tow SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK 2014 1.G Owner's Guide

FunctionFig. 106
Location of the sensors / range of the sensors
Read and observe
and on page 114 first.
Approximate range of sensors
Area » Fig. 106Distance behind the vehicle (in cm)A160B60
Acoustic signals and display
The interval between the acoustic signals becomes shorter as the clearance is
reduced. A continuous tone sounds from a distance of approx. 30 cm - danger
area. From this moment on, do not continue reversing!
Description of the indications in the radio or navigation system display, » the
radio instruction manual, navigation system user guide.
Activation/deactivation
Read and observe
and on page 114 first.
The system is activated automatically by engaging the reverse gear. This is
confirmed by a brief audible signal.
The system is deactivated by disengaging reverse gear.
Displaying an error
If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after activating the system and
there is no obstacle close to your car, this indicates a system fault. Seek help
from a specialist garage.
NoteFor vehicles with a factory-fitted towing device, the system cannot be activa-
ted when towing a trailer.
Cruise Control System
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Functioning
115
Operating Description
116
The Cruise Control System (CCS) maintains a set speed without you having to
actuate the accelerator pedal.
The status where the CCS maintains the speed is referred to hereinafter as the
control .
WARNING■
The CCS only serves as an assistance and does not relieve the driver of
the responsibility for the vehicle operation.■
Always adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weath-
er, road and traffic conditions.
Functioning
Read and observe
on page 115 first.
Basic requirements for starting the control The CCS is activated.
On vehicles with a manual transmission , the second gear or higher must
be engaged.
On vehicles with an automatic transmission , the selector lever must be in
the D, S position or in the Tiptronic position.
The current speed must be higher than 20 km/hr.
This is only possible within the range which is permitted by the power output
and braking power of the engine.
WARNINGIf the engine power and engine braking effect is insufficient to maintain
the set speed, vehicle operation must be taken over!115Assist systems

Hitch and trailer
Hitch
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Description
120
Adjusting the ready position
121
A correctly set ready position
121
Assembling the bar ball - 1. Step
122
Assembling the bar ball - 2. Step
122
Check proper fitting
123
Removing the bar ball - 1. Step
123
Removing the bar ball - 2. Step
123
Accessories
124
The maximum trailer drawbar load is 50 kg.
WARNING■
Check that the tow bar is seated correctly and is secured in the mounting
recess before the start of every journey.■
Do not use the ball head, if it is not correctly inserted into the mounting
recess and secured.
■
Do not use the towing equipment if it is damaged or incomplete.
■
Do not modify or adapt the towing device in any way.
■
Never release the tow bar while the trailer is still coupled.
■
Keep the mounting recess of the towing equipment clean at all times.
Such dirt prevents the ball head from being attached securely.
CAUTION
■ Take care with the ball bar - there is a risk of paint damage to the bumper.■When the tow bar is removed always place the cover onto the mounting re-
cess - there is a danger of soiling the mounting recess.
Note
■ Operation and maintenance of hitch » page 135.■Tow the vehicle by means of the detachable ball rod » page 169.DescriptionFig. 111
Carrier for the towing device / tow bar
Read and observe
and on page 120 first.
The ball head can be removed and is kept in the spare wheel well or in a com-
partment for the spare wheel in the luggage compartment.
Support for the towing device and tow bar » Fig. 111
Cap
Mounting recess
Protective cap
Locking ball
Centring
Hand wheel
Key
Lock cap
Red marking on the hand wheel
Ball head
Green marking on the hand wheel
White marking on ball head
Note
On the bottom of the key is a code number. If you lose a key, please contact a
specialist garage which will be able to use this code number to provide you
with a new one.123456789101112120Driving

Adjusting the ready positionFig. 112
Remove cap from the lock / insert key into the lock
Fig. 113
Setting the ready position
Read and observe
and on page 120 first.
The tow bar must be set prior to installation to the standby posi-
tion » page 121 , A correctly set ready position .
If this is not in the ready position, then this must be set to the standby posi- tion as follows.
›
Grip the tow bar below the protective cap.
›
Remove the cover
A
from the lock in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 112 .
›
Insert the key into the lock
B
in the direction of arrow
2,
so that the arrow
on the key symbol 
shows.
›
Turn the key
B
to the stop in the direction of arrow
3,
so that the arrow on
the key symbol 
» Fig. 113 shows.
›
Pull the hand wheel
C
in the direction of the arrow
4
and turn in the direc-
tion of the arrow
5
to the stop.
The hand wheel C remains locked in this position.WARNINGIf the tow bar cannot be correctly placed in the ready position, then it must
not be used.
A correctly set ready position
Fig. 114
Ready position
Read and observe
and on page 120 first.
Correctly adjusted standby position » Fig. 114
The key
A
is in the unlocked position - the arrow on the key points to the
symbol 
.
The locking ball
B
can be pushed fully into the tow bar.
The red marking
C
on the hand wheel points to the white marking on the
ball bar.
There is a clear gap of approx. 4 mm
D
between the hand wheel and the
tow bar.
The ball bar is thus set ready for installation.
CAUTION
When in the ready position, the key cannot be removed from the lock.121Hitch and trailer

Assembling the bar ball - 1. StepFig. 115
Remove cap for receiving shaft / use ball bar
Read and observe
and on page 120 first.
Preliminary work
Before installing the tow bar the following work must be carried out.
›
Remove the end cap for receiving shaft
A
in the direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 115 .
The tow bar must be set to the standby position » page 121, A correctly set
ready position . If this is not in the standby position, then it must be set to the
standby position » page 121, Adjusting the ready position .
Fitting
›
Grip the tow bar from underneath » Fig. 115 and insert into the mounting re-
cess in arrow direction
2
until you hear it click into place » .
The hand wheel
B
rotates back automatically and rests on the ball rod » .
WARNING■
Do not hold the hand wheel with your hand when attaching the ball bar -
there is a risk of finger injury.■
If the tow bar is not in the ready position, it cannot be fitted in the
mounting recess.
Note
Store the cover of the mounting recess in a suitable place in the luggage com-
partment store after removal.Assembling the bar ball - 2. StepFig. 116
Secure the lock and remove key / place cap on lock
Read and observe
and on page 120 first.
›
Initially carry out the first step of the ball rod assembly » page 122.
›
Turn the key
A
in the direction of arrow
1,
so that the arrow on the key
symbol 
» Fig. 116 shows.
›
Remove the key in the direction of the arrow
2
.
›
Fit the cap
B
on the lock in the direction of the arrow
3
.
›
Check that the tow bar is securely attached » page 123.
WARNING■
After fitting the tow bar, always secure the lock and remove the key.■The tow bar must not be operated with the key inserted.
CAUTION
After removing the key, always replace the cover on the lock – there is a risk of
the lock getting dirty.122Driving

Check proper fittingFig. 117
Correctly secured ball head
Read and observe and on page 120 first.
Check that the tow bar is fitted properly before each use.
Correctly secured ball head » Fig. 117
The tow bar does not come out of the mounting recess even after heavy
“shaking”.
The green marking
A
on the hand wheel points to the white marking on
the tow bar.
The hand wheel lies flush with the tow bar - there is no gap.
The lock is locked and the key is removed.
The cap
B
is on the lock.
WARNINGDo not use the towing device unless the tow bar has been properly locked!
Removing the bar ball - 1. Step
Fig. 118
Remove cap from the lock / insert key into the lock
Fig. 119
Unlock lock
Read and observe and on page 120 first.
›
Remove the cover
A
from the lock in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 118 .
›
Insert the key into the lock
B
in the direction of arrow
2,
so that the arrow
on the key symbol  shows.
›
Turn the key
B
in the direction of arrow
3,
so that the arrow on the key
symbol 
» Fig. 119 shows.
WARNINGNever remove the tow bar while the trailer is still coupled.
Note
We recommend putting the protective cover onto the ball head before remov-
ing the tow bar.
Removing the bar ball - 2. Step
Fig. 120
Release tow bar
Read and observe and on page 120 first.
Removing
›
Initially carry out the first step of the ball rod disassembly » page 123.
123Hitch and trailer

›Grasp the ball bar from
below » Fig. 120 .›Pull the hand wheel A in the direction of the arrow 1.›
Turn the hand wheel in the direction of the arrow
2
to the stop, and hold in
this position.
›
Remove the tow bar from the mounting recess downwards and in the direc-
tion of the arrow
3
.
At the same time, the ball head latches into the ready position and is thus
ready to be re-inserted into the mounting recess »
.
Subsequent steps
After removing the tow bar the following work must be carried out.
›
Fit the cover for the mounting recess
A
in the opposite direction to arrow
1
» Fig. 115 on page 122 .
WARNINGNever allow the tow bar to remain unsecured in the boot. This could cause
damage on sudden braking and could put the safety of the occupants at
risk!
CAUTION
■ If the hand wheel A is not turned all the way to the stop, then it will return
to its initial position when the tow bar is removed and will rest on the tow bar
and not engage into the ready position. The ball head then needs to be
brought into this position before the next time it is fitted » page 121, Adjusting
the ready position .■
The mounting recess must be closed with the cover following removal. This
prevents foreign bodies from getting into the mounting recess.
Note
Clean any dirt from the tow bar before stowing it away in the box with the ve-
hicle tool kit.AccessoriesFig. 121
Representation of the maximum
permissible level of the ball head
of the towing hitch and the per-
missible total weight of the ac-
cessories including the load de-
pending on the load centre of
gravity
Read and observe and on page 120 first.
An accessory can be mounted on the ball head of the towing hitch (e.g. bicycle carrier).
If this accessory is used, the maximum permissible overhang of the ball head
of the towing hitch and the permissible gross vehicle weight of the accesso-
ries including load are to be checked.
The maximum permissible overhang of the ball head of the towing hitch is 70
cm » Fig. 121 .
The total permitted weight of the accessory including load changes with in-
creasing distance of the centre of gravity of the load from the ball head of the
towing hitch.
Distance of the centre of gravity of the load from the ball headPermissible total weight of the ac- cessory, including load0 cm50 kg30 cm50 kg60 cm25 kg70 cm0 kgWARNING■Never exceed the permissible gross weight of the accessory including
load - there is a risk of damaging the ball head of the towing hitch.■
Never exceed the permissible overhang of the ball head of the towing
hitch - there is a risk of damaging the ball head of the towing hitch. 
124Driving

NoteWe recommend that you use accessories from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Trailer
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Attaching and detaching trailers
125
Loading a trailer
126
Towing a trailer
126
Anti-theft alarm system
126
If your vehicle has already been factory-fitted with a towing device or is fitted
with a towing device from ŠKODA Original Accessories, then it meets all of the
technical requirements and national legal regulations for towing a trailer.
Note
If there is an error in the trailer lighting, check the fuses in the fuse box in the
dash panel » page 173.
Attaching and detaching trailers
Fig. 122
Swivel out the 13-pin power
socket, safety eyelet
Coupling
›
Install the tow bar.
›
Lift off protective cap
3
» Fig. 111 on page 120 towards the top.
›
Place the trailer onto the ball.
›
Grip the 13-pin socket on the handle
A
and swing out in the direction of the
arrow » Fig. 122 .
›
Insert the trailer cable into the 13-pin socket.
If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connector, you can use a suitable
adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories to establish a connection to the elec-
tricity.›
Hook the breakaway cable of the trailer to the security lock slot
B
.
The breakaway cable of the trailer has to sag when mounted into the security
lock slot for all trailer positions relative to the vehicle (sharp curves, reverse
driving and the like).
Uncoupling
The uncoupling of the trailer is carried out in reverse order.
›
Unhook the breakaway cable of the trailer from the security lock slot
B
» Fig. 122 .
›
Pull the trailer cable out of the 13-pin socket.
›
Remove the trailer from the ball head.
›
Place the cover
3
on the ball head » Fig. 111 on page 120 .
›
Grip the 13-pin socket on the handle
A
and swing out against the direction
of the arrow » Fig. 122.
Exterior mirrors
You can have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. The national legal
requirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle may lift up when a trailer is being towed and the head- lights may dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlights using the headlight beam control » page 59.
WARNING■
Incorrectly or improperly connected electrical installations may cause mal-
function of the entire vehicle electronics and lead to accidents and serious
injury from electric shock.■
Works on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist ga-
rages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical
connections for the tail lights or other current sources.
■
After coupling the trailer and connecting up the power socket, check the
rear lights on the trailer to ensure they are working.
■
The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be applied when coupling and
uncoupling the trailer.
■
Never use the safety eyelet for towing!
125Hitch and trailer

Loading a trailer
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced. Whereby the maximum per-
missible draw bar load must be utilised. If the draw bar load is too low, it jeop-
ardises the performance of the vehicle/trailer combination.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as
close to the axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping.
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the
trailer 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” » page 153.
Towing capacity and trailer weight
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 181 , Technical data .
The details given in the vehicle's technical documentation always take prece-
dence over the details in the Owner's Manual.
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 vehicle's climbing
power. Therefore, for every additional 1,000 m in height (or part), the maximum
permissible towed weight must be reduced by 10%.
The towed weight is made up of the actual weights of the loaded towing vehi-
cle and the loaded trailer.
The trailer and draw bar load information on the type plate of the towing de-
vice is merely a test value for the towing device. The vehicle-specific values
are detailed in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ The maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the permissible
weight of the trailer must not exceed - this could cause an accident!■
A sliding cargo can significantly adversely affect stability and driving safe-
ty - there is a risk of accident!
Towing a trailer
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
trailer is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by acceler-
ating.
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
If the needle for the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand
area or the red area of the scale, the speed must be reduced immediately.
Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light  illuminates or starts to
blink in the instrument cluster.
The following guidelines must be observed » page 36.
The coolant temperature level can be reduced by switching on the heating.WARNING■ Always drive particularly carefully with the trailer.■Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic
situation.
CAUTION
If you tow a trailer frequently, you should also have your vehicle inspected be-
tween service intervals.
Anti-theft alarm system
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated when the electrical connec-
tion to the trailer is interrupted.
Always switch off the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is coupled or un-
coupled » page 53 . 
126Driving

Conditions for including a trailer in the anti-theft alarm system.The vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and towing
device.
The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle via the trailer
socket.
The electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is functional.
The vehicle is locked with the vehicle key and the anti-theft alarm system
is activated.
CAUTION
For technical reasons, trailers with rear LED lights cannot be connected to the
anti-theft alarm system.127Hitch and trailer

Automatic car wash systemsRead and observe
and on page 131 first.
The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle
in an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows and the sliding/tilt-
ing roof etc.).
If your vehicle is fitted with any particular attached parts, such as a spoiler,
roof rack system, two-way radio aerial etc., it is best to consult the operator of
the car wash system beforehand.
After an automatic wash with wax treatment, the lips of the wipers should be
cleaned with cleaning agents specially designed for the purpose, and then de-
greased.
CAUTION
Fold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system. Never manually fold in electric exterior mirrors -
always use the electric controls.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
Read and observe
and on page 131 first.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for
use of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pres-
sure used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft mate-
rials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
CAUTION
■ If washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure cleaner,
ensure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or the
door/panel joints – risk of freezing!■
To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short pe-
riods while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.
Note
Also refer to "Washing cars with decorative films using a high-pressure clean-
er" » page 134 .Cleaning vehicle exterior
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle paint work
133
Plastic parts
133
Rubber seals
133
Chrome parts
133
Decorative films
134
Windows and external mirrors
134
Headlight glasses
134
Door closing cylinder
135
Cavity protection
135
Jack
135
Wheels
135
Towing device and mounting recess
135
Under-body protection
135
Wiper blades
136
We recommend using vehicle care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
These are available from ŠKODA Partners. The usage instructions on the pack-
age must be observed.
WARNING■ Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according
to the instructions.■
Always keep the vehicle care products safe from people who are not com-
pletely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
■
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when clean-
ing the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims –
risk of cuts!
CAUTION
■ Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning
products – risk of damaging the paintwork surface.■
Cleaners that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned. 
132General Maintenance