ll}JI Intelligent technology
---""'------------ ....::....:...:~---------------------------
almost no grip. Without EDL, this would be difficult, if not impos
sible.
How the system works
The EDL operates automatically. It monitors the rotational speed of
wheels with the help of the ABS sensors=:,
page 238 . If a noticeable
slip is detected at the wheels (e.g. on slippery ground on one side),
the spinning wheels are braked and power is transferred to the
other wheels. This is done up to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/h).
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, apply
plenty of throttle until the car starts to move.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads on this wheel, the EDL cuts out tempo rarily. 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 15. •
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 238, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, 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 234, fig. 215 button. When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display.
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds) =:,
page 234, fig. 215. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light comes on, see=:,
page 13. The message ASR off ._
•
appears in the display as well. The ASR can be deactivated at any
speed.
The ASR should normally be activated all the time . Only in certain
exceptional situations when some s lip 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 ] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, al l four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rol ling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also :::::>
page 299, "New tires and rep lacing tires and wheels" .•
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending large ly on operating conditions and driving habits:::::>& .
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your autho-
Intelligent technology
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the Warranty & Main
tenance booklet.
Fai lure to have your brake pads inspected can
resu lt in reduced brake performance .
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the braking effect of the engine.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuous ly.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Moisture or road salt
If you are driving faster than 31 mph (50 km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads will briefly touch the brake discs in
regular intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You , the driver, wil l not notice anything.
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving th rough water
or very heavy rain , or even after washing your vehicle , the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few careful brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings .
The ef fectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
driven on a salt -covered road and the brakes are not used . Here too ,
you should clean off accumulated sa lt coating from brake discs and
pads with a few carefu l applications of the brake:::::>&.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not drive n regularly or
only for short trips with litt le use of the brakes .
I f the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firm ly a few times from a moderately high speed:::::>& .
Faults in the brake system
If you shou ld notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed:::::>&. ..,
I t •
ll}Jl __ ln_t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
Low brake fluid level
Ma lfu ncti ons can occ ur in th e brake system if the bra ke flu id leve l is
too low. The brake fluid leve l is monitored e lectronically.
Brake lining wear status Bra ke lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi
t ion of the brake pa ds through the o pen in g s in t he wheel. If neces
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection=>
page 312,
" C hanging a whee l" .
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuver s for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road cond itions permit . Other
road u sers must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident !
• Before des cending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range. Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
c ause 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, p rem ature wear and in creased stopping distance .
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water , driv ing in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced. In winter ,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums.
Carefully apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off afte r a few careful b rake appli cations .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -covered roads
without using your brakes can also affe ct braking effic ien cy. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
careful 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 obstru cted .
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effe ctive
ness of the entire brake system .
& WARNING (continued )
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance . Avoid driv ing the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qu alified workshop. •
Brake booster
The bra ke boos ter adds e xtra bra king pow er.
Th e brake boost er wo rks wit h vacuum p ressu re wh ich is created
only when the engine is running=>& .
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working , for e xample when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake booster has somehow been damaged , the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS}
A BS p revents t he wheels from lockin g up unde r braking.
The ABS co ntrib utes effectively to ve hic le c ont ro l since it preven ts
the whee ls from locking when the bra kes are app lied. Th is means
that the vehicle remains stee rable and is less l ikely to skid .
With ABS you do not need to
pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down .
Ho wever , do not e xpect the AB S to sho rten braking d istance under
all circumstances. When driving o n grave l or on newly fallen snow
o n t op of icy su rfaces, b raking distance may be even lo nger, there
f ore, unde r these circumsta nces, it is especially impo rtan t th at you
drive slow ly and with great ca re. ._
___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
• 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 wheel
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 wheel turned all the way. This is
likely to damage the power steering system.
• If the power steering system should fail en tirely, or if the engine
is not running (for example, 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 should have a leak, or is not func
tioning properly, contact your authorized Audi dealer immediately.
• The power steering system requires a specially formulated
hydraulic fluid. The power steering reservoir is the one located
farthest to the rear on the left side of the engine compartment
=>
page 272. The correct fluid level in the reservoir is important for
proper functioning of the power steering .•
Driving with 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 235, "Electronic differ
ential lock (EDU".
The all wheel drive concept is designed for high engine power. Your
vehicle is exceptionally powerful and has excellent driving charac -teristics both under normal driving conditions and on snow and ice.
Always read and
follow safety precautions =>& .
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 304, "Winter tires".
Tire chains
Where tire chains are mandatory on certain roads, this normally
also applies to vehicles with all wheel drive =>
page 305, "Snow
chains".
Replacing vvheels/tires
Vehicles with all wheel drive must always have tires of the same
si ze . Also avoid tires with different tread depths. For details see
page =>
page 299, "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 244.
& 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 there
fore 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
~
& WARNING (continued)
vehicle. Always drive at speeds which are suited to the road condi
tions -risk of crash. •
Energy management
Starting ability is optimized
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.
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
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
vidual components. It regulates consumption, so that more elec
trical energy is not being used than is being generated and ensures
an optimal state of charge for the battery.
[ i] Tips
• But even energy management cannot negate the limits of
physics. Consider that the power and life of a battery are limited.
• If starting ability is threatened, you are informed by a warning
~ page 242, "Driver notification in the instrument cluster
display". •
What you should know
The highest priority is given to maintaining starting capa
bility.
The battery is severely taxed in short-distance driving, in city traffic
and during the cold time of year. Abundant electrical energy is
required, but only a little is generated. It is also critical if the engine
is not running and electrical components are turned on. In this
instance energy is being consumed but none is being generated.
It is in precisely these situations that you will notice energy manage
ment actively regulating the distribution of energy.
Vehicle stands for an extended period
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.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
llffl __ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions, such as the remote key 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.
With the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with the engine turned off or
use other MMI functions, the battery is being discharged .
If starting capability is jeopardized due to energy consumption, the
following warning appears in the MMI display :
Please start engine, otherwise system will switch off in
3 minutes.
The warning indicates that the system will be turned off automati
cally after 3 minutes. If you wish to continue using the functions,
you have to start the engine .
With the engine running
Although electrical energy is generated when the vehicle is being
driven, the battery can become discharged. This happens mostly
when little energy is being generated and a great deal consumed and the battery's state of charge is not optimal.
To bring the energy balance back into equilibrium, consumers
which require especially large amounts of energy are temporarily
cut back or switched off. Heating systems in particular require a
great deal of energy. If you notice, for example, that the heated
seats* or the heated rear window are not heating, they have been
temporarily cut back or switched off. These systems will be available
again as soon as the energy balance has been restored.
You will also notice that engine idle speed has been increased
slightly . This is normal and not a cause for concern. By increasing
engine idle speed the additional energy required is generated and
the battery is charged.
Driver not ification in the instrument cluster
d isplay
If battery power drops into the range where it can limit the ability of
the engine to start, this is shown in the instrument cluster display
with the following driver message:
'-' Low battery charge: battery will be charged while driving
This notification reminds you that the starting capability of the
engine may be limited. As soon as you start driving again, the
battery will be recharged and the notification will go out.
Driver notification appears and goes out again
If this driver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
while driving and it goes out again after a while, the battery has
been adequately recharged.
Driver notification appears and does not go out again
If this driver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
while driving and does not go out again, the battery's state of
charge is not in the optimal range . Starting ability is restricted . Have
the battery checked as soon as possible by an authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop. •
Driving and environment
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and afterwards
!\Jew engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
F o r th e fir st 600 mil es (1,000 kilomet ers):
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 t o 1,000 mil es (1,000 t o 1,500
kil om eter s):
- Speeds can gradually be increased to t he maximum
permiss ible road or engine speed .
During and aft er br eak-in p eri od
- Do not rev the engine up to high speeds when it is cold. This applies whether the transm ission is in N (Neutral) or
1n gear.
Aft er the br eak-in p eriod
- D o not exceed max imum e ngine speed unde r any
circumstances.
- Upshift into the next higher gear before reaching the red
area at the end of the tachome ter scale
~ page 8 .
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Dri
ving and environm ent
During the first few hours of driving, the eng ine'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 ki lometers).
0 Not e
Extreme ly high engine speeds are automatically reduced. However,
these rpm limits are 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 v ehic le is running on new tires, drive very careful ly
for the first 350 mi les (500 k ilometers) after fitt ing .
& WARNING
New tir es tend to be slipp ery and mu st al so be "broken -in ". B e
su re to r ememb er thi s during th e fir st 350 m ile s ( 50 0 k ilome te rs).
Brak e gen tly. Av oid follow ing close ly behind other vehicl es or
o the r s ituati ons that mig ht requi re su dde n, har d b raking.•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
___ D_ r_ iv_ i_ n-' g"'""'- a_ n_d_ e_ n _ v_i_r _ o _n_ m_ e_ n_t _____________________________________________ _
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are installed .
New brake pads have to be "burnished in" before they have optimal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you shou ld avoid putting severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very high speeds or, for example, on moun
tain passes .
& WARNING
New brake pad s don' t have the b est sto ppin g powe r and mu st b e
" brok en-in " during the initi al 100 to 15 0 mile s (150 t o 200 kil ome
t e rs) of n orm al cit y dri ving . You can co mpen sa te for thi s by
p re ss ing the brak e ped al mor e firmly . Th is also app lies la ter whe n
n ew pad s are in sta lled.
:J
Avoid damaging the vehicle
------------
When you are driving on poor roads , or over curbs, steep ramps ,
etc., make certain that low -lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust
system parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
This is especially true for vehicles with low -slung chassis (sports
chassis) * and fully loaded vehic les.
Driving through water on roads
Note the fo llowing to avoid vehicle damage when driving through
water , for example on flooded roads: • T
he water must not be any higher than the bottom of the vehicle
body .
• Do not drive faster than wa lking speed.
& WARNING
Aft er d riv in g throu gh water, m ud, s lus h, et c., the br akes ma y be
s low t o take eff ect beca use of w et br ake r otor s and p ad s. Dr y the
br ak es fir s t by br aking caref ully to r estor e th e full br aking effe ct.
0 Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, transmission, suspension
or e lectrica l system can be severe ly damaged by driving through
water .
[ i ] Tip s
• Check the depth of the water before d riving th rough it .
• Do not stop the vehic le, drive in reverse or switch the engine off
wh en driving through wat er.
• Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may create waves that
raise the water level and make it too deep for your vehicle to drive
through safely.
• Avoid driving through salt water because it can cause
corrosion. •
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control system
(catalytic converter) is functioning properly to ensure that
your vehicle is running in an environmentally s ound
manner.
- Always use lead -free gasoline ~ page 265, "F uel supply" . .,_