2013 SKODA ROOMSTER maintenance

We recommend that you use ŠKODA Genuine Accessories in your vehicle. ŠKODA
AUTO a.s. offers a warranty on the reliability, safety and suitability for your partic-
ular vehicle of these accessories. Although we constantly monitor the market, we
are not able to assess or offer a warranty on other products even though in some
instances such products may have a type approval or may have been approved by
a nationally recognised approval authority.
All accessory products go through a fastidious process of technical development(technical tests) and quality inspection (customer tests), and only if all tests are positive does the product become a ŠKODA Genuine Accessory.
Our ŠKODA Genuine Accessories service also provides expert advice and profes-
sional fitting if requested by the customer.
ŠKODA Service Partners are liable for any defects in ŠKODA Genuine Parts for a period of 2 years after installation or delivery in accordance with materials defectliability legislation, unless otherwise agreed in the purchase contract or in any
other agreements. You should keep the confirmed warranty certificate and the
receipt for these accessories for this period, so that the commencement of the
warranty term may be verified.
In addition, ŠKODA Service Partners also stock a range of suitable car care prod-
ucts as well as those parts which are subject to natural wear and tear, such as
tyres, batteries, bulbs and wiper blades.
Note
The accessories authorized by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. will be offered by the ŠKODA
Partners in all countries where ŠKODA AUTO a.s. has a sales and service network.
This will usually be in the form of a printed catalogue of Original ŠKODA Accesso-
ries, in the form of separate printed brochures or in the form of offers for ŠKODA
Genuine Accessories on the ŠKODA Partner's website.
Spoiler
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 146.
If your new vehicle is fitted with a spoiler on the front bumper in combination
with the spoiler on the luggage compartment lid, the following instructions must
be adhered to.
› For safety reasons, the vehicle must only be fitted with a spoiler on the front
bumper in combination with the associated spoiler on the luggage compart-
ment lid.
› This kind of spoiler cannot be left on the front bumper either on its own, in
combination with another spoiler not on the luggage compartment lid or in combination with an unsuitable spoiler on the luggage compartment lid.
› We recommend that you consult the ŠKODA service partner for any repairs to or
replacement, addition or removal of spoilers.
WARNINGIf work on your vehicle's spoilers is not carried out properly, this can lead to
operational faults - risk of accident and serious injuries.

Airbags
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 146.
The system components of the airbag system can be situated in the front bump-
er, doors, front seats, roof lining or body.
WARNINGAny work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of sys-
tem components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering wheel) must only be carried out by a specialist garage.■
Modifications, repairs and technical alterations that have been carried out
unprofessionally can cause damage and operational faults, and can also seri-
ously impair the effectiveness of the airbag system – risk of accident and fatal
injury!
■
The airbag system will then have to be replaced if the airbag is deployed.
Airbag modules cannot be repaired. 
148General Maintenance

CAUTION■When washing the car by hand, protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged
metal parts (e.g. when cleaning the undertray, exhaust system, the inside of the
wheel housings or the wheel trims etc.) - there is a risk of cutting yourself.■
Only apply slight pressure when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork.

Automatic car wash systems
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 149.
The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows and the sliding/tilting
roof etc.).
If your vehicle is fitted with any particular attached parts, such as a spoiler, roof
rack system, two-way radio aerial etc., it is best to consult the operator of the car
wash system beforehand.
After an automatic wash with wax treatment, the lips of the wipers should be cleaned with cleaning agents specially designed for the purpose, and then de-
greased.
WARNINGFold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system.

Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 149.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for use
of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pressure
used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft materials
such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
WARNINGNever use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters!
CAUTION
■ If washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure cleaner, en-
sure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or the
door/panel joints – risk of freezing!■
To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short periods
while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.
■
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C – risk of
damaging the vehicle.
■
See also Washing cars with decorative films using a high-pressure clean-
er » page 152 .

Taking care of your vehicle exterior

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Taking care of your vehicle's paintwork
151
Plastic parts
151
Rubber seals
152
Chrome parts
152
Decorative films
152
Windows and exterior mirrors
152
Headlight lenses
153
Door lock cylinders
153
Cavity protection
153
Wheels
153
Underbody protection
154
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle. It
may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relat- ing to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork. 
150General Maintenance

Rubber sealsFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 150.
All door seals and window guides are factory-treated with a colourless matt var- nish layer to prevent the freezing of painted body parts and to protect against
driving noise.
Do not treat the door seals and window guides with any products.
CAUTION
Applying additional treatments to the seals can corrode the protective coating,
and driving noise may occur.
Chrome parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 150.
First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a soft,
dry cloth.
If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific chrome care product.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment - risk of surface scratches.
Decorative films
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 150.
Wash the films with a mild soap solution and clean, warm water. Never use harsh
cleaning products or chemical solvents, as this could damage the films.
The following instructions must be followed when washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner:
› The minimum distance between the nozzle and the vehicle body should be 50
cm.
› Keep jet perpendicular to the film surface.
› The maximum water temperature is 50 °C.
› The maximum water pressure is 80 bar.
CAUTION
In the winter months, do not use an ice scraper to remove ice and snow from the
areas with films. Do not use any other objects to remove frozen layers of snow or
ice – risk of film damage.
Windows and exterior mirrors
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 150.
Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mir-
rors.
Regularly clean windows from the inside with clean water. Dry the glass surfaces with a clean chamois leather or a cloth intended for thispurpose.
When drying the windows after washing the vehicle, do not use window leathers
that have been used to polish the bodywork. Residues of preservatives in the
window leather can make the window dirty and reduce visibility.
CAUTION
■ The ice scraper should not be moved forward and backward but in one direction
to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.■
Snow or ice that is contaminated with coarse dirt such as fine gravel, sand or
salt must not be removed from the windows and mirrors – risk of damage to the
surface of the windows and mirrors.
■
Do not remove snow or ice from glass parts using warm or hot water – risk of
cracks forming in the glass. 
152General Maintenance

Underbody protectionFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 150.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechani-
cal influences.
When driving, it cannot be guaranteed that no damage to the protective layer will
occur.
We recommend having the protective layer underneath the vehicle and the chas-
sis checked — preferably before the beginning of winter and at the end of winter.
WARNINGNever use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filters or heat shields. When
the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances may ignite - risk of fire!

Taking care of the interior
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Natural leather
155
Synthetic leather, fabrics and Alcantara ®
155
Seat covers
156
Seat belts
156
Regular and proper care helps to ensure efficiency and maintain the
value of your
vehicle.
We recommend using vehicle care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories. These are available from ŠKODA Partners. The usage instructions on the packagemust be observed.
WARNING■ Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to
the instructions.■
Always store vehicle care products safely, in particular out of the reach of
children – risk of poisoning!
CAUTION
■ Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.■
Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe pol-
ish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possible.
■
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature in-
side the vehicle is high.
■
Do not attach scent dispensers or air fresheners to the dash panel – risk of
damage to the dash panel.
■
Do not stick any stickers on the inside of the rear windows, the rear side win-
dows and in the vicinity of the heating elements on the windscreen or near the
window aerial. These may get damaged.
■
Do not clean the roof panelling with a brush – risk of damage to the surface of
the panelling.
■
Cleaner that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
For the sake of the environment
Used cans of vehicle care product represent hazardous waste that is harmful to
the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national legisla-
tion.
Note
Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any potential
problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we recom-
mend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Partner.
154General Maintenance

Natural leatherFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 154.
Leather is a natural material with specific properties, and requires regular clean-
ing and maintenance.
The leather should be cleaned on a regular basis depending on the amount of
wear-and-tear.
Dust and dirt in the pores and folds act as abrasive materials. This leads to severe corrosion and the premature brittleness of the leather surface.
We recommend that you remove dust regularly and at short intervals using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Clean soiled leather surfaces with a water-dampened cotton or woollen cloth and
then dry with a clean, dry cloth »
.
Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth soaked in a mild soap solution (2 table-
spoons of neutral soap to 1 litre of water).
To remove stains, use a cleaning agent specially designed for this purpose.
Treat the leather regularly and at suitable intervals using a suitable leather care
product.
CAUTION
■ Ensure that no part of the leather is soaked through during cleaning and that
no water gets into the seams. Otherwise, the leather could become brittle or
cracked.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods, protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs of
rubbing on the surface. Such damage cannot be subsequently recognised as a
justified complaint.
■
The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface of
the steering wheel.
■ Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular basis
and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection.■
Some clothing materials, e.g. dark denim, do not have sufficient colour fastness.
This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers, even when used correctly. This applies particularly to light-coloured seat covers. This does
not relate to a fault in the seat cover, but rather to poor colour fastness of the
clothing textiles.
Note
When using the vehicle, minor visible changes may occur to the leather parts of
the covers (e.g. wrinkles or creases) as a result of the stress applied to the covers.
Synthetic leather, fabrics and Alcantara ®
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 154.
Artificial leather
Clean artificial leather with a damp cloth.
If this method does not completely clean the artificial leather, use a mild soap sol-ution or cleaning products specially designed for this purpose.
Fabric
Clean upholstery cover materials and cloth trims on doors, boot cover, etc. using
specific cleaning agents, e.g., dry foam.
Use a soft sponge, brush, or commercially available microfibre cloth.
Use a cloth and special detergent to clean the headlining.
Remove any lumps on the cover fabric and any fabric residue using a brush.
Remove stubborn hair using a “cleaning glove”.
Alcantara ®
Dust and fine dirt particles in pores, creases and seams may chafe and damage the surface.
If you leave your vehicle parked in the open for lengthy periods, protect the Al-
cantara ®
seat upholstery from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Minor changes in colour caused by use are normal. 
155Car care

CAUTION■Do not use leather cleaners on Alcantara ®
seat upholstery.■Do not use solvents, floor wax, shoe cream, stain remover or similar agents on
Alcantara ®
seat upholstery.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle in bright sunlight for long periods of time in order to
stop the fabric from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked outside for long periods of
time, cover the fabric to protect it from direct sunlight.
■
Some clothing materials, e.g. dark denim, do not have sufficient colour fastness.
This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers, even when used correctly. This applies particularly to light-coloured seat covers. This does
not relate to a fault in the seat cover, but rather to poor colour fastness of the clothing textiles.

Seat covers
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 154.
Electrically heated seats
Do not clean the covers by moistening, as this can damage the seat heating sys-
tem.
Use a specific cleaning agent such as dry foam or similar to clean the covers.
Seats without seat heating
Thoroughly vacuum the seat covers with a vacuum cleaner before cleaning.
Clean the seat covers with a damp cloth or cleaning products specially designed for this purpose.
Indented points arising on the fabrics by everyday use, can be removed by brush- ing against the direction of hair with a damp brush.
Always clean all parts of the covers, so that there are no visible edges. Then allow the seat to dry completely.
CAUTION
■ Regularly remove dust from the seat covers using a vacuum cleaner.■Electrically heated seats must not be dried after cleaning by switching on the
heater.■
Do not sit on wet seats - risk of seat deformation.
■
Always clean the seats “from seam to seam”.

Seat belts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 154.
The belt webbing must always be kept clean.
Wash dirty seat belts with mild soapy water.
Remove coarse dirt with a soft brush.
Dirty belt webbing may impair the correct functioning of the inertia reel.
WARNING■ The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.■Never clean the seat belts chemically as chemical cleaning products could
destroy the fabric.■
The seat belts must not be allowed to come into contact with corrosive liq-
uids (e.g. acids).
■
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
the belt webbing, seat belt connections, inertia reel or lock is detected, the
seat belt must be replaced by a specialist garage.
■
The seat belts must be fully dried before being rolled up.

156General Maintenance

NoteThe fuel tank has a capacity of about 55 litres, containing a reserve of approx.
7 litres .
Unleaded petrol
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 157.
Your vehicle can only be operated with unleaded petrol complying with EN 2281)
.
All petrol engines can be operated using petrol with a maximum of 10% bioetha-
nol (E10) .
Specified fuel - unleaded petrol 95/91 or 92 or 93 RON Use unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95 RON. Unleaded petrol with the oc-
tane ratings 91, 92 or 93 RON can also be used, but may result in a slight loss in
performance.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol min. 95 RON
Use unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95 RON or higher.
In an emergency, if unleaded petrol with an octane rating of 95 RON is not availa-
ble, you may refuel with petrol with an octane rating of 91, 92 or 93 RON »
.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol 98/(95) RON
Use unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 98 RON or higher. Unleaded petrol
95 RON can also be used but results in a slight loss in performance.
In an emergency, if unleaded petrol with an octane rating of 98 RON or 95 RON is
not available, you may refuel with petrol with an octane rating of 91 or 92 or 93
RON »
.
Fuel additives
Unleaded petrol complying with EN 228 1)
meets all the conditions for a smooth-
running engine. We therefore recommend that no fuel additives are used. This
can result in considerable damage to parts of the engine or the exhaust system.
CAUTION■ Even filling the tank with leaded petrol that does not meet the standard once
can lead to serious damage to parts of the exhaust system.■
Do not start the engine or switch on the engine if you have refuelled in error
with a fuel other than unleaded fuel which complies to the standards referred to
above (e.g. leaded petrol). Engine parts could be significantly damaged. We rec-
ommend that you have the fuel system cleaned by a specialist garage.
CAUTION
■ If, in an emergency, the vehicle has to be refuelled with petrol of a lower octane
number than the one prescribed, the journey must only be continued at medium
engine speeds and a low engine load. Driving at high engine revs or a high engine
load can severely damage the engine! Refuel using petrol of the prescribed oc-
tane number as soon as possible.■
Engine parts can be damaged if petrol with a lower octane number than the one
prescribed is used.
■
Petrol of an octane rating lower than 91 RON must not be used, even in the
event of an emergency, otherwise the engine could be severely damaged.
CAUTION
■ In no case may fuel additives with metal components be used, especially not
with manganese and iron content. LRP(lead replacement petrol) fuels with metal-
lic constituents may not be used. There is a risk of causing considerable damage
to parts of the engine or exhaust system.■
Fuels with metallic constituents may not be used. There is a risk of causing con-
siderable damage to parts of the engine or exhaust system. 
1)
In Germany also DIN 51626-1 or E10 for unleaded petrol with octane rating 95 or 91 or DIN 51626-2 or
E5 for unleaded petrol with octane rating 95 or 98.
158General Maintenance

WARNINGThe following instructions must be followed before starting work in the en-
gine compartment:■
Turn off the engine and withdraw the ignition key.
■
Firmly apply the handbrake.
■
If the vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever into
Neutral, or if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox, move the selec-
tor lever into position P.
■
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.
WARNINGThe following instructions must be followed when working in the engine com-
partment.■
Keep children clear of 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!
■
The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
■
Avoid contact with the coolant.
■
Coolant vapours are harmful to health.
■
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.
■
If any coolant splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse out your eyes with
clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
■
Always store the coolant additive securely in its original container, and in
particular out of the reach of children – risk of poisoning!
■
Consult a doctor immediately if coolant is swallowed.
■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cleaning cloths or tools) in the engine compart-
ment.
■
Never spill fluids on the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the antifreeze con-
tained in the coolant) may ignite!
WARNINGThe following warning instructions must be observed at all times when work-
ing in the engine compartment while the engine is running.■
Pay particular attention to rotating engine parts (e.g. V-ribbed belt, genera-
tor, radiator fan) and the high-voltage ignition system – risk 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.
WARNINGThe following warning instructions must be observed if work has to be carried
out on the fuel or electrical systems.■
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 con-
tainers.■
Keep fluids in their original containers and keep securely out of the reach of
children!
■
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!
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a cover)
– risk of fire!
■
The bonnet must always be properly closed when driving. Therefore, the
lock must always be checked after closing the bonnet in order to ensure that
it has engaged properly.
■
If you notice that the lock is not properly engaged while driving, stop the ve-
hicle immediately and close the bonnet – risk of accident! 
160General Maintenance