2008 AUDI A4 AVANT warning light

Cleaning and protection -
------------~---
High temperatures, as from exposure to intense sunlight, intensify
the corrosive effect particularly when humidity is high as well.
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 vehicle should be thoroughly
washed preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 254 . •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash. However, the effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care
material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper­
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau­
tions such as closing the windows and power roof* . Remove
antenna if applicable.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle -such as
spoilers, roof rack, etc . - it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
- Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the
WARNINGS=> & in "General informa­
tion" on
page 254 .
- First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge
glove or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed to pick up road dirt. In this way, you will not
scratch the paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the
next time you wash the car.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms . You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
.,
Vehicle care

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&, WARNING (continued )
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 254 .
0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of t he veh icle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this cou ld scratch your
veh ic le's paint or w indows .
• N ever wash your car in bright sunlight . Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint.
• When yo u wash your ca r in the winter : if you rinse you r ve hicle
with a hose, be carefu l not to aim the stream of water directly at
l ocks, or at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring spo nges or similar pr oducts. They can damage yo ur paint
finish .
• Never use a dry cloth or spo nge t o clean the head ligh ts . O nly use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent scratches . It is best to use soapy
water.
<£> For the sake of the environment
I n the interest of the environment, the vehic le shou ld on ly be
washed in specia l wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car w ith a high -p ressure
po wer w asher is s afe as l ong as you observe a few simple
rules .
-Before us ing the power washer, make s ure you have rea d
and unders tood the
WAR NINGS:=> & in "General infor­
mati on" o n
page 254.
-Always follow the operating instru ctio ns fo r th e p owe r
w ash er.
-Make sure t hat t he jet o n the spray hose pro duces a "fan
sha ped sp ray".
-Do not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft ma terials.
When cleaning the vehicle w ith a power washer always follow the
opera tin g instruc tions. Th is appl ies partic ula rly to the
operating
pre ssure
and t he spraying distance . Maintain a sufficient distance
t o so ft m ateria ls such as rubber hoses and sound/vib rat ion dead ­
ening materia ls (particularly on the underside of the engine hood).
D o no t use a jet w hich sprays wa ter in a
direct stream o r one tha t
has a
rotating j et .
Water temperature shou ld not exceed 140 °F (60
°CJ.
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays the water in a direct
s tream . This could cause invi sible damage to the tire s and weaken
them , even if the spray is from a relatively long distan ce and for a
s hort amount of time . Damaged and weakened tires c an f ail and
ca use ac cidents and personal injur y.
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehic le, always make sure that there is
su fficient dis tance between the spray head and so ft m ater ia ls l ike
rubber hoses , plastic parts and sound -deadening materials . Never
a im the spray head a t the same p oint for a l ong time . This a lso
applies to cleaning head lights and painted bumpers . Remember:
t he c loser t he n ozzle is to the surface o f the mate rial, the greater the
stress on the material. •

Cleaning and protection -------------~----
Waxing
The wax will protect the vehicle's paint.
-Use a m anually ap pli ed ca r wax occasionally to protect
t h e p aint.
A good wax coat ing protects t he vehicle pa int to a large extent
against the environmental factors listed
under ~ page 254,
"Washi ng" a nd eve n against s light sc ratches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
week after you r veh ic le has been delivered.
E ven if you regu lar ly use a
waxing process in automatic car washes,
we recommend that you manua lly apply a coat of wax to give the
paint extra protection, particu lar ly if water no longer beads on the
clean paint.
P rotec t plastic body parts wi th ca r wa x in the same way as the
vehic le body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to col lect on the front
bumper a nd o n th e forward area o f the hood. T hey are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 254 .
0 Note
Do not use car wax on
• matte or anod ized metal t rim
• rubber or rubber -like trim. •
Polishing
Polishin g restores the gloss on the paint.
Po lish your vehic le on ly if the paint has lost its shine and the g loss
cann ot be broug ht back wi th wax .
If the polish used does not contain preservative compounds, the
paint must be waxed
afterwards ~ page 257, "Waxing" .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 254 .
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal trim, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wax. •
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special care.
F o r envi ronmenta l reasons Audi fabr ica tes the brigh t trim s tri ps a nd
trim pieces from pure chromium -free a luminum.
Dirt patches and marks on the trim strips shou ld be removed with a
pH -balanced cleaning agent (do no t use a chro me cleaner). Audi
dea lers carry cleaning products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle a nd are not harmf ul to t he enviro nm ent .
T o avoid corrosion on the exterior tr im strips, on ly a pH -ba lanced
solution shou ld be used for the windshield washer.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page254 .•
Vehicle care

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Plastic and vinyl
Plastics needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for vinyl trim . Remove water spots and soap
traces with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to
rub dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe­
cially to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's luster and pliability .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
:::::, page 254. •
Applies to vehicles : with A lum inum t rim
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
:::::, page 254. •
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone
chips . Scratches should be touched up soon after they occur to
prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be smoothed with sand paper
and covered with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can
be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification
label:::::, page 340 .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
:::::, page 254. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup.
-Remove snow from windows using a brush.
-Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
-Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner. ._.

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Paint scratches should be touched up as soon as possible to prevent
corrosion=> page 258, "Touch-up pain t" .
& WARNING
• Moisture and i ce on brake s may affect braking effic iency -
=> page 239, "General inform ation ". Test th e brakes care full y after
each vehicle wa sh.
• Always read a nd heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254. •
A pplies to veh icl es : w ith Cas t alloy whee ls
Cast (light) alloy wheels
C ast (light) alloy wheels require special care .
-Wash the wheels with a spo nge or hose brush every
o th er week .
-For deep cleaning afte rwards, use only a dedicated acid ­
free cast a lloy whee l c leane r.
-Rub a coat of liquid wa x onto the r ims every three
months . Be sure to reach and t reat a ll pa rts of the r im .
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy wheels,
some special care is necessary. I n addit ion to road d irt and salt,
brake dust is also corrosive . If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly specia l
acid-free cleaners formu lated for a lloy rims . Safe
products are availab le at your Audi dealer. Never leave the cleaner
on the rims longer than spec ified on the label. If not rinsed off
promptly, the acid contained in some cleaners can attack the
threads on the wheel bo lts. Never use abrasive or metal po
lishing cleaning agents . If the protec ­
t ive coat ing has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road d irt, touch i t
up as soon as possib le .
& WARNING
• Moisture and i ce on bra kes m ay affect braking efficien cy
=> page 2 39 , "General information ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wash the vehicle .
• Alwa ys read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 254 . •
Body cavity sealing
The body c avity se aling does n ot need to be c hecke d.
All body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
given thor ough protecti on a t the fac tory.
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treat­ ment . If any wax should seep ou t of the cav ity w hen the a mbie n t
temperature is high, it can be removed with a p last ic scraper and a
suitable solvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous .
• Ben zine i s flammable and to xic. If you use benzine for removing
the wax, keep sparks , flame and lighted cigarettes away . Never
dump benz ine on the ground , into open streams or do wn sewage
dr ains .
• Be sure to ob serve all safet y and env ironmental r egulat ions .
Follow all instru ctions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254 . •

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Leather care
- Every half year use an approved leather care product
(available from your Audi dealer) to care for the leather.
- Apply the product very sparingly .
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If you have any questions about cleaning and caring for the leather
in your vehicle, it is best to contact your authorized Audi dealer, who
will be glad to help you and tell you about our full range of leather
care products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care kit
• Cremes to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc.
• Oil/grease dissolving spray
• New and upcoming products.
_& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on the leather surfaces in
your Audi.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist. •
Applies to vehi cles : wi th A lcanta ra up hols te ry
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Moisten a cloth,
squeeze out excess water and wipe down
the seat surfaces.
Removing stains
- Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or with diluted
ethyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
- Once the stain is no longer visible, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up the moisture.
Do not use leather cleaning products on Alcantara.
You may use a suitable shampoo for removing dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the
surface. 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. Slight color variations will develop in normal use and
are not an indication of material deterioration .
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e .g . lighter fluid, turpentine) ,
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara ® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids. •

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1o _ n __ l9III
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash.
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them.
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine => &.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts .
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor ­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
21 , or if you have the engine washed , the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore
essential to have a long-lasting corrosion protection reapplied to all
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the engine compart ­
ment.
& WARNING
Be aware: the engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to read the
information
=> page 265 . .,,_
21 Use only the corr ect cleaning solutions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care

-Checking and filling Pll':f..._--=--=--------------
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 203 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
- Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel=> fig. 203 in the direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 204 Release lever
under the hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind ­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Lift the hood
slightly=> ,&.
- Pull the release under the hood => fig. 204. This releases
the catch.
- Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by a gas strut.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood
if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart-.,..