2014 SKODA FABIA catalytic converter

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withdrawn from the lock.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

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

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

›Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position
N if the
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
Please note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the
engine is running. If the engine is not running, significantly more physical force
is required to depress the brake pedal and steer the vehicle.
If using a tow rope, ensure that it is always kept taught.
Both drivers should be familiar with the potential issues of towing a vehicle.
Unskilled drivers should not attempt to tow another vehicle or to be towed.
The vehicle must be transported on a special breakdown vehicle or trailer if it
is not possible to tow the vehicle in the way described or if the towing dis-
tance is greater than 50 km.WARNING■ When towing, respect the national legal provisions, especially those
which relate to the identification of the towing vehicle and the vehicle be-
ing towed.■
Exercise increased caution when towing.
■
Spiral tow ropes must not be used for towing » Fig. 168 - 
, the towing
eye may unscrew out of the vehicle - risk of accident.
■
The tow rope should not be twisted - risk of accident.
CAUTION
■ Do not tow-start the engine – risk of damaging the engine and the catalytic
converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid
» page 176 , Jump-starting .■
If the gearbox no longer contains any oil because of a defect, your vehicle
must only be towed with the drive wheels raised clear of the ground or on a
special breakdown vehicle or trailer.
■
To protect both vehicles when tow-starting or towing, the tow rope should
be elastic. Thus one should only use plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a
similarly elastic material.
■
There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at the
points to which you attach the tow rope or tow bar when you attempt to tow a
vehicle which is not standing on a paved road.
■
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar to the towing eyes » page 178 or
» page 179 to the detachable ball head of the towing equipment » page 129 .
NoteWe recommend using a tow rope from ŠKODA Original Accessories available
from a ŠKODA Partner.
Front towing eye
Fig. 169
Removing the cap / installing the towing eye
Read and observe
and on page 178 first.
Removing/installing the cap
›
Press on the fuel filler flap in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 169 .
›
Remove the cap in the direction of the arrow
2
.
›
After unscrewing the cap of the towing eye, insert the cap in the region of
the arrow
1
and then press the opposite side of the cap.
The cap must engage firmly.
Removing/installing the towing eye
›
Manually screw the towing eye as far as it will go in the direction of the ar-
row
3
» Fig. 169 » .
For tightening purposes, we recommend, for example, using the wheel
wrench, towing eye from another vehicle or a similar object that can be pushed through the eye.
›
Unscrew the towing eye against the direction of the arrow
3
.
WARNINGThe towing eye must always be screwed in fully and firmly tightened, oth-
erwise the towing eye can tear when towing in or tow-starting.178Do-it-yourself