2016 SKODA RAPID battery

Specification - the brake fluid must comply with the standard VW 501 14 (this
standard meets the requirements of FMVSS 116 DOT4).WARNING■ The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on
the engine compartment » page 125.■
If the fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below
the “MIN” » Fig. 150mark, this may be an indication of a leak in the brake
system. 
Stop driving - There is a risk of an accident! Seek help from a
specialist garage.
Note
■ The brake fluid is changed as part of a compulsory inspection service.■Too low brake fluid level is indicated by the warning light  being shown on
the display of the instrument cluster as well as the corresponding message
» page 30 . We still recommend inspecting the brake fluid level in the reservoir
from time to time.
Vehicle battery
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Check condition
132
Charging
132
Disconnect/reconnect and change
133
The vehicle battery represents a power source for the motor to start and for the supply of electrical consumers in the car.
Depending on the engine, the vehicle battery is either in the engine compart-
ment or the luggage compartment.
Automatic shutdown of consumers - vehicle battery discharge protection
The on-board power supply system tries to prevent the vehicle battery from
discharging in the following ways when it is subject to heavy loading. ▶ By increasing the engine idle speed.
▶ Through the power limitation of certain consumers.
▶ By switching off some consumers (heated seats, heated rear window) for as
long as necessary.
Warning symbols on the vehicle batterySymbolMeaning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.WARNINGBattery acid is highly corrosive - it can cause injury, chemical burns or poi-
soning! Corrosive vapours in the air irritate and damage the respiratory
tract and the eyes. The following guidelines must be observed.■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling
the vehicle battery.
■
If your eyes or skin come into contact with the electrolytic fluid, immedi-
ately wash the affected area for a few minutes long with a lot of water. Get
medical assistance without delay.
■
Keep the vehicle battery away from people who are not completely inde-
pendent (e.g. children).
■
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings.
WARNINGWorking on the car battery may cause explosion, fire, injury or chemical
burn! The following guidelines must be observed.■
Do not smoke, use open flames or light or transmitting devices.
■
A discharged vehicle battery may freeze slightly. Never charge up a fro-
zen or thawed vehicle battery. Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never use a damaged vehicle battery.
■
Do not connect the battery terminals, bridging the two poles will cause a
short circuit. 
131Inspecting and replenishing

CAUTIONEnsure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk
of damage to the paintwork.
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.
Check condition
Fig. 151
Vehicle battery: Open the cover / acid level indicator
Read and observe
and on page 131 first.
The battery condition is checked regularly by a specialist garage as part of the
inspection.
Check the acid level
For car batteries with acid level indicator, acidity can be checked on the basis
of a colour display. In vehicle batteries with the label “AGM” there is no acid
level examination.
Depending on the equipment, the vehicle battery may be provided with a cov-
er, this can be opened in the direction of arrow » Fig. 151 -
 .
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. Therefore, carefully knock
on the display » Fig. 151 -
 .
Black colour – electrolyte level is correct.
Colourless or light yellow colour – electrolyte level too low, the battery must
be replaced.
Battery discharge
If frequent short journeys are made, the vehicle battery does not recharge suf-
ficiently.
The battery capacity decreases at low temperatures.
If the vehicle is not used for longer than 3 to 4 weeks, disconnect the negative
terminal 
of the battery or charge the battery constantly with a very low
charging current.
Charging
Read and observe
and on page 131 first.
Only charge the battery when the ignition and all consumers are switched off.
Refer to the instructions of the charger manufacturer.
Charging
›
For vehicles with the START-STOPP system or auxiliary heater, clamp the

terminal of the charger on the  pole of the battery, the
 terminal of the
charger on the earth point of the engine » page 145.
›
For vehicles without the START-STOPP system or auxiliary heater, clamp the
terminals of the charger on the associated battery poles (  on
,
 on
).
›
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.
›
Disconnect the terminals of the charger from the vehicle battery.
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or low-
er) must be used until full charging is achieved.
WARNING■ When charging the vehicle battery, hydrogen is released - risk of explo-
sion. An explosion can be caused through sparking while unclamping or
loosening the cable plug.■
So-called“quick-charging” of the vehicle battery is dangerous and re-
quires a special charger and specialist knowledge. Therefore, have “Quick
loading” carried out by a specialist garage.
132General Maintenance

Disconnect/reconnect and changeRead and observe
and on page 131 first.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and
size as the original battery.
We recommend you have the battery replaced by a specialist garage.
›
To disconnect , switch off the ignition and disconnect the negative terminal
first 
, then disconnect the positive terminal 
.
›
To reconnect , reconnect the positive terminal first 
, then reconnect the
negative terminal 
.
After disconnecting and re-connecting the vehicle battery, the following func-
tions or devices are partially or completely inoperative.
Function / deviceCommissioningElectric windows» page 53Time settings» page 38
CAUTION
■ Disconnect the battery only with the ignition and consumers turned off - risk
of damaging the electrical system of the vehicle.■
Before disconnecting the battery, always close all the electric windows -
there is a risk of malfunction.
■
Under no circumstances mix up the charging cables – risk of fire.
Note
After disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery, we recommend hav-
ing the vehicle checked by a specialist to ensure that the full functionality of
the vehicle is guaranteed.Wheels
Wheels and tyres
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Advice on tyre/wheel usage
133
Tyre pressure
134
Tyre wear and wheel change
135
Spare wheel
135
Spare wheel
135
Tyre marking
136
Advice on tyre/wheel usage
During the first 500 km, new tyres do not offer optimum grip; appropriate care
should therefore be taken when driving.
Tyres with the deeper profiles should always be fitted to the front wheels.
Rims and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. We rec-
ommend that you use rims and wheel bolts from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Wheels and tyres should always be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. The
tyres themselves should be stored vertically.
Tyre life
Tyres age and lose their original characteristics, even if they are not being
used. We recommend that you do not use tyres that are more than 6 years old.
The manufacturing date is indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly on the in-
side ). For example, DOT ... 10 16... means, for example, that the tyre was manu-
factured in the 10. week of 2016.
Tyre damage
We recommend checking your tyres and wheel rims for damage (punctures,
cuts, splits and bulges etc.) on a regular basis.
Remove any foreign objects in the tyre’s profile immediately (e.g. small stones).
Foreign bodies which have penetrated into the tyre (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed and help should be sought from a specialist garage. 
133Wheels

›Jack up the vehicle
» page 142 until the wheel that needs changing is clear of
the ground.›
Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth, paper,
etc.).
›
Remove the wheel carefully.
›
Attach the spare wheel and slightly screw on the wheel bolts.
›
Lower the vehicle.
›
Tighten the wheel bolts opposite each other using the wheel wrench (“pull- ing crossways”) » page 142.
›
Replace the wheel trim » page 141 and caps » page 141 .
When fitting unidirectional tyres, ensure that the direction of rotation is cor-
rect » page 134 .
All bolts must be clean and must turn easily. If screws are corroded and diffi-
cult to move, these must be replaced.
WARNING■ Undo the wheel bolts just a little (about one turn), provided the vehicle
has not yet been jacked up. Otherwise the wheel could come loose and fall
off – risk of injury.■
Under no circumstances must the bolts be greased or oiled - could cause
an accident.
Subsequent steps
After changing the wheel, the following work must be carried out.
›
Stow the replaced wheel in the well under the floor covering of the luggage
compartment and secure it with a nut.
›
Stow the tool kit in the space provided and secure using the band.
›
Check tyre pressure on the fitted wheel and adjust if necessary and, with ve-
hicles with tyre pressure monitoring, save the tyre pressure values in the
system » page 106 .
›
Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked as soon as possible.
The prescribed tightening torque is 120 Nm.
Replace the damaged wheel or consult a specialist garage about repair op-
tions.
WARNINGTightening torque which is too high can damage the threads and this can
result in permanent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rim. Where
tightening torque is too low, the wheels may become loose while driving -
risk of accident. Therefore drive cautiously and only at a moderate speed
until the tightening torque has been checked.
Removing/stowing the emergency or spare wheel
Fig. 158
Take out the wheel
The wheel is located in a well under the floor covering in the luggage compart-
ment and is fixed in place with a screw.
Take out the wheel
›
Lift up the floor in the luggage compartment.
›
Loosen the retaining belt and take out the box with the tool kit.
›
Unscrew the nut in the direction of arrow » Fig. 158 and take out the wheel.
Stow the wheel
›
Place the wheel into the wheel well with the wheel rim pointing downward.
On vehicles with the vehicle battery in the boot, lay down the wheel with the
outer face upward.
›
Pull the fixing band through the opposite holes in the wheel rim.
›
Screw the nut in the opposite direction to the arrow until it stops » Fig. 158.
›
Place the box with the tool kit back inside the wheel and secure it with the
tape.
›
Fold back the floor in the luggage compartment.
140Do-it-yourself

If the tyre pressure is 1.3 bar or more›Set the tyre pressure back to the correct value » page 134.›
Continue driving carefully to the nearest specialist garage at a maximum
speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
WARNINGA tyre filled with sealant has the same driving characteristics as a standard
tyre. The following guidelines must be observed.■
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph).
■
Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
Jump-starting
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Jump-starting using the battery from another vehicle
145WARNING■ The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on
the engine compartment » page 125.■
When handling the vehicle battery, the following warnings must be ob-
served » page 131 .
■
A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures just be-
low 0 °C. If the battery is frozen, do not carry out a jump start with the bat-
tery of another vehicle – risk of explosion and injury!
■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low
– risk of explosion and caustic burns!
Jump-starting using the battery from another vehicleFig. 165
Start assistance: 
- Discharged battery, 
-power-supplying
battery / ground point of the engine for the START-STOP system
Fig. 166
Positive terminal on vehicles with the vehicle battery in the lug-
gage compartment
Read and observe
on page 145 first.
If, because of a discharged battery, it is not possible to start the engine, the
battery of another vehicle can be used to start the engine. To do this, jump-
start cables are required which have a sufficiently large cross-section and in-
sulated terminal clamps.
The rated voltage of the two batteries must be 12 V. The capacity (Ah) of the
power-supplying battery must not be significantly lower than the capacity of
the discharged battery.
The jump-start cables must be attached in the following sequence.
›
Attach clamp
1
to the positive terminal of the discharged battery.
›
Attach clamp
2
to the positive terminal of the power-supplying battery. 
145Emergency equipment and self-help

›Attach clamp 3 to the negative terminal of the power-supplying battery.›For vehicles
with the START-STOPsystem, attach clamp 4 to the earth point
of the engine A
» Fig. 165 .
›
For vehicles without the START-STOPsystem, attach clamp
4
to a solid
metal part firmly attached to the engine block or directly to the engine block.
Installation location of the positive terminal and the earth point in vehicles
with the vehicle battery in the luggage compartment
The positive terminal
B
is located under a cover in the engine compartment
» Fig. 166 .
›
Press together the lock buttons of the cover simultaneously in the direction
of arrow
1
and remove the cover in the direction of arrow
2
.
›
Clamp the positive terminal of the jumper cable to the position
B
» Fig. 166 .
›
Clamp the negative terminal of the jumper cable to the earthing point of the
engine
A
or on a metal part firmly connected to the engine block or directly
on the engine block.
Starting engine
›
Start the engine on the vehicle providing the power and allow it to idle.
›
Initiate the starting process in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
›
If the engine does not start within 10 s, then cancel the starting procedure
and repeat after half a minute.
›
Remove the jump start cables in the reverse order as attachment.
WARNING■
Never clamp the jump cable to the negative terminal of the discharged
battery - risk of explosion.■
The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never touch each
other – there is a risk of short circuit.
■
The jump-start cable connected to the positive terminal of the battery
must not come into contact with electrically conducting parts of the vehicle
– there is a risk of short circuit.
■
Position the jump cables so that they cannot be caught in rotating parts
in the engine compartment - danger of injuries and the risk of vehicle dam-
age.
Towing the vehicle
Information about the towing process
Fig. 167
Braided tow rope / Spiral tow rope
To tow with a tow rope, only use a braided synthetic fibre rope » Fig. 167 -

»
.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar to the towing eyes at the front
» page 147 , towing eyes at the rear » page 147 or to the towing device of
the trailer device » page 108 .
Conditions for towing. Cars with automatic gearboxes must not be towed with the rear wheels
raised - there is a risk of gearbox damage!
If the gearbox has no oil, your vehicle must be towed with the front axle
raised clear of the ground or on a breakdown vehicle or trailer.
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
The vehicle must be transported on a special breakdown vehicle or trailer
if it is not possible to tow the vehicle in the way described or if the towing
distance is greater than 50 km.
Driver of the tow vehicle
›
On vehicles with manual transmission , engage gear slowly when starting.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , accelerate with particular care.
›
Only then approach correctly when the rope is taut.
Driver of the towed vehicle
›
If possible, the vehicle should be towed with the engine running. The brake
booster and power steering only operate if the engine is running, otherwise
much greater force has to be applied to the brake pedal and more power has
to be expended for steering. 
146Do-it-yourself

›If it is not possible to start the engine, switch on the ignition so that the
steering wheel does not lock and so that the turn signal lights, windscreen
wipers and windscreen washer system can be used.›
Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if the
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
›
Keep the tow rope taut at all times during the towing procedure.
WARNING■ Spiral tow ropes must not be used for towing » Fig. 167-  , the towing
eye may unscrew out of the vehicle - risk of accident.■
The tow rope should not be twisted - there is a risk of accidents.
CAUTION
■ Do not tow-start the engine – risk of damaging the engine! The battery from
another vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid » page 145, Jump-starting .■
For off-road towing manoeuvres, there is a risk to both vehicles that the fas-
teners may become overloaded and damaged.
Note
We recommend that you use a tow rope from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Front towing eye
Fig. 168
Remove cap / install towing eye
Cap removal/fitting
›
To remove , press down on the cap in the direction of arrow
1
and remove it
in the direction of arrow
2
» Fig. 168 .
›
To fit, insert the cap in arrow range
1
and then press on the opposite edge
of the cap. The cap must engage firmly.
Removing/installing the towing eye›To install , screw in the towing eye by hand in the direction of the arrow3
» Fig. 168 until it clicks into place » .
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.
›
To remove , unscrew the towing eye in the opposite direction to arrow
3
.
WARNINGThe towing eye must always be firmly in place, otherwise the towing eye
could break whilst being towed.
Towing eye rear
Fig. 169
Rear towing eye
The rear towing eye is located below the bumper on the right.
Remove the protective cap before using the towing eye. » Fig. 169. After using
the towing eye, the protective cap can be used again.
Vehicles with a trailer device
For vehicles with a factory-fitted towing device, the pre-installed detachable tow-bar may be used » page 108, Hitch .
147Emergency equipment and self-help

Remote - change batteryFig. 170
Remove cover/take out battery
›
Pop out the key bit.
›
Press off the battery cover
A
» Fig. 170 with your thumb or by using a flat
screwdriver in region
B
.
›
Open the battery in the direction of arrow
1
.
›
Remove the discharged battery in the direction of arrow
2
and install a new
battery.
›
Insert the battery cover
A
and press it down until it clicks audibly into place.
The key has to be synchronised if the vehicle cannot be unlocked or locked
with the key after replacing the battery » page 49.
CAUTION
■
The replacement battery must correspond to the original specification.■Pay attention to the correct polarity when changing the battery.
Note
■We recommend you have the battery replaced by a specialist garage.■If a key has an affixed decorative cover, this will be destroyed when the bat-
tery is replaced. A replacement cover can be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.
Emergency unlocking / unlocking of doors
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Unlocking/locking the driver's door
148
Locking the door without locking cylinders
149Unlock the boot lid149Selector lever-emergency unlocking149
Unlocking/locking the driver's door
Fig. 171
Handle on the driver's door:
Open lock cover
The driver's door can be emergency unlocked / emergency locked using the key via the lock cylinder.
›
Pull on the door handle and hold.
›
Insert the key into the recess on the lower side of the cover and fold up the
cover in the direction of arrow » Fig. 171.
›
Release the door handle.
›
Insert the vehicle key bit into the lock cylinder and unlock or lock the vehicle.
›
Pull on the door handle and hold.
›
Replace the cover.
CAUTION
Make sure you do not damage the paint when performing an emergency lock-
ing/unlocking.148Do-it-yourself