turn signal light
› Push the lever
» Fig. 26 upwards A
or downwards B
.
› If you only wish to flash three times (the "convenience turn signal"), briefly
push the lever to the upper or lower pressure point and release again.
› Turn signal for changing lanes - to only flash briefly, move the lever up or down
to the pressure point and hold it in this position.
Main beam 
› Switch on the low beam » page 38.
› Press the lever
» Fig. 26 in the direction of arrow C
.
› The main beam is switched off by pulling the lever into the initial position in the
direction of arrow D
.
Headlight flasher 
› Pull the lever
» Fig. 26 towards the steering wheel (spring-tensioned position)
in the direction of arrow D
- the main beam and the warning light
 in the in-
strument cluster come on.
Parking light 
Description of the operation » page 39 CAUTION
Only use the main beam or the headlight flasher if other road users will not be
dazzled. £
ä
42 Using the system