2013 SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK engine

WARNINGInstructions before beginning work in the engine compartment■Turn off the engine and withdraw the ignition key.■
Firmly apply the handbrake.
■
For vehicles with manual transmission the lever into the neutral position.
■
On vehicles with automatic transmission, shift the selector lever into the
P position.
■
Allow the engine to cool.
■
Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant escaping from the
engine compartment – risk of scalding! Wait until no more steam or coolant
is escaping.
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine compartment■Keep all people, especially children, away from the engine compartment.■
Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is still warm. The fan might
suddenly start running!
■
Do not touch any hot engine parts – risk of burns!
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine compartment with the engine run-
ning■
Pay particular attention to moving engine parts, e.g. V-ribbed belt, gener-
ator, radiator fan - danger to life!
■
Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system – particularly on the vehicle's
battery.
■
Always make sure that no jewellery, loose clothing or long hair can get
caught in rotating engine parts – risk to life! Always remove any jewellery,
tie back long hair and wear tight fitting clothing before completing any
work.
WARNINGInformation for working on the fuel system or the 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.
WARNING■ Read and observe the information and warning instructions on the fluid
containers.■
Keep the working fluids in sealed original containers and safe from peo-
ple who are not completely independent, e.g. children.
■
Never spill operating fluids over the hot engine - risk of fire.
■
If you intend to work underneath the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle
from rolling away and support it with suitable supporting blocks; the car
jack is not sufficient – risk of injury!
CAUTION
Always top up using the correct specification of fluids. This may result in major
operating problems and also vehicle damage!
For the sake of the environment
In view of the requirements for the environmentally friendly disposal of fluids and the special tools and knowledge required for such work, we recommend
that fluids be changed by a specialist garage.
Note
■ Please consult a specialist garage for any questions relating to fluids.■Fluids with the proper specifications can be purchased from the ŠKODA Origi-
nal Accessories or from the ŠKODA Genuine Parts ranges.
Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 121
Bonnet release lever / release lever 
132General Maintenance

Fig. 122
Securing the bonnet
Read and observe
and on page 131 first.
Open flap
›
Open the front door.
›
Pull the release lever underneath the dash panel in the direction of the ar-
row
1
» Fig. 121 .
Before opening the bonnet, ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers
are correctly in place against the windscreen, otherwise the paintwork on the
flap could be damaged.
›
Press the release lever in the direction of the arrow
2
and the flap is un-
locked.
›
Grab hold of the bonnet and lift.
›
Take the bonnet support out of its holder
3
in the direction of the ar-
row » Fig. 122 and secure the opened bonnet by inserting the end of the sup-
port in the opening
4
.
Close the flap
›
Lift the bonnet.
›
Decouple the bonnet support and press 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 !
WARNING■
Check that the bonnet is closed properly.■If you notice that the lock is not properly engaged while driving, stop the
vehicle immediately and close the bonnet – risk of accident!■
Make sure that when closing the boot lid, no body parts are crushed -
there is danger of injury!
CAUTIONNever open the bonnet by the locking lever » Fig. 121.
Engine compartment overview
Fig. 123
Principle illustration: Engine compartment
Read and observe
and on page 131 first.
Arrangement in the engine compartment » Fig. 123
Coolant expansion reservoir
137
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
134
Engine oil filler opening
136
Engine oil dipstick
135
Brake fluid reservoir
138
Vehicle battery
138
Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and
diesel engines is practically identical.
Radiator fan
Read and observe
and on page 131 first.
The radiator fan is powered by an electric motor. Operation is controlled ac-
cording to the temperature of the coolant. 
123456133Inspecting and replenishing

WARNINGAfter switching off the ignition, the fan may intermittently continue to op-
erate for approx. 10 minutes.
Windscreen washer system
Fig. 124
Engine compartment: Wind-
screen washer fluid reservoir
Read and observe and on page 131 first.
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine compart-
ment » Fig. 124 .
The cleaning fluid is provided for the cleaning of the front and rear window as
well as the headlight.
The capacity of the reservoir is about 3.5 litres or about 5.4 litres on vehicles
that have a headlight cleaning system 1)
.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and head-
lights. We recommend using clean water together with a screen cleaner from
the range of ŠKODA Original Accessories (with anti-freeze in winter), which
will remove any stubborn dirt.
In Winter, the washing water should always be mixed with anti-freeze even if
the vehicle has heated windscreen washer nozzles.
Under exceptional circumstances, methylated spirits can also be used if no
screen cleaner with anti-freeze is available. The concentration of methylated
spirits must not be more than 15 %. The anti-freeze protection at this concen-
tration is sufficient only to -5 °C.
CAUTION■ Under no circumstances must radiator anti-freeze or other additives be add-
ed to the windscreen washer fluid.■
If the vehicle is fitted with a headlight cleaning system, only cleaning prod-
ucts which do not attack the polycarbonate coating of the headlights must be
added to the windscreen washer fluid.
■
Do not remove the filter from the windscreen washer fluid reservoir when re-
filling, as this may cause contamination of the liquid transportation system,
leading in turn to a windscreen washer system malfunction.
Engine oil
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Specification
135
Checking the oil level
135
Replenishing
136
The engine has been factory-filled with a high-grade oil that can be use
throughout the year - except in extreme climate zones.
The engine oils are undergoing continuous further development. Thus the in- formation stated in this Owner's Manual is only correct at the time of publica-
tion.
ŠKODA Service Partners are informed about the latest changes by the manu-
facturer. We therefore recommend that the oil change be completed by a
ŠKODA Service Partner.
The specifications (VW standards) stated in the following can be indicated sep-
arately or together with other specifications on the bottle.
The engine oil should be changed after specified service intervals » page 43.
WARNINGThe engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en-
gine compartment » page 131. 1)
In some countries, 5.4 l. applies for both variants.
134General Maintenance

CAUTIONDo not pour any additives into the engine oil – risk of serious damage to the
engine parts!
Note
■ Before a long drive we recommend that you purchase and carry with you en-
gine oil which complies with the specification for your vehicle.■
We recommend that you use oils from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
■
If your skin has come into contact with oil, it must be washed thoroughly.
Specification
Read and observe
and on page 134 first.
Vehicles with variable service intervals
Petrol enginesSpecification1.2 litres/55 kWVW 503 00, VW 504 001.2 l/63 kW TSIVW 504 001.2 l/77 kW TSIVW 504 001.4 l/90 kW TSIVW 503 00, VW 504 00Diesel engine a)Specification1.6 l/66, 77 kW TDI CRVW 507 00a)
Engine oil VW 505 01 can optionally be used in diesel engines
without a DPF.
Vehicles with fixed service intervals
Petrol enginesSpecification1.2 litres/55 kWVW 501 01, VW 502 001.2 l/63 kW TSIVW 502 001.2 l/77 kW TSIVW 502 001.4 l/90 kW TSIVW 501 01, VW 502 001.6 litres/77 kWVW 501 01, VW 502 00
If the oils specified above are not available, oils according to ACEA A2 or
ACEA A3 can be used once for refilling.
Diesel engine a)Specification1.6 l/66, 77 kW TDI CRVW 507 00a)
Engine oil VW 505 01 can optionally be used in diesel engines
without a DPF.
If the oils specified above are not available, oils according to ACEA B3 or
ACEA B4 can be used once for refilling.
CAUTION
Only the above-mentioned oils can be used on vehicles with flexible service in-
tervals. We recommend always refilling with oil of the same specification since
this will maintain the properties of the oil. In exceptional cases, a maximum of
0.5 l of specification VW 502 00 (only for petrol engines) or specification
VW 505 01 (only for diesel engines) engine oil can be used to refill once. Other
engine oils must not be used - risk of engine damage!
Checking the oil level
Fig. 125
Principle illustration: Dipstick
Read and observe
and on page 134 first.
The dipstick indicates the engine oil level .
Dipstick » Fig. 125
The oil level must be within this range.
The oil can be checked and topped up, if the following conditions are satisfied. The vehicle is standing on a horizontal surface.
The engine operating temperature is reached.
The engine is turned off.
The bonnet is open.
Checking the level
›
Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil trough.
›
Pull out the dipstick.
›
Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth and insert it again to the stop. 
A135Inspecting and replenishing

›Pull the dipstick out again and check the oil level.
The engine consumes a little oil. The oil consumption may be as much as 0.5 l/
1 000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which
you operate your vehicle. Consumption may be slightly higher than this during
the first 5 000 km.
The oil level must be checked at regular intervals.
In case of low oil level, the display of the instrument cluster shows a check
mark 
as well as the relevant notification » page 31. Check the oil level using
the dipstick as soon as possible. Add oil accordingly.
CAUTION
■ The oil level must never be above the range A» Fig. 125 - risk of damage to
the motor as well as the exhaust system!■
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible to top up
the engine oil! 
Switch off the engine and seek assistance from a specialist
garage.
■
If the oil level is above level
A
» Fig. 125 , 
do not continue to drive! Switch
off the engine and seek assistance from a specialist garage.
Replenishing
Read and observe
and on page 134 first.
›
Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening » Fig. 123 on page 133 .
›
Replenish the oil in portions of 0.5 litres in accordance with the correct speci-
fications » page 135 .
›
Check the oil level » page 135.
›
Screw the lid of the engine oil filler closed carefully.
›
Pull the dipstick out as far as the stop.
Coolant
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the coolant level
137
Replenishing
137
The coolant provides cooling for the motor.
It consists of water and coolant additive with additives that protect the cooling
system against corrosion and prevents furring.
The coolant additive content in the coolant must be at least 40%.
The coolant additive may be increased to a maximum of 60%.
The correct mixing ratio of water and coolant additive is to be checked if nec-
essary by a specialist garage or is to be restored if necessary.
The description of the coolant is shown in the coolant expansion reser-
voir » Fig. 126 on page 137 .WARNINGThe engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en- gine compartment » page 131.■
The coolant is harmful to health.
■
Avoid contact with the coolant.
■
Coolant vapours are harmful to health.
■
Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the
engine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurised!
■
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
coolant.
■
If any coolant splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse out your eyes
with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
■
Always keep the coolant in the original container, safe from people who
are not completely independent, especially children - there is a danger of
poisoning!
■
If coolant is swallowed, consult a doctor immediately.
■
Never spill operating fluids over the hot engine - risk of fire.
CAUTION
■ Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible to fill with
coolant under the current circumstances!  Switch off the engine and seek as-
sistance from a specialist garage.■
The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must never be under
40%.
■
Over 60% of coolant additive in the coolant reduces the antifreeze protec-
tion and cooling effect.
■
A coolant additive that does not comply with the correct specification can
significantly reduce the corrosion protection of the cooling system. 
136General Maintenance

■Any faults resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of coolant and can con-
sequently result in major engine damage!■
Do not fill the coolant above the mark
A
. » Fig. 126 on page 137
■
If an error occurs, leading to the engine overheating, the help of a professio-
nal garage is to be sought - there is a risk of serious engine damage occurring.
■
Additional headlights and other attached components in front of the air inlet
impair the cooling efficiency of the coolant.
■
Never cover the radiator - there is a risk of the engine overheating.
Checking the coolant level
Fig. 126
Engine compartment: Coolant
expansion reservoir
Read and observe and on page 136 first.
The coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compartment.
Coolant expansion reservoir » Fig. 126
Mark for the maximum permissible coolant level
Mark for the lowest permissible coolant level
The coolant level should be kept between the marks
A
and
B
.
The coolant can be checked and topped up, if the following conditions are sat-
isfied.
The vehicle is standing on a horizontal surface.
The engine is turned off.
The engine is not heated.
The bonnet is open.
Checking the level
›
Check the coolant level in the coolant expansion tank » Fig. 126.
If the engine is warm, the test result may be inaccurate. The level can also be
above the mark
A
» Fig. 126 .
ABIn case of low coolant level, the control symbol is displayed in the instrument
cluster as well as the relevant notification » page 32. We still recommend in-
specting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the cooling sys-
tem. Do not merely top up the coolant. Have the cooling system checked by a
specialist garage.
Replenishing
Read and observe
and on page 136 first.
›
Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion tank and unscrew the
cap carefully .
›
Replenishing the coolant.
›
Turn the cap until it clicks into place.
CAUTION
■
Only top up with new coolant.■Do not use an alternative additive if the specified coolant is not available. In
this case, use just water and have the correct mixing ratio of water and cool-
ant additive restored by a specialist garage as soon as possible.
Brake fluid
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the brake fluid level
138
Specification
138
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment » Fig. 127 on
page 138 .
WARNING■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en-
gine compartment » page 131.■
Do not use used brake fluid - the function of the brake system may be im-
paired – risk of accident! 
137Inspecting and replenishing

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

WARNINGThere is risk of injuries, poisoning, chemical burns, explosions or fire when
working on the battery and on the electrical system. It is essential to com-
ply with the general applicable safety rules as well as the warning instruc-
tions outlined below.■
Keep the vehicle battery away from people who are not completely inde-
pendent, especially children.
■
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings. Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles or a
face shield – risk of blindness!
■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling
the vehicle battery.
■
The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled
with the greatest of care.
■
Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivi-
tis and inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
■
Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and, if it comes into contact with the
skin, causes deep wounds that take a long time to heal.
■
If any battery acid comes into contact with your eyes, rinse the affected
eye immediately with clean water for several minutes and 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 you swallow battery acid, consult a doctor immediately!
WARNING■ The use of open flames and light should be avoided.■Smoking and radio triggering activities should be avoided.■
Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion!
■
Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
chemical burns!
■
Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with insufficient acid levels – risk of
explosion and chemical burns.
CAUTION
■ Improper handling of the vehicle battery may cause damage.■Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk
of damage to the paintwork.■ If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3-4 weeks, the battery will
discharge. Prevent the battery from discharging by disconnecting the battery's
negative terminal (-) or continuously charging the battery with a very low
charging current.■
Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the vehicle bat-
tery housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
■
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
■ We recommend having all work on the vehicle battery carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.■
You should replace batteries older than 5 years.
Opening the cover
Fig. 128
Engine compartment: Battery
cover
Read and observe and on page 139 first.
The battery is located in the engine compartment » Fig. 128.
›
Open the cover in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 128.
The battery cover is installed in reverse order.
139Inspecting and replenishing