2012 SKODA RAPID light

For the sake of the environment
■ Used cans of vehicle care products represent a special type of hazardous waste.
These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regulations. ■ Only wash the vehicle at washing bays intended for this purpose. Note
■ Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe pol-
ish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possible. ■ Due to possible issues with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle,
the special tools and knowledge required, we recommend that this is completed
by a
ŠKODA Service Partner. ÐWashing the vehicle
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
The best protection for your vehicle against harmful environmental influences is
frequent washing and wax treatment. How often the vehicle should be washed
depends on a wide range of factors, such as:
›
Frequency of use;
› The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.);
› Season of the year;
› Weather conditions;
› Environmental influences.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar,
soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the
paintwork of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be.
High temperatures, such as those caused by intensive sun's rays, accentuate this
caustic effect.
It is essential to also thoroughly clean the underside of the vehicle at the end of
the winter. ÐAutomatic car wash systems
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.ä
ä Your vehicle can be washed in automatic car wash systems.
Take the usual precautionary measures before washing the vehicle in an auto-
matic car wash system. (Close the windows etc.)
If your vehicle is fitted with any particular attached parts, such as a spoiler, roof
luggage rack, two-way radio aerial – it is best to consult the operator of the car
wash system beforehand.
It is important to degrease the lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers after passing
through the automatic vehicle wash system. Ð Washing by hand
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
When washing by hand, first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse off as
much as possible.
Clean the vehicle with a soft
sponge, a washing glove or a washing brush. Work
from the top to the bottom – starting with the roof. Only apply slight pressure
when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork. Only use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such
areas.
Give the vehicle a good rinse after washing it and dry it off using a chamois leath-
er. Ð Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
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
pressure
used and to the spraying distance. Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the
parking aid sensors and soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulation materi-
al. £
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118 General Maintenance

WARNING
Never use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters! CAUTION
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C – risk of
damaging the vehicle. ÐPreserving and polishing the vehicle paintwork
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Preserving the vehicle paintwork
Good wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from harmful
environmental influences.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quality hard wax polish at the latest,
when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean body-
work after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we
still recommend that you treat the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year
with hard wax.
Polishing
Polishing is necessary if the vehicle's paintwork has become unattractive and if it
is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservatives.
If the polish does not contain any preserving elements, the paint must be treated
with a preservative afterwards. CAUTION
■ Never apply wax to the windows.
■ Mat painted or plastic parts must not be treated with polishing products or hard
waxes. ■ Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle in a dusty environment, otherwise
the paintwork can be scratched. Ð
ä Chrome parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a soft,
dry cloth. If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific
chrome care product.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment, otherwise they can be
scratched. Ð Paint damage
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage
must be treated immediately.
The ŠKODA Service Partners have a range of matching
touch-up pens or spray
cans available in the colour of your vehicle. Note
We recommend that any repairs to damaged paintwork are carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Partner. Ð Plastic parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Plastic parts can be cleaned using a damp cloth. If this does not prove to be ade-
quate, the parts can be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning prod-
ucts.
Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts. Ð
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119
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle

De-icing windows and exterior mirrors
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mir-
rors. The ice scraper should not be moved forward and backward but in one direc-
tion to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.
Clean the windows from the inside on a regular basis.
Dry the glass surfaces with a clean chamois leather or a cloth intended for this
purpose.
When drying the windows after washing the vehicle, do not use window leathers
that have been used to polish the bodywork. Residues of preservatives in the
window leather can dirty the window and reduce visibility. CAUTION
■ Never remove snow or ice from glass parts using warm or hot water – risk of
formation of cracks in the glass!
■ When removing snow or ice from windows and mirror lenses ensure that the
paintwork of the vehicle is not to damage.
■ Snow or ice that is contaminated with coarse dirt such as fine gravel, sand, and
salt must not be removed from the window glass and mirrors – risk of damage to
the surface of the windows and mirrors. ÐRadio reception and aerial
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Car parks, tunnels, tall buildings or mountains can disrupt the radio signal even
causing it to fail completely.
With factory-fitted radios and navigation systems, the aerial for the radio recep-
tion can be installed at different locations in the vehicle:
› on the inside of the rear window along with the rear window heater;
› on the roof. Ð
ä
ä Headlight lenses
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Use soap and clean water to clean the plastic headlight lenses.
CAUTION
■ Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects to clean the
plastic lenses, this may damage the protective paintwork and consequently cause
the formation of cracks on the headlight lenses.
■ Do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products to clean the
headlights – risk of damaging the headlight lenses. Ð Rubber seals
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
The rubber seals on doors and other windows remain smoother and last longer if
the seals are treated regularly with a suitable rubber care product. This helps to
prevent leakages and premature wear of the seals. Rubber seals which are well
cared for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.
Ð Door lock cylinders
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Specific products must be used for de-icing door lock cylinders.
Note
■ When washing your vehicle, ensure as little water as possible gets into the lock-
ing cylinders. ■ We recommend that suitable materials from ŠKODA Original Accessories are
used for maintaining the door lock cylinders. Ð
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120 General Maintenance

Wheels
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular ba-
sis. Regularly remove salt and brake abrasion from the wheel rims otherwise the
material will be affected. Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be
touched up immediately.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product for
light alloy wheels. Products which cause abrasion must not be used to treat the
wheel rims. WARNING
Water, ice and grit in the brake system can affect the braking efficiency – risk
of accident! CAUTION
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may
show itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering
wheel which, in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of the steering.
This means it is necessary to remove the dirt. Note
We recommend that any repairs to damaged paintwork are carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Partner. ÐUnderbody protection
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechani-
cal influences.ä
ä As damage to the
protective layer when driving cannot be ruled out completely,
we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of your ve-
hicle and on the chassis at specific intervals – preferably at the beginning and end
of the winter.
ŠKODA Service Partners have suitable spray products and the necessary equip-
ment available, and are familiar with the instructions for use. We therefore rec-
ommend that touch-up work or additional corrosion protection measures are car-
ried out by a ŠKODA Service Partner. WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filters or heat shields. When
the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances might ignite
– risk of fire! Ð Protection of hollow spaces
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for
life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. If any small
amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, these must be re-
moved with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petroleum cleaner. WARNING
Safety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – risk of fire! Ð
ä
121
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle

Artificial leather and materials
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
The artificial leather can be cleaned using a damp cloth. If this does not prove to
be adequate, these parts can only be treated with special
solvent-free plastic
cleaning and care products .
Clean upholstery cover materials and cloth trims on doors, boot cover, etc. using
specific cleaning agents, e.g., dry foam. Use a soft sponge, brush, or commercially
available microfibre cloth. Use a cloth and a specific cleaning agent to clean the
roof trim.
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do, in part, not have sufficient col-
our fastness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat cov-
ers (fabric or leather) even when used correctly. This particularly applies to light
seat covers (fabric or leather). This is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor col-
our fastness of the clothing textiles. ÐFabric covers on electrically heated seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Do not clean the seat covers
using moisture as this can damage the seat heating
system.
Use a specific cleaning agent such as dry foam or similar to clean the covers. ÐNatural leather
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 117.
Depending on the amount of wear-and-tear, the leather should be cleaned on a
regular basis.
Normal cleaning
Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen cloth.
ä
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Severe soiling
Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no water gets
into the stitching of the seams.
Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Removing stains
Remove fresh water-based stains (e.g., coffee, tea, juices, blood) with an absorb-
ent cloth or household cleaning paper. A specific cleaning agent is required for
dried-on stains.
Remove fresh grease-based stains (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc.) with
an absorbent cloth, household cleaning paper, or use a suitable cleaner if the
stain has not yet penetrated into the surface.
Use a grease solvent for grease stains which have dried in .
Remove specific stains (e.g. ball-point pens, marker pen, nail varnish, dispersion
paint, shoe polish, etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.
Leather care
Treat the leather roughly every six months with a suitable leather care product.
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth. CAUTION
■ Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■ Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs of
rubbing on the surface.
■ The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface of
the steering wheel. Note
■ Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular basis
and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection. ■ Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove any fresh stains as they occur. £
122 General Maintenance

Note
The fuel tank has a capacity of about 55 litres, containing a reserve of approx.
7 litres . ÐUnleaded petrol
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 124.
Your vehicle can only be operated with
unleaded fuel
that complies with the
standard EN 228 (in Germany: standard DIN 51626-1 or E10 for unleaded fuel with
an octane rating of 95 RON and 91 RON or DIN 51626-2 or E5 for unleaded fuel
with the octane rating 95 RON and 98 RON).
Prescribed fuel – unleaded fuel 95/91 RON
Use unleaded fuel with the octane rating 95 RON. Unleaded petrol 91 RON can al-
so be used but results in a slight loss in performance.
If, in an emergency, the vehicle has to be refuelled with petrol of a lower octane
number than the one prescribed, the journey must only be continued at medium
engine speeds and a low engine load. Driving at high engine revs or a high engine
load can severely damage the engine! Refuel using petrol of the prescribed oc-
tane number as soon as possible.
Prescribed fuel – unleaded petrol min. 95 RON
Use unleaded fuel with the octane rating 95 RON.
In case of necessity, you can refuel with petrol with the octane rating 91 RON if
petrol with the octane rating 95 RON is not available. The journey must only be
continued at medium engine speeds and a minimum engine load. Driving at high
engine revs or a high engine load can severely damage the engine! Refuel using
petrol of the prescribed octane number as soon as possible.
Even in the event of an emergency, petrol of a lower octane number than 91 RON
must not be used, otherwise the engine can be severely damaged!
Unleaded petrol with higher octane number
Unleaded petrol that has a higher octane number than that required by the en-
gine can be used without limitations.
On vehicles with prescribed unleaded petrol 95/91 RON, the use of petrol with a
higher octane number than 95 RON does not result in a noticeable power in-
crease or a lower fuel consumption.
ä
On vehicles using prescribed unleaded petrol of
min.
95 RON, the use of petrol
with a higher octane number than 95 RON can increase the power and reduce
fuel consumption.
Prescribed fuel – unleaded petrol 98/(95) RON
Use unleaded fuel with the octane rating 98 RON. Unleaded petrol 95 RON can
also be used but results in a slight loss in performance.
In case of necessity, you can refuel with petrol with the octane rating 91 RON of
unleaded fuel with octane rating 98 RON or 95 RON is not available. The journey
must only be continued at medium engine speeds and a minimum engine load.
Driving at high engine revs or a high engine load can severely damage the engine!
Refuel using petrol of the prescribed octane number as soon as possible.
Even in the event of an emergency, petrol of a lower octane number than 91 RON
must not be used, otherwise the engine can be severely damaged!
Fuel additives
Only use unleaded petrol, which complies with the standard EN 228 (in Germany:
standard DIN 51626-1 or E10 for unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95 RON
and 91 RON or DIN 51626-2 or E5 for unleaded fuel with an octane rating of
95 RON and 98 RON), as these meet all of the requirements for fault-free engine
operation. We therefore recommend that no fuel additives are used. CAUTION
■ All
ŠKODA vehicles with petrol engines must only be operated with unleaded
petrol. Just filling the tank with leaded petrol once will damage the exhaust sys-
tem!
■ Engine parts can be damaged if petrol with a lower octane number than the one
prescribed is used.
■ In no case may fuel additives with metal components be used, especially not
with manganese and iron content.
LRP (lead replacement petrol) fuels with met-
allic components may not be used. There is a risk of causing considerable damage
to parts of the engine or exhaust system!
■ Fuels with metallic content may not be used. There is a risk of causing consider-
able damage to parts of the engine or exhaust system!
■ The use of unsuitable fuel additives can cause considerable damage to parts of
the engine or the exhaust system. Ð
125
Inspecting and replenishing

Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 96
Bonnet/radiator grille release lever: Release lever Fig. 97
Securing the bonnet
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 126.
Opening
›
Open the front left door.
› Pull the release lever under the dash panel 1
» Fig. 96
in the direction of the
arrow.
Before opening the bonnet, ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are
correctly in place against the windscreen otherwise the paintwork could be dam-
aged.
› Press the release lever in the direction of the arrow 2
» Fig. 96
and the bonnet
is unlocked.
› Grab hold of the bonnet and lift.
ä ›
Take the bonnet support out of its holder 3
in the direction of the ar-
row » Fig. 97 and secure the opened bonnet by inserting the end of the support
in the opening 4
in the bonnet.
Closing
› Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the bonnet sup-
port into the holder 3
designed to hold it.
› Let the bonnet drop into the lock carrier lock from a height of around 20 cm –
do not push it in .
› Check that the bonnet is closed properly. Ð Engine compartment overview
Fig. 98
1.2 ltr./63 kW TSI petrol engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 126.
Coolant expansion reservoir 130
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir 132
Engine oil filler opening 129
Engine oil dipstick 129
Brake fluid reservoir 132
Vehicle battery 133
£
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2
3
4
5
6
128
General Maintenance

Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and
diesel engines is practically identical. ÐChecking the engine oil level
Fig. 99
Dipstick
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 126.
The dipstick indicates the level of oil in the engine
» Fig. 99.
Checking the oil level
› Ensure that the vehicle is positioned on a level surface and the engine has
reached its operating temperature.
› Switch off the engine.
› Open the bonnet.
› Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil sump and remove
the dipstick.
› Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth and insert it again to the stop.
› Then pull the dipstick out again and check the oil level.
Oil level within range A
›
No oil must be refilled.
Oil level within range B
›
Oil can
be refilled. It is possible that the oil level may then be within range A
after doing this.
Oil level within range C
›
Oil must be refilled. It is sufficient, once this is done, to keep the oil level within
range B
.
ä
It is normal for the engine to consume oil. The oil consumption may be as much as
0.5 l/1 000

km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which
you operate your vehicle. Consumption may be slightly higher than this during the
first 5 000 kilometres.
One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time
after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches.
We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range A
, but not above
, if
the engine has been operating at high loads, for example, during a lengthy motor-
way trip during the summer months, towing a trailer or negotiating a high moun-
tain pass.
The warning light in the instrument cluster will indicate whether the oil level is
too low » page 18 , Engine oil   . In this case, check the oil level with the dip-
stick, as soon as possible. Add oil accordingly. CAUTION
■ The oil level must on no account extend beyond the range A
» Fig. 99
. Risk of
damaging the exhaust system!
■ If it is not possible to top up the engine oil under the prevailing conditions,  do
not continue your journey! Switch off the engine and obtain professional assis-
tance from a ŠKODA specialist garage, otherwise it could cause severe engine
damage. Note
Engine oil specifications » page 166 , Specifications and engine oil capacity .Ð Replenishing the engine oil
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 126.
›
Check the engine oil level
» page 129.
› Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening.
› Replenish the oil in portions of 0.5 litres in accordance with the correct specifi-
cations » page 166 , Specifications and engine oil capacity .
› Check the oil level
» page 129.
› Carefully screw on the oil filler opening cap and push the dipstick in fully. Ð
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129
Inspecting and replenishing