2016 AUDI A8 light

Trail er mode
Trailer mode
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger
transportation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that
the additional load will affect durability, econo­
my and performance.
Trailer towing not only places more stress on the
vehicle, it also calls for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always follow the operating and
driving instructions provided and use common
sense.
(D Note
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must ac­
tivate the trai ler operation mode
¢ page 202, Operating instructions.
Technical requirements
Tr ailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable
for your veh icle and trailer and must be mounted
securely on the vehicle's chassis at a
technically
sound
location . Use only a trailer hitch with a re­
movable ball mount . Always check w ith the t rail­
er h itch man ufact urer to make sure that you are
using the co rrect hitc h.
Do not u se a bumper hitch .
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it
does not interfere with the impact-absorbing
bumper system . No mod ificat ions should be
made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems .
F rom t ime to t ime, check that a ll hitch mo unt ing
bolts rema in securely fastened.
When you are not tow ing a traile r, remove the
tra iler hitch ball mount. This prevents the hitch
from caus ing damage should your vehicle be
struck from behind
¢ ,&. .
202
Trailer b rakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
check to be sure that it co nforms to all regu la­
tions.
The tra iler hydrau lic brake system must not be
directly connected to the vehicle's hydrau lic
brake system .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle
and the tra iler.
Trailer light s
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure
to check with your Aud i dealer for correct wir ing,
switches and relays .
Mirror s
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you us­
ing the regular outside mirrors, then you
must in­
stall extended mirrors . It is important that you
always have clear vision to the rear.
A WARNING
Afte r remov ing the tra iler hitch, do not sto re
i t in you r vehicle. In case of s udden braking,
the hitch could fly fo rwa rd and injure you or
your passengers.
Operating instructions
Fig. 1 87 MMI d ispl ay: tow ing mode o n
Maximum traile r weight
A tra iler for your vehicle is lim ited to a typical
class 1 or class 2 trailer.

Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in
p la ce to prevent it from sh ifting forward, back­
ward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer¢.&.
in Driving instructions on page 204.
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder . It
is important that the cool ing system's perform­
ance is up to the addit ional load. Make sure that
the cooling system has enough fluid.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your
veh icle to the cold tire pressure listed under "Full
load " on the label located on the driver's side B­
pillar (vis ible when the door is open). Inflate
trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers'
specif ications.
Lights
Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are working proper ly.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connect­
ed from the trailer to the hitch on the vehicle.
Leave enough slack in the chains to permit turn­
in g corners . When you install safety cha ins, make
sure they wi ll not drag on the road when you are
driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue
to prevent it from dropping in case of separat ion
from the hitch.
Adjusting the Audi drive select
Make sure the vehicle is on a level surface before
hitching up the trailer and before adjusting the
tongue we ight. The vehicle must be in
auto or
comfort driving mode and not ra ised
¢ page 106, 9Q) .
Make sure that the vehicle is lowered. In Info­
tainment, select:
I CARI function button > lower
control button .
Trailer mode
If you must drive under poor road conditions, you
can raise the vehicle
after coupling the trailer or
after adjusting the tongue weight¢ page 108.
(D Note
-Changes in temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle.
- Always select auto or comfort mode. Other­
w ise, the tong ue load specified for your ve­
hicle will no longer be applicable .
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care
and consideration.
T o obtain the best possible handling of veh icle
and trailer, p lease note the following:
.,. Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself
is not loaded.
.,. Be especially careful when passing other
vehicles.
.,. Observe speed limits.
.,. Do not drive at the maximum permissible
speed .
.,. Always apply brakes early.
.,. Monitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded tra iler with an empty car results
in a highly unstab le distribution of weight . If this
cannot be avoided, drive at very low speeds only
to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control.
This means that the tow vehicle shou ld be loaded
to the extent possib le and permissib le, while
keeping the trailer as light as possible under the
cir cumstances . Whenever poss ible, transfer
some cargo to the luggage compartment of the
tow veh icle while observing tongue load require­
ments and vehicle load ing conside rations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it be­
comes for the driver to control the r ig. Do not
drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce
your speed even more if load, weather or wind .,._
203

Trailer mod e
conditions are unfavorable - particularly when
going downhill.
Red uce veh icle speed
imm ediatel y if the tra ile r
shows the s lightest sign of swaying.
Do not try
to stop the sway in g b y accele rating .
Observe speed lim its . In some areas, speeds for
ve hicl es towing tra ilers are lower than for reg ula r
veh icles.
A lways apply brakes early . When dr iving down­
h ill , sh ift into a lower gear to use the engine
b raking effect to slow the veh icle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Air suspension*
When driving with a tra iler, activate the trailer
mode of the air suspension . Switch the air sus­
pens ion tra iler mode on when you a re towing a
tra ile r. This will limit the regulat ion by the air
suspens ion while driving . Select in the MM I:
ICARI function button > (Car )* sys tem s control
button >
Vehicle setting s > Air su sp .: to wi ng >
On .
Coolant temperature
The coolan t temperature gauge¢ page 10 must
be observed carefully. The coo lant temperature
can increase if you drive on long inclines in a low
gear at high engine speeds. Reduce your speed
immed iate ly if the LEDs in the top part of the dis­
p lay turn on.
For more information about indicator lights, re­
fer to.
¢page 15.
A WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving
vehicle is at a much greater risk in an acci­
dent. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wearing the restraints provided
by Audi.
Trailer mode notes
Important to know
Your vehicle hand les different ly when towing a
trai ler because of the additiona l weight and dif­
ferent weight distr ibut ion. Safety, performance
204
-
and economy will g reatly depend on how carefu l­
l y you load your trai ler and operate your rig .
Befo re yo u actually tow yo ur t railer, pract ice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area away
from traffic. Keep practicing unti l you have be ­
come complete ly familiar with the way your vehi­
cle-tra iler combination behaves and responds .
Backing up is diff icult and requ ires practice.
Backing up with a trailer genera lly req uires steer ­
ing action opposite to that when backing up your
vehicle witho ut a trailer .
Maintain a greater distance between yo ur vehicle
and the one in front of you. You will need more
room to stop . To compensate for the trailer, you
will need a larger than normal turning radius .
When passing, remember tha t you canno t accel­
erate as fast as you normally wou ld because of
the added load . Make sure you have enough room
to pass. After passing, allow p lenty of room for
your trailer before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
(D Tips
- Do not tow a trailer du ring the break-i n pe ri­
od of your vehicle.
- If you tow a tr aile r, your A udi may requi re
more frequent ma intenance due to the ex­
tra load ¢
page 281.
Parking on a slope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer . If it cannot
be avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
.,. App ly the foot brake.
.,. Have someone p lace chocks unde r both the ve­
hicle and the trailer wheels .
.,. With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes
until the wheel chocks abso rb the load .
.,. Turn the whee ls towards the curb.
.,. App ly the parking brake .
.,. Select the P selector lever posit ion.

Care and cleaning
Care and cleaning
General information
Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehi­
cle's value.
It can also be a requirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The required cleaning and care products can be
obtained from your authorized Audi dealer or a
qualified workshop. Read and follow the instruc­
tions for use on the packaging.
A WARNING
-Using cleaning and care products incorrectly
can be dangerous to your health .
- Always store cleaning and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the risk of poi­
soning.
@ For the sake of the environment
- Preferably use environmentally-friendly
products when buying cleaning agents.
- Do not dispose of leftover cleaning and care
products with household trash.
Car washes
The longer deposits remain on the vehicle, the
more the surface can be damaged. High temper­
atures such as those caused by sunlight increase
the damaging effects .
Before washing, wet heavy deposits with plenty
of water.
Stubborn deposits such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water and a
microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of your vehicle once
road salt stops being used for the season.
Pressure washers
When washing your vehicles with a pressure
washer, always follow the operating instructions
provided with the pressure washer. This is espe­
cially important in regard to the pressure and
spraying distance . Do not aim the spray directly
at seals on side windows, doors, the hood, the
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rear lid or the sunroof* or at tires, rubber hoses,
insulating material, sensors* or camera lenses*.
Keep a distance of at least 16 inches (40 cm) .
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure
washer.
Never use rotary nozzles or high pressure noz­
zles.
The water temperature must not be above 140 °F
(60 °C).
Automatic car washes
Spray off the vehicle before washing.
Make sure that the windows and roof* are closed
and the windshield wipers are
off . Follow instruc­
tions from the car wash operator, especially if
there are accessories attached to your vehicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes.
Only use car washes where the vehicle remains
stationary and the washing equipment moves
around the vehicle when washing and drying. Car
washes that move the vehicle through the car
wash using a chain are not recommended.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and work­
ing down using a soft sponge or cleaning brush.
Use solvent-free cleaning products.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To avoid damaging the paint when washing, first
remove dust and large particles from your vehi­
cle. Insects, grease spots and fingerprints are
best removed with a special cleaner for matte
finish paint.
Apply the product using a microfiber cloth. To
avoid damaging the paint surface, do not use too
much pressure.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water. Then
clean using a neutral shampoo and a soft micro­
fiber cloth .
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly again and let it air
dry. Remove any water residue using a sham my. ..,..

& WARNING
-Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is
off and follow the instructions from the car
wash operator to reduce the risk of acci­
dents.
- To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself
from sharp metal components when wash­
ing the underbody or the inside of the wheel
housings.
-After washing the vehicle, the braking effect
may be delayed due to moisture on the
brake rotors or ice in the winter . The brakes
must be dried first with a few careful brake
applications.
{[) Note
-If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Power folding exterior mirrors* must only
be folded in and out using the power folding
function.
- To prevent paint damage, do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
-
Care and cleaning
-To reduce the risk of damage to the surface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitchen
sponges or similar items.
- Matte finish painted vehicle components:
- To reduce the risk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use polishing agents or hard
wax.
- Never use car wash cycles that apply pro­
tective wax. It can destroy the matte fin­
ish effect.
- Do not place any stickers or magnetic
signs on vehicle parts painted with matte
finish paint. The paint could be damaged
when the stickers or magnets are re­
moved .
@ For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle in facilities specially de­
signed for that purpose. This will reduce the
risk of dirty water contaminated with oil from
entering the sewer system.
Cleaning and care information
When cleaning and caring for individual vehicle
components, refer to the following table. The in­
formation contained there is simply recommen­
dations. For questions or for components that are not
listed, refer to an authorized Audi dealer
or a qualified workshop. Also follow the informa­
tion found in
~ ,&. .
Cleaning exterior
Component Situation Solution
Wiper blades
Dirty ~ page 55, Cleaning windshield wiper blades
Headlights/ Dirty Soft sponge with a mild soap solution a>
tail lights
Sensors/
Dirty Sensors: soft cloth with a solvent-free cleaning product
camera lenses Camera lenses: soft cloth with an alcohol-free cleaning sol-
ution
Snow/ice Hand
brush/solvent-free de-icing spray
Wheels Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution
Exhaust tail Road salt
Water, cleaning solution suitable for stainless steel, if nee-
pipes essary
207

Care and cleaning
Component S ituation Solution
Tex tiles,
Stains adhering to Vacuum cleaner
Vin yl, the surface
A lcan tara Water-based stains Absorbent cloth and mild soap
solutional
such as coffee, tea,
blood, etc.
Oil-based stains such Apply a m ild soap solutional, blot away the d issolved oil or
as o il, make-up, etc. dye, treat afterward with water, if necessary
Special stains such as Special stain remover, blot with
absorbent material, treat
ballpoint pen, nail afterward with mild soap solutional, if necessary
polish, latex paint,
shoe polish, etc .
Natural le athe r Fresh stains Cotton cloth
with a mild soap solutiona l
Water -based stains Fresh stains : absorbent cloth
such as coffee, tea, Dried stains : stain remover suitable for leather
blood, etc.
Oi l-based stains such Fresh stains: absorbent cloth and stain remover suitable
as oi l, make-up, etc. for leather
dried stains: Oil cleaning spray
Special stains such as S tain remover suitable fo r leather
ballpoint pen, nail
polish, latex paint,
shoe po lish , etc.
Ca re Regularly apply cond ition ing cream that p rotects from
light and penetrates into the materia l. Use specially-co l-
ored cond itioning cream, if necessary.
Cooler Dust and dirt Clea n the ventilation openings in the luggage com part-
ment
Dirty Lukewarm water, mild soap solutional if necessary, then
dry
Defrosting Empty the refrigerator, switch it off and let it thaw with
the doo r open, t hen dry
Car bon p art s Dirty Clean the same way as plastic parts
a) M ild soap solut io n: max imu m two tablespoons neutral soap in 1 q uart (I liter) of water
A WARNING
The windshie ld may not be treated with wa­
ter-repelling windshield coating agents. Un­
favorable cond itions such as wetness, dar k­
ness, o r low sun can resul t in increased glare.
Wiper blade chatter is also possib le.
- Headlights /tail light s
-
-Never clean headlights or tail lights with a
dry cloth or sponge.
- Do not use any cleaning product that con­
tains alcoho l, because they could cause
cracks to form.
-Whe els
- Never use any pa int polish or other abra-
sive mate rials.
- Damage to the protect ive layer on the
rims such as stone chips or scratches must
be repaired immediately. .,..
209

Care and cleaning
-Sensors/camera lenses
- Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens. This
could cause the lens to crack .
- Never use abrasive cleaning materials or
alcohol to clean the camera lens . This
could cause scratches and cracks .
-Windows
- Remove snow and ice on windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plastic scraper. To
avoid scratches, move the scraper only in
one direction and not back and forth.
- Never remove snow or ice from windows
and mirrors using warm or hot water be­
cause this could cause cracks to form.
- To avoid damage to the rear window de­
fogger, do not apply any stickers on the heating wires on the inside of the window.
- Decorative part .s/trim
- Never use chrome care or cleaning prod-
ucts.
-Paint
-To reduce the risk of scratches, the vehicle
must be free of dirt and dust before pol­
ishing or waxing.
- To prevent paint damage, do not polish or
wax the vehicle in direct sunlight.
- To reduce the risk of paint damage, do not
polish away rust film .
- Remove cosmetics and sunblock immedi­
ately. Otherwise, the paint could be dam­
aged.
-Trim
- To reduce the risk of damage, do not treat
the trim around the panorama sunroof
with paint polish.
- Decorative decals
-To reduce the risk of damage, do not use
any rough powder or abrasive cleaning
products .
- To reduce the risk of damage, do not pol­
ish decorative parts that have a matte fin­
ish .
-Displays
- To avoid scratches, do not use dry cleaning
methods on displays.
-Controls
210
- Make sure that no fluids enter the con­
trols, because this could cause damage.
- Safety belts
- Do not remove the safety belts to clean
them .
- Never clean safety belts or their compo­
nents chemically or with corrosive fluids
or solvents and never allow sharp objects
to come into contact with the safety belts.
This could cause damage to the belt web­ bing .
- If there is damage to the webbing, the
connections , the retractors or the buckles,
have them replaced by an authorized Audi
dealer or a qualified workshop.
- Textiles/Vinyl/ Alcantara
- Never treat Vinyl/ Alcantara with leather
care products, solvents, floor polish, shoe
polish, stain remover or similar products .
- To avoid damage, have stubborn stains re­
moved by an authorized Audi dealer or a
qualified workshop.
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
-Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry the
seat.
- Objects with sharp edges such as zippers,
rivets on clothing or belts can cause dam­
age to the surface.
- Open hook and loop fasteners , for exam­
ple on clothing, can damage seat covers .
Make sure hook and loop fasteners are
closed .
-Natural leather
- Never treat leather with solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, stain remover or simi­
lar products.
- Objects with sharp edges such as zippers,
rivets on clothing or belts can cause dam­
age to the surface.
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes , hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
- Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry the
seat .
- To help prevent the leather from fading,
do not leave the vehicle in direct sunlight
for long periods of time. If leaving the

vehicle parked for long periods of time,
you should cover the leather to protect it
from direct sunlight .
-Cooler
-Do not try to speed up the defrosting
process by applying heat .
- To help prevent health r isks o r damage to
the cooler , do not use any abrasive clean­
ers , solvents, wax o r strongly scented or
agg ressive cleaning products .
- Do not clean the cooler with rough clean ­
ing tools s uch as steel wool.
- Insects are easier to remove from paint that
has been fresh ly waxed .
- Regular waxing can prevent rust film from
form ing .
Ca re and cleaning
211