2014 SKODA FABIA maintenance

Washing by handRead and observe
and on page 140 first.
Soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse as much as you can of this off.Clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a washing glove or a washing brush.
Work from the top to the bottom - starting with the roof.
For stubborn dirt, agents specifically intended for this purpose are to be used.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.
Give the vehicle a good rinse after washing it and dry it off using a chamois
leather.
WARNINGProtect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when cleaning
the underfloor or the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims – risk
of cuts!
CAUTION
■ Only apply slight pressure when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork.■Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight – there is a risk of paint damage.
Automatic car wash systems
Read and observe
and on page 140 first.
The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle
in an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows including the slid-
ing/tilting 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 system 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.
CAUTIONFold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system. Never manually fold in electric exterior mirrors -
always use the electric controls.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
Read and observe
and on page 140 first.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions foruse of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pres-
sure used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft mate-
rials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
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 pe-
riods while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.
Note
See also Washing a vehicle with decorative film trim using a high-pressure
cleaner » page 143 .
Cleaning vehicle exterior

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle paint work
142
Plastic parts
142
Rubber seals
143
Chrome parts
143
Decorative films
143
Windows and external mirrors
143
Headlight glasses
144
Door closing cylinder
144

141Care and maintenance

Cavity protection144Jack144
Wheels
144
Towing device and mounting recess
145
Under-body protection
145
Wiper blades
145
We recommend using care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories that are
available from ŠKODA Partners. The instructions for use on the package must
be observed.
WARNING■ Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the
instructions.■
Always keep the automobile care products safe from people who are not
completely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
■
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when clean-
ing the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims –
risk of cuts!
CAUTION
■ Do not use any insect sponges, kitchen scrubbers or similar cleaning prod-
ucts – there is a risk of damaging the paintwork finish.■
Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
For the sake of the environment
Used cans of vehicle care product represent hazardous waste that is harmful
to the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national
legislation.
Note
Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any poten-
tial problems with the cleaning and care of the exterior of your vehicle, we rec-
ommend that cleaning and care of your vehicle be carried out by a ŠKODA
Service Partner.Vehicle paint work
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Preserving the vehicle paintwork
Thorough wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from
harmful environmental influences.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quality hard wax polish at the latest,
when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean body- work after it has dried thoroughly.
Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recommend that you treat
the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year with hard wax.
Polishing
Polishing is necessary if the vehicle's paintwork has become unattractive and
if it is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservatives.
If the polish does not contain any preserving elements, the paint must be trea- ted with a preservative afterwards.
CAUTION
■ Paint damage is to be repaired immediately.■Never apply wax to the windows.■
Mat painted or plastic parts must not be treated with polishing products or
hard waxes.
■
Do not polish the paintwork in a dusty environment - there is a risk of
scratching the paintwork.
■
Do not apply polish to door seals or window guides.
■
If possible, do not apply any polish to body surfaces that come into contact
with door seals and window guides.
Plastic parts
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Clean plastic parts with a damp cloth.
If this method does not clean plastic parts completely, use a specific plastic
care product. 
142General Maintenance

CAUTIONDo not use polish on plastic parts.
Rubber sealsRead and observe
and on page 142 first.
All door seals and window guides are factory-treated with a colourless matt
varnish layer against a freezing to painted body parts and against road noise.
CAUTION
■ Do not treat the door seals or window guides with any cleaning agent.■An additional treatment of the seals can attack their protective coating and
road noise may be generated.
Chrome parts
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a
soft, dry cloth.
If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific chrome
care product.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment - there is a risk of
scratching the finish.
Decorative films
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Wash the films with a mild soap solution and clean, warm water.
The following instructions must be observed for the high-pressure washing
the vehicle.
› The minimum distance between the nozzle and the vehicle body should be
50 cm.
› Keep the jet perpendicular to the film surface.
› The maximum water temperature is 50 °C.
› The maximum water pressure is 80 bar.
CAUTION■
Never use aggressive cleaning agents or chemical solvents for the glued sur-
faces with films - there is a danger of film damage.■
No ice scrapers should be used in the winter months to remove ice and snow
from the areas to which films have been applied. Do not remove frozen snow
or ice using other objects - there is a risk of damage to the film.
Windows and external mirrors
Fig. 142
Fuel filler flap: Remove ice scra-
per
Read and observe and on page 142 first.
Removing snow and ice
Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mir-
rors.
The ice scraper can be found on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
›
Open the fuel filler flap.
›
Slide out the ice scraper in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 142.
Cleaning windows
Clean the windows regularly with clean water, inside and out.
Dry the glass surfaces with a clean chamois leather or a cloth intended for this
purpose.
CAUTION
Instructions for removing snow and ice■The ice scraper should not be moved forward and backward but in one direc-
tion to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.■
Snow or ice that is contaminated with coarse dirt such as fine gravel, sand,
and salt must not be removed from the window glass and mirrors – risk of
damage to the surface of the windows and mirrors. 
143Care and maintenance

■Never remove snow or ice from glass parts using warm or hot water – there
is a risk of cracking in glass.■
Make sure that when removing snow and ice from the windows, the labels
attached to the vehicle by the factory are not damaged.
CAUTION
Information for cleaning windows■Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corro-
sive and acidic cleaning agents – there is a risk of damaging the heating ele-
ments or window aerial.■
When drying the windows after washing the vehicle, do not use window
leathers that have been used to polish the bodywork. Residues of preserva-
tives in the chamois leather can smear the windows and reduce visibility.
Headlight glasses
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Clean the plastic headlight lenses with clean, warm water and soap.
CAUTION
■The headlights are never to be wiped dry - there is a risk of damaging the
protective lacquer and the headlight glass subsequently developing cracks.■
Do not use sharp objects to clean the glasses - there is a risk of damaging
the protective lacquer and the headlight glasses subsequently developing
cracks.
■
Do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products to clean the
headlights – risk of damaging the headlight lenses.
Door closing cylinder
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Specific products must be used for de-icing door lock cylinders.
CAUTION
Make sure that as little water as possible gets into the locking cylinder when
washing the vehicle - there is a risk of freezing the lock cylinder!Cavity protection
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
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 petrole-
um cleaner.
WARNINGSafety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – there is a risk of fire.
Jack
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
The jack is maintenance-free.
If necessary, the moving parts of the jack should be lubricated with a suitable
lubricant.
Wheels
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular
basis.
Regularly remove salt and brake dust otherwise the rim material will be at-
tacked.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product
for light alloy wheels.
For the treatment of wheel rims do not use products which may cause damage
to the paint on the rims. 
144General Maintenance

CAUTION■Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be touched up immediate-
ly.■
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.
Towing device and mounting recess
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Close the mounting recess with the cap to prevent any ingress of dirt.
In the event of dirt, clean the inner surfaces of the mounting recess and treat
with a suitable preservative.
Before hitching a trailer check the ball head and apply a suitable grease where
necessary.
Fit the protective cap when stowing away the ball head to protect the luggage
compartment against dirt.
CAUTION
Apply grease to the inner part of the mounting recess. Make sure you do not
remove any grease.
Under-body protection
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
The underside of your vehicle is already permanently protected by the factory
against chemical and mechanical influences.
Damage to the protective coating cannot be excluded when the vehicle is
driven.
We recommend that you have the protective coating under the body and on
the chassis inspected - preferably before the beginning and at the end of the
cold season.
WARNINGNever use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filters or heat shields.
These substances could ignite when the engine reaches its operating tem-
perature - there is a risk of fire.
Wiper blades
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Clean the wiper blades regularly with a glass cleaner. The wiper blades should
be cleaned with a sponge or cloth if they are heavily soiled by insect residues,
for example.
The wiper blades can become soiled with wax residues after washing in auto-
matic vehicle wash systems for example » page 141.
Interior care
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Natural leather
146
Artificial leather, materials and Alcantara ®
146
Seat covers
147
Safety belts
147
We recommend using care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories that are
available from ŠKODA Partners. The instructions for use on the package must
be observed.
WARNING■ Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the
instructions.■
Always keep the automobile care products safe from people who are not
completely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
■
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the tempera-
ture inside the vehicle is high. 
145Care and maintenance

CAUTION■Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.■
Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possi-
ble.
■
Do not attach scents and air fresheners to the dashboard – risk of damage to
the dash panel.
■
Do not attach any stickers to the filaments or glass antenna - there is risk of
damage.
■
Do not clean the headlining with a brush – risk of damage to the lining sur-
face.
■
Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
For the sake of the environment
Used cans of vehicle care product represent hazardous waste that is harmful
to the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national
legislation.
Note
Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any poten-
tial problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we rec-
ommend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by
a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Natural leather
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
The leather needs, depending on the strain placed on it, regular cleaning andmaintenance.
Dust and dirt in pores and creases cause abrasions on the surface and lead to
premature brittling of the leather surface. Therefore, they must be removed
regularly at 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).
To remove stains , use a cleaning agent specially designed for this purpose.
Treat the leather periodically with a suitable leather protector and use a skin
care cream with light blocker and impregnation after each cleaning.
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
become 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.
■
The use of an additional mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the
leather surface of the steering wheel.
■
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do not have sufficient colour
fastness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers
even when treated correctly. This is particularly true for light-coloured uphols-
tery. This is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor colour fastness of the
clothing textiles.
■
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts etc. may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the
surface or damage these. Damage of this nature cannot later be recognized as
a justified complaint.
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 cov-
ers).
Artificial leather, materials and Alcantara ®
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
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. us-
ing 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. 
146General Maintenance

Remove pilling and residues on upholstery with a brush.
Remove stubborn hair with a “cleaning glove”.
Alcantara ®
Dust and dirt in pores, creases and seams may chafe and damage the surface.
Therefore, they must be removed regularly at short intervals with a cloth or
vacuum cleaner.
Minor changes in colour caused by use are normal.
CAUTION
■ For Alcantara ®
seat covers, do not use any solvents, floor wax, shoe cream,
stain remover, leather cleaners or similar agents.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle in bright sunlight for long periods of time in order
to stop the artificial leather, materials or Alcantara ®
from bleaching. During ex-
tended periods of standing outdoors, protect artificial leather, fabrics or Alcan-
tara ®
by covering.
■
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do not have sufficient colour
fastness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers
even when treated correctly. This is particularly true for light-coloured uphols-
tery. This is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor colour fastness of the
clothing textiles.
Seat covers
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
Electrically heated seats
Use a specific cleaning agent such as dry foam or similar to clean the covers. »
.
Seats without seat heating
Thoroughly vacuum the seat covers with a vacuum cleaner before cleaning.
Clean the seat covers with a damp cloth or cleaning agents particularly formu-
lated for them.
Compressed areas created on the fabrics by everyday use can be removed by
brushing against the nap with a lightly moistened brush.
Always treat all parts of the upholstery so that no visible boundaries are cre-
ated. Then leave the seat to dry completely.
CAUTION■ Do not clean the covers of electrically heated seats either with water or with
other liquids - there is a risk of damaging the seat heating system.■
Regularly vacuum dust from the seat covers using a vacuum cleaner.
■
Electrically heated seats must not be dried after cleaning by switching on the
heater.
■
Do not sit on wet seats - there is a risk of stretching the upholstery.
■
Always clean the seats “from seam to seam”.
Safety belts
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
Wash dirty seat belts with a mild, soapy solution.
Remove dirt with a soft brush.
WARNING■ The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.■Never clean the seat belts chemically as chemical cleaning products could
destroy the fabric.■
The seat belts must not be allowed to come into contact with corrosive
liquids (such as acids etc.).
■
Inertia reel belts must be completely dried before being rolled up.
147Care and maintenance

Inspecting and replenishing
Fuel
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Refuelling
148
Lead-free petrol
149
Diesel fuel
150
The correct fuel grades for your vehicle are specified on the inside of the fuel
filler flap » Fig. 143 on page 148 .
CAUTION
■
Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of
fuel can cause misfiring, which can result in damage to parts of the engine and
the exhaust system.■
Immediately remove any fuel that has spilled onto the vehicle's paintwork –
there is a risk of paint damage.
■
If the vehicle was not purchased in the country in which it was intended to
be operated, you should check whether the fuel specified by the manufacturer
is offered in the country where the vehicle will be operated. You should also
perhaps check whether the manufacturer has recommended a different fuel
for operation of the vehicle in the country concerned. If no prescribed fuel is
available, then you must check whether it is permitted by the manufacturer to
operate the vehicle with another fuel type.
RefuellingFig. 143
Open fuel filler flap / unscrew tank cap / place the tank cap on
the fuel filler flap
Read and observe
on page 148 first.
Refuelling can be done if the following conditions are met. The vehicle is unlocked.
The engine and the ignition are switched off.
›
Press on the fuel filler flap in the direction of the arrow
1
accordingly
» Fig. 143 .
›
Open the cover in the direction of the arrow
2
.
›
Unscrew the tank cap in the direction of the arrow
3
.
›
Remove the tank cap and place on top of the fuel filler flap in direction of ar-
row
4
.
›
Insert the pump nozzle into the fuel filler tube as far as it will go » .
The fuel tank is full just as soon as the pump nozzle switches off for the first
time »
.
›
Remove the pump nozzle from the fuel filler neck and put it back in the
pump.
›
Screw in the tank cap in the opposite direction of the arrow
3
until it audibly
clicks into place.
›
Close the fuel filler flap until it clicks into place.
Check that the fuel filler flap is closed properly.
WARNING■ Do not smoke when refuelling and do not use a mobile phone.■The fuel and fuel vapours are explosive - risk to life!■
Observe the local regulations regarding fuel handling. 
148General Maintenance