Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
t railers are lowe r than for regular veh icles.
Always apply brakes early. When dr iv ing downh ill, sh ift in to a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Coolant temperature
The 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 conditione r.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
star ts flashing
-t- , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat bu ild-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. u
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
------------
Your vehicle handles differently when tow ing a tra iler because of the
additiona l weight and different weight distribution. Safety, perfor
mance and economy will greatly depend on how carefu lly you load
your trailer and operate your rig .
Before you actua lly tow your trailer, practice turning, stopp ing and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep pract icing until you have
become completely familiar with the way your vehicle-t railer combi
nation behaves and responds.
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Backing up
is d iff icult and requ ires practice . Backing up with a trailer
generally requires steer ing action opposite to 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 . To compensate fo r the
trailer, you will need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you
normally would because of the added load. Make sure you have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for you r
trailer before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes .
[I) Tips
• Do not tow a trai ler during the break-in per iod of your vehicle.
• If you tow a tra iler, your Audi may requi re more frequent mainte
nance due to the extra toad~
page 340. •
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 place chocks under both the vehicle and the
trailer wheels.
- With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes until the
wheel chocks absorb the load.
- Turn the wheels towards the curb.
- Apply the parking brake .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
-~_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,
e tc. A well ca red for Audi c an look lik e new many ye ars after pur cha se.
Regu lar and correct care w ill contribute to mai nta in ing t he bea uty
a nd valu e of your Au di.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warranty claim should corrosion damage or paint defects occur.
Yo ur au thori zed 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 other comme r
cia lly availab le cleaning agents , please make 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 ign ition on or the engine running .
& WARNING (continued )
• 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 239, "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 quent w ashin g protec ts th e vehicle.
T he best protection aga inst env ironmental influences is frequent
w ashi ng and w ax ing. How oft en thi s is requ ired depen ds on :
• How m uch the vehicle is used
• Whe re the ve hicle is parke d (gar age, in the o pen un der tr ees, etc.)
• The seasona l and weather conditions
• Environ mental influences
T he longer bird 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 t he 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.
~
-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d__. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this could scratch your
vehicle's paint or windows.
• Never wash your car in bright sunlight. Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint.
• When you wash your car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle with
a hose, be careful not to aim the stream of water directly at locks, or
at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
finish.
• You should remove debris (such as insects) from the headlight
lenses on a regular basis, for example when refueling your vehicle .
Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean the headlights. Only use wet
cloths or sponges to prevent scratches .
It is best to use soapy water.
<£> For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the vehicle should only be washed
in special wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high-pressure
power washer is safe as long as you observe a few simple
rules.
- Before using the power washer, make sure you have read
and understood the WARNINGS=>
& in "General infor
mation" on
page 256 .
- Always follow the operating instructions for the power
washer. -
Make sure that the jet on the spray hose produces a "fan
shaped spray".
- Do
not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle with a power washer always follow the
operating instructions. This applies particularly to the
operating
pressure
and the spraying distance . Maintain a sufficient distance to
soft materials such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration deadening
materials (particularly on the underside of the engine hood). Do not
use a jet which sprays water in a
direct stream or one that has a
rotating jet.
Water temperature should not exceed 140
°F (60 °() .
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream.
This could cause invisible damage to the tires and weaken them,
even if the spray is 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 make sure that there is sufficient distance between the spray head and soft materials like rubber
hoses , plastic parts and sound-deadening materials. Never aim the
spray head at the same point for a long time. This also applies to
cleaning headlights and painted bumpers. Remember: the closer the
nozzle is to the surface of the material, the greater 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 256. •
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 256. •
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 336.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 256. •
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.
____________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ i n--= g=--- a_n_ d----' p,__ r_o _t_ e_ c_ t_ i _o_ n __ _
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush. Use a non-abrasive
plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from windows and mirrors.
Th e windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can interfere with the function of the windshie ld wipe r blades
(chatter).
Oil , grease, or silicone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
silicone remover. However, wax residue requires the use of a specially
formulated solvent . P lease contact your authorized Audi dea le r for
advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals .
Never dry windows w ith the same chamo is that you use to dry painted
surfaces. Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision through the
windows.
& WARNING
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 256.
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent
materials. They can increase glare under poor visibility conditions
such as wetness, darkness, or when the sun is low on the horizon.
In addition, they can cause the windshield wipers to chatter.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mir rors . This could cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the wires.
• T o help prevent dirt from scratching the window, a lways scrape in
a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never back
and forth.
• Water leaking from the inside of the rear windows may damage
sensitive e lectrica l components located either under the rear parce l
Safety first
shelf or in the rear trunk area. Always ensure that water never leaks
t hrough the body section of the vehicle . You can do this by using
waterproof protection over the vehicle's electrical components (e .g.
when installing window tinting).
• Damage or malfunct ion of electrical components due to water
damage or any other outside influence is not covered by the Audi New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. See your Warranty
& Ma intenance booklet
for additional details about your warranty .•
Weatherstrips
Complete car care includes the weatherstrips as well.
-Apply a suitable rubber conditioner to the weatherstrips
from time to t ime.
To be able seal properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc. must remain pliable. Spray the weatherstrips with sili
cone or coat them with talcum powder or glycerin to reta in the flexi
bility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
wi nter.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 256.
[ i ] Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in rain .•
Cast (Light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
- Wash the wheels with a sponge or hose brush every other
week. _,.
Vehicle care Technical data
-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
- For deep cleaning afterwards, use only a ded icated acid
free cast alloy wheel cleaner .
- Rub a coat of
liquid wax onto the rims every three mont h.
B e s ure to re ach a nd tre at all part s o f the rim .
To preserve the d ecorative ap pea ra nce of the cast alloy whe els, so me
special care is necessary. In a ddition to roa d dirt and sa lt, brake dust
is a lso co rrosiv e. If left on fo r too long, b rake dus t can ca u se p itting .
Use only spec ial
acid-free cleaners formulated for a lloy rims. Safe
pro duct s ar e availa ble at your author iz ed Audi de aler. Neve r leave the
cleaner on the rims longer than spec ified on t he labe l. If not rins ed
off promptly, the acid con tain ed in some cleaners can att ack t he
t hr eads o n the wheel bolts .
N ever us e abrasiv e or metal po lish ing cleaning a gents.
If the protec
t ive co ating has b een ch ipped, e.g. by kick ed up ro ad dir t, to uch it up
as soon as possible.
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on brakes may affect braking efficiency
=> page 239, "General information" . Test the brakes carefully
each time you wash the vehicle.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 256. •
Body cavity sealing
Th e bo dy cavi ty sealing d oes n ot need to be ch ecked.
All body cav it ies which co uld be affecte d by co rrosion have been tho r
oughly protected at t he factory .
T hi s sea ling does not require any inspection or additiona l treatment.
If any wax s hould seep ou t of the cavi ty when the amb ient temp era
ture is high , it can be removed w it h a plastic sc raper and a suitable
so lvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Benzine is flammable and toxic . If you use benzine for
removing the wax, keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes
away . Never dump benzine on the ground, into open streams or
down sewage drains.
• Be sure to observe all safety and environmental regulations.
Follow all instructions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:>page 256. •
Chassis
Have th e undercoating c hecke d f or da mage fr om time t o
tim e.
Th e lower body she ll of your A udi is a lso thoro ug hl y protec ted against
co rrosion.
Any damage to the undercoating caused by road haza rds sho uld be
re paire d pr omp tly.
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong places can caus e a fire.
• Do not apply additional undercoating or ru stproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. While driving , the substance used for undercoating
could overheat and cause a fire.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:>page 256 . •
____________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ in--= g=-- a_n_ d_ p ,__r_o _t_ e_ c_ t _ io_ n __ _
Exhaust tail pipes
Road salt and other corrosive materials will damage the material in
the exhaust tai l pipes if they are not cleaned regularly . Do not clean
the tail pipes with wheel cleaner, paint po lish, chrome polish or other
abras ive cleaners. Clean the ta il pipes w it h ca r care products that are
suitable for sta inless steel.
Your authorized Audi dealer can provide cleaning products that have bee n tested and approved for your veh icle .•
Care of interior
Ap plies to ve hic le s: wit h MMI
MMI display
- Clean the MMI display with a sof t clean cloth and an LCD
cleaner .
The MMI display can be cleaned with a p rofessionally available "LCD
cleaner". The cloth should be slightly dampened with the cleaning
fluid to clean the d isp lay.
0 Note
T o avoid scratching the MMI disp lay, you should never clean it dry .•
Ap plies to ve hicle s: with MMI
MMI control console
- First clean the MMI control console with a brush to
remove dust from the housing.
- Then wipe the MMI control consol e with a clean, soft,
slightly damp cloth.
Safety first
The MMI control console should be cleaned with a brush first so that
no dirt is trapped be tween the bu tto ns and the ho using. We recom
mend g iv ing the MMI co ntrol console a final w ipe with a cloth moist
ened with water and d ish washing detergent .
0 Note
To prevent damage, make sure that no fluid ever gets into the MM I
control console. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces . Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners wi ll
attack alumi num surfaces and ca n damage them ove r time .
& WARNING
Always read and he ed all WARNIN GS and other information
~page 256. •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabr ic coverings (e.g. seats , door tr im panels, etc.) should
be cleaned at regular intervals with a vacuum cleaner . This removes
surface dirt particles which could become embedded in the fabric
through use . Steam cleaners should not be used, because the steam
tends to push the dirt deeper into the fabric and lock it there .
Normal clean ing
Genera lly, we recommend using a soft sponge or a lin t-free
microfiber cloth to the clean fabric . Brushes should only be used for
carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
by brushes . _,,
Vehicle care Technical data
-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
More stubborn dirt
- More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth sa tu
rated w ith 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 -ba sed spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
- Remove fresh
g rease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care ki t 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 (bal lpoint pen, felt marker ,
fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish, etc.)
with a spot remover specifically formulated for leather.
Leather care
- Every half year use an approved leather care produc t
(available from your authorized Audi dealer) to care for
the leather .
- Apply the product very sparingly.
Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If you have any questions about cleaning and caring for the leather in
your vehicle, it is best to contact your au thor ized Aud i dealer, who will
be glad to help you and tell you about our full range of leather care
products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care k it
• Creams to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc .
• Oil/grease dissolv ing sp ray
• New and upcoming products.
& WARNING
Alw ays re ad and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 2 56 .
0 Note
• Never use chemical so lve nts (e.g . lighter fluid, turpentine), waxes,
shoe po lish or simi lar products on the leather surfaces in your Audi .
• T o avo id damage, have stubborn sta ins removed by a commerc ial
cleaning specialist .•
Ap plies to veh icl es: w it h Alc anta ra ® u pholst ery
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Moisten a cloth, squeeze out excess water and wipe down
the seat surfaces.
Removing stains
- Moi sten a cloth with lu kewarm water or with diluted ethyl
( rubb ing ) al cohol.
- Dab at t he stain . Start at the ou tside and work inwards. .,