Operation In Winter; Charging A Vehicle Battery - Skoda Fabia Owner's Manual

Note
The battery electrolyte level is also periodically checked by a specialist garage
■
as part of the Inspection Service.
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description "AGM", the electrolyte
■
level cannot be checked.
Vehicles with a START-STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for
■
checking the energy level for the recurring engine start.

Operation in winter


First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 163.
At low temperatures, the vehicle battery only has part of the initial power output
that it has at normal temperatures.
A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0
°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked and, if necessary, re-
charged by a specialist garage before the start of the winter.

Charging a vehicle battery


First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 163.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.
›
Switch off the ignition and all of the electrical components.
›
Only for "quick-charging": Disconnect both battery cables (first of all "negative",
then "positive").
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red = "posi-
tive", black = "negative").
›
Only now plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch
on the device.
›
When charging is completed: Switch off the charger and remove the mains ca-
ble from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery, if necessary (first of all "positive", then
"negative").
166
General Maintenance
It is not normally necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you re-
charge the vehicle battery using low amperages (as for example from a mini-
charger). Refer to the instructions of the charger manufacturer.
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or lower)
must be used until full charging is achieved.
It is, however, necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the battery
with high amperages, so-called "quick-charging".

"Quick-charging" the vehicle battery is dangerous and requires a special charger
and specialist knowledge. We therefore recommend that vehicle batteries are
rapid-charged by a specialist garage.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging.
CAUTION
On vehicles with the START/STOP system, the pole terminal of the charger must
not be connected directly to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery, but only
to the engine earth » page 183, Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP
system.

Connecting and disconnecting the vehicle battery

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 163.
On disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery the following functions
are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free.
Operation
Electrical power window (operational faults)
Enter the radio/navigation system code num-
ber
Setting the clock
Data in the multifunction display are deleted.
Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a specialist garage to ensure the
full functionality of all electrical systems.

Operating measure
» page 37
» User manual of the radio
or » user manual of the naviga-
tion system
» page 11
» page 11
