check engine AUDI A7 2014 User Guide
Page 43 of 306
.. To activate  the  child  safety  lock for  the  left/ 
right  rear  door,  press  the  left/right button 
Ii] 
in the  driver's  door ¢ fig.  30. The light  in the 
button  w ill turn  on. 
..  To deactivate  the  child safety  lock for  the 
left/right  rear  door,  press  the  left/r ight  but
ton 
1±1 in the  driver's  door.  The  light  in the 
button  turns  off. 
The  follow ing  features  are  switched  off: 
- The  interior  door  handles  in the  rear doors, 
- The  power  windows  in the  rear  doors. 
I n order  to  activate  the  child  safety  lock  on 
the  left  and the right  s ide,  press  the  two safe
ty  buttons 
Ii] in succession. 
Power  windows 
Controls 
The  driver can control  all power  windows. 
Fig. 31 Section  of  the driver 's doo r: Cont rols 
l(l 0 0 0 
"' m 
All power  window  switches  are  provided  with 
a two-position  function : 
Opening  the  windows 
.. Press  the  switch  to  the first stop and  hold  it 
until  the window  reaches  the desired  posi
tion. 
.,.  Press  the  switch  br iefly  to  the 
second  stop 
to  automatically  open  the window. 
Closing  the  windows 
.. Pull  the  switch  to  the first stop and hold  it 
until  the window  reaches  the desired  posi
t ion. 
..  Pull  the  switch  briefly  to  the 
second  stop to 
automatically  close  the window . 
Opening  and  closing  41 
Power window  switches 
@ Driver's door 
® Passenger's  door 
© Left rear  door 
@ Right  rear  door 
.,&_ WARNING 
-When  you  leave  your  vehicle  - even  if on
ly briefly  - always  take  the  ignit ion  key 
with  you.  This  applies  particularly  when  children  remain  in the  vehicle.  Otherwise 
the  children  could  start  the engine  or  op
erate  electrical  equipment  (e.g.  power 
windows).  The power  windows  are  func
tional  until  the  driver's  door  or  passeng
er's  doo r has  been  opened. 
- Be careful  when  closing the  w indows. 
Check  to  see  that no  one  is in the way, or 
serio us  injury  could result! 
- When  locking  the vehicle  from outside, 
the  vehicle  must  be  unoccupied  since the 
windows  can  no longer be  opened  in  an 
emergency . 
{D Tips 
-When  you  open  the  doors,  the  windows 
automatically  lower  abo ut 10  mm. 
- When  the  window  in the  driver's  or pas
senger's  door  is complete ly open,  it will 
raise  approximately  25  mm  when the 
door  is opened.  The window  will  lower 
again  when  you  close  the  door. 
- After  the ignition  has  been  switched  off, 
the  windows  can  sti ll be  opened  or 
closed  for about  10  minutes.  The power 
windows  are  not switched  off  until  the 
dr iver's  door  or  passenger's  door  has 
been  opened  . 
What  to  do  after  a  malfunction 
The one-touch  open  and  close  function  must 
be  reactivated  if  the battery  has  been  discon
nected. 
..  Pull and  ho ld  the  power  window  switch  until 
the  window  is  fully  closed.  .- 
Page 78 of 306
76  On  the  road 
column  will  continue  moving  as long  as you 
are pressing  the  switch. 
There must  be at  least  10  inc hes (25  cm)  be
tween  you r chest  and the  center  of  the  steer 
ing whee l. 
If you  cannot  sit  more  than  10  in
ches (25  cm) from  the  steering  whee l, see if 
adapt ive equipment  is available  to  help you 
reach the  pedals  and increase the  distance 
from  the  steer ing wheel. 
F or  detai led information  on how to  adjust  the 
driver's  seat,  see 
<::> page 54 . 
In vehicles with  the  memory  f unction* , the 
steering  column  settings  are stored  together 
with  the  seat  position. 
A WARNING 
Improper  use of  steering  wheel  adjust
ment  and  improper  seating  position  can 
cause se rious  personal  injury. 
- Adjust  the  steer ing whee l column  on ly 
when  the  vehicle  is not  moving  to  pre
vent  loss of  veh icle cont rol. 
-
- Adjust  the  driver's  seat  or steering  wheel 
so that  the re is a min imum  of  10 inches 
(25  cm)  between  your  chest and the 
steering  wheel ¢ 
page  1311 fig.  148. If 
you can not  maintain  this  min imum  dis
tan ce, the  airbag  system  cannot  protect 
yo u properly. 
- If  p hys ica l limi tations  prevent  y ou from 
sitting  10  in ches (25  cm)  o r more  from 
the  steering  wheel,  check with  yo ur au
tho rized Aud i dealer  to  see  if adaptive 
equipment  is availab le . 
- If  the  steerin g wheel  is aligned  wi th you r 
face,  the  supp lemental  drive r's airbag 
cannot  prov ide as much  protect ion  in an 
acc ident.  A lways make sure that  the 
steering  wheel  is aligned  with  your 
chest. 
- Always  hold  the  steering  wheel  with  your 
hands at  the  9 o'clock  and  3 o'clock  posi
t ions to  reduce the  risk  of  pe rsonal  injury 
if  the  d river 's airbag  deploys. 
- Never hold  the  steer ing whee l at  the  12 
o'clock  posit ion or w it h  your  hands  i nside  the  steering  wheel  rim  or  on the  steering 
wheel  hub.  Hold
ing the  steer ing wheel 
the  wrong  way can cause serious  injuries 
to  the  hands, arms  and  head  if the  driv
er 's airbag  deploys. 
Easy entry  feature 
Applies  to  vehicles:  with  electrically  adjustable  steering 
wheel 
The easy  entry  feature  makes  it easier  to  en
ter and  exit  the  vehicle by automatically  ad
justing  the steering  wheel. 
..  Select in  the MM I: ICAR I fu nction  button> 
(Car )*  sys tem s control  b utton  > V ehicle  set
ting s 
> Seat s > Driver 's seat > Easy entry > 
On . 
When  the  easy ent ry feature  is turned  on, the 
steering  wheel  moves up to  the  park  position 
when you switch 
off the  ignition.  After  you  en
ter  the  veh icle, the  steering  wheel  moves to 
the  stored  position  as soon as you  sw itch  on 
the  ignit ion. 
Starting  and  stopping 
the  engine 
Starting  the  engine 
This button  switches  on the  ignition  and 
starts  the  engine. 
Fig . 79 Center  console:  S TART ENGINE S TOP b utto n 
Switching  the  ign ition  on /off 
•  To switch  the  ign ition  on/off,  press the 
I  STAR T ENGINE ST OPI button . Do not  p ress 
the  brake pedal while  doing  this . Diesel 
veh icles are preheated  while  the  ignit ion  is 
sw itched  on .  ..,.  
Page 84 of 306
82  On  the  road 
Starting/stopping  the  engine 
Applies  to  vehicles:  with  Start-Stop-Syste m 
Fig. 82 Instrument  duster : engine  sw itched  off (stop 
phase) 
..  Slow  the  vehicle  to  a stop  using the brake 
and  keep  pressing  the brake pedal.  The  en
gine w ill switch  off. The 
[IJ indic ator  light 
appears  in the  information  line in the  instru
ment  cluster  display. 
..  When  you take  your foot  off  the  brake ped
al, the  engine  restarts. The indicator  light 
turns  off. 
Additional  information 
The engine wi ll switch  off  in the  P, D, N  and S 
positions  as well  as  in manua l mode . In  the  P 
position,  the  engine  wi ll also  remain  off  if  you 
take your  foot  off  the  brake pedal.  The engine 
starts  again when you select  another  se lector 
lever  position  and take your  foot  off the  brake 
pedal. 
If  you  select  the  R pos ition  during  a Stop 
phase, the  engine  will  start  again. 
Shift  from  D to  P quickly  to  prevent  the  engine 
from  start ing  unintentionally  when  shifting 
through  R. 
You  can determine  for  yourself  if the  engine 
will  stop  or  not  by reducing  or  increasing the 
amount  of  force you  use to  press  the  brake 
pedal.  For example,  if you only  lightly  press 
on the  brake pedal  in stop-and  and-go  traffic 
or when  turni ng,  the  engine  will  not  switch  off 
when  the  vehicle  is stationa ry .  As  soon  as you 
press  the  brake  down harder, the  engine  will 
switch  off. 
General information 
Applies  to vehicles:  with  Start -Stop-System 
The standard  Start-Stop-mode  can be cancel
led for different  system-related  reasons. 
Fig.  83 Instrume nt  cluster:  engine -S top te mporarily 
un ava ilab le 
Engine will  not  switch off 
Before each stop  phase, the  system  checks if 
certain  conditions  have been met.  For exam
ple,  the  eng ine will 
not be switched  off  in the 
following  situations : 
- The engine  has not  reached the  minimum 
requ ired temperature  for  Start-Stop-mode. 
- The  interior  temperat ure se lected  by the  A/C 
system  has not  been  reached. 
- The outside  temperatu re  is extremely  high/ 
low . 
- The windshield  is being defrosted 
i=:> page 71, i=:> page 7 3. 
- The  parking  system*  is switched  on. 
- The battery  charge level  is  too  low. 
- The  steering  wheel is sharply  turned  or 
t here is a  steering  movement. 
- After  engaging  the  reverse gear. 
- On  sharp  incl ines. 
The 
r,J indicator  light  appears  in  the informa
t ion  line  in the  instrument cluster display 
¢fig . 83. 
Engine automatically  restarts 
T he stop  phase  is interrupted  in the  following 
situations,  for  example . The  engine  restarts 
without  any action  by the  driver . 
- The  interior  tempera ture varies  from the 
temperature  selected  in  the  A/C system .  
Page 114 of 306
112  Automatic  Tran sm iss ion 
8_ WARNING 
-The vehicle  can also roll  when  the  engine 
is stopped . 
- Unintended  vehicle  movement  can cause 
serious  injury. 
- Never leave your  vehicle  with  the  engine  running  whi le in  gear. If  you must  leave 
your  vehicle  when  the  engine  is running,  act ivate  the  park ing brake and  move the 
selector  lever to  P. 
- Power is st ill  transmitted  to  the  wheels 
when  the  eng ine  is running  at  idle . To 
prevent  the  vehicle  from  "creeping",  you 
must  keep your  foot  on the  b rake when 
the  engine  is runn ing and the  se lector 
lever  is in  D/S or  R or  "tiptronic"  mode  is 
selected . 
- Do no t press the  accelera tor  pedal when 
changing  the  selector  lever position 
whi le the  vehicle  is stationary  and the 
engine  is running. 
- Never shift  into 
R or  P whi le driving. 
- Be fore driv ing down  a steep  slope,  re -
duce you r speed and shift  into  a lower 
gear with  "tiptronic". 
- Do not  ride  the  brakes or  press the  brake 
peda l too  often  or  too  long  when  driving 
down  a hill.  Constant  braking  causes the 
brakes to  overheat  and substant ially  re
duces braking  performance,  increases 
braking  d istance  or  causes comp lete fail
ure of  the  brake system. 
- To prevent  the  veh icle from  rolling  back 
when  stopping  on inclines,  always hold  it  in  place with  the  brake peda l or  parking 
brake. 
- Never hold  the  veh icle on an  incl ine with 
a slipp ing clutch . The clutch  opens auto
matically  when  it  becomes too  hot  from 
the  ove rload.  An  ind icator  lamp 
[O] illu
minates  and a dr iver message appears 
¢ page  114 when the  clutch  is overload 
ed. 
- If the  eng ine must  remain  running,  never 
have any driving  position  engaged when 
checking  under  the  hood.  Make sure the 
selector  lever  has securely engaged and  is locked  in  P w
it h  the  park ing brake set 
¢ page  227. Otherw ise, any increase in 
engine  speed may set  the  vehicle  in  mo
tion,  even with  the  parking  brake ap plied. 
(D Note 
- When  stopping  on an  incl ine, do not  try 
to  hold  t he vehicle  in  place by pressing 
the  acce lerator  pedal while  a driving  gear 
is se lected.  This ca n cause the  transmis
sion to  ove rheat  and can damage  it .  Acti
vate  the  pa rking  brake or  press the  bra ke 
peda l to preven t the  vehicle  from  roll ing. 
- Allowing  th e vehicle  to  ro ll  when  the  en
gine  is stopped  and the  selecto r lever is 
in  N will  d amage the  tr ansmission  be
cause  it  is not  l ubricated  unde r those  cir 
cumstances . 
(D Tips 
Fo r saf ety reaso ns, the  pa rking  br ake is re
l eased automatically  on ly when  the  d riv
er's  safety  belt  is engaged  in the  buckle. 
Hill descent  control 
Appl ies to  vehicles:  wit h S t ronic/tiptro nic 
The hill descent  control  system  assis ts the 
driver when  driving down  declines. 
Hill  des cent  con trol is activated  when  these
lector  lever  is in  D/S and yo u press  the brake 
peda l. The transmission  automatica lly selects 
a gear that  is suitable  for  the  incline . Hi ll de 
scent contro l tries  to  maintain  the  speed ach 
ieved at  the  time  of  braking,  within  phys ica l 
and  technical  lim itations.  If  may st ill  be nec
essary  to adjust  the  speed with  the brakes . 
Hill  descent  cont ro l switches  off  once the  de
cline  leve ls out  or you  press the  acce lerator 
pedal. 
On vehicles with  the  cruise contro l system* 
¢ page  84, hill  descent  control  is also activat-
ed when  the  speed is set.  .,..  
Page 202 of 306
200  Intelligent technology 
Braking 
General  information 
What  affects  braking  efficiency? 
Operating conditions  and  driving  habits 
The brakes on today's  automobi les are sti ll 
subject  to  wear,  depending largely  on  operat
ing  conditions  and driving  habits 
c:> ,&. On 
vehicles  that  are either  driven  mostly  in stop
and-go  city  traffic  or  are driven  hard,  the  brake pads should  be checked by your  author
ized  Audi  dealer  more  often  than  specified  in 
the 
Warranty & Maintenan ce booklet . Failure 
to  have  your  b rake pads inspected  can result 
in  red uced  brake  performance. 
On steep  slopes, you shou ld use the  brak ing 
effect  of  the  engine.  This way, you  prevent  un
necessary  wear on the  brake  system.  If you 
must  use yo ur brakes,  do  not  hold  the brakes 
down  continuously.  Pump the  brakes at  inter
va ls. 
Moisture  or road  salt 
Unde r certain  conditions,  for  example, when 
driving  through  water or very heavy rain,  or 
even  after  washing  your  vehicle,  the  braking 
effect  can be red uced  due  to  moisture  (or  in 
freezing  conditions  ice) on  the  brake pads. A 
few  careful  brake applications  should  dry  off  the  brake  pads or  remove any ice coatings. 
When  you are driving  at  higher  speeds with 
the  windshield  wipers  on,  the  brake  pads will 
briefly  touch  the  brake discs in  regular  inter
vals so as to  improve  reaction  t ime when  brak
ing on wet  surfaces.  You the  driver  will  not  no
tice  anything . 
The effectiveness  of  the  brakes can be  reduced 
when  the  vehicle  is dr iven on  a salt-covered 
road and the  brakes are  not used . Here too, 
you  should  clean  off  accumulated  salt  coat ing 
from  brake  discs and  pads with  a few  careful 
applications  of  the  brake 
c:> ,& . 
Corrosion 
There may be a tendency  for  dirt  to  build  up 
on the  brake  pads and corrosion  to  form  on  the 
discs  if  the  car  is not  driven  regu larly  or 
o n  Ly  for  short  trips  with  litt le use of  the 
brakes. 
If the  brakes are not  used frequently,  or  if cor
r osion  has  formed on the  discs,  it  is advisable 
to  clean  off  the  pads and  discs by braking 
firmly  a few  times  from  a moderately  h igh 
speed 
c:> .&. . 
Faults  in  the brake  system 
If you shou ld notice  a sudden increase  in 
brake  pedal travel,  then  one of  the  two  brake 
circuits  may have fai led 
c::> .&. . 
Low brake fluid  level 
Malfunctions  can occu r in the  brake system  if 
the  brake  fluid  level  is  too  low.  The  brake fluid 
l evel  is monitored  electronically. 
Brake booster 
The  brake booster  works  with  vacuum  pres
su re which  is created  only  when  the  eng ine is 
running 
c::> ,& . 
Brake lining  wear  status 
Brake lining  wear  may be checked by visual  in
spect ion  of  the  condition  of  the  brake  pads 
t hr ough  the open ings  in the  wheel.  If neces
sary,  the wheel  may be removed  for this in
spect ion 
c:> page 266, Changing  a wheel. 
.8_ WARNING 
-You  shou ld perform  braking  maneuvers 
for  the  purpose  of  cleaning  the  brake 
system  only  if road  conditions  permit. 
Other  road  users must  not  be put  at  risk  -
you  may cause an accident! 
- Before descending  a steep  grade, reduce 
speed and sh ift  transmission  into a lower 
gear  or  lower  driving  range.  Do  not ride 
the  brakes or  hold the pedal  down  too 
long  or too  often . This could  cause  the 
brakes to  get  hot and diminish  braking 
efficiency. 
- Do not  "ride the brakes"  by  resting your 
foot  on  the  pedal  when  you  do  not intend 
to  brake.  This may cause the  brakes to  
Page 208 of 306
206  Driving  and  en vir onm ent 
8_ WARNING 
- Do not  park your  vehicle  over  flammable 
materials  such  as  grass  or leaves  because 
the  high  temperature  of the  diesel  par
t icu late  filter  could  start  a fire . 
- Do not  apply  an  underbody  protectant  in 
the  exhaust  system  area  or  a fire  could  start. 
Avoid  damaging  the vehicle 
When  you  are  driving  on  poor  roads,  or over 
curbs,  steep  ramps,  etc.,  make  certain  that 
low-lying  parts  such  as  spoilers  and  exhaust 
system  parts  do  not  bottom  out  and  get  dam
aged. 
This  is especia lly true  for vehicles  with  low
slung  chassis  (sports  chassis)*  and  fully  load
ed  vehicles. 
Driving  through  water 
on  roads 
Note  the  following  to  avoid  vehicle  damage 
when  dr iving  through  water,  for  example  on 
flooded  roads: 
- The water  must  not  be  any  higher  than  the  bottom  of the  vehicle  body. 
- Do not  drive  faster  than  wa lking  speed. 
8_ WARNING 
After  driving  through  water,  mud,  slush, 
etc.,  the  brakes  may  be  slow  to  take  effect 
because  of wet  brake  rotors  and  pads.  Dry 
the  brakes  f irst  by brak ing  carefully  to  re
sto re  the  full  braking  effect. 
(D Note 
- Vehicle  components  such  as  the  engine, 
transmission,  suspension  or  electrical 
system  can  be  severely  damaged  by driv
ing  through  water. 
- Always switch  off  the  Start-Stop-System 
when  driving  through  water~ 
page  81. 
-
(D Tips 
-Check the  depth  of the  water  before  d  riv
ing  through  it . 
- Do  not  stop  the  vehicle,  drive  in reverse 
or switch  the  engine  off when  driving 
through  water. 
- Keep  in mind  that  oncoming  vehicles 
may  create  waves  that  raise  the  water 
level  and  make  it too  deep  for  your  vehi
cle to  drive  through  safely. 
- Avoid driving  through  salt  water  because 
it  can  cause  corrosion. 
Shutting  down  vehicle 
If you  would  like your  vehicle  to  remain  inop
erative  for  a  longer period  of time,  contact  an 
Audi  or other  specialized  dealer.  They  can  ad
vise you  on  necessary  precautions  e .g.  corro 
sion  prevention,  maintenance  and  storage . 
Pay attention  to  additional  information con
cern ing  the  battery.  Refer  to 
~ page  238. 
Operate  your  vehicle 
economically  and 
minimize  pollution 
General 
Your personal  style  of  driving will determine 
the  economy  of your  vehicle,  as  well as  ex
haust  and  noise  levels. 
Fuel  economy,  env ironmental  impact,  and 
wear  on  your  eng ine , brakes  and  tires  largely 
depend  on  three  factors: 
- your  personal  driving  style 
- operating  conditions 
- technical  limitations 
If you  anticipate  what  you  need  to  do  next  and 
drive  economically,  you  can  easily  cut  your 
fuel  consumption  by 10-15  percent . This  sec
tion  will  give you  some  tips  on  how you  can 
help  the  environment  and  your  pocketbook.  
Page 209 of 306
@ Tips 
The consumption  estimates  as published by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport  Canada may not  corre
spond  to  your  actual  consumption  on the 
road,  wh ic h  will  vary depend ing  upon  vehi
cle  load  and speed,  road and weather  con
ditions,  tr ip  length,  etc. 
Drive smoothly  and  keep a  lookout 
ahead 
Vehicles  use  the  most  fuel  when  they  are ac
celerating. 
~ Avoid  unnecessary  accelerating  and braking. 
Vehicles use the  most  fuel  when  they  are ac
celerating . If  you  anticipate  what  is go ing to 
h appen  next,  you will  need to  b rake less and, 
thus,  accelerate  less. Let the  vehicle  coast 
wheneve r poss ible  -fo r example  when  you  see 
that  the  nex t tr affic  light  is red. 
Avoid full  throttle 
Driving at  moderate  speeds  saves  fuel  and 
improves  your  mileage. 
~ T ry and  keep well  below  your  car's  max imum 
speed. 
Accelerating  gent ly reduces fuel  consump
tion,  engine wear,  and does  not  dist urb the 
environment. 
Fuel consumption,  exhaust  emissions  and en
g ine no ise increase d ispropo rtionately  at  high 
speeds. If  you  dr ive at  approxima tely three 
q uarters  of  top  speed, fue l consumption  will 
be red uced  by one ha lf.  Never dr ive faste r 
than  the posted  speed  limit  and wea ther con
d itions  permit. 
Reducing unnecessary idling 
E ven  when your  car is just  idling it burns  up 
fuel. 
~ S hu t  the  engine  off  when  you a re not  dr iv ing 
t h e vehi cle. 
Dri vin g and  en vironm ent  207 
~ Do not  warm  up the  vehicle  by lett ing the 
engine  run  at  id le . 
T he id ling  phase  is au toma tic ally  red uced for 
vehicles  with  the  Start/S top  system . It  is eff i
cient  to  switch  off  the  engine  in vehicles with
out  the  Start-Stop-System  when  stopped  at 
railroad  crossings  and  long  red lights.  Turning 
the  engine  off  for  just  30-40  seconds saves  more  fuel  than  is burned  by start ing the  en-
.  . gme  again . 
It  takes  a long  t ime for  the  engine  to  warm  up 
fully  when  it  is run ning  at  id le.  However, wear 
and  noxious  emissions  are especia lly high 
when  the  eng ine  is warm ing  up. So you should 
dr ive away as soon as you start  the  engine  and 
avo id  running  at  high  rpms  whi le the  engine  is 
sti ll warming  up. 
(L} Note 
Do not  leave eng ine idling  unattended  af
ter  start ing. 
If wa rni ng  lights  sho uld  come 
o n t o indi cate  improper  ope rat ion, t hey 
wo uld  go unheeded.  Extended  idlin g also 
produces  heat,  wh ich could  res ult  in ove r
heating  or other  damage  to  the  veh icle  or 
other  p roperty . 
Regular  maintenance 
A badly  tuned  engine  unnecessarily  wastes  a 
lot  of  fuel. 
~ Have your  ve hicle servi ced at  reg ular i nter-
vals . 
By havi ng your  ve hicle regu la rly se rviced by an 
Audi  dealer  he lps  to ensu re  tha t  it  ru ns prop
erly  and economically . The condition  of  your 
vehicle  not  on ly affects  its  safety  and ability  to 
ho ld  its  va lue,  it  a lso affects 
fuel  consump
tion . 
Check  your oil  each  t ime  y ou fill  your  tank. 
The amou nt  of  o il used is re lated  to  engine 
l oad and speed. 
It  is normal  for  the  oil  consumption  of  a new 
engine  to  reac h its  lowest  value  after  a certa in 
mileage  has been d riven.  .,.. 
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Page 211 of 306
Trailer  towing Driving  with  a  trailer 
General  information 
Your Audi was  designed  primarily  for passen
ger  transportation . 
If  you  plan  to  tow  a tra iler,  p lease  remember 
that  the  addit ional  load  will  affect  durab ility, 
economy  and  performance . 
Trailer  towing  not  on ly places  more  stress  on 
the  vehicle,  it  also  calls  for  more  concentra
tion  from  the  driver. 
F or  this  reason,  a lways  fo llow  the  operating 
and  driving  instructions  provided  and  use 
common  sense. 
(D Note 
If  you  are  going  to  tow  a trai ler,  you  must 
ac tivate  the  trailer  operation  mode 
c::> page  209,  Operating  instructions. 
Technical requirements 
Traile r hitch 
Use  a weig ht-carrying  hitch  conforming  to  the 
gross  trailer  we ight.  The  hitch  must  be  suita
b le for  your  veh icle  and  trailer  and  must  be 
mounted  securely  on  t he ve hicle's  chassis  at  a 
technically  sound location . Use  only  a  trail er 
hi tch  w ith  a  removab le  ball  moun t. A lways 
check  wi th t he tra ile r hi tch  man ufa ctur er to 
make  sure  that  you  are  using  the  cor rect 
h itch. 
Do not us e a bumper hitch . 
The  hitch m ust  be  installed  in such  a way that 
i t  does  not  interfe re with  the  impac t-absorb
i ng  bumper  syst em.  No mod ificat ions  should 
b e  made  to  the vehi cle  e xhaus t  and br ake  sys
tems . From  t ime  to  time,  check  th at  a ll hitc h 
mo unt ing  bo lts  rem ain  securely  fas tened. 
When  you  are  not  towing  a  trail er, remove  the 
tra ile r hi tch  ball  moun t.  T h is  prevents  the 
hi tch  from  causing  damage  sho uld  your  ve hi
cle  be  str uck  from  behind~ .&. 
Trailer  towin g 209 
Trailer  brakes 
If your  trailer  is equippe d wi th  a  bra king  sys
tem,  check  to  be  s ure  that  i t conforms  to  all 
regulations . 
T he  trailer  hyd ra u lic  bra ke  sys tem  mus t  not  be 
d irec tly connec ted  to  the  vehicle's  hydraulic 
brake  system . 
Safety  chains 
Always  use  safety  chains  be tween  your  ve hicle 
and  t he  tra ile r. 
Trailer  lights 
Trai ler  lights  must  meet  all  reg ulations.  Be 
su re to  c heck  with  your  Audi  dea ler  for  correct 
wir ing,  switches  and  relays . 
Mirrors 
If you  a re  unable  to  see  the  traffic  behind  you 
u sing  the  regula r outside  mirrors,  then  you 
must insta ll extended  mir rors.  It  is  important 
t h at  you 
always have  clea r vis io n  to  the  rear. 
_&. WARNING 
-
Afte r removi ng  the  trailer  hitch , do  no t 
s tor e  i t  in yo ur v ehicl e. In  case  of  sudden 
b raki ng,  the hi tch  co uld  fly forwar d and  in
j ur e you  o r yo ur  pass enge rs. 
Operating  instructions 
Maximum  trailer  weight 
A tra ile r fo r you r vehi cle is  l imited  to a typi cal 
cla ss 1 o r class  2  tr ailer. 
Trailer  load  distribution 
Be sure  the  load  in  the  tra ile r is  held  secure ly 
in  place  to  p revent  it  from  shift ing  fo rward, 
ba ckward  or  sideways. 
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer 
c::> .& in Driving instructions  on page  211 . 
Engine cooling  sy stem 
Towing  a t railer  ma kes  the  engine  wor k hard
er . It  is  impo rtant  that  the  cooling  system's 
performance  is  up  to  the  additional  load. 
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Page 221 of 306
-Blend  must  contain  not  more  than  15% 
MTBE. 
Seasonally adjusted  gasoline 
Many  gasoline  grades  are  blended  to perform 
especially  well  for  winter  or  summer  driving.  During  seasonal  change-over,  we  suggest  that 
you fill  up  at  busy gas  stations  where  the  sea
sonal  adjustment  is more  likely to  be  made  in 
time. 
(D Note 
- Methanol  fuels  which  do not  meet  these 
requirements  may cause corrosion  and 
damage  to  plastic  and  rubber  compo
nents  in the  fuel  system. 
- Do  not  use  fuels  that  fail to  meet  the 
specified  criteria  in this  chapter. 
- If you  are unable  to  determine  whether 
or  not  a particular  fuel  blend  meets  the 
specifications,  ask your  service  station  or 
its  fuel  supp lier. 
- Do not  use  fuel  for which  the  contents 
cannot  be  identified. 
- Fuel  system  damage  and  performance 
problems  resulting  from  the  use  of fuels 
different  from  those  specified  are  not 
the  responsibility  of Audi and  are  not 
covered  under  the  New Vehicle or  the  Emission  Control  System  Warranties. 
- If you experience  a  loss of fuel  economy 
or  driveability  and  performance  prob lems  due  to  the  use  of one  of these  fuel 
blends,  we recommend  that  you switch 
to  unblended  fuel. 
Gasoline additives 
A major  concern  among  many  auto  manufac
turers  is  carbon deposit  build-up  caused  by 
the  type  of  gasoline  you  use. 
Although  gasoline  grades  differ from  one  manufacturer  to  another , they  have  certain 
things  in  common.  All gasoline  grades  contain 
substances  that  can  cause  deposits  to  collect 
on vital  engine  parts,  such  as  fuel  injectors 
and  intake  valves.  Although  most  gasoline  brands  include  additives  to  keep  engine  and 
Fuel  supply  and  filling  your  fuel  tank  219 
fuel systems  clean,  they  are  not  equally  effec
tive. 
Audi  recommends  using  TOP TIER Detergent 
Gasoline.  For more  information  on  TOP TIER 
Detergent  Gasoline,  please  go to  the  official 
website  (www.toptiergas.com). 
After  an extended  period of using  inadequate 
fuels,  carbon  deposit build-ups  can  rob your 
engine  of  peak  performance. 
Q) Note 
Damage  or  malfunction  due  to poor  fuel 
quality  is not covered  by the  Audi  New Ve
hicle  Limited Warranty. 
Diesel  fuel 
Applies  to  veh icles:  w ith  diesel  engine 
Always  use ULSD (Ultra  Low Sulfur  Diesel) sul
fur  content  15 ppm  or  less. 
The  ULSD (Ultra  Low Sulfur  Diesel)  meets  the 
ASTM-D-975 (grade  2). 
Diesel fuel with a higher concentration than 
ULSD-Diesel No.  2 ASTM  0975  and  Bio-die
sel with  a higher  concentration  than  5 
% like 
B11,  B20  or B100  are strictly  prohibited. 
Service station  fuel  pumps  are  labeled with 
the  correct  fuel  information  for  easy  recogni
tion  by the  user.  If the  diesel  fuel  pump  is not 
labeled  ask  the  station  operator  what  fuel  is 
being  dispensed  before filling  up your  vehicle. 
Service  stations  offering  Diesel fuel  are  gener
ally located  on  truck routes  or  major  high
ways.  Directories  of  Diesel fuel  stations  are 
usually  available  at  Diesel fuel  stations. 
Some  states  in the  USA require  permits  to 
purchase  Diesel  fuel. Check with your  State 
Motor Vehicle Department. 
Diesel fuel  may  not  be available  outside  the 
USA and  Canada.  Be sure  to check  before  trav-
eling  to  other  countries. 
1J1> 
• 
•  
Page 223 of 306
container  meets  industry  standards  (ANSI/ 
ASTM F852  -86). 
(D Note 
Never drive  your vehicle  until  the  fuel  tank 
is complete ly empty.  The irregular  supp ly 
of  fuel can cause  misfiring . Gasoline could 
enter  the  exhaust  system  and  damage  the 
catalyt ic converter. 
Refuelling 
Fig.  184 Right rear  veh icle s ide:  Opening  t he  fue l fill er 
flap 
F ig.  185 Fu el filler  flap  with  at tached  fue l cap 
When activating  the  central  locking, the  fuel 
filler  flap  is automatically  un locked or  locked . 
Refuel  the  vehicle with the  ign ition  switched 
off . 
Taking  the fuel  cap off 
.,. Press the  left  side of the  fuel  filler flap  to 
open  it  ¢ 
fig . 184  -arrow  -. 
.,.  Unscrew fuel  filler  cap counter-clockwise 
and  hang  it on  the fuel  fille r flap ¢ 
fig. 185  . 
.,. Check the  label  on the  inside of the  fuel fi ll
er flap  to determine  if  the vehicle  must be 
fueled  with  gasoline  or  diesel fu el. 
Fuel  supply  and  filling  your fuel  tank  221 
Refuelling  procedure 
.,. Insert  the  fuel  nozzle from  the  gasoline 
pump  into  the  fuel  filler  neck as  far as  it wi ll 
go  . 
.,.  Select  a medium  refuelling  rate  so that  the 
nozz le switches  off automatically  when the 
tank  is full. 
Putting  the  fuel  cap back  on 
.,. After filling your tank,  twist  the  fuel filler 
cap clockwise as far  as  it wi ll go. 
.,.  Close the  fue l filler flap. 
T o  avoid fuel  spilling or evaporating  from  the 
fuel  tank  always close fuel  filler  cap properly 
and  completely . An improperly closed fuel  fill
er cap may also  cause  the  MIL  lamp¢ 
page 30 
to  come on. 
A WARNING 
Improper  refue ling or  handling  of fuel  can 
cause  fire,  explosion  and  severe  burns. 
- Fuel is  highly flammable  and  can cause 
severe  burns  and  other  injur ies . 
- Failure to  shut  the  engine  off while  refu
eling and/or  to  insert  the  pump  nozzle 
fully  into  the  fuel filler  neck could cause 
fue l to  spray out  of filler  neck or to  over
flow.  Fuel spray and  overflowing fuel can 
cause  a  fire. 
- Never  use  a cellular  telephone  while  re
fue ling. The  electromagnet ic rad iation 
can cause  spa rks  that  can  ignite  fuel va
pors  and cause  a fire. 
- Never  get back  into yo ur vehicle while re
fueling. 
If in  exceptional  circumstances 
you must  get back in your vehicle while 
refueling,  make certain  that  you  close 
the  door and  touch  metal  to  discharge  stat ic electricity  before touching  the  fill
er  nozzle  again.  Static  electricity can 
cause  sparks  that  can ignite  fuel vapors 
released  during refueling. 
- Never smoke  or  have an open  f lame  any
where  in or  near your veh icle when  refu-
eling or filling a portab le fuel  conta iner.  .,.