2010 AUDI S8 coolant level

Instruments and warning /indicator lights
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Instruments
Instrument cluster and controls
The instrument cluster is your central source of informa ­
tion.
Fi g. 2 O ver view of th e in stru men t clust er
© Coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
@ Tachometer with t ime and date d isplay . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 11
® Warning/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
© Driver information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
© Speedomete r with odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
© Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
(j) Reset button for tr ip odomete r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
@ !CHECK] button .... ...... ..... ......... ...... .
® Instrument cluster illumination ................. .
(I) Tips 13
1
3
The illum inat ion for the instrument cluster lights up whenever you
switch o n the ignition with the
vehicle headlight s off. As the daylight
fades, the instrument cluste r illum ination likewise d ims automati­
cally and w ill go out completely when the outside light is very low .
T his featu re is mean t to remind you to switch on the headligh ts when
outs ide light conditions become poor .•
Engine coolant temperature gauge
The engine coo lant gauge ~ fig . 2 © only works when the ignition is
on. To p revent damage to yo ur engine, ple ase note the following
important po ints:
Engine cold
As long as the need le remains at the le ft end of the gauge, the engine
st ill has not re ached its operating tem perature. Avoid high eng ine
speeds, heavy engine loads and heavy throttle applicat ions.
Normal temperature
When the eng ine has reached its ope rating temperature, the needle
w ill move into the midd le of the gauge and remain t he re.
If the
eng ine is working hard at high outs ide temperatures, the needle may
go furthe r to the right. This is no need to wo rry as long as the _JL
wa rning light in t he instrument cluster does not illuminate .
Warning light in the instrument cluster -t
When the _ L warning light starts to flash, this ca n mean one of two
t hings: e ither the cool ant
temperature is too h igh, or the coolant
level is too low=> page 29. _,.

Driver information displ ay
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER.
-Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn of f the engine .
Fig . 1 7 Display:
en gine coo lant le v el
w arning (pr ior ity 1)
- Check the malfunctioning system. Contact your autho -
rized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop for assistance .
Red symbols indicate a priority malfunction -Danger !
With a prior ity 1 malfunction , a large symbo l appears in the center
area of the display => fig . 17 . When the symbol appears,
three
warning tones sound in succession. The symbol co ntinues to blink
until the malfunction has been repaired.
After a few seconds, the large symbol is replaced by a small symbol
shown at the top left of the display. This symbol is d isp layed unti l the
fault is corrected.
If there are more than one priority 1 malfunctions, the symbols
appear one after the other for about 2 seconds .
An additional driver message can a lso be displayed by b riefly pressing
the
! CHECK ] button.
The red symbols mean:
BRAKE
USA mod els:
Brake system malfunction =>
page28
((D) Canada models:
Brake system malfunction
ll
=>page28
Engine coolant level too => page 29
low/engine coo lant temperature
too high
~ E ngine oil pressure too low
-
~ Faulty steering
~
© Faulty ignition switch
.....
(I) Tips
]I=> page 30
=> page 31
::::> page31
• If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ CCD) (Canada
mode ls) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a b rake system
malfunction . By pressing the [
CHECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message w hich explains the ma lf u nction in more detail. Please
note=>
page 28 .
• Speed wa rnings threshold 1 8 (USA models)/ 8 (Canada models)
and threshold 2
8 , (USA models)/ 8. (Canada models) are also shown
as red symbols. The warning is always shown as a sma ll symbo l in the
upper area of the disp lay=>
page 35. •
Brake system malfunction BRAKE
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning /ind icator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (CD)
(Canada models) in the instrument cluster flas hes, there is a
brake system malfunction . By pressing th e [
CHECK] bu tton, ~

you can bring up a driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid Level
- Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check the brake fluid level~
page 299.
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility if neces-
sary.
Brake fault ! Drive carefully to nearest
workshop
- Drive carefully to the nearest authorized repair facility and
have the malfunction corrected~& .
Parking brake ! Please contact workshop
- If the warning/indicator light flashes when the vehicle is
stationary or after the ignition is turned on , check to see if
the parking brake can be released . Drive to an authorized
repair facility as soon as possible and have the malfunc­
tion corrected. If the parking brake cannot be released,
contact your nearest authorized repair facility.
- If the warning/indicator light flashes while you are driving, it is possible that the traction control or the emer­
gency brake has malfunctioned. It is possible that the parking brake cannot be applied . It is also possible that
the parking brake cannot be released after it has been
applied. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer to have the malfunction corrected.
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Driver information display
I
f the ABS , ESP and the brake for ce distribution fail, the ABS
warning/indicator light and the ESP warning/indicator light come on
along with the brake system malfunction warning/indicator light
~ & -
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in ::::> page 281, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the brake fluid.
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard. Stop the car and
get professional assistance.
• USA models: If the BRAKE warning light, the ~ warning light
and the warning light come on together, the rear wheels
could lock up first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can
cause loss of vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle
repaired immediately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified
workshop. Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applica­
tions.
• Canada models: If the brake warning light(())), the r-warning
light and the ABS warning light come on together, the rear
wheels could lock up first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up
can cause loss of vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle
repaired immediately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified
workshop. Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake
applications. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -1-
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the - L symbol in the display blinks, then either the
engine coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant level ~
Vehicle care Technical data

Driver information display
is too low. An additional driver message can also be displayed
by pressing the [CHECK) button:
Switch off engine and check coolant level
-Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check coolant level=>
page 297.
-Add coolant if necessary=> page 298.
-Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
- Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be the
cause of the malfunction.
If the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
=>
page 16, then the fan belt may be damaged .
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights=>
page 63, "Emer­
gency flasher A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
& WARNING (continued)
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
=> page 281, "Engine compartment".
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -~-symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine. •
Engine oil pressure malfunction "t':::7':
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair. Driving with a low-oil-pres­
sure indication is likely to inflict severe damage to the
engine.
If the ~ symbol appears in the display and blinks, the oil
pressure is too low. An additional driver message can also be
displayed by pressing the [CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check oil level
Immediate actions
-Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine .
-Check the engine oil level with the dipstick=> page 293.
Dipstick readings checks too low
- Top off oil to the proper level=> page 294.

___________________________________________ C_ h _ e_c _k _ i_n -=g .._ a_n _ d_ f_i _ll _i _ n -=g '--- ....... 1!'1
0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especially important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold. If necessary, increase the proportion of
coo lant additive to 60% .
• When adding coolant additive to your cooling system, remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive G12++ (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is available at autho­
r iz ed Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can s ignificantly
reduce corrosion protection. The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage.
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle 's
eng ine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and could result in
damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coo lant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
.... N
Fig. 247 Engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank
Vehicle OP-eration
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 289.
- Turn off the ignition.
- Read the engine coolant level from the coolant expansion
tank=> fig. 247 . With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" markings. When
the engine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
"max'' marking .
The locat ion of the coolant expans ion tank can be seen in the engine
compartment illustration=>
page 290.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off.
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric coolant level sensor .
When the coolant level is too low, the warn ing light in the Auto-Check
System =>
page 29 will blink until you add coolant and the level has
been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric coolant
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
coolant loss, the cooling system should be inspected immediately by
your authorized Audi dealer .
It is not enough merely to add coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coo lant is exceeded as a result of overheating.
& WARNING
The cooling system is under pressure and can get very hot. Redu ce
the risk of scalding from hot coolant
by following these steps.
• Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Checking and filling ------------------------------- ---=.:..:..=.:=~..:::..:.....:..:.;__ ___ _::,______,.J
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Antifreeze is pois onous. Alway s store antifreeze in its original
container and well out of the r each of children.
• If you drain the coolant , it must be caught and safely stored in
a proper container clearly marked "poi son ".
0 Note
• Coolant poll utes the environment and could cause an engine fire .
Excess coolant w ill be forced out throug h the pressure re lief valve in
t he cap when the e ng ine becomes hot .
• If, in an emergency, o nly wate r ca n be adde d, the correct ratio
between water and antifreeze=>
page 296 must be restored as soon
as possib le.
W For the sake of the environment
Dra ined coolant shou ld not be reused. A lways dispose of used coo lant
w hile observ ing a ll enviro nment al regul ations . •
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on automatically by itself
T he radi ator fa n is d riven by the engine via th e V-bel t. The v iscous
clutch regu lates the speed of the fan accord ing to the temperature of
t he coolant.
An auxiliary e lectr ic rad iator fan* sw itches on and off depend ing o n
coo la nt tempe rat ur e and othe r vehicle ope ra ting condi tions .
After you switch the engi ne off, the auxilia ry fa n can cont inue r unning
for up to 10 minutes - even w ith the ignition off . It can even switch on
agai n lat er by itse lf => & , if
• the tempe rature of the e ngine coolant rises due to the heat build ­
up from the eng ine in t he engi ne comp art ment, or
Vehicle OP-eration
• the engine compartment heats up because the veh icle is parked in
in tense s unlight.
& WARNING
• To reduce the ri sk of personal injury never touch the radiator
fan.
• The auxiliary electri c 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 cont inue to
run until the coolant temperature drops .•
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
T h e b rake fluid l evel can be ch ecked with a quick glance.
-w ;:;
Fig. 24 8 En gine
compa rtme nt: Brak e
f luid re se rv oi r
Be fore you chec k anyt hin g in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
t h e engine compartm ent" on
page 289 . .,_
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

______________________________________________ C _o_ n _ s_u_ m_ e_r_ I_n _f_ o_ r_m _ a_t_ i_ o _ n __ _
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially
hazardous are a. Nev er reach into the area around or touch the
radiator fan. It is temperature controlled and can switch on
suddenly -even when the engine i s off and the ignition key has
been remo ved. The radiator fan switches on automatically when
the coolant reache s a certain temperature and will continue to run
until the coolant temperature drops.
• Always remove the ignition key before anyone gets under the
vehicle.
• Alway s support your vehicle with safety stands if it i s nece ssary
to work underneath the vehicle. The jack supplied with the vehicle
is not adequate for this purpose and could collapse causing
serious personal inju ry.
• If you must work underneath the vehicle with the wheels on
the ground, always make sure the vehicle is on level ground , that
the whe els are always securely block ed and that the engine cannot
be started.
• Always make sure the transmi ssion selector lever (automatic
transmiss ion) is in "P" (Park position ) and the park brake is firmly
app lied .
c£> For the sake of the environment
• C ha ng ing the engine settings will a dversely affe ct emiss ion levels.
Th is is det rimenta l to the environment and increases fuel consump­
t ion.
• Always observe environmental regulations when dispos ing of o ld
eng ine oi l, u se d brake fl uid, d irty engine coo lant, s pen t batter ies or
worn out t ires .
• Undeployed a irbag modules and prete ns ione rs m ight be classified
as Perchlorate Materia l -spec ia l hand ling may apply, see
www.dt sc.ca .gov/h azardousw aste/pe rc hl or ate. When the vehi cle or
parts of the rest raint system including airbag modu les safety belts
wit h pre tens io ner s are sc rappe d, a ll applicable laws an d reg ulat io ns
Safety first
must be observed. Your author ized Aud i dealer is familiar with these
req uirements and we re commen d that yo u have yo ur d eale r perfo rm
t his service for you. •
Additional accessories,
modifications and parts
replacement
Additional accessories and parts
replacement
A lways c onsul t an au thori zed Audi dealer before
purchasing acces so ries .
Your vehicle incorporates the latest safety des ign feat ures ens uring a
high s tand ard of active and pas sive s afe ty.
T hi s safety could be compromised by non-app roved changes to the
vehicle. Fo r th is reaso n, if pa rts have to be re place d, ple ase obse rve
t he following poin ts when ins talling addit ional accessories:
Approved Audi accessories and genuine Audi parts are available from au thor ized Au di deal ers .
These dea lers a lso have the necessary facilities, tools and tra ined
s pecialists to install t he p arts and ac cesso ries p roper ly .
& WARNING
Using the wrong spare parts or u sing non-approved acces sories
can cause damage to the vehicle and serious personal injury.
• Use only accessorie s expressly approved by Audi and genuine
Audi spare parts
• These parts and accessories have been specially designed to be
used on your vehicle . ..,_
Do-it,yourself service Technical data

___________________________________________ A_ l::.. p _h _a_ b_ e_t _ic _a_ l_ in_ d _ e_x __ nn
We ight-sensing mat .... .. .. .. . ... 232
When must the system be inspected? 217
Aircraft Transporting your vehicle .......... 353
All Wheel Drive ............ .. ...... . 257
Alloy wheels . .... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... 275
All-wheel drive
Winter tires ....... .. ............ 323
Alternator See Generator .................... 16
Anti-freeze See Engine coolant ...... .. .. .. ... 296
Anti -lock brake system
How the ABS system works ......... 256
Warning/indicator lights ... .. ..... . 19
Anti-Sl ip Regulation System (ASR)
How the system works . .. .. .. .. .. . 254
Anti-theft systems Anti-theft alarm system ....... ... .. 52
Electronic immobilizer ............. 41
Ashtray Front .............. ...... ........ 96
Rear ........ .. .... .. ... . .. .... .. 96
ASR How the Anti-Slip Regulation System
works ..... .. ... .. ... ... ....... 254
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature
361
AUTO mode AC climate control ....... .... .. .. . 106
Auto Safety Hotline ... ... ... . .. ..... 195
Auto-Check Contro l .............. .... . 26 Automatic car wash
See Washing ............... ... .. 271
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) ... .. .. .. ... 156
Automatic transmission 6-speed automatic transm iss ion .. .. 154
Automatic Sh ift Lock (ASL) ....... .. 156
Dr iv ing ................. ...... .. 154
Dynamic shift program ......... ... 157
Emergency release for selector lever . 159
Fail-safe mode ................ ... 159
lg nition key safety lock .... ..... ... 119
Kick-down . ............ .. ....... 157
Manual shift program .. .. .. .. .. .. . 158
Selector lever ............ ........ 155
Shift buttons ... ...... .. .. .. ..... 159
Steering wheel with tiptronic ...... . 159
Average speed ........... .. .......... 36
Avoid damaging the vehicle .. ....... .. 263
B
Background lighting ... . .. .. .......... 67
Battery . .. .. .. .. .... ............... 300
Battery location inside the luggage
compartment .................. 301
Charging ........................ 303
Important warnings when working on the battery ..... ........... ...... .. 301
low . .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. ......... 258
Rep lacing the battery . ... ......... 304
State of charge ..... .. ........... 258
Winter operation . .... ... ..... .... 300
Working on the battery .... ... .. .. . 301 Before driving
.. .. ... ... ... .... ... .. 187
Blended gasoline ................. .. 283
Body cavity sealing .............. . ... 276
Booster seats ......... ............ . 239
Brake fluid
Changing the brake fluid .......... . 300
Checking the brake fluid level ....... 299
What is the correct brake fluid level?. 299
What should I do if the brake fluid warning
light comes on? . .. .. .. .......... 299
Brake system Anti-lock brake system .. ........... 19
Brake assistant .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. 256
Brake booster ........... ... ..... 256
Brake fluid .. .. .. ................ 299
Brake fluid specificat ions for refill and
repla cemen t .................. . 300
Brake light defective . .... .. .. .. .. .. 24
Brake pads ..................... . 262
Electromechanical parking brake .... 123
Fluid reservoir . .......... ... .. ... 299
How does moisture or road salt affect the
brakes? ... .. ................ .. 254
Malfunction ...................... 28
Warning/indicator lights ... .... .. .. 20
Worn brake pads symbol ........... 32
Break-in period .... . .. .............. 261
Brake pads . ... ................ .. 262
Tires ..... .................... .. 261
Bulbs ............ .... .. .... .... .. . 346
Bumper cover Caution when parking near a parking barri-er or curb . ... ................ .. 124
Automatic belt retractor .......... .. . 201 Battery voltage .. ........... ........ . 34
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data