SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK 2014 1.G Owner's Manual

Note■The brake fluid is changed as part of a compulsory inspection service.■We recommend using brake fluids from the ŠKODA Original Accessories
range.
Checking the brake fluid level
Fig. 130
Brake fluid reservoir
Read and observe and on page 147 first.
The fluid can be checked if the following conditions are met.
The vehicle is standing on a horizontal surface.
The engine is turned off.
The bonnet is open.
Checking the level
›
Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir » Fig. 130.
The level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-
tear and automatic adjustment of the brake pads.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid
level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” mark-
ing.
Too low brake fluid level is indicated by the warning light 
lighting up in the
instrument cluster as well as the relevant notification being dis-
played » page 35 , 
Brake system .
Specification
Read and observe
and on page 147 first.
The brake fluid must comply with the following standards or specifications:› VW 50114;
› FMVSS 116 DOT4.
Vehicle battery

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening the cover
149
Checking the battery electrolyte level
150
Charging
150
Replacing
151
Disconnecting and reconnecting
151
Automatic load deactivation
151
The vehicle battery represents a power source for the motor to start and for
the supply of electrical consumers in the car.
Warning symbols on the vehicle battery
SymbolMeaningAlways wear eye protection!Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye pro-
tection!Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the
vehicle battery!When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture
is produced!Keep children away from the vehicle battery! 148General Maintenance

WARNINGThere is risk of injuries, poisoning, chemical burns, explosions or fire when
working on the battery and on the electrical system. It is essential to com-
ply with the general applicable safety rules as well as the warning instruc-
tions outlined below.■
Keep the vehicle battery away from people who are not completely inde-
pendent, especially children.
■
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings. Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles or a
face shield – risk of blindness!
■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling
the vehicle battery.
■
The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled
with the greatest of care.
■
Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivi-
tis and inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
■
Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and, if it comes into contact with the
skin, causes deep wounds that take a long time to heal.
■
If any battery acid comes into contact with your eyes, rinse the affected
eye immediately with clean water for several minutes and consult a doctor
immediately!
■
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water.
■
If you swallow battery acid, consult a doctor immediately!
WARNING■ The use of open flames and light should be avoided.■Smoking and radio triggering activities should be avoided.■
Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion!
■
Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
chemical burns!
■
Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with insufficient acid levels – risk of
explosion and chemical burns.
CAUTION
■ Improper handling of the vehicle battery may cause damage.■Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk
of damage to the paintwork.■ If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3-4 weeks, the battery will
discharge. Prevent the battery from discharging by disconnecting the battery's
negative terminal 
or continuously charging the battery with a very low
charging current.■
Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the vehicle bat-
tery housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
■
If the vehicle is frequently used for making short trips, the vehicle battery
will not have time to charge up sufficiently and may discharge.
For the sake of the environment
A vehicle battery that has been removed is a special type of hazardous waste.
Therefore these must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regula-
tions.
Note
■ We recommend having all work on the vehicle battery carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.■
You should replace batteries older than 5 years.
Opening the cover
Fig. 131
Battery cover
Read and observe and on page 149 first.
The battery is located in the engine compartment.
›
Open the cover in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 131.
The battery cover is installed in reverse order.
149Inspecting and replenishing

Checking the battery electrolyte levelFig. 132
Electrolyte level indicator
Read and observe and on page 149 first.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, » Fig. 132the
colouring of the display can indicate the acidic level.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully knock on the indicator before carrying out the check.
› Black colour – electrolyte level is correct.
› Colourless or light yellow colour – electrolyte level too low, the battery must
be replaced.
Vehicles with a START-STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for
checking the energy level for the recurring engine start.
We recommend that you have the acid level checked regularly by a specialist garage, especially in the following cases.
› High external temperatures.
› Longer day trips.
› After each charge.
Winter time
The vehicle battery only has a proportion of the starting power in lower tem-
peratures. 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,
recharged by a specialist garage before the start of the winter.
Note■ The battery acid level is also checked regularly 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.
Charging
Read and observe
and on page 149 first.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.A charging operation can be performed if the following conditions are satis-
fied.
The engine is turned off.
The ignition is switched off.
All consumers are turned off.
The bonnet is open.
“Fast charging” with high currents
›
Disconnect both battery cables (first of all “negative”, then “positive”).
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red =
“positive”, black = “negative”).
›
Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch on the
device.
›
After charging has been successful: Switch off the charger and remove the
mains cable from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery (first “positive”, then “negative”).
Charging with low voltages
It is not necessary to disconnect the cables from the battery if you recharge
the vehicle battery, 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 low-
er) must be used until full charging is achieved.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging. 
150General Maintenance

WARNING■When you charge a battery, hydrogen is released, and a highly explosive
gas mixture is also produced. An explosion can be caused through sparkling
over during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is
on.■
Creating a bridge between the poles on the battery (e.g. with metal ob-
jects - cables) creates a short circuit - risk of damage to the battery, explo-
sion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
■
Avoid creating sparks when working with cables and electrical devices.
Strong sparking represents a risk of injury.
■
Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the en-
gine, the ignition and all electrical consumers and disconnect the negative
terminal 
.
■
“Quick-charging” the vehicle battery is dangerous and requires a special
charger and specialist knowledge.
■
We therefore recommend that vehicle batteries be “rapidly charged” by a
specialist garage.
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 167, Jump-starting using the battery from
another vehicle .
Replacing
Read and observe
and on page 149 first.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and
size as the original battery. Suitable vehicle battery types can be purchased
from a specialist garage.
We recommend having the battery replaced by a specialist garage, where the
new vehicle battery will be installed properly and the original battery will be
disposed of in accordance with national regulations.
Disconnecting and reconnecting
Read and observe
and on page 149 first.
Disconnecting
›
Switch off the ignition.
›First, disconnect the negative terminal
 first, then the positive  terminal
of the battery.
Connecting›
First, connect the positive 
first, then the negative 
battery terminal.
After disconnecting and re-connecting the vehicle battery, the following func-
tions or devices are partially or completely inoperative.
Function / deviceCommissioningRadio and/or navigation systemEnter code number » User radio
manual and/or » navigation
system user manualTime settings» page 33
CAUTION
■ Disconnect the vehicle battery only with the ignition turned off - there is a
risk of damaging the electrical system of the vehicle.■
Under no circumstances must the battery cables be connected incorrectly –
risk of a cable fire.
Note
■ After disconnecting and re-connecting the vehicle battery, we recommend
having the vehicle checked by a specialist to ensure that the full functionality
of all electrical systems is guaranteed.■
The data of the multi-function display will be reset.
Automatic load deactivation
Read and observe
and on page 149 first.
The vehicle voltage control unit automatically prevents the battery from dis-
charging when the battery is put under high levels of strain. This manifests it-
self by the following.
› The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
› Where necessary, large convenience consumers such as seat heaters and
rear window heaters have their power limited or are shut off completely in
the event of an emergency. 
151Inspecting and replenishing

CAUTION■Despite such intervention by the vehicle electric system management, the
vehicle battery may be drained. For example, when the ignition is switched on
a long time with the engine turned off or the side or parking lights are turned
on during longer parking.■
Consumers that are supplied via a 12-V power socket can cause the vehicle
battery to discharge when the ignition is switched off.
Note
Driving comfort is not impaired by consumers being deactivated. The driver is
often not aware of it having taken place.Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Notes on using wheels
152
Tyre pressure
153
Tyre wear
153
Tyre wear indicator and wheels exchange
154
Tyre damage
154
Unidirectional tyres
155
Only use tyres or wheel rims that have been approved by ŠKODA for your mod-
el of vehicle.
WARNINGThe national legal regulations must be observed for the use of tyres.WARNINGFor reasons of driving safety, do not replace tyres individually.
For the sake of the environment
Old and unserviceable tyres are classified in a special environmentally hazard- ous category. These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal reg-
ulations.
Note
■ We recommend that any works on the wheels or tyres be carried out by a
specialist garage.■
We recommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow
chains from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Notes on using wheels
Read and observe
on page 152 first.
During the first 500 km, new tyres do not offer optimum grip and appropriate
care should therefore be taken when driving. 
152General Maintenance

Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
Tyre storage
Identify disassembled tyres so that the previous direction of rotation can be maintained if the tyres are reassembled.
Always store wheels or tyres in a cool, dry place that is as dark as possible.
Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored upright.
Tyre age
Tyres age and lose their original characteristics, even if they are not being
used. The service life of the tyres is 6 years. Therefore, we recommend not us-
ing tyres that are older than 6 years.
Wheel bolts
Wheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. We rec-
ommend that you use wheel rims and wheel bolts from ŠKODA Original Acces-
sories.WARNINGNever use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age.
Tyre pressure
Fig. 133
Label with a table of tyre sizes and tyre pressures / inflate tyres
Read and observe
on page 152 first.
Tyre pressure is always to match the load. The specified tyre pressures are on a label
A
» Fig. 133 .
Sticker with prescribed tyre inflation pressure values » Fig. 133
Position of the CNG label
Inflation pressure for half load
ABInflation pressure for increased driving comfort at half load
Inflation pressure for full load
As a result of adjusting pressure to the value C
for increased driving comfort,
fuel consumption can rise slightly.
Check tyre pressures
Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a
month and also before setting off on a long journey.
Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
higher pressure on warm tyres.
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring tyre pressure values are to be stored
every time the tyre pressure changes » page 119.
WARNING■
Having the correct tyre inflation pressure is always the driver's responsi-
bility.■
Too low or too high inflation pressure impairs handling.
■
If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre will have to overcome a higher
rolling resistance. This will cause a significant increase in the temperature
of the tyre, especially at higher speeds. This can result in tread separation
and a tyre blow out.
■
In the event of very fast tyre inflation pressure loss, such as a sudden tyre
failure, an attempt should be made to bring the vehicle carefully to a stop
without sudden steering movements and without any hard braking.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres that are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Note
In some countries, the vehicles have a sticker without pictograms.
Tyre wear
Read and observe
on page 152 first.
Tyre wear depends on the pressure, driving style, and other circumstances.
Attention to the following notes may affect tyre wear.
Driving style
Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking increase the wear of your tyres. 
CD153Wheels

Wheel balance
The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. When driving, however, there are a
range of factors that may result in an imbalance. This may become apparent by
a “vibration” in the steering. If this is the case, have the wheels checked by a
specialist garage.
Have the wheels likewise rebalanced after replacing the tyres.
Setting the vehicle geometry
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear leads to excess wear on the
tyres and impairs driving safety. With a distinctive tyre wear, we recommend
that you check the setting of the vehicle geometry in a specialist workshop.WARNING■ An incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling.■Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of
tyre damage. If there is any suspicion that a wheel is damaged, immediately
reduce your speed and stop! If no external tyre damage is evident, drive
slowly and carefully to the nearest specialist garage to have the vehicle
checked.
Tyre wear indicator and wheels exchange
Fig. 134
Principle sketch: Replace tyre tread with wear indicators /
wheels
Read and observe
on page 152 first.
Wear indicators
The base of the tread of the tyres contains has a 1.6 mm high wear indica- tor » Fig. 134 - 
. In some countries, different tyre wear rates may apply.
Markings on the walls of the tyres through the letters “TWI”, triangular sym-
bols or other symbols identify the position of the wear indicators.
Exchanging the wheels
For uniform wear on all tyres, we recommend that you change the wheels ev-
ery 10 000 km according to the scheme » Fig. 134- 
. You will then obtain ap-
proximately the same life for all the tyres.
After a wheel has been replaced, the tyre pressure has to be adjusted.
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring, tyre pressure values are to be stor-
ed » page 119 .WARNING■
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn down.■
Worn tyres impair necessary adhesion to the road surface, particularly at
high speeds on wet roads. This could lead to “aquaplaning” (uncontrolled
vehicle movement – “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Tyre damage
Read and observe
on page 152 first.
We recommend checking your tyres and wheel rims for damage (punctures,
cuts, splits and bulges, etc.) on a regular basis. Remove foreign bodies (e.g.
small stones) from the tyre tread immediately.
Drive over kerbs and other such obstacles slowly and at right angles wherever
possible in order to avoid damage to tyres and wheel trims.
Immediately replace damaged wheel rims or tyres.
WARNINGNever drive with damaged tyres – there is the risk of an accident occurring.
CAUTION
The tyres must be protected from contact with substances such as oil, grease
and fuel, which could damage them. If the tyres come into contact with these
substances, then we recommend you have this checked out in a specialist
workshop.154General Maintenance

Unidirectional tyresRead and observe
on page 152 first.
The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the
tyre .
The indicated direction of rotation must be adhered to in order to ensure the
optimal characteristics of these tyres.
These characteristics mainly relate to the following.
› Increased driving stability.
› Reduced risk of aquaplaning.
› Reduced tyre noise and tyre wear.
Manufacturer-approved tyre variants

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Explanation of the tyre labelling
155
Spaceback
156
Spaceback Green Line
156
Spaceback Green tec
156
Approved tyre variants are first to be selected for the model variant (e.g.
Spaceback GreenLine), and then selected according to the engine size of your
vehicle.
If the model variant of your vehicle cannot be found in the discrete module,
then the approved tyre variants are to be selected according to the engine size
of your vehicle in module » page 156, Spaceback .
Only use radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and tread pattern on one axle on all four wheels.
When mounting new tyres the tyres have to be replaced axle by axle.
The information listed in the table corresponds to the information available at the time of going to press.
The approved tyre / rim combinations for your car are given on the sales and
technical vehicle documentation.
Explanation of the tyre labelling
Explanation of tyre markings
For example, 225/50R 17 91 T means:225Tyre width in mm50Height/width ratio in %RCode letter for the type of tyre – Radial17Diameter of wheel in inches91Load indexTSpeed symbol
The date of manufacture is stated on the tyre wall (possibly on the inside).
For example DOT ... 11 14... means, for example, that the tyre was manufac-
tured in the 11th week of 2014.
The marking M+Smeans that the associated tyre is suitable for winter use.
Load index
The load index indicates the maximum permissible load for each individual
tyre.
Load index838485868788Load
(In kg)487500515530545560
Speed symbol
The maximum speed symbol indicates the maximum permissible vehicle speed
with fitted tyres in each category.
Speed
symbolSTUHVWMaximum speed
(in km/h)180190200210240270WARNING■ Never exceed the maximum permissible load bearing capacity of moun-
ted tyres.■
Never exceed the maximum permissible speed for the mounted tyres. 
155Wheels

CAUTIONThe information about load index and speed symbol can be found in the vehi-
cle sales and technical documentation.
Spaceback
MotorisationTyre sizeMinimal
Load indexMinimal
Speed symbol
1.2 l./55 kW MPI
175/70 R1484T185/60 R1584T215/45 R16 a)86T215/40 R17a)87T
1.2 l/63 kW TSI
175/70 R1484T185/60 R1584T215/45 R16 a)86T215/40 R17a)87T
1.2 l/77 kW TSI
185/60 R1584H195/55 R1585H215/45 R16 a)86H215/40 R17a)87H
1.4 l/90 kW TSI
185/60 R1584H195/55 R1585H215/45 R16 a)86H215/40 R17a)87H
1.6 l./77 kW MPI
185/60 R1584H195/55 R1585H215/45 R16 a)86H215/40 R17a)87H
1.6 ltr. / 66 kW TDI
CR
185/60 R1584H195/55 R1585H215/45 R16 a)86H215/40 R17a)87HMotorisationTyre
sizeMinimal
Load indexMinimal
Speed symbol
1.6 ltr. / 77 kW TDI CR
185/60 R1584H195/55 R1585H215/45 R16 a)86H215/40 R17a)87Ha)
Not valid for the following markets: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mol-
dova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Spaceback Green Line
MotorisationTyre
sizeMinimal
Load indexMinimal
Speed symbol1.6 ltr. / 66 kW TDI CR185/60 R1584H
Spaceback Green tec
MotorisationTyresizeMinimal
Load indexMinimal
Speed symbol1.2 l/77 kW TSI185/60 R1584H1.4 l/90 kW TSI185/60 R1584H1.6 ltr. / 66 kW TDI CR185/60 R1584H1.6 ltr. / 77 kW TDICR185/60 R1584H
Winter operation
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Winter tyres
157
Snow chains
157156General Maintenance

Winter tyres
Summer tyres have less grip on ice, snow and at temperatures below 7 °C. This
is especially true of vehicles fitted with wide tyres or high-speed tyres .
Fitting winter tyres will significantly improve the handling of your vehicle when
driving in wintry road conditions.
To get best possible handling, winter tyres must be fitted to all four wheels. The minimum tread depth must be 4 mm.
Winter tyres (marked with M+S and a peak/snowflake symbol) of a lower speed
category can be used provided that the permissible maximum speed of these
tyres is not exceeded even if the possible maximum speed of the vehicle is
higher.
The speed limit for winter tyres can be set in the MAXI DOT display in the
menu item Winter tyres » page 47 .
Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved by ŠKODA for
your model of vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
Fit the summer tyres on again in good time as they provide better handling
properties, a shorter braking distance, less tyre noise, and reduced tyre wear
on roads which are free of snow and ice as well as at temperatures above 7 °C.
The fuel consumption is also lower.
Snow chains
When driving in wintry road conditions, snow chains improve not only traction,
but also the braking performance.
Snow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels.
For technical reasons, it is only permissible to fit snow chains with the follow-
ing wheel/tyre combinations.
Wheel sizeDepth DTyre size5J x 14 a)35 mm175/70 R146J x 15 b)38 mm185/60 R156J x 15 b)38 mm195/55 R15a)
Only fit snow chains with links and locks not larger than
9 mm.
b)
Only fit snow chains with links and locks not larger than 13 mm.
Remove the full wheel trims before installing the snow chains » page 161.WARNINGObserve the national legal regulations relating to the use of snow chains.
CAUTION
The chains are to be removed when driving on snow-free paths. They would
otherwise cause loss of performance and damage the tyres.157Wheels