____________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ i n--= g=--- a_n_ d----' p,__ r_o _t_ e_ c_ t_ i _o_ n __ _
Under certain circumstances, weekly washing may be necessary .
Under other conditions, a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate.
After the winter, the underside of the vehicle shou ld be thoroughly
washed preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 260. •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto
matic car wash.
Th e vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash . However, the
effect on the paint depends to a lar ge exten t on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash.
The power top does not require special precautions before passing
through a car wash .
However, the car must not be treated with hot
wax after the wash cycle!
The wax could adverse ly affect the power
top and even damage the fabr ic over a period of time .
The power top does not have to be washed every time you use a car
wash. The power top can be spared if the car wash facility is equ ipped
with manually adjustable roof brushes or rollers.
Before going thro ugh a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau
tions such as closing the windows . Remove antenna if applicable.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle -such as
spoilers, etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if these should
be removed.
Safety first
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~page 260. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
-Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS~
& in "General informa
tion" on
page 260.
- First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off .
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work your
way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge glove
or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry .
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the whee ls, door sills and other
reg ions exposed to road dirt. In this way, you will not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time you
wash the ca r.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms . You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. .,
Vehicle care Technical data
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Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e.g. cof fee, fruit juice, etc .) can be
tr eat ed wi th a mild detergen t sol ution. Apply the d etergent solut ion
wit h a sponge. In the case of stubbo rn sta ins, a detergent paste can
be applied dire ct ly to th e stai n an d wo rked into the fabric. Afte r
wards, use copious amounts o f clean water to remove the remaining
dete rgent . App ly the water w ith a damp cloth o r sponge and pat the
fabric d ry with an absorbent, dry cloth.
St ains from choco late or makeup shoul d have dete rge nt p ast e
rubbed in to them. Afterwards, remove the soap w ith wate r (damp
sponge).
Alco hol can be used to tre at st ains from grease, o il, lipst ic k or a ba ll
point pen . M elted g rease o r dye must be patted o ff using absorbent
m ateri al. It ma y be nece ssary to ret re at th e ar eas with dete rgen t
paste and water.
I n t he case of general soiling of the upholstery and cover m ater ial, we
recommend hiring a specialist t hat has the eq uipment to clean the
seat covers and other fa bric surfaces by shampooing and spray
extract ion .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~page 260 .
[I) Tips
Open Velcro fastene rs on yo ur clothing can dama ge the seat cover .
Please make sure t hat Velc ro fasteners are closed. •
Plastic parts and instrument panel
Always use a clean cloth moistened in clear wate r to clean t hese
areas . For persistent dirt use an Au di app roved
solvent-free plastic
cleaner /protectant .
Safety first
& WARNING
Solvents can change the properties of some plastics and make it
harder for the airbag to deploy.
• Never clean the instrument panel or the surface of airbag
modules with cleaning products that contain solvent s.
• Products containing solvents will make the surface of this part
porous .
• Serious injuries can result if plastic parts come loose when the
airbag is deployed.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 260 .
0 Note
Cleaning age nts co nta ini ng solvents w ill a ttack t he m ate rial a nd can
change the way it behaves .•
App lies to vehicles : w ith natural leathe r
Natural Leather
Audi m akes grea t e fforts to maintain the prop erties,
na tur al look and f eel of in terior leath er.
General
We offe r many different types of leathe r on our ve hicles. Most are
differe nt types of n appa lea ther, which ha s a smoo th s urface an d
comes in various colo rs.
Th e intensity o f the colo r de termines t he visual cha ra cte ris tics and
appearance . If the su rface of t he leather has a typ ica l natura l look,
then t he leathe r is a nap pa leather that has bee n left in a relat ive ly
na tura l co ndit ion . This leathe r offers part icu larly good comfort an d
breat hes wel l. Fine veins, closed gra ins, insect b ites, sk in fo lds, and
sub tle variat ions in co lor remai n visible. Th ese cha ract eristics d emon-
st rate t hat the mater ial is nat ural. ..,
Vehicle care Technical data
-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Natural nap pa leather is not covered by a color finish. It is therefore
more se nsitive to soiling and wear, which is something you need to
consider if children, animals or other factors might prove to be partic
ularly hard on the leather.
By contrast, leathe r types that are covered by a colored finish layer
are more durable. This has a positive effect on the leather's resistance
to wear and so il ing in daily use. On the other hand, the typical charac
ter istics of natural leather are barely or not apparent . However, this
does not mean that the le athe r itself is of inferior quality.
C ar e and handling
Beca use of the exclusive nature of the types of leather that Audi uses
and their unique properties (such as sensitivity to oils, grease, soiling,
etc.), yo u will need to be somewhat caref ul with these leathers, and
a certain type of care is requ ired . For example, dark clothing mate
r ia ls can disco lor leather seats (espec ia lly if s uch clothi ng is damp and
was not dyed correctly) . Dust and d irt pa rticles 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 regu larly as needed. After having been
used for a relatively long time, yo ur leather seats will acquire a r ich
aged finish. This is a characteristic of natural leather and a sign of
t rue quality.
In order to maintai n the value of th is natural product over the life of
your vehicle, you should fo llow the recommendations be low :
0 Note
• T o keep your leather from b leac hing out, do not allow it to be
exposed to bright sunlight for long pe riods of time. If you have to
leave the vehicle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather to
protect it from direct exposure to su nlight.
• Sharp objects on clothing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can leave permanent scratches or scrape marks on t he
surface of the leather.
W Tips
• After each time you clean the leathe r and at regular intervals, use
a leather preservative cream that contains UV-blockers and that
wo rks into the leather. This cream will nou rish and moistu rize the
leather, helping it to breathe and stay supple . It also helps to build up
a protect ive coa ting 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 poss ible.
• Preserve the color of the leather as needed by using a specia l
colored leather ca re cream to touch up areas of uneven color. •
Applies to vehicles : w it h natu ra l lea ther
Cleaning and caring for leather upholstery
and trim
Natural leather requires special care and attention.
Normal cleaning
- Clean so iled areas with a sligh tly mo istened cotton or
woolen cloth .
More stubborn dirt
- More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth satu
rated with a mild soa p solution (2 tablespoons mild liquid
soap) .
- Never allow the soap solution to satu rate the leathe r, and
make certain tha t no wa ter soaks i nto the seams .
- Wipe off the soap solution with a soft, dry cloth.
___________________________________________ C_ h _ e_c _k _ i_n -=g .._ a_n _ d_ f_i _ll _i _ n -=g '--- ........ 11'1
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 coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
Fig. 223 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 280.
-Turn off the ignition.
- Let the engine cool down .
- Place a thick rag over the coolant expansion tank
=:> fi.9. 223 and carefully twist the cap counter -clockwise
=> & .
- Read the engine coolant level in the open coolant expan
sion tank=:> fig. 223. 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 location of the coo lant expansion tank can be seen in the engine
compartment illustration =>
page 281.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be sw itched 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 31 will blink until you add coolant and the level has
been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric coolant
level sensor, we st ill recommend you check the coolant leve l from
t ime 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 Aud i 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 . .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data
___ C_ h_ e_c _k _i _ n _g ~ a_n _d_ f_il _l_in _ g _________________________________________ _
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time d ue to the auto
m atic adjus tment o f th e b rake pads. This is no t ca use for alarm.
If the brake flu id level falls considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light ( U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian mode ls:
ID ) will come on=> page 17 and=> page 30. Do not contin ue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thoro ughly
c he cked by an au thor ized Aud i deale r or q ualified works hop and t he
cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the brake
w ar ning/ind ic a tor ligh t will illum ina te. Con ta ct a n au thori ze d Audi
dealer
immediately .
rn Tips
The brake fluid reservoir is located underneath t he cover. •
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid cha nged b y an experienced tech ni
c ia n.
Brake fluid absorbs mo isture from the a ir . If the water content in the
bra ke fl uid i s too hig h, cor ros io n in th e bra ke system may res ult afte r
a period of time. The boiling po int of the brake fluid will also decrease
cons iderab ly and decrease brak ing perfo rmance .
Th erefo re, th e brake fl uid must be changed
every two years . Always
use new bra ke fluid w hich conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Stan
dard "F MVSS 1 16 DO T 4".
The brake flu id reservoir can be diffic ult to reac h, therefore, we
recommend that you have the bra ke fluid c hanged by your author ized
Audi dealer . Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake flu id
and the know -how to do t his for you .
LJ}. WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonou s. It mu st be stored only in the closed
original containe r out of the reach of children!
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid.
Observe these precaution s:
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specification
J 1703 and
conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 116 . Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make sure you are using
the correct brake fluid. The correct type of brake fluid is also indicated on the brake fluid reservo ir.
- The brake flu id must be new . Heavy use of the brakes can
cause a vapor lock if the brake fluid is left in the system too
long. This can seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety. This could result in an accident.
0 Note
Bra ke fluid will damage the paint of your veh icle.
For the sake of the environment
Because of the prob lem of proper disposal of brake fl uid as well as
t he s pecial tool s required a nd the nece ssary ex pert ise, we recom
mend that you have t he brake f lu id changed by your authorized Audi
de aler. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operat ing con dit ions, the battery in your Aud i does not
need any main tenance . Wit h high outs ide temperatures o r long daily
dr ives we recommend that yo u have the electrolyte level checked by
an a uth orized Audi dealer o r q ua lified wor kshop. The electro lyte lev el
should also be checked each time the battery is charged=> page 293 . .,_
-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_ d_ w_ h_e_ e_ ls _______________________________________________ _
Tires and wheels
Tires
General notes
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused
parts of a motor vehicle.
T ir es may be the least apprec iated and most abused pa rts of a moto r
vehicle. Tires are, however, one of the most important parts of a
veh icle, parti cularly conside ring the comparative ly small patch of
rubber on eac h tire that assu res that all- important co ntact between
you , your ve hicle and the road .
Ma inta in ing t he correct t ire pressu re, making s ure that your veh icle
and i ts tires do not have to carry more weight than they can safely
hand le, avoid ing damage from road ha za rds and reg ula rly inspect ing
tires for damage incl ud ing c uts, s lashes irregular wea r and overall
condi tion are the mos t important th ings that you can do to help avoi d
sudden tire fa ilure includ ing t read separation and blowouts .
Avoiding damage
If you have to drive over a curb or sim ilar obstacle, drive very s lowly
and as close as poss ible at a right angle to the cu rb .
Always keep chemicals including grease, oil , gasoline and bra ke fl uid
o ff the t ires .
Inspect the ti res regularly for damage (cuts, crac ks o r bl ist ers, e tc .).
Remove any foreign bodies embed ded in the trea ds.
Storing tires
M ar k tires when yo u remove t hem to indica te the d irect ion of rota
tion . This ens ures yo u to be able to mo unt them co rrectly whe n you
re insta ll them.
Wh en r emoved, t he wheels or tires s hould be sto red in a c ool, dry and
preferably da rk p lace. Sto
re tires in a ver tica l pos it ion if they a re not mounted on rims, in a
hor izonta l position if they are mo unted on r ims.
New tires
N ew tires have to be bro ken in~ & .
Th e tread dep th of new tires may v ary, ac cor ding to t he type an d
make of t ire and the tread pattern.
Hidden damage
Dama ge to t ires and rims is often not readi ly visible . If yo u notice
unusu al v ib ra tion o r the veh icle pulls to one sid e, t his may i ndicate
that one of the tires has been damaged. The tires must be c hecke d
i m medi ately by an a uthor ized A udi deale r or quali fied w or ksh op .
Unidirectional tires
A u nidirectional tire can be identified by arrows on the sidewall, that
point in the d irect io n the tire is des igned to rotate. Yo u m ust follow
t he s peci fied dire ction of ro tation . T his is nece ssary so th at t hese
tires can develop the ir optimum c haracter istics regarding gr ip, road
noise, we ar and hy dropl aning res istance. For more informa tion
~page 326 .
& WARNING
New tires or tires that are old , worn or damaged cannot provide
maximum control and braking ability.
• New tires tend to be slippery and must also be broken-in. To
reduce the risk of losing control, a collision and serious personal
injuries , drive with special care for the first 350 miles (560 km).
• Driving with worn or damaged tires can lead to loss of control,
sudden tire failure , including a blowout and sudden deflation ,
crashes and serious personal injuries. Have worn or damaged tires
replaced immediately. .,_
________________________________________________ T_ i_ re _ s_ a_ n_d_ w_ h_ e_ e_l _s _ ....... JIII
Unbalanced wh eels must be rebalanced to avoid e xcessive w ear o n
st eeri ng, sus pens ion and tires. A w heel must a lso be re balan ced
w hen a new tire is installed.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect whee l alignm ent can ca use excessive ti re wea r, impairing
th e safe ty o f the vehicle. If tir es show excessive we ar, ha ve the w heel
alignment checked by a n authorized A udi dealer or qualif ied wo rk
s hop .
All wheel drive
Vehicle s wi th qu att ro ® mus t alw ay s ha ve tires of the sa m e siz e,
construct ion a nd tread type. For details see~
page 246.
& WARNING
Sudden tire failure can lead to loss of control , a crash and serious
personal injury!
• Never drive a vehicle when the tread on any tire is worn down
to the wear indicators.
• Worn tires are a safety hazard, they do not grip well on wet
roads and increase your risk of "hydroplaning " and loss of control.
• Always keep chemicals that can cause tire damage, such as
grease, oil, gasoline and brake fluid away from tires.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
especially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
lower speeds.
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history ." Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control. •
Vehicle OP-eration
New tires and replacing tires and wheels
New tires and w heel s hav e to b e brok en in .
Fig. 231 Tire specificat ion codes on the sidewall of a tire
No.
©
®
®
©
©
©
Description
Passenger car tire (where app licable)
Nom inal width of ti re in mil lim eters
Ratio of hei9ht to width (aspect ratio)
Radial
jj Rim diameter code
L oa d index and speed rating
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data