engine SKODA FABIA 2003 1.G / 6Y Owner's Guide

Lights and Visibility
58
Visibility
Rear window heater
– Press switch  to switch on the rear window heater ⇒fig. 37 .
The rear window heater only operates when the engine is running. An indi-
cator light in the switch is illuminated when the rear window heater is
switched on.
The rear window heater switches off automatically after 20 minutes.
For the sake of the environment
You should switch off the rear window heater as soon as the rear window
is clear. The reduced current consumption will have a favourable effect on
fuel economy ⇒ page 153.
Sun visors
You can pull the sun visors for the driver and front passenger out of their
fixture and swivel them toward the doors in the direction of the arrow
⇒fig. 38. The visor above the interior mirror* can only be folded down.
The vanity mirrors* in the sun visors are provided with covers.Fig. 37 Switch for rear
window heater
Fig. 38 Sun visor:
swivelling out

Lights and Visibility
62
Rear-view mirror
You can adjust the exterior mirrors electrically*.
Adjust the reverse view mirror before commencing to drive so
that there is a clear view to the rear.
Dimming the interior mirror
– Pull the lever on the bottom edge of the mirror toward rear (the
lever on the interior mirror must point forwards in it home posi-
tion).
Heating of the external mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position
 ⇒ fig. 42 . Adjusting left and right exterior mirrors*
– Turn the rotary knob to position
. The movement of the mirror
surface is identical to the movement of the rotary knob. The
right hand exterior mirror is adjusted at the same time on vehi-
cles with electrically operated power windows.
Adjusting the right-hand exterior mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position
. The movement of the mirror
surface is identical to the movement of the rotary knob.
The exterior mirror heater only operates when the engine is running.
Note
•Do not touch the surface of the exterior mirrors if the exterior mirror
heater is switched on.
•Contact your Škoda dealer if a fault exists with the power setting of the
exterior mirrors.
•You can set the exterior mirrors by hand, if the power setting function
fails at any time, by pressing on the edge of the mirror surface.
Fig. 42 Inner part of
door: Rotary knob
WARNING
Convex (curved outward) or aspherical exterior mirrors increase
the vision field. They do, however, make objects appear smaller in
the mirror. These mirrors are only of limited use, therefore, for esti-
mating distances to the following vehicles.

Seats and Stowage67
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Front seats
– Heating on the driver's ⇒page 66, fig. 47 and front
pasenger's seat can be switched on and regulated by turning
the control dial as required.
– The system is switched off by turning the control dial to the home position “0”.
Caution
•You should not kneel on the seats and avoid applying pressure at
specific points in order to avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat
heaters.
•Do not clean the seats moist ⇒page 164.
Note
The seat heating should only be switched on when the engine is running.
This has a significant effect of saving on the battery capacity.
Rear seats
Folding the rear seats forwards
Fig. 48 Folding the
rear seats forwards
Fig. 49 Unlock the seat
backrests

Seats and Stowage
80
Cigarette lighter* and power socket*
Cigarette lighter
You can also use the socket on the cigarette lighter for
other electrical appliances.
Using the cigarette lighter
– Press in the button of the cigarette lighter ⇒fig. 67 .
– Wait until the button jumps forward.
– Remove the cigarette lighter immediately and use it.
– Insert the cigarette lighter again into the socket.
Using the power socket
– Take out the cigarette lighter. – Insert the plug of the electrical appliance into the socket of the
cigarette lighter.
The 12 volt power socket or the lighter holder can also be used for further
electrical appliance with a power uptake of up to 180 watts.
Caution
Only use matching plugs, which fulfils the DIN - ISO Standard 4165, to
avoid damaging the power sockets.
Note
Connecting electrical components when the engine is not running
will drain the battery of the vehicle - risk of battery draining!
Fig. 67 Centre
console: Cigarette
lighter
WARNING
•Take care when using the cigarette lighter! Not paying proper
attention or incorrect use the cigarette lighter in an uncontrolled
manner may result in burns.
•The cigarette lighter and the power socket also operates when
the ignition is switched off or the ignition key withdrawn. This is
why you should never leave children unattended in the vehicle.

Seats and Stowage81
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anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Power socket in the luggage compartment (estate
car*, sedan*)
– Open the cover of the power socket ⇒fig. 68 .
– Connect the plug of the electrical appliance to the socket.
It fulfils the requirements of DIN standard ISO 4165 and must only be used
for connecting approved electrical accessories with a power uptake of up
to 240 watts. The vehicle battery will be discharged in the process if the
engine is stationary.
The same remarks apply here as for ⇒page 80.
Further information ⇒ page 194, “Accessories, changes and replacement
of parts”.
Storage compartments
An overview
You will find the following storage facilities in your vehicle:
Fig. 68 Luggage
compartment: Power
socket
Storage compartment on the front passenger
side*⇒ page 82
Storage compartments on the driver's side⇒page 83
Storage drawer*⇒page 84
Storage compartment in the front seat*⇒page 84
Storage compartment in the luggage compart-
ment (estate car)*⇒page 85
Rear armrest with stowage compartment*⇒page 85
WARNING
Please do not place anything on top of the dash panel. Such
objects might be thrown into the interior when driving (when accel-
erating or cornering) and may distract you from concentrating on
the traffic situation - risk of accident!

Heating and air conditioning system87
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Heating and air conditioning system
Heating
Using the system
The heating system delivers air into the interior of the
vehicle and warms it as required.
Setting temperature
– Turn the control dial ⇒fig. 78 to the right in order to
increase the temperature.
– Turn the control dial to the left in order to increase the temperature. Controlling blower
– Turn the blower switch into one of the positions, 1 to 4, in
order to switch the blower on.
– Turn the blower switch into position 0 in order to switch the blower off.
– Pressing button causes the recirculating air system ⇒
to be switched on.
Control for air distribution
– You can adjust the direction of the inlet air flow using air distri- bution regulator ⇒page 89.
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves
in order to ensure that the heating and ventilation systems operate prop-
erly.
All controls apart from the control dial can be set to any desired inter-
mediate position.
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full
heat output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating
temperature.
The blower should aways be on to prevent the windows from misting up.
Fig. 78 Heating:
Controls
AA
AA
AB
AB
AD
AC
AB

Heating and air conditioning system
90
The air conditioning system*
Description
The air conditioning system is a combined cooling and
heating system. It makes it possible to optimally control
the air temperature at any season of the year.
Description of the air conditioning system
It is important for your safety and for your driving comfort that the air condi-
tioning system is operating properly.
The air conditioning system operates when button ⇒page 91, fig. 80
is pressed and the following conditions are met:
•engine running,
•outside temperature above +5°C and
•blower switch switched on (positions 1 to 4).
If the air conditioning system is switched on, the temperature and air
humidity drops in the vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is
enhanced as a result of this particularly at high outside temperatures and
a high air humidity. The system prevents the windows misting up during
the cold season of the year.
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full
heat output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating
temperature.
It is possible to briefly activate recirculated air mode in order to enhance
the cooling effect ⇒.
Air at a temperature of about 5°C may flow out of the vents under certain
circumstances when the air conditioning system is operating. Lengthy and
uneven distribution of the air flow out of the vents (in particular at the leg area) and large differences in temperature, for example when getting out
of the vehicle, can result in chills in sensitive persons.
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves
in order to ensure that the heating and ventilation systems operate prop-
erly.
Condensation from the evaporator of the air conditioning may drip down
and form a puddle below the vehicle. This is quite normal and not an indi-
cation of a leak!
Note
•We recommend that you do not smoke in the vehicle when the recir-
culating air mode is operating since the smoke which is drawn into the
evaporator from the interior of the vehicle forms deposits in the evapo-
rator of the air conditioning system. This produces a permanent odour
when the air conditioning system is operating which can only be elimi-
nated through considerable effort and expense (replacement of
compressor).
ACAE
WARNING
•For your own safety and that of other road users, ensure that all
the windows are free of ice, snow and misting. Please familiarize
yourself about how to correctly operate the heating and ventilation
systems, how to demist and defrost the windows, as well as with
the cooling mode.
•You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer
period of time. “Stale air” may result in fatigue in the driver and
passengers, reduce attention levels and also cause the windows to
mist up. The risk of having an accident increases. Switch recircu-
lated air mode off as soon as the windows begin misting up.

Heating and air conditioning system
94
You can set the air supply to the individual air outlet vents using the control
dial .
Air outlet vents 3 and 4 can also be opened or closed individually:
•Air outlet vent fully open - knurled wheel vertically in position F
•Air outlet vent fully closed - knurled wheel vertically in position F or
G.
Turning the horizontal and vertical knurled wheels on the air outlet vents
3 and 4 allows one to change the direction of the inlet air flow .
Using the air conditioning system economically
The compressor on the air conditioning system uses power from the
engine when in cooling mode which will effect the fuel consumption.
It recommended to open the windows or the doors of a vehicle for which
the interior has been strongly heated through the effect of direct sunlight
in order to allow the heated air to escape.
The air conditioning system should not be switched on while travelling
when the window is open.
The desired interior temperature can also be achieved without switching
in the air conditioning system just by switching to fresh air mode.
For the sake of the environment
When you economize on fuel, you also reduce pollutant emissions.
Operational problems
If the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher
than +5°C, there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be:
•The fuse on the air conditioning system has blown. Check the fuse,
replace it if necessary ⇒page 209.
•The cooling system has switched off automatically for a short time
because the coolant temperature of the engine is too hot ⇒page 13.
If you are not able to rectify the operational problem yourself, or if the
cooling capacity decreases, switch the air conditioning system off. Please
contact your Škoda dealer.
AC

Starting-off and Driving95
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anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Starting-off and Driving
Setting steering wheel position*
You can set the height and the forward/back position of the
steering wheel to the desired position.
– Adjust the driver seat ⇒page 63.
– Pull the lever below the steering column ⇒fig. 82 down
⇒ .
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and forward/back position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into place.
Ignition lock
Petrol engines
- ignition switched off, engine off
- ignition switched on
Fig. 82 Adjustable
steering wheel: Lever
below steering column
WARNING
•Only adjust the steering wheel when the car is stationary!
•For safety reasons the lever must always be firmly pushed up
to avoid the steering wheel altering its position unintentionally
when driving - risk of accident!
Fig. 83 Ignition lock
positions
A1
A2

Starting-off and Driving
96
- start engine
Diesel engines - fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine off
- heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
•You should not switch on any major electrical components during the
heating period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
- start engine
Applies to all models:
Position
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering
wheel until the steering locking pin is heard to engage. You should always
lock the steering as a general rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as
a deterrent against possible theft of your vehicle ⇒.
Position
Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot,
or cannot easily be turned into this position, in order to release the
steering lock.
Position
The engine is started in this position. At the same time switched on low
beam or main beam or other electrical components with major power
consumption are briefly switched off. The ignition key moves back into
position when one releases the key.
The ignition key must be turned back into position each time before
starting the engine again. The starter repeat lock in the ignition lock
prevents the starter being engaged when the engine is running and thus
getting damaged. Ignition key withdrawal lock (automatic gearbox)
You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the
selector lever is in position
P.
Starting engine
General
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition
key.
•Place the gearshift lever into neutral (or place the selector lever to the
position P or N in the case of an automatic gearbox) and put on the hand-
brake firmly before starting the engine.
A3
A1
A2
A3
A1
A2
A3
A2
A1
WARNING
•When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position
(ignition switched on) without the engine running. This position is
indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it
could result in unexpected locking of the steering wheel - risk of
accident!
•Only remove the ignition key from the ignition lock when the
vehicle has come to a standstill (put on the handbrake or select the
selector lever position P). The steering lock might otherwise
engage unintentionally - risk of accident!
•Always withdraw the ignition key if you are going to leave the
vehicle, even for a short time. This is particularly important if chil-
dren are left in the vehicle. The children might otherwise start the
engine or operate electrical equipment (e.g. power windows) - risk
of injury!
A2