
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.  •  

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_ n ...:::g:;..._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in ....;g:::;.._  ___________________________________________  _ 
Closing  the  engine  hood 
-Pull  t he  hood  down  until the  pressure  from  the  strut  is 
reduced. 
- Let t he  hood 
drop  down and  latch  in  place. Do  not  try  to 
push  it  shut; 
it  may  fai l to  engage ~& . 
& WARNING 
A  hood  that  is  not  completely  latched  could  fly  up  and  block  your 
view  while  driving. 
•  When  you  close  the  engine  hood,  check  it to  make  sure the 
safety  catch  has  properly  engaged.  The  hood  should be flush  with 
the  surrounding  vehicle  body  parts. 
•  If  you notice  while  driving  that  the  hood  is  not  secured prop
erly,  stop  at once  and  close it. • 
Working  in  the  engine  compartment 
Be especially  careful whenever  you  work  in  the  engine 
compartment. 
Whenever  you  must  perform  any  work in  the  engine  compartment, 
for  example  checking  and  filling  different  fluids,  there  is  a  risk  of  injury,  burns and  accidents.  To prevent  personal  injury  always 
observe  the  following  WARNINGS.  The  engine  compartment of  any 
vehicle  is  a  hazardous  area 
~ 6 . 
& WARNING 
To  help  avoid  injury,  before  you  check anything  under  the  hood : 
•  Turn  off  the  engine. 
•  Remove  the  ignition  key. 
•  Apply  the  parking  brake. 
& WARNING  (continued) 
•  Move  selector  lever  of  automatic  transmission  to  "P" (Park); 
put  manual  transmission  in Neutral. 
•  Always  let  the  engine  cool  down.  Hot  components  will  burn 
skin  on contact. 
•  To reduce  the  risk  of being  burned,  never  open  the  hood  if  you 
see  or  hear steam  or coolant  escaping  from  the  engine  compart
ment.  Wait  until  no  steam  or  coolant  can  be  seen or  heard  before 
carefully  opening  the  hood . 
•  Keep  children  away  from  the  engine  compartment. 
•  Never  spill  fluids  on  hot  engine  components. They  can cause a 
fire. 
•  Never  touch  the  radiator  fan.  The  auxiliary  electric  fan  is 
temperature  controlled  and  can  switch on suddenly. 
•  Never  open  the  coolant  reservoir  cap  when  the  engine  is  still 
warm.  The  coolant  system is  pressurized  and  hot  coolant  could 
spray  out. 
•  Protect  your  face,  hands  and  arm  from  steam or  hot  engine 
coolant  by  placing  a thick  rag  over  the  cap when  you  open  the 
coolant  reservoir. 
•  If work  on  the  fuel  system  or  the  electrical  system is  necessary : 
- Always  disconnect  the  battery . 
- Never  smoke or  work  near  heaters  or  open  flames.  Fluids  in 
the  engine  compartment  could  start  a fire. 
- Keep  an  approved  fire  extinguisher  immediately  available. 
•  To avoid  electrical  shock  and personal  injury while  the  engine 
is  running  or  being  started, never  touch : 
- Ignition  cables 
- Other  components  of  the  high  voltage  electronic  ignition 
system. 
•  If  you must  perform  a check  or repair  with the  engine  running: 
~  

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