Braking
General notes
• The brakes on today's automobiles are
still subject to wear, depending largely on
operating conditions and driving habits. On
vehicles which are driven mostly in stop
an d-go city traffic or which are driven hard,
the brake pads should be checked by your
authorized Audi Dealer more often than
specified in the Maintenance booklet.
• On steep slopes, you should use the
braking effect of the engine. This way, you
prevent unnecessary wear to the brake sys
tem. If you must use your brakes, do not
hold the brakes down continu ously. Pump
the brakes at interv als.
• Under certain conditions, for example,
when driving through water or very heavy
rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the
braking effect can be reduced due to the
wet brake pads or pads which are iced-up in
the winter. A few cautious brake applica
tions should dry off the brake pads or re
move ice coati ngs. The
effect iveness of the brakes can be re
duced when the vehicle is driven on a salt
covered road and the brakes are not used.
Clean off accumulated salt coating from
brake discs and pads with a few cautious
brake applications.
�W ARNING
• If you damage the front spoiler,
or if you install a different spoiler,
be sure the air flow to the front
brakes is not obstructed, other
wise the brake system could over
heat reducing the effectiveness of
the entire brake aystem.
• Failure of one brake circuit will
impair the braking capability re
sulting in an increased stopping
distance.
Avo id driving the vehicle and have
it towed to the nearest authorized
Audi Dealer or qualified work
shop. VEH
ICLE OPERATION
Brake booster
�W ARNING
• The brake booster works with
vacuum pressure which is created
only when the engine is running.
Never let the vehicle roll to a stop
with the angina shut off.
• If the brake booster is not work
ing, for example when towing your
vehicle, or because the brake boo
ster has somehow been damaged,
the brake pedal must be pressed
harder to make up for the lack of
booster assistance.
201
VE
HICL E OPERA TION-----------------------
'4 WARN ING continued
• Before descending a steep
grade, reduce speed and shift
transmission into a lower gear or
lower driving position. Do not ride
the brakes or hold the pedal down
too long or too often. This could
cause the brakes to get hot and di
minish braking efficiency.
• If you damage the front spoiler,
or if you install a different spoiler,
be sure the air flow to the front
brakes is not obstructed. Other
wise the brake system could over
heat reducing the effective ness of
the entire brake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will
impair the braking capability re
sulting in an increased stopping
distance.
Avoid driving the vehicle and have
it towed to the nearest Audi Dealer
or qualified workshop.
204 Electronic differential lock
(EDL)
The EDL operates in conjunction with the
ABS. The EDL acts automatically, i.e. with
out the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS sensors, this sy
stem monitors the speed of the driven
wheels up to about 50 mph, 80 km/h .
Within the speed range at which this sy
stem operates, if the wheels spin (e.g. on
slippery surfaces) they are braked in a con
trolled manner , and more of the engine's
power is directed to whiche ver wheels
achieve greater traction.
Please note:
• When driving off, always be sure to keep
road conditions in mind as you accelerate.
If a drive wheel spins because it's on a slip
perier surface, gradually increase the pres
sure on the accelerator pedal until the car
starts to move. •
When accelerating on slippery surfaces,
such as on ice or snow, always be careful
when depressing the accelerator pedal.
Even with the EDL working, the drive
wheels can spin and reduce your ability to
control your car.
• To prevent the disc brake of the braked
wheel from overheating, if subjected to ex
cessive loads the EDL cuts out temporarily.
The vehicle remains operational and be
haves in the same way as a vehicle without
EDL
If a fault occurs in the ABS the EDL is also
not functioning. This is ind icated by the ABS
warning light-see page 125.
ftl WARNING
The increased safety afforded by
EDL does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt
your driving style to the road con
ditions and traffic situation.
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
VEHICLE OPER
ATION-----------------------
Driving Instructions
To obtain the best possible handling of ve
hicle and trailer , please note the following:
• A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and
control. This means that the tow vehicle
should be loaded to the extent possible and
permissible while keeping the trailer as light
as possible under the circumstances.
Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to
the luggage compartment of the tow ve
hicle while observing tongue load require
ments and vehicle loading considerations.
• The higher the speed, the more difficult
it becomes for the driver to control the rig.
Do not drive at the maximum per
missible speed. Reduce your speed even
more under unfavorable load, weather or
wind conditions - particularly when going
dow nhill.
210 Be
especially careful when passing other
vehicles.
Reduce vehicle speed immediately if the
trailer shows the slightest sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the sway ing by accel erat
ing.
Observe speed limits. In some areas
speeds for vehicles towing trailers are low
er than for regular vehicles.
• Always apply brakes early.
When driving downhill, shift into lower gear
to use the engine braking effect to slow
down the vehicle. Use of the brakes alone
can cause them to overheat and fail. •
The coolant temperatura gauge
must be observed carefully. H the
needle nears the upper end of the
scale, reduce speed immediately
and/or switch off the air condi
tioner.
If the coolant temperature warning
light in the instrument cluster starts
flashing in red, pull off the road,
stop and let the engine idle for about
2 minutes to prevent a heat build-up.
VEHICLE
CARE---------------------------------------------------
Maintenance
Yo ur vehicle has been designed to help
keep maintenance requirements to a mini
mum.
However. a certa in amount of regular main
tenance is still necessary to assure your ve
hic le's safety, economy and reliabili ty.
c£> By regularly maintaining your
vehicle, you help make sure that
emission standards are maintai ned,
thus minimizing adverse effects on
the envir onment.
For detailed vehicle maintenance consult
your Maintenance booklet.
Under difficult operating condi
tions, for example at extremely low out
side temperatures, in very dusty regions,
when towing a trailer very frequently, etc.,
some service work should be performed
between the intervals specified.
This applies particularly to:
• oil changes, and
• cleaning or replacing the air filter.
228 Important
considerations for
you and your vehicle:
The increasing use of electr onics, sophisti
cated fuel injection and emission control
systems, and the generally increasing tech
nical complexity of today's automobiles,
have steadily reduced the scope of mainte
nance and repairs which can be carried out
by vehicle owners. Also, safety and en
vironmental concerns place very strict
limi ts on the nature of repairs and adjust
ments to engine and transmission parts
which an owner can perform . Main
tenance, adjustments and repairs usu
ally require special tools, testing devices
and other equipment available to specially
trained workshop personnel in order to as
sure proper performance, reliability and
safety of the vehicle and its many systems.
Impr oper maintenan ce, adjustments and
repairs can impair the operation and reliabil
ity of your vehicle and even void your ve
hicle warranty. Therefore, proof of servicing
in accordance with the maintenance
schedule may be a condition for upholding
a possible warranty claim made within the
warranty period.
Above all, operational safety can be ad
versely affected, creating unnecessary
risks for you and your passengers.
Radiator
fan
The radiator fan is driven by the engine via
the V-belt. The viscous clutch regulates the
speed of the fan according to the tempera
ture of the coolant.
An auxiliary electric radiator fan switches on
and off depending on coolant temperature
and other vehicle operation conditions.
� WARNING
• Always use extreme caution to
prevent clothing. jewelry, or long
hair from getting caught in the en
gine driven radiator fan, V-belt or
other moving parts.
• Never touch the auxiliary elec
tric radiator fan. The fan can
switch on suddenly and injure you.
Always heed all WA RNINGS
on page 232. Power
steering
Yo ur vehicle is equipped with a Servotro
nic power steering. The degree of
power assistance is regulated electronically
according to road speed.
The fluid reservoir is in the engine compart
ment near the windshield washer container.
The correct fluid level in the reserv oir is im
portant for the proper functioning of power
steer ing.
The power steering fluid level is checked
during the scheduled Maintenance ser
vices.
If the electronic regulating system is not
working properly, this is most noticeable
when turning the steering wheel at low
speeds (for example when parking) -more
effort will be required than usual. The fault
should be rectified by an Audi Dealer as
soon as possible. VEH
ICLE CARE
Note
• When the engine is running, never hold
the steering wheel turned all the way to the
right or to the left for longer than 15 sec
onds. The power steering pump will over
heat the hydraulic fluid if you hold the steer
ing wheel all the way turned.
This will damage the power steering
system.
Each time the steering wheel is turned all
the way to the right or left when stopped,
you will hear noises caused by the severe
stress placed on the power steering pump.
At the same time, engine idle speed drops.
• If the power steering system
should fail, or if the engine is not
running (for example, while being
towed). you will still be able to steer
the vehicle, however. more effort
will be required.
• If the power steering system should
have a leak, or is not functioning properly,
contact your authorized Audi Dealer imme
diately.
241
-------------------------VEHICLE
CARE
Spark plugs
Spark plugs are replaced during the Audi
scheduled Maintenance Service.
If you have to replace the spark plugs be
tween the Audi Maintenance services, be
sure to note the following:
• Engine, spark plugs and the ignition sys
tem are matched to each other. To avoid
faulty operation or engine damage, use only
Original Audi spark plugs. It is especially im
portant to note the number of electrodes on
the spark plug and the heat value.
• Since spark plug specifications may
change for technical reasons during a model
year, we recommend that you obtain your
spark plugs from an authorized Audi Dealer,
who has the latest information.
Always heed all WARNINGS
on page 232. Belts
Ribbed V-Belt
The radiator fan, hydraulic pump (power
steering), alternator and air conditioner
compressor are driven by one V-belt.
The installed V-belt conforms to the highest
quality requirements. The V-belt adjusts its
own tension.
Replacing of the V-belt should be
performed by your authorized Audi
Dealer or a qualified workshop.
When replacing a belt, it is not sufficient to
use just any belt of the same size. For safe
and reliable operation, use only Genuine
Audi V-belts specially designed for your ve
hicle. The correct belts can be obta ined at
your authorized Audi Dealer. �W
ARNING
To prevent serious personal inju
ries stay well clear of the V-belt,
The radiator fan and the V-belt
driven accessories when the en
gine is running. The V-belt will be
inspected and replaced by your au
thorized Audi Dealer during a
scheduled Maintenance Service.
Timing belt
• Yo ur engine is equipped with a long last
ing toothed belt. The belt will be in
spected and replaced during a scheduled
Maintenance Service.
Always heed all WA RNINGS
on page 232.
249
lira
service life
The service life of your tires depends for the
most part on the following factors:
lire pressure
Requir ed cold tire inflation pressures are
listed on a sticker inside the fuel filler flap or
on the rear passenger's door pillar (right
side) -depending on the model.
�W ARNING
• Incorrect tire pressures can lead
to a serious or fatal accident:
• Incorrect tire pressures cause
increased tire wear and can affect
handling of the vehicle.
• Incorrect pressures can also
lead to sudden tire failure and
deflati on, causing loss of vehicle
contr ol.
c£' Low tire pressures increase fuel
consumption, which is detri
mental to the environment. Tire
pressures should be checked at least
once a month and always before a long trip.
Tire pressures are very important,
particularly when the vehicle is driv
en at higher speeds.
If you are going to be driving at higher
speeds (a lot of expressway driving), then it
is rec ommended to increase the tire pres
sure by 5 psi (0.3 bar).
Always check tire pressures when the tires
are cold. When the tires are warm, the pres
sure will be highe r. Do not reduce the
pressure of warm tires.
Don't forget to check the spare wheel. The
inflation pressure is marked on the tire side
wall.
Use an accurate tire pressure gauge when
checking inflation pressures. Never exceed
the maximum tire inflation pressure listed
on the tire sidewall. Cold tire inflation pres
sure means: the vehicle has been standing
for at least 3 hours or driven for less than
1 mile (1 km).
Do not forget to replace the valve stem caps
after checking tire pressure. VE
HICL E CA RE
Driving habits
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking all increase tire wear.
Wheel balancing
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
When driving, however, various conditions
can cause a wheel to become unbalanced.
This may be noticed as vibrations in the
steering.
Since tire imbalance can cause wear on the
steeri ng, suspension and tires, you should
have your wheels re-balanced. A wheel
should always be balanced if a new tire has
been mounted or a tire was repaired.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes exces
sive and uneven tire wear, impairing the
safety ofth e veh ide. If you notice excessive
tire wear, contact your authorized Audi
Dealer.
253