Activating
The ESP is automatically activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self-test. You can activate a deactivated ASR if required
by pressing the=>
page 182, fig. 130 button. When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display. Vehicles
with front -wheel drive a deactivated ASR automatically re -activates
itself at a speed of 40 mph (70 km/h).
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds)=>
page 182, fig. 130. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light comes on, see=>
page 17. The message ASR off
appears in the display as well. On vehicles with front -wheel drive:
deactivation is possible only up to 30 mph (50 km/h) for safety
reasons. Vehicles with all -wheel drive : the ASR can be deactivated
at any speed.
The ASR should normally be activated all the time. Only in certain exceptional situations when some slip is desirable does it make
sense to deactivate the ASR. Examples:
• when driving with tire chains
• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground and
• when rocking the vehicle loose after it has become stuck.
When the abnormal situation is over, you should activate the ASR
again.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i J Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
Intelligent technology
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also ::::>
page 246, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels".
Rear spoiler
The rear spoiler improves vehicle handling and enhances
driver control.
Fig. 131 Switch for
rear spoiler
The rear spoiler deploys and retracts. Spoiler operation can be set
for automatic or manual operation .
Automatic mode (normal operation)
• Automatic deployment : At a speed of about 75 mph (120 km/h),
the rear spoiler deploys automatically.
• Automatic retraction: When speed drops below about 50 mph
(80 km/h), the rear spoiler retracts automatically.
Manual mode
• Manual deployment: Tapping briefly on the switch ::::> fig. 131
deploys the rear spoiler .
• Manual retraction: At speeds up to about 10 mph (20 km/h),
retract the rear spoiler by pressing and holding the switch
::::> fig. 131. At speeds between 10 mph (20 km/h) and 75 mph (120
km/h), retract the rear spoiler by tapping on the switch=> fig. 131 .
Vehicle care I I irechnical data
• Be aware of the different than usual steering response and
adjust your steering force accordingly.
• Have the problem checked and set right by an authorized Audi
dealer as soon as possible.
• If a steering malfunction occurs, this is signaled with the or.
~ indicator lights and a warning tone, see.
[ i] Tips
• If the power steering system should fail, or if the engine is not
running (for example, while being towed} , you will still be able to
steer the vehicle. However, more effort will be required to do so.
• If the power steering system is not functioning properly, contact
your authorized Audi dealer immediately.
Ap plies to vehicles : w ith A ll Wheel Drive
0 iving w i h 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
184, "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 250, "Winter tires".
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
Snow
chains
Where tire chains are mandatory on certain roads, this normally
also applies to vehicles with All Wheel Drive=> page 251, "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 246, "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 192.
& 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. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditi ons 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 eng ine run at
idle.
I t makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at railroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fue l 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 a re especial ly
high when the engine is warming up . So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high RPMs whi le
the engine is stil l 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 idl ing also produces heat, wh ich cou ld
result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned en gine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- Have your v ehicl e serv ice d at reg ular intervals.
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Dri
ving and environm ent
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dea ler helps to
ensure that i t runs properly and economically . The conditio n of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel consumption .
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed .
I t is normal for the oi l consumption of a new eng ine 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 kilometres) be fore you can proper ly assess o il consumpt ion.
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
t he service recommendations in you r Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehicle wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to da mage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer .
• Do no t al te r or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
veh ic le' s Emission Contr ol System and o ther i mportant vehicle
components. •
Fewer short trips
Fu el con su mp tion wi ll alwa ys be rel atively high on shor t
tri ps.
- Try to avo id driving short dista nce s wi th a cold engine.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
_______________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ in _____ g ___ a_n_ d ___ p_r _o _t_ e_ c_ t _i _o _ n __ lfll
•
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids. •
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
- Keep belts clean.
-For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash .
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them .
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
& WARNING (continued)
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 198. a
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine ~ &
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts.
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
I f the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
21 , or if you have the engine washed, the anti
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore
essential to have a long-lasting corrosion protection reapplied to all
~
21 Use only the correct cleaning solutions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care I t •
___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
-Open the driver's door .
Fig. 135 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel
=> fig. 135 in the direct ion of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 136 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Lift the hood slightly =>&, .
Pull up on the release under the hood => fig. 136. This
releases the catch.
- Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by two gas struts.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• 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. •
___________________________________________ C_ h_e _c_ k_ i_n _g _ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n _g __ fflllll
•
Closing the engine hood
- Pull the hood down until the pressure from the struts is
reduced .
- Let the hood
drop down and latch in place. Do not try to
push it shut;
it may fail 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 the 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!
~ &
& WARNING
To help avoid injury, before you check anything under the hood :
• Switch 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: ..,
Vehicle care
I t •
___ C_ h_ e _ c_k _in--= g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n --=g==-- --------------------------------------------
& WARNING (continued )
-First, fully apply the park ing brake, move selector lever of
automatic transmission to "P " (Park ); put manual transmission
in Neutral.
- Alway s use extreme c aution to prevent clothing , jewel ry , or
long hair from gettin g caught in the radiator fan , V-belts or
other moving parts , or from contacting hot parts. Tie back hair
before starting , and wear no clothing that will hang or droop
into the engine.
• Minimize exposure to emission and chemi cal hazard s
=> &.
& WARNING
Californ ia Proposition 65 Warning :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certa in vehicle
component s contain or emit chemical s known to the State of Cali
fornia to cause cancer and birth defe cts and reproductive h arm . In
addition, certain fluid s contained in vehicles and certain products
of component wear contain or emit chem icals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproduc
tive harm.
• Battery po sts , terminal s and related ac cessories contain lead
and lead compounds , chem icals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hand s after
handling .
0 Note
When adding fluids, always make sure that the y are poured into the
proper container or filler opening, otherwise serious damage to
vehicle systems will occur .
<£' For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in t ime, inspect the veh icle floor pan from unde r
neath regularly. If you see spots from oil or other vehic le fluids, have
you r ve hicle i nsp ected by a n authori zed Audi dealer .•
Engine compartment
Ap plies to veh ic les: with 1. 8I180-h p eng ine
2 .01 200-hp engine
Th ese a re th e mo st imp ortan t items that you can check.
F ig . 137 Engine comp artment : 2 .01 200 -hp engine
G) Coolan t expansion tank (J _) ... ........ ..• ..•. ....
0 Engine oil f iller cap ("t:::r.) . .. ... .• .. .... .... ... ...
© En gine oil d ipstick ( orange) .. ...... ... .. .. .. .... .
© B ra ke fluid reservoir ( ) . ... ...... .... .... ... .. .
225
222
2 21
2 27 ..
_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c _ k_in -= g_a _ n_d _ f_il _li _n ..;::g =--____.ffllll
© Jump start points(+) under a cover, (-) bolt head ... .
© Windshield/head light washer container ( O ) .... ... .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNINGS
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 217. •
Applies to v ehic le s : w ith 3,2 1 250 -hp eng ine
3 .21 250-hp engine
280
233
These are the most important items that you can check.
Fig. 138 Engine compartment: 3.21 250-hp engine
0
0
®
©
Coolant expansion tank (J _J
Engine oil dipstick (orange)
Engine oil filler cap
('l:::r.)
Brake fluid reservoir ( ) 225
221
222 227
© Jump start points (
+l under a cover, (-) bolt head .. . .
© Windshield/headlight washer container (Q ) ....... .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNINGS
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 217. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
280
233
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
The engine in your Audi is a sophisticated powerplant that was built
to exacting spec ifications. This engine needs the right kind of
engine oil that meets specifications regarding quality and viscosity
so that it can run smoothly and reliably. Choosing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage intervals printed in your
vehicle's Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago . Audi has developed a special quality standard
for engine oil that will help assure that your vehicle's engine will ge t
the lubrication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many synthetic oils available today provide better engine
lubrication that can outlast traditional petro leum -based oils ,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthetic or petroleum -based engine oil, the oi l
that you use must conform to Audi's oil quality standard VW 502 00
to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"s ludge," that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
~
Vehicle care I I irechnical data