2013 SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK service

CAUTION■Do not continue your journey if the fluid level has dropped below the “MIN”
marking » Fig. 127 on page 138 ,  do not continue to drive - risk of accidents!
Seek help from a specialist garage.■
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
Note
■ The brake fluid is changed as part of a compulsory inspection service.■We recommend using brake fluids from the ŠKODA Original Accessories
range.
Checking the brake fluid level
Fig. 127
Engine compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir
Read and observe and on page 137 first.
The fluid can be checked if the following conditions are met.
The vehicle is standing on a horizontal surface.
The engine is turned off.
The bonnet is open.
Checking the level
›
Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir » Fig. 127.
The level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-
tear and automatic adjustment of the brake pads.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid
level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” mark-
ing.
Too low brake fluid level is indicated by the warning light lighting up in the
instrument cluster as well as the relevant notification being dis-
played » page 31 , 
Brake system .
Specification
Read and observe
and on page 137 first.
The brake fluid must comply with the following standards or specifications:› VW 50114;
› FMVSS 116 DOT4.
Vehicle battery

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening the cover
139
Checking the battery electrolyte level
140
Charging
140
Replacing
141
Disconnecting and reconnecting
141
Automatic load deactivation
141
The vehicle battery represents a power source for the motor to start and for
the supply of electrical consumers in the car.
Warning symbols on the vehicle battery
SymbolMeaningAlways wear eye protection!Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye pro-
tection!Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the
vehicle battery!When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture
is produced!Keep children away from the vehicle battery! 138General Maintenance

Checking the battery electrolyte levelFig. 129
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
Read and observe and on page 139 first.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, » Fig. 129the
colouring of the display can indicate the acidic level.
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.
Vehicles with a START-STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for
checking the energy level for the recurring engine start.
We recommend that you have the acid level checked regularly by a specialist garage, especially in the following cases.
› High external temperatures.
› Longer day trips.
› After each charge.
Winter time
The vehicle battery only has a proportion of the starting power in lower tem-
peratures. 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,
recharged by a specialist garage before the start of the winter.
Note■ The battery acid level is also checked regularly by a specialist garage as part
of the inspection service.■
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description “AGM”, the electrolyte
level cannot be checked.
Charging
Read and observe
and on page 139 first.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.
A charging operation can be performed if the following conditions are satis-
fied.
The engine is turned off.
The ignition is switched off.
All consumers are turned off.
The bonnet is open.
“Fast charging” with high currents
›
Disconnect both battery cables (first of all “negative”, then “positive”).
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red =
“positive”, black = “negative”).
›
Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch on the
device.
›
After charging has been successful: Switch off the charger and remove the
mains cable from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery (first “positive”, then “negative”).
Charging with low voltages
It is not necessary to disconnect the cables from the battery if you recharge
the vehicle battery, 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 low-
er) must be used until full charging is achieved.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging. 
140General Maintenance

CAUTION■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 longer parking.■
Consumers that are supplied via a 12-V power socket can cause the vehicle
battery to discharge when the ignition is switched off.
Note
Driving comfort is not impaired by consumers being deactivated. The driver is
often not aware of it having taken place.Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Service life of tyres
143
New tyres
144
Unidirectional tyres
145WARNINGThe national legal regulations must be observed for the use of tyres.WARNINGInstructions for the use of tyres■For the first 500 km, new tyres do not yet provide optimum grip, and ap-
propriate 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 of moun-
ted tyres.
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible speed for the mounted tyres.
■
An incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling.
■
Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of
tyre damage. If there is any suspicion that a wheel is damaged, immediately
reduce 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 will adversely affect the
road safety of your vehicle.
WARNINGInformation regarding tyre damage or wear■Never use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age.■
Never drive with damaged tyres.
■
Immediately replace damaged wheel rims or tyres. 
142General Maintenance

WARNING (Continued)■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
vehicle movement – “swimming” on a wet road surface).
CAUTION
■ Protect the tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.■Replace lost valve caps.■
If, in the event of a puncture, it is necessary to fit a spare wheel with a tyre
without a dedicated running direction or with the opposite direction of rota-
tion, drive carefully as the optimal characteristics of the tyre are no longer ap-
plicable in this situation.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres that are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Note
■ We recommend that any works on the wheels or tyres be carried out by a
specialist garage.■
We recommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow
chains from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Service life of tyres
Fig. 130
Principle illustration: Replace tyre tread with wear indicators /
wheels
Fig. 131
Open the fuel filler flap with a table of tyre sizes and tyre pres-
sures / inflate tyres
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
The service life of tyres depends on the inflation pressure, driving style and
other circumstances.
Sticker with prescribed tyre inflation pressure values » Fig. 131
Position of the CNG label
Standard filling for half load
Comfort inflation pressure for half load 1)
Standard filling pressure for a full load
Following the advice below can extend the service life of your tyres.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a
month and also before setting off on a long journey.
The sticker with prescribed tyre inflation filling values is located on the inside
of the tank flap
A
» Fig. 131 .
In some vehicles, the tyre pressure can be adjusted to the comfort inflation
pressure value » Fig. 131
C
and a higher driving comfort can therefore be ach-
ieved.
With comfort inflation pressure, the fuel consumption can rise slightly.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle
at all times. 
ABCD1)
Valid for some vehicles.
143Wheels

Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
higher pressure on warm tyres.
With greater additional load, adjust the tyre inflation pressure accordingly.
Driving style
Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking increase the wear of your tyres.
Balancing wheels
The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. When driving, however, there are a
range of factors that may result in an imbalance. This may become apparent by
a “vibration” in the steering.
Have the wheels re-balanced after replacing the tyres.
Wheel alignment errors
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear leads to excess wear of the
tyres.
Tyre damage
Drive over kerbs and other such obstacles slowly and at right angles wherever
possible in order to avoid damage to tyres and wheel trims.
We recommend checking your tyres and wheel rims for damage (punctures,
cuts, splits and bulges, etc.) on a regular basis. Remove foreign bodies (e.g.
small stones) from the tyre tread immediately.
Replacing wheels
If significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend
swapping the front wheels with the rear wheels as shown in the dia-
gram » Fig. 130 -
 . You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the
tyres.
We recommend that you swap the tyres every 10,000 km in order to achieve
even wear on all tyres and to ensure optimal service life for the tyres.
Storing tyres
Identify disassembled tyres so that the previous direction of rotation can be maintained if the tyres are reassembled.
Always store wheels or tyres in a cool, dry place that is as dark as possible.
Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored upright.Wear indicators
The base of the tread of the tyres has 1.6 mm high wear indicators installed.
These wear indicators are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tyre,
depending on the make » Fig. 130- 
. Markings on the walls of the tyres
through the letters “TWI”, triangular symbols or other symbols identify the po-
sition of the wear indicators.
Tyre age
Tyres age and lose their original characteristics, even if they are not being
used. Therefore, we recommend not using summer or winter tyres older than 6
or 4 years old respectively.
New tyres
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Only use radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and tread
pattern on one axle on all four wheels.
The tyre/wheel combinations which are approved for your vehicle are indica-
ted in your vehicle documents.
Where possible, replace tyres by axle. Always fit the tyres with the deeper
tread depth to the front wheels.
Explanation of tyre markings
195/55 R 15 85 H
What this means is:
195Tyre width in mm » Fig. 131 on page 14365Height/width ratio in % » Fig. 131 on page 143RCode letter for the type of tyre – Radial » Fig. 131 on page 14315Diameter of wheel in inches » Fig. 131 on page 14385Load index » HSpeed symbol »
The date of manufacture is stated on the tyre wall (possibly on the inside). e.g.
DOT ... 11 14...
means, for example, that the tyre was manufactured in the week 11 of 2014. 
144General Maintenance

Removing/installing the towing eye›Manually screw the towing eye as far as it will go in the direction of the ar-
row 2
» Fig. 146 » .
For tightening purposes, we recommend, for example, using the wheel
wrench, towing eye from another vehicle or a similar object that can be pushed through the eye.
›
Unscrew the towing eye against the direction of the arrow
2
.
WARNINGThe towing eye must always be screwed in fully and firmly tightened, oth-
erwise the towing eye can tear when towing or tow-starting.
Rear towing eye
Fig. 147
Rear towing eye
Read and observe and on page 159 first.
The rear towing eye is located below the bumper on the right.
Remove the protective cap before using the towing eye. » Fig. 147. Replace the
protective cap after using the towing eye.
Vehicles with a tow hitch
Read and observe
and on page 159 first.
For vehicles with a factory-fitted towing device, the pre-installed detachable
tow-bar may be used » page 112, Hitch .
Towing the vehicle using the towing device is a viable alternative solution to using the towing eye.
CAUTIONThe detachable ball rod and/or the vehicle can be damaged if an unsuitable
tow bar is used.
Note
The detachable ball rod must always be in the vehicle so that it can be used for
towing, if necessary.
Remote control
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Replacing the battery in the remote control key
161
Synchronising the remote control
161
CAUTION
■ The replacement battery must have the same specification as the original
battery.■
We recommend having faulty rechargeable batteries replaced by a ŠKODA
service partner.
■
Pay attention to the correct polarity when changing the battery.
For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the used battery in accordance with national legal provisions.160Do-it-yourself

Unlocking the tailgateFig. 150
Emergency unlocking of the boot
lid
The luggage compartment lid can be unlocked manually if there is a fault in
the central locking system.
Unlocking
›
Fold the rear seat backrest forward » page 67.
›
Insert the vehicle key into the slot in the trim panel as far as it
goes » Fig. 150 .
›
Unlock the lid by moving it in the direction of the arrow.
›
Open the boot lid.
Selector lever-emergency unlocking
Fig. 151
Selector lever-emergency un-
locking
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Carefully pull up the front left and right cover.
›
Pull up rear cover.
›
Press the yellow plastic part in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 151 using your
finger.
›
At the same time, press the locking button in the selector lever and move the selector lever to position N.
If the selector lever is moved again to position P, it is once again blocked.
Replacing windscreen wiper blades
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Replacing the front windscreen wiper blades
162
Replacing the rear window glass wiper blades
163WARNINGReplace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for safety rea-
sons. These can be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.
Replacing the front windscreen wiper blades
Fig. 152
Windscreen wiper blade
Read and observe on page 162 first.
Before replacing the windscreen wiper blade, put the windscreen wiper arms
into the service position.
Service position for changing wiper blades
›
Close the bonnet.
›
Switch the ignition off and on again.
›
Place the operating lever in position
4
» Fig. 46 on page 61 .
Move the windscreen wiper arms into the service position.
Removing the wiper blade
›
Lift the wiper arm from the window in the direction of
1
» Fig. 152 .
›
Tilt the wiper blade to the stop in the same direction.
›
Hold the windscreen wiper arm at the top end.
›
Press the locking button
A
and remove the wiper blade in the direction of
arrow
2
. 
162Do-it-yourself

Technical data
Technical data
Vehicle data
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle characteristics
172
Operating weight and payload
172
Measurement of fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions according to ECE
Regulations and EU Directives
173
Dimensions
174
Angle
175
Vehicle-specific details per engine type
176
The details given in the vehicle's technical documentation always take prece-
dence over the details in the Owner's Manual.
The listed performance values were determined without performance-reduc- ing equipment, e.g. air conditioning system.
Vehicle characteristics
Fig. 169
Vehicle data sticker/type plate
Vehicle data sticker
The vehicle data sticker » Fig. 169 -
 is located on the base of the luggage
compartment and is also stuck into the service schedule.
The vehicle data sticker contains the following data.
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Vehicle type
Gearbox code/paint number/interior equipment/engine output/engine
code
Partial vehicle description
Type plate
The type plate » Fig. 169 - 
is located at the bottom of the B-pillar on the
driver's side.
The type plate contains the following data. Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Maximum permissible gross weight
Maximum permissible towed weight (towing vehicle and trailer)
Maximum permissible front axle load
Maximum permissible rear axle load
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
The vehicle identification number - VIN (vehicle body number) is stamped into
the engine compartment on the right hand suspension strut dome. This num-
ber is also located on a sign on the lower left hand edge below the windscreen
(together with a VIN bar code), and on the type plate.
Engine number
The engine number (three-digit identifier and serial number) is stamped on the engine block.WARNINGDo not exceed the specified maximum permissible weights – risk of acci-
dent and damage!
Operating weight and payload
Operating weight
This value represents the minimum operating weight without additional
weight-increasing equipment such as air conditioning system, spare wheel, or
trailer hitch.
The specified operating weight is for orientation purposes only. 
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