Page 153 of 262

switched on all the time. In certain situations
when you need less traction, you can switch
off ESC by pressing the button
lru . Be sure to
switch ESC on again when you no longer need
less traction.
Anti -loc k brak ing s ystem (ABS )
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up
when braking . The vehicle can still be steered
even during hard braking. Apply steady pres
sure to the brake pedal. Do not pump the ped
al. A puls ing in the brake pedal indicates that
the system is helping you to brake the vehicle.
B rake ass is t system
The brake assist system can decrease braking
d istance. It increases braking power when the
driver presses the brake pedal quickly in emer
gency situations. You must press and hold the
brake pedal until the situation is over .
Anti-slip regulati on (ASR )
ASR reduces engine power when the drive
wheels begin to spin and adapts the force to
the road condit ions. This makes it easier to
start, accelerate and drive up hills.
Elect ronic diff erential lock (EDL )
The EDL brakes wheels that are spinning and
transfers the drive power to the other drive
wheel or whee ls if the vehicle is equipped with
all-wheel drive*. This function is available up
to about 60 mph (100 km/h).
In extreme cases, EDL automat ica lly switches
off to help keep the brake on the braked wheel
from overheating. EDL w ill switch on again au
tomatically when conditions have returned to normal.
..&, WARNING
- ESC, ABS, ASR and EDL cannot ove rcome
t he laws of physics. This is espec ia lly im
portant on slippery or wet roads.
If the
systems begin act ing to stab ilize your ve
hicle, you should immediately change
yo ur speed to match the road and traffic
condit ions. Do not let the increased safe
ty provided by these systems tempt you
Intelligen t technolog y 151
to take risks. Doing so will increase the
risk of a loss of vehicle control, co llision
and serious personal injuries.
- Always adapt your speed to road, traffic
and weather conditions. The risk of los
ing control of the vehicle increases when
driving too fast, espec ially through
curves and on slippery or wet roads, and
when driving too close to vehicles up ahead. ESC, ABS, the brake assist sys
tem, EDL and ASR cannot preven t coll i
sions.
- Always ac celera te with spe cial care on
even, smooth s urfaces su ch as those th at
are wet or covered with ice and snow.
The drive wheels can spin even with these assistance systems that cannot al
ways he lp to reduce the risk of loss of ve
hicle control.
@ Tips
- ABS and ASR only work correct ly when
all four whee ls are equipped with identi
cal tires. D ifferent tire sizes can lead to a
reduction in engine power.
- You may hear noises when the systems described are working.
-If the ind icator lightD] orE (USA
models)/ [iJ (Canada models) appears,
there may be a malfunction¢ page 18,
¢page 17.
TT/TTS: Switching on/off
Applies to vehicles: TT Coupe and TTS Coupe
ESC turns on automatically when you start
the engine.
Fi g. 126 Cente r console: ESC OFF button
Page 154 of 262

152 Intelligent technology
Switching ESC off (sport m ode )
In certain situat ions, it m ight make sense to
allow some sl ip. For example :
- Rocking the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
- Driv ing in deep snow or on loose ground
- Driving with snow chains
Press the~ button . The ESC ind icator light
II
turns on and Stabilizati on prog ram off ap
pears in the d isplay. ASR deactivates com
p letely and the stabi lizat ion effects from the
ESC system are limited .
Switc hing on
Press the~ button again. The message Stabi
li zation p rog ram on
appears briefly in the dis
p lay.
A WARNING
Only switch ESC sport mode on when your
driving abilities and the traffic s ituation
permit. Please note that the dr iv ing
wheels can spin and the vehicle can break
away in ESC sport mode, especia lly when
the road is slippe ry.
@ Tips
If the re are faults in the rea r spo ile r sys
tem or in Audi magnet ic r ide, it may not be
possible to a ct ivate ESC spor t mode or
normal mode may a ct ivate aga in a utomat
ically.
n RS: Switching on/off
App lies to vehicles: TI RS Coupe
ESC turns on automatically when you start
the engine.
Fig . 12 7 Ce nter console: ESC OFF b utton
ESC sport mode
In certa in situations, i t might make sense to
al low some slip . For examp le:
- Rocking the vehicl e to free it when i t is st uck
- Dr iving in deep snow o r on loose gro und
- Driving with snow chains
Press the~ button briefly ¢
fig. 12 7. Th e fl
indicator light turns on and Spo rt cont rol
Wa rning! Rest rict ed stability
appears in the
driver information system disp lay. Driv ing sta
bility is limited in sport mode.
Switching ESC off
Press and hold the ~ button for three sec
onds. The ESC ind icator light
liJ turns on and
Stabilization program off appears in the dis
play. ASR is also switched
off w hen ESC is
switched
off .
Switching on
Press the~ button again. The message Stabi
lization program on
appears briefly i n the dis
play.
A WARNING
-You should only switch the ESC off i f your
d riving ab ility and the traffic sit uat ion al
l ow . This co uld increase the r isk of slip
p ing.
- The stab ilizing function is limited in ESC
sport mode. The driving wheels could
spin and the vehicle could swerve, espe
cially o n sli ck or slippery road s urf aces.
- There is no veh icle stabilization when
E SC is sw itched
off.
© Tips
If there is a malfunct ion in the re tractable
r ear spoiler* or the Aud i magneti c ride *, it
may not be poss ible to activate ESC sport
mode or no rm al mode may activa te again
a utomat ica lly.
Page 155 of 262

Rear spoiler
Applies to vehicles: with retractable rear spoiler
The rear spoiler improves vehicle handling
and enhances driver control.
Fig. 128 Switc h for rear spo iler
The rear spoiler deploys and retracts . Spo iler
operation can be set for automatic or manua l
operation.
Automatic m ode (no rmal operat ion )
-Automatic deployment: At a speed of about
75 mph (120 km/h), the rear spoiler deploys
automatically.
-Automat ic retraction: When speed drops be
low about SO mph (80 km/h), the rear spo il
er retracts automatically .
Manu al mode
- Manual deployment: Tapping briefly on the
switch
c:> fig. 128 dep loys the rear spo iler .
- Manual retraction: At speeds up to about 10 mph (20 km/h), retract the rear spoiler
by pressing and holding the switch
c:> fig . 128 . At speeds between 10 mph (20
km/h) and 75 mph (120 km/h) , retract the
rear spoiler by tapping on the switch
c:>fig . 128.
_& WARNING
Dr iv ing at higher speeds w ithout the rear
spoiler dep loyed can impair hand ling cha r
acteristics, making the vehicle harder to
contro l.
- Always make sure that the spoiler is de
ployed when driving at speeds over
85 mph (140 km/h).
If the rear spoiler
warning/ind icator light in the instru-
Intelligen t technolog y 153
ment cluster comes on, the rear spoiler
may not have deployed .
- Never drive at speeds higher than
85 mph (140 km/h) if the spoiler is not
deployed. Have the spoiler inspected as
soon as possible by an authorized Audi
deale r o r qualified workshop .
- Always obey speed limits and other traf
fic laws.
_& WARNING
Improper operation of the rear spoiler can
cause crushing injuries.
- Always make sure that nobody, especially
children, is in the way when the rear
spoiler is deployed or retracted .
(D Note
Never push the vehicle or apply force to
the rear spoi ler -it cou ld be damaged.
{!) Tips
C lean the spoiler compartment every 2 to
3 months. The spoiler compartment must
a lways be free of ice, snow, leaves or other
debr is .
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Ope rating cond itions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles a re still
subject to wear, depe nd ing largely on operat
ing condit ions and driving hab its
c:> .&,. . On
vehicles that are either driven most ly in stop
and-go city t raff ic or are dr iven hard, the
brake pads should be checked by yo ur au thor
ized Audi dealer more often than specified in
the
Warr anty & Maintenance booklet. Failure
to have your brake pads inspected can result
in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking
effect of the engine. T his way, you prevent un
necessary wear on the brake system . If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes .,.
Page 156 of 262

154 Intellig ent technolog y
down continuously. Pump the brakes at inter
va ls.
Noises may occur when braking depending on
the speed, braking force and outside condi
tions such as temperature and humidity.
Moistu re or road salt
Under certain conditions, for examp le, when
d riving through water or ve ry heavy rain, or
even after washing your vehicle , the bra king
effect can be reduced due to moisture (o r in
freezing conditions ice) on the brake pads. A
few cautious brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings.
The effectiveness of the b rakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is driven on a salt -covered
road and the brakes are not used. Likewise,
you clean off accumulated sa lt coating from
brake discs and pads with a few caut ious ap
plications of the brake
q .&. .
Co rrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to bui ld up
on the brake pads and corrosion to form on
the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if cor rosion has formed on the discs, it is advisable
to clean off the pads and discs by braking
f irmly a few times from a moderately high
speed
Q .&. .
Fa ults in th e brak e system
If you should notice a sudden increase in
brake peda l travel, then one of the two brake
circu its may have failed
q .&. .
Low brake flu id le vel
Malfunct ions can occur in the brake system if
the brake fluid level is too low. The brake fluid
leve l is monitored electronically.
B rake boo ste r
The brake booster increases the press ure that
you gene rate w it h the brake pedal. It works
on ly when the engine is running
.Q .&.
Brake lining wear statu s
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual in
spection of the condition of the brake pads
thro ugh the openings in the wheel. If neces
sary, the wheel may be removed for this in
spection
q page 224, What should I be
aware of when changing a tire?.
A WARNING
-- You shou ld perform braking maneuvers
for the purpose of cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit .
Othe r road use rs must not be put at risk -
you may ca use an accident!
- Before descend ing a steep grade, reduce
speed and sh ift transmission into a lower
gear or lower dr iving range. Do not ride
the brakes or hold the pedal down too
long or too often. This could cause the
brakes to get hot and diminish braking
efficiency.
- Do not "ride the brakes" by rest ing your
foot on the pedal when you do not intend
to brake. This may cause the brakes to
overheat, premature wear and increased
stopping distance .
- Under certain climatic and operat ing
conditions such as passing through wa
ter, dr iving in heavy rain or after washing
the vehicle, the effectiveness of the b rakes can be reduced. In winte r, ice can
accumu late on the bra ke pads, lin ings,
d iscs and drums. Carefully app ly bra kes
for a test . Brakes will dry and ice coat
ings will be cleaned off after a few care
fu l brake applications.
- Driving for an extended period of time on salt-covered roads without using your brakes can a lso affect braking efficiency.
Clean off accumulated salt coating from
brake discs and pads with a few cautious
brake applications .
- If you damage the front spoiler, or if you
install a different spoiler, be sure the a ir
f low to the front brakes is not obstruct-
ed. Otherwise the brake system could
Ill>
Page 157 of 262

overheat reducing the effectiveness of
the ent ire brake system.
- Failure of one brake circuit will impair
the braking capability resulting in an in
creased stopp ing distance. Avoid driv ing
the vehicle and have it towed to the near est Aud i dealer or qualified workshop .
- Never let the vehicle roll to a stop w ith
the engine shut off.
- If the brake booster is not working, for
example when towing your ve hicle, or
because the brake booste r has somehow
been damaged, the brake pedal must be
pressed considerab ly harder to make up
for the lack of booster assistance.
Electro-mechanical
power assist
The electro-mechanical power assist helps
the driver when steering.
The degree of power assist is electronically
matched to vehicle speed.
The power steer ing system ass ists the driver
so that he can stee r the veh icle w ith red uced
phys ica l effort.
Power steering w ill not work if the engine is
off. As a result, the steering wheel w ill be hard
to turn.
& WARNING
If the system develops a prob lem, you
must seek qualified professional assis
tance.
(D Note
-
If there is an electronic malfunct ion, ser
votronic
wi ll sti ll function like a conven
tional power steering system, providing a
constant steering support force that is no
longer proportionate to the vehicle speed.
This is most noticeable when turning the
steer ing wheel at low speeds (for example
when parking), -more effort will be re
quired than usual.
Int ellig ent technolog y 155
-Be aware of the different than usual
steering response and adjust your steer
ing force accordingly.
- Have the problem checked and set right
by an authorized Audi dea ler as soon as
possible.
- If a steering malfunction occurs, this is
signaled with the,~ , or .• indicator
lights and a warn ing tone, see.
(D Tips
- If the power steering system sho uld fail,
or if the engine is not running (for exam
ple, while being towed), you will still be
able to steer the vehicle. However, more
effort will be required to do so.
- If the power steering system is not func
tioning properly, contact your authorized
Audi dealer immediately.
Driving with your
quattro ®
Applies to vehicles : wit h all -w hee l d rive
With oil -wheel drive, oil four wheels ore driv
en.
General information
With a ll-wheel drive, power is distr ibuted to
all four wheels. This happens automatically
depend ing on your driving style and the road
conditions at the time. See also
c::> page 1 SO.
The all-whee l dr ive concept is des igned for
high eng ine power. Your veh icle is except ion
ally powerfu l and has excellent driving charac
teristics both under normal driving conditions
and on snow and ice. Always read and follow
safety precautions
c::> &. .
Winter tires
When dr iving in the winter, your vehicle with
all-wheel drive has an advantage, even with
regular tires. In winter road conditions it may
be advisable to mount winter tires (or all-sea
son tires) for improved driveability and brak
ing: these tires must be mounted on
all fou r
wheels. See also c::> page 211, Winter tires. ..,_
•
•
Page 158 of 262

156 Intellig ent technol ogy
Snow cha in s
Where t ire cha ins are mandatory on certain
roads, this normally a lso applies to vehicles
with a ll-wheel drive ¢
page 212, Snow
chains .
Replacing wheels /t ir es
Vehicles with all-wheel drive must a lways
have tires of the same size. Also avoid t ires
with different tread depths. For details see
page ~
page 207, New tires and replacing
tires and wheels.
Off -Ro ad dri ving?
Your Aud i does not have enough ground clear
ance to be used as an off -road veh icle.
It is
therefore best to avoid rough tracks and un
even terrain as much as possible . Also refer to
¢ page 160.
A WARNING
Always adjust your driving to road and traf
fic conditions. Do not let the extra safety
afforded by all-wheel dr ive tempt you into
taking extra r isks.
- Although the all-wheel dr ive is very ef
fective, always remember that braking capacity is limited by t ire traction . You
should the refore not dr ive at excessive
speeds on icy or slippery road su rfaces.
- On wet road surfaces, be careful not to
dr ive too fast because the front wheels
cou ld beg in to s lide on top of the wa ter
(aquaplaning) .
If this should occ ur, you
will have no warning from a sudden in
crease in engine speed as with a front
wheel drive vehicle. A lways drive at
speeds wh ich are suited to the road con
ditions. -risk of crash.
Energy management
Starting ability is optimized
Energy management controls the distribution
of electrical energy and thus optimizes the
availability of electrical energy for starting the engine.
If a vehicle with a conventional energy system
is not driven for a long per iod of t ime, the bat
tery is discharged by idling current consumers (e .g. immobilize r). In certa in circumstances it
can resu lt in the re be ing insufficient energy
available to start the engine.
Intelligent energy management in your vehi
cl e handles the distribution of e lectr ica l ene r
gy . Start ing ability is ma rkedly improved and
the life of the battery is extended .
Bas ica lly, energy management consists of
b att ery diag nosis, idlin g curre nt manage
m ent
and dynamic en erg y manag em ent .
Battery di agnosis
Battery diagnosis continuously determines
the state of the battery. Sensors determine
battery voltage, battery current and battery
temperature. This determines the current state o f charge and the power of the battery .
Idling current managem ent
Idling current management reduces energy
consumption while the vehicle is standing .
With the ig nition sw itched off, it controls the
energy supply to the various electri ca l compo
nents. Da ta from ba ttery diagnos is is cons id
ered.
Depend ing on the batte ry's state of cha rge,
individual cons ume rs a re g radually turned off
to prevent excessive discharge of the battery
and th us maintain starting capability.
Dynamic energ y manag ement
While the vehicle is being driven, dynamic en
ergy ma nagement distr ibutes the energy gen
era ted accord ing to t he needs of the individ u-
al components .
It regula tes consumption, so
that more electrical energy is not being used ..,.
Page 159 of 262

than is being generated and ensures an optimal state of charge for the battery.
@ Tips
- But even energy management cannot
negate the limits o f physics. Consider
that the power and life of a battery are
li mited.
- If starting ab ility is threatened, you are
i nformed by a warning
¢ page 157,
Driver notification in the instrument
cluster display.
What you should know
The highest priority is given to maintaining
starting capability.
The battery is severely taxed in short-distance
driving, in city traffic and during the co ld time
of year. Abundant e lectrica l energy is re
quired, but only a litt le is generated. It is also
cr itical if the engine is not run ning and electri
cal components are turned on. In th is in
stance energy is being consumed but non e is
be ing gene rated.
It is in precisely these situations that you w ill
notice energy management actively regulat
in g the distribution of energy .
Vehicle stands for an extended period
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period
of several days or weeks, electrical compo
nents are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumption and mai n
tains sta rting capab ility over a longer per iod.
Take into consideration that when you un lock
your ve hicle, some co nvenience functions,
such as the remote key or power seat adjust
ment, may not be available . The convenience
f u nctions w ill be ava ilable again whe n you
turn on the igni tion and star t the eng ine.
With the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with
the eng ine turned off, the battery is being dis
charged .
Intellig ent technolog y 157
If starting capability is jeo pardi zed d ue to en
ergy consumption, a message appears in the
drive r information d isplay .
You have to start t he engine to charge the
batte ry .
With the engine running
Although e lectrical energy is generated when
the ve hicl e is being driven, t he battery can be
c ome disc harged. This happe ns mostly when
li ttle energy is being generated and a g reat
deal consumed and t he battery's sta te of
c h arge is not optimal.
T o b ring the energy b alance b ack into equili
br ium, consumers which requ ire espe cially
la rge amounts of energy a re temporari ly cut
back or switched off . Heating systems in pa r
ticu lar require a great deal of energy. If yo u
notice, for example, that the heated seats* or
the heated rear window are not heating, they
have been temporarily cut back or sw itched
off . These systems w ill be available again as
soon as the ene rgy balance has been restored.
You w ill also notice that engine id le speed has
been increased slightly . T hi s is normal and not
a cause for conce rn . By i ncreas ing eng ine id le
speed the additional energy r equired is gene r
ated and the battery is charged.
Driver notification in the instrument
cluster display
If battery power drops into the range where it
can limit the ability of the engine to start, this
is shown in the instrument cluster display
with the following driver message:
(•) Low battery charge: battery will be
charged while driving
T his no tificat ion reminds yo u that the star ting
capability of the engine may be lim ited . As
soon as you sta rt dr iving again, the battery
will be recharged and the not ificat ion w ill go
out. •
•
Page 160 of 262
158 Intelligent technology
Driver notification appears and goes out
again
If t his driver notification a ppears after the ig
n ition is turned on or while driv ing and it goes
out again after a while, the battery has been
adequately rec harged.
Driver notification appears and does not
go out again
If t his driver notification appears after the ig
ni tion is turned on or while dr iv ing and does
not go out again , the battery's state of charge
i s not i n the optimal rang e. Sta rting abi lity is
r estricte d. Have the bat tery checked as soon
as po ssible by an aut hor ized Audi dealer or
qualif ied wor kshop.