2021 AUDI A8 ECU

4N0012721BF
Media

DVD drive
Applies to: vehicles with a DVD drive
—
Fig. 171 Glove compartment: DVD drive

[RAH-9153,

Loading a CD/DVD
> Slide the CD/DVD straight into the DVD slot @
with the label facing up. The CD/DVD will be au-
tomatically pulled in.
Ejecting a CD/DVD
> Press the button (2).
The CD/DVD is pulled in again automatically if it
is
not removed from the DVD slot within approxi-
mately ten seconds after ejecting it.
The DVD drive is accessed and operated through
the MMI > page 253.
@) Tips
— Playback cannot be guaranteed with media
files that have a high data rate.
— Always read the chapter > page 250, Gener-
al information.
Bluetooth audio player
Applies to: vehicles with Bluetooth audio player
With the Bluetooth audio player, you can play
music wirelessly through the MMI from your
Bluetooth-capable mobile device (such as a cell
phone).
Requirement: the vehicle must be stationary and
the ignition must be switched on. The Bluetooth
settings will open on your mobile device during
the connection setup. The Bluetooth function and
visibility of the MMI > page 264 and mobile de-
vice must be switched on.
Connecting a mobile device
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
MEDIA > Source > Connect external device >
New connection. The available Bluetooth devi-
ces will be displayed after several seconds.
> Press on the desired mobile device in the list of
displayed Bluetooth devices.
> To update the list, press OQ.
A PIN for a secure Bluetooth connection will be
generated.
> Confirm the PIN on your mobile device.
After
connecting successfully, the mobile device
will be displayed in the Connected devices menu
as a Bluetooth audio player.
Playing media > page 253.
@ Tips
— Check for any connection requests on your
Bluetooth device.
— Multiple Bluetooth audio players can be
paired with the MMI, but only one at a time
can be active as a Bluetooth audio player
=> page 265.
— The supported media functions (such as
shuffle, list view, categories, search, op-
tions) depend on the Bluetooth device being
used.
— Note the volume setting on your Bluetooth
device. Audi recommends setting your mo-
bile device to the maximum volume when
using it as a Bluetooth audio player.
—Aselection of supported Bluetooth devices
can be found in the database for tested mo-
bile devices at www.audi.com/bluetooth.
Amazon Alexa
Applies to: vehicles with Amazon Alexa Integration
You can play various Amazon Alexa content using
the MMI. The voice recognition system is used to
operate it.
Requirement: Amazon Alexa must be activated
=> page 35.
>» Start Amazon Alexa using the voice recognition
system.
251
>

Checking and Filling


Opening and closing the hood
The hood is released from inside the vehicle.



RAZ-0016|


Fig. 180 Unlocked hood: lever
Make sure the wiper arms are not raised up from
the windshield. Otherwise the paint could be
damaged.
Opening the hood
> Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive:
Switch the ignition off before releasing the
hood so that the gasoline engine does not start
automatically.
> With the door open, pull the lever <> below
the instrument panel in the direction of the ar-
row > fig. 179.


D_ The & symbol is not available in all countries.
276
>» Raise the hood slightly > page 274.
> Press the lever > fig. 180 in the direction of the
arrow. This releases the hooks.
> Open the hood.
Closing the hood
> Push the hood down until you override the
force of the strut.
> Let the hood fall lightly into the latch. Do not
press it in. > /\.
Messages
B Warning! Hood is not locked. Stop vehicle
and check the lock
The hood latch is not locked correctly. Stop im-
mediately and close the hood.

Z\ WARNING
— Never open the hood when there is steam or
coolant escaping from the engine compart-
ment, because there is a risk that you could
be burned. Wait until no steam or coolant is
escaping.
— For safety reasons, the hood must always be
latched securely while driving. Because of
this, always check the hood after closing it
to make sure it is latched correctly. The hood
is latched if the front corners cannot be lift-
ed.
— If you notice that the hood is not latched
while you are driving, stop immediately and
close it, because driving when the hood is
not latched increases the risk of an accident.

Checking and Filling

» Applies to: using engine oil that meets the rec-
ommended specification: Add some more en-
gine oil again if necessary.

ZA\ WARNING
— When adding oil, do not let oil drip onto hot
engine components. This increases the risk
of a fire.
— You must close the cap on the oil filler open-
ing correctly so that oil does not leak out on-
to the hot engine and exhaust system when
the engine is running, because this is a fire
hazard.
— Always clean skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact with engine oil.
—
Engine oil is poisonous and must be kept out
of reach of children.
— Store the engine oil securely in the original
container.

® Note
— The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not
cover damage or malfunctions if the recom-
mended intended use of the vehicle and
maintenance measures listed in the Audi
Owner's Manual and the Warranty & Main-
tenance Booklet were not followed.
— Only use high-grade engine oil that explicit-
ly meets the Audi oil quality standard for
your vehicle. Using another oil may cause
severe vehicle damage.
— Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.
Additives may cause engine damage that is
not covered by your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
@ For the sake of the environment
— Oil should never enter the sewer system or
come into contact with the ground.
— Follow the legal regulations in the country
where you are located when disposing of
empty oil containers.
280
Changing engine oil
Audi recommends having the oil changed at an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-
ice Facility.
Observe the safety precautions > page 274, Gen-
eral information.
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals
specified in the Warranty & Maintenance Book-
let. This is very important because the lubrication
function of the oil gradually declines during regu-
lar vehicle operation.
The engine oil should be changed more frequent-
ly under certain circumstances. Have the oil
changed more frequently if you often drive short
distances, your vehicle is predominantly in stop-
and-go traffic situations, is in very dusty environ-
ments, or is operated for long periods of time in
temperatures below zero.
Cleansing additives in the oil make fresh oil ap-
pear darker after the engine has run briefly. This
is normal and no reason to change the engine oil
more frequently than recommended.
Because correctly disposing of engine oil is diffi-
cult and special tools and technical knowledge
are needed for an oil change, Audi recommends
having your engine oil changed by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
If you change the engine oil yourself, please note
the following important information:

Z\ WARNING
If you change the engine oil on the vehicle
yourself, the following precautions must be
followed:
— Wear protective eyewear.
— Due to the risk of scalding, allow the engine
to cool down sufficiently.
— Maintain enough distance when you are re-
moving the oil drain plug. While doing this,
keep your forearm parallel to the ground to
reduce the risk of hot oil dripping down your
arm. >

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Checking and Filling

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 285, 12
Volt vehicle battery or > page 286, Other bat-
tery types
— Auxiliary battery (for example, for recuperation
or optional equipment) > page 286, Other bat-
tery types
— Plug-in hybrid drive: High-voltage battery (for
example, for electric driving) > page 131, In-
troduction.
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
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 286. 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.

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 286.

Z\ 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
so that it will not be destroyed by “freezing”
=> page 286, 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.

Battery acid is highly corrosive. Always
wear protective gloves and eye protection.

Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are
forbidden.

Z\ WARNING
— All work on the battery or electrical system
in your vehicle can result in injuries, chemi-
cal burns, accidents, or burns. Because of

A highly explosive mixture of gases can
form when charging batteries. >
@
>
©

285

Emergency assistance

> Set the parking brake.
> Select the “P” position.
>» When towing a trailer: disconnect the trailer
from your vehicle.
> Lay out the vehicle tool kit > page 317 and the
spare tire > page 323.
» Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Air suspension:
wheel change.
> Switch the ignition off.

ZA\ WARNING
The vehicle must also be secured to prevent it
from rolling when using the vehicle jack”. Use
suitable objects to block the front and back of
the wheel that is diagonal from the wheel
with the flat tire.

Removing the caps


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Fig. 196 Wheel: wheel bolts with caps
> Slide the plastic clip from the vehicle tool kit
onto the cap until it engages > fig. 196.
> Remove the cap with the plastic clip.
320

Tada more) bed
Applies to: vehicles with anti-theft wheel bolts



B4H-0470

Fig. 197 Anti-theft wheel bolt with cap and adapter
You need a special adapter in the vehicle tool kit
to remove the anti-theft wheel bolts.
> Remove the cap @).
> Slide the adapter @) all the way onto the anti-
theft wheel bolt @.
> Slide the wheel wrench* from the vehicle tool
kit all the way onto the adapter @).
> Loosen the wheel bolt > page 320.
@ Tips
Note the code number for the wheel bolt
adapter and store it in a safe place separate
from the vehicle. If you need a replacement
adapter, contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility and give them
the code number.
Loosening the wheel bolts

B4S-0221

Fig. 198 Wheel: loosening the wheel bolts

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

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Emergency assistance

To benefit fully from the advantages of the uni-
directional tire design, you should replace faulty
tires as soon as possible and restore the correct
running direction on all of the tires.
> Reinstall the caps on the wheel bolts if necessa-
ry.
> Store the vehicle tool kit in its designated
place.
> If the removed wheel does not fit in the spare
wheel well, store it securely in the luggage
compartment > page 97.
> Check the tire pressure on the installed wheel
as soon as possible.
> Correct the tire pressure and store it in the MMI
=> page 308.
> The wheel bolt tightening specification must be
90 ft lbs (120 Nm). Have it checked as soon as
possible with a torque wrench. Drive carefully
until then.
> Have the faulty wheel replaced as quickly as
possible.
Space-saving spare tire
Applies to: vehicles with space-saving spare tire (compact
spare tire)
The spare tire is intended for short-term use only.
Have the damaged tire checked and replaced if
necessary by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility as soon as possible.
There are some restrictions on the use of the
compact spare tire. The compact spare tire has
been designed specifically for your type of vehi-
cle. Do not replace it with the spare tire from an-
other type of vehicle.
The compact spare tire is located in the luggage
compartment under the cargo floor cover
=> page 317.
The tire pressure must be adjusted to a specified
value listed on the tire pressure sticker
=> page 299, fig. 190.
Snow chains
For technical reasons, the use of snow chains on
the compact spare tire is not permitted.
If you have to drive with snow chains and a front
tire fails, mount the spare tire in place of a rear
tire. Install the snow chains on the rear tire that
you removed, and install that in place of the
front tire that failed.

ZA WARNING
— After installing a spare tire, the tire pressure
must be checked as soon as possible.
— Do not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h)
with a compact spare tire. Driving faster
than that increases the risk of an accident.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, avoid hard
acceleration or braking and driving fast
around curves with the compact spare tire.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, never drive
with more than one compact spare tire.
— Normal summer or winter tires must not be
mounted on the compact spare wheel rim.

Jump starting
You should only perform the steps that follow if
you have the necessary tools and technical ex-
pertise.
If the engine does not start because the vehicle
battery is drained, you can jump start your vehi-
cle using another vehicle. Jump start cables are
needed to do this.
Both vehicle batteries must have 12 V nominal
voltage. The voltage capacity (Ah) of the vehicle
battery that is giving power must not be less
than the capacity of the drained vehicle battery.
Jump start cable
Only use a jump start cable with a large enough
diameter. Note the manufacturer's specifica-
tions.
Only use a jump start cable with insulated termi-
nal clamps.
Positive cable - usually red.
Negative cable - usually black.
323

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