2015 AUDI A8 Owners Manual

Pass-through with ski
sack
Preparing the pass-through
Applies to vehicles: with pass-through and ski sack
Long objects such as skis can be transported
in the ski sack.
Fig. 73 Rear bench seat: removing the protect ive cover
Fig. 74 Rear center armrest: attaching the protective
cover
.,. Fold the rear center armrest and the cover
located behind it down.
.,. Press the button to remove the protective
cover
¢fig. 73.
.,. To protect the front area of the center arm­
rest, position the cover as illustrated
¢ fig. 74 and press the suction cups down so
they adhere.
.,. Slide the loaded ski sack* from the luggage
compartment out through the opening . The
zipper must face toward the rear .
.,. Secure the ski sack*
¢page 71.
Seats and storage 71
Securing the ski sack
Applies to vehicles: with pass -through and ski sack
Fig. 75 Luggage compartment: securing the ski sack *
Fig. 76 Rear be nch seat: tying down the item
There are two straps with hooks@on the
sides of the ski sack*¢
fig. 75. There is also a
sec uring strap@¢
fig. 76 on the sack .
.,. To secure the ski sack in the luggage com­
partment, hang the hooks in the rear tie­
downs ¢
fig. 75 .
.,. Tighten the strap on the ski sack to prevent
the objects in the sack from sliding
¢ fig. 76 .
A WARNING ... -
-The ski sack is intended only for the
transportation of skis and other light ob­
jects. To reduce the risk of ser io us per­
sonal injury, never transport heavy or
pointed objects in the ski sack.
- When braking rapidly or during an acci­
dent, the load could be disp laced and
cause injury to occupants.
- Sharp edges o n the load must be covered
for protection. Always fasten the belt
tightly around the sack and its contents. _...

7 2 Seats and storage
-For safety reasons, do not transport
more than two pairs of skis in the ski
sack.
- You must secure the ski sack with the
strap after loading.
- Make sure all objects that you are trans­
porting in the pass-through are secured.
Otherwise they could slide around during
sudden braking maneuvers and cause in­
jury.
Q) Tips
- Never stow the ski sack away when it is
still wet or damp (for example, snow
melting from skis). Allow it to dry com­
pletely before stowing it away .
- Position skis in the ski sack with the
pointed ends facing the front and ski
poles with the pointed ends facing the
rear.
Roof rack
Description and mounting locations
Additional cargo can be carried with a roof
luggage rack.
Fig. 77 Roof rack attac hment points
,. Always read and follow the instructions pro­
vided by the roof rack manufacturer when
installing the roof rack system .
If luggage or cargo is to be carried on the
roof, you must observe the following:
- To enhance the vehicle's streamlined design,
rain gutters have been molded into the roof.
It is not possible to use normal roof racks.
Only install a roof rack specifically designed for your model AB. Contact the nearest Audi
dealer for information on approved modular
roof racks for your vehicle.
- Only use roof racks approved for your vehi­
cle. These approved roof racks are the basis
for a complete roof rack system. Additional
attachments or carrier systems are needed
to transport luggage and sports equipment.
We recommend using roof racks from the
Audi original accessories program .
- When installing the roof rack, make sure it
is only mounted on the designated locations
on the roof~
fig. 77 .
- We recommend that you keep the installa­
tion instructions for your roof rack system
together with your Owner's literature in the
vehicle .
When should the roof rack be removed?
-Before going through an automatic car wash
(it is best to ask the car wash operator for
advice)
- When not in use, to reduce fuel consump­
tion, wind noise and to guard against theft .
8,. 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¢
fig. 77.
- 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.
-

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N ,....,
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'SI: ,...., \!) 1.1"1 ,...., 1.1"1 ,....,
(D Note
-Your vehicle warranty does not cover any
damages to the vehicle caused by using
roof racks or mount ing structures not
approved by Audi for your vehicle . The
same applies to damage resulting from i ncorrect roof rack installation .
- Always check the roof rack mountings
and hardware before each trip and dur ­
i ng a tr ip to make sure everythi ng is se­
curely tightened. If necessary, retighten
the mount ings and check the ent ire sys­
tem from t ime to t ime.
- After mounting a roof rack system, or
when you transport objects on the roof
of your veh icle, the height of the vehicle
is natura lly increased . Be careful when
driving under low bridges or in parking
garages for example. This could ca use
damage to the load and even the vehicle
i tself.
- Make sure the open rear lid and the sun­
roof* do not come into contact with the
roof rack .
Loading the roof rack
Always distribu te loads evenly. Make sure
any thing on the roof rock is securely tied
down .
.. Always distribute the loads on the roof rack
evenly .
.. Always attach items to the roof rack securely
before you drive off .
The maximum perm iss ible roof weight is
220 lb (100 kg ). The roof weight is the to tal
of the weight of the roof rack, the attach ­
ments and the cargo you are carrying . You
must also not exceed the maximum load
weight for the roof rack you are using.
When us ing a roof rack system which has a
lower load carry ing capac ity, you must not use
up the total max imum pe rm iss ib le load ca rry­
ing capacity specified above. I nstead , you
should lo ad the roof rack sys tem only to the
S eat s an d sto rage 73
maximum capacity specified by the manufac ­
turer of the roof rack syst em.
A WARNING
Weak , damaged or improper straps used
to secure items to the roof rack can fail
during hard braking or in a coll is ion and
cause ser ious persona l injury .
- Make sure the roof rack is installed exact­
ly as specif ied above
c> poge 72.
-Always use s uitable mount ing straps for
secur ing items to the roof rack to help
prevent items from sh ifting or flying for ­
ward .
- Items on the roof rack must always be
securely mounted .
- The use of a roof rack can negat ively af­
fect the way a veh icle hand les . Cargo
that is large, heavy, bulky, long or flat
will have a greater negat ive infl uence on
the vehicle's aerodynamics, center of grav ity and overall handling. Always
drive s lowly, avoid s udden braking and
maneuvers when transporting cargo on
the roof of your vehicle.
- Never exceed the maxim um permissible
load carrying capacity of the roof of your
vehicle, the permissible axle weights and the permissible total weight of your vehi­
cle
c> page 287, Weights.
@ For the sa ke of the environment
As a result of the increased wind resist­
ance created by a roof rack, your vehicle is
u s ing fuel unnecessarily . So remove the
roof rack after using it .

7 4 Seats and storage
12-volt sockets
Applies to vehicles: 12-volt socke ts
Electrical accessories can be connected to ev­
ery 12-volt socket.
Fig. 78 Section of the trim panel of the luggage com­
partment: 12-volt socket
Fig . 79 Rear center console: 12-volt socket
.. Open the socket cover¢ fig. 78 or¢ fig . 79 .
.. Insert the plug of the electrical device into
the socket .
There is an additional 12 volt socket in the
front center console¢
page 74, fig. 80.
The 12 volt sockets can be used for electrical
accessories. The power input must not exceed
120 watts.
Before you purchase any accessories, always
read and follow the information in
<::> page 292, Additional accessories and parts
replacement.
A WARNING
The sockets and the electrical accessories connected to them operate only when the
ignition is switched on. Incorrect usage
can lead to serious injuries or burns. To re­
duce the risk of injuries, never leave chil- dren
unattended in the vehicle with the
ve­
hicle key.
(D Note
To avoid damaging the socket, only use plugs that fit properly .
-Never connect equipment that generates
electrical current, such as a solar panel
or battery charger, to the 12 volt socket.
This could damage the vehicle's electri­
cal system.
- The 12 volt socket should only be used
for a short period of ti me as a power
source for electrical equipment. Please
use the electrical sockets in the vehicle
when connecting equipment for longer periods.
(D Tips
When the engine is off and accessories are
still plugged in and are on, the vehicle bat­
tery can still be drained .
Storage
'(upholder
Fig. 80 Center console: front cupholder
Fig. 81 Section of the rear bench seat: rear cupholder Ill>

Front cupholder
• To open the cupholder, tap the cover
¢ fig. 80, ¢ _&.
Rear cupholder
• To open the cupholder, tap the front strip
¢fig. 81, ¢ _&.
In vehicles with a full-length center console in
the rear, the cupholder is located at@
¢ page 68, fig . 68.
_& WARNING
Spilled hot liquid can cause an accident
and personal injur y.
- Never carry any beverage containe rs with
hot liquids, such as hot coffee or hot tea,
in the vehicle while it is moving . In case
of an accident, sudden braking or other
vehicle movement, hot liqu id could spill,
caus ing scald ing burns . Spill ed hot liquid
can also cause an accident and personal
injury.
- Use only soft cups in the cupholder. Hard
cups and glasses can cause injury in an
acc ident.
(D Note
On ly drink containers with lids should be
carried in the cupho lder. Liquid could spill
out and damage your veh icle's electronic
equ ipment or sta in the upholstery, etc.
Cooled glove compartment
The cooled glove compartment only functions
when the A/C system is switched on.
Fig. 82 Glove compa rtment: switc hing cooling mode
on/off
Seats and storage 75
• Turn the knob @counterclockwise to switch
cooling on. The symbols on the knob indi­
cate the correct pos ition
<=> fig. 82.
• Turn the knob@clockwise to switch cooling
off.
The glove compartment cooling mode only
functions when the vehicle A/C system is
switc hed on. If the heating is switched on,
switc hing the glove compartment cooling
mode off is recommended .
_& WARNING
Always leave the lid on the glove compart­
ment cover closed while dr iving to reduce
the risk of injury.
© Tips
The glove compartment can be locked us­
in g the mechanical key
¢page 32.
Additional storage
There are a var iety of storage compartmen ts
and fasteners in various places in the veh icle.
- Storage compartments in the doo rs
- Net in the front passenger footwell
- Eyeglasses compartment in the headliner
(near the rearview mirror)
- Storage compartments under the center
armrests
- Compartments* on the back of the front
seat backrests
- Garment hooks over the rear doors
- Compartment in the center console with
pass-through)* (rear)
- Compartment behind the rear center arm­
rest (in vehicles without the pass-through*
or cooler *)
- Cell phone holder* in the right rear door
- Bag hoo ks in the luggage compartment
_& WARNING
-=
-When driving, do not leave any hard ob-
jects on the rear w indow shelf or allow
your pet to sit on the she lf . They cou ld

76 Seats and storage
become a hazard for vehicle occupants in
the event of sudden braking or a crash.
- Always remove objects from the instru­
ment panel. Any items not stored could
slide around inside the vehicle while driv­
ing or when accelerating or when apply­
ing the brakes or when driving around a
corner.
- When you are driving make sure that
anything you may have placed in the cen­
ter console or other storage locations cannot fall out into the footwells. In case
of sudden braking you would not be able
to brake or accelerate.
- Any articles of clothing that you have
hung up must not interfere with the driv­
er's view. The coat hooks are designed
only for lightweight clothing. Never hang
any clothing with hard, pointed or heavy
objects in the pockets on the coat hooks.
During sudden braking or in an accident -
especially if the airbag is deployed -
these objects could injure any passen­ gers inside the vehicle .
- To reduce the risk of personal injury in an
accident or sudden stop, always keep the
glove compartment closed while driving .
- Read and follow all WARNINGS
¢ page 170, Important safety instruc­
tions on the side airbag system.
- Hang clothes in such a way that they do
not impair the driver's vision.
- The coat hooks must only be used for lightweight clothing . Do not leave any
heavy or sharp edged objects in the pock­
ets which may interfere with the side cur­
tain airbag deployment and can cause
personal injury in a crash.
- Do not use coat hangers for hanging
clothing on the coat hooks as this can in­
terfere with proper deployment of the
side curtain airbags in an accident.
- Do not hang heavy objects on the coat
hooks, as they could cause personal in­
jury in a sudden stop.
(D Note
Objects located on the rear shelf that rub
against the rear window could damage the
heating wires for the rear window defog­
ger.
@ Tips
- A vent slot is located between the shelf
and the rear window. Do not block the
vent with any items you may place on the
rear window shelf.
- Do not place bulky items on the rear win­
dow shelf as they could restrict or block
the driver's vision in the rear view mirror.
Cooler
Introduction
Applies to vehicles: wi th coo ler
Please clean the cooler before using it for the
first time ¢
table on page 216.
You can only switch on the cooler if
- 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 temperature falls
below 131 °F (55 °C) again, the cooler
switches on again 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 optimum
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. .,.

_& 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 over load the cooler. This could
cause injury in the event of a co llision or
sudden braking.
- The coo ler lid must always be kept closed
while you are driving. Make sure the re­
taining catch is securely engaged. The
contents of the cooler could be thrown
forward into the passenger compart­
ment in the event of a collision or under
sudden braking - risk of in jury!
- Inflammable liquids, gas canisters, etc.
must not be stored in the cooler - risk of
exp losion! This also includes any prod­
ucts that might emit volatile or inflam­
mab le 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
l uggage 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
Applies to vehicles: w ith coole r
Fig. 83 Rear center armrest
Seats and storage 77
The cooler is located in the rear cabin behind
the center armrest or behind the sliding cover
(depending on the equ ipment fitted in your
vehicle) . The cooler and freezer only work
when the ignition is on.
Opening / closing the cooler
.,. To open the cooler, pu ll the release lever(D
i=> fig. 83.
.,. 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 @ i=>fig. 83 to switch the cool­
er on/off. The symbol in the button is lit
when this function is activated .
.,. Press button
@ to switch the freezer on/off.
The symbol in the button is lit when this
function is activated.
(D Tips
- Always try to leave the lid open for as
short a time as possible to prevent con­
densation buildup.
- Do not put hot food or dr inks in the cool­
er.

78 Warm and cold
Warm and cold Climate controls
Description
The climate control system warms, cools and
adds humidity to the air in the vehicle interior.
It is the most effect ive when the windows and
sunroof* are closed . If the temperature inside
the parked vehicle becomes very warm, open­ ing the window briefly will speed up the cool­
ing process.
I n all heating mode functions except
defrost,
the blower on ly switches to a higher speed
once the engine coolant has reached a certain
temperature.
Condensation from the cooling system can
drip and form a puddle of water under the ve­
hicle. This is normal and does not mean there
is a leak.
Pollutant filter
The pol lutant filter removes pollutants such
as dust and pollen from the air.
The air pollutants filter must be changed at
the intervals spec ified in you r Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet, so that the air condi­
tioner can properly work.
I f you drive your vehicle in an a rea with high
a ir po llution, the fi lter may need to be
changed more frequent ly than specified in
your Aud i Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. If
in doubt, ask your authorized Audi Service Ad­
visor for advice .
Key coded settings
The climate control settings are a utomat ically
stored and assigned to the remote control key
that is in use.
A WARNING
Reduced visibility is dangerous and can
cause accidents. -
- For safe driving it is very important that
all windows be free of ice, snow and con­
densation.
- Comp letely familiarize yourself with the
proper use and funct ion of the heat ing
and ventilation system and especially how to defog and defrost the windows.
- Never use the windshield wiper/washer
system in freez ing weather unt il you
have warmed the windshield first, using
the heating and ventilation system. The
washer solution may freeze on the wind­ sh ie ld and reduce visib ility.
(D Note
- If you suspect that the air conditioner has been damaged, switch the system
off to avoid further damage and have it
inspected by a qualified dealership.
- Repairs to the Audi air conditioner re­
quire special technical know ledge and
special tools. Contact an authorized Aud i
dea ler fo r assistance.
@ For the sake of the environment
By reducing the amount of fuel you use,
you also reduce the amount of pollutants
emitted into the air.
(D Tips
- Keep the air intake s lots (in fro nt of the
w indshield) free from ice, snow and de ­
bris in order to maintain the proper func­
tion of the climate control system.
- T he energy management system may
switch the seat heating* or rear window
defroster off temporari Ly . These systems
are available again as soon as the energy
balance has been restored.
- Air escapes through vents under the rear
window. When placing items of clothing
on the luggage compartment cover, en­
sure that the openings are not covered.