2007 AUDI R8 light

Care of vehicle and cleaning 146Dirt or marks on the trim mouldings should be removed with an
acid-free cleaning agent (do not use a chrome cleaner). Body polish
is also unsuitable for use on trim mouldings. The intensive cleaning
fluids often used before the car goes into a car wash may contain
alkaline substances, which can cause dull or milky patches when
they dry out.
Audi R8 dealers carry stocks of cleaning products which have been
tested and approved for use on your vehicle and which are not
harmful to the environment.Plastic partsPlastic parts will come clean with regular washing. If this is not suffi-
cient, plastic parts should only be treated with a special solvent-free
plastic cleaning agent. Do not use paint cleaners, polishes or wax on
plastic parts.Applies to vehicles: with carbon partsCarbon partsThe carbon parts on your vehicle have a painted surface. They do
not need any special care and are cleaned just like any other painted
part ⇒page 144.Paint damageMinor damage to the paint, such as scratches or stone chips, should
be touched up without delay before the metal starts to corrode. Suit-
able touch-up brushes or sprays for your car can be obtained from
an Audi R8 dealer.
The number of the original paint finish on the vehicle is given on the
data sticker ⇒page 196.If corrosion is already visible it must be thoroughly removed by a
qualified workshop.
Windows
Clear vision is an essential safety factor.The windscreen must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax,
otherwise the windscreen wipers will not function properly
(juddering).
Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can be removed with a
window cleaning solution or a silicone remover. Wax residue can
only be removed with a special cleaner. Your Audi R8 dealer will be
able to provide you with more detailed information.
The windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular inter-
vals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the windows. Cloths used for
waxing and polishing contain residues that will cause smears on the
glass.
WARNING
Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visi-
bility conditions such as light rain, low sun or when driving at
night these coatings can cause increased dazzle, which is a
serious safety hazard. Such coatings can also cause the wiper
blades to judder.
Caution
•
Remove snow and ice from windows and mirrors with a plastic
scraper only. To avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass, the
scraper should only be pushed in one direction and not moved to
and fro.
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Care of vehicle and cleaning 148In the case of normal surface dirt you can use a foam cleaner. Use a
sponge to spread the foam on the textile surface and to work it into
the material lightly. However, make sure that the textile material
does not become soaking wet. Then dab off the foam with a dry and
absorbent cloth (e.g. a micro-fibre cloth) and vacuum off any
residue once the surface is completely dry.
Removal of stains
To treat stains caused by spilled drinks (coffee, fruit juice or similar)
make up a solution with a mild detergent for sensitive fabrics and
apply it with a sponge. If the stains are difficult to remove, a
washing paste can be applied directly onto the stain and worked
into the fabric. The surface will then have to be wiped with clear
water to remove any residue left by the paste. To do so, use a damp
cloth or sponge and then dab the stain with an absorbent cloth.
Treat chocolate or make-up stains with a washing paste and then
rinse off with water (using a damp sponge).
A spirit-based cleaner can be used to remove grease, oil, lipstick or
ball point pen. Then dab the dissolved grease or colour particles off
with an absorbent cloth or similar. You may also have to treat the
stain once more using washing paste and water.
If the covers or textile trim panels are badly soiled we recommend
that you have them cleaned by a professional cleaning company.
Note
Please make sure you close any velcro fasteners on your clothing, as
these could otherwise damage the upholstery.
Applies to vehicles: with leather upholsteryNatural leather
Audi does everything possible to preserve the special
qualities of leather as a natural product.General notes
We have a wide selection of leathers. The main type used is nappa
in various forms, that is leather with a smooth surface in a selection
of colours.
The amount of dye used determines the appearance and properties
of leather. If the leather is left in a more natural state, it retains its
typical natural appearance and is pleasant and comfortable for the
seat occupants. Fine veins, healed scars, insect bites, wrinkles and
a subtle variation in shading remain visible; these are the character-
istic features of genuine natural leather.
Natural napped leather does not have a protective surface coating
of dye. It is therefore somewhat more prone to damage. You should
bear this in mind if children or pets often travel in the car, or if there
are other factors that could lead to damage.
Types of leather with a coloured surface coating are likely to be
more resistant to damage. This has a great advantage for day-to-day
use. However, this means that the typical natural characteristics of
the surface are less apparent, though this does not affect quality.
Cleaning and care
Because of the natural properties of the specially selected hides
employed, the finished leather has a certain sensitivity to grease
and dirt, etc. so a degree of care is required in everyday use and
when looking after the leather. Dark clothing (especially if damp or
incorrectly dyed) may stain leather upholstery. Dust and grit in the
pores and seams can have an abrasive effect and damage the
surface of the leather. Therefore leather should be cleaned at
regular intervals, depending on the actual amount of use. When
they have been in use for a certain time, your car seats will acquire
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Care of vehicle and cleaning149
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data a typical and distinctive patina. This is characteristic for real leather
upholstery, and is a sign of genuine quality.
To maintain the value of natural leather you should note the
following points:
Caution
•
Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight for long periods, other-
wise it may tend to lose some of its colour. If the car is left for a
prolonged period in the bright sun, it is best to cover the leather.
•
Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as belts, zip fasteners,
rivets or similar, can also leave permanent scratches and rough
marks on the surface of the leather.Note
•
Use a suitable impregnating cream with ultra-violet protection at
regular intervals and after cleaning. This cream will nourish and
moisturise the leather, keep it supple and able to breathe. In addi-
tion, it will also help to protect the surface of the leather.
•
Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and remove fresh dirt as
necessary.
•
Remove stains from fresh ball-pen and other inks, lipstick, shoe
cream and similar stains as soon as possible.
•
Preserve the colour of the leather. A special coloured cream will
renew the colour of the leather when required and will eliminate
differences in colour.
Applies to vehicles: with leather upholsteryCleaning and care of leather upholstery
Natural leather requires an extra degree of attention and
care.Normal cleaning
– Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with water and wipe
over the leather surfaces.
More stubborn dirt
– More stubborn dirt can be removed using a mild soap
solution (pure liquid soap: two tablespoons dissolved in
one litre of water).
– It is very important not to let the water soak through the
leather or penetrate into the seams.
– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
Removal of stains
– Remove fresh water-based stains such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood etc. with an absorbent cloth or kitchen roll,
dried-on stains with the cleaning agent from the care set.
– Remove fresh fat-based stains on the surface such as
butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc. with an absorbent
cloth or kitchen roll or with the cleaning agent from the
care set.
–Treat fat-based, dried-in stains with grease-dissolving
spray.
–Treat less common stains such as ball-pen and other
inks, felt-tip pens, nail polish, dispersion paint, shoe
cream etc. with a special leather stain remover.
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Care of vehicle and cleaning 150
Leather care products
– The leather should be treated regularly (about twice a
year) with a special leather-care product.
– Apply the cream very sparingly.
– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.Should you have any questions regarding the care and cleaning of
the leather upholstery in your vehicle, we recommend that you
contact your Audi R8 dealer. The staff there will gladly provide you
with further information on cleaning and care of your upholstery
and on our complete range of leather care products:•
Cleaning and care set
•
Coloured leather-care cream
•
Stain remover for ball-pen inks, shoe cream etc.
•
Grease dissolving spray
•
New products and further developmentsCaution
On no account use solvents (such as petrol, turpentine), wax polish,
shoe cream or similar materials.Applies to vehicles: with Alcantara seat coversCleaning AlcantaraRemoving dust and dirt
– Moisten a cloth just a little and wipe down the seat
covers.
Removing stains
– Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or diluted methyl-
ated spirits.– Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
– Dry the area you have cleaned with a soft cloth.
Do not use leather cleaning products on Alcantara seat covers.
You may use a suitable shampoo on dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can have an abrasive effect
and damage the surface of the leather. If the car is left standing in
the sun for long periods, the leather should be protected against
direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. However, slight colour vari-
ations will arise in normal use.
Caution
•
Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain removers,
leather cleaning products or any similar products on Alcantara.
•
To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a qual-
ified workshop.
•
On no account use brushes, hard sponges or similar utensils.
Seat belts– Keep the seat belts clean.
– For cleaning, use a mild soap solution.
– Check the condition of the seat belts at regular intervals.Very dirty belts may not retract properly. Make sure that the inertia
reel seat belts are completely dry before allowing them to retract.
Caution
•
Do not remove the seat belts from the vehicle to clean them.
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Fuel and filling the tank 152Fuel and filling the tankPetrolPetrol grade
The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the fuel tank
flap.The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter and must only be
run on unleaded petrol. Unleaded petrol must comply with the
European EN 228 standard. The petrol grades have different octane
ratings (RON). If, in exceptional circumstances, the correct octane
rating is not available, please note the following:
Your engine normally requires Super Plus unleaded petrol (98 RON).
Premium unleaded fuel with 95 RON can also be used. This can,
however, result in a slight loss of power under certain driving condi-
tions. If premium unleaded petrol is not available, the engine can be
run on regular unleaded petrol with 91 RON as an emergency
measure. In this case only use moderate engine speeds and a light
throttle. Avoid using full throttle. Fill up with premium or Super Plus
petrol as soon as possible.
Caution
•
Petrol complying with the EN 228 standard can contain small
quantities of ethanol. However, “bioethanol fuels”, which are
retailed under various different names such as E50 and E85, and
which contain a large proportion of ethanol, must not be put into
the vehicle, as this would damage the fuel system.
•
Even one tankful of leaded fuel would permanently impair the
efficiency of the catalytic converter.
•
High engine speed and full throttle can damage the engine when
using petrol with an octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine.
Filling the tankFilling the tankUnscrewing the tank cap
– Press the top button to open the fuel tank flap.
– Unscrew the tank cap anti-clockwise.
– Hook the cap onto the open flap ⇒fig. 113.
Fig. 112 Tank flap
release button in the
driver's door trimFig. 113 Fuel tank flap
with tank cap attached
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Checking and topping up fluids 160Checking coolant level
Be careful when checking the coolant.– Switch off the ignition.
– Cover the cap on the expansion tank with a cloth, and
carefully unscrew the cap anti-clockwise ⇒.
– Read off the coolant level on the inside of the radiator
expansion tank ⇒fig. 120. When the engine is cold it
must be above the “min” mark. When the engine is hot it
may be slightly above the marked area.The expansion tank is located in the engine compartment on the
right. Its location is also shown in the illustration of the engine
compartment ⇒page 156.
The coolant level should be checked with the engine switched off.
The coolant level is monitored by a warning lamp in the instrument
cluster ⇒page 35. However, we recommend that it should be
checked occasionally.
Coolant losses
Any loss of coolant normally indicates a leak in the cooling system.
In this case the cooling system should be inspected by a qualified workshop without delay. It is not sufficient merely to top up the
coolant.
If there are no leaks in the system, a loss of coolant can only occur
if the coolant boils and is forced out of the system as a result of
overheating.
WARNING
•
The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap
on the expansion tank when the engine is hot: you could be
scalded by escaping steam
•
The coolant and coolant additive can be a health hazard. Store
the coolant additive in the original container in a safe place out of
reach of children – risk of poisoning.Caution
Radiator sealants must not be added to the coolant. Such additives
could seriously impair the function of the cooling system.Topping up the coolant– Add coolant.
– Turn the cap clockwise until it engages.Make sure that the coolant meets the required specifications
⇒page 159, “Coolant”. Do not use a different type of additive if anti-
freeze additive G12++ is not available. In this case use only water
and bring the coolant concentration back up to the correct level as
soon as possible by putting in the specified additive.
Always top up with fresh, unused coolant.
Fill up only to the top edge of the marked area. Excess coolant is
forced out of the system through the valve in the filler cap when the
engine gets hot.
Fig. 120 Engine
compartment: Mark-
ings on radiator expan-
sion tank
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Checking and topping up fluids163
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data removed from the vehicle cannot tip over. Otherwise, sulphuric acid
could escape.
Important safety warnings for handling a car battery
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and chemical burns as
well as the risk of accident or fire when working on the battery and
the electrical system.•
Switch off all electrical equipment and remove the ignition key
before starting any work on the vehicle electrical system. The
minus cable of the battery must be disconnected. When changing
a light bulb, it is sufficient to only turn off the light.
•
Keep children away from the battery and battery acid.
•
Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear protective gloves and
safety glasses. Do not tilt the battery - acid can leak out of the
vapour vent. Do not allow acid or lead particles to come into
contact with eyes, skin or clothing. If electrolyte should splash
into the eyes rinse at once for several minutes using clear water.
Then seek medical care immediately. Neutralize any acid splashes on the skin or clothing with soap solution, and rinse off with
plenty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor
immediately.
•
Keep open flames, sparks, uncovered lights and lit cigarettes
away from battery. Avoid sparks (including those from static
charges) when handling cables and electrical equipment. Never
cross the battery poles. The resulting high-energy sparks can
cause injury.
•
A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off when the
battery is under charge. Only charge battery in a well ventilated
area.
•
When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle's electrical
system, first disconnect the minus cable and then the plus cable.
•
Before reconnecting the battery, turn off all electrical equip-
ment. First connect the plus cable, then the minus cable. The
battery cables must not be connected to the wrong battery poles
- serious risk of cable fire.
•
Never charge a frozen or thawed out battery - risk of explosion
and chemical burns! A battery must be replaced once it has been
frozen. When it is discharged the battery can freeze at tempera-
tures around 0°C.
•
Never use a damaged battery - risk of explosion! Replace the
damaged battery immediately.Caution
•
Never disconnect the car's battery with the engine running or
with the ignition turned on, otherwise the electrical system or elec-
trical components will be damaged.
•
Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of
time, as the intense ultraviolet radiation can affect the battery
housing.

Wear safety glasses!

Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear protec-
tive gloves and safety glasses.

Keep open flames, sparks, uncovered lights and
lit cigarettes away from battery!

A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off
when the battery is under charge!

Keep children away from the battery and battery
acid.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and topping up fluids 164Charging the battery
A fully-charged battery is important for reliable starting.–Note the warnings ⇒ in “Important safety warnings
for handling a car battery” on page 163 and ⇒.
– Switch off the ignition and all electrical equipment.
– Only if “fast-charging”: both battery cables must be
disconnected (first the “negative” cable, then the “posi-
tive” cable).
– Connect the charger cables to the battery terminals,
noting the colour code (red is used for “positive”, black
or brown for “negative”).
– Now connect the battery charger to the mains and switch
on.
– After charging the battery: switch off the battery charger
and disconnect the mains cable.
– Now disconnect the charger cables.
– If necessary, reconnect both battery cables to the battery
(first the “positive” cable, then the “negative” cable).When charging with a low current (for example with a small battery
charger) the battery cables do not normally have to be discon-
nected. However, both battery cables must be disconnected before
“fast-charging” the battery with a high current. However, always
follow the instructions given by the manufacturer of the battery
charger.
Fast-charging a battery is dangerous ⇒ in “Important safety
warnings for handling a car battery” on page 163. This work should
only be performed by a competent mechanic with the proper equip-
ment. If necessary, we therefore recommend that this work should
only be performed by a qualified workshop.When it is discharged the battery can freeze at temperatures
around 0°C. A frozen battery must be thawed before charging ⇒.
However, it is advisable to replace the battery if it has frozen,
because the ice can crack the battery casing and allow the battery
acid to escape.
The battery caps should not be opened while the battery is being
charged.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen battery – it could explode. Windscreen washerPlain water on its own is not sufficient for the windscreen
washer system.The container for the windscreen washer
 is located in the
luggage compartment and contains the cleaning fluid for the wind-
screen and the headlight washer system ⇒fig. 121. Container
capacity: ⇒page 199.
Plain water on its own is not enough to clean the glass properly. It
is therefore advisable to add a suitable washer fluid additive (with
Fig. 121 Luggage
compartment: Wind-
screen washer
container
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