2011 AUDI R8 SPYDER ESP

Safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Why safety be lts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Ill ustrating the princ iple of an
accident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
H ow are safety belts worn correctly? 112
Safety belt pretens ioners . . . . . . . . . . 115
Airbag system ........ .... ... .. 117
Important th ings to know . . . . . . . . . . 117
F ront airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
M oni toring the Advanced Airbag
Sys tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Knee air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Child Safety ............. .. .. . .
Important things to know . ... .. .. . .
C hild safety seats . ..... ... .. .. .. . .
Instal ling a child safety seat . ... .. . .
Addit ional Information ........... .
Vehicle operat ion ..... .. .. .. . .
Intelligent technology .. .. .. . .
Not ice about data recorded by vehicle
control modules .......... .... .. . .
Electronic Stabilization Program ( ESP)
Rear spoiler .................... .
Braking .. .. .. ... ....... .... ... . .
P owe r stee ring .................. .
Driving w ith your qu attro ® ... .. .. . .
E ne rgy management ... ... .. .. .. . .
D ry s ump lubr ication ... ... .. .. .. . .
Driving and environment .... .
Break -in period . .. ..... ... .. .. .. . .
Driving through water on roads ... . .
Cata lytic converter ............ .. . .
Sporty driving . ........... .. .. .. . .
Operation and maintenance .. .. .. . .
Trailer towing ................... .
Vehicle care .................. .
Cleaning and protection ..... .
General information ...... .. .. .. . . 138
13
8
143
1 4 6
149
150
150
150
150
152
153
154
155
1 5 5
157
158 158
158
158
159
159 160
161
161
16 1
Ca re of exte rior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 1
Ca re of inter io r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Table of contents 3
Fuel supply and filling your
fuel tank ... .. .... . ... ...... ... .
170
Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Fuel tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Checking and filling ..... ... .. .
Engine compartment lid .......... .
Engine oil ... .. .. .. . ............ .
E n gine cooling system ............ .
Brake fluid .. .. .. .. . .. .... ...... .
Battery ......... .. ............. .
Rep lacing the battery ............ .
Windsh ie ld washer container
Tires and wheels ... ..... ... .. .
175
175
178
181
184
184
18 7
188
189
T ires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
T ire pressure mo nitoring system
Consumer Information ...... .
Warranty coverages .............. .
Operating your veh icle outs ide the
U .S .A . or Canada ... . .. .. ..... ... .
A udi Se rvice Repair Manuals and
Literature . .. .. .. .... ........... .
Maintenance . .. .. .. ............. .
Additional accessories, modif ications
and parts rep lacement ........... .
Decla rat io n of Compliance,
T elecommunication or Electron ic
Systems .. .. .. .. .. ............. .
Do-it-yourself service ........ .
What do I do now? ........... .
Tru nk escape handle ........... .. .
B reakdown kit ... .. . .. ... .... ... .
Tire repa ir ... .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .
What shou ld I be awa re of when
h . t
' ? c anging a ,re. . . ............... .
Jump-starting .. ...... ........... .
Emergency towing with commercial
tow truck ....... .. ............. .
Fuses and bulbs .............. .
Electr ica l fuses .... .............. .
Bu lbs ... .. .. .. .. .. . .. .... ...... . 206
209
2
09
209
209
209
211
2 12
213
213
2 13
213
213
216
219
222
223
223
224
•
•

6 About this Owner's Manual
This owner's manua l contains important infor­
mation, tips, suggestions, and warnings for
the use of your veh icle.
Make sure that this owner's manua l is always
located in the vehicle. This is especia lly impor­
tant if you allow other people to drive the ve­
h icle, or if you sell it.
This owner's manua l descr ibes the
equipment
range
specified for this mode l at the editoria l
deadline date. Some of the equipment descri­
bed here will on ly be available at a later date,
or only in specific markets.
Some sections in this owner's manua l do not
apply to a ll vehicles . In that case, the
range of
applicability
is g iven at the beginn ing of the
section, e.g. "Applies to vehicles: w ith R tron­
ic". In addition, optional equipment is indicat­
ed by an asterisk"*" .
The details in the
illustrations may be differ ­
ent from those in your vehicle, and are intend­
ed to be viewed as a bas ic guide.
Please note that the
pictures in this manual
show the European Audi RB model. It may
show features not ava ilable in North America.
You will find a
table of contents at the begin­
ning of this book, which disp lays all topics de­
scr ibed in this manual in order of appearance.
You will find an alphabetical
index at the end
of this book .
A ll
directions, such as " left", "right", "front",
"back", are relative to the direction of travel.
* optiona l equipment
..,. This section continues on the next page .
® Registered trademarks are identified with
a®. If th is symbol is miss ing, it is no guar­
antee that the terms can be used free ly.
c::> & Cross -reference to a "WARNING!" with-
in a sect ion. For ind ication w ith a page num­
ber , the corresponding "WARNING!" can be
found outside of the sect ion.
A WARNING
Text with th is symbol conta ins important
inf ormat ion on safety and how to reduce
the r isk of personal injury or death.
([) Note
Text with th is symbol draws your attention
to potential sources of damage to your ve­ hicle .
@) For the sake of the environment
Text with th is symbo l conta ins information
about the environment and how you can help protect it .
(D Tips
Text with this symbo l conta ins specia l tips
and other informat ion about gett ing the
most out of your vehicle and its features.

14 Instruments and warning /indicator light s
Warning/indicator lights
Overview
The warning/indicator lights indicate different functions or a possible malfunction.
Fig. 6 Instrument duster w ith warning/indicator lights
(D Warning/ind icator lights in the tachometer
@ Turn signals
c::> page 16
® Warning/indicator lights in the Driver In­
formation System
c::> page 30
@ Wa rning/ind icator lights in the speedome­
ter
@Warning/indicator lights in the
tachometer
Audi magnet ic r ide
<::>page 15
Tire pressure too low
<::>page 15, c::>page207
Electronic power control
<::>page 15
Convertib le top operation
r::!>page 16
Electronic Stabilizat io n Pro ­
gram (ESP)
c:>page 16
USA models:
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
( M IL)
¢page22
Canada models :
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(MIL)
c:>page22
High beam
<::>page 16
Rear spoiler
c:>page 16
@ Warning/indicator lights in the
speedometer
I
•
Elec tron ic Sta biliza tion Pro­
gram (ESP)
<::>page 16
USA models:
Cruise control activated
<::>page 17
Canada models :
Cruise control activated
c::> page 17
USA models:
Safety systems
<::>page 17
-----·-

16 Instrum ent s and w arn ing /indic ato r light s
If this warning/indicator light illuminates
while you are driving, then there is a mal ­
function in the engine electron ics. Have
the malfunction corrected as soon as pos­
sible by your authorized Aud i dealer or
qualified workshop .
"' Convertible top operation
The indicato r light turns on IJI
- When the convertible top opens or closes or
- If the convertible top d id not open or close
completely.
The indicator light blinks if the convertible top
cannot open or close¢
page 47.
n If; Electronic stabilization program
(ESP)
If the indicator lamp Gl blinks while dr iv ing,
the ESP or ASR (Ant i-Slip Regulation) is active­
l y regulating.
If the indicator lamp
Gl illuminates, the sys ­
tem has sw itched the ESP off . In this case , you
can switch the ignition off and then on to
switch the ESP on again . The system is func­
tioning comp letely when the indicator lamp
switches off .
If the indicator lamp
I] illuminates , the ESP
was sw itc hed off with the
lliJ button.
E S P and A BS: fa u lt ! See owner's manu al
If the indicator lamp Gl and the ABS indicator
lamp
!I] illuminate and the driver message
appears, the ABS or electronic differential lock is malfunctioning . This also interrupts the
ESP . The brakes st ill function with the ir nor­
mal power, but ABS is not active .
Drive to your authorized Aud i R8 dealer imme­
d iately to have the malfunction corrected.
For more information about the ESP
¢page 150.
~D High beam
The . war ning/ indicato r light illum inates
whe n the high beams are on or when you use
the headlight flasher.
For more information ¢
page 58.
":::>'• Rear spoiler
The warning/indicator light monitors the
electrically retractable rear spoiler .
The warning/indicator lig ht (11 has the follow­
ing functions :
- It comes on for about 3 seconds as a func­
tion check when the ign ition is switched on.
- It comes on if there is a malfunction in the
electrically retractab le rear spoi ler.
Additional information about the e lectrica lly
retractable rear spoiler¢
page 152 .
& WARNING
=
Driving at higher speeds witho ut the rear
spoiler deployed can impair handling char­
acteristics, making the vehicle harder to
control.
- If the rear spo iler warning/ind icator light
in the instrument cluster comes on, the
rear spo iler may not have dep loyed. Nev ­
e r drive at speeds h igher than 87 mph
(140 km/h) if the spo iler is not deployed .
H ave the spoiler inspected as soon as
possible by an a uthorized Aud i dea le r or
qualified wor kshop.
¢ ¢Turn signals
Whenever yo u use the left II or the right R
turn signal, the indicator light blinks. When
you use the emergency flasher, both indicator
li ghts f lash.
If one of the turn signa l light bulbs burn out,
the turn signal will blink twice as fast as nor­
mal.
Addi tional in formation on the turn s ignals
¢ page 58.

18 Instrument s and w arn ing /indic ato r light s
&_ WARNING
-USA models: If both, t he - warning
light a nd
th em war ning light com e
o n at the same t ime, the rear whe els
c ou ld lock up first under hard braking .
Lock-up of the rear whee l brakes can
cause loss of vehicle control and an acci­
dent. Have yo ur vehicle repaired immedi­
ately by your authorized A udi dealer or a
qualified workshop . Drive slowly and
avo id sudden, hard brake applicat ion.
- Canada models: If both, the brake warn­
ing light . and the ABS warning light
ti] come on at the same time, the rear
wheels could lock up first under hard
braking. Lock-up of the rear wheel brakes
can cause loss of vehicle control and an
acc ident . Have you r vehicle repaired im­
med iately by your authorized Audi dealer
or a q ualified wor kshop . D rive slowly and
avo id sudden, hard brake applicat ion
- If the brake warning/indicator ligh t does
not go o ut after a few seconds and the
par king brake re leased, or lights up while
yo u are d riving, the fluid level in the
brake fl uid reservoir is too low . If you be­
lieve that it is safe to do so, proceed im­
med iately at low speed to the nearest
authorized Audi dealer or qualified work­
shop and have the brake system inspect­
ed .
- Please be very carefu l and always keep in
mind that after seve ral brake applica­
t ions, yo u will need g reater pressure on
the brake pedal to stop you r vehicle.
C onsequently, you must allow for in­
creased braking d istances. Trying to
brake as quickly as usual could lead to an
acc ident.
ABS/( @) Anti-Lock Brake System
This warning/indicator light monitors the ABS
and the electronic differ ential lock (EDL).
The m light w ill come on fo r a few seconds
when the igni tion is sw itched on . The light will go out after an automatic check sequence
is comp leted .
There is a malfunction in the ABS when:
-The warn ing/indica to r li gh t does no t illum i­
nate when you sw itch o n the ign ition.
- The warning/ indicato r light does not go out
after a few seconds.
- The warning/ indicator light illum inates
while d rivi ng.
The brake system will still respo nd even with­
out the assistance of the ABS system. See
your autho rized Aud i dea le r as soon as possi­
ble to restore full braking performance . Fo r
more inform ation regard ing the ABS
r::?v page 150 .
The ABS war ning light and the brake warning
li ght come on together. The A BS will not work
and yo u will no tice a change in brak ing re ­
sponse and perfo rmance .
Malfunction in the brake system
USA models: If both, the -warning light
and
the m warn ing light come on
r::?v page 32 whe n the par king b rake is re­
l eased , there may be a ma lf u nct ion in the
ABS, and there may a lso be a malf unct ion in
t h e brake system itse lf
r::?v &. .
Canada models: If bo th, the brake warn ing
li gh t. and the ABS wa rning light
£1 come
on
r::?v page 32 when the parking brake is re ­
leased , there may be a malf unct ion in the
ABS, and there may also b e a malfunction in
the brake system itself ¢ &. .
Malfunction in the electronic differential
lo ck (EDL)
The two systems EDL and ABS work together.
The m warning light will come on if there is
a malfunction in the EDL system
r::?v page 150.
See your au thor ized Audi dealer as soon as
poss ible .
&_ WARNING
-If the m warning light does not go
out, or if it comes on wh ile driving, the
ABS system is not working properly. The

20 Driver information system
Driver information
system
Introduction
The Driver information display inside the in ­
strument cluster provides you, the driver ,
with important information.
Fig. 7 In strum en t cl ust er: center display
Fig. 8 Wiper le ver: c on trols fo r the menu display
Center display
With the ignition on, the display in the Driver
Information System shows the following in­
formation :
- CD inserted or Radio station set
- Outside temperature: At temperatures be-
low 41 °F ( +S °C), a snowflake symbol ap­
pears in front of the temperature display
¢.&_ .
-Warning when a door, the engine compart-
ment lid or the trunk lid is not closed .
Additional functions
You can open the following function s in the
Driver Information System display by pressing
the
! R ESE T I button ¢ fig. 8 one or more times:
Trip computer
¢poge22
Digital speedometer
Lap timer
Menu display 9 page26
¢page24
The speed warning system is also displayed in
the Driver Information System. You can read
how to set it in¢
page 28.
Auto Check Control
Some functions and vehicle components are
scanned for the ir operating status when you
switch the ignition on and while you are driv­
ing. Malfunctions or required service proce­
dures are signaled audibly and indicated by
red and yellow illuminated symbols and re­
minders in the display ¢
page 30.
A WARNING
--
- Never rely exclusively on the outside
temperature display to determine if a
road surface is icy or not. Keep in mind
that road surfaces , especially bridges
and overpasses, could be ice covered and
slippery even at an outside temperature
above 41 °F (+S °C).
- Always remember, even if the "snow­
flake " symbol (ice warning) does not ap­
pear in the display, black ice could be on
the road.
-Always reduce your speed and drive with
special care in cold weather conditions
when the chance of encountering icy
road surfaces increases.
(0 Tips
- On vehicles with R tronic*, the reminders
do not appear in the display until you se­
lect a gear.
- On vehicles with Audi Navigation system,
the displays may differ from their normal
appearance during navigation.

Service interval display
The service in terval display reminds you when
your next service
is due.
F ig . 9 Sectio n of i nst rum ent cluste r: Serv ice inte rva l
d is p lay
The schedule for the next oil change or inspec­
tion is calc ulated automatically and displayed
according ly. The display works in two stages :
Service reminder
30 days before the next service is due, a se rv­
ice reminder appears in the display when yo u
turn on the ignition.
Afte r abo ut
5 seconds the display sw itches
back to normal. The d ista nce and time re­
maining are updated each time the ignition is
turned o n until the date due for service is
reached .
Service due
W hen the due d ate for service is reached , the
message
Ser vice due! appears in the instr u­
ment cluster immediately after you tu rn on
the ignition. Additionally, a warning tone
sounds. After about
5 seconds the display
sw itches back to normal.
Calling up the serv ice schedules
I f o r when an oil change or inspect ion is due,
can be shown in the instrument cl uster by se­
l ecting the service interval display . Select
Check > Se rvice > Oil change or Ser vice by us­
ing the
I R ESET I button and the rocker switch
c:;, page 24, fig . 13.
Re setting the service interval di splay
Your authorized A udi dealer wi ll reset the cor­
responding service sched ule after performing
Dr iver in formation system 21
the appropriate service on your vehicle. You
also have the possibility to reset the o il
change schedule after hav ing performed a n
o il change according to Audi specifications.
- Switch the ignit ion on.
- Pull the knob
c:;, fig . 9 . Th e message. Servic e
due!
appears .
- Pull the knob unt il t he display
Oil change in
----· mi (km)--· d ay s
appea rs. If the I RESE T I
button is not pu lled w ith in 5 secon ds, the
disp lay reset mode closes .
(D Note
If you discon nect the battery te rm inals, no
ca lcula tions can be ma de fo r the service
i nte rva l disp lay dur ing this time and no
se rvice reminder will appear. Remember
that observing the proper service interva ls
i s vitally important to extending the life of
your vehicle, particularly the engine, and maintain ing its value. Even if the mileage
d rive n is low, t he maximum per iod of one
year fro m one serv ice to the ne xt m ust not
be ex ceeded .
@ Tips
-Do not rese t the display between oil
c hanges, othe rwise the d isp lay w ill be in­
co rrec t.
- Th e info rmat ion in the Se rv ice Reminder
remains stored eve n w hen t he ve hicl e
ba ttery is dis connec ted.
On-Board Diagnostic
system (OBD)
On -Boa rd Diagnostics
Fi g. 10 Locatio n of Data Li nk Conn ector (DLC)

Average fuel mileage
The average fuel economy in MPG (l/ 100 km)
since you last clea red the memory appears in
this display .
Current fuel mileage
The instantaneous fue l consumption in miles
per gallo n (l/100 km) is shown in this d isp lay.
W hen the ve hicle is stationary, t he most re­
cent fuel consumption is displayed.
Average speed
The average speed in mph (km/h) since the
l ast time the disp lay was reset appears i n the
d isp lay.
Elapsed t ime
T he length of time that you have been driving
since you last reset the memory appears in
this display . T he maximum time period that
can be recorded is 999 hours and 59 minutes .
Distance
The elapsed distance since the la st time the
memory was clea red appears i n the display .
The max imum d istance that can be recorded
i s 9,999 .9 m iles (9 ,999 .9 kilometers) .
(D Tips
All stored values will be lost if the vehicle
battery is disconnected .
Operation
The trip computer is controlled by two
switches on the windshield wiper lever .
~---1@
Fig. 12 W iper a rm/w iper lev er: co ntro ls fo r the t rip
co mpute r
Dr iver in formation system 23
Selecting the trip computer
.,. Tap the !RESE T I button @ until the t rip
computer (memory leve l 1 or 2) ap pears in
the display ~poge22 ,
fig.11.
Selecting the functions
.,. Push in the upper (lower) p rotrus io n on t he
function selector sw itch
@ ~fig. 12. The
functions for t he tr ip comp ute r are dis­
played in succession on the respective mem­
ory leve ls.
Resetting the funct ion to zero
.,. Push the I RESE T! button @ for at leas t two
seconds.
You can reset the following values to zero:
- driving t ime
- distance
- average fue l m ileage
- a ver age speed
The trip computer only operates when the ig­
nit ion is on . When you tu rn o n the ignition,
the f unction tha t was in use when you last
tu rned the ignition off will be displayed .
@ Tips
-Yo u can also set the va lues for the f unc­
ti ons to ze ro i n t he me nu dis pl ay
(Re set )
~page 24.
-All sto red values will be lost if the vehi­
cle battery i s disc onnected.