2008 AUDI A4 AVANT ABS

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& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction. Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risks.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics.
[ i] Tips
• If ABS is not functioning properly, a warning light will come on.
See~ page 21.
• If a fault occurs in the ABS , the EDL is also not functioning. This
is indicated by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power
and thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance . If the driver
presses the brake pedal very quickly, the brake assistant automati ­
cally boosts the braking force to the maximum level, up to the point
where the anti-lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the
wheels from locking. You should then keep the brake pedal pressed
until the vehicle has braked to the required speed. The brake assis ­
tant switches itself off as soon as you release the brake pedal.
The brake assistant will not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
& WARNING
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 the vehicle ahead of you too closely. An increased accident
risk cannot be compensated even by the brake assistant, so
always maintain a safe speed. •
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort. Your Audi is equipped with the electronically controlled
Servotronic® advanced power steering system. It adjusts
the degree of steering assistance to the roadspeed.
The advanced Servotronic ® power steering system senses the road
speed and electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortable and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed .
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result, the
steering wheel will be hard to turn.
The power steering fluid level is checked during the scheduled
maintenance services.
0 Note
If there is an electronic malfunction, servotronic will still function
like a conventional power steering system, providing a constant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed . This is most noticeable when turning the steering wheel at
low speeds (for example when parking), -more effort will be
required than usual.
.,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember t hat the add it ional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Trailer towing not only p laces more stress on the veh icle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For th is reasons, always fo llow the operating and dr iving instruc ­
t ions provided and use common sense. •
Technical requirements
Trailer hit ch
Use a weight -carrying hitch conforming to the gross trailer weight.
The hitc h must be suitab le for your veh ic le and tra iler and must be
mounted securely on the vehicle's chassis at a technically sound
l ocation. Use only a tra iler hitch with removable bal l mount. A lways
check with the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using t he correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch .
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it does not interfere
with the impact-absorb ing bumper system . No mod ifications
shou ld be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems. From
time to time, check that all hitch mount ing bo lts re main securely
fastened.
When you are not towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hit c h ball
mount. Th is prevents the hitch from causing damage s hou ld your
vehic le be struck from
behind ~& .
Tire pre ssure
When towing a trailer, inf late the tires of your vehic le to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the s ticker on the right door­
jamb . Inflate trai ler tires to tra iler and tire manufacturers' specifica­
t ions.
Lights
T he head ligh t settings shou ld be checked with the trailer at tached
before driving off. Have the head lights adjusted as necessary so
t hat you can see t he road ahead bu t not bl ind oncom ing traffic.
Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights are working prop ­
e rly .
Engine cool ing sy stem
Towing a t railer makes the eng ine work ha rder. It is imp ortant tha t
the cooling system's performance stands up to the additiona l
strain. Make sure that the coo ling system has enoug h fluid.
Traile r br ake s
If your tra ile r i s eq uipped wi th a braki ng system, check to be s ure
that it conforms to al l regu lations .
T he tra iler hydraulic brake system must no t be direct ly connected to
the vehic le's hydrau lic brake system .
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trai ler
t o the h itch on the vehicle. Leave enough s lack in t he chains to
permit turning corners. When you install safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
T he chains shou ld cross under t he trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch. _,,,

Traile r to win g -______________ _,..,_l'flllll
[ i] Tip s
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte ­
nance due to the extra load
=> page 346 . •
Parking on a slope
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
Wh en p arkin g:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the veh ic le and
the trailer wheels .
- Wit h chocks in p lace, s lowly release t he brakes until
wheel blocks absorb t he load.
- T urn t he wheels towards the curb .
- Apply the parking brake.
- Place an automatic transmission in
P , respect ively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
Wh en re starting aft er p arking:
- Start the e ngine .
- Shift transmission into gear.
- Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
from the wheel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the whee l blocks.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
[ i
] Tip s
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Chassis
Have the undercoating checke d for dam age from time to
ti m e.
The lower body shell of your Audi is a lso thoroughly protected
against corros ion.
Any damage to the undercoating caused by road hazards shou ld be
repa ired promptly.
& WARNING
Too mu ch undercoating in the wrong place s can cause a fire.
• Do not apply additional undercoating or ru stproofing on or
near the e xhau st manifold , ex haust pipe s, cata lyti c con verter or
heat sh ields . While driving , the sub stance used for underco ating
could overheat and cau se a fire.
• Alw ays read and heed all WARNINGS and other informat ion
=> pa ge 254 . •
Care of interior
Aluminum trim
Use on ly neutral-pH products to remove spots and depos its from
a lum inum surfaces. Chrome care products and alka line cleaners
wi ll attack aluminum s urfaces and ca n damage them over t ime.
& WARNING
Alway s re ad and heed all WARNING S and the inform ation
=> pag e 254. •
Ap plies to veh ic les: with Fab rics an d fabric cove rings
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics a nd fabr ic coverings (e .g. seats, doo r tr im panels, etc .)
shou ld be c leaned at regular intervals with a vacuum cleaner. This
re moves surface d irt part ic les which could become embedded in
the fabric through use . Steam cleaners shou ld not be used, because
the steam tends to push the dirt deeper into the fab ric a nd lock it
there .
Norm al cleaning
Genera lly, we recommend using a soft sponge or a lint -free
m icrof iber c lo th to the clean fabric . Brushes should on ly be used for
carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
by brushes.
Norma l sur face stains ca n be cleaned us ing a commercially ava il­
able foam cleaner. Spread the foam on the surface of the fabric with
a soft sponge and work it in ge ntly . Do not saturate t he fabr ic. Then
pat the foam dry us ing absorbent, dry cloths (e .g . microfiber cloth)
a n d vacuum i t after it has dr ied comple tely.
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e .g. coffee, fru it ju ice, etc.l can be
treated with a mild detergent solution. Apply the detergent so lution
with a sponge . In the case of stubborn stains, a de tergen t paste can
be applied direct ly to the stain and worked into the fabric . After ­
wards, use c opious a mounts of c lean water to rem ove the
remaining detergent . Apply the water with a damp cloth or sponge
a n d pat the fabric dry with an absorbe nt, dry c loth .
Stains from choco late or makeup should have detergent paste (e .g.
ox -ga ll soap) rubbed into them. Afterwards, remove the soap with
water (damp sponge).
A lcoho l can be used to treat stains from grease, oi l, lipstick or a ba ll­
point pen . Melted grease or dye must be patted off us ing abs orbent
material. It may be necessary to retreat the areas with detergent
paste and water . .,,,
Vehicle care

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soiling, etc.I, you will need to be somewhat careful with these
leathers, and a certain type of care is required. For example, dark
clothing materials can discolor leather seats (especially if such
clothing is damp and was not dyed correctly). Dust and dirt particles
in pores, folds, and seams can have an abrasive effect and can
damage the leather surface as well as weaken seams.
The leather shou ld be c leaned regularly as needed. After having
been used for a relatively long time, your leather seats will acquire
a rich aged finish . This is a characteristic of natural leather and a
sign of true quality.
In order to maintain the value of this natural product over the life of
your vehic le , you should fo llow the recommendations below:
0 Note
• To keep your leather from bleaching out, do not allow it to be
exposed to bright sunlight for long periods of time. If you have to
leave the vehicle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather
to protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.
• Sharp objects on c lothing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can leave permanent scratches or scrape marks on the
surface of the leather.
[ i ] Tips
• After each time you clean the leather and at regu lar intervals, use
a leather preservative creme that contains UV -blockers and that
works into the leather. This creme wil l nourish and moisturize the
leather, helping it to breathe and stay supple . It also helps to build
up a protective coating on the surface .
• Clean the leather every 2 -3 months, and clean any areas that get
soiled.
• Remove fresh marks made by ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc . as soon as possible.
• Preserve the color of the leather as needed by using a special
colored leather care creme to touch up areas of uneven color .•
• I I • • I
Ap plies to veh ic les : wi th n atural leat her
Cleaning and caring for leather upholstery
and trim
Natural leather requires special care and attention.
Normal cleaning
-Clean soiled areas with a slightly moistened cotton or
woolen cloth.
More stubborn dirt
-More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth satu­
rated with a mild soap solution (2 tablespoons mild
liquid soap).
-Never allow the soap solution to saturate the leather, and
make certain that no water soaks into the seams.
Wipe off the soap solution with a soft, dry cloth .
Cleaning spots
-Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
-Remove fresh grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the
leather.
-Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if oil/grease spots
have dried on.
-Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt
marker, fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish,
etc.) with a spot remover specifically formulated for
leather. _.,
Vehicle care

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Brake f luid
Checking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level c an be checked with a quick glance .
Fig. 212 Engin e
co mp artm ent: B rak e
f lu id rese rvoi r
Before you check a nything in the e ngine compartment,
alway s re ad and he ed all WARNINGS ~ & in "Working in
the engi ne com partment" on
page 273.
- Pull the rubber st rip @ up partially and lift the cover @
slightly~ fig. 212 .
- Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoi r
@. The brake fluid level must be between the "MIN" and
"MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the le ft side
~ page 275.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto ­
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level fal ls
considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U .S . models :
BRAKE, Canadian models:
0) will come on=> page 23 and~ page 31 . Do not continue to
opera te the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor ­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or qua lified workshop
and the cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the brake
warning/indicator light will illuminate . Contact an authorized Audi
dea ler
immedi atel y.•
Changing brake fluid
H ave the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni ­
cian.
Brake fluid absorbs mo isture from the air . If the water content in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The bo iling point of the brake fluid wil l a lso
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
e ver y tw o year s. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehic le Stan­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT
4".
The brake fluid rese rvo ir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho­
rized
Audi dealer . Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fl uid and the know-how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is po is o nou s. It m ust be stored only in the clo se d
orig inal container out of the re ach of children!
• Brake f ailure can resu lt from old o r inapp ropriat e brake fluid .
Ob serve the se precaution s:
- Use only brake fl uid that me ets SAE spe cific atio n
J 1703 and
conform s to F ederal Motor Vehicle Standard 11 6. Alway s check
with y our authorized A ud i dealer t o ma ke sure you are u sing
th e c orrect br ake fluid . The correct type of brake fluid i s al so
i ndicated on the brake flu id re ser voir .
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A
ABS (Anti- lock Brake System)
Warning/indicator lights ... .... .... 21
Accessories . .... .... .... .... .... ... 348
acoust ic park assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Adap tive light .. ... .... ... .. ...... ... 75
defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Adding Engine coo lant
282
Engine oi l ... ... .. .... .... ... .... 278
Windshield washer fluid .... .... .. 291
Additiona l accessories .. ...... ...... . 348
Additives Eng ine oi l .. ....... ....... ....... 278
Adjustable steering whee l column .. ... 134
Adjusting Instrument cluster il lumina tion ... .. . 15
Steering wheel co lumn . ...... .... 134
Advanced A irbag System . .... ... .... 191
Ch ildren ... ........... .... ... ... 211
Components ...... .... ... .... ... 194
Fr ont airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
How the c ompone nts wo rk togethe r 195
Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
PASSE NGER AIR BAG O FF light ..... 199
Weight -sensing mat ....... ... .... 211
Air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
See also Climate controls . . . . . . . . . . 125
Air conditioning Switching on and off 128
A ir distribution
C limate controls . ...... ... .... ... 130 Air outlets
Adjusting the outlets for rapid defrosting/de fogging .. ...... .... 131
Cl imate con trols ...... .... .... ... 131
Air quality sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Air recirculation .. ... .... .... .... ... 128
Clima te controls .. .... ..... .. .... 129
When should I use the air recircu lation?
129
Airbag Warning/indicator lights .... ... .... 20
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 , 205
Car e ...... .... .... .... .... .... .. 201
Child restraints .... .... .... .... .. 212
Componen ts (front airbags) .... ... . 194
Danger of fitting a chi ld safety seat on the
front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Disposal .. ....... .... .... .... ... 201
Front airbags . .... ... .... .... .... 191
How do the front
ai rbags work? .... 196
How many airbags does my vehicle have? 194
I mportant things to know ....... .. 1 87
I ndicator light ... .. .... .... ... ... 198
Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Repairs ...... .... ... .... .... .... 201
Side airbags ... ...... .... ... .. ... 203
Side curtain airbags (SIDEGUARD) .. 207
When must the sys tem be inspec ted? ...
198
Alloy w heels . .... .... .... .... .... .. 260
All -wh ee l driv e 242
Winter tir es ..... .... .... ... .. ... 310 A
lternator
See Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Aluminum al loy wheels . ...... .... ... 260
Ambient light ing . ....... .... ... .. .... 82
Anti-free ze
See Engine coolant system ........ 280
Anti -glare inside day -ni ght mi rro r .. ... . 90
An ti- lock B rake System (ABS)
How the ABS system works . ....... 240
Warning/indicator l ights ........... . 21
Anti -Slip R egulation Syst em (ASR)
How the sys tem works .... .... .... 238
An ti- theft systems
Anti -theft ala rm system .. ...... .... 64
Electronic immobilizer .. ... .... ... . 5 4
Tilt sensors . .... .... ... .... .... ... 65
Armrest Adjusting ...... .... ... .... ..... . 102
Storage bi n
Ashtray 1
02
Front . .... .... .... .... ... .... ... 119
Rear ...... .... .... .... ... .... ... 119
ASR Anti- Slip Regulation System .... ... 238
Asterisk What does it mean when something is marked with an asterisk? .. ... .... .. 6
Attachment hooks ... .... .... .... ... 112
Aud i Service Repa ir Manuals and Lite rature
346

Alph ab eti ca l ind ex -
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AUTO
Climate controls ...... .... ...... .. 127
Switching on .................... 127
When should I use AUTO? ......... 127
Auto Safety Hotline ................. . 175
Auto-C heck Contro l ...... .... ... .... .. 28
Au toma tic transmission ...... .... .. 30
Manua l transmission .. ...... .... .. 29
Automa tic a ir recircu lation ........... 129
Automatic belt retractor .......... .... 181
Automat ic car was h
See Washing ...... .... ... .... .... 255
Automatic headlight control ........... 73
Automatic Sh ift Lock (ASU .. ..... 145, 152
Automatic transmission 6-speed automatic transmission 143, 144
Ign it ion key safety lock . ...... .... . 136
Shift but tons .. ...... .... .... 148, 155
Steering wheel wit h tiptronic® . 148,155
See also mu ltit ronic™ ... .. ...... .. 149
Automat ic trans mission (6 -speed)
Automat ic Shift Lock (ASU ... .. ... . 145
Driving .. .. .. .... .... ..... .. .... 1 43
Dynamic shift program ... .... .... . 146
Fa il- safe mode . ...... .... .... .... 149
Kic k-down ... .... .... .... ... .... . 146
Manual shift program (tiptronic®) .. 147
Average speed ....................... 41
Avoid damaging the vehicle .. ...... .. 245
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
B
Battery .....
.... .... .... .... ... 285, 288
Battery location ins ide the eng ine
compartment .. ...... .... .... ... 285
Charging . ............ ........... 289
Checking battery acid level . ........ 288
Connecting .... .. ..... .... .... ... 290
Disconnecting ............ .... ... 290
Important warnings when working on the
battery ... .. .... .... .... .... ... 286
Removing the battery ... .. .... .... 290
Replacing the battery ............. 29 1
Winter operation . ................ 285
Working on the battery ............ 286
Bat tery vo ltage .. ... ... .... .... .... .. 35
Before driving ...................... 167
Blended gasoline . .... ............... 267
Body cavity sealing ...... .... .... ... . 260
Booster seats .......... .... .... ..... 218
How do I properly instal l a booster seat in
my vehicle? ... .. .... .... .... ... 218
Safety inst ructions ... .. .... .... ... 218
Brake assista nt ..... .... .... .... .... 241
Brake booster .......... ...... .... ... 240
Brake f luid
Changing the brake flu id ...... .... 284
Check ing the brake fluid leve l ...... 284
Reservoi r .... .... .... ..... .. .... . 28 4
What is the correct brake f luid level? 284
What shou ld I do if
t he brake fluid warning
l igh t comes on? ... .. .... .... .... 284 Brake system
...... .... .... .... .. 31,284
Anti -lock Brake System (ABS) ........ 21
Brake fluid ....................... 284
Brake f lu id spec ificat ions for refi ll and
replacement ..... .... .... .... ... 28 4
Brake pads ...................... 244
Warning/indicator lights ...... ...... 23
Brakes ...... .... .... .... ... .... .... 239
Adverse cond itions affec ting bra ke
performance ...... .... .... ..... 239
Break -in period ....... ........ ...... 243
Brake pads ........... .... .... ... 244
Tires .. .... ....... .... ...... ..... 243
Bu lbs .. ...... .... .... ... .... .... ... 328
C
Ca lif o rnia Pr opo sit ion 65 War ning ... .. 274
Batte ry specific . ...... .... .... .... 287
Capacities .......................... 343
Car care . .... .... ........... .... .... 254
Interior .... ... .... .... .... .... ... 261
Plastic and vinyl .... ............. . 258
Weatherstrips .... ... .. ...... .... . 259
Ca re of exterior ..... .... .... .... .... 254
Care, service and disposal Safety belt tensioner .............. 186
Cargo area
See Loading the luggage compartment .
173
Cargo net .......................... 108
Catalytic converter ...... .... .... .... 24 4
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data