2013 SKODA FABIA stop start

It is still fully possible to steer the vehicle if the power steering fails or if the en-gine is not running (e.g. when towing). However, greater physical effort is re-
quired to turn the steering wheel.
CAUTION
You will place great stresses on the power steering system if the steering is
turned to full lock when the vehicle is stationary. Turning the steering to full lock
in such a situation will be accompanied by noises. Never leave the steering wheel at full lock for more than 15 seconds when the engine is running - there is a risk of
damaging the power steering.
Starting and stopping the engine
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
97
Ignition lock
97
Starting the engine
97
Switching off the engine
98
The engine can only be started using a correctly coded original key. The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time afterstarting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
WARNING■ When the vehicle is travelling with the engine off, the ignition key must al-
ways be in position 2 » Fig. 86 on page 97 (ignition switched on). This posi-
tion is indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it
could result in unexpected locking of the steering wheel – there is the risk of
an accident.■
Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has come
to a complete stop (by applying the handbrake). Otherwise the steering wheel
could lock – there is the risk of an accident.
WARNING (Continued)■ When leaving the vehicle, the ignition must always be removed. This is par-
ticularly important if children are left in the vehicle. Otherwise the children
could, for example, start the engine – there is the risk of an accident or injury.■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle has come to a halt – there is
the risk of an accident.
WARNING■ Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The en-
gine's exhaust gases also contain the odourless and colourless carbon mon-
oxide, a poisonous gas – risk of death. ■ Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness and death.
CAUTION
■The starter must only be operated when the engine is not running and the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. The starter or engine can be damaged if the starter is activa-
ted when the engine is running 3
» Fig. 86 on page 97.
■
If the engine does not start up after a second attempt, the fuse for the fuel
pump may have a fault. Check the fuse and replace, if necessary » page 192 or
seek assistance from a specialist garage.
■
Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts otherwise the starter
could be damaged.
■
Do not tow start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and the
catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-start
aid » page 187 , Jump-starting .
CAUTION
■
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and high engine loads until the engine
has yet reached its operating temperature – there is a risk of damaging the en-
gine.■
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumulation
of heat when the engine is switched off. 
96Driving

›Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.›
Turn the key to position
3
to the stop and release immediately the engine has
started – do not depress the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
›
Release the handbrake.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Repeat
the start-up process after approx. half a minute.

Switching off the engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 96.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key to position
1
» Fig. 86 on
page 97.

Brakes
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information for braking
98
Handbrake
99WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switched
off – there is the risk of an accident.■
The clutch pedal must be depressed when braking on a vehicle with manual
transmission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. If you fail to do so, the functionality of the brake servo can be impaired – there is the risk of an
accident.WARNING (Continued)■ If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must be
ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced. The front
brakes may overheat, which can have a negative impact on the functioning of
the braking system – there is a risk of an accident.■
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children might, for ex-
ample, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle might then move off – there is the risk of an accident.
CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 104.■Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not neces-
sary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking distance and excessive wear.

Information for braking
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 98.
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system consid-
ers the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light flashes
automatically.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stopped,
the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches on.
The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically after accelerating
or driving off again.
Before travelling a long distance down a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift
into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be comple-
ted intermittently, not continuously.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driving style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns and
over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted. 
98Driving

CAUTION■If the selector lever is shifted to N while the vehicle is being driven you must lift
off the accelerator pedal and you will need to wait until the engine has reached
its idling speed before shifting the selector lever to a forward driving mode again.■
At temperatures below -10 °C, the engine can only be started in selector lever
position P.
■
Never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator pedal when stopping on a hill
– this may lead to transmission damage.
Note
The ignition key can only be withdrawn once the ignition has been switched off if
the selector lever is in the P position 1)
.
Modes and use of selector lever
Fig. 89
Selector lever /MAXI DOT display: Selector lever positions
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 100.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the gear currently selec-
ted are indicated in the display
1
» Fig. 89 .
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 89.
P
– Parking mode
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this mode.
Parking mode must only be selected when the vehicle is stationary.R
- Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the engine
is at idling speed.
Depress the brake pedal and simultaneously press the shiftlock in the selector
lever grip before shifting to R from P or N.
N
- Neutral
Power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the engine
load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
- Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode S, the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at higher en-
gine speeds than in mode D.
The shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the selec-
tor lever out of D mode into S mode.
Releasing selector lever from P or N modes (selector lever lock) The selector lever is locked in the P and N modes to prevent the forwards travel
mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion. The 
warning light lights up in the instrument cluster » page 27.
The selector lever is released by depressing the brake pedal while simultaneously
pressing the locking button in the selection lever grip.
The selector lever is not locked when shifted quickly through N (e.g. from R to D).
This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck, e.g. in a bank of snow.
The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in position N for more than ap-
proximately 2 seconds without the brake pedal being depressed.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds up to 5 km/h.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P
to mode D or vice versa, move
the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes R or N from being selected acci-
dentally.1)
Only valid for some countries.
101Starting-off and Driving

Manual gear shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 90
Selector lever/multi-function steering wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 100.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears with the selector lever or
multifunction steering wheel. This mode can be selected both while halted and
while driving.
The gear currently selected is indicated in the display
1
» Fig. 89 on page 101.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 13.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position D towards the right, or left in a right-hand
drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 90 .
›
Pull the right-hand paddle +
» Fig. 90 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 90 .
›
Pull the left-hand paddle -
» Fig. 90 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Temporarily switching to manual gear shifting in mode D or S
›
Pull one of the -/+ paddles
» Fig. 90 briefly towards the steering wheel .
Manual gear shifting is deactivated if more than 1 minute passes after either of
the -
/+ paddles was pulled. The temporary switch to manual gear shifting can
also be deactivated by pulling the right-hand + paddle towards the steering
wheel for more than 1 second.
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear just
before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no riskof the engine overrevving.
Note
It may be advantageous to use manual gear shifting when driving downhill, for
example. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and hence brake wear » page 98 , Information for braking .
Starting-off and driving
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 100.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 101 and then release
the lock button.
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stop
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Parking
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever to the P position and then release the shiftlock button.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve maximum acceleration by your vehi-
cle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activated
in any forward driving mode. 
102Driving

The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed andengine speed, and the vehicle accelerates.
The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has reached
its maximum revolutions for this gear range.WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control of
the vehicle – there is a risk of an accident.

Malfunction
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 100.
Emergency programme
The transmission switches to the emergency programme if there is a fault in the
automatic gearbox system.
Indications of an activated emergency programme include the following:
› Only certain gears are selected.
› Reverse gear
R cannot be used.
› Shifting gears in Tiptronic mode is not possible.
Gearbox overheating
The gearbox may, for example, become too hot due to frequent repeated starting
or stop-and-go traffic. Overheating is indicated by the warning light » page 19, 
Clutches in the automatic gearbox are too hot .
Note
Visit a specialist workshop if the gearbox has switched to the emergency pro-
gramme.
Selector lever-emergency unlockingFig. 91
Selector lever-emergency un-
locking
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 100.
If the selector lever lock is defective or its power supply is interrupted (e.g. dis-
charged vehicle battery, faulty fuse), the selector lever can no longer be moved
out of position P in the normal manner, and the vehicle can no longer be driven.
The selector lever emergency unlocking procedure is as follows.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Carefully pull up the front left and right cover.
›
Pull up rear cover.
›
Use a finger to press the yellow plastic part in the direction of the ar- row » Fig. 91 .
›
At the same time, press the locking button in the selector lever and move the
selector lever to N.
The selector lever will be locked once more if it is moved again to P.

Running in

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
New engine
104
New tyres
104
New brake pads
104
103Starting-off and Driving

The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve-
hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a partic-
ular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment.
It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order tomake best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution and the wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depend essentially on the following three factors.
› Your personal driving style
› Operating conditions
› Technical requirements
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10 -15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond the
driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult condi-
tions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a result
of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The optimal engine speed should be maintained when accelerating, to avoid a
high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
CAUTION
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature.
Driving with anticipation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 104.
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore unnec-
essary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when driving,
less braking and consequently less accelerating are required.
If possible, let your vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set of traffic lights is on red, for example.

Economical gear changing.Fig. 92
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km depending
on the selected gear
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 104.
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox › Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
› Shift up into the next gear at approximately 2000 rpm.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. Observe the
recommended gear » page 13, Recommended gear .
A suitably selected gear can have an effect on fuel consumption » Fig. 92.
Automatic gearbox › Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly. However, do not depress it as far as the
kickdown position » page 102.
› An economic driving programme is automatically selected if the accelerator ped-
al is only depressed slowly.

105Starting-off and Driving

Avoiding full throttleFig. 93
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km. and speed
in km/h.
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 104.
The slower you drive, the more the fuel savings.
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consump-tion but also positively influence environmental pollution and wear of your vehi-
cle.
The maximum speed of your vehicle should, as far possible, never be used. Fuel
consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at
high speeds.
The graph » Fig. 93 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your ve-
hicle. Fuel consumption will be halved if you drive at only three-quarters of the
possible top speed of your vehicle.

Reducing idling
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 104.
Idling also costs fuel.
In vehicles not equipped with the START-STOP system, turn off the engine when
in a traffic jam, at a level crossing or traffic lights with longer wait times.
Even after just 30 - 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel than that is needed
when you start the engine up again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly
high in the warming-up phase. Therefore, start driving as soon as the engine has
started, In this case high engine speeds should be avoided.
Avoiding short distances
Fig. 94
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in l/100 km at different tem-
peratures
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 104.
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption. We therefore recommend avoiding distances of less than 4 km if the engine is cold.
A cold engine consumes the most fuel immediately after the start. Fuel consump-tion drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The consumption stabilises
once the engine and catalytic converter have reached their operating tempera-
ture.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
graph » Fig. 94 shows the different levels of fuel consumption after driving a cer-
tain distance at a temperature of +20 °C and a temperature of -10 °C.
The vehicle has a higher fuel consumption in winter than in summer.

Checking tyre pressure
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 104.
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel. 
106Driving

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