Towing The Vehicle - Skoda Rapid 2013 Owner's Manual

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Connect the other end of the black jump lead
the cylinder block and crankcase, or the cylinder block and crankcase itself, on
the vehicle with the discharged battery, taking care not to attach the jump lead
in a position near the vehicle's battery
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Route the jump leads so that they cannot be caught by any rotating parts in the
engine compartment.
Starting the engine
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Start the engine on the vehicle providing the power and allow it to idle.
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Start the engine on the vehicle with the discharged battery and wait for two to
three minutes until the engine is "running smoothly".
Removing the jump leads
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Before removing the jump leads, switch off the low beam, if switched on.
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In the vehicle with the discharged battery, switch on the heater fan to dissipate
any peak voltages that might occur while disconnecting the leads.
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With the engine's running, disconnect the jump leads in precisely the reverse
order to that one described above.
WARNING
Incorrect jump starting can cause the vehicle battery to explode and lead to
serious injuries. To reduce the risk of the vehicle's battery exploding, observe
the following:
All work on the vehicle's battery and electrical system can cause serious
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chemical burns, fire, or electric shocks. Before any work on the vehicle's bat-
tery, always read and observe the warnings and safety precau-
tions » page 109.
Always wear suitable protective goggles and never bend over the vehicle
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batteries.
Connect the leads in the correct order – the positive cable first, then the
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negative cable.
Never connect the negative cable to parts of the fuel system, or to the brake
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lines.
Make sure that the non-insulated parts of the crocodile clips never touch.
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Additionally, make sure that the cable connected to the positive terminal of
the battery never touches electrically conducting parts of the vehicle.
Check the view window in the vehicle's battery; use a flashlight if needed. If
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the window is light yellow or colourless, do not attempt to jump start; instead
seek expert assistance.
Avoid electrostatic discharge in the vicinity of the vehicle's battery. Sparks
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could ignite the oxyhydrogen gas escaping from the battery.
Never jump start if the battery is damaged, frozen or thawed.
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Do-it-yourself
to a solid metal part fixed to
X
» .
A

Towing the vehicle

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Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Front towing eye
Rear towing eye
Observe legal requirements for tow-starting or towing.
A vehicle with a discharged battery must not be towed for technical reasons.
Vehicles should not be tow-started as a general rule. Jump start in-
stead » page 132.
The following vehicles must not be tow-started for technical reasons:
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vehicles with automatic gearbox;
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if the vehicle's battery is discharged, the engine control units may not function
correctly.
Towing another vehicle requires a certain amount of practice, particularly if you
are using a tow rope. Both drivers should be familiar with the particular points
about towing a vehicle. Inexperienced drivers should thus never tow.
While driving, take care to avoid impermissibly high tensile forces or jerky loads. If
you attempt to tow a car that is not standing on a paved road there is always a
risk of overstressing the towing eyes.
If the hazard warning lights and ignition system are switched on, the towed vehi-
cle can still make a turn signal. Move the turn signal lever in the required direc-
tion. The hazard warning lights are switched off while the turn signal is given.
Once the turn signal lever returns to the neutral position, the hazard warning
lights automatically start flashing again.
Driver of the towed vehicle
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Keep the ignition system switched on so that the steering wheel is not blocked
and you can operate the turn signal lights, the horn, the windshield wipers and
the window washer system.
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Because power steering does not function while the engine is off, more steer-
ing force is required.
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The pedal force required for braking is substantially higher because the brake
booster is not working. Avoid running into the towing vehicle.
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