68 Seats and storage
-When not in use, to reduce fuel consump
tion, wind noise and to guard against theft.
A WARNING
- Use of an unapproved roof rack or incor
rect mounting of an approved roof rack
can cause the roof rack or the items at
tached to it to fall off the roof onto the
road .
- Objects falling from the roof of a vehicle
can cause a crash and personal injury .
- Only mount the roof rack on the desig
nated locations on the roof
c::> fig. 69.
-The roof rack system must be installed
exactly according to the instructions pro
vided.
- When driving with a roof rack system,
changes to the center of gravity and wind
resistance can change the vehicle han
dling and lead to a collision . Always
adapt your driving and your speed to the
current conditions.
- Your vehicle warranty does not cover any
damages to the vehicle caused by using
roof racks or mounting structures not
approved by Audi for your vehicle. The
same applies to damage resulting from
incorrect roof rack installation.
- Always check the roof rack mountings
and hardware before each trip and dur
ing a trip to make sure everything is se
curely tightened. If necessary, retighten
the mountings and check the entire sys
tem from time to time.
- After mounting a roof rack system, or
when you transport objects on the roof
of your vehicle, the height of the vehicle
is naturally increased. Be careful when
driving under low bridges or in parking
garages for example . This could cause
damage to the load and even the vehicle itself.
- Make sure the open rear lid and the sun
roof* do not come into contact with the
roof rack.
Loading the roof rack
Always distribute loads evenly. Make sure
anything on the roof rack is securely tied
down.
.. Always distribute the loads on the roof rack
evenly.
.. Always attach items to the roof rack securely
before you drive off.
The maximum permissible roof weight is
220
lb (100 kg).
The roof weight is the total of
the weight of the roof rack, the attachments
and the cargo you are carrying. You must also
not exceed the maximum load weight for the
roof rack you are using.
When using a roof rack system which has a lower load carrying capacity, you must not use
up the total maximum permissible load carry
ing capacity specified above. Instead, you
should load the roof rack system only to the
maximum capacity specified by the manufac
turer of the roof rack system .
A WARNING ,_
Weak, damaged or improper straps used
to secure items to the roof rack can fail
during hard braking or in a collision and
cause serious personal injury .
- Make sure the roof rack is installed exact
ly as specified above
c::> page 67.
- Always use suitable mounting straps for
securing items to the roof rack to help
prevent items from shifting or flying for
ward .
- Items on the roof rack must always be securely mounted .
- The use of a roof rack can negatively af
fect the way a vehicle handles . Cargo
that is large, heavy, bulky, long or flat
will have a greater negative influence on
the vehicle's aerodynamics, center of
gravity and overall handling. Always
drive slowly, avoid sudden braking and
maneuvers when transporting cargo on
the roof of your vehicle .
-Never exceed the maximum permissible
load carry ing capacity of the roof of your
vehicle, the perm issible axle weights and
the permiss ible total weight of your veh i
cle
~ page 2 79, Weights .
-Always drive slowly, avoid sudden brak
ing and maneuvers when transporting
cargo on the roof of your vehicle .
@) For the sake of the environment
Sometimes it may be easier to leave a roof
rack installed even though you are not us
ing it. Due to the increased a ir resistance
your vehicle will unnecessarily use more
fuel. Remove the roof rack if you are not
going to use it.
12-volt sockets
App lies to vehicles: 12-volt sockets
Electrical accessories can be connected to ev
ery 12 -volt socket.
Fig. 70 Sect io n of the trim panel of t he luggage com
p ar tm en t: 12 -v ol t so cke t
Fig . 71 R ear cente r c ons ole : 12 -vo lt s ocket
~ Open the socket cover ~ fig . 70 or ~ fig. 71.
~ Inse rt the plug o f the el ectrical device into
t h e socket.
S ea ts a nd s to rage 69
There is an additional 12 volt socket in the
front center console~
page 70, fig . 72.
T he 12 volt socke ts may be used for 12-volt
appliances with maximum consumpt ion of up
to 100 watts.
Before you purchase any accessories, always
read and follow the info rmation in
~ page 285 , Additional accessories and parts
replacement.
A WARNING
The sockets and the electrical accessories
connected to them operate only when the
ignition is switched on .1ncorrect usage
can lead to ser ious injuries or burns . To re
duce the risk of injuries, never leave chil
dren unattended in the vehicle w ith the ve
h icle key.
(D Note
To avoid damaging the socket, only use
plugs that fit properly .
- Never connect eq uipment that generates
electrical current, such as a solar panel
or battery charger, to the 12 volt socket .
Th is could damage the vehicle 's electri
cal system.
- The 12 volt socket sho uld only be used
for a short per iod of t i me as a powe r
so urce for electrical equipme nt. Please
use the elec trical sockets in the vehicle
when connecting equ ipment for longer
periods .
(D Tips
When the engine is off and ac ce ssories are
still plugged in and are on , the vehicle ba t
tery can still be drained .
7 4 Warm and cold
Warm and cold Climate controls
Description
The climate control system warms, cools and
adds humidity to the air in the vehicle interior.
It is the most effect ive when the windows and
sunroof* are closed . If the temperature inside
the parked vehicle becomes very warm, open ing the window briefly will speed up the cool
ing process.
I n all heating mode functions except
defrost,
the blower on ly switches to a higher speed
once the engine coolant has reached a certain
temperature.
Condensation from the cooling system can
drip and form a puddle of water under the ve
hicle. This is normal and does not mean there
is a leak.
Pollutant filter
The pollutant filter removes pollutants such
as dust and po llen from the air.
The air pollutants filter must be changed at
the intervals spec ified in you r Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet, so that the air condi
tioner can properly work.
I f you drive your vehicle in an a rea with high
a ir po llution, the filter may need to be
changed more frequent ly than specified in
your Aud i Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. If
in doubt, ask your authorized Audi Service Ad
visor for advice .
Key coded settings
The climate control settings are a utomat ically
stored and assigned to the remote control key
that is in use.
A WARNING
Reduced visibility is dangerous and can
cause accidents. -
- For safe driving it is very important that
all windows be free of ice, snow and con
densation.
- Comp letely familiarize yourself with the
proper use and function of the heating
and ventilation system and especially how to defog and defrost the windows.
- Never use the windshield wiper/washer
system in freez ing weather unt il you
have warmed the windshield first, using
the heating and ventilation system. The
washer solution may freeze on the wind sh ie ld and reduce visib ility.
(D Note
- If you suspect that the air conditioner has been damaged, switch the system
off to avoid further damage and have it
inspected by a qualified dealership.
- Repairs to the Audi air conditioner re
quire special technical knowledge and
special tools. Contact an authorized Aud i
dea ler fo r assistance.
@ For the sake of the environment
By reducing the amount of fuel you use,
you also reduce the amount of pollutants
emitted into the air.
(D Tips
- Keep the air intake s lots (in fro nt of the
w indshield) free from ice, snow and de
bris in order to maintain the proper func
tion of the climate control system.
- T he energy management system may
switch the seat heating* or rear window
defroster off temporari Ly . These systems
are available again as soon as the energy
balance has been restored.
- Air escapes through vents under the rear
window. When placing items of clothing on the luggage compartment cover, en
sure that the openings are not covered.
112 Automatic Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
tiptronic (8-speed
transmission)
Introduction
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled 8-speed automatic transmission .
Upshifting and downshifting take place auto
matically .
The driver also has the option to shift the
gears manuafly c;,page 115 .
Dynamic Shift Program (DSP)
When a moderate driving style is used , the
transmission selects the most economical
driving mode. The transmission upshifts at a
lower RPM and downshifts at a higher RPM to
improve fuel effic ie ncy .
The transmission switches to a sporty mode
after a kick-down or when the driver uses a
sporty driving style characterized by quick ac
celerator pedal movements, heavy accelera
tion, frequent changes in speed and traveling
at the maximum speed .
Selecting the best driving mode is a continu
ous process . However, the transmission will
also jump to a sporty driving mode if you
press the accelerator pedal quickly. When you
do this, the transmission shifts down into a
lower gear, which makes it possible to acceler
ate quickly (for example, when passing anoth
er vehicle) without having to press the pedal
down into the kick-down area . Once the trans
mission has shifted up again, it returns to the
original driving mode as long as it matches
the current driving style.
When driving in hills and mountains , the gear
selection adapts to the grade. This prevents
constant upshifting and downshifting when
driving uphill.
Indicator in the display
Fig. 118 Display : selecto r leve r position
@ -The current selector lever position is dis
played continuously . The gear is also dis
played in manual mode
M.
@ -This indicato r appears temporarily if you
ch ange the selector lever position or if you
press the button on the selec tor lever
¢ page 112, fig . 119 . The current selector
lever pos ition is shown with a wh ite back
ground .
Selecting a selector lever position
Fig. 119 Selector lever
----R----
- -- N- -- -1
- D/S--
Fig. 120 Pressing the button o n the selector leve r
The current selector lever position is displayed
on the selector lever <=;>fig. 119. ..,_
198 Driving and en vi ro nment
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission con
trol system (catalytic converter) is function
ing properly to ensure that your vehicle is run
ning in an environmentally sound manner .
.. Always use lead-free gasoline¢ page 218,
Fuel supply.
.. Never run the tank down all the way to emp-
ty .
.. Never put too much motor oil in your engine
¢ page 22 7, Adding engine oil 't=r. .
• Never try to push- or tow-star t your veh icle.
The catalytic converter is an eff ic ient "clean
up" device built into the exhaust system of
the vehicle. The catalytic converter burns many of the pollutants in the exhaust gas be
fore they are released into the atmosphere.
The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critically
important for the l ife of the cata lytic conve rt
e r and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
-
- Do not park o r operate the vehicle in
areas where the hot exhaust system may
come in contact with dry grass, brush,
fuel spill or other material which can cause a fire.
- Do not apply additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust
man ifold, exhaust p ipes, catalytic con
verter or heat shie lds . During driving, the
substance used for undercoating could
overheat and caus e a fire .
@ Note
-Be aware that just one tank filling with
leaded fuel will already seriously de
grade the perfo rmance of the catalytic
conve rter .
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil leve l
¢page 227.
-Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty. The eng ine could mis
fire . Un burned f uel could a lso get into the exhaust system and th
is co uld cause
the cata lytic converter to overheat .
- Do not switch
off the ignition while the
vehicle is moving .
- Do not continue to ope rate your veh icle
under these conditions, as otherwise fuel
can reach the catalytic converter. This
cou ld result in overheating of the con
verter, requir ing its replacement .
- To assure efficient operation of the Emis
sion Control System:
- H ave you r vehicle maintained properly
and in accordance w it h the service rec
ommendat ions in your Warranty &
M ain tenance boo klet.
- L ack of prope r maintenance as we ll as
improper use of the vehi cle will impair
the function of the em ission contro l
system and could lead to damage .
@ For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emiss ion Control Sys tem is
operat ing proper ly, the exha ust gas can
have a sul fur -li ke ex haust gas smell under
some operating states . This depends on
the sulfur content of the fuel being used .
Using a different brand of fue l may help,
or f il li ng the tank with lead-free super
grade gasoline .
Avoid damaging the
vehicle
When you are d rivi ng on poor roads, or over
c u rbs, steep ramps, etc., ma ke certai n that
low- ly ing parts s uch as spoilers and exha ust
system parts do not bottom o ut and get dam
aged.
T his is es peci ally true for ve hicles with low
s lung chassis (spor ts chassis)* and fully load
ed vehicles .
Driving through water
on roads
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage
when driving through water, for example on
flooded roads:
- The water must not be any higher than the
bottom of the vehicle body.
- Do not drive faster than wa lking speed.
A WARNING
After driving through water, mud, slush,
etc., the brakes may be slow to take effect
because of wet brake rotors and pads. Dry
the brakes first by braking carefully to re
store the full b raking effect.
([) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine,
transmiss ion, suspension or electrical sys
tem can be severely damaged by driving
through water.
- Check the depth of the water before dr iv
i ng through it.
- Do not stop the veh icle, drive in reverse
or switch the engine off when driving
through water .
- Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles
may create waves that raise the water
level and make it too deep for your vehi
cle to drive th rough safely.
- Avoid dr iving through sa lt water because
i t can cause corrosion.
Dri vin g and en vironm ent 199
Operate your vehicle
economically and
minimize pollution
General
Your personal style of driving will determine
the economy of your vehicle, as well as ex
haust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmenta l impact, and
wear on your eng ine, brakes and tires largely
depend on three factors:
- your personal d riving style
- operating conditions
- technical limitat ions
If you ant ic ipate what you need to do next and
drive economically, you can easily cut your
fuel consumpt ion by 10-15 percent . This sec
tion w ill give you some tips on how you can
help the environment and your pocketbook.
@ Tips
The consumption estimates as published by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTEC TION AGENCY
( E PA) and Tra nspo rt Canada may not corre
spond to your actual consump tion on the
road, which will vary depending upon vehi
cle load and speed, road and weather con
ditions, trip length, etc.
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout
ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are ac
celerating.
.,. Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most f uel when they are ac
ce le rating. If you ant icipate what is going to
happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, acce lerate less . Let the vehicle coast
whenever possible - for examp le when you see
that the next traff ic light is red.
•
•
200 Driving and en vi ro nm ent
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 consump
tion, engine wear, and does not disturb the
environment. F ue l consumption, exhaust em issions and en
gine noise increase disproportionately at high
speeds. If you drive at approximately three
quarters of top speed, fue l consumption will
be reduced by one half. Never drive faster
than the posted speed limit and weather con
d itions 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 veh icle by letting the
engine run at idle .
It makes sense to shut
off the e ngine in traff ic
jams, when waiting for trains to pass at ra il
road crossings , or at traff ic lights that have
long wa its on red. Turning the engine
off fo r
just
30-40 seconds saves more fue l than is
burned s tarting the eng ine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up
fully when it is running at idle . Howeve r, wear
and noxious em issions 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 .
([) Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended af
ter starting . If warning lights should come
on to indicate improper operation, they
wou ld go unheeded. Extended idling also
produces heat, which cou ld result in over- heating or other damage to the vehicle or
other property .
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a
lot of fuel.
"' Have your ve hicle serviced at reg ular inter -
vals.
By having your veh icle regu larly serviced by an
Audi dealer he lps to ensure that it runs p rop
erly and economically. The condition of your
vehicle not only affects its sa fety and ability to
hold its value, it also affects
fuel c onsump
tion .
Check your oil e ach time you fill your t ank .
The amount of oil used is related to engine
load and speed .
It is normal for the oil consumption of a new
engine to reach its lowest value after a certa in
mileage has been driven.
You must drive your veh icle about 3,000 m iles
(5,000 kilometers) before you can properly
assess oil consumpt ion.
This also app lies to fue l consumption and en
gine output.
(D Note
- Have your vehicle maintained proper ly
and in accordance with the service rec
ommendations in your Warranty
& Main
tenance booklet. Lack of proper ma inte
nance as well as improper use of the ve
hicle will impair the function of the
em iss ion contro l system and cou ld lead
to damage.
- Do not alter or remove any component of
the Emission Control Sys tem unless ap
proved by the manufacture r.
- Do not alte r or remove any device, such
as heat sh ie lds, switches, ign it ion w ires,
valves, which are designed to protec t
your vehicle's Emission Control System
and other impo rtant vehicle compo
nents .
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively
high on short trips.
11-Try to avoid driving short distances with a
cold eng ine.
The engine and catalyt ic converte r have to
reac h their optimal
operating temperature to
reduce fuel consumption and noxi ous emis
sions effective ly .
Just afte r starting, a cold engine in a mid-size
car only achieves a f uel econ omy of 6-8 miles
per gallo n (30-40 l/100 km). Afte r about a
ha lf a m ile, fuel economy climbs to 12 mpg
(20 l/100 km). Afte r abo ut
2 .5 m iles ( 4 km),
the eng ine is a t its proper ope rat ing temp era
ture a nd fue l economy has rea ched a no rm al
l eve l. So you can see th at you sho uld a void
short tr ips w heneve r possib le .
The
outside temperature is also critical in this
r egard. Your car co nsum es more fuel in the
w in ter th an in the summer.
Driving and environment 201
•
•