2009 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET tow

___ D_ r_i v_ in_,.. g"'- a_ n_ d_ e_ n_ v_i_r _o _n_ m_ e_n_ t _______________________________________________ _
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effec t during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are installed .
New brake pads have to be "burn ished in" before they have optimal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you shou ld avoid putting severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very high speeds or, for example, on moun ­
tain passes.
& WARNING
Ne w brake p ad s don't h ave the bes t sto pp in g po we r and mu st b e
"brok en-in " durin g the initial 100 to 1 50 m il es ( 150 to 200 kil ome ­
t e rs) of norm al cit y dri ving . Y o u can com pensat e for thi s by
p re ss ing the br ake p ed al more firm ly. Th is also appli es later w he n
n ew pad s a re in sta lled.
:J
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control system
(catalytic converter) is functioning properly to ensure that
y o ur vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
- Always use lead-free gasoline=> page 244, "Fuel supply".
- Never run the tank down a ll the way to empty.
- Never put too much motor o il in your engine =>
page 255,
"Adding eng ine oi l 'l:::r.11
•
- Neve r try to push -or tow -s ta rt yo ur vehic le.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up" device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle. The catalytic converter burns many
of the po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere.
The exc lusive use of unleaded fue l is critica lly important for the l ife
of the cata lytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not p ark or op erate th e veh icle in are as w here the h ot
ex hau st sys tem m ay come in co ntac t w ith dr y gr ass, brush , fuel
s pill or other mater ial which can cau se a fire .
• Do not apply a dditi ona l u nder coating or ru stpr oofing on or
n ea r the exhau st m anifold , exhau st pipe s, ca ta lytic conv ert er or
h eat shie ld s. Dur in g d riving , the sub sta nce use d fo r und ercoa ting
coul d ove rhea t and cause a fire .
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank filling with leaded fue l wi ll already
seriously degrade the performance of the catalytic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oi l level =>
page 255.
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes comp letely empty . The
engine cou ld misfire. Unburned fuel could also get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic conver ter to overheat .
• Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle is moving.
• Do not con tinue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fuel can reach the cata lytic converter . This cou ld result
in overheating of the converter, requiring its rep lacement .
• To assure eff icient operation of the Em ission Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. •

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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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Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check with your autho rized Audi dealer for correct wiring , switches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you using the regular
outside mirrors, then you
must install extended mirrors. It is impor ­
tant that you always have clear vision to the rear .
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure you
or your passengers .
.1
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical class 1 or class 2
trailer .
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in place to guard
against shifting, be it forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer~&, in "Driving instruc­
tions".
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the sticker on the right door­
jamb. Inflate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' specifica­
tions.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Trailer towing
Lights
The
headlight settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off. Adjust as necessary so that you can see the road
ahead but not blind on -coming traffic.
Check proper working of vehicle and trailer lights .
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
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 should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch .•
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle and trailer,
please note the following:
Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
Observe speed limits.
Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
- Always apply brakes early.
Monitor the temperature gauge.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Tr
aile r t owing ---=--------------
W eig ht dis tri buti on
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car resu lts in a high ly
unstable distribution of weight . If this cannot be avoided drive at
ve ry low speeds only to avoid the risk of los ing steering control.
A "ba lanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
the tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis ­
sib le whi le keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum ­
stances. Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle while observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considerations .
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
contro l the rig . Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
Reduce your speed even more under unfavorable load, weather or
wind condi tions -particularly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
imm ed iately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the s waying by a ccelerating .
Observe speed limits. In some areas speeds for vehic les towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Always app ly brakes early. When driving downhill, shift into lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle. Use
of the brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
C oo lan t tem pe ra ture
The coolant temperature gauge~ page 73 must be observed care ­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or switch off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing -~- , pul l off the road, stop and let the engine
idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build -up .
& WARNING
An yone not prop erl y r estr ained in a mo ving ve hic le is at a much
gre ater ri sk in an accident. N ever let an yone rid e in your car who
is not p roperl y wearing the r estraint s pro vid ed by Audi.
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Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trai ler because of
the additional weight and weight distribution . Safety, performance
and economy will great ly depend on how carefu lly you load your
trai ler and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing unti l you
have comp letely become familiar with the way your vehicle -trailer
combination behaves and responds .
Backing up is difficu lt and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer genera lly requires s teering action opposite of that when
backing up your vehic le without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between you r vehicle and the one in
front of you. You will need more room to stop.
To compensate for the trailer, you wi ll need a larger than normal
turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you nor mally wou ld because of the added load . Make sure yo u have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns o r rapid lane changes.

[ 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

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

___ 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 . .,_

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
and is more difficult to stop. Overloading can not only lead to loss
of vehic le contro l, but can also damage important parts of the
vehic le and can lead to sudden tire failure, including a blowout and
sudden deflation that can cause the vehicle to crash .
Your safety and that of your passengers also depends on making sure that load limits are not exceeded . Vehicle load includes every ­
body and everything in and on the veh icle . These load lim its are
technically referred to as the vehicle's
G ross Vehicle Weight R ating
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehic le, all factory
installed accessories, a ful l tank of fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids
p lus maximum load. The maximum load includes the number of
passengers that the vehicle is intended to carry ("seating capacity")
with an assumed we ight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each passenger at a
designated seating position and the total weight of any luggage in
t he vehicle. If you tow a trai ler, the weight of the trailer hitch and the
tongue weight of the loaded trai ler must be included as part of the
vehic le load .
T he
G ros s Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR") is the maximum load that
can be applied at each of the vehicle's two axles .
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rat ing and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compliance sticker labe l located either on
the d river's side B -pillar o r on t he inside of the f ue l fi ller flap. Yo ur
Audi has 4 seating positions, 2 in the front and 2 in the rear for total
seating capaci ty of 4. Each seating posi tion has a safety belt
=>
page 159, "Safety be lts" .
T he fact that there is an upper limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating means that the total weight of whatever is being carried in the vehicle (including the weight of a trailer hitch and the
tongue weigh t of the loaded trailer) is lim ite d. The more passengers
in the vehicle or passengers who are heavier than the standard
weights assumed mean that less weight can be carried as luggage.
The tire pressure labe l on your Audi also lists the maximum
combined weight of a ll of the occupants and luggage or othe r cargo that the vehicle can carry
. For the location of the label=>
page 271,
f ig. 207 .
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cau se lo ss of vehicle control , a cra sh or
other a ccident , seriou s personal injury , and even de ath .
• Carrying more weight th an your vehi cle w as designed to ca rry
will prevent the vehi cle from handling properly and in cre ase the
ri sk of the lo ss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a veh icle th at ha s been overloaded ma y not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance .
• Tire s on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly,
i ncluding a blowout and sudden defla tion , cau sin g los s of control
and a crash .
• Alwa ys make sure that the tot al l oad be ing tran sported -
including the weight of a trai ler hit ch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer -does not m ake the vehicle heavie r than the
v ehicle 's Gro ss Vehicle Weight Rat ing .•
Determining correct load limit
U se th e exa mple below to calculat e the
total weight of the passengers and luggage or other things that you plan to
tran sport so that you can make sure that
your vehi cle will n ot be ov erlo ad ed.
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