2021 AUDI A8 warning light

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 an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Service Facility. Read and follow the in-
structions for use on the packaging.

ZA\ 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
— Purchase environmentally-friendly cleaning
products if possible.
— Do not dispose of cleaning and care prod-
ucts with household trash.
Car washes
The longer that deposits such as insects, bird
droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the ve-
hicle, the more the surface can be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight
increase the damaging effect.
Before washing, rinse off heavy deposits with
plenty of water.
Stubborn deposits such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water anda
microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of your vehicle once
road salt stops being used for the season.
Pressure washers
When washing your vehicle with a pressure wash-
er, always follow the operating instructions pro-
vided with the pressure washer. This is especially
important in regard to the pressure and spraying
distance. Do not aim the spray directly at the
310
seals on the side windows, doors, hood, luggage
compartment lid, or sunroof*, or at tires, rubber
hoses, insulating material, sensors*, camera
lenses*, or the laser scanner*. Keep a distance of
at least 16 inches (40 cm).
Plug-in hybrid drive: Do not direct the stream of
water towards the wall mount clip*.
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure
washer.
Never use cone nozzles or high pressure nozzles.
The water temperature must not be above 140 °F
(60 °C).
Automatic car wash
Spray off the vehicle before washing.
Make sure that the windows and roof* are closed
and the windshield wipers are off. Make sure that
the vehicle is still able to roll during the washing
process in the car wash. Follow instructions from
the car wash operator, especially if there are ac-
cessories attached to your vehicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and work-
ing downward using a soft sponge or cleaning
brush. Use solvent-free cleaning products.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To reduce the risk of damaging the paint when
washing, first remove dust and large particles
from your vehicle. Insects, grease spots, and fin-
gerprints are best removed with a special cleaner
for matte finish paint.
Apply the product using a microfiber cloth. To re-
duce the risk of 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 chamois. >

4N0012721BF
Care and cleaning


height and width of the inside of the car
wash.
ZA WARNING
—To reduce the risk of accidents, only wash
the vehicle when the ignition is off and fol-
low the instructions from the car wash oper-
ator.
—To reduce the risk of paint damage, do not
wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not wash
decorative decals* with a pressure washer.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the surface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitchen
sponges, or similar items.
— When washing matte finish painted vehicle
components:
—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. This in-
creases the risk of an accident. The brakes
must be dried with a few careful brake appli-
cations.
— To reduce the risk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use polishing agents or hard
wax.
— Never use protective wax. It can destroy
the matte finish effect.
@) Note — Do not place any stickers or magnetic
signs on vehicle components painted with
matte finish paint. The paint could be
damaged when the stickers or magnets
are removed.

— 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 (@) For the sake of the environment
function.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the rims
and tires, compare the width between the
wheels on your vehicle with the distance be-
tween the guide rails in the car wash.
—To reduce the risk of damage, compare the
height and width of your vehicle with the
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 are not listed, consult an authorized Audi dealer
components, refer to the following tables. The or authorized Audi Service Facility. Also follow
information contained there is simply recommen- __ the information found in > A.
dations. For questions or for components that
Exterior cleaning




Component Situation Solution
Windshield wiper | Deposits Soft cloth with glass cleaner, > page 67
blades
Headlights/ Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution®
tail lights
Sensors/ Deposits 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 >

311

Care and cleaning





Component Situation Solution
Refrigerator Dust and dirt Clean the ventilation openings in the luggage compart-
ment
Deposits Lukewarm water, mild soap solution if necessary), then
dry
Defrosting Empty the refrigerator, switch it off, and let it thaw with
the door open, then dry
Carbon compo- Deposits Clean the same way as plastic components
nents


ZA\ WARNING
The windshield must not be treated with wa-
ter-repelling windshield coating agents. Un-
der unfavorable conditions, such as wetness,
darkness, and when the sun is low, these coat-
ings can cause increased glare, which increas-
es the risk of an accident. They can also cause
wiper blade chatter.


ZA\ WARNING
— Never immerse the Audi e-tron charging sys-
tem and connectors in water.
— The Audi e-tron charging system must only
be cleaned when the control unit is com-
pletely disconnected from the power supply
and from the vehicle.

@) Note
— Headlights and tail lights
— Never clean the headlights or tail lights
with a dry cloth or sponge because the
lights could be damaged.
— Do not use any cleaning products that con-
tain alcohol, because they could cause
cracks to form.
— Wheels
— Never use any paint polish or other abra-
sive materials.
— Damage to the protective layer on the
rims, such as stone chips or scratches,
must be repaired immediately.
— Camera lenses
— Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens. This
could cause the lens to crack.
314
2) Mild soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 quart (1 liter) of water
— Never use abrasive cleaning materials or
alcohol to clean the camera lens. This
could cause scratches and cracks.
— Laser scanner
— Never use abrasive cleaning materials to
clean the laser scanner. This could cause
scratches and cracks.
— Door windows
— Remove snow and ice on windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plastic scraper. To re-
duce the risk of scratches, move the scra-
per only in one direction and not back and
forth.
— Never remove snow or ice from door win-
dows and mirrors using warm or hot water
because this could cause cracks to form.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the rear
window defogger, do not apply any stick-
ers on the heating wires on the inside of
the window.
— Decorative parts and 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 spots.
— Remove cosmetics and sunscreen immedi-
ately because they could damage the
paint.
— Decorative decals

4N0012721BF
Emergency assistance

> Slide the wheel wrench* from the vehicle tool
kit all the way onto the wheel bolt).
> Turn the wheel bolt approximately one turn to
the left. To achieve the required torque, hold
the end of the wheel wrench*. If the wheel bolt
will not loosen, press carefully on the wheel
wrench* with your foot. Hold onto the vehicle
securely while doing this and make sure your
footing is stable.

Z\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of an accident, only loosen
the wheel bolts gently one turn before raising
the vehicle with the vehicle jack*.
Raising the vehicle
Applies to: vehicles with vehicle jack








RAZ-0257,

Fig. 200 Sill: positioning the vehicle jack
> Place the vehicle jack from the vehicle tool kit
ona firm surface. Use a flat, stable support if
necessary. On a slippery surface such as tile,
you should use a non-slip pad such as a rubber
mat > /\.

D_ You need the matching adapter in order to loosen and
tighten anti-theft wheel bolts* > page 320.
> Find the marking on the sill that is closest to
the tire that will be changed > fig. 199. Behind
the marking, there is a lifting point on the side
sill for the vehicle jack.
> Turn the vehicle jack located under the lifting
point on the sill to raise the jack until its arm @
=> fig. 200 is located under the designated plas-
tic mount.
> Align the vehicle jack so the arm (@) engages in
the designated lifting point in the door sill and
the movable base (2) lies flat on the ground.
The base @) must be directly under the mount-
ing point @.
> Continue raising the vehicle jack until the wheel
lifts off the ground slightly.

Z\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of injury, make sure no
one is in the vehicle before raising it.
— Make sure the vehicle jack is stable. The risk
of injury is increased when the ground is
slippery or soft, because the vehicle jack
could slide or sink.
— Only raise your vehicle with the vehicle jack
provided by the factory. If you use a vehicle
jack designed for another vehicle, your vehi-
cle could slip and cause injury.
— Position the vehicle jack only at the desig-
nated mounting points on the side sill and
align the jack. Otherwise, the vehicle jack
could slip and cause an injury if it does not
have sufficient hold on the vehicle.
—To reduce the risk of injury, do not raise any
other vehicles or other loads using the vehi-
cle jack provided by the factory.
— Changes in temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, never start
the engine when the vehicle is raised.
—To reduce the risk of injury, no work should
be performed under the vehicle while it is

raised.

321

4N0012721BF
Emergency assistance

4. Attach the other end of the negative cable
(black) to the jump-start pin @) on the vehi-
cle.
Starting the engine
> Start the engine in the vehicle giving the charge
and let it run at idle.
> Now start the engine in your vehicle, which has
the
drained battery.
> If the engine does not start, stop the starting
procedure after 10 seconds and then repeat it
after approximately 30 seconds.
> Turn on the rear window defogger in your vehi-
cle in order to reduce any voltage peaks that
may occur when disconnecting the jump start
cables. The headlights must be switched off.
> With the engines running, remove the cables in
reverse order of the way they were installed.
> Close the red cover on the positive terminal.

Z\ WARNING
— Never connect the jump start cable directly
to your vehicle battery. Only use the connec-
tions in the engine compartment.
— Do not touch the non-insulated parts of the
terminal clamps. The cable must also not
come into contact with vehicle components
that conduct electricity when it is connected
to the positive vehicle battery terminal. This
can cause a short circuit.
— The plugs on the battery cells must not be
opened.
— Keep ignition sources (such as open flames,
burning cigarettes, etc.) away from the vehi-
cle batteries to reduce the risk of an explo-
sion.
— Route the jump start cables so they cannot
get caught in the moving parts in the other
vehicle's engine compartment.

@ Note
Please note that the connecting process previ-
ously described for the jump start cables is in-
tended for when your vehicle is being jump
started.
@) Tips
Make sure that the connected jump start ca-
bles have sufficient contact with metal.
Towing
General information
You should only perform the steps that follow if
you have the necessary tools and technical ex-
pertise.
Towing requires a certain amount of practice.
Audi recommends contacting a towing company
to have the vehicle transported.
You should only have your vehicle towed by an-
other vehicle when disabled in exceptional cir-
cumstances. Inexperienced drivers should not
tow.
Notes on towing
When the engine is stopped, the transmission
will not be sufficiently lubricated if traveling at
high speeds and long distances:
— The maximum permitted towing speed is 30
mph (50 km/h).
— The maximum permitted towing distance is 30
miles (50 km).
Additional information on towing with a tow
truck
The vehicle may only be towed with the front axle
raised. Do not wrap any chains or cables around
the brake lines.
Tow bar and towing cable
The vehicle can be towed with a tow bar or tow-
ing cable. Both drivers should be familiar with
the special considerations when towing, especial-
ly when using a towing cable.
Always make sure the traction force does not ex-
ceed the permitted level and there are no shock
loading conditions. There is always the risk of the
coupling becoming overloaded when driving off-
road.
For the most safety and security, drive with a tow
bar. You should use a towing cable onlyifatow >
325

Fuses and bulbs



Fig. 207 Left side of the cockpit: fuse panel cover (, left
footwell: fuse panel cover @)

Fig. 208 Left side of the luggage compartment: fuse panel
cover @) and clip @)
328

A fuse that has blown will have metal strips that
have burned through.
The fuses are located on the left front side of the
cockpit @), in the left footwell @), and in the left
side of the luggage compartment (3) behind the
side trim panel.
> Switch the ignition and all electrical equipment
off.
> Check the table that follows to see which fuse
belongs to the equipment.
> Remove the screwdriver from the vehicle tool
kit > page 317.
> Remove the appropriate cover.
> Remove the colored plastic clip from the fuse
panel, if necessary.
> Remove the clip from the upper right fuse pan-
el in the luggage compartment
> Remove the fuse using the clip.
> Replace the blown fuse only with a fuse that
has the same amp rating.
> Reinstall the plastic bracket.
> Install the cover.

Fuse color identification









Color Current rating
in amps
Black 1
Gray 2
Purple 3
Pink 4
Light brown 5
Brown LS
Red 10
Light blue 15
Yellow 20
White or transparent /|25
Light green 30
Teal 35
Orange 40
\, WARNING
Do not repair fuses and never replace a blown
fuse with one that has a higher amp rating.

4N0012721BF
Index

A
A/C cooling mode............ eee eee eee
A/C system refrigerant oil...............
Accelerator pedal.............2--00000-
also refer to Accelerator pedal..........
ACCESSOFICS 2. eee
Active lane assist
refer to Lane departure warning.........
refer to Lane guidance................
Active SuSpenSiOt es ¢ « ccs so ewe ss eewe ss
Adaptive cruise assist................04.
Cleaning the sensors.............0 0005
Adaptive cruise control
Predictive control..............000005
Adaptive speed assist
refer to Adaptive cruise assist..........
Adjusting the air distribution............
Adjusting the brightness.................
Adjusting the sound.................005
Adjusting the temperature..............
Adjusting the vents.................05.
Adjusting the volume..............00-00-
Adjusting the volume (announcements) ... .
Adjusting the welcome sound............
Airbag system... 2... ee eee eee
Air suspension..............00 000-00 ee
Alarm system
refer to Anti-theft alarm system..........
Alignment pin (changing the wheel).......
All-weather lights...............-.00000.
Allseasontires...............00 eee eee
All wheel drive
refer to quattro... .... eee eee eee
Amazon Alexa integration
Media playback.................00005
QPerating « « ses so secs oo moms 9 wa & ¥ BRE
AMI
refer to Audi music interface...........
Android Auto
refer to Audi smartphone interface......
Anti-lock braking system............0065
Anti-Slip Regulation.................05.
Antietheftalarmr system siccs oe owes oc cna «
Anti-theft wheel bolts..................
Apple CarPlay
refer to Audi smartphone interface...... 261
Aspect ratio
NidGO verse < ¢ seven & 5 seaRE ze SeHER Fo Bee 255; 257
ASR
refer to Anti-Slip Regulation............ 129
Audi adaptive light...............-..000- 58
Audi connect
MEFEPTONCONNECE: « «esses oo wesc ow xem ¥ v0 222
AUGIGriVe’SelECt ios: « « suas > gemy 2 x seme gee 124
Audi e-tron compact charging system..... 140
Adjusting the charging power level...... 140
Changing or attaching the power cable... 145
SECUCINGls » 5 seme ¢ 9 same < a eR Eee EOE ne 145
Status and malfunction indicators....... 141
Audi musiciintertace sas ss iwes se gee ay oo 252
UGGS iexsy: a 2 wares & & gee & 2 eR Ee ER 253
Audi phone BOX eis 5 y omnes 5 3 eas «8 ews 211
Audi presense........ 0.00 e cee eee eee 178
MGSSAGES saws + & cmer 9 ¢ cemes 9 o ews 8 9 ee 182
Audi pre sense front.............eeeeeee 179
Audi side assist
refer to Side assist............-.00000. 182
Audi smartphone interface.............. 261
Legaliinformationi. . soe. s + scars se cesses ¥ 266
Audi virtual cockpit
refer to Instrument cluster.............. 12
AUTO
Automatic headlights.................. 58
Climate control system..............5- 101
Auto Lock (central locking) ............... 41
Automatic climate control system
refer to Climate control system......... 100
Automatic luggage compartment lid.... 49,50
Automatic transmission...............- 109
Parking lock emergency release......... 112
Automatic wipe/wash system............. 66
Auxiliary climate control................ 104
Average consumption.................-- 16
Average speed ..... 0... cece ccc eee renee 16
B
Bag hooks........ 0... eee eee eee eee 97
Band
refer to Frequency band............... 242
345

Index

Battery
Charge levelindicator...............00. 12
Charging (12 Volt vehicle battery)....... 286
High-voltage battery.................. 131
Vehicle battery (12 Volt)............... 284
Winter operation (12 Volt vehicle battery) . 285
Battery (vehicle)
refer to High-voltage battery........... 131
Blinds
refer to Panoramic glass roof............ 53
BlOGk rote circus so ieee 2 ase 29 mem > wom 236
BlOWED's + sews x x wees & 2 maw x 2 se ge ewe F 101
Bluetooth
Audio player « scenes: 6s scenix <5 wens ¥ 0 eee © 2 251
Connecting adevice...............000- 265
Connecting a mobile phone............ 209
Deleting adevice vss si esas es eae ee ewe 266
Device overvieW.... 0.62... ee eee eee eee 265
Disconnecting adevice................ 265
Displaying profiles..................0. 266
Selecting adevice...............-.00. 265
Specifying a favorite...............00. 266
Boost... 2... eee eee eee 16
Boost function.................0 eee ee 112
Boost pressure indicator................. 16
Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level........... 283
Brakes... 2... cee eee 119
Brakeifllids: « + sawex x = yew 2 2 eee 2 2 cee 283
Emergency braking function............ 121
Hot... eee eee 122
New brake pads.........-. 00 eee eee ee 119
Brands..............00000 0 cece eee eee 268
Break-in security feature................. 44
Breaking in
New brake pads............0.--000 eee 119
New tires. 5s sccm so moa vo meen yo so oe 296
Browser
refer to Mediacenter.................. 254
Bulb replacement.............-.020-00. 332
Business. addresses. < win. < aan oa same oo 236
Cc
California Proposition 65 Warning........ 275
Battery specific...............0.-.00. 285
CaLLLISE,. ssccane x avons w os awawees vw aoe octave 215
346
CaMONAS csciaics i o cairns o & cnwcuns vo somes x a seco 151
Locations..... 6... eee eee eee 152
Capacities
FUGUTANKS ¢ i wasn 2b imaae o anon Gs RoE GE a 344
Washer fluid reservoir................. 344
GCarGO Nets s = weg s were ss were © = Heme & x Be 98
Gariwashi« « « wey: «2 ewes = 2 wats bo ee oe oe 310
Catalytic converter........... 0. eee eee 273
Cell phone
refer to Telephone..............--.05- 209
Cell phone compartment
refer to Audi phone box.............4. 211
Central lOckinG'es « a saves x ame a e cows 2 e pow Al
FNUEOMLOGRE. « scvswen x exectzeim x serene a x iceman oa eet 41
Convenience key....... 0... cece eee e eee 46
Convenience opening and closing......... 53
Luggage compartment lid............... 49
Mechanically unlocking and locking....... 44
M@SSAG6S « see = « mews ¢ x eee so eee § Re 43
Remote control: keys. so cies es eee ae eee 46
Setting. ........ 0.0.02 eee eee eee eee 42
Vehicle-Kéy sce < » seu so sews + ¢ ees + vee 46
Central locking switch...............0005 43
Ceramic brakes....................00005 119
Certification... .....................00. 341
Changing light bulbs................... 332
Charging
refer to Power sourceS.........--0e ee eee 94
Charging clip
refer to Wall mount clip............... 145
Charging display................--0000- 135
Charging the battery
Mobilevdevices:: « « sissy 2 x xewe 2 2 eee 2 oo 252
SBia s+ sestos x comsene © x umsens & cuseane 1 w oeeosts a 212
Wireless ............ 0.0000 c cece eee 213
Charging time.......... 0... cee eee eee ee 132
Child safety lock
Climate control system controls inthe rear. 51
PoWer WING OWS cuse x 2 gece a 2 awe 4 & gaan as SL
Rear doorsten «ose <0 wane < oamstee « citenest = Si
Child-safety seats’... cscs v5 cme ve eco se one 88
Securing to the top tether anchor........ 92
Securing with a safety belt.............. 91
Securingiwith LATCH: « 2 ssse © « ccoswes v x nose 91
GIGANIING « crv: vo same ao arms « eee oo BA 310
Cleaning Alcantara.............-.00000. 313
Cleaning artificial leather............... 313