the vehicle begins to skid, ESP brakes the appropriate wheel automatical ly .
The vehicle is stabilized again by the forces acting on the wheel during braking. With an oversteering vehicle (tendency for the rear
end to skid out of the curve), the brake application is mainly at the
front wheel on the outside of the curve, with an understeering
vehicle (tendency to run wide in the curve) at the rear wheel on the
inside of the curve or additionally at the other wheels as needed .
This brake application is accompanied by noises.
ESP works in conjunction with ABS=:>
page 187. If there is ma lfunc
tion in the ABS, ESP is also inoperative .
Activa ting
The ESP is automatica lly activated when the engine is started, and
it performs a self-test. As soon as the test is completed, the system
is in normal operating mode . With ASR deactivated, or with ESP/ASR
deactivated, pressing the button=>
page 182, fig. 130 returns the
system to normal operation.
D eac tiva ting
ESP should norma lly be activated at all times because this ensures
optimum vehicle stability . Only in certain exceptional cases it does
make sense to deactivate Anti -Slip Regulation (ASR) or the Elec
tronic Stability Program !ESP) by pressing the button =:>
page 182,
fig. 130. Both deactivation stages can only be activated from normal
mode.
Dea cti vat ing ASR
Tap the switch . Deactivation is indicated by slow flashing of the ESP
lamp in the instrument c luster. In certain situations (e.g. driving
with snow chains, in deep snow or on loose ground, or when rocking the car free), it may be necessary to deactivate ASR. Deacti
vation is effective only up to a speed of about 45 mph (70 km/h). At higher speeds, ASR is switched on again automatical ly in front
whee l drive vehicles, deactivation is possible only up to about 30
mph (50 km/h). With all -whee l drive vehicles, ASR is active above
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
In
te llig ent tec hn olo gy
about 45 mph (70 km/h) and deactivated automatical ly below this
speed.
D eac tiva tin g ES P/ASR
Press the button for more than 3 seconds . Deactivation is indicated
by the ESP lamp in the instrument c luster staying on permanently .
This deactivates the E lectronic Stabi lity Program (ESP) in addition to
ASR . No Electronic Stability System operation and no Anti-Slip
Regu lation is availab le across the entire speed range; ASR and ESP
are activated only when the brakes are used for the duration of the
braking action and remain active until a stab le vehicle condition has
been reached. There is no driving situation which requires ESP to be
deactivated, so this should only be done if the driver's skill and the
traff ic situation permit .
& WARNING
• The limi ts of ph ysics ca nnot be suspe nd ed by E SP. E ven in vehi
cles w ith ESP, you should always adapt your dr iving to road and
tr affi c co ndition s. Thi s is part icul ar ly tr ue on a s lippe ry and wet
road . Do not be te mpt ed b y th e incre as ed safet y prov ided t o ta ke
ri sks - dang er of an acc ide nt!
• Plea se not e that when ASR or ESP /ASR i s de activ ated , the drive
w heel s ca n spin on icy and slipper y ro ad s an d the vehi cle can
break away - da nger of skiddin g!
Ii ] Tip s
In the event of a defect in the rear spoiler system or in Audi
magnetic ride, it can happen that ASR and ASR/ESP cannot be deac
tivated, or they are activated automatica lly in the deactivated
state. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
Electronic differential lock (EOL)
The electronic differential lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
General notes
The electronic differential lock (EDU helps the car to start moving,
accelerate and climb a gradient on surfaces providing poor or
almost no grip. Without EDL, this would be difficult, if not impos
sible.
How the system works
Th e EDL operates automatically. It monitors the rotational speed of
the drive wheels on an axle with the help of the ABS sensors
=> page 187. If a noticeable difference in rotational speed between
the drive wheels on one axle is detected (e.g. on slippery ground on
one side), the spinning wheel is braked, thereby transferring power
to the other drive wheel or wheels (all-wheel drivel. This is done up
to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/hl. Noises from the brake
system signal that wheel spin is being controlled.
Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate . If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, gradually increase the pressure on the accelerator
pedal until the car starts to move. The wheel less able to transfer
power spins.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads, the EDL cuts out temporarily . The
vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way as a
vehicle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your ability to control your car. -Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning . This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=> page 20. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP). When the vehicle starts up and acceler
ates , the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the
engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface .
How the system works
ASR performs automatically, i.e. without the driver's intervention .
With the aid of the ABS sensors => page
187, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, the engine
torque is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to
lock onto the road surface . The system is active across the entire
speed range.
The ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of action .
~
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
-Intelligent t echnology
-- -""'------------ ....::....:...:~---------------------------
After 15 cycles (deploy and retract) , manual operation is suspended
f o r up t o 2.5 minutes . Above 75 mph (120 km/h), operation swi tches
to automatic mode .
& WARNING
Driving at higher speeds witho ut the re ar spoiler deployed can
impair handling characteri stics, making the vehicle harder to
c ontrol.
• Always make sure that the spoiler i s deployed when driving at
speeds over 85 mph (140 k m/h). If the rear spoiler warning /ind i
c ator light in the in strument clu ster come s on , the rear spoiler
may not have deployed .
• Never drive at speed s higher than 85 mph (140 km /h ) if the
spoiler is not deployed . Have the spoiler inspe cted as soon as
po ssible by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
• Always obey speed limits and other traff ic law s.
& WARNING
Improper operation of the rear spoiler can cause crushing injuries.
• Always make su re that nobody , especially children , is in the
way when the rear spoiler is deployed or retracted.
0 Note
Never push the vehicle or a pply force to the rear spoi ler -it cou ld be
damaged .
[ i ] Tips
Clean the spoi ler compartment every 2 to 3 months . The spoiler
compa rtment must always be free of ice, snow, leaves or other
debris .•
Braking
General "nformation
W hat aff ects braking effi cie ncy?
Operating condition s and driving habits
The brakes on today's automob iles a re sti ll sub ject to wea r,
depending large ly o n operati ng co nditions and driving habits~& .
On vehicles that are either driv en mostly in stop -and -go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads shou ld be c hecked by you r au tho
ri ze d Audi dea ler mor e often than sp ecified in the
Warranty & Main
tenance booklet.
Fai lure to have your brake pads inspected can
resu lt in reduced brake performance.
On s teep sl opes, you should use the braking effec t of the engine .
T his way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake sys tem . If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuous ly.
P ump t he b rakes a t interva ls.
Moi sture or road salt
Under certa in conditions, for example , when driving through water
or
ve ry heavy rai n, o r even afte r washing you r ve hicle, the brak ing
e ff ect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing cond it io ns ice)
on the brake pads . A few cautious brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coat ings.
T he effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehic le is
driven on a sa lt-c o ve re d r oad and the brake s are not used . Likew ise,
you clean off accumulated sa lt coat ing from brake discs and pads
wit h a few cau tious applica tions of t he brake ~& .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for d irt to buil d up o n the b rake pads a nd
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regular ly or
only for sho rt trips wi th lit t le use of the brakes. ._
If t he brakes ar e not used frequently , or if corrosion has for med on
th e d iscs, i t is adv isa ble to cl ean off the pads a nd disc s by braki ng
firm ly a f ew times from a moderate ly high speed=:> &.
Faults in the brake system
I f yo u shou ld notice a
sudden i ncrease in bra ke pedal trave l, then
o ne of th e two b rake c ircui ts may hav e fa iled =:>& .
Low brake fluid level
M alf unc tions ca n occu r in the br ake system if th e b ra ke flu id leve l is
too low . Th e brake fluid level is monitored e lectronica lly.
Brake lining wear status
B ra ke l inin g wea r may be c hec ked by v is u al inspection of the condi
tion o f the b rake pads t hrou gh the ope ning s in th e wheel. If neces
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection=:> page 268,
' 'W hat s hou ld I be aw are o f wh en ch ang ing a ti re ?".
Brake power assist unit
T he bra ke po wer assist unit increas es the pressure that you
generate with the b ra ke peda l. It work s only when the engine is
r u n nin g.
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit . Other
road users must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident!
• Before descending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans
mission into a lower gear or lower driving position . Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often. This could
cause the brakes to get hot and diminish braking efficiency .
• Do not "ride the brakes " by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake . This may cause the brakes to overheat ,
premature wear and increased stopping distance .
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water , driving in heavy rain or after washing the
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
& WARNING
(continued )
vehicle, the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced . In winter ,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Cautiously apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few cautious brake applications.
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-covered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking efficiency. Clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
cautious brake applications.
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective
ness of the entire brake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop.
• Never let the veh icle roll to a stop with the engine shut off .
• If the brake booster is not working, for example when towing
your vehicle , or because the brake booster has somehow been
damaged , the brake pedal must be pre ssed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Anti- lock brake system CABS)
ABS preve nts th e wheels from lo cking under br aking.
The anti -loc k brake syste m (ABS) makes a major contribution to
i nc reas ing active d rivi ng sa fety . You s ho ul d not e xp e ct that braki ng
distances wi ll be
shortened und er all circumstances with ABS .
B ra kin g dis tance may even become s omewhat lon ger, for exa mple,
on gravel or in new snow on s lippery ground, even if you are driving
c aref ully a nd s lowly .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
ABS operation
When a vehicle speed of about 10 mph (20 km/h) is reached, an au to
matic test sequence is run. Some noise from the pump may be
audible .
I f the speed of a whee l slows down too much relative to vehic le
speed and it starts to lock, brake pressure to this wheel is reduced.
This adj ustment process can be felt as a
pulsing motion of the brake
pedal ,
accompanied by some no ises. You as the driver are intention
a lly being given the infor mation tha t the wheels are tending t o lock
(ABS control range). In order for ABS to be ab le to operate optima lly
in this range, you must keep the b rake pedal depressed -do not
"pump the brakes".
Brake assistant
The brake power assist un it increases the pressure that you
genera te wi th the brake pedal. I t wo rks only when the e ngine is
running.
Automatic full braking
T his function al lows fu ll bra king in spite of high brake pedal forces
(e .g. whe n the brakes are seve rely s tressed beca use the veh ic le is
fully loaded) . T he driver not ices this function through a reduction of
pedal force a nd increased pedal t ravel. When the brake peda l is
re leased, fu ll braking assist switches off again automatically .
If there is an ABS failure, the brake assistant and automatic fu ll
brak in g ass ist are not available.
& WARNING
• ABS cannot suspend the la ws of physic s. You should keep this
in mind in parti cular on an icy or wet road . If ABS control of braking
intervenes , you should adjust your speed immediately to road and
traffic condit ions . Do not be tempted by the increased safety
provided to take risks -danger of an accident.
• Please keep in mind that the risk of an accident is increased by
driving too fast , particularly in bends and on icy or wet roads , and
& WARNING (continued )
by driving too close to the vehicle ahead . The increased risk of an
accident cannot be redu ced by the brake a ssistant -danger of an
accident .
[ i ] Tips
If a ma lfunction occurs in the ABS, this is signalled by an indicator
l ight, se e =>
pag e 20.
E ectro-mechan-;cal power assist
The electro -me chanical po wer assist helps the driver
w hen steering.
The degree o f pow er assis t is electronically matched t o ve h ic le
speed .
The power stee ring system as sists the driver so that he can steer the
vehic le with reduced physica l effort.
P ower steering wil l not work if the engine is off. As a result, the
s te eri ng wheel wi ll be hard to turn .
& WARNING
If the system develops a problem , you must seek qualified profes
s ional assist ance .
0 Note
If there is an electronic ma lfunction, servotronic wi ll st ill function
li ke a conve ntio nal power stee rin g system, prov iding a constant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed. This is most no ticeable when turni ng the s teering wheel at
l ow speeds (for examp le when parking), -more effort will be
r e q uired 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 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
___ D_ r _i_v _i_n ""'g "'- a_ n_ d _ e_ n_v_ i_ r _o _n_ m_ e_ n_t ___________________________________________ _
Driving and environment
The first 1,000 miles ( 1 ,500 km) and
afterwards
New engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
For the first 600 miles (1,000 kilometres):
Do not use full throttle.
- Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the top speed marked on
the speedometer.
- Avoid high engine speeds .
From 600 to 1,000 miles (1,000 to 1,500
kilometres):
- Speeds can gradually be increased to the max imum
permissible road or engine speed.
During and after break-in period
- Do not rev the engine up to high speeds when it is cold.
This applies whether the transmission is in N (Neutral) or
1n gear.
After the break-in period
- Do not exceed maximum engine speed under any
circumstances.
- Upshift into the next higher gear before reaching the red
area at the end of the tachometer scale=> page 12.
During the first few hours of driving, the engine's internal friction is
higher than later when all the moving parts have been broken in.
How well this break-in process is done depends to a considerable
extent on the way the vehicle is driven during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 kilometres).
0 Note
Extremely high engine speeds are automatically reduced. However,
these RPM-limits were programmed for an engine well run-in, not a
new engine.
~ For the sake of the environment
Do not drive with unnecessarily high engine speeds - upshifting
early saves fuel, reduces noise and protects the environment .•
New tires
If your vehicle is running on new tires, drive particularly
careful for the first 350 miles (500 kilometres) after fitting.
& WARNING
New tires tend to be slippery and must also be "broken-in". Be
sure to remember this during the first 350 miles (500 kilometres).
Brake gently. Avoid following closely behind other vehicles or
other situations that might require sudden, hard braking.
:I