2015 SKODA CITIGO battery

Note■If the vehicle remains outdoors for a long time in minus temperatures or in
direct sunlight, it can take several hours until the internal temperature of the
vehicle battery reaches a suitable temperature for proper operation of the
START STOP system.■
If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than approx. 30 seconds or the
driver's door is opened during stop mode, the engine will have to be started
manually.
■
No automatic engine shut-down takes place when a vehicle with automatic
transmission is moving at low speed (e.g. during a traffic jam) and remains sta-
tionary after pressing the brake pedal lightly. Automatic engine shutdown
takes place if you press the brake pedal down with more force.
■
For vehicles with automatic transmission there is no automatic engine shut-
down when the system detects a manoeuvring action due to a large steering
angle.
Manually deactivating/activating the system
Fig. 91
Button for the START-STOP sys-
tem
Deactivating/activating
›
Press the symbol button 
» Fig. 91 .
When system is deactivated, the warning light in the button illuminates.
If the system is turned off, it will be automatically reactivated after turning the
ignition off and on.
Note
If the system is deactivated when the engine is turned off automatically, then
the automatic start process takes place.Brakes and parking
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
78
Handbrake
79
Parking
80WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
When braking in a vehicle with manual transmission, when the vehicle is
in gear and at low revs, the clutch pedal must be depressed. Otherwise, the
functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle could then start to move – risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 83, New
brake pads .
CAUTION
Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not nec-
essary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer brak-
ing distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 78 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns
and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted.
Under these severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must also be
checked by a specialist garage between service intervals. 
78Driving

General Maintenance
Care and maintenance
Modifications, adjustments and technical alterations
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle operating under different weather conditions
92
Statutory checks
92
ŠKODA Service Partners
93
ŠKODA Original parts
93
ŠKODA Original accessories
93
Spoiler
94
Airbags
94
Trailer operation
95
Acceptance and recycling of used vehicles
95
The instructions and guidelines from ŠKODA AUTO a.s. must be observed when
carrying out all modifications, repairs or technical alterations to your vehicle.
Adhering to these instructions and guidelines helps ensure road safety and
helps keep your vehicle in a good technical condition. After carrying out modifi-
cations, repairs or technical alterations, the vehicle will comply with German
road transport regulations (StVO).
Always consult a ŠKODA Partner » page 93 before buying accessories or
parts, or before carrying out any modifications, repairs or technical alterations to your vehicle.
WARNING■ Work on your vehicle, which have been carried out unprofessionally, can
cause operational faults – risk of accident!■
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to
operational faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected
systems because of the networking of the electronic components. The op-
erational safety of the vehicle may be at significant risk and can lead to in-
creased wear of parts.
For the sake of the environmentTechnical documents regarding alterations carried out on the vehicle must be
kept by the vehicle user in order to be handed over to the recyclers at a later
date. This ensures that the vehicle is recycled in an environmentally sound
manner.
Note
■ We recommend only having these modifications, repairs and technical
changes performed by a specialist garage.■
Any damage caused by technical alterations made without the approval of
the manufacturer is excluded from the warranty » Service schedule .
■
The ŠKODA Partner does not assume any liability for products that have not
been approved by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. even though these may be products with
an operational approval or that have been approved by a government testing
institute.
■
We advise you only to use ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original
Parts which have been expressly approved for use on your vehicle. Reliability,
safety and suitability for your vehicle are guaranteed with these.
■
ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original Parts can be purchased from
ŠKODA Partners, who will also perform the professional assembly of the pur-
chased parts.
Vehicle operating under different weather conditions
Read and observe
on page 92 first.
If you would like to operate your vehicle in countries other than those with its
intended weather conditions, you should contact a ŠKODA Partner.
She will advise you if certain precautions need to be taken to ensure the full
functioning of the vehicle and to prevent damage.
This involves, for example, the coolant, battery replacement and the like.
Statutory checks
Read and observe
on page 92 first.
Many countries have legislation which require that the reliability and road wor-
thiness and/or exhaust gas composition of a vehicle must be tested at specific
intervals. These tests can be carried out by workshops or checking stations
that have been legally authorized for this purpose. 
92General Maintenance

▶Remove any spark producing or incendiary items from the car and immedi-
ately switch off.
▶ Do not continue if the odour persists.
Seek help from a specialist garage to correct the gas system fault.
Regular gas system checks must be carried out in a specialist workshop on
natural gas-powered vehicles.WARNINGDo not underestimate the smell of gas in the car or when refuelling - it may
result in fire, explosion and injury.
Engine compartment
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening and closing the bonnet
107
Engine compartment overview
108
Radiator fan
108
Windscreen washer system
108WARNINGInjuries or scolding or risks of accident or fire may occur when working in
the engine compartment. For this reason, it is essential to comply with the
warning instructions outlined below and with the general applicable safety
rules. The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area!WARNINGInstructions before beginning work in the engine compartment■Turn off the engine and remove the ignition key.■
Firmly apply the handbrake.
■
For vehicles with manual transmission the lever into the neutral position.
■
For vehicles with automated manual transmission, shift the lever to posi-
tion N.
■
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. 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! 106General Maintenance

Engine compartment overviewFig. 107
Principle sketch: Engine compartment
Read and observe
and on page 106 first.
Layout of the engine compartment » Fig. 107
Engine oil dipstick
109
Brake fluid reservoir
112
Vehicle battery
112
Engine oil filler opening
110
Coolant expansion reservoir
111
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
108
Radiator fan
Read and observe
and on page 106 first.
The radiator fan is powered by an electric motor. Operation is controlled ac-
cording to the temperature of the coolant.
WARNINGAfter switching off the ignition, the fan may intermittently continue to op-
erate for approx. 10 minutes.ABCDEFWindscreen washer systemFig. 108
Windscreen washer fluid reser-
voir
Read and observe and on page 106 first.
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir
A
is located in the engine compart-
ment » Fig. 108 .
The cleaning fluid is provided for the cleaning of the front and rear window.
The capacity of the tank is about 3 litres.
Water alone is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen. We recom- mend using clean water together with a screen cleaner from the range of
ŠKODA Original Accessories (with antifreeze in winter), which will remove any
stubborn dirt.
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.■
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.
108General Maintenance

Brake fluid
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the brake fluid level
112
Specification
112
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment » Fig. 111 on
page 112 .
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 106.■
Do not use used brake fluid - the function of the brake system may be im-
paired – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ Do not continue your journey if the fluid level has dropped below the “MIN”
marking » Fig. 111 on page 112 ,  do not continue driving - there is a risk of an
accident! 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.
Checking the brake fluid level
Fig. 111
Brake fluid reservoir
Read and observe and on page 112 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. 111.
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  illuminating in the
display of the instrument cluster » page 34,
 Braking system
.
Specification
Read and observe
and on page 112 first.
To ensure the optimal functioning of the braking system, only use a brake fluid
meeting the standard VW 501 14 (this standard meets the requirements of
FMVSS 116 DOT4).
Note
We recommend using brake fluids from the ŠKODA Original Accessories range.
Vehicle battery
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the battery electrolyte level
114
Charging
114
Replace
115


112General Maintenance

Disconnecting and reconnecting115
Automatic load deactivation
115
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
SymbolImportance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.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.
WARNING (Continued)■ 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 to 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.
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.
113Inspecting and replenishing

Checking the battery electrolyte levelFig. 112
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
Read and observe and on page 113 first.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, the electrolyte
level can be determined by looking at the change in the colour of this display.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully
knock on the indicator before carrying out the check.
Checking
Black colour – electrolyte level is correct.
Colourless or light yellow colour – electrolyte level too low, the battery must
be replaced.
For technical reasons, the electrolyte level cannot be checked on vehicles with
the designation “AGM” .
Vehicles with the START-STOPsystem are fitted with a battery control unit for
checking the energy level for recurring engine starts.
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.
NoteThe battery acid level is also checked regularly by a specialist garage as part of
the inspection service.
Charging
Read and observe
and on page 113 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. 
114General Maintenance

WARNING■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.■
Creating a bridge between the poles on the battery (e.g. with metal ob-
jects - cables) creates a short circuit - risk of damage to the battery, explo-
sion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
■
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 en-
gine, the ignition and all electrical consumers and disconnect the negative
terminal 
.
■
“Quick-charging” the vehicle battery is dangerous and requires a special
charger and specialist knowledge.
■
We therefore recommend that vehicle batteries be “rapidly charged” by a
specialist garage.
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 129.
Replace
Read and observe
and on page 113 first.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and
size as the original battery. Suitable vehicle battery types can be purchased
from a specialist garage.
We recommend you have the battery replaced by a specialist garage.
Disconnecting and reconnecting
Read and observe
and on page 113 first.
Disconnecting
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Disconnect the negative terminal 
first and then the positive 
terminal of
the battery.
Connecting›Connect the positive terminal first, then the negative battery terminal.
After disconnecting and re-connecting the vehicle battery, the following func-
tions or devices are partially or completely inoperative.Function / deviceOperating measureRadioEnter code » Owner´s Manual
RadioTime settings» page 33
CAUTION
■ Disconnect the vehicle battery only with the ignition turned off - there is a
risk of damaging the electrical system of the vehicle.■
Under no circumstances must the battery cables be connected incorrectly –
risk of a cable fire.
Note
■ After disconnecting and re-connecting the vehicle battery, we recommend
having the vehicle checked by a specialist to ensure that the full functionality
of all electrical systems is guaranteed.■
The data of the multi-function display will be reset.
Automatic load deactivation
Read and observe
and on page 113 first.
The vehicle's electrical system automatically prevents the battery from dis-
charging when the battery is being heavily used. This manifests itself by the
following. ▶ The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
▶ Where necessary, large convenience consumers such as seat heaters and
rear window heaters have their power limited or are shut off completely in
the event of an emergency. 
115Inspecting and replenishing