2015 AUDI R8 SPYDER service

Drive r in formation syste m
fastest lap"+", the slowest lap"-" and the aver­
age lap time "0" .
.. To continue t iming for additional laps, press
the wiper switch @ .
.. To reset the timer to zero, press and hold the
I RESET I button again for approximate ly 2 sec ­
onds .
.,. To sw itch the lap timer off comp letely, press
the
I RES ET I button br iefly.
@ Tips
- Saved lap t imes cannot be ind ividually de­
l eted from the total results.
- The saved lap timer values will not be lost
after turn ing the ignit ion off.
On-Board Diagnostic
system (OBD)
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
The Malfunction Ind icator Lamp (MIL)
llil is part
of the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD II) system .
The warning light illuminates when there is a malfunct ion in the engine electronic system . A
malfunct ion may have various causes:
- The fuel filler cap may be improperly closed
¢ page 153.
- T here is a leak in the fuel vapor recovery sys­
tem .
- The engine control receives faulty vehicle road-
speed signals.
Contact your nearest authorized Audi dealer for
assistance.
I f the light illuminates , the catalyt ic converte r
could be damaged. Continue dr iving
w ith re­
du ced pow er
(avoiding sustained high speeds
and/or rapid accelerations) and have the condi­
tion corrected.
An improper ly closed fuel filler cap may also
cause the MI L light to illuminate
¢ page 153.
26
On-Board Diagnostics
Fig. 19 Locatio n of Data Li nk Co nnector (DLC)
On-Board D iagnostics monitors the components
of your emission control system. Each monitored component in your engine system has been as­
s igned a code. In case of a malfunct ion, the com­
ponent will be ident ified and the fault stored as a
code in the control module memo ry.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, the stor­
ed data can only be d isplayed using spec ia l diag­
nostic equipmen t (generic scan tool for OBD) .
In order to connect the special diagnostic equip­ ment, push the plug into the Data Link Connector
(DLC) ¢
fig. 19.
Your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified service
station can interpret the code and perform the
necessary repair .
A WARNING
Do not use the d iagnost ic connector for per­
sona l use. Incorrect usage ca n cause ma lfunc­
tions, which can increase the r isk of a coll i­
sion!
-

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Service position
It is only possible to change wiper blades if you move the wiper arms to the service position .
In order to use the windshield wipers, the front
lid must be completely closed.
Moving wiper bla de s to th e serv ice positi on
• When there is a risk of frost, make sure that the
wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield.
• Switch the ignition on.
• Move the wiper lever to position
O i:> page 51,
fig. 63.
• Press the
!RESE T I button unt il the Di spla y ty pe
menu appears in the Driver Information System
display .
• Usi ng the rocke r switch a nd the
!RESET I b utton,
select the
Se t> Wip ers > Fr ont > S ervi ce pos i­
ti on on
function. The windshie ld wiper arms
move to the service position.
Moving wi per blades to park position
• Make ce rtain that the wiper arms are lying
against the w indshie ld.
• Switch the ignition on and move the w iper lever
from position Oto
4 i:> page 51, fig. 63 . The
wiper arms will move back to the park position.
(D Note
Never drive yo ur vehicle when the windshield
wiper arms are in the service position and
pulled away from the windshield. When you
drive faster than 4 mph (6 km/h), the wiper
arms automatically return to the park posi­
tion and could cause paint damage to the
front lid!
(D Tips
- You can also turn on the service pos ition, for
example, if you want to protect the wind­
sh ield from ic ing by using a cover .
- The service position moves to
off automati­
cally when you operate the windshield w iper
lever, or speed exceeds 4 mph (6 km/h) .
Clear vi sion
Cleaning windshield wiper blades
Clean the windshie ld w iper b lades when they be­
gin to leave strea ks. Use a soft cloth and g lass
cleaner to clean t he windshie ld w iper blades.
• Place the windshie ld w iper arms in the service
position. Refe r to
c> page 53.
• Lift the wiper a rm away from the front window .
& WARNING
-
Dirty windsh ield wiper b lades can impair your
view. This can lead to accidents.
Replacing windshield wiper blades
Wiper blades in good condition help keep the
windshield clear.
F ig. 6 4 Unlatching wiper blades
Fig. 65 Removing wiper blades
Remo ving the wiper bl ade
• Move the wipers to the service position
i=>page53.
.,. Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
glass .
• On the upper end of the wiper arm at the corru­
gation, squeeze the plastic retainer together on
bo th s ides in the direction of the arrow
i=>fig . 64. ..,_
53

Driving Safely
_&. WARNING
Do not use the area behind the headrests
<=.> fig. 102 as a storage area . This is the area
where the rollbars deploy. If the rollover pro­
tection system is triggered, objects placed
there can be propelled through the vehicle
and make it more difficult for the rollbars to
deploy. This increases the risk for serious or
life-threatening injuries.
When is rollover protection deployed?
Rollover protection deploys in a collision or roll­
over .
Depending on the collision, sensors throughout
the vehicle and the control module trigger the
rollover system to deploy .
For safety reasons, rollover protection also de­
ploys during front, side and rear collisions above
a certain level of severity .
Retracting rollover protection
Fig. 104 Deployed ro llbar wit h release loop
Fig. 105 Deploye d ro llbar wit h convert ib le top frame fac·
ing upward
M
M
9 N
~
If the rollbars deployed but the vehicle was not
involved in a collision or rollover, you can retract
94
them without special tools. The system is ready
for use again once they are retracted.
.,. Remove the wind deflector, if necessary
<=.>page 40 .
.,. Lower the rear window, if necessary Q page 41 .
.,. Pull the loop upward in the direction of the ar­
row and hold it in place
(D r=.> fig. 104.
.,. Slide the rollbar down@¢.,&. .
.,. Release the loop just before the rollbar reaches
its end position 1 -2 in . (3-5 cm) .
.,. Press the rollbar down firmly until it stops.
.,. Make sure the rollbar is secure before releasing
it.
.,. Close the cover @
Q fig. 105.
.,. Repeat the procedure on the other rollbar.
& WARNING
-
-Make sure your head or other parts of your
body are not located in the area above the
rollbar when pressing the rollbar down. If
the rollbar is not secured correctly, it could deploy again as soon as you release it and
cause injuries .
- Have the rollover protection system checked
by your authorized Audi dealer if it malfunc­
tions. Otherwise the system may not deploy correctly in a collision .
- Modifying the rollover protection system or
individual components is not permitted.
- Work on the rollover protection system
should only be performed by your author­
ized Audi dealer . Otherwise the system may
not function correctly in a collision or it
could deploy unexpectedly .
- Have the system inspected at service inter­
vals. This ensures the system will always be
ready for use. Have your authorized Audi
dealer check the rollover protection system
every two years at the latest.
(D Note
If the rollbars deploy when the convertible
top is closed, do not open the top. Doing so
could result in damage to the vehicle. Please
see your authorized Audi dealer for assis­
tance.

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system is activated by sensors in front, side and
rear-end collisions and in a rollover of great se­
verity. Th is tightens the belt and takes up belt
slack <=>&.
in Service and disposal of safety belt
pretensioner on page 101.
Taking up the slack
helps to reduce forward occupant movement dur ­
ing a collision.
(D Tips
The safety belt pretensioner can only be acti­
vated once.
-In minor frontal and side collisions, in rear­
end collisions and in accidents involving
very little impact force, the safety belt pre­
tensioners are not activated .
- When the safety belt pretensioner is activat­
ed , a fine dust is released . This is normal
and is not caused by a fire in the vehicle.
- The relevant safety requirements must be
observed when the vehicle or components
of the system are scrapped . An authorized
Audi dealer is familiar with these regula­
tions and w ill be pleased to pass on the in­
formation to you.
- Be sure to observe all safety, environmental
and other regulations if the vehicle or indi­
vidual parts of the system, particularly the
safety belt or airbag, are to be disposed . We
recommend you have your authorized Audi
dealer perform this service for you.
Service and disposal of safety belt preten­
sioner
The safety belt pretensioners are parts of the
safety be lts on your Audi . Installing, removing ,
servicing or repairing of belt pretensioners can
damage the safety belt system and prevent it
from working correctly in a collision.
There are some important things you have to know to make sure that the effectiveness of the
system wil l not be impaired and that discarded
components do not cause injury or pollute the
environment .
Safety belts
A WARNING
-
Improper care, servicing and repair proce­
dures can increase the risk of personal injury
and death by preventing a safety belt preten­
sioner from activating when needed or acti­
vating it unexpectedly:
- The belt pretensioner system can be activat­
ed only once. If belt pretensioners have
been activated, the system must be re­
placed.
- Never repair, adjust, or change any parts of
the safety belt system.
- Safety belt systems including safety belt
p retens ioners cannot be repaired. Special
procedures are required for removal, instal­
lation and disposal of this system.
- For any work on the safety belt system, we
strongly recommend that you see your au­
thorized Audi dealer or qualified technician
who has an Audi approved repair manual,
training and special equipment necessary.
@ For the sake of the environment
Undeployed airbag modules and pretension­
ers might be classified as Perchlorate Material
-special handling may apply , see
www .dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlo­
rate. When the vehicle or parts of the re­
straint system including airbag modules,
safety belts with pretensioners are scrapped,
all applicable laws and regulations must be
observed. Your authorized Audi dealer is fa­
miliar with these requirements and we recom­
mend that you have yo ur dealer perform th is
service for you.
101

Airb ag syst em
observed. Your authorized Audi dealer is fa­
miliar with these requirements and we recom­
mend that you have your dealer perform this
service for you.
Other things that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Changing the vehicle's suspension system can
change the way that the Advanced Airbag System
pe rforms in a crash. For example, us ing t ire-rim
comb inat ions not approved by Audi, lowering the
vehicle, changing the stiffness of the suspension, including the springs, suspension struts, shock
absorbers etc. can change the forces that are measured by the airbag sensors and sent to the
electronic control unit. Some suspension changes
can, for example, increase the force levels meas­
ured by the sensors and make the airbag system
deploy in crashes in which it wou ld not deploy if
the changes had not been made. Other kinds of
changes may reduce the force levels measured by
the sensors and prevent the airbag from deploy ­
ing when it should.
A WARNING
Changing the vehicle's s uspension including
use of unapproved t ire-rim comb inat ions can
change Advanced A irbag performance and in­
crease the risk of ser ious persona l injury in a
crash .
- Never install suspension components that
do not have the same performance charac­
te ristics as the components or iginally insta l­
led on your veh icle.
- Never use tire-rim combinations that have not been approved by A udi.
A WARNING
Items stored between the safety belt buckle
and the center console can cause the senso rs
in the b uck le to send the wrong information
t o the electron ic contro l modu le and prevent
t he Advanced Airbag System from working
properly.
- Always make sure that nothing can interfere
with the safety be lt b uckles and that they
are not obstructed.
116
Knee airbags
Description of knee airbags
The knee airbag system can provide supplemen­
tal protection to properly restrained front seat
occupants .
Fig. 119 D river 's airbag
The driver knee airbag is in the instrument panel
u nderneath the steer ing whee l
~fig. 119, the
airbag for the passenger is at about the same height in the instrument panel underneath the
glove compartment.
The knee airbag offers additional protection to
the driver's and passenger's knees lower thigh
areas as a supplement to the protection by the
safety belts.
If the front a irbags dep loy, the knee a irbags also
deploy in fronta l co llisions when the dep loyment
threshold stored in the control unit is met
~ page 110 , More important things to know
about front airbags .
In addition to their normal safety function, safe­
ty belts help keeping the driver or front passen­ ger in posit ion in a frontal collision so that the
airbags can provide supplemental protection .
The airbag system is not a substitute for your
safety belt . Rather, it is part of the overall occu­
pant restra int system in your vehicle. A lways re­
member that the airbag system can only help to
protect you if you are wearing your safety belt
and wea ring it p roperly. This is why you sho uld a l­
ways wear your safety be lt, not just because the
l aw requires yo u to do so¢
page 95, General
notes .
llll-

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Power steering
When the engine is running, power steering
makes i t easier for the driver to steer.
Power steering helps the driver steer the vehicle
with litt le physical effort.
If the engine is not running, the power steering
system is also not working. In this case, you will
find it extremely difficult to turn the steering
wheel.
If you turn the steering fully to the left or right
when the vehicle is stationary, you place a very
heavy load on the power steering system. Turning
the steering wheel fully to the left or right wi ll
cause noise in the system . It also reduces engine
idle speed.
(D Note
Do not hold the steering turned fully to the
left or right for more than 10 seconds when
the engine is running. There is a risk of dam­
age to the power steering system.
@ Tips
- In the event of a power steering system fail­
ure, or if the engine is not running (while
being towed), you will still be able to steer
the vehicle. However, you will require more
effort to do so.
- If the power steering system has a leak or is
defective, you should immediately contact a
qualified workshop .
- The power steering system requires a spe­
cial hydraul ic fluid . The power steering fluid
reservoir is located in the engine compart­
ment. The correct hydraulic fluid level is im­
portant for proper operation of the power
steering system. The power steering fluid
l evel is checked according to the Audi main­
tenance service schedule.
Dry sump lubrication
High lateral and longitudinal forces affect the en­
gine and the vehicle during sporty driving. Dry
sump lubrication ensures that your engine is sup-
Intelligent technology
plied with oil and properly lubricated even under
these conditions.
In a "norma l" vehicle the oil pump sends the oil
from the oil pan to the lubrication points in the
engine . The oil then returns to the oil pan. In ex­
treme situations, the oil pump may draw in air,
wh ich results in insufficient oi l pressure .
With dry sump lubrica tion, the oil is not in the oil
pan (it is "dry"), but in a separate oi l tank. While
one pump supplies the engine with oil, a second
pump suct ions the oil out of the engine and re­
turns it to the o il tank. Because the oil tank is tall
and narrow, oil pressure is constant even under
extreme conditions .
In add ition, the oi l pan in vehicles with dry sump
lubrication is noticeably shallower . This allows
the engine to be installed lower in the vehicle,
bringing down the center of gravity . This im ­
proves your vehicle's handling.
Driving with your quattro
With oil-wheel drive, all four wheels are driven .
General information
With all-wheel drive, power is distributed to all
four wheels . This happens automatically depend­
ing on your driving style and the road conditions
at the time . See also
c:::.> page 134.
The all-whee l drive concept is designed for high
engine power . Your vehicle is exceptionally pow­
erful and has excellent driving characterist ics
both under normal driving conditions and on
snow and ice. Always read and fo llow safety pre­
cautions
c:::.> .&_ .
Winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle with all­
wheel drive has an advantage, even with regular
t ir es . In winter road condit ions it may be advisa­
ble to mount winter tires (or all-season t ires) for
improved driveability and brak ing: these tires
must be mounted on
all four wheels. See also
c:::.> page 193 , Winter tires.
139

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The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critically im­
portant for the life of the catalytic converter and
proper functioning of the engine.
A WARNING
- Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot exhaust system may come in contact with dry grass, brush, fuel spill or
other material which can cause a fire .
- Do not apply additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust mani­
fold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. During driving, the substance
used for undercoating could overheat and
cause a fire.
([) Note
-Be aware that just one tank filling with lead­
ed
fuel will already seriously degrade the
performance of the catalytic converter.
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil level
~page 160.
- Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty. The engine could misfire.
Unburned fuel could also get into the ex­
haust system and this could cause the cata­
lytic converter to overheat.
- Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle
is moving.
- Do not continue to operate your vehicle un­
der these conditions, as otherwise fuel can
reach the catalytic converter. This could re­
sult in overheating of the converter, requir­
ing its replacement.
- To assure efficient operation of the Emission
Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with the service recommen­
dations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet.
- Lack of proper maintenance as well as im­
proper use of the vehicle will impair the
function of the emission control system
and could lead to damage.
Driving and environment
{® For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emission Control System is op­
erating properly, the exhaust gas can have a
sulfur-like exhaust gas smell under some op­
erating states. This depends on the sulfur
content of the fuel being used. Using a differ­
ent brand of fuel may help, or filling the tank
with lead-free super grade gasoline .
Shutting down vehicle
If you would like your vehicle to remain inopera­
tive for a longer period of time , contact an Audi
or other specialized dealer. They can advise you
on necessary precautions e.g. corrosion preven­
tion, maintenance and storage. Pay attention to
additional information concerning the battery.
Refer to~
page 164.
Operation and
maintenance
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear
on your engine, brakes and tires largely depend
on three factors:
-your personal driving style
- operating conditions
- technical limitations
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an
authorized Audi dealer helps to ensure that it runs properly and economically. The condition of
your vehicle not only affects its safety and ability
to hold its value, it also affects
fuel consump­
tion.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load
and speed.
It is normal for the oil consumption of a new en­
gine to reach its lowest value after a certain mile­
age has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly as­
sess oil consumption .
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output . .,,.
143

Driving and en vironment
CJ) Note
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and
in accordance w ith the service recommenda­
tions in your Warranty
& Maintenance book­
l et . Lack of proper ma intenance as well as
i mproper use of the vehicle will impair the
funct ion of the emission control system and
could lead to damage .
- Do not alter or remove any component of the Emi ssion Cont ro l System unless ap­
proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not a lter or remove any dev ice, such as
heat shie lds, switches, ig nition w ires,
valves, wh ich are des igned to prote ct you r
vehicle's Emiss ion Control Sys tem and other
i mportant veh icle components.
(D Tips
The consumpt ion estimates as published by
t he ENV IRONM ENTA L PROTECTION AG ENCY
(EPA) and Transport Canada may not co rre­
spond to your act ual consumption on the
road , which wi ll vary depen ding upon vehicle
load and speed, road and weather cond itions,
trip length, etc.
Trailer towing
General information
Your Audi RB Spyder is not designed to tow a
trailer.
Towing a tra iler with your Audi R8 Spyder is not
recommended and ca n cause damage to the car .
D amaged caused by tow ing a tra ile r i s not cov­
e red by your Aud i War ranty .
144