-L___!_A~ ir~b~ a ~ g!..-= s~y :_:s ~t ~e ~ m~ -----------------------------------------------
& WA RNING (conti nued)
ment, cellular telephones and CB radios, etc. ) must be performed
by a qualified technician who h as the training and special equip
ment necessary .
• For any work on the airbag system, we strongly recommend
that you see your authorized Audi dealer or qualified wo rkshop.
• Never modify the front bumper or parts of the vehicle body .
• Always make sure that the side airbag can inflate without
interference :
- Never in stall seat cover s or replacement upholstery over the
front seatbacks that have not been specifically approved by
Audi.
- Never use addit ional seat cushions that cover the areas
where the side airbags inflate.
- Damage to the or iginal seat covers or to the seam in the area
of the side airbag module mu st always be repaired immedi
ately by an authorized Audi dealer.
• The airbag sy stem can be activated only once . After an airbag
has inflated, it must be replaced by an authorized Audi dealer or
qualified technician who has the techni cal information, training
and special equipment necessary.
• The airbag sy stem can be deployed only once . After an airbag
has been deployed, it must be replaced w ith new replacement
parts designed and approved e specially for your Audi model
version. Replacement of complete airbag systems or a irbag
c omponents must be performed by qualified workshops onl y.
Make sure that any airbag service action is entered in you r Audi
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet under AIRBAG REPLACEMENT
RECORD .
• For safety reasons in severe accidents, the alternator and
starter are separated from the vehicle battery with a pyrotechnic
circuit interrupter.
-Work on the pyrotechnic circuit interrupter must only be
performed by a qualified dealer -risk of an accident!
& WARNING (c on tinued )
-If the vehicle or the circuit interrupter is scrapped , all appli
cable safety precautions must be followed.
c£' For the sake of the environment
Undep loyed a irbag mod ules and pretensione rs might be class ified as
Perch lorate Mate rial -special handling may apply, see
www.dt sc.ca.gov/ha zardou sw ast e/perc hlor ate. When the vehicle or
parts o f the restraint system including ai rbag modu les and sa fety
be lts with p rete nsioner s are sc rappe d, all app lic able laws and r egu la
tions m ust be observed. Yo ur authorized Aud i dealer is familiar w ith
t hese requi reme nts and we recommend th at you have yo ur dealer
per form t his service for you .•
Other things that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Chang ing the vehicle's suspension system can change the way that
th e Adva nced Airbag System pe rforms i n a cr ash. Fo r examp le, us in g
t ire-rim combinations not approved by Audi, lowering the vehicle,
c hang ing the stiffn e ss o f th e suspension, incl uding t he sp rings,
suspension struts , shock absorbers etc. can change t he forces that
are meas ured by the a irbag sensors an d sent to the elect ronic contro l
unit . Some suspension c hanges can, fo r example, increase the force
levels meas ure d by the senso rs and make the airbag system deploy in
crashes in which i t would not deploy if the changes had not been
ma de. Other ki nds of changes may reduce the force levels meas ure d
by th e sensors a nd p rev ent the airbag from dep loying when it should.
T he sensors in the safety belt b uckle for the drive r and front
p assenge r se at tell the e lec tron ic co ntrol mo dule if the safety bel t i s
latched or not. If the safety belt is being used, the front a irbag w ill
dep loy at a sligh tly higher rate o f vehicle deceler ation t han if t he
sa fety belt is not be ing used . Therefo re, in a pa rt icu lar collis io n, it is
possible that an a irbag w ill not dep loy at a seating posi tion where the .,_
-----------------------------------------~C~ h~il ~d ~ S~a _!fe ~ t !;YL __
and for the different models of the same kind of child restraint
offered by child restraint manufacturers.
The weight ranges for the individual types, makes and models of ch ild
restraints that the NHTSA has specified in the Safety Standard
together with the weight ranges of typical infants and typical 1 year
old child have been stored in the control unit of the Advanced Airbag
System. When a child restraint is being used on the front passenger
seat with a typical 1 year-old chi ld, the Advanced Airbag System
compares the weight meas ured by the weight sensing mat with the
information stored in the electronic control unit .
The electronic contro l unit a lso registers the tension on the front
passenger safety belt. The tension on the safety belt for the front
passenger seat will be different for an adult who is properly using the
safety belt as compared to the tension on the belt when it is used to
attach a child restraint to the seat . The sensor below the latch for the
safety belt for the front seat passenger measures the tension on the
belt. The input from this sensor is then used with the weight to
"decide", whether there is a child restraint with a typical 1 year-old
child on the front passenger seat and whether or not the airbag must
be turned off .•
Child restraints and Advanced Airbags
Regardless of the child restraint that you use, ma ke sure that it has
been certified to meet United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards and has been ce rtified by its manufacturer for use with an
airbag . Always be sure that the child restraint is properly installed at
one of the rear seating positions. If in exceptional circumstances you
must use it on the front passenger seat, carefully read all of the infor
mation on ch ild safety and Advanced Airbags and heed all of the
app licab le WARNINGS. Make certain that the child restra int is
correctly recognized by the weight-sensing mat inside the front
passenger seat, that the front passenger airbag is turned off and that
the airbag status is always correctly signaled by the
PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF
light.
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Many types and models of child restra
ints have been available over
t he years, new models are introduced reg ularly incorpo rating new
and improved designs and older models are taken out of product ion.
Chi ld restraints are not standardized. Child restraints of the same
type typ ically have d ifferent weights and sizes and differe nt 'foot
prints,' the size and shape of the bottom of the child restraint that
sits on the seat, when they are installed on a vehicle seat . These
differences make it virtually impossib le to certify compliance with
t he requirements for advanced airbags with each and every chil d
restra int that has ever been sold in the past or will be sold over the
course of the useful life of your vehicle.
For this reason, the United States Nationa l Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has published a list of specific type, makes and
mode ls of child restra ints that must be used to cert ify compliance of
the Advanced Airbag System in yo ur vehicle with the suppression
requirements of Federal Motor Veh icle Safety Standard 208. These
child restraints are:
A. Car beds, manufactured on or after September 1,
2004:
• Cosco Dream Ride 02-719
B. Rear facing child restraint systems,
manufactured on or after September 1, 2004:
(When the restraint system comes equipped with a removable base,
compliance has to be cert ified with or without the base) .
• Britax Handle with Care 191
• Century Assura 4553
• Century Smart Fit 4543
• Cosco Arriva 02727
• Evenflo Discovery Adjust Right 212
• Evenflo First Choice 204
• Graco Infant 8457
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
_________________________________________ 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
Driving and environment
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
-Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed.
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and does
not disturb the environment.
Fuel consumption , exhaust emiss ions and eng ine no ise increase
disproportionately at high speeds . If you drive at approximately three
quarte rs of top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by one ha lf.
Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather condi
tions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the engine off when you are not driving the vehicle.
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting for
trains to pass at railroad crossings , or at traffic lights that have long
waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30-40 seconds saves
more fuel than is burned starting the engine aga in.
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is running
at idle . However, wea r and noxious emiss ions are especially high
when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as soon as
you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while the engine
is still warming up .
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting. If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which could result in
ove rheating or other damage to the vehicle or other property. •
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel .
-Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serv iced by an authorized Aud i dealer
helps to ensure that it runs properly and economically. The condition
of your vehicle not only affects its safety and ability to hold its value,
it a lso affects
fuel consumption.
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed .
It is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest value after a certain mileage has been d riven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) befo re you can properly assess oi l consumption.
This also app lies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your veh icle ma inta ined properly and in accordance w ith the
service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet.
Lack of proper maintenance as well as im proper use of the vehicle will
impair the function of the emission control system and could lead to
damage .
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Control
System un less approved by the manufacturer. ._
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information Your Audi was design ed primarily for passenger transpor
tation .
If you plan to tow a t rai ler, p lease rem emb er that the add itiona l load
wi ll affect durab ility, economy and performance.
T railer tow ing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it a lso calls
for more concentrat ion from the driver.
For this reason, a lways follow the ope rating and dr iv ing instr uctions
prov ided and use common sense .
(D Note
If you are going to tow a t ra iler , you must ac tivate the tra ile r ope ra
tion mode ::::;,
page 182, "Towing a trailer". •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we igh t-car rying hit ch confo rm ing to the g ross tra ile r weig ht.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and tra iler and must be
mou nted secure ly o n th e veh icle's chassis a t a
te chnically sound loca
tion. Use only a trailer hitch with a removab le ba ll mount. Always
check w ith the tra iler h itch manufacturer to ma ke sure tha t you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hitch .
The hitch must be i nstalled in such a way t hat i t does not interfe re
w ith the impact-absorbing bumper system. No mod ificat ions should
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
be made to the vehicle exhaust and b
rake systems. From time to
time, check that all hitc h mounting bo lts rema in securely fastened.
Whe n you are no t towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hi tch ba ll
mount. This prevents the hitch from caus ing damage should your
vehicle be s truck from behind::::;,& .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer i s eq uipped w ith a b raking system, che ck to be s ure that
it conforms to all regulat ions.
T he tra iler hyd raulic brake system must not be directly connected to
the vehi cle's hydraul ic brake system ::::;, & .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains betwee n your vehicle and t he tra iler .
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulat ions. Be sure to check w ith your
au thor ized A udi deale r for co rrect wi ring, switc hes, and re lays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see the traff ic beh ind you us ing t he regular
outside m irro rs, then you
must install extended mirro rs. It is impor
t an t th at yo u
always have cle ar vision to the re a r.
& WARNING
• If a trailer has electrical brakes please note that these brakes
are not activated by the factory-fitted control unit -ri sk of acci ·
dent!
• Afte r removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle .
In case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure
you or your passengers .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
pressure label is located o n the dr iver's side B-pillar. Inflate trailer
t ires to tra ile r and t ire ma nufacturers' spec ifications.
Lights
T he headl ight settings shou ld be chec ked with the tr ailer attached
before driving off. Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are wo rking properly.
Safety chains
Be sure tra ile r safety cha ins are p roperly connected from the t rai ler
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to perm it
tu rning corners . When you install sa fe ty ch ains, ma ke sure they will
not drag on the road when you are driving.
T he chains should cross under the trai ler tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the h itch .
0 Note
If you are goi ng to tow a trai ler , you must activate the trai ler opera
tion mode =>
page 182, "Towing a trailer". •
Driving instructior,s
Driving with a trailer always requires e xtra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possib le handling of ve hicle a nd trailer ,
please note the following :
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especia lly careful when pass ing other vehicles .
- Observe speed limi ts.
- Do not drive at the maximum pe rmissible speed.
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
- Always apply brakes early.
- Mo
nitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distri but ion
T owing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly unstable
distribution of we ight . If t his cannot be avoided , drive at very low
speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that the
tow veh icle shou ld be loaded to the extent poss ible and permissib le,
wh ile keeping the tra ile r as lig ht as poss ible unde r the ci rc u mstances.
Whe never possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage compart
me nt o f the tow vehicle while observing tongue load requirements
and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more d ifficult it becomes for the driver to
control the r ig . Do not dr ive at the maxim um permiss ible speed .
Reduce your speed eve n more if load, weather or w ind conditions are
unfavorable -particular ly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immed iately if the tra ile r shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not tr y to stop the s wayi ng by a ccele rating .
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for veh icles towing
trailers are lowe r than for regular veh icles .
Always apply brakes early. When driving downhi ll, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine brak ing effect to slow t he ve hicle . Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fa il.
Coolant temperatur e
The coo lant temperature gauge=> page 10 must be observed care
fu lly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the sca le, reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coo lant temperature warning light in the instrument clus ter
starts flash ing
- F- , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent hea t buil d-up.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
___ C_ h_ e_c _k _i _ n _g ~ a_n _d_ f_il _l_in _ g _________________________________________ _
& WARNING (conti nu ed )
• Engine oil is poisonous . Keep it well out of the reach of chil
dren .
• Continuous contact with u sed engine oil is harmful to your
skin . Alway s protect your skin by wa shing thoroughly with soap
and water.
0 Note
Never mix oi l additives wit h your engine oil. These additives can
damage your engine and adverse ly affect your Audi Limited New
Vehicle Warranty.
~ For the sake of the environment
• Before chang ing the oil, first make sure you know where you can
prope rly d is p ose of the o ld oil.
• Always dispose of used oi l proper ly. Never dump it o n garden soi l,
in wooded areas, i nto streams o r down sewage d rains.
• Recycle used oi l by taking it to a used engine oil co llection facility
in yo ur area, or contact a se rvice station .
• We st rongly recommend t hat you have you r oi l changed by an
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop with the specia l tools
and expertise required, and proper means of disposa l.•
Engine cooling system
Coolant
The e ngine co o la nt per form s two functio ns: it keeps the
engine from ove rh eati ng and it protects t he engine from
free zing in the winter .
The cooling system is sealed an d genera lly req uir es little attention. The cooling system has been f
illed at the factory wit h a permanent
c oo lant whi ch does no t need to be c hanged . Th e coolan t cons ists o f a
mixt ure of water and the manufacturer's glycol-basedcoolant addi
tive G12+ + antifreeze with anticorrosion ad dit ives (50% for USA
mode ls; 60% for Ca nadian models) . This mixture both ass ures the
necessary frost protection and protects meta l components in the
eng ine's cooling system from co rrosion and scaling. It also raise s the
boiling point of the coo lant .
Do not re du ce the co ncent ration of the coo lant in the summer by
add ing p la in water .
The proportion of coolant add itive must be at
least 50% but not more than 60%
to mai ntain an tifreeze pro tection
and coo ling efficiency . If the coolant frost p rotect io n i s too low, the
coo lant co uld freeze an d damage t he veh icle heating and engine
coo ling system .
For year-round driving, antifree ze is added at the factory for temper
a tures dow n to:
• -31°F(-35°C)USA
• - 4 0 °F ( -40 °C) Canad a.
You can mix the G12 ++ coo lant addit ive w ith other additives (G12+ or
G 12). A lways check with yo ur autho rize d Audi dea ler.
& WARNING
Before you che ck anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS~
& in "Work ing in the engine
compartment" on
page 301 .
0 Note
• B efore w inter sets in, have the coolan t checked to see i f the
coo lant add itive in yo ur vehicle is s uff ic ient to meet the cl ima te
conditions. This is especially important if yo u live in a region where
the winter is ext reme ly cold . If necessa ry, increase the proport ion of
coo lant add itive to 60%.
• When ad ding coolant add itive to you r cooling sys tem, remembe r:_.,
Tires and wheels -________________ f!ffl
If you wish to improve comfort when operating the vehicle at
normal load (up to 3 occupant s), you can adjust tire pres sures to
those specified for normal vehicle load . Before operating the
vehicle at maximum lo ad, you must increase the tire p res sures to
those specified for maximum vehicle load=>& .
Bear in mind that the tire press ure monitor ing system can only
mon itor the t ire pressu re s you h ave sto red . T he sys tem does no t
recogn ize the load cond it ion of your vehicle.
Th e effectiveness of t he tire pressu re monitoring system will be
impa ired if you store normal load pressu res but then operate the
vehicle at its maxim um loa d=> & . See the
illustration=> fig. 241 for the location of the label on driver's
side B- pillar (colo r of the act ual la bel and ex act l ocation on the
vehicle will vary slig htly).
N ote that the fo llow ing tab le is accurate at the time of going to press
and is subjec t to change. I n the even t of discrepancies , the tire pres
sure label located on the dr iver's side B-pi llar a lways takes prece
dence .
T he table below lists the recommended cold t ire inflation pressures
for the Audi model covered by your Owne r's Literature at t he ve hicle's
capac ity weight and the tire sizes insta lled on the respective models
as original equipment, or as a factory option .
Engine Tire designation Tire pressure front Tire pressure rear
(displace- normal load normal load
ment in
liter) condition
(up
full load condition (up
full load
to
3 occu- condition to 3 occu- condition
pants) pants)
PSI kPA PSI PSI kPA PSI kPA
255/55 R18 109H XL All Season
35 240 44 300
35 240 49 340
265
/50 R19 110H XL All Season 35 240 44
300 35 240 49 340
6-cylinder 275/45 R20 110H XL All Season 35 24 0 44 3 00 35 240 4 9 340
3.0/3.0 TDI
275 /45 R20 llOY XL High Performance 35 240
44 300
35 240 49 340
295
/35 R2110 7Y XL High Performance 36 250 44
300 35 240 49 340
XL= reinforced or extra load tire
. It may also appear as xl , EXTRA LOAD, or RF on the tire sidewall .
The correct tire p ress ure for t he spare wheel is loca ted on a labe l o n
the driver 's s ide B-pillar.
Beca use technical c hanges may be made to vehicle equipment dur ing
the model year, always compare the tire size des ignation on the t ire
pressu re labe l on yo ur vehicle with the t ires on your vehicle. Make
sure that the tire size informat ion on t he v ehicle labe l is the same as
the size of the t ires o n the vehicle. This is especially important if the
vehicle belo ngs to so meone else or you bo ug ht the vehicle with
Safety first
differe nt r im s/ tires or you bo ugh t the vehicle as a prev iously owned
vehicle.
Remember, yo ur safety and t hat of your passengers also depends o n
making sure that load limits are not exceeded. Vehicle load includes
everybody and everything in an d on the vehi cle. These load limits are
t e chnically refer red to as the veh icle's G ross Veh icle Weig ht Rating
("GVW R"). The Gross Axle Weight Rati ng ("GAWR") is the maximum
load tha t can be applied at ea ch of the ve hicle's two ax les . T he G ross ..
Vehicle care Technical data