2009 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET coolant level

The instrument cluster illuminates whenever you switch on the igni­
tion with the
vehicle headlights off. The instrument cluster illumina ­
tion dims automatically as the daylight begins to fade away. It goes
out completely when the outside light is very dim. The reason for
this is to remind you to turn on the headlights when the light condi­
tions become poor. •
Engine coolant temperature gauge
The engine coolant gauge~ page 12, fig. 2 G) only works when the
ignition is on . To prevent damage to your engine, please note the
following important points:
Engine cold
As long as the needle remains at the left end of the gauge, the
engine still has not reached its operating temperature . Avoid high
engine speeds, heavy engine loads and heavy throttle.
Normal temperature
When the engine has reached its operating temperature, the needle
will move into the middle of the gauge and remain there. If the
engine is working hard at high outside temperatures, the needle
may turn further to the right . This is no cause for concern as long as
the
- F-warning light in the instrument cluster does not illuminate.
When the
-L warning light starts to flash, this can mean one of two
things: either the coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant
level is too low~ page 31.
_& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in ~ page 242, "Engine compart­
ment" before opening the engine hood and checking the engine
coolant level.
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment. You
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
& WARNING (continued)
could burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant.
0 Note
• Mounting additional lights or accessories in front of the air inlets
reduces the cooling effect of the radiator. At high outside tempera­
tures or high engine load, the engine could overheat.
• The front spoiler has been designed to properly distribute the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving. If the spoiler is damaged,
this could reduce the cooling effect and the engine could then over­
heat. Ask your authorized Audi dealer for assistance. •
Tachometer (engine rev counter)
The tachometer indicates the engine RPM (revolutions per
minutes).
The tachometer ®~ page 12, fig. 2 is the left one of the two large
clock -type displays.
The engine turns at a speed
1,000 times the single digit in the
display, e.g. if the needle points at the "2", the engine turns at
2,000 RPM.
If the engine RPMs drop below 1,500, you should downshift to the
next lower gear. The red area at the end of the scale indicates
maximum permissible engine RPMs after the break-in period.
Before reaching this area, you should either shift into the next
higher gear or ease your foot off the accelerator pedal.
0 Note
The tachometer needle should not move into the red range. If it
does, then only for a very short period of time. You could damage
your engine by driving at high RPM! _.

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. •

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..::g=-- --------------------------------------------
0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especially important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold . If necessary, increase the proportion of
coolant additive to 60% .
• When adding coolant additive to your cooling system,
remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive G12+ + (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is available at autho­
rized Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can significantly
reduce corrosion protection . The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage.
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and could result
in damage not
covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
Fig . 202 Engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 250.
Turn off the ignition.
- Let the eng ine cool down.
Place a thick rag over the coolant expansion tank
~ fig. 202 and carefully twist the cap counter-clockwise
~& .
Read the engine coolant level in the open coolant expan­
sion tank~ fig. 202. With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" markings. When
the engine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
"max" marking .
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment illustration=>
page 252.
To obtain an accurate reading , the engine must be switched off .
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant l evel is too low, the warning light in the Auto ­
Check System :::::,
page 31 will blink until you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coolant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant level
from time to time .
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system. In the event
of coolant loss, the cooling system should be inspected immedi ­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer . It is not enough merely to add
coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating. ..,.

•---=C:.:h..:. e=-= c..:.k :..:.in =-=-= g~ a..:.n :.:d::....:. f.:.:il .:.:li ..:.n :..::g:!..- ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
• Coolant pollutes the environment and could cause an engine
fire. Excess coolant will be forced out through the pressure relief
valve in the cap when the engine becomes hot.
• If, in an emergency, only water can be added, the correct ratio
between water and antifreeze~
page 257must be restored as soon
as possible.
<£> For the sake of the environment
Drained coolant should not be reused. Always dispose of used
coolant while observing all environmental regulations. •
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on automatically by itself.
The radiator fan is driven by the engine via the V-belt. The viscous
clutch regulates the speed of the fan according to the temperature
of the coolant.
An auxiliary electric radiator fan* switches on and off depending on coolant temperature and other vehicle operating conditions.
After you switch the engine off, the auxiliary fan can continue running for up to 10 minutes - even with the ignition off. It can even
switch on again later by itself~&, if
• the temperature of the engine coolant rises due to the heat
build -up from the engine in the engine compartment, or
• the engine compartment heats up because the vehicle is parked
in intense sunlight.
& WARNING
• To reduce the risk of personal injury never touch the radiator
fan .
_& WARNING (continued)
• The auxiliary electric fan is temperature controlled and can
switch on suddenly even when the engine is not running .
• The auxiliary radiator fan switches on automatically when the
engine coolant reaches a certain temperature and will continue to
run until the coolant temperature drops. •
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked with a quick glance.
Fig. 203 Engine
compartment: Brake
fluid reservoir
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS:::::, & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 250.
Pull the rubber strip@ up partially and lift the cover @
slightly :::::, fig. 203.
- Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
©. The brake fluid level must be between the "MIN" and
"MA X" markings. _..

__________________________________________________ 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

___ C_ o_n_ s_ u_m _ e_ r_ ln_ f_o _r_m _ a_ t_ i_o _n ______________________________________________ _
& WARN ING (continued )
• The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially
hazardous area . Never reach into the area around or touch the
radiator fan . It is temperature controlled and can sw itch on
suddenly -even when the engine is off and the ignition key has
been removed . The radiator fan switches on automatically when
the coolant reaches a certain temperature and will continue to run until the coolant temperature drops .
• Always remove the ignition key before anyone gets under the
vehi cle .
• Always support your vehicle with safety stands if it is neces ­
sary to work underneath the vehicle . The jack suppl ied with the
vehicle is not adequate for this purpose and could collapse causing serious personal injury .
• If you must work underneath the vehicle with the wheels on
the ground, always make sure the veh icle is on level ground , that
the wheels are always securely blocked and that the engine
cannot be sta rted .
• Always make sure the transmission selector lever (automatic
transmission) is in "P " (Park position ) or Neutral (manual transm is­
sion) and the park brake is firmly applied.
W For the sake of the environment
• Cha ng ing t he e ngine sett ings will adverse ly aff ect em iss ion
l eve ls. This is detrimenta l to the environment and increases fuel
co nsu mp tio n .
• Always observe environmental regu lations when disposing of
ol d eng ine oil, u sed br ake fluid , d irty e ngin e coo la nt , spe nt batter ies
or worn out tires.
• Undeployed airba g modu les and prete nsioners might be classi ­
fied as Perchlorate Material -specia l handling may apply, see
www .dtsc.ca .gov/ hazar douswaste/perc hlorat e. When the vehic le o r
parts of the restraint system including airbag modules safety be lts
w it h pr eten sion ers ar e sc ra p pe d, a ll ap pli cab le la w s and reg ula- tions must be observed. Your authorized Audi dealer is familiar with
t
hese requi re m ents and we re co m mend th at you h ave your dealer
perform this service for you .•
Additional accessories,
modifications and parts replacement
Additional accessories and parts
replacement
Always consult an author ized Audi dealer before
pu rchasin g acc ess ori es.
Your vehicle incorporates the latest safety design features ensuring
a high standa rd o f act ive and passiv e safety .
T his saf ety coul d be compromised by non -approved changes to the
vehic le . F or t his reason, if parts have to be replace d, p lease obse rve
t h e f ollow ing po ints when i nsta lling addi tio na l acc essor ies:
App roved Aud i accessories and genuine Audi pa rts a re avai lab le
fr om autho rize d Aud i dea lers.
T hese dealers also have the necessary fac ilities, tools and trained
spec ia lists t o ins tal l the part s and accessor ie s pr oper ly .
& WARNING
Using the wrong spare parts or using non -approved accessories
can cause serious personal injury.
• Use only accessorie s expressly approved by Audi and genuine
Audi spare parts.
• These parts and accessories have been specially designed to
be used on your vehicle .
• Never install accessories such as telephone cradles or
beverage holders on airbag covers or within the airbag deploy-

ll'JI Alphabetical index _ __,__ ___ ____;_...::.:...::... ___________________________ _
Changing engine oil ...... ... ... .. ... 256
Chassis Undercoating ........ ...... .... .. 237
CHECK button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Checking Battery acid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine coolant level .. ............ 258
Checking tire pressure ............... 274
Child restraint Danger of using child restraints in the
front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Child restraints What types of chi ld restraint anchors are
available? ..................... 203
Where can I get additional information
about child restraints? ... .... .... 204
Child safety .. ........ ....... ... 190, 195
Booster seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Convertible child safety seats . . . . . . 196
Convertible locking retractor . . . . . . . 200
Guidance fixtures for lower anchorages 206
Important safety instructions for using
child safety seats .. ...... ....... 193
Important things to know when driving
with chi ldren ............. ...... 190
Infant seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Installing a child restraint using the
LATCH system .... ... .... ...... . 208
Lower anchorages .... .... ... ... . 205
Mounting and releasing the anchorage
hook ...... ...... .... .......... 209
O lder children and safety belts ... .. 199 Safety belts and oldler children
... .. 199
Which restraint system should my older chi ld wear? ........ .... ... .. ... 199
child safety seat LATCH system . .... .... .... ...... 208
Childsafetyseats .... ........ .... ... 195
Convertible locking retractor .... ... 200
How do I properly install a child safety seat in my vehicle? .. ...... .... .. 193
Installing .... .... ... .. .... .... .. 200
Safety instructions .............. .
Cigarette lighter .......... .... ..... .
Cleaning Alcantara (synthetic suede) ....... .
E . ngine compartment . .... ... .. .. .
Fabrics and fabric coverings ... ... .
Instrument panel ....... .... ..... . 193
105
241
242
238
239
I . ntenor ......................... 238
Leather .... ...... ... .. .... ...... 240
Plastic and vinyl . .... .... ... .. ... 234
P lastic parts ........... .... ... ... 239
Safety be lts ...... ............ ... 242
Trim strips ............. ... .... .. 234
trim strips ... .. ...... .... ..... ... 235
Cleaning and protection .......... ... 230
Climate controls .. .... ......... ..... 11
O
Air distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Air outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Air recirculation .... .... .... .... .. 113
AUTO (standard setting) .... .... ... 112
Automatic air recirculation ... .. ... 114
Contro ls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Defrosting / Defogging . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
O
ECON ... .. .. .. .... .... ..... .. ... 113
Fan .. ............ .... ... .... ... 114
Key coded setting ................ 11
O
Recommended settings ........... 11 O
Setting the temperature ........... 112
Switching between Fahrenheit and Centigrade ... .... .... ...... .... 113
Switching the air conditioning on or off .
113
Using the climate control economically . .
116
Warm and cold .................. 110
Clock .. ........... ........... .... ... 14
Closing Power top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Cold tire inflation pressure .. .... ..... 271
Coming -home -function .. ............. 80
Compartments in the door trims ... ... 109
Compass mirror .. .... ...... ... ..... . 90
Comp liance .......... ....... .... ... 320
Consumer Information ........... 155, 316
Contacting NHTSA .................. 155
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
See multitronic® ........ ... ...... 131
Convenience close/open feature Power top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Windows ......................... 53
Convertible child seats How do I properly install a convertib le
chi ld seat in my vehic le? ...... ... 196
Safety instructions .. ...... .... ... 196