Towing a trailer209
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data additional mirrors fitted. Both exterior mirrors should be mounted
on hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors to give sufficient
vision to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, check the headlight beam settings with
the trailer hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight
beams by means of the headlight range control ⇒page 56.
Power supply
When you remove the ignition key the power supply to the trailer is
interrupted.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a
removable ball joint coupling. It is carried under the floor panel on
the left-hand side of the luggage compartment.
Note
We recommend having the car serviced between the normal inspec-
tion intervals if it used frequently for towing a trailer.Applies to vehicles: with towing bracketTrailer stabilisation system
Trailer stabilisation helps to reduce the risk of the vehicle
skidding when towing a trailer.When is the trailer stabilisation system activated?
Trailer stabilisation is active when the following requirements are
met:•
The ESP must NOT be switched off ⇒page 196,
•
The trailer connector must be properly secured in the vehicle
socket.
•
Vehicle speed must be higher than approx. 60 km/h.How trailer stabilisation works:
In many cases, the driver can stabilise a swaying trailer by manually
braking the vehicle.
However, if the ESP detects that the trailer is swaying and this is
affecting the towing vehicle, it will automatically brake the vehicle
to stabilise the trailer by slowing it down. The warning lamp
will
light up in the instrument cluster. If possible, do not turn the
steering wheel at this stage.
In order to warn traffic behind you, the brake lights will come on
during this automatic braking operation.
A trailer weighing less than 70% of the kerb weight of the towing
vehicle may sway quite considerably without the trailer stabilisation
system intervening. This can happen when the swaying movements
of the light-weight trailer are not or hardly passed on to the towing
vehicle and are therefore not detected by the ESP.
If the system for activating the trailer brake lights is defective, this
will be indicated in the instrument cluster display ⇒page 36, “Bulb
monitor ”.
Requirements for correct functioning of the trailer
stabilisation system
If these conditions are not met in full, the trailer stabilisation system
will only intervene to a limited extent or not at all ⇒.
•
The electrical connection between the towing vehicle and the
trailer must be functioning correctly, without any defects.
•
The load on the trailer must be properly secured.
•
The tyre pressures on both the vehicle and the trailer must be
adapted to the load that is being carried.
•
Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted
draw bar weight.
•
The trailer overrun brake must be set correctly. This is important
to ensure that the trailer can be braked correctly, to avoid the vehicle
and trailer “jack-knifing” and to prevent excess braking of the trailer.
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Checking and topping up fluids 232Closing 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. 223 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 () . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windscreen washer container (
) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jump-start terminal (-) with hexagon head . . . . . . . . .
Hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering . . . . . . . .
A1
241, 266
A2
238
A3
234
A4
234
A5
236
A6
242
A7
241, 266
A8
201
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Self-help267
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data terminal must not touch metal parts of the vehicle: this can cause
short circuiting.
•
Do not bend over the batteries – risk of acid burns.
•
The screw plugs on the battery cells must be screwed in firmly.
•
Keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away from batteries:
the gases given off can cause an explosion.
•
If jump-starting another vehicle, position the jump leads in
such a way that they cannot come into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment of the other vehicle.Caution
Please note that the above method of connecting the leads is meant
for jump-starting your vehicle. If jump-starting another vehicle, you
should not connect the negative lead (–) to the negative terminal of
the discharged battery, but directly to the engine block or a solid
metal part bolted to the engine block. If the battery of the other
vehicle does not have a gas vent, there is a risk that a mixture of
oxygen and hydrogen gas can accumulate and cause an
explosion.Tow-starting and towing awayGeneral notes
Points to observe when tow-starting or towing awayIf you use a towrope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– The towrope must be taut before driving off.– Engage the clutch very gently when starting to move; on
vehicles with automatic gearbox press the accelerator
slowly.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– The ignition should be switched on so that the turn
signals, horn, windscreen wipers and washers can be
used. Please ensure that the steering wheel is unlocked
when you switch on the ignition, and that it moves freely.
–Put gear lever in neutral (manual gearbox) or move
selector lever to position N (automatic gearbox).
– The brake servo and power steering only work when the
engine is running. Considerably more effort is required
on the brake pedal and steering wheel when the engine
is switched off.
– Ensure that the towrope remains taut at all times when
towing.
Towrope or towbar
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a towbar. You should only
use a towrope if you do not have a towbar.
A towrope should be slightly elastic to reduce the loading on both
vehicles. It is advisable to use a towrope made of synthetic fibre or
similar material.
Attach the tow-rope or tow-bar only to the towing anchorages
intended for this purpose ⇒page 268 or ⇒page 269.
Driving technique
Towing requires some experience – especially when using a
towrope. Both drivers should be familiar with the technique required
for towing. Inexperienced drivers should not attempt to tow-start or
tow away another vehicle.
WARNING (continued)
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Index 302AABS
SeeAnti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . 18
AC mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 107
Acceleration figures
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Adapter for anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . 264
adaptive light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
advanced key
Locking and unlocking the vehicle . . . 45
START ENGINE STOP button . . . . . . . 118
Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Switching on the ignition . . . . . . . . . . 118
Air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93, 101
AC mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
See alsoDeluxe automatic air conditioner
93
Air recirculation mode
Deluxe automatic air conditioner . . . . 97
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . . .
106
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Deactivating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Head-protection airbag . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Key-operated switch for front passenger's
airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Alterations to the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Alternator
Fault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Anti-dazzle interior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Anti-freeze additive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Anti-knock properties of petrol . . . . . . . . 227
Anti-lock brake system
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Anti-theft alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Interior monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Tow-away protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Armrest (front)
Adjusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Storage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Ashtrays
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Audi hold assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Auto Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Auto-check control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Automatic air conditioner plus
SeeDeluxe automatic air conditioner plus
101
Automatic gearbox
Manual release (multitronic®) . . . . . . 136
multitronic® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Safety interlock for ignition key . . . . 116Selector lever positions (multitronic®) . . .
131
Steering wheel with tiptronic controls . . .
135
Automatic headlight control . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Auxiliary heating
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . . .
111
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Running time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Switching on/off immediately . . . . . . 112
Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Average fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Axle weights
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
BBattery
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Low charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Power level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Power management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Winter conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Bayonet fastener
Bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Bulb holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
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Index 308
Steering wheel with tiptronic controls . . .
135
tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
NNatural leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Number plate light
Changing bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288OOctane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Oil
SeeEngine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Oil consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Opening
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . 21
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9PPaint damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Paint No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Parking aid
Seeparking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Parking lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59parking system
Adjusting warning beeps . . . . . . . . . . 148
Detection range of reversing camera 144
Front and rear, with display . . . . . . . . 138
Front and rear, with display and reversing
camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Note on distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Notes on acoustic parking aid . . . . . . 152
Notes on reversing camera . . . . . . . . 152
Parking next to an obstacle . . . . . . . . 150
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Reversing camera (Rear View) . . . . . . 143
Reversing camera, parking mode 1 . 145
Reversing camera, parking mode 2 . 146
Special parking situations . . . . . . . . . 150
Switching graphic display on and off 149
Switching reversing camera on and off . .
149
Towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Parking the car
multitronic® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Particulate filter
SeeDiesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . 205
Passengers
SeeSitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Performance figures
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Performance, weights and dimensions . 295
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Pollen filter
Deluxe automatic air conditioner . . . . 93
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . . .
101
Pollution filter
Deluxe automatic air conditioner . . . . 93
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . . .
101
Power management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driver message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
QQuartz clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
quattro
SeeFour-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201RRadio transmitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Fixed installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Mobile equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Radio-controlled clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Rain sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Rain sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Reading lights
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Rear centre console
Socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
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