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
-~_C_ le_ a_n _ i_ n _, g:::..._ a_ n_d___,! p_ ro_ t_e _c _t_ i_o _n _____________________________________________ _
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. ._.
_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _a_ n_ in~ g_a
_ n_d_ p_ r_ o_ t
_ e_ c_t _io _ n __ ffllll
-Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush.
Use a non -abrasive
plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray deicer -
to remove
ice from windows and mirrors.
Residues of oil, grease or silicon e can be removed with
glass
cleaner
or silicone remover. However, remains of wax do require the
use of a specially formulated solvent. Please contact your Audi
dealer for advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals.
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces. Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
through the windows .
& WARNING
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent mate
rials. They can increase glare under poor visibility conditions such
as wetness, darkness, or when the sun is low on the horizon. In
addition, they can cause the windshield wipers to chatter.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires.
• To help prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth .•
Weatherstrips
Complete car care includes the weatherstrips as well.
-Apply a suitable rubber conditioner to the weatherstrips
from time to time.
To be able seal properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliable. Spray the weatherstrips with sili
cone or coat them with talcum powder or glycerine to retain the
flexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winter.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254.
[ i ] Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
rain. •
Applies to veh ic les : with steel whee ls (e .g . if ref itted w ith wint er t ires )
Steel wheels
The wheels also have to be cleaned.
-Always include the hub caps and wheel rims when
washing your vehicle to remove road dirt, salt sprays and
brake dust.
If necessary, use a commercial wheel cleaner to remove accumu
lated brake dust.
The wheel rims are easier to keep clean if they are regularly coated
with liquid wax .
.,_
Vehicle care
___________________________________________ C_ h_e _c_ k_ i_n ~g _ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ~g __ _
& WARNING (continued)
-The brake fluid must be new. Heavy use of the brakes can
cause a vapor lock if the brake fluid is left in the system too
long. This can seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety. This could result in an accident.
0 Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehicle.
W For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special tools required and the necessary expertise, we recom
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dealer. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With
high outside temperatures it is
advisable however to check the fluid level at regular intervals
through the transparent battery housing. Also check the fluid level
each time you charge the battery. After charging the battery
~ page 289, you should likewise check the battery acid level.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
Preserving battery charge on a vehicle not operated
for a long time
Some components of the electrical equipment (for example, the
electronic immobilizer) will keep drawing a low current even when the car is
not running
. This will eventually drain the battery
completely if your vehicle is left sitting for a long period of time
without being driven . To prevent this, either charge the battery
occasionally or disconnect the battery negative (ground) cable.
Winter operation
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop . This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumpt ion, particularly in city traff ic or
when traveling only short distances. Let your authorized Audi dealer
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 289. A well charged battery will not only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but will also last longer.
[ i] Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several weeks at extremely low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. This will prevent it from being damaged and
having to be replaced. •
Location of the vehicle battery
The vehicle battery is located in the plenum chamber at the back of
the engine
compartment~ page 275.
The positive(+) battery terminal is protected by a plastic cover. This cover must be removed to access to the positive(+) terminal when
connecting jumper cables to start the engine .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 273. •
Vehicle care
IIIII...__C_ h_ e_c _k_ i_n ..::g ,_ a_n_ d_ f_il _li _n....: g==-- --------------------------------------------
Ap plies to vehi cles: with ma gic e ye batte ries
Checking the battery acid level on magic eye
batter ies
The battery acid level in the battery can be checked
through the clear inspection window.
F ig . 2 14 En gin e
co mpa rtme nt: B atte ry
w it h m agic eye
(battery cov er
r e m ove d)
On top of the battery, there is a round "window" . This
window (m agic eye) changes color as the battery cha rge
and acid level change .
- Read and heed all
WARN INGS=> & in "Working on the
battery" on
page 286
- Read the ac id level from the window on the battery
=> page 288, fig. 214.
Air bubbles in the window can cause an inaccurate reading . Care
ful ly tap on the side of the window .
• If the window is
gre e n, the battery acid level is correct .
• I f the window has
no c olor or is bright y ello w, the battery acid
level is too low . Have the battery tested by your authori zed Audi
dea ler or a qualified workshop. •
If the window is
blac k, then the battery is insufficiently charged .
Recharge the battery as soon as possible
=> page 289 .
Under normal opera ting conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance.
At high outside temperatures it is advisable to check the battery acid level at regular intervals through the transparent battery
housing . Also check the acid level each time you charge the battery.
We recommend you have your authorized Audi dea ler test your
battery.
A battery that is older than five years and has a low acid level should
be rep laced.
0 Not e
Do not overfill the battery , otherwise battery acid will overflow
t hrough the vent opening. This can damage the paint and cause
corrosion .•
___ C_ h_ e_c _k_ i_n ~g _ a_n_ d_ f_ il _li_ n~ g~--------------------------------------------
For example, a charging current of 4.5 amps would be used on a
battery rated at 45 Ah. Rated capacity of the battery in your vehicle
is listed on the battery housing .
The battery caps should
not be opened when charging a battery.
& WARNING
Charging a battery can be dangerous.
• Always follow the operating instructions provided by the
battery charger manufacturer when charging your battery.
• Never charge a frozen battery . It may explode because of gas
trapped in the ice. Allow a frozen battery to thaw out first.
• Do not reuse batteries which were frozen. The battery housing
may have cracked and weakened when the battery froze.
• Charge the battery in a well ventilated area. Keep away from
open flame or electrical spark. Do not smoke. Hydrogen gas gener
ated by the battery is explosive.
• To reduce the danger of explosion, never connect or disconnect
charger cables while the charger is operating.
• Fast charging a battery is dangerous and should only be
attempted by a competent technician with the proper equipment.
• Battery acid that may spill during charging should be washed
off with a solution of warm water and baking soda to neutralize
the acid.
0 Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to start the engine . This will
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, relays, radio, etc ., as well as the battery charger. •
Disconnecting and connecting the battery
When the battery is disconnected some features on the
vehicle will become inoperative and you must reset them
when the battery is reconnected.
When you disconnect the vehicle battery note the following:
• some data stored in the driver information system is erased,
• the clock stops,
• the factory installed radio locks up,
• the engine management system and the one-touch-up and one
touch -down functions of the power windows no longer work .
After you reconnect the battery, you must reset the following
features :
Inoperative because the
battery was discon
nected:
clock
one-touch-up and one-touch
down feature on the power
windows
engine management
seat memory*
radio station coding
Removing battery
To reset after the battery is
reconnected, see:
=> page 14
=> page 67
=> page 135
=> page 100
Sound System Operating Instruc -
tions booklet .
•
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always
read and heed all WARNINGS :::> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on page
273. ~
___ T_ ir_e _ s_ a_ n
_ d_ w_ h_ e_ e_ls _________________________________________________ _
&, WARNING (continued)
crashes and serious personal injuries . Have worn or damaged tires
replaced immediately.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
especially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
low speed.
Glossary of tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
means the combined weight (in excess of those standard items
which may be replaced) of automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, and heater, to
the extent that these items are available as factory-installed equip
ment (whether installed or not).
Aspect ratio means the ratio of the height to the width of the tire in percent.
Numb ers of 55 or lower indicate a low sidewall for improved
steering response and better overall handling on dry pavement.
Bead means the part of the tire that is made of steel wires, wrapped or
reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to fit the rim.
Bead separation
means a breakdown of the bond between components in the bead.
Cord
means the strands forming the plies in the tire.
&, WARNING (continued)
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history." Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
• If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side
when driving, always stop as soon as it is safe to do so and check
the wheels and tires for damage.
•
Cold tire inflation pressure
means the tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
for a tire of a designated size that has not been driven for more than
a couple of miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the three hour period
before the tire pressure is measured or adjusted .
Curb weight
means the weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment
including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, air condi
tioning and additional weight of optional equipment.
Extra load tire
means a tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher infla
tion pressures then the corresponding standard tire. Extra load tires
my be identified as "XL", "xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or
"RF" on the side
wall.
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR")
means the load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured
at the tire-ground interfaces .
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ("GVWR")
means the maximum total loaded weight of the vehicle.
Fuses and bulbs -
----------------
0 Note No. Equipment Amps
• On no account should fuses be repaired (e.g. patched up with tin 13 Steering column module 10
foil or wire) as this may cause serious damage elsewhere in the elec -14 Brake lights 10
trical circuit or cause fire.
15 Instrument cluster, Navigation system 10
• If a fuse blows repeatedly, do not keep replacing it. Instead, have
the cause for the repeated short circuit or overload tracked and Garage door opener
5
fixed.
•
Level, tire pressure control, park assist,
17 light/rain sensor 10
Fuse list Automatic headlight range control, left 5
Fuses which can be replaced. 19 Fog lights, rear fog light 15
20
Not used
No. Equipment Amps
21 Not used
1 Air conditioner 10 Front doors 15
2
Footwell illumination 5 23 Rear doors 15
3 Heated washer jets 5 Central convenience electrical system 20
4 Radiator fan 5 25 Heater blower 30
5
Telephone, oil level sensor, multifunction 10 26 Rear window defogger 30
switch, rear heated Seat, shift gate
27 Socket for trailer towing (controller) 30
6
Air conditioner (air quality sensor), air pressure 5 28 Fuel pump 20 sensor
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), brake
29 Not used
7 light switch, clutch pedal switch, steering angle 10 Power sunroof 20
sensor Automatic transmission, mirror dimming, diag-
31 15 8 Telephone 5 nosis socket
9 Brake booster (vacuum pump) 15 Towing assembly 15
10
Automatic headlight beam adjustment, auto -5 33 Cigarette
lighter 20
matic headlight range control, right
Electrical socket 20
11
Airbag 5 35 Luggage compartment socket 20
12
Diagnosis socket 10 Windshield wiper system 30
Do -it -yourself service