2012 AUDI R8 SPYDER windshield wipers

Front lid
Opening/closing the front lid
Fig. 34 Drive rs doo r: remote fro nt lid re le ase
Fig. 35 Releas e le ver under th e fron t lid
When opening the front lid, the windshield
wipers must be switched off and the wiper
arms must be folded against the windshield .
Otherwise the paint could be damaged.
Opening the front lid
.. Press the center button on the master key
or
.. Pull the release button in the driver 's door
Q fig . 34 .
.. Pull up on the release under the front lid
~ fig . 35 (arrow) . This releases the catch .
.. Open the front lid all the way .
Closing the front lid .. Pull the front lid down until the pressure
from the struts is reduced .
.. Close the front lid .
.. Press the front lid closed carefully using
both hands unti l it latches audibly
Q ,& .
Opening and closing 3 7
A WARNING
A front lid that is not completely latched
could fly up and block your view while driv ­
ing .
- When you close the front lid, check it to
make sure the safety catch has properly
engaged . The lid should be flush with the
sur rounding vehicle body parts.
- If you notice while driv ing that the lid is
not secured properly, stop at once and
close it.
- Never leave your vehicle unattended es­
pecia lly 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 p lay in or around your vehicle. A l­
ways keep the front lid as well as the ve­ hicle doors closed when not in use.
(D Note
Make sure no objects are protruding above
the edge of the luggage compartment.
Otherwise, the front lid could be dam­
aged .
@ Tips
If the front lid is open or not properly
l ocked when the ignition is turned on, the
door and front lid warning appears in the
in strument cluster dis play.
Emergency release for front lid
If the fron t lid cannot be opened, an emer­
gency release is provided .
Fig. 36 Section: Emerge ncy re lease
.

lever is controlled by a light sensor locat­
ed in the instrument panel. The instru­
ment pane l illumination will a utomat i­
cally become dimmer as the daylight
fades away and eventually will go o ut
completely when outside light is ve ry
low. T his is to rem ind you, the drive r, to
switch on the headlights before it gets
too dark.
- Canada models: instrument panel i llum i­
nat io n w ill stay b right regard less of the
i n tens ity of amb ien t lig ht. Always be
aware o f ch anges in outside light con di­
tions wh ile you are driving. Resp ond in
time to fading daylight by t urning the
l ight sw itch to position
io (or "A UTO" if
your car is equ ipped with this feature) to
turn on your headlights.
Luggage compartment light
The light is located on the right side of the
luggage compartment .
These lights come on automatica lly when the
front lid is opened. The lig hts turn off auto­
mat ica lly if the lid is left open for more then
10 minutes.
Sun visors
CJ
C • -·-·--·,
~
-----____ ,,_
~ --·----"­-------.. ----
~ ---- s;i~~~j
.---~~·-·oiiiiiii------------1
Fig. 6 5 Sun v isor
The vanity mir rors in the sun v isors are eq uip­
ped with covers.
Clear vi sion 5 3
Wiper and washer
system
Windshield wiper
The windshield wiper lever controls both the
windshield wipers and the washer system.
Fi g. 6 6 W iper leve r
The w indshield wiper lever¢ fig. 66 has the
follow ing pos itions:
Intermittent wiping 'Pl (activating rain
sen sor)
.,. Move the lever up to position (D .
.,. Move the switch @ to set the duration of
the wipe intervals or to adjust the sensitivity
of the light/rain sensor .
Low wiper speed
.,. Move the lever up to position @.
High wiper speed
.,. Move the lever up to pos ition @.
One-touch wiping
.,. Move the lever to positio n @, when you
want to wipe the windsh ield
briefly .
Automatic wip er/ washer
.,. Pull the lever to position ® (toward the
steering whee l) and hold .
.,. Release the lever. The washer system stops
and the wipers continue to operate for
about 4 seconds. Different numbers of wipe
cycles are pe rformed depending on how
long t he leve r is he ld.
Turning off the w ipe rs
.,. Move the lever back to position @.

54 Clear vis ion
Moving w ip er blade s to th e service
po sit ion
.. Do not lift the wiper arms away from the
glass when they are in their parked position;
this would damage the paint on the front
lid .
.. When there is a risk of frost, make sure t hat
the wiper blades are not frozen to the wind­ shield .
.. Move wipe r blades to the service pos it ion
¢page 55.
The windshield wipers and washer on ly work
when the ignition is turned on.
To reduce the sensit iv ity of the sensor, move
switch @down . To increase the sens itiv ity,
move the switch up. The higher you adjust the
sens itivity, the faste r th e sensor will react
when i t senses moisture on the w indshield.
The pauses between w iper t urns depend not
only on the sensitivity setting, but on the ve ­
hicle speed as well.
Du ring a temporary stop, e.g . at a t raff ic sig­
na l, the set wipe r speed is automatically re­
duced by one stage.
When the igni tion is tu rned on, the washer
jets are heated.
_& WARNING
- Wipe r blades a re cruc ial for safe driving!
Only when they are in good condition are
they able to clear the windows properly
to provide uncompromising visibility.
Worn or damaged wiper blades are a safety hazard ¢
page 55, Replacing
front wiper blades!
- The light/ra in sensor is only des igned to
assist and support the dr iver .
It remains
entirely the driver 's responsibility to
mon itor outs ide weather conditions and
to manually activate the w ipers as soon
as rain o r dri zz le red uces visibi lity
thro ugh the windshie ld.
- T he windshie ld must not be treated with
water-repe llent materials. They can in­
crease glare under poor visib ility condi­
tions such as wetness, darkness, or when the s
un is low on the horizon . In addi­
tion, they can cause the w indshield w ip­
ers to chatter .
(D Note
In freezing or near freezing conditions:
- Always check that the wiper blades are
not frozen to the g lass before you turn
the wipers on . Loosen a wiper blade
which is frozen in place before operating
the wipers to prevent damage to the
w iper blade or the wiper motor.
- Do not use the w ipers to clear a frosted
window. Us ing the wipers as a conven­
ient ice scraper will destroy the wiper
blades .
- Before you take your veh icle to an auto­
matic car wash, make sure you have the
w indshield w iper system switched off
(lever in position 0), otherwise the w ind­
shield w iper system could get damaged
in the car wash if it should suddenly
come on .
(D Tips
-The windshie ld w ipers are switched off
when the ignit ion is turned off. Act ivate
t he winds hield wipers after the ignition
is switched back on by moving the wind­
shield wiper lever to any position.
- Worn or dirty windshield wipe r blades
cause smearing, which can affect the op­
eration of the light/rain sensor . Check
the cond ition of your windsh ield wiper
blades regularly.
- When the wipers are switched on man­
ually and in ra in cond itions, the auto­
matic headlights turn on¢
page 49 or
off during the day when the wipers are
no longer operating . The automat ic
head lights fu nction is avai lab le in this
case on ly w hen the light switch is in the
"A UTO" posit ion¢
page 49, fig. 60.
- Make su re the washer fluid reservoir is
t opped off before goi ng on a long tr ip.
Look up ¢
page 182 for checking and
filling the washe r container .

-If you switch off the ignition w ith the
windshield wiper lever still in the inter­
val w ipe pos ition and then come back a
while later and drive off , the rain sensor
will reactivate itself after the vehicle
speed has exceeded 4 mph (6 km/h) .
Service position
It is only possible to change wiper blades if
you move the wiper arms to the service posi­
tion .
In order to use the windshield wipers, the
front lid must be comp letely closed.
Mo ving w ipe r blade s to the service
position
.. When there is a r isk of frost, make s ure that
the wiper blades are no t frozen to the wind­
shield .
.. Switch the ignition on .
.. Move the w iper leve r to position
0
c::> page 53, fig. 66 .
.. Press the I RESE T I button unt il the Display
type
menu appears in the Driver Informa­
tion System display.
.. Using the rocker switc h and the
!R ESE T I but­
ton, select the
Set > Wiper s > Front > Serv ­
i ce posit io n on
function . The windsh ield
wiper arms move to the service pos ition.
Moving w ipe r blade s to park po siti on
.. Make certain that the w ipe r arms are ly ing
against the w indshie ld .
.. Switch the ignition on and move the wiper
lever from position
O to 4 c::> page 53 ,
fig.
66. The wiper arms will move back to
t h e park pos ition .
(D Note
Never drive your vehicle when the wind­
shie ld w iper arms are in the service pos i­
tion and pulled away from the windshie ld.
When you dr ive faster than
4 mp h (6 km/
h), the w iper arms automat ica lly re turn to
t he par k position and could ca use pa int
damage to the front lid! Clear
vi
sion 55
@ Tips
- Yo u can also turn on t he service posit ion,
for example, if yo u want to protect the
w indshield from icing by using a cover.
- Th e service posit ion moves to
off a uto­
matically when you operate the wind­
shield wiper lever, or speed exceeds
4 mph (6 km/h).
Replacing front wiper blades
Wiper blades in good condition help keep the
windshield clear.
.-- --------..
Fig. 67 Unl atching w ipe r blade s
'
@
Fig. 6 8 Remov ing w iper b lades
Removing the wiper blade
.. Move the wipers to the service pos ition
c::> pageSS .
.. Fold the w indshie ld w iper arm away from
the glass .
0
i ,:. .., m
.. On the upper end of the wiper arm at the
corr uga tion, squeeze the p lastic ret ainer to­
gethe r on both s ides in the direction of the
arrow
c::> fig. 67.
.. Rotate the wiper b lade in the d irect ion of
the arrow @
c::> fig. 68 away from the wiper
arm .
.. Lift the wiper b lade off in the direction of
t he arrow @.

56 Clear vis ion
In stall ing t he wiper blade
.,. Place the rounded end of the wiper onto the
end of the w iper arm in the
op pos ite direc­
tion to the arrow @
c:::> fig. 68 .
.,. Squeeze the corrugation on the wiper until
you hear it click in the wiper arm .
.,. Fold the wiper arm back onto the wind­
shield .
.,. Switch the ignition on and move the wiper
lever down briefly
c:::> page 53, fig . 66 . The
wipe r will move back to the park position.
_& WARNING
- Clean yo ur wiper blades regularly w ith a
windshield washer solution to prevent
streaking. If the wiper blades are very
dirty, for examp le with insects, carefu lly
clean the w iper blades with a sponge or a
soft brush.
- For your safety, you should replace the
wiper blades once or twice a year. See
your authorized Aud i dealer for replace­
ment blades.
(D Note
- The w iper blades may only be changed
c:::> page 55 in the service position! Other­
wise, you r isk damaging the paint on the
front lid or the windsh ield wiper motor .
- To prevent damage to the wiper system:
-Always loosen blades which a re fro zen
to the windshield before operating
w ipers.
- Do not use gasoline, kerosene, paint
t hinner, or o ther solvents on or near
the wipe r blades .
- Do not attempt to move the wipers by
hand.
{D) Tips
The front wiper blades are different
lengths; the blade o n the dr ive r's side is
longer.
Mirrors
Dimming the mirrors
Fig . 69 Auto matic dimming rearview m irro r
.,. To dim the rearview mirror and both exteri­
or m irrors, press the@ button . The diode
@ turns on. The rearview and exterior mir­
rors dim automatically when light shines on
them, for example from headlights on ave­
h icle to the rear .
_& WARNING
-
Elec tro lyte fluid can lea k from automatic
dimming mirrors i f the glass is b roken.
Electro lyte fluid can irritate skin, eyes and
respiratory system.
- Repeated or prolonged exposure to e lec­
trolyte can cause i rr itation to the respira­
tory system , especially among people
with asthma or other respiratory condi­
tions. Get fresh air immediately by leav­
ing the vehicle or, if that is not possib le,
open w indows and doors all the way .
- If electrolyte gets into the eyes, flus h
them thoroughly with large amou nts
of
clean water for at least 15 minutes;
medical attention is recommended.
- If electrolyte contacts skin, fl ush affect­
ed area with clean wate r fo r at least 15
minutes and then wash affe cted area
wit h soap and wate r; medical attention
is recommended. Thoro ughly wash af­
fected clothing and shoes before reuse .
- If swallowed and person is consc ious,
rinse mouth with water for at least 15
minutes . Do not induce vomiting unless
instructed to do so by medical professio­ na l. Get medical attention immediately.

Braking
New brake pads
During the first 250 miles (400 km), new
b rake pads do not possess their full braking
effect, they have to be "broken in" first. The
distance can be ten times longer in veh icles
with ceramic brakes*. You can compensate for
this slightly reduced brak ing power by push­
ing harder on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking loads during the break-in period.
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobi les are sti ll
subject to wear, depending largely on operat­
ing conditions and dr iv ing habits
c:> & . On ve­
hicles that are either driven mostly in stop­
and-go city traffic or a re driven hard, the
brake pads should be checked by your author­
ized Audi dealer more often than specified in
the
Warranty & Maintenan ce booklet . Failure
to have your b rake pads inspected can result
in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the brak ing
effect of the engine. This way, you prevent un­
necessary wear on the brake system . If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes
down continuously. Pump the brakes at inter­
va ls.
Moisture or road salt
Under ce rta in conditions, for example, when
d riving through water or very heavy rain, or
even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in
freezing conditions ice) on the brake pads. A
few cautious brake applicat ions should dry
off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings.
When you are driving at higher speeds with
the windshield wipers on, the brake pads will
briefly touch the brake d iscs in regular inter­
vals so as to improve reaction t ime when brak­
ing on wet surfaces. You, the driver, will not
notice anything.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is dr iven on a salt-covered
road and the brakes are not used . Likewise,
Intelligent technology 145
you clean off accumulated salt coating from
brake discs and pads with a few cautious ap­
plications of the brake
c:> & .
Corrosion
The re may be a tendency for dirt to build up
on the brake pads and corros ion to form on
the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
on ly for short trips with litt le use of the
brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, o r if cor­
rosion has formed on the discs, it is advisable
to clean
off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high
speed
c:> & .
Faults in the brake system
If you shou ld notice a sudden increase in
brake pedal travel, then one of the two brake
circuits may have fai led . Drive immediately to
the nearest qualified workshop to have the
damage repaired. Drive at reduced speed on
the way there and anticipate longer stopping
distances and higher pedal pressure c:> &,.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if
the brake fluid level is too low. The brake flu id
level is monitored electronically.
Brake power assist unit
T he brake power assist unit increases the
pressure that you generate with the brake
pedal. It works only when the engine is run­
ning.
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual in­
spection of t he condition of the brake pads
thro ugh the openings in the wheel. If neces­
sary, the whee l may be removed for this in­
spection
c:> page 206 .
A WARNING
--You should perform braking maneuvers
for the purpose of cleaning the brake
system only if road conditions permit.
•
•

230 Index
Safety belt position Safety belts worn by pregnant women 106
Safety belt pretens io ner
Service and disposal .... .. .. .. .. .. . 107
Safety belts Cleaning . .. .......... ...... ... .. . 162
Danger to passengers who do not wear a
safety belt ............ .. .. .. .. .. . 104
F astening .... ........... .. .. .... . 104
General notes ............ .. .. .. .. . 101
I mproperly worn .......... ... .... . 106
Not worn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Pretensioners ................ .... . 107
Safety belt position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Securing child safety seats ....... .. . 138
Special cons iderations for pregnant
women .. .. ................ ... ... 106
Unfasten ing ........... .. .. .. .. .. . 106
Warn ing/ indicato r light ...... .. .... . 101
Why you must wear them .. .. .. .. .. . 102
Worn properly ............ ... .... . 102
Safety belt warn ing light ........ .. .. .. 14
Safety compliance sticker ..... .. .. .. . 215
Safety equipment ........ .. .. .. .. .. .. 91
Safety features for occupant restraint and protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Safety guidelines Seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Safety instructions For using chi ld safety seats .......... 133
F or using safety belts .............. 102
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag Sys-
tem ... .. ................. .. .... . 122
Seat adjustment Driver's seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Fr ont passenger's seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Power seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Safety guidelines ..... .... .. .. .. .. .. 59
Seating capacity ............ ... .... . 101
Seating position
Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Fr ont passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
I ncorrect seat position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Seats
Number of seats
101
Selector lever
Defective ... .. .. ............. .. .. . 19
Serv ice
Airbag system ... ..... ........... . 122
Service and disposal Safety be lt pretensioner ........ .... 107
Serv ice interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Service position for windshield wipers .. . 55
Set menu ....... .. ................ .. 26
Setting the t ime ... ... .......... .. .. .. 9
Side airbags Descrip tion .... .. ... .......... .. .. 127
How they work . .. .......... ...... . 128
Side marker lights ................. .. 49
Snow cha ins .. .. . .. ............ .. .. 198
Socket . .... .... ................... . 62
Sound system display ................. 21
Sources of information about child re-
stra ints and their use . ........... .. .. 141
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Speed rating letter code .............. 194
Speed warning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Spoi ler ............................ 144
Starting on hills
Hill hold assist ... ............. .... . 73
Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Steering column Adjusting ..... .. ............. .... . 70
Locking the steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Steps for determining correct load limit . 191
Stopping the eng ine ..... ........... .. 72
Storage ... ..... .. .. .............. .. 62
Sun visors .. .. .. .. .... ......... .... . 53
Symbols Red symbols in the center display ...... 11
Yellow symbols in the center display .. . 12
also refer to Warning/Indicator lights .. 11
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Tank flap Unlocking the fuel filler flap by hand .. 167
T echnical modifications ........ .. .. .. 221