Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check with your
authorized Audi dealer for correct wiring, switches and relays.
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you using the regular
outside mirrors, then you
must install extended mirrors. It is impor
tant that you
always have clear vision to the rear .
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure you
or your passengers .
.1
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical class 1 or class 2
trailer.
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in place to guard
against shifting, be it forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer:::::, & in "Driving instruc
tions".
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the sticker on the right door
jamb. Inflate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' specifica
tions.
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Trailer towing
Lights
The
headlight settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off. Adjust as necessary so that you can see the road
ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check proper working of vehicle and trailer lights.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you install safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch. •
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle and trailer,
please note the following:
Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
Observe speed limits.
Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
- Always apply brakes early.
Monitor the temperature gauge.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
___ T_ r _a_ il_e _r_ t_ o_ vv_ in__... g,_ __________________________________________________ _
Weig ht dis tributi on
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car resu lts in a high ly
unstable distribution of weight . If this cannot be avoided drive at
very low speeds on ly to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "ba lanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
the tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis
sib le while keeping the trai ler as light as possib le under the circum
stances. Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle while observing tongue load requirements and vehicle loading considerations .
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 under unfavorable load, weather or
wind conditions -particularly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
imm ed ia tely if the trailer shows the sl ightest
sign of swaying. Do not try to s top the s wayi ng by a ccelerating .
Observe speed limits . In some areas speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Always app ly brakes early. When driving downhill, shift into lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle. Use
of the brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
C oo la nt tempe ra tu re
The coolant temperature gauge ~ page 9 must be observed care
ful ly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or switch off the air condit ioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing -~-, pull off the road, stop and let the engine
idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build -up .
& WARNING
An yone not p rope rly res train ed in a mo ving vehi cle is a t a mu ch
gre ater risk in a n accident. Neve r let an yone ride in your car who
is not p rop erly we ari ng th e res tra int s pro vide d b y Aud i.
c
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles different ly when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and weight distribution . Safety, performance
and economy w ill great ly depend on how carefu lly you load your
trailer and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow you r trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing unti l you
have complete ly become familiar with the way your vehicle -trailer
combination behaves and responds .
Backing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer genera lly requires steering ac tion opposite of that when
backing up your vehicle without a trailer .
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in
front of you. You will need more room to stop.
T o compensate for the trailer, you wi ll need a larger than normal
turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you n ormal ly wou ld because of the added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass. After passing, al low plenty of room for your
trailer before changing lanes again .
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns o r rapid lane changes.
[ i] Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte
nance due to the extra load=> page 299 . •
Parking on a slope
-----------------
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the vehicle and the trailer wheels .
- With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes until
wheel blocks absorb the load.
- Turn the wheels towards the curb.
- Apply the parking brake.
- Place an automatic transmission in
P, respectively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
When restarting after parking:
- Start the engine.
- Shift transmission into gear.
- Release the parking brake and slowly pull out and away from the wheel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the wheel blocks.
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Trailer towing
[
i] Tips
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
-~_C_ l_ e _a _n_ in_g=- a _n_d__, p,__ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n _____________________________________________ _
Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for vinyl trim. Remove water spots and traces of
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge . Use a clean, soft cloth to
rub dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe
cially to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's luster and pliability.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page204. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page204 .•
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch -up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your authorized Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches
and stone chips. Scratches should be touched up soon after they
occur to prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification label~
page 294.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page204.•
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup.
- Remove snow from windows using a brush.
- Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
- Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner.
- Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.
____________________________________________ ...:C :..: l:..: e :.: a::. n:....:..:..: in~ g~ a~n .:..:d::....! p::. r :..:o:::..::. te:::..::: c:..::t ..:..:io ::::.: n:...__11111
•
soiling, etc.), you will need to be somewhat careful with these
leathers, and a certain type of care is required. For example, dark
clo thing materials can discolor leather sea ts (especially if such
clothing is damp and was not dyed correctly) . Dust and dirt particles
in pores , folds, and seams can have an abrasive effect and can
damage the leather surface as well as weaken seams.
The leather should be cleaned regularly as needed. After having
been used for a rela tiv ely long tim e, your lea ther seats will acquire
a rich aged finish. This is a characteristic of natural leather and a
sign of true quality.
In order to maintain the value of this natural product over the life of
your vehicle, you should follow the recommendations below:
0 Note
• To keep your leather from bleaching out, do not allow it to be
exposed to bright sunlight for long periods of time. If you have to
leave the vehicle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather
to protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.
• Sharp objects on clothing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can leave permanent scratches or scrape marks on the
surface of the leather.
[ i] Tips
• After each time you clean the leather and at regular intervals, use
a leather preservative creme that contains UV -blockers and that
works into the leather. This creme will nourish and moisturize the leather , helping it to breathe and stay supple . It also helps to build
up a protective coating on the surface.
• Clean the leather every 2 -3 months, and clean any areas that get
soiled.
• Remove fresh marks made by ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc . as soon as possible.
• Preserve the color of the leather as needed by using a special
colored leather care creme to touch up areas of uneven color .•
Ap plies to veh ic les : wi th n atural leat her
Cleaning and caring for leather upholstery
and trim
Natural leather requires special care and attention.
Normal cleaning
-Clean soiled areas with a slightly moistened cotton or
woolen cloth.
More stubborn dirt
- More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth satu
rated with a mild soap solution (2 tablespoons mild
liquid soap).
- Never allow the soap solution to saturate the leather, and
make certain that no water soaks into the seams.
Wipe off the soap solution with a soft, dry cloth.
Cleaning spots
- Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
- Remove fresh grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the
leather.
- Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if oil/grease spots
have dried on.
- Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt
marker, fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish,
etc.) with a spot remover specifically formulated for leather. ._.
Vehicle care I t •
Cleaning and protection -
----------------=-----=------
•
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
-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.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& 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.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your authorized Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:, page 204. •
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.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
3l, 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
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the engine compart
ment.
& WARNING
Be aware: The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to read the
information
=:> page 215 . .,_
31 Use only the correct cleaning solutions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care I t •
Fuel supply and filling your fu el tank
Blend of g asoline and ethanol (grain al cohol or ethyl alcoho l}
• Anti -knock index must be 87 A KI or higher.
• Blend must not contain more than 10% ethanol.
Blend of gasoline and MTBE
• Anti -knock index mus t be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must contain not more than 15% MTBE.
Seasonally adjusted ga sol ine
Many gaso line grades are blended to perform especia lly wel l for
winter or summer d rivi ng. During seasona l change -over, we suggest
that you fill up at busy gas stations where the seasonal adjustment
is more likely to be made in time .
0 Note
• Methanol fue ls which do not meet these requirements may
cause corrosion and damage to plastic and rubber components in
the fue l system.
• Do not use fuels that fail to meet the specif ied criteria in this
chapter .
• If you are unable to determine whether or not a particu lar fuel
blend meets the specifications, ask your service station or its fuel
supplier.
• Do n ot use fuel for w hich the con tents cann ot be iden tified.
• Fuel system damage and performance p rob lems resulting from
th e use of fuels d ifferen t from those speci fied a re not the resp onsi
bility of Audi and are not covered under the New Vehicle or the
E mi ssion Contr ol System Warran tie s.
• If you experience a loss of fue l economy or driveabi lity and
performance p ro blems due to t he use of o ne of these fuel blends,
we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel. •
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufacturers is carbon
d epos it build -up caused by the type of gasol ine y ou use.
A lthough gasoline grades differ from one manufacturer to another,
t hey have certain things in common . A ll gas oline g rades co ntain
substances that can cause deposits to collect on vital engine parts,
such as fue l injectors and intake valves. A lthough most gaso line
brands include additives to keep eng ine and fue l systems clean,
they are not equal ly effective .
Audi reco mmends using TOP TIER De tergent Gasol ine. F or mo re
information on TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, p lease go to the offi
cia l websi te (www.t optie rgas .co m).
A ft er an extended period of usin g inadequate fuels, bui lt -up carbon
depos its can rob you r engine of peak pe rformance .
(D Note
Damage or malfunction due to poor fuel qua lity is not covered by
th e Audi New Vehic le Li mit ed Warranty. •
Applies to vehicles: with diese l e ngi ne
Diesel fuel
Alwa ys use ULS D (Ultr a Low Sulfur D ie sel) s ulfur con te n t
15 ppm or less.
T he ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) meets the AS TM -D -975 (grade 2l.
Diesel fuel with a higher concentration than ULSD -Diesel No . 2
ASTM D975 and Bio -diesel with a h igher concentration than 5 % like
B11 , B20 or B100 are strictly prohibited.
Serv ice station fuel pu mps are labeled with the correct fuel in fo rma
tion for easy recognition by the user. If the diese l fue l pump is not .,_
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank -___________ ...:._:......:,_______;::;...a,__ __
•
Refuelling procedure
-Inse rt the fuel nozz le f rom the gaso line pump i nto the
fuel filler neck as fa r as it w ill go.
- Select a medium refue lling rate so that the nozzle
s w itches off automat ica lly wh en the tank is ful l.
Putting the fuel cap back on
- Afte r fillin g yo ur ta nk, twi st the f uel fill er ca p clockwi se
unt il you h ear a de finite cli ck.
- Cl ose the fue l fille r fla p.
To avo id fuel sp illing or evapora tin g from the fuel tan k alwa ys close
f u el filler cap p roper ly an d co mple te ly . A n im prope rly clo sed f uel
fil ler cap may also caus e a m essa ge in th e dr iver in for matio n syst em
or cause the MIL lamp => page 21 to come on.
& WARNING
Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire , explosion
and severe burns .
• Fuel is highly flammable and can cause severe burns and other
injuries .
• Failure to shut the engine off while refueling and /or to insert
the pump nozzle fully into the fuel filler ne ck could cause fuel to
spray out of filler neck or to overflow. Fuel spray and overflowing
fuel can cause a fire .
• Never use a cellular telephone while refueling . The electromag
netic radiation can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors and
c ause a fire .
• Never get ba ck into your vehicle while refueling .
If in excep
tional circumstances you must get back in your vehicle while refu
eling , make certain that you close the door and touch metal to
discharge static electricity before touching the filler nozzle again.
& WARNING (continued )
Static electricity can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors
released during refueling .
• Never smoke or have an open flame anywhere in or near your
vehicle when refueling or filling a portable fuel container.
• For your safety, we strongly recommend that you do not travel
with a portable fuel container in your vehicle. The container , full or
empty may leak and could cause a fire , especially in a crash .
• If, under e xceptional circumstances , you must transport a
portable fuel container, please observe the following:
-Never fill a portable fuel container while it is anywhere in or
on the vehicle (for example , in the luggage compartment , or on
the trunk). Static electricity can build up while filling and can ignite fuel vapors cau sing a fire.
- Always place a portable fuel container on the ground before
filling.
- Always keep the filler nozzle completely inside the portable
container before and during filling .
- If filling a portable container made of metal , the filler nozzle
must always be in contact with the container. This will help
prevent static electricity from discharging and cause a fire.
- Never spill fuel inside the vehicle or luggage compartment .
Fuel vapors are h ighly flammable.
- Alway s observe local and state /provincial laws regarding the
use , storage and transportation of fuel containers.
- Make certain the fuel container meets industry standards
(ANSI / ASTM F852-86I.
0 Note
• I f any f uel has sp illed onto the car , it shou ld be removed imme
d iate ly to pr event damage to the pa int.
• I f the f uel ta nk ru ns co mplete ly empty in a vehic le wi th a diesel
engine , the ignitio n mus t remain sw itched on for at least 30 seconds .,
Vehicle care
I t •