2009 AUDI S8 wheel

until the vehicle has braked to the required speed. The brake assis­
tant switches itself off as soon as you release the brake pedal.
The brake assistant will not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS.
& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast, especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely. Increased risk of an
accident cannot be compensated for even by the brake assistant,
so always maintain a safe speed. •
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
comfortable 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 scheduled
maintenance services.
0 Note
If there is an electronic malfunction, servotronic will sti ll function
like a conventional power steering system, providing a constant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed. This is most noticeable when turning the steering whee l at
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
low speeds (for examp
le when parking), -more effort will be
requ ired than usual.
• Be aware of the different than usual steering response and
adjust your steering force accordingly .
• Have the problem checked and set right by an Audi dealer as
soon as possible.
[ i ] Tips
• When the engine 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 pump will overheat the hydraulic fluid
if you keep holding the steering whee l turned a ll the way. This is
likely to damage the power steering system.
• If the power steering system shou ld fail entire ly, or if the engine
is not running (for examp le, 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 shou ld have a leak, or is not func ­
t ioning properly, contact your authorized Audi dealer immediately.
• The power steering system requires a special ly formulated
hydraulic fluid. The power steering reservoir is the one located most
forward on the left side of the engine compartment=>
page 310. The
correct fluid level in the reservoir is important for proper func­
tioning of the power steering .•
Driving with your q attro®
With All Wheel Drive, all four wheels are driven.
General information
With All Whee l Drive, power is distributed to all four wheels. This
happens automatically depending on your dr iving style and the
road conditions at the time. See also=>
page 271, "Electronic differ ­
entia l lock (EDU".
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

ll}Jl __ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
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 343, "Winter tires".
Tire chains
Where tire chains are mandatory on certain roads, this normally
also applies to vehicles with All Wheel Drive~
page 344, "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 338, "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 281.
& WARNING
Always adjust your driving to road and traffic conditions. Do not
let the extra safety afforded by All Wheel Drive tempt you into
taking extra risks.
• Although the 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 (aqua­
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 suited to the road condi­
tions - risk of crash. •
Energy management
Starting ability is opt:m·zed
Energy management controls the distribution of electrical
energy and thus optimizes the availability of electrical
energy for starting the engine.
If a vehicle with a conventional energy system is not driven for a
long period of time, the battery is discharged by idling current
consumers (e.g . immobilizer) . In certain circumstances it can result
in there being insufficient energy available to start the engine.
Intelligent energy management in your vehicle handles the distribu­
tion of electrical energy. Starting ability is markedly improved and
the life of the battery is extended.
Basically, energy management consists of
battery diagnosis, idling
current management
and dynamic energy management.
Battery diagnosis
Battery diagnosis continuously determines the state of the battery.
Sensors determine battery voltage, battery current and battery
temperature. This determines the current state of charge and the
power of the battery .
Idling current management
Idling current management reduces energy consumption while the
vehicle is standing. With the ignition switched off, it controls the
energy supply to the various electrical components . Data from
battery diagnosis is considered.
Depending on the battery's state of charge, individual consumers
are gradually turned off to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery and thus maintain starting capability.
Dynamic energy management
While the vehicle is being driven, dynamic energy management distributes the energy generated according to the needs of the indi-•

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Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable -particularly when going downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
im med ia tel y if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to s top the swayi ng by accelerating.
Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving downhill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
C ool ant t emp era tur e
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 12 must be observed care­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing
- F- , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
A nyo ne n ot properly re str aine d in a moving vehi cle i s at a mu ch
g re ater ri sk in an accident . Never let any on e r ide in y our car who
is n ot pr operl y wea ring th e re stra ints pr ovided b y Audi . •
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you
l
oad your trailer and operate your r ig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely familiar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Back ing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer generally requires steering action opposite to that when backing up your vehic le without a tra iler.
Ma intain a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you nor mally wou ld because of the added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break -in period of your vehicle.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to the extra load=>
page 382. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot park on a slope with a trailer. If it cann ot be
avoi ded, do so only after d oing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. ._

-Wit h chocks i n place, slowly release the brakes until the
wheel chocks absorb the load .
- Turn the wheels towards the curb.
- Apply the parking brake.
- Move the selector lever to
P.
Wh en r est arting aft er parking :
-Apply the foot brake.
- Start the engine.
- Move the selector lever to
D .
- Release the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
f rom the whee l chocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the wheel chocks .
[ i ) Tip s
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
befor e applying th e parking brake and before blocking th e wheels ,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r t owing
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicle value.
Any automobile is exposed to industrial fumes, corrosive road salt,
muddy dog feet, etc . A well cared for Audi can look like new many
years a fter purchase. Regu lar a nd correct ca re will co ntribu te to
maintaining the beauty and value of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
war ranty claim should co rros ion damage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dealer has a variety of dedicated vehicle- care
product s
and can adv ise whic h ones to use for clea ning the e xter ior
and interior of your vehicle.
Whethe r you use p roducts recommended by Audi or other c ommer ­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents , please make sure you apply them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous. Keep them out of the reach
of ch ildren .
• Heed all caution label s.
• Always read directions on the contai ner before using any
product. Follow the di rection s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
d iluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated area s.
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , nail polish remover
or other volatile fluids . They may be toxic , flammable or hazardous
in other way s. Do not wash , wa x or dry the vehicle w ith the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under side s of chassis , fenders , wheel cove rs,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sharp -edg ed metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking effi ciency
=> page 272 , "General info rmation ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wa sh the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
Se lect only enviro nmenta lly friend ly c leaning products . Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequen t washing pro tects the vehi cle.
Th e bes t protection against envi ronmental influences is frequent
washing and waxing . How often this is required depends on:
• Ho w much the vehic le is used
• Where the vehic le is parked (garage, in the open under trees,
etc.)
• T he seasonal and weather conditions
• Environmenta l influences
T he longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, tar, soot, road salt and ot her materials rema in on the ve hicle
body, the more lasting their destruc tive effects will be . High temper ­
atu res caused by exp osu re to in tense s un ligh t inte nsify the c orro -
sive effect, particularly when humidity is high as well.
~

_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _a_ n_ in_ g_a _ n_d_ p_ r_ o_ t _e_ c_t _io _ n __ _
•
Under certain circumstances, weekly washing may be necessary.
Under other conditions , a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate .
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed, preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 290. •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash . However, the
effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water , the type of wash and care
material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched , bring this to the attention of the oper­
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau­
tions such as closing the windows and power roof . Factory installed
antennas must not be removed.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle - such as
spoilers, roof rack, etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 290. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
-Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS =:>
& in "General informa­
tion" on
page 290.
-First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge glove or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently w ipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels , door sills and other
regions exposed to road dirt. In this way, you will not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page290. _..
Vehicle care
I t •

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•
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush . Use a non -abrasive
pla stic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from w indows and mirrors .
Oil, grease or silicone residue can be removed with
glas s cleaner or
silicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
specially formulated solvent. Please contact your Audi dealer for
advice on safe products for wax remova l.
Windows should also be c leaned on the inside at regular interva ls .
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces . Wax residue on the chamois can impa ir v ision
through the windows.
& WARNING
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 2 90.
• The wind shield mu st not be treated with water -repellent mat e­
rial s. They c an in crease glare u nder poor visibilit y condition s such
as wetne ss , darkne ss , or when t he sun is low on the horizon. In
a ddition , they can cau se the win d sh ield wiper s to chatter .
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors . Th is cou ld cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not p lace
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires.
• To he lp prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete car care includes the we atherstrips as well .
Apply a suitable rubbe r con ditioner to the weatherstr ips
from t ime to t ime.
To be able sea l properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliable. Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
cone or coat them with ta lcum powder or glycer ine to retain the
flexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winte r.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNING S and other information
=> page 290.
[ i ] Tip s
Keep si licone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
rain .•
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
- Wash the wheels w ith a sponge or hose b rush every
other week.
For de ep cle aning afterwards, use only a dedicat ed
acid­
free cast al loy whee l c leaner.
R ub a coat of
liquid wax onto the rims ever y thr ee mon th .
Be sure t o reach and t reat a ll pa rts of t he r im.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast al loy wheels,
some special care is necessary . In addition to road dirt and salt,
Vehicle care I t •

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brake dust is also corrosive. If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly specia l
acid-free cleaners formulated for a lloy r ims . Safe
products are available at your Audi dealer. Never leave the cleaner
on the ri ms longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed of f
promptly, the acid contained in some c leaners can attack the
threads o n the wheel bo lts .
Never use abrasive or metal po lishing c leaning agents. If the protec ­
tive coating has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road dirt, touch i t
up as soon as poss ible .
& WARNING
• Moisture and i ce on b rake s may affe ct b raking effi cien cy
~ page 272 , "General information ". Te st the brake s carefully ea ch
t ime you wa sh the vehi cle .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ pag e 290. •
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not nee d to be checked .
All body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
t horoughly pr otected a t the factory .
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treat ­
ment . If any wax should seep out of the cavity when the ambient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a plastic scraper and a suitable solvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Ben zine is fla mmab le and to xic . If you use be nzine fo r removing
the wax , keep sparks, f lame and lighted cigarettes away . Never
& W ARN ING (continued )
dump benz ine on the ground , into open streams or down sewage
dra in s.
• Be sure to observe all safety and env ironmental regulat ions .
Follow all in struction s on the cont ainer .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other inform ation
~ page290 .•
Chassis
Have the u nderc oating c hecked for dama ge from tim e to
time.
T he lower body shell of your Audi is also thoroughly protected
aga inst corrosion .
Any damage to the undercoat ing caused by road hazards shou ld be
repaired promptly.
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong place s can cau se a fire .
• Do not app ly addition al undercoating or rustproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold, exhau st pipe s, catalytic converter or
he at shield s. While dr iving , the sub stance used for underco ating
could overhe at and cau se a fire .
• Alwa ys read and heed all WARNINGS and other info rm ation
=> page290 .•