2008 AUDI A4 bonnet

Doors and windows 42Doors and windowsCentral locking systemDescriptionThe vehicle can be locked and unlocked via the central locking
system. You can use any of the following:•
Remote control key ⇒page 47
•
Door handles in conjunction with advanced key* ⇒page 47
•
Lock on driver's door ⇒page 48
•
Interior central locking switch ⇒page 49
Unlocking one side of the vehicle only
When you lock the vehicle, the central locking system will lock the
doors and the boot lid. When you unlock the vehicle, the central
locking system will unlock either the driver's door only, or all the
locks on the vehicle, depending on the setting you have selected on
the sound system or MMI* ⇒page 50.
Automatic locking function (Auto Lock)
The Auto Lock function locks the doors and the boot lid when the
vehicle exceeds a speed of about 15 km/h.
The vehicle is unlocked again when the ignition key is removed.
Alternatively, the vehicle can also be unlocked via the central
locking switch or by pulling one of the inside door handles. The Auto
Lock function can be switched on and off on the sound system or
MMI* ⇒page 50.
In the event of an accident in which the airbags inflate, the doors
will be automatically unlocked to facilitate access and assistance.
Deadlock mechanism
The central locking system is combined with a deadlock mecha-
nism. Once the vehicle has been locked from the outside, the door handles on the inside are deactivated. This makes it more difficult
to break into the vehicle.
Anti-theft alarm system*
If the anti-theft alarm system senses interference with the vehicle it
triggers an audible and visible alarm.
The anti-theft alarm system switches on automatically when the
vehicle is locked. It switches off automatically if you unlock the
vehicle using the remote control.
If you unlock the vehicle by inserting the key in the driver's door, the
ignition must be switched on within 15 seconds, otherwise the
alarm will be triggered. On some export versions, the alarm is trig-
gered immediately when you open a door.
To deactivate the alarm, press the unlock button on the remote
control key or switch on the ignition. The alarm will also switch itself
off when it comes to the end of its cycle.
Switch off the interior monitor and tow-away protection if you wish
to prevent the alarm from being triggered accidentally ⇒page 50.
Turn signals
The turn signals will flash twice when the vehicle is unlocked and
once when the vehicle is locked. If the turn signals do not flash, one
of the doors, the bonnet or the boot lid is still open.
Accidental lock-out
The central locking system prevents you from being locked out of
the vehicle in the following situations:
•
When the driver's door is open, it cannot be locked together with
the other doors by pressing the central locking switch and then
closing the door ⇒page 49.
•
On vehicles with advanced key*, the boot lid will be released
again automatically if the remote control key that was last in use is
left inside the boot when the boot lid is closed ⇒page 51.
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Doors and windows47
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Locking and unlocking the vehicle with the remote control key– Press the
 button to unlock the vehicle ⇒fig. 38.
– Press the  button to lock the vehicle ⇒.
– Press the 
button briefly to unlock the boot lid.
– Press the

button for at least one second to open the
boot lid.
The vehicle will be locked again automatically if you do not open
one of the doors, the boot lid or the bonnet within 60 seconds after
unlocking the car. This function prevents the vehicle from remaining
unlocked if the unlocking button is pressed by mistake.
The system will either unlock all the doors or certain doors only,
depending on the settings you have chosen on the sound system or
MMI* ⇒page 50.
On vehicles with the advanced key* the selector lever must be in P,
otherwise it will not be possible to lock the vehicle.
WARNING
Do not leave anyone (especially children) in the car if it is locked
from the outside and the deadlock mechanism is activated: the doors and windows cannot then be opened from the inside.
Locked doors could delay assistance in an emergency, potentially
putting lives at risk.
Note
Do not use the remote control key when the vehicle is out of sight.Applies to vehicles: with advanced keyLocking and unlocking the vehicle with the advanced key
The doors and the boot lid can be locked and unlocked
without handling the remote control key.Unlocking the vehicle
– Take hold of the door handle. The door will be unlocked
automatically.
– Pull the door handle to open the door.
Fig. 38 Remote control
key: Control buttons
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 39 Audi advanced
key: Unlocking one of
the doors
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Lights and vision 68when they are in the service position you will also avoid damaging
the paintwork on the bonnet.•
off - the windscreen wipers will be moved back to their original
position.Caution
Never move the vehicle with the front wiper arms in a raised posi-
tion as they are automatically moved back to their normal park posi-
tion above a speed of 6 km/h. The paintwork on the bonnet may be
damaged as a result.
Note
•
You can also use the service position, for example, if you want to
fix a cover over the windscreen in the winter to keep it clear of ice.
•
The service position is automatically set to off when you operate
the windscreen wiper lever or the road speed exceeds 6 km/h.
Changing wiper blades
Good wiper blades are essential for clear vision.Taking off the wiper blade
– Set the wipers to the service position ⇒page 67.– Lift the wiper arm away from the glass.
– Press the release button on the wiper blade ⇒fig. 70.
Hold the wiper blade firmly and press it forwards slightly
.
– Slide the wiper blade upwards .
Fitting the wiper blade
– Fit the new wiper blade into the mounting on the wiper
arm . You should hear it engage in the wiper arm.
– Fold the wiper arm back down onto the glass.
WARNING
•
To prevent smearing on the glass, the wiper blades should be
cleaned regularly using a window cleaner solution. If the wiper
blades are very dirty (insects etc.), they should be cleaned using a
sponge or cloth – bad visibility can cause accidents.
•
For safety, the wiper blades should be changed once or twice a
year.Caution
The windscreen wipers must be in the service position ⇒page 67
when replacing the blades! Otherwise the wiper motor or the paint-
work on the bonnet may be damaged.Rear-view mirrorsManual anti-dazzle adjustmentNormal setting
– Push the lever at the bottom of the mirror away from you.
Fig. 70 Removing the
wiper blades
A1
A2
A3
A4
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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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Care of vehicle and cleaning245
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
WARNING
•
Do not wash the vehicle with the ignition switched on – risk of
accident.
•
Do not clean the underside of the car or inside the wheel arches
without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on
sharp metal parts.
•
Take care when washing the car during the winter: moisture
and ice on the brakes may affect braking efficiency – this could
cause an accident.Caution
•
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight – otherwise the paint
can be damaged.
•
Do not use insect sponges or abrasive household sponges, etc.
– they can damage the surfaces.
•
The headlights should only be washed with water – do not wipe
them with a dry cloth or sponge. It is best to use soapy water.
•
Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the water out in a direct
stream. This could damage the tyres – even if the spray is kept at a
distance and only used for a very short time.For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special wash bays. This prevents
oily water from getting into the public drains. In some districts,
washing vehicles anywhere else may be prohibited.Waxing and polishingWaxing
Waxing protects the paintwork. It is time to apply a good coat of wax
when water no longer forms droplets and rolls off the clean paint-
work.Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the car wash, it is advis-
able to protect the paint with a coat of wax at least twice a year.
In the summer, you will find it is much easier to remove dead insects
(which accumulate on the bumper and the front of the bonnet) if the
car has been waxed recently.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the
gloss cannot be brought back by putting on wax.
The car must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not
contain wax compounds to seal the paint.
Caution
Matt painted and plastic parts must not be treated with wax or
polish.Ornamental trim and mouldingsThe metal brightwork on the body is made of aluminium rather than
chrome (for environmental reasons).
Dirt or marks on the trim mouldings should be removed with an
acid-free cleaning agent (do not use a chrome cleaner). Body polish
is also unsuitable for use on trim mouldings. The intensive cleaning
fluids often used before the car goes into a car wash may contain
alkaline substances, which can cause dull or milky patches when
they dry out.
Audi dealers carry stocks of cleaning products which have been
tested for use on your vehicle and are not harmful to the
environment.
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Checking and topping up fluids 254Checking and topping up fluidsBonnetReleasing the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.– Open the driver's door.
– Pull the lever under the dashboard in the direction indi-
cated (arrow) ⇒fig. 250.The bonnet springs out of its lock.
Opening the bonnetBefore opening the bonnet make sure that the windscreen
wiper arms are not lifted away from the glass. Otherwise the
paint may get damaged.
– Lift the bonnet slightly ⇒.
– Press the release catch under the bonnet upwards
⇒fig. 251. This will release the arrester hook.
– Open the bonnet.The bonnet is held open by two gas-filled struts.
WARNING
To avoid the risk of being scalded, never open the bonnet if you see
steam or coolant escaping from the engine compartment. Wait
until no steam or coolant can be seen before opening the bonnet.
Fig. 250 Detail of foot-
well on driver's side:
Release lever
Fig. 251 Release catch
under the bonnet
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Checking and topping up fluids 256Closing the bonnet– To close the bonnet, pull it down to overcome the spring
pressure.
– Then let it drop into the catches; do not press down ⇒.
WARNING
•
For safety reasons the bonnet must always be completely
closed when the vehicle is moving. After closing it always check
that it is properly secured. The bonnet must be flush with the adja-
cent body panels.
•
Should you notice that the bonnet is not safely secured when
the vehicle is moving, stop the vehicle immediately and close the
bonnet properly, otherwise it could cause an accident.
Engine compartment layoutEngine compartment layout
Main components for checking and refillingFig. 252 Typical locations of fluid containers, engine oil dipstick and engine oil
filler cap
Jump-start terminal (+) under a cover . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid reservoir (
) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil filler cap (

) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil dipstick* (orange) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator expansion tank () . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jump-start terminal (-) with hexagon head . . . . . . . . .
Windscreen washer container (
) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering . . . . . . . .
A1
265, 294
A2
262
A3
259
A4
258
A5
261
A6
265, 294
A7
267
A8
225
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Checking and topping up fluids259
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Applies to vehicles: without oil dipstickChecking the oil level (without dipstick)
You can check the engine oil level via the sound system or
MMI*.– Select: Function selector button > Oil level.
– Park your vehicle on a level surface.
– Allow the warm engine to run briefly at idling speed and
then switch off the ignition.
– Wait approx. 2 minutes.
– Read off the oil level on the display ⇒fig. 255. Top up the
engine oil if the bar in the oil level display is near the
“min” mark ⇒page 259.Depending on how you drive and the conditions in which the car is
used, oil consumption can be up to 0.5 ltr./1000 km. Oil consump-
tion is likely to be higher for the first 5000 km.
Note
The oil level display is intended solely for information purposes. An
oil level warning will appear in the instrument cluster if the oil level
is too low. Add more oil ⇒page 259. If the bonnet has been opened, the current oil level will be shown in the instrument cluster the next
time the ignition is switched on.
Topping up the engine oil

–Unscrew cap

from oil filler opening ⇒fig. 256.
– Carefully put in the specified grade of oil ⇒page 323
0.5 litres at a time.
– Check the oil level again after two minutes by calling up
the sound system or MMI* display or using the oil
dipstick ⇒page 258.
– If the oil level is too low, add more engine oil.
– Replace the oil filler cap carefully and push the dipstick
all the way in (on vehicles with dipstick).
WARNING
•
Ensure that no oil comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents when topping up: this could cause a fire.
•
Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into contact with engine
oil.
Fig. 255 Display: Oil
level
CAR
Fig. 256 Engine
compartment: Engine
oil filler cap
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