2013 SKODA FABIA change time

START-STOP
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Starting/shutting down the engine
116
Operating conditions for the system
116
Manually activating/deactivating the system
117
Information messages
117
The START-STOP system helps you to save fuel while at the same time reducing
harmful exhaust emissions and CO 2 emissions.
The function is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched on.
In the start-stop mode, the engine automatically switches to the vehicle's idle phase, e.g. when stopped at traffic lights. The engine restarts automatically
where necessary.
The system can work only if the following basic conditions are met. The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt. The bonnet is closed.The driving speed exceeded 4 km/h after the last stop.
No trailer is coupled.
WARNING■ The brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is run-
ning.■
Never let the vehicle roll with the engine switched off.
CAUTION
Always deactivate the START-STOP system before driving through wa-
ter » page 109 .Note■
If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than 30 seconds or the driver's door
is opened during stop mode, the engine will have to be started manually.■
After manually starting the engine, automatic engine shut down is not possible
until the vehicle has travelled the required minimum distance for START-STOP mode.
■
Changes to the outdoor temperature can have an effect on the internal temper-
ature of the vehicle battery even after several hours. If the vehicle remains out-
doors for a long time in minus temperatures or in direct sunlight, it can take sev-
eral hours until the internal temperature of the vehicle battery reaches a suitable
temperature for proper operation of the START STOP system.
■
If Climatronic is running in automatic mode, the engine may not switch off auto-
matically under certain conditions.

Starting/shutting down the engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 116.
›
Stop the vehicle (where necessary, apply the handbrake).
›
Shift the gear lever to Neutral.
›
Release the clutch pedal.
Automatic engine shut down (STOP phase) runs. The 
warning symbol appears
in the instrument cluster display.
›
Depress the clutch pedal.
The automatic start procedure takes place again (START phase). The 
warning
symbol goes out.

Operating conditions for the system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 116.
The START-STOP system is very complex. Some of the procedures are hard to check without servicing.
No engine shut down runs
Before each STOP phase, the system checks whether certain conditions have
been met. No engine shut down runs in the following situations. 
116Driving

What influences driving safety?First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 124.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk.
The following guidelines must therefore be observed. › Do not get distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by your
passengers or mobile phone calls.
› Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. through medication, alco-
hol or drugs.
› Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
› Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather conditions.
› Take regular breaks on long journeys – at least every two hours.

Correct seated position

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Correct seated position of the driver
126
Correct seated position of the front passenger
126
Correct seated position of the rear seat passengers
126
Examples of incorrect seated positions
126WARNINGGeneral information■The front seats and head restraints must be adjusted to match the body
size at all times and the seat belt must always be fastened properly to provide the most effective levels of protection to the passengers.■
If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
■
If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury is
increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt.
■
The seat backrests must not be reclined too far when driving otherwise this
will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of the airbag system – risk of
injury.
WARNINGInformation for the driver■Always assume the correct seated position before setting off and do not
change this position while driving. Also advise your passengers to adopt the
correct seated position and not to change this position while the car is mov-
ing.■
Keep a distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel. Not keeping to
this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you – risk of death.
■
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel in
the 12 o'clock position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or inner edge of
the steering wheel). In such cases, you could severely injure your arms, hands
and head when the driver airbag is deployed.
■
Ensure that there are no objects in the driver's footwell as they may get
caught behind the pedals while you are driving or under braking. You would
then no longer be able to operate the clutch, brake or accelerate.
WARNINGInformation for the front seat passenger■Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm from the dash panel. Not maintaining
this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you - there is a risk that you could be killed.■
Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven - never
place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the seats.
You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply
the brakes or in the event of an accident. You may suffer fatal injuries when
an airbag is deployed if you have adopted an incorrect seating position.

125Passive Safety

WARNINGObserve the following instructions for the proper use of the seat belts.■Never use a seatbelt to secure two persons (not even children). Nor may the
seat belt be placed over a child who is sitting on the lap of another passenger.■
The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to pro-
tect and the risk of injury increases.
■
The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked otherwise the belt tongue
will not lock in place properly.
■
Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jacket)
do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the
seat belts.
■
It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e. g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).
■
The seat belts for the rear seats can only fulfil their function reliably when
the seat backrests are correctly locked into position » page 56.
WARNINGObserve the following instructions for proper use of the seat belts.■The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belts may impair proper
operation of the inertia reel » page 157, Seat belts .■
The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not attempt
to repair the seat belts yourself.
■
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
the seat belts, seat belt connections, inertia reel or the lock is detected, the
seat belt concerned must be replaced by a specialist garage.
■
Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and
were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a specialist
garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The an-
chorage points for the belts should also be checked.
Note
The national legal requirements must be observed when using seat belts.
The physical principle of a frontal collisionFig. 108
Driver without a fastened seat belt/rear seat passenger without a
fastened seat belt
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 128.
As soon as the vehicle is moving, so-called kinetic energy (the energy of motion)
is produced both in terms of the car as well as in terms of the occupants.
The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on the speed at which
the vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle including the occupants.
The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the amount of energy
which has to be absorbed in the event of an accident.
The speed of the vehicle is the most important factor. Doubling the speed of the
vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy four times.
The notion that it is possible to support your body with your hands in a minor ac-cident is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces acting on thebody are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces that your body is exposed to in the event of an accident can exceed a ton (1000 kg).
For example, a person's weight of 80 kg “increases” at 50 km/h to 4.8 tons
(4800 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt are
thrown forward in an uncontrolled way and strike parts of the interior of the car,
such as the steering wheel, dash panel or windscreen » Fig. 108 - 
. In certain
circumstances you could even be thrown out of the vehicle, which could cause life threatening or even fatal injuries. 
129Seat belts

ŠKODA Service Partners are equipped with modern, specially developed tools and
equipment. Here, trained specialists have a comprehensive range of ŠKODA Origi-
nal Parts and ŠKODA Original Accessories at their disposal.
All ŠKODA Service Partners operate in accordance with the latest guidelines and instructions from the manufacturer. All service work is therefore carried out ontime and in accordance with quality standards. Adhering to these instructions and
guidelines helps ensure road safety and helps keep your vehicle in a good techni-
cal condition.
In addition, the ŠKODA service partners offer an array of other services. ŠKODA Service Partners are therefore properly prepared to service your vehicleand to provide quality work. We therefore recommend that you have your vehicle
maintained by a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Services, modifications and technical alterations
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Legally required inspections
148
ŠKODA Service Partners
148
ŠKODA Original Parts
148
ŠKODA Original Accessories
148
Spoiler
149
Airbags
149
The instructions and guidelines issued by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. must be observed
when making any modifications, repairs or technical changes to your vehicle.
Compliance with these guidelines and instructions is in the interest of the road-
worthiness and technical condition of your vehicle. The vehicle will comply with
road traffic regulations following the modifications, repairs and technical
changes.
You should always consult a ŠKODA Partner » page 148 before buying accesso-
ries, parts or before making any modifications, repairs or technical changes to
your vehicle.
WARNING■ Work not properly performed on your vehicle can lead to faults - there is a
risk of an accident resulting in serious injury.■
We recommend only having these modifications and technical changes per-
formed by a specialist garage.
■
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to
operational faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected sys-
tems because of the networking of the electronic components. The operation-
al safety of the vehicle may be at significant risk and parts may suffer in-
creased wear.
■
The ŠKODA Partner cannot assume any liability for products which have not
been approved by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. even though these may be products with
a type approval or have been approved by a nationally recognised testing lab-
oratory.
WARNING■ We advise you only to use ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original
Parts which have been expressly approved for use on your vehicle. Reliability,
safety and suitability for your vehicle are guaranteed with these.■
ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original Parts can be purchased
from a ŠKODA Partner who will also fit the purchased parts correctly.
For the sake of the environment
Technical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be kept
by the vehicle user, in order to be handed over to the recyclers later. This ensures
that vehicle recycling is in accordance with environmental regulations.
Note
Any damage caused by technical modifications made without the approval of the
manufacturer is excluded from the warranty.
147Car care

Legally required inspectionsFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 147.
Many countries have legislation which requires that the reliability and roadworthi-
ness and/or exhaust gas composition of a vehicle must be tested at specific inter- vals. These tests can be carried out by workshops or inspection stations thathave been legally authorized for this purpose.
The ŠKODA Service Partners are familiar with the inspection required by the lawand will prepare the vehicle for the inspections as part of the service operation at
the customer's discretion, or will have the inspection carried out. The specialist
garages can carry out the inspections required directly if requested by the cus-
tomer, if they are accredited for such a procedure. This saves you time and mon-
ey.
Even if you want to take your vehicle to an officially approved inspection centre
for prior checking in preparation of a legally required inspection, we recommend
that you first consult the service adviser at your ŠKODA Service Partner.
The service adviser will tell you which areas you should attend to, in his view, so
that your vehicle will pass the technical inspection without any problems. In this
way, you can avoid additional expense of a possible re-inspection.

ŠKODA Service Partners
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 147.
ŠKODA Service Partners are equipped with modern, specially developed tools and
equipment. Here, well-trained specialists have a comprehensive range of ŠKODA
Original Parts and ŠKODA Original Accessories at their disposal when carrying out
modifications, repairs or technical changes.
All ŠKODA Service Partners work according to the latest guidelines and instruc-
tions issued by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. All service and repairs are therefore completed
on time and to the appropriate quality. Compliance with these guidelines and in-
structions is in the interest of the roadworthiness and technical condition of your
vehicle.
ŠKODA Service Partners are thus properly prepared to service your vehicle and to
provide quality workmanship. We therefore advise you to have all modifications,
repairs and technical alterations to your vehicle carried out by a ŠKODA Service Partner.
ŠKODA Original Parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 147.
We recommend the use of ŠKODA Genuine Parts for your vehicle, since these parts are approved by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. They correspond exactly to ŠKODA AUTO
a.s. specifications in respect of design, dimensional accuracy and material and are
identical to the components used in the batch production.
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. can guarantee the safety, suitability, and long life of these prod-
ucts. We therefore recommend that you only use ŠKODA Genuine Parts.
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. supplies the market with a complete range of ŠKODA Genuine
Parts not only while the model is still in production but with wear-and-tear parts
for at least 15 years after the end of series production and with all other vehicle parts for at least 10 years.
ŠKODA service partners are liable for any defects in ŠKODA original parts for a pe-
riod of 2 years after sale in accordance with materials defect liability under the
law unless otherwise agreed in the purchase agreement. You should keep the
confirmed warranty certificate and the receipt for these components for this peri- od, so that the commencement of the warranty term may be verified.
Body repairs
ŠKODA vehicles are designed so that if the body suffers damage, it is only neces-
sary to replace those parts which are in fact damaged.
Before you decide to have damaged body parts replaced, however, you should
first contact your specialist garage to determine whether or not such parts can al- so be repaired. Repairs to body parts are usually cheaper.

ŠKODA Original Accessories
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 147.
You should note the following if you wish to fit accessories to your vehicle: 
148General Maintenance

We recommend that you remove dust at regular short intervals with a cloth or
vacuum cleaner.
Clean soiled leather surfaces with a cotton or woollen cloth lightly moistened
with water and then dry with a clean dry cloth »
.
Clean more severely soiled areas with a cloth soaked in a mild soap solution (2
tablespoons of natural soap to 1 litre of water).
Use a cleaning agent specially developed for the purpose to remove stains.
Treat the leather with a suitable leather care product at suitable regular intervals.
CAUTION
■ Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point during cleaning and
that no water gets into the stitching of the seams. The leather would then be-
come brittle and cracked.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs of
rubbing on the surface. Damage of this nature cannot later be recognized as a
justified complaint.
■
The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface of
the steering wheel.
■
Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular basis
and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection.
■
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do not have sufficient colour fast-
ness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers even
when treated correctly. This is particularly true for light-coloured upholstery. This
is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor colour fastness of the clothing textiles.
Note
During the life of the vehicle, minor visible changes can occur on the leather parts
of the covers (e. g wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers).
Synthetic leather, fabrics and Alcantara ®
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 155.
Synthetic leather
Clean the synthetic leather with a damp cloth.
If the synthetic leather does not come completely clean with this method, a mild soap solution or specific cleaning agent must be used.
Fabrics
Clean upholstery cover materials and cloth trims on doors, boot cover, etc. using
specific cleaning agents, e.g., dry foam.
Use a soft sponge, brush, or commercially available microfibre cloth. Use a cloth and special detergent to clean the headlining.
Remove pilling and residues on upholstery with a brush.Remove stubborn hair with a “cleaning glove”.
Alcantara ®
Dust and fine dirt particles in pores, creases and seams may chafe and damage
the surface.
If you leave your vehicle parked in the open for lengthy periods, protect the Al-
cantara ®
seat upholstery from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Minor changes in colour caused by use are normal.
CAUTION
■ Do not use leather cleaners on Alcantara ®
seat upholstery.■Do not use solvents, floor wax, shoe cream, stain remover or similar agents on
Alcantara ®
seat upholstery.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to prevent the
fabrics from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the fabrics against direct sunlight by covering them.
■
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do not have sufficient colour fast-
ness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers even when treated correctly. This is particularly true for light-coloured upholstery. This
is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor colour fastness of the clothing textiles.

156General Maintenance

The washing water should always be mixed with antifreeze in winter even if thevehicle has heated windscreen washer nozzles.
Under exceptional circumstances, methylated spirits can also be used if no screen
cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated spirits must
not be more than 15 %. The freeze protection at this concentration is sufficient only to -5 °C.
CAUTION
■ Under no circumstances must radiator antifreeze or other additives be added to
the windscreen washer fluid.■
If the vehicle is fitted with a headlight cleaning system, only cleaning products
which do not attack the polycarbonate coating of the headlights must be added
to the windscreen washer fluid.
■
Do not remove the filter from the windscreen washer fluid reservoir when re-
plenishing it with liquid otherwise the liquid transportation system can be conta-
minated, which can cause the windscreen washer system to malfunction.

Engine oil
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Specifications and capacity
164
Checking the oil level
165
Replenishing
166
Changing
166
The engine has been factory-filled with a high-grade oil that can be use through-
out the year - except in extreme climate zones.
Engine oils are the subject of continuous further development. Thus the informa- tion stated in this Owner's Manual is only correct at the time of publication.
ŠKODA Service Partners are informed about the latest changes by the manufac-
turer. We therefore recommend that you have the oil changed by a ŠKODA Serv-
ice Partner.
The specifications (VW standards) stated in the following can be indicated sepa-
rately or together with other specifications on the bottle.
The oil capacities include oil filter change. Check the oil level when filling; do not
over fill. The oil level must be between the markings » page 165.WARNING■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. While working in
the engine compartment, be sure to observe the following warn-
ings » page 160 .■
 Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible to top
up the engine oil under the current conditions. Switch off the engine and seek
assistance from a specialist garage.
■
 Do not drive on if the oil level is above range
A
» Fig. 127 on page 165.
Switch off the engine and seek assistance from a specialist garage.
CAUTION
Do not pour any additives into the engine oil – there is a risk of serious engine
damage.
Note
■ Before a long drive we recommend that you purchase and carry with you engine
oil which complies with the specification for your vehicle.■
We recommend that you use oils from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
■
You must wash yourself thoroughly if your skin has come into contact with oil.

Specifications and capacity
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 164.
Specifications and capacity (in l) for vehicles with flexible service intervals
Petrol enginesSpecificationCapacity1.2 litres/44 kWVW 503 00, VW 504 002.81.2 litres/51 kWVW 503 00, VW 504 002.81.4 litres/63 kWVW 503 00, VW 504 003.21.4 litres/132 kW TSIVW 504 003.61.2 litres/63 kW TSIVW 504 003.91.2 litres/77 kW TSIVW 504 003.9 164General Maintenance

The oil level must be checked at regular intervals. We recommend it be checked
after each time you refuel or prior to making a long journey.
We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range A
, but not above , if
the engine has been operating at high loads, for example, during a lengthy motor-
way trip during the summer months, towing a trailer or negotiating a high moun- tain pass.
The warning light in the instrument cluster will indicate whether the oil level is too low » page 21 ,   Engine oil . Check the oil level using the dipstick as soon
as possible. Add oil accordingly.
CAUTION
■ Always check the oil level on vehicles with the 1.2 l/44 kW engine when the en-
gine is cold. Otherwise the measuring result is incorrect und oil could be incor-
rectly replenished - risk of engine damage!■
The oil level must never be above the
A
range » Fig. 127 – there is a risk of
damaging the exhaust system.
Note
Engine oil specifications » page 164.
Replenishing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 164.
›
Check the oil level » page 165.
›
Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening.
›
Replenish the oil in portions of 0.5 litres in accordance with the correct specifi-
cations » page 164 .
›
Check the oil level » page 165.
›
Carefully screw on the oil filler opening cap and push the dipstick in fully.

Changing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 164.
The engine oil must be changed at specified service intervals » page 145 or ac-
cording to the service interval display » page 16, Service Interval Display .

Coolant
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Capacity
167
Checking the coolant level
167
Replenishing
168
The coolant consists of water with a concentration of coolant additive. This mix-
ture guarantees antifreeze protection, protects the cooling/heater system
against corrosion and prevents the formation of scale.
Vehicles exported to countries with a mild climate are already factory-filled with
a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to about -25 ℃. In these coun-
tries the concentration of coolant additive should be at least 40 %.
Vehicles exported to countries with a cold climate are already factory-filled with a
coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to about -35 °C. In these coun-
tries the concentration of coolant additive should be at least 50 %.
If a higher concentration of antifreeze is required for climatic reasons, the amount
of coolant additive can only be increased up to a maximum of 60 % (antifreeze
protection down to approx. -40 °C).
When refilling, only use the same antifreeze identified on the coolant expansion vessel » Fig. 128 on page 167. 
166General Maintenance