2009 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET abs

-In
te llig ent tec hnolo gy --=---=-=-------------
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 crash 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 examp le, engine function, emission control, as
we ll as for the airbags and safety belts.
T hese electronic control modules also record vehic le-rela ted da ta
during norma l ve hicle operation for diagnost ic and repair purposes .
The recording capacity of the electronic control modules is limited
to data (no sound is recorded) and only a small amount of data is
actually 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 or other condition . Stored data can only be read and
down loaded with special equipment. •
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP)
General information
The ESP improves the vehicle s tability.
I
A F ig . 19 0 Cen ter
co nsol e w ith ESP
sw itch
ESP is designed to he lp you maintain vehic le control in situa tions
where the car approaches the limits of "grip", especially when acce lerating and cornering . ESP reduces the risk of skidding and
improves stability under all road conditions .
The syst em opera tes across the en tire speed range in combination
with the ABS system. If the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) malfunc ­
tions, the ESP wil l a lso shut down .
How th e sys te m work s
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) , E lectronic Differential Lock (EDU
and the Anti -Sl ip Regu lation System (ASR) are integrated in the e lec­
tronic stabi li z ation program. In addition to the data provided by
these functions, the ESP control unit requires additional measure­ ment data provided by high performance sensors . T he rotational
speed of the vehic le about its ver tica l axis, t he late ral acce leration
acting on the vehic le, the brake pressure and the steering ang le are
a ll measured .

The direction in which the driver wishes to travel is determined with
the aid of the steering angle and vehicle speed and is continua lly
compared with the actual behavior of the vehicle. If the two do not
match, -for example, when the vehicle starts hydrop laning on a
wet road -, ESP will automatical ly brake the appropriate wheel to
correct the problem.
The veh icle is then stabi lized by the forces act ing on the whee l
during braking. If the vehicle is oversteering (rear tends to skid out
of the turn), the brakes are mainly app lied on the whee l that is on
the outside of the curve. In the case of a vehicle that is understeering
(tendency to s lide out of the curve), the brakes are applied at the
rear wheel that is on the inside of the curve . An acoustic signal indi­
cates when ESP brake application cuts in =>
&.
The system operates across the entire speed range in combinat ion
with the ABS system => page 216 . If the Anti -Lock Brake System
(ABS) malfunctions, the ESP wi ll be out of act ion as well.
Activa tion
When you turn on the engine, ESP w ill automatica lly be activated
and will perform a self -test .
The system can be activated o r deactivated by pressing the butto n
=> page 212, fig . 190 . The warning light comes on when the system
is switched off .
Normally, the ESP should a lways be on, however, it may be advanta­
geous to turn off the system in certain specia l cases when some
degree o f wheel spin is desired such as :
• when driving with snow chains
• when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface (to allow the
whee ls to dig in to reach firm ground)
• when trying to "rock" the vehicle free whe n it has become stuck .
The system shou ld be reactivated once you are no longer in such
situations.
Both , the ABS and EDL systems are still functioning even if the ESP
is switched off .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Int
ellig ent tec hnol ogy
& WARNING
The Ele ctron ic Stab ilization Program is neve rth ele ss s ubje ct to th e
law s of phy sic s. It is p art icularly important to pay at tent ion to thi s
f ac t on wet and slipper y ro ad s. It i s therefore important th at yo u
alway s adapt your driving to the condition of the road and traffic
c onditio ns. Do not allo w the in crea sed safety prov ided by t he Ele c­
tronic Stabilization Program sy stem to lull you into a ccepting
addition al safety ri sk s.
• Plea se note that when ESP i s deactivated , the drive wheel s can
s pin on icy and slippery ro ads a nd the vehi cle can break away -
d anger of skidding ! C
E lectronic differential lock CEDL)
The electronic differential lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
Gener al notes
The electronic differential lock (EDU helps the car to start moving,
accelerate and c limb a gradien t on surfaces providing poor or
a lmost no grip . Without EDL, this would be difficult , if not impos ­
sible.
How the syst em works
The EDL operates automat ical ly . It monito rs the rotationa l speed of
the drive whee ls on an axle with the he lp of the ABS sensors
=> page 216 . If a noticeable difference in rotational speed between
the drive wheels on one axle is de tected (e.g. on slippery grou nd on
one side), the spinning wheel is braked, thereby transferring power
to the other drive wheel or wheels (a ll -whee l drive) . This is done up
to a speed of about 60 mph ( 100 km/h). Noises from the brake
system signal that wheel spin is being control led.
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Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, gradually increase the pressure on the accelerator
pedal until the car starts to move. The wheel less able to transfer
power spins.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads, the EDL cuts out temporarily. The
vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way as a
vehicle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto­ matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your ability to control your car. -Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=>
page 20. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP). When the vehicle starts up and acceler­
ates, the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the
engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatically, i.e. without the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS sensors=>
page 276, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, the engine
power is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to
lock onto the road surface. The system is active across the entire
speed range.
Th e ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of action.
& 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] 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
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
S ee also =>
page 279, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels". •

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& WARNING (continued)
• 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 .
Cautiously apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few cautious 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
cautious 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 driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop. u
Brake booster
The brake booster adds extra braking power.
The brake booster works with vacuum pressure which is created
only when the engine is running~ &.
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working, for example when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake booster has somehow been
& WARNING (continued)
damaged, the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance. •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under braking.
The ABS contributes effectively to vehicle control since it prevents
the wheels from
locking when the brakes are applied. This means
that the vehicle remains steerable and is less likely to skid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down.
However , do not expect that the ABS shortens braking distance
under
all circumstances. When driving on gravel or on newly fallen
snow on top of icy surfaces, braking distance may be even longer,
therefore, under these circumstances, it is especially important that
you drive slowly and with great care.
How the ABS system works
An automatic check is made when a speed of about 4 mph (6 km/h)
is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be heard.
If an individual wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to
vehicle speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatically reduces brake pressure to prevent that wheel from locking.
This automatic adjustment process will cause a
slight vibration of
the brake pedal and some noises to alert you that vehicle speed
must be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions.
& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction . Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the .,_

& WARNING (c ont in u ed)
ext ra sa fe ty a fforded by the ABS tempt you into t ak in g ex tr a risks .
The ABS cannot overco me th e law s of ph ysics.
[ i J Tips
• If ABS is not funct ioning properly, a warning light will come on.
See
=> page 20.
• If a fau lt occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not funct ion ing . This
is indicated by the ABS warning light.
Brake assistant
T he brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power
and thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance . If the driver
presses the brake pedal very quick ly, the brake assistant automati ­
cally boosts the braking force to the maximum level, up to the point
where the anti -lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the
wheels from locking. You should then keep the brake pedal pressed until the vehicle has braked to the required speed. The brake assis­
tant switches itself off as soon as you re lease the brake peda l.
The brake assistant will not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS .
& WARNING
Please remembe r that the accident risk always in cre a se s if you
dri ve to o fa st, e spe cially in cor ner s o r on a slipp ery road , or if you
follow th e vehicle ahead of you too clos ely. An increased a ccident
ri sk ca nnot be comp en sa ted even b y the brake assista nt , s o
alwa ys maintain a safe spe ed . •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Int
ellig ent tec hnol ogy
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort.
The advanced Servotronic ® power steering system senses the road
speed and electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortab le and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed.
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result, the
steering whee l wil l be hard to turn .
The power steering fluid level is checked during the schedu led
maintenance services.
0 Note
If there is an electronic ma lfunction, servotronic will still function
like a conventional power steer ing system, providing a constant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed. This is most noticeable when tu rning the steering whee l at
low speeds (for examp le when parking), -more effort wil l be
requi red than usual.
• Be aware of the different than usual steering response and
adjust you r steering force accordingly .
• Have the problem checked and set right by an Audi dealer as
soon as possible .
[ i J Tips
• When the engi ne is running, never hold the steering whee l
turned all the way to the right or to the left for longer than 15
seconds. The power steering pu mp will overheat the hydraulic fluid
if you keep holding the steering wheel turned a ll the way. This is
likely to damage the power stee ring system.
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Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the additional load
will affect durability, economy and performance.
Trailer towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso calls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reasons, always fo llow the operating and driving instruc ­
tions provided and use common sense. •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight -carrying hitch conforming to the gross trailer weight.
The hitch must be suitab le for your veh ic le and tra iler and must be
mounted securely on the vehicle's chass is at a technically sound
l ocation. Use only a trailer hitch with removable bal l mount. A lways
check with the trailer hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not u se a bumper hit ch .
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system . No modifications
should be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems . From
time to time, check that all hitch mount ing bo lts re main securely
fastened.
When you are not towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from behind
=:, & .
Tire pre ssur e
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehic le to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load"on the s ticker on the right door ­
jamb . Inflate trai ler tires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' specifica ­
tions.
Lights
The head ligh t sett ings should be checked with the trai ler attached
before driving off. Have the head lights adjusted as necessary so
that you can see the road ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights are working prop ­
erly .
Engine cooling sy stem
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It is important tha t
the cooling system's performance stands up to the additional
strain. Make sure that the coo ling sys tem has enough fluid .
Trailer brakes
If your traile r is equipped wi th a braking system, check to be sure
that it conforms to all regu lations .
The trailer hydraul ic brake system must not be direct ly connected to
the vehic le's hydraulic brake system .
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trai ler
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you install safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
The chains shou ld cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch.
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[ i ] Tip s
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte ­
nance due to the ex tra load=>
page 316 . •
Parking on a slope
---'--------------------
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
Wh en p arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the veh ic le and
the trailer wheels .
- Wit h chocks in p lace, s low ly release t he brakes until
wheel blocks absorb t he load.
- T urn t he wheels towards the curb .
- Apply the parking brake .
- Place an automatic transmission in
P , respect ively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
Wh en restarting after p arking :
- Start the e ngine .
- Shift transmiss ion into gear.
- Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
from the w heel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retr ieve t he wheel blocks.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r to wing
[ i ] Tip s
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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& WARN ING (continued )
• Do not apply additional undercoating or ru stpr oofing on or
near the e xhau st man ifold , ex hau st p ipe s, c atalyti c con verter or
heat sh ields . While d riving , the sub stan ce used for underco ating
c ould overheat and cau se a fire .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informati on
~ page 230.•
Care of interior
Aluminum trim
Use on ly neutral -pH produc ts to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alka line cleaners
wi ll attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the infor mation
~ page 2 30. •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabric coverings (e .g. seats, door trim pane ls, etc.)
should be cleaned at regu lar intervals with a vacuum cleaner. This
removes surface dirt partic les which could become embedded in
the fabric through use . Steam c leaners s hould not be used , because
the steam tends to push the dirt deeper into the fabric and lock it
t here .
Normal cleanin g
Generally, we recommend using a so ft sponge or a lint -free
microfiber cloth to the clean fabric. Brushes should only be used for carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
b
y brushes .
Normal surface stains can be cleaned using a commercially avai l­
able foam cleaner . Spread the foam on the surface of the fabric with
a soft sponge and work it in gently. Do not satura te the fabric. Then
pat the foam dry using absorbent, d ry cloths (e.g. microfiber cloth)
and vacuu m it after it has dried comp lete ly .
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e.g . coffee, fruit juice, etc.) can be
treated with a mild detergent solution. Apply the detergent solution
wi th a sponge . In the case of stubborn stains, a de tergent paste can
be applied direct ly to the stain and worked into the fabric. After ­
wa rds, use copious amounts o f clean wa ter to remove the
remaining detergent . App ly the water with a damp cloth or sponge
and pat the fabric dry with an absorben t, dry c loth.
Stains from choco late or makeup should have detergent paste (e.g.
ox -gall soap) rubbed into them . Afterwards, remove the soap with
water (damp sponge).
A lcoho l can be used to treat stains from grease, oi l, lipstic k or a ba ll­
point pen . Me lted grease or dye must be patted off us ing absorbent
material. It may be necessary to retreat the areas with detergent
paste and wa te r.
I n the case of general so iling of the upholstery and cover material,
we recommend hir ing a specialist that has the equipment to clean
t he seat covers and other fabric sur faces by shampooing and spray
extraction.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230.