2010 AUDI S8 light

Trailer towing
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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor ­
tation .
If you p lan to tow a t railer, p lease remember that the additional load
w ill affect durability, economy and performance.
Tr ailer towing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it also calls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, a lways follow the operating and dr iv ing inst ructions
prov ided and use common sense .
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the tra iler ope ra­
tion mode =>
page 179, "Towing a Trailer".
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we igh t-car rying h itch co nform ing to the gross tra iler we ig ht.
The h itch must be suitab le for your vehicle and trailer and must be
mou nted securely o n th e vehi cle's ch assi s at a
techni cally sound loc a­
tion . Use only a trailer hitch with a removab le ball mount. Always
check wit h the t railer h itch manufactu rer to make sure that yo u are
using the correct h itch .
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The h itch mus t be installed in such a way t hat it does not in terfe re
w ith t he impact-absorb ing bumper system. No modifications shou ld be made to t
he veh icle exha ust and bra ke systems. From t ime to
time, check that a ll hitch mounting bo lts rema in securely fastened.
W hen you are no t tow in g a tra ile r, remove the t railer hit ch ball
mount. This prevents the hitc h from caus ing damage should your
vehicle be str uck from behind=>& .
Trailer brakes
If your trail er is e quipped w ith a b raking system, che ck to be s ure t hat
it conforms to all regulations.
T he tra ile r hydrau lic brake system m ust not be directly connected to
t he vehicle's hyd raulic b rake sys tem .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your veh icle and t he tra ile r.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check w ith your
Audi de aler fo r corr ec t wir ing , sw itches and re lays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see t he t raff ic be hind you using t he regular
outs ide mirrors, then you
must install extended mi rrors. It is impor­
t an t th at yo u
always ha ve clear vi sion to the re ar.
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking , the hitch could fly forward and inju re you
or your passengers. •

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 prevent it
from shifting forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer=>
& in "Driving instruc­
tions".
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It is important that
the cooling system's performance is up to the additional load. Make
sure that the cooling system has enough fluid.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the label located either on the
driver's side B -pillar (visible when the door is open) or inside the fuel
filler flap. Inflate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' spec­
ifications .
Lights
The headlight settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off. Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are working properly.
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 .
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Trailer
towingL_,1!:::!:·~-
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the trailer opera­
tion mode =>
page 179, "Towing a Trailer". •
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.
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly unstable
distribution of weight. If this cannot be avoided, drive at very low
speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that the
tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permissible,
while keeping the trailer as light as possible under the circumstances.
Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage compart­
ment of the tow vehicle while observing tongue load requirements
and vehicle loading considerations.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Trailer towing
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Speed
T he higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not dr ive at the max imum permiss ible speed.
Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions are
unfavorable -part icu larly when go ing downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the tra iler shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for veh icles towing
trailers are lower than for regu lar vehicles.
Always apply brakes early. When driv ing dow nhill, shift in to a lower
gear to use the eng ine braking effect to slow the veh icle. Use of the
bra kes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Coolant temperature
Th e coolant temperature gauge~ page 10 must be observed care­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing
_f_ , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving vehicle is at a much
greater risk in an accident. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wearing the restraints provided by Audi.•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
------------
Your vehicle handles differently when tow ing a trailer because of the
additiona l weight and different weight distribution. Safety, perfor- mance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you load
your trailer and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopp ing and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing until you have
become completely familiar with the way your vehicle-t railer comb i­
nation behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a trailer
generally requires steering action oppos ite to that when backing up
your vehicle without a trai ler.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front
of you. You will need more room to stop. To compensate for the
trailer, you will need a larger than normal turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you normally would because of the added load . Make sure you have
enoug h room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky sta rts, sharp tur ns or rapid lane changes.
W Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in per iod of your veh icle.
• If you tow a trai ler, your Audi may require more frequent mainte­
nance due to the extra load
~ page 361. •
Parking on a slope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
- Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and the
trailer wheels . ._

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicl e val ue.
Any automobile is exposed to industria l fumes, co rrosive road salt,
m ud dy dog fee t, e tc. A well c ared for Audi can look like new many
years after p urchase . Regular and correct care will contribute to
m aint aining the bea uty and val ue of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warranty claim should corrosion damage or paint defects occur.
Y ou r au thor ized Audi d eale r h as a var iety of dedicated vehicle-care
products
and can advise w hich ones to use for clea ning the exterior
a n d inter io r of your ve hicle.
W het her you use products recommended by Aud i or o ther comme r­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents , please ma ke sure yo u appl y them
co rrectly .
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous . Keep them out of the reach
of children.
• Heed all caution labels .
• Always read directions on the container before using any
product. Follow the directions carefully.
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
diluted .
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated areas.
• Do not use gasoline, kero sene , diesel fuel , nail polish remover
or other volatile fluids . They may be toxic, flammable or
hazardous in other ways. Do not wash, wax or dry the vehicle with
the ignition on or the engine running.
& WARNING (co ntinued)
• Do not clean the under sides of chassi s, fenders , wheel covers,
etc. without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut your­
self on sharp-edged metal parts.
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking efficiency
~ page 254, "General information ". Test the brakes carefully
each time you wash the vehicle .
'£> For the sake of the environment
Select only envir onmenta lly fr iendly clea ning produc ts . Leftover
cleaning pro ducts sho uld not dis posed of i n the household waste .•
Care of exterior
Washing
F re qu ent w ashin g protec ts th e vehicl e.
T he best protection aga inst env ironmental influences is frequent
w ashi ng and w ax ing. How o ften t his is requ ired depen ds on:
• How m uch the vehicle is use d
• Whe re the ve hicle is parke d (gar age, in the o pen un der tr ees, e tc.)
• The seasona l and weather conditions
• E nviron mental influences
T he longer bi rd droppings , insects , tree resin, road and industria l
gr ime, t ar, soo t, road sa lt and o ther ma ter ia ls remain on the veh icle
body, the more lasti ng their destructive effects w ill be. H igh temper­
atu res cause d by ex pos ure to intense s unlight int ensify the co rrosive
effect, part icu larly when humid ity is high as we ll.
~

-Cleaning and protection pn,,._____ _ __,____ ____________ _
0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud o r d ust if the s urface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, s ince this could scratch your
veh icle's pai nt o r win dows.
• Never was h your car in bright sunlight . D rops of water act as
magnifyi ng lenses and may damage your p aint.
• When you was h yo ur car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle w ith
a hose , be careful not to a im the stream of wate r d irect ly at locks, or
at doo r or hatch openings -they can freeze s hut.
• N ever use sponges des igned to remove insects, o r any kitchen
sco uring sponges or s imilar pro ducts. They can damage yo ur paint
fi ni sh.
• N ever use a dry cl oth o r sp on ge to clean t he he adlig hts. Only use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent scratches . It is best to use soapy
water .
• You shou ld remove debr is (s uch as insects) from the head light
lenses o n a regu lar b asis, for examp le w hen re fue ling your veh icle.
N ever clean the headlights w ith a dry clot h or sponge . Use a wet cloth
or sponge. It is best to use soapy water.
c£> For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the ve hicl e should on ly be washed
in spe cial wash bays .•
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
C le aning the exterior of y our car wit h a hi gh-pressur e
p ower washe r is s afe as long as you observe a few simple
r ul es .
- Before using t he power washer, make su re yo u have read
and und ers tood th e WARNI NGS =:::>
& in "General in for­
mation" o n
page 270. -
Always fo llow t he operat ing inst ructio ns for the power
washer .
- Make su re that t he jet o n th e sp ray hose produces a "fan
s ha ped spr ay".
- Do
not hold the spray nozz le too close to soft ma terials.
W hen cleaning the vehicle with a power washer always fo llow the
operat ing in str uctio ns. T his appli es p art icu larly to t he
operating
pressure
and the spraying distance . Maintain a suffic ient distance to
so ft ma ter ia ls s uch as rubbe r hoses an d so und/v ibration deaden ing
materials (part icular ly on the unde rside o f the engine hood) . Do not
use a jet wh ich sprays water in a
direct stream o r o ne that has a
rotating jet .
Water temperature sho uld not exceed 140
°F (60 °().
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream .
This could cau se invisible damage to the tires and weaken them,
even if the spray i s from a relatively long distance and for a short
time . Damaged and weakened tires can fail and cause accidents
and personal injury.
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always ma ke su re that there is suffi­
cien t dista nce between the spr ay head and sof t mate ria ls like r ubber
hoses, p lastic parts and sound-deadening mater ials. Never aim the
spr ay he ad at the s ame po int for a long t ime . This also ap plies to
cleaning headlights and pai nted b umpe rs. Remember : the close r the
noz zle is to the surfa ce of the mate rial, t he greate r the stress on the
material. •

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ 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 especially
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
:::> page 270. •
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
=>page 270. •
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 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 356.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 270. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and car wash
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.

Cleaning and protection Ill
---------------=---------=----
The best way to remove snow from w indows and mirrors is to use a
br ush . Use a non- abra sive
plastic ice scraper -better st ill, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from w indows and mirro rs .
Oil, grease or s ilicone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
s ili cone remover . However, wax res idue requires the use of a spe cially
formulated solvent. Please contact your A udi dea ler for advice on safe
pro duc ts for w ax remov al.
W indows should also be cleaned on the inside at regu lar i ntervals .
N ever dry wi ndows w it h the same chamo is that you use to dry painted
s ur fa ces. Wax res idue on the chamois ca n impair vis ion t hrough t he
windows.
& WARNING
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 270 .
• The wind shield must not be treated with water-repellent
material s. They can in crease glare und er poor visibility conditions
such as wetness , darkness , or when the sun is low on the horizon .
In addit ion, they can cause the w indshield wipers to chatter.
0 Note
• N ever use warm o r hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors . This cou ld cause the glass to crack .
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
any a dhesive stickers on t he inside of the rea r window over the wires.
• To help prevent dirt from scratching the window, a lways scrape in
a forward direction -pushing the scrape r away from you -neve r back
and fort h.•
Safety first
Weatherstrips
Com plete car care includes the weat herstrips as well.
- Ap ply a sui tab le rubb er condi tion er to t he w eathers tri ps
f rom tim e to t ime .
To be able sea l prope rly, the weat hers tr ips arou nd the hood, doo rs,
rear lid, etc. must remain pliable. Spray the weathe rst rips with sili­
c one or coat them with tal cum powder o r g lyce rine to reta in the flex­
ibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winter.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 2 70.
[I) Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the winds hie ld to avoid wiper smear in ra in. •
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) all oy wheels requir e spe cial c are.
- Was h the whe els wi th a spo nge or h ose br ush ev er y ot her
w eek .
- Fo r deep cleaning afterwar ds, use on ly a dedi cated
acid­
free cas t all oy whee l cleaner.
- R ub a coat of
liquid wax onto the r ims eve ry three month .
Be su re to reac h and trea t all parts o f the rim.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy whee ls , some
special care is necessa ry . In ad d it io n to road dirt and s alt , bra ke du st
is a lso corrosive . If left on for too long, brake dust can cause pitting . ..,_
Vehicle care Technical data

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Use only special acid-free cleaners formulated for a lloy r ims . Sa fe
pro ducts are availabl e at your A udi de aler. Never leave t he cle aner on
the rims longe r tha n spec ified on the label. If not rinsed off promptly,
the ac id contained in some cleaners can attack the t hreads on the
w heel bolts.
Never use abrasive or metal po lish ing cleaning agents.
If the protec ­
t ive coa ting ha s been ch ipped, e.g. by k icked up road dirt, touch it up
as soon as possible.
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on brakes may affect braking efficiency
=> page 254, "General information ". Test the brakes carefully
each time you wash the vehicle.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:>page 270 . •
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not need to be checked .
All body cavit ies which cou ld be affected by corrosion have been thor ­
oughly p rotected at the factory .
Th is sea ling does not require any inspection or additiona l treatment.
If any wax sho uld seep ou t of the cavi ty when the ambien t tempera ­
ture is h igh, it can be removed w it h a plastic scraper and a suitable
so lvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Benzine is flammable and toxic. If you use benzine for
removing the wa x, keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes
away. Never dump benzine on the ground, into open st reams or
down sewag e drains.
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Be su re to observe all safety and environmental regulations.
Follow all instructions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:>page 270 . •
Chassis
Hav e the undercoa ting checked fo r damage f rom time to
ti me.
The lower body shell of your Audi is a lso thoroughly protected against
c orrosion .
Any damage to the u nde rcoat ing caused by road ha za rds sho uld be
repaire d promptly.
& WARNING
Too mu ch undercoating in the wrong places can caus e a fire.
• Do not apply additional undercoating or rustp roofing on or
near the exhau st manifold , exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. While dr iving, the substance used for undercoating
c ould overheat and cau se a fire.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other info rmation
=> page 270 . •
E x haust tail pipes
Road s alt and ot her c orrosive mater ials w ill damage the m ate rial in
the exhaust ta il pipes if they a re not cleaned regularly. Do not clean
t he t ail pipes w ith w heel cleaner, p aint polish, chrome po lish or o ther
abrasive cleaners. C lean the tail pipes with car care products that are
sui table for sta inless s teel.
~