2008 AUDI A5 towing

Audi parking system147
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Press the control button for Mode ⇒page 145,
fig. 161. “Parking mode 2” ⇒fig. 162 will appear in the
MMI display.
– Reverse and align the position of your vehicle in such a
way that the dark blue area marking ⇒fig. 162
borders onto the vehicle behind or onto the parking
space line marking. If you are not parking next to obsta-
cles ⇒page 150 the long side of the dark blue marking
should border onto the kerb. The complete dark blue
area marking must fit into the parking space ⇒page 143,
fig. 157.
– When the vehicle is stationary turn the steering wheel to
the right as far as it will go.
– Reverse into the parking space. If you are not parking
next to obstacles ⇒page 150 the dark blue marking
should touch the kerb ⇒page 146, fig. 163. Stop your
vehicle.
– Turn the steering wheel to the left as far as it will go
(vehicle is stationary).
– Continue to reverse into the parking space until the
vehicle is standing parallel to the kerb. When reversing
you must also keep a close watch on the front end of the
vehicle ⇒.You can use “Parking mode 2” to park on the left or the right side of
the road. For this reason, the blue markings are shown in various
shades of blue. The dark blue area marking and the dark blue
curve are used when parking on the right side of the road. The
light blue area marking and the light blue curve are used
when parking on the left side of the road.When the turn signals are on, the display will only show the mark-
ings for the relevant side. To change the display to the other side,
just switch on the opposite turn signals.
The light blue and dark blue cur v e s s h o w y o u w h e n t o t u r n t h e
steering wheel in the other direction, i.e. when the curve touches
the kerb. ⇒page 146, fig. 163.
The distance from your rear bumper to the red line is approx.
40 cm. From here at the latest, the driver should not reverse any
further ⇒page 151.
WARNING
Please note that objects which are not touching the ground may
appear to be further away than they actually are (e.g. the bumper
of a parked vehicle, a towing bracket or the rear end of a truck). In
this case you should not use the orientation lines for judging the
distance (accident risk).
Caution
The MMI display shows the path of the rear end of the vehicle if you
were to reverse using the current steering angle. NB: The front end
of the vehicle swings out further than the rear.
Note
To ensure that the reversing camera works properly, the lens of the
camera ⇒page 140, fig. 154 must be kept clean and free of snow
and ice. Please observe the additional notes on ⇒page 152.Applies to vehicles: with parking system and towing bracketTo w i n g b r a c k e tOnce the electrical connector for the trailer socket is plugged in on
vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket the rear sensors for the
AAA2
A4
A2
A4
A1
A3
A3
A4
A5
A6
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Audi parking system 148parking aid are NO LONGER activated when reverse gear is engaged.
This results in the following restrictions:
parking system:
There is no distance warning.
parking system plus*:
There is no rear distance warning ⇒page 138. However, the system
will still give a warning when obstacles are detected while driving
forwards. The graphic display ⇒page 138, fig. 153 will switch over
to towing mode.
parking system advanced*:
There is no rear distance warning ⇒page 140. However, the system
will still give a warning when obstacles are detected while driving
forwards. The graphic display ⇒page 141, fig. 155 will switch over
to towing mode. The image of the reversing camera will then be
shown without orientation lines and blue area markings.
SettingsApplies to vehicles: with parking systemAdjusting warning beeps
The volume and frequency (pitch) of the beeps can be
adjusted on the sound system or MMI.– Select: Function selector button > Audi parking
system.•
Rear volume - to adjust the rear volume.
•
Rear frequency - to adjust the rear frequency.
•
Front volume* - to adjust the front volume.
•
Front frequency* - to adjust the front frequency.
When you change the volume or frequency, the front or rear loud-
speaker will give a test warning beep at the new setting for about
2 seconds.
The volume and frequency settings will be automatically stored and
assigned to the remote control key.
Fig. 164 MMI display:
Selection menu
CAR
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Audi parking system151
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
•
The parking aid cannot replace the full concentration of the
driver. The driver is always responsible for safety during parking
and other manoeuvres. Always keep a close watch on the area
around the vehicle.
•
When parking or manoeuvring do not rely solely on the MMI
display. Some objects (e.g. narrow posts or bars) may - due to the
resolution of the display screen - not be displayed in a satisfactory
manner or may not be displayed at all.
Applies to vehicles: with parking system advancedNote on distances
The red line in the MMI display ⇒fig. 169 marks the distance which
you should keep to an obstacle when parking. If the obstacle is
located at road surface level you can approach the obstacle until the
red line (40 cm distance) makes contact with the obstacle. However,
if the obstacle is not at road surface level (e.g. the bumper of
another vehicle) you should not approach the obstacle allowing the
red line to make contact with the obstacle.
If you, for example, reverse towards a vehicle, the orientation lines
and area markings in the MMI display appear to be overlapping onto
the vehicle behind ⇒page 151, fig. 169. In the example shown in
the picture the red line in the MMI display is directly on the bumper
of the vehicle behind. In actual fact, however, the red line
⇒page 151, fig. 170 is not making contact with the bumper but has
already moved underneath the bumper. The actual distance to the
vehicle behind (broken line ) is already much less than 40 cm. You
must also include the bumper of your own vehicle in the calculation
of the distance ⇒.
WARNING
•
Please note that objects which are not touching the ground
may appear to be further away than they actually are (e.g. the
bumper of a parked vehicle, a towing bracket or the rear end of a
truck). In this case you should not use the orientation lines for
judging the distance (accident risk).
•
Please make sure you keep a sufficient distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles to make sure that the exterior mirror or
edge of the vehicle do not collide with the obstacle (accident risk).
•
The parking aid cannot replace the full concentration of the
driver. The driver is always responsible for safety during parking
and other manoeuvres. Always keep a close watch on the area
around the vehicle.
•
When parking or manoeuvring do not rely solely on the MMI
display. Some objects (e.g. narrow posts or bars) may - due to the
resolution of the display screen - not be displayed in a satisfactory
manner or may not be displayed at all.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 169 MMI display:
Red line makes contact
with bumperFig. 170 Actual
distance to bumper
A2
A1
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Safe driving 168
WARNING
Any obstructions that restrict pedal travel can cause loss of
vehicle control and critical situations on the road.•
Never place objects in the driver's footwell. Such objects could
move under the pedals and interfere with their proper function. In
the event of sudden braking or a change of direction, you would
not be able to use the pedals. This could result in a loss of control
and possibly cause an accident.
Floor mats on the driver's side
Use only floor mats which can be securely fastened in the
footwell and do not obstruct the pedals.– Make sure that floor mats are securely fastened and
cannot interfere with the pedals ⇒.Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area unobstructed and are
firmly secured to prevent them from slipping. You can obtain suit-
able floor mats from your dealer or a specialist retailer.
WARNING
Any obstructions that restrict pedal travel can cause loss of
vehicle control and increase the risk of serious personal injury. •
Always make sure that floor mats are properly secured.
•
Never lay or install additional floor mats or other floor cover-
ings over the existing floor mats; this would restrict the pedal area
and possibly obstruct the pedals, which could cause an
accident.
Stowing luggage safelyLuggage compartment
All luggage and other objects must be safely secured in
the luggage compartment.Loose items in the luggage compartment can shift suddenly
and cause a safety hazard or impair the handling of the
vehicle by changing the weight distribution.
– Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment
⇒page 77.
– Place heavy items as far forward as possible in the
luggage compartment and secure them properly.
– Use the fastening rings* provided ⇒page 169 or the
luggage net* for securing heavy items.
WARNING
•
Loose items in the luggage compartment can shift suddenly
and cause a safety hazard or impair the handling of the vehicle by
changing the weight distribution.
•
Always stow objects in the luggage compartment and secure
them on the fastening rings*.
•
Transporting heavy objects may affect the vehicle's handling by
shifting the centre of gravity – this could cause an accident. Take
extra care when driving and adjust your speed accordingly.
•
Never exceed the maximum axle loads or the maximum gross
weight for the vehicle ⇒page 295, “Performance, weights and
dimensions”. Exceeding the permitted axle loads or gross weight
limit can affect the vehicle's handling characteristics, and increase
the risk of accidents, personal injuries or damage to the vehicle.
•
Never leave your vehicle unattended when the boot lid is open.
Children could climb into the boot and close the boot lid from the
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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 temperatures it is not possible to
drive up long steep gradients without 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 that 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 trailer 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 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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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 when driving – this can cause acci-
dents.•
The ESP and trailer stabilisation 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 equipped 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 bicycle 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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Towing a trailer211
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Accessories
Before mounting equipment and accessories (e.g. bicycle
rack) please observe the following notes.The equipment/accessories mounted must not protrude more than
700 mm from the ball joint .
The total weight (mounted equipment plus the load) must not
exceed 75 kg.
The maximum load depends on where the centre of gravity lies.
The maximum weight decreases as the distance between the centre
of gravity and the ball joint increases.
The following limits apply:
If the distance is 300 mm, the total weight (incl. the equipment
mounted) must not exceed 75 kg.
If the distance is 600 mm, the total weight (incl. the equipment
mounted) must not exceed 35 kg.
Only bicycle racks for a maximum of three bicycles may be used.
Equipment mounted on the towing bracket
We recommend that you only mount equipment (e.g. bicycle rack)
which has been approved by Audi on the ball joint. If you wish to
attach other equipment please make sure that it has been approved
by the manufacturer for use on the ball joint. If you mount unsuit-able equipment, this can cause damage to the towing bracket. In an
extreme case, damage to the towing bracket could cause it to break
⇒.
WARNING
•
If you wish to mount equipment which has not been approved
by Audi please ensure that it is suitable for use on Audi vehicles.
•
Use of unsuitable equipment can result in severe damage to
the towing bracket. The towing bracket could then break while
pulling a trailer and cause an accident.
•
Never use tools of any kind when fitting and removing the ball
joint. This could damage the mechanism which locks the ball joint
in place and impair its safety (accident risk).
Removable towing bracketApplies to vehicles: with removable towing bracketIntroduction
Special care is required when fitting and removing the
towing bracket.
Fig. 205 Load distribu-
tion of equipment and
accessories
A1A1
AAAB
Fig. 206 Luggage
compartment with
towing bracket
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