2012 SKODA RAPID warning lights

WARNING
■ In view of the high temperatures which can be produced in the catalytic con-
verter, the vehicle should be parked in such a way that the catalytic converter
cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials under the vehicle –
risk of fire!
■ Never use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields – risk of fire! CAUTION
■ Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of fuel
can cause misfiring, which can result in considerable damage to parts of the en-
gine and exhaust system. ■ Just filling the tank with leaded petrol once will damage the exhaust system! ÐEconomical and environmentally friendly driving
Introductory information
Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear
to the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
› your personal style of driving;
› the conditions under which your vehicle is operated;
› technical aspects.
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10
-15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond the
driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult condi-
tions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a result
of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve-
hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a partic-
ular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment. It is necessary
to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to make best use of
these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness. The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to
avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
Ð Looking ahead when driving
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore unnec-
essary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when driving,
less braking and consequently less accelerating are required. If possible, let your
vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set
of traffic lights is on red, for example. Ð Shifting to save energy
Fig. 91
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km depending
on the selected gear
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox › Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
› Shift up into the next gear at approx. 2

000 revolutions.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. Observe the
recommended gear » page 11, Recommended gear .
A suitably selected gear can have an effect on fuel consumption » Fig. 91.
Automatic gearbox › Slowly
apply the accelerator pedal. However, do not depress it to the kickdown
position.
› If the accelerator pedal is only depressed slowly on a vehicle fitted with an au-
tomatic gearbox, an economic driving programme is automatically selected.
£
110 Driving Tips

Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Technical requirements
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 provisions for towing a trailer.
On vehicles with a towing device, the ball rod is detachable and is stowed togeth-
er with separate operating instructions in the spare wheel well or in the compart-
ment for the spare wheel within the boot » page 145, Vehicle tool kit .
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection be-
tween the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connec-
tor, you can use a suitable adapter from
ŠKODA Original Accessories.
If a towing device is retrofitted, it must be completed in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Note
If you have any questions, please contact a ŠKODA Service Partner. ÐLoading a trailer
Loading a trailer
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced, whereby the maximum permis-
sible drawbar load must be utilised. If the drawbar load is too low, it jeopardises
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 trail-
er 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 138 ,
Service life of tyres.
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 164 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level. As the engine output drops at an increasing altitude due to the declin-
ing air pressure and therefore the climbing ability is also reduced, this means that
the maximum permissible towed weight must be reduced by 10 % for every fur-
ther increase of 1 000 m in height. The towed weight comprises the actual weight
of the (loaded) towing vehicle and the (loaded) trailer. Always drive particularly
carefully with the trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device
are merely test data for the towing device The vehicle-specific values are detailed
in the vehicle documents. WARNING
■ If the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the maximum per-
missible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer are exceeded this
can cause accidents and serious injuries.
■ Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination, causing accidents and serious injuries. Ð Towing a trailer
Exterior mirrors
You have to 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 headlight settings must be checked before starting a journey with a coupled
trailer. If necessary, adjust the settings with the headlight beam adjust-
ment » page 36 , Headlamp range adjustment .
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than the maximum permissible speed indi-
cated on the trailer. £
115
Towing a trailer

Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail-
er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
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.
Trailer is connected to the anti-theft alarm system.
› If the vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and a towing de-
vice.
› If the trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the trail-
er socket.
› If the electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is fully functional.
› If the vehicle is locked with the car key and the anti-theft alarm system is acti-
vated.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated as soon as the electrical con-
nection to the trailer is interrupted.
Always deactivate the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is connected/dis-
connected. Otherwise, the anti-theft alarm system could accidentally be trig-
gered » page 29, Anti-theft alarm system .
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  in the instrument cluster starts to
flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion
bottle » page 130, Checking the coolant level .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 19, Coolant temperature/cool-
ant level   .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating. WARNING
■ Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.
■ Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■ Any work on the electrical system must be carried out only by ŠKODA spe-
cialist garages.
■ Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources. CAUTION
■ Avoid abrupt and sudden driving/braking manoeuvres.
■ When the ball rod is removed, the mounting shaft must be sealed with an ap-
propriate cover. This prevents foreign matter from penetrating into the mounting
shaft. See the fitting instructions for the towing device. Note
■ We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service in-
tervals if you tow a trailer frequently. ■ The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decou-
pling the trailer.
■ For technical reasons, trailers with rear LED lights cannot be connected to the
anti-theft alarm system. Ð
116 Driving Tips

Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and headlights.
We therefore recommend using clean water with a screen cleaner
(including anti-
freeze in the winter) that is able to remove stubborn dirt.
Antifreeze should always be added to the cleaning water in the winter even if the
vehicle is fitted with heated windscreen washer nozzles.
Under exceptional circumstances, methylated spirits can also be used if no screen
cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated spirits must
not be more than 15
%. The freeze protection at this concentration is sufficient
only to -5 °C. CAUTION
■ Under no circumstances must radiator antifreeze or other additives be added to
the windscreen washer fluid.
■ If the vehicle is fitted with a headlight cleaning system, only cleaning products
which do not attack the polycarbonate coating of the headlights must be added
to the windscreen washer fluid. Note
Do not remove the filter from the windscreen washer fluid reservoir when replen-
ishing it with liquid otherwise the liquid transportation system can be contamina-
ted, which can cause the windscreen washer system to malfunction. ÐVehicle battery
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Battery cover 134
Checking the battery electrolyte level 135
Operation in winter 135
Charging a vehicle battery 135
Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery 136
Replacing the vehicle battery 136
Automatic load deactivation 136Warning 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, slin 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. £
133
Inspecting and replenishing

Basic setting of the system
After changing the tyre inflation pressure, after changing one or several wheels,
the position of a wheel on the vehicle (e.g. exchanging the wheels between the
axles) or when the warning light lights up while driving, a basic setting of the sys-
tem must be carried out as follows:
› Inflate all of the tyres to the specified inflation pressure
» page 138, Service life
of tyres.
› Switch on the ignition.
› Press and hold the button

 » Fig. 109
for longer than 2 seconds. While
pressing the button, the warning light  illuminates. At the same time the sys-
tem memory is erased and the new calibration is started, which is confirmed
with an audible signal and then the warning light  goes out.
› If the warning light
 does not go out after the basic setting, this indicates a
system fault. Seek help from a ŠKODA specialist garage.
The warning light  is lit
If the tyre inflation pressure of at least one wheel is insufficiently inflated in com-
parison to the stored basic value, the warning light  » lights up.
The warning light  flashes
If the warning light flashes, there is a system fault. Seek help from a

ŠKODA spe-
cialist garage to correct the fault. WARNING
■ When the warning light  illuminates, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvres. Stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and inspect the tyres and their inflation pressure.
■ Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or unpaved
roads) the warning light  can be delayed or does not light up at all.
■ The tyre control display does not absolve the driver of the responsibility to
ensure the correct tyre inflation pressure. For this reason, the tyre inflation
pressure must be checked regularly. Note
■ The tyre control display does therefore not replace the regular tyre inflation
pressure control, as the system cannot detect an even loss of pressure. ■ The tyre control display cannot provide a warning in the event of very rapid tyre
inflation pressure loss, e.g. in the case of sudden tyre damage. In this case care-
fully bring the vehicle to a standstill without sudden steering movements or
sharp braking.
■ To ensure a proper functioning of the tyre control display, it is necessary to re-
peat the basic setting every 10 000 km or once a year. Ð Wheel bolts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 137.
Wheels and
wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels, e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres, you must
therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of
spherical cap. This is essential to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and
that the brake system operates properly. Ð Winter tyres
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 137.
The handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry
roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow
and at temperatures below 7 °C because of their construction (width, rubber
blend, tread pattern). This particularly applies to vehicles which are equipped with
low-profile tyres
or high-speed tyres (code index H or V on wall of tyre).
To achieve the best possible handling properties, winter tyres must be fitted on
all 4 wheels, the minimum tread depth must be 4

mm and tyres must be no older
than 4 years.
Winter tyres 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. £
ä
ä
142 General Maintenance

Note
Fuses 1 - 7 are replaced by a specialist ŠKODA garage. ÐReplacing the fuses in the engine compartment
Fig. 124
Vehicle battery: Cover for the fuse box (variant 1) Fig. 125
Vehicle battery: Cover for the fuse box (variant 2)
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 156.
›
Press together the interlocks of the cover simultaneously in the direction of the
arrow 1
» Fig. 124.
› Push the cover in the direction of the arrow 2
.
› Use a flat screwdriver to release the fixtures in the openings 3
.
› Lift the cover upwards in the direction of the arrow 4
.
Ð
ä Bulbs
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Headlights 160
Changing the bulb for the low beam 160
Changing the bulb for main beam, separate daytime running lights, and
parking light 161
Changing the bulb for the front turn signal light 161
Changing light bulbs for fog lights 162
Changing the bulb for the licence plate light 162
Tail lamp assembly 163
Replacing the bulbs in the tail lamp assembly 163
Some manual skills are required to change a bulb. For this reason, if uncertain, we
recommend that bulbs are replaced by a ŠKODA specialist garage or other expert
help is sought.
› Switch off the ignition and all of the lights before replacing a bulb.
› Faulty bulbs must only be replaced with the same type of bulbs. The designa-
tion is located on the light socket or the glass bulb.
› A stowage compartment for replacement bulbs is located in a plastic box in the
spare wheel or underneath the floor covering in the boot. WARNING
■ Accidents can be caused if the road in front of the vehicle is not sufficiently
illuminated and the vehicle cannot or can only be seen with difficulty by other
road users.
■ Always read and observe the warnings before completing any work in the
engine compartment »

page 126, Engine compartment .
■ Bulbs H7 and H15 are pressurised and may burst when changing the bulb -
risk of injury! We therefore recommended wearing gloves and safety glasses
when changing a bulb. £
159
Fuses and light bulbs

Child safety
Side airbag 106
Child safety lock 25
Child seat Classification 106
ISOFIX 107
on the front passenger seat 105
Suitability 107
TOP TETHER 108
Chrome parts refer to Taking care of your vehicle 119
Cigarette lighter 53
Cleaning 117
Artificial leather 122
Headlight lenses 120
Material coverings 122
Materials 122
Natural leather 122
Plastic parts 119
Wheels 121
Climatronic Recirculated air mode 66
Clock 11
Clothes hooks 58
Cockpit 12-volt power socket 54
Ashtray 53
Cigarette lighter 53
General view 7
Light 38
Storage compartments 54
Compartments 54
Computer see Multifunction display 11
Coolant Checking 130
Replenishing 131
Temperature gauge 9
Warning light 19
Correct seated position 92
Counter for distance driven 10Cruise control system (CCS) 75
Cup holder front 52
rear 53
D
DAY LIGHT see Daytime running lights 35
Daytime running lights 35
Deactivating an airbag 103
Defrsoting rear window 39
Delayed locking of the boot lid see Boot lid 31
Diesel refer to Fuel 126
Diesel fuel Operation in winter 126
Diesel particulate filter 21
Digital clock 11
Dipstick 129
Display Coolant temperature 9
Fuel gauge 9
Service interval 10
Distance driven 10
Door Child safety lock 25
Doors Emergency locking 30
Driving Abroad 113
Driving through water on the street 114
Emissions 164
Fuel consumption 164
Maximum speed 167
E
Economical and environmentally friendly driving 110EDL 73
Electrical power windows Button in the driver's door 31, 32
Button in the rear door 32
Electronic differential lock 73
Electronic immobiliser 69
Emergency Automatic gearbox 82
Changing a wheel 146
Hazard warning light system 37
Jump-starting 152
locking of the doors 30
Selector lever-unlocking 83
Towing the vehicle 153
Tyre repair 149
Unlocking the boot lid 31
Emissions 164
Engine Running in 109
Starting engine 70
Switching off the engine 70
Engine compartment Brake fluid 132
Coolant 130
Overview 128
Vehicle battery 133
Engine oil Capacity 166
Changing 130
Checking 129
Replenishing 129
Specification 166
Warning light 18
Engine revolutions counter 9
Environment 110
Environmental compatibility 112
Environmentally friendly driving 110
ESC 72
Warning light 19
171
Index

F
Fire extinguisher 145
First-aid kit 145
Floor mats 74
Front airbag 100
Front seats 44
Fuel 124
Diesel 126
Fuel gauge 9
refer to Fuel 124
Refuelling 124
Unleaded petrol 125
Fuel consumption 110
Fuses Assignment 156
Replacing 156
G
Gear Recommended gear 11
General view Cockpit 7
Glow plug system – indicator light 21
GSM 84
H
Handbrake 72
HBA 72
Head airbag 102
Headlight cleaning system Headlight cleaning system 41
Headlights Driving abroad 113
Headlight cleaning system 41
Head restraint 46Heating 60
Defrosting windows 61
Exterior mirror 42
Rear window 39
Recirculated air mode 61
Seats 46
Heating rear window 39
HHC 72
Horn 7
I
Ignition 70
Ignition lock 70
Immobiliser 69
Information display see MAXI DOT 14
Instrument cluster 8
see Instrument cluster 8
Interior monitor 29
ISOFIX 107
J
Jacking points Raise vehicle 148
Jump-starting 152
L
Lever Main beam 36
Turn signal 36
Light Cockpit 38
Fog lights 35
Fog lights with the function CORNER 37
Hazard warning light system 37
Headlight flasher 36
Main beam 36
Parking light 34Rear fog light 35
Replacing bulbs 159
Turn signal 36
Lights Daytime running lights 35
Headlamp range adjustment 36
Low beam 34
Parking light 37
Parking light on both sides 37
Switching lights on and off 34
Warning lights 16
Loads 164
Lock Central locking system 27
Locking Emergency locking 30
Remote control 28
Locking and unlocking from the inside 27
M
MAXI DOT 14
Main menu 14
Settings 15
Maximum speed 167
MDI 90
Mirror Exterior mirror 42
Make-up 39
Manual dimming interior mirror 42
Mobile phone 84
Connecting to the hands-free system 86
Multifunction display Functions 11
Memory 12
Operation 12
Multimedia 89
172 Index