check engine AUDI R8 SPYDER 2015 User Guide
Page 20 of 232
Instruments  and  warning/indicator  lights 
A WARNING 
- Light  bulbs  are  pressurized  and  cou ld ex
plode  while they  are  being changed  causing 
serious  persona l injury. 
-
- Work with  due  care  when  handling  the  high
vo ltage  section  of  gas  discharge  (xenon) 
lamps.  Fa iling to  do  so could  result  in death 
or serious  injury! 
BRAKE  LIGHT!< ®> Brake  light  defective 
In  case  of  a malfunction  or  component  failure, 
the  symbol 
!:ljf:Ul•@:U (USA  models)/ ll] (Canada 
models)  can appear.  The  following electrical 
components  should  be checked,  repaired or  re
p laced,  as  necessary: 
- Brake light  bulbs 
- All wiring  connections 
- Brake light  switch 
Con tact  your  authorized  Audi dealer  for  assis
tance  if necessary. 
(D Tips 
The  brake  light  switch  is  only  inspected  as 
part  of the  functional  check after the engine 
is started. 
/i. O 
Light/rain  sensor defective 
Applies  to veh icles: w ith  automatic  headlights 
If the  symbol  illuminates,  the  light  sensor  has 
fai led.  For safety  reasons,  the  low beams  are 
turned  on  permanently  with  the  switch  in 
AUTO. 
However, you ca n continue  to  turn  the  lights  on 
and  off  using the  light  switch . In  the  case  of a de 
fect  in the  ra in sensor,  the  windshield  wiper  lever 
functions  are  still  available . Have  the  light/ra in 
sensor  checked  as  soon  as  possible  at  an  author ized Audi  dealer. 
; Audi  magnetic  ride 
The  indicator  light  monitors  vehicle  damping. 
The indicator  light B illuminates  when  the  igni
tion  is sw itched  on  as  a function  check. 
18 
(D Tips 
If the  indicator  lamp  illuminates  whi le you are 
driving,  there  is a malfunction  in the  vehicle 
damping.  The  chassis  should be inspected  im
mediately  by an  authorized  Audi dealer. 
-::}.  Rear spoiler 
The warning/indicator  light  monitors  the  electri
cally  retractable  rear  spoiler. 
The warning/indicator  light I! has  the  fo llowing 
funct ions : 
- It  comes  on for about  3  seconds  as  a function 
check when  the  ignition  is  switched  on. 
- It  comes  on  if there  is a  malfunction  in  the elec
trically  retractable  rear  spoiler. 
Additional  informat ion about  the  e lectr ically  re
tractable  rear  spoiler 
~ page  138. 
ill Tire  pressure  monitoring  system 
Applies  to vehicles:  with  tire  pressure monitoring  system 
Tire pressure that is too low must be corrected 
as soon  as possible. 
The warning/indicator  light [IJ illum inates  for  a 
few  seconds  after  the  ignition  is turned  on as  a 
function  check. If the 
[IJ warning  light  comes  on, 
pressure  in at  least  one  tire is too  low. 
..  Stop  driving  as  soon  as  possible  w ithout  endan -
gering  yourself  and  other  dr ivers  on the  road . 
..  Inspect  all tires . 
..  Correct  the tire  pressure ~ 
page 179. 
Additional  informat ion about  the tire  pr essure 
monitoring  system 
can  be found~ page  197 . 
¢ Q Turn  signals 
The indicator  light  blinks  when you  use either 
turn  signal . 
Whenever  you use  the  left B or the  right R 
turn  signal,  the  indicator  light  blinks. When  you 
use  the  emergency  flasher,  both  indicator  lights 
flash . 
Iii>  
Page 22 of 232
Driver  information system 
Driver  information 
system 
Introduction 
The Driver information  display  inside  the  instru
ment  cluster  provides you,  the  driver, with im
portant  information. 
F ig.  6 Instr um en t cluster:  center  display 
Fig. 7  Wiper  lever:  controls  for the  menu  display 
Center  display 
With  the ignition  on,  the  display  in the  Driver In
formation  System  shows the  following  informa
tion : 
- CD  inserted  or  Radio station  set 
- Outs ide  temperature:  At temperatures  below 
41  °F  (+ S 
0
(), a snowflake  symbol appears  in 
front  of the  temperature  display ¢,& . 
- Warning  when  a door, the  engine  compartment 
lid  or  the  trunk  lid is not  closed. 
Additional  functions 
You can open  the following  functions  in the  Driv
er  Information  System  disp lay by pressing  the 
I RES ET I button  ¢ fig. 7 one or  more  times: 
Digital  speedometer* 
T ir e pressu re monitoring 
¢page  196 
20 
Trip computer ¢ page  21 
Menu display ¢ page  22 
Service  interval  display¢ page  24 
Lap timer* ¢page  25 
Speed warn ing ¢ page  69 
Auto  Check Control 
Some functions  and vehicle  components  are 
scanned for  their  operating  status  when  you 
switch  the  ignition  on and whi le you are driving . 
Malfunctions  or required  service  procedures are 
signaled  audib ly and ind icated  by red and yellow 
ill uminated  symbols  and  reminders in the dis
play. 
& WARNING -
- Never re ly exclusively  on the  outside  tem
perature  display  to  determine  if  a road sur
face  is  icy  or  not.  Keep  in mind  that  road sur
faces, especially  bridges  and overpasses, 
could  be  ice covered and slippery  even at  an 
outside  temperature  above 41  °F (+S °C). 
-Always  remember,  even if  the  "snowflake" 
symbol  (ice warning)  does  not appear  in the 
display,  black  ice could  be  on the  road. 
- Always reduce your  speed and  drive with 
special care  in cold  weather  cond itions  when 
the  chance of  encountering  icy road surfaces 
increases. 
(D Tips 
On vehicles with  Aud i Navigation  system,  the 
displays  may differ  from  their  normal  appear
ance  during  navigation.  
Page 26 of 232
Driver  information system 
• Press  the  rocker  switch  until  the  desired  line  is 
highlighted  (cursor)~ 
fig. 14. 
• Press  the !R ESE T I button. 
•  If  necessary,  scroll  by se lecting  and  activating 
the  symbol  for  "Next  page" or  "Previous  page". 
When  you  have  selected  the  Computer  menu  and 
activated  it  by p ressing  the 
! RESET I button,  two 
computer  levels appear  (computer  1 and  comput
er  2) . Now you  have  to  select  the  level you  want 
using  the  rocker  switch  and  activate  it  with  the 
I RESET I button . 
Service  interval  display 
The service  interval  display  reminds  you  when 
your  next  service is due. 
Fig.  15 Sectio n  of  inst rument  cl uster:  Serv ice  in terva l dis
pl ay 
The  schedule  for  the  next  oil change  or  inspec
tion  is calculated  automatically  and  displayed  ac
cording ly. The  display  works in two  stages: 
Service  reminder 
30  days  before  the  next  service  is  due,  a serv ice 
reminder  appears  in the  display  when  you  turn  on 
the  ignition. 
After  about  5  seconds  the  display  sw itches  back 
to  normal.  The  distance  and  time  remaining are 
updated  each  time  the  ignition  is turned  on  unti l 
the  date  due  for  serv ice  is  reached. 
Service  due 
When  the  due  date  for  service  is  reached , the 
mes sage 
Service  due! appears  in the  instrument 
cluster  immediately  after  you  turn  on  the  igni
tion . Additionally,  a warning  tone  sounds.  After 
24 
about 5 seconds  the  display  switches  back  to  nor
mal. 
Calling  up  the  service schedules 
If or when  an  oil  change or  inspection  is  due,  can 
be  shown  in the instrument  cluster by select ing 
the  se rvice interval  display. Select 
Check>  Serv
ice 
> Oil  change or Service by using  the I RESET I 
button and  the  rocker switch ¢ page  23,  fig.  12. 
Resetting  the  service  interval  display 
Your authorized  Audi  dealer  will  reset  the corre
sponding  service schedule after  performing  the 
appropriate  service  on your  vehicle . You also  have 
the  possibility  to  reset  the  oil change  schedule  af
ter  having  performed  an  oi l change  according  to 
Audi  specifications. 
- Switch  the ignition  on. 
- Pull the  knob<> 
fig.  15. The  message. Service 
due! 
appears. 
- Pull  the  knob  until  the display 
Oil change in 
-----mi  (km)---days appears.  If the I RESE T I 
button  is not  pulled  with in 5 seconds,  the  dis
play  reset  mode  closes. 
(D Note 
-Only  reset  the  oil  change  display when  you 
have  completed  an  oil change. 
-If you  disconnect  the battery  terminals,  no 
calculations  can  be made  for  the  service  in
terval  display  during  this  time  and  no  serv
ice  reminder  will  appear.  Remember  that 
observing  the  proper  service intervals  is vi
tally  important  to  extend ing the  life  of your 
vehicle,  particularly  the  engine,  and  main
taining  its  va lue.  Even if the  mileage  driven 
is  low,  the  maximum  per iod  of one  year 
from  one service  to  the  next must  not  be  ex
ceeded. 
@ Tips 
The  information  in the  Service  Reminder  re
mains  stored  even  when  the  vehicle  battery  is 
disconnected .  
Page 29 of 232
Opening  and  closing Keys 
Key set 
F ig. 20 Key  set 
Fig. 21 Remote  master  key : Indicator  l ight 
@ Ma ste r key with  r em ote  control 
You  can  centra lly lock  and unlock  your  vehicle  and 
start  the  engine  with  the master  key with  remote 
control.  To fold  the  key out  and  back in  place, 
press  the  release  button 
c:;, fig. 20 (arrow) . 
@Vale t  key 
The  valet  key only  fits  the  lock  in the  driver's  door 
and  the ignition  lock.  If you  have  to leave  the  key 
with  somebody  e lse,  you  are  well-advised  to  turn 
over  the valet  key o nly. 
Be  aware  that  the  front  lid and  glove  compart
ment  can be  opened  from  ins ide  the  vehicle  using 
the  release  buttons. 
© Emergency  k ey 
The  emergency  key is only  for temporary  use  if 
;:::  the  vehicle  key should  be  lost  or  misplaced. 
l'N "1: rl I.O 
"' N 
"' rl 
Open ing  and  clo sing 
Key replac ement 
If you  lose  a  key, contact  you r a uthorized  Audi 
dealer  immed iate ly to  have  the 
Lost key disab led . 
Be sure  to  bring  all your  keys  with  you. 
If  a  key is  lost,  you  should  report  it to  your  insur
ance  company. 
Reg istered  keys 
You can  inquire  about  the  number  of  remote 
master  keys  registered  to  your  vehicle 
c:;, page 22 . 
In this  way, you  can  be  ce rtain  of  obta ining  all 
the  remote  master  keys  if yo u purchase  a  used 
vehicle. 
State  of  master  key battery 
When  a  button  is  pressed,  the  check light  f lashes 
c:;, fig. 21. If  the  check  light  does  not  come  on  or 
flash,  the  battery  is  dead  and  has  to  be  replaced. 
Battery  replacement 
c:;, page 28. 
A WARNING ..__ 
- Do not  leave  your  vehicle  unattended  with 
the  key in the  ignition  lock.  Entry  by u nau
thor ized  persons  could  endanger  you  or  re
sult  in  theft  or  damage  the  vehi cle.  Always 
lock  all  doors  a nd take  the  key . 
- D o  not  leave  ch ildren  unattended  in the  ve
h icle,  espe cially wi th access  to  vehicle  keys. 
Ungua rded  access  to  the  keys  provides  chil 
dren  the  opportunity  to  start  the  engine 
and/or  activate  vehicle  systems  such  as  the  power  windows  etc.  Unsupervised  operation 
of  any vehicle  system  by children  can  result 
i n  ser ious  injury. 
@ Tips 
- If you  open  the  driver's  door  with  the  key 
left  in the  ignition  lock,  a  chime will so und. 
Th is  is your  rem inder  to  remove  the  key and 
lock  the  door. 
- For security  reasons,  rep lacement  keys are 
only  avai lable  from  Audi dealers. 
-
27  
Page 36 of 232
Opening and  closing 
W hen  the  system  is activated,  the  ala rm  w ill be 
triggered  if one  of the  doors,  the  engine  com
partment  lid  or the  front  lid  are  opened. 
The ant i-theft  a larm  system  will a lso  go  off  when 
the  battery  is disconnected. 
You ca n also  tr igger  the  alarm  by p ressing  the 
PAN IC b utton  o n your  remote-c on trol  key . Thi s 
will  alert  o ther  people  in case  of  emergency. 
Press  the 
PANIC button  again  to  t urn  off  the 
alarm. 
How is the  anti-theft  alarm  switched  off 
when  trigg ered? 
The ala rm  sys tem  is switc hed  off  when  you  un 
lock the  vehicle  using  the  remote-contro l key or 
when  the  ignit ion  is  switched  on.  The  a larm  w ill 
a lso  switch  itself  off  when  it  comes  to  the  end  of 
its  cycle . 
Emergency flasher 
The emergency  f las her  will  blink  briefly  w hen  the 
doors,  engine  compartment  lid and  front  lid are 
properly  closed. 
If  the  emergency  flashers  do  no t blink ,  check  the 
doors,  engine  compartment  lid and  front  lid  to 
make  sure  they  are  properly  closed . If you  close  a 
door,  the  engine  compartment  lid or  the  front  lid 
with  the  an ti-theft  alarm  switc hed  on,  the  emer
gency  flashers  will  bli nk only  after  you  have 
closed  the  door  or  lid . 
(D Tips 
For the  anti-theft  alarm  system  to  function 
properly, make  sure  all  vehicle  do ors  and  w in
dows  are  closed  befo re  leavi ng  the  veh icle . 
34 
Power  windows 
Controls 
The driver  can operate  all  windows . 
Fig. 3 1 Driver 's doo r: powe r w in dow  swi tches 
The  power  window  swi tc h es  h ave a two-positi on 
fun ction : 
Opening  the  windows 
.,. Press  the  switch  and hold  it down unt il the 
w indow  has  reached  the  desired  posi tion. 
.,.  Press  the  switch 
briefly to  open  the  window  a u
t om atic ally . 
.,.  By brief ly pressing/p ulling  the  sw itch  again,  the 
downward  travel  of  the  window  can  be  stopped 
in  any  positio n 
¢ .&,. 
Closing the  windows 
.,. Pull the  sw itch  and hold  it until  t he w indow  h as 
re ached  the  desire d position . 
.,.  Pull  the  sw itch 
briefly to  close  the  window  au 
tomatically  . 
.,.  By briefly  pressing/p ulli ng  the  switch  again,  the 
upward  travel  of the  window  can  be  stopped  in 
any  position 
¢ ,& . 
A WARNING 
-Do not  leave  ch ild ren  unattended  in the  ve
hicle,  especially  with  access  to  vehicle  keys . 
Unsupervised  use  of  the  keys  can  re sult  in 
s tarti ng  of  the  engine  and  use  of vehi cle  sy s
t ems  su ch  as  power  wi ndow s,  e tc.  whic h 
co uld  res ult  in se rious  i njury. 
- Remembe r -you  ca n  still  ope n or  close  the 
power  windows  fo r abo ut  ten  minutes  after  
Page 54 of 232
Clear vision 
in the  interval  wipe  position  and then  come back 
a while  later  and drive  off,  the  rain sensor will  re
activate  itself after  the  vehicle  speed has exceed
ed 4  mph  (6  km/h). 
The rain  sensor*  is only  activated  with  the  wiper 
lever set to  position(!). When  it  starts  to  rain, 
the  rain  sensor will  automatically  activate  the  in
termittent  wiping  mode. 
To reduce the  sensitivity  of  the  sensor, move 
switch @ down.  To increase the  sensitivity,  move 
the  switch  up.  The higher  you adjust  the  sensitivi
ty, the  faster  the  sensor will  react  when  it  senses  moisture  on the  windshield.  The pauses between 
wiper  turns  depend  not  only  on the  sensitivity  setting,  but  on the  vehicle  speed as well. 
During  brief  stops,  e.g . at  a red light,  wiper  mo
tion  will  automatically  be reduced to  the  next 
lower  speed . Wipers  already  turning  at  low  speed 
change to  intermittent  wiping. 
When  the  ignition  is turned  on, the  washer jets 
are heated. 
A WARNING 
- Wiper  blades are crucial  for  safe driving!  On
ly when  they  are  in good  condition  are they 
able to  clear the  windows  properly  to  pro
vide  uncompromising  visibility.  Worn  or 
damaged  wiper  blades are a safety  hazard 
¢ page  53,  Replacing  windshield  wiper 
blades! 
- The  light/rain  sensor*  is only  designed  to  as
sist  and support  the driver.  It  remains en
tirely  the  driver's  responsibility  to  monitor  outside  weather  conditions  and to  manually 
activate  the  wipers  as soon as rain  or  drizzle 
reduces visibility  through  the  windshield . 
- The windshield  must  not  be treated  with 
water-repellent  materials.  They can increase 
glare  under  poor visibility  conditions  such as 
wetness,  darkness,  or when  the  sun is low 
on the  horizon . In  addition,  they  can cause 
the  windshield  wipers  to  chatter. 
(D Note 
In  freezing  or  near freezing  conditions: 
52 
- Always  check that  the  wiper  blades  are not 
frozen  to  the  glass before  you turn  the  wip
ers on.  Loosen  a wiper  blade which  is frozen 
in  place before  operating  the  wipers  to  pre
vent  damage to  the  wiper  blade  or  the  wiper 
motor . 
- Do not  use the  wipers  to  clear  a frosted  win
dow.  Using the  wipers  as a convenient  ice 
scraper will  destroy  the  wiper  blades . 
- Before you take  your  vehicle  to  an automatic 
car wash,  make sure you have the  wind
shield  wiper  system  switched  off  (lever  in  position 
0), otherwise  the  windshield  wiper 
system  could get  damaged  in the  car wash  if 
it  should  suddenly  come on. 
(D Tips 
- The  windshield  wipers  are switched  off 
when  the  ignition  is turned  off.  Activate  the 
windshield  wipers  after  the  ignition  is 
switched  back on by moving  the  windshield 
wiper  lever to  any position. 
- Worn  or  dirty  windshield  wiper  blades cause 
smearing,  which  can affect  the  operation  of 
the  light/rain  sensor*.  Check the  condition 
of  your  windshield  wiper  blades regularly. 
- The  rain sensor  is part  of  the  interval  wiping 
system.  Turning  off  the  ignition  will  also de
activate  the  rain  sensor . To reactivate  the 
sensor, switch  off  the  interval  wiping  func
tion,  then  switch  it  back on again. 
- Applies  to  vehicles with  light/rain  sensor: 
When  the  wipers  are switched  on  manually 
and in  rain  conditions,  the  automatic  head
lights*  turn  on  <=> 
page  46,  Lights or off  dur
ing  the  day when  the wipers  are  no longer 
operating.  The automatic  headlights*  func
tion  is available  in this  case only  when  the 
light  switch  is in the  "AUTO" position 
<=> 
page  46,  fig.  55. 
- Make sure the  washer  fluid  reservoir  in  the 
engine  compartment  is topped  off  before 
going  on a long  trip.  Look up<=> 
page  168 
for  checking  and filling  the  washer  contain
er. 
- The  wipers  only  operate  with  the  hood  com
pletely  closed.  
Page 68 of 232
On  the  road 
On  the  road 
Steering 
Adjusting  the  steering  wheel  column 
The steering  wheel position  can be  continuously 
adjusted  in height  and  distance . 
Fig. 76 Lever  u nde r the  stee rin g  co lumn 
...  Push the  lever ¢ fig.  76 down ¢ _&.. . 
... Move the  steering  wheel  to  the  desired  posi
tion . 
...  Push the  lever  against  the  steering  column  un-
til  it  locks . 
There must  be at  least  10  inches (25  cm)  be
tween  your  chest  and the  center  of  the  steering 
wheel.  If you  cannot  sit  more  than  10  inches (25 
cm) from  the  steering  wheel,  see if  adaptive 
equipment  is ava ilable  to  help you  reach the  ped
als and  increase the  distance  from  the  steering 
wheel. 
For detailed  information  on how to  adjust  the 
driver's  seat,  see 
¢ page  57. 
A WARNING 
Improper  use of  steering  wheel  adjustment 
and improper  seating  position  can cause seri
ous pe rsonal  injury. 
- Adjust  the  steering  wheel  column  only  when 
the  vehicle  is not  moving  to  prevent  loss of 
vehicle  control. 
- Adjust  the  driver's  seat  or stee ring wheel  so 
that  there  is a minimum  of  10  inches (25 
cm) between  your  chest and the  steering 
wheel¢ 
page  87,  fig.  100. If  you cannot 
maintain  this  min imum  distance,  the  airbag 
system  cannot  protect  you  proper ly. 
66 
- If  physical  limitations  prevent  you from  sit
ting  10 inches (25  cm) or  more from  the  steering  wheel,  check with  your  authorized 
Audi  dealer  to  see if  adaptive  equipment  is 
available. 
- If  the  steering  wheel  is aligned  with  your 
face,  the  supplemental  dr iver's airbag  can
not  p rov ide as much  protection  in an acci
dent.  Always  make sure that  the  steering 
wheel  is aligned  with  your  chest. 
- Always hold  the  steering  wheel  w ith  your 
hands at  the  9  o'clock and  3 o'clock  posi
tions  to  reduce the  risk  of  persona l injury  if 
the  dr iver's airbag  dep loys. 
- Never hold  the  steering  wheel  at  the  12  o'clock  position  or  with  your  hands inside 
the  steering  wheel  rim  or  on the  steering 
wheel  h ub. Holding  the  steering  wheel  the 
wrong  way can cause serious  injuries  to  the  hands,  arms  and  head if  the  driver's  airbag 
deploys. 
Ignition  Lock/Ignition 
switch 
Ignition  lock 
The ignition  key starts  or stops  the  engine. 
Fig. 77 Ign it ion  lock posit ions 
Ignit ion off CD 
In  position  ¢ fig. 77 (D both  the  ignition  and en
gine  are off,  and the  steering  is locked. 
To 
l ock  the steering after  you have removed the 
ignition  key, t urn the  steering  wheel  in either  di
rection  until  you  hear  it  lock  into  place. You 
should  always lock the  steering  whenever  you  .,.  
Page 138 of 232
Intelligent technology 
Press  the I!! button  briefly¢ fig.  126 . The II in
dicator  light  turns  on and  Sport control Warn
ing! Restricted st abilit y appears in the  driver  in
formation  system  d isplay.  Driving  stability  is  lim
ited  in sport  mode. 
Sw itch ing  ESC  off 
Press and hold  the 
l!I button  for  three  seconds . 
The ESC indicator  light 
fl turns  on and  Stabil i
z atio n prog ram off appears in  the  display.  ASR is 
also switched  off  when  ESC  is sw itched  off. 
Sw itch ing on 
Press the 
l!J button  again.  The message  Stabili
zation  progr am on  appears  briefly  in the  disp lay . 
_& WARNING 
You should  only  sw itch  the  ESC off  if  your  dr iv
ing  ability  and the  traffic  s ituation  allow.  This 
could  increase the  risk  of  slipp ing. 
- The stabilizing  function  is limited  in ESC 
sport  mode. The driving  wheels  could  spin  and the  vehicle  could  swerve,  especially  on 
slick  or slippery  road surfaces. 
- There is no vehicle  stabilization  when  ESC is 
switched  off. 
(D Tips 
If  there  is a malfunction  in the  retractable 
rear spo iler*  or  the  A udi  magnetic  ride*,  it 
may not  be possible  to  activate  ESC sport 
mode  or  normal  mode  may act ivate  aga in au
tomatically. 
Braking 
What  affects  braking  efficiency? 
New  brake  pad s 
During  the  f irst  250  miles  (400  km),  new brake 
pads do not  possess the ir full  braking  effect,  they 
have to  be "broken  in"  first¢.&. . The break- in pe
riod  can be considerab ly longer  for  vehicles w ith 
ceramic  b rake roto rs*. You can compensate  for 
this  s light ly reduced  b ra ki ng power  by push ing 
ha rder on the  b rake peda l. Avoid heavy braking 
loads  during  the  bre ak-in period. 
136 
Operating  conditions  and  driving  habits 
The bra kes on  today's automobiles  a re s till  sub
j ect  to wear, depend ing  largely  on operating  con 
ditions  and driving  habits ¢& . On vehicles that 
a re either  driven  most ly in  stop-and-go  city  traf
fic  or  are driven  hard,  the  brake pads should  be 
checked by your  authorized  Aud i dealer  more  of
te n tha n specified  in the  Warranty 
& Maint e
nance bookl et.  Failure to  have you r brake pads 
i nspected  can resu lt  in reduced b rake pe rform
ance. 
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the  braking  ef
fect  of  the  engine . This way, you  prevent  un nec
essary wear  on the  brake system . If  you  must  use 
you r brakes, do not  hold  the  bra kes down  cont in
u o usly. Pump the  brakes  at  in tervals. 
Operating  noise 
Noises may occur when  braki ng depending  on the 
speed,  braking  force  and outs ide cond it ions such 
as tempera ture and hum idity. 
Due to  the  nature  of  the  materia ls used i n ceram
i c brake rotors*,  noises may become more  appa
r ent  at  low  speeds. 
Effect  of  water  and  road  salt 
In  certa in situations,  for  examp le after  driv ing 
through  water , in  heavy rain,  after  overnight  con
densation  or  after  washing  your  car, the  braking 
effect  can be reduced by moisture  or  ice on the 
brake rotors  and brake pads . The brakes must  be 
dr ied fi rst  w ith  a few  careful  b rake app lications. 
At  higher  speeds and with  the  windsh ield wipers 
turned  on, the  brake pads press against  the  brake  r otors  for  a short  amount  of  time.  This occurs at 
r egular  intervals  without  the  dr iver not ic ing and 
provides fo r be tter  brake  response time  under 
wet  cond it ions. 
The effect iveness of  the  brakes ca n be red uced 
when  the  v ehicle  is d riv en on a salt-cove red road 
and the  b rakes are no t used.  Likewise, you  clean 
off  a ccumula ted salt  coating  from  b rake d iscs 
and  pads with  a few  ca utious app lications  of  the 
brake ¢& . 
D ue to  the ir sur fa ce character istics,  cerami c 
brake  ro tors * absorb  moistu re  in  such  co ndi tions .  ..,.  
Page 139 of 232
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This can cause a temporary  reduction  in braking 
force  compared  to  dry  brakes. You can compen
sate for  this  by pressing the  brake pedal harder. 
Cor ro sion 
There may be a tendency  for  dirt  to  bui ld up on 
the  brake pads and  corrosion  to  fo rm  on the  discs 
if  the  car is not  driven  regularly  or  only for  short 
trips  with  little  use of  the  brakes. 
If the  b rakes are not  used frequently,  or  if  corro
sion  has formed  on the  discs, it  is advisab le to 
clean off  the  pads and discs by braking  firmly  a 
few  times  from  a moderately  high  speed 
c:> &. . 
Faults  in the  brake sy stem 
If you should  notice  a sudden increase in  brake 
pedal travel,  then  one of  the  two  brake circuits 
may have fai led 
c:> .&, . 
Low brak e flu id le vel 
Malfunct ions can occur in the  brake system  if  the 
brake fluid  level  is too  low.  The brake flu id  leve l is 
monitored  e lectronically. 
Br ake power  assis t  un it 
T he brake power  assist unit  increases the  pres
sure that  you  generate  with  the  brake pedal. 
It 
works  only  when  the  eng ine  is running . 
Brak e  lining  wear sta tu s 
Brake lining  wear  may be checked by visual  in
spection  of  the  condition  of  the  brake pads 
through  the  openings  in the  wheel.  If  necessary, 
the  wheel  may be removed for  this  inspection 
c:> page 203 . 
.8, WARNING 
-New brake pads don't  have the  best  stop
ping  power  and must  be "broken-in"  during 
the  init ial  250  mi les ( 400  km)  of  normal  city 
driving.  The break -in  period  can be consider
ably  longer  for  vehicles with  ceramic  brake 
rotors *. You can compensate  for  this  by 
pressing  the  brake pedal  more  firmly.  This 
also applies  later  when  new pads are instal
led . 
- You should  perform  brak ing maneuvers for 
the  purpose  of  clean ing the  brake system 
Int elli ge nt  te chn olo gy 
only  if  road conditions  permit.  Other  road 
users must  not  be put  at  r isk  -you  may 
cause an accident! 
- Before descending  a steep  grade,  reduce 
speed and sh ift  transmission  into  a lower 
gear or  lower  dr iving  range.  Do not  ride  the 
brakes or  hold  the  pedal  down  too  long  or 
too  often.  This could  cause the  bra kes to  get 
hot  and  dimin ish braking  effic iency . 
- Do not  "ride the  brakes"  by rest ing your  foot 
on the  pedal when you do not  intend  to 
brake. This may cause the  brakes to  over
heat,  premat ure wear  and  increased stop
ping  distance. 
- Under certain  cl imatic  and operat ing condi 
tions  such as passing thro ugh water,  dr iv ing 
in heavy rain  or  after  washing  the  vehicle, 
the  effectiveness  of  the  brakes can be re
duced . In  winter,  ice can accumulate  on the 
brake pads, lin ings, discs and  drums.  Care
fully  apply  brakes for  a test.  Brakes will  dry  and  ice coatings  will  be cleaned off  after  a 
few  careful  brake applications. 
- Driving  for  an extended  period  of  t ime on 
salt-covered  roads without  using your  brakes can also affect  braking  efficiency . 
Clean off  accum ulated  salt  coating  from 
b rake discs and  pads with  a few  cautious 
brake applications. 
- If  you damage the  front  spoiler,  or  if  you  in
stall  a different  spoiler,  be su re the  air flow 
to  the  front  brakes is not  obstructed . O ther
wise the  brake system  could  overheat  reduc
ing the  effectiveness  of  the  entire  brake sys
tem . 
- Fai lure of  one brake circuit  will  impai r the 
braking  capability  resu lting  in  an increased 
stopping  distance . Avoid driving  the  vehicle 
and  have it  towed  to  the  nearest Aud i dea ler 
or  qualif ied workshop. 
- Never let  the  vehicle  roll  to  a stop  with  the 
engine  shut  off. 
- If  the  brake booster  is not  working,  for  ex
ample  when  towing  your  veh icle,  or  because 
the  brake booster  has somehow  been dam
aged, the  brake pedal  must  be pressed con 
siderably  harder to  make up for  the  lack of  booster  assistance. 
1 37  
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Power  steering 
When  the  engine  is running,  power  steering 
makes  i t easier  for  the  driver to steer. 
Power  steering  helps  the  driver steer  the  vehicle 
with  litt le physical  effort. 
If the  engine  is  not  running,  the  power steering 
system  is also  not  working.  In  this case, you will 
find  it extremely  difficult to  turn  the  steering 
wheel. 
If you  turn  the  steering fully to  the  left  or right 
when  the vehicle  is stationary,  you  place a very 
heavy  load  on the  power  steering  system.  Turning 
the  steering  wheel  fully to  the  left  or  right  wi ll 
cause noise  in the  system . It  also  reduces engine 
idle  speed. 
(D Note 
Do not  hold  the  steering  turned  fully to  the 
left  or  right  for  more  than  10  seconds  when 
the  engine  is running.  There is a risk  of dam
age to  the  power  steering  system. 
@ Tips 
- In  the  event  of  a power  steering  system  fail
ure,  or  if the  engine  is not  running  (while 
being  towed),  you will  still  be able to  steer 
the  vehicle.  However,  you will  require more 
effort  to do  so. 
- If  the  power  steering  system  has a leak or  is 
defective,  you  should  immediately  contact  a 
qualified  workshop . 
- The power  steering  system  requires a spe
cial  hydraul ic  fluid . The power  steering  fluid 
reservoir  is located  in the  engine compart
ment.  The correct  hydraulic fluid level is im
portant  for  proper operation  of  the  power 
steering  system.  The power  steering fluid 
l evel is checked according  to  the  Audi  main
tenance  service schedule. 
Dry  sump  lubrication 
High  lateral  and  longitudinal  forces  affect  the  en
gine  and the  vehicle  during  sporty  driving.  Dry 
sump  lubrication  ensures that  your  engine  is sup-
Intelligent  technology 
plied  with  oil and  properly  lubricated  even  under 
these  conditions. 
In  a  "norma l"  vehicle  the  oil pump  sends  the oil 
from  the  oil pan  to the  lubrication  points  in  the 
engine . The oil  then returns  to  the  oil pan.  In ex
treme  situations,  the  oil  pump may draw  in air, 
wh ich results  in  insufficient  oi l pressure . 
With  dry  sump lubrica tion,  the  oil  is not  in  the  oil 
pan (it  is "dry"),  but in  a separate  oi l tank.  While 
one  pump  supplies  the  engine  with  oil,  a second 
pump  suct ions the  oil  out  of  the  engine  and re
turns  it to  the  o il tank.  Because the  oil  tank  is tall 
and narrow,  oil  pressure  is constant  even under 
extreme  conditions . 
In  add ition,  the  oi l pan in vehicles  with  dry sump 
lubrication  is  noticeably  shallower . This allows 
the  engine  to  be installed  lower in the  vehicle, 
bringing  down  the  center  of  gravity . This im 
proves your  vehicle's  handling. 
Driving  with  your  quattro 
With  oil-wheel  drive, all four  wheels  are driven . 
General information 
With  all-wheel  drive,  power is distributed  to  all 
four  wheels . This  happens  automatically  depend
ing  on your  driving  style  and the  road conditions 
at  the  time . See also 
c:::.> page  134. 
The all-whee l drive  concept  is designed  for  high 
engine  power . Your vehicle  is exceptionally  pow
erful  and has excellent  driving  characterist ics 
both  under  normal  driving  conditions  and on 
snow and  ice. Always  read and fo llow  safety  pre
cautions 
c:::.> .&_ . 
Winter  tires 
When  driving  in the  winter,  your  vehicle  with  all
wheel  drive  has  an advantage,  even with  regular 
t ir es . In  winter  road  condit ions it  may  be advisa
ble to  mount  winter  tires  (or all-season  t ires) for 
improved  driveability  and  brak ing: these  tires 
must  be mounted  on 
all  four wheels. See also 
c:::.> page  193 , Winter  tires. 
139