2007 AUDI R8 brake light

Driver information system37
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Check engine oil level

 Please check oil level
If the  symbol lights up, add 1 litre of oil at the next opportunity
⇒page 158.
Engine oil sensor defective

If the

symbol lights up, take the vehicle to a qualified workshop
and have the oil level sensor checked.
Front brake pads worn

If the
 symbol lights up, have the front brake pads (and, for
safety's sake the rear pads as well) inspected by a qualified
workshop.
Speed warning 1

If the
 symbol lights up, this means you are exceeding the speed
that has been pre-set with the speed warning function. You should
reduce your speed accordingly ⇒page 31.
Speed warning 2

If the
 symbol lights up, this means you are exceeding the speed
that has been pre-set for speed warning 2. You should reduce your
speed accordingly ⇒page 31.
Headlight range control defective

This symbol
 indicates a malfunction in the dynamic headlight
range control. Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop to have the
dynamic headlight range control function repaired.
Washer fluid level low

If the
 symbol lights up, top up the fluid for the windscreen
washer and headlight washer system ⇒page 164.
Battery voltage too high or too low

If the
 symbol lights up, take the vehicle to a qualified workshop
and have the following items checked:
•
Poly-V belt
•
Battery condition
It is also advisable to check whether the alternator warning lamp
has come on ⇒page 18.
Bulb monitor

The bulb monitor checks whether the lights on the vehicle
are working.If a defective bulb is detected, or if one of the lights has failed for
any reason, the bulb monitor symbol
 will appear in the display
together with an additional message (which goes out after
5 seconds). For instance, if the rear left turn signal is not working,
the display in the instrument cluster will show the following
message:
REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL
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Driver information system 38The message disappears after 5 seconds. Press the adjuster/test
button ⇒page 10, fig. 2 briefly if you wish to call up the message
again.
If the display indicates that one of the lights is not working, this can
have a number of causes:•
Bulb failure ⇒page 193.
•
A “blown” fuse ⇒page 190, “Changing fuses”.
•
Defective electrical wiring.
Have the components replaced or the wiring repaired as necessary
by a qualified workshop.
WARNING
•
Bulbs are sensitive to pressure. The glass can break when you
touch the bulb, causing injury.
•
Incorrect handling of the high-voltage element of xenon gas-
discharge bulbs can have potentially fatal consequences.
Brake light failure

If the symbol
 or the text BRAKE LIGHT lights up, check the
following components:
•
Brake light bulbs
•
Wiring connections
•
Brake light switch
Have the components repaired or replaced by a qualified workshop.Note
The brake light switch is only tested during the initial systems check
after starting the engine.
Applies to vehicles: with light sensor/ rain sensorLight sensor/rain sensor

This indicator lamp comes on if the automatic headlights/
automatic wipers are defective.If the
 symbol appears, this means that the light sensor/ rain
sensor is not functioning. For safety reasons, the dipped beam
headlights will then be switched on permanently when the light
switch is set to the AUTO position. However, you can still switch the
lights on and off in the normal way with the light switch. If the rain
sensor is defective, the functions operated via the windscreen wiper
lever will still be available. You should have the light sensor/ rain
sensor checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Applies to vehicles: with R tronicSelector lever defective
 and

  Selector lever defective! No R gear!
If these symbols light up, there is a fault in the R tronic selector
lever. The indicators on the selector lever will go out or flash. It is no
longer possible to engage reverse gear. If you were using the
gearbox in manual mode, it will switch back to automatic mode.
You can continue to change gear manually. Starting in neutral (N),
pull the paddle lever on the steering wheel to engage first gear.
The gearbox will now remain in manual mode and you can select the
gears using the paddle levers.
You should have the selector lever checked by a qualified workshop
as soon as possible.
Applies to vehicles: with R tronicClutch overheating
 and

  Clutch is overheating ! If possible please stop vehicle.
A8
A+
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Driving 82Starting the engine
Turn the key to this position to start the engine. While the engine is
being started the headlights are switched back to side lights and
other major electrical equipment is switched off. After the engine
has started the ignition key returns to position by itself.
The ignition key has to be turned back to position before re-
starting the engine. The starter inhibitor in the ignition lock
prevents the starter motor from engaging when the engine is
running, as this could cause damage.
WARNING
•
Wait for the vehicle to come to a standstill before removing the
ignition key from the lock. Otherwise the steering lock could
engage suddenly, which could cause an accident.
•
Always take the key with you when leaving the vehicle – even
if you only intend to be gone for a short time. This is especially
important if children are left in the car. They might otherwise be
able to start the engine or use power-operated equipment such as
the electric windows - this could lead to injuries.Note
If the battery has been disconnected and then reconnected it will be
necessary to leave the key in position for about 5 seconds before
starting the engine.Starting the engineThe engine can only be started with an original Audi key.On vehicles with R tronic, the engine can be started in
neutral (N) or in any gear (1 - 6 or R).
– Apply the handbrake firmly ⇒.– Push the clutch pedal all the way down (vehicles with
manual gearbox).
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 81, fig. 72
without pressing the accelerator.
– Release the ignition key as soon as the engine starts; the
starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the
engine. Neutral gear (N) will be engaged on vehicles with
Rtronic.
When starting from cold the engine may be a little noisy for the first
few seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic tappets.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If the engine fails to start straight-away, switch off the starter after
about 10 seconds and try again after about half a minute.
WARNING
•
Never run the engine in confined spaces. The exhaust gases are
toxic.
•
If the engine is running and a gear is engaged, you will need to
hold the car with the footbrake.Caution
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and extreme load conditions
until the engine has reached its normal operating temperature,
otherwise this can damage the engine.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine when the vehicle is stationary. You
should drive off immediately whenever possible. This will help avoid
unnecessary exhaust emissions.
A3
A2A1
A2
A3
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Driving83
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Switching off the engineOn vehicles with R tronic, the engine can be switched off in
neutral (N) or in any gear (1 - 6 or R).
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 81, fig. 72.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo and the power steering system work only
when the engine is running. You need more strength to steer and
brake the vehicle when the engine is switched off. This would
mean a greater risk of accidents and serious injury, because you
cannot steer and brake in the normal manner.Caution
•
If the engine has been working hard for a long time, there is a risk
of heat building up in the engine compartment after the engine has
been switched off; this could cause engine damage. For this reason,
you should leave the engine idling for a few minutes or drive at a
moderate speed to let the engine cool down before switching it off
⇒page 139.
•
Because the engine can get very hot after working hard, do not
park the vehicle on surfaces which could catch fire (e.g. on grass or
at the forest edge).Note
After the engine is stopped the radiator fan may run on for up to
10 minutes, even if the ignition is switched off. The fan may also
start running again after some time if the coolant temperature rises
due to a build-up of heat, or if the engine is hot and the engine
compartment is heated up further by direct sunlight.
HandbrakeHandbrake
The handbrake should be applied firmly to prevent the
vehicle from accidentally rolling away.Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up all the way.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and at the same time press in the
release button ⇒fig. 73 -arrow-.
– Keep the release button pressed and push the lever all
the way down ⇒.The handbrake warning lamp
 lights up when the handbrake is
applied with the ignition on.
A1
Fig. 73 Detail of the
centre console: Hand-
brake applied
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Driving 86Parking
If the parking manoeuvre involves shunting backwards and
forwards, the warning sound will be switched off temporarily while
you change gear. The warning beeps will start again as soon as the
vehicle comes closer to an obstacle.
Possible faults
If you hear a long beep when you engage reverse gear (or when you
activate the system using the switch) and the diode in the switch
starts flashing, there is a fault in the system. The long warning beep
is given just once to indicate the fault. If you try activating the
parking aid again, the warning beep will not sound and fault is only
indicated by the flashing diode. This also applies if you switch the
ignition off and then on again: the long warning beep will only
sound the first time you try activating the parking aid. Have the fault
rectified.
If there is a fault in the system there will be no confirming beep
when you activate the parking aid.
To ensure that the acoustic parking aid works properly, the sensors
must be kept clean and free of ice.
WARNING
•
The sensors have blind spots in which obstacles are not regis-
tered. It is particularly important to ensure that there are no small
children or animals near the vehicle when reversing, as the
sensors may not always be able to detect them.
•
The parking aid cannot replace the full concentration of the
driver. The driver is always responsible for safety during parking
and other manoeuvres.Caution
Please note that low obstacles detected by the system may no
longer be registered by the sensors as the car moves closer, so the
system will not give any further warning. Certain kinds of obstacles (such as wire fences, chains, thin painted posts or trailer draw bars,
etc) may not always be detected by the system, so take care not to
damage the vehicle in such cases.
Note
Your vehicle has low ground clearance. To help you prevent damage
to the vehicle, warning beeps will sound when you approach a steep
slope (e.g. in a car park or garage).Cruise control systemApplies to vehicles: with cruise control systemIntroduction
The cruise control system allows you to maintain a
constant speed.The cruise control system allows you to maintain any desired
constant cruising speed at speeds above about 30 km/h. Of course,
this is subject to power output and braking ability of the engine.
This helps to reduce fatigue, especially on long journeys.
The indicator lamp
 in the instrument cluster lights up when the
cruise control system is operating.
The cruise control system is automatically deactivated immediately
by
•
pressing the brake pedal.
•
pressing the clutch pedal.
WARNING
For safety reasons the cruise control system should not be used in
dense traffic or poor road conditions (such as slippery surfaces,
heavy rain, loose grit or gravel) – this could cause an accident.
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Automatic gearbox 90Automatic gearboxApplies to vehicles: with R tronicDescriptionR tronic is an automatic sequential-shift gearbox using shift-by-wire
technology to operate the clutch and change the gears.
The gears are engaged manually (the principle is similar to a manual
gearbox) but they can also be shifted automatically. The engine can
be started and stopped in any gear ⇒page 82.
The driver information system displays the selected mode, the
engaged gear and the sport function ⇒fig. 78.M - Manual mode
In this mode, you use the selector lever ⇒page 91 or the paddle
levers on the multi-function steering wheel ⇒page 93 to change
the forward gears up and down.
A - Automatic mode
In this mode the forward gears are shifted up and down automati-
cally according to the engine load and road speed ⇒page 92.
R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary
and the engine is idling ⇒.
To engage reverse gear press the brake pedal then move the
selector lever to the right before pulling it briefly towards the R
symbol. The reversing lights come on when reverse gear is engaged
with the ignition on.
N - Neutral
To engage neutral gear, the selector lever has to be moved to the
right or left. If reverse gear is engaged, move the selector lever to
the left. If a forward gear is engaged, move the selector lever to the
right.
Sport function
Press the button to activate the sport function. Upshifts are
then delayed to make use of the maximum engine power. The shift
time is reduced and the accelerator pedal has a lighter response. In
addition, the car does not automatically shift up a gear before the
maximum engine speed is reached when you are in manual mode.
The car will automatically shift up a gear in the normal way when
you are in automatic mode.
Fig. 77 Gear shift
patternFig. 78 Display:
Engaged gears
SPORT
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Automatic gearbox91
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
WARNING
•
The accelerator pedal must on no account be pressed inadvert-
ently when a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary. If this
were to happen, the vehicle would start to move immediately, and
even a firmly applied handbrake might not restrain it (accident
risk).
•
To avoid accidents, apply the handbrake firmly and select
neutral gear (N) before opening the engine lid and working on the
vehicle with the engine running. Please observe the important
safety warnings ⇒page 155, “Working on components in the
engine compartment”.Note
If you accidentally shift to N when driving, you can engage a gear in
the normal way using the selector lever or paddle levers.Applies to vehicles: with R tronicManual modeR tronic allows the driver to change gears manually.Driving away from a standstill
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Move the selector lever to the left.
– Briefly push the selector lever forwards .
– Release the brake and press the accelerator ⇒.
Changing gear
– Briefly push the selector lever forwards to change up
a gear.– Briefly pull the selector lever back to change down a
gear.
Stopping briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle when stationary
(for instance at traffic lights).
– Do not press the accelerator while waiting. Neutral gear
(N) will be engaged automatically and a warning tone will
sound after a certain period if the vehicle is at a standstill
and you do not press the brake pedal or accelerator.
Parking
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage a gear.
– Switch off the ignition.
Stopping on a slope
–Always apply the footbrake to hold the vehicle and
prevent it “rolling back” down the slope ⇒. Do not try
to stop the vehicle “rolling back” by increasing the
engine speed when a gear is engaged.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
Driving away on a slope
– Once you have engaged a gear, release the footbrake,
press the accelerator and gradually release the hand-
brake.
When accelerating in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th gear, the R tronic
gearbox automatically shifts up into the next gear shortly before the
A+A+
A-
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Automatic gearbox93
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Applies to vehicles: with R tronicLaunch control programmeThe launch control programme enables maximum accel-
eration.– Press the ESP switch once while the engine is running.
The ESP warning lamp
 will light up in the driver infor-
mation system display.
– Press and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
– Engage a gear.
– Press the button.
– Press the accelerator all the way down with your right
foot until the engine reaches a constant rpm speed.
– Take your left foot off the brake ⇒.
WARNING
•
Always adapt your driving style to the traffic conditions.
•
Only use the launch control programme when road and traffic
conditions permit, and make sure your manner of driving and
accelerating the vehicle does not inconvenience or endanger other
road users.
•
Please note that, when the ESP is switched off, the driven
wheels may start to spin, causing the vehicle to lose grip, in partic-
ular on slippery or wet roads - danger of skidding!
•
When acceleration has been completed, the ESP should be
reactivated by pressing the ESP switch.
Note
Accelerating with the launch control programme places a heavy
load on all parts of the vehicle. This can result in increased wear and
tear.Applies to vehicles: with R tronicSteering wheel with paddle leversThe paddle levers behind the steering wheel allow you to
change gear manually without taking your hands off the
steering wheel.– Briefly pull the left-hand paddle lever to change down
to a lower gear.
– Briefly pull the right-hand paddle lever to change up
to a higher gear.The manual shift programme can, of course, still be operated using
the selector lever in the centre console.
SPORT
Fig. 79 Sports steering
wheel with Paddle
leversA-A+
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