2013 SKODA FABIA headlight

Rear window heatingFig. 31
Button for rear window heater
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 49.
›
The rear window heater is switched on or off by pressing the 
button » Fig. 31 ,
the warning light in the switch comes on or goes out.
The rear window heater can only be switched on when the engine is running.
The rear window heater switches off automatically after approximately 7 mi-
nutes.
For the sake of the environment
The heating should be switched off as soon as the window is de-iced or free from
mist. The reduced current consumption will have a favourable effect on fuel econ-
omy » page 107 , Saving electrical energy .
Note
If the on-board voltage drops, the rear window heater switches off automatically,
in order to provide sufficient electrical energy for the engine control » page 172,
Automatic load deactivation .
Sun visorsFig. 32
Sun visor: swivelling out
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 49.
The sun visor for the driver or front passenger can be pulled out of the fixture and
swivelled towards the door in the direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 32 .
The vanity mirrors in the sun visors are provided with covers. Push the cover in the direction of the arrow
2
.
The purpose of the strap
A
is to store small, light objects, such as a notepad, etc.
WARNINGThe sun visors must not be swivelled towards the side windows in the deploy-
ment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as ball-point pens, etc. are attached to them. This might result in injuries to the occupants if the head air-
bag is deployed.

Windscreen wipers and washers
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Windscreen wiper and washer
51
Headlight cleaning system
52
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades
52
Replacing the rear window wiper blade
52

50Using the system

The windscreen wipers and the windscreen washer system only operate when
the ignition is switched on.
The rear window is wiped once automatically if the windscreen wipers are on when reverse gear is selected.
Top up with windscreen wiper fluid » page 163.WARNING■
Properly maintained windscreen wiper blades are essential for clear visibility
and safe driving » page 52.■
Do not use the windscreen washer system at low temperatures, without
heating the windscreen beforehand. Otherwise the window cleaner could
freeze on the windscreen and restrict the view to the front.
■
Replace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for safety rea-
sons. These can be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.
CAUTION
■ In cold temperatures and during the winter, check before the journey or before
switching on the ignition that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windscreen. If the windscreen wipers are switched on when the blades are frozen to the
windscreen, this may damage both the blades and windscreen wiper motor!■
If the ignition is switched off while the windscreen wipers are switched on, the
windscreen wipers will continue wiping in the same mode after the ignition is
turned back on. The windscreen wipers could freeze up in cold temperatures be- tween the time the ignition was turned off and when it was turned back on again.
■
Carefully detach frozen wiper blades from the front or rear window.
■
Remove snow and ice from the windscreen wipers before driving.
■
If the windscreen wipers are handled carelessly, there is a risk of damage to the
windscreen.
Note
■ The windscreen washer nozzles for the windscreen are heated when the en-
gine is running and the outside temperature is less than approx. +10 °C.■
The content of the windscreen washer fluid reservoir is 3.5 litres. On vehicles
fitted with the headlight cleaning system, the volume is around 5.4 litres.
■
The wiper blades should be cleaned on a regular basis with a windscreen clean-
er to avoid any smears. The wiper blades should be cleaned with a sponge or
cloth if they are heavily soiled by insect residues, for example.

Windscreen wiper and washerFig. 33
Operating stalk: Windscreen
wipers and washer settings
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 50.
Control stalk positions » Fig. 33 .
Wipers off
Interval windscreen wiping
Slow windscreen wiping
Rapid windscreen wiping
Single windscreen wipe (spring-loaded position)
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen (spring-loaded position) Wiping the rear window (the wiper wipes at regular intervals after a few sec-
onds)
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window (spring-loaded position)
Switch for setting the desired interval between the individual windscreen wipes (
1
Interval windscreen wiping)
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
The wash system operates immediately, the windscreen wipers wipe somewhat
later.
Releasing the lever will stop the windscreen washer while the wipers continue
for another 1 to 3 wiper strokes (depending on the period the windscreen has
been sprayed).
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window The wash system operates immediately, the wiper wipes somewhat later.
Releasing the lever will stop the washer while the wipers continue for another 1
to 3 wiper strokes (depending on the period the window has been sprayed). The
lever will stay in position after releasing it
6
.

01234567A51Lights and visibility

Headlight cleaning systemFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 50.
The headlights are sprayed briefly if the low beam or main beam are switched on
and the windscreen wiper stalk is pulled to position
5
» Fig. 33 on page 51. To
clean the headlights, the windshield is also sprayed after every five squirts.
You should remove stubborn dirt (such as insect residues) from the headlight len-
ses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. The following guidelines
must be observed » page 154, Headlight lenses .
To ensure the proper operation of the cleaning system during the winter, any
snow should be removed from the washer nozzle fixtures and ice should be
cleared with a de-icing spray.
CAUTION
Never remove the nozzles from the headlight cleaning system by hand – there is
risk of damage.
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades
Fig. 34
Windscreen wiper blade
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 50.
Removing the wiper blade
›
Lift the windscreen wiper arm away from the windscreen.
›
Press the locking button
1
» Fig. 34 and remove the wiper blade in the direc-
tion of arrow
2
.
Fitting the wiper blade›Push the wiper blade in until it latches on the stop.›
Check that the wiper blade is correctly attached.
›
Fold the wiper arms back to the windscreen.
Windshield wiper blades in proper condition are essential to obtain good visibility.
Wiper blades should not be allowed to become dirtied by dust, insect remains and
preserving wax.
Juddering or smearing of the wiper blades could then be due to wax residues left on the windshield by vehicle washing in automatic vehicle wash systems. It is
therefore important to degrease the lips of the windshield wiper blades after ev-
ery pass through an automatic vehicle wash system .

Replacing the rear window wiper blade
Fig. 35
Rear window wiper blade
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 50.
Removing the wiper blade
›
Raise the wiper arm away from the window » Fig. 35.
›
Tilt the wiper blade to the stop in the direction of the wiper arm.
›
Hold the upper part of the wiper arm and unlock the securing mechanism
1
.
›
Remove the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow
2
.
Fitting the wiper blade
›
Push the wiper blade in until it latches on the stop.
›
Check that the wiper blade is correctly attached.
›
Fold the wiper arm back to the windscreen.

52Using the system

Driving through water on streetsFig. 95
Driving through water
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 108.
The following instructions must be observed if vehicle damage is to be avoided
when driving through water (e.g. flooded roads).
›
Determine the depth of the water before driving through it.
The water level must not reach above the web of the lower sill » Fig. 95.
›
Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed.
At a higher speed, a water wave can form in front of the vehicle, which can cause
water to penetrate into the engine's air intake system or other parts of the vehi- cle.
›
Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.
›
Deactivate the START-STOP system before driving through water » page 116,
START-STOP .
WARNING■
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance – there is the risk of an accident.■
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking immediately after water crossings.
■
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the pur-
pose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this.
Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
CAUTION■ When driving through water, some parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Any vehicle parts
that have come into contact with salt water must be rinsed immediately with
fresh water.
Note
We recommend that the vehicle is checked by a specialist garage after it has been
driven through water.
Driving abroad
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Unleaded petrol
109
Headlights
110
In certain countries, it may be possible that the ŠKODA service partner network is
limited or has not been established. This is the reason why procuring certain
spare parts may be somewhat complicated and specialist garages may only be
able to make limited repairs.

Unleaded petrol
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 109.
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded pet-
rol » page 159 , Unleaded petrol . Information regarding the locations of filling
stations that offer unleaded petrol is, for example, provided by the automobile
associations.

109Starting-off and Driving

HeadlightsFirst read and observe the introductory information given on page 109.
The low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the side of
the road on which the vehicle is being driven to a greater extent.
When driving in countries in which the traffic drives on the other side of the road
than in your home country, the asymmetrical low beam may dazzle oncoming
drivers. To prevent oncoming traffic from being dazzled, the headlights must be
adjusted by a specialist garage.
Note
For more information on adjusting the headlights, consult a specialist garage.
110Driving

The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trail-
er is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 174,
Tyre service life .
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan- ces » page 201 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the ability to climb. There-
fore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum permissible
towed weight must be reduced by 10 %.
The towed weight comprises the actual weights of the (loaded) towing vehicleand the (loaded) trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing equip- ment are merely test data for the towing equipment. The vehicle-specific values
are detailed in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the
maximum permissible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer –
there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.■
Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination – there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.

Towing a trailer
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. National legal re-
quirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle can be lifted when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights can dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlight setting on the headlight range control » page 44, Headlight
beam adjustment .
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail- er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as a
brake.
Engine overheating
The speed must be reduced immediately if the needle for the coolant tempera- ture gauge moves into the right-hand area or the red area of the scale.
Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light 
in the instrument cluster
starts to flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant » page 167,
Checking the coolant level .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 22, 

Coolant .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.WARNING■ Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.■
Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist garages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources. 
122Driving

CAUTION■When washing the car by hand, protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged
metal parts (e.g. when cleaning the undertray, exhaust system, the inside of the
wheel housings or the wheel trims etc.) - there is a risk of cutting yourself.■
Only apply slight pressure when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork.

Automatic car wash systems
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 150.
The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows including the sliding/tilt-
ing roof, etc.).
If your vehicle is fitted with any particular mounted parts, such as a spoiler, roof
rack, two-way radio aerial – it is best to consult the operator of the car wash sys-
tem beforehand.
The lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers must be cleaned and degreased with
cleaning agents especially formulated for the task after an automatic wash with
wax.
WARNINGFold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system.

Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 150.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for use
of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pressure
used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft materials
such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
WARNINGNever use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters!
CAUTION
■ Do not aim the water jet directly at the lock cylinders or the door or opening
joints when washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure
cleaner – there is a risk of freezing.■
To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short periods
while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.
■
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C – there
is a risk of damaging the vehicle.
■
See also Washing a vehicle with decorative film trim using a high-pressure
cleaner » page 153 .

Vehicle exterior care

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Caring for vehicle paintwork
152
Plastic parts
152
Rubber seals
153
Chrome parts
153
Decorative films
153
Windows and exterior mirrors
153
Headlight lenses
154
Door lock cylinders
154
Underbody waxing
154
Wheels
154
Underbody protection
154
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle. It
may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relat- ing to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork. 
151Car care

■When removing snow or ice from windows and mirror lenses ensure that the
paintwork of the vehicle is not to damage.■
Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corrosive
and acidic cleaning agents – there is a risk of damaging the heating elements or
window aerial.

Headlight lenses
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 151.
Clean the plastic headlight lenses with clean, warm water and soap.
CAUTION
■ Never wipe the headlights dry.■Do not use any sharp objects to clean the plastic lenses, this may damage the
protective lacquer and consequently cause the cracking on the headlight lenses.■
Do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products to clean the
headlights – there is a risk of damaging the headlight lenses.

Door lock cylinders
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 151.
Specific products must be used for de-icing door lock cylinders.
CAUTION
When washing your vehicle, ensure as little water as possible gets into the lock-
ing cylinders.
Underbody waxing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 151.
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.
Wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated.
If any small amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, these must be removed with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petroleum cleaner.WARNINGSafety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – there is a risk of fire.

Wheels
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 151.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular ba- sis.
Regularly remove salt and brake dust otherwise the rim material will be attacked.
Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be touched up immediately.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product for
light alloy wheels. Products which cause abrasion must not be used to treat the
wheel rims.
CAUTION
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
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 151.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechani-
cal influences. 
154General Maintenance