2009 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET brake fluid

Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Trailer to\Ning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Important things to know . . . . . . . 168 Driv ing with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Trailer towing tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
179
Knee airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Side a irbags . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Child Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Impor tant things to know . ..... .
Child safety seats ............. .
Insta lling a chi ld safety seat .... . 190
195
200
Add it ional Information ....... .. . 203 Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Lower anchorages and tethe r for
children (LA TCH) . .. ... ... ... ... .
205 Cleaning and protection . . . . . . . 230
~----
t
Vehicle operation .... ... . 211
212
212
2 12
215
Intelligent
technology ... ... ... .
Notice about data recorded by
ve hicle contro l modules .. ..... .
Electronic Stabilization Program
(ESPJ . .... ... ......... ... ... .. .
B rak ing ..... ... .... .... ... ... .
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system ............... .
Driving with your quattro® ..... .
Driving and environment .... . . 217
2
18
2 19
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and
afterwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 9
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . .
220
Avoid damaging the ve hicle . . . . . 221
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution . . . . . . . . .
221
General information ........... .
Care of exterior ................ .
Care of inte rior ...... .... ... ... .
Fue l supply and filling your fuel
tank ........................... .
Gasoline ........... ........... .
Fuel tank ..................... .
Checking and filling .. ... ...... .
Engine hood ......... ......... .
Engine compartment ...... ... . .
Engine oil ..................... .
Engine cooling system ......... .
Brake fluid ................ ... . .
Battery . ... ... ... ............. .
W indshield /headligh t washer
rese rvoir ...................... .
Tires and \Nheels .......... .... .
Tires ..... .. ..... ... .. - . -.. • · · ·
230
230
238
244
244
245
249
249
251
252
257
260
261
266
267
267
Table of contents
Do-it-yourself service ... 289
What do I do no\N? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Trunk escape ha ndle . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Jack, tools and spare wheel . . . . . . 290
Whee l change .............. .... 293
Fuses and bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Fus es ................. ......... 300
Bulbs .......................... 302
Emergency situations . . . . . . . . . . 304
Genera l ... .. ... .... _ .. _ ...... .. 304
Starting by pushing or towing . . . . 304
Starting with jumper cables . . . . . . 304
Use of jumpe r cables . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Em ergency towing with commercial
tow truck ... ......... ....... .. .
Lifting vehicle ................. .
Technical data
General information 306
308
311
312
Explanation
of technical data 312
Vehic le ide ntific ation . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Weights ........................ 313
Dimensio ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
~ehicle care irechnical data

[ i] Tips
If this warning/indicator light illuminates while you are driving, then
there is a malfunction in the engine electronics. Have the malfunc ­
tion corrected as soon as possible by your authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop. •
Brake system BRAKE (USA models)/ (CD)
(Canada models)
This warning/indicator light illuminates when the brake
fluid level is too low or when there is a malfunction in the
ABS, or when the parking brake is set.
The light illuminates when the ignition is turned on. It goes out after
the engine has been started and the parking brake is fully released.
This indicates that the brake warning light is functioning properly.
If the brake warning light does not light up when the engine is
cranking or the parking brake is applied, there may be a malfunction
in the electrical system. In this case, contact your Audi dealer.
(USA models): If the warning light BRAKE and the warning light
illuminate together, immediately contact your authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop to have all brake pads inspected
=:> page 33.
When the light comes on, an audible warning signal is also given.
Parking brake set
The BRAKE or ((D) (Canada) warning/indicator light illuminates when
the parking brake is set=:>& .
& WARNING
• USA models: If the BRAKE warning light and the . J'l warning
light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up first under
hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
& WARNING (continued)
and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop. Drive slowly and
avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• Canada models: If the brake warning light (CD) and the ABS
warning light _. come on together, the rear wheels could lock up
first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme­
diately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop.
Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• If the brake warning/indicator light does not go out after a few
seconds and the parking brake released, or lights up while you are
driving, the fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir is too low. If you
believe that it is safe to do so, proceed immediately at low speed
to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or qualified repair facility
and have the brake system inspected .
• Always keep in mind that after several brake applications, you
will need greater pressure on the brake pedal to stop your vehicle.
Do not rely on strained brakes to respond with maximum stopping
power in critical situations . You must allow for increased braking
distances. The extra distance used up by fading brakes could lead
to an accident. •

A red symbol means Danger, a yellow symbol indicates Warning. In
certain situations, information message for the driver appear in
addition to the red and yellow symbols.
Function test: automatic transmission
Th e Auto -Check Control will automatically perform a test each time
you switch on the ignition. With the selector lever in
P or N, the
following message appears in the display:
When stationary apply footbrake while selecting gear.
When you a select a different gear (for example: R, D, etc.), the
message will disappear and the Auto -Check function is displayed.
If there is a malfunction, then the malfunction message will appear
about 15 seconds after the you start the vehicle. At the same time
you will hear a warning tone. •
Driver information messages
Driver information messages are shown in the instrument
cluster display in addition to the red and yellow symbols.
I S2YY
0
Fig. 16 Instrument
cluster: CHECK button
For example, if the transmission selector lever is not in the P posi ­
tion when the engine is turned off, the following message appears:
Please move selector lever to position P
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
The ignition key can only be removed with the selector in this posi­
tion. This and other messages are brought up if a function cannot
be carried out.
Driver messages and red symbols
If a red symbol appears in the display, a driver message can be
shown by pressing the
I CHECK] button.
For example, the symbol for a problem with engine oil pressure~
appears in the display. If you then press the
I CHECK] button, the
following driver message appears in the display:
Switch off engine and check oil level
The driver message in the display goes out after about 5 seconds.
The driver message can be displayed again by briefly pressing the
!CH ECK) button.
Driver messages and yellow symbols
If a yellow symbol appears in the display, a driver message is also
displayed automatically.
For example, the symbol appears in the display, indicating low
windshield washer fluid level. The following message also appears:
Please top up washer fluid
The driver message disappears after a few seconds. The driver
message can be displayed again by briefly pressing the
I CHECK]
button.
[ i] Tips
• The following two messages, Handbrake is applied and When
stationary apply footbrake while selecting gear,
cannot be switched
on again. These messages will remain in the display until you
release the parking brake or until you move the selector lever into a
gear.
• When the safeguard function of the power top is activated, or if
there is a malfunction, a message will appear in the display
=> page 64. •

Driver inf orma tion d ispl ay
Parking brake warning
- Release the parking brake.
If you should drive off with the parking brake sti ll engaged, a
warning tone wi ll sound to remind you to release the parking brake.
Also , the following message will appear in the display:
H and bra ke is a ppl ied
The parking brake warning is activated when you drive longer than
3 seconds and faster than 3 mph (5 km/h) .•
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER.
- Pull of the road and stop t he vehicle.
- Turn off the engine .
Fig . 17 Disp lay : eng ine
coola nt le v el wa rning
(p riority 1)
- Check the malfunctioning system. Contact your aut ho-
rized Audi dea ler or a qualified workshop for assistance.
The red symbols mean:
BRAKE
U SA m od els: => page30 Ma lfunction in the brake system

Can ada m od els: => page30 Ma lfunction in the brake system
- L Engine coolant level too low/ => page 31 COOLANT engine coolant temperature too high
~ Engine oil pressure
OIL PRES -=> page 32 too low
SURE
Red symbols indicate a priority 1 malfunction -Danger!
When a red symbol appears, a warning tone w ill sound consecu ­
tively
three times. The symbo l continues to flash until the malfunc­
tion has been repaired . If there are
more than one priority 1 malfunc ­
tions, the symbols appear one after the other for about two
seconds. a
Brake system malfunction
BRAKE (USA models) /
(CD) (Canada models )
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
When BRAKE / (Canada models) appears in the display
and flashes, this means there is a ma lfunction in the brake
system. In add ition to the symbo l, one of the following two
messages also appears in the display:
Stop v ehi cle, che ck br ake flu id and hydrauli c fluid lev els
Warning! Fault in ABS brak e system. Contact workshop!
- Pu ll of the road and stop the vehicle.
- Check the brake fluid level ~
page 260 .

USA models: if there is a malfunction in the ABS system, the <­
warning/indicator light illuminates along with the BRAKE system
malfunction warning/indicator light=>&.
Canada models: if there is a malfunction in the ABS system, the
warning/indicator light illuminates together with the
(Ci)) brake
system malfunction warning/indicator light=>& .
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in => page 242, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the engine hood and checking the brake
fluid.
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard! Stop the car and
get professional assistance.
• If the brake system warning/indicator light illuminates
together with the ABS warning/indicator light, then the ABS system is malfunctioning. The rear wheels could quickly lock up
when you apply the brakes. This could lead to loss of control and
your vehicle could slide! Drive carefully to the nearest authorized
Audi dealer and have the malfunction corrected. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -L
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the -t symbol in the display flashes, then either the
engine coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant level
is too low. In addition to the symbol, the following message
also appears in the display:
Switch off engine, check coolant level
Pull off the road and stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
Check coolant level ~ page 258.
-Add coolant if necessary~ page 259.
- Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
- Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be
the cause of the malfunction.
If the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
=>
page 22, then the fan belt may be damaged.
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights
=> page 82, "Emer­
gency flasher
A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
=> page 242, "Engine compartment" .
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -F-symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine. •

II
Light/rain* sensor defective
Worn brake pads
USA m odels :
Speed warning 1
Canad a m od els:
Speed warning 1
Dynamic headlight range con trol*
defective
Adaptive Light* defective
Windshield washer fluid level low
U SA mod els:
Speed warning 2
Canada mod els:
Speed warning 2
Battery voltage too high or too low
D efective light bu lb
Tire pressure monitoring system* Loss of air pressure
Tire pressure monitoring system*
System not available
~ page33
~ page 33
~ page34
~ page 34
~ page34
~ page34
~ page34
~ page 34
~ page34
~ page 34
~ page35
~ page 43
~ page46 I
Ye llow symbols indicate a priority 2 malfunction -Warning!
When a yellow symbo l appears, a warning tone wi ll sound
once.
Check the displayed function as soon as possible. If more than one
priority 2 ma lfunction is detected, all symbols will appear one after
the other for about two seconds. •
Controls and equip­
ment
Driv er inf ormati on di spl ay
Fuel supply too low l
When the -,symbol illuminates, this means there is about 2 to 2.5
gallons (8 to 10 litres) of fue l left in the fuel tank . Time to refuel!
~ page 245. •
Engine oil level '7.:.
When the-=· symbol illuminates, check the engine oil level as soon
as possib le ~
page 254 . Add oil if necessary ~ page 255. •
Engine oil sensor defective • ..
If the .,_,ft symbol illuminates, contact your author ized Audi dea ler
and have the oil sensor inspected. Until you have this done, check
the oi l leve l each time you refuel just to be on the safe side
~ page 254. •
Applies to vehic les: with Lighting package
Light/rain* sensor defective >
- Automa tic headl ight s/autom atic wiper s def ective
If the symbol il luminates, the light/rain sensor has failed. For safety
reasons the low beams are turned on permanently with the switch
in
AUTO . However, you can continue to turn the lights on and off
using the light switch. In the case of a defect in the rain sensor, the
windsh ield wiper lever functions are still avai lable. Have the
light/rain sensor checked as soon as possible at a dealership. •
Worn brake pads J
r Brake p ad s!

Driver information display
If the warning light illuminates, immediately contact your autho­
rized Audi dealer or qualified workshop to have all brake pads
inspected. On USA models the warning light
O comes on together
with the warning light
BRAKE. Both sets of brake pads on an axle must
always be replaced at the same time .
& WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal
injury.
• If the warning light , and the warning light
BRAKE11 with the
message Brake pads! comes on in the instrument cluster display,
immediately contact your authorized Audi dealer or qualified
workshop to have all brake pads checked or replaced if necessary .•
Speed warning 1 ~ (USA models)/
models) (Canada
If
the symbol illuminates, this means you are driving faster than
the set vehicle speed . Slow down! =>
page 35. •
Applies to vehicles : wit h dynami c h ea d light ran ge ad ju stment
Headlight range control defective C.1
If the symbol illuminates, the dynamic headlight range control is
no longer working properly. Have the system checked and repaired
a t your Audi dealer. •
11 BRAKE : USA models only
App lies to vehicles: w it h ada ptive li gh t
Adaptive Light defective ~ ,
When this symbol I illuminates, it means that Adaptive Light is
defective . Go to an authorized dealership to have the headlights or
the control unit for the Adaptive Light repaired. •
Windshield washer fluid level too low ¢;>
If the-;... symbol illuminates, add windshield washer fluid to the
washer system and also for the headlight washer
system *=>
page 266. •
Speed warning 2
models) (USA models)
/
(Canada
If the symbol illuminates, this means you have driven faster than
the second set vehicle speed. Slow down! =>
page 35. •
Battery voltage low ....J
If the C:::-symbol illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dealer
and have the following components inspected:
• drive belt
• generator
• battery charge
Also see if the generator warning/indicator light illuminates
=>
page 22. •

Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
O pera tin g co ndition s and drivi ng h abit s
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending large ly on operating conditions and dr iving habits~
&­
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop -and -go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads shou ld be checked by your autho­
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
W arr anty & Main ­
t e nanc e bo okle t.
Fai lure to have you r brake pads inspec ted ca n
resu lt in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the braking effect of the engine.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuous ly.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Moi sture or road salt
If you are driv ing faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) and the windshie ld
wipers are on, the brake pads wi ll briefly touch the brake discs in
regu lar intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, wil l not notice anything.
Under ce rta in conditions, for example, when dr iving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few cautious brake applications should dry off
the b rake pads or remove any ice coatings .
At speeds
over80 km/h and with the windshie ld wiper turned on, the
brake pads are app lied briefly to the brake discs. This occurs at
regu lar interva ls wi thout the driver not icing and provides for better
brake response time under wet conditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is driven on a sa lt-covered road and the brakes are not used. Likewise,
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Int
ellig ent tec hnol ogy
you clean off accumulated sa lt coating from brake discs and pads
with a few ca utious applications of the brake ~
&-
Cor rosi on
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only f or sho rt trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firm ly a few times from a moderately high speed~
&-
Fa ults in the brake system
If you shou ld notice a sudden increase in brake pedal trave l, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed~
&-
Lo w brak e fluid l evel
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system i f the brake fluid level is
too low . The brake fluid level is monitored electronically .
Brake lining wear statu s
Brake lining wear may be checked by visua l inspection of the condi ­
tion o f the brake pads through the open ings in the wheel. If neces­
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection
~ page 293,
"Whee l change".
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuver s for the purpo se of
cl eani ng th e br ake sy stem onl y if ro ad condition s permit . Other
road u se rs mu st not be put a t ris k -you may cau se an accident!
• Before des cending a steep gr ade , reduce sp eed and sh ift tr ans ­
mi ssion into a lower gear or lower driving po sition . Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal d ow n too long or t oo often . This could
cau se the brake s to get hot and dimini sh brakin g efficien cy . _.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data