brake rotors and brake pads. The brakes must be
dried first with a few carefu l brake applications .
At h igher speeds and with the w indshield w ipers
turned on, the brake pads press against the brake rotors for a sho rt amount of time. This occurs at
regular intervals without the driver noticing and
prov ides for better brake response time under
wet conditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is driven on a salt-covered road
and the brakes are not used. Likew ise, you clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs
and pads with a few cautious applications of the
brake ¢,&. .
Due to their surface characteristics, ceram ic
brake rotors* absorb moisture in such conditions.
This can cause a temporary reduction in braking
force compared to dry brakes . You can compen
sate for this by press ing the brake pedal harder .
Corrosion
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 corro
sion has formed on the discs, it is advisable to
clean off the pads and discs by brak ing firmly a
few t imes from a moderately high speed¢& .
Fa ul ts i n the brake sys te m
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake
pedal travel, then one of the two brake circuits
may have failed¢&.
Low brak e flu id l eve l
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the
brake fluid level is too low. The brake fluid leve l is
monitored e lectronically.
Brake boo ste r
The brake booster increases the pressure that you
genera te with the brake pedal.
It works only M
"" when the engine is running.¢ & 0:: l-oo ,...., \!) 1.1'1
N 1.1'1 ,....,
Smart T echno log y
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 necessary,
the wheel may be removed for this inspection
¢ page 218, Replacing wheels .
A WARNING ...__
-New brake pads don't have the best stop
ping power and must be "broken-in" during
the initial 250 miles (400 kilometers) . The
break-in per iod can be cons iderably longer
for vehi cles w ith ceramic b rake rotors*. You
can compensate for this by p ress ing the
b rake peda l more fi rmly. This a lso applies
later when new pads are installed.
- You shou ld perform braking maneuvers for
the purpose of cleaning the brake system
only if road conditions permit. Other road
users must not be put at risk -you may
cause 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 dimin ish braking effic iency .
- 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 over
heat, premature wear and increased stop
p ing distance.
- Under certain cl imatic and operat ing condi
tions such as passing t hrough water, dr iv ing
in heavy rain or after washing the veh icle,
the effect iveness of the brakes can be re
duced . In winter, ice can accumulate on the
brake pads, linings, discs and drums . Care
fu lly apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry
and ice coatings will be cleaned off after a
few careful 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 careful
brake applications.
173
Checking and Filling
compartment. Wait until no steam or cool
ant can be seen or heard before carefully
opening the hood.
- Keep children away from the engine com
partment.
- Never spill fluids on hot engine compo
nents. They can cause a fire.
- Never touch the radiator fan. The auxiliary
electric fan is temperature controlled and
can switch on suddenly.
- Never open the coolant reservoir cap when
the engine is still warm . The coolant system
is pressurized and hot coolant could spray
out .
- Protect your face, hands and arm from
steam or hot engine coolant by placing a
thick rag over the cap when you open the coolant reservoir .
- Do not remove the engine cover under any
circumstances . This increases the risk of
burns .
- If work on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary :
= Always disconnect the battery.
- Never smoke or work near heaters or open
flames. Fluids in the engine compartment
could start a fire.
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher imme
diately available.
- To avoid electrical shock and personal injury
while the engine is running or being started,
never touch:
- Ignition cables
- Other components of the high voltage
electronic ignition system.
- If you must perform a check or repair with
the engine running:
- First, fully apply the parking brake, move
selector lever of automatic transmission
to "P" (Park) .
- Always use extreme caution to prevent
clothing, jewelry, or long hair from getting
188
caught in the radiator fan, V-belts or other
moving parts, or from contacting hot
parts. Tie back hair before starting, and do
not wear clothing that will hang or droop
into the engine.
- Minimize exposure to emission and chemi
cal hazards
¢ A .
A WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
- Engine exhaust, some of its constituents,
and certain vehicle components contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of Cali
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain flu
ids contained in vehicles and certain prod
ucts of component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
- Battery posts, terminals and related acces
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms.
Wash hands after handling.
([) Note
When adding fluids, always make sure that
they are poured into the proper container or
filler opening, otherwise serious damage to
vehicle systems will occur.
@ For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehicle
floor pan from underneath regularly. If you
see spots from oil or other vehicle fluids, have
your vehicle inspected by an authorized Audi dealer .