2013 AUDI A4 SEDAN Owners Manual

Cleaning and protect ion
General information
Regular core preserves vehicle value.
Any automobile is exposed to industrial
fumes , corrosive road salt, etc. A well cared
for Audi can look like new many years after
purchase . Regular and correct care w ill con­
tr ibute to maintaining the beauty and value of
your Aud i.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition
for substantiating a warranty claim should
corrosion damage or paint defects occur.
Your authorized Audi dealer has a variety of
dedicated vehicle-care products and can ad­
vise which ones to use for cleaning the exter i­
or and interior of your vehicle.
Whether you use products recommended by
Audi or other commercially available cleaning
agents, please make sure you apply them cor­
rectly .
.&, WARNING
-Cleaning agents may be poisonous. Keep
them out of the reach of children.
- Heed all caution labels.
- Always read directions on the container
before using any product. Follow the di­
rect ions carefully.
- Most chemical cleaners are concentrated
and have to be diluted .
- Use spot removing fluids only in well
ventilated areas.
- Do not use gasoline, kerosene, d iesel
fuel, nail polish remover or other volatile
fluids. They may be toxic, flammab le or
haza rdous in other ways. Do not wash,
wax or dry the vehicle with the ignition
on or the engine running.
- Do not clean the undersides of chassis,
fenders, wheel covers, e tc. without pro­
tecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
Cleaning and protection 199
-Moisture and ice on brakes may impair
brak ing effic iency¢
page 187. Test the
brakes carefully each time you wash the
veh icle.
@) For the sake of the environment
Select on ly environmentally friend ly clean­
i ng products . Leftover cleaning products
should not d isposed of in the household
waste.
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequent washing protects the vehicle .
The best protection against environmental i n­
fluences is
frequent washing and waxing . How
often th is is required depends on:
- How much the veh icle is used
- Where the veh icle is parked (garage, in the
open under trees, etc.)
- The seasonal and weather conditions
- Environmental influences
T he longer b ird droppings, insects, tree resin,
road and indus trial gr ime, tar, soot, road salt
and other materials remain on the vehicle
body, the more lasting their destructive ef­
fects will be . High temperatures caused by ex­
posure to intense sun light intens ify the corro­
sive effect, particularly when humid ity is high
as well.
Under certain circumstances,
weekly washing
may be necessary. Under other cond itions, a
monthly washing and waxing may be ade­
quate .
After the winter, the underside of the vehicle
should be thoroughly washed, preferab ly in a
professional car wash .
.&, WARNING ,_
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information¢
page 199 .
•
•

200 Cleaning and protec tio n
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any
modern automatic car wash .
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle
can normally be washed without problems in
an automatic car wash. However, the effect on
the paint depends to a large extent on the de­
sign of the facility, the filtering of the wash
water, the type of wash and care mater ial , etc.
I f the pa int has a dull appearance afte r going
through the car wash or is scratched, bring
this to the attention of the operator immedi­
ately.
If necessary, use a different car wash.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing the
windows and the roof . Factory installed an­
tennas must not be removed.
I f you have installed additional accessor ies on
the vehicle - such as spoilers, roof rack, etc. -
it is best to ask the car wash operator if these
should be removed .
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
c;, page 199.
Before washing the vehic le in an automatic
car wash, p lease make sure to retract the
exterior m irrors to prevent them from be­
ing damaged.
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehi­ cle by hand.
• Before you start washing, make sure you
have read and understood the WARNINGS
r:::;, A in General information on page 199 .
• First soak all dried di rt until it is soft, then
rinse it off .
• As you clean your vehicle, start with the
roof and work your way down to the bottom,
us ing a sponge, a sponge glove o r a clean
brush. •
Rinse the sponge or the sponge g love often,
flushing it clean each time .
• Use spec ial car shampoo only for very per­
sistent d irt .
• Rinse the car thoroughly with wa ter .
• Use a chamo is leather to gently w ipe the ex-
ter ior dry .
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the
wheels, door sills and other regions exposed
to road dirt . In this way, you will not scratch
the pa int with coarse particles imbedded in
the sponge the next t ime you wash the car.
&_ WARNING
- Do not clean the underside of the chas­
sis, fenders, wheel covers, or o ther ha rd
to reach parts withou t protecting you r
hands and arms. You may cut yourself on
sharp-edged metal parts .
-A lways read and heed a ll WARNINGS and
other info rmation
c;, page 199.
{D Note
- N ever try to remove dirt, mud or dust if
t he su rface of the veh icle is dry . Neve r
use a dry cloth or sponge, since this
cou ld scratch your vehicle's paint or win­
dows .
- Never wash your car in bright s unli ght .
Drops of wate r act as magn ifying lenses
and may damage your paint .
- When you wash your car in the winter: if
you rinse yo ur vehicle with a hose, be
careful not to aim the stream of water
directly at locks, or at door or hatch
openings - they can freeze shut .
- Never use sponges designed to remove
insects, or any k itchen scouring sponges
o r simi lar p roducts . They can damage
your pai nt finish .
- You should remove debris (such as in ­
sects) from the headlight lenses on a
regu lar basis, for example when refuel­
ing your vehicle . Never use a d ry cloth o r
sponge to clean the headlights. On ly use
wet cloths o r sponges to prevent
scratches. It is best to use soapy water.
-

@ For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the ve­
hicle should only be washed in special
wash bays.
Washing your vehicle with a power
washer
Cleaning the ex terior of your car wi th a high­
pressure power washer is safe as long as you
observe a few simple rules .
11-Before using the power washer, make su re
you have read and understood the WARN­
INGS
c:::> A in General information on
page 199 .
11-Always fo llow the operating instructions for
the power washer .
11-Make sure that the jet on the spray hose
produces a "fan shaped spray".
11-Do not ho ld the spray nozzle too close to
soft materia ls.
When cleaning the vehicle with a power wash­
er
always fo llow the operating instructions .
This applies particularly to the
operati ng
p re ssu re
and the s p ra yin g distance . Maintain
a sufficient d istance to soft mater ials such as
rubber hoses and sound/vibra tion deadening
materials (particularly on the underside of the
engine hood) . Do not use a jet wh ich sprays
water in a
direct stream or one that has a ro·
tat in g
jet.
Water temperature should not exceed 140 °F
(60 °() .
A WARNING
Never wash tires w it h a jet that sprays wa­
t er in a direc t stream. This cou ld cause in ­
visib le damage to t he tires and weake n
them, even if the spray is from a relatively
long distance and for a short time . Dam­
aged and weakened t ires can fai l and cause
accidents and persona l injury.
(D Note
To avo id damag ing your vehicle, always
make sure t hat there is sufficient distance
Cleaning and protec tion 20 1
between the spray head and soft materia ls
like rubber hoses, plastic parts and sound­
deaden ing mater ia ls. Never aim the spray
head at the same point for a long time.
This also applies to cleaning headlights
and painted bumpers . Remember: the
closer the nozzle is to the surface of the
mater ia l, the greater the st ress on the ma­
terial.
Sensors and camera lenses
- Remove snow w ith a hand br ush and remove
ice with a de -icing sp ray that does not con­
tain so lvents.
- Clean the senso rs (adap tive c ruise co ntrol *,
parking system *) with a cleaning so lution
that 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 a ro und them with the press ure
washer.
- Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow o r ice from the camera lens . This
cou ld caus e 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
t o a la rge extent agains t the envi ronmental
f actors lis ted under
c:::> page 199, Washing and
even against s light scra tches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect yo ur
paint as soon as one wee k afte r you r vehicle
has been delivered.
Even if you regularly use a
wa xing process in
automat ic car washes, we recommend that
you manually apply a coat of wax to g ive the .,.
•
•

202 Cleaning and protec tio n
paint extra p rotection, particularly if water no
longer beads on the clean paint.
P rotec t plastic body parts with ca r 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.
Poli shing
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.
.8, WARNING
Always read and heed a ll WARNINGS and
other information ¢
page 199.
(D Note
Do not use car wax on
- matte or anod ized metal trim
- rubber or rubber-like tr im.
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special care.
F or environmenta l reasons, Audi fabricates
the bright trim strips and trim pieces from pure chromium-free a luminum .
Dirt and marks on the trim str ips should be
removed with a
pH-bal anc ed cleaning agent
(do not use a chrome cleaner) . Authorized
Audi dealers carry cleaning products which have been tested for use on your vehicle and
are not harmful to the environment.
To avoid corrosion on the exterior trim strips,
only a pH-balanced solution should be used
for the windshield washer.
.8, WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information ¢
page 199.
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 v inyl tr im . Remove water
spots and traces of soap with a clean, damp
cloth o r 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.
Occas ionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather
preservative to retain the material's luster
and pliability .
.8, WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information¢
page 199.
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots
and deposits from a luminum surfaces .
Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack a luminum surfaces and can dam­
age them over time.
.8, WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information¢
page 199.
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up
immediately.
.,. Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray
paint to cover minor scratches and nicks.
Your authorized Audi dea ler has touch-up
paint for minor scratches and stone chips.
Scratches should be touched up soon after
they occur to prevent corrosion .

If a spot starts to rust, however , a simple
touch-up job will not be enoug h. The affected
surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti -rust pr imer before the painted
finish can be restored.
The number for the origina l vehicle paint can
be found on the vehicle ident ification labe l
<=:>page 268.
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
c::> page 199 .
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road
fi lm and car wash wax b uildup .
.,. Remove snow from windows using a brush .
.,. Use a plast ic ice scraper to remove ice from
windows and mirrors .
.,. Remove other residue on the windows with
a spray •on glass cleaner .
.,. Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece 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
pl astic ice sc ra p er -better still, a spray
de icer -to remove
ic e from windows and mir­
rors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect
remover or wax since these can interfere with
the function of the windshield wiper blades
(chatter) .
Oi l, grease, o r silicone residue can be removed
with
glass cleaner or silicone remo ver . How­
ever, wax residue requires the use of a special­
ly formulated solvent . Please contact your au ­
thor ized Audi dealer for adv ice on safe prod­
ucts for wax removal.
W indows should also be cleaned on the inside
at regular intervals.
Never dry w indows with the same chamois
that you use to dry painted surfaces. Wax resi-
Cleaning and protec tion 203
due on the chamois can impair vis ion through
the windows .
A WARNING
-Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
c::> page 199.
-The windshield must not be treated with
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 indshield w ip­
ers to chatter.
(D Note
- Never use warm o r hot water to remove
snow and ice from w indows and mirrors.
Th is could cause the glass to crack.
- To prevent damage to the wires of the
rear defogger, do not place any adhesive
st ickers on t he ins ide of the rear w indow
over the wires .
- T o help prevent dirt from scratch ing the
w indow, always sc rape in a forward di ­
rec tion -pushing the sc raper away from
yo u -never bac k and forth.
- Wate r lea king from the i nside of the rear
w indows may damage sens itive e lec trica l
c omponents located ei ther under the
rear parcel shelf or in the rear trunk area .
Always ensure that water never leaks
through the body section of the vehicle.
Yo u can do th is by using waterproof pro­
tection over the vehicle's electrical com­
ponents (e .g. when instal ling window
tint ing) .
- Damage or malfunction of electrical
compone nts due to water damage or any
other outside influence is not covered by
the Audi New Ve hicle Limited War ranty.
See you r Wa rranty
& M ain tenance boo k­
let for addit ional detai ls about your war­
ranty.
•
•

204 Cleaning and protec tio n
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
liq uid wax onto the r ims every
t h ree month . Be sure to reach and treat a ll
parts of the rim .
To preserve the decorat ive appearance of the
cast alloy whee ls, some specia l care is neces­
sa ry. In addit ion to road dirt and sa lt, b rake
d ust is a lso corros ive. If left on for too long,
b rake dust 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 longe r 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 rasive or metal polishing clean­
ing agents. If the protective coating has been
chipped, e .g. by k icked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possible.
A WARNING
- Moisture and ice on brakes may affect
braking efficiency ¢
page 187. Test the
brakes carefully each time you wash the
vehicle .
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information ¢
page 199.
-
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does no t need to be
checked.
A ll body cavities which co uld be affected by
corrosion have been thoroughly protected at
the factory.
This sealing does not require any inspection or
addit ional treatment . If any wax should seep
out of the cav ity when the ambient tempera- ture is high, it can be removed with a p
lastic
scraper and a suitable solvent.
A WARNING
-Solvents can be dangerous.
- Benzine is flammab le and toxic. If you
use benzine for removing the wax, keep
sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes
away. Never dump benz ine on the
ground, into open streams or down sew­
age drains.
- Be sure to observe all safety and environ­
mental regulat ions . Follow all instruc ­
tions on the container .
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information ¢
page 199.
, Chassis
Have the undercoating checked for damage
from time to time.
The lower body shell of your Audi is also thor­
oughly protected against corros ion.
Any damage to the undercoating caused by road hazards should be repaired prompt ly .
A WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong p la­
ces can cause a fire.
- Do not app ly additional undercoating or
r u stproof ing on or near the exhaust
manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic con­
verter 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 199.
Exhaust tail pipes
Road salt and other corrosive materials will
damage the material in the exhaust tail pipes
if they are not cleaned regularly. Do not clean
the tail pipes with wheel cleaner, pa int polish,
chrome polish or other ab rasive cleaners.
Clean the tail pipes with car care products
that are suitable for stainless steel.

Your authorized Audi dealer can provide clean­
ing products that have been tested and ap­
proved for your vehicle .
Care of interior
Infotainment components
The Radio/MM!* display may be clea ned with
a soft cloth and commercially-availab le "LCD
cleaner" . The cloth should be coated lightly
when the cleaning solution when cleaning the
display .
The
MMI* controls must be cleaned first with
a brush so that dirt does not enter the un it or
enter between the buttons and the housing.
Then wiping the controls with a cloth damp ­
ened with dish detergent and water is recom ­
mended.
(D Note
- To avoid scratch ing the display, you
shou ld never clean it dry.
- To prevent damage, make s ure fl uids do
not enter the controls.
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots
and depos its from alum inum surfaces.
Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack alum inum surfaces and can dam­
age them ove r time.
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
r::> page 199.
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fa brics and fabric coverings (e.g. seats, door
trim panels, etc.) should be cleaned at regular
intervals with a vacuum cleaner. This removes
surface dirt particles which could become em­ bedded in the fabr ic through use. Steam
cleaners should not be used, because the
steam tends to push the dirt deeper into the
fabric and lock it there.
Cleaning and protection 205
Normal cleaning
Generally, we recommend using a soft sponge
or a lint -free microfiber cloth to the clean fab­
ric. Brushes shou ld only be used for carpets
and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces
could be harmed by brushes.
Normal sur face stains can be cleaned using a
commercially available foam cleaner . Spread
the foam on the s urface of the fabric with a
soft sponge and work it in gently. Do not satu­
rate the fabric. Then pat the foam dry using
absorbent, 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
jui ce, etc.) can be treated with a mild deter­
gent solution. Apply the detergent solution
with a sponge. 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 remaining deterge nt. Apply the
water with a damp cloth or sponge and pat
the fabric dry with an absorbent, dry cloth.
Stains from choco late or makeup should have
detergent paste rubbed into them. After­
wards, remove the soap with water (damp
sponge).
Alcohol can be used to treat stains from
grease, oil , lipstick or a ballpoint pen. Melted
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
ter.
In the case of genera l soiling of the upho ls­
tery and cover material, we recommend hiring
a specia list t hat has the equipment to clean
the seat covers and other fabr ic surfaces by
shampooing and spray extraction.
A WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
the information
r::> page 199.
•
•

206 Cleaning and protec tio n
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
so lv ent-fr ee plastic
cleaner/protectant.
_& WARNING
So lvents can change the propert ies 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 w ill make
the surface o f this part porous.
- Serious injur ies can result if plastic pa rts
come loose when the airbag is deployed .
- Always read and heed all WARN INGS and
other information
¢page 199.
(D Note
Cleaning agents contain ing solvents will
attac k the mater ial and can change the
way it behaves.
Natural leather
Appl ies to vehicles: with natural leather
Audi makes great efforts to maintain the
properties, natural look and feel of interior
leather.
General
We offer many different types of leather on
our veh icles . Most are differe nt types of nappa
l eather, which has a smooth surface and
comes in var ious co lors .
The intensity of the color determines the v isu ­
al character istics and appearance .
If the sur­
face of the leather has a typical natural look,
the n the leather is a nappa leat her that has been left in a relative
ly natura l condition . This
leather offers particularly good comfort and
breathes we ll. Fine veins, closed grains, insect
bites, skin fo lds, and s ubt le variations in color
rema in v is ible. These character istics demon­
strate that the material is natural.
Natura l nappa leather is not covered by a co l­
or finish. It is therefore more sensit ive to soil­
ing and wear, which is someth ing you need to
consider if children, animals or other factors
mig ht prove to be part icularly hard o n the
l eather .
By contrast, leather types that are covered by
a colored finish layer are more durable. This has a positive effect on the leather's resist­
ance to wear and soiling in da ily use . On the
othe r hand, the typica l charac teristics of natu­
ral le a the r are barely o r not appa rent. Howev­
er, th is does not mean that the leather itse lf
is of inferior quality.
Care and handling
Because of the exclusive nature of the types of
leather that Aud i uses and their uniq ue p rop­
erties (such as sens itivity to oils, grease, soil­
ing, etc.), yo u w ill need to be somewhat ca re ­
ful with these leathers, and a certain type of care is requi red . For example, dark clothing
mater ials can disco lor leather 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
and can damage the leather surface as well as
wea ken seams .
The leather should be cleaned regularly as needed . After hav ing been used for a relat ively
long time, your leather seats will acq uire a
rich aged fi nish. This is a character istic of nat­
ur al leathe r and a s ign of true quality.
In order to maintain the value of this natural
product over the life of your veh icle, you
shou ld follow t he recomme ndat io ns be low: ..,.