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_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c _ k_in -= g_a _ n_d _ f_il _li _n """g ;;..._____..
Working on the battery
Be especially careful when working on or near the battery.
•·•·•·•
Fig. 204 Engine
compartment, plenum
chamber : battery cover
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 250.
Removing the cover
-Push the cover in the direction of the arrow => fig. 204.
Always heed the safety warnings, when working on the vehicle
battery or the vehicle electrical system to prevent injury.
The following WARNINGS are very important when
working on the battery:
Always heed the following WARNING SYMBOLS and safety pre
cautions when working on the battery .
®
Always wear eye protection.
Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Always wear
gloves and eye protection.
No
- sparks
- flames
- smoking.
When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen
gas which is explosive and could cause personal
injury.
Always keep the battery well out of reach of chil
dren.
& WARNING
Whenever working on the battery or on the electrical system,
there is the risk of injury, accident and even fire. Read and heed the
following WARNINGS:
• Always wear eye protection. Do not let battery acid or any lead
particles get on your skin or clothing. Shield your eyes. Explosive
gases can cause blindness or other injury.
• Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid can cause
blindness and severe burns .
- Always wear gloves and eye protection. Do not tilt the battery because acid could leak out of the ventilation openings .
- If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immedi
ately rinse with cold water for several minutes and get medical
attention.
- If you should ingest any battery acid, seek medical attention
immediately.
• Do not expose the battery to an open flame , electric sparks or
an open light.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not interchange the positive and negative cables .
• When working on the battery, be sure not to short-circuit the
terminals with tools or other metal objects. This would cause the .,,.
Vehic le care irechnical data
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•---=C:.:h..:. e=-= c..:.k :..:.in =-=-= g~ a..:.n :.:d::....:. f.:.:il .:.:li ..:.n :..::g:!..- ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued )
battery to heat up very q uickly, which could lead to damage or
explo sion and per sonal injury .
• When a battery is charged , it produces hydrogen gas whic h i s
explo sive and could cause per son al injury .
• Always keep the battery well out of the re ach of children.
• Before work i s done on the electrical system , di sconne ct the
negative ground cable .
• Before per forming any work on the ele ctri cal system , switch off
the engine and ignition as well as any electrical equipment. The
negative cable on the battery must be disconnected .
If you are just
going to replace a light bulb , then it is enough to switch off the
light s.
• Before disconnecting the battery , switch off the anti -theft
alarm system! Otherw ise you will set off the alarm .
• When di sconne cting the battery , fir st di sconnect the negative
c able and then the positive cable .
• Before reconnecting the battery , make sure all electrical
c onsumers are sw itched off . Reconnect the posit ive cable first and
then the negative cable. Never interchange the cables -this could
start a fire !
• Never charge a frozen or a thawed -out battery. It could
e xplode! If a battery has frozen , then it must be replaced. A
discharged batte ry can freeze over at 32 °F (0 °C ).
• Make sure the vent hose is always attached to the opening on
the side of the battery.
• Never use batteries which are damaged . There is the danger of
an explosion! Alway s replace a damaged battery.
& WARNING
California Propo sition 65 Warning :
& WARNING (continued )
• Battery post s, terminals and related accessories contain le ad
and lead compounds , chemicals known to the State of California
to cause can cer and reproduct ive problems . Wash hand s after
handling .
0 Note
• Do not disco nnect t he vehicle battery when the igni tion is
switched on or when the engine is running , otherwise, you wi ll
damage e le ctronic c ompone nts in the electrical syst em.
• I f your vehicle is going to stand for a long period of time without
being dr iven, protect the battery from "freezing" otherwise it wil l be
damaged and wi ll then have to be replaced .•
Checking the battery acid level
T he aci d l evel of a co nv enti onal ba ttery c an be c hecke d
vis ually.
·•
Fig . 2 05 Engine
c ompartment : Battery
w it h o pen b atter y
compartment cover
T he leve l of acid inside the b atte ry is vis ib le th rough the
case a t the fo nt. Ac id le ve l shou ld be ex actly at t he " max "
m ark or v ery clo se belo w it.
~
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_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c_k _in ---= g'--- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ....:g=-------"'
•
If t he electrolyte level is be low the "min" level, have an authorized
w or ksho p fil l the ba tte ry ce ll wit h
distilled water.
0 Note
Do not over fill th e batt ery, ot he rwi se ba ttery acid will overflow
through the vent opening. This can damage the paint and cause
cor rosion .•
Battery charging
Starting the e ngin e requi res a well charge d ba ttery.
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working
o n th e b attery" on
page 263 and ~ ,& .
- S witch off the ignitio n an d all elec trical co nsu mers .
- Make sur e th e are a is well ventilat ed whe n y ou c harge
t h e ba ttery .
- Co nn ect cha rger cables. Charger cables must always be
connected POSITIVE
G) to POSITIVE G) and NEGATIVE Q
to NEGATIVE Q .
- Sw itch o n the cha rge r.
- Make s ure the c har ging rate is not ove r 6 amps.
- Tur n o ff the cha rger ~ ,& .
- Disco nnect t he charg er ca bles .
- Conne ct both batter y ca bles to the b attery if n ecessa ry-
first plu s, th en minus .
It is not necessary to re move t he bat tery from th e eng in e compart
ment, and it is also not necessa ry to disconnect the cab les. Norma
lly, a battery should be charged at no more than 10 percent
o f its rate d capaci ty.
For example, a char ging current of 4 .5 amps wou ld be used on a
battery rated at 45 Ah . Rated capacity of the battery in you r vehicle
i s list ed o n the batt ery housi ng.
T he battery caps should
not be opened when charging a battery.
& WARNING
Charging a battery can be dangerous .
• Always follow the operating instructions provided by the
battery charger manufacturer when charging your battery .
• Never charge a frozen battery . It may e xplode because of gas
trapped in the ice . Allow a frozen battery to thaw out first .
• Do not reuse batter ies which were frozen . The battery housing
may have cracked and weakened when the battery froze .
• Charge the battery in a well ventilated area . Keep away from
open flame or electrical spark. Do not smoke. Hydrogen gas gener
ated by the battery is explosive .
• To reduce the danger of explo sion, never connect or di sconnect
c harger cables while the charger is operating.
• Fast charging a battery is dangerous and should only be
attempted by a competent techni cian with the proper equipment .
• Battery acid that may spill during charging should be washed
off with a solution of warm water and baking soda to neutralize
the acid .
0 Note
Never use a fas t char ger as a booster to start the eng ine. Th is wi ll
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, relays, rad io, etc., as w ell as th e battery c harg er. •
Ve hic le care
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___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..::g=-- --------------------------------------------
Windshield /headlight washer
reservoir
Fig . 206 Engine
compartment : wind
shield washer fluid
container
The windshield and headlight washer* container is located
on the left side of the engine compartment
~ fig. 206. The
~ symbol is on the cap the of the windshield washer fluid
container.
- Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always
read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working
in the engine compartment" on
page 250.
-Lift the filler cap tongue to add washer fluid. You can fill
the container to the top.
- Press the cap back onto the filler neck after filling the
container .
You can find the reservoir capacity in the table in~ page 314.
To prevent lime residue from building up on the spray jets , use
dis tilled water when refilling . Always add a glass cleaner solution
(with frost protection in the winter).
(D Note
Do not use engine coolant antifreeze or any other solution that can
damage the vehicle paint. •
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Tires a nd wh eels BIii ________________________________ :....:.:.....::.=.....::.:..:..:..::..:___:___:..__ __
•
Tires and wheels
Tires
General notes
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts
of a motor vehicle.
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts of a
motor vehicle. Tires are, however, one of the most important parts
of a vehicle, particular ly considering the comparative ly sma ll patch
of rubber on each tire that assures that all -important contact
between you, your vehicle and the road .
Maintaining the correct tire pressure, making sure that your vehicle
and its tires do not have to carry more weight than they can safely
handle, avoiding damage from road hazards and regular ly
inspecting tires for damage inc luding cuts , slashes irregular wear
and overal l condition are the most important things that you can do
to help avoid sudden tire failure including tread separation and
b lowouts .
Avo iding d am age
If you have to drive over a curb or similar obstacle, drive very slowly
and as close as possible at a right angle to the curb.
A lways keep chemica ls including grease, oil, gasoline and brake
flu id off the ti res .
I nspect the tires regularly for damage (cuts, cracks or blisters, etc .!.
Remove any foreign bodies embedded in the treads .
Storing tire s
Mark tires when you remove them to indicate the direction of rota
tion. This ensures you to be ab le to mount them correctly when you
reinstall them. When removed, the whee
ls or tires should be stored in a coo l, dry
and preferably dark place.
Store tires in a vertical position i f they are not mounted on r ims, in
a horizontal position if they are mounted on rims.
N ew tire s
New tires have to be broken in => &.
The tread depth of new tires may vary, according to the type and
make of tire and the tread pattern.
Hidd en d am ag e
Damage to tires and rims is often not readily visible . If you notice
unusua l vibration or the vehic le pul ls to one side, this may indicate
that one of the tires has been damaged . The tires must be checked
immediately by an author ized Audi dealer or qualified workshop .
Uni dir ection al tire s
A unidirect ional tire can be identified by arrows on the sidewa ll, that
point in the direction the tire is designed to rotate. You must fo llow
the specified direction of ro tation . This is necessary so that these
tires can deve lop their optimum characteristics regarding grip, road
noise, wear and hydroplaning resistance . For more information
=> page 298.
Rim s with bolted rim ring *
Light-alloy wheels with a bo lted rim ring consist of several parts .
These parts are screwed together with special bo lts, using a specific
technique. This ensures proper function, seal, safety, and true running of the wheel. For this reason, damaged rims shou ld be
replaced, and you should never repair or dismantle them
=> & .
Rim s with screw -on decorative co vers *
Light-a lloy whee ls can be furnished with interchangeab le decora -
tive covers that are mounted to the rim with se lf -locking bolts. ...
Vehic le care
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-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Contact a dealership if you would like to replace damaged whee l
cove rs.
& WARNING
Never loo sen the screws on rim s with threaded rim rings* -danger
of accident!
& WARNING
New tires or tires that are old , worn or damaged cannot provide
maximum control and braking abil ity .
• New tires tend to be slippery and must be broken in. To reduce
the risk of losing control , a collision and serious per sonal injurie s,
drive with special care for the first 350 miles (560 km ).
Glossary of tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
means the co mbined we ig ht (in excess o f those standar d ite ms
which may be rep laced) of automatic transmission, power stee ring,
power b rakes, power win dows, power seats, ra dio, a nd heater, to
the extent that these items are avai lab le as factory- installed equip
m ent (w hether i nstalled or not).
Aspect ratio
means the ratio o f the he ight to t he wid th of the t ire in perce nt.
N umbers of 5 5 or lower indicate a low sidewall for improved
steer ing respo nse and bette r overall handl ing on dry pave ment.
Bead
means the part of the tire that is made of stee l wires, wrapped or
reinforced by p ly cords and that is shaped to fit the rim.
& W ARNING (continued )
• Driving with worn or damaged tires can lead to loss of control,
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflat ion ,
crashes and serious personal injuries . Have worn or damaged tires
replaced immediately.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
e specially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergen cy and then with special care and at
low speed.
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "p revious history. " Old used tire s may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that c an lead to sudden
tire failure and lo ss of vehicle control.
• If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side
when driv ing , always stop as soon as it is safe to do so and check
the wheels and tires for damage . •
Bead separation
m eans a brea kdow n of the bond be tween compo ne nt s in the bead.
Cord
means the strands forming the plies in the tire .
Cold tire inflation pressure
means the tire pressure recommended by the vehic le manufacturer
fo r a tire of a des ig nated size tha t h as not bee n dr iven for more than
a coup le of mi les (ki lometers) at low speeds in the three hour period
b ef or e the ti re pressu re is mea sured o r adj usted. _,,
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__________________________________________________ T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_ e_l_s _ ...... lJII
•
Curb weight
means the weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment
including the maximum capacity of fue l, oi l, and coolant, air condi
tioning and additional weight of optional equipment.
Extra load tire
means a tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher infla
tion pressures then the corresponding standard tire . Extra load tires
my be identified as "XL", "xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the side
wa ll.
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR")
means the load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured
at the tire -ground interfaces.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ("GVWR ")
means the maximum total loaded weight of the vehicle.
Groove
means the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
Load rating (code)
means the maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure. You may not find this information on al l tires
because it is not required by law.
Maximum load rating
means the load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible infla
tion pressure for that tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
means the sum of :
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity we ight, and
(d) Product ion options weight
Maximum (permissible) inflation pressure
means the maximum cold inflat ion pressure to which a tire may be
inflated. Also called "maximum inflation pressure."
Normal occupant weight
means 150 lbs. (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants
seated in the vehicle up to the total seating capacity of your vehicle.
Occupant distribution
means distribution of occupants in a vehicle.
Outer diameter
means the overall diameter of an inflated new tire.
Overall width
means the linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of
an inflated tire, including elevations due to labeling, decorations, or
protective bands or ribs.
Ply
means a layer of rubber -coated para lle l cords .
Production options weight
means the combined weight of those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs. (2 .3 kg) in excess of those standard
items which they replace, not previously considered in curb weight
or accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers,
heavy duty batter y, and special trim.
Radial ply tire
means a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the
tread.
Recommended inflation pressure
see::;, page 268, "Cold tire inflation pressure".
Ve hic le care
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-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Rei nf orced tire
means a tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inf la
tion pressures then the corresponding standard tire. Reinforced
tires my be identified as "XL",
"xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the
sidewall.
Rim
means a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon
which the t ire beads are seated.
R im di am eter
means nomina l diameter o f the bead seat. If you change your wheel
size, you wi ll have to purchase new tires to match the new rim diam
eter.
R im size des ig nati on
means rim diameter and width.
Rim width
means nominal distance between rim flanges .
Sidewall
means that portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Speed rating (le tter code )
means the speed at which a tire is designed to be driven for
extended periods of time . The ratings range from 93 mph ( 150 km/h)
to 186 mph (298 km/h)~
page 281. You may not find this informa
tion on a ll tires because it is not required by law .
The speed rating letter code, where appl icable, is molded on the tire
sidewal l and indicates the maximum permissible road speeds~
&
in "Winter tires" on page 284 .
Tire pres su re m onitoring s yste m*
means a system that detects when one or more of a vehicle's tires
are underinflated and i lluminates a low tire pressure warning te ll
tale .
Trea d
means that portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road .
Trea d se parati on
means pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass .
Treadw ear indi cato rs (TWI)
means the projections within the princ ipal grooves designed to give
a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread. See
~ page 278, "Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)" for more informatio n on
measuring tire wear.
Uniform Tire Q uality Gra ding
is a tire information system developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N HTSA) that is designed to
help buyers make relative comparisons among tires. The U TQG is
not a safety rating and not a guarantee that a tire wil l last for a
prescribed number of miles or perform in a certain way. It simply
gives tire buyers additiona l information to combine wit h other
considerations, such as price, brand loyalty and dea ler recommen
dations. Under UTQG, tires are graded by the tire manufacturers in
three areas: treadwear, traction and temperature resistance . The
UTQG information on the tires, molded into the sidewalls.
U.S . D OT T ir e Ident ifi ca tion Num ber (T IN )
This is the tire's "serial number" It begins with the le tters "DOT" and
indicates that the tire meets all federa l standards . The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufactured,
and the last four numbers represent the week and year of manufac
ture. For example,
D OT ... 2 209 ...
means that the tire was produced in the 22th week of 2009 . The
other numbers are marketing codes that may o r may not be used by
the tire manufacturer . This information is used to contact
consumers if a tire defect requires a reca ll. -.,