Washing The Vehicle - Skoda Rapid Owner's Manual

For the sake of the environment
Do not dispose of residues of care products in domestic waste. Observe the pack-
age inserts.

Washing the vehicle

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First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 148.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar,
soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the
paintwork of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be.
High temperatures, such as by intense sun exposure increase the corrosive effect.
Also the underside of the vehicle should thoroughly be washed regularly.
Car wash plant
Follow the information on the notice board of the car wash operator. Take the
usual precautionary measures before washing your vehicle in an automatic car
wash plant, e.g., close all windows and fold in the exterior mirrors to avoid dam-
age. If your vehicle has special attachments, such as spoilers, two-way radio aer-
ial, consult the operator of the car wash plant ⇒ .
The paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant so that the vehicle can be
washed normally in automatic car wash plants without any problem. However, the
actual stress of the paintwork is strongly dependent on the design of the car
wash plant. Škoda recommends washing in car wash plants without brushes.
In order to remove any existing wax residues on the windows and possibly judder-
ing of the wiper blades, observe the following ⇒ p age 150, Cleaning windows and
exterior mirrors.
Washing your vehicle by hand
When washing by hand, first soften the dirt with water and rinse off as much as
possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a washing glove or a washing brush
using only slight pressure. Start on the roof and continue to work from top to bot-
tom. Use a shampoo only for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.
Vehicle overview Before driving
WARNING
Sharp edges on the vehicle can cause injury.
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● Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged parts when you are clean-
ing, for example, the underfloor or the inside of the wheel housings.
WARNING
After a car wash, the braking effect may be delayed due to wet and, in winter,
icy brake discs and brake pads, extending the braking distance.
● "Dry and free the brakes from ice" by careful braking actions. In doing so,
do not endanger other motorists or ignore statutory provisions.
NOTICE
● The water should not be hotter than +140 °F (+60 °C).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not wash the vehicle in the blazing
sun.
● Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning
products, otherwise the surface may be damaged.
● Never clean the headlights with a dry cloth or sponge, but always wet. It is
best to use soapy water.
● Vehicle wash in cold weather: When spraying your vehicle down with a
hose, do not aim the water jet directly at the locks or at the door or lid joints.
The locks and seals might freeze!
NOTICE
Be sure to observe the following points before driving your vehicle into a car
wash plant, in order to avoid damage to the vehicle:
● Compare the track gauge of the vehicle with the distance between the
guide rails of the car wash plant, to prevent damage to rims and tyres!
● Compare the height and width of the vehicle with the headroom and width
of the car wash plant!
● Fold in the exterior mirrors.
● To avoid damages to the paintwork of the bonnet, fold the wiper blades
against the windscreen after drying the windscreen wipers. Do not drop them!
When driving Maintenance, cleaning, servic-
ing
Care and maintenance of the vehicle
Do-it-yourself
149
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