VEHICLE OPERA
TION-----------------------
Operate your vehicle safely
The condition of the vehicle is es
sential for driving safety.
Therefore, always be sure to observe the
following points before you drive off:
• Check lights and turn signals.
• Check fuel level.
• Adjust the mirrors.
• Make sure that all lights and all
windows are clean.
• Make sure the air Intake slot be
tween the engine hood and the
windshield is free of leaves, snow
and ice.
• Check warning and indicator
lights when starting the engine.
For driving safety, always follow the speci
fied maintenance intervals in your Mainte
nance booklet -especially for changing
the brake fluid, see page 242.
Yo ur personal driving style and your
attitude affect driving safety to a
very great extent.
19 4 Therefore,
for your own safety:
• Wear your safety belts and wear
them properly, even if you're just
driving in the city or to the corner
store -see page 14.
• Make sure that all passengers are
wearing their safety belts properly,
even those sitting in the rear -
see page 14.
Passengers not wearing safety belts endan
ger not only themselves in case of an acci
dent, but also the driver and other passen
gers.
• Make sure that children always sit
on the rear seat properly restrained
by a res traint system appropriate
for their size and age.
• Never transport a child in a rear
facing child or infant seat on the
front passenger seat.
• Adjust your seat so that you can
easily reach all controls as far away
from the airbag as possible but no
closer than 10 in. (25 em) -
see page 76. •
The seating position is very im
portant for the airbag performance
- see page 29.
• Always adjust the head restra ints
to the correct height.
For maximum protection, the upper edge of
the head restraints should be at least at
eye level, or higher .
• Always make sure that the move
ment of the pedals is not restricted
In any way-see page 102.
• Store luggage and light items
properly
in the luggage compartment
see page 88.
of the roof - see page 191.
• If you drink, do not drive.
The use of alcohol, drugs and certain medi
cations will seriously impair perception,
reactions and driving ability, and substan
tially increase the risk of an accident and
personal injury.
VE
HICL E OPER ATION ------------------------
• Tu rning off the ignition while the
vehicle is movin g-sea page 115 -or
• Other unusual operating condi
tions.
Do not continue to operate your ve
hicle under these conditions, as
otherwise fuel can reach the catalyt
ic converter. This could result in
overheating of the converter, requir
ing its replacement.
To assure eHiciant operation of the
Emission Control System:
• Have your vehicle maintained
properly and in accordance with the
service recommendations in your
Maintenance booklet.
Lack of proper maintenance as well
as improper usa of the vehicle will
impair the function of the emission
control system and could lead to
damage.
19 8 Cl
Do not alter or remove any com
ponent of the Emission Control Sys
ta.m unless approved by the
manufacturer.
• Do not alter or remove any device,
such as heat shields, switches, igni
tion wires, valves, which are de
signed to protect your vehicle 's
Emission Control System and other
important vehicle components.
Nota
Do not leave engine idling unat
tended after starting. If warning
lights should come on to indicate
improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also pro
duces heat, which could result in
overheat ing or other damage to the
vehicle or other property. �W
ARNING
• Parking
Do not park or operate the vehicle
in areas where the hot exhaust sys
tem may coma in contact with dry
grass, brush, fuel spill or other ma
terial which can causa a fire.
• Undercoating
Do not apply additional undercoat
ing or rustproofing on or near the
exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes,
cata lytic converter or heat shields.
During driving, the substance
used for undercoating could over
heat and causa a fire.
�W
ARNING
Although the ABS is very effec
tive, always remember that brak
ing capability is lim ited by tire
tracti on.
Always adjust your driving speed
accor ding to the road and traffic
conditions. Do not let the extra
safety afforded by the ABS tempt
you into taking extra risks. The
ABS cannot overcome the laws of
physics.
If ABS is not functioning properly, a warning
light will come on. See page 125 for addi
tional details. Conditions
affecting
braking efficiency
Moisture or road salt
�W ARNING
• Under certain climatic and oper
ating conditions such as passing
through water, driving in heavy
rain or after washing the vehicle,
the effectiveness of the brakes
can be reduced. In winter, ice can
accumulate on the brake pads, lin
ings, discs and drums. Cautiously
apply brakes for a test. Brakes will
dry and ice coatings will be
cleaned off after a few cautious
brake applications. VE
HICLE OPERATION
� WARNING continued
• Driving for an extended period
of time on salt-covered roads with
out using your brakes can also af
fect braking efficiency. Clean off
accumulated salt coating from
brake discs and pads with a few
cautious brake applications.
Overhea ting the brakes
�W ARNIN G
• Do not "ride the brakes" by rest
ing your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. This
may cause the brakes to overheat,
premature wear and Increased
stopping distance.
Always heed all WAR NINGS
on next page.
203
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.
Electronic
Stability Program (ESP)
The Electronic Stability Program helps to
control the vehicle in critical maneuvers like
curves.
When the vehicle starts up and accelerates,
the wheels are prevented from spinning by
adjusting the engine power to conform to all
road conditions. This improves vehicle sta
bil ity.
The system operates across the entire
speed range in combination with the ABS
syst em. If the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) malfunctions, the ESP will also shut
down.
When you turn on the engine, the ESP will
automatically be activated and will perform
a self-test. The
system can be activated or deactivated
by press ing the button.
The warning light comes on when the sys
tem is switch ed off. See page 124.
If you deactivate the ESP, a special ABS
mode designed mainly for all-road condi
tions will be activated - see page 202.
It may be advantageous to turn off the sys
tem in certain special cases when wheel
slippage is desired such as:
- when driving on difficult terrain VE
HICL E OPER ATION
- when driving in deep snow or on a loose
surface
- when trying to "rock" out the vehicle
when it has become stuck.
After this, you should switch the system
back on.
The ABS and EDS are still functioning even
if the ESP is switched off.
205
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.
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.
Engine
hood
To unlock the engine hood, pull the re
lease lever on the left under the dashboard.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pres
sure.
Note
Before opening the engine hood,
make sure that the windshield wip
ers are folded flat against the wind
shield. Otherwise, they could dam
age the paint on the hood. To
open, pull the release lever in the direc
tion indicated by the arrow. This will release
the hook under the hood.
Open the hood all the way. It will be held up
by gas pressure in the strut. VEH
ICLE CARE
To close
Pull the hood down until the pressure from
the strut is reduced. Then Jet the hood fall
and latch in place -you do not need to
press the hood down again.
m WARNING
• A hood that is not 'completely
latched could fly up and block
your view while driving. When you
close the engine hood, check it to
make sure the safety catch has
properly engaged. The hood
should be flush with the surround
ing vehicle body parts.
• If you ever notice while driving
that the hood is not secured prop
erly, stop at once and close it.
Always heed all WA RNINGS
on next page.
231