2008 AUDI S8 ABS

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-Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
=> fig. 268. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left
side~ page 308.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto­
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
«D>l will come on~ page 22 and~ page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or other qualified
facility and the cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the
brake warning/indicator light will illuminate. Contact an authorized
Audi dealer
immediately. •
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni­
cian.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. If the water content in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid will also
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Stan­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho­
rized
Audi dealer. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know-how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonous . It must be stored only in the closed
original container out of the reach of children!
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid .
Observe these precautions:
-Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specification J 1703 and
conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 116. Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make sure you are using
the correct brake fluid. The correct type of brake fluid is also indicated on the brake fluid reservoir .
- The brake fluid must be new. Heavy use of the brakes can
cause a vapor lock if the brake fluid is left in the system too
long. This can seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety . This could result in an accident .
0 Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehicle .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special tools required and the necessary expertise, we recom ­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dealer. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the electrolyte level .,,_

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checked by a service facility. The e lectrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged =>
page 321.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With ce rtain types of airbag deployment, the battery is discon­
nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons=>
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 232.
Di sconn ecting the b atte ry terminal s
Some veh ic le functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected. These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again. To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
veh icle electrical sys tem when absolu tely necessary for repairs.
Veh icl es not driv en for lo ng p eriods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumpt ion and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
=> page 274 .
Be aware that when you unlock your vehicle, some of the conve ­
nience functions may not operate, such as the Advanced Key*, the
remote control or the power seat adjustment. The convenience
functions will be ava ilable again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
W int er operati on
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop. This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc. , are
used more often .
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when trave ling only short distances . Let your authorized Audi dea ler
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
=> page 321. A well charged battery will n ot only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but wi ll also last longer.
[ i ] Tips
If your vehic le is left standing for severa l weeks at extreme ly low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. Th is wil l prevent it from be ing damaged and
having to be replaced.•
Working on the battery
Be espe cially careful when w orking on or near the battery.
Fig . 2 69 Lugg age
co mpartment : R ight ­
si de sto ra ge c omp art­
m ent
F ig. 2 70 Lugg age
co mp artment : B atte ry
T h e ba tter y is lo ca te d in t he luggage compartm ent on the
r ight side b ehind a c ove r. Before you check a nything in the
luggag e co m partment,
read and heed all WARNINGS =>& . .,.
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

lll'I....__E_ m
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-Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as
far as it will go. The check mark must be flush with the
bumper=> page 367, fig. 300.
When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it
back into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored
in the vehicle at all times.
When installing the grill for the air duct, be sure that the tabs on the
grill are first inserted into their guides on the vehicle by the
foglamp. Then push the grill into position.
& WARNING
If you do not screw the towing loop completely, it could come out
of the threaded hole while the vehicle is being towed causing
damage to the vehicle and possible serious personal injury. •
Rear towing loop
Do not install the rear towing loop until it is needed.
0
Fig. 301 Rear bumper:
cover
"'
Fig. 302 Rear bumper:
towing loop inserted
On the right side of the rear bumper there is a threaded hole
for the towing loop. The threaded hole is behind a cover.
-Remove the towing loop from the vehicle tool kit.
-Place the screwdriver against the upper edge of the
cover and carefully pry it
out=> fig. 301.
-Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as
far as it will go. The check marking must be flush with the
bumper=> fig. 302.
When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it
back into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored
in the vehicle at all times.
& WARNING
If you do not screw the towing loop completely, it could come out
of the threaded hole while the vehicle is being towed causing
damage to the vehicle and possible serious personal injury . •

______________________________________________ A_ l.!. p _h_ a_ b_e _ t_i c_ a..:..l ...:.. in :..:..:. d:..:e :..: x_;__ _,n
Kne e airbags ...... ... .. .... ..... 234 ASR
Moni to ring .. ... .... .... ....... .. 229 How the Anti-S lip Regu la tion Sys tem
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ligh t .... . 230 works ...... ... .... .... .... .... 270
Repairs ........ .... .... ......... 232
Safety instructions ... .... ... .... . 231
Side airbags ... .. .... .... ... .... . 237
Side curtain air bags (SIDEGUARD) .. 240
Warning/indicator lights ...... .... .. 19
Weight -sens ing mat ...... ... .... . 2 44
When mu st the syst em be insp ected?
229
Aircra ft
T ransporting your v ehicle .. ........ 369
All W hee l Dr ive ...... .... ... .... .... 273
Alloy whee ls ... .... .... .... ... .... .. 293
A ll-whee l drive
W int er tir es . ..... .... ... ... . .... . 34 1
A lternator
See Ge ne ra tor . ....... ... .... .... . 18
An ti-free ze
See Engine coolan t ..... .... .... .. 314
An ti- lock brak e system
How th e ABS syst em works ....... . 272
Wa rning /indi cato r ligh ts .. .. .. .... .. 21
Anti -Sl ip Reg ulat io n System (ASR)
H ow the system works .... .... .... 270
Anti -theft systems
Anti -theft alarm system .. ... .... ... 61
E lectron ic immob ilizer . .... .... .... 49
Ashtray Fron t .. .... ... .. .... ...... .... .. 106 Aud
i Service Repa ir Manua ls and Literatu re
380
A UTO mode
AC climate con tro l .. .. .... .... .... 117
Auto Safety Hotline .... .... .... ... .. . 207
A ut o-C heck Con trol ...... .... ... .... .. 28
Automatic belt retracto r ... .. .... .... . 213
Automati c car wash
See Washing . .............. .... .. 289
A ut om atic Sh ift Loc k (ASU . ...... .... . 165
Automat ic transmission
6 -speed automat ic t rans missio n .... 163
Auto matic S hift Lock (ASU .... .... . 165
Dr iving . ...... .... .... .... .... ... 163
Dynamic sh ift p rogram .. ...... .... 166
Em ergency release fo r selecto r leve r 168
F a il- safe mode . ...... .... .... .... 168
I gnition key s afety lock . ...... .... . 130
K ick -down .... .... .... .... ... .... 166
Manual sh ift program ....... .... .. 167
S ele ctor le ve r ... ........... .... .. 164
Shift buttons ... .... .... .... .... . 168
S teering wheel w ith tiptronic . ...... 168
Average speed . ...... .... .... .... ... . 38
Avo id damaging the ve hicle .. ...... ... 279
B
Rear . ...... .. ...... .... ......... 107 Background lighting . ...... .... ... .. .. 76 Ba
ttery .... ... .. .... .... ...... .... . 318
Ba ttery location ins ide the luggage
compa rtmen t ... .... ... .... .... . 319
Chargi ng .. .... .... ... .... .... ... 321
Impo rtant wa rnings when working on the
battery .. .... .... ... .... ...... . 319
low ...... .... .... .... ... .... .... 274
Replaci ng t he battery .. ... .... ... . 3 22
State of cha rge . ...... .... .... ... . 27 4
Winter operat ion ..... .... .... .. . . 318
Wo rking on the batte ry . ....... ... . 319
Battery vo ltage .. .. .. .... .... .... ..... 35
B efo re driving ... .... .... ...... .... . 199
Blended gasoline ... .. .... .... .... ... 30 1
Body cavity sealing ........ .... .... .. 294
Boos ter seat ... .. .... .... ... .... .... 251
How do I properly install a booster seat in my veh ic le? . .... .... ... .... .... 251
Safety instructions .. ...... .... ... . 251
Brake flu id
Changing the brake fluid ...... .... . 318
Check ing the brake fluid leve l .... .. 317
What is the co rrect brake fluid leve l? 317
What s hould I do i f th e brake fluid warning
l ight com es on? . .... .... .... .... 317
Brake system Ant i- lock brake sys tem .... .... .... . 21
B rake assis ta nt .... .... ... .... .... 272
Brake booster .. ... .... ... .... .... 271
Brake flu id . ... .... .... ... .... .... 317
Brake f luid specifications for ref ill and
replace men t . .... .... .... ...... . 318
Bra ke light de fective . .... . .... .. .. . 26
Brake pads . ...... .... ... .... .... 278
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Alphabetical index
---=------------------------------------------------
u
Undercoating 294
Unfastening safety belts ...... ...... . 215
Un idirect iona l tires ....... ....... .... 324
Uniform tire quality grading
Un locking 340
Power locking switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Rear lid/trunk lid ...... .... ...... .. 55
Remote control ................... 51
Using the key .. .... ....... .... .... 52
V
Vanity mirror
front ... .. .... .... .... ... .... .... 77
rea r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Vehic le elec trical system ...... ...... .. 18
Vehic le identification label ........ ... 374
Vehicle Identification Number (VI N) .... 374
Vehicle jack .... ... .. .... .... ... 349, 354
Vehicle literature ... .. .. ..... .. .... ... 5 Brake system
.... . .. .. .... ... .... . 22 Wheel bolts
Cruise control ..... .... ... .... .... 21 Torque ... .... .... .... ... .... ... 343
Electromechanica l parking brake .... 22 Wheels ............................ 324
Electronic power control .. .... .... . 18 Cast alloy ....................... 293
Electronic stabilization program (ESP) 18 Checking tire pressure ............ 331
Fog lights .. ...... .... ...... ... .. . 19 Cold tire inflation pressure ...... .. 328
Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
High beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ma lfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU . ... 20
Rear fog light s ........ ........ .... 19
Safety belt .... .... .... .... .... ... 20
Tir e pressure monitoring system .... 20
Turn signals ... .... .... .... .... ... 19
Warranty coverages ...... .... .... ... 380
Washer reservoir .. ... .... .... .... ... 323
Washing ...... .... ..... ............ 288
Automatic car wash ...... .... .... 289
by hand .. .... ... .... .... .... ... 289
with a power washer ... .. .. ....... 290
Washing the vehicle ..... ...... .... .. 288
Waxing ....... ... .... .... .... .... .. 291 Genera
l notes ....... ... .... .... .. 324
Glossary of tire and loading terminology .
325
New tires and wheels .. ........... 336
Tires and vehicle load limits ....... 333
When must a safety belt be replaced? .. 212
When must the airbag system be inspected?
229
When should I ad just the tire pressures?
332
When should I check the tire pressures? 332
Where can I find the tire pressures for my
car? ... .. .... .... .... ..... .. ... 331
Why safety belts? ...... ... ... ... 209, 21
o
Windows
Cleaning ........................ 292
Vehic le transpo rt .... .... .... ...... . 369 Wear indicator .... .... ... .... .... ... 335 Convenience open
feature ...... .... 64
Defogging ....... ........ ....... 120
Vehic le-care products ... .... .... .... 288 Weatherstrips ... ....... ...... .... .. 293
Venti lated seats .. .... .... ... .... ... 118 Weights
..... .... .... .... .... ... ... 375
w
Warning/indicator lights ... .. .... .... . 16
Adaptive Air Suspension ....... . 20, 21
Adaptive Cruise Control .. .. .. .... . 145
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . 21 What happens
if you wear your safety belt too
loose? ... .... .... .... .... .... .. 214
What happens to unbelted occupants? . 211
What impairs driving safety? ..... ..... 199
What should I do after changing a wheel?
332
What should I do after replacing wheels?
332 Defrosting
.... .... .... ... .... ... 120
Rapid defrosting/defogging .... .... 122
Windshield defogger/defroster .. ...... 123
Windshield washer fluid Low level ...... ............... .... 35
Windshield wipers Installing new wiper blades . .... .... 82
In termittent wiping .... ... . .... .. .. 80
One -tap wiping ........ .... .... ... 80