2014 SKODA FABIA ignition

Driving
Starting-off and driving
Starting and stopping the engine using the key
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
103
Lock / unlock steering lock
103
Turn ignition on / off and start the engine
104
Stopping the engine
104
With the key in the ignition, the ignition can be switched on and off and the
engine can be started / stopped.
WARNING■ While driving with the engine stopped, the ignition must always be
switched on » page 104, Turn ignition on / off and start the engine .
■ With the ignition off, the steering may lock » page 103 - danger of an
accident!■
Do not withdraw the ignition key from the ignition lock until the vehicle
has come to a stop » page 109, Parking . Otherwise the steering wheel
could lock – risk of accident.
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, children for example, could lock the car, turn on the ignition
or start the engine - risk of injury and accidents!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - risk of acci-
dent, damage or theft!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle has come to a halt – risk of
accident.
WARNING■ Never (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - risk of poisoning
and death!■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cleaning cloths or tools) in the engine com-
partment. There is a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a
blanket) – risk of fire.
CAUTION■ Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - risk of
starter and engine damage!■
Do not push-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 176.
Note
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this, the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature faster.
Electronic immobilizer
Read and observe
and on page 103 first.
The electronic immobilizer makes a possible attempted theft or unauthorizeduse of your vehicle more difficult.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobilizer is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobilizer is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if an unauthorized ignition key is used.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Immobilizer active.
IMMOBILIZER ACTIVE
Lock / unlock steering lock
Read and observe
and on page 103 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Withdraw the ignition key.
›
Turn the steering wheel to the left or right until the steering lock clicks into
place.
Unlocking
›
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
›
Switch on the ignition » page 104. 
103Starting-off and driving

The vehicle is unlocked.
If the ignition switch cannot be turned on, turn the steering wheel back and
forth slightly to unlock the steering lock.
Turn ignition on / off and start the engine
Fig. 105
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 103 first.
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock » Fig. 105
Ignition switched off, engine switched off
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Switching ignition on/off
›
Turn key to position
2
.
The ignition is switched on.
›
Turn key to position
1
.
The ignition is switched off.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear lever to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key into position
3
as far as it will go - the engine's starting proce-
dure will commence (do not touch the accelerator).
›
Release the key, the engine will start automatically.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
123If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position 1. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
For vehicles with diesel engines the glow plug warning light 
goes on during
starting. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes out.
Vehicles with manual transmission
The engine will not start if the clutch pedal is not depressed.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Press the clutch to start.
PRESS CLUTCH
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine will not start if the brake pedal is not depressed.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Depress the brake to start.
APPLY BRAKE
Note
■ The engine running noises may at first be louder for a short time after start-
ing the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Stopping the engine
Read and observe
and on page 103 first.
›
Stop the vehicle » page 109, Parking .
›
Turn key to position
1
» Fig. 105 on page 104 .
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
CAUTION
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 accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
The radiator fan can intermittently continue to run for approximately 10 mi-
nutes after the ignition has been switched off.104Driving

Start or stop the engine by pressing button
Introduction
Fig. 106
Starter button ( 


)
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Lock / unlock the steering lock
105
Switch ignition on / off
106
Starting the engine
106
Switching off the engine
106
Problems with the engine start
107
The ignition can be switched on and off and the engine can be started / stop-
ped with the starter button » Fig. 106.
The key must be in the vehicle to unlock the steering, start the vehicle and
drive.
WARNING■ Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons such as children could lock the car, turn on the ignition or start
the engine -risk of injury and accidents!■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is a
risk of theft, accident etc.!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle has come to a halt – risk of
accident.
WARNINGNever (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - risk of poisoning
and death!CAUTION■ The system can recognize the valid key, even if it has been accidentally left
on the vehicle roof - there is danger of loss or damage to the key!■
Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - risk of
starter and engine damage!
■
Do not push-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 176.
Note
■
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. The engine reaches its operat-
ing temperature faster this way.■
The system is protected against inadvertently switching off the engine while
driving, this means that the engine can only be switched off in an emergency
» page 106 .
Lock / unlock the steering lock
Read and observe
and on page 105 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Open the driver door.
The steering lock is locked automatically.
If the driver's door is opened and the ignition is switched off afterwards, the
steering is only locked after the vehicle has been locked.
Unlocking
›
Open the driver's door and get into the vehicle.
›
Close the driver's door.
The steering is locked automatically.
Under certain circumstances (e.g. after switching off the ignition and opening
the driver's door), the steering is enabled only when the ignition is switched on
or the engine is started.
WARNINGNever let the vehicle roll with locked steering lock - risk of accident!105Starting-off and driving

Switch ignition on / offRead and observe
and on page 105 first.
›
Press the button » Fig. 106 on page 105 briefly.
The ignition is switched on or off.
On vehicles fitted with a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must not be
depressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would
try to start.
On vehicles fitted with a automatic transmission, the brake pedal must not be
depressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would
try to start.
If the driver's door is opened while the ignition is on, an audible signal sounds
and the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition on!
IGNITION STILL ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 105 first.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 106 on page 105 briefly – the engine starts au-
tomatically.
In vehicles with diesel engines the glow plug warning light
 lights up after
pressing the button. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes
out.
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 105 first.
Switching off
›
Stop the vehicle » page 109, Parking .
›
Press the button » Fig. 106 on page 105 briefly.
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
Emergency shutdown
If necessary and in exceptional cases, the engine may even be turned off while driving.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 106 on page 105 for longer than 1 second or
twice within 1 second.
After the emergency stop of the engine, the steering lock will remain un-
locked.
CAUTION
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 accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
The radiator fan can intermittently continue to run for approximately 10 mi-
nutes after the ignition has been switched off.106Driving

Under these severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must also be
checked by a specialist garage between services.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times »
.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the brake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times
»
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with 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 com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders 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 stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af- ter accelerating or driving off again.
Fault in the brake system
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, there may be a fault in the brake
system.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately as you will not know how great the damage is.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The fluid level is monitored electronically » page 34,
 Brake system
.
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.
Handbrake
Fig. 108
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 107 first.
The handbrake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Undoing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly while pushing in the locking button
» Fig. 108 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied provi-
ded the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Release the handbrake!
RELEASE HANDBRAKE
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more
than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds. 
108Driving

WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – risk of acci-
dent!
Parking
Read and observe
and on page 107 first.
When stopping and parking, look for a place with a suitable surface » .
Only carry out the activities while parking in the specified order.
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
On vehicles with Automatic transmission , place the selector lever in the P
position.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , engage the first gear or reverse gear.
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGThe parts of the exhaust system can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle at places where the underside of your vehicle can come in-
to contact with flammable materials such as dry grass, undergrowth,
leaves, spilled fuel or such like. - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!
Manual gear shifting and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
109
Pedals
110Manual gear changingFig. 109
Shift pattern of the transmission Version 1/version 2
The individual gear positions are shown on the gear shift » Fig. 109.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 44.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
on the clutch.
Engage reverse gear - Version 1
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal must be fully depressed.
›
Move the shift lever to the idle position, switch and press down.
›
Move the shift lever fully to the left and then forward into the Rposition
» Fig. 109 .
Engage reverse gear - Version 2
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal must be fully depressed.
›
Move the shift lever to the idle position, switch and press down.
›
Move the shift lever fully to the right and then backwards to position R.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the
ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident! 109Starting-off and driving

CAUTION■If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gear-
shift lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift
mechanism to wear excessively.■
When stopping on a slope, never try to keep the vehicle in position by using
the accelerator pedal – this may lead to damage of clutch parts.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances!
In the driver's foot well, only a foot mat, which is attached to the two corre-
sponding attachment points, may be used.
Only use factory-supplied foot mats or foot mats from the range of
ŠKODAOriginal Accessories, which are fitted to two the two required attach-
ment points.
WARNINGNo objects are allowed in the driver's footwell – there is a risk of obstruct-
ing or restriction pedal operation.
Automatic transmission
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Modes and use of selector lever
111
Selector lever lock
111
Manual gear shifting (Tiptronic)
112
Starting-off and driving
112
The automatic transmission performs automatic gear changes.
The modes for the automatic transmission can be adjusted by the driver by
means of the selector lever.
WARNING■ Never accelerate when the mode for moving forward is set with the se-
lector lever - there is a risk of accident!■
Never shift the selector lever to R or P modes when driving – there is a
risk of an accident.
■
The vehicle must be held on the brake pedal in D, S or R modes if the ve-
hicle is halted and the engine is running. Even when the engine is idling,
power transmission is never completely interrupted – the vehicle will creep.
■
When leaving the vehicle, the selector lever is always to be put in the P
mode. Otherwise the vehicle could then start to move and potentially cause
an accident.
CAUTION
■ If the selector lever is moved to mode N while driving, the accelerator pedal
must be released and you will need to wait until the engine has reached its
idling speed before moving the selector lever to a forward driving mode again.■
When the outdoor temperature is below -10 ° C, the selector lever, when
starting, must always be in P mode.
■
When stopping on a slope, never try to keep the vehicle in position by using
the accelerator pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Note
After the ignition is switched off, the ignition key can only be withdrawn if the
selector lever is in the position P (valid only for certain countries).110Driving

Modes and use of selector leverFig. 110
Selection lever / lock button / display
Read and observe
and on page 110 first.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the currently selected gear are indicated in the display » Fig. 110.
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 110.
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 en-
gine is at idling speed.
N
- Neutral
Power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
D
/
S
- mode for driving forward (Normal program) / mode for driving
forward (Sport program)
The system switches from one mode to the other by moving the selector lever
into the spring-loaded position 
» Fig. 110 .
In mode D or S, the forward gears are shifted automatically depending on the
engine load, the operation of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed, and the
selected driving mode .
In mode S, the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at higher
engine speeds than in mode D.
Selector lever lock
Read and observe
and on page 110 first.
The selector lever is locked in the P and N modes to prevent the forwards trav-
el mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
The selector lever lock is indicated by the illumination of the warning 
light.
The selector lever is not locked when quickly moving across the position N
(e.g. from R to D/S ). 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 posi-
tion N for more than approx. 2 seconds without the brake pedal being de-
pressed.
Releasing selector lever from mode P or N (selector lever lock)
›
Press the brake pedal and the lock button at the same time in the direction
of
1
» Fig. 110 on page 111 .
Just depress the brake pedal, if you would like to change from the mode N to
D/S .
Defective selector lever lock
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 must be emergency released » page 181.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D/S or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes R or N from being selec-
ted accidentally.111Starting-off and driving