2013 AUDI A4 warning

Apply the product using a microfiber cloth . To
avoid damaging the paint surface, do not use
too much pressure .
Rinse the vehicle tho roughly with water . Clean
the vehicle starting at the top and working to ­
ward the bottom using a
neutra l sh ampoo
and a soft mi crofiber cloth . Stop frequently to
rinse the cloth thorough ly.
Clean the wheels and sill panels last. Use a
clean
s pon ge on these areas .
R inse the vehicle tho roughly aga in and let i t
a ir dry. If there are any wa ter spots, they can
be removed using a
le ather cloth.
Clea n again with the sp ecial cl eaner for matt e
finish paint
i f ne cessary.
Removing stubborn dirt
B ird dropping s or tree sap a re best removed
with plenty of water and a m icrofiber cloth .
You shou ld r inse off
gasoline residue immedi­
ately with plenty o f water.
A WARNING
- Wash your veh icle only when the ignition
is switched off to reduce the risk of a
c rash .
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information ¢
page 202.
0 Note
-Do not treat vehicle parts painted w ith
matte f inish paint usi ng polish ing mate­
r ials or hard wax . These products could
cause damage to the appearance or sur­
face that cannot be repaired.
- Never use p rotective wax. It can destroy
the matte fin ish effect .
- Do not p lace any st ickers or magne tic
s igns on vehicle parts painted with
matte finish paint. The pa int co uld be
damaged when the stickers or magnets
are removed.
- To prevent pa int damage, do not wash
the veh icle in direct sun ligh t.
Cleaning and protec tion 205
- To prevent damage to the pa int sur face,
do not use insect remova l sponges ,
rough kitchen sponges or sim ila r items .
- Yo u should remove deb ris (such as in­
sects) from the headlight lenses on a
regu lar bas is, for example when refuel­
ing your vehicle . Only clean the head­
lights using a wet cloth or sponge, never
a dry one. Cleaning with soapy water is
recommended.
(D Tips
For more information on special cleaning
products designed for matte finish paint,
see your Aud i deale r.
, Sensors and camera lenses
- Remove snow with a hand brus h and remove
ice with a de- ic ing sp ray that does not con­
t ain so lvents.
- Clean the senso rs (adaptive cruise co ntrol*,
pa rking system*) w ith a cleaning so lution
tha t does not contain so lvents and a soft
cloth .
(D Note
-If you wash your vehicle with a pressure
washer,
- make sure there is enough distance to
sensors i n the rear bumper.
- do not clean the camera lenses and the
area around them with the pressure
washer.
- Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens. This
cou ld cause the lens to crack .
- Never clean the camera lens with abra­
sive products .
Waxing and Polishing
Waxing
A good wax coating protects the vehicle paint
to a large extent against the environmental
factors listed under~
page 202, Washing and
even against s light scratches.
ii,.
•
•

206 Cleaning and protection
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your
paint as soon as one week after your vehicle
has been de livered.
Even if you regularly use a
waxing process in
automatic car washes, we recommend that
you manua lly app ly a coat of wax to give the
pa int extra protection, particular ly if water no
longer beads on the clean paint.
Protect plastic body parts with car wax in the
same way as the vehicle body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to
collect on the front bumper and on the for­
ward area of the hood. They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
Polishing
Polish your vehicle only if the paint has lost its
shine and the gloss cannot be brought back
with wax.
If the polish used does not contain preserva­
tive compounds, the paint must be waxed af­
terwards.
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢page 202.
(D Note
Do not use car wax on
- matte or anod ized metal trim
- rubber or rubber-like trim .
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special care.
For environmenta l reasons, Audi fabricates
the bright trim strips and trim pieces from pure chromium-free aluminum.
Dirt and marks on the trim strips should be
removed with a
pH-balanced cleaning agent
(do not use a chrome cleaner). Authorized
Aud i dealers carry cleaning products which
have been tested for use on your vehicle and
are not harmful to the environment . T
o avoid corrosion on the exterior trim strips,
only a pH-ba lanced solution should be used
for the windsh ield washer.
A WARNING "--
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢ page 202.
Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care .
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to remove
dust and light surface dirt. For other soil, use
a lukewarm all-purpose cleaning solution or a
mild saddle soap for vinyl trim. Remove water
spots and traces of soap with a clean, damp
cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub
dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a
clean cloth or sponge soaked with all-purpose
cleaner or with a solvent designed espec ially
to clean v inyl.
Occasiona lly app ly a colorless vinyl or leather
preservative to retain the material's luster
and pliability .
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢ page 202.
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots
and deposits from aluminum surfaces.
Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can dam­
age them over time.
A WARNING
A lways read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢ page 202.

Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up
immediately.
11-Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray
paint to cover minor scratches and nicks .
Your authorized Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone chips.
Scratches should be touched up soon after
they occur to prevent corros ion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple
touch-up job w ill not be enough. The affected
surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti-rust pr imer before the pa inted
f inish can be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the vehicle ident ificat ion label
¢page 275.
A WARNING
Always read and heed a ll WARNINGS and
other information
¢ page 202.
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
C lean a ll windows regularly to remove road
fi lm and car wash wax buildup.
11-Remove snow from windows using a br ush .
11-Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from
windows and mirrors.
11-Remove other res idue on the windows with
a spray-on glass cleaner.
11-Wipe the windows dry with a clean p iece of
cloth or kitchen paper towel.
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a brush. Use a non-abra­
sive
p lastic ic e scraper -better still, a spray
de icer - to remove
ic e from windows and mir­
r ors.
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax s ince these can interfere with
the function of the w indshield wiper blades
(chatter).
Cleaning and protec tion 207
Oil, grease, or si licone residue can be removed
with
gl ass clea ne r or s ilicon e remo ve r. How­
ever, wax res idue requires the use of a spec ia l­
l y formulated solvent. Please contact your au­
thorized Audi dealer for advice on safe prod­
ucts for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside
at regu lar intervals.
Never dry windows with the same chamois
that you use to dry painted surfaces . Wax resi ­
due on the chamois can impair v is ion through
the windows .
A WARNING
-Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
c> page 202.
- The windsh ield must not be treated w ith
water-repellent materials. They can in­ crease glare under poor v is ibility condi­
tions such as wetness, darkness, or when
the sun is low on the hor izon. In addi­
tion, they can cause the w indshie ld w ip­
ers to chatter.
0 Note
- Never use warm or hot wate r to remove
snow and ice from windows and mirro rs.
Th is could cause the glass to crack.
- To p revent damage to the w ires of the
rear defogger, do not place any adhesive
st ic kers on the ins ide of the rear w indow
over the wires.
- T o help p revent dirt from scratching the
w indow, always sc rape in a forward di­
rection -pushing the sc raper away from
you - never back and forth .
- Wate r lea king from the ins ide of the rear
w indows may damage sensitive electrica l
components located either under the
rear parcel shelf or in the rear trunk area.
Always ensure that water never leaks through the body section of the vehicle.
You can do th is by using waterproof pro­
tection over the vehicle's elect rical com­
ponents (e .g. when instal ling window
tinting).
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208 Clea ning and protec tio n
- Damage or ma lfunction of electrical
components due to water damage or any
other outside influence is not covered by
the Aud i New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
See your Warranty
& Maintenance book­
l et for additional details about your war­
ranty.
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
.. Wash the whee ls with a sponge or hose
brush every other week.
.. For deep cleaning afterwards, use only a
dedicated
aci d-fr ee cast alloy wheel cleaner.
.. Rub a coat of
liqui d wax onto the r ims every
three month . Be sure to reach and treat a ll
parts of the rim.
To preserve the decorat ive appearance of the
cast alloy wheels, some specia l care is neces­
sary. In addit ion to road d irt and sa lt , brake
dust is a lso cor ros ive.
If l eft on for too long,
brake dus t can cause pitting.
Use only specia l
acid-free cleaners formulated
for a lloy rims. Safe p roducts are available at
your author ized Audi dealer. Never leave the
cleane r on the rims longer than specified on
the label. If not rinsed
off promptly, the acid
contained in some cleaners can attack the
threads on the whee l bolts.
Never use ab ras ive or metal polishing clean­
ing agents. If the protective coating has been
chipped, e .g. by kicked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possible .
.&, WARNING
-Moisture and ice on brakes may affect
braking efficiency¢
page 188. Test the
brakes carefully each time you wash the
vehicle .
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢ page 202.
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not need to be
checked .
All body cav ities which could be affected by
corros ion have been thoroughly protected at
the factory .
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treatment. If any wax should seep
out of the cavity when the ambient tempera­
ture is high, it can be removed with a plastic scraper and a suitable solvent .
.&, WARNING '"-'--
Solvents can be dangerous .
- Benz ine is flammable and toxic. If you
use benz ine for removing the wax, keep
spa rks, flame and lighted cigarettes
away. Never dump benz ine on the
g round, into open streams or down sew ­
age drains .
- Be s ure to observe all safety and environ­
mental regulations. Follow all instruc­
tions on the container.
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information ¢
page 202.
Chassis
Have the undercoating checked for damage
from time to time.
The lower body shell of your Aud i is also thor­
oughly p rotected against corros ion.
Any damage to the undercoat ing caused by
road hazards should be repaired promptly .
.&, WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong p la­
ces can cause a fire.
- Do not app ly additional undercoating or
r u stp roofing on or nea r the exhaust
manifold, exhaust pipes, catalyti c con­
ver ter or heat shields. While driving, the
substance used for undercoating could
overheat and cause a fire.

-Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢page 202.
Exhaust tail pipes
Road salt and other corros ive materia ls will
damage the mater ial in the exhaust tail pipes
if they are not cleaned regularly . Do not clean
the ta il p ipes with wheel cleaner, paint pol ish,
chrome po lish or other abrasive cleaners.
C lea n the ta il p ipes wi th car ca re p rod ucts
that are s uitabl e for s tain less stee l.
Your authorized Audi dealer can provide clean­ i n g p roducts t hat have been tested and ap­
p roved fo r you r vehi cle.
Care of interior
Infotainment components
The Radio/MMI* display may be cleaned with
a soft cloth and commerc ially-avai lab le "LCD
cleane r" . The cloth should be coated l ightly
wh en the clean ing solution when cleani ng the
d isp lay.
The
MMI* contro ls must be cleaned first with
a br ush so that dirt does not e nte r the un it o r
ente r betwee n th e bu ttons and the hous ing.
Then w ip ing t he con tro ls w ith a cloth damp­
e ned wi th dish de tergent and water is recom ­
mended .
(D Note
- To avoid sc ratch ing the disp lay, yo u
s ho ul d neve r clea n it dry.
- To prevent damage, ma ke s ure fl uids do
n ot en ter the co ntrols.
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots
and deposits from alum inum surfaces.
C hrome ca re products and alkaline cleaners
will attack alum in um s urfaces and can dam­
age them over time.
Cleaning and protec tion 209
A WARNING
A lways read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
¢page 202.
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabr ics and fabric cover ings (e.g. seats, door
trim pa ne ls, etc.) shou ld be cleaned at regular
i n tervals w it h a vac uum cleaner. This removes
s ur face di rt particles which cou ld become em­
bedded in the fabri c throug h use. Ste am
cleaners sho uld not be used, beca use the
steam tends to p ush the dirt deeper into the
fabric and lock it there .
Normal cleaning
Generally, we recommend using a soft sponge
o r a lint -free microfibe r clo th to the clean fab­
ric. Br ushes shou ld only be used for carpets
and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces
could be harmed by br ushes.
Norma l su rface s tains c an be cleaned using a
commerc ially availab le foam cleaner . Spread
the foam on the s urface of t he fabric with a
soft sponge and work it in gently. Do not satu­
rate the fabric. T hen pat the foam dry us ing
absorbe nt, dry cloths (e.g. m icrofiber cloth)
and vacuum it after it has dried completely.
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e .g. coffee, fr uit
juice, etc.) can be treated with a mild deter­
gent solution. Apply the detergent sol ution
with a spo nge. In the case of stubborn stains,
a detergent paste can be applied directly to
the stain and worked into the fabric. After­
wards, use copious amounts of clean water to
remove the rem aining de terge nt. Apply the
w at er wit h a d am p clot h or sponge a nd pat
the fabric dry with an abso rbent, dry clot h.
Stains from choco late or makeup should have
de terge nt pa ste rubbed i nto them. After­
w ards, remove the soa p with wa te r (damp
sponge).
Alcohol can be used to treat stains from grease, o il, lipstic k or a ballpoin t pen. Melted .,.
•
•

210 Cleaning and protec tio n
grease or dye must be patted off using ab ­
sorbent materia l. It may be necessary to re­
treat the areas with detergent paste and wa­
te r.
I n the case of general soi ling of the uphols ­
tery and cover material, we recommend hiring
a specialist that has the equ ipment to clean
the seat cove rs and other fabric surfaces by
shampooing and spray ex traction.
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
the information
~ page 202.
(D Tips
Open Velcro fasteners on your clothing can
damage the seat cover. Please make sure
that Velcro fasteners are closed.
Plastic parts and instrument panel
Always use a clean cloth moistened in clear
water to clean these areas. For pers istent dirt
use an Audi approved
s ol ve nt-fr ee plastic
cleane r/protectant.
A WARNING
So lvents can change the properties of
some plastics and make it harder for the
airbag to dep loy.
- Never clean the instr ument pane l or the
surface of airbag modules with cleaning
products that contain solvents .
- Products containing solvents wi ll make
the surface of th is part porous.
- Serious injuries can result if plastic parts
come loose when the airbag is deployed .
- Always read and heed all WARN INGS and
other information ~
page 202.
0 Note
Cleaning agents con taining solvents will
at tac k the mater ial and can change the
way it behaves .
Natural leather
Applies to vehicles: wit h natural leather
Audi makes great efforts to maintain the
properties, natural look and feel of interior
leather .
General
We offer many d ifferent types of leather on
our vehicles. Most are d ifferent types of nappa
leather, which has a smooth surface and
comes in various colors .
The intensity of the co lo r determines the visu­
al characterist ics and appearance . If the sur­
face of the leather has a typ ica l natural look,
then the leather is a nappa leather that has
been left in a relat ive ly natura l condit ion. This
leather offe rs particularly good comfort and
breathes we ll. Fine veins, closed grai ns, insect
bites, skin fo lds, and s ubt le va ria tions in color
remain visible . These characteristics demon­
strate that the material is natura l.
Natura l na ppa le ather is not covered by a co l­
o r finish. It is therefore mo re sensit ive to soil­
ing and wea r, which is something you need to
consider if children, animals or other factors
might prove to be part icu larly hard on the
leather.
By contrast, leather types that are covered by
a colo red finish layer are more durable . This
has a positive effect on the leather's resist­
ance to wear and soiling in dai ly use. On the
other hand, the typical characteristics of natu­
ral leather are barely or not apparent . Howev ­
er, th is does not mean that the leathe r itself
is of infe rior quality .
Care and handling
Because of the exclusive nature of the types of
leather that Aud i uses and their unique prop­
erties (such as sens it ivity to oils, grease, soil ­
i ng, etc.), you will need to be somewhat ca re­
ful with these leathers, and a ce rtain type of
ca re is req uired. For example, dark clo thing
ma ter ials can disco lor le athe r seats (especia l­
ly if such clothing is damp and was not dyed
correct ly). Dust and dirt particles in pores ,
folds, and seams can have an abrasive effect ..,..

212 Cleaning and protec tio n
- Leather cleaning and care kit
- Creams to care for colored leather
- Spot removers for ballpo int pens, shoe pol-
ish, etc .
- Oil/grease dissolving spray
- New and upcoming products.
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
~ page 202.
{[) Note
-Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter
fluid, turpentine), waxes, shoe pol ish or
s imilar products on the leather surfaces
i n your Audi.
- To avoid damage, have stubborn stai ns
removed by a commerc ial cleaning spe­
cia list.
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Appl ies to vehicles: with Alcantara ® upho lste ry
Removing dust and dirt
"" Moisten a cloth, squeeze out excess water
and wipe down the seat s urfaces .
Removing stains
"" Moisten a clot h w ith lukewarm water or
with diluted
ethyl (rubb ing) alcohol.
"" Dab at the stain. Start at the o utside and
wor k inwards.
"" Once t he stain is no longer v isib le , use a
soft dry cloth or t issue to soak up the mois ­
ture .
Do not use leather cleaning produc ts on Al ­
cantara ®.
You may use a suitable shampoo fo r removing
dust and dir t.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can
scratch and damage the surface .
If the car is
l eft stand ing in the sun fo r long pe riods, the
A lcantara ® sho uld be p rotected against direct
sun light to prevent it from fad ing. Slight color
variations will develop in normal use and are
not an indication of material deterioration.
(D Note
- Never use chemica l so lvents (e.g. lighte r
fluid, tu rpentine), waxes, shoe polish or
sim ilar products on A lcantara® surfaces.
- To avoid damage, have stubbo rn stains
removed by a commercial clean ing spe­
cialist.
- Do not use b rushes, stiff sponges or sim­
ilar ly abrasive cleaning a ids.
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work relia­
bly when needed.
"" Keep belts clean .
"" For cleaning, use a mild soap a nd water so l­
ution. Let belts dry thorough ly and away
from d irect sunlight .
"" Do not allow inertia ree l safety belts to re­
tract before they are completely dry.
"" Check the condition of your safety be lts
reg­
ularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract
properly.
A WARNING
D amaged safety belts can break in a crash .
- Anyth ing that might damage your safety
be lts could mea n that you and your pas­
sengers would not be adequate ly pro­
tec ted in a n accident.
- Safety belt pe rformance depends on co r­
rect insta llation. Neve r remove be lts
from the veh icle to clean them.
- Do not use chemical clean ing agents,
b leach or dyes. They have corrosive prop­
erties which wea ken the webb ing.
- When clean ing you r safety belts, inspect
them for damage. If you discover dam­
a ge, see yo ur authori zed A udi dealer.
- Always read a nd heed a ll WAR NINGS and
other info rmation
~ page 202.

Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the en­
gine compartment.
Al ways s witch off the ign ition befor e clean ­
ing the eng in e c:>
& .
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum pane l in front
of the windshield under the engine hood. This
prevents the water drain holes from becoming
blocked, and it prevents debris from entering
the vehicle interior through the heating and
ventilation ducts .
Corrosion protecti on
The engine compartment and transmission
have been corrosion-protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very impor ­
tant, particular ly in the winter . If the vehicle
is frequent ly driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel
should be thoroughly cleaned at the end of
winter and retreated to prevent sa lt damage.
At the same time, the underside of the vehicle
should be washed as we ll.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any
time with grease removing solut ions
1>, or if
you have the engine washed , the anti-corro­
sion treatment is a lmost always removed as
well.
It is therefore essential to have a long­
lasting co rrosion protection reapp lied to a ll
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the
engine compartment.
A WARNING
Be aware: The engine compa rtment of any
motor vehicle is a potentially hazardous
area.
- Before working in the engine compart­
ment, be s ure to read the in format ion
c:> page 219.
- Before reaching into the front plenum
pane l, always remove the ignition key.
l ) Use o nly the co rr ect cle anin g s olu tion s. Neve r use ga s­
o line or d ie sel fuel.
Cleaning and protec tion 213
Otherwise, the windshield wiper system
could un intentionally be sw itched on,
possibly caus ing personal injury from the
mov ing wiper linkage .
- Never reach into the area around or
touch the rad iator fan. The aux iliary fan
is temperature controlled and can sw itch
on suddenly - even when the ignition is
off.
- Do not wash, wax or dry the eng ine with
the engine running . Moving or hot parts
could injure you.
- Do not clean the underside of the chas­
sis, fenders, wheel covers, or other ha rd
to reach pa rts without protect ing your
hands and arms . You may cut yourself on
sharp-edged metal parts .
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
o ther info rmation
c:> page 20 2.
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