2013 SKODA FABIA ECU

The ball head is released in this position and falls freely into the hand. If it does
not fall freely into the hand, use your other hand to push it upwards.
At the same time, the ball head latches into the ready position and is thus readyto be re-inserted into the mounting recess »
.
›
Fit the cover for the mounting recess
4
» Fig. 100 on page 118 in the opposite
direction to the arrow.
›
Offer up the cap to the rear bumper
2
» Fig. 100 on page 118 aligning it with
“check mark” in the lower bumper area.
›
Push the cap in first on the left and right and then at the top.
WARNINGNever allow the ball head to remain unsecured in the boot. This could cause damage in a sudden braking manoeuvre and put the safety of the occupantsat risk.
CAUTION
■ If the lever is held firm and not pushed downwards as far as it can go, it will go
back up after the ball head is removed and will not latch into the ready position.
The ball head then needs to be brought into this position before the next time it
is fitted.■
Stow the ball head in the ready position with the key inserted in the box. When
doing so, make the side opposite to the inserted key face downwards – there is a
risk of damaging the key.
■
Do not use excessive force when handling the operating lever (e.g. do not step
on it).
Note
■ We recommend that you put the protective cap on the ball before removing the
ball head.■
Clean any dirt from the ball head before stowing it away in the box with the ve-
hicle tool kit.

Use and care
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 118.
Close the mounting recess with the cap to prevent any ingress of dirt.
Always check the ball head before hitching a trailer. Apply a suitable grease where necessary.
Fit the protective cap when stowing away the ball head to protect the luggage
compartment against dirt.
In the event of dirt, clean the surfaces of the mounting recess and treat with a
suitable preservative.
CAUTION
Apply grease to the upper part of the mounting recess. Make sure you do not re-
move any grease.
Trailer
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Loading a trailer
121
Towing a trailer
122
Anti-theft alarm system
123WARNINGAlways drive particularly carefully with the trailer.

Loading a trailer
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced, whereby the maximum permis-
sible drawbar load must be utilised. If the drawbar load is too low, it jeopardises the performance of the vehicle/trailer combination.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as close to the axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping. 
121Towing a trailer

Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Safety equipment
124
Before every journey
124
What influences driving safety?
125
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the subject
of passive safety in your vehicle.
We have combined everything here which you should be familiar with, for exam- ple, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and safety of children.
WARNING■ This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants.■
You will find further information on safety, which concerns you and those
travelling with you, in the following chapters of this Owner's Manual.
■
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This ap-
plies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.

Safety equipment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 124.
The following list contains only part of the safety equipment in your vehicle.
› Three-point seat belts for all the seats.
› Belt force limiters for the front seats.
› Belt tensioners for the front seats.
› Seat belt height adjusters for the front seats.
›
Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger.
› Side airbags.
› Head airbags.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the ISOFIX system.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the TOP TETHER system.
› Head restraints adjustable for height.
› Adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally protect you
and those travelling with you in accident situations.
The safety equipment does not protect you or the people travelling with you, if
you or your occupants adopt an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not
correctly adjusted or used.
If the seat belt is not fastened properly, this may result in injuries during an acci-
dent caused by the deployed airbag.

Before every journey
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 124.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please pay
attention to the following points before setting off.
› Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.
› Check the tyre inflation pressure.
› Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
› Secure all items of luggage
» page 58.
› Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.
› Adjust the mirrors, the front seat and head restraint to your body size.
› Advise your passengers to adjust the head restraints to their body size.
› Protect children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts » page 140 , Transporting children safely .
› Adopt the correct seated position
» page 125. Tell your passengers to assume
the correct seated position.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt. Also instruct your passengers to fasten their seat
belt correctly » page 128, Wearing seat belts .

124Safety

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

Transporting children safely
Child seat
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat
141
Child safety and side airbag
142
Classification of child seats
142
Use of child seats fastened with a seat belt
142
Children are generally safer on the rear seats than on the front passenger seat.
In contrast to adults, the muscles and bone structure of children are not yet fully developed. Thus children are exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported in accordance with the relevant statutory provi-sions.
Child seats that comply with the ECE-R 44 standard must be used. The ECE-R
standard stands for: Economic Commission for Europe - Regulation.
Child seats that comply with the ECE-R 44 standard have a test seal that cannot
be removed: a large E within a circle with the test number below.
WARNING■ The national legal requirements must be observed when using child seats.■One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.■
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. Certain outside climatic con-
ditions can cause life-threatening temperatures in the vehicle.
■
The child must be secured in the vehicle throughout the journey. Otherwise,
in the event of an accident, the child would be thrown through the vehicle and
as a result may suffer fatal injuries, and also injure other occupants.
WARNING (Continued)■ Children are exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent if they lean forward or adopt an incorrect seated position when the vehi-
cle is moving. This particularly applies to children who are transported on the
front passenger seat as they can suffer severe, or even fatal injuries if the air-
bag system is deployed!■
Pay particular attention to the information provided by the manufacturer of
the child safety seat regarding the correct routing of the belt. Seat belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in minor
accidents.
■
Safety belts must be checked to ensure that they are running properly. One
should also ensure that the belt is not damaged by sharp-edged fittings.
■
It is essential to switch off the front passenger airbag if using a child seat on
the front passenger seat in which the child is carried with its back facing the
direction of travel. Further information » page 141, Use of a child seat on the
front passenger seat .
Note
We recommend that you use child seats from ŠKODA Original Accessories. These
child seats were developed and also tested for use in ŠKODA vehicles. They meet
the ECE-R 44 standard.
140Safety

Child safety and side airbagFig. 118
Incorrect seated position of a child who is not properly secured – at
risk from the side airbag/Child properly protected by safety seat
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 140.
The child must not be positioned in the area into which the side airbag will de-
ploy » Fig. 118 - 
.
There must be sufficient room between the child and the area into which the side
airbag will deploy to allow the airbag to provide as much protection as possi-
ble » Fig. 118 - 
.
WARNING■
Children must never be seated with their head in the deployment area of
the side airbag – there is a risk of injury.■
Do not place any objects within the deployment area of the side airbags –
there is a risk of injury.

Classification of child seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 140.
Classification of child seats according to the ECE-R 44 standard.
GroupWeight of the childApproximate age0up to 10 kgup to 9 months0+up to 13 kgup to 18 months19-18 kgup to 4 years215-25 kgup to 7 years322-36 kgover 7 years

Use of child seats fastened with a seat belt
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 140.
Overview of the use of child seats fastened with a seat belt on each of the seats
in accordance with the ECE-R 16 standard.
GroupFront passenger seatRear seatsoutsideRear seat centre0
up to 10 kgUUU0+
up to 13 kgUUU1
9-18 kgUUU2
15-25 kgUUU3
22-36 kgUUU
“Universal” child seat category - a child seat designed for fastening on the
seat with the seat belt.

U142Safety

WARNINGPlease read the following advice before beginning work in the engine com-
partment.■
Turn off the engine and withdraw the ignition key.
■
Firmly apply the handbrake.
■
If the vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever into
Neutral, or if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox, move the selec-
tor lever into position P.
■
Allow the engine to cool.
■
Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant flowing out of the
engine compartment – there is a risk of scalding. Wait until the steam or cool- ant has stopped escaping.
WARNINGPlease read the following advice for work in the engine compartment.■Keep children clear of the engine compartment.■
Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is still warm. The fan might
suddenly start running!
■
Do not touch any hot engine parts – there is a risk of burns.
■
The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
■
Avoid contact with the coolant.
■
Coolant vapours are harmful to health.
■
Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the en-
gine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
■
When opening the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir, cover it
with a cloth to protect your face, hands and arms from hot steam or hot cool-
ant.
■
If any coolant splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse out your eyes with
clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
■
Always safely store the coolant additive in its original container out of the
reach of children – there is a risk of poisoning.
■
Consult a doctor immediately if coolant is swallowed.
■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cleaning cloths or tools) in the engine compart-
ment.
■
Never spill fluids on the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the antifreeze con-
tained in the coolant) may ignite!
WARNINGThe following warning instructions must be observed at all times when work-
ing in the engine compartment while the engine is running.■
Pay particular attention to moving engine parts (e.g. V-ribbed belt, alterna-
tor, radiator fan) and the high-voltage ignition unit – there is a risk of death.
■
Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the vehicle's
battery.
■
Always make sure that no jewellery, loose clothing or long hair can get
caught in rotating engine parts – there is a risk of death. Always remove any jewellery, tie back long hair and wear tight fitting clothing before completing
any work.
WARNINGThe following warning instructions must be observed if work has to be carried
out on the fuel or electrical systems.■
Always disconnect the vehicle battery from the electrical system.
■
Do not smoke.
■
Never work near open flames.
■
Always have a functioning fire extinguisher nearby.
WARNING■ Read the information and warning instructions on the fluid containers.■Keep fluids in their original containers and keep out of reach of children!■
If you wish to work under the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle against
rolling away and support it with suitable axle stands: the car jack is not suffi-
cient for this – there is a risk of injury.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a blan-
ket) – there is a risk of fire.
■
The bonnet must always be properly closed when driving. This is why after
closing the bonnet, the lock must always be checked to ensure it has engaged properly.
■
If you notice that the lock is not properly engaged while driving, stop the ve-
hicle immediately and close the bonnet – there is the risk of an accident. 
161Inspecting and replenishing

CAUTIONAlways top up using the correct specification of fluids. This may result in major
operating problems and also vehicle damage!
For the sake of the environment
In view of the requirements for the environmentally friendly disposal of fluids and the special tools and knowledge required for such work, we recommend that flu-
ids be changed by a specialist garage.
Note
■ If there is anything you are not sure about concerning fluids, please consult a
specialist garage.■
Fluids with the correct specifications can be purchased from ŠKODA Original Ac-
cessories.

Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 123
Bonnet release lever/release lever
Fig. 124
Securing the bonnet
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Opening
›
Pull the release lever under the dash panel in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 123 .
Before opening the bonnet, ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are
correctly in place against the windscreen otherwise the paintwork could be dam- aged.
›
Press the release lever in the direction of the arrow
2
» Fig. 123 and the bon-
net is unlocked.
›
Grab hold of the bonnet and lift.
›
Take the bonnet prop out of its bracket and secure the opened bonnet by in- serting the end of the prop in the opening
3
» Fig. 124 provided.
Closing
›
Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the bonnet prop into the bracket provided.
›
Let the bonnet drop into the lock carrier lock from a height of around 20 cm – do
not push it in .
WARNINGCheck that the bonnet is closed properly.
CAUTION
Never open the bonnet by the locking lever » Fig. 123
.
162General Maintenance

Checking the electrolyte levelFig. 131
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 169.
We recommend you have the electrolyte level checked by a specialist garage from time to time, especially in the following cases.
› High outside temperatures.
› Long daily drives
› After each charge
» page 171.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, known as the
magic eye » Fig. 131, the electrolyte level can be determined by looking at the
change in colour.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully
knock on the indicator before carrying out the check.
› Black colour - electrolyte level is correct.
› Colourless or light yellow colour - electrolyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced.
Note
■ The battery electrolyte level is also periodically checked by a specialist garage
as part of the Inspection Service.■
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description “AGM”, the electrolyte
level cannot be checked.
■
Vehicles with a START-STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for
checking the energy level for the recurring engine start.

Operation in winter
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 169.
The vehicle battery only has some of its starting power at low temperatures. A
discharged vehicle battery may freeze at temperatures just below 0 °C .
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked and, if necessary, re-
charged by a specialist garage before the start of the winter.

Charging
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 169.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.
›
Switch off the ignition and all of the electrical components.
›
Only when performing a “quick-charge”, disconnect both battery cables (first
“negative”, then “positive”).
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red = “posi-
tive”, black = “negative”).
›
Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch thecharger on.
›
Once charging is complete: Switch off the charger and remove the mains cable
from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery (first “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not necessary to disconnect the battery cables if you are recharging the vehi-
cle battery using low amperages (for example from a mini-charger). Refer to the
charger manufacturer's instructions .
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or lower)
must be used until full charging is achieved.
Both cables must be disconnected before charging the battery with high amper-
ages, known as “ rapid charging”.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging. 
171Inspecting and replenishing