service indicator AUDI A5 COUPE 2010 Owners Manual
Page 20 of 360
Driver  informati on  displ ay 
Driver  information  display 
Introduction 
General  notes 
The driver  information  display  inside  the  instrument 
cluster  provides  you,  the  driver,  with  much  useful  infor
mation. 
Fig . 8 Inst rum ent 
c lu ster : cente r dis pl ay 
Informat ion  from  the  driver  information  system  is  shown  in  the 
display  in  the  center  of  the  instrument  cluster. 
When  you  turn  on  the  ignition  and  while  you  are  driving,  some  func 
tions  and  vehicle  components  are  scanned  for  their  operating  status.  Malfunctions  or  required  service  procedures  are  signaled 
audibly  and  shown  by  red  and  yellow  lighted  symbols  and 
reminders  to  the  driver  in  the  display. 
The  driver  is also  shown  information  about  radio  and  CD operation  and  directions  for  the  navigation  system *. You can  find  additional 
information  on  these  subjects  in  the  MMI  manual. 
The  illustrations  in  the  instrument  panel  display  differ  in  some  of 
the  vehicles. 
The  driver  informat ion  system  prov ides  the  following  functions:  Sound  sys
tem  display  ::::;, 
page  19 
Outside  air  temperature  ::::;, page  19 
Gearshift  indicator*  _________  ::::;, page  20 
Digital  speedometer  ::::;, page  20 
Open  door- and  luggage  compartment  warning ::::;, page  21 
Service  interval  display 
Au to  Check  syst em 
Driver  information 
Speed  warning 
Trip  computer  Gearshift  selector  positions 
(Automatic  transmission*) 
[  i ] Tips 
::::;,  page  21 
::::;,  page27 
::::;,  page28 
::::;,  page26 
::::;,  page23 
::::;,  page  149 
In  the  event  of  a malfunction  either  a  red  or yellow  icon  appears  in 
the  display.  Red symbols  indicate 
D anger ~ page  28. Yellow 
symbols  ind icate  a 
Warning ::::;, page  32. •  
Page 24 of 360
Driver  information  display 
Service due 
When the  due  date  for  service  is  reached,  the  message Service due 
! appears  in  the  instrument  cluster  immediately  after  you  turn  on 
the  ignition.  Additionally,  a  warning  tone sounds.  After  about  5 
seconds  the  display  switches  back  to  normal. 
Calling up  the service  schedules 
If  or  when  an  oil  change  or  inspection  is due , can  be  shown  in  the 
radio  or  MMI*  display  by selecting the  service interval  display  in  the 
car  menu.  Select 
[CAR]> Service  interval  display=> page  21, fig. 15. 
Resetting  the  service interval  display 
Your  authorized  Audi  dealer  will  reset  the  corresponding  service 
schedule  after  performing  the  appropriate  service  on  your  vehicle. 
You also  have  the  possibility  to  reset  the  oil  change  schedule  after 
having  performed  an  oil  change  according  to Audi  specifications . 
Select 
(CAR]> Service  interval  display> Re set  oil  change  interval. 
0 Note 
If you  disconnect  the battery  terminals,  no  calculations  can  be 
made  for  the  service  interva l display  during  this  time  and  no service 
reminder  will  appear.  Remember  that  observing  the proper  service 
interva ls  is vita lly  important  to  extending  the  life  of  your  vehicle, 
particularly  the engine,  and  maintaining  its  value.  Even  if  the 
mileage  driven  is  low,  the  maximum  period  of  one  year  from  one 
service  to  the  next  must  not  be exceeded. 
[ i ) Tips 
•  Do  not  reset the  display  between oil changes,  o therwise  the 
display  will  be  incorrect . 
•  The  information  in  the Service  Reminder  remains stored 
even 
when  the  vehicle  battery  is  disconnected. • 
On-Board  Diagnostic  system  (08D) 
Malfunction  Indicator  Lamp  (MIL) 
The  Malfunction Indicator  Lamp  (MIU  in  the  instrument  cluster 
=> page  12, fig.  7 is part of the  On-Board  Diagnostic  (OBD II) system. 
The  warning/ind icator  light  illuminates  when  the ignition is 
switched  on  and  goes  out  after  the  engine  starts  and  the  id le  has 
stabi lized.  This  indicates  that  the  MIL is working  proper ly . 
If  the  light  does not  go  out after  the  engine  is started,  or  illuminates 
while  you  are driving,  a ma lfunction  may exist  in the  engine  system. 
If  the  light  illuminates,  the  catalytic  converter  could  be damaged. 
Continue  driving 
with  reduced  power (avoiding  sustained  high 
speeds  and/or  rapid  accelerations) and  have  the  condition 
corrected.  Contact  your  authorized  Audi  dealer. 
If  the  light  illuminates,  the electronic  speed limiter  may also be 
malfunctioning.  For more  information=> 
page 23, "Electronic  speed 
limiter". 
An  improperly  closed fuel  filler  cap  may  also cause the  MIL  light  to 
illuminate 
=> page 267.  • 
On-Board  Diagnostics 
Fig.  17  location  of 
Data  Link  Connector 
(DLC) 
ai,,,  
Page 33 of 360
& WARNING 
• If your  vehicle  should  break  down  for  mechanical  or  other 
reasons,  park  at  a  safe distance  from  moving  traffic,  turn  off  the 
engine  and  turn  on the  hazard  warning  lights 
=> page  57, "Emer
gency flashers 
A". 
•  Never  open the  hood  if you  see or  hear  steam or  coolant 
escaping  from  the  engine  compartment  -you  risk  being  scalded. 
Wait  until  you  can no longer  see or  hear  steam  or  coolant 
escaping. 
•  The  engine  compartment  of any vehicle  is a  dangerous  area . 
Before you  perform  any work  in the  engine  compartment, turn  of 
the  engine  and  allow  it  to  cool . Follow the  warning  stickers 
=> page  263, "Engine  compartment". 
0 Note 
Do  not  continue  driving  if  the -F-symbol illuminates.  There  is a 
malfunction  in the  engine  cooling  system  -you could  damage  your 
engine .• 
Engine  oil  pressure  malfunction 9=::7-
The  red  engine  oil  pressure warning  symbol  requires 
immediate  service  or  repair.  Driving with a low  oil  pres
sure  indication  is  likely  to cause  severe  engine  damage. 
If the ~  symbol  on  the  display flashes,  the  engine  oil  pres
sure  is too  low.  A driver  message  appears  as well  to  explain 
the  malfunction  in more  detail.  The  driver  warning  goes  out 
after  about  5 seconds,  but  it  can  be  brought up  at  any  time 
by  pressing  the  [SET]  button  again. 
Switch  off  engine  and  check oil  level 
- Stop  the vehicle. 
Controls  and  equip 
ment 
Driver  information  display 
Turn  the  engine  off. 
- Check  the  brake  fluid level=> 
page 275. 
Seek  professional  assistance  if  necessary. 
Engine  oil  level  too  low 
If the  engine  oil  level  is too  low,  add  engine  oil=> page 275. 
Engine  oil  level  correct 
If the  symbol "t::7-flashes  even  though  the  engine  oil  level  is correct, 
please  seek professional  assistance.  Do not  continue  driving . Do not 
leave  the engine  running 
idle,  either. 
[ i] Tips 
•  The  engine  oil  pressure  symbol "t::7-is not  an  indicator  for  a  low 
engine  oil  level. Do not  rely on  it.  Instead,  check the  oil  level in your 
engine  at  regular  intervals,  preferably  each  time  you  refuel,  and 
always before going on a long trip . 
• The  yellow  oil  level warning  indication  .,... requires oil  refill  or 
workshop  service without  delay. Do not  wait  until  the  red  oil  pres
sure warning 
"t::7-starts  to  flash  before  you  respond  to  the  low  oil 
level warning  . By then,  your  engine  may  already  have  suffered 
serious damage.  • 
Fill  engine  oil  now ~ .. 
~-Please replenish  oil  now 
If  the ~ symbol  lights up,  then  the  oil  has to  be  replenished  right 
now => 
page 275. • 
I  • •  
Page 52 of 360
Opening  and closing 
& WARNING 
• Never  close the windows  and  thepanoramic  tilting  sunroof 
inattentively  and  without checking  -there  is  risk  of injury. 
•  You  must  always  watch  when  the  windows  are  being  raised so 
that  no one  can  be trapped.  If you  release the  key, the  closing 
action  is immediately  canceled. 
•  Always  read and  heed  WARNING~ 
& in "General  description" 
on 
page  41 . • 
Correcting  window  regulator  malfunction 
After  disconnecting  the  vehicle  battery, the  one-touch  up 
and  down  feature  must  be  activated  again. 
- Pull  and  hold  the  power  window  switch  until  the  window 
is completely  closed. 
- Release  the  switch. 
- Pull  the  switch  again  for  one  second.  The  automatic  closing/opening  is  now  reactivated. • 
Valet  parking 
Through  the "valet parking"  feature  the  luggage  compart
ment  of  your  vehicle  is secured  from  unauthorized  access 
during  the  valet  parking  service. 
Fig . 47  Valet  parking 
button 
With  "valet  parking"  activated,  the  rear  lid  cannot  be 
opened. 
- Take the  mechanical  key out  of  the  master  key=> 
page 40. 
- Open  the  glove box=> page  89 and  activate => fig.  47 the 
"valet  parking"  feature by  pressing  the [VALET]  button. 
The  indicator  light  in  t he switch  illuminates. 
- Close  the  glove  box  and  lock  it  with  the  mechanical  key. 
- Lock  both  rear  seat  backs  with  the  mechanical  key 
=> page 82. 
-Lock  the  luggage  compartment  pass -through  with  the 
mechanical  key=> 
page  82. 
-Leave the  master  key with  the service  personnel  for 
parking  and  keep  the  mechanical  key with  you. 
When  the  "valet  parking"  feature  is activated:  
Page 197 of 360
__________________________________________________ A_ i_ r _b _a...; g::- s_ y=--- s_t _e _m  __ lffllll 
& WA RN ING  (co ntinued) 
•  Th e  inflating  airb ag  will  hit  th e child  safety  sea t  o r inf ant 
ca rrier  with  g re at  f orc e  and  will  sm ash  th e child  safety  sea t  a nd 
c hild  again st  t he  backre st,  c enter  armre st,  doo r, or  roof . 
•  Alway s in sta ll  re arwa rd-f acing  child  re str aints  i n the  ba ck  seat. 
•  If  you  mu st  in stall  a  rearw ard  facing  child  safety  seat  on  the 
fro nt  pa ssenger  seat  be cau se  of  e xceptional  cir cumstance s and 
the  PASSENGER AIR  BAG OFF light  doe s not  come  on  and  stay  on , 
imm edi ately  in sta ll  the  re ar- fa cing  child  safe ty  s eat  in  a  rea r 
seating  p osition  and  h ave th e airbag  system  in spected  by  your 
autho riz e d  Audi  de aler. 
& WARNING 
If, in e xceptional  circum sta n ce s, y ou mu st  in stall  a forw ard -f aci ng 
c hild  restraint  on the  front  pa ssenger' s seat: 
•  Alway s make sure the forw ard -fa cing seat has b een de signed 
and  cert ified  by it s manufa cturer  for  use on a  front  seat  with  a 
pa ssenge r fr ont  and  side  airb ag . 
•  Never  put  the  forward -facing  child  re straint  up  again st  or very 
near  the  instrum ent  p anel . 
•  Alway s move the  p assenger  seat  into  it s rearmo st  po sition  in 
the  seat's  fore  and  aft  adju stme nt  r ange ,  as far  aw ay from  the 
a irb ag  as  pos sible , before  in stalling  the  forward -fac ing child 
r e stra int . The  b ackrest  must  be  adjusted  to  an  upright  po sition . 
•  Make  sure that  the  PASSEN GER AIR BAG OFF light  come s on 
a nd stay s on  all the time  whe never the  ign it ion  i s sw itch ed  on . • 
Advanced  Airbag  System  components 
The  front  passenger  seat  in  your  vehicle  has  a  lot  of  very  important 
parts  of  the  Advanced  A irbag  System  in  it.  These  parts  inc lude  the 
weight -sensing  mat,  sensors,  wiring,  brackets,  and  more.  The  func -
Controls  and  equip ment  Safety  first  Vehicle  operation  tion  of  the  system  in  the  front  passenger  seat  is checked  by 
the elec
tronic  contro l unit  when  the  ignition  is on . The  control  unit  monitors 
the  Advanced  Airbag  System  and  turns  the  a irbag  indicator  light  on 
when  a  malfunction  in  the  system  components  is  detected . The 
function  of  the  airbag  indicator  light  is  described  in  greater  detail  below.  Because  the  front  passenger  seat  conta ins  important  parts 
of  the  Advanced  Airbag  System,  you  must  take  care  to  prevent  it 
from  being  damaged.  Damage  to  the  seat  may  prevent  the 
Advanced  Airbag  for  the  front  passenger  seat  from  doing  its  job  in 
a crash. 
T he  front  Ad van ced Airbag  System  consi sts  of  th e 
following: 
•  Crash  sensors  in  the  front  of  the  vehicle  that  measure  vehicle 
acce leration/deceleration  to  provide  information  to  the  Advanced 
A irbag  System  about  the  sever ity  of  the  crash . 
•  An  electronic  control  unit,  with  integrated  crash  sensors  for  front 
and  side  impac ts. The  control  unit  "decides" whether  to  fire  the 
front  airbags  based  on  the  information  received  from  the  crash  sensors . The  control  unit  also  "decides" whether  the  safety  belt 
pretensioners  should  be  activated. 
•  An  Advanced  Airbag  w ith  gas  generator  and  contro l valve  for  the 
driver  inside  the  steering  wheel  hub. 
•  An  Advanced  Airbag  with  gas  generator  and  contro l valve  inside 
the  instrument  panel  for  the  front  passenger . 
•  A weight -sensing  mat  under  the  upholstery  padding  of  the  front 
passenger  seat  cushion  that  measures  the  total  weight  on  the  seat . 
The  information  registered  is  sent  continuously  to  the  e lectronic 
control  unit  to  regu late  dep loyment  of  the  front  Advanced  Airbag  on 
the  passenger  s ide. 
•  An  airbag  monito ring  system  and  indicator  light  in  the  instru 
ment  cluster=>  page 
199. 
• A  sensor  in  each  front  sea t registers  t he distance  between  the 
respective  seat  and  the  steering  wheel  or  instrument  panel.  The 
information  registered  is sen t continuously  to  the  electronic  control 
unit  to  regulate  dep loyment  of  the front  Advanced  Airbags.  ._ 
Vehicle  care  Do-it-yourself  service  Technical  data  
Page 201 of 360
__________________________________________________ A_ i_ r _b _a...; g::- s_ y=--- s_t _e _m  __ lffllll 
& W ARNING  (continued ) 
airbag  dur ing  braking  or  in  a  sudden  maneuver . Objects  ne ar  the 
airbags  can  become  proje ctile s and  cau se injury , particularly  when 
the  seat  is  reclined . 
& WARNING 
The  fine  dust  created  when  airbags  deploy  can  cause  breathing 
p roblems  for  people  with  a history  of  asthma  or  other  breathing 
c onditions . 
•  To reduce  the  risk  of  breathing  problems , those  with  asthma  or 
other  respir atory  cond itions  should  get  fresh  air  right  away  by 
getting  out  of  the  vehicle  or  opening  windows  or  doors. 
•  If  you  are  in  a collision  in  which  airbags  deploy,  wash  your 
hands  and  face  with  mild  soap  and  water  before  eating. 
•  Be careful  not  to  get  the  dust  into  your  eyes,  or  into  any  cuts  or 
scratches. 
•  If  the  residue  should  get  into  your  eyes , flush  them  with 
water .• 
Monitoring  the  Advanced  Airbag 
System 
Airbag  monitoring  indicator  light t~ 
Tw o separate  indicators  monitor  th e funct ion  of  the 
Adva nced A irbag  Syst em : the a ir b ag  mon itor in g i ndicator 
l ig ht  an d the 
PASSENGER  AIR  BAG  OFF light. 
The Advanced  Airbag  System  (including  the  electronic  control  unit, 
s en sor  cir cu its  a nd  sys tem wiring)  is  mon itored  co ntinuous ly  to 
make  sure  that  it  is  functioning properly whenever  the  ignition  is on. 
E ac h tim e you  turn  on  th e  ig niti on,  the  ai rbag  monito ring  ind icator 
light 
t~ w ill  come  on  for  a few  seconds  (se lf  diagnostics) . 
Controls  and  equip ment  Safety  first 
Vehicle  operation 
The  system  must  be  inspected  wh en  the  indicator 
light ~: 
•  does  not  come  on  when  the ignition  is  switched  on, 
•  does  not go  ou t a few  sec ond s  a fter  you  have  swi tc hed  on  the 
ignition,  or 
•  comes  on while  d riv in g. 
I f  an  airbag  system  malfunction  is detected,  the  indicator  light  will 
fi rst  sta rt fla sh ing  to  catch  the  d rive r's  atten tion  an d  t hen  stay  on 
cont inuously  to  serve  as  a  constant  reminder  to  have  the  syst em 
inspected  i mmedia tely. 
If  a mal funct ion  occurs  that  tu rns the  fro nt  a irbag  o n th e passe nger 
side  off,  the  PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  light  will come  on  and  stay  on 
whe neve r the  ig nit ion  is  on. 
& WARNING 
An  airbag  system  that  is  not  functioning  properly  cannot  provide 
supplemental  protection  in  a frontal  crash . 
•  If  the  airbag  indicator  light  comes  on , it  means  that  there  may 
be  something  wrong  with  the  Advanced  Airbag  System.  It  is 
possible  that  the  airbag  will  inflate  when  it  is  not  supposed  to , or 
will  not  inflate  when  it  should . 
•  Have  the  airbag  system  inspected  immediately  by  your  autho 
rized  Audi  dealer . • 
Vehicle  care  Do-it-yourself  service  Technical  data  
Page 213 of 360
Airbag  system -----------------=~-
& WARNING 
• Safety  belts  and the  airbag  system will  only provide  protection 
when  occupants  are  in the  proper  seating  position 
~ page  69, 
"General  recommendations" . 
•  If the  airbag  indicator  light  comes on when  the  vehicle  is being 
used,  have the  system  inspected  immediately  by your  authorized 
Audi  dealer. The  side  curtain  airbag  may  not  work  properly  even 
when  the  vehicle  acceleration  in a side  collision  is high enough  to 
activate  the  airbag.  • 
How  side  curtain  airbags  work 
Side curtain  airbags  can  work  together  with  side  airbags 
to help  reduce  the risk  of head  and  upper  torso  injuries for 
occupants  who  are  properly  restrained. 
.. 
Fig . 203  Illustration  of 
principle:  Inflated  side 
curtain  airbags  on the 
left  side 
The  side  curtain  airbags  inflate  between  the  occupant and  the 
windows  on  the  side  of  the  vehicle  that  is  struck  in a  side  collision 
~ fig.  203. 
When  the  system  is  triggered,  the  side  curtain  airbag  is  filled  with  propellant  gas  and  breaks  through  a seam  above  the  front  and  rear 
side  windows  identified  by the  AIRBAG  label.  In  order to  help 
provide  this  additional  protection,  the  side  curtain  airbag  must 
inflate  within  the  blink of  an  eye  at  very  high  speed  and  with  great 
Controls  and  equip ment  Safety  first  Vehicle  operation  force.  The  side  curtain  airbag  could  injure  you  if  your  seating  posi
tion 
is  not  proper  or  upright  or  if  items are  located  in  the area where 
the  supplemental  side  curtain  airbag  inflates.  This applies  espe
cially  to  children ~ page  213. 
Although  they  are  not a  soft  pillow,  side  curtain  airbags  can 
"cushion"  the  impact  and  in this  way  they  can  help  to  reduce  the  risk 
of  injury  to the  head  and  the  upper  part of  the  body. 
A  fine  dust  may  develop  when  the  airbag  deploys.  This is  quite 
normal  and  does  not  mean  there is  a fire  in  the  vehicle. • 
Important  safety  instructions  on  the  side 
curtain  airbag  system 
Airbags are  only  supplemental  restraints. Always  prop
erly  wear  safety belts  and  ride in  a proper  seating  posi 
tion. 
ihere  is  a  lot that  you  and  your  passengers  must  know and  do  to 
help  the  safety  belts and  airbags  do  their job  to provide  supple
mental  protection  . 
& WARNING 
Improperly  wearing  safety  belts  and  improper  seating  positions 
increase  the  risk of  serious  personal  injury  and  death  whenever  a 
vehicle  is being  used. 
•  Never  let  occupants  place  any  parts  of their  bodies  in the  area 
from  which  the  side  curtain  airbags  inflate. 
•  Always  make  sure that  the  side curtain  airbags  can  inflate 
without  interference.  Unsuitable  accessories fitted  inside  the 
expansion  range  of  a  head  airbag  can  dangerously  interfere  with 
its  function.  A deploying  head  airbag  develops  enough  force to 
catapult  any piece of add-on  component  out  of its  path  of inflation 
and  into  the  passenger  compartment.  An  occupant  hit  by such  a  _,. 
Vehicle  care  Do-it-yourself  service  Technical  data  
Page 237 of 360
The system  operates  across  the  entire speed  range  in  combination 
with  the  ABS system.  If  the Anti -Lock  Brake  System  (ABS) ma lfunc
tions,  the  ESP wil l also  shut  down . 
How  the system  works 
The Anti -Lock  Brake  System (ABS), Electronic  Differential  Lock (EDU 
and  the Anti -Slip  Regulation  System (ASR) are  integrated  in the  elec
tronic  stabilization  program.  In addition  to  the  data  provided  by 
th ese  functions,  the  ESP  control unit  requires  additional  measure 
ment  data  provided  by  high  performance  sensors . The  rotational 
speed  of  the  vehicle about  its  vertica l axis,  vehicle  acceleration  in 
the  fore-and-aft  and  lateral  directions , the  brake  pressure, and  the 
steering  angle  are  all  measured. 
The  direction  in  which  the  driver  wishes  to travel  is determined  with 
the  aid  of  the  steering  angle  and  vehicle  speed  and  is continua lly 
compared  with  the  actual  behavior  of  the  vehicle.  If the  two  do  not 
match,  for  example,  when  the vehicle  starts  hydrop laning  on  a wet 
road,  ESP  will  automatically  brake  the appropriate  whee l to  correct 
the  prob lem. 
The  vehicle  is then  stabi lized  by the  forces  acting  on  the  whee l 
during  braking.  If  the  vehicle  is 
oversteering (the  vehicle  turns  too 
sharply  and  the  rear wheels  slide  toward  th e ou tside  of  a curve),  the 
brakes  are  main ly app lied  on  the wheel  that  is on  the  outside  of  the 
curve . In  the  case of  a vehicle  that  is 
understeering (the  vehicle  does 
not  turn  sharply  enough  and  pushes  out of  a curve),  the brakes  are 
applied  as needed  on  the  wheel  that  is on  the  inside  of  the  curve  or 
additional ly  on  the  other  wheels.  An acoustic  signal  indicates  when 
ESP  brake  app lication  cuts  in=>&. 
T he system  operates  across  the  entire  speed  range  in  combination 
with  the ABS system  => 
page  238. If the  Anti-Lock  Brake System 
(ABS) malfunctions,  the  ESP will  be out  of  action  as well. 
Activating 
When  you  turn  on  the  engine,  ESP will  automatica lly  be  activated 
and  will  perform  a se lf-test.  As  soon  as  the  test is comp leted,  the 
system  is  in  norma l operating  mode. 
Controls  and  equip
ment  Safety  first  Vehicle  operation 
Intelligent  technology 
You 
can  activate  a deactivated  ESP or  deactivated  ESP/ASR if 
required  by  pressing the::::> 
page  234, fig. 215  ::::> page  234, fig.  214 
button . When  they  are  activated,  the  message 
ESP /ASR on appears 
briefly  in the  display . 
Deactivating 
The  ESP should normally  be activated  al l the  time.  If necessary,  you 
can  deactivate  Anti -Slip  Regu lation  (ASR) or the  Electronic Stabiliza
tion  Program  (ESP) by  pressing  the  button=> 
page 234, fig. 215. 
• Deactivating  ASR: Tap the  button . In certain  exceptional  situa
tions  (e .g. driving  with  tire  chains),  the  Anti-Slip  Regulation  (ASR) 
can  be  deactivated => 
page  236. The message ASR off appears  in  the 
display  as we ll. 
•  Deact ivating  ESP/ASR Press the  button  for  more  than  3 seconds. 
With  the ESP/ASR deactivated,  the  indicator light  comes  on,  see 
=> 
page  13. The  message ESP  switched  off appears in the  disp lay as 
we ll. 
& WARNING 
The  Electronic Stabilization  Program is nevertheless  subject to the 
laws  of physics . It  is particularly  important to  pay attention  to this 
fact  on  wet and slippery  roads. It  is therefore  important  that  you 
always  adapt  your  driving  to the condition  of the  road  and traffic 
conditions.  Do not allow the  increased  safety provided  by the  Elec
tronic  Stabilization  Program system to  lull you  into  accepting 
additional  safety risks. • 
Electronic  differential  lock  (EDL) 
---------
The  electronic  differential  lock  monitors  the  rotational 
speed  of  the  drive  wheels. 
General notes 
The  electronic  differential  lock  (EDU  helps  the  car  to  start  moving, 
acc elerate  and  c limb  a gradient  on  surfaces  providing  poor  or 
Vehicle  care  Do-it-yourself  service  Technical  data  
Page 299 of 360
4. The  resulting  figure  equals  th e available 
amount  of  cargo  and  luggage  load  capacity.  For  example,  if  the 
" XXX" 
amount  equals  1400  lbs.  and  there  will 
be  five  150  lbs.  passeng ers  in  your 
v ehicle , the  amount  of  available  cargo 
and  luggage  load  capacity  is  650  lbs. 
(1400-750  (5 
X 150) = 650  lbs.) 
5.  Determine  the  combined  weight  of  luggage  and  cargo  being  loaded  on  the 
vehicle.  That  weight  may  not  safely 
exceed  the  available  cargo  and  luggage 
load  capa city  calculated  in  Step  4. 
6.  If  your  vehicle  will  be  towing  a trailer , 
load  from  your  trailer  will  be  transferred 
to  your  vehicle.  Consult  this  manual  to  determine  how  this  reduces  the  avail
able  cargo  and  luggage  load  capacity  of 
your  vehicle. 
- Check  the  tire  sidewall  (~ 
page 299 , 
fig.  233)  to  determine  the  designat ed 
load  rating  for  a  specific  tire. • 
Tires  and  wheels  -
Tire  service  life 
T he ser vic e life  of ti res depends  on  a lo t o f different  things 
inclu ding  p roper  i nstallation  and  bal ancing,  correc t tire 
pressu re  a nd  drivi ng  style . 
(-----~ 
 _____ __,,:) 
Tread  Wear  Ind icator  (TWll 
N 
"' 0 9 
"" ~ 
Fig . 2 3 1  Tire tread: 
tre ad  we ar  indi cato rs 
(TWll 
Fig . 232  Rotating  tire s 
for  mo re even wear 
The or iginal  tires  on your  vehicle  have  1 /16  inch  ( 1.6  mm)  high  " wea r 
indicators"=>  fig.  231  running  across  the  tread.  Depending  on  the 
make,  the re w ill  be  six  to  eight  of  them  even ly  p la ced  a rou nd  the 
t ire . Marks  on the  tire  sidewall  (for  example  "TWI" or  other  symbols) 
indicate  the  positions  of  the  tread  wear  indicators.  Worn  tires  must 
be  r eplaced.  Di fferen t  fi gures  may  apply  in other  countries ::::>,& .  .,_ 
Vehic le  care I I Technical  data  
Page 300 of 360
-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s  _________________________________________________  _ 
Tire pr essure 
Inco rrect  tire  pressure  causes  prematu re wear  and  can  cau se 
sudden  tire  blow-out.  For this  reason,  tire  pressure  must  be checked 
at  least  once  a  month 
~ page 293 . 
Driving  style 
Dr iv ing  fa st around  curves,  heavy  acceleration  and  hard  brak ing 
increase  tire wear. 
Rotating  tire s for  more  even  wear 
For all  four  t ires  on  your  vehic le to  have  the same  service  life,  we 
recommend  that the  front  and  rea r tires  are  rotat ed acc ord ing to  the 
tire  manufacturer 's suggested  tire  rotation  intervals.  Please 
remembe r the  f ollo wi ng : 
•  Tire  rotat ion  i nterva ls  m ay d iffer  from  the  vehic le serv ice  inte r
vals  outl ined  in  your  Maintenance  and  Warranty  Book let. 
•  The  longer  one  tire is used  in  one  location  on  the  vehicle,  t he 
more  it  wears  at  certain  points;  the refo re, we  recommend  that  you 
f ollow  the  tire  manu facturer's  sug ges ted  t ire  rotat ion  i nte rvals. 
•  Vehicles  with  fro nt-w hee l dr ive e xper ience  more  tread  wear  on 
the  front  wheels  compared  to  all -wheel  drive  (quattro®l . 
•  Please  rotate  tires  as  sh ow n~ 
page 297, fig.  232 . 
•  Extra  care  must  be taken  when  rotating  direction -specific  tires 
~ pag e 318 . 
Wheel  balancing 
T he w heels  o n new  v ehic les  are  balanced.  However,  various  s itua 
tions  during  everyday  driving  can  cause  them  to  become  unba l
anc ed,  resu lti ng  in  vib rati ons yo u ca n usually  feel thro ugh  t he 
steer ing  whee l. 
U nba la nce d w heels  must  be re ba lance d to avoid excessive  wea r on 
steering,  suspension  and  tires.  A whee l must  a lso  be  reba lanced 
when  a new  tire  is installed. 
Incorrect  wheel  alignment 
Incorrect  w hee l al ig nm ent ca n cause  e xcess ive ti re wea r, impa iring 
t h e s afety  of  th e veh ic le. If t ires  show  excessive  wear,  have  the 
w hee l a lig nme nt checke d by a n autho rize d Aud i deale r or  qualifie d 
wo rkshop. 
All  wheel  drive 
Vehic les with  quattro®  must  always  have  tires  of  the  same  size, 
co nstruct ion  an d tread  ty pe.  For  deta ils  see ~ 
page 240. 
& WARNING 
Sudden  tire  failure  can  lead to  loss of control , a crash  and  serious 
personal  injury ! 
•  Never  drive  a vehicle  when  the  tread  on any tire  is worn  down 
to  the  wear  indicators. 
•  Worn  tires  are  a  safety  hazard , they  do  not  grip  well  on wet 
roads and  in crease your  risk of  "hydroplaning " and  loss of control. 
•  Always  keep  chemicals  that  can  cause  tire  damage , such as 
grease,  oil,  gasoline  and  brake  fluid  away  from  tires . 
•  Tires  age even  if they  are  not  being  used and  can fail  suddenly , 
especially  at  high speeds. Tires that  are more  than  6 years old  can 
only  be used  in an  emergency  and then  with  special  care  and  at 
lower  speeds . 
•  Never  mount  used tires  on your  vehicle  if you  are  not  sure of 
their  "previous  history. " Old  used tires  may  have  been  damaged 
even though  the  damage  cannot  be  seen that  can  lead to  sudden 
tire  failure  and  loss of  vehicle  control . •