2009 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET warning light

Cleaning and protection -
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•
• To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is
enough d istance between the sprayer and sof t materials like rubber
hoses, plastic parts and sound -deadening materials . Never aim the
sprayer at the same point for a re latively long period of t ime. This
also applies to cleaning headlights and painted bumpers. Remember : the closer the nozzle is to the surface of the material,
the greater the stress on the material. •
Power top care
The power to p requires s pecial c are.
Keeping your top look ing great and making certain that it lasts a
long time depend to a great extent on proper use and care. Remove
bird droppings as soon as possib le, since the corrosive chemicals in
them wi ll cause the rubber impregnation in your top to swell and
possibly allow the fabric to leak.
With normal soiling, all you need to do is c lear the top with a soft
brush and clear water. Always brush in the direction of the fabric
from front to rear.
If the top is very dirty and has spotted areas clean it with a brush
using a convert ib le top cleaner . Always brush in the direction of the
fabric from front to rear . R inse with plenty of clear water, and allow
t he t op to air-dry .
Chamois are not suitab le for drying the top.
Never use gasoline, spot remover, benzene, paint thinner or
solve nts to remove spots . We recommend that you only use
cleaners especia lly formulated for use on convertib le tops , and that
you fol low the produce use d irections carefully. Authorized Audi
dea ls can provide detailed information.
& WARNING
Always read and h eed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 2 30 .
0 Note
Never use a high -pressure power was her to clean the power top. •
Wind deflector
Clear the wind deflector with water or, if it is heavily soi led, a chem ­
ica lly neutra l cleaning solution .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 2 30 . •
Waxing
W ax pr otects the vehicle's p ain t.
- U se a manua lly ap plied ca r wa x occasi onall y to p ro tect
t h e paint.
A good wax coat ing protects the vehicle paint to a large extent
against the environmental factors listed under=> page 230,
"Washing" and even against slight scratches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
week after your vehic le has been delivered.
Even if you regular ly use a
waxing process in automa tic car was hes,
we recommend that you manual ly apply a coat of wax to give the
paint ex tra p rotecti on, particular ly if wa ter n o longer beads on the
c lean paint.
Protect plastic body parts with car wax in the same way as the
vehic le body.
Ve hic le care

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During warm weather dead insects tend to collect on the front
bumper an d on the f orwar d area of the hood . They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often .
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other informat ion
=> page 2 30.
0 Note
Do not use ca r wax on
• matte or anodized metal trim
• rubber or rubber -like trim. •
Polishing
Po lis hin g restores t he gloss to the pa int.
Po lish your vehicle on ly if the paint has lost its shine and the g loss
cannot be brought back with wax.
I f the p olish used does not contain preservative c ompounds, th e
paint must be waxed afterwards=>
page 233, "Waxing".
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the inform ation
=> page 23 0.
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal tr im, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wa x.•
Trim strips
Metal tri m nee ds speci al care.
For environmental reasons , Audi fabricates the bright trim strips
and trim pieces from pure chr omi um -free a luminum .
Dirt and marks on the trim strips should be removed w ith a
pH­
balan ced
cleaning agent (do not use a chrome cleaner). Audi
dea lers carry c leaning products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not harmful to the environment.
To avoid co rrosion on the exterior trim strips, only a p H-ba lanced
solu tion should be used for the windshield washer .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other inform ation
=> page 2 30 . •
Plastic and vinyl
Plas tics needs spe cial care.
Use a clean , da mp c loth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning so lution or
a mild sadd le soap fo r vinyl trim. Re move water sp ots and s oap
traces with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft c loth to
r ub dry .
Grease , tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with al l- purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe ­
cia lly to c lean vinyl.
Occas iona lly apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
t he material's luster a nd p liabili ty. .,

Cleaning and protection 1111111
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•
Ap plies t o vehi cles : wi th C ast allo y wh eels
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care .
-Wash the wheels w ith a sponge or hose brush every
other week .
- For deep cleaning after wards, use on ly a dedicated
acid ­
free cast alloy wheel c leaner .
- Rub a co at of
liquid wax onto t he rims every three m onth.
Be sure t o reach and tre at all parts of the rim .
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cas t alloy whee ls,
some special care is necessary . In addition to road dirt and salt,
brake du st is also corr osive. If left on f or to o long, brake dust can
cause pitting .
U se only specia l
acid-free cleaners formulated for alloy rims. Safe
p roducts are available at your Aud i dea ler . N ever leave the cleaner
on the rims longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off
promp tly, the acid conta ined in so me cleaners can attack the
threads on the wheel bolts .
Never use abrasive or metal po lishing cleaning agents . If the protec­
tive coating has been chipped, e .g. by kicked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possib le .
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on br akes may affect braking efficiency
=> page 215 , "General infor mation ". Te st the br ake s c arefully ea ch
time you wash the vehicle .
• Alw ay s read and heed all WARNINGS and ot her informat ion
=> page 2 30 . •
Body cavity sealing
T he body c avity seali ng does not need to be checke d.
A ll body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
given thorough protecti on a t the fact ory.
This sealing does not require any inspection or add itional treat ­
ment . If any wax shou ld seep out of the cavity when the ambient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a p lastic scraper and a
suitable solvent.
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Benz ine is fla mmable and to xic. If you use benz ine for removing
the wax, keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away . Never
dump benz ine on the ground , into open stream s or do wn sewage
drains .
• Be sure to ob ser ve all safety and environmental regulations .
Follow all in structions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 230. •
Chassis
Have the undercoating checked for damage from time to
time.
The lower body she ll of your Audi is a lso thoroughly pro tected
against corrosion.
Any damage to the u nde rcoating caused by road ha za rds sh ould be
repaired promptly .
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong pla ces can cause a f ire .
Ve hic le care

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•
Leather care
-Every half year use an approved leather care product
(available from your Audi dealer) to care for the leather.
- Apply the product very sparingly .
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If you have any questions about cleaning and caring for the leather
in your vehicle, it is best to contact your authorized Audi dealer, who
will be glad to help you and tell you about our full range of leather
care products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care kit
• Cremes to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc.
• Oil/grease dissolving spray
• New and upcoming products.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=:> page 230.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on the leather surfaces in
your Audi.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist. •
Applies to veh ic les : wi th A lcantara up holste ry
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Moisten a cloth, squeeze out excess water and wipe down
the seat surfaces.
Removing stains
- Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or with diluted
ethyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
Once the stain is no longer visible, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up the moisture.
Do not use leather cleaning products on Alcantara.
You may use a suitable shampoo for removing dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the
surface. If the car is left standing in the sun for long periods, the
Alcantara should be protected against direct sunlight to prevent it
from fading. Slight color variations will develop in normal use and
are not an indication of material deterioration .
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e .g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara ® surfaces.
• To avoid damage , have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do no t use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids. •
Vehic le care

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Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condit ion of your safety belts
regularly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash .
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them.
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=:> page 230. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine :::::, &.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts.
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
I f the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
21 , or if you have the engine washed, the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore
essential to have a long-lasting corrosion protection reapplied to all
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the engine compart ­
ment.
& WARNING
Be aware: The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to read the
information :::::,
page 242. .,.,
21 Use only the correct cleaning solutions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.

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Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig . 194 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel => fig. 194 in direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure .•
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 195 Release lever
under the hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Lift the hood slightly =>& .
- Pull the release under the hood
=> fig. 195. This releases
the catch.
- Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by a gas strut .
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you .
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart­
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood. •
Vehicle care irechnical data

-Ch
ecking and filling
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©
©
0
Coolant expansion tank (.J_ J .. .. .. .. . ... .. .. .... .
Windshield/head light washer container ( O ) ..... .. .
Po wer steering re servoi r
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNINGS
=> & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 250. •
Applies to veh icles : w ith 6 ·cy lind er engine
3.2 liter , 6-cylinder engine (255 hp)
258
266
217
Th ese a re t he most im por tan t it em s th at you c an ch eck.
F ig . 197 Engine compartment : 3.2 liter , 6- cylinder
G) Battery ... ... .. ...... .... ... .... .... .... ..... .
0 Bra ke fluid reservoir ( l ....... .. .. .. .. ...... .. .
© Engine oil fi ller cap ('t:::n) ..•. ..• ..... .•. ...• ..•..
26 1
260
255
©
©
©
0
Engine oil dipstick (orange) ...... ..... ... .... ... .
Coolant expansion tank
( -L J .. ... ... . .... ... ... .. .
W indshield/headligh t washer c ontainer (O l .. .... . .
Powe r steering rese rvoir
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartmen t" on
page 250. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
254
258
266
2 17
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
The engi ne in y our Audi is a sophisticated powe rp lan t tha t was built
to exacting specifications. This engine needs the right kind of
eng ine oil that meets specifications regarding quality and viscos ity
so that it can run smoothly and reliably . Choosing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage interva ls printed in your
vehic le's Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standa rd
f or e ngin e oil tha t w ill help assure that your vehicle's engine will get
the lubrication it needs for proper operation.
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap i n the last few
years. Many synthetic oils ava ilable today provide better engine
lubrication that can o utlast traditional petro leum -based oil s,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthetic or petro leum -based engine oil, the oi l
tha t you use mus t conform to Audi 's oi l qual ity standard VW 502 00
to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help ._

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the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a timely manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of internal
engine components , all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine. Typically,
engines with a specified break -in period (see~
page 219) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabilized.
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
condensation or fuel residue and the oxidation level of the oil. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up , the oil consump­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil
consumption can be established or specified. There is no alternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note.
If the yellow engine oil level warning symbol in the instrument
cluster lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick~ page 254. Top off the oil at your
earliest convenience~
page 255.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 250.
0 Note
Driving with an insufficient oil level is likely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display 't!::r. is not an indicator of the 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.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oil, we recommend that you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the accurate measurement of oil consumption requires great
care and may take some time . Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how to measure oil consumption accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Fig. 198 Illustration of
principle 1: Markers on
oil dipstick ..,_