Intelligent technology203
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Dynamic power management
While the vehicle is moving, this function distributes the available
power to the various electrical components and systems according
to their requirements. The power management ensures that on-
board systems do not consume more electrical power than the
alternator can supply, and thus
maintains the maximum possible
battery power level.
Note
•
The power management system is not able to overcome the
given physical limits. Please reme mber that the power and life of
the battery are limited.
•
A warning message will appear ⇒page 204, “Driver message in
the instrument cluster display” if the battery power has dropped to
a level where reliable starting is impaired.
Points to remember
Starting ability has first priority.Short trips, city traffic and low te mperatures all place a heavy load
on the battery. In these conditions a large amount of power is
consumed, but only a small amount is supplied. The situation is also
critical if electrical equipment is in use when the engine is not
running. In this case power is consumed when none is being gener-
ated.
In these situations you will be aware that the power management
system is intervening to control the distribution of electrical power.
When the vehicle is parked for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle for a period of several days or weeks,
the power management will gradually shut off the on-board
systems one by one, or reduce the amount of current they are using.
This limits the amount of power consumed and helps to ensure reli-
able starting even after a long period. Please note that certain convenience features, such as the Audi
advanced key*, the remote control key or the electrical seat adjust-
ment may not be available when yo
u unlock the vehicle. These func-
tions will be restored when you switch on the ignition and start the
engine.
With the engine switched off
If you listen to the radio or us e the other MMI functions when the
engine is not running, this will discharge the battery.
The MMI display will show this wa rning message before the battery
power drops to a level where the starting ability is impaired.
Please start engine, otherwise system will switch off
in 3 minutes.
This message warns you that the system you are using will be
switched off automatically after 3 minutes. You should therefore
start the engine if you wish to continue using the system.
When the engine is running
Although the alternator generates electrical power, the battery can
still become discharged while the vehicle is being driven. This can
occur when a lot of power is being consumed but only a small
amount supplied, especially if the battery is not fully charged
initially.
To restore the necessary energy balance, the system will then
temporarily shut off the electrical components that are using a lot
of power, or reduce the current they are consuming. Heating
systems in particular use a large am ount of electrical power. If you
notice, for instance, that the seat heating* or the rear window
heater is not working, they may have been temporarily switched off
or regulated to a lower heat output. These systems will be available
again as soon as sufficient electrical power is available.
You may also notice that the engine runs at a slightly faster idling
speed. This is quite normal, and no cause for concern. The increased
idling speed allows the alternat or to meet the greater power
requirement and charge the battery at the same time.
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Intelligent technology
204Driver message in the instrument cluster displayIf battery power drops to a level at which you may encounter prob-
lems when starting the engine, the following message will appear
in the instrument cluster display:
Low battery charge: Battery will be charged while driving
This message reminds you that th e starting reliability may be
impaired. The message will disappear as soon as you set off and the
battery is charged.
Message comes on and goes out again
If the message appears in the displ ay after the ignition is switched
on or while driving, and goes out again after a period of time, the
battery has been charged up again sufficiently while the vehicle was
being driven.
Message comes on and does not go out
If the message appears in the displ ay after the ignition is switched
on or while driving, and does not go out again, the battery is not
being maintained at the proper power level. Starting reliability may
be impaired. You should have the battery checked by a qualified
workshop as soon as possible.
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Your vehicle and the environment205
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Your vehicle and the environmentRunning inA new vehicle should be run in over a distance of 1,500 km. For the
first 1,000 km the engine speed should not exceed 2/3 of the
maximum permissible engine speed – do not use full throttle and do
not tow a trailer or caravan. From 1,000 to 1,500 km you can gradu-
ally increase the engine rpm and road speed.
During its first few hours of running, the internal friction in the
engine is greater than later on when all the moving parts have
bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1,500 km also influences the
engine quality. After the first 1,500 km you should continue driving
at moderate engine speeds, in particular when the engine is cold.
This helps to reduce wear and tear on the engine and increases the
potential mileage which can be covered by the engine.
You should also avoid driving with the engine speed too low.
Change down to a lower gear when the engine no longer runs
“smoothly”. Excessively high engine speeds are prevented by an
automatic rev limiter.Emission control systemsCatalytic converter
Applies to vehicles with petrol engine: The vehicle must only be
used with unleaded petrol, otherwise the catalytic converter will be
destroyed.
Never run the tank completely dry. The irregular fuel supply can
cause misfiring, which would allow unburnt fuel to enter the
exhaust system, which could cause overheating and damage the
catalytic converter. Diesel particulate filter
Applies to vehicles
with diesel engine: The diesel particulate filter
can filter out almost all soot particles contained in the exhaust gas.
In normal driving conditions the filter is self-cleaning. Should the
self-cleaning function of the filter not be able to operate, e.g. when
the vehicle is continuously used only for short trips, the filter
becomes obstructed with soot and the symbol
for the diesel
particulate filter lights up ⇒page 37 .
WARNING
•
Because of the high temperatures which can occur in the emis-
sion control system (catalytic converter or diesel particulate
filter), do not park the vehicle where the exhaust can come into
contact with flammable materials under the car (e.g. on grass or
at the forest edge). - Fire hazard!
•
Do not apply any underseal agen ts in the area around the
exhaust system - fire hazard!
Driving abroadChanging over headlight dip settings
The asymmetric low beams of the headlights are designed to light
up the near side of the road more intensely. If you drive in a country
where traffic drives on the opposite side of the road to the home
country, this will dazzle oncoming traffic.
Headlights with halogen bulbs: To avoid dazzling oncoming traffic
you can apply opaque stickers to certain parts of the headlight
lenses.
Headlights with xenon gas-discharge bulbs*: The headlight dip
settings must be changed to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. For
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Your vehicle and the environment
206safety reasons, the dip settings may only be changed by a qualified
workshop.
For further information, please consult an Audi dealer or other qual-
ified workshop.
Unleaded petrol
A car with catalytic converter must not be run with leaded petrol
⇒ page 205 . Before driving abroad make sure that unleaded petrol
is available there.How to improve economy and minimise pollutionFuel economy, environmental impact and wear on the engine,
brakes and tyres depend largely on the way you drive the vehicle. By
adopting an economical driving style and anticipating the traffic
situation ahead, you can reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%. The
following section gives you some tips on lessening the impact on
the environment and reducing your operating costs at the same
time.
Anticipate well in advance
A car uses most fuel when accelerating. If you anticipate hazards
and speed changes well in advance, you will need to brake less and
thus accelerate less. Wherever possible, let the car slow down grad-
ually with a gear engaged , for instance when you can see that the
next traffic lights are red. This takes advantage of the engine
braking effect, reducing wear on the brakes and tyres. Emissions
and fuel consumption will drop to zero due to the overrun fuel cut-
off.
Change gear early to save fuel
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up quickly through the
gears. Running the engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses an
unnecessary amount of fuel. Manual gearbox:
Shift up to second gear as soon as possible. If
possible, we recommend shifting up to the next gear at approx.
2,000 rpm.
Automatic gearbox: Press the accelerator slowly and avoid using
the “kick-down” feature.
Avoid driving at high speed
Avoid travelling at top speed. Fuel consumption, exhaust emissions
and noise levels all increase very rapidly at higher speeds. Driving at
moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Do not let the engine idle for longer than necessary
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic
jam, at level crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The
fuel saved after only 30 - 40 seconds is greater than the amount of
fuel needed to restart the engine.
The engine takes a very long time to warm up when it is running at
idling speed. Mechanical wear and pollutant emissions are also
especially high during this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore best
to drive off immediately after starting the engine. Avoid running the
engine at high speed.
Regular servicing
Regular servicing can establish a basis for good fuel economy
before you start driving. A well-serviced engine gives you the
benefit of improved fuel efficiency as well as maximum reliability
and an enhanced resale value. A badly tuned engine can consume
up to ten percent more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short trips
The engine and emission control system need to reach their proper
working temperature in order to minimise fuel consumption and
emissions.
A cold engine uses disproportionately more fuel. The engine only
reaches its working temperature after about four kilometres, when
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Your vehicle and the environment207
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
fuel consumption will return to a normal level. This is the reason
why we recommend avoiding short trips wherever possible.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Always make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressures
⇒
page 243 to save fuel. If the tyre pressures are just 0.5 bar too low,
this can increase the fuel consumption by as much as 5 %. Due to
the greater rolling resistance, under-inflation also increases tyre
wear and impairs handling.
Do not use winter tyres all through the year; they will increase fuel
consumption by up to 10 %.
Avoid carrying unneccessary loads
Every kilo of extra weight will increase the fuel consumption, so it is
worth checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make
sure that no unnecessary loads are being transported.
A roof carrier is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even
when it is no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120 km/h your car will
use about 12 % more fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance
caused by the roof carrier - even when it is empty.
Save electrical energy
The engine drives the alternator to generate electricity. This means
that fuel consumption rises when more power is required for elec-
trical equipment. Switch off electrical equipment when it is not
needed. Electrical equipment which uses a lot of electricity includes
the blower (at a high se tting), the rear window heating and the seat
heating*.
Environmental compatibilityEnvironmental protection is a top priority in the design, choice of
materials and production of your new Audi. Design measures for economical recycling
•
Joints and connections designed for ease of dismantling
•
Modular construction to
facilitate dismantling
•
Increased use of single-grade materials
•
Plastic parts and elastomers are labelled in accordance with ISO
1043, ISO 11469 and ISO 1629
Choice of materials
•
Nearly all materials used can be recycled
•
Similar types of plastics grouped together for easy recycling
•
Recycled materials used in manufacture
•
Reduced vapour emissions from plastics
•
CFC-free refrigerant in air conditioner
Compliance with the laws prohibiting the use of : Cadmium,
asbestos, lead, mercury and chrome VI.
Manufacturing methods
•
Using recycling material for manufacturing plastic parts
•
Solvent-free cavity sealing
•
Solvent-free wax for protecting the vehicles in transit
•
Solvent-free adhesives
•
No CFCs used in production
•
Surplus materials used extensively for energy conversion and
building materials
•
Overall water consumption reduced
•
Heat recovery systems
•
Water-soluble paint
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Towing a trailer
208Towing a trailerDriving the vehicle with a trailer or
caravanTechnical requirements
The towing bracket must comply with certain technical
requirements.Your car is intended mainly for transporting passengers and
luggage. However, if suitably equipped, it can also be used to tow a
trailer or caravan.
If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing bracket it will
already have the necessary technical modifications and meet the
statutory requirements.
A 13-pin socket is provided to make the electrical connection
between the car and the trailer. If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you can
use an adapter cable. This is available from Audi dealers.
WARNING
If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the installation should be carried
out by a qualified workshop.•
In particular in high outside tem peratures it is not possible to
drive up long steep gradients with out a suitable cooling system.
The engine would then overheat.
•
Incorrect installation can result in a safety risk.
Points to check before towingTrailer weights
Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer weights ⇒page 295 .If you do not load the trailer up
to the maximum permitted trailer
weight, you can then climb correspondingly steeper gradients.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only applicable for altitudes
up to 1000 m above sea level. With increasing altitude the engine
power and therefore the car's climbing ability are impaired because
of the reduced air density, so the maximum trailer weight has to be
reduced accordingly. The weight of the car and trailer must be
reduced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or part thereof). This
figure refers to the combined weight of the (loaded) vehicle and
(loaded) trailer.
The figures for the draw bar weight that appear on the identification
plate of the towing bracket are for certification purposes only. The
correct figures for your specific vehicle, which may be lower than
these figures for the towing bracket, are given in the registration
documents. Also refer to ⇒page 295 .
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so th at heavy objects are as near to the
axle as possible. Loads carried in the trailer must be secured to
prevent them slipping.
Where possible, operate the trai ler with the maximum permitted
draw bar weight on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not
exceed the specified limit.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your car and adjust for “full load” condi-
tions (refer to the sticker listing the tyre pressures on the end face
of the driver's door). It may also be necessary to adjust the tyre pres-
sures on the trailer according to the recommendations of the trailer
manufacturer.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer
with the standard mirrors. If this is not the case you should have
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Towing a trailer
210•
In low outside temperatures , both the towing vehicle and the
trailer should be fitted with winter tyres.
WARNING
It is essential that you adjust your speed to suit the weather, road
and traffic conditions. Do not let the trailer stabilisation system
tempt you into taking any risks wh en driving – this can cause acci-
dents.•
The ESP and trailer stabilisatio n system cannot defy the laws
of physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery
and wet roads and when towing a trailer with a light load.
•
The trailer stabilisation system is functional, regardless of
whether the trailer has a mechanical overrun brake or not.
•
The trailer stabilisation system is not always able to detect
swaying of trailers with a light load and will therefore not inter-
vene.
•
A trailer can still “jack-knife” on slippery roads with little grip,
even if the towing vehicle is eq uipped with the trailer stabilisation
system.
•
Trailers with a high centre of gravity may even tip over before
they start to sway sideways.
•
If you are not towing a trailer, but the trailer socket is being
used (e.g. for an illuminated bicycl e rack), the trailer stabilisation
system may be activated in extreme driving conditions.
•
Please note the additional information and warnings
⇒ page 210 .
Notes on towing
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care.Weight distribution
Try to avoid towing a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle. If this
cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow for the unbalanced
weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with increasing speed.
For this reason it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permis-
sible top speed in unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions.
This applies especially on a downhill gradient.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows
the slightest sign of swaying. Never try to stop the swaying by accel-
erating further.
Always brake in good time. If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply
the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This will prevent the jerking
that can be caused by the trailer wheels locking. Change down in
good time before going down a steep hill so that you can use the
engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recom-
mend having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a
high trailer weight. They can be purchased and installed at an Audi
dealer.
Overheating
When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running
fast in low gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature
gauge ⇒page 11 . Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to
the top end of the scale. If the temperature warning lamp
in the
instrument cluster should start flashing, stop the car and let the
engine cool down by running it at idling speed for a few minutes.
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Fuel and filling the tank227
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Fuel and filling the tankPetrolApplies to vehicles: with petrol enginePetrol grade
The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the fuel tank
flap.The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter and must only be
run on unleaded petrol . Unleaded petrol must comply with the
European EN 228 standard. The petrol grades have different octane
ratings (RON). If, in exceptional circumstances, the correct octane
rating is not available, please note the following:•
For engines which require Premium unleaded petrol (95 RON)
according to ⇒page 295, “Performance, weights and dimensions”:
Regular unleaded fuel with 91 RON can also be used. This will,
however, result in a slight loss of power.
•
For engines which require Super Plus unleaded petrol (98 RON)
according to ⇒page 295, “Performance, weights and dimensions”:
Premium unleaded fuel with 95 RON can also be used. This can,
however, result in a slight loss of power under certain driving condi-
tions. – If premium unleaded petrol is not available, the engine can
be run on regular unleaded petrol with 91 RON as an emergency
measure . In this case only use moderate engine speeds and a light
throttle. Avoid using full throttle. Fi ll up with premium or Super Plus
petrol as soon as possible.Caution
•
Petrol complying with the EN 228 standard can contain small
quantities of ethanol. However, “bioethanol fuels”, which are
retailed under various different names such as E50 and E85, and
which contain a large proportion of ethanol, must not be put into
the vehicle, as this would damage the fuel system.
•
Even one tankful of leaded fuel would permanently impair the
efficiency of the catalytic converter.
•
High engine speed and full throttle can damage the engine when
using petrol with an octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine.
DieselApplies to vehicles: with diesel engineDiesel fuel
Please note the information on the inside of the fuel tank
flap.Diesel fuel must comply with the European EN 590 standard. It must
have a cetane number (CN) of at least 51. The cetane number indi-
cates the ignition quality of the diesel fuel.
Winter-grade diesel
Diesel fuel can thicken in winter. For this reason petrol stations in
some countries also offer winter diesel.
Caution
•
The vehicle is not designed for the use of biodiesel (FAME fuel).
The fuel system would be damaged if you use biodiesel.
•
Do not mix fuel additives (“thinners”, petrol or similar additives)
with the diesel fuel.
•
If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be necessary to drain
the water separator on the fuel filter more frequently than is speci-
fied in the Service Schedule. We recommend having this done by a
specialist workshop. If water is allowed to collect in the filter, this
can cause engine performance problems.
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