2021 AUDI A4 page 34

Checking and Filling


accident. Do not continue driving. See an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
— If the brake fluid is old, bubbles may form in
the brake system during heavy braking. This
could impair braking performance and driv-
ing safety, which increases the risk of an ac-
cident.
— The brake fluid in your vehicle must meet
the standard VW 501 14 and is available at
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility. If this brake fluid is not
available, another high-grade brake fluid of
equivalent quality may be used, and it must
meet the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Stand-
ard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4, Class 6.

Switch off all electrical equipment that is not
needed. If necessary, some equipment will be
switched off automatically. Vehicle functions or
driving stability may be limited. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately.
z= Electrical system: low battery charge. Bat-
tery
will be charged while driving
The starting ability may be impaired.
If this message turns off after a little while, the
vehicle battery has charged enough while driving.
If this message does not turn off, drive immedi-
ately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

@) Note
— If the brake fluid level is above the MAX
marking, brake fluid may leak out over the
edge of the reservoir and result in damage
to the vehicle.
— Do not allow any brake fluid to come into
contact with the vehicle paint, because it
will corrode the paint.
Electrical system
If the = / B or = indicator light turns on,
there is a malfunction in the power supply, the
battery, or the vehicle electrical system.
mz / B Electrical system: malfunction! Safely
stop vehicle
Do not continue driving and switch the ignition
off > A\. See an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Restart not
possible. Please contact Service
If you switch the ignition off, you will not be able
to restart the vehicle. Vehicle functions or driving
stability may be limited. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
230
ZA\ WARNING
When there is an electrical system malfunc-
tion, vehicle functions may not work and driv-
ing stability may be limited, which increases
the risk of an accident. Do not continue driv-
ing and switch the ignition off. See an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility for assistance.

Battery
ela lame (Tem eeecela)
Because of the complex power supply, all work on
batteries such as disconnecting, replacing, etc.,
should only be performed by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility > A\.
Multiple batteries with different technologies
may be installed in your vehicle:
— Vehicle battery (for example, for starting the
engine, basic power supply) > page 231, 12
Volt vehicle battery or > page 232, Other bat-
tery types
— Auxiliary battery (for example, for recuperation
or optional equipment) > page 232, Other bat-
tery types
Not running the vehicle for long periods of
time
The battery will gradually drain if the vehicle
does not run for long periods of time. To ensure >

8W1012721BC
Checking and Filling

that the vehicle can still be started, the electrical
equipment will be limited or switched off. Some
convenience functions, such as interior lighting
or power seat adjustment, may not be available
under certain circumstances. The convenience
functions will be available again when you start
the
engine.
Even when electrical equipment is switched off,
the equipment can still drain the battery if the
vehicle is not driven for Long periods of time.
Deep draining results in a chemical reaction that
destroys the inside of the battery. The battery
must be charged every month to prevent this
= page 232. Contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for more infor-
mation.
Winter operation
Cold weather places an especially high load on
the 12 Volt vehicle battery. Have the battery
checked by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility before cold weather be-
gins.
so that it will not be destroyed by “freezing”
=> page 232, Charging the 12 Volt vehicle
battery.
— There are electrical components under the
cargo floor behind a trim panel that warm
up during operation. To reduce the risk of
the components overheating, do not store
objects such as blankets under the cargo
floor. If the components overheat, they will
switch off temporarily. This will be indicated
by a message that will be displayed in the
instrument cluster until the temperature re-
turns to normal.
12 Volt vehicle battery
Explanation of warnings:
Always wear eye protection.

forbidden.

ZA WARNING
— All work on the battery or electrical system
in your vehicle can result in injuries, chemi-
cal burns, accidents, or burns. Because of
this, all work must be performed only by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility.
— Never connect a charging cable or jump
start cable directly to the 12 Volt vehicle
battery. Only use the connections in the en-
gine compartment > page 232.

ZA WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
— 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
— If the vehicle will be parked for long periods
of time, protect the battery against the cold
A highly explosive mixture of gases can
form when charging batteries.

Always keep children away from battery
acid and the battery.
Battery acid is highly corrosive. Always
wear protective gloves and eye protection.
® Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are

@/ | Always follow the instructions in the oper-
(QO | ating manual.

@) For the sake of the environment

“© % Lead-acid batteries must be disposed of
using methods that will not harm the environ-
ment. Do not dispose of them in household
trash. They contain harmful substances, such
as sulfuric acid and lead, and also recyclable
raw materials. Contact an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for
more information.
231

Checking and Filling

Other battery types
Explanation of warnings:


Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are
& forbidden.
Always keep children away from battery
@) acid and the battery.


@/ | Always follow the instructions in the oper-
fQ) | ating manual.

ZA\ WARNING
All work on the batteries must only be per-
formed by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Gases that escape from these different bat-
tery types can be poisonous or flammable.
— The contents of these battery types can be
corrosive. If any battery contents come into
contact with the skin, flush the affected
area for at least 15 minutes with clean wa-
ter. Then wash the affected area with soap.
Have the affected area examined by a medi-
cal professional.
@) Note
Components must not be connected to the
battery terminals and wires on these battery
types because this increases the risk of dam-
age, for example due to overvoltage.

@ For the sake of the environment
“These types of batteries must be dis-
posed of using methods that will not harm
the environment. Do not dispose of them in
household trash. They contain harmful sub-
stances and recyclable raw materials. Contact
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for more information.
232
rging the 12 Volt vehicle battery

Fig. 163 Engine compartment: connectors for a charger or
jump start cables
Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen-
eral information, > /\ in Battery general infor-
mation on page 231 and > /\.
Requirement: only use chargers with a maximum
charging current of 14.8 volts. The battery ca-
bles remain connected.
The charging cable connections are located in the
motor compartment. The ground point ©) is al-
ways located on the vehicle body.
> Switch off the ignition and all electrical equip-
ment.
> Open the hood > page 222.
> Press the release lever on the positive terminal
and fold the cover upward > fig. 163.
> Clamp the charger terminal clamps to the jump
start pins according to the instructions. (Hex
head bolt under a cover @), ground point on the
vehicle body ©)).
> Insert the power cable for the charging device
into the socket and switch the device on.
>» At the end of the charging process, switch the
charger off and pull the power cable out of the
socket.
> Remove the charging device terminal clamps.
> Close the cover on the positive terminal.
> Close the hood > page 222.

ZA WARNING
— Never connect a charging cable or jump
start cable directly to the 12 Volt vehicle
battery. Only use the connections in the en-
gine compartment > page 232. >

8W1012721BC
Checking and Filling


— A highly explosive mixture of gases can form
when charging batteries. Only charge the
battery in well-ventilated areas.
— A drained battery can freeze at tempera-
tures around 32 °F (0 °C). Do not charge or
use a frozen or thawed battery. If ice forms,
the battery housing can crack and battery
electrolyte can leak out, which increases the
risk of an explosion and chemical burns.
Contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for more informa-
tion.
— Do not connect or disconnect the charging
cable while charging because this increases


the risk of an explosion.

@) Tips
Read all of the manufacturer's instructions
for the charger before charging the battery.
Windshield washer
system

B8W-0125



Fig. 164 Engine compartment: washer fluid reservoir cap
Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen-
eral information.
The windshield washer reservoir © contains the
cleaning solution for the windshield/rear win-
dow* and the headlight washer system*
> fig. 164, > page 223. The reservoir capacity
can be found in > page 287.
To reduce the risk of lime scale deposits on the
spray nozzles, use clean water with low amounts
of calcium. Always add window cleaner to the wa-
ter. When the outside temperatures are cold, an
anti-freezing agent should be added to the water
so that it does not freeze.
Messages
3 Please add washer fluid
Fill the washer fluid for the windshield washer
system and the headlight washer system* when
the ignition is switched off.
@) Note
— The concentration of anti-freezing agent
must be adjusted to the vehicle operating
conditions and the climate. A concentration
that is too high can lead to vehicle damage.
— Never add radiator anti-freeze or other addi-
tives to the washer fluid.
— Do not use a glass cleaner that contains
paint solvents, because this could damage
the paint.
Service interval display
The service interval display detects when your ve-
hicle is due for service.
The service interval display works in two stages:
— Inspection or oil change reminder: after driv-
ing acertain distance, a message appears in the
instrument cluster display each time the igni-
tion is switched on or off. The remaining dis-
tance or time is displayed briefly.
— Inspection or oil change due: if your vehicle
has reached an inspection or oil change interval
or both intervals at the same time, the mes-
sage Inspection due! or Oil change due! or Oil
change and inspection due! appears briefly af-
ter switching the ignition on or off.
Checking service intervals
You can check the remaining distance or time un-
til the next oil change or next inspection in the
Infotainment system.
Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Service intervals.
Resetting the indicator
An authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will reset the service interval dis-
play after performing service.
233
>

Wheels

Tire designations
© 2 2 x ©
oO


Fig. 165 Tire designations on the side-
wall
@ Tires for passenger vehicles
(if applicable)
“P” indicates a tire for a passen-
ger vehicle. “T” indicates a tire
designated for temporary use.
@ Nominal width
Nominal width of the tire be-
tween the sidewalls in millime-
ters. In general: the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
@) Aspect ratio
Height/width ratio expressed asa
percentage.
236
@ Tire construction
“R” indicates a radial tire.
©) Rim diameter
Size of the rim diameter in inches.
© Load index and speed rating
The load index indicates the tire's
load-carrying capacity.
The speed rating indicates the
maximum permitted speed. Also
see > A in General information on
page 235.
“EXTRA LOAD”, “xl” or “RF” indi-
cates that the tire is reinforced or
is an Extra Load tire.






Speed rat- /Maximum permitted speed
ing
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (160 km/h)
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
Ss up to 110 mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
Vv up to 149 mph (240 km/h)?
Zz above 149 mph (240 km/h)?)
w up to 168 mph (270 km/h)?
Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)

@ For tires above 149 mph (240 km/h),
tire manufacturers sometimes use the
code “ZR”.

8W1012721BC
Wheels

@ US DOT number (TIN) and
manufacture date
The manufacture date is listed on
the tire sidewall (it may only ap-
pear on the inner side of the tire):
DOT... 2220...
means, for example, that the tire
was produced in the 22nd week of
the year 2020.
Audi Original Tires
Audi Original equipment tires
with the designation “AO” have
been specially matched to your
Audi. When used correctly, these
tires meet the highest standards
for safety and handling. An au-
thorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility will be
able to provide you with more in-
formation.
@) Mud and snow capability
“M/S” or “M+S” indicates the tire
is suitable for driving on mud and
snow. /4\ indicates a winter tire.
Composition of the tire cord
and materials
The number of plies indicates the
number of rubberized fabric lay-
ers in the tire. In general: the
more layers, the more weight a
tire can carry. Tire manufacturers
must also specify the materials
used in the tire. These include
steel, nylon, polyester and other
materials.
@) Maximum permitted load
This number indicates the maxi-
mum load in kilograms and
pounds that the tire can carry.
@ Uniform tire quality grade
standards for treadwear,
traction and temperature
resistance
Treadwear, traction, and tempera-
ture ranges > page 251.
@ Running direction
The arrows indicate the running
direction of unidirectional tires.
You must always follow the speci-
fied running direction
=> page 266.
Maximum permitted
inflation pressure
This number indicates the maxi-
mum pressure to which a tire can
be inflated under normal operat-
ing conditions.
237

Wheels

Production options weight
means the combined weight of
those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs.
(2.3 kg) in excess of those stand-
ard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb
weight or accessory weight, in-
cluding heavy duty brakes, ride
levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.
Radial ply tire
means a pneumatic tire in which
the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at substantially
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Recommended inflation
pressure
see > page 238, Cold tire infla-
tion pressure.
Reinforced tire
means a tire designed to operate
at higher loads and at higher in-
flation pressures than the corre-
sponding standard tire. Rein-
forced tires may be identified as
“XL”, “xl”, “EXTRA LOAD”, or “RF”
on the sidewall.
240
Rim
means a metal support for a tire
or a tire and tube assembly upon
which the tire beads are seated.
Rim diameter
means nominal diameter of the
bead seat. If you change your
wheel size, you will have to pur-
chase new tires to match the new
rim diameter.
Rim size designation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim width
means nominal distance between
rim flanges.
Sidewall
means that portion of a tire be-
tween the tread and bead.
Speed rating (letter code)
means the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extend-
ed periods of time. The ratings
range from 93 mph (150 km/h)
to 186 mph (298 km/h) > table
on page 236. You may not find
this information on all tires be-
cause it is not required by law.
The speed rating letter code,
where applicable, is molded on
the tire sidewall and indicates the >

8W1012721BC
Wheels

maximum permissible road
speeds. See also > A in General
information on page 235.
Tire pressure monitoring
system
means a system that detects
when one or more of a vehicle's
tires are underinflated and illumi-
nates a low tire pressure warning
telltale.
Tread
means that portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Tread separation
means pulling away of the tread
from the tire carcass.
Treadwear indicators (TWI)
means the projections within the
principal grooves designed to give
a visual indication of the degrees
of wear of the tread. See
=> page 244, Treadwear indicator
for more information on measur-
ing tire wear.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
is a tire information system devel-
oped by the United States Nation-
al Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration (NHTSA) that is designed
to help buyers make relative com-
parisons among tires. The UTQG is
not a safety rating and not a guar-
antee that a tire will last fora
prescribed number of miles (kilo-
meters) or perform ina certain
way. It simply gives tire buyers
additional information to com-
bine with other considerations,
such as price, brand loyalty and
dealer recommendations. Under
UTQG, tires are graded by the tire
manufacturers in three areas:
treadwear, traction, and tempera-
ture resistance. The UTQG infor-
mation on the tires, molded into
the sidewalls.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN)
This is the tire’s “serial number”.
It begins with the letters “DOT”
and indicates that the tire meets
all federal standards. The next
two numbers or letters indicate
the plant where it was manufac-
tured, and the last four numbers
represent the week and year of
manufacture. For example,
DOT... 2220...
means that the tire was produced
in the 22nd week of 2020. The
other numbers are marketing co-
des that may or may not be used >
241