Driver information system
[ i] Tips
• The engine oil pressure symbol 9:::r. is not an indicator for a low
engine oil level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your
engine at regular intervals, preferably each time you refuel, and
always before going on a long trip.
• The yellow oil level warning indication · requires oil refill or
workshop service without delay. Do not wait until the red oil pres
sure warning symbol
9:::r. starts to flash before you respond to the
low oil level warning . By then, your engine may already have
suffered serious damage. •
Yellow symbols
A yellow symbol means WARNING.
Yellow symbols mean:
Low fuel level
Check engine oil level Engine oil sensor malfunction
-
Worn brake pads
USA models:
Speed warning 1
Canada models:
Speed warning 1
-
USA models:
Speed warning 2
-Canada models:
Speed warning 2 =>
pag
e35
=> page35
=> page35
-
=> page35
=> page35
=> page35
=> page35
-
=> page35
Dynamic headlight range con
trol* defective => page35
Windshield washer fluid level low
=> page 35
Battery voltage too high or too
low
Defective light bulb
USA models:
Defective brake light
Canada models:
Defective brake light =>
page35
=> page36
=> page36
=> page36
Light/rain
sensor defective (auto-=> page 36
matic headlights) * defective
Adaptive Light* defective =>
page 36
Tire pressure monitoring system * => page 37
Yellow symbols indicate a priority 2 malfunction -Warning!
When a yellow symbol appears, a warning tone will sound
once .
Check the displayed function as soon as possible . If more than one
priority 2 malfunction is detected, all symbols will appear one after
the other for about two seconds.
To display driver information
As an example, the[} symbol appears in the display . If you now
press the button =>
page 12, fig. 2 ©, the following driver message
appears in the display:
PLEASE REFUEL
The driver message in the display goes out after about 5 seconds.
You can display the driver message again by briefly p ressing the
button. •
Fuel supply too low [J
When the J symbol illuminates, this means there is about 1.8
gal lons
(7 l iters) o f fue l left in the fuel ta nk. T ime to re fuel!
=>
page 275.
I f the symbo l lights up, even when there is ample fuel in the tank,
and the text
TANK SYSTEM MA LFUN CTION! CON TACT WORKSHOP
appears in the display, there is a fau lt in the system. Contact a qual
ified workshop to have the fau lt rectified. •
Checking the engine oil level _,;.
When the -= symbol illuminates, check the engine oil leve l as soon
as possib le =>
page 224. Top off the oil at your ear liest opportun ity
=>
page 225. •
Engine oil sensor defective
-
If the _ symbol illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dealer
and have the oil sensor inspected . Unti l you have this done, check
the oi l leve l each time you re fue l jus t to be on the sa fe s ide
=>
page 224 . •
Worn brake pads .)
If the symbo l illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dea ler to
have the front bra ke pads inspected (on that occasion have the rear
brakes inspected as wel l to be safe). •
Controls and equip
ment
Driver inform ation system
Speed warning 1
~ (USA models) / ~ (Canada
models)
I f the ~ symbo l illuminates, this means you are d riving faste r than
the set vehicle speed . Slow down!=>
page 37. •
Speed warning 2
-.... (USA models) /
l.,... (Canada models)
If the C) symbol il luminates, this means you have driven faster than
the sec ond set vehic le s peed. Slow d own! =>
page 37. •
Applies to veh icles : wi th dynami c he ad light r ange ad just ment
Headlight range control defective
If the il luminates, the dynamic head light range control is no
longer working pr ope rly. Have the syste m checked and repa ired at
your authorized Audi dea ler .•
Windshield washer fluid level too low .-_j
If the ~ symbol illuminates, add windshie ld washer fluid to the
washer sys tem =>
page 236 . •
Battery voltage low ~
If the C sy mb ol illu min ates, co ntact your au thori ze d Audi dealer
and have the following components inspected:
• drive belt
• generator
• b att e ry charge
I • •
___________________________________________________ O _n_ t_h _ e_ r_ o _ a_ d __ ,n
Starting and stopping the engine
Starting the engine
The engine can only be started with on original Audi key
and the clutch pedal* depressed.
- Set the parking brake.
Move the selector lever to the neutral position (automatic
transmission: selector lever in P or N)
~ & .
- On vehicles with manual transmission, fully depress the
clutch pedal.
- Turn the ignition key to position
G) ~ page 106, fig. 101
- do not depress the gas pedal when starting the engine!
- Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts.
A cold engine may at first be loud after it has been started. This is
due to the hydraulic valves building up the oil pressure . This normal
and no need for concern.
If the engine does not star t immediately, stop trying after 10
seconds and then try to restart the engine about 30 seconds later.
& WARNING
Never start or let the engine run in a confined or enclosed area.
Exhaust fumes from the engine contain carbon monoxide, a color
less and odorless gas. Carbon monoxide can be fatal if inhaled .
• Never leave the engine idling unattended. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine poses a danger of personal injury or
theft.
Controls and equip
ment
0 Note
• Avoid high engine speeds, fast acceleration or heavy engine
loads while the engine is still cold. This could damage the engine.
• The engine cannot be started by pushing o r towing the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
To avoid unnecessary engine wear and to reduce exhaust emis
sions, do not let your vehicle stand and warm up. Be ready to drive
off immediately after starting your vehicle. Maintain moderate
speed until the engine is completely warm. Remember, the engine
performs best at operating temperature. •
Stopping the engine
-Turn the ignition key to position G) ~ page 106 , fig. 101.
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotronic only work when the engine
is running . With the ignition turned off, you have to apply more
force when steering or braking. Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
• The radiator fan can continue to run for up to 10 minutes even
after you have turned off the engine and removed the ignition key.
The radiator fan can also turn on again if the engine coolant heats
up because of intense sunlight or heat build-up in the engine
compartment. .,
I • •
the vehicle begins to skid, ESP brakes the appropriate wheel automatical ly .
The vehicle is stabilized again by the forces acting on the wheel during braking. With an oversteering vehicle (tendency for the rear
end to skid out of the curve), the brake application is mainly at the
front wheel on the outside of the curve, with an understeering
vehicle (tendency to run wide in the curve) at the rear wheel on the
inside of the curve or additionally at the other wheels as needed .
This brake application is accompanied by noises.
ESP works in conjunction with ABS=:>
page 189. If there is ma lfunc
tion in the ABS, ESP is also inoperative .
Activa ting
The ESP is automatica lly activated when the engine is started, and
it performs a self-test. As soon as the test is completed, the system
is in normal operating mode . With ASR deactivated, or with ESP/ASR
deactivated, pressing the button=>
page 184, fig. 142 returns the
system to normal operation.
D eac tiva ting
ESP should norma lly be activated at all times because this ensures
optimum vehicle stability . Only in certain exceptional cases it does
make sense to deactivate Anti -Slip Regulation (ASR) or the Elec
tronic Stability Program !ESP) by pressing the button =:>
page 184,
fig. 142. Both deactivation stages can only be activated from normal
mode.
Dea cti vat ing ASR
Tap the switch . Deactivation is indicated by s low flashing of the ESP
lamp in the instrument c luster. In certain situations (e.g. driving
with snow chains, in deep snow or on loose ground, or when rocking the car free), it may be necessary to deactivate ASR. Deacti
vation is effective only up to a speed of about 45 mph (70 km/h). At higher speeds, ASR is switched on again automatical ly in front
whee l drive vehicles, deactivation is possible only up to about 30
mph (50 km/h). With a ll -whee l drive vehicles, ASR is active above
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
In
te llig ent tec hn olo gy
about 45 mph (70 km/h) and deactivated automatical ly below this
speed.
D eac tiva tin g ES P/ASR
Press the button for more than 3 seconds . Deactivation is indicated
by the ESP lamp in the instrument c luster staying on permanently .
This deactivates the E lectronic Stabi lity Program (ESP) in addition to
ASR . No Electronic Stability System operation and no Anti-Slip
Regu lation is availab le across the entire speed range; ASR and ESP
are activated only when the brakes are used for the duration of the
braking action and remain active until a stab le vehicle condition has
been reached. There is no driving situation which requires ESP to be
deactivated, so this should only be done if the driver's skill and the
traff ic situation permit .
& WARNING
• The limi ts of ph ysics ca nnot be suspe nd ed by E SP. E ven in vehi
cles w ith ESP, you should always adapt your dr iving to road and
tr affi c co ndition s. Thi s is part icul ar ly tr ue on a s lippe ry and wet
road . Do not be te mpt ed b y th e incre as ed safet y prov ided t o ta ke
ri sks - dang er of an accident !
• Plea se note that when ASR or ESP /ASR i s deactivated , the drive
w heel s can spin on icy and slipper y ro ad s and the vehi cle can
break away - da nger of skiddin g!
Ii ] Tip s
In the event of a defect in the rear spoiler system or in Audi
magnetic ride, it can happen that ASR and ASR/ESP cannot be deac
tivated, or they are activated automatica lly in the deactivated
state. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
Activating
The ESP is automatically activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self-test. You can activate a deactivated ASR if required
by pressing the=>
page 184, fig. 142 button. When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display. Vehicles
with front -wheel drive a deactivated ASR automatically re -activates
itself at a speed of 40 mph (70 km/h).
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds)=>
page 184, fig. 142. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light comes on, see=>
page 18. The message ASR off
appears in the display as well. On vehicles with front -wheel drive:
deactivation is possible only up to 30 mph (50 km/h) for safety
reasons. Vehicles with all -wheel drive : the ASR can be deactivated
at any speed.
The ASR should normally be activated all the time. Only in certain exceptional situations when some slip is desirable does it make
sense to deactivate the ASR. Examples:
• when driving with tire chains
• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground and
• when rocking the vehicle loose after it has become stuck.
When the abnormal situation is over, you should activate the ASR
again.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i J Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
Intelligent technology
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also ::::>
page 249, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels".
Rear spoiler
The rear spoiler improves vehicle handling and enhances
driver control.
Fig. 143 Switch for
rear spoiler
The rear spoiler deploys and retracts. Spoiler operation can be set
for automatic or manual operation .
Automatic mode (normal operation)
• Automatic deployment : At a speed of about 75 mph (120 km/h),
the rear spoiler deploys automatically.
• Automatic retraction: When speed drops below about 50 mph
(80 km/h), the rear spoiler retracts automatically.
Manual mode
• Manual deployment: Tapping briefly on the switch ::::> fig. 143
deploys the rear spoiler .
• Manual retraction: At speeds up to about 10 mph (20 km/h),
retract the rear spoiler by pressing and holding the switch
::::> fig. 143. At speeds between 10 mph (20 km/h) and 75 mph (120
km/h), retract the rear spoiler by tapping on the switch=> fig. 143 .
Vehicle care I I irechnical data
Faults in the brake syst em
If you shou ld notice a sudden i ncrease in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed=>
& -
Low brake fluid level
Ma lfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid leve l is
t oo low. The brake fluid level is moni tored e lect ronica lly .
Brake pow er assist unit
The brake p ow er assist un it increas es th e pressure that you
generate with the brake peda l. It works only when the engine is
running.
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuver s for the purpose of
c leaning the brake system only if road conditions permit . Other
road users must not be put at ri sk -you may cause an accident!
• Before des cending a steep grade , redu ce speed and sh ift trans
mi ssion into a lower gear or lower driving position . Do not ride the
br akes 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 . Thi s may cause the brakes to overheat,
premature we ar and increased stopping distan ce .
• Under certain cl imatic and operating condit ions such as
pas sing through water , driv ing in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle, the effectiveness of the brake s can be reduced . In winter ,
ice can ac cumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Cautiously apply brakes for a te st. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few cautious brake appli cations .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -covered road s
without using your brakes can also affect brak ing effic iency . Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
c autiou s brake applications .
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
& W
ARNING (continued )
• If you damage the front spo iler , or if you install a different
s poiler , be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat redu cing the effective
ness of the entire br ake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increa sed stopping distance. Avoid driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop.
• Never let the veh icle roll to a stop with the engine shut off .
• If the b rake booster is not working , for e xample when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake booster has somehow been
damaged , the brake pedal must be pre ssed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Anti- lock brake system (ABS)
ABS p revents the wheel s from loc king unde r br ak ing.
The anti -lock brake sys te m (ABS) makes a major contri but ion to
i ncreasing act ive d riv in g sa fety . You should not expect that brakin g
distances wi ll be
shortened unde r all c ircums tances wi th ABS.
B rak in g distance may even become somewhat
longer , for e xa m ple ,
on gravel or in new snow on s lippery ground, even if you are driving
carefully and slowly.
ABS operation
W hen a veh icle speed o f about 10 mph (20 km/ h) is reac hed , an au to
matic test sequence is run. Some noise from the pum p may be
audible.
I f the speed of a wheel s lows down too much re lative to vehicle
speed and i t starts to lock, br ake pressu re to th is whee l is reduce d.
T his adjustment process can be felt as a
pulsing motion of the b rake
pedal ,
accompanied by some noises. Yo u as the d rive r are in tent io n
a lly being g iven the in fo rmation that the wh eels a re tendin g to lock
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effec t during the first 250 miles (400 kilometres) after they
are installed.
New brake pads have to be "burnished in" before they have optima l
grab=> &.
During the break -in period, you should avoid putting severe loads
on the brakes. Severe loads include, for example, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very high speeds or, for example, on moun
tain passes.
& WARNING
U ntil the y develop the m axim um "b ite " fo r be st stoppi ng p owe r,
th e s urfaces on new br ake p ads re quir e some " brea king -in " during
th e ini tia l 100 to 150 miles 1 150 to 200 k ilom etres) of nor ma l c ity
driving . You can comp ensa te fo r thi s by press ing the brak e ped al
more fi rml y. T his appl ie s w henev e r ne w pad s a re in sta lled . •
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control system
(catalytic converter) is fu nctioning properly to ensure that
y o ur vehicle is running in an environmentally s ound
manner.
- Always use lead-free gasoline~ page 214, "Fuel supply".
- Never run the tank down a ll the way to empty.
- Never put too much motor o il in your engine~
page 225,
"Adding engine oi l 'l=:;r\11
•
- Neve r try to push -or tow -s tart your ve hicle.
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Dri
ving and environm ent
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up" device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle . The cataly tic converter burns many
of the pollutants in the exhaust gas before they are re leased into the
atmosphere.
The exclusive use of un leaded fuel is critica lly important for the l ife
of the catalytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not park or oper ate th e ve hi cle in are a s whe re the hot
exha ust sys te m may c ome in conta ct wi th dr y grass, bru sh , fu el
s pill or other mat eri al which can cau se a fi re.
• Do not app ly a dditi onal u nder co at ing or ru stpr oofing on or
near the exhau st m anifold , exh au st pipe s, cata ly tic convert er or
he at shi elds. During dri ving, the s ubstance use d f or und ercoa ting
c ould ov erheat an d ca u se a fire.
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank fi lling with
le ad ed fuel wi ll a lready
seriously degrade the performance of the catalytic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oil level =>
page 225.
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes completely empty. The
engine could misfire . Unburned fuel could a lso get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic converter to overheat .
• Do not turn off the igni tion wh ile the vehicle is moving.
• Do not continue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fue l can reach the cata lytic converter. This could resu lt
in overheating of the converter, requiring its replacement .
• To assure efficient operation of the Emiss ion Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Maintenance & Warranty
booklet.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
___ D_ r_ iv _i_ n-' g"'""'- a_ n_d_ e_ n _ v_i_r _ o _n_ m_ e_ n_t _____________________________________________ _
- Lack of proper maintenance as well as improper use of the
vehicle will impair the function of the emission con trol system
and could lead to damage.
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a su lfur -like exhaust gas smell under some
operating states . This depends on the su lfur content of the fuel
being used. Using a different brand of fuel may he lp, or filling the
tank with lead-free super grade gasoline. •
Avoid damaging the vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps,
etc., make certain that low-lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust
system parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
This is especially true for vehicles with low-slung chassis (sports
chassis) and fully loaded vehicles. •
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Your personal style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear on your engine,
brakes and t ires largely depend on three factors:
• your personal driving style
• operating condit ions
• technical limitations If
you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economically,
you can easily cut your fuel consumption by 10-15 percent . This
section will give you some tips on how you can he lp the environ
ment and your pocketbook .
[ i ] Tips
The consumption estimates as published by ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre
spond to your actua l consumption on the road, which will vary
depend ing upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather condi
tions, trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating.
Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most fue l when they are accelerating . If you antici
pate what is going to happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, accelerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possible -for
example when you see that the next traffic light is red. •
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
- Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed.
Acce lerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and
does not disturb the environment.
Fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
disproportionately at high speeds. If you drive at approximately
three quarters of top speed, fuel consumption wil l be reduced by
9J,,