2015 SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK Owner's Manual

Driving
Starting-off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine using the key
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
95
Steering lock locking / unlocking
96
Turn ignition on / off and start the engine
96
Stopping the engine
96
With the key in the ignition, the ignition can be switched on and off and the
engine can be started / stopped.
WARNING■ While driving with the engine stopped, the ignition must always be
switched on » page 96, Turn ignition on / off and start the engine .
■ With the ignition off, the steering may lock » page 96 - danger of an
accident!■
Do not withdraw the ignition key from the ignition lock until the vehicle
has come to a stop » page 103, Parking . Otherwise, the steering may lock -
danger of an accident!
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury, accidents and dam-
age!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is
risk of accident, damage or theft!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNING■ Never (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - there is the dan-
ger of poisoning and death!■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cloths or tools) in the engine compartment.
This presents a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a
cover) – risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - there
is a danger of starter and engine damage!■
Do not push-start the engine – risk of damaging the engine and the catalytic
converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid
» page 168 .
Note
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this, the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature faster.
Electronic immobilizer
Read and observe
and on page 95 first.
The electronic immobiliser (hereinafter referred to as the immobiliser) makesthe attempted theft or unauthorised use of your vehicle more difficult.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
As soon as the ignition key is removed from the ignition lock, the immobiliser is
automatically activated.
Operational problems
If the immobiliser components in the key fail, it is not possible to start the en-
gine. A corresponding message appears in the display of the instrument clus-
ter to explain that the immobiliser is active.
To start, use the other vehicle key or seek help from a specialist garage.
95Starting-off and Driving

Steering lock locking / unlockingRead and observe
and on page 95 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Withdraw the ignition key.
›
Turn the steering wheel to the left or right until the steering lock clicks into
place.
Unlocking
›
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
›
Switch on the ignition » page 96.
The steering lock is unlocked.
If the ignition switch cannot be turned on, then turn the steering wheel back and forth slightly and thereby unlock the steering lock.
Turn ignition on / off and start the engine
Fig. 110
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 95 first.
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock » Fig. 110
Ignition switched off, engine switched off
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Switching ignition on/off
›
Turn key to position
2
.
The ignition is switched on.
›
Turn key to position
1
.
123The ignition is switched off.
Procedure for starting the engine›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key into position
3
as far as it will go - the engine's starting proce-
dure will commence (do not touch the accelerator).
›
Release the key, the engine will start automatically.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
For vehicles with diesel engines the glow plug warning light
 goes on during
starting. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes out.
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Stopping the engine
Read and observe
and on page 95 first.
›
Stop the vehicle » page 103, Parking .
›
Turn key to position
1
» Fig. 110 on page 96 .
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
For vehicles with automatic transmission, the ignition key can only be removed
if the selector lever is in position P .
CAUTION
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off. 96Driving

NoteAfter switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.
Starting and stopping the engine at the push of the button
 Introduction
Fig. 111
Starter button ( 


)
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Steering column lock locking / unlocking
97
Switch ignition on / off
98
Starting the engine
98
Switching off the engine
98
Problems with the engine start
99
The ignition can be switched on and off and the engine can be started / stop-
ped with the starter button » Fig. 111.
The key must be in the vehicle to unlock the steering, start the vehicle and
drive.
WARNING■ Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury, accidents and dam-
age!■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is a
risk of theft etc!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNINGNever (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - there is the danger
of poisoning and death!
CAUTION
■ The system can recognize the valid key, even if it has been accidentally left
on the vehicle roof - there is danger of loss or damage to the key!■
Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - there
is a danger of starter and engine damage!
■
Do not push-start the engine – risk of damaging the engine and the catalytic
converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid
» page 168 .
Note
■
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this, the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature faster.■
The system is protected against inadvertently switching off the engine while
driving, this means that the engine can only be switched off in an emergency
» page 98 .
Steering column lock locking / unlocking
Read and observe
and on page 97 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Open the driver door.
The steering lock is locked automatically.
If the driver's door is opened and the ignition is switched off afterwards, the
steering is only locked after the vehicle has been locked.
Unlocking
›
Open the driver's door and get into the vehicle.
›
Close the driver's door.
The steering is locked automatically. 
97Starting-off and Driving

Under certain circumstances (e.g. after switching off the ignition and opening
the driver's door), the steering is enabled only when the ignition is switched on
or the engine is started.WARNINGNever let the vehicle roll with locked steering lock - risk of accident!
Switch ignition on / off
Read and observe
and on page 97 first.
›
Press the button » Fig. 111 on page 97 briefly.
The ignition is switched on or off.
On vehicles fitted with a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must not be
depressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would
try to start.
On vehicles fitted with a automatic transmission, the brake pedal must not be
depressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would
try to start.
If the driver's door is opened while the ignition is on, an audible signal sounds
and the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition switched on.IGNITION STILL ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 97 first.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 111 on page 97 briefly – the engine starts auto-
matically.
In vehicles with diesel engines the glow plug warning light  lights up after
pressing the button. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes
out.
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 97 first.
Switching off
›
Stop the vehicle » page 103, Parking .
›
Press the button » Fig. 111 on page 97 briefly.
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
Emergency shut-down
If necessary and in exceptional cases, the engine may even be turned off while
driving.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 111 on page 97 for longer than 1 second or
twice within 1 second.
After the emergency stop of the motor, the steering lock will remain unlocked.
CAUTION
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.98Driving

Problems with the engine startFig. 112
Starting the engine - Press the
button with the key
Read and observe and on page 97 first.
The key in the vehicle cannot be verified
If the key in the vehicle cannot be verified, then engine cannot be started by pressing a button.
One of the following messages are shown in the information cluster display.
Key not detected. Owner's manual!Key not found.NO KEY
The reasons for this may be.
▶ The battery in the key is almost out of charge.
▶ The key is malfunctioning.
▶ There is interference in the signal between the system and the key (strong
electromagnetic field).
Try to start the engine by pressing the knob with the key » Fig. 112.
System fault
If the following message appears on the display of the instrument cluster,
there is a system malfunction.
Keyless access system faulty.KEYLESS ACCESS SYSTEM FAULTY
Try to start the engine by pressing the knob with the key » Fig. 112.
CAUTION
The key can only be verified if it is in the vehicle. It is therefore not always nec-
essary to know where the key is.Note■ When attempting to start, the key bit must be pointed towards the button
» Fig. 112 .■
If engine fails to start after pressing the button with the key, seek specialist
help.
START-STOPsystem
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Operation
100
Manually deactivating/activating the system
101
Information messages
101
The START STOPsystem (hereinafter referred to as the system) reduces
CO 2emissions and harmful emissions, and saves fuel.
If the system determine that the engine is not needed when the vehicle stops
(e.g. at the traffic lights), it turns off the engine and starts it again when mov-
ing off.
The system function depends on many factors. Some of them are down to the
driver, while others are systemic and can neither be influenced nor identified.
For this reason, the system may react differently in situations which seem
identical from the driver's perspective.
The system is automatically activated every time the ignition is switched on
(even when it has previously been manually deactivated with the  button).
Note
If the engine has stopped due to the system, the ignition remains switched on.99Starting-off and Driving

OperationFig. 113
Display
Vehicles with manual transmission
The engine is automatically switched off as soon as the vehicle comes to a
halt, the shift lever is moved into neutral and the clutch pedal is released.
The engine is automatically started as soon as the clutch pedal is depressed.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine is automatically switched off as soon as the vehicle comes to a
halt and the brake pedal is operated.
The engine is automatically started as soon as the brake pedal is released.
Requirements for the system to function correctly
The following conditions must be met for the system to function correctly.
The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt.
The bonnet is closed.
The driving speed was higher than 4 km/h after the last stop.
No trailer is coupled.
System status
The system status is shown in the display when the vehicle comes to a halt
» Fig. 113 .
The engine is switched off automatically; when moving off, the ignition
process will be initiated automatically.
The engine is not switched off automatically.
Reasons for the engine running
It may be essential for the engine to keep running when the vehicle comes to
a halt, for the following reasons. ▶ The engine temperature for the proper function of the system has not yet
been reached.
▶ The charge state of the vehicle battery is too low.
▶ The current consumption is too high.
▶ High air-conditioning or heating capacity (high fan speed, big difference be-
tween the desired and actual interior temperature).
When the engine is shut-down automatically and the system detects that the
engine is required such as when the brake pedal is pressed repeatedly then
the system automatically starts the engine.
Infotainment display
Information about the current status of the system can be displayed in the In-
fotainment display » Owner´s Manual Infotainment , chapter CAR - Vehicle set-
tings (CAR button) .
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 shut-down
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.
100Driving

Manually deactivating/activating the systemFig. 114
Button for the START-STOP sys-
tem
Deactivating/activating
›
Press the symbol » Fig. 114
button.
When system is deactivated, the warning light in the button illuminates.
If the system is deactivated, it will be reactivated automatically after the igni-
tion has been switched off and on.
Note
If the system is deactivated when the engine is turned off automatically, then
the automatic start process takes place.
Information messages
The warning symbols are shown in the instrument cluster display.
Start the engine manually!START MANUALLY
If for example the driver's seat belt is stored, the engine must be started man-
ually.
On vehicles with the starter button the ignition is turned off by the first press
of the start button, only after pressing for the second time is the start process
initiated.
Error: start-stop systemSTART STOP ERROR
A system error is present. Seek help from a specialist garage.
Brakes and parking
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
101
Handbrake
102
Parking
103WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be actuated when braking on a vehicle with man-
ual transmission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise,
the functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
When leaving the vehicle never leave persons leave unattended in the
vehicle who could release the brake. The vehicle could then start to move –
risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 106, 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 101 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. 
101Starting-off and Driving

Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times »
.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned by applying the brakes several times »
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift
into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
If the brakes are applied in full and the vehicle systems evaluate the situation
as dangerous for the traffic following behind, the brake light flashes automati-
cally.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af-
ter accelerating or driving off again.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately, as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 32,
 Brake sys-
tem .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.
Handbrake
Fig. 115
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 101 first.
The hand brake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 115 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
illuminates when the handbrake is applied,
provided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display.
Release the handbrake!RELEASE HANDBRAKE
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more
than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds. 
102Driving