2012 SKODA SUPERB battery

Changing the brake fluid
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 176.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Over time it therefore absorbs moisture from the
environment. Excessive water in the brake fluid may be the cause of corrosion in
the brake system. The water content also lowers the boiling point of the brake
fluid.
The brake fluid must comply with the following standards or specifications:
› VW 50114;
› FMVSS 116 DOT4. WARNING
Using old brake fluid can result in severe stress on the brakes because of the
formation of vapour bubbles in the brake system. This greatly impairs the
braking efficiency and thus also the safety of your vehicle. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle. ÐWindscreen washer system
Fig. 161
Engine compartment: Wind-
screen washer fluid reservoir
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 176.ä
ä
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 litres or about 5.5
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. 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 184
Checking the battery electrolyte level 185
Operation in winter 185
£
182 General Maintenance

Charging a vehicle battery 185
Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery 186
Replacing the vehicle battery 186
Automatic load deactivation 186
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. Battery acid corrodes 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
development 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. £
183
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 Battery cover
Fig. 162
Engine compartment: Polyester cover of the vehicle battery/plastic
cover of the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.
The battery is located in the engine compartment in a polyester cover
1
» Fig. 162, in a plastic cover 2
»
Fig. 162
or in the left side of the
boot » Fig. 102 on page 90.
Battery in the engine compartment
› Open the battery cover in the direction of the arrow 1
or press the interlock on
the side of the battery cover in the direction of the arrow 2
» Fig. 162, fold the
cover up and remove.
› The battery cover is installed in reverse order.
Battery in the boot
› Open the compartment with the symbol
 by turning the locks e.g with a coin
or flat screwdriver in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 102 on page 90

.
When working on the battery, the edge of the polyester battery cover 1
» Fig. 162 is inserted between the battery and the side wall of the battery cov-
er. Ð
ä
184 General Maintenance

Checking the battery electrolyte level
Fig. 163
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.
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 185.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, the so-called
magic eye » Fig. 163, 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 Operation in winter
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.
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 Charging a vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.
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
185
Inspecting and replenishing

“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 204, Jump-starting in vehicles with the

START-STOP
system . ÐDisconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.
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 43
Panoramic sliding roof (operational faults) » page 46
Enter the radio/navigation system code num-
ber » User manual of the radio
or »
user manual of the navigation
system
Setting the clock » page 11
Data in the multifunction display are deleted. » page 12Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a ŠKODA Service Partner to ensure
the full functionality of all electrical systems. ÐReplacing the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.ä
ä 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 Automatic load deactivation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 182.
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. Ð ä
186 General Maintenance

Inflating
›
Screw the tyre inflation hose 5
» Fig. 177
on page 201 of the air compressor
firmly onto the tyre valve.
› Check that the air release valve 7
is closed.
› Start the engine and run it in idle.
› Plug the connector 9
into 12 Volt socket »
page 84, Cigarette lighter, 12-volt
power socket.
› Switch on the air compressor with the ON and OFF switch 8
.
› Allow the air compressor to run until a pressure of 2.0 - 2.5 bar is achieved.
Maximum run time of 8 minutes » !
› Switch off the air compressor.
› If you cannot reach an air pressure of 2.0 – 2.5 bar, unscrew the tyre inflation
hose 5
from the tyre valve.
› Drive the vehicle 10 metres forwards or backwards to allow the sealing agent to
“distribute” in the tyre.
› Firmly screw the tyre inflation hose 5
back onto the tyre valve and repeat the
inflation process.
› If you cannot reach the required tyre inflation pressure here either, this means
the tyre has sustained too much damage. You cannot seal with tyre with the
breakdown kit » .
› Switch off the air compressor.
› Remove the tyre inflation hose 5
from the tyre valve.
Once a tyre inflation pressure of 2.0

– 2.5 bar is achieved, continue the journey at
a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
Check the tyre inflation pressure after driving for 10 minutes » page 202.WARNING
■ During inflation, the tyre inflation hose and air compressor may get hot- risk
of injury! ■ Do not place the hot tyre inflation hose or hot air compressor on flammable
materials - risk of fire!
■ If you cannot inflate the tyre to at least 2.0 bar, this means the damage sus-
tained was too serious. The sealing agent cannot be used to seal the tyre. Do
not drive the vehicle. Get professional assistance! CAUTION
Switch off the air compressor after running 8 minutes at the latest - danger of
overheating! Allow the air compressor to cool a few minutes before switching it
on again. Ð Check after driving for 10 minutes
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 200.
Check the tyre inflation pressure after driving for 10 minutes!
If the tyre inflation pressure is 1.3 bar or less:
›  Do not drive the vehicle!
You cannot properly seal with tyre with the break-
down kit.
› Get professional assistance.
If the tyre inflation pressure is 1.3 bar or more:
› Adjust the tyre inflation pressure to the correct value (see inside of fuel filler
cap).
› Continue driving carefully to the nearest ŠKODA specialist garage at a maxi-
mum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Ð Jump-starting
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Jump-starting 203
Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP system 204
Jump-starting vehicles with the vehicle battery in the boot 204
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. £
ä
202 Do-it-yourself

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 176, 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.
■ 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. 178
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 202.
The jump-start cables must be attached in the following sequence:
Connecting positive terminals
› Attach one end 1
» Fig. 178
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. 178
to the negative terminal of the battery supplying
the power B
.
› Attach the other end 4
to a solid metal part which is connected firmly to the
engine block, or to the engine block itself.
Starting engine
› Start the engine on the vehicle providing the power and allow it to idle.
› Now start the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
› If the engine does not start, terminate the attempt to start the engine after
10 seconds and wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the process.
› Disconnect the cables in exactly the
reverse order to the one described above. Ð
ä
203
Do-it-yourself

Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP system
Fig. 179
Jump-starting - START-STOP
system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 202.
On vehicles with the START-STOP system, the jump-start cable of the charger
must never be connected directly to the negative pole of the vehicle battery, but
only to the engine earth
» Fig. 179. ÐJump-starting vehicles with the vehicle battery in the boot
Fig. 180
Detail of the engine compart-
ment: Jump-starting point
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 202.
On vehicles with the vehicle battery in the boot, the positive terminal of the bat-
tery supplying the power can only be connected to the jump-starting point in the
engine compartment of the vehicle being started by means of a jump-start ca-
ble » Fig. 180!
›
Open the protective cap of the jump-starting point in the direction of the arrow.
ä
ä ›
Connect the positive terminal of the battery supplying the power with the
jump-starting point.
› Attach the negative terminal of the battery supplying the power to a solid met-
al part firmly connected to the engine block or to the engine block itself.
› Start the engine.
› After starting the engine, close the protective cap of the jump-starting point. Ð Towing the vehicle
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Front towing eye 205
Rear towing eye 206
Vehicles a towing device 206
Vehicles with manual transmission can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope
or with the front or rear wheels raised.
Vehicles with automatic transmission can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow
rope or with the front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic
gearbox is damaged!
A tow bar is the safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimises any shocks.
Only use a tow rope if a suitable tow bar is not available.
When towing, the following guidelines must be observed.
Driver of the tow vehicle
› Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off or depress the accelera-
tor particularly gently if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
› On vehicles with a manual transmission, only push down on the accelerator
pedal once the rope is taught.
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
Driver of the towed vehicle
› Switch on the ignition so that the steering wheel is not blocked and so that the
turn signal lights, horn, windscreen wipers and windscreen washer system can
be switched on.
› Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position
N if the
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox. £
204 Do-it-yourself