VE
HICL E OPER ATION------------------------
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS)
The ABS contributes effectively to vehicle
control since it prevents the wheels from
locking when the brakes are applied. This
means that the vehicle remains steerable
and is less likely to skid.
Nota
Yo u don't have to "pump" the brake.
Just hold the brake pedal down.
However, do not expect that the ABS short
ens braking distance under all circum
stances. When driving on gravel or on newly
fallen snow on top of icy surfaces, braking
distance may be even longer , therefore, un
der these circumstances, it is especially im
portant that you drive slowly and with great
care.
202 How the
ABS system works
An automatic check is made when a speed
of about 4 mph (6 km/h) is reached.
When this happens a pumping noise can be
heard.
If an individual wheel begins to rotate too
slowly in relation to vehicle speed and tends
to lock, the ABS automatically reduces
brake pressure to prevent that wheel from
locking.
This automatic adjustment process
will cause a slight vibration of the
brake pedal and soma noises to alert
you that vehicle speed must be
adapted to existing road and traffic
conditions. Enhanced
ABS function {Offroad
Mode)
To improve braking on loose terrain (for ex
ample: gravel, scree, mud, slush, snow),
turn off the ESP (see page 205), which will
switch the ABS to a special mode designed
for off-road requirements.
In this mode, the ABS control system is
changed to allow a "wedge" of loose rock
or soil to form in the front of the wheels.
This improves braking performance.
The ESP indicator light in the instrument
cluster will come on when you have
switched to this special ABS mode (see
page 124).
This special ABS mode will remain active up
to about 40 mph (60 km/h). ABS operation
is not affected at speeds over 40 mph
(60 km/h).
To turn his special ABS mode off, press the
ESP button (To activate ESP, see page 152).
The ABS off-road mode will also be deacti
vated when vou turn off the engine.
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----------------------
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
VEHICLE CA
RE---------------------------------------------------
Cleaning and protec tion
Any automobile is subjected to abuse from
indus trial fumes, corrosive road salt, aban
doned lollipops, muddy dog feet, etc. A well
cared- for Audi can look like new many years
after purchase. Regular and correct care will
contribute to maintaining the beauty and
value of your Audi.
Furthermore. good care may be a
condition for upholding a warranty
claim should corrosion damage or
paint defects occur.
Yo ur Audi Dealer has a variety of vehicle
care products and can advise you which
ones to use for cleaning the exterior and in
terior of your vehicle.
Whether you use products recommended
by Audi or other commercially available
cleaning agents, please make very sure you
apply them correctly.
212
r.Gb Select only environmentally � friendly cleaning products. Any
remaining cleaning products do not
belong in the household waste.
�W ARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poison
ous. Keep them out of the reach of
children.
• Observe all caution labels.
• Always read directions on the
cont ainer before using any prod
uct. Follow these directions care
fully.
• Most chemical cleaners are con
centrates which require dilution.
• Only use spot removing fluids in
well ventilated areas.
• Do not use gasoline. kerosene.
Diesel fuel. nail polish remover or
other volatile fluids. They may be
toxic, flammable or hazardous in
other ways. Care
of exterior
Important Never use polishes or hard waxes on
matte- painted parts or plastic parts,
since this can permanently damage
the visual appearance of the sur
faces of these parts.
In parti cular , make certain that the roof,
bumper, trim moldings, rocker panel mol
ding and wheel house liners do not come
in contact with cleaners I polishes or hard
waxes.
Washing
The best protection against environmental
influences is frequent washing and waxing.
How often this is required depends on how
much the vehicle is used, where it is parked
(garage, in the open under trees, etc.), the
seasonal and weather conditions as well as
env ironmental influences. The longer bird
droppings, insects, tree resin, road and in
dustrial grime, tar, soot, road salt and other
materials remain on the vehicle paint, the
more lasting their destructive effect will be.
High temperatures, as from strong sunlight,
intensify the corrosive effect.
Under certain circumstances, weekly
washing may be necessary. Under other
conditions. a monthly washing and waxing
may be adequate.
After the winter, the underside of the ve
hicle should be thoroughly washed. Automatic
car wash
The vehicle paint is so durable that the ve
hicle can normally be washed without prob
lems in an automatic car wash. However,
the effect on the paint depends to a large
extent on the design of the facil ity, the filter
ing of the wash water, the type of wash and
care material, etc. If the paint has a dull ap
pearance after going through the car wash
or is scratched, bring this to the atte ntion of
the operator immediately. If necessary use
a different car wash.
Notes
• Before going through a car wash, be sure
to take the usual precautions such as clos
ing the windows and sunroof*.
• You don't have to remove the factory
installed radio antenna. However, if your ve
hicle is equipped with the Navigation Sys
tem*, then you must remove the antenna.
• If you have installed additional accesso
ries on the vehicle -such as spoilers, roof
rack, etc. -it is best to ask the car wash op
erator if these should be remov ed. VE
HICLE CARE
Washing the vehicle by hand
� In the intsi'Sst of the environ
� msnt, the vehicle should only be
washed in special wash bays.
First soften the dirt with plenty of water and
rinse off as well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or brush starting on the roof and work
ing down using only slight pressure. Special
car wash soap should only be used for very
persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and
oft en.
Clean wheels .and sill panels last, using a dif
ferent sponge if pos sible.
After washing the vehicle, rinse thoroughly
with water and wipe it off.
213