2013 SKODA FABIA ESP

Table of Contents
Materials defect liability and ŠKODA warranty for
new cars5
Mobility warranty and ŠKODA extended
warranty
6
Abbreviations
Using the system
Cockpit
9
Overview
8
Instruments and Indicator Lights
10
Instrument cluster
10
Multifunction display (MFD)
13
Service Interval Display
16
MAXI DOT display
18
Warning lights
20
Unlocking and locking
28
Unlocking and locking
28
Central locking system
31
Remote control
34
Anti-theft alarm system
35
Tailgate
37
Electrical power windows
38
Electric sliding/tilting roof
40
Lights and visibility
43
Lights
43
Interior lights
48
Visibility
49
Windscreen wipers and washers
50
Rear window
53Seats and storage54Front seats54
Rear seats
56
Head restraints
57
Boot
58
Variable loading floor in the luggage
compartment (Fabia Estate)
62
Net partition (Fabia Estate)
64
Bicycle carrier in the luggage compartment
65
Roof rack system
67
Useful equipment
69
Storage compartments
72
Heating and air conditioning
77
Heating, ventilation, cooling
77
Heating
78
Air conditioning system (manual air conditioning
system)
80
Climatronic (automatic air conditioningsystem)
83
Communication and multimedia
86
Universal telephone preinstallation GSM II
86
Voice control
91
Multimedia
92
Driving
Starting-off and Driving
95
Steering
95
Starting and stopping the engine
96
Brakes
98
Manual gear shifting and pedals
99
Automatic transmission
100
Running in
103
Economical driving and respect the
environment
104
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
108
Driving abroad
109Assist systems111Brake assist systems111
Parking aid
113
Cruise control system
114
START-STOP
116
Towing a trailer
118
Towing device
118
Trailer
121
Safety
Passive Safety
124
General information
124
Correct seated position
125
Seat belts
128
Wearing seat belts
128
Inertia reel and belt pretensioners
131
Airbag system
133
Description of the airbag system
133
Airbag overview
134
Deactivating airbags
137
Transporting children safely
140
Child seat
140
Fastening systems
143
General Maintenance
Car care
145
Service intervals
145
Services, modifications and technical
alterations
147
Washing the car
150
Vehicle exterior care
151
Care of the interior
1553Table of Contents

Materials defect liability and ŠKODAwarranty for new cars
Materials defect liability
Your ŠKODA partner, as a vendor, is liable to you for defects in your new ŠKODA
car, ŠKODA Genuine Parts or ŠKODA Genuine Accessories in accordance with stat-
utory regulations and the purchase agreement.
ŠKODA warranty for new cars
As well as the materials defect liability, ŠKODA AUTO a.s. grants you the ŠKODA warranty for new cars (hereafter referred to as “ŠKODA warranty),” according to
the terms described below.
As part of the ŠKODA warranty, ŠKODA AUTO a.s. will guarantee the following
services:
› Repair of damage to your vehicle that occurs within two years from the start of
the ŠKODA warranty;
› Repair of paint damage to your vehicle that occurs within three years from the
start of the ŠKODA warranty;
› Repair of rust perforation to the bodywork of your vehicle that occurs within
twelve years from the start of the warranty. Only rust perforation from the in- side to the outside of body panels is considered to be rust perforation of the
bodywork and is covered by the ŠKODA warranty.
The start of the warranty is the date on which the original purchaser acquires the vehicle upon purchasing it from the ŠKODA partner or the date of first registra-
tion. Whichever occurs first and is accordingly recorded by the ŠKODA partner in
the service schedule is the applicable date.
Defects may be remedied by replacement or repair of the defective part. Replacedparts become the property of the ŠKODA service partner.
There are no other entitlements arising from the ŠKODA warranty. In particular,
there are no entitlements to replacement, cancellation, provision of a courtesy
vehicle for the duration of repairs or compensation for loss.
If your ŠKODA vehicle was purchased from a ŠKODA partner in a country withinthe European Economic Area (i.e. the countries of the European Union, Norway,
Iceland and Liechtenstein) or in Switzerland, claims arising from the ŠKODA war-
ranty must also be made through a ŠKODA service partner in one of these coun-
tries.If your ŠKODA vehicle has been purchased from a ŠKODA partner outside the Eu-
ropean Economic Area and Switzerland, claims arising from the ŠKODA warranty
must also be made through a ŠKODA service partner outside the European Eco-
nomic Area and Switzerland.
One of the conditions for the assertion of the ŠKODA warranty is that all service operations have been carried out works in a timely and adequate manner and in
accordance with the manufacturer's provisions. You must prove that service oper-
ations have been carried out properly and in accordance with the manufacturer's
provisions when asserting a claim under the ŠKODA warranty. Where a service
has been missed or not carried out according to the manufacturer's provisions,
you may still be entitled to warranty claims as long as you can prove that the
missed service or the failure to carry out a service according to the manufactur-
er's provisions was not the cause of the defect.
Natural wear and tear of your vehicle is not covered by the ŠKODA warranty. The
ŠKODA warranty also does not cover defects to bodywork, installations and con-
versions provided by third-parties, nor vehicle defects caused by these. The same
is true for accessories which are not factory installed and/or supplied.
In addition, this warranty does not apply if the defect was caused by one of thefollowing:
› unauthorized use, improper handling (e.g. use in motorsport competitions or
overloading), improper care and maintenance, or unapproved modification to
your vehicle;
› non-compliance with provisions in the service schedule and the Owner's manual
or other factory-supplied instructions;
› external causes or influences (e.g. accidents, hail, flooding, etc.);
› parts fitted or installed on the vehicle the use of which is not approved by
ŠKODA AUTO a.s., or modification of the vehicle in a manner not approved by
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. (e.g. tuning);
› damage caused by you which was not immediately seen to by specialist garage
or was not fixed properly.
It is the customer's responsibility to prove that it was not the cause.
This ŠKODA warranty does not affect the purchaser's statutory rights arising from
liability for defects by the vehicle vendor and other potential claims under product liability laws.
5Materials defect liability and ŠKODA warranty for new cars

Recommended gearFig. 3
Recommended gear
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 10.
The gear currently engaged is shown in the instrument cluster display
A
» Fig. 3 .
In order to minimise the fuel consumption, a recommendation for shifting into an-
other gear is indicated in the display.
If the control unit recognises that it is beneficial to change gear, an arrow
B
is
shown in the display. The arrow points up or down, depending on whether you
should shift into a higher or lower gear.
At the same time, the recommended gear is shown at
A
instead of the gear se-
lected on vehicles with a manual gearbox.
CAUTION
The driver is always responsible for selecting the correct gear in different driving
situations, such as overtaking.
Multifunction display (MFD)
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Memory
14
Operation
14Multifunction display details15Warning against speeding16
The multifunction display can only be operated when the ignition is switched on.
After the ignition is switched on, the function displayed is the one which you last
selected before switching off the ignition.
The multifunction display shown in the segment display » Fig. 4 on page 14 or in
the MAXI DOT display depending on your vehicle model » page 18.
On vehicles with a MAXI DOT display » page 18, there is an option not to display
some of the information.
WARNING■ Concentrate fully on your driving at all times. As the driver you are fully re-
sponsible for the operation of your vehicle.■
Even at temperatures of around +4 °C, there may still be black ice on the
road surface. You should therefore not rely solely on the outside temperature
display for accurate information as to whether there is ice on the road.
Note
■ In certain national versions the displays appear in the Imperial system of meas-
ures.■
If the display of the second speed is activated in mph, the current speed is not
indicated in km/h on the display.

13Instruments and Indicator Lights

Winter tyres
Here, you can set the speed at which an audible signal should sound. This func-
tion is, for example, used for winter tyres where the maximum permissible speed
is lower than the maximum speed of the vehicle.
The following is shown on the information display if this speed is exceeded: Winter tyres: maximum ... km/h.
Units of measurement
The units for the temperature, consumption and distance driven can be set here.
Alt. speed dis.
Display of the second speed in mph 1)
can be activated here.
Service
The days and kilometres remaining until the next service can be displayed here.
Factory setting
The display can be restored to its factory settings here.
Door, boot lid and bonnet warning
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 18.
If at least one door is open, or the boot or bonnet is open, the MAXI DOT display
shows the vehicle with the corresponding door or boot/bonnet open.
An audible signal also sounds if the vehicle is travelling at more than 6 km/h.

Auto Check Control
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 18.
Vehicle condition
Certain functions and conditions of individual vehicle systems are checked contin-
uously when the ignition is switched on and also while driving.
Some error messages and other information are displayed in the MAXI DOT dis-
play. The messages are displayed simultaneously with the icons in the MAXI DOT
display or with the warning lights in the instrument cluster » page 20.
The Vehicle status menu item is shown in the main menu of the MAXI DOT dis-
play whenever at least one fault message is present. The first of the fault mes-
sages is displayed after this menu item is selected. Several error messages are
shown on the display under the message e.g. 1/3. This indicates that the first of a
total of three error messages is being displayed.
As long as the operational faults are not rectified, the symbols are always indica- ted again. After they are displayed for the first time, the symbols continue to be
indicated without any extra messages for the driver.
Warning symbolsEngine oil pressure too low» page 21Clutches in the automatic gearbox are too
hot» page 19Check engine oil level,
engine oil sensor defective» page 21
 Clutches in the automatic gearbox are too hot
The 
symbol in the MAXI DOT display indicates that the temperature of the au-
tomatic gearbox clutches is too high.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.
Gearbox overheating. Stop. Read manual.
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and wait until the 
icon goes out – there
is a risk of gearbox damage. You can continue your journey as soon as the icon
disappears.
WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, park the vehicle at a safe distance
from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard warning light
system » page 47 . 1)
On models on which the speedometer indicates mph, the second speed is displayed in km/h.
19Instruments and Indicator Lights

Note■Warning messages shown in the MAXI DOT display must be confirmed with but-
ton B » Fig. 7 on page 18 to call up the main menu.■
As long as the operational faults are not rectified, the symbols are always indi-
cated again. After they are displayed for the first time, the symbols continue to be
indicated without any extra messages for the driver.

Warning lights
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 Handbrake
20
 Brake system
20
 Seat belt warning light
21

Alternator
21
 Door open
21
 
Engine oil
21
 
Coolant
22
 Power steering
23

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
23
 Traction Control System (ASR)
23
 Antilock brake system (ABS)
24
 The rear fog light
24
 Bulb failure
24
 Exhaust inspection system
24
 Glow plug system (diesel engine)
24
 ECU fault light (petrol engine)
25
 Diesel particulate filter (diesel engine)
25
 Fuel reserve
25
 Airbag system
26

Tyre pressure
26
 Windscreen washer fluid level
26
 Traction control (TCS) switched off
26
 
Turn signal system
26
 Low beam
27 Fog lights27 Cruise control system27
 Selector lever lock
27
 Main beam
27
The warning lights show certain functions/faults and may be accompanied by au-
dible signals.
WARNING■ If illuminated warning lights and the corresponding descriptions and warn-
ing notes are not observed, this may result in severe injuries or major vehicle
damage.■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. There is a risk of
injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the engine compart-
ment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. It is essential to ob-
serve safety notes » page 160, Engine compartment .

 Handbrake
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
The warning light 
comes on if the handbrake is applied. An audible warning is
also given if you drive the vehicle for at least 3 seconds at a speed of more than
6 km/h.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.
Release parking brake!

 Brake system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
The 
indicator light comes on if the brake fluid level in the braking system is too
low or there is a fault in the ABS.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Brake fluid: Read manual. 
20Using the system

 Power steeringFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
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 specialist garage.
Further information » page 95.
Note
■
If the yellow warning light  goes out after the engine is restarted and a short
drive, it is not necessary to visit a 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 toturn the steering wheel.

 Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
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. The ESC is fully functional again if the 
warning light does not light up
after you switch the engine back on.
There is a fault in the ESC system if the 
warning light lights up.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.
Fault: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Seek help from a specialist garage.
The ESC system cannot be turned off, the  » page 112 button only switches the
TCS off, 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 111, Stabilisation control (ESC) .
Note
The  warning light comes on after the ignition is switched on if the vehicle's
battery has been disconnected and reconnected. The warning light should go out
after the vehicle has driven a short distance.
 Traction Control System (ASR)
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
The warning light flashes 
to show that the ASR is currently operating.
If the warning light 
comes on immediately after starting the engine, the ASR
can be switched off for technical reasons. Switch the ignition off and on again.
The TCS is fully functional again if the 
warning light does not light up after you
switch the engine back on.
If the warning light 
lights up, there is a fault in the ASR.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Fault: Traction control (TCS)
Seek help from a specialist garage.
The fact that the TCS system operates together with the ABS means that the TCS warning light will also come on if the ABS system is not operating properly.
Further information » page 112, Traction Control System (ASR) .
Note
The 
warning light comes on after the ignition is switched on if the vehicle's
battery has been disconnected and reconnected. The warning light should go out
after the vehicle has driven a short distance.
23Instruments and Indicator Lights

Replacing the battery in the remote control keyFig. 9
Remote control key: Remove cover/remove battery
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 28.
Each remote control key contains a battery located under the cover
A
» Fig. 9 .
The battery needs replacing if red indicator light » Fig. 8 on page 28 - 
does not
go on when you press a button on the remote control key. We recommend having
key battery replaced by a specialist garage. However, if you would like to replace
the discharged battery yourself proceed as follows.
›
Flip out the key.
›
Press off the battery cover with your thumb or using a flat screwdriver in the region of arrows
1
» Fig. 9 .
›
Remove the discharged battery from the key by pressing the battery down-
wards in the region of arrow
2
.
›
Insert the new battery. Ensure that the “+” symbol on the battery is facing up-wards. The correct polarity is shown on the battery cover.
›
Place the battery cover on the key and press it down until it clicks into place.
CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the correct polarity when changing the battery.■The replacement battery must have the same specification as the original bat-
tery.
For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the used battery in accordance with national legal provisions.Note■ The system has to be synchronised, if the vehicle cannot be unlocked or locked
with the remote control key after replacing the battery » page 35.■
Replacing the battery in the key a glued decorative cover requires the cover to
be destroyed. A replacement cover can be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.

Child safety lock
Fig. 10
Switching child safety lock on: for vehicles without or with central
locking system
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 28.
The child safety lock prevents the corresponding rear door from being openedfrom the inside. The door can only be opened from the outside.
You can switch the child safety lock on and off using the vehicle key.
Switching on
›
On vehicles without central locking, turn the slot of the lock in the left-hand door anti-clockwise » Fig. 10 - 
and clockwise in the right-hand door.
›
On vehicles with central locking, turn the slot of the lock in the left-hand door
clockwise » Fig. 10 - 
and anti-clockwise on the right-hand door.
Switching off
›
On vehicles without central locking, turn the slot of the lock on the left-hand door clockwise and anti-clockwise on the right-hand door.
›
On vehicles with central locking, turn the slot of the lock on the left-hand door
anti-clockwise and clockwise on the right-hand door.

29Unlocking and locking

CAUTIONIf the safe securing system is activated» page 32, the door opening lever and
the central locking buttons do not operate.
Note
■ 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 locked or unlocked with the key if the central lock-
ing system fails. The other doors and the tailgate can be locked or unlocked man-
ually. ■ Emergency locking of the door » page 31.
■ Emergency unlocking of the boot lid » page 38.

Individual settings
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 31.
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 33 .
The doors can be unlocked and opened from the inside by a single pull on the
opening lever of the respective door.
Note
Individual settings can be applied in a specialist workshop.
Safe securing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 31.
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 withthe 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.
The safe securing system is activated again the next time the vehicle is unlocked and locked.
If the vehicle is locked and the safe securing system is deactivated, the door can
be opened from the inside by a single pull on opening lever of the respective
door.
WARNINGIf the vehicle is locked from the outside and the safe securing system is acti-
vated, there must not be any person in the vehicle as it is then no longer pos-
sible to open either a door or a window from the inside. The locked doors
make it more difficult for rescuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency – risk of death.
Note
■ The anti-theft alarm system is activated when the vehicle is locked even if the
safe securing system is deactivated. The interior monitor is however not activa- ted.■
You will be informed that the safe securing system is activated after the vehicle
is locked by the CHECK DEADLOCK message on the instrument cluster display. On
vehicles equipped with the MAXI DOT display, the display shows Check deadlock.
Read manual. 
32Using the system