____________________________________________ A_ u_ t_ o_ m_ a_ t_ i_ c _ t_ra _ n_s_ m __ is_s_ i_ o _ n _ __.lJII
Automatic transmission
• • ®
t1ptron1c
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with an e lectron ically contro lled automatic
transmission. Upshifting and downshifting takes place
automati
cally.
The transmiss ion is also equipped with tiptronic ®. It allows the driver
to shift gears
manually if desired => page 167. •
Driving the automatic transmission
Starting the engine
-The selector lever must be in Nor P.
Starting off
- Press a nd hold the brake pedal.
Fig. 162 Shift gate on
th e ce nte r co nso le :
selec tor lever w it h
r ele ase bu tton
-Press and hold the release button in the selector lever
handle and move the selector lever from
P or N to D and
release the button => & .
Con tro ls a nd e quip
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
- Wait briefly until the transmission has shifted (you will
feel a slight movement).
- Remove your foot from the brake pedal and accelerate .
Rocking back and forth to become unstuck
-Shift only between D and R when the vehicle is at a full
stop and the engine is running at idle speed .
Stopping
-Press and ho ld the brake pedal until the vehicle has come
to a complete stop .
- Keep the b rak e pedal depr essed so that the vehicle ca nnot
roll forward or backward while it is idling => & .
- Once stopped,
do not depress the accelerator pedal to rev
up the engine=> &.
Parking
-Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle has come
to a complete stop.
- Set the park ing brake firmly=>
page 132, "Park ing".
- Press and hold the release button in the selector lever
hand le, move the se lector l ever int o
P and the n let go of
the release button => & .
The selecto r lever must be in Nor P. If one of the dr iv ing positions is
engaged a safety switch will prevent the engine from being started.
See also =>
page 127. _,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data
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When the ignition is on, the backup lights illuminate when the
selector lever is moved into
R.
N -Neutral
The transmission is in neutral in th is posi tion . Sh ift to this posit ion
for standing with the brakes applied~
page 165.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the footbrake before and wh ile moving the
lever out of
N .
D -Normal position for driving forward
Position D is for normal city and highway driving. It ranges from zero
to top speed and all gears shift automatically, depending on engine
load, driving speed and automatically selected shift programs.
When the vehicle is stat ionary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always app ly the foot brake before and while moving the
lever to
D out of N.
In certain circumstances it may be advantageous to temporarily
switch to the manual shift program to manua lly select gear rat ios to
match specific driving conditions~
page 167.
S -Sport position
Select this position for sportier performance. In this position, the
transmission will not upshift as soon, allowing the vehicle to use the
increased power available at higher engine speeds to ach ieve livelier
acceleration.
When the vehicle is stat ionary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the
lever to
S out of N.
& WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS ~ & in "Driving the automatic
transmission " on page
163 .
Contro ls a nd e quip
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
0 Note
Coasting downh ill with the transmission in N and the engine not
running will result in damage to the automatic transmission and
poss ibly the catalytic converter .•
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
The Automatic Shift Lock safeguards you against acci
dentally shifting into a forward or the reverse gear and
causing the vehicle to move unintentionally .
Fig. 164 Shift gate:
selector lever lock posi
tions and interlock
button highlighted
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
- Turn the ignition on.
- Step on the brake pedal.
At the same time press and hold
the interlock button on the side of the gear selector knob
=> fig . 164 with your thumb un til you have moved the
selector lever to the desired position.
Automatic selector lever lock
The selector lever is locked in the P and N positions when the ignition
is turned on. To move the lever from these positions the driver must
depress the brake pedal. As a reminder to the driver, the following
~
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data
lffll.___A_ u_ t_o _m_ a_ t_ic _ t_ r_ a_ n_s _m_ i _s_ s_ i_ o_ n ____________________________________________ _
warning appears in the instrument cluster display when the selector
is in
P and N:
When stationary apply foot brake while selecting gear
A time delay element prevents the selector lever from locking when
it is moved through the
N position (going from R to D). The locking
element will lock the selector lever if the lever is left in N (Neutral) for
more than approximately 1 second, without the brake pedal be ing
pressed.
At speeds above about 3 mph (5 km/h) the Automatic Shift Lock is
automatically deactivated in the
N position.
Interlock button
The lock button on the selector lever prevents the lever from being
accidentally shifted into certain positions. Pressing this button deac
tivates the selector lever lock. Depending on the direction of the
shift, the selector lever locks at different positions. The positions are
high light ed in the illustrat ion~
page 165, fig. 164.
Ignition key safety interlock
The key cannot be removed from the ignition unless the selector lever
is in the
P park position. When the ignition key is removed, the
selector lever w ill be locked in the
P pos it ion .•
Kick-down
The kick-down feature allows the vehicle to generate
maximum acceleration.
When you press the accelerator pedal beyond the resistance point
that is reached at full throttle, the transmission will select a lower
gear rat io based on vehicle speed and engine RPM . The engine RPM
will be contro lled to produce maximum vehicle acceleration as long
as you continue to press the accelerator pedal beyond th is resistance
point .
& WARNING
Be careful when using the kick-down feature on slippery roads.
Rapid acceleration may cause the vehicle to skid. •
Dynamic shift program (DSP)
The automatic transmission is electronically controlled.
The transmission is self adapting and will automatically select the
best sh ift program suited to the dr iving cond it ions and dr iving style .
The transmission will select one of the
economy programs when you
dr ive at a steady speed or a gradua lly changing speed w ithout heavy
acceleration. This achieves optimum fuel efficiency, with early
upshifting and delayed downshifting.
The transm ission will automatically select the
sporty shift programs
when you drive at higher speeds, or w ith heavy acceleration and
frequently changing speeds. Upshifts a re delayed to make full use of
engine power. Downshifting takes place at higher engine speeds than
in the economy programs.
The selection of the most suitable shift program is a continuous, automatic process. The driver can also make the transmission switch
to a sporty program by
quickly pressing down the gas pedal.
Thi s causes the transmission to shift down to a lower gear to achieve
rapid accelerat ion, e .g . for quickly passing another vehicle . You do
not need to press the gas pedal into the kick-down range. After the
transmission has upshifted, the orig inal program is selected
according to your driving sty le.
An additional shift program allows the automatic transmission to
select the proper gear for uph ill and downh ill grad ients.
Thi s keeps the transmission from shifting up and down unnecessarily
on hills. The transmission will shift down to a lowe r gear when the
driver presses the brake pedal on a downhill gradient. This makes use .,_
_____________________________________________________ H_ o_m_ e_ L_i_n _k_ ®_ • __ _
Homelink ®
Universal remote control
Applies to veh icles: w ith Hom eli nk ® universal remote control
General information
The Homelink ® feature can learn up to three radio
frequency codes for most current transmitters used for
operating garage doors, estate gates, home or outdoor
lighting systems, and other devices.
You must first program the Homelink ® transm itter before you can
use the system=>
page 186, "Programming the Home link® trans
mitter".
I n order to program the Homelink ® transmitter for devices utilizing
rolling code, a second person on a ladder who can safe ly reach the
garage door opener motor is recommended. It is also necessary to
locate the "learn" button on your garage door opener motor. Refer to
the operating instructions for the opener, as the location and color of
this button may vary by manufacturer.
You can still use the original remote control for the device at any
time.
& WARNING
• Never use the Homelink'"' transmitter with any garage door
opener that does have not the safety stop and reverse feature as
required by federal safety standards. This includes any garage
door opener model manufactured before Aprill, 1982.
• A garage door opener which cannot detect an object, signaling
the door to stop and reverse does not meet current federal safety
standards. Using a garage door opener without these features
increases risk of serious injury or death.
Controls and equip
ment Safety first
& WARNING
(continued)
• For safety reasons never release the parking brake or start the
engine while anyone is standing in front of the vehicle.
• A garage door or an estate gate may sometimes be set in
motion when the Homelink ® remote control is being
programmed. If the device is repeatedly activated, this can over
strain motor and damage its electrical components -an over
heated motor is a fire hazard!
• To avoid possible injuries or property damage, please always
make absolutely certain that no persons or objects are located in
the range of motion of any equipment being operated.
rn Tips
• If you would like more information on Homelink ®, where to
purchase the Homelink ® compatible products, or would like to
purchase the Homelink ® Home Lighting Package, please call toll
free: 1-800-355-3515.
• For Declaration of Compliance to United States FCC and Industry
Canada regulations=>
page 371 . •
Vehicle care Technical data
ffl..__H_ o_m_ e_ L_ i _n_ k_ ® _______________________________________________ _
Applies to veh icles : w ith Homelin k® un iversa l remote control
Programming the Homel ink ® transmitter
The transmitter is programmed in two phases . For rolling
code transmitters, a third phase is also necessary .
111111
-
1111111
Fig. 183 Over head
console: Homelink ®
keypad
Fig. 184 F ront
bumper, dri ver side:
locat ion of transmitter
unit
Phase 1: progr amming th e overhead k eypad
1. Make sure your vehicle is within operating range of the
remote controlled garage door opener .
2. Set the parking brake~
& in "General information " on
page 185 .
3. Turn the ignition on . Do not start the engine! 4
. Press and hold the two outside Homelink ® buttons
G) and
@ for approximately 20 seconds until indicator light@
=> fig. 183 begins to flash . Then release both buttons. Do
not hold the buttons for longer than 30 seconds .
- This procedure only needs to be performed
once. It erases
the factory-set default codes and does not have to be repeated to program additional remote controls .
5. Press and hold the Homelink ® button
G) , @ or@ until
the indicator light@ starts flashing
slowly . Release the
button .
-The system will remain in programming mode for 5
minutes. Co to the front of the vehicle and proceed with
phase
2 .
Phase 2:
programming the bumper mounted transmit
ter
6. Hold the original remote control at a distance between 0-
6 in. (0 -15 cm) from the bumper below the appropriate
headlight for your vehicle => fig . 184 (use the shortest
distance possible) .
7. Aim the remote control just below the
driver side head
light .
8. Press and hold the activation button on the remote control.
- May be different in Canada . If so, press and re-press
(cycle) the activation button on yo ur remote control every
two seconds. .-,,
_________________________________________ I_ n_ t_ e_ ll_,igent technology ,__E~-
fore-and-aft and lateral directions, the brake pressure and the
steering angle are all measured.
The direction in which the driver wishes to travel is determined with
the aid of the steering angle and vehicle speed and is continually
compared with the actual behavior of the vehicle. If the two do not
match, for example, when the vehicle starts hydroplaning on a wet
road, ESP will automatically brake the appropriate whee l to correct
the problem.
The vehicle is then stabi lized by the forces acting on the whee l during
braking. If the vehicle is
oversteering (rear tends to skid out of the
turn), the brakes are main ly applied on the wheel that is on the
outs ide of the curve. In the case of a vehicle that is
understeering
(tendency to slide out of the curve), the brakes are applied as needed
on the wheel that is on the inside of the curve or additionally on the
other wheels. An acoustic s ignal indicates when ESP brake application
cuts in=> &.
The system operates across the entire speed range in combination
with the ABS system ~
page 260 . If the Anti -Lock Brake System
(ABS) ma lfunctions, the ESP wi ll be out of action as well.
Activating
When you turn on the engine, ESP will automatically be activated and
wi ll perform a self-test. As soon as the test is comp leted, the system
is in normal operating mode .
Offroad mode
ESP should normally be operated in normal mode because this
ensures maximum vehicle stability. If necessary, you can activate the
ESP offroad mode by pressing the button=>
page 256, fig. 222 to
obtain maximum traction and braking ability when driving off paved
roads at low speeds. In ESP offroad mode, the indicator light illu
minates and the message
ESP Offroad Caution! Limited driving
stability
appears briefly in the d isp lay.
The ESP offroad mode can be useful in the following exceptiona l situ
ations when slip or a highly effe ctive different ial loc king funct ion is
desirable. Examples:
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
•
when driving w ith tire chains,
• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground,
• when driving on uneven surfaces with the wheels severely
unloaded (articulation), and
• when rocking the vehicle loose a fter it has become stuck.
When the unusual situation is past, you should sh ift back to the
normal ESP operating mode by pushing the button again. The
message
ESP/ ASR on then appears briefly in the display.
Hill descent control
The hill descent control is switched on in ESP offroad mode. When
slowly descending steep gradients on loose ground or when the axles
are art iculated, hill descent control provides assistance by automati
cally applying the brakes to keep vehicle speed constant. The vehicle
is also rende red easier to steer by select ive distribution of braking
force. Hill descent control intervenes when:
• the accelerator pedal is not pressed,
• the vehicle is travelling less than 12 mph (20 km/h),
• a steep gradient is detected,
• wheel behavior indicates loose ground or conditions with poor
adhesion (e.g. also axle articulat ion).
Hill descent control operates both dr iving forward and in reverse.
Active hi ll descent control is deactivated by pressing the accelerator
pedal until the conditions for activation already listed are met aga in.
& WARNING
• The Electronic Stabilization Program is nevertheless subject 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. ..
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
Intelligent technology
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& WA RNING (conti nu ed )
• Plea se be aware th at in ESP offroad mode , particularly on a
s mooth and slippery road, the wheels may have an incr eased
tendency to spin and the vehicle may break awa y -danger of skid
ding!
• Stabilit y is limited in the ESP offroad mode. •
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The electronic differential lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
General notes
The electronic differe ntia l lock (EDL) helps the ca r to sta rt moving,
acce lerate and climb a gradient on surfaces provi ding poor or almost
no grip. W ithout ED L, th is would be d iff ic ul t, if not impossible .
How the system works
The EDL operates automatically . It mo nitors the rotational speed of
w heels wi th the help of the ABS sensors ==>
page 260. If a not iceab le
slip is detected at the wheels (e .g . o n slippery g round on one side),
the spin ning whee ls are braked and power is transferred to the other
wheels. This is done up to a speed of about 60 mph ( 100 km/h) .
Noises from the brake system signa l that wheel spin is being
cont rolled.
Driv ing off
W hen d rivi ng off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you acce lerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface with
less grip, apply
plenty of th rottle until t he car starts to move .
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc b rake of the bra ked wheel from overhea ting if
subjected to excessive loads on this whee l, t he EDL cuts out tempo
ra rily. The vehicle rema ins operat iona l and behaves in the same way
as a veh icle without EDL. As soon as the brake has coo
led down, EDL sw itches on again auto
m atically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accele rator pedal. Even
with the EDL working , the drive wheels c an spin and reduce your
ability to control your car . Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks . Always adapt your d riv ing style to the road
c ondition s and traffic situation.
[ i ] Tips
If a fa ult occurs in the A BS, the ED L is also no t fu nct io ni ng. This is
ind icated by the ABS warn ing light==>
page 19. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti- S lip Re gula tion System preven ts the drive n
w heels from spin ning wh en the car is acc ele rating .
General notes
The Anti-S lip Reg ulation Sys tem (ASR) is in tegr ated in the ele ctroni c
stabilization program (ESP) . When the ve hicle starts up and acceler
a tes, the whee ls are p reven ted from sp inning by adjust ing t he engine
power to match the amoun t of grip ava ilable from the road surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatica lly, i.e. witho ut the driver 's intervent ion.
With the aid o f th e ABS sensors ==>
page 260, ASR moni to rs the speed
of the driven wheels. If the whee ls start to spin, engine torque is
reduced automatically unt il the tires find enough gri p to lock onto
the road s urface. The system is active ac ross the en tire speed range .
'1>
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If an individual wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to vehicle
speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatically reduces brake pres
sure to prevent that wheel from locking .
Thi s automatic adjustment process wi ll cause a
slight vibration of
the brake pedal and some noises to alert you that vehicle speed must
be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions.
_& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction. Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risks.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics .
(I) Tips
• If ABS is not funct ioning properly, a warning light will come on .
See ~
page 19.
• If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
ind icat ed by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power and
thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance.
If the driver presses the
brake peda l very qu ickly , the brake assistant automatically boosts the
braking force to the maximum level, up to the point where the anti
lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the whee ls from locking.
You should then keep the brake pedal pressed until the vehicle has
braked to the required speed. The brake assistant switches itself off
as soon as you release the brake pedal.
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Automatic full braking
assist
This function allows full braking in spite of high brake pedal forces
(e .g . when the brakes are severely stressed because the veh icle is fully
loaded). The driver notices this function through a reduction of pedal
force and increased pedal travel. When the brake pedal is released,
full braking assist switches off again automatically.
If there is an ABS failure, the brak e assistant and automatic full
braking assist are not available.
Th e brake assistant will not be operative if there is a ma lfunction in
the ABS .
_& 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 closely. Increased risk of an
accident cannot be compensated for even by the brake assistant ,
so always maintain a safe speed.•
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 electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortable and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed .
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result , the
steering wheel will be hard to turn .
Th e power steering fluid level is checked during the scheduled main
tenance services.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data