Heating and cooling 78•
In position
the air will flow only to the driver/front passenger.
Air outlets and will be opened.
•
In position
the air will flow only to the footwells. Air outlets
will be opened.
•
In position
the air will flow only to the windows and the foot-
wells. Air outlets , and will be opened.
In addition to this there are several other possible combinations
(using intermediate positions), allowing you to adjust the air distri-
bution to suit individual requirements.
Note
When the air conditioner is operating in the cooling mode, the air
should be directed mainly to outlets and . To ensure adequate
cooling effect, you should not close these outlets completely.Defrosting
The windscreen and side windows are defrosted or
demisted as quickly as possible.– To switch on, press the button ⇒page 75, fig. 69.
– To switch off, press the button again, or press the
button.The temperature is regulated automatically. The air output is
increased to maximum and most of the air comes out of outlets 1
⇒page 77.
A small, residual amount of air will emerge from outlets 2, if they are
open ⇒page 77.
The air recirculation mode is switched off when the button is
pressed.
Automatic mode
Standard operating mode for all seasons.Switching on automatic mode
– Set the desired temperature.
– Press the button ⇒page 75, fig. 69.The automatic mode maintains a constant temperature inside the
vehicle and dehumidifies the air. Air temperature, air delivery and
air distribution are regulated automatically to reach the desired
interior temperature as quickly as possible, and then to maintain
this temperature. The system automatically compensates for any
variations in the outside temperature and for the effect of direct
sunlight.Air recirculation mode
The air recirculation setting prevents fumes etc. from
entering the interior.Switching on the air recirculation mode
– Press the button ⇒page 75, fig. 69, ⇒.
Switching off the air recirculation mode
– Press the button again, or
– Press the button, or
– Press the button.In this setting, the air is drawn from the interior of the vehicle,
filtered and continuously recirculated. We recommend using the air
recirculation mode for a brief period in the following circumstances
⇒:
A2
A3
A4
A1
A2
A4
A2
A3
AUTO
AUTO
AUTO
AUTO
document_0900452a816e6cc9.book Seite 78 Mittwoch, 21. Februar 2007 1:32 13
Heating and cooling79
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data When driving through a tunnel or in queues of traffic, to prevent
fumes entering the interior of the vehicle.
WARNING
For reasons of safety you should not leave the air recirculation
switched on for too long. This mode prevents fresh air from
entering the vehicle, so the windows can mist over if the air
cooling is switched off. Bad visibility can cause an accident.AC mode Activating the AC mode
– Press the button ⇒page 75, fig. 69.
Deactivating the AC mode
– Press the button again.In the AC mode, the air cooling system is switched on and the
heating and ventilation are regulated automatically.
Note
If the LED in the AC button should continue to light up when the AC
mode has been switched off (i.e. the air conditioner has been
switched off) this is due to a defect in one of the air conditioner
components. If a malfunction should occur, please contact a quali-
fied workshop.
Economical operation of the air conditioner
Economical operation of the air conditioner will help to
save fuel.When the air conditioner is operating in the cooling mode it
reduces engine power and increases fuel consumption. To
ensure that the cooling mode is activated only when really
necessary, please note the following points:
– Switch the AC mode off if you wish to save fuel.
– Switch the AC mode off if you decide to open the
windows while driving.
– If the vehicle has heated up after standing in the sun,
open the windows and doors for a short time to cool the
vehicle.
For the sake of the environmentBy saving fuel you also reduce the amount of pollutants emitted
from your vehicle.Rear window heating
The rear window heating helps to demist the rear window.– Press the
button ⇒page 75, fig. 69 to switch the rear
window heating on or off.
The rear window heating only works when the engine is running. An
indicator lamp in the button lights up when the rear window heater
is switched on.
The rear window heating switches off automatically after about
10 minutes.
ACACAC
document_0900452a816e6cc9.book Seite 79 Mittwoch, 21. Februar 2007 1:32 13
Heating and cooling 80
For the sake of the environmentSwitch off the heated rear window manually as soon as the rear
window is clear. By saving electrical power you can also save fuel.Applies to vehicles: with seat heatingSeat heating The seat cushions and backrests of the front seats can be
heated electrically.– Press the button for seat heating ⇒page 75, fig. 69
to set the desired seat temperature.Possible settings range from 1 to 3. The selected seat heating
setting is indicated by LEDs above the button.
Caution
To avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat heating, please
do not kneel on the seat or apply sharp pressure at a single point.
- +
- +
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Driving 84
WARNING
Please note that the handbrake should be released all the way. If it
is only partially released this will cause overheating of the rear
brakes, which can impair the function of the brake system and
could lead to an accident.
Caution
Once the vehicle has come to a standstill, always apply the hand-
brake firmly and then engage a gear.Parking the car
Please note the following points to ensure there is no risk
of the car rolling away accidentally after it is parked.– Use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Switch the engine off.
– Engage a gear ⇒.When parking on gradients
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle would roll into the kerb
if it did start to move accidentally.
WARNING
•
Do not leave anyone (especially children) in the vehicle when it
is locked. Locked doors could delay assistance in an emergency,
potentially putting lives at risk.
•
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. They could,
for example, release the handbrake or put the gearbox in neutral.
The vehicle could then start moving and cause an accident.
Applies to vehicles: with hill hold assistDriving away on a slopeThe hill hold assist function makes it easier to drive away on a slope.
The system is activated when you press and hold the brake pedal for
a few seconds.
When you release the brake pedal the braking force will be main-
tained for a moment in order to hold the vehicle and make it easier
for you to drive away.
WARNING
•
If you do not drive away immediately after releasing the brake
pedal the vehicle could start to roll back. You should therefore
immediately press the brake pedal or apply the handbrake.
•
If the engine should stall you must immediately press the brake
pedal or apply the handbrake firmly.
•
If you are driving away on a slope in stop-and-go traffic press
and hold the brake pedal for a few seconds before driving off. This
will prevent the vehicle from rolling back unintentionally.Note
To find out whether your vehicle is equipped with the “hill hold
assist” function please contact an Audi R8 dealership or qualified
workshop.
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Intelligent technology133
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data Switching off the ESP and traction control system
(ASR)
To switch off the ASR and ESP in certain situations (e.g. when
driving with snow chains, in deep snow, or on a loose surface, or
when rocking the car backwards and forwards to free it from mud)
press the button for longer than 3 seconds. The ESP warning
lamp will light up and the message ESP switched off will appear in
the driver information system display. You should only use this
feature if your driving ability and traffic conditions allow you to do
so safely.
Switching on the ESP/traction control system (ASR)
To activate the ASR/ESP, press the button again.
Overheating of the brakes
To prevent the disc brake of a braked wheel from overheating, the
EDL cuts out automatically on the wheel in question if subjected to
excessive loads. The car remains operational and will behave in the
same way as a car without EDL.
The EDL will switch on again automatically when the brake has
cooled down.
WARNING
•
The grip provided by the ESP, ABS, EDL and ASR systems is still
subject to the physical limits of adhesion. Always bear this in
mind, especially on wet or slippery roads. If you notice the
systems cutting in, you should reduce your speed immediately to
suit the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the extra safety
features tempt you into taking any risks when driving – this can
cause accidents.
•
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast, especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow too close behind the vehicle in front of you. Please bear in
mind that even ESP, ABS, EDL and ASR cannot compensate for the
increased accident risk.
•
When accelerating on a uniformly slippery surface (for instance
all four wheels on ice or snow), press the accelerator gradually and
carefully. The driven wheels may otherwise start to spin (in spite
of the EDL), which would impair the car's stability and could lead
to an accident.
•
Please note that, when the traction control system (ASR) or
ASR/ESP is switched off, the driven wheels may start to spin,
causing the vehicle to lose grip, in particular on slippery or wet
roads - danger of skidding!Note
•
In the event of a malfunction in the rear spoiler system or in the
Audi magnetic ride, it may not be possible to switch off the traction
control system (ASR) or ASR/ESP, or the ASR/ESP may be reactivated
automatically from the deactivated status.
•
If a malfunction should occur in the EDL, this is indicated by a
warning lamp ⇒page 19.
•
Some racing circuits (e.g. with banked curves) can affect the
behaviour of the ESP.
ESP
ESP
WARNING (continued)
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Your vehicle and the environment 138Your vehicle and the environmentRunning inA new vehicle should be run in over a distance of 2,500 km. During
the first 1,000 km do not use full throttle and do not exceed an
engine speed of 6,000 rpm. From 1,000 to 2,000 km you should also
avoid using full throttle. From 2,000 to 2,500 km you can then
increase engine speed gradually and briefly to 8,250 rpm.
During its first few hours of running, the internal friction in the
engine is greater than later on when all the moving parts have
bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 2,500 km also influences the
engine quality. After the first 2,500 km you should continue driving
at moderate engine speeds, in particular when the engine is cold.
This helps to reduce wear and tear on the engine and increases the
potential mileage which can be covered by the engine.
You should also avoid driving with the engine speed too low.
Change down to a lower gear when the engine no longer runs
“smoothly”. Excessively high engine speeds are prevented by an
automatic rev limiter.Emission control systemsThe vehicle must only be used with unleaded petrol, otherwise the
catalytic converter will be destroyed.
Never run the tank completely dry. The irregular fuel supply can
cause misfiring, which would allow unburnt fuel to enter the
exhaust system, which could cause overheating and damage the
catalytic converter.
WARNING
•
Because of the high temperatures which can occur in the emis-
sion control system, do not park the vehicle where the exhaust
can come into contact with flammable materials under the car
(e.g. on grass or at the forest edge). - Fire hazard!
•
Do not apply any underseal agents in the area around the
exhaust system - fire hazard!
Driving abroadUnleaded petrol
A car with catalytic converter must not be run with leaded petrol
⇒page 138. Before driving abroad make sure that unleaded petrol
is available there.
Changing over headlight dip settings
The asymmetric low beams of the headlights are designed to light
up the near side of the road more intensely. If you drive in a country
where traffic drives on the opposite side of the road to the home
country, this will dazzle oncoming traffic.
The headlight dip settings must be changed to avoid dazzling
oncoming traffic. For safety reasons, you should have the dip
settings changed by a qualified workshop.
For further information about changing the dip settings on xenon*
headlights, please contact your Audi R8 dealer or other qualified
workshop.
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Care of vehicle and cleaning147
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
•
The heating element for the rear window is located on the inner
side of the window. To avoid damaging the heating element, do not
put stickers on the inner side of the window.
•
Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!
Rubber seals (weatherstrips)The weatherstrips on the doors, windows, engine lid and luggage
lid will remain pliable and last longer if they are occasionally treated
with a suitable care product (for example silicone spray). This will
also prevent premature ageing and leaks. The doors will be easier to
open as well. If they are kept pliable, the door seals will be less likely
to freeze up in the winter.WheelsThe wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance.
It is important to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the
wheels at regular intervals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.
After washing, the wheels should only be cleaned with an "acid-
free" cleaning agent for alloy wheels. This is available from Audi R8
dealers and specialist retailers. Never leave the cleaning agent on
the rims for any longer than specified in the instructions before
rinsing it off. If the wheel cleaner fluid contains acid it can attack the
surfaces of the wheel bolts.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used. If the
protective paint coating is damaged by stone chips etc., the
damaged area should be touched up immediately.
WARNING
Please note when cleaning the wheels that water, ice and road salt
can impair the effectiveness of the brakes – this can cause an
accident.Care of interiorPlastic parts and leatherettePlastic parts and leatherette can be cleaned with a damp cloth. If
this is not sufficient, plastic parts and leatherette should only be
treated with a special solvent-free plastic cleaner.Applies to vehicles: with carbon partsCarbon par tsThe carbon parts on your vehicle have a painted surface. They do
not need any special care and are cleaned just like plastic parts
⇒page 147.Textile covers and trim partsTextile covers and trim parts (e.g. seats, door trim) should be
cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner. This will remove surface
dirt which could otherwise be rubbed into the textile material
during use. Do not use steam cleaners, as the steam could carry the
dirt deeper into the textile material.
Normal cleaning
We recommend that you use a soft sponge or lint-free, micro-fibre
cloth for normal cleaning. Only use brushes on floor coverings and
mats, as other textile surfaces could become damaged.
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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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