2013 AUDI A8 check engine

complexity of today's automobi les, have
steadi ly reduced the scope of maintenance
and repairs which can be carried out by vehicle
owners.
Also, safe ty and e nvir onm en tal con­
cerns place very strict limits on the na ture of
repairs and adjustments to engine and trans ­
miss io n pa rts which an owner can perform .
Maintenance, adjustments and repairs usua lly
require special tools, testing devices and oth­
er equipment avai lab le to specially trained
workshop personnel in order to assure prope r
performance, reliab ility and safety of the vehi­
cle and its many systems .
Improper ma intenance, adjustments and re ­
pa irs can impair the operation and reliability
of your vehicle and even void your vehicle war­ ranty. The refo re, p roof of servici ng in accord­
ance w ith the maintenance sched ule may be a
condition for upholding a poss ible war ranty
claim made within the warranty period.
Above all, operational safety can be adversely
affected, crea ting unnecessary risks for you
and your passengers.
If in doubt about any servicing, have it done
by your authorized Audi dealer or any other
properly equipped and q ualified workshop .
We strong ly urge you to give you r a uthorized
Audi dealer the opportunity to perform all
schedu led maintenance and necessary repairs .
Your dea ler has the facilities, or iginal parts
and trained spec ialists to keep your vehicle
running properly.
Performing limit ed m aintenance you rself
The following pages describe a limited num­
ber of procedures which can be performed on
your vehicle with ordinary too ls, should the
need arise and trained personnel be unavaila­
b le. Before performing any of these proce­
dures, always thoroughly read all of the app li­
cable text and carefully follow the instruc­
tions given . Always rigorously obse rve the
WARNINGS provided .
Before you check anything in th e engine
compartment, a lway s re ad and heed all
Con sumer In formation 297
WARNINGS ¢ & and ¢ & in Working in the
engine comportment on page 232 .
A WARNING
-Ser ious personal injury may occur as a re­
sult of improperly performed mainte­ nance, adjustments or repa irs.
-Always be extremely careful when work­
ing on the vehicle. Always follow com­
mon ly accepted safety practices and gen­
eral common sense . Never r isk personal
lnJU ry .
- Do not attempt any of the ma intenance ,
checks or repairs descr ibed on the fol­
lowing pages if you are not fully fam iliar
wit h these or othe r pro cedures with re­
spect to t he veh icle, or are uncerta in how
to p roceed .
- Do not do any work without the proper
too ls and equipment. Have the necessary
work done by your authorized A udi deal ­
er or another proper ly equipped and
qualified workshop .
- The engine compartment o f any motor
veh icle is a potentially hazardous area.
Never reach into the area around or
touch the radiator fan. It is temperature
contro lled and can switch on suddenly -
even when the engine is
off . The radiator
fan switches on automat ically when the
coo lant reaches a certai n temperature
and will cont inue to run until the coo lan t
temper ature drops.
- Always sw itch
off the ignition before any­
one gets under the vehicle.
- Always support your veh icle with safety
stands if it is necessary to work under­
neath the vehicle . The j ack s upplied with
the vehicle is not adequate for this pur­
pose and cou ld collapse causing serio us
personal i njury .
- I f you must work unde rneath the vehicle
with the wheels on the ground, a lways
make sure the vehicle is on leve l ground,
that the wheels are a lways securely
blocked and that the engine cannot be
started.
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298 Consum er Inf ormation
-Always make sure the transmission se­
lector lever (automatic transmiss ion) is
in "P" (Park position) and the park brake
is applied .
@) For the sake of the environment
-Changing the engine settings wi ll ad­
versely affect em iss ion levels. This is det­
rimental to the environment and increas­
es fuel consumption .
- Always observe env ironmental regula­
tions when dispos ing of old engine oil,
used brake fluid, dirty engine coolant,
spent batteries or worn out tires.
- Undeployed airbag modules and preten­
s ioners might be classified as Perchlo ­
rate Material -spec ial handling may ap­
ply, see www.dtsc.ca .gov/hazardous­
waste/perch lorate . When the veh icle or
parts of the restraint system including
airbag modules safety belts with p reten ­
sioners are scrapped, all applicable laws
and regulations must be observed. Your
authori zed Aud i dea ler is familiar with
these requirements and we recommend
that you have your dealer perform this
serv ice for you .
Additional accessories,
modifications and
parts replacement
Additional accessories and parts
replacement
Always consult an authorized Audi dealer be­
fore purchasing accessories.
Your veh icle incorporates the latest safety de­
sig n featu res ensu ring a high standard of ac­
tive and passive safety .
This safety could be compromised by non-ap­ proved changes to the veh icle. For this reason ,
if pa rts have to be replaced , please observe
the following points when install ing addition­
a l accessories: Approved Audi accessories and genuine Audi
parts are available from authorized A udi deal­
ers.
T hese dea le rs a lso have the necessary facili­
ties, tools and trained specialists to install the parts and acc essories proper ly .
A WARNING
-Using the wrong spare parts or using non-
approved accessories can cause damage to
the veh icle and ser ious persona l injury.
- Use on ly accessories express ly approved
by Audi and gen uine Audi spare parts
- These parts and accessories have been
specia lly designed to be used on yo ur ve­
h icle .
- Never install accessor ies such as tele­
phone crad les or beverage ho lders on a ir­
bag covers or within the airbag deploy­
ment zones . Do ing so will increase the
risk of injury if a irbags are triggered in an
accident!
- Before you check anything in the engine
compa rtment, always read and heed a ll
WARNI NGS
9 page 226 .
(D Note
-If items other than genu ine Audi spare
parts, add-on equipment and accessory
items are used or if repair work is not
performed accord ing to specified meth­
ods, this c an resu lt in seve re damage to
your vehicle's eng ine and body (such as
corrosion) and adversely affect yo ur vehi ­
cle's warranty .
- T he i nnovat ive a luminium concept of
your Audi AB means that all servicing, re­
pairs or other work on the vehicle body
must be carr ied out exclusive ly by an
Audi workshop .
- If emergency repairs must be performed
elsewhere, have the veh icle examined by
an authorized Audi dealer as soon as
possible .
- The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for damage wh ic h occurs due to failure
to comply with these stipu lations .

302 Index
Automatic transmission (tiptronic) .... . 115
Emergency mode . ..... ... .. .. .... . 11 9
Kick-down . .... ... .... ... .. .. .... . 118
Manual shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Park ing lock emergency release ..... . 120
Selector leve r posit ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Automatic wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Auto Safety Hotline ...... .. .. .. .. .. . 142
Average consumption ................. 24
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Avoid damaging the vehicle . ... .. .. .. . 207
B
Ba ttery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
C harging ... ................ ... ... 246
Important warnings ...... .. .. .. .. . 244
L ocat ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
low . .. .. .. ............. .. .. .. .. . 203
Replacing the battery ..... .. .. .. .. . 247
State of charge . .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 203
Winter operation . ..... ... .. .. .... . 243
Wo rking on the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
B efore d riving .. ........... .... .... . 134
Blended gasoline ............ .. .... . 228
Blower (automatic climate cont rol) . . . . . . 80
Body cav ity sealing .......... .... .... 221
Booster seats ...................... 184
B rake fl uid
Changing the brake fl uid ... .. .. .. .. . 243
Checking the brake fluid level ..... .. . 242
What is the correct brake fluid leve l? .. 242
What should I do if the brake fluid warn-
ing light comes on? ................ 242
Brake system Anti-lock braking system ... .. .. .. ... . 1 9
Brake assist system .. ... .. .. .... .. . 198
Brake booste r .. .......... .. .. .... . 202
Brake fluid .............. .. .. .. .. . 242
Brake fluid spec ificat ions for refill and re­
placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Brake light defect ive ....... .... ..... 21
Brake pads . ........ ......... .... . 206
E lec tromechan ica l par king brake ...... 85
Fl uid reservoir ........... .. .. .. .. . 242
H ow does mo isture or road salt affect the
b rakes? .... ... .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 200 Warning/ind
icator lights ..... .... . .. . 14
Worn brake pads symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
braking guard Messages . .. .. .. ............. .. .. 100
Brak ing guard . .. .. .......... ...... .. 93
Settings ......... ............... . 100
Break-in period .... .. ... ..... ... .. .. 206
Brake pads .... .. ............. .... 206
Tires . .. .. .. .. .. ............. .. .. 206
Bu lbs . ... .. .... .. ... .. ..... .... . .. 283
C
Californ ia Pr oposition 65 Warn ing . .... 233
Battery spe cific .. ... .......... .. .. 24S
Capacities ........ .. .............. . 292
Engine o il ... .. .. .. ... ....... ... .. 23S
Car care .. .. .. .. .. ............. .. .. 215
Exterior ....... .. .. ........... .... 215
Interior ....... ................... 222
Car carrier Transporting your vehicle .... ... .. .. 288
Cargo a rea
refer to L uggage compartmen t ... .. . .
Catalytic converter
Center armrest 140
207
Cockpit ... .... .. .. ... .. ... ... .. .. . 60
Rear . .... .... .. ............. .... . 67
Cen tral lock ing ...................... 32
E mergency lock ing . .. .. ..... ... .. .. . 36
Certif ication .. .. .................. . 299
Changi ng a wheel .. .. .... .... ... .. .. 273
Changi ng engine oil ............. .... 239
Chassis (undercoat ing) .............. . 221
Checking Engine coolant level .. .. ..... .... . .. 240
Tire pressure . .. .. ............. .. .. 255
Child rest raints
Danger of using child restraints in the
front seat ..... .. .. ... ..... ... .. .. 154
Where can I get additional information
about child restraints and their use? .. 195
Child rest raint system anchors ........ 189
Child safety ... .. .. .. ... ....... ... .. 176
Convertible locking retractor ........ . 186
Gu idance fixtures for lower anchorages 191

starting .... ................ ... .... 83
Starting with jumper cables . ... .. .. . 284
Stopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Engine compartment ....... .. .. .. .. . 234
C losing the hood ......... .. .. .. .. . 233
Opening the hood .............. .. . 232
Safety instructions ................. 232
Working in the engine compartment .. 232
Engine coolant . ........... .. .. .. ... 240
Adding coolant ........... .. .. .. .. . 241
Checking the engine coolant level .. .. . 240
Expansion tank .............. ... ... 240
Malfunction symbol .......... ... .. .. 16
Radiator fan ............. .... .. .. . 242
Temperature gauge ....... .. .. .. .. .. 10
Engine oil ... ................ ... ... 235
Adding .... ................ ... ... 238
Additives ... ................ ... ... 238
Changing .. ............. .... .. ... 239
Checking oil level ......... .. .. .. .. . 238
Checking the engine oil level .. .. .. .. . 237
Consumption ............... .... .. 238
Indications and conditions requiring ex-
tra checking ............. .... .. ... 23 7
I ndicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
O il consumption .......... .. .. .. .. . 236
Oil grades .. ................ ... ... 235
Oil level symbol ................ .... 20
Pressure malfunction ......... ..... .. 17
Recommended oil check intervals .. .. . 237
Sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Specification and viscosity .. .. .. .. .. . 235
Engine sound ................ ... ... 109
Engine speed limitation ....... .. .. .. .. 20
Engine start-stop mode
refer to Start-Stop-System . .. .. .. .. .. 89
Engine start system (indicator lights) . ... 17
Entry assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Environment Break-in period ........... .. .. .. ... 206
Catalytic converter . ....... .. .. .. .. . 207
Disposing of your vehicle battery .... . 247
Driving at high speeds ...... ... ... .. 209
Driving to minimize pollution and noise 208
Fuel ... .. .. .. ............. .. .. ... 230
Fuel economy ............ .... .. .. . 208
Leaks under your vehicle ............ 232
Letting the vehicle stand and warm up. 209
Index 305
Proper disposal of drained brake fluid . 243
Proper disposal of drained engine cool-
ant ....... ... .. .. ............... 241
Proper disposal of drained engine
oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238, 239
Recycling used engine oil ............ 238
Unleaded fuel .. .. .. . .. .... ........ 228
What should I do with an old battery? . 247
EPC
refer to E lectronic power control (EPC) . 20
ESC
refer to Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC) ............................ 198
ESC (Electronic Stab ilization Control)
Warning/ind icator lights ............ . 18
Event Data Recorder (EDR) ............ 198
Exhaust tail pipes .. .. .............. . 222
Expansion tank .. .. ................. 240
Exterior lighting . .. ................. . 45
Exterior mirrors Adjusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Dimming ... ... .... ................ 54
Heating ... .. .. .. .... ............. . 54
Exterior temperature display ........ .. . 23
F
Fastening
Booster seats .. .. .... ......... .... 184
Convertib le child safety seats .... .. .. 183
Infant seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Fo lding table .. .. .. .. ............... . 68
Foot pedals ... .. .... ... .......... .. 139
For the sake of the environment Gasoline fumes and the environment .. 230
Reducing engine noise by ear ly upshift-
ing ....... .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. . 10
Refueling . .. .. .. .. ............... 230
Saving fuel by early upshifting ....... . 10
Four zone automatic climate control ..... 79
Front airbags Description .. .. .. ................. 156
How they work . .. ................. 161
Frontal collisions and the laws of physics 145
Front passenger seat adjustment . . . . . . . 63
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306 Index
Front seats . ............... ... .... .. 57
Adjusting . ................. ..... . 136
Child restraints in the front seat ... .. . 154
Fuel Addit ives . .... ........... .. .. .... . 228
Bl ended gasoline .......... ... .... . 228
Current consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Economy messages (efficiency program) 25
Fuel filler flap emergency relea se .. .. . 231
Fuel filler neck ............. .. .... . 229
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Gasoline ... ... ... .... ......... .. . 228
Gasoline additives ............ .. ... 229
L ow fuel level symbo l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Octane rating .......... .. .. .. .. .. . 228
Recommendation .......... ... .... . 228
Refue lling . ................. ..... . 230
Reserve .................... ..... .. 11
Tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,292
Fuses Assignment ...................... 279
Replacing .. ................ ..... . 279
G
Garage door opener (Homelink®) . .. .. . 132
Garment hooks .. ... .... ......... .. .. 75
Gas discharge lamps ......... ... .. .. . 283
Gauges Engine coolant temperature .. .. .. .... 10
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Trip odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
General illustration ............ .... ... 8
Generator . ................. .. .... .. 16
Glossary of tire and loading terminology 250
Glove compartment (cooled) ...... ..... 74
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ... 290
H
Headlights
Cleaning system ............ .. .... .. 52
Defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
He adlig ht range contro l . . . . . . . . . 21, 45
High beam assist .............. ... .. 48
Washer reservoir ............. .. ... 247 Head
restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 138
Adjusting ..... .. ................. 138
H eated
exter ior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
rear window ... .. ............. .... . 80
seats ......... .. .. .............. .. 80
windshield washer spray nozz les . . . . . . 52
H eating .. .. .. .. .. .. ............. .. . 78
Heavy clothing and safety belts ........ 147
High beam . ..... .. ............. ..... 47
High voltage warning label ..... .. .. .. 290
Hill descent contro l ................ . 118
Homelink ® un iversal remote control ... 132
Hood (release lever) ... .......... .. .. 232
Horn ..... ..... .. .. .............. ... 8
How are child restraint system anchors re-
lated to child safety ............. .. .. 189
How many air bags does my vehicle have? 159
How often should I check my tire pres-
sures? ......... .. .. .............. . 256
How safety belt pretens ioners work .. .. 150
Hydroplaning ... .. ............. .... 260
I
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Important things to do before driving .. 134
Improperly worn safety belts .......... 150
Indicator lights
refer to Warning/indicator lights ..... . 11
Infant seats .. .. .. ... .......... .... 182
Installing child safety seats Safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Installing the upper tether strap on the
anchorage . ..... .. ................. 194
Instruments Adjusting the light ing .......... .... . 50
Instruments and controls
General illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Instrument cluster .................. 10
Interior lighting
Ambience lighting ............. .. .. . 49
Front and rear ... .. ..... ...... .. .. . 49
Intermittent (windshield wipers) ... ... . 52

_______________________________ I~ n~ d:::: e~x 311
Speed warning system ................ 90
Sport different ial ....... ...... ... ... 109
In dicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Start-Stop-System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Eng ine does not switched off . .. .. .. .. 89
Eng ine starts automatically .. .. ... ... 89
Indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Messages .. ............. .... .. .. .. 90
Starting/stopping the engine ... .. .. .. 88
switch ing off/on .......... .. .. .. .. .. 89
START ENGINE STOP button ..... ... ... 83
Starting from rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Starting off with a trai le r .... .. .. .. .. .. 87
Starting the engine ........ .. .. .. .. .. 83
Steer ing whee l
Adjusting steering column ........... 82
Easy entry feature .................. 82
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 22
Shift paddles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Steering wheel heating .. ... ... ... ... 81
Steps for determining correct load limit . 258
Stopping the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Storage ..... ................. .. .... 74
Sunroof ... .. .. ................ ... .. 42
Sun shades Emergency closing (roof) ...... .. .... . 44
Panoramic sunroof ........ .. .. .. .. .. 44
Rear doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Rear window ............. .... .. .... 51
Sun visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SO
Symbols
refer to Warning/Indicator lights .. .. .. 11
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 23
Technical modifications ....... .. .. .. . 299
Temperature display ........ .. .. .. .. .. 23
Tether anchors ..................... 193
Tether strap ................. .... .. 193
T he first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and after-
wards ....... ................. .. ... 206
Tie-downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69, 141
Tips for the environment
Saving fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
tiptronic (automatic transmission) .. .. . 115
Tire pressure . ............. .... .. .. . 255 T
ire pressure monitoring system ...... .
267
Loss of air pressure ............... . 268
Malfunction
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Resetting tire pressures ............ .
269
Tires
....... .. .. .. ................. 249
Service life
.. .. .. .. ............... 259
speed rating letter code ........... . 262
Tire manufacturing date ........... .
261
Tire specifications ............. .. . .
261
Tread depth . .. .. ................ .
259
Uniform tire quality grading ........ . 263
Winter tires ... .. .. . .. .... ....... . 264
Tires and vehicle load limits .......... . 257
T ires and wheels
Checking tire pressure .............. 255
Cold tire inflation pressure .......... 253
Dimensions ...... .. ............... 260
General notes .. .. .. ............... 249
Glossary of tire and loading terminolo -
gy ..... .. .. .. .. .. ............... 250
Low aspect ratio tires .... ......... .. 266
New tires and wheels .............. .
Replacing ........ ...... ......... .
Snow chains ... .. .... ........... . .
T ires and vehicle load limits ..... .. . .
Wheel bolts . .. .. .... ............ .
Winter tires
Tire service life
.. .. .. ... ....... .....
Too ls ...... .. .. .. .................
260
261
265
257
266
264
259
271
T orn or frayed safety belts ............ 147
Touch -up paint .. .. .. ... ....... ..... 220
Towing Tow truck procedures .............. . 286
TPMS Tire pressure monitoring system ... .. 268
Trailer towing ...... ................ 211
Operati ng instructions ...... .... .... 211
Parking system ....... ........... .. 131
T echnical requirements . . . . . . . . 211, 212
T ra iler towing tips ............. .. .. 213
Train (transporting your vehicle) ....... 288
Transmission malfunction (indicator
light) ........ .. ...... ............. 119
T ransport Canada .. .. ............... 142
Transporting your vehicle ... .. .... .... 288
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI) ........... 259
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