_______________________________________________ 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_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
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•
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
am ount of oil to lubricate and c ool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of internal
engine components, all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change sign ificantly over the life of the engine . Typically,
engines with a specified break-in period (see~
page 190) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they co nsume after o il
consumption has stabilized .
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revo lutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
condensation or fue l residue and the oxidation level of the oil. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage bu ilds up, the oil consump
tion may increase over time until rep lacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these variables coming into play, no standa rd rate of oil
consumption can be estab lished or specified. There is no a lternative
t o regula r and frequent checking of the oil level, see Note.
I f the yellow engine oil level warning symbol in the instrument
cluster _ lights up, y ou should check t he oi l level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick~ page 221. Top off the oil at your
earl iest co nvenience ~
page 222.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 217 .
0 Note
Driving with an insuff ic ie n t o il level is l ikely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i ] Tip s
• The oil pressure w arning display ce,. is not an indi cator of the oil
level . Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your engine at
regular interv als , prefe rably ea ch time you refuel , and always before
going on a long trip.
• I f you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amoun ts of oi l, we recommend tha t you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the accurate measureme nt of oil consumption requires great
care and may take some time. Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how t o measure oil consumption accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Vehicle care I t •
Fig. 13 9 Illu stra tion of
pri nciple 1 : Mar ker s on
oi l dip sti ck ...
Checking and filling -
---------------------=----"=---------
reduce corrosion protection. The resu lting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage.
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adverse ly affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and cou ld result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
gla nce .
Fig . 142 Engine
co mp artm ent : coo lan t
e xpa nsion t ank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
the engine compa rtment" on
page 217.
- Switch the ignition of f.
- Read the coo lant l eve l at the coo lant exp ansio n tank
==> fig. 142. With a col d e ngine, it must b e above the
"min" mar k. Wit h a hot engine, it can be a little above t he
indicated range.
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment i llustration. To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off.
The expansion tank in your vehic
le is equipped with an e lectric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant leve l is too low, the warning light in the Auto
Check System =>
page 34 will blink un til you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an e lectric
coo la n t level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant level
from time to time .
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system . In the event
of coo lant loss, the co oling sys tem shou ld be i nspected immedi
ate ly by your authorized Audi dealer . It is not enough merely to add
coo lant .
In a
sealed system , losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating .
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sea lant to your vehicle's engine
coolant. Adding rad iator repair fluid may adversely affect the func
tion and performance of your coo ling system and could resu lt in
damage not covered by your New Vehic le Limited Warra nty. •
Adding coo lant
Be very careful when adding engine coolant.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS==> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 217 .
-Turn off the engin e.
- Let the engine cool down.
Vehic le care I I irechnical data
_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c _ k_in --= g'-a _ n_d _ f_il _li _n -=g =-- ____.•
• the engine compartment heats up because the vehicle is parked
in intense sunlight.
& WARNING
• To reduce the risk of personal injury never touch the radiator
fan.
• The auxiliary electric fan is temperature controlled and can
switch on suddenly even when the engine is not running .
• The auxiliary radiator fan switches on automatically when the
engine coolant reaches a certain temperature and will continue to
run until the coolant temperature drops. •
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked with a quick glance.
Fig. 143 Engine
compartment: brake
fluid reservoir
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 217.
-Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
=> fig. 143. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located behind the rear partition of the
engine compartment on the left side~ page 218.
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:
(Cf))) will come on~ page 19 and~ page 33. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should 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 dealer
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 will 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 Federal Motor Vehicle 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.
~
Vehic le care I I irechnical data
-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_d _ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING
• Bra ke fluid i s poiso nou s. It must be stor ed only in the clo se d
original container out of the rea ch of children!
• Bra ke failure can re sult from old or inappropri ate br ake fluid .
Ob serve the se pre cauti ons:
- Use o nly br ake fluid th at m eets S AE spe cific ation
J 1703 and
co nform s to Fed era l Mo tor Vehic le Standard 11 6. Alway s check
w ith your authori zed Aud i de aler to mak e sure y ou are usi ng
the correc t brake fluid. The corre ct type of brake flu id i s also
indica ted on the br ake fl uid re se rvoi r.
- The brake fluid mu st be new . Heavy u se of the brake s can
ca use a vapor lock if th e bra ke fluid is left in the system too
long. Thi s can seriou sly affect the effic iency of the brake s as
w ell as y our safet y. T his c ould re s u lt in an a ccident .
0 Note
Brake fluid wil l damage the paint of your vehicle .
~ 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
dea ler. •
Battery
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with a specia l battery, an AGM battery. This
ba ttery is loca ted in the luggage compar tment and must be
replaced with an original equipment battery. Under normal oper
ating conditions, the battery is
ma inten anc e-free .
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service .
You a re well advised to replace a battery that is o lder than 5 years .
Disconn ecting th e batt ery te rmin als
Some vehicle functions (power w indow 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
vehic le electrical sys tem when abso lutely necessary for repairs .
Vehi cles not dri ven for lo ng p eriods
If you are going to let your vehic le stand for a long time and n ot
drive it, you should remember there are e lectrica l components
whic h are still functioning and they will draw energy from the
battery and drain it, for example, the engine immobilizer. To prevent
t his, you can eithe r charge the batte ry occasionally to keep it in
good working condition or you can disconnect the negative cable
on the battery.
W int er op erati on
During the winter months, batte ry capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop . This is because more power is also consumed
whi le starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc ., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when trave ling o nly short distances . Let your authorized Audi dealer
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 232. A we ll charged battery will not only preven t starting
problems when the weather is cold, but will also last longer.
Repla cing batter y
The new battery must hav e the same capacity, voltage ( 12 volts),
amperage, construction and p lug sea ling, as the orig inal battery .
Specifications are listed on the battery housing. Batteries specia lly
developed by Aud i fulfill the main tenance, output, and safe ty
requirements. ...,
Checking and filling -
------------- --------=----" =---------
& WARNING !continued )
• To reduce the danger of explosio n, never connect or di sconnect
c h arger cable s whi le the charger i s operating .
• Fast charging a battery i s dang erou s and should only be
atte mpt ed by a competent techni cian with the proper equipment .
• Battery acid that may spill during charging should be washed
off with a solut ion of w arm wat er and bak ing soda to ne utrali ze
the acid .
0 Note
Never use a fast charger as a boos ter to start the engine . This wil l
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, re lays, radio, etc ., as well as the battery charger .
[ i ] Tips
The vehicle battery must not be charged with a standard small
charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter or out let .•
Windshield /headlight washer
conta iner
Fi g. 14 7 Fend er, left:
Wind shi eld washer
flui d re ser voir
T h e w asher fluid container is mark ed wit h the symbol O on
its cap.
Before you c heck anything in the e ngine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Workin g
in t he engi ne compartment" on
page 217.
Lift the fi ller cap to ngue to add washe r fluid . You can fill
t h e container to the top.
Press the cap bac k on to the fi ller neck after fi lling the
container .
You can find the reservoir ca pac ity in the tab le in => page 291.
To prevent lime residue fr om bui lding up on the spray jets, use
dis tilled water when refilling . Always add a g lass cleaner solut ion
(with frost pro tection in the winter).
0 Note
Do not mix eng ine coolant antifreeze or any other additives to fil l up
the windshield washer reservo ir. •
Vehic le care I I Technical data