2007 AUDI R8 stop start

Safe driving107
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
•
never stand on the seats,
•
never kneel on the seats,
•
never travel with the backrest reclined too far,
•
never lean against the dash panel,
•
never sit on the front edge of a seat,
•
never sit sideways,
•
never lean out of the window,
•
never put your feet out of the window,
•
never put your feet on the dash panel,
•
never put your feet on the seat cushion,
•
never ride in the footwell,
•
never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt.
WARNING
Sitting out of position increases the risk of severe injuries.•
Sitting out of position exposes the occupants to potentially
fatal injuries: if the airbags inflate they can strike any occupant
who is not in one of the designed seat positions.
•
Before starting a trip, sit in the correct position and stay in this
position as long as the vehicle is moving. Before every trip, make
sure all passengers are sitting in the correct positions and remain
correctly seated at all times ⇒page 67, “Seats and storage”.
Pedal are aPedal s
The pedals must always be free to move and must never
be obstructed by floor mats or any objects in the footwell.– Make sure that the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals
are not obstructed and can be pressed all the way down
to the floor.
– Make sure that all pedals are able to return freely to their
original positions.Only use floor mats which leave the pedal area free and can be
securely fastened in the footwell.
If one of the brake circuits should fail, increased brake pedal travel
will be required to bring the vehicle safely to a stop.
WARNING
Any obstructions that restrict pedal travel can cause loss of
vehicle control and critical situations in traffic.•
Never place objects in the driver's footwell. Such objects could
move under the pedals and interfere with their proper function. In
the event of sudden braking or a change of direction, you would
not be able to use the pedals. This could result in a loss of control
and possibly cause an accident.
Floor mats on the driver's side
Use only floor mats which can be securely fastened in the
footwell and do not obstruct the pedals.– Make sure that floor mats are securely fastened and
cannot interfere with the pedals ⇒.
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Intelligent technology 132Intelligent technologyElectronic stabilisation program (ESP)The Electronic Stabilisation Program increases the car's
stability.Description
The anti-lock brake system (ABS), the electronic differential lock
(EDL) and the traction control system (ASR) are all integrated into
the electronic stabilisation program (ESP). The ESP is designed to
enhance the control over the vehicle in critical handling situations,
such as when accelerating and cornering. It reduces the tendency to
skid at all speeds under all road conditions and improves the
stability and roadholding of the vehicle. ESP helps the car to start
moving, accelerate and climb a gradient in slippery conditions
where this may otherwise be difficult or even impossible. The ESP is
switched on automatically when the engine is started. It should
normally be left switched on at all times for optimum car stability.
Driving situations
If the car is oversteering (rear wheels losing grip first) the ESP
mainly brakes the outside front wheel; if the car is understeering
(front wheels losing grip first), the ESP brakes the inside rear wheel
and possibly also other wheels. This automatic brake application is
accompanied by characteristic noises.If, when braking, one of the wheels is turning too slowly in relation
to the road speed and is close to locking up, the system will reduce
the pressure in the brake line to this wheel. The driver is made aware
of this control process by a pulsating of the brake pedal and accom-
panying noise. In this situation it is important to keep the brake
pedal fully depressed so the ABS can regulate the brake application
- do not “pump” the brake pedal. However, the ABS will not neces-
sarily guarantee shorter stopping distances in all conditions. For
instance, on loose gravel or fresh snow on top of an icy surface the
stopping distance with ABS may even be slightly longer.
Whenever it detects a significant difference in the speed of the driven
wheels of one axle (for example, if the road is slippery on one side)
the electronic differential lock (EDL) applies the brake to slow down
the spinning wheel so that more of the power is directed to the
other wheels. This function is active up to about 100 km/h. The brake
system will make noises while it is working.
If one wheel has less grip and starts spinning (for instance, if one of
the driven wheels is on ice), press the accelerator hard until the car
starts moving.
If the wheels start to spin, the traction control system (ASR) auto-
matically reduces the engine torque to match the amount of grip
available.
Activating the sport mode
If required (for instance if you want to use the launch control), you
can switch the traction control system (ASR) and electronic stabili-
sation program (ESP) to sport mode by pressing the button
once. The ESP warning lamp will light up and the message ASR off
will appear in the driver information system display. The amount of
wheel slip is regulated according to the road speed. You should only
use this feature if your driving ability and traffic conditions allow
you to do so safely.
Fig. 110 Centre
console with ESP
switch
ESP
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Intelligent technology135
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data We ar
The rate of wear on the brake pads depends a great deal on how you
drive and the conditions in which the vehicle is operated. Negative
factors are, for instance, city traffic, frequent short trips or hard
driving with abrupt starts and stops.
Wet roads; road salt
When you are driving at a speed higher than 70 km/h and have the
windscreen wipers switched on (at or above intermittent setting 4)
the brake pads are very briefly brought into contact with the brake
discs. This automatic process which goes unnoticed by the driver is
carried out at regular intervals and is intended to improve braking
response in wet conditions.
In certain conditions, such as in heavy rain, or after washing the car
or driving through water, the full braking effect can be delayed by
moisture (or in winter by ice) on the discs and brake pads. The
brakes should be “dried” by pressing the pedal to restore full
braking effect.
The effectiveness of the brakes can also be temporarily reduced if
the car is driven for some distance without using the brakes when
there is a lot of salt on the road in winter. The layer of salt that accu-
mulates on the discs and pads can be removed with a few cautious
brake applications.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is used infrequently, or if
you only drive low mileages without using the brakes very much.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high speed ⇒.
Faults in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase suddenly, this may
mean that one of the two brake circuits has failed. Drive immedi-
ately to the nearest qualified workshop and have the fault rectified. On the way to the dealer, be prepared to use more pressure on the
brake pedal and allow for longer stopping distances.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
too low. The brake fluid level is monitored electronically.
Brake servo
The brake servo amplifies the pressure you apply to the brake pedal.
It only works when the engine is running.
WARNING
•
When applying the brakes to clean off deposits on the pads and
discs, select a clear, dry road. Be sure not to inconvenience or
endanger other road users; do not risk an accident.
•
Never let the car coast with the engine switched off (this can
cause accidents).Caution
•
Never let the brakes “drag” by leaving your foot on the pedal
when you do not really intend to brake. This overheats the brakes,
resulting in longer stopping distances and greater wear.
•
Before driving down a long, steep gradient, it is advisable to
reduce speed and select a lower gear. In this way you will make use
of the engine braking effect and relieve the load on the brakes. If you
still have to use the brakes, it is better to brake firmly at intervals
than to apply the brakes continuously.Note
•
If the brake servo is out of action due to a malfunction, or if the
car has to be towed, you will have to press the brake pedal consid-
erably harder to make up for the lack of servo assistance.
•
If you wish to equip the car with accessories such as a front
spoiler or wheel covers, it is important that the flow of air to the
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Checking and topping up fluids161
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data If a lot of coolant has been lost, wait for the engine to cool down
before putting in cold coolant. Failure to do so could result in
serious engine damage.
WARNING
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.
For the sake of the environment
Drained off coolant should not be used again. Drain off the used
coolant into a suitable container and dispose of it in the proper
manner (observe environmental regulations).Radiator fan
The radiator fan can start running spontaneously.The radiator fan is powered electrically. The speed of the fan is
varied according to the temperature registered by a thermostat.
The radiator fan or auxiliary fan can continue to run for as long as
10 minutes after stopping the engine – even after the ignition is
switched off. It may also start running suddenly after a while if•
residual heat raises the coolant temperature, or
•
the hot engine compartment is additionally heated up by the
sun.
Brake fluidNote
When required, the brake fluid should be changed by a
competent mechanic with the proper equipment.Brake fluid gradually absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. If the
water content in the brake fluid is too high, this may cause corrosion
in the brake system over time. In addition, the boiling point of the
brake fluid will be considerably reduced. This could adversely affect
the braking ability in certain circumstances.
For this reason the brake fluid must be changed periodically.
Your vehicle's Service Schedule will tell you when the brake fluid has
to be changed.
The brake fluid is replaced by your Audi R8 dealer as part of the
Inspection Service. They are familiar with the procedure and have
the necessary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper
facilities for disposing of the old fluid.
Use only the genuine brake fluid specified by the factory Qualified
workshops know that the brake fluid “DOT 4” is approved by Audi.
The brake fluid must be fresh and unused.
WARNING
Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake fluid
is left in the system for too long. This would seriously affect the
efficiency of the brakes and the safety of the car – risk of
accident.
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Self-help 188•
The hazard warning lights of both vehicles must normally be
switched on. However, observe any regulations to the contrary.
•
Make sure that the towrope is not twisted, as otherwise the front
towline anchorage on your vehicle could work itself loose.
Front towline anchorage
The front towline anchorage is only mounted if the vehicle
has to be towed.The towline anchorage is screwed anti-clockwise into the
screw connection (left-hand thread) which is located on the
right side of the front bumper behind the air intake grille.
– Take the towline anchorage out of the vehicle's tool kit
⇒page 178.
– Pull the bottom part of the grille out.
– Screw the towline anchorage firmly all the way into the
screw connection ⇒fig. 132.After use, unscrew the towline anchorage and put it back in the
toolbox. The towline anchorage should always be kept in the
vehicle.When refitting the air intake grille, first insert the lugs on the grille
into their mountings in the intake duct. Then press the grille firmly
back into place.
WARNING
If the towline anchorage is not screwed in as far as the stop, there
is a risk of the screw connection shearing off during towing (acci-
dent risk).Tow-starting
As a general rule, tow-starting is not recommended.Vehicles with manual gearbox
– Engage 2nd or 3rd gear before moving off.
– Press the clutch and hold the pedal down.
– Switch on the ignition.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts: press the clutch and put the
gear lever in neutral.
Vehicles with R tronic
– Switch on the ignition.
– When both vehicles are moving, engage a gear using the
selector lever or the paddle levers. Which gear is selected
will depend on how fast the vehicle is travelling.
– As soon as the engine starts: Put the gear lever in neutral.If the engine will not start, it is best to try starting it using the
battery of another vehicle ⇒page 185 before attempting to tow
start. You should only try to tow-start the engine if jump-starting is
Fig. 132 Detail from
front of vehicle, right
side with air intake
grille removed: Towline
anchorage screwed in
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