2013 AUDI A8 ECU

72 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. 7 4.
-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 secure-
ly 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 71.
-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.

76 Seats and storage
-the temperature in the luggage compart­
ment is below 131 °f (55 °C). The cooler
switches off automatically if the tempera­
ture in the luggage compartment exceeds 131 °f (55 °C). Once the tempera ture falls
below 131 °f (55 °C) again, the cooler
switches on aga in automatically .
- the battery is adequately charged . The cool­
er switches off automatically if the vehicle
battery voltage falls below a minimum lev­
el. This prevents the battery from discharg­
ing. The cooler switches back on again auto­
matically when the battery voltage increases
again (e.g . after starting the engine).
The cooler cools to 42.8 °f
(+ 6 °C) and the
freezer cools to 21.2 °f (-6 °C) in opt imum
cooling conditions . The cooling performance
is affected by the temperature in the luggage
compartment. The temperature inside the
cooler will be higher if the luggage compart­
ment is hot.
A WARNING
To avoid putting the occupants at any risk, please observe the following safety rules:
- The maximum capacity is 2.5 kg (5.5
lbs.).
- Never overload the cooler. This could
cause injury in the event of a collision or
sudden braking.
- The cooler lid must always be kept closed
while you are driving. Make sure the re­
taining catch is securely engaged. The contents of the coo ler could be thrown
forward into the passenger compart­
ment in the event of a collision or under
sudden braking -risk of injury!
- Inflammable liquids, gas canisters, etc.
must not be stored in the cooler -risk of
explosion! This also includes any prod­
ucts that might emit volatile or inflam­
mable gases.
- Liquids will freeze at temperatures at or
below 32 °f (0 °C) and may cause glass
bottles to burst!
(D Note
- The ventilation openings for the cooler
are located on the back panel trim in the
luggage compartment and
must be kept
clear at all times.
- If the cooler is not functioning properly,
switch it off to prevent further damage.
Have it checked by a qualified workshop.
Operation
App lies to vehicles: wit h cooler
Fig. 80 Rear cen ter armrest
The cooler is located in the rear cabin behind
the center armrest or behind the sliding
cover
(depending on the equipment fitted in your
vehicle) . The cooler and freezer only work
when the ignition is on .
Opening / closing the cooler
.,. To open the cooler, pull the release lever(!)
c!> fig. 80.
.. To close the cooler, push the lid back into its
original position . You should hear the re­
lease lever
(D engage if the lid is properly
closed.
Switching on/off .,. Press button @c::>fig.
80 to switch the cool­
er on/off. The symbol in the button is lit
when this function is a ctivated .
.. Press button
@ to switch the freezer on/
off . The symbol in the button is lit when this
function is activated.

100 Audi adaptive cruise control and braking guard
(end of a traffic jam or vehicle that has
broken down in traffic).
- Always remember that the radar sensor
for the braking guard works only within
defined detection and range limits that
may prevent the proper detection of oth­
er vehicles.
- The radar sensor's function and range
can be reduced by rain, snow and heavy
spray. Moving vehicles up ahead may not
be promptly detected or may not be de­
tected at all.
- Reflective surfaces including crash barri­
ers or tunnel entrances may impair the
function of the radar sensor.
(D Tips
- You can cancel the braking with increas­
ing force that is initiated by the system
by braking yourself, by accelerating no­
ticeably or by swerving.
- Braking guard error messages
r::> page 100.
-Keep in mind that braking guard can
brake unexpectedly . Always secure any
cargo or objects that you are transport­
ing to reduce the risk of damage or in­
jury.
Settings in the MMI
Applies to vehicles: with Audi adaptive cruise control
• Select: ICARI function button > Car systems
control button > Driver assist > Audi brak­
ing guard.
System -
Switch braking guard On and Off.
When you switch the ignition on, the message
Audi braking guard off appears if the system
is switched off.
Early warning -The distance and approach
warnings in the display can be switched
On/
Off.
Tips
- Your settings are automatically stored
and assigned to the remote control key being used at the time the settings are
made.
- If you switch the ESC to sport mode,
braking guard switches off automatically
~page 200.
- Switch braking guard off when you are
loading the vehicle onto a vehicle carrier,
train, ship or other type of transporta­
tion. This can prevent undesired warn­
ings from the braking guard system.
Messages
Applies to vehicles: with Aud i adapt ive cru ise contro l
ACC unavailable
ACC and braking guard: unavailable
The system cannot detect moving vehicles up
ahead correctly and is switched off. The sen­
sors have been displaced or are not working
properly. The Audi pre sense functions may al­
so be affected. Drive to your authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi service facility im­
mediately to have the malfunction corrected.
ACC: unavailable at this time. No sensor vi­
sion
ACC and braking guide: unavailable at this
time. No sensor vision
This message appears if the sensor view is ob­ structed, for example by leaves, snow, heavy
spray or dirt . Clean the sensors
r:> page 93,
fig. 93.
ACC: unavailable at this time. Incline too
steep
The road exceeds the maximum possible an­
gle for proper adaptive cruise control opera­
tion. Adaptive cruise control is switched off .
ACC: only selector lever positions D, S or M
available
Select the D, Sor M selector lever position.
ACC: unavailable at this time. Parking brake
set
The adaptive cruise control system switches
off automatically if the parking brake is set. .,.

110 Audi drive select
the drive se lect mode. Adaptive cruise control
a lso responds to the driving behavior of the
vehicle ahead in a more conservative or sporty
manner.
Engine sound*
The sound of the engine is adapted to the se­
lected mode and ranges from subtle to sporty .
Q) Note
-Make sure there is enough clearance
above and below the vehicle when park­
ing. The height of the vehicle can change
once it is parked due to temperature
fluctuations, changes to the load cond i­
tions and changes to the dr iv ing modes,
which can affect clearance .
- When transporting the vehicle on a car
carr ier, tra in, ship or by other means, on­
l y tie the veh icle down at the running
surface of the tires, which is the outer
ci rcumfe rence . Securing the vehicle at
the axle components, s uspension str uts
or towing eyes is not pe rmitted because
the press ure in the air suspension s truts
can change during transport. The vehicle
may not be sec ured s ufficient ly if this
happens.
- If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the trailer ope ration mode
c:> page211.
(D Tips
-In some mode ls, the maxim um vehicle
speed can on ly be reached in the
auto
and dynamic modes.
- Se lecting the
dynamic mode results in
sporty shifting characteristics. The S
gear position engages automatically.
- In vehicles that have dynamic steering*,
operating noise is heard when starting or
stopping the eng ine. This does not ind i­
cate a problem. -
In vehicles w ith sport different ia l* , the
dynamic mode is deactivated when tow­
ing a tra iler.
Selecting the driving mode
You can choose between Comfort, Auto , Dy­
namic and Individual.
Fig. 11 3 MMI : Drive select
.,. To select the mode, se lect the following in
the M Ml :
I CAR I function button > Comfort ,
Auto , Dynamic
or Individual.
You can change the driving mode when the ve­
hicle is stationary or while driving. If traffic
permits, after changing modes, briefly take
your foot off the accelerator pedal so that the recently selected mode is also activated for
the engine.
comfort -provides a comfort-oriented vehicle
setup and is suited for long drives on h igh ­
ways.
auto -provides an overall comfortable yet dy­
nam ic driving feel and is suited for every day
use.
dynamic -gives the vehicle a sporty driving
feel and is suited to a sporty driving style.
individual-c:> page 111.
A WARNING ,...___ -
Pay attention to traffic when operating
Audi drive select to prevent potential risk
of an acc ident.

& WARNING
-Never engage R or P wh ile driving. It
cou ld cause a crash .
-
-Power is sti ll transmitted to the whee ls
when the engine is running at idle. To prevent the vehicle from "creeping", you
must keep your foot on the brake in all
selector lever positions except P and N
when the engine is running. Do not inad­
vertent ly press the accelerator pedal
when the veh icle is stationary . Otherwise
the vehicle will start to move immediate­ ly. This cou ld happen even if the parking
brake is activated.
- Before opening the hood, select the P se­
lector lever position and set the par king
brake. This reduces the risk of a crash. A l­
ways read and follow the applicable
warnings
¢page 226, Engine comport­
ment.
- Never get out of the driver's seat when
the engine is running.
- If you must get out of the vehicle, move
the se lector lever securely into the P po­
sit ion and apply the park ing brake .
@ Tips
-If you un intentionally shift into the N se­
l ector lever position while dr iving, take
your foot off the accelerator pedal and
wait for the engine to slow down until it is idling before you shift into Dor S.
Driving tips
The gears shift outomoticolly .
Starting from a stop
"' Press and ho ld the brake pedal.
.,. Start the eng ine
q page 83.
"' Press the button on the se lector lever and
select the D, S or R selector lever position
¢ page 115.
"' Wait a moment until the transmission
shifts. You w ill not ice a slight movement
when the gear engages .
"' Re lease the brake pedal and press the accel ­
erato r peda l¢ _& .
Aut omat ic Tr ans missio n 11 7
Stopping temporarily
"' Press the b rake pedal to stop the veh icle,
for examp le at a traffic light . Do not press
the acce lerator pedal when doing this .
"' To prevent the vehicle from rolling when
you start driving, set the parking brake
when stopp ing on large inclines¢_& .
"' The parking brake will release automat ically
and the vehicle will start mov ing once you
press the acce lerator pedal.
Parking
If the selector lever is not in the P position
when you open the driver's door, the veh icle
could roll. The message
Transmission: Car
may roll! Shift to park !
appears.
"' Press and hold the brake pedal¢ _& .
"' Set the park ing brake.
"' To engage the P se lector lever position,
press the button on the selector lever and
shift into the P posit ion ¢
page 115 .
Under certa in conditions such as dr iv ing in the
mountains or when towing a trailer, it may be
helpful to switch to manual mode temporarily
to shift
manually to adapt to the dr iving con­
ditions
¢ page 118.
On slopes, activate the parki ng brake first and
then move the selecto r leve r to the P position .
T his prevents too much st ress from be ing
placed on the locking mechanism.
& WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS ¢ .&. in Se­
lecting o selector lever position on
page 117.
- The vehicle can also roll when the engine
is stopped.
- Do not press the accelerator pedal when
changing the selec tor lever position
while the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running . This could result in a
crash.
- Never engage R or P while driving . It
could cause a crash.
- Power is still transmitted to the wheels
when the engine is running at idle. To ..,.

120 Automatic Transmission
Parking lock emergency release
The parking lock must be released using the
emergency release before towing the vehicle .
@
Fig. 126 Dr iver's side footwell: releasing t he park ing
lock us ing t he emergency release
Fig. 127 Drive r's s ide footwe ll: resetting th e pa rking
l ock
The emergency release is located under the
floor mat on the driver's side. You operate the
emergency re lease from the dr iver's seat.
Releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
• To prevent the vehicle from rolling uninten­
tionally, set the park ing brake© ¢
page 85
or press the brake peda l.
.. There are two slits on the cover. Position
the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit in
one of the s lits on the cover and pry the cov­
er off.
• Pull the band@ in the direction of the ar­
row until the release lever locks in place
¢ fig . 126.
• Fold the uppe r section of the release lever
down into the recess.
Resetting the parking lock
• Press the button @ and the release lever at
the same time . You can now push the lever back into its original pos
ition . Make sure the
lever locks in place
¢fig. 127.
.. Install the cover .
T he indicator light
[O] and the N position indi­
cator in the instrument cluster turn on when
the parking lock is released using the emer­
gency release . The message
Risk of rolling! P
not possible . Please set the park ing brake
a l­
so appears.
A WARNING
If you release the park ing lock using the
emergency release, secure your vehicle
with the pa rking brake or the brake pedal
i f the parking brake is not working. The ve­
hicle can roll away if it is not secured and
cause a crash.

-Passengers must always sit in an upright
position and never lean against or place
any part of their body too close to the
area where the airbags are located.
- Passengers who are unbelted, out of po­
sition or too close to the airbag can be
seriously injured by an airbag as it un­
folds with great force in the blink of an
eye.
- Always make sure that there are at least
10 inches (25 cm) between the front
passenger's breastbone and the instru­
ment panel.
- Always make sure that there are at least
4 inches (10 cm) between the front pas­
senger's knees and the lower part of the
instrument panel.
- Each passenger must always sit on a seat
of their own and properly fasten and
wear the safety belt belonging to that
seat.
- Before driving, always adjust the front
passenger seat and head restraint prop­
er ly.
- Always keep your feet on the floor in
front of the seat. Never rest them on the
seat, instrument panel, out of the win­
dow, etc. The airbag system and safety
belt will not be able to protect you prop­
erly and can even increase the risk of in­
jury in a crash .
- Never drive with the backrest reclined or
tilted far back! The farther the backrests
are tilted back, the greater the risk of in­
jury due to incorrect positioning of the
safety belt and improper seating posi­
tion.
- Children must always ride in child seats
¢
page 176. Special precautions apply
when installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat ¢
page 152.
Driving Safely 137
Proper seating positions for passengers
in rear seats
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with
both feet on the floor consistent with their
physical size and be properly restrained
whenever the vehicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incor­
rect seating position in the event of a sudden
braking maneuver or an accident, your pas­
sengers on the rear bench seat must always
observe the following:
.,. Adjust the head restraint so the upper edge
is as even as possible with the top of your
head. If that is not possible, try to adjust
the head restraint so that it is as close to
this position as possible¢
page 138 .
.,. Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front
of the rear seat.
.,. Fasten and wear safety belts properly
¢page 147.
.,. Make sure that children are always properly
restrained in a child restraint that is appro­
priate for their size and age~
page 176.
,& WARNING
..-
Passengers who are improperly seated on
the rear seat can be seriously injured in a
crash.
- Each passenger must always sit on a seat
of their own and properly fasten and
wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
- Safety belts only offer maximum protec­
tion when the safety belts are properly
positioned on the body and securely
latched . By not sitting upright, a rear
seat passenger increases the risk of per­
sonal injury from improperly positioned
safety belts!
- Always adjust the head restraint properly
so that it can give maximum protection.
•
•

The following bulletins list only some sample positions that will increase the risk of serious
in ju ry and death . Our hope is that these exam­
p les will make you more aware of seating po­
sitions that are dangerous.
The refore, wh en ev er th e vehicl e is
mov ing:
- never stand up in the vehicle
-never stand on the seats
- never knee l on the seats
- never ride with the seatbac k reclined
- never lie down on the rear seat
- never lean up against the instrument panel
- never sit on the edge of the seat
- never sit s ideways
- never lean out the window
- never put yo ur feet out the window
- never put yo ur feet on the ins trument panel
- never rest your feet on the seat cushion o r
back of the seat
- never r ide in the footwe ll
- never ride in the cargo area
A WARNING
Imprope r seat ing positions increase the
r isk of se rious personal injury and death
whenever a veh icle is being used.
- Always make sure that all vehicle occu­
pants stay in a p ro per seating pos it ion
and are properly restr ained whenever the
vehicle is be ing used.
Driver and passenger
side footwell
Important safety instructions
A WARNING
Always make sure that the knee a irbag can
inf late without interference. Objects be­
tween yourse lf and the airbag can increase
the risk of injury in an acc ident by interfer­
ing w it h the way the a irbag deploys or by
being p ushed into you as the airbag de­
ploys.
-
Dr iving S afel y 139
-No persons (children) or animals sho uld
ride in the footwell in front of the pas­
senger seat. If the airbag dep loys, this
can result in ser ious or fatal injuries.
- No objects of any kind should be carried
in the footwell area in front of the driv­
er 's or passenger's seat. Bulky objects
(shopping bags, fo r example) can ham­
pe r o r prevent proper deployment of the
airbag. Small obje cts can be thrown
through the vehicle if the airbag deploys
an d inju re you or your passenge rs .
Pedal area
Pedals
The pedals must always be free to move and
must never be interfered with by a floor mat
or any other object.
Make sure that a ll peda ls move free ly without
interference and that nothing prevents them
from return ing to their orig inal positions.
Only use floor mats t hat leave the pedal area
free and can be secured with floor mat fasten­
ers.
If a brake circ uit fai ls, inc reased brake pedal
trave l is required to b ring the vehicle to a f ull
stop .
A WARNING
-Pedals that cannot move free ly can cause
loss of vehicle control and increase the risk
of ser ious injury.
- Never p lace any objects in the drive r's
footwell. An ob ject cou ld get into the
pedal area and interfere with pedal func­
tion. In case of sudde n brak ing o r an ac­
cident, yo u wou ld not be able to b rake or
accelerate!
- Always ma ke sure that nothing can fall
or move into the driver's footwel l. •
•