
VEHICLE
OPER ATION----------------------
Operation
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) and the
Electronic Differential Lock (EDU are inte
grat _ed in the Electronic Stability Progr am. In
a _ddrtron to the data provided by these func
tions, the ESP control unit requires addition
al measurement data provided by hig h-per
forman ?e sensors. The rotat ional speed of
the veh1cle about its vertical axis, vehicle lat
eral acceleration, brake pressure and the
steering angle are measured.
The direction in which the driverwishes to
travel is determined with the aid of the
stee �ing angle and the vehicle speed and is
contmually compared with the actual be
havior of the vehicle.
If the data do not match - for example when
a vehrcle is beginning to spin out of control
- the ESP applies the brakes to the appropri
ate wheels for the given situation and, if
necessar y, changes the vehicle traction
forces so as to reduce the slipping of individ
ual wheels (ASR anti-slip regulation).
206 The
vehicle is then stabilized by the forces
a ?tin � on the wheel during braking. If the ve
hicle IS overstee ring (rear tends to skid out
of the turn), the brakes are mainly applied on
the wheel that is on the outside ofthe curve.
In the case of a vehicle that is und ersteering
(tendency to slide out of the curve). the
brakes are applied at the rear wheel that is
on the inside of the curve. An audible signal
�rll accompany the brake application func
tion.
All �SP senso rs a�e monitored continuously
wh1le the vehicle IS being driven. However,
when the vehicle is driven at low speed on
ex tremely rugged terrain, it is not always
possrble to monrtor the ESP sensors contin
uously. Thus, in rare and exceptional cases
the ESP itself can deactivate (ESP and ABS
ind icator lights will be lit continuously).
In this case. the ride level adjustment sys
tem lowers the vehicle to the normal level
If this happens, you may need to select th�
ride level again (see page 153).
Operation of the ESP and ABS is restored
whenever you restart the engine. m
WAR NING
! he Electronic Stability Program
•• nevertheless subject to the laws
of physics. It is particularly impor
tant to pay attention to this fact on
wet and slippery roads.
It is therefore important that you
always adapt your driving to the
condition of the road and traffic
conditions. Do not allow the in
creased safety provided by the
Electro nic Stability Program sys
tem to lull you into accepting addi
tional safety risks.

Driving
with your quattro ®
The All Wheel Drive system has no operat
ing controls that require attention.
The engine power is distributed automati
cally to all four wheels for optimum effi
ciency in all situations and road conditions.
The All Wheel Drive concept is perfectly
matched to the engine power of your
Audi all road. This combination gives the ve
hicle excep tional handling and performance
capabilities, both on normal roads and in ex
treme conditions of ice and snow.
However, it is vital to observe the following
safety notes:
�W ARNIN G
Always adjust your driving to road
and traffic conditions. Do not let
the extra safety afforded by All
Wheel Drive tempt you into taking
extra risks.
Although the All Wheel Drive is
very effective, always remember
that braking capacity is limited by
tire traction. You should therefore
not drive at excessive speeds on
icy or slippery road surfaces. ftl
WARNING continued
On wet road surfaces, be careful
not to drive too fast because the
front wheels could begin to slide
on top of the water (hydroplaning).
If this should occur, you will have
no warning from a sudden in
crease in engine speed as with a
front-wheel drive vehicle. Always
drive at speeds which are suitable
to the road conditions.
Replacing wheels I tires
All four wheels must always have the same
rol ling radius. Different tires on the front and
rear wheels may impair vehicle control and
will damage the All Wheel Drive because of
the constantly different wheel speeds. The
proper function of the system is not af
fected by unevenly worn tires.
For more information, see page 255. VEH
ICLE OPER ATION
Using winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle
with All Wheel Drive has an advantage,
even with regular tires.
You should promptly install wheels
equipped with winter or all-season tires to
better handling and braking characteristics.
See also "Winter tires", page 260.
207

-----------------------VEHICL E OPER ATION
Tr ailer towing tips
Yo ur vehicle handles differently when tow
ing a trailer because of the additional weight
and weight distribution. Safety, perfor
mance and economy will greatly depend on
how carefully you load your trailer and oper
ate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area
away from traffic until you learn the feel of
your vehicle and trailer unit.
Backing up is difficult and requir es practice.
Steering while backing up is generally oppo
site of that when backing your vehicle with
out a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between your
vehicle and the one in front of you. You will
need more room to stop.
To compensate for the trailer, you will need
a larger than normal turning radius. When
passing, remember that you cannot
accelerate as fast as you normally would be
cause of the added load. Make sure you
have enough room to pass. After passing,
allow plenty of room for your trailer before
changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane
changes.
After parking, always block the wheels of
both vehicle and trailer. Do not park with a
trailer on a slope. If it cannot be avoided, do
so only after doing the following:
• Apply foot brake.
• Have someone place chocks under both
vehicle and trailer wheels.
• With chocks in place, slowly release
brakes until wheel blocks absorb the load.
• Turn wheels to curb.
o Apply parking brake.
• Place automatic transmission in "P". If
you move the selector lever of the auto
matic transmission to "P" before applying
the parking brake and before blocking the
wheels, you may require more force later to
move the lever out of the "P" position.
When restarting after parking on a slope, re
verse the procedure:
• Start the engine.
• Shift transmission into gear.
o Release the parking brake and slowly
move away from the wheel blocks.
• Stop and have someone retrieve the
wheel blocks.
Notes
• Do not tow a trailer during the
break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require
more frequent maintenance due to the ex
tra load -see also page 228.
211

VEHICL E CA
RE----------------------------------------------------
Notes
• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun
light.
• If the vehicle is rinsed with a hose, do not
direct the water into the lock cylinders -
otherwise they may freeze up in the winter.
�W ARNING
• Do not wash, wax or dry the ve
hicle with the engine running.
• Do not clean the underside of
chassis, fenders, wheel covers,
etc. without protecting your
hands and arms. You may cut your
self on sharp-edged metal parts.
• Moisture and ice on brakes may
affect braking efficiency. Test the
brakes carefully after each vehicle
wash.
214 Washing
your vehicle with a power
washer
If you use a power washer, please note the
following:
• Always follow the operating instructions
for the power washer -especially for pres
sure and spraying distance.
• Make sure that the jet on the spray hose
produces a "fan shape" spray. Do not use
a jet which sprays the water out in a direct
stream or one that has a rota ting jet.
• Water temperature should not exceed
140 °F (60 °C).
�W ARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that
sprays the water out in a direct
stream. This could invisibly dam
age and weaken the tires, even if
they are sprayed from a relatively
long distance for a vary short
amount of time. Damaged and
weakened tires can fail and cause
accidents and personal injury. Headli
ghts
Do not clean your headlights with a dry
towel or sponge. They must be cleaned
with a moistened towel.
Never use a sponge designed for removing
dried-on insects, a kitchen scrubber or any
other similar product since the lens surface
can be damaged by scrat ching and scour
ing.
When using high-pressure washing equip
ment or steam-cl eaning units, never spray
the vehicle with the nozzle close the vehicle
surface and never aim the spray at the same
point for a relatively long period of time.
Polishing Please refer to the imp ortant information on
page 212.
Polish your vehicle only if the paint has lost
its shine and the gloss cannot be brought
back with wax. If the polish used doesn't
contain preservative compounds, the paint
must be waxed afterwards.
Do not treat matte- pain�ed and plas
tic parts with polish or wax.

Waxing
Please refer to the important information on
page 212.
• A good wax coati ng protects the vehicle
paint to a large extent against the environ
mental influences listed under "Washing"
and even agains t light scratches.
• When water doesn't form small drops
and roll off clean paint, apply a coat of good
hard wax. Even if a wax solution is used reg
ularly for washing your vehicle, it is advis
able to protect the paint with a coat of hard
wax at least twice a year.
• To protect bright metal trim, use car wax.
• Protect plastic body parts painted the
same as the vehicle body with car wax.
• Do not use car wax on ...
- matte or anodized metal trim
rubber or rubber-l ike trim. Tr
im strips
Dirty patches and marks on the trim strips
should be removed with a pH-balanced
cleaning agent (do not use a chrome
cleaner). Audi Dealers carry cleaning prod
ucts which have been tested for use on your
vehicle and are not harmful to the environ
ment.
To avoid corrosion on the exterior trim
str ips, only a pH-balanced solution should
be used for the windshield washer.
To uch-up paint
Yo ur Audi Dealer has touch-up paint for mi
nor scratches and stone chips. Scratches
should be touched up soon after they occur
to prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple
touch-up job won't be enough. The affected
surface must be smoothed with sand paper
and covered with an anti-rust primer before
the painted finish can be restored.
The n umber for the original vehicle paint can
be found on the vehicle identification label
- see page 291 . VE
HICLE CARE
Windows Clean all windows regularly to remove road
film and car- wash wax buildup. Use a luke
warm soap and water sol uti on or an alcohol
based commercial window cleaning agent.
If a chamois is used for polishing the glass,
it should be used exclusively for that pur
pose.
Also, be sure to clean all windows regularly
on the inside.
Use a plastic scraper to remove snow and
ice from windows and mirrors. To help pre
vent dirt from scratching the windo w, al
ways scrape in a forward direction -push
ing the scraper away from you-never back
and forth.
Note
To prevent damage the wires of the rear
defogger, do not place any adhesive stick
ers in the inside of the rear window over the
wires.
215

VEHICL E
CA RE-------------------------
Weatherstrips
Keep silicone sprays off the wind
shield to avoid wiper smear in rain.
To seal properly, weatherstrips around
hood, rear lid, doors, etc., must be pliable.
Spray with silicone or coat with talcum pow
der or glycerine to reta in flexibility of the
rubber and to protect against freezing in the
w1nter.
Dull finishes and plastics
Plas .tic pa �s. such as light bulb lenses, dec
orative stnpes, panels, bumpers, etc., will
come clean with regular washing. Should
additional cleaning or spot remova l be nec
essar y, use a soft brush or cloth soaked with
a mild detergent solution. Then rinse thor
oughly and imme diately with clear water.
Do not use anyth ing which could
mar the plastic or dull finished sur
faces, such as wax, polish, abrasive
detergents or chemical cleaning sol
vents.
216 Bright
metal trim
Bright or black anodized metal trim will
come clean with regular washing. Remove
spots or dirt from chrome and stainless
steel with a chrome cleaner. Apply a
chrome polish for continued luster and
protec tion.
Steel wheels
Always include the hub caps and wheel
rims when washing your vehicle to remove
road dirt, salt sprays and brake dust. If nec
essary, use a commercial wheel cleaner to
remove accumulated brake dust. Paint
scratches should be touched up as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
Light alloy wheels
To preserve the decorative appearance of
the light alloy wheels, some special care is
necessary. In addition to road dirt and salt
sprays, brake dust is also corrosive. If left on
too long, brake dust can cause pitting. Wash
the wheels with a sponge or hose brush ev
ery other week. Road salt
should be removed weekly with
an acid free cleaning solution. Every three
months (after regular cleaning) coat the
wheels with petroleum jelly or car wax. Rub
it in firmly with a soft cloth. Never use abra
sive or metal polishing cleaning agents.
� WARNING
Moisture, ice, and road salt on
brakes may affect braking effi
ciency. Test the brakes carefully
after each washing. Always heed
WA RNING on page 203.

-------------------------VEHICLE CA
RE
Engine compartment
�W ARNING
• Before working in the engine
compartment. be sure to read the
information on page 232.
I) Before reaching into the front
plenum panel. always re!"ove the
ignition key. Otherw1se. the
windshield wiper system could
unin tentionally be switched on.
possibly causing personal injury
from the moving wiper linkage.
• Do not wash. wax or dry the en�
gine with the engine ru!'l'! ing. Mov
ing or hot parts could 1n1ure you. ,Al
WARNING continued
e Do not clean the underside of
the chassis, fenders. wheel cov
ers. or other hard to reach parts
without protecting your hands and
arms. You may cut yourself on
sharp-edged metal parts.
• Moisture and ice on brakes may
affect braking efficiency. Test the
brakes carefully after each vehicle
wash.
The engine compartment and transmission
have been corrosion protected at the facto
ry.
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in
front of the windshield under the engine
hood. This prevents the water drain holes
from becoming blocked, and it prevents de
bris from entering the vehicle interior
throug h the heating and ventilation ducts. Good
anti-corrosion treatment is very im
porta nt, particularly in the winter. If the ve
hicle is frequently driven on salted roads,
the entire engine compartment and plenum
panel should be thor oughly cleaned at the
end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of
the vehicle should be washed as well.
�W ARNING
Never touch the radiator fan. The
auxiliary electric fan can switch on
suddenly and injure you-
Always switch off the ignition be
fore cleaning the engine _
219

VEHICL E CA
RE----------------------------------------------------
Fuel tank
The fuel filler neck is located on the right
rear side panel behind the fuel filler flap.
The central locking system automatically
locks and unlocks the fuel filler flap. If the
central locking system should fail, you can
still open the flap manually- see page 224
for further details.
Open the flap as illustrated above.
The capacity of the tank is:
approx. 18.5 US gallons (70 liters).
-222 When
refueling, hang the fuel tank cap on
the fuel filler flap as illus trated above.
Notes
• Don't drive until the fuel tank is
completely empty. Gasoline could
get in the exhaust system and dam
age the catalytic converter.
• If any fuel has spilled onto the car,
it should be removed immediately to
prevent damage the paintwork. �W
ARNING
Under normal operating condi
tions, never carry additional fuel
containers in your car. Such con
tainers, full or empty, may leak
and could cause a fire in a colli
sion. If you must transport fuel to
use for your lawn mower, snow
blower, etc., be very careful and al
ways observe local and state laws
regarding the use, transportation
and storage of such fuel contain·
ers. Make certain the container
meets industry standards CANSII
ASTM F852-86).