2008 AUDI A4 warning

Audi side assist 154Applies to vehicles: with side assistSituation when you are slowly overtaking other vehiclesFig. 169 side assist: Other vehicles being overtaken slowly Warning lamp on exterior mirror does not light up
The vehicle you are overtaking has not yet been detected by the side
assist. The warning lamp on the exterior mirror does not light up
⇒ in “Safety notes” on page 157.
Warning lamp lights up in information mode
The vehicle you are passing slowly (with a speed differential less
than 15 km/h) is detected by the side assist. The warning lamp on
the exterior mirror lights up in the information mode.
Warning lamp flashes in warning mode
If you operate the turn signal in situation , the warning lamp on
the exterior mirror will flash briefly several times. This calls your attention to the presence of a vehicle which you may have
overlooked.
Applies to vehicles: with side assistSituation when you are rapidly overtaking other vehiclesFig. 170 side assist: Other vehicles being overtaken rapidly Warning lamp on exterior mirror does not light up
The vehicle you are overtaking has not yet been detected by the side
assist. The warning lamp on the exterior mirror does not light up
⇒ in “Safety notes” on page 157.
Warning lamp on exterior mirror does not light up
The vehicle you are passing rapidly (with a speed differential greater
than 15 km/h) is detected by the side assist but is not judged to be
critical in the event of a lane change since it is dropping back
A1A2A3
A2
A1A2
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Audi side assist155
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data quickly. The warning lamp on the exterior mirror does not light up
⇒ in “Safety notes” on page 157.
Warning lamp on exterior mirror does not light up
If you operate the turn signal in situation , the warning lamp on
the exterior mirror will still not give any warning ⇒ in “Safety
notes” on page 157.
Applies to vehicles: with side assistAdjusting brightness of warning lamp on exterior mirror
You can adjust the brightness of the warning lamp on the
sound system or MMI*.– Select: Function selector button > Audi side assist
> Warning lamp: brightness.The brightness of the warning lamp in both the information and
warning modes is regulated automatically according to the ambient
light level. You can also adjust the basic brightness level of the
warning lamp yourself via the function Warning lamp: brightness.
The new brightness level will be displayed briefly while you are
making the adjustment. The brightness level that is shown at this
point is the intensity of the lamp when it comes on in the informa-tion mode. The intensity of the lamp in the warning mode is linked
to the intensity in the information mode.
The brightness of the lamp in the information mode should be set
so that you can see the lamp when you glance at the exterior mirror,
but are not aware of it when looking forwards through the wind-
screen.
If you are in very dark or very light surroundings when you adjust the
brightness of the warning lamp, the automatic brightness control
may already have reached the lowest or the brightest setting. Under
these circumstances the brightness of the warning lamp on the
exterior mirror may not change visibly when you alter the basic
brightness level.
If you adjust the basic brightness level while the vehicle is in in very
dark or very light surroundings, the change in the setting may only
become visible in surroundings of more moderate brightness.
Note
•
The side assist is not active while you are changing the bright-
ness setting; the brief flash of the warning lamp is only intended to
help you make the desired setting.
•
Your personal settings are stored automatically and assigned to
the remote control key which is being used.
Applies to vehicles: with side assistGeneral notesThe side assist system has inherent limitations in some situations.
For this reason, please take particular care:•
When driving through bends ⇒page 156
•
On roads with varying lane widths ⇒page 156.
A3
A2
Fig. 171 Display:
Adjusting brightness
of warning lamp
CAR
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Audi side assist 156Applies to vehicles: with side assistWhen driving through bendsThe side assist cannot detect vehicles in tight bends (with a radius
of less than 200 metres).
When driving through a bend, the side assist may react to a vehicle
that is two lanes away and activate the warning lamp in the exterior
mirror.Applies to vehicles: with side assistLane widthsThe side assist system is designed to cover adjacent lanes of normal
width on both sides of your vehicle (left and right), regardless of whether you are driving directly in the centre of your lane or further
to one side.
If the lane widths are reduced, the sensors may also detect vehicles
in additional lanes, especially if you are driving further to one side
of your lane ⇒fig. 173. In such situations the system may react to
vehicles travelling two lanes away, so that the side assist activates
the information or the warning mode.
Similarly, if the lanes are very wide, it is possible that the system
may not detect vehicles in the adjacent lane because they are
outside the area covered by the sensors.
NotesApplies to vehicles: with side assistMessages in the instrument cluster displayShould the side assist be deactivated automatically, the indicator
lamp in the button will go out and a message will appear in the
instrument cluster display:
Audi side assist not available: sensors blocked
The sensors, which are not externally visible, are incorporated on
either side of the rear bumper ⇒page 149, fig. 163. To ensure the
proper function of the side assist system, do not attach any objects
(such as stickers or bicycle carriers, etc.) to the rear bumper in such
a way that they might obstruct these sensors. Should the function
of the system be impaired, the instrument cluster display will show
this message. Please check whether anything is obstructing the
sensors and remove the obstruction if necessary.
Audi side assist currently not available
The side assist is temporarily inoperative and cannot be switched
on (for instance if the battery is not sufficiently charged).
Fig. 172 Lanes of
normal width are
covered by the sensorsFig. 173 Narrow lanes:
side assist may react
to vehicles travelling
two lanes away
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Audi side assist157
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data Audi side assist: system fault
The system should be checked by an Audi dealership or other qual-
ified workshop.
Audi side assist not available when towing
On vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket the side assist func-
tion will be switched off automatically when the electrical connector
for the trailer is plugged in, and this message will appear in the
instrument cluster display. The side assist function may not be
switched off automatically if the towing bracket is not of the factory-
fitted type.
Applies to vehicles: with side assistSafety notesThe function of the side assist can be restricted when driving in
tight bends or over crests and in bad weather conditions.
It is possible that the radar sensors may register objects such as
high or offset roadside barriers as well as other vehicles.
The side assist system is programmed for lanes of a fixed width, and
is not able to measure differing lane widths. It monitors a zone
equivalent to one normal lane width on either side. If the lanes are
narrower than this, or if vehicles are not travelling in the centre of
the lanes, the system may give a warning for vehicles which it
judges to be critical, even though they are not in fact travelling in an
adjacent lane.
WARNING
•
Please note that the sensors are not always able to detect all
vehicles which may represent a potential hazard (accident risk).
•
Please note that the side assist is not able to give adequate
warning of vehicles approaching very fast from behind, or vehicles
that you are overtaking rapidly.
•
The radar sensor's "field of vision" can be impaired by rain,
snow or a lot of water on the road. This results in vehicles not
being reliably recognised or, in some circumstances, not being
detected at all by the side assist. Always give your full attention to
the position of your vehicle on the road and other nearby traffic.
•
The side assist only gives a warning of approaching vehicles
and vehicles in the blind spots when road speed is above 60 km/h.
•
Please note that the side assist does not operate in tight bends
(with a radius of less than 200 metres).
•
The side assist feature is not a substitute for the full concentra-
tion of the driver. The driver is always responsible for the safety of
lane changes and other manoeuvres. Always give your full atten-
tion to the position of your vehicle on the road and other nearby
traffic.Caution
To avoid impairing the function of the side assist, do not attach any
objects (e.g. stickers or bicycle carriers) in such a way that they
might interfere with the radar sensors in the rear bumper.
Note
For reasons of safety, the side assist system must be checked by a
qualified workshop if the positions of the radar sensors have been
affected by a rear-end collision, etc.Applies to vehicles: with side assistConformity certificationThe side assist employs radar sensors operating in one of two
frequency bands at 24 GHz. Please note that in some countries only
one of these two frequency bands is permitted. Accordingly, the
frequency band permitted in the country where the vehicle is being
WARNING (continued)
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Audi drive select161
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
WARNING
Always keep an eye on the traffic when using the Audi drive select
controls - Risk of accident!
Note
If you remove the ignition key, the AUTO mode will be selected auto-
matically the next time you switch on the ignition.Applies to vehicles: with MMI and Audi drive selectSettings for INDIVIDUAL driving mode
You can configure your own personal vehicle set-up on
the MMI*.– Select: Function selector button > Audi drive select
individual.To drive with the new vehicle set-up, remember to press the INDI-
VIDUAL* button ⇒page 160.
The system settings available on the MMI* depend on which equip-
ment is installed on your vehicle.
Note
Your settings in INDIVIDUAL* mode are stored automatically and
assigned to the remote control key currently in use.
Fig. 176 MMI display:
Changing the set-up
individually
CAR
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Automatic gearbox163
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– To prevent the vehicle from rolling away, apply the
parking brake before moving off on steep gradients
⇒.
– As soon as you accelerate as normal, the parking brake
will automatically be released and the vehicle will start
moving.
Pa rking the c ar
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒.
– Apply the parking brake.
– Press and hold the interlock button, move the selector
lever to P and release the interlock button.The engine c an only be started when the selector lever is at P or N.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selector lever to P. On a
gradient the parking brake should be applied first and the selector
lever should be moved to P. This reduces the load on the locking
mechanism and makes it easier to move the selector lever out of
position P.
Vehicles with multitronic® gearbox: Your vehicle is equipped with
the hill hold assist function which makes it easier to drive away on
a slope. The system is activated when you press and hold the brake
pedal for a few seconds. When you release the brake pedal the
braking force will be maintained for a moment in order to prevent
the vehicle rolling back when you drive away.
WARNING
•
Do not press the accelerator while selecting a gear with the
vehicle stationary and the engine running, as this could cause an
accident.
•
Please note that some power will still be transmitted when you
stop temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S or R. For this reason, to avoid risking an accident, apply the footbrake firmly
when stopping to prevent the vehicle rolling away.
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this
could cause an accident.
•
Vehicles with multitronic® gearbox: Please note that some
power will still be transmitted when you stop temporarily with the
selector lever in position D, S or R. For this reason, to avoid risking
an accident, apply the footbrake firmly when stopping to prevent
the vehicle rolling away.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic® or tiptronicSelector lever positions
This section covers all the selector lever positions.The current selector lever position is shown in the instrument
cluster display.
P - Parking lock
This locks the driving wheels mechanically. The parking lock must
only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒.
The interlock button (the button in the selector lever handle) must
be pressed in and the brake pedal must be depressed before
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 178 Display:
Selector lever posi-
tions
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Automatic gearbox 164moving the selector lever either in or out of position P. The lever can
only be moved out of position P when the ignition is on.
R - Reverse gear
When reverse gear is engaged the gearbox automatically selects the
lowest gear ratio.
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary
and the engine is idling ⇒.
To move the selector lever to position R, press in the interlock
button and at the same time press the brake pedal. Depending on
the model, one or two reversing lights will come on in selector lever
position R (when ignition is switched on).
N - Neutral
In this position the gearbox is in neutral ⇒.
D - Drive (forwards)
In this position the gearbox automatically selects the best gear
ratio. This depends on the engine load, the road speed and the
dynamic gear control program (DCP).
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to D if
the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
In some situations (such as on mountain roads or when towing a
trailer or caravan) it can be advantageous to switch temporarily to
tiptronic mode ⇒page 166, so that the gear ratios can be selected
manually to suit the driving conditions.
S - Sport position
Select this position if you wish to take full advantage of the car's
performance. This setting makes use of the engine's maximum
power output. When accelerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to S if
the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
WARNING
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this
could cause an accident.
•
In selector position D or S the vehicle must always be held with
the foot brake when the engine is running. This is because an auto-
matic gearbox still transmits power even at idling speed, and the
vehicle tends to “creep”. The throttle must on no account be
opened inadvertently (for instance by hand from the engine
compartment) when a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately (in some
cases even if the parking brake is engaged) and possibly cause an
accident.
•
To avoid accidents, apply the parking brake and put the
selector lever in position P before opening the bonnet and working
on the vehicle with the engine running. Please observe the impor-
tant safety warnings ⇒page 255, “Working on components in the
engine compartment”.Note
You can select the sport program for gear changes on vehicles with
Audi drive select* by activating the DYNAMIC mode. There is no S
position on the selector lever.•
Applies to vehicles with tiptronic gearbox:
•
If the lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, release the
accelerator and let the engine speed drop to idling before selecting
D or S again.
•
For the sake of fuel economy (and the environment), the gearbox
ratios on some models are designed so that maximum speed is only
obtained when the selector lever is at position S.
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Automatic gearbox 166
WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slippery or wet, the kick-
down feature could cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding.Applies to vehicles: with multitronic® or tiptronicDynamic gear control program (DCP)
The automatic gearbox is controlled electronically.The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled gearbox.
The gear ratios are selected automatically according to preset gear-
shift programmes.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox will select the most
economical shift programme. It will then change up early and delay
the downshifts to give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy acceleration, if you open the
throttle quickly, or if you use the kick-down or the car's maximum
speed, the gearbox will automatically select the more “sporty” shift
programmes.
The gearbox is self-adapting, and continuously selects the most
suitable shift programme. At the same time, the driver can also
make the gearbox switch to a more "sporty" programme by pressing
the accelerator quickly. Depending on road speed, this makes the
gearbox shift down early into a lower gear ratio for more rapid accel-
eration (for instance to pass another vehicle), without having to
press the accelerator all the way down into the kick-down position.
After the gearbox has shifted back up it returns to the original
programme, depending on your style of driving.
Vehicles with multitronic® gearbox: The gearbox continuously
adapts the gear ratios on uphill gradients. If the brake pedal is
pressed on a downhill gradient the gearbox automatically shifts to
a lower gear ratio. This increases the engine braking effect.Vehicles with tiptronic gearbox: The gearbox adapts the gearshifts
for uphill and downhill gradients. This prevents the gearbox from
shifting up and down unnecessarily on uphill gradients.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic® or tiptronicManual gear selection (tiptronic mode)
With the manual shift programme (tiptronic) the driver
can manually select pre-programmed gears.Switching over to the manual programme
– From position D, push the selector lever to the right. As
soon as the automatic gearbox has changed over to this
programme, the display will show the selected gear.
Fig. 180 Centre
console: Manual gear
selection (tiptronic
mode)Fig. 181 Display:
Manual gear selection
(tiptronic mode)
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