2012 AUDI A8 stop start

2 Table of contents Vehicle literature .. .. .. .. .. ... .
5
About this Owner's Manual . . . 6
Controls and equipment .. ... .
Instruments and controls .. . .
General illustration ......... .. ... .
Instruments and warning/
indicator lights ........ .. .. .. . .
Instruments ............ ... .. ... .
Warning/indicator lights .......... .
Driver information display .. .. .. ... .
On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD) . . .
Opening and closing .. .. .... . .
Keys .. ...... ........... .. .. ... .
Power locking system ..... .. .. .. . .
Rear lid .. .. ........ ..... .. ..... .
Child safety lock . .......... ... .. . .
Power windows . .......... ... .. . .
Valet park ing . ........... .. .. ... .
Sliding/tilting sun roof ... .. .. .. .. . . 8
8
8
10
10
11
23
26
28
28
30
34
37
38
39
40
Panoramic sunroof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Clear vision .. ........ .. .. .. .. . .
Lights ... .. ............. .. .. .. . .
I nterior lights .............. .. ... .
V1s1on ..... ... .... ......... .... .
Wiper and washer system ... ... .. . .
Mirrors ................. .. .. ... .
Digital compass .......... .... ... .
Seats and storage ....... .. .. . .
General recommendat ions ..... .. . .
Front seats .............. .... ... .
Rear seats .. ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. . . 43
43
46
47
48
51
52
54
54
55
57
He ad restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Seat memory . ... ..... ... .. .. .. . .
Full-length center console .... .. ... . 62
64
L uggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Pa ss-thro ugh with ski sack . . . . . . . . . 67
Roof rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
12-vo lt sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Cooler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Warm and cold ... .......... .. .
Climate controls . .... .......... .. .
On the road ... ... .......... .. .
Steering .. .... .. ... .. ........ .. .
Starting and stopping the engine ... .
E lectromechanical parking brake ... .
Speed warning system ............ .
Cru ise control .... .... ...... ... .. .
Audi adaptive cruise control
and braking guard ......... .. .
Introduction . .. .. ..... ......... . .
General information ............. .
Audi adaptive cruise control ... .. .. .
Audi braking guard ............ .. .
Messages . .. .. . .............. .. .
Audi lane assist ............ .. .
Lane assist ...... ............. .. .
Audi side assist .............. .
Lane Change Assistant ........ .. .. . 75
75
79
79
80
82
84
85
8 7
87
87
89
93
94
96
96
99
99
Audi drive select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Driving settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Raising/lowering the vehicl e . . . . . . . . 105
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Night vision assistant . . . . . . . . . 106
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Pedestrian detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Pedestrian warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Switching on and
off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Settings in the MMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 10 9
t ip tron ic (8 -speed transmission) . . . . . 109

(!) Door handle
@
®
©
®
®
Audi side assist d isplay
Power locking sw itches
Audi side assist button
A ir vents with thumbwheel
Control leve r for :
- Turn signal an high beam
- Audi lane assist ..... ... .. .
0 Multifunction steering wheel
with:
- Horn
- Drive r's airbag
- Driver information system but-
tons . ............... .. .. .
- Audio/video, telephone, navi­
gation and vo ice recognition
buttons
- Sh ift padd les ........ .. .. .
@ Instrument cluster .. ... .. .. .
® W indshield washer system
l ever .................... . .
@ Starting the engine i f there is a
malfunction . .. ..... ... .. .. .
@ Buttons for:
- MM I display
- Electronic Stab ility Contro l
( E SC) .. ............. .... .
- Emergency flashe rs . ..... . .
@ Buttons for:
- Steering wheel adjustment
- Steering wheel heating*
@ Lever for:
- Cruise contro l system
99
33
99
45
96
146
23
1 12
10
48
8 1
189
44
79
78
85
- Adaptive cruise cont ro l* . . . . . 87
(§ Eng ine hood re lease . . . . . . . . . 219
@ Data Link Connector for On
Board Diag nostics (OBD II) . . . . 26
@ Light switch and inst rument il-
l umination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 47
@ Buttons for :
- All-wea ther lights* 43
- Nigh t vision assista nt* . . . . . .
106
- Rea r fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
@ Power exterior mirror adjust -
ment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
51
In strument s and control s 9
@) Rear lid switch .... .. .. ..... .
@ Power w indows .. .......... .
@ Memo ry function buttons .... .
@ MMI display
@ I n d icator lights/buttons for
- P ASSENG ER AIR BAG OFF
- Par king system . .. ........ .
- Rear w indow power sun shade
@ G love compartment . ..... .. .
@
@
@
Front passenger's airbag .... .
Analog clock .. .. .. ........ .
Climate controls
@ MMI controls
@ Se lector lever (a utomat ic trans-
m1ss1on) . ........ .. .. ..... .
@ Center console w ith cupholder
@ El ectromechanical pa rking
br ake .. .. .. .. .... ........ .
@ I START ENGINE STOPI button
(D Tips
34
38
62
153
115
47
72
146
25
76
109
71
82
80
- Some of the equipment o r feat ures
shown in the genera l ill ustration may be
standard equ ipment on your vehicle or
may be opt ional equ ipment depending
on your model. Always ask your author­
ized Aud i dea ler if you have a quest io n
about your vehicle .
- Operat ion of the Multi Med ia Interface
(MMI) is described in a separate manua l.

12 Instrum ent s and w arn ing /indic ato r light s
Some indicators lights in the disp lay can turn
on in several colors.
A WARNING
-Failure to heed warning lights and other
important vehicle information may result
in serious personal injury or vehicle dam­
age.
- Whenever stalled or stopped for repair,
move the vehicle a safe distance off the
road, stop the engine, and turn on the
emergency flasher
¢ page 44.
- The engine compartment of any motor
vehicle is a potentially hazardous area.
Before you check anything in the engine
compartment, stop the engine and let it
cool down. Always exercise extreme cau­
t ion when work ing under the hood
¢ page 213, Engine compartment
(D Tips
Ma lfun ctions or faults w ill be identified e i­
ther with a red symbo l (pr iority 1 -Dan­
ger!) or with a ye llow symbo l (pr iority 2 -
Warning).
Overview
Some indicator lights turn on briefly to check
the function of that system when you switch
the ign ition on. These systems are marked
with an./ in the follow ing tables . If one of
these indicator lights does not turn on, there
is a malfunction in that system .
Red indic ator light s
Red symbols indicate a priority malfunction -
Danger!
- Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle .
- T urn off the engine.
- Check the malfunct ion ing system. Contact
your authorized Aud i dea ler o r a qua lified
workshop for assis tance.
USA m odel s: ./
Brake malfunction
¢page 14
Canada models : ./
Brake malfunction
¢page 14
USA model s:
-
Electromechanical parking brake
¢page 15
Canada models :
Electromechanical parking brake
¢page 15
Engine cooling system
¢page 15
Engine oil pressure
¢page 17
Engine oil level
¢page 17
Battery
¢page 16
Safety belt
¢page 16
Electronic steering column lock
¢page 17
Engine start system
¢page 17
Speed warning system
¢page85
I
Adaptive cru ise control./
¢ page89
Air suspension
¢page 18
Pedestrian warning
¢page 106
Yellow ind icator light s
Yellow symbo ls indicate a priority 2 malfunc-
tion - Warning!
...

14 Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Air suspension
¢page 18
Sport differential*
¢page22
Other indicator lights
- Turn
signals
¢page22
~ USA models: Cruise control *
~ ¢ page 85
•
Canada models: Cruise control*
¢page 85
-
r!I
Adaptive cruise control*
¢page89
•
Adaptive cruise control*
¢page 89
-
I
Adaptive cruise control*
¢page89
•
Audi lane assist
¢ page 96
-
•
High beam
¢page45
BRAKE /((f)) Brake system
The light illuminates when the ignition is
switched on . It goes out after the engine has
been started . This indicates that the brake
warn ing light is functioning properly.
If the brake warning light does not light up
when the engine is cranking, there may be a
malfunction in the electrical system. In this
case, contact your Audi dealer.
If the brake system warning/ind icator light
turns on, there is a brake system malfunction.
- (USA models)/ . (Canada models)
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid level
If the indicator light turns on and the mes ­
sage appears, proceed as follows:
"" Pull off the road . ""
Stop the vehicle.
"" Turn off the engine .
"" Check the brake fluid level ¢
page 229.
"" Contact your nearest authori zed repair fa-
cility if necessary.
Warning! Fault in brake system. Contact
dealer
If the ABS indicator light ti] (USA models)/ rl]
(Canada models), the ESC indicator light G]
and the brake system indicator light
- (USA models)/ . (Canada models) turn
on and the message appears, the ABS, ESC
and braking distr ibut ion are not working¢.&..
Carefu lly drive to your authorized Audi dealer
immediately to have the malfunction correct­
ed ¢.&. .
- (USA models) . (Canada models)
Parking brake: system fault! Please contact
dealer
- If the indicator light and the message ap­
pear
when stationary or after switching the
ignition on , check if you can release the
parking brake. After releasing the parking
brake, carefully drive to your authorized Au­
di dealer immediately to have the malfunc­
tion corrected. If you cannot release the
pa rking brake, seek professiona l assistance.
- If the ind icator light and the message ap­
pear
while driving, the emergency brak ing
function may not be available . It may not be
possible to set the park ing brake or release
it once it has been set. Seek profess ional as­
sistance.
(USA models): If the warn ing light - and
the warn ing l ight
El appear together, imme­
diately contact your authorized Audi dealer or
qualified wo rkshop to have all brake pads in­
spected
¢ page 19.
When the light comes on, an audible warning
s ignal is also given .
Ill-

Instruments and warning/indicator lights 15
A WARNING ,~
- Always observe the warnings in
c:> page 213, Engine compartment, be­
fore opening the hood and checking the brake fluid.
- Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard. Stop the car and get professional
assistance.
-USA models: If the - warning light,
the
Iii warning light and them warn­
ing light come on together, the rear
wheels could lock up first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause
loss of vehicle control and an accident.
Have your vehicle repaired immediately
by your authorized Audi dealer or a quali­
fied workshop . Drive slowly and avoid
sudden, hard brake applications.
- Canada models: If the brake warning
light ., the
Ii] warning light and the
ABS warning light
ll] come on together,
the rear wheels could lock up first under
hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can
cause loss of vehicle control and an acci­ dent . Have your vehicle repaired immedi­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer or a
qualified workshop. Drive slowly and
avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
- If the brake warning/indicator light does
not go out after a few seconds and the
parking brake released, or lights up while
you are driving, the fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir is too low. If you be­
lieve that it is safe to do so, proceed im­
mediately at low speed to the nearest
authorized Audi dealer or qualified repair
facility and have the brake system in­ spected.
-Always keep in mind that after several
brake applications, you will need greater
pressure on the brake pedal to stop your
vehicle . Do not rely on strained brakes to
respond with maximum stopping power
in critical situations. You must allow for
increased braking distances. The extra
distance used up by fading brakes could
lead to an accident.
PARK/( ®) Electromechanical parking
brake
The warning/indicator light monitors the
electromechanical parking brake .
If the indicator light - (USA models)/ .
(Canada models) turns on, the parking brake
was set. If the parking brake is set when the
ignition is off, the indicator light turns off af­
ter about 20 seconds.
The warning/indicator light will go out when
the parking brake is released.
- (USA models) • (Canada models)
Caution: Vehicle parked too steep
If the indicator light blinks and the message
appears, there is not enough braking power to
keep the vehicle from rolling . The brakes have
overheated. The vehicle could roll away even
on a small incline.
Press brake pedal to release parking brake
To release the parking brake, press the brake
pedal and press the button~ or start driving
with starting assist at the same time
c:> page 83.
Please release parking brake
To release the parking brake manually, press
the brake pedal and press the button ~ at the
same time. The parking brake only release au­
tomatically if the driver's safety belt is fas­
tened .
IIJ Parking brake!
If the IIJ indicator light turns on and this
message appears, there is a parking brake
malfunction . Drive to your authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.
- L Engine cooling system malfunction
A malfunction in the engine cooling system
must be repaired as soon as possible.
• Switch off engine and check coolant level IJ-

16 Instruments and warning/indicator lights
If the indicator light turns on and the mes­
sage appears, the coo lant temperature is too
h igh or the coo lant level is too low.
.,. Pull off the road.
.,. Stop the vehicle .
.,. Turn off the engine.
.,. Check coolant level¢
page 22 7.
.,. Add coolant if necessary¢
page 228 .
.,. Continue driving only after the eng ine cool­
ant warn ing/indicator light goes out.
.,. Co ntact your authorized Audi dealer for as-
s istance if necessary .
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be the cause of the malfunc ­
tion .
• Coolant temperature too high! Please let
engine run with vehicle stationary
If the indicator light turns on and the mes­
sage appears in trailer mode*, let the engine
run at idle for a few m inutes to cool down.
A WARNING ,_
- If your veh icle should break down for
mechanical or other reasons, park at a
safe distance from moving traffic, turn
off the engine and turn on the hazard
warning lights¢
page 44, Emergency
flasher.
-
- Never open the hood if you see or hear
steam or coolant escaping from the en­
gine compartment -you risk being scald­
ed. Wait until you can no longer see or
hear steam or coo lant escaping .
- Th e engine compartment of any vehicle
is a dangerous area. Before you perform
any work in the engine compartment,
turn of the eng ine and allow it to cool.
Follow the warning stickers¢
page 213,
Engine compartment.
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the . symbol
illuminates. There is a malfunct ion in the
engine cooling system -you could damage
your eng ine .
4'-Safety belts
This warning/indicator light reminds you to
put on your safety belt.
The . warning/indicator light illuminates
when the ignition is switched on to remind
the driver and any front passenger to put on
the safety belt. Addit ionally, an acoustic warn­
ing (gong) wi ll also sound .
For more Information¢
page 134, ~ Safety
belt warning light .
f::I Battery
This warning/indicator light detects a mal­
function in the generator or in the vehicle 's
electrical system.
The. warning/indicator light illum inates
when you switch on the ignition and must go
out after the eng ine has started .
• Alternator fault: Battery is not being
charged
If the indicator light turns on and the mes­
sage appears, there is a ma lfunction in the
generator or vehicle electrical system.
Drive to your authorized Audi dealer or quali­
fied workshop immediate ly . Because the veh i­
cle battery is discharging, turn off all unnec­
essary electrical equipment such as the radio.
Seek professiona l assistance if the battery
charge level is too low.
(•i Low battery charge: battery will be
charged while driving
If the indicator light turns on and the mes­
sage appears, there may be limited starting
ability.
If this message turns off after a little while,
the battery charged enough while driving.
If the message does not turn off, have your
autho rized Aud i dealer or qualified workshop
correct the malfunction.

Instruments and warning/indicator lights 17
9::;r: Engine oil pressure malfunction
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol
requires immediate service or repair . Driving
with a Low-oil-pressure indication is Likely to
inflict severe damage to the engine .
• Switch off engine and check oil level
If the indicator light t urns on the message ap­
pears, the oil press ure is too low.
~ P ull off the road.
~ Stop t he ve hicle .
~ Turn off the engine.
~ Check the engine oil level¢ page 224 .
~ If the engi ne oil leve l is too low, add engine
o il ¢
page 225. M ake sure that the oil p res­
s ur e warning symbol. appears no longer
in t he d is pl ay befo re y ou start driving aga in.
~ If the engine oil leve l is cor re ct an d the ind i­
c a tor lig ht still tur ns o n, tur n t he eng ine
off
and do not contin ue d riving . Seek professio ­
nal assistance.
(D Tips
- The engine oil pressure symbol. is
not an indicator for a low engine oil lev­
el. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the
oil level in your engine at regular inter­
vals, preferably each time you refuel,
and always before going on a long trip.
- The yellow oil level warning indication
II requires oil refill or workshop serv­
ice without delay. Do not wait until the
red oil pressure warning. starts to
flash before you respond to the low oil level warning
l!I. By then, your engine
may already have suffered seriou s dam­
age .
~ . Engine oil level
• WARNING: Please add oil immediately
When t he sy mbo l and the dr iver message a p­
pea r, the oil has to be reple nished r ight now
¢page 222.
If the indicator lig ht and th e message ap pear,
a d d engine o il i mm edi ate ly
¢page 225.
II Add oil , max . x qt (l). You may continue
driving
Whe n the symbol and the d river message ap­
pear, add the amoun t of oil appear ing in the
display at the nex t oppo rtuni ty ¢
page 222.
® -Steering column lock
• Do not drive vehicle: Steering defective
If th e indic ator li ght turns on and the mes ­
sa ge appe ars, there is an e lectroni c steering
column lock malf unct ion . You cannot switch
the ignit ion on.
D o
not tow yo ur vehicle beca us e it cann ot b e
s tee red. See k profession al assistance .
!'J!I Steering lock : system fault . Please con­
tact dealer
If the indicato r light turns on and the mes­
sage appea rs , t here is an e lectronic stee ring
column lock malfunct io n .
Drive to your auth orized A udi dealer immedi­
ately to hav e th e m alfunction corr ect ed .
A WARNING -
Your vehicle m ust not b e tow ed in t he
eve nt of a ma lfunction in the elec tronic
st eer ing col umn lo ck b eca use i t cann ot be
s teere d du e to the lock ed s tee ring. If it is
towe d wit h the steer ing lo cke d, there is
the r isk o f an acci dent.
© -Engine start system
• Engine start system fault. Please con­
tact dealer
If the indica to r li ght tur ns on and the mes­
sage a ppea rs, do
not switch the ignition off
because you may not be ab le to sw itch it on
again.
D rive to your autho rized A udi de aler imme di­
ate ly to have the ma lfunction corrected.
• Engine start system fault . Plea se con­
tact dealer

It is not possible to re-open the door for a
brief period direct ly after closing it. This al­
lows you to ensure that the doors are properly
l ocked.
It depends on the settings in the MMI wheth ­
er the entire vehicle is unlocked or one of the
doors
¢ page 31.
A WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS c> ..&. in
General description on page
30.
@ Tips
-
If your vehicle has been standing for an ex­
tended period, please note the fo llowing:
- The proximity sensors are deactivated af-
ter a few days to save power. You then
have to pull on the door handle once to
unlock the veh icle and a second time to
open the veh icle.
- To prevent the battery from being dis­ charged and to preserve your vehicle's
ability to start for as long as possible,
the energy management system gradu­
al ly sw itches off unnecessary conven­
ience functions .
It is possible t hat you
will not be able to unlock your vehicle us­
ing these convenience functions.
- For Declarat ion of Compliance to United
States FCC and Industry Canada regula­
tions
Q page 283.
Operating locks with the key
In the event of a failure of the power locking
system, the driver's door can be locked and
unlocked at the lock cylinder.
F ig. 18 Key turns for ope ning and closing .
Openin g an d clos ing 33
.. Remove the mechanical key Q page 29.
.. Turn the key to the left to un lock the driv­
er 's door.
.. Turn the key to the right to lock the driver's
door c>_& .
A WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS Q ..&. in
General description on page
30 .
Locking and unlocking the vehicle from
inside
Fig. 19 Drive r's doo r: power locking sw itch
Fig. 20 Rear powe r lock ing switch
.. Press the button@ to lock the vehicle c> ,& .
.. Press the button@ to unlock the vehicle
¢fig . 19, Qfig . 20.
If you lock the vehicle using the power locking
switch, please note the following:
- You cannot open the doors or the rear lid
from the
outside ( increased security, for ex­
ample when you are stopped at a red light).
- The d iodes in the power locking switches il-
luminate when all the doors are closed and
locked.
- Front doors: you can unlock and open the
doors from the inside by pulling on the door
handle. .,..