
___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued )
-Always u se extreme caution to prevent cloth ing , jewelry, or
long hair from getting caught in the radiator fan , V-belt s or
other moving parts , or from contacting hot parts . Tie back hair
before starting , and do not wear clothing that will hang or
droop into the engine .
• Minimize exposure to emis sion and chemical hazards
::::> & .
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 W arn ing :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certain vehicle
c omponents cont ain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition , certain fluids contained in vehi cles and certa in products
of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defect s or other reprodu c
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related ac cessories conta in lead
and lead compounds , chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hands after
handling.
0 Note
When adding f luids, always make sure that they are poured into the
proper container or filler ope ning, otherwise serious damage to
vehic le systems wi ll occur.
ci> For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehicle floor pan from under
n eath regu larly. If you see spots fro m oil o r o th e r v eh icle flu ids, hav e
your vehicle inspected by an author ized Audi dea ler. •
Engine compartment
These are th e m ost im porta nt items th at you can ch ec k.
Fig. 238 Typical layout for containe rs, engine oi l d ipstick and engine oil filler
cap
0 Jum p star t connector( +) under a cover,( -) w ith hex
head screw .... ... .... ..... ... .. .. ........... .. 314, 357
@ B rake fluid reservoir ( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 10
© C oo lant e xpansio n tank (- L ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
© Eng in e oil fill er cap ('l=:11) . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . . 30 6
© E ng ine oil d ipstick (orange) .............. ....... .
©
0
Power steering reservoir ....................... •.
Windshield/ headlight washer container( ~) ....... . 3
0 5
267
316 ~

Checkin g and fillin g Ill
--------------~-
•
-Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
~ fig. 243. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left side=> page 302.
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 l ight (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
CCD> l will come on=> page 22 and=> page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle . The complete brake syste m shou ld be thor
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or other qualified
facility 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
immedi ately. •
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 po int of the brake fluid will also
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
T herefore, the brake fluid must be changed
ever y two yea rs. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federa l Motor Veh ic le Stan
dard "FMVSS 116 DO T 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 deal er. Your dealer has the co rrect tools, the right brake
fluid and the know-how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Bra ke fluid i s poi sonou s. It m ust be stor ed only in the closed
or iginal container out of the reach of children!
• Brake f ailur e can result fr om old or in approp riat e bra ke fluid .
Ob serve the se pre cauti ons:
- Use o nly br ake fluid that me ets SAE specifi cation
J 1703 and
c onfo rm s t o Fed eral Mo to r V ehicle Standard 116 . Alway s check
w ith your auth oriz ed A udi de aler t o m ake sure you are usin g
the correct b rake flu id . The corre ct ty p e of brake flu id i s al so
indi cate d on the br ake fl uid r eservo ir .
- The brake f luid mu st be new . Heav y use of the brake s can
ca us e a va por lo ck if the brake fluid is left in the sy stem too
long. Thi s ca n seriou sly affect th e effic iency of the brake s as
well as your safe ty. T his co uld r esult i n an a ccide nt.
0 No te
Brake fluid wil l damage the paint of your vehicle .
'£> For the sake of the environm ent
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special too ls required and the necessary expertise, we recom
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dea ler. •
Battery
General information
Under norm al operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance . With high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the electrolyte level ._
Vehicle care I t •

-Checking
and filling
---=---------------
checked by a service facility . The electrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged
~ page 314.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With certain types of airbag deployment, the battery is discon nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons~
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 229.
Disconnecting the battery terminals
Some vehicle functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected . These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again . To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
vehicle electrical system when absolutely necessary for repairs.
Vehicles not driven for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
~ page 269.
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions , such as the master key remote function or
power seat adjustment, may not be available. The convenience
functions will be available again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
Winter operation
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop . This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when traveling only short distances. Let your authorized Audi dealer
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 314. A well charged battery will not only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold , but will also last longer .
[ i] Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several weeks at extremely low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. This will prevent it from being damaged and
having to be replaced. •
Working on the battery
Be especially careful when working on or near the battery.
Fig. 244 Luggage
compartment : Battery
The battery is located in the luggage compartment under
the floor. Before you check anything in the luggage
compartment,
read and heed all WARNINGS=>& .
Lift the floor by the plastic handle.
Hook the handle into the luggage compartment weather
strip.
Always heed the safety warnings, when working on the vehicle
battery or the vehicle electrical system to prevent injury.

__________________________________________ C_ h _ e_c _k _in _ g =- a_ n __ df _i_ lli _n ___ g __ fflllll
•
The following WARNINGS are very important when
working on the battery:
Always heed the following WARNING SYMBOLS and safety pre
cautions when working on the battery .
Always wear eye protection.
Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Always wear
gloves and eye protection.
No
- sparks
- flames
- smoking.
When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen
gas which is explosive and could cause personal
injury.
Always keep the battery well out of reach of chil
dren.
& WARNING
Whenever working on the battery or on the electrical system,
there is the risk of injury, accident and even fire. Read and heed the
following WARNINGS:
• Always wear eye protection. Do not let battery acid or any lead
particles get on your skin or clothing. Shield your eyes. Explosive
gases can cause blindness or other injury.
• Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid can cause
blindness and severe burns.
- Always wear gloves and eye protection. Do not tilt the
battery because acid could leak out of the ventilation openings.
- If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immedi
ately rinse with cold water for several minutes and get medical
attention.
& WARNING (continued)
-If you should ingest any battery acid, seek medical attention
immediately.
• Do not expose the battery to an open flame, electric sparks or
an open light.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not interchange the positive and negative cables .
• When working on the battery, be sure not to short -circuit the
terminals with tools or other metal objects. This would cause the battery to heat up very quickly, which could lead to damage or
explosion and personal injury.
• When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen gas which is
explosive and could cause personal injury.
• Always keep the battery well out of the reach of children.
• Before work is done on the electrical system, disconnect the
negative ground cable.
• Before performing any work on the electrical system, switch off
the engine and ignition as well as any electrical equipment. The
negative cable on the battery must be disconnected.
If you are just
going to replace a light bulb, then it is enough to switch off the
lights.
• Before disconnecting the battery, switch off the anti-theft
alarm system! Otherwise you will set off the alarm.
• When disconnecting the battery, first disconnect the negative
cable and then the positive cable.
• Before reconnecting the battery, make sure all electrical
consumers are switched off. Reconnect the positive cable first and
then the negative cable . Never interchange the cables - this could
start a fire!
• Never charge a frozen or a thawed-out battery. It could
explode! If a battery has frozen, then it must be replaced. A
discharged battery can freeze over at 32 °F (0 °CI. .,,_
Vehicle care
I t •

llffl __ C _h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
• Make sure the vent hose is always attached to the opening on
the side of the battery.
• Never use batteries which are damaged . There is the danger of
an explosion! Always replace a damaged battery.
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning :
• Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive problems. Wash hands after
handling .
0 Note
• Do not disconnect the vehicle battery when the ignition is
switched on or when the engine is running, otherwise, you will
damage electronic components in the electrical system .
• If your vehicle is going to stand for a long period of time without
being driven, protect the battery from "freezing", otherwise it will
be damaged and will then have to be replaced. •
Battery charging
Starting the engine requires a well charged battery.
Fig. 245 Engine
compartment : Connec
tors for charger and
jumper cables
Always read and heed all WARNINGS below=> & and=> &
in "Working on the battery" on page 312.
- Turn off the ignition and all electrical consumers.
- Make sure the area is well ventilated when you charge
the battery.
- Open the hood => page
300.
-Open the red cover on the positive pole=> fig. 245.
- Connect the charger connectors according to the instruc-
tions to the
jump start bolts. (Bolts under the red cover=
" posit ive", Bolts with hex head= "negative").
- Only now plug the mains lead for the charging equip
ment into the wall outlet and turn it on =>& .
-Make sure the charging rate is not over 30 amps/14.8
Volt.
- When the battery is fully charged: Turn the charging
equipment off and remove the mains lead from the wall
outlet. .,_

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
-Now remove the clamps fo r the charging eq uipment.
- Close t he red cover on the positive pole.
- Close the hood~
page 301.
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures of only O °C. A llow
a frozen battery to thaw completely before attempting to charge it
~ & .However, we recommend not using a thawed battery again
because the battery casing can be cracked due to ice formation and
can leak battery acid.
Batt ery c harg ing (Ma ximum ch arging rate of 30
a mps /14 .8 Volt )
When charging at /ow voltages (e.g. with a trickle charg er), the
ba ttery cables do not have to be disconnected first. The battery caps
should
not be opened when charging a battery.
I t is not necessary to remove the battery from the luggage compart
ment .
Fa st cha rging the batt ery (chargi ng ra te ab ove 14 .8
Volt s)
For technical reasons do not use a battery charger that uses vo ltage
greater than 14.8 Volts to charge your vehic le's battery.
& WARNING
C harging a battery can be d angerou s.
• Alwa ys follo w the oper ating instruct ions pro vided b y the
battery charger manuf acturer when charging your b attery .
• Neve r charge a frozen battery. It m ay explode be cau se of gas
tr apped in the i ce. Allow a frozen battery to thaw out fir st.
• Do not reuse batteries wh ich were fro zen. The battery housing
m ay hav e crac ked and wea kened when the b atte ry fro ze .
• Charge the battery in a well ventilated area. Keep away from
open fla me or ele ctri cal s par k. Do not smok e. Hydrogen ga s gener
ated by the battery is explo sive.
&_ W ARN ING (c ontinued )
• To redu ce the danger of explo sion, never connect or d isconnect
c h ar ger cable s while the charger is ope rat ing .
• Batte ry acid that may spill durin g charging should be w ashed
off with a sol ution of warm water and b aking soda to neutralize
the acid .
0 Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to start the engine . This wi ll
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, re lays, radio, etc ., as well as the battery charger. •
Battery replacement
The new battery must have the same specifications and
dimensions as the original equipment battery.
Intelligent energy management in your vehicle is responsib le for
distributing the e lectrica l energy throughout your vehicle
~ page 269 . The intelligent energy management system will keep
the engine battery charged better then vehicles without this system.
To make sure the additional electrical energy is availab le once again
after you have changed the battery, we recommend that you insta ll
batteries of the same type and manufacture only (the same as those
insta lled at the t ime your vehicle was de livered). Specif ications are
listed on the battery housing . Your authorized Audi dealer wi ll then
code the battery management con trol unit.
I f it is not possib le to use a battery of this type, the new battery must
have the same capacity, voltage (12 volts), amperage, construction
and p lug sealing .
When installing the battery, make sure the ignition and all electrical consumers are tur ned off.
~
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --=:: g;__ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:g:a.- ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
Make sure the ventilation hose on the side of the battery is
connected, otherwise fumes or battery acid can leak out.
Because of the problem of proper disposal of a battery, we recom
mend your authorized Audi dea ler change the battery for you.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid and lead and must always be
disposed of properly in compliance with all environmental regula
tions . Disposing of vehicle batteries improperly is very dangerous to
t he environment. •
Windshield/headlight washer
container
Fig . 246 Engine
compartment: Wind
s hie ld and headlight*
washer fluid container
The washer fluid container is marked with the symbol O on
its cap.
- Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS :::> & in "Working
in the engine compartment" on page
301 .
-Lift the fille r cap tongue to add washer fluid. You can fill
the container to the top.
- Press the cap back onto the filler neck after filling the
container.
You can find the reservoir capacity in the table in=> page 369.
To prevent lime residue from building up on the spray jets, use
distilled water when refilling. Always add a gla ss cleaner solution
(with frost protection in the winter).
0 Note
Do not mix engine coolant antifreeze or any other additives to fill up
the windshield washer reservoir.•

________________________________________________ T_ i _r_e _s_ a_n_ d_ w_ h_ e_e _ l_s __ lftlll
•
Groove
means the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
L oad ra ting (code)
means the maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure. You may not find this information on all tires
because it is not required by law.
M ax im um l oad ra tin g
means the load rating for a tire at the maximum permissib le infla
tion pressure for that tire.
Ma ximum l oaded v ehi cle weigh t
means the sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehic le capacity weight, and
(ct) Production options weight
M ax im um (p er mi ssibl e) infl ati on pr essur e
means the maximum cold inflation pressure to wh ich a tire may be
inflated. Also ca lled "maximum inflation pressure."
Normal occ upa nt wei ght
means 150 lbs. (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants
seated in the vehicle up to the to tal seating capacity of your vehicle.
O ccupant di stributi on
means distribution of occupants in a vehicle .
Outer di am eter
means the overall diameter of an inflated new tire.
O ve rall wi dth
means the linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewa lls of
an inflated tire, includ ing elevations due to labeling, decorations, or
protective bands or ribs.
Pl y
means a layer of rubber -coated para lle l cords.
P rodu ction opt io ns wei ght
means the combined weight of those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs . (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard
i t ems wh ich they replace, not previously considered in curb weigh t
or accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof
rack, heavy duty battery, and specia l trim .
Radi al p ly 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 .
Reco mm ended infl ati on pr essu re
see => page 318, "Cold tire inflation pressure".
Rein force d tir e
means a tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher infla
tion pressures than the corresponding standard tire. Reinforced
t ires my be identified as "XL", "xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the
sidewall.
R im
means a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon
wh ich the t ire beads are seated.
Rim di amet er
means nominal diameter of the bead seat. If you change your whee l
size, you wi ll have to purchase new tires to match the new rim diam
eter .
Rim siz e de sig nation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim wid th
means nominal distance between rim flanges.
Vehicle care I t •