2009 AUDI S4 CABRIOLET warning

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

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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.
~
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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• If the power steering system should fail entirely, or if the engine
is not running (for example, while being towed), you will still be able
to steer the vehicle . However, considerably more effort will be
required to do so.
• If the power steering system should have a leak, or is not func­
tioning properly, contact your authorized Audi dealer immediately.
• The power steering system requires a specially formulated
hydraulic fluid. The power steering reservoir is the one located most
forward on the left side of the engine compartment=> page 251. The
correct fluid level in the reservoir is important for proper func­
tioning of the power steering. •
Driving with your quattro®
With All Wheel Drive, all four wheels are driven.
General information
With All Wheel Drive, power is distributed to all four wheels. This
happens automatically depending on your driving style and the
road conditions at the time. See also=> page 213, "Electronic differ­
ential lock (EDU".
Winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle with All Wheel Drive has an
advantage, even with regular tires. In winter road conditions it may
be advisable to mount winter tires (or all-season tires) for improved
driveability and braking: these tires must be mounted on
all four
wheels.
See also => page 284, "Winter tires".
Snow chains
Where snow chains are mandatory on certain roads, this normally
also applies to vehicles with all -wheel drive => page 285, "Snow
chains".
Replacing wheels/tires
Vehicles with All Wheel Drive must always have tires of the same
size. Also avoid tires with different tread depths. For details see
page => page 279, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels".
Off-Road driving?
Your Audi does not have enough ground clearance to be used as an
off-road vehicle. It is therefore best to avoid rough tracks and
uneven terrain as much as possible. Also refer to=> page 221.
& WARNING
Always adjust your driving to road and traffic conditions. Do not
let the extra safety afforded by the all-wheel drive tempt you into
taking extra risks.
• Although the quattro®all-wheel drive is very effective, always
remember that braking capacity is limited by tire traction. You
should therefore not drive at excessive speeds on icy or slippery
road surfaces.
• On wet road surfaces, be careful not to drive too fast because
the front wheels could begin to slide on top of the water (hydro­ planing). If this should occur, you will have no warning from a
sudden increase in engine speed as with a front-wheel drive
vehicle. Always drive at speeds which are adjusted to the road conditions -risk of crash! •

Driving and environment
The first 1 ,000 miles (1,500 km) and afterwards
New engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
For th e fir st 600 mil es (1 ,000 kil omet ers):
Do not use full throttle.
- Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the top speed marked on
the speedometer.
- Avoid high engine speeds .
Fr om 600 to 1 ,000 mil es (1,000 to 1 ,500
kilom ete rs ):
- Speeds can gradually be increased to t he maximum
permiss ible road or engine speed .
During and aft er br eak-in p eri od
- Do not rev the engine up to high speeds when it is cold. This applies whether the transm ission is in N (Neutral) or
1n gear.
After the br eak -in period
- Do not exceed max imum e ngine speed unde r any
circumstances.
- Upshift into the next higher gear before reaching t he red
area at the end of the tachome ter scale ~ page 12 .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Driving
and environm ent
During the first few hours of driving, the eng ine's internal friction is
higher than later when all the moving parts have been broken in.
How well this break-in process is done depends to a cons iderable
extent on the way the vehicle is driven during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 ki lometers).
0 Not e
Extremely high engine speeds are automatically reduced. However,
these RPM -limits were programmed for an engine we ll run-in , not a
new engine .
~ For the sake of the environment
Do not drive with unnecessarily high engine speeds -upshifting
early saves fuel , reduces noise and protects the environment.
New tires
If your v ehicle is r un ning on new tires, driv e particularly
carefu l for the first 350 miles (500 ki lometers) after fitting.
& WARNING
New tire s te nd to b e slipp ery and mu st al so be " brok en -in ". Be
su re t o reme mber thi s during th e fir st 350 m ile s (5 00 kil ome ters).
Br ake gent ly. A vo id following clo se ly behind oth er vehicle s or
ot her situ ati ons that might requi re su dd en , har d b raking.•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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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. •

-Dri
ving and environm ent --=---------------
one half . Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditions permit .•
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle.
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fuel than is burned s tarting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious emissions are especially
high when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as
soon as you star t the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended id ling also produces heat, which could
resu lt in overheating or other damage to the veh icle or other
property .•
Regu1ar maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lo t of fuel.
- Have your ve hicle serviced at regular intervals . By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economical
ly . The condit ion of yo ur
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel consumpt ion .
C heck your oil each time you fill your tank .
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
I t is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mi leage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) be fore you can properly assess oil consumption .
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. Lack of proper maintenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impai r the function of the em ission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do no t alter or re move any component of the Emiss ion Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alte r or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehic le's Emission Control System and other important veh icle
components. •
Fewer short trips
Fu el consumption will alw ays be rela tively high o n short
trips.
- Try to avo id d riving short dista nces wi th a cold engine. _,

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