
- Lack of proper maintenance as wel l as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system
and could lead to damage.
'£> For the sake of the environm ent
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a su lfur -like exhaust gas sme ll under some
operating states. This depends on the sulfur content of the fuel
being used. Using a different brand of fue l may help, 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.
a
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 tires largely depend on three factors:
• your personal driving style
• operating cond itions
• technica l limitat ions
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Driving
and environm ent
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economica lly,
you can easily cut your fuel consumpt ion by 10 -15 percent . This
section wil l give you some tips on how you can help the environ
ment and your pocketbook.
[ i ] Tips
The consumption est imates as published by ENV IRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre
spond to your actua l consumption on the road, which will vary
depending 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 ore accelerating .
-Avoid unnecessary accelerating and brak ing.
Vehicles use the most fue l when they are accelerating . If you antici
pate what is going to happen next, you wi ll need to brake less and,
thus, acce lerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possib le - for
examp le 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.
Fue l 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 •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Dri
ving and environm ent --=---------------
one half . Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditions permit .•
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle.
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fuel than is burned s tarting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious emissions are especially
high when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as
soon as you star t the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended id ling also produces heat, which could
resu lt in overheating or other damage to the veh icle or other
property .•
Regu1ar maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lo t of fuel.
- Have your ve hicle serviced at regular intervals . By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economical
ly . The condit ion of yo ur
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel consumpt ion .
C heck your oil each time you fill your tank .
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
I t is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mi leage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) be fore you can properly assess oil consumption .
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. Lack of proper maintenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impai r the function of the em ission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do no t alter or re move any component of the Emiss ion Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alte r or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehic le's Emission Control System and other important veh icle
components. •
Fewer short trips
Fu el consumption will alw ays be rela tively high o n short
trips.
- Try to avo id d riving short dista nces wi th a cold engine. _,

Cleaning and protection -
----------------
•
High temperatures, as from exposure to intense sunlight, intensify
the corrosive effect particularly when humidity is high as well.
Under certain circumstances,
weekly washing may be necessary.
Under other conditions, a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate.
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230. •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash. However, the
effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care
material , etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
The power top does not require specia l precautions before passing
through a car wash.
However, the car must not be treated with hot
wax after the wash cycle!
The wax could adversely affect the power
top and even damage the fabric over a period of time.
The power top does not have to be washed every time you use a car
wash . The power top can be spared if the car wash facility is
equipped with manually adjustable roof brushes or rollers.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau
tions such as closing the windows and power top. The factory-fitted antennas for the radio, car phone and navigation system* are all
located inside the vehicle interior.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle
-such as
spoilers, etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if these should
be removed.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
- Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS=>
& in "General informa
tion" on page 230.
- First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge
glove or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed to road dirt. In this way, you wil l not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car. ..,.
Vehic le care

Cleaning and protection -
----------------
•
• 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

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
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 -
----------------
•
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230 . •
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone
chips. Scratches should be touched up soon after they occur to
prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be smoothed with sand paper
and covered with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can
be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification label~
page 312 .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page230. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup.
Remove snow from windows using a brush.
- Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
- Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner.
Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or kitchen paper towel.
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a brush. Use a non -abrasive
plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from windows and mirrors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can interfere with the function of the windshield wiper blades (chatter!.
Oil, grease or silicone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
silicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
specially formulated solvent. Please contact your Audi dealer for
advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals. _,.
Vehic le care
![AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 Owners Manual _____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _ a_ n_ in--= g--- a_n _d___, p_ r _o_ te_ c_t _io _ n __ lftll
•
[ i ] Tip s
Open Ve lcro fasteners on your cloth ing can damage the AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 Owners Manual _____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _ a_ n_ in--= g--- a_n _d___, p_ r _o_ te_ c_t _io _ n __ lftll
•
[ i ] Tip s
Open Ve lcro fasteners on your cloth ing can damage the](/manual-img/6/57553/w960_57553-240.png)
_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _ a_ n_ in--= g'--- a_n _d___, p_ r _o_ te_ c_t _io _ n __ lftll
•
[ i ] Tip s
Open Ve lcro fasteners on your cloth ing can damage the seat cover .
Please make sure that Ve lcro fasteners are closed .•
Plastic parts and instrument panel
A lways use a c lean cloth moistened in clear water to clean these
areas . For persistent dirt use an Audi approved
solvent-free plastic
cleaner/protectant.
& WARNING
Solvents can change the properties of some plastics and make it
harder for the airbag to deploy .
• Never clean the instrument panel or the surfa ce of Airbag
module s with c leaning produ cts that contain sol vents .
• Products containing solvent s will make the surface of th is part
porous .
• Serious injuries can re sult if plastic parts come loo se when the
airbag is deployed .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230 .
0 Note
Cleaning agents containing solvents wil l attack the material and can
change the way it be haves. •
Applies to veh ic les : wi th n atural leat her
Natural leather
Audi makes great effor ts to maintain the proper ties,
n at ural look an d feel of in terior le ather.
General
We offer many different types of leather on our vehic les . Most are
d iff erent types of nappa leather, which has a smoo th surface and
comes in various co lors .
The in tens ity of the c olor de termines the visua l characteristics and
appearance. I f the surface of the leather has a typ ical natu ra l loo k,
then the leather is a nappa leather that has been left in a re latively
natura l condition. This leathe r off ers pa rticu larly good com fort and
breathes we ll. Fine veins, closed grains, insect bites, skin folds, and
su btle varia tions in c olor remain visib le . These characterist ics
demonstrate that the material is natural.
Natura l nappa lea ther is not c ove red by a color finish. It is th erefo re
more sensitive to soiling and wear, which is something you need to
consider if children, animals or other factors might prove to be
particularly hard on the leather .
By contrast, leather types that are covered by a colored finish layer
are m ore dura ble. This has a pos itive effect on the lea ther's resis
tance to wear and soiling in daily use. On the other hand, the typical
c haracte ristics of natura l leather are barely or not appa re nt.
However , this does not mean that the leather itse lf is of inferior
quality.
Care and handling
Because of the exclusive nature of the types of leat her that Audi
uses and their unique properties (such as sensitivity to oi ls, grease ,
s o iling, etc.), y ou will need to be somewhat ca ref ul w ith t hese
leathers, and a certain type of care is required . For example, dark
c lothing materials can discolor leathe r seats (especially if such
clothing is damp and was not dyed correctly!. Dust and dirt particles .,_
Vehic le care

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
in pores, folds, and seams can have an abrasive effect and can
damage the leather surface as well as weaken seams.
The leather should be cleaned regularly as needed . After having
been used for a relatively long time, your leather seats will acquire
a rich aged finish. This is a characteristic of natural leather and a
sign of true quality.
In order to maintain the value of this natural product over the life of
your vehicle, you should follow the recommendations below :
0 Note
• To keep your leather from bleaching out, do not allow it to be
exposed to bright sunlight for long periods of time. If you have to
leave the vehicle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather
to protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.
• Sharp objects on clothing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can leave permanent scratches or scrape marks on the
surface of the leather .
[ i ] Tip s
• After each time you clean the leather and at regu lar intervals, use
a leather preservative creme that contains UV -blockers and that
works into the leather. This creme will nourish and moisturize the leather, helping it to breathe and stay supple . It also helps to build
up a protective coating on the surface .
• Clean the leather every 2 -3 months, and clean any areas that get
soiled.
• Remove fresh marks made by ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc . as soon as possible.
• Preserve the color of the leather as needed by using a special
colored leather care creme to touch up areas of uneven color .•
Ap plies to vehi cles: w it h n atu ral leather
Cleaning and caring for leather upholstery
and trim
Natural leather requires special care and attention.
Norm al c leaning
- Clean soiled areas with a slig htly mo istened cotton or
woolen cloth.
Mor e stubborn dirt
- More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth satu
rated with a mild soap solution (2 tablespoons mi ld
liquid soap).
- Never allow the soap solution to saturate the leather, and
make certain that no water soaks into the seams .
Wipe off the soap solution with a soft, dry cloth.
Cl eaning spot s
- Remove fresh wate r-ba sed spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) w ith an absorbent c loth or paper towe l.
- Remove fresh greas e or oil-ba sed spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the c leaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the leather.
- Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if oil /gr ease spots
h ave dried on .
- Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt
marker, fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish,
etc.) with a spot remover specifically formulated for leather . .,_