2012 SKODA CITIGO service

Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an
indication of a leak in the system. Do
not merely top up the coolant. Have the cooling system checked by a
ŠKODA spe-
cialist garage immediately. CAUTION
If a fault causes the engine to overheat, we recommend visiting a ŠKODA Service
Partner immediately, otherwise serious engine damage may occur. ÐReplenishing the coolant
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 108.
›
Switch off the engine.
› Allow the engine to cool.
› Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir
» Fig. 101 on
page 112 and unscrew the cap carefully.
› Replenish the coolant.
› Turn the cap until it clicks into place.
Do not use an alternative additive if the specified coolant is not available in an
emergency. In this case, just use water and have the correct mixing ratio of water
and the coolant additive restored by a ŠKODA

specialist garage as soon as possi-
ble.
Only use new coolant to top up the system.
Do not fill the coolant above the mark “MAX” » Fig. 101 on page 112! Excess cool-
ant heats up and then is forced out of the cooling system through the pressure
relief valve in the cap. WARNING
■ The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are also harmful to health.
Therefore always safely store the coolant additive in its original container out
of the reach of children – risk of poisoning!
■ If any coolant splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse out your eyes with
clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
■ You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inadvertently
swallowed coolant.
ä CAUTION
Do not continue your journey, if it is not possible  to top up the coolant under
the prevailing conditions . Contact a

ŠKODA Service Partner to avoid the risk of
serious engine. Ð Radiator fan
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 108.
The radiator fan is driven by an electric motor and controlled according to the
coolant temperature.
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to op-
erate for approx. 10 minutes.
Ð Checking the brake fluid
Fig. 102
Engine compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 108.
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment.
›
Switch off the engine.
› Open the bonnet
» page 110.
› Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir
» Fig. 102. The level must be be-
tween the
“MIN” and “MAX” markings.
When driving, a slight drop in the fluid level is caused by the wear-and-tear and
automatic adjustment of the brake pads, and is therefore perfectly normal. £
ä
ä
113
Inspecting and replenishing

Vehicle battery
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the battery electrolyte level 116
Operation in winter 117
Charging a vehicle battery 117
Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery 117
Replacing the vehicle battery 117
Automatic load deactivation 118
Warning symbols on the vehicle battery Symbol Importance
 Always wear eye protection.
 Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye protec-
tion.
 Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the ve-
hicle battery.
 When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture is
produced.
 Keep children away from the vehicle battery. Improper handling of the vehicle battery can cause damage. We therefore recom-
mend that any work on the vehicle battery is carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Part-
ner.
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out any
work on the battery and on the electrical system. For this reason, it is essential to
comply with the warning instructions stated below and with the general applica-
ble rules of safety. WARNING
■ The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care. Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection
when handling the vehicle battery. Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air
passages and lead to conjunctivitis and inflammation of the air passages in
the lungs. They corrode tooth enamel. After contact with the skin, the acid
creates deep wounds which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with
diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, skin cracks). Acids
coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant devel-
opment of heat.
■ Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the bat-
tery vent openings. Protect the eyes with safety glasses or a shield! There is
the danger of suffering blindness! If any battery electrolyte comes into con-
tact with your eyes, rinse the relevant eye immediately with clear water for
several minutes. Then 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 acid was
swallowed, seek immediate medical attention.
■ Keep children away from the vehicle battery.
■ 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.
■ Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through metal objects,
cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit: Melting of lead struts, explo-
sion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
■ It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or to carry
out any activities which produce sparks. 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 engine,
the ignition and all of the electrical components and disconnect the negative
terminal
(-) on the battery. If you wish to replace a bulb it suffices to switch off
the relevant light. ■ Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
caustic burns! Replace a frozen vehicle battery. ■ Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low –
risk of explosion and caustic burns. ■ Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion! Replace a damaged
vehicle battery immediately. £
115
Inspecting and replenishing

CAUTION
■ The vehicle battery must only be disconnected if the ignition is switched off,
otherwise the vehicle's electrical system (electronic components) can be dam-
aged. When disconnecting the battery from the electrical system, first of all dis-
connect the negative terminal
(-) of the battery. Then disconnect the positive ter-
minal (+).
■ When connecting the battery to the electrical system, first connect the positive
terminal (+) of the battery. Then connect the negative terminal
(-). Under no cir-
cumstances must the battery cables be connected incorrectly – risk of a cable fire.
■ Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk of
damage to the paintwork.
■ Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the vehicle battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
■ If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will
discharge. This is because certain electrical components consume electricity (e.
g.
control units) also in idle state. Prevent the battery from discharging by discon-
necting the battery's negative terminal or continuously charging the battery with
a very low charging current.
■ 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.
These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regulations. Note
You should replace batteries older than 5 years. Ð Checking the battery electrolyte level
Fig. 104
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 115.
We recommend you have the electrolyte level checked by a ŠKODA specialist ga-
rage from time to time, especially in the following cases.
› High outside temperatures.
› Long daily drives
› After each charge
» page 117.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, the so-called
magic eye » Fig. 104 , the electrolyte level can be determined by looking at the
change in colour.
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. Note
■ The battery electrolyte level is periodically checked by a
ŠKODA Service Partner
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. Ð
ä
116 General Maintenance

Operation in winter
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 115.
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 ŠKODA Service Partner before the start of the winter.
ÐCharging a vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 115.
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
”).
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”.
ä
ä “Quick-charging” the vehicle battery is
dangerous
and requires a special charger
and specialist knowledge. We therefore recommend having the quick charging of
vehicle batteries undertaken by a ŠKODA 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 136, Jump-starting in vehicles with the

START-STOP
system . Ð Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 115.
On disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery the following functions
are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free:
Operation Operating measure
Enter radio code number » Radio manual
Setting the clock » page 12
Data in the multifunction display are deleted. » page 11 Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a ŠKODA Service Partner to ensure
the full functionality of all electrical systems. Ð Replacing the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 115.
When replacing a battery, the new vehicle battery must have the same capacity,
voltage, amperage and be the same size. Suitable types of vehicle batteries can
be purchased from a

ŠKODA Service Partner. £
ä
ä
117
Inspecting and replenishing

We recommend that the battery is replaced by a ŠKODA Service Partner, where
the new vehicle battery will be installed properly and the original battery will be
disposed of in accordance with national regulations.
ÐAutomatic load deactivation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 115.
An intelligent vehicle power management system automatically takes various
measures at high loads on the vehicle battery to prevent discharging of the bat-
tery: This manifests itself by the following:
› The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
› Where appropriate large consumers of power, e.g. seat heaters, rear window
heaters, voltage supply to the 12V power socket, have their power limited or in
case of emergency shut off completely. Note
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 lon-
ger parking. Driving comfort is not put at risk by any shutting off of consumers.
Often the driver is not aware of it having taken place. Ðä
118 General Maintenance

Wheels and Tyres
Tyres
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Service life of tyres 120
Handling wheels and tyres 121
New wheels and tyres 121
Unidirectional tyres 121
Spare wheel 122
Full wheel trim 122
Wheel bolts 123
Wheel bolts 123
Winter tyres 123
Snow chains 123
WARNING
■ During the first 500 km, new tyres do not offer optimum grip and appropri-
ate care should therefore be taken when driving – risk of accident!
■ Never drive with damaged tyres – risk of accident!
■ Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved by ŠKODA for
your model of vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect
the road safety of your vehicle – risk of accident! ■ The maximum permissible speed for your tyres must not be exceeded under
any circumstances – risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of
control of the vehicle.
■ If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre must perform a higher rolling re-
sistance. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can
result in tread separation and a tyre blowout.
■ Do not, where possible, replace individual tyres but at least replace them on
both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the
deeper tread depth to the front wheels. ■ Never use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age. WARNING (Continued)
■ You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn down.
■ Worn tyres do not provide the necessary adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One could experience
“aquaplaning” (uncontrolled
movements of the vehicle – “swimming” on a wet road surface).
■ Immediately replace damaged wheel rims or tyres.
■ Do not use summer or winter tyres that are older than 6 years or 4 years re-
spectively.
■ The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.
■ If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim can
come loose when the car is moving – risk of accident! A tightening torque
which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in per-
manent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rim.
■ In case of incorrect treatment of the wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen
when the car is moving – risk of accident! ■ Observe the national legal regulations relating to the use of tyres and snow
chains. CAUTION
■ If a spare wheel is used that is not identical to the fitted tyres, the following
must be observed » page 122, Spare wheel.
■ The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy
wheels is 110
Nm.
■ Protect the tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
■ Replace any lost valve caps immediately. For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption. Note
■ We recommend that any work on the wheels or tyres is carried out by a
ŠKODA
Service Partner. ■ We recommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow chains
from
ŠKODA Original Accessories. Ð
119
Wheels and Tyres

Service life of tyres
Fig. 105
Tyre tread with wear indicators/Open fuel filler flap with a table de-
tailing the tyre size and tyre inflation pressure
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 119.
Wear indicators
The base of the tread of the tyres has 1.6 mm high wear indicators installed.
These wear indicators are located multiple times depending on the make and are
evenly spaced around the circumference of the tyre » Fig. 105 – . Markings on
the walls of the tyres through the letters
“TWI”, triangular symbols or other sym-
bols identify the position of the wear indicators.
The life of your tyres very much depends on the following points:
Tyre pressure
The working life of tyres will be shortened considerably if the tyres are insuffi-
ciently or over-inflated and this will have an adverse effect on the handling of
your vehicle. Therefore check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel,
at least once a month and also before setting off on a long journey.
The tyre inflation pressures for summer tyres are indicated on the inside of the
fuel filler flap » Fig. 105 – . The inflation pressures for winter tyres are 20 kPa
(0.2 bar) higher than those for summer tyres.
Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
higher pressure of warm tyres. If the load varies greatly, adjust the tyre inflation
pressure accordingly.
Driving style
Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking increase the wear of your tyres.
ä
Balancing wheels
The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. There are a wide range of influences
when driving which may result in an imbalance and which makes themselves felt
through vibration in the steering.
Have the wheels rebalanced after replacing the tyres.
Wheel alignment errors
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and rear will not only increase wear-and-
tear on the tyres but will also has an adverse effect on vehicle safety. In the
event of any unusual tyre wear, seek assistance from a

ŠKODA specialist garage.
Tyre damage
Drive over curbs on the side of the road and other such obstacles slowly and,
where possible, at a right angle in order to avoid damage to tyres and wheel
trims.
We recommend checking your tyres and wheel rims for damage (punctures, cuts,
splits and bulges, etc.) on a regular basis. Remove foreign bodies from the tyre
profile.
Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of tyre
damage. If there is any doubt that a wheel is damaged, immediately reduce your
speed and stop! Check the tyres for signs of damage (bulges, splits, etc.). If no ex-
ternal damage is evident, drive slowly and carefully to the nearest ŠKODA special-
ist garage to have the vehicle checked. Ð
120 General Maintenance

Accessories, changes and replacement of
parts Introductory information
If you want to retrofit the vehicle with accessories, if a vehicle part is to be re-
placed with a new one, or when needing to make technical changes, the follow-
ing instructions must be observed.
› Always seek advice from a
ŠKODA Service Partner before purchasing any acces-
sories or parts and before making any technical changes » .
› The guidelines and instructions issued by

ŠKODA must be observed when mak-
ing technical changes.
Adhering to the prescribed procedures will prevent any kind of damage to the ve-
hicle, and its travelling and operating safety will be maintained. The vehicle also
complies with German road transport regulations (StVZO). More information is
available from a ŠKODA Service Partner who can also perform the necessary work
correctly.
Vehicles with special built-on types
Technical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be kept
by the vehicle user, in order to hand over later to the old car user. This ensures
the recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to opera-
tional faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected systems be-
cause of the networking of the electronic components. In other words, the vehi-
cle's roadworthiness may be put at risk and increased wear on parts may arise.
Any damage caused by technical changes made without consent by ŠKODA is ex-
cluded from the warranty – see the warranty certificate. WARNING
■ Work or modifications on your vehicle, which have been carried out unpro-
fessionally, can cause operational faults – risk of accident!
■ We advise you, in your own interest, to only use ŠKODA Original Accessories
and ŠKODA
Original Parts which have been expressly approved for use on
your vehicle. Reliability, safety and suitability have been established for
ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original Parts.
■ Although we constantly monitor the market, we are not able to assess or
warrant the parts even though in some instances such parts may have a type
approval or may have been approved by a nationally recognised testing labo-
ratory. Note
ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original Parts can be purchased from
ŠKODA
Service Partners who will also professionally undertake the assembly of
the purchased parts. Ð Changes and impairments of the airbag system
Repairs and technical modifications must comply with
ŠKODA guidelines.
We recommend that any modifications and repairs to the front bumper, doors,
front seats, headliner or bodywork be carried out by a ŠKODA Service Partner.
These vehicle parts may include system components for the airbag system. WARNING
■ Airbag modules cannot be repaired, but must be replaced.
■ Never install any airbag parts into the vehicle that have been removed from
old cars or have been recycled. ■ A modification to the suspension of the vehicle including the use of non-ap-
proved rim-tyre combinations can alter the functioning of the airbag and in-
crease the risk of serious or fatal injuries in an accident.
■ Parts of the airbag system may be damaged when working on the airbag
system or removing and installing system parts due to other repairs. This may
mean that the airbags will not deploy properly or not at all in the event of an
accident. Ð
125
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts