sensor AUDI A8 2016 Owner's Guide
Page 167 of 302
by being  pushed  into  you  as  the  airbag  in
flates. 
- Neve r place  or  attach  accessories  o r other 
objects  (such  as  cup  holders,  telephone 
b rackets,  or even  large,  bulky  objects)  on 
the  doors,  over  or  near  the  area  marked 
"AIRBAG" on  the  seat  backrests. 
- Such  ob jects  and  accessories  can  become 
dangerous  projectiles  and  cause  i njury 
when  the  supplementa l side  airbag  de
p loys. 
- Never  carry  any  objects  or  pets  in the  de 
p loyment  space  between  them  and  the 
airbags  or allow  chi ldren  or  other  passen
gers  to  travel  in this  position. 
- Always  use  the  bui lt-in  coat  hooks  only  for 
lightweight  cloth ing.  Never  leave  any  heavy 
or sharp-edged  objects  in the  pockets  that 
may  interfere  with  side  airbag  dep loyment 
and  can  cause  pe rsonal  injury  in an  accident . 
- Always  prevent  the  side  airbags  from  be ing 
damaged  by heavy  objects  knocking  against 
o r  hitt ing  the  sides  of the  seatbacks. 
- The  airbag  system  can  only  be  triggered 
once . If  the  a irbag  has  been  triggered,  the 
system  must  be  replaced  by an  authorized 
Audi dealership . 
- Damage  (cracks,  deep  scratches  etc.)  to  the 
original  seat  cove rs orto  the  seam  in the 
area  of the  s ide  a irbag  mod ule m ust  always 
be  repaired  immed iate ly by an  autho rized 
Audi dealer . 
- If  children  are  sea ted  imp roperly,  their  ris k 
of  inj ury increases  in  the  case  of  an  ac ciden t 
c;, page  168,  Child safety. 
-Never  attempt  to  modify  any  components  o f 
t h e  a irbag  sys tem  in any way. 
- In  a  side  collision,  s ide  a irb ags  wi ll no t func
t io n  proper ly if sensors  cannot  co rrect ly 
measure  increasing  air  pressure  inside  the 
doors  when  air  escapes  through  larger,  un
closed  openings  in the  door  panel. 
- Never  drive  w ith  inter ior  door  trim  pane ls 
removed. 
- Never  drive  when  parts  have  been  re
moved  from  the  inside  doo r panel  and  the 
open ings  they  leave  have  not  been  prope r
ly  closed. 
Airb ag  sys tem 
-Never  dr ive when  lo udspeakers  in the 
doors  have  been  removed  unless  the 
speaker  holes  have  been  properly  closed. 
- Always  make  certain  that  open ings  are 
covered  or filled  if additional  speakers  or 
other  equipment  is installed  in the  inside 
door  panels. 
- Always  have  work  on  the  doors  done  by an 
authorized  Audi dea ler  or  qualified  work
shop. 
Side  curtain  airbags 
Description  of  side curtain  airbags 
The side  curtain  airbag system  can provide  sup
plemental  protec tion to properly  restrained  oc
cupants. 
F ig . 1 71 S id e cur tain airbags,  driver's side: s ide curtai n air 
bag locat io n 
The  side  c urt ain airbags  are  located  on  bot h sides 
of  the  inter ior  above  the  front  and  rear  side  win
dows 
c;, fig.  171 . They are  identified  by the  word 
"AIRBAG" on  the  windshie ld frame  and  the cen
ter  roof  pillar . 
T he  side  curtain  airbag  system  supp leme nts  the 
safety  belts  and  can  help  to  reduce  the  risk of  in
jury  for  occupants'  heads  and  upper  torso on the 
side  of  the  vehicle  that  is str uck in a side  colli
sion.  The  s ide  curta in a irbag  inflates  in side  im
pacts  and  only  when  the  vehicle  acce leration  reg
istered  by the  control  unit  is high  enough . If  this 
rate  is  below  the  reference  va lue  programmed  in
to  the  control  unit,  the  side  airbags  will  not  be 
triggered,  even  tho ugh  the  car  may  be  badly 
damaged  as  a res ult  of  the  collision. 
It is  not  pos
s ible  to  define  an  airbag  triggering  range  that 
will cover  every  possible  angle  of  impact, since  ..,. 
165  
Page 168 of 302
Airbag system 
the  circumstances  will vary  considerably  between 
one  collision  and  another.  Important  factors  in
clude,  for example,  the  nature  (hard  or  soft)  of 
the  impacting  object,  the  angle  of  impact,  vehicle 
speed,  etc. 
c:;, page  166,  How side  curtain  air
bags  work . 
Aside from  their  normal  safety  function,  safety 
belts  work  to  help  keep  the  driver  or  front  pas
senger  in  position  in the  event  of  a  collision  so 
that  the  side  curtain  airbags  can  provide  protec 
tion . 
The  airbag  system  is  not  a  substitute  for  your  safety  belt.  Rather,  it is  part  of the  overall  occu
pant  restraint  system  in your  vehicle . Always  re 
member  that  the airbag  system  can  only  help  to 
protect  you  if you  a re wearing  your  safety  belt 
and  wearing  it properly . This  is another  reason 
why you  should  always wear  your  safety  belts, 
not  just  because  the  law requires  you  to do  so 
c:;, page  138,  General  information. 
It is  important  to remember  that  whi le  the  s ide 
curtain  airbag system  is designed  to  help  reduce 
the  likelihood  of  serious  injuries, other  injuries, 
for  example,  swelling,  bruising,  and  minor  abra 
s ions  can  a lso  be associated  with  these  airbags 
upon  deployment.  Remember  too,  these  a irbags 
will deploy  only  once  and  only  in certa in  kinds  of 
accidents  - your  safety  belts  are  always  there  to 
offer  protect ion . 
The  side curtain  airbag  system  ba sically 
consists  of: 
-The  electronic  control  module  and  external  side 
impact  sensors 
- The side  curtain  airbags  above  the  front  and 
rear  side  windows 
- The  airbag  indicator  light  in the  instrument 
panel 
The airbag  system  is  monitored  electronically  to  make  certain  it is functioning  properly  at  all 
times.  Each time  you  switch  on  the  ignition,  the 
airbag  system  indicator light  will  come  on  for  a 
few  seconds  (self  diagnostics) . 
The side curtain  airbag  is not  activated: 
-if the  ignition  is switched  off, 
166 
- in  side  collisions  when  the acceleration  meas
ured  by the  sensor  is too  low, 
- in  rear-end  collisions. 
A WARNING 
-Safety  belts  and  the  airbag  system  will  only 
provide  protection  when  occupants  are  in 
the  proper  seating  position 
c:;, page  58,  Gen
eral information . 
-If  the  airbag  ind icator  light c:;, page  18 
comes  when  the  vehicle  is  being used, have 
the  system  inspected  immediately  by your 
author ized  Audi dealer.  It  is  possible that 
the  airbag  will  inflate  when  it  is  not  sup
posed  to, or wi ll not  inflate  when  it  should. 
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  re
strained. 
Fig.  172 Illus trat io n  of  princ iple:  I nflated  s ide c urtain  a ir
bags  o n the  left  side 
The  side  curtain  airbags  inflate  between  the oc
cupant  and the  windows  in a  side collision 
¢ fig.  172. 
When  the  system  is triggered,  the  side  curta in 
airbag  is filled  w ith  propellant  gas  and  breaks 
through  a seam  above  t he  front  and  rear side 
windows  identified  by the  AIRBAG  label. In order 
to  help  provide  this  additional protection,  the 
s ide  curtain  airbag  must  inflate  within  the blink 
of  an  eye  at  very  high  speed  and  with  g reat  fo rce. 
The  side  curtain  airbag  could  injure  you  if your 
seat ing  position  is  not  proper  or  upright or  if  
Page 171 of 302
exceptional  circumstances  and  the 
PASS ENGER  AIR  BAG OFF light  does  not 
come  on  and  stay  on,  immed iately  install 
the  rear-fac ing  ch ild  safety  seat  in a  rear 
seating  pos it ion  and  have  the  airbag  system 
inspected  immediately  by your  Audi dealer . 
A WARNING 
If,  in exceptio nal  circumstances,  you  must  in
stall  a forward-facing  chi ld  restraint  on  the 
front  passenger's  seat: 
- Always  make  sure  the  forward-fac ing  seat 
has  been  designed  and  ce rtified  by its  man
ufact urer  fo r use  on  a front  seat  with  a  pas
senger  front  and  side  airbag . 
- Always follow  the  manufact urer's  instruc
tions  prov ided  with  the  ch ild  safety  seat  or 
carrier. 
- Always  move  the  passenger  seat  into  its 
rearmost  position  in the  seat's  fore  and  aft 
adjustment  range,  as  far  away  from  the  air
bag  as  possib le  before  installing  the  child 
restraint.  The  backrest  must  be  adjusted  to 
an  upr ight  position. 
- Always  make  sure  that  the 
PA SSENGER AIR 
BAG OFF 
light  comes  on  and  stays  on  all  the 
t ime  whenever  the  ignition  is switched  on. 
{D) Tips 
Always  replace  chi ld  restraints  that  were  in
stalled  in a vehicle  dur ing  a  crash . Damage  to 
a  child  restraint  that  is not  visible  could  cause 
it  to  fail  in another  collision  situation. 
Advanced front  airbag  system  and  children 
Your veh icle  is  equipped  with  a front  "Advanced 
Airbag  System " in compliance  w ith  United  States 
F edera l Moto r Vehicle  Safety  Standard  (FMVSS) 
208,  as  well  as  Canada  Motor  Ve hicle  Safe ty 
Stand ard  (CMVSS) 208  as  appli cable  at  the  t ime 
your  vehicle  was  manufactured . 
The Advanced  Airbag  system  in your  ve hicle  has 
been  ce rtified  to  meet  the  "low-risk " requ ire
ments  for  3 -and  6-year  old  children  on  the  pas
senger  side  and  small  adults  on  the  driver  side . 
The  low  risk deployment  criteria  are  intended  to 
Ch ild  safety 
reduce  the  risk of  injury through  interaction  with 
the  airbag  that  can  occur,  for  example,  by being 
too  close  to  the  steering  wheel  and  instr ument 
panel  when  the  airbag  inflates.  In  addition,  the 
system  has  been  cert ified  to  comply  with  the 
"suppression"  requirements  of the  Safety  Stand 
ard,  to  turn  off  the  front  airbag  for  infants  up  to 
12  months  who  are  restrained  on  the  front  pas
senger  seat  in  ch ild  rest raints  that  are  lis ted  in 
the  S tanda rd . 
Even thoug h your  veh icle  is equipped  with  an  Ad
vanced  Airbag  system,  all  ch ildren,  especially 
those  12 yea rs and  younger,  sho uld  a lways  ride 
i n the  back  seat  properly  restra ined  for  their  age 
and  size . The  airbag  on  the  passenger  side  makes 
the  front  seat  a  potentia lly dangerous  p lace  for  a 
child  to  ride.  The front  seat  is  not  the  safest  place 
for  a ch ild  in a forward-fac ing  ch ild  safety  seat.  It 
can  be  a very  dangerous  place  for  an  infant  or a 
larger  ch ild  in a  rearward-facing  seat . 
Advanced Airbags  and  the  weight -sensing 
mat  in the  front  seat 
T he Advanced  A irbag  System  in you r vehicle  de
tects  the  presence  of a n in fan t or  child  in  a ch ild 
restra int  on  the  front  passenger  seat  using  the 
weight-sensing  mat  in the  seat  cushion  and  the  sensor  below  the  safety  belt  latch  on  the  front 
passenger  seat  that  measures  the  tension  on  the 
safety  belt. 
The weight-sensing  mat  measures  total  weight 
of the  child  and  the  chi ld  safety  seat  and  a  child 
blanket  on  the  front  passenger  seat.  The weight 
on  the  front  passenger  seat  is related  to  the  de
s ign  of  the  child  restra int  and  its  "footprint" , the 
s ize and  shape  of the  bottom  of  the  c hild  re 
straint  as  it  s its  on  the  seat.  The weight  of a  chi ld 
r estra int  and  its  "footprint " va ry for  different 
k inds  of  child  restra ints  and  for  the  different 
models  of  the  same  kind  of  ch ild  rest raint  of 
fered  by child  restraint  manufacturers. 
T he  weight  ranges  for  the  individ ual  types, 
makes  and  mode ls  of chi ld  restrain ts that  the 
N HT SA has  spec ified  in the  Safety  Standard  to
gether  with  the  weight  ranges  o f typical  infants 
and  typical  1 year-old  chi ld  have  been  stored  in  .,. 
169  
Page 172 of 302
Child  safet y 
the  control  unit  of  the  Advanced  Ai rbag  System. 
When  a  chi ld  restraint  is being  used  on  the  front 
passenger  seat  with  a  typical  1 year-old  child,  the 
Advanced  Airbag  System  compares  the  we ight 
measured  by the  weight  sensing  mat  with  the in
formation  stored  in the  electronic  control  unit. 
The  electronic  cont rol  un it  also  registers  the  ten
sion  on  the  front  passenger  safety  belt.  The  ten
sion  on  the  safety  belt  for the  front  passenger 
seat  will  be  d ifferent  fo r an  adult  who  is  properly 
using  the  safety  belt  as  compared  to  the  tension 
on  the  belt  when  it  is  used  to  attach  a ch ild  re
stra int  to  the  seat.  The  senso r below  the  la tch fo r 
the  safety  belt  for  the  fro nt  sea t passe nger 
meas ures  the  tens io n  on  the  belt.  The  inp ut  from 
this  sensor  is then  used  with  the  weight  to  "de
cide",  whether  there  is a  child  restraint  with  a 
typical  1 year-old  child  on  the  front  passenger 
seat  and  whethe r or  not  the  a irbag  must  be 
turned  off. 
Child  restraints  and  Advanced  Airbags 
Regardless  of  the  child  restra int  tha t you  use, 
make  sure  that  it  has  been  cert ified  to  meet  Safe
ty  Standa rds  and  has  been  certified  by its  manu
facturer  for  u se wi th an  a irb ag.  Always  be  sure 
t ha t th e chi ld  res tra in t  i s  properly  insta lled  at 
one  o f th e  rear  seating  posit ions . If  i n excep tion 
a l ci rcumstances  yo u must  use  it  on  the  front 
passenger  seat,  carefully  read  all  of  the  informa
tion  on  child  safety  and  Advanced  Airbags  and  heed  a ll of  the  app licab le  WARNINGS. Make  cer
tain  that  the  child  restra int  is correctly  recog
n ized  by the  we ight-sens ing  mat  inside  the  front 
passenger  seat,  that  t he fron t passenger  a irbag 
is  tu rned  off  and  tha t the  airbag  status  is a lways 
cor rect ly signa led  by the 
PASSENGER  AIR  BAG 
OFF ligh t. 
M any  types  and  models  of  c hild  rest rai nts  have 
been  available  ove r th e yea rs,  new  models  are  in
t roduced  regularly  incorporat ing  new  and  im 
p roved  designs  and  o lder  mode ls  are  taken  o ut  o f 
p roduction . Chi ld  restraints  a re  not  standardized . 
Ch ild  rest raints  of  the  same  type  typica lly have 
d ifferent  weights  and  s izes  and  d ifferent  'foot
prints, ' the  size  and  shape  of  the  bottom  of  the 
chi ld  restraint  that  s its  on  the  seat,  when  they 
170 
are  ins talled  on  a vehicle  seat . These  d ifferences 
make  it  virtua lly impossib le  to  certify  compliance 
with  the  requirements  for  advanced  a irbags  w ith 
each  and  every  child  restra int  that  has  eve r been 
sold  in the  past  or  will  be  so ld  over  the  course  of 
the  usefu l life  of your  vehicle. 
Fo r thi s  reason,  the  United  States  Nationa l H igh
way  Traffic  Safety  Administration  has  published  a  li st  of  specific  type, makes  and  mode ls  of  ch ild 
r estra ints  that  must  be  used  to  certify  compli
ance  of  the  Advanced  Airbag  System  in your  ve hi
cle w ith  the  s uppress ion  requirements  of  Federa l 
Motor  Ve hicl e  Safety  Standa rd  208.  These  child 
r es trai nts  are: 
Subpart  A - Car bed  child  restraints 
Model  Manufactured on or 
after 
Angel  Guard  Angel  Septe mber  25,  2 007 
R ide  AA2 403FO F 
Subpart  B - Rear-facing  child  restraints 
Model  Manufactured on or 
after 
Cent ury SmartFi t  454 3  Decembe r 1,  1999 
Cosco  Arriva  September  25,  2007 
22-013PAW  and  base 
22- 999WHO 
Evenf lo  Discove ry Ad -December  1,  1999 
just  R ight  212 
E venflo  First  Choi ce  Decembe r 1,  1999 
2 04 
Graco  I nfant  8457  December  1,  1999 
Graco  Snugr ide  September  25,  20 07 
Peg  Perego  Primo  Viag- September  25,  2007 
g io  SIP  I MUNOOUS 
Subpart  C  -Forward-facing  and  convertible 
child  restraints 
Model  Manufactured on or 
after 
B rit a x Roun dabo ut  September  25,  200 7 
E 9 L02xx 
Cosco  Touriva  02519  December  1,  1999  
Page 189 of 302
Audi  pre  sense Preventative  passenger 
protection 
A ppl ies  to:  ve hicles with  Audi  pre  se nse 
Audi  pre sense can initiate  steps  to  help  protect 
vehicle  occupants  in certain  situations.  The func
tions  described  depend  on equipment  installed  in 
your  veh icle: 
Audi  pre sense  basic 
The following  functions  can be triggered  in  cer
tain  driving  situations: 
- Tightening  of  the safety  belts  (for  examp le, 
during  heavy braking):  the  front  safety  belts 
have reversible  belt  pretensione rs.  If  a collision 
does not  occur,  the  safety  belts  loosen  slightly 
and are ready to  be t ightened  again. 
- Closing the  windows  and the  sunroof*:  the  win
dows and the  sunroof*  close leaving  a small 
open gap . 
Audi  pre sense  basic functions  can be triggered  at 
speeds above 20  mph  (30  km/h).  The deploy ment  time  is adapted  in the  drive  select  mode  dy
namic. 
Audi  pre sense front  (vehicles  with adaptive 
cruise control*) 
Audi  pre sense front  includes the  functions  in 
Audi  pre sense basic . In  addition,  within  the  lim 
its  of the  system,  the  likelihood  of  a collision 
with  the  vehicle  immediately  ahead is also  calcu lated. 
If the  system  senses an  imminent  collision 
the  following  functions  can be  triggered: 
- Braking  guard 
~ page 96 
- Tightening  the  safety  belts 
- Closing the  windows  and the  sunroof*  (leaving 
a small  open  gap) 
Audi  pre sense  rear (vehicles  with  Audi  side 
assist*} 
Audi  pre sense  rear  includes the functions  in Audi 
pre sense basic. In  addition,  the  likelihood  of  a 
rear-end  collision  with  the  vehicle  coming  from 
behind  is also  calculated. 
If the  risk of  a collision 
is  detected , the  following  functions  can be trig
gered: 
Audi  pre  sense 
-Tig htening  the safety  belts 
- Closing  the windows  and the sunroof*  ( leaving 
a small  open  gap) 
- Adjusting  the seats: the  settings  for  the power 
head  restrains,  the  upper  sections  of  the  backr
ests and the  pneumatic  side  bolsters*  are opti mized  for  the  front  seats  and the  outboard  rear 
seats*.  If  a co llision  does not  occur,  the  previ
ous  seat  settings  are  restored. 
Audi pre sense  plus 
Audi  pre sense plus  includes  the  functions  in  Audi 
pre sense front  and Audi  pre sense rear. 
Error  message 
Audi  pre sense:  not available 
Preventative  passenger  protection  is not  availa
ble . See  your  authorized  Audi  dealer  immediately 
to  have  the malfunction  corrected . 
A WARNING 
-
Audi  pre sense cannot  overcome  the laws  of 
physics.  It  cannot  prevent  a collision.  Do not 
l et  the  increased  safety provided  tempt  you to 
take  risks.  This will increase the  risk  of a colli
sion  and serious  personal  injuries. 
- The sensors cannot  always detect  all  ob
jects.  This increases the  risk  of a collision. 
-Audi  pre sense does  not detect  people  or  an
imals  or  objects  that  are  crossing the  vehi
cle's  path 
~ page 90. 
-The radar  sensor's vision  can be reduced  by 
heavy rain,  ice, snow,  heavy road sp ray and 
reflections  from  guard rails,  tunne l entran
ces, etc.  These and similar  conditions  can  prevent  vehicles  from  being  accurately  de
tected  and  in some  cases they  may not  be 
detected  at  all. 
(D Note 
The sensors can  be displaced by impacts  or 
damage  to  the  bumper,  wheel  housing and 
underbody.  This can affect  the  function  of  the 
Audi  pre  sense system . Have  your  authorized 
Audi  dealer  check to  make sure that  the sys
tem  is work ing properly. 
187  
Page 197 of 302
Driving  with  your 
quattro 
With All  Wh eel Drive , all four  wh eels are driven . 
General  information 
With  All W heel  Drive,  power  is dis tribute d to  all 
four  wheels . This  happens  automatically  depend
ing  on  your  dr iving  style  and  the  road  conditions 
at  the  time . See  also¢ 
page  190 . With  the  sport 
d ifferent ial*,  power  d istr ibution  to  the  rear 
wheels  is variable  and  can  be  adjusted  with  Audi 
d rive select* 
¢ page  106. Always  read  and  fo llow 
safety  preca utio ns ¢ ,&. . 
Winter  tires 
When  drivi ng  in the  w inter,  you r vehicle  with  All 
Wheel  Drive has  an  advantage,  even  with  reg ular 
tires.  In  winter  road  cond itions  it  may  be  adv isa
b le  to  mount  w inte r tir es  (or  a ll-season  tires)  for 
i mproved  d riveab ility  and  bra king : these  tires 
must  be  mounted  on 
all four wheels . See  also 
¢ page  251,  W inter  tires. 
Snow  chains 
Where  snow  chains  are  mandatory  on  certain 
roads,  this  normally  also  a pplies  to  vehicles  w it h 
All Whee l Dr ive ¢ 
page  251,  Snow  chains. 
Replacing  wheels /tires 
Veh icles  w ith  All Wheel  Drive must  always  have 
tires  of  the  same  s ize. A lso  avo id tires  wi th d iffer
ent  tread  depths.  For detai ls see  page 
¢ page  243. 
Off-Road  driving? 
Your Aud i does  not  have  e nough  g round  clear
a nce  to  be  used  as  an  off-road  vehicle . It  is there
fore  best  to  avoid  rough  tracks  and  uneve n ter
r ain  as  m uch  as  possible . Also  refe r to 
¢page  197. 
_& WARNING ,~ -
Always  adjust  you r driv ing  to  road  and  t raffic 
conditions .  Do  not  let  the  extra  safety  affo rd
ed  by All Wheel  Drive tempt  you  into  taking 
extra  risks. 
Sma rt  Technology 
- Although  the  A ll Whee l Drive  is very  effec
tive,  always  remember  that  braking  capacity 
is limited  by t ire  tract ion.  You shou ld  there
fore  not  dr ive  at  excessive  speeds  on  icy or 
slippe ry road  surfaces . 
- On wet  road  surfaces,  be  careful  not  to  dr ive 
too  fast  because  the  front  wheels  could  be
g in to  slide  on  top  of  the  water  (aquap la n
ing) . If  th is  should  oc cur,  you  will  have  no 
warn ing  from  a  sudden  increase  in engine 
speed  as with  a front-wheel  d rive vehicle. 
Always  d rive at  speeds  which  are  suited  to 
the  road  conditions  -risk  of  c rash. 
Energy  management 
Starting  ability  is optimized 
Energy management  controls  the  distribution  of 
electrical  energy  and  thus  op timizes  the  availa
bility of  electrical  energy for starting  the  engine . 
If  a vehicle  with  a  conventional energy  system  is 
not  driven  for  a  long  pe riod  of  time,  the  battery  is 
discharged  by  id ling  curre nt  consumers  (e.g.  im
mobilize r) . In  certain  circumstances  i t can  resu lt 
in t he re  being  i nsufficien t energy  ava ilable  to 
sta rt the  engine. 
Intelligent  energy  manageme nt  in you r vehicle 
hand les  the  distribution  of  electrical  energy . 
Start ing  ability  is markedly  improved  and  the  life 
of  the  ba ttery  is  ex tended. 
Bas ica lly,  energy  management  cons ists  of 
bat 
tery diagnosis , idling current management 
and 
dynamic energy management . 
Battery  diagnosis 
Battery  d iagnosis  continuously  dete rm ines  the 
state  of  the  battery.  Sensors  determine  battery 
vo ltage,  battery  current  and  battery  tempera
tu re.  This  de termines  the  current  state  o f ch arge 
and  the  power  of  the  battery . 
Idling  current  management 
Idling  current  management  reduces  energy  con
sumption  while  the  vehicle  is standing.  With  the  ..,_ 
195  
Page 208 of 302
Care  and  cleaning 
Care  and  cleaning 
General  information 
Regular,  proper  care  helps  to  maintain  your  vehi
cle's  value. 
It can  also  be  a  requirement  when 
submitting  warranty  claims  for  corrosion  damage 
and  paint  defects  on  the  body. 
The  required  cleaning  and  care  products can  be 
obtained  from  your  authorized  Audi  dealer  or  a 
qualified  workshop.  Read  and  follow  the  instruc
tions  for  use on  the  packaging. 
A WARNING 
-Using  cleaning  and  care  products  incorrectly 
can  be  dangerous  to  your  health . 
- Always  store  cleaning  and  care  products  out 
of  reach  of  children  to  reduce  the  risk  of  poi
soning. 
@ For the  sake of the  environment 
- Preferably use environmentally-friendly 
products  when  buying  cleaning  agents. 
- Do not  dispose of leftover  cleaning and care 
products  with  household  trash. 
Car  washes 
The longer  deposits  remain  on  the  vehicle,  the 
more  the  surface  can  be  damaged.  High  temper
atures  such  as  those  caused  by sunlight  increase 
the  damaging  effects . 
Before  washing,  wet  heavy  deposits  with  plenty 
of  water. 
Stubborn  deposits  such  as  bird  droppings  or  tree 
sap  are  best  removed  with  plenty  of  water  and  a 
microfiber  cloth. 
Also,  wash  the underside  of  your  vehicle  once 
road  salt  stops  being used for  the  season. 
Pressure washers 
When  washing  your  vehicles  with  a  pressure 
washer,  always follow  the  operating  instructions 
provided  with  the pressure  washer.  This is espe
cially  important  in regard  to  the  pressure  and 
spraying  distance . Do not  aim  the  spray  directly 
at  seals  on  side  windows,  doors,  the  hood,  the 
206 
rear  lid  or  the  sunroof*  or  at  tires,  rubber  hoses, 
insulating  material,  sensors*  or  camera  lenses*. 
Keep  a  distance  of  at  least  16  inches  (40  cm) . 
Do not  remove  snow  and  ice with  a  pressure 
washer. 
Never  use  rotary  nozzles  or  high  pressure  noz
zles. 
The  water  temperature  must  not be  above  140  °F 
(60 °C). 
Automatic  car washes 
Spray off the  vehicle  before  washing. 
Make  sure  that  the windows  and  roof* are  closed 
and  the  windshield  wipers  are 
off . Follow  instruc
tions  from  the  car  wash  operator,  especially  if 
there  are  accessories  attached  to  your  vehicle. 
If  possible,  use car  washes  that  do  not  have 
brushes. 
Only  use car  washes  where  the  vehicle  remains 
stationary  and  the washing  equipment  moves 
around  the vehicle  when  washing  and  drying.  Car 
washes that  move the vehicle through  the car 
wash  using  a chain  are  not  recommended. 
Washing by hand 
Clean  the  vehicle  starting  from  the  top  and work
ing  down  using  a  soft  sponge  or  cleaning brush. 
Use  solvent-free  cleaning  products. 
Washing  vehicles with  matte finish paint by 
hand 
To avoid  damaging  the  paint  when  washing,  first 
remove  dust  and  large  particles  from  your  vehi
cle.  Insects,  grease spots  and  fingerprints  are 
best  removed  with  a  special  cleaner  for matte 
finish  paint. 
Apply  the  product  using  a  microfiber  cloth.  To 
avoid  damaging  the  paint  surface,  do not  use  too 
much  pressure. 
Rinse  the  vehicle  thoroughly with  water.  Then 
clean  using  a  neutral  shampoo  and  a  soft  micro
fiber  cloth . 
Rinse  the vehicle thoroughly  again  and  let  it  air 
dry.  Remove  any  water  residue  using  a sham  my.  ..,..  
Page 209 of 302
& WARNING 
-Only wash  the  vehicle  when  the  ignition  is 
off  and  follow  the  instructions from  the  car 
wash  operator  to  reduce  the  risk  of  acci
dents. 
- To  reduce  the  risk  of  cuts,  protect  yourself 
from  sharp  metal  components  when  wash
ing  the  underbody  or  the inside  of  the  wheel 
housings. 
-After  washing  the  vehicle,  the  braking  effect 
may  be  delayed  due  to  moisture  on  the 
brake  rotors  or  ice  in the  winter . The  brakes 
must  be  dried  first  with  a few  careful  brake 
applications. 
{[)  Note 
-If  you  wash  the  vehicle  in  an  automatic  car 
wash,  you  must  fold  the  exterior  mirrors  in 
to  reduce  the  risk  of  damage  to  the mirrors. 
Power  folding  exterior  mirrors*  must  only 
be  folded  in and  out  using  the  power  folding 
function. 
- To  prevent  paint  damage,  do not  wash  the 
vehicle  in direct  sunlight. 
-
Care  and  cleaning 
-To  reduce  the risk  of  damage  to the  surface, 
do  not  use  insect  removing  sponges,  kitchen 
sponges  or  similar  items. 
- Matte  finish  painted  vehicle  components: 
- To  reduce  the  risk  of  damage  to  the  sur-
face,  do  not  use  polishing  agents  or  hard 
wax. 
- Never  use car  wash  cycles  that  apply  pro
tective  wax.  It  can  destroy  the  matte  fin
ish  effect. 
- Do not  place  any  stickers  or  magnetic 
signs  on  vehicle  parts  painted with  matte 
finish  paint.  The paint  could  be  damaged 
when  the  stickers or  magnets  are  re
moved . 
@ For the  sake  of  the  environment 
Only wash  the  vehicle  in facilities  specially  de
signed  for that  purpose.  This will reduce  the 
risk  of dirty  water  contaminated  with  oil  from 
entering  the  sewer  system. 
Cleaning  and  care  information 
When  cleaning  and  caring  for  individual vehicle 
components,  refer  to  the  following table.  The  in
formation  contained there  is simply  recommen
dations.  For  questions  or  for  components  that are  not 
listed,  refer  to  an  authorized  Audi  dealer 
or  a  qualified  workshop.  Also  follow  the  informa
tion  found  in 
~ ,&. . 
Cleaning  exterior 
Component  Situation  Solution 
Wiper blades 
Dirty ~ page  55,  Cleaning  windshield  wiper  blades 
Headlights/ Dirty  Soft  sponge  with  a  mild  soap  solution a> 
tail  lights 
Sensors/ 
Dirty  Sensors:  soft  cloth  with  a  solvent-free  cleaning  product 
camera  lenses Camera  lenses: soft cloth  with  an  alcohol-free  cleaning  sol-
ution 
Snow/ice  Hand 
brush/solvent-free  de-icing  spray 
Wheels Road salt  Water 
Brake  dust  Acid-free  special  cleaning  solution 
Exhaust tail Road  salt 
Water,  cleaning  solution  suitable  for  stainless  steel,  if nee-
pipes essary 
207  
Page 212 of 302
Care  and  cleaning 
-Sensors/camera  lenses 
- Never  use  warm  or  hot  water  to  remove 
snow  or  ice from  the  camera  lens.  This 
could  cause  the  lens  to  crack . 
- Never  use  abrasive  cleaning  materials  or 
alcohol  to  clean  the  camera  lens . This 
could  cause  scratches  and  cracks . 
-Windows 
- Remove  snow  and  ice on  windows  and  ex-
terior  mirrors  with  a  plastic  scraper.  To 
avoid  scratches,  move  the  scraper  only  in 
one  direction  and  not  back  and  forth. 
- Never  remove  snow  or  ice from  windows 
and  mirrors  using  warm  or  hot  water  be
cause  this  could  cause  cracks  to  form. 
- To avoid  damage  to  the  rear  window  de
fogger,  do  not  apply  any  stickers  on  the heating  wires  on  the  inside  of the  window. 
- Decorative  part .s/trim 
- Never  use  chrome  care  or  cleaning  prod-
ucts. 
-Paint 
-To reduce  the risk of  scratches,  the  vehicle 
must  be  free  of  dirt  and  dust  before  pol
ishing  or waxing. 
- To  prevent  paint  damage,  do  not  polish  or 
wax  the  vehicle  in  direct  sunlight. 
- To reduce  the  risk of  paint  damage,  do  not 
polish  away  rust  film . 
- Remove  cosmetics  and  sunblock  immedi
ately.  Otherwise,  the  paint  could be  dam
aged. 
-Trim 
- To reduce  the  risk of  damage,  do  not  treat 
the  trim  around  the  panorama  sunroof 
with  paint  polish. 
- Decorative  decals 
-To reduce  the  risk of  damage,  do  not  use 
any  rough  powder  or  abrasive  cleaning 
products . 
- To reduce  the  risk of  damage,  do  not  pol
ish  decorative  parts  that  have  a  matte  fin
ish . 
-Displays 
- To avoid  scratches,  do  not  use  dry  cleaning 
methods  on  displays. 
-Controls 
210 
- Make sure  that  no  fluids  enter  the  con
trols,  because  this  could  cause  damage. 
- Safety  belts 
- Do not  remove  the  safety  belts  to  clean 
them . 
- Never  clean  safety  belts  or their  compo
nents  chemically  or with  corrosive  fluids 
or  solvents  and  never  allow  sharp  objects 
to  come  into  contact  with  the  safety  belts. 
This could  cause  damage  to  the  belt  web bing . 
- If  there  is damage  to  the  webbing,  the 
connections , the  retractors  or  the  buckles, 
have  them  replaced by an  authorized  Audi 
dealer  or  a qualified  workshop. 
- Textiles/Vinyl/  Alcantara 
- Never  treat  Vinyl/ Alcantara  with  leather 
care  products,  solvents,  floor  polish,  shoe 
polish,  stain  remover  or  similar  products . 
- To avoid  damage,  have  stubborn  stains  re
moved  by an  authorized  Audi  dealer  or  a 
qualified  workshop. 
- Never  use  steam  cleaners,  brushes,  hard 
sponges, etc. when cleaning. 
-Do not  turn  on  the  seat  heating*  to  dry  the 
seat. 
- Objects  with  sharp  edges  such  as  zippers, 
rivets  on  clothing  or  belts  can  cause  dam
age  to  the  surface. 
- Open  hook  and  loop  fasteners , for  exam
ple  on  clothing,  can  damage  seat  covers . 
Make sure  hook  and  loop  fasteners  are 
closed . 
-Natural  leather 
- Never  treat  leather  with  solvents,  floor 
polish,  shoe  polish,  stain  remover or simi
lar  products. 
- Objects  with  sharp  edges  such  as  zippers, 
rivets  on  clothing or  belts  can  cause  dam
age  to  the  surface. 
- Never  use  steam  cleaners,  brushes , hard 
sponges,  etc.  when  cleaning. 
- Do  not turn  on  the  seat  heating*  to  dry the 
seat . 
- To help  prevent  the  leather  from  fading, 
do  not  leave  the  vehicle  in direct  sunlight 
for  long  periods  of  time. If leaving  the  
Page 230 of 302
Checking  and  Filling 
the  engine  is warm,  the  level  may  be  slightly above  the  "max" marking. 
The  location  of the  coolant  expansion  tank  can  be 
seen  in the  engine  compartment  illustration 
¢ page  222. 
To obtain  an  accurate  reading, the  engine  must 
be  switched  off. 
The  expansion  tank  in your  vehicle  is equipped 
with  an  electric  coolant  level sensor. 
When  the  coolant  level  is too  low,  the  warning 
light  in the  Auto-Check  System¢ 
page  15 will  il
luminate  until  you  add  coolant  and  the  level  has 
been  restored  to  normal.  Even though  there  is an 
electric  coolant  level sensor,  we  still  recommend 
you  check  the coolant  level from  time  to  time . 
Coolant  loss 
Coolant loss may  indicate  a leak in the  cooling 
system . In  the  event  of  coolant  loss,  the  cooling 
system  should  be  inspected  immediately  by your 
authorized  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  re
sult  of  overheating. 
_& 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  it  to  cool 
down. 
- Protect  your  face,  hands  and  arms from  es
caping  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  anti
freeze  or  coolant  on  the  exhaust  system  or 
hot  engine  parts.  Under  certain  conditions, 
the  ethylene  glycol  in engine  coolant  can 
catch  fire. 
228 
(D Note 
Do not  add  any  type  of  radiator leak  sealant 
to  your  vehicle's  engine  coolant.  Adding  radia
tor  repair  fluid  may  adversely  affect  the  func
tion  and  performance  of  your  cooling  system 
and  could  result  in damage  not  covered  by 
your  New  Vehicle  Limited  Warranty . 
Adding  coolant 
Be very careful  when  adding  engine  coolant. 
Before  you  check  anything  in the  engine  compart
ment, 
always  read  and  heed  all WARNINGS 
¢.& in Working  in the  engine  compartment  on 
page  220 . 
.. Requirement:  There  must  be  a  residual amount 
of  coolant  in the  expansion  tank  ¢(D . 
..  Turn  off  the  engine . 
..  Let the  engine  cool  down . 
..  Place  a thick  rag over  the coolant  expansion 
tank ¢ 
page  22 7, fig. 201 and carefully twist 
the  cap counter-clockwise ¢&, . 
.,.  Add  coolant  mixed  in the  correct  ratio 
r::!> page  22 7, Coolant up  to  the MAX marking. 
..  Make  sure  that  the  fluid  level  remains  stable. 
Add  more  coolant  if necessary  . 
..  Twist  the  cap  on  again 
tightly. 
Replacement  engine  coolant  must  conform  to  ex
act  specifications ¢ 
page  22 7, Coolant. 
We recommend  using  only  coolant  additive  G12+ 
+,  G13  or  in  an  emergency  G12+ . Do 
not use  a 
different  additive.  In  an  emergency  use  plain  wa
ter  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  cool
ant,  then  you  should  add  cold  antifreeze  and  cold 
water  only  when  the  engine  is cold. 
Always  use 
new engine  coolant  when  refilling. 
Do not  fill  coolant  above  the  "MAX" mark . Excess 
coolant  will  be  forced  out  through  the  pressure 
relief  valve  in the  cap  when  the  engine  becomes 
hot. 
~