2008 AUDI A4 AVANT brake pads

Driver inf ormation di spl ay
priority 2 malfunction is detected, al l symbols will appear one after
t he other for about two seconds. •
Applie s to ve hicles: with Ligh ting pac kage
Light/rain* sensor defective fif>
~o Aut om atic hea dlig ht s/a utom atic w ipers defe ct iv e
If the symbol il luminates, the light /rain sensor has failed. For safety
reasons the low beams a re turned on permanently with the switch
in
AUTO. H owever, you can continue to turn the lights on and off
using the light sw itch . In the case of a defect in the ra in se nsor, the
windshield wiper lever functions are still available. Have the
l ight/ra in sensor checked as soon as poss ible at a dealersh ip .•
Fuel supply too low flt)
When the .ffi symbol illuminates, th is means there is about 2 to 2 .5
gallons (8 to 10 l itres) of fue l left in the fue l tank. Time to refuel!
=> page 268 . •
Checking the engine oil level ~ ..
When the ~ symbol illum inates, check the engine o il leve l as soon
as
possib le => page 277. Top off the oil at your ear liest opportunity
=> page 278 . •
Engine oil sensor defective ~ ...
If the ~-symbo l il lum inates, contact your authorized Audi dea ler
and have the oil sensor inspected . Until you have this done, check
the oi l leve l each t ime you refuel just to be on t he safe side
=> page 277. •
Worn brake pads 0
If the O symbo l illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dealer to
have the front brake pads inspected (on that occasion have the rear
brakes inspected as we ll to be safe) .•
Speed warning 1 8 (USA models)/ 0 (Canada
models)
I f the 0 symbo l il luminates, this means you are driving faster than
the set vehicle speed. Slow
down! => page 35. •
Applies to ve hicles : w ith d ynami c head light rang e adjus tment
Headlight range control defective {a:>
If the t0 illuminates, the dynamic head light range control is no
longer working properly. Have the system checked a nd repaired at
your Audi dealer .•
t·,···
Windshield washer fluid level too low <;p
If the O symbol illuminates, add windshield washer fluid to the
washer system and a lso fo r the headlight washer system*
=> page 291. •
Speed warning 2
0, (USA models)/ 9. (Canada models)
If the 0 symbol illum inates, this means you have driven faster than
the second set vehic le speed . S low
down!=> page 35 . •

____________________________________________ ln_t_ e_ l_ li _,..g "- e_ n
_ t_t_e _c_ h_ n_o _l_o _....g ,_,y'-----'""
• when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface (to allow the
wheels to dig in to reach firm ground)
• when trying to "rock" the vehicle free when it has become stuck .
The system should be reactivated once you are no longer in such
situations.
Both, the ABS and EDL systems are still functioning even if the ESP
is switched off.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See
also::::;, page 305, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels". •
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending largely on operating conditions and driving
habits::::;, &.
On vehicles which are driven mostly in stop -and -go city traffic or
which are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your
authorized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Mainte­
nance
& Warranty booklet.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
On steep slopes, you should use the braking effect of the engine
.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Moisture or road salt
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few cautious brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
driven on a salt -covered road and the brakes are not used. Likewise,
you clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads
with a few cautious applications of the
brake::::;, &.
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 not driven regularly or
only for short trips with little use of the brakes .
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 you should notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have
failed::::;, &.
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.
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit. Other
road users must not be put at risk - you may cause an accident!
.,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

llffl.___l_n _t _e _ll _ig =- e_n _ t_ te_ c_h _n_ o_ lo-'g'"'-=- y ___________________________________________ _
&, WARNING (continued )
• Before des cending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans­
mi ssion into a lo wer gear or lower driving po sition . Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
cau se the brake s to get hot and dimini sh braking efficiency .
• Do not ride the brakes by resting your foot on the ped al when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat, premature wear and in creased stopping distan ce.
• Under certain climati c and operating conditions such a s
passing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
v ehicle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced . In winter ,
ice can a ccumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Cautiously apply brakes for a te st. Brakes will dry and ice coating s
will be cleaned off after a few cautious brake applicat ions .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-co vered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking effi ciency . Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
c autious brake appli cations .
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
spoiler , be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed .
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective ­
ness of the entire brake system .
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance . Avo id driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop .•
Brake booster
T he brake booster add s ex tra braking power.
The bra ke booster works wit h vacuum pressure which is created
only whe n th e e ng in e is
runn ing=> &,.
& WARNING
• Never let the vehi cle roll to a stop with the engine shut off .
• If the brake booster is not working , for example when towing
your vehicle , or because the brake booster has somehow been
damaged, the brake pedal must be pre ssed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
A BS preven ts th e wh eels fr om lock ing up und er b rak ing.
T he ABS contributes effectively to vehicle contro l since it prevents
th e w heels from
lo cki ng w he n t he brakes a re a ppli ed. T h is mea ns
that the vehicle remains steerable and is less likely to skid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake . Just hold the brake
pedal down .
However, do not expect that the ABS shortens braking distance
u nder all circum sta nces. Whe n driving o n gravel or on newly fa lle n
snow on top of icy surfaces, braking distance may be even longer,
t herefore, under these ci rcums tances, it is espec ial ly i mpo rtant th at
you driv e slowly and with great care.
How the ABS system works
An automatic check is made when a speed of about 4 mph (6 km/h)
i s r eac hed . Wh en th is happe ns, a pumpi ng noi se can be hea rd.
I f a n indiv idual wheel be gins to rotat e too slowly i n relation to
vehic le speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatical ly reduces
brake pressur e to prevent tha t whee l from loc king .
Th is a utomatic adjustment process wi ll cause a
slight vibration of
t he brake peda l a nd s om e noi ses t o a lert y ou th at ve hicle spee d
must be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions. _..

llffll.,__ __ D_r_ iv _ in_.... g,_ a_n_ d __ e_n _v_ ir_o_ n_ m_ e_n_ t _____________________________________________ _
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effec t during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are i nstalled .
New brake pads have to be "burn ished in" befo re they have opti mal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you s hou ld avo id putti ng severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very h igh speeds or, for example, on moun ­
t ain passes .
& WARNING
New brake p ad s don't h ave th e be st sto pping p ower a nd mu st b e
" brok en -in " durin g th e initial 100 to 1 50 mil es (150 t o 200 kil ome ­
t e rs) of norm al cit y dri ving . You can comp en sa te for thi s by
pr ess ing the brak e ped al mor e firmly . Thi s al so appli es later when
ne w pad s a re in sta lled. •
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control sys tem
(catalytic conver ter) is functioning properly to ensure that
y o ur vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
-Always use lead-free gasoline => page 267, "Fuel supply".
-Never run the tank down a ll the way to empty.
-Never put too much motor o il in your engine => page 278,
"Add ing eng ine oil -Neve r try to push -or tow -s ta rt yo ur vehic le.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up " device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle. The catalyt ic converter burns many
of the po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere.
T he exc lusive use o f un leaded fue l is critica lly important for the l ife
of the catalytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate th e veh icle in ar eas wh ere the hot
ex hau st sys tem m ay come in contac t w ith dr y gra ss, bru sh , fuel
s pill or other material which can cau se a fire .
• Do not appl y additi ona l under coating or ru stpr oofing on or
ne ar the e xhau st m anifol d, ex haust pipe s, ca ta lytic converter or
he at shield s. Du ring dri ving , the sub sta nce u sed f or under coating
c ould overhe at and cau se a fir e.
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank filling with leaded fue l wi ll already
ser iously degrade the performance of the catalyt ic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oi l
level=> page 278.
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes comp letely empty . The
engine could misfire . Unburned fuel could also get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic conver ter to overheat .
• Do not turn off the ignition wh ile the vehicle is moving.
• Do not continue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fuel can reach the cata lyt ic converter . This cou ld result
in overheating of the converter, requiring its rep lacement .
• To assure eff icient operat ion of the Em iss ion Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Maintenance
& Warranty
booklet.
..,

ffl...__C_ h_ e_c _k_ i_n ..::g a- a_n_ d_ f_ il _li_ n""" g:::a.-___________________________________________ _
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 .
..,_

Alph ab eti ca l ind ex -
-------------=----
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

-Alphabetical index _ _e ____________________________________ _
Waxing .... .... ....... .... .... ... .. 257 Why safety belts? ....... .... .... 176, 177 y
Wear indica tor ..................... 303 Windows
Weatherstrips .... ... .... .... .... ... 259 Cleaning ........................ 258 Yellow symbols ... .... .... ...... ..... 33
Weights ........................... 341 Convenience close/open feature ..... 59
What happens if you wear your safety be lt too Defogging · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
...... 131
loose? ........................ 182 Defrosting ...................... 131
What happens to unbelted occupants? . 178 Rapid defrosting/defogging ........ 131
What impairs driving safety? .. ...... . 167
What should I do after changing a wheel? .. 300
What should I do after replacing whee ls? ...
300
Wheel bolts Torque ......................... 311
Wheel change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheels .. .... .... .... ....... .... ... 293
Cast a lloy ... .. .... .... .......... 260
Checking tire pressure ............ 299
Cold tire inflation pressure ...... .. 297
Genera l notes .... .... .... ...... . 293
G lossary of tire and loading terminology
294
New tires and whee ls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Stee l whee ls .......... .......... 259
Tires and vehicle load limits . . . . . . . 301
When must a safety belt be replaced? .. 180
When must the airbag system be inspected? 198
When should I adjust the tire pressures?
300
When should I check the tire pressures? 300 Windshield washer fluid
Low level .... ....... ...... .... ... 34
Windshield wipers Installing new wiper b lades ......... 88
Washer reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Winter driving Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Winter operation
Battery .. .... ....... ...... .... .. 285
Coolant system .................. 280
Ti res ....... .. .... .... .... ... ... 242
Winter tires .............. .......... 310
All -whee l drive ... .... ....... ..... 310
Wiper and washer system .. .... .... ... 85
Intermittent wiping ...... ....... ... 85
One-tap wiping ...... ...... .... ... 85
Rear window wiper .......... .. .... 86
Wiper blades Installing new wiper blades ....... .. 88
Replacing rear window wiper blades . 89
Worn brake pads .. ........ ... .... .... 34
X
Where can I find the tire pressures for my Xenon headlights ..... .... .... .... ... 79
car? ...... ... .... .... .... .... . 299 Xenon-L ights ... .. ...... .... ... .. ... 328