check engine light AUDI A7 2015 User Guide
Page 84 of 316
82  On  the  road 
lever  position  and  take  your  foot  off  the  brake 
pedal. 
If  you  select  the R position  during  a  Stop 
phase,  the  eng ine  will  start  aga in. 
Shift  from 
D to P quickly  to  prevent  the  engine 
from  starting  unintentionally  when  shifting 
through 
R. 
You can  determ ine  for  yourself  if the  eng ine 
will  stop  or  not  by reduc ing  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  traff ic 
or  when  turning,  the engine  will  not  switch  off 
when  the  vehicle is stationary . As soon  as  you 
press  the  brake  down  harder,  the  eng ine  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. 85 Instrum ent  cluster:  engine -Stop  tempo ra ril y 
u navailab le 
Engine will  not  switch  off 
Before each  stop  phase,  the  system  checks  i f 
certain  cond it ions  have  been  met.  For exam · 
p le,  the  engine  will 
not be  switched  off  in the 
following  situations: 
- T he  eng ine has  not  reached  the  minimum 
required  temperature  for Start-Stop-mode . 
- The  inter ior temperature  selected  by  the  A/C 
system  has  not  been  reached . 
- T he outside  temperature  is extremely  high/ 
low . 
- T he w indshield  is  being  defrosted 
¢page 71, ¢ page  73. 
- The  parking  system*  is  switched on. 
- The  battery  charge  level is too  low. 
- The  steering  wheel  is sharply  turned  or 
there  is a steering  movement. 
- After  engaging  the  reverse  gear . 
- On sharp  inclines. 
The 
fjJ indicator  light  appears  in the  informa
tion  line  in the  instrument cluster display 
¢fig . 85. 
Engine  automatically  restarts 
The  stop  phase  is interrupted  in the  following 
situations,  for  example.  The  engine  restarts 
without  any  action  by the  driver . 
- The  interior  temperature  varies  from the 
temperature  selected  in the  A/C system . 
- The  windshie ld is being  defrosted 
<:!;>page  71, ¢page  73. 
-The  brake  pedal  is  pressed  several  times  in  a 
row . 
- The  battery  charge  level becomes  too low. 
- High  power  consumption. 
Switching  the  ignition  off  automatically 
To prevent  the  battery  from  drain ing,  the  igni
tion  w ill switch  off 
automatically when  all  of 
the  following  conditions  have  been  met : 
- The  vehicle  has  already  been  driven. 
- The  engine  has  been  turned  off  by the  Start-
Stop -System*. 
- The  driver's  door  is opened. 
- The  driver's  seat  belt  is  removed . 
- The  brake  pedal  is not  pressed  down. 
- The  vehicle  is stationary . 
In  this  case,  the  activated  low  beam  will  be  re
placed  by the  side  marker  lights. The  side 
marker  lights will  switch  off  afte r approxi 
mately 
30 minutes  o r when  you  lock the  veh i
cle. 
If  the  Start-Stop  System  has 
not turned  off 
the  engine  or if you  have  sw itched  the Start
Stop  system  off  manually,  the  ignition  will 
not 
be  automat ically  switched  off  and the  eng ine 
will  continue  to  ru n 
c:!;> ,& .  ...,  
Page 200 of 316
198  Intelligent  technology 
-Automatic  retraction : When  speed  drops be
l ow  about  SO mph  (80  km/h),  the  rear spoil
er retracts  automatically. 
Manual  mode 
- Manual  deployment:  Tappi ng briefly  on the 
switch 
¢ fig.  183 dep loys the  rear spoiler. 
- Manua l retraction:  At  speeds  up to  about 
10  mph  (20  km/h), ret ract  the  rear spoiler 
by  pressing  and holding  the switch 
¢fig.  183 . At  speeds  between  10  mph  (20 
km/h)  and 80  mph  (130  km/h),  retract the 
rear  spoiler  by tapping  on the  switch 
¢fig . 183. 
Indicator  lights 
1,1  /. Rear  spoiler:  system malfunction! 
The rear  spoiler  may  not  have extended  due to 
a malfunction.  This could  change the  vehicle's 
driving  characteristics  at  high  speeds.  Do  not 
exceed  85 mph  (140  km/h).  Drive to  your  au
thorized  Audi  dealer  immediate ly to  have the 
malfunction  corrected . The co lor  of the  indica
tor  light  depend s on the  veh icle speed. 
A WARNING 
Dr iv ing  at  higher  speeds w ithout  the  rear 
spoiler  deployed  can impair  handling  char
acteristics,  making  the  veh icle  harder  to 
control. 
-Always  make sure that  the  spoiler  is de
ployed  when  driving  at  speeds over 
85  mph  (140  km/h).  If th e  rear spoiler 
wa rning/ind icator  light  in the instru
ment  cluster  comes on, the  rear  spoiler 
may not  have  deployed. 
- Never  drive at speeds higher  than 
85  mph  (140  km/h)  if  the  spoiler is not 
dep loyed.  Have  the spoiler  inspected  as 
soon as  possible  by an authorized  A udi 
dealer  or  qualified  workshop. 
- Always obey speed  limits  and other  traf
fic  laws. 
A WARNING 
Improper  operation  of  the  rear spoiler  can 
cause crushing  injuries.  -
Always make sure  that nobody,  especially 
children,  is in the  way when  the  rear 
spoiler  is deployed  or  retracted. 
(D Note 
- Never  push  the  vehicle  or apply  force  to 
the  rear spoiler  -it  could  be damaged. 
- To prevent  damage  to  the  rear  spoiler  do 
not  lean  or  place anything  on  it . 
- Only  operate  the  rear spoiler  man ually 
when  the  rear  lid is closed and the  rear 
spoiler  moving  parts  are not  blocked. 
Otherw ise, damage  co uld occur. 
(D Tips 
Clean the  spoiler  compartment  every  2 to 
3  months.  The spoiler  compartment  must 
always  be free  of  ice, snow,  leaves or  other 
debris. 
Braking 
General  information 
What  affects  braking  efficiency? 
Operating  conditions  and  driving  habits 
The brakes on  today's  automobiles  are still 
subject  to  wear,  depending  largely  on  operat
ing  condit ions and driving  hab its 
r:::;, ,& . On 
vehicles  that  are either  dr iven mostly  in  stop
and-go  city  traff ic or  are dr iven hard,  the 
brake  pads should  be  checked by your author
ized Audi  dea ler  more  often  than  specified in 
the 
Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Failure 
to  have your  brake pads inspected  can result 
in  reduced  brake performance. 
On  steep  slopes , you  sho uld  use  the braking 
effect  o f the  engine . This way, you  prevent  un
necessary wear  on the  brake system . If  you 
must  use your  brakes, do  not  hold  the  brakes 
down  cont inuous ly.  Pump the  brakes at  inter
vals. 
Moisture  or  road salt 
Under  certain  conditions,  for  example,  when 
driving  through  water  or very  heavy rain, or 
even after  washing  your  vehicle,  the  braking .,..  
Page 208 of 316
206  Driving  and  en vir onm ent 
The consumption  estimates  as  published 
by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 
(EPA) and Transport  Canada  may not  corre
spond  to  your actual  consumption  on the 
road, which will vary depending  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  mo st fuel  when  they are  ac
celerating . If you anticipate  what  is go ing to 
happen  next,  you will need  to  brake  less and, 
thus , accelerate  less.  Let the  vehicle coast 
wheneve r poss ible  -for  example  when you see 
that  the  next traffic  l ight  is red. 
Avoid  full  throttle 
Driving at  moderate  speeds  saves  fuel  and 
improves your  mileage. 
•  Try and  keep well below your car 's max imum 
speed . 
Accelerating  gently  reduces  fuel  consump
tion,  engine  wear,  and  does  not  disturb  the 
environment . 
Fuel consumption,  exhaust  emissions  and  en
g ine  no ise  increase  d isproportionately  at  high 
speeds.  If you dr ive at  approximately  three 
quarters  of top  speed,  fue l consumption  will 
be  reduced  by one  half.  Neve r dr ive faste r 
than  the  posted  speed  limit and  wea ther  con
d itions  permit. 
Reducing  unnecessary  idling 
Even when your  car is just  idling it burns  up 
fuel. 
•  Shut  the  engine  off when you are  not  dr iv ing 
the  vehicle.  • 
Do not  warm  up the  vehicle by letting  the 
engine  run  at  id le . 
T he  id ling  phase  is automatically  red uced for 
vehicles with the  Start -Stop -System . It  is effi
cient  to  switch  off the  engine  in vehicles with 
out  the  Start-Stop -System  when  stopp ed at 
railroad  crossings  and  long  red  lights.  Tu rning 
the  engine  off for jus t 30-40  seconds  saves 
more  fuel  than  is burned  by starting  the  en-
. . gme  again . 
It takes  a  long time  for  the  eng ine to  warm  up 
fully when  i t is running  at  idle. However, wear 
and  noxiou s emissions  are  espec ially high 
when  the  eng ine  is warm ing up . So you should 
drive away as  soon  as you start  the  engine  and 
avo id  running  at  high rpms  while the  engine  is 
still warming  up. 
W Note 
Do not  leave engine  idling  unattended  af
ter  start ing . If wa rning  lights  should  come 
on to  indicate  improper  operation,  they 
wo uld  go unheeded . Ex tended  idling  also 
produces  heat,  wh ich could  result  in ove r
heating  or other  damage  to  the  ve hicle or 
other  property . 
Regular  maintenance 
A badly  tuned  engine  unnecessarily  wastes  a 
lot  of fuel. 
•  Have your veh icle serviced  at  reg ular  in ter -
vals . 
By having your ve hicle regu la rly se rviced by an 
Audi dealer  he lps to  ensu re tha t  it  runs  p rop 
erly and  economically . The condition  of your 
vehicle not  only affects  its safety  and  ability to 
ho ld  its va lue,  it also  affects 
fuel  con sump
tion . 
Check  your  oil e ach time  you 
fill y our tank. 
The  amount  of o il used  is re lated  to  engine 
load and  speed. 
It  is normal  for the  oil consumption  of a new 
engine  to  reach  its  lowest  value  after  a certa in 
mileage  has  bee n driven .  ..,.  
Page 210 of 316
208  Trailer towing 
Trailer  towing 
Driving  with  a  trailer 
General  information 
Your  Audi  was designed  primarily  for passen
ger  transportation . 
If  you  plan  to  tow  a trailer,  p lease  remember 
that  the  additional  load  will  affect  durability, 
economy  and  performance . 
Trailer  towing  not  on ly places  more  stress  on 
the  vehicle,  it  also  calls  for  more  concentra
tion  from  the  driver. 
For  this  reason,  always  follow  the  operating 
and  driving  instructions  provided  and  use 
common  sense. 
@ Note 
If  you  are  going  to  tow  a trai ler,  you  must 
activate  the  trailer  operation mode 
c:::> page  208,  Operating instructions. 
Technical requirements 
Trailer  hitch 
Use a  weight-carrying  hitch  conforming  to  the 
gross  trailer  weight.  The  hitch  must  be  suita ble  for  your  vehicle  and  trailer and must  be 
mounted  securely on the  vehicle's  chassis  at  a 
technically  sound location . Use  only  a  trailer 
hitch  with a  removable  ball mount.  Always 
check  with  the  trailer  hitch  manufacturer to 
make  sure  that you  are  using the  cor rect 
hitch. 
Do  not use a bumper  hitch. 
The  hitch  must  be  installed  in such  a way  that 
it  does  not  interfere  with  the impact-absorb
ing  bumper  system.  No modifications  should 
be  made  to  the  vehicle  exhaust  and  brake  sys
tems . From  time to  time,  check  that  all hitch 
mounting  bolts  remain  securely  fastened. 
When  you are not  towing  a  trailer, remove  the 
trai ler  hitch  ball mount.  This  prevents  the 
hitch  from  causing damage  should  your vehi
cle  be struck  from  behind 
c:::> A. 
Trailer  brakes 
If your  trailer  is equipped  with  a brakin g  sys
tem,  check  to be  sure  that  it  conforms  to  all 
regulations. 
T he  trailer  hydraulic  brake  system must not be 
directly  connected  to  the vehicle's  hydraulic 
brake  system . 
Safety  chains 
Always  use  safety  chains  between  your  veh icle 
and  the  trailer. 
Trailer  lights 
Trailer lights must  meet  all  regulations.  Be 
sure  to  check  with  your  Audi  dealer  for  correct 
wiring,  switches  and  relays. 
Mirrors 
If you  are  unable to  see  the  traffic  behind  you 
using  the  regular  outside  mirrors,  then  you 
must install  extended  mirrors. It is important 
that  you 
always have  clear  v is ion  to  the  rear . 
A WARNING 
--
After removing  the trailer  hitch,  do  not 
store  it  in your  vehicle . In  case  of  sudden 
braking,  the  hitch  could  fly forward  and  in
jure  you or your  passengers. 
Operating  instructions 
Maximum  trailer  weight 
A  trailer  for  your  vehicle  is limited  to  a typical 
class  1 or  class 2  trailer. 
Trailer  load  distribution 
Be sure  the  load  in the  trailer  is  held securely 
in  place  to  prevent it  from  shift ing  forward, 
backward  or  sideways. 
Never allow a  passenger to ride  in a trailer 
c:::> A in Driving  instructions  on page 210. 
Engine  cooling  system 
Towing  a trailer  makes  the  engine  work  hard
er . It  is important  that  the  cooling  system 's 
performance  is up  to  the  additional  load.  
Page 227 of 316
M N <( I.J ""'. rl I.O 
"' rl 
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Checking  and  filling Engine  hood 
Releasing  the  engine  hood 
The engine  hood  is released  from  inside  the 
vehicle . 
Fig.  191 Dr iver  footwell:  release  leve r 
Fig. 192 Rocker  switch under the  hood 
Make sure  the  wiper  arms  are  not  raised  up 
from  the  w indshield.  Otherw ise  the  paint 
could  be  damaged. 
..  With  the  driver's  door  open , pull  the  lever 
under  the  instrument  panel  in the  direction 
of the  arrow 
c::> fig.  191. 
..  Raise  the  hood  slightly c::> .&. . 
.. Press  the  rocker  switch  under  the  hood  up
ward 
c::> fig.  192. This  releases  the  catch. 
..  Open  the  hood . 
A WARNING 
Hot engine  coo lant  can  burn  you. 
- To reduce  the  risk of  being  burned,  never 
open  the  hood  if you  see  or  hear  steam 
or  coolant  escaping  from  the  engine 
compartment . Wait  until  no  steam  or 
coolant  can  be  seen  or  heard  before  care
fully  opening  the  hood. 
Checkin g and  fillin g 225 
Working  in the  engine  compartment 
Be especially  careful whenever  you work  in 
the  engine  compartment. 
Wh ene ve r y ou must  p erform  an y  wor k in  the 
en gine  com pa rtm ent , for  e xample  checking 
a nd filling  diff ere nt  fluids,  th ere  is a  risk of 
inju ry, burn s and accid ent s.  To  pr eve nt  per
so nal  injury alwa ys  observ e the  foll owing 
WARNING S. The engin e compartm ent  of  any 
v e hicle i s a h az a rdou s area 
c::> ,& . 
h WARNING 
To help  avoid  injury,  before  yo u check  any 
thing  under  the  hood: 
- Turn  off the  engine. 
- Sw itch  off  the  ignition . 
- Apply the  parki ng  brake. 
- Move selector  leve r to  P (Park) . 
- Always  let  the engine  cool  down . Hot 
components  w ill burn  skin  on  contact . 
- To reduce  the  risk of  being  burned,  never 
open  the  hood  if you  see  or  hear  steam 
or  coo lant  escaping  from  the  engine 
compa rtment.  Wait  unt il no  steam  or 
coolant  can  be  seen  or  heard  before  care
fu lly opening  the  hood. 
- Keep  ch ildren  away  from  the  engine  com
pa rtment. 
- Never  sp ill fluids  on  hot  engine  compo
nents . They  can  cause  a fire  . 
- Never  touch  the  rad iator  fan.  The  auxili
ary  electric  fan  is temperat ure  controlled 
and  can  sw itch  on  suddenly  . 
- Never  open  the  coolant  reservoir  cap 
when  the  engine  is still  warm . The  cool
a nt  system  is  p ressu rized  and  hot  cool
a nt  cou ld  spray  o ut. 
- Protect  your  face,  hands  and  arm  from 
steam  or  hot  engine  coolant  by plac ing  a 
thick  rag  ove r the  cap  when  you  open  the 
coo lant  rese rvoir. 
- Do not  remove  the  engine  cover  under 
any  circumstances.  This  inc reases  the 
ris k of  burns. 
- If  work  on  the  fue l system  o r the  elec tri -
cal  system  is necessary: 
II>- 
Page 229 of 316
M N <( I.J "". rl I.O 
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Checking and  fillin g 22 7 
Engine  compartment 
Engine  compartment  overview 
These are the  most  important  items  that you  can check. 
Fig.  193 Typical l ayout  for  conta iners  and  engine  o il filler  cap 
@ Jump  start  poin t(-) with  hex 
head screw  .. .. ..... ... .. .. .  237,  285 
@ Jump start  point(+)  under  a cov-
er  .. .. ... ..... ...... ......  237,285 
@ Brake fl uid  reservo ir ((0))  ....  . 
© Engine  oil filler  cap ("1:::r.)  ....  . 
® Coolant  expansion  tank (-L)  ..  . 
© Windshield/headlight  washer 
t . 
(;;:;) con  ainer  ,..,, .. .... .. .. . .. .  234 
229 
23 1 
238 
The engine  oil  fille r neck  (item @) may be  lo
cated  in a d ifferent  a rea depend ing o n the 
ver
sion  of  the  eng ine. 
WARNING 
Before you  check anything  in the  engine 
compartment,  always read and heed all 
WARNINGS 
c::> &. in Working in the  engine 
compartment  on page  225. 
Engine  oil 
Engine  oil  specifications 
The  engine oil used must  conform  to exact 
specifications. 
T he service  interva l d isp lay in the  instrument 
cluster  of  yo ur vehicle  will  inform  you when  it 
is  time  for  an oil  change. We  recommend  that 
you  have your  oil  changed by an authorized 
Audi  Serv ice Advisor . 
If  you  have to  top  off  the  oi l between  oi l 
changes,  use the  Audi  o il quality  standard 
spec ified  in the  table. 
Audi oil  quality  standard 
Gasoline 
VW  502  00  or 
engine vw 504  00 
Diesel vw 507  00 
eng ine  
Page 230 of 316
228  Check ing  and  filling 
Using the  proper  engine  o il is important  for 
the  functionality  and service life  of  the  en
g ine. Your engine was factory-filled  with  a 
h igh-quality  oil  which  can usua lly be used 
throughout  the  entire  year. 
0 Note 
Your  L imited  New Vehicle Warranty  does 
not  cover damage  or  ma lfunctions  due to 
fai lure to  follow  recommended  mainte
nance and use requ irements  as set forth  in 
the  Audi  Owner's  Manual  and Warranty 
& 
Ma intenance  booklet. 
- Use only  a high  quality  eng ine oil  that  ex
pressly complies  w ith  the  Audi  o il quality 
standard  spec ified  for  your  veh icle's  en
gine.  Using  any other  oil  can cause seri
ous eng ine damage. 
- Do not  mix  any lubricants  o r othe r addi
tives  into  the  eng ine o il. Doing so can 
ca use engine  damage. 
If  you  need to  add oi l and there  is no ne 
availab le tha t mee ts the  Audi  oil  qua lity 
s tandard  your  engine  requires, yo u may 
add a tota l of  no more  than  0 .5 quart/liter 
of  a high-quality  "synthetic"oil  that  meets 
the  following  specifications. 
- Vehicles with  gaso line engine:  ACEA A3 
or  API SM with  a viscosity  grade of 
SAE 0W-30,  SAE SW-30  or  SAE SW-40. 
- Vehicles with  diesel  engine:  ACEA C3 or 
API CF with  a v iscosity grade  of 
SAE 0W-30  or  SAE SW-30. 
- For more  information  abo ut  eng ine oil 
that  has been approved for  your  vehicle,  please contact  either  your  a uthorized 
Audi  dealer  or Audi  Customer  Relations 
at  1 (800)  822-2834  or visit  our web  site 
at  www.audiusa .com  or 
www.aud icanada.ca. 
Engine oil  consumption 
The engine  in your  vehicle  depends  on on ade
quate  amount  of  oil  to  lubricate  and  cool  all 
of  its  moving  ports . 
In  order  to  provide  effective  lubricat ion and 
cooling  of  interna l eng ine components,  all  in
ternal  combust ion e ngines consume a certain 
amount  of  oil.  Oil consumpt ion va ries from 
engi ne to  engine  and may change sig nifican tly 
over the  life  of  the  engine.  Typically, engines 
with  a spec ified  break -in  period  (see 
c> page  203)  consume  more  oil  during  the 
break-in  period  than  they  cons ume after  oi l 
consumption  has stabilized. 
U nder  normal  cond itions,  the  rate  o f oi l con 
s u mption  depends on the  q uality  and viscos ity 
of  the  oil,  the  RPM (revolutions  per  minute)  at 
which  the  engine  is operated,  the  ambient 
temperature  and  road conditions.  Further  fac
tors  are the  amount  of  oil  dilut ion from  water 
condensation  or  fue l residue  a nd the  oxida
t ion level  of  the  oil.  As any eng ine  is subject  to 
wea r as m ileage builds  up, t he oil  co nsump 
t ion may  increase over time  until  replacemen t 
of  worn  components  may be come  necessary. 
With  a ll these  variab les coming  into  play, no 
standard  rate  of  oil  consumpt io n  can be  es
tabl ished o r spe cified . There i s no alte rnative 
to  regu lar and frequent  che ck ing of  the  o il  lev 
el , see 
Note. 
If  the yellow  engine  oil  leve l wa rning  symbo l 
i n t he i nstr ument  cluster 
Ill lights  up, you 
sho uld check the  oil  leve l as soon as possib le 
i=> page  229 . Top off  the  oil  at  your  earliest 
convenience 
i=> page  229. 
A WARNING 
--
Before you check anything  in the  engine 
compartment,  always read and  heed a ll 
WARNINGS 
c> & in  Working  in  the  engine 
comportment  on page  225. 
(D Note 
Driving  with  an insufficient  o il level  is like-
l y to  cause severe damage to  the  engine.  .,.  
Page 234 of 316
232  Check ing  and  filling 
Before you check anything  in the  engine com
partment, 
a lways  r ea d  and heed  all WARN
INGS ¢ A in Working  in the  engine compart
ment  on page  225. 
•  Park your vehicle on a  level surface. 
•  Switch 
off the  ignition . 
•  Read the  eng ine coolant  leve l from  the  cool
ant  expansion  tank 
c> fig.  196, c> page  22 7, 
fig.  193. With a cold eng ine,  the  coolant 
level should  be between  the  "min" and 
"max"  markings. When the  engine  is warm, 
the  leve l may be slightly above the  "max" 
ma rk ing. 
The location  of the  coolant  expans ion tank 
can be seen  in the  engine  compartment  illus
tration ¢ 
page  22 7. 
To obtain  an  accurate reading,  the  engine 
must  be sw itched 
off. 
The  expans ion tank  in your  vehicle is equipped 
with  an electric  coolant  level  sensor. 
When the  coo lant  level  is too  low, the  warning 
light in the  Auto-Check System ¢ page l 6 will 
i l luminate  unti l yo u add  coolant  and  the  level 
has been  restored  to  normal. Even though 
there  is an  electric  coolant  level senso r,  we 
still  recommend  you check the  coolant  leve l 
from  time  to  time . 
Coolant  loss 
Coolant loss  may indicate  a lea k in the  cooling 
system.  In the event  of  coolant loss, the  cool
ing system  should  be  inspected  immediately 
by your author ized Audi dealer.  It  is not 
enough  merely to  add  coolant. 
In  a 
sealed system,  losses  can occur only if 
the  boiling point  of the  coolant  is  exceeded  as 
a  result  of overheat ing. 
A WARNING 
T he cooling system  is unde r pr essure  and 
c an get  ve ry hot.  Reduce t he  risk of s cald
ing from  hot  coolant  by followi ng these 
steps . 
- T urn 
off the  engine  and  allow  it  to cool 
dow n.  -
Protect  your face,  han ds and  arms  from 
escaping  flu id and  steam  by cover ing the 
cap with  a large,  thick rag. 
- Tu rn the  cap slowly and very care fully in 
a counte r-clockwise direct ion while  ap
plying lig ht,  downward  pressure  on the 
top  of the  cap. 
- To avo id being  burned,  do not  sp ill anti
freeze  or coolant  on the  exhaust  system 
or hot  engine  par ts.  Under  certa in cond i
tions,  th e ethylen e glyco l in engine  coo l
a nt  can catch  fire. 
(D Note 
Do not  add  a ny type  o f radiator  leak sea l
ant  to  your veh icle's  engine  coolant.  Add
i ng  radiator  r epa ir fluid  may adv erse ly af
fe ct the  funct io n  and  perfo rma nce of you r 
co oling  syste m and  could  result  in damage 
not  covered by your  New Veh icle  Limi ted 
War ran ty. 
Adding  coolant 
Be very careful  when  adding  engine  coolant. 
Befo re you check anyth ing  in the  eng ine com
partment, 
alway s read  and  heed  all  WARN· 
INGS ¢ A in  Working  in the  engine  compart
ment  on page  225. 
•  Requirement:  The re must  be a r esidua l 
amount  of coolant  in the  e xpansion  ta nk 
¢(D. 
•Tur no ff the engine. 
•  Le t the  engine cool down. 
•  Place  a thick rag ove r th e  coo lant  expansion 
tank 
¢ page  231,  fig.  196 and carefully 
twist  the cap co unte r-clockwise c> &_ . 
• Add coo lant  m ixed  in  the  correct  rat io 
¢ page  231,  Coolant up to  the  MAX mark
ing. 
•  Make s ure that  the  fl uid leve l remains  sta-
b le. Add more  coo la nt  if necessary. 
•  Twis t the  cap o n again 
tightly. 
Replacement  engine  coo la nt  must  confo rm to 
exact spec ificat ions 
¢ page  2  31,  Coolant.  .,.  
Page 235 of 316
M N <( (.J 
'SI: ,...., \!) ..,., 
,...., ..,., ,...., 
We recommend  using only coolant  addi-
tive 
Gl2++,  Gl3 or  in an emergency Gl2+. Do 
not use  a different  additive.  In an emergency 
use plain water  until you can get  the  correct 
additive  and  can  restore  the  correct  ratio.  This 
should  be done  as  soon  as  possible . 
If you have lost  a considerable  amount  of 
coolant,  then  you should  add  cold antifree ze 
and  cold water  only when  the  engine  is cold. 
Always use 
new engine  coolant  when  refilling. 
Do  not fill coolant  above the "MAX"  mark. Ex
cess coolant  will be forced  out  through  the  pressure  relief valve in the  cap when  the en
gine  becomes  hot. 
A WARNING 
-The cooling system  is under  pressure  and 
can get  very hot.  Reduce the  risk of 
scalding  from  hot  coolant  by following 
these  steps. 
-Turn  off the  engine  and  allow itto cool 
down. 
- Protect  your face,  hands  and  arms  from 
escaping  fluid  and steam  by covering 
the  cap with a  large, thick rag. 
- Turn the  cap  slowly and very carefully 
in a counter-clockwise  direction while 
applying  light, downward  pressure  on 
the  top  of the  cap. 
- To  avoid  being  burned,  do  not spill an 
tifreeze  or coolant  on the  exhaust  sys
tem  or hot  engine  parts.  Under certain 
conditions,  the  ethylene  glycol in en
gine coolant  can catch  fire. 
- Antifreeze  is poisonous.  Always store  an
tifreeze  in its original container  and well 
out  of the  reach of children. 
- If you drain the  coolant,  it must  be 
caught  and  safely stored  in a proper  con
tainer  clearly marked  "poison". 
(D Note 
- Do not  add  coolant  if the  expansion  tank 
is  empty.  Air could  enter  the  cooling sys
tem  and  damage  the  engine.  If this  is 
Checking  and  filling  233 
the  case,  do not  continue  driving. Seek 
professional  assistance . 
- Coolant  pollutes  the  environment  and 
could cause  an engine  fire.  Excess cool
ant  will be forced  out  through  the  pres
sure  relief valve  in the  cap when  the  en
gine becomes  hot. 
- If, in an emergency,  only water  can be 
added,  the  correct  ratio  between  water 
and  antifreeze 
c> page  231 must  be re
stored  as  soon  as  possible. 
@ For the  sake of  the environment 
Drained coolant  should  not  be  reused. Al
ways dispose  of used  coolant  while observ ing  all environmental  regulations. 
Radiator fan 
The radiator  fan  switches  on automatically  by 
itself. 
An auxiliary electric  radiator  fan  switches  on 
and  off depending  on coolant  temperature 
and other  vehicle operating  conditions . 
After you switch  the  engine  off, the  auxiliary 
fan  can continue  running  for  up to 10 minutes 
- even with  the  ignition  off. 
It can even switch 
on again  later by itself 
c> .&, if 
- the  temperature  of the  engine  coolant  rises 
due to  the  heat  build-up from  the  engine  in 
the  engine  compartment,  or 
- the  engine  compartment  heats  up  because 
the  vehicle  is parked  in intense  sunlight. 
A WARNING 
-To  reduce  the  risk of personal  injury nev
er touch  the  radiator  fan. 
- The auxiliary electric  fan  is temperature  controlled  and  can switch on suddenly 
even when  the  engine  is not  running. 
- The auxiliary  radiator fan  switches  on au
tomatically  when  the  engine  coolant  reaches  a certain  temperature  and will 
continue  to  run until  the  coolant  temper
ature  drops. 
• 
•  
Page 236 of 316
234  Checking  and  filling 
Brake  fluid 
Checking brake fluid  level 
Fig . 197 Engine  compartment:  cove r on the  brake fluid 
reservo ir 
Before you  check  anything  in the  engine  com
partment, 
always  read and heed  all  WARN
INGS ¢&. in Working in the  engine  compart
ment  on page  225. 
,..  Read  the  brake  fluid  level  from  the  brake 
fluid  reservoir¢ 
fig . 197, ¢ page 22 7, 
fig.  193. 
The  brake  flu id level  must  be be
tween  the "MIN"  and "MAX"  markings. 
The  location  of  the  brake  flu id  reservoir  can  be 
seen  in  the engine  compartment  illust rat ion 
¢ page 227. 
The fluid  level  may  drop 
slightly after  some 
time  due  to the  automatic  adjustment  of  the 
brake  pads. This  is not  cause  for  alarm. 
If  the  brake  fluid  level  falls 
considerably be
low  the  "MIN"  mark,  the  brake  warning/indi
cator  light . (U.S. models)/ . (Canadian 
models)  will  come on¢ 
page  15. Do not  con
tinue  to operate  the  vehicle.  The  comp lete 
brake  system  shou ld be  thoroughly  checked 
by an  authorized  A udi dealer  or  other  quali
fied  facility  and  the  cause  corrected. 
If the 
brake  fluid  level  is too  low,  the  brake  warning/ 
indicator  light  will  illuminate.  Contact  an  au
thorized  Audi  dealer 
immediately . 
Changing  brake fluid 
Have the  brake  fluid  changed  by an experi
enced  technician . 
Brake fluid  absorbs  moisture  from  the  air.  If 
the  water  content  in the  brake  fluid  is too  high,  corrosion  in the  brake  system  may  result 
after  a period  of  time . The  boiling  point  of  the 
brake  flu id  will also  decrease  conside rably  and 
decrease  braking  pe rformance. 
Therefore,  the  brake  fluid  must  be  changed 
every two  years . Always use  new  brake  flu id 
which  conforms  to  Federal Motor Vehicle 
Standard  "FMVSS  116  DOT 4". 
The  brake  fluid  reservoir  can  be  difficult  to  reach,  therefore,  we  recommend  that  you 
have  the  brake  fluid  changed by your  author
ized 
Audi  dealer. Your dealer  has  the  correct 
tools,  the  right  brake  fluid  and the  know-how 
to  do  this  for  you. 
A WARNING 
- Brake fluid  is poisonous . It  must  be stor
ed  only  in the  closed  original  container 
out  of the  reach of  children! 
- Brake failure  can  resu lt  from  o ld  or  inap
propriate  brake  fluid.  Observe  these  pre
cautions: 
- Use  only  brake  fluid  that  meets  SA E 
specification 
J 1703  and conforms  to 
Federal  Motor  Vehicle  Standard 116. 
Always check  with  your  authorized Audi 
dealer  to  make  sure  you  are  using  the 
correct  brake  fluid.  The  correct  type  of 
brake  f luid  is also  indicated  on  the 
brake  fluid reservoir. 
- The  brake  fluid must  be  new.  Heavy use 
of the  brakes  can  cause  a  vapor  lock if 
the  brake  fluid  is  left in the  system  too 
long.  This can  seriously  affect  the  effi
c ie ncy of the  brakes  as  well  as  your 
safety.  This could resu lt  in an  accident. 
(D Note 
Brake fluid  will damage  the  paint  of your 
vehicle .