2008 AUDI S8 air condition

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Airbag system
Important things to know
Importance of wearing safety belts and
sitting properly
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. For airbags to
do their jo b, occu pants must always properly we ar their
safety belts and be in a proper seating position.
Fo r your safe ty a nd the safety o f your passen gers, before
dr iving o ff, a lways:
- Adjust the driver 's seat and steering wheel proper ly
=> page 200,
- Adjust the front passenger's seat properly=> page 87,
-Wear safety be lts proper ly=> page 212,
- Always properly use the proper chi ld restrain t to pro tect
ch ildren
=> page 243 .
In a collision airbags mus t inflate with in t he blink of an eye and with
considerable force . The supplemental airbags can cause injuries if
t he driver or the fron t seat passenger is not seated properly. There ­
fore in order to help the airbag to do its job, it is important, both as a driver and as a passenger to sit properly at a ll ti mes.
By keep ing room between your body and t he steer ing wheel and the
front of the passenger compartment, the airbag can inflate fu lly and
comp letely and prov ide supplementa l protection in certain frontal
collisions => page 200, "Proper occupant seating positions". For
deta ils on the operation of t he seat adjustment
controls => page 87.
It's especia lly important that chi ldren are proper ly restrained
=> page 243 .
There is a lot that the driver and the passengers can and must do to
help the individual safety features installed in your Audi work
together as a system.
P roper seating position is important so that the front airbag on the
driver side ca n do its job. I f yo u have a physical impairment or
condition that prevents you from sitting properly on the driver seat
wi th the safety belt p roperly fastened and reaching the pedals, o r if
you have concerns with regard to the function or operation of the
Advanced Airbag System, p lease contact your authorized Audi
dea ler or qua lif ied workshop, or call Audi Customer CAR E at 1 -800-
822 -2834 for possib le modifications to your vehicle .
When the a irbag system deploys, a gas generator wi ll fil l the
airbags, break open the padded covers, and inflate between the
steer ing wheel and the dr iver and between the inst rume nt panel
and the front passenger. The airbags wi ll deflate immediate ly after
deployment so that the front occupants can see through the wind ­
shield again without interruption .
A ll of this takes p lace in the b link of an eye, so fast that many people
do n't even rea lize that the a irbags have dep loyed . T he airbags also
inflate with a great dea l of force and nothing should be in their way
when they dep loy. Fron t airbags in combinati on wi th properly worn
safety belts slow down and limit the occupant's forward movement.
Together t hey help to prevent the driver and front seat passenger
from hitting parts of the inside the vehicle while reducing the forces act ing on the occupant during the crash . In this way they he lp to
reduce the r isk of injury to the head and upper body in the crash .
Airbags do not protect the arms or the lower parts of the body .
Both front a irbags w ill not in flate i n all fro ntal col lis io ns. The trig­
gering of the airbag system depends on the vehic le dece lerat ion
r ate caused by the co llision and registe red by the electr onic c ontro l
unit . If this rate is be low the reference value programmed into the
co ntrol unit, the ai rbags w il l not be t riggered, even tho ug h the car
may be bad ly damaged as a result of the collision . Vehicle damage,
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Airbag system -
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& WARNING (continued)
• Airbag work most effectively when used with properly worn
safety belts.
• Therefore, always wear your safety belts and make sure that
everybody in your vehicle is properly restrained.
& WARNING
A person on the front passenger seat, especially infants and small
children, will receive serious injuries and can even be killed by
being too close to the airbag when it inflates.
• Although the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle is
designed to turn off the front passenger airbag if an infant or a
small child is on the front passenger seat, nobody can absolutely
guarantee that deployment under these special conditions is
impossible in all conceivable situations that may happen during
the useful life of your vehicle.
• The Advanced Airbag System can deploy in accordance with
the
"low risk" option under the U.S. Federal Standard if a child that
is heavier than the typical one-year old child is on the front
passenger seat and the other conditions for airbag deployment
are met.
• Accident statistics have shown that children are generally safer
in the rear seat area than in the front seating position.
• For their own safety, all children, especially 12 years and
younger, should always ride in the back properly restrained for
their age and size. •
Advanced front airbag system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front Advanced Airbag System in
compliance with United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan ­
dard 208 as applicable at the time your vehicle was manufactured.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
The
front Advanced Airbag System supplements the safety belts to
provide additional protection for the driver's and front passenger's
heads and upper bodies in frontal crashes . The airbags inflate only
in frontal impacts when the vehicle deceleration is high enough.
The front Advanced Airbag System for the front seat occupants is
not a substitute for your safety belts . Rather, it is part of the overall
occupant restraint system in your vehicle. Always remember that
the airbag system can only help to protect you, if you are sitting
upright, wearing your safety belt and wearing it properly. This is why
you and your passengers must always be properly restrained, not
just because the law requires you to be.
The Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle has been certified to
meet the "low risk" requirements for 3 and 6 year -old children on the
passenger side and very small adults on the driver side. The low risk
deployment criteria are intended to help reduce the risk of injury
through interaction with the front airbag that can occur, for
example, by being too close to the steering wheel and instrument
panel when the airbag inflates.
In addition, the system has been certified to comply with the
"suppression" requirements of the Safety Standard, to turn off the
front airbag for infants 12 months old and younger who are
restrained on the front passenger seat in child restraints that are
listed in the
Standard=> page 245, "Child restraints and Advanced
Airbags".
"Suppression" requires the front airbag on the passenger side to be
turned off if:
• a child up to about one year of age is restrained on the front
passenger seat in one of the rear-facing or forward-facing infant
restraints listed in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 with
which the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle was certified. For
a listing of the child restraints that were used to certify your
vehicle's compliance with the US Safety
Standard => page 245,
• weight less than a threshold level stored in the control unit is
detected on the front passenger seat.
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Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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When a person is detected on the front passenger seat, weighing
mor e tha n the to ta l w eigh t of a c hild th at is a bout 1 year old
restrain ed in one of th e rear -facing or forward -fac ing infant
r es trai nts (l isted in Fede ra l M oto r Veh icle Safe ty Sta ndard
208 wi th
which the Advanc ed Airba g Syst em in your ve hic le was certified),
the fro nt airbag on the pas se nge r si de may o r may not de ploy .
The
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF li g ht com es on when the elec troni c
contro l unit detects a total weight on the front passenger seat that
r e qui res th e front airb ag to b e turned off. If th e
PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF
li g ht does not com e on, the front airbag on the pass enger side
h as not b een t urn ed off by the c ont rol unit and can d eploy if th e
control unit senses an impact that meets t he conditions stor ed in its
mem ory.
If the t otal weig ht on the fro nt passe nger seat is m ore than that of
a typical
1 y ear -old, but less than the we ight of a small adult, the
fr ont air ba g on th e passen ger side m ay depl oy (the
PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF
li ght does not come on).
For example, the airbag may deploy if:
• a sma ll chil d th at is heav ie r th a n a ty pica l 1 yea r-old chi ld is o n
the front passenge r seat (regardless of w hether the child is in one
o f the chi ld seats lis ted
=> p ag e 24 5),
• a child who h as out grown child r estr ain ts is on th e fron t
passen ger seat.
I f the front passenge r airba g is turned off, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF
li g ht in the ce nter of t he ins trum ent p anel will com e on and stay
o n.
The fro nt airb ag o n the pa ssenge r sid e may
not de plo y (t he
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF lig ht does not illumi nate a nd sta y li t) if:
• a small adu lt or teenager is on the front passenger seat
• a pass enge r w ho i s no t si tti ng upright wi th their back aga inst a
non -reclined bac krest with their feet on the vehicle f loor in front of
the sea t is o n the front pass enger se at.
I f the front passenger ai rbag deploys, the Fed era l S tanda rd requ ires
th e a irbag to m eet th e "low risk " de ploy ment c rit eri a to he lp reduc e th
e risk of injury throu gh interaction with th e airbag . "Low risk"
dep loyment oc cur s in th ose cras hes tha t take p lace at l ow er decel ­
e rations as defined in t he elect ron ic co ntro l
unit=> page 22 9.
Always remember : Even th ough yo ur veh icle is eq uipped w ith
A dv anced Airbags, the safest plac e for chil dren i s properly
r estra ined on the back seat. Please be su re t o read t he important
i n form atio n in th e sec tions th at f oll ow and be su re to heed all of the
W ARNING S.
& WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury when an airbag inflates, always wear
safety belts properly.
• If you are unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting sideways or out
of position in any way, your risk of injury is much higher .
• You will also receive serious injuries and could even be killed if
you are up against the airbag or too close to it when it inflates
-
even with an Advanced Airbag => page 218.
& WARNING
A child in a rearward -facing child seat installed on the front
passenger seat will be seriously injured and can be killed if the
front airbag inflates
-even with an Advanced Airbag System .
• Although the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle is
designed to turn off the front airbag when a rearward -facing child
restraint has been installed on the front passenger seat , nobody
can absolutely guarantee that deployment is impossible in all
conceivable situations that may happen during the useful life of
your vehicle.
• The inflating airbag will hit the child seat or infant carrier with
great force and will smash the child seat and child against the
backrest , center arm rest , door , or roof .
• Always install rearward -facing child restraints in the back seat .
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& WARNING (continued )
airbags can become projectiles and cause injury , part icularly when
the seat is reclined .
& WARNING
The fine dust created when airbags deploy can cause breathing
problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing
conditions.
• To reduce the risk of breathing problems, those with asthma or
other respiratory conditions should get fresh air right away by
getting out of the vehicle or opening windows or doors.
• If you are in a collision in which airbags deploy, wash your
hands and face with mild soap and water before eating.
• Be careful not to get the dust into your eyes , or into any cuts or
scratches .
• If the residue should get into your eyes , flush them with
water. •
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System
Airbag monitoring indicator light :~
Two s epa rate i ndic a tors mon itor the fu nction of the
Adv anc ed A irbag S ystem: the airbag monitor ing indi cator
light and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF l igh t.
The Adva nce d A irbag S yst em ( includ ing t he e lec tronic co ntrol un it,
se nsor circuits and system wiring) is monitored continuously to
ma ke sure t hat it is fu nctio nin g properl y whene ver th e ig niti on i s on.
E ach time you t urn on the ignition, the airbag monitoring in dicator
lig ht ~ will co me on f or a few s econ ds (se lf diagnos tics).
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
The system must be inspected when the indicator
light
:l t
• does not come on when the i gnition is switched on,
• do es no t go out a few se conds after you have sw itch ed o n the
ign it ion, or
• comes on while d riv in g.
I f an airbag syst em malfunction is d etected, the indicator light will
fi rs t sta rt fl ash ing to catch the d rive r's a tten tion an d th en s tay on
cont in uousl y to serve as a constant rem inder to have the system
i nspec ted i mm ed ia tely.
If a ma lfunction o ccurs that turns t he fro nt a irbag o n th e passe nger
side off, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will come on and stay on
w heneve r the ig nit io n is on.
& WARNING
An airbag system that is not functioning properly cannot provide
supplemental protection in a frontal crash .
• If the airbag indicator light comes on , it means that there may
be something wrong with the Advanced Airbag System . It is
possible that the airbag will inflate when it is not supposed to , or
will not inflate when it should .
• Have the airbag system inspected immediately by your Audi
dealer. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Intelligent technology
Notice about data recorded by
vehicle control modules
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Data Recorder (EDRl,
installed by some manufacturers for the express purpose of
capturing data for retrieval after an accident or crash event . EDR's
are sometimes called "crash recorders".
Some state laws restrict the retrieva l or downloading of data stored
by EDR's that were insta lled in a vehicle for the express purpose of
retrieving data after an accident or cras h event without the owner's
consent.
Although your vehicle is not equipped with an EDR, it is equipped
with a number of electronic control modules for various vehicle systems such as, for example, engine function, emission contro l, as
we ll
as for the a irbags and safety belts.
These electronic control modules also record vehic le-related data
dur ing norma l ve hicle opera tion for diagnost ic and repair purposes .
The recording capacity of the electronic control modules is limited
t o data (no sound is recorded) and only a small amount of data is
actua lly recorded over a very limited period of time and stored when
a system fault or other condition is sensed by a control unit. Some
of the data then stored may relate to vehic le speed, d irection,
braking as we ll as restraint system use and performance in the
event of a crash o r other condition . Stored data can only be read and
downloaded with special equipment. •
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP)
General information
The ESP improves the vehicle stability.
I~
" "'
( ~ 1~ IA I 3-)
Fi g. 25 4 Cen ter
co nso le w it h ES P
sw itch
ESP is designed to he lp you maintain vehic le control in situations
where the car approaches the limits of "grip", especia lly when
acce lerating and cornering . ESP reduces the risk of skidding and
improves stabil ity under al l road conditions.
T he system operates across the entire speed range in combination
with the ABS system. If the Ant i-Lock Brake System (ABS) malfunc­
tions, the ESP wi ll also shut down .
How the syste m w ork s
The Anti -Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Differential Lock (EDU
and the Anti-Sl ip Regulation System (ASR) are integrated in the e lec­
tronic stabi lization program. In addition to the data provided by
t hese functions, the ESP control unit requires additional measure ­
ment data provided by high performance sensors . The rotational
speed of the veh ic le about its vertica l axis, the lateral acce lerat ion
acting on the vehicle, the brake pressure and the steering angle are
a ll measured . _,,,,

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•
On steep slo pes, you shou ld use th e braking effect of the engine .
This way, yo u preve nt u nn ecessary wear on the bra ke sys te m. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down cont inuous ly .
Pu mp the brakes at in terval s.
Moisture or road salt
U nder ce rtain cond itions, for e xa m ple, w hen drivi ng thro ug h w ate r
or v ery h eavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
e ff ect can be red uce d du e to mo is tu re ( or in fr eezin g c ond it ions ice)
on t he b rake pads . A few carefu l brake applicatio ns should dry off
t h e br ake pads o r rem ove a ny ice coatings .
The e ffective ness of t he b ra kes ca n b e red uced wh en th e ve hicle is
driven o n a salt -covered road and t he brakes are not used. Here too,
yo u should cle an off acc umulate d sa lt co atin g from b rake di scs a nd
pads w ith a few careful app lications of th e
brake=>&.
Corrosion
T here may be a tendency for dirt to build up on t he bra ke pads and
c o rr os ion t o form on th e dis cs if t he car is not driven reg ular ly or
only for short trips with little use of the bra kes .
If th e bra ke s are not us ed fr equ ent ly , or if corro sion h as form ed on
th e discs, it is adv isab le to cl ean off the pa ds and discs by braking
firm ly a few times from a moderate ly h igh
speed =>& .
Faults in the brake system
If y ou s ho uld n oti ce a
sud d en inc rea se in b rake pe dal trave l, then
one of the two b rake c ircuits may h ave
fai led =>& .
Low brake fluid level
M alfunctions can occur in the brake system if the b ra ke fluid leve l is
t oo low. Th e br ake fluid level is monitor ed ele ctr onic a lly .
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit. Other
road users must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident!
& WARNING (continued )
• Before descending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans­
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range . Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
cause the brakes to get hot and diminish braking efficiency .
• Do not "ride the brakes" by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake . This may cause the brakes to overheat ,
premature wear and increased stopping distance .
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced . In winter,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Carefully apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few careful brake applications .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-covered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking efficiency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
careful brake applications .
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective­
ness of the entire brake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driv ing the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop. •
Brake booster
Th e brake boo ster adds ex tra braking po wer.
The b ra ke booster works wit h vacuu m press ure which is created
on ly wh en th e e ngi ne is
r un ning => & .

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Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable
-particularly when going downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
i mm edia te ly if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try t o stop the sway ing by accelerating.
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular ve hicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving down hill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Cool ant temp era tu re
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 12 must be observed care­
ful ly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flas hing
-F- , pul l off the road, stop and let t he engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
An yone n ot properl y re str aine d in a mo ving vehi cle is at a mu ch
g re ate r ri sk in an accid ent . N ever let any on e rid e in y our car who
i s not properl y wea rin g th e res tra int s pr ov ided by Audi.
•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy wi
ll greatly depend on how carefully you
l oad your trailer and opera te your r ig.
Before you actual ly tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely fam iliar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is di fficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trai ler generally requires steering action opposite to that when
backing up your veh ic le without a tra iler.
Ma inta in a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you n or mally wou ld because of t he added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass . After passing, al low plenty of room for your
t rai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a tra iler during the break-in period o f your veh ic le.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to t he extra
load=> page 380. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do
so o nly after doing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot b rake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. _,,,

___ C_ le_ a_n _i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d
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Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicle value.
Any automobile is exposed to industrial fumes, corrosive road salt,
muddy dog feet, etc . A well cared for Audi can look like new many
years a fter purchase. Regu lar a nd correc t ca re will contribu te to
maintaining the beauty and va lue of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warr anty claim should corrosion d amage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dealer has a variety of dedicated vehicle- care
product s
and can adv ise whic h ones to use fo r clea ning the exterior
and interior of your vehicle.
Whether you use prod ucts recom mended by Audi or o ther commer ­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents, please make sure you app ly them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poi sonous . Keep them out of the reach
o f children .
• Heed all cau tion label s.
• Always read directions on the container before u sing any
p rodu ct. Follo w the di re ction s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
diluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated area s.
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , n ail polish remo ver
or other vol atile fluids . They may be toxic , flammable or ha zardous
in other way s. Do n ot wash , w ax or dry the vehicle with the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under sides of chassis , fenders , wheel cover s,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sha rp -edged metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking effi ciency
=> page 270 , "Gener al info rm ation ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wash the vehicle .
~ For the sake of the environment
Select only enviro nmen ta lly friend ly c leaning pr oducts . Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequent washing protects the vehicle.
Th e best p rotection aga inst environmental influe nces is frequent
washing and waxing . How often this is required depends on:
• Ho w much the vehic le is used
• Where the vehic le is parked (garage, in the open under trees,
etc.)
• T he seasonal and weather conditions
• E nvironmenta l influences
T he longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, ta r, soot, road salt and ot her mater ials rema in on the ve hicle
body, the more lasting their destruc tive effects will be . High temper­
atu res caused by exp osu re to in tense s un ligh t inte nsify the c orro -
s ive effect, particularly when hum idity is high as well .
_,,,