Safety - Skoda Fabia Owner's Manual

The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trail-
er is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a "full load"
Tyre service life.
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 201, Technical data.
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the ability to climb. There-
fore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum permissible
towed weight must be reduced by 10 %.
The towed weight comprises the actual weights of the (loaded) towing vehicle
and the (loaded) trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing equip-
ment are merely test data for the towing equipment. The vehicle-specific values
are detailed in the vehicle documents.
WARNING
Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the
■
maximum permissible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer –
there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.
Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
■
trailer combination – there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.
Towing a trailer

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 121.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. National legal re-
quirements must be observed.
122
Driving
Headlights
The front of the vehicle can be lifted when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights can dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlight setting on the headlight range control
beam adjustment.
» page 174,
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail-
er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from "swaying" by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as a
brake.
Engine overheating
The speed must be reduced immediately if the needle for the coolant tempera-
ture gauge moves into the right-hand area or the red area of the scale.
Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light
starts to flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant
Checking the coolant level.
The following guidelines must be observed
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
WARNING

Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
■
uation.
Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
■
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist garages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
■
nections for the tail lights or other current sources.
» page 44, Headlight
in the instrument cluster

» page 167,
» page 22, Coolant.
 
