2013 SKODA RAPID tyre pressure

 do not continue to drive! Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and wait until
the  icon goes out – risk of gearbox damage! You can continue your journey as
soon as the symbol disappears.WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe dis- tance from the traffic, switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning
lights » page 44 . The warning triangle must be set up at the prescribed dis-
tance - observe the national legal provisions when doing so.
Note
■ If the MAXI DOT display shows warning messages, these messages must be
confirmed in order to access the main menu » page 22, Using the information
system .■
As long as the operational faults are not rectified, the symbols are always indi-
cated again. After they are displayed for the first time, the symbols continue to be
indicated without any extra messages for the driver.

Indicator lights
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 Handbrake
14
 Brake system
15
 Seat belt warning light
15
 Generator
15

Open door
15


Engine Oil
16
 
Coolant
16
 Power steering
17
 Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
17
 Traction Control System (ASR)
17

Antilock brake system (ABS)
18
 Rear fog light
18
 Bulb failure
18 Exhaust inspection system18 Glow plug system (diesel engine)18
 Engine performance check (petrol engine)
19
 Diesel particle filter (diesel engine)
19

Fuel reserve
19
 Airbag system
20
 Tyre inflation pressure
20
 Windscreen washer fluid level
20
  Turn signal system
20
 Fog lights
21
 Cruise control system
21

Selector lever lock
21
 Main beam
21
The indicator lights show the current status of certain functions/faults and may
be accompanied by audible signals.
WARNING■ Ignoring illuminated indicator lights and related messages or instructions in
the instrument cluster display may lead to serious personal injury or damage
to the vehicle.■
If you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe dis-
tance from the traffic, switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning
lights » page 44 . The warning triangle must be set up at the prescribed dis-
tance - observe the national legal provisions when doing so.
■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning notes must be followed at all times when working in the engine com-
partment » page 162 , Engine compartment .

 Handbrake
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 14.
The warning light 
comes on if the handbrake is applied.
An acoustic signal will sound if you drive the vehicle above 6 km/h for at least 3
seconds while the handbrake is applied. 
14Using the system

 Airbag systemFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 14.
If the warning light  lights up, there is a fault in the airbag system.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Error: Airbag
The operational capability of the airbag system is monitored electronically, includ-
ing when one of the airbags is switched off.
If a front, side or head airbag or belt tensioner has been switched off using thevehicle system tester:
› The indicator light

lights up for around 4 seconds after the ignition is switch-
ed on and then flashes for around 12 seconds.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Airbag/belt tensioner deactivated.
If the air bag was switched off using the key-operated switch on the side of the
dash panel on the passenger side:
› The indicator light

comes on for around 4 seconds after the ignition has been
switched on.
› Switched off airbags are indicated by the indicator light


in the 

 

logo lighting up in the middle of the dash panel » Fig. 123 on page 140.
WARNINGIf there is a fault, have the airbag system checked immediately by a specialist
garage. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated in the
event of an accident.

 Tyre inflation pressure
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 14.
The indicator light 
lights up , if there is a substantial drop in inflation pressure
in one of the tyres. Check and adjust the pressure in all tyres » page 175.
If the indicator light 
flashes , there is a fault in the system.
Seek assistance from a specialist garage immediately.
Further information » page 178, Tyre pressure monitor .
Note
If the vehicle battery has been disconnected and then reconnected, the indicator
light  comes on after switching on the ignition. If the indicator light does not go
out after moving a short distance, this means that there is an error in the system. Seek assistance from a specialist garage immediately.
 Windscreen washer fluid level
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 14.
If the windscreen washer fluid level is too low, the warning light 
comes on.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Top up wash fluid!
Top up with liquid » page 165, Windscreen washer system .

  Turn signal system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 14.
Either the left 
or right 
indicator light flashes depending on the position of
the operating lever.
If there is a fault in the turn signal system, the indicator light flashes at twice its
normal rate.
Switching off the hazard warning light system is switched on will cause all of the
turn signal lights as well as both warning lights to flash.
Further information » page 43, Turn signal and main beam .

20Using the system

In the event of an accident, even small and light objects gain so much kinetic en-
ergy that they can cause severe injuries.
The magnitude of the kinetic energy is dependent on the speed at which the ve-
hicle is travelling and the weight of the object.
Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an object with a
weight of 4.5 kg produces an energy, which corresponds to 20 times its own
weight. This means that it results in a weight of approx. 90 kg “ ”.
Luggage compartment light
The light comes on automatically when the boot lid is opened. If the lid remains open for more than 10 minutes, the boot light switches off automatically.WARNING■ Store the objects in the boot and attach them to the lashing eyes.■Loose objects can be thrown forward during a sudden manoeuvre or in case
of an accident and can injure the occupants or other road users.■
Loose objects could hit a deployed airbag and injure occupants – danger of
death!
■
Please note that transporting heavy objects alters the handling properties
of the vehicle due to the displacement of the centre of gravity – risk of acci-
dent! The speed and style of driving must be adjusted accordingly.
■
If the items of luggage or objects are attached to the lashing eyes with un-
suitable or damaged lashing straps, injuries can occur in the event of braking manoeuvres or accidents. To prevent items of luggage from moving around,
always use suitable lashing straps that are firmly attached to the lashing eyes.
■
The transported items must be stowed in such a way that no objects are
able to slip forward on sudden driving or braking manoeuvres – risk of injury!
■
When transporting objects in the luggage compartment that has been en-
larged by folding the rear seats forward, ensure the safety of the passengers
transported on the other rear seats » page 128, Correct seated position for
the passengers in the rear seats .
■
If the rear seat next to the folded forward seat is occupied, ensure maxi-
mum safety, e.g. by placing the goods to be transported in such a way that the
seat is prevented from folding back in case of a rear collision.
■
Do not drive with the luggage compartment lid open or unlatched, other-
wise exhaust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle – risk of poisoning!
■
Do not exceed the permissible axle loads and permissible gross weight of
the vehicle – risk of accident!
■
Do not transport people in the boot!
CAUTIONPlease ensure that the heating elements for the rear window heater are not dam-
aged as a result of abrasive objects.
Note
Tyre pressure must be adjusted to the load » page 176, Service life of tyres .
Class N1 vehicles
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 64.
In class N1 vehicles that are not fitted with a protective grille, a lashing set that
complies with the EN 12195 standard (1-4) must be used for fastening the load.
Proper functioning of the electrical installation is essential for safe vehicle opera- tion. It is important to ensure that the electrical installation is not damaged dur-ing the adjustment process or when the storage area is being loaded and unloa-
ded.

Fastening elements
Fig. 59
Lashing eyes and fastening ele-
ments
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 64.
The following fastening elements are located in the boot » Fig. 59.
Lashing eyes for fastening items of luggage and fixing nets.
Fastening element and eyelet only for fastening fixing nets » page 66.
AB65Seats and useful equipment

On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, at the very latest shift up into the nextgear when the red area is reached. Observe the recommended gear » page 24,
Gear recommendation . Very high engine speeds when accelerating (accelerator)
are automatically restricted »
.
In vehicles with manual transmission, do not drive at unnecessarily low engine
speeds. Shift down a gear when the engine is no longer running smoothly. Ob-
serve the recommended gear » page 24, Gear recommendation .
CAUTION
■
The engine is not protected from excessive engine revs caused by shifting
down at the wrong time. This can result in a sudden increase in revs beyond the
permissible maximum rpm, thereby causing engine damage.■
Never rev up a cold engine when the vehicle is stationary or when driving in in-
dividual gears.
For the sake of the environment
Do not drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds. Shifting up sooner helps save
fuel, reduces engine noise and protects the environment.
New tyres
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 104.
New tyres must firstly be “run in”, as they do not offer optimal grip at first. There-fore, drive with special care for the first 500 km or so.

New brake pads
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 104.
New brake pads do not initially provide optimal braking performance. They firstneed to be “run in”. Therefore, drive with special care for the first 200 km or so.

Economical driving and environmental sustainability
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Looking ahead
106
Economical gear changing
106
Avoiding full throttle
106
Reducing idling
106
Avoiding short distances
107
Checking tyre inflation pressure
107
Avoiding unnecessary ballast
107
Regular maintenance
107
Saving electrical energy
108
Environmental compatibility
108
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 tomake best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution and the wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depend essentially on the following three factors:
› your personal driving style.
› operating conditions.
› technical requirements.
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, weather and driving style.
Such an engine speed should be adhered to when accelerating, in order to avoid a
high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle. 
105Starting-off and Driving

In vehicles not equipped with the START-STOP system, turn off the engine when
in a traffic jam, at a level crossing or traffic lights with longer wait times.
Even after just 30 – 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel than that is needed
when you start the engine up again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly
high in the warming-up phase. Therefore, start driving as soon as the engine has
started, though high engine speeds should be avoided.
Avoiding short distances
Fig. 98
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in l/100 km at different tem-
peratures
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 105.
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption. We therefore
recommend avoiding distances of less than 4 km if the engine is cold.
A cold engine consumes the most fuel immediately after the start. Fuel consump-tion drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The consumption stabilises
once the engine and catalytic converter have reached their operating tempera- ture.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The im-
age » Fig. 98 shows the different levels of fuel consumption after driving a cer-
tain distance at a temperature of +20 °C and at a temperature of -10 °C.
The vehicle has a higher fuel consumption in winter than in summer.

Checking tyre inflation pressure
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 105.
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure the tyre inflation pressure is correct. If the inflation pressure is too
low, the tyres will have to overcome a higher rolling resistance. This will not only increase fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will wor-
sen.
Always check the tyre inflation pressure when the tyres are cold.

Avoiding unnecessary ballast
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 105.
Transporting ballast costs fuel.
Each kilogramme of weight increases the fuel consumption. Therefore, we rec-
ommend to carry no unnecessary weight.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the ve-
hicle weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of
thumb here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase in fuel consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
At a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, your vehicle that is fitted with a roof rack crossmember without a load will use use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the
increased aerodynamic drag.

Regular maintenance
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 105.
A poorly tuned engine uses an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.
By having your vehicle regularly maintained by a specialist garage, you create the conditions needed for economical driving. The maintenance state of your vehicle has a positive effect on traffic safety and value retention 
107Starting-off and Driving

Always check the tow bar before hitching a trailer. Apply suitable grease where
necessary.
Use the protective cover when stowing away the tow bar, in order to stop the
boot from getting dirty.
In the event of dirt, clean the surfaces of the mounting recess and treat with a
suitable preservative.
CAUTION
Apply grease to the upper part of the mounting recess. Make sure you do not re-
move any grease.
Trailer
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Loading a trailer
123
Driving with a trailer
124
Anti-theft alarm system
125WARNINGAlways drive particularly carefully with the trailer.

Loading a trailer
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 123.
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 176,
Service life of tyres .
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan- ces » page 207 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the vehicle's climbing pow-
er. Therefore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum per-
missible towed weight must be reduced by 10%.
The towed weight is made up of the actual weights of the loaded towing vehicle
and the loaded trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device is
merely a test value for the towing device. The vehicle-specific values are detailed
in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the
maximum permissible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer –
risk of accident and serious injury!■
Slipping loads can significantly impair the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination – risk of accident and serious injury!

123Towing a trailer

Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Safety equipment
126
Before setting off
126
What influences the driving safety?
127
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the subject
of passive safety in your vehicle.
We have combined everything here which you should be familiar with, for exam- ple, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and safety of children.
WARNING■ This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants.■
You can find further information on safety concerning you and those travel-
ling with you in the following chapters of this owner's manual.
■
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This ap-
plies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.

Safety equipment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 126.
The following list contains only part of the safety equipment in your vehicle.
› Three-point seat belts for all the seats.
› Belt force limiters for the front seats.
› Belt tensioners for the front seats.
› Seat belt height adjusters for the front seats.
› Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger.
› Side airbags.
› Head airbags.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the ISOFIX system.
› Anchoring points for child seats using the TOP TETHER system.
› Head restraints adjustable for height 1)
.
› Adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally protect you and those travelling with you in accident situations.
The safety equipment does not protect you or the people travelling with you, if
you or your occupants adopt an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not
correctly adjusted or used.
If the seat belt is not fastened properly, this may result in injuries if an airbag is
activated in the event of an accident.

Before setting off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 126.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please pay
attention to the following points before setting off.
› Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.
› Check the tyre inflation pressure.
› Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
› Secure all items of luggage
» page 64.
› Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.


1)
Not valid for sports seat.
126Safety

Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Service life of tyres
176
New tyres
177
Unidirectional tyres
178
Tyre pressure monitor
178
Spare wheel
179
Full wheel trim
180
Wheel bolts
180
Wheel bolts
180WARNING■ The national legal regulations must be observed for the use of tyres.■Observe the national legal regulations relating to the use of snow chains
and the maximum vehicle speed with snow chains.WARNINGThe following instructions for the use of tyres must be observed.■For the first 500 km, new tyres do not yet provide optimum grip, and appro-
priate care should therefore be taken when driving – risk of accident!■
Only use radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
■
For reasons of driving safety, do not replace tyres individually.
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible load bearing capacity for fitted
tyres – risk of accident!
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible speed for fitted tyres – risk of acci-
dent!
■
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNING (Continued)■ 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 re-
duce your speed and stop! If no external damage is evident, drive slowly and
carefully to the nearest specialist garage to have the vehicle checked.■
Only use tyres or wheel rims that have been approved by ŠKODA for your
model of vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction may impair the road safety
of your vehicle – risk of accident!
WARNINGObserve the following information regarding tyre damage and wear.■Never use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age.■
Never drive with damaged tyres – risk of accident!
■
Immediately replace damaged wheel rims or tyres.
■
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn down.
■
Worn tyres impair necessary adhesion to the road surface, particularly at
high speeds on wet roads. This could lead to “aquaplaning” (uncontrolled ve- hicle movement – “swimming” on a wet road surface).
WARNINGObserve the following information regarding the tyre inflation pressure.■The tyre control display does not absolve the driver of the responsibility to
ensure the correct tyre inflation pressure. Check the tyre inflation pressure at
regular intervals.■
Insufficient or excessive inflation pressure impairs handling – risk of acci-
dent!
■
If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre will have to overcome a higher
rolling resistance. This will cause a significant increase in the temperature of
the tyre, especially at higher speeds. This can result in tread separation and a
tyre blowout. 
175Wheels