40 Opening and clo sing
- In the event of a crash with airbag de
ployment all locked doors will be auto
matically unlocked to g ive access to the
vehicle occupants from the outside .
- You are well advised not to keep valua
bles inside an unattended vehicle, visib le
or not . Even a properly locked vehicle
cannot provide the security of a safe!
Unlocking and locking the vehicle with
the remote control
Fig. 32 Remote co ntro l: fun ctio n button s
To unlock the veh icle @J
.. Press button @once ¢ fig. 32 .
To lock the vehi cle [fil
.. Press b utton ® once ¢ ,&..
To unlock f ront lid only
.. Press button © for approximately one sec
ond .
PANIC Button
.. Push the red button @ to activate the pan ic
function. The horn sounds and the turn s ig
nals flash .
.. Push the button @ again to deactivate the
panic funct ion .
The turn s ignals flash twice when the vehicle
is unlocked . If the vehicle is u nlocked and a
door or the front lid are not opened within the
next 30 seconds, the vehi cle locks again auto
ma tica lly. This feature prevents the vehicle
from being left unlocked acc identally for a
long period of time . T
he t urn signa ls briefly flash once and the
horn so unds once when the doo rs and front
lid are locked properly .
A WARNING
-Read and follow all WARNINGS ¢.&. in
General description on page 39.
(D Tips
- Use the remote cont ro l only when the
doors and front lid are closed.
- In order to make s ure the locking f unc
tion is working, you should a lways keep
your eye on the vehicle to make s ure it is
properly locked.
-
- Do not use the remote cont ro l if yo u are
inside the car, otherw ise you may unin
tentionally lock the vehicle, and then you
would set off the anti-theft alarm when
you try to open a door . In case this hap
pens any how, push the unloc k button~-
- Use the pan ic function o nly if you are in
an eme rgency s ituation .
Operating locks with the key
To lock and unlock the vehicle from the out
side, turn the key in the lock of the driver's
door .
F ig . 33 Key turns fo r ope nin g an d clos ing
To unlock the vehicle
.. Turn the key one time to posit io n @ to un
lo ck the driver 's door ¢
fig. 33.
To lock the vehicle
.. Tu rn the key in the lock of the d river's door
to the lock pos it io n
@ ¢ ,&. . .,..
The turn signals briefly flash once and the
horn sounds once when the doors and the
front lid are locked properly.
_& WARNING
- Be careful when closing the windows.
-
Check to see that no one is in the way, or
serious injury could result!
- Always read and heed WARNING
c::> .&. in
General description on page 39 .
@ Tips
-However, note that which door is un
l ocked
mechanically when the vehicle is
opened depends on the settings in the menu display
c::> page 24.
- Both doors are locked automatically
when the vehicle is locked.
Locking and unlocking the vehicle from
inside
The vehicle can be locked or unlocked from
the inside using the power locking switch.
Fig. 34 Section from driver's door: Power lock ing
sw itch
To lock the vehicle
• Press the upper part of the power locking
switch
@Jc::, fig. 34 c::> ,& .
To unlock the vehicle
• Press the lower part of the switch~-
If you lock the vehicle using the power locking
switch, please note the following:
- You cannot open the doors from the
outside
(increased security, for example when you
are stopped at a red light).
Opening and closing 41
- The LED in the power locking switch lights
up when all the doors and the front lid are
closed and locked.
- You can unlock and open the doors from the
inside by pulling on the door handle.
- You cannot lock the vehicle with the central
locking switch when the driver's door is
open.
- If you have a crash and the airbag is activat
ed, the doors automatically unlock.
_& WARNING
-If you use the power locking switch with
the doors closed, remember that all the
vehicle doors will lock.
- Locking doors from the inside can help
prevent inadvertent door opening during
an accident and can also prevent unwant
ed entry from the outside. Locked doors
can, howeve r, delay assistance to vehicle
occupants and hold up rescue efforts
from the outside in an accident or other
emergency.
-When you close the front lid , check it to
make sure the safety catch has properly
engaged . The lid should be flush with the
surround ing vehicle body parts .
- If you notice while driving that the lid is
not secured properly, stop at once and
close it .
- Never leave your vehicle unattended es
pecially with the front lid left open. A
child could crawl into the luggage com
partment and pull the lid shut, becoming
trapped and unable to get out. To reduce
the risk of personal injury, never let chil
dren play in or around your vehicle. Al
ways keep the front lid as we ll as the ve
hicle doors closed when not in use.
(D Note
Make sure there are no objects are pro
t rud ing above the edge of the luggage
compartment . Otherwise, the front lid
could be damaged .
@ Tips
If the front lid is open or not properly
locked when the ignition is turned on, the
door and front lid warning appears in the
instrument cluster disp lay.
Emergency release for front lid
If the front lid cannot be opened, on emer
gency release is provided .
Fig. 39 Sectio n: Eme rgency release
" Reach under the closed glove compartment .
There is a red plast ic cord under the glove
compartment.
"Pu ll the red plastic cord towards you.
Opening and closing 43
Anti-theft alarm
system
Description
The anti-theft alarm triggers an alarm if any
one attempts to break into the vehicle .
Fig. 40 Diode posit io n in th e in str um ent panel
The anti-theft alarm system triggers an audi·
ble alarm and turns on the emergency flasher
if an unauthorized interference with the vehi
cle is sensed by the system .
How is the anti-theft alarm system
switched on?
The anti-theft alarm system is switched on
when you lock the driver's door manually us
ing the fold -out key, or when you use the re
mote control. The system is activated approxi
mately 30 seconds after the vehicle is locked.
T he ind icator light
9 fig. 40 starts flashing
rapidly for 2 seconds and then blinks slow ly.
How is the anti -theft alarm system
switched off?
T he anti-theft alarm system is switched off
o nly when yo u un lock your veh icle.
If you do
not open a door within 30 seconds after you
have unlocked with the remote control, the
vehicle will lock itself again automatically .
When will the anti theft alarm system be
triggered?
When the vehicle is locked, the a larm system
monitors and protects the fo llowing parts of
the vehicle:
- engine compartment
- luggage compartment
- doors
(D Note
To prevent damage to the convertible top:
-do not store any objects in the converti
ble top storage bay.
- make sure there is enough space above
the vehicle when opening or closing the
convertible top.
@ T ips
- When the indicato r lamp ffl blinks,
there is a system malfunction
c> page 16 .
-The one-touch opening function is not
ava ilable when the vehicle is traveling
below 4 mph (6 km/h) or above 31 mph
(SO km/h).
If this is the case, a warning
tone will sound and a message will ap pear in the instrument cluster
c> page47.
Error message in the instrument cluster
display
An error message appears if the convertible
top cannot open or close.
Severa l conditions must be met for the con
vertible top to open or close automatically .
An error message in the instrument cluster
d isp lay ind icates if one of the condit ions is not
me t or there is a malfunct ion.
Soft top: Pleas e clo se engin e lid!
The engine compartment lid must be closed
when opening or closing the convertible top .
T his message appears in the instrument clus
ter disp lay if the engine compartment lid is
no t closed.
Soft t op : C annot be used!
This error message appears if the convertib le
cannot open or close b ecause of safety rea
sons or if there is a malfunction . The follow
ing causes are poss ible:
- The vehicle i s tra v eling too fa st: Converti
ble top operation is deactivated for safety
reasons if the vehicle is traveling too fast . A
message w ill appear . Reduce the vehicle
Con vertible top 47
speed and pu ll o r press the switch again to
open or close th e convertible top.
- The b att ery vo ltag e is too low: The conver
tible top cannot open or close if the battery
voltage is too low. This ens ures there will be
enough battery vo ltage left to start the ve
hicle . The convertible top c an be operated
aga in after the engine is star ted.
- Ove rload p rotect ion is acti ve: Ope rating the
convert ible top continuously for a long peri
od of time p laces stress on the hydraulic
un it. Overload protect io n is act ivated to pre
vent damage to the system . This protective
fu nction prevents the convertible top from
open ing or close fo r approximate ly 15 to 30
m inutes.
It will funct ion aga in a fter tha t
c:::> &..
-Malfun ction : Failure of system components
is one possib le cause fo r malfunction. If this
happens, you can a lso operate the converti
ble top by hand
c> page 49 .
-The e xterio r tempe ratu re i s too low: The
convertible top will not open in tempera
tures below (S °F) (-15 QC).
Soft top not secur e
If the convertible top is not c ompl etely open
or closed and the vehicle is traveling too fast,
the error message above appears and a warn ing tone sounds. Reduce the vehicle speed
and pull or press the switch again to open or close the convertible top.
A WARNING
Never drive when the convertible top is not
locked correctly . The wind from driving
could cause the co nvertib le top to open.
This can resu lt in i nju ries and damage to
the vehicle.
48 Convertible top
Wind deflector
The wind deflector reduces turbulence in the
passenger compartment and makes driving
more comfortable.
Fig. 44 Install ing the wind defl ector
Fig. 45 Luggage compart ment: stori ng th e w ind de
fle ctor
The wind def lector is located in the luggage
compartment . Insta lling it from the side of
the vehicle that is farthest from traffic is rec
ommended for safety reasons. Follow the in
stallat io n instructions provided in the storage
bag.
Installing /removing the wind deflector
.,. To install the wind deflector, slide the re-
ta ining pin @into the mount @
¢fig . 44.
The w ind deflector is secure when it clicks
into place and the red marks on both but
tons are no longer visible .
.,. To remove the wind deflector, p ress both
buttons © and p ull the deflector upward.
Storing the wind deflector
.,. Slide the wind deflector into the storage bag
with the retaining pins facing downward .
.,. Hang the storage bag on the retainers @in
the luggage compartment ¢
fig. 45.
A WARNING
-
-Do not use the wind deflector to secure
cargo or other objects. Th is could resu lt
in injury.
- Be careful of traffic when installing the
wind deflector.
@ Note
To prevent damage to the vehicle paint, do
not lean on the vehicle when installing the
wind deflector. Objects such as belt buck les could scratch the surface of the paint .
@ Tips
-Keeping both side windows raised pro
vides the best w ind protection.
- To prevent mildew, do not store the wind def lector when it is damp.
Rear window
Fig. 46 Rear w indow in win d deflecto r pos it ion
Fig . 47 Sect io n of the center co nsole : conve rtible top
switch
The rear window can be extended slightly
when the convertible top is open to reduce air
movement inside the vehicle and increase
comfort . This is called the wind deflector posi-
t ion ¢
fig. 46 . ..,_
The rear window can be extended comp lete ly
for cleaning. This is ca lled the cleaning posi
tion.
E xte nding the re ar w indow into the wind
defl ector po siti on
~ Pull and hold the rear window switch
9 fig. 47.
~ Release the switch once the rear window has
reached the wind deflector position.
Exte nd ing th e rear w indow into th e
cleaning po sition
~ Pull and hold the rear window switch
9 fig . 47.
~ Release the switch once the rear window has
reached the wind deflector position .
~ Pull and hold the rear window switch again .
~ Pull and hold the convertible top switch
within one second
9 page 46, fig . 43.
R etra cting the re ar w indow
~ Press and hold the rear window sw itch until
the window has been retracted .
Ret racting the re ar wi ndow using the one
touch funct ion
~ Press the rear window switch briefly . There
is no need to hold the switch.
The rear w indow can on ly be operated when
t he ignition is switched on.
The rear window can also be extended or re
tracted when the convertib le top is closed.
.&_ WARNING
- Do not use the rear window to secure car
go or other objects. This could result in
injury .
- Always pay attention and be careful
when extending or retracting the rear
window . It could cause injury by p inch
ing .
@ Tips
-Keeping all of the w indows raised pro
v ides the best wind protection.
Con vertible top 49
- The veh icle must be stationary to br ing
the rear window into the cleaning posi
tion . The rear window will retract once
you begin dr iv ing.
Convertible top
emergency operation
General information
The convertible top can be closed by hand if
there is a malfunction .
First check if overload pro tection is active
~ page 47. If this is the case, the conve rtible
top w ill operate again after a short de lay . O th
erwise the fo llowing steps must be completed
before closing the convertib le top:
~ Ac tiva te the pa rking brake.
~ Open the side w indows, if necessary.
~ Remove the key from the ignition.
Emergency loc king is no t intended for long
te rm use o r long drives . The convertib le top
will not be completely waterproof after using
the emergency locking proced ure because the
seals wi ll not be seated correctly. Only close
the convertible top manually in an emergency .
Please see an au thor ized Audi R8 dea ler to
have the cause of the malfunction corrected .
.&_ WARNING
-The ignition must be sw itched off during
the entire closing p rocedure.
- When positioning the convertible top,
avoid contact with the supports or other
mov ing parts. Othe rwise you could p inch
your hands.
- Never d rive when the convert ible top is
not locked cor re ctly. The wind from d riv
ing could cause the convertible top to
open . This can resu lt in injuries and dam
age to the vehicle.
@ Tips
Have a second person assist whe n closing
the convert ible top. Opening the storage
bay lid and posi tioning the conve rtible top
is easier when a seco nd person is assisting.
52 Convertible top
• Pull the convertible top all the way out in
the direction indicated @. Position the fins
upward at the same time.
• Press the convert ible top as far forward to
ward the windshield frame as possible
c>fig . 55.
Have a second person assist when positioning
the convertible top. That person should stand
on the oppos ite side of the veh icle and per
form the same steps.
A WARNING
-When positioning the conve rtible top,
avoid contact with the supports or other
moving parts. Otherw ise you could pinch
yo ur hands.
- When pressing the convert ible top down
onto the windshield frame, make sure
that you do not pinch yourself or anyone
else.
Step 6: Secure the convertible top
-
Fig. 56 Co nve rtible top storage bay: install ing the driv
e r
Fig. 57 Securing the conve rt ible top
The convertible top must be under tension to
secure it to the windshield frame . The wheel
wrench, dr iver and bolts from the vehicle tool
kit are required for this. Have a second person assist with this step
.
Tha t person should stand on the opposite side
of the vehicle and perform the same steps.
• Posit ion the driver @ on the bolt @ in the
front section of the convert ible top storage
bay and rotate clockwise to install in the
threads
c> fig. 56.
• Posit ion the wheel wrench © with the long
end on the driver @.
• Press the convertible top as far forward as
possible toward the windsh ield frame @
with one hand
c> fig. 57 . At the same time,
pull the fins upward @ for support with the
other hand.
• Now, grasp the fins with the hand that you
used to move the convertib le top forward
and hold the fins in this position . With the
other hand, turn the wheel wrench upward
until it stops @.
(0 Tips
-When pressing the convertible top for
ward, make sure the locking pins are
seated in the latch on the windshield
frame and not on the frame itself.
- When pressing the convert ible top for
ward, make sure the locking pins are
seated exactly in the latch on the wind
shield frame and not on the frame itself
This is the only way that the convertib le
top can be latched correctly .
Step 7: Lock the convertible top
Fig. 58 Inner s ide of the conve rtible top: remov ing the
cap
Fig. 59 Inner s ide of the co nvertible top : pos ition ing
the Allen wrench
.. Remove the cap in the center of the conver
tib le top using the screwdriver from the ve
hicle tool kit¢
fig. 58. The emergency lock
ing mechanism is located behind it.
.. Insert the Allen wrench
(D and turn the bolt
to the left@ until it is tight and the conver
t ibl e top is locked securely ¢
fig. 59.
.,. Remove the Allen w rench from the open ing
and cover the opening with the cap.
.,. Remove the wheel wrench from the conver
tible top storage bay .
.. Close the convertible top storage bay lid.
A WARNING
Make sure the convert ible top is locked
correctly. Otherwise the wind from driving
could cause the convertible top to open.
This can result in injuries and damage to
the vehicle.
-
Convertible top 53
Step 8 : Secure the fins on the body
Fig . 60 Co nvert ible top: pressing t he fins downward
Fig. 61 Interior: t ighten ing the bolt
The following steps must be performed on
both sides of the vehicle .
.. Press the fin downward firmly
¢fig . 60.
.. Ho ld the fin in this position and tighten the
bolt above the seat belt -arrow-using the
Allen wrench from the veh icle tool k it at the
same time¢
fig. 61.
A second person should assist when securing
the fins to the body. Tightening the bolts is
much easier if a second person presses the
fins down.
A WARNING
-Make sure the fins lie on the body . Other-
wise the convert ible top will not lock se
cure ly and it could open while dr iving. This
can resul t in injuries and damage to the
vehicle.
-