Inst rum ents and warnin g/indi cato r li ghts
If one of the turn signal light bulbs burn out, the turn signal will
flash twice as fast as normal. •
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP)
The warning/indicator light monitors the electronic stabi
lization program.
The warning/indicator light has the following functions :
• it flashes while you are driving , when the ESP is working .
• it illuminates when you switch on the ignition for approximately
2 seconds as a function check .
• it illuminates when there is a ma lfunction in the ESP.
• it illuminates after the battery has been disconnected.
• it illuminates continuous ly when the ESP is switched off.
• it illuminates if there is a malfunction in the ABS, since the ESP
is part of the ABS system.
If the ESP warning/indicator light i lluminates and stays on after you
have started the engine , this may mean that the control system has
temporari ly switched off the ESP. If this is case, you can reactivate
the ESP by switching the ignition o ff and then on again. The
warning/indicator light should go out to show that the system is
fully functional again.
If the battery terminals were disconnected and re-connected, the
vehic le was jump started or the battery is very weak, the ESP sensor
system goes through a learning process for the first few yards.
During this time, the indicator light illuminates. It goes out as soon
as the learning process is comp lete .
For more information about the ESP~
page 22. •
Generator 0
T his warning/indicator light detects a malfunction in the
generator or in the vehicle's electrical system .
The D warning/indicator light illuminates when you switch on the
ign itio n and must go out after the engine has started.
If the
D warning/indicator light illuminates while you are driving,
you shou ld contact your authorized Audi dealer . Since the vehicle
battery is discharging, you should switch off any unnecessary elec
trical consumers (for example, the air conditioner) .
0 Note
If the -t warning/indicator light (ma lfunction in the engine coo ling
system) in the instrument cluster shou ld illuminate~
page 31, stop
the vehicle and turn off the engine. The coo lant pump is not working
- this can cause engine damage! •
High beam ~D
The@:Dwarning/indicator light illuminates when the high beams are
on or when you use the headlight flasher. For more information
about using the high beams, see~
page 83. •
Electronic power control p
This warning/indi cator light monitors the electronic
power control.
The warning/indicator light (Electronic Power Control) il lumi-
nates when you switch on the ignition as a function check .
•
Refuelling procedure
-Insert the fue l nozzle from the gaso line pump i nto the
fue l fi ller neck as far as it w il l go.
- Select a medium refue lling rate so that the nozzle
swi tches off automatica lly w hen the tank is ful l.
Putting the fuel cap back on
-Aft er fillin g yo ur ta nk, twist th e fue l fille r cap clockw is e
unt il you hear a de finit e cli ck .
- Cl ose the fue l fille r flap.
To avo id fu el sp illing or evapora ting from the fuel tan k always close
fu el filler cap p rop erly and co mplet ely . An i mprope rly clo sed fue l
fi ller cap may a lso cause a messa ge in the dr iver in fo rm ation display
=>
page 27 or cause the MIL lamp=> page 27 to come on.
,& WARNING
Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire, explosion
and severe burns .
• Fuel is highly flammable and can cause severe burns and other
injuries .
• Failure to shut the engine off while refueling and /or to insert
the pump nozzle fully into the fuel filler ne ck could cause fuel to
spray out of filler neck or to overflow. Fuel spray and overflowing
fuel can cause a fire .
• Never use a cellular telephone while refueling . The electromag
netic radiation can cause sparks that can ignite fue l vapors and
c ause a fire .
• Never get ba ck into your vehicle wh ile refueling . If in e xcep
tional circumstan ces you must get ba ck in your vehicle while refu
eling , make certain that you close the door and touch metal to
di scharge static electricity before touching the filler nozzle again.
Fu el supply and filling your fu el tank
& W ARNING (continued )
Static electricity can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors
released during refueling .
• Never smoke or have an open flame anywhere in or near your
vehicle when refueling or filling a portable fuel container.
• For your safety , we strongly recommend that you do not travel
with a portable fuel container in your vehicle. The container , full or
empty may leak and could cause a fire , especially in a crash .
• If, under e xcept ional circumstances , you must transport a
portable fuel container, please observe the following:
-Never fill a portable fuel container while it is anywhere
in or
on the vehicle (for example , in the luggage compartment , or on
the trunk) . Static electricity can build up while filling and can
ignite fuel vapors causing a fire.
- Always place a portable fuel containe r on the ground before
filling.
- Always keep the filler nozzle completely inside the portable
container before and during filling .
- If filling a portable container made of metal , the filler nozzle
must always be in contact with the container. Thi s will help
prevent static ele ctricity from discharging and cause a fire.
- Never spill fuel inside the vehicle or luggage compartment .
Fuel vapors are h ighly flammable .
- Always observe local and state/provincial laws regarding the
use , storage and transportation of fuel conta iners.
- Make certain the fuel container meets indu stry standards
(ANSI / ASTM F852-86).
0 Note
If any fuel has spil led onto the car , it should be removed immedi -
ate ly to prevent da mage to the pa int. _,.
Vehic le care
_____________________________________________ C_ h_ e _ c_k _in ---= g'--- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n __.,g==----•
•
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left side~
page 252 .
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm .
If the brake fluid level falls
considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U .S. models :
BRAKE, Canadian models :
(CD) ) wi ll come on
~ page 23 and ~ page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop
and the cause corrected . If the brake fluid level is too low, the brake
warning/indicator light will illuminate. Contact an authorized Audi
dea ler
immediately .•
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni
cian.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air . If the water content in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid wil l also
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federa l Motor Vehic le Stan
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho
rized
Audi dealer. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know -how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonous. It must be stored only in the closed
original container out of the reach of children!
& WARNING (continued)
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid.
Observe these precautions :
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specification
J 1703 and
conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 116. Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make sure you are using
the correct brake fluid. The correct type of brake fluid is also
indicated on the brake fluid reservoir .
- The brake fluid must be new . Heavy use of the brakes can
cause a vapor lock if the brake fluid is left in the system too
long. This can seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety . This could result in an accident.
0 Note
Brake fluid wil l damage the paint of your vehicle .
ci> For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special tools required and the necessary expertise, we recom
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dealer. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With
high outside temperatures it is
advisab le however to check the fluid level at regular intervals
through the transparent battery housing. Also check the fluid level
each time you charge the battery . After charging the battery
~ page 265, you shou ld likewise check the battery acid level. ...
Vehic le care
_____________________________________________ 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
Alph ab eti ca l ind ex -
-------------=----
AUTO
Climate controls .. ...... ..... .... . 112
Switching on .... .... .... .... .... 112
When should I use AUTO? ....... .. 112
Auto Safety Hotl ine .. ..... ... ... .... . 155
Auto-Check Control .. ... ... .... ... .. .. 28
Automat ic air recirculation ........... 114
Automatic belt retractor .... ...... .... 163
Automatic car wash
See Washing .. .... .... ... ...... .. 231
Automatic headlight con trol ....... .... 77
Automatic rollover protection system . . 156
Automatic Shift Lock (ASLl ....... 128, 135
Automatic transm ission
6 -spe ed automatic transmission .... 126
Automatic Shi ft Lock (ASLl .... . 128, 135
Driving ........ ..... ....... ..... 126
Dynamic shif t prog ram ... .... .... . 129
Fail-safe mode ... ...... ........ .. 13 1
Ignition key safety lock ... ... ... .. . 119
Kick-down ... .... .... .... ... .... . 129
Manual sh ift program . ... .... .... . 130
multitronic® ... ... ... .... ... ..... 131
Se lector lever ..... .... ...... . 127, 133
Shift but tons . ... .... .... .... 131, 137
Steering wheel with tiptronic® . 131,137
Average speed ... ... ... ... .. ...... ... 37
Avoid damaging the v ehicle .. ... .... . 22 1
Controls and equip
ment Safety first
B
Battery .
.... .... ...... .... ... .. 261, 264
Charging ...... .. ... ..... .. .. .... 265
Checking battery acid level . .... .... 264
Important warnings when working on the batte ry . .......... .... ... .. ... . 263
Low vol tage symbo l .. ....... .... ... 34
Replacing the battery . ...... .. .... 262
Winter opera tion ... .. ...... ...... 261
Working on the battery .......... .. 263
B efore driving ... ..... .. ...... ...... 146
Blended gasoline ... ... .. .. .. .... .... 244
Body cavity sealing .. .. .. ...... .... .. 237
Boos ter seats .... .... .... .... .... ... 198
How do I properly instal l a booster seat in
my vehicle? . .......... ...... ... 198
Sa fety instructions . .... .... .... ... 198
Brake f luid
Changing the brake fluid .......... 261
Checking the brake fluid leve l .. .... 260
Reservoir . ... .... .... ....... .... . 260
What is the correct brake fluid level? 260
What shou ld I do if the brake fluid warning
light comes on? . ..... ... .... .... 260
Brake system .. ...... .... .... .... ... 260
An ti- lo ck brake system (ABS) ... .... . 20
Brake ass istant . .... .. .... .... ... . 217
Brake booster .... .... .... .... .... 216
Brake flu id .... ... .... .... .... .... 260
Brake f luid specifications for refi ll and
rep lacement . ... ..... ... .... .... 261
Brake pads ...... .... .... .... .... 220
Genera l informa tion ....... .. .... . 215 How does the moisture or road salt affect
the brakes? ....... ... .... .... ... 215
Ma lfunction ... .. .... .... .... .. .. . 30
Warning/indicator lights .. .. .... .... 23
Worn brake pads symbol . ..... .. .. . 33
B reak -in period ...... .... .... .... ... 219
B rake pads ... .... .... .. . .... .... 220
Tires ..... .... .... .... ... .... .. .. 219
Bu lbs ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ...... . 302
C
California Proposition 65 Warning . .... 251
Battery specific ..... ...... .... .... 264
Capacities Eng ine oil .... .... .... ... .... .... 31 4
Fuel tank ..... ...... .. ...... .... . 314
Windshield washer fluid ... .... .... 314
Car care ... .. .... ... .... .... .... .. .. 230
Interior ... .... .... .... ... .... .... 238
Plastic and v inyl .... ... .... .... ... 234
Weatherstr ips . .... .... .... ...... . 236
Care of exterior ..... .... .... .... .. .. 230
Cargo area
See Loading the luggage compartment .
153
Catalytic converter .. ...... ...... .... 220
Centigrade Switching between Centig rade and
Fahrenheit ...... .... .. .. ... .. .. 11 3
Certification . ............ ...... .... . 320
Changing a flat tire ....... ... .... .. .. 293
Chan ging a wheel .... .... ... .... .... 293
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data