2012 SKODA ROOMSTER battery

WARNING (Continued)
■ If you notice that the lock is not properly engaged while driving, stop the ve-
hicle immediately and close the bonnet - risk of an accident!
■ Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
■ Do not touch any hot engine parts - risk of burns!
■ Never spill fluids on the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the antifreeze con-
tained in the coolant) may ignite!
■ Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the vehicle's
battery.
■ Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is still warm. The fan might
suddenly start running! ■ Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the en-
gine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
■ When opening the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir, cover it
with a cloth to protect your face, hands and arms from hot steam or hot cool-
ant.
■ Do not leave any items such as cloths or tools in the engine compartment.
■ If you wish to work under the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle from roll-
ing away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is not
sufficient for this - risk of injury!
■ If any inspection work has to be carried out when the engine is running,
there is an additional risk from rotating parts (e.g. V-belt, alternator, radiator
fan) and the high-voltage ignition system. The following must also be ob-
served: ■Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■ Always make sure that no jewellery, loose clothing or long hair can get
caught in rotating engine parts - hazard! Always remove any jewellery, tie
back long hair and wear tight fitting clothing before completing any work.
■ Additionally, the following warning instructions must be observed if work
has to be carried out on the fuel or electrical system. ■Always disconnect the vehicle battery from the electrical system.
■ Do not smoke.
■ Never work near open flames.
■ Always have a functioning fire extinguisher nearby. CAUTION
■ Always top up using the correct specification of fluids. This may result in major
operating problems and also vehicle damage!
■ Never open the bonnet using the locking lever - danger of causing damage. For the sake of the environment
In view of the environmentally friendly disposal of fluids, the specials tools and
knowledge required for such work, we recommend that fluids are changed by a
Škoda
Service Partner as part of the inspection service. Note
■ If you have any questions regarding the fluids, visit a
ŠKODA Service Partner.
■ Fluids with the correct specifications can be purchased from ŠKODA Original Ac-
cessories. Ð
137
Inspecting and replenishing

Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 113
Bonnet/radiator grille release lever: Release lever Fig. 114
Securing the bonnet with the
bonnet support
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 136.
Opening
› Pull the release lever under the dash panel 1
» Fig. 113.
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. 113 and the bon-
net is unlocked.
› Grab hold of the bonnet and lift.
› Take the bonnet support out of its holder and secure the opened bonnet by in-
serting the end of the support in the opening 3
» Fig. 114 designed for it.
ä Closing
› Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the bonnet sup-
port into the holder 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. 115
1.6 l/77 kW diesel engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 136.
Coolant expansion reservoir 141
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir 143
Engine oil filler opening 139
Engine oil dipstick 139
Brake fluid reservoir 142
Battery (below a cover) 143
Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and
diesel engines is practically identical. Ð
ä 1
2
3
4
5
6
138
General Maintenance

Windscreen washer system
Fig. 119
Engine compartment: Wind-
screen washer fluid reservoir
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 136.
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir contains the cleaning fluid for the wind-
screen or rear window and for the headlight cleaning system. The windscreen
washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment.
The capacity of the reservoir is about 3.5 litres or about 5.4
litres on vehicles that
have a headlight cleaning system.
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.
ä 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. Ð Vehicle battery
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Battery cover 145
Checking the battery electrolyte level 145
Operation in winter 145
Charging a vehicle battery 146
Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery 146
Replacing the vehicle battery 146
Automatic load deactivation 147
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. £
143
Inspecting and replenishing

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. ■ 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. WARNING (Continued)
■ 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. 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
144 General Maintenance

Battery cover
Fig. 120
Vehicle battery: Open up the
cover
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 143.
The battery is located in the engine compartment below a plastic box.
›
Push the lid in the direction of the arrow
» Fig. 120.
› The installation of the battery cover on the positive terminal side takes place in
the reverse order. ÐChecking the battery electrolyte level
Fig. 121
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 143.ä
ä 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 146.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, the so-called
magic eye » Fig. 121, 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 Operation in winter
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 143.
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.
Ð
ä
145
Inspecting and replenishing

Charging a vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 143.
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”.
“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 164, Jump-starting in vehicles with the

START-STOP
system . Ð
ä Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 143.
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
Electrical power window (operational faults) » page 35
Enter the radio/navigation system code num-
ber » User manual of the radio
or » user manual of the naviga-
tion system
Setting the clock » page 11
Data in the multifunction display are deleted. » page 12 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 143.
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.
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. Ð
ä
ä
146 General Maintenance

Automatic load deactivation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 143.
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
147
Inspecting and replenishing

Jump-starting
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Jump-starting 163
Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP system 164
The battery of another vehicle can be used to jump-start your vehicle if the en-
gine will not start because the battery is flat. Jump-start cables are required for
this purpose.
Both batteries must have a rated voltage of 12 V. The capacity (Ah) of the battery
supplying the power must not be significantly less than the capacity of the dis-
charged battery in your vehicle.
Jump-start cables
Only use jump-start cables which have an adequately large cross-section and in-
sulated terminal clamps. Observe the manufacturer's instructions.
Positive cable - colour coding in the majority of cases is red.
Negative cable - colour coding in the majority of cases is black. WARNING
■ A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures just below
0 °C. In case of frozen battery carry out no jump-starting - risk of explosion! ■ Pay attention to the warning instructions relating to working in the engine
compartment »
page 136, Engine compartment .
■ The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never make contact
with each other. In addition, the jump-start cable connected to the positive
terminal of the battery must not come into contact with electrically conduct-
ing parts of the vehicle - risk of short circuit!
■ Do not clamp the jump-start cable to the negative terminal of the dis-
charged battery. There is the risk of detonating gas seeping out the battery
being ignited by the strong spark which results from the engine being started.
■ Route the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any rotating
parts in the engine compartment.
■ Do not bend over the battery - risk of caustic burns!
■ The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly. WARNING (Continued)
■ Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering cigarettes, etc.)
away from the battery - risk of an explosion! ■ Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low -
risk of explosion and caustic burns. Note
■ There must not be any contact between the two vehicles otherwise current
may flow as soon as the negative terminals are connected. ■ The discharged battery must be properly connected to the system of the vehi-
cle. ■ We recommend you buy jump-start cables from a car battery specialist. Ð Jump-starting
Fig. 135
Jump-starting using the battery
from another vehicle: A - flat ve-
hicle battery, B - battery provid-
ing current
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 163.
The jump-start cables must be attached in the following sequence.
Connecting positive terminals
› Attach one end 1
»
Fig. 135
to the positive terminal of the discharged battery A
.
› Attach the other end 2
to the positive terminal of the battery supplying the
power B
.
Connecting negative terminal and engine block
› Attach one end 3
»
Fig. 135
to the negative terminal of the battery supplying
the power B
.
£
ä
163
Do-it-yourself