2011 AUDI A5 COUPE ESP

Intelligent technology
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Intelligent technology
Notice about data recorded by
vehicle control modu Les
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Data Recorder (EDR),
installed by some manufacturers for the express purpose of
capturing data for retrieval after an accident or crash event. EDR's are
sometimes called "crash recorders".
Some state laws restrict the retrieval or downloading of data stored
by ED R's that were installed in a vehicle for the express purpose of
retrieving data after an accident or crash event without the owner's
consent.
Although your vehicle is not equipped with an EDR, it is equipped with
a number of e lectronic control modules for various vehicle systems
such as, for example, eng ine function, emission control, as well as for
the airbags and safety belts.
These electronic control modules also record vehicle-related data
during normal vehicle operation for diagnostic and repair purposes .
The recording capacity of the electronic control modu les is limited to
data (no sound is recorded) and only a sma ll amount of data is actu­
ally recorded over a very limited period of time and stored when a
system fault or other condition is sensed by a control unit. Some of
the data then stored may relate to vehicle speed, direction, braking
as well as restraint system use and performance in the event of a
crash or other condition. Stored data can only be read and down­
loaded with special equipment .•
Electronic stabilization Program
(ESP}
Ce-ieral lnforrrc:t~on
The ESP improves the vehicle stability.
Fig. 197 ;';. OFF
button
Fig. 198 Center
console with;';.
OFF
button
ESP is designed to he lp you maintain vehicle control in situations
where the car approaches the limits of "grip", especially when accel­
erat ing and cornering. ESP reduces the risk of skidding and improves
stability under all road conditions.

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The system operates across the entire speed range in combination
w ith the ABS sys tem. If the A nti-L o ck Brak e System (A BS) mal fun c­
tions, the ESP will also shut down.
How the system works
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Elect ronic D ifferential Lock (EDL)
and the Anti-Slip Regul ation System (AS R) are in teg rated in the e lec ­
tronic stab ilizat ion program . In addition to the data prov ided by
th ese fun ctions, the ESP control unit re quires addi tional meas ure ­
ment data provided by hig h pe rformance senso rs . The ro tat ional
speed of the vehicle about its vertical axis, veh icle acceleration in the
fore-and-a ft and lateral d irect ions, the brake pressure , a nd the
steerin g ang le are all measured .
Th e d irec tion in whi ch the driver w ishes to tra ve l is d ete rm ined wi th
the a id of the steering a ngle and ve hicle speed and is con tinually
c omp ared wi th the a ctu al b ehavior o f the ve hicl e. If t he two do no t
match, for example, when the vehicle starts hydroplani ng on a wet
roa d, E SP w ill automatica lly bra ke the approp riate whee l to correct
the problem.
Th e ve hicle is t hen stab ilized by the fo rces acting on the whee l during
bra king .
If the ve hicl e is oversteering (the vehicle tu rns too s harp ly
and the rear whee ls slide toward the outside of a curve), the brakes
a re mainly a pplied on the whee l tha t is o n the o uts ide of t he curve. In
the case of a vehicle that is
understeering (the vehicle does not turn
shar ply enough and push es out o f a curve), the b rakes are ap plied as
needed on the whee l th at is on the inside of the curve or additionally
on the ot her wheels . An acoustic s ignal indicates w hen ESP bra ke
applica tion cuts in=> &.
T he system operates across the entire speed range in combination
w ith the A BS system =>
page 241. If the A nti-Lo ck Br ake Sys tem
(ABS) ma lfunctions, the ESP w ill be o ut of act ion as we ll.
Activating
When you turn on the engine, ESP wi ll automatica lly be activated and
w ill pe rfor m a self- tes t. As soo n as t he tes t is co mplete d, th e sys tem
is in normal operating mo de.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Yo
u can activate a deactivated ESP or deactivated ESP/ ASR if required
b y pressi ng the =>
page 236, fi g. 1 9 8 => page 236, fig . 19 7 bu tton.
Wh en they are activated, the message
Stabilisation program on
appears briefly in t he di sp lay .
Deactivating
The ES P shoul d no rma lly be acti va te d a ll the tim e. I f necess ary, y ou
can deact ivate A nti-Slip Reg ulat io n (ASR) or th e Electro nic Sta biliza ­
t ion Progr am ( ES P) by p ress ing the button =>
page 23 6, fig. 198.
• Deactivating ASR: Tap th e button . In cer tain exceptional s itua­
t ions (e.g. driving with tire chains), the Anti -Slip Reg ulation (ASR) can
be dea ct iva te d =>
page 238. The m ess age ASR off Caution! Limited
driving stability
a pp ears in the d isp lay as well.
• Deactivating ESP/ASR Press the but ton for mor e tha n 3 seconds .
With the ESP/ ASR deactivated, the indicator light comes on, see
=>
p age 15. The m ess age Warning! Restri cted stability ap pears in
the display as we ll.
& WARNING
The Electronic Stabilization Program is nevertheless subje ct to the
laws of physics . It is particularly important to pay attention to
this fact on wet and slippery roads. It is therefore important that
you always adapt your driving to the condition of the road and
traffic conditions . Do not allow the increased safety provided by
the Electronic Stabilization Program system to lull you into accepting additional safety risks .
u
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The elec tronic differen tial lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
G en era l not es
The electronic differentia l lock (EDL) helps the ca r to sta rt moving,
accelerate and climb a gradient on surfaces provid ing poor or almost
no grip . W ithout ED L, this would be d iff icu lt, if not impossible.
How the sy stem works
The EDL operates automatically. It mo nitors the rota tional speed of
wheels with the help of the ABS sensors~
page 241. If a not iceab le
slip is detected at the wheels (e.g . on slippery g round on one side),
the spinn ing 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).
No ises from the brake system signal that wheel sp in is being
controlled.
Driv ing off
When d riving off, always be s ure 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.
O verheating of bra kes
To prevent the disc b rake of the bra ked wheel from ove rhea ting if
subjected to excessive loads on this wheel, the EDL cuts out tempo­
ra rily. The vehicle remains operat io nal and be haves in the same way
as a veh icle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has coo led down, EDL switches on again auto ­
matically.
& WARNING
• When ac ce le rating on s lippery surfa ce s, su ch as on ic e or snow,
alwa ys be ca reful when depre ssing the accele rator pedal. Even
& W ARNING (continue d)
with the EDL working , the dri ve wheels c an spin and reduce your
ability to contr ol your car . Ri sk of cra sh!
• The inc reased s afety afforded by E DL does not me an that you
can take safety ri sks. Alwa ys adapt your d rivin g style to the r oad
conditions and t raffic situation .
[ i ] Tips
If a fau lt occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not funct ion ing. This is
ind ic a ted by the ABS warn ing light ~
page 17. •
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-Sl ip Regu lation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabiliza tion prog ram ( ESP) . When the ve hicle s tarts up and acceler­
ates, the wheels are prevented from sp inning by adjusting the engine
powe r to match the amount of g rip available from the road surface .
How the system works
ASR performs au toma tic a lly, i.e. witho ut the dr ive r's intervent ion.
With the aid of the ABS sensors~
page 241, ASR monitors the speed
of the driven wheels. If the whee ls start to spi n, eng ine torq ue is
reduced automatically unti l the tires find enough grip to lock onto
t he road s urface . The system is active across the en tire spee d range.
Th e ASR works in con ju nction with the ABS .
If a malfunction shou ld
occur in the ABS, the ASR wi ll also be out of action.
Act ivating
T he ESP is automatica lly activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self-test . You can act ivate a deact ivated ASR if required by _,,

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pressing the=> page 236, fig. 198 button. When it is activated, the
message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display.
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if req uired by press ing the button (for less
than 3 seconds) =>
page 236, fig. 198. With the ASR deactivated, the
ESP check light comes on, see=>
page 15. 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 slip is desirable does it make sense
to deactivate the ASR. Examp les:
• 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 sho uld 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, all four whee ls must be fitted
with ident ical tir es . Any differences in rolling radius of the tir es can
cause the system to reduce eng ine power when this is not desired .
See also =>
page 303, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels".
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Braking
General information
What
affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending la rgely on ope rating 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 authorized
Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Warranty & Mainte ­
nance booklet.
Failure to have your b rake pads inspected can result
in reduced brake performance .
On steep slopes, you should 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 continuously. Pump the
brakes at intervals.
Noises may occur when b rak ing depending on the speed, braking
force and outside cond itions such as temperatu re and humid ity.
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
regula r interva ls so as to improve reaction time when braking on wet
surfaces. You, the driver, will not not ice anything.
Under certain condit ions, for example, when driving through water or
very heavy rai n, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking effect
can be reduced due to moisture (o r in free zing conditions ice) on the
bra ke pads. A few careful brake applications should dry off the brake
pads or remove any ice coatings.
Th e effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
dr iven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used. H ere too,
you should clean off accumu lated salt coating from brake discs and
pads with a few careful applications of the brake=>&,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS}
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under braking.
The ABS contributes effectively to vehicle control since it prevents the
w heels from
locking whe n the brakes are applied . This means t hat t he
vehicle rema ins steerable and is less likely to skid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake. Ju st hold the brake
pedal down .
However, do not expect the ABS to shorten braking distance under all
circu mstances. When d riving on gr ave l o r on new ly falle n snow o n top
of icy s urfaces, braking distance may be even longer, therefore, under
t he se c ir cu mstances, i t is especially importa nt that you dr ive slowly
and with great care.
How the ABS system works
An a utomat ic check is made when a speed of about 12 mph (20 km/h)
is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be heard.
If an individ ual w heel beg ins to rotate too slow ly in relat ion to vehicle
speed and tends to lock, t he ABS automat ic al ly reduces brake pres­
sure to prevent t hat wheel from locking .
Thi s automatic adjustment process w ill cause a
slight vibrat ion of
t he bra ke ped al and some noises to aler t you th at vehicle s peed mus t
be adapted to existing road and traff ic conditions.
& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective , always remember that braking
capability i s limited by tire traction . Always adjust your driving
speed acco rding to the road and traffic condition s. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risk s.
T he ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics .
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
(I] Tips
•
If ABS is no t fun ct io ni ng prope rly, a wa rning light will come on .
See
=> page 17.
• If a fault occurs in the A BS, the EDL is also not functioning . This is
indicated by t he ABS warn ing light .•
Brake assist
Brake assist is designed to achieve the optimum braking
effect.
Bra ke ass ist helps to i ncrease the effe ctive br aking power and thus to
achieve a shorte r stopping distance . If the d river presses the brake
peda l very quickly, brake assist automatically boosts the bra king
force to the max imum level, up to the po int whe re the anti-lock b rake
function (ABS) intervenes to stop t he wheels from locki ng . You
should then keep the br ake peda l pressed unti l the veh icle has braked
to the required speed . Brake ass ist switches itself off as soon as you
re le ase the br ake pedal.
& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast , especially in corners or on a slippery road , or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too clo sely. Increased ri sk of an
accident cannot be compensated for even by brake assist , so
alway s maintain a safe speed .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Servotronic® - advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort .
The advanced Servotronic® power steering system senses the road
speed and ele ct ronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortable and safe steering response exactly matched to the
veh icle speed .
Power steering will not work if the engine is off . As a resu lt, the
steeri ng wheel will be hard to turn.
T he power steeri ng fluid level is checked du ring the sched uled main ­
tenance services .
0 Note
If there is an electronic malfunction, servotronic will still function
like a conventional power s teer ing system, provid ing a cons tant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed. This is most noticeable when t urning the s teer ing wheel at low
speeds (for example when park ing) , - more effor t will be required
than us ua l.
• Be aware of the d ifferent than usual steering response and adjust
your stee ring force accord ingly .
• Have the prob lem checked and set r ight by an Audi dealer as soon
as possib le.
[ i ] Tips
• When the e ngine is running, neve r hold the stee ring whee l turned
all the way to the rig ht or to the left for longer than 15 seconds. The
powe r steering pump wi ll overheat the hydra ulic fluid if yo u keep
holding the steering wheel turned all the way . This is likely to damage
t he power s teer ing system . •
If the power steering system s hou ld fa il entirely, or if the engine
is no t ru nning (fo r examp le, while be ing towed), you will st ill be able
to steer the vehicle. However,
considerably more effort will be
req uired to do so .
• If the power steering system should have a leak, or is not func­
tioning prope rly, con tact your au thor ized A udi dealer immedia tely.
• The power steer ing system requires a specia lly formulated
hyd raulic fluid. The power steer ing rese rvoir is the one loc ated
farthest to the rear on the left s ide of the eng ine compartme nt
=>
page 2 76 . T he correct fluid leve l in the reservo ir is im port an t fo r
proper functioning of the power steeri ng .•
Dr"ving with your quattro®
With all wheel drive, all four wheels ore driven.
General information
With all wheel d rive, power is d istributed to all four wheels. This
h appens a utomatically depending on your dr iv ing style and t he road
conditions at the time . See also =>
page 238, "Electronic different ial
loc k (ED L)".
T he all whee l dr ive concept is designed for high engine power . Your
veh icle is except ionally powe rf ul and has excellent driving character­
istics both under normal driving condit ions and on snow and ice .
Always read an d fo llow safety precautions =>& .
Winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle with a ll whee l drive has an
adva ntage, even w ith regular t ires . In winter road cond it io ns it may
be advisable to mount winte r tires (or all-seaso n tires) for improved
dr iveability a nd b rak ing: t hese tires mus t be mounted on
all four
wheels . See also => page 307, "Winter ti res" .
Tire chains
Where tire chains are mandatory on certa in roa ds, this norma lly a lso
applies to veh icles with a ll w heel drive =>
page 308, "Snow chains" . Iii-

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vi dual components. It regulates consumption, so that more electrical
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 245, "Driver notification in the instrument cluster display" .•
What you should know
The highest priority is given to maintaining starting capa ­
bility.
Th e battery is severe ly 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 prec ise ly these sit uations 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 sw itched off. This
reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capability over a
longer period.
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions, such as the remo te key or power seat adjust­
ment, may not be available. The convenience functions will be avail­
able again when you turn on the ignition and start the engine.
W ith 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.
Th e warn ing indicates that the system will be turned off automati­
cally after 3 m inutes. If you wish to continue using the functions, you
have to start the engine.
With the engine running
Although electrica l energy is generated when the vehicle is being
driven, the battery can become discharged. This happens most ly
when little energy is being generated and a great deal consumed and
the battery's state of charge is not optimal.
T o br ing the ene rgy 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 ava ilable again as soon as
the energy ba lance 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
eng ine id le speed the additional energy required is generated and the
battery is charged. •

____________________________________________ D_ r_ i_ v _i_,ng and environment
New brake pads have to be "b urn ished in" before they have opt imal
grab ~& -
Dur ing the break-in period, you sho uld avoid putti ng severe loads on
the brakes. Severe loads include, for example, sud den ha rd brak ing,
i n part icula r a t very high s peed s or, for e xam ple, on moun tain passes.
& WARNING
New brake pads don't have the best stopping power and must be
" broken-in " during the initial 100 to 150 miles (150 to 200 kilo­
meters ) of normal city driving . You can compensate for this by
p ressing the brake pedal more firmly . This also applies later when
new pad s are installed .•
Avoid damaging the vehicle
Whe n yo u are d riving on poor ro ad s, or ove r curbs, steep r amps, etc.,
ma ke ce rtain that low -lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust system
p arts do not bo ttom out and ge t damage d.
Th is is espec ia lly true for veh icles with low-slung chass is (sports
chassis)* and fully loaded vehicles .
a
Driving through water on roads
Note the fo llowing to avoid vehicle damage w hen drivi ng thro ugh
water, fo r examp le on flooded roa ds:
• The wate r must not be any h igher than the bottom of the vehicle
b ody .
• Do not dr ive faster tha n walk ing spee d.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
After driving through water, mud
, slush, etc ., the brakes may be
slow to take effect because of wet brake rotors and pads. Dry the
brakes first by braking carefully to restore the full braking effect .
0 Note
Vehicle components such as the engin e, tra nsmission, sus pension or
elect rical system can be severe ly damaged by driv in g thro ugh water .
[ i ] Tips
• Check the depth of t he wate r before driving throug h it.
• Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse or switch the e ng ine off
w hen driving throug h wate r.
• Keep in m ind that o ncoming vehicles may c reate waves that raise
t he water leve l and make it too deep fo r yo ur vehicle to d rive throug h
safely.
• Avo id drivi ng t hroug h sa lt w at er bec ause it can cause cor rosio n.
Catalytic converter
It is very imp ortant that your emission contr ol syst em
(ca ta lytic convert er) is functioning pro p erly to ensur e
t h at your vehic le is runnin g in an environment ally s oun d
man ner .
- Always use lead -f re e gasoli ne~ p age 269 , "Fuel sup ply" .
- Never r un th e t ank down a ll the way to em pt y.
- Neve r pu t too muc h mo to r oil i n y our eng ine ~
page 279,
"Add ing eng ine oil
'l!:r." .
- Never try to p ush- or tow-start your veh icle.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data