2008 AUDI A5 tow

Driving 116DrivingSteeringApplies to vehicles: with manually adjustable steering columnAdjusting the steering wheel position
The height and reach of the steering wheel can be
adjusted as required to suit the driver.– Pull the lever ⇒fig. 133 -arrow- ⇒ up.
– Move the steering wheel to the desired position.
– Then push the lever towards the steering column until
the catch engages.
WARNING
•
Never adjust the position of the steering wheel when the
vehicle is moving - this could cause an accident.
•
For safety reasons, the lever must be pushed securely against
the steering column to prevent the steering wheel from acciden-
tally changing position while driving (accident risk).
Ignition lockStarting the engine with the key
You can use the ignition key to switch on the ignition and
start the engine.– Insert the key into the ignition lock.
–Manual gearbox: Press the clutch pedal all the way down
and move the gear lever into neutral.
–Automatic gearbox: Press the brake pedal and move the
selector lever to position P or N.
–Press in the key ⇒fig. 134 to start the engine.
– Diesel engines can take a few seconds longer than usual
to star t on cold days. Please keep your foot on the clutch
or brake pedal until the engine starts. The glow plug indi-
cator lamp

lights up in the instrument cluster while
the glow plugs are preheating.
Fig. 133 Lever beneath
steering column
Fig. 134 Ignition key
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Driving 120lock the vehicle using the exterior locking switch on the door handle
or the remote control key.
Advanced key defective! Use ignition lock
This message appears if the vehicle has to be started with the igni-
tion key instead of the Start/Stop button.
Steering lock
The steering is locked if the key is not in the ignition and the driver
door has been opened. The steering lock acts as a theft deterrent.
WARNING
Never run the engine in confined spaces. The exhaust gases are
toxic.•
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo and the power steering system work only
when the engine is running. You need more strength to steer and
brake the vehicle when the engine is switched off. This would
mean a greater risk of accidents and serious injury, because you
cannot steer and brake in the normal manner.Caution
•
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and extreme load condi-
tions until the engine has reached its normal operating tempera-
ture, otherwise this can damage the engine.
•
The engine cannot be started by push-starting or towing.
•
If the engine has been working hard for a long time, there is a risk
of heat building up in the engine compartment after the engine has
been switched off; this could cause engine damage. For this reason,
you should leave the engine idling for about 2 minutes before
switching it off.
Switching off the engine with the Start/Stop button–Stop the vehicle.
– Automatic gearbox: Move the selector lever to position P
or N.
–Press the Start/Stop button ⇒page 118, fig. 135.Emergency Off function
Should it be necessary in an emergency, the engine can be switched
off when the selector lever is in position R, D or S. To switch off the
engine (max. speed 10 km/h) press and hold the Start/Stop button
and keep your foot on the brake.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo and the power steering system work only
when the engine is running. You need more strength to steer and
brake the vehicle when the engine is switched off. This would
mean a greater risk of accidents and serious injury, because you
cannot steer and brake in the normal manner.Caution
If the engine has been working hard for a long time, there is a risk
of heat building up in the engine compartment after the engine has
been switched off; this could cause engine damage. For this reason,
you should leave the engine idling for about 2 minutes before
switching it off.
Note
After the engine is stopped the radiator fan may run on for up to
10 minutes, even if the ignition is switched off. The fan may also
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Driving123
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data braking force of the parking brake is only released when there is
enough power at the wheels to make the vehicle move in the desired
direction.
Note
For safety reasons the parking brake will only release automatically
if the driver's seat belt is engaged in its buckle.Driving away when towing a trailer
Please note the following points to prevent the vehicle
from rolling back unintentionally on a gradient.– Pull and hold the parking brake switch and press the
accelerator. The parking brake will remain engaged and
prevent any tendency to roll back down the slope.
– You can release the parking brake switch as soon as the
engine is delivering enough power to the wheels.Depending on the weight of the vehicle and trailer and the steep-
ness of the slope, there may be a tendency to roll back downhill
when driving away from a standstill. You can prevent this by pulling
out the parking brake switch as you press the accelerator (in the
same way as with a conventional handbrake).Emergency braking function
This feature enables you to stop the vehicle if the main
brake system should fail or if the pedal is obstructed.– Pull out and hold the parking brake switch to stop the
vehicle with the parking brake in an emergency.
– The brakes will be released immediately if you release the
switch or press down the accelerator.
If you pull out and hold the parking brake switch at a road speed
above about 8 km/h, this will initiate an emergency brake applica-
tion. The brakes are then applied hydraulically at all four wheels.
The effect is the same as an emergency stop (full brake application)
⇒
To prevent the emergency braking function from being used acci-
dentally, a warning buzzer sounds when the switch is operated. The
brakes are released immediately when you release the switch or
press down the accelerator.
WARNING
You should only use the emergency braking function in a real
emergency, for example if the brake system should fail or if the
brake pedal is obstructed. If you use the emergency braking func-
tion by activating the parking brake switch, the effect is similar to
a full brake application (emergency stop). Please remember that
the ESP (with its combined ABS, EDL and traction control func-
tions) is still subject to certain physical limits. In a corner or in bad
road or weather conditions an emergency stop can cause the
vehicle to skid or lose steering control.Driver messages in the instrument cluster displayCaution: Vehicle parked too steep
This message can appear when you apply the parking brake if the
car is parked on a gradient steeper than about 30%.
In this case the parking brake may not be strong enough to prevent
the vehicle from rolling back accidentally.
Please release parking brake
However, please remember that, for safety reasons, the parking
brake will only release automatically if the driver's seat belt is
buckled.
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Driving127
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Pull the lever to position ⇒page 125, fig. 138 to
switch on the system.
– Drive at the speed you wish to set the system to (must be
higher than 30 km/h).
– Briefly press button .When the pushbutton is released, the current speed is stored in the
memory and the vehicle will maintain this speed. The cruise control
system is then operating. If you have selected the display for the on-
board computer 1 or 2, a green symbol in the instrument cluster
display indicates that the cruise control is operating ⇒page 126,
fig. 140. The speed which is being maintained is displayed next to
the symbol.
The information for the cruise control system is shown briefly in the
system status indicator if you have selected the display for the
digital speedometer or the route guidance ⇒fig. 141. In addition,
the indicator lamp ⇒page 126, fig. 139 lights up to tell you that the
system is in cruise mode.
Adjusting speed (without storing it)
When the cruise control system is operating it is possible
to briefly drive at a higher speed without storing this new
speed.– Press the accelerator, for example to overtake another
vehicle.Once you release the accelerator the system will automatically
revert to the speed you stored initially. However, the system will only
function in this manner for as long as the symbol ⇒page 126,
fig. 140 lights up green.
If your speed is more than 10 km/h higher than the stored speed
over a period of more than 5 minutes the cruise control system will
temporarily be deactivated. The green symbol will go out and the
white symbol will light up. The stored speed will, however, be
retained ⇒page 128, fig. 142.Adjusting speed and storing new speedTo set a higher speed
– Move the lever up towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
– Release the lever to store the current cruising speed.
To set a lower speed
– Move the lever down towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
– Release the lever to store the current cruising speed.When you press and hold lever the speed is changed in incre-
ments of 10 km/h. The speed selected can be higher/lower than the
current driving speed.
Fig. 141 Symbol and
speed display while in
cruise mode (short-
term display)
AA
A1
AB
AA
A+
AA
A-
AA
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Driving 128Pressing lever briefly
You can increase the set speed in steps of 1 km/h by briefly pressing
the lever up towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
You can decrease the set speed in steps of about 1 km/h by briefly
pressing the lever down towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.Switching off cruise control temporarily– Press the brake pedal, or
– Push lever in direction (click stop not engaged)
⇒page 125, fig. 138, or– Drive more than 10 km/h faster than the stored speed
over a period of more than 5 minutes ⇒page 127.
The green symbol will go out when the system is temporarily deac-
tivated. The stored speed is retained. You can use this stored speed
again the next time you activate cruise mode ⇒page 128,
“Resuming cruise control”.Resuming cruise control
You can reactivate cruise mode only if you are driving
faster than 30 km/h.– Pull the lever to position ⇒page 125, fig. 138.When you reactivate the cruise control system you resume driving
with the programmed cruising speed you stored earlier.
WARNING
Do not resume the programmed cruising speed if this is too high
for the traffic conditions - this can cause accidents.Pre-selecting a speed
When the cruise control system is deactivated you can
pre-select a speed to use later.– Push the lever up towards or down towards
⇒page 125, fig. 138 in order to increase or reduce the
cruising speed setting.
– Release the lever to store the cruising speed setting
displayed.This function allows you to enter the desired cruising speed ahead
of time, for example, before joining a motorway. Once you have
AA
AA
A+
AA
A-
Fig. 142 Symbol:
Cruise control tempo-
rarily switched offFig. 143 Symbol is
shown briefly in
system status indi-
cator
AA
A2
A1
AA
A+
A-
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Driving129
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data joined the motorway you can then activate the cruise control system
as if you were resuming the function ⇒page 128, “Resuming cruise
control”.
Pre-selection after starting the engine
After starting the engine there is no cruising speed stored in the
system. The current speed is stored when you briefly push lever
up towards (if the speed is above 30 km/h). If the speed is lower,
30 km/h is stored.
Switching off the cruise control systemWhile driving
– Press the lever to position (click stop engaged)
⇒page 125, fig. 138.
When the vehicle is stationary
– Switch off the ignition.The stored speed will be deleted when the ignition is switched off.
AA
A+
AA
A2
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Automatic gearbox 132Reverse 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 134, 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 231, “Working on components in the
engine compartment”.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Selector lever lock
The selector lever lock prevents gears from being
engaged inadvertently, so that the vehicle is not set in
motion unintentionally.The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch on the ignition.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 146 Selector lever
lock functions
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Automatic gearbox 136Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Manual release of selector lever
The selector lever can be released manually if the elec-
trical power supply should fail.The manual release mechanism is behind the ashtray.
– Slide open the cover for the ashtray.
–Slide the switch ⇒fig. 150 to the right to release the
ashtray.
– Take out the ashtray .
– You will now see a small cover cap at the front of the
opening in the ashtray mounting unit.– Loosen and remove this cover cap.
– Use a screwdriver or similar object to press down the pin,
which is now accessible, and hold it down ⇒fig. 151.
– Now press the interlock button on the selector lever and
move the selector lever to position N.
The selector lever can only be moved out of position P if the ignition
key is inserted and the ignition is switched on. If the power supply
should ever fail (discharged battery, etc.) and the vehicle has to be
pushed or towed, the selector lever must first be moved to
position N. This is possible after operating the manual release
mechanism.
Fig. 150 Removing
ashtrayFig. 151 Manual
release of selector
lever
AA
AB
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