brake fluid AUDI A4 2008 B8 / 4.G User Guide

Care of vehicle and cleaning247
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data After washing, the wheels should only be cleaned with an "acid-
free" cleaning agent for alloy wheels. This is available from Audi
dealers and specialist retailers. Never leave the cleaning agent on
the rims for any longer than specified in the instructions before
rinsing it off. If the wheel cleaner fluid contains acid it can attack the
surfaces of the wheel bolts.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used. If the
protective paint coating is damaged by stone chips etc., the
damaged area should be touched up immediately.
WARNING
Please note when cleaning the wheels that water, ice and road salt
can impair the effectiveness of the brakes – this can cause an
accident.Care of interiorSound system / MMI* display screen and MMI control console*The display screen can be cleaned with a soft cloth and a special
“LCD cleaner” (available from retailers of electrical goods). Moisten
the cloth with a small amount of the cleaning fluid.
Clean the MMI control console with a fine brush first to prevent any
dirt from getting in between the control buttons and the housing.
We then recommend wiping the MMI control console using a cloth
moistened with washing-up liquid and water.
Caution
To avoid scratching the screen, do not wipe the display with a dry
cloth.
•
To avoid any possibility of damage, do not let any liquid get
inside the control console.
Plastic parts and leatherettePlastic parts and leatherette can be cleaned with a damp cloth. If
this is not sufficient, plastic parts and leatherette should only be
treated with a special solvent-free plastic cleaner.Textile covers and trim partsTextile covers and trim parts (e.g. seats, door trim) should be
cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner. This will remove surface
dirt which could otherwise be rubbed into the textile material
during use. Do not use steam cleaners, as the steam could carry the
dirt deeper into the textile material.
Normal cleaning
We recommend that you use a soft sponge or lint-free, micro-fibre
cloth for normal cleaning. Only use brushes on floor coverings and
mats, as other textile surfaces could become damaged.
In the case of normal surface dirt you can use a foam cleaner. Use a
sponge to spread the foam on the textile surface and to work it into
the material lightly. However, make sure that the textile material
does not become soaking wet. Then dab off the foam with a dry and
absorbent cloth (e.g. a micro-fibre cloth) and vacuum off any
residue once the surface is completely dry.
Removal of stains
To treat stains caused by spilled drinks (coffee, fruit juice or similar)
make up a solution with a mild detergent for sensitive fabrics and
apply it with a sponge. If the stains are difficult to remove, a
washing paste can be applied directly onto the stain and worked
into the fabric. The surface will then have to be wiped with clear
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Checking and topping up fluids255
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Working on components in the engine compartment
Extra caution is necessary when working on components
in the engine compartment.Always be aware of the danger of injury and scalding as well as the
risk of accident or fire when working in the engine compartment
(e.g. when checking and refilling fluids). Always observe the warn-
ings listed below and follow all normal safety precautions. The
engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially
hazardous area. ⇒.
WARNING
•
Switch off the engine.
•
Remove the ignition key.
•
Apply the parking brake.
•
Put the gear lever in neutral or selector in P.
•
Wait for the engine to cool down.
•
Keep children away from engine compartment.
•
Never spill fluids on hot engine components. These fluids can
cause a fire (e.g. radiator anti-freeze).
•
Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system,
especially when working on the battery.
•
Do not touch the radiator fan when the engine is hot. The fan
may start running suddenly.
•
Do not unscrew the cap on the expansion tank when the engine
is hot. The cooling system is under pressure.
•
Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large,
thick rag to protect against escaping coolant and steam.
•
If any tests have to be performed with the engine running,
there is an extra safety risk from the rotating parts, such as the
drive belts, alternator and radiator fan, etc., and from the high-
voltage ignition system.
•
Vehicles with automatic gearbox: Never open the throttle inad-
vertently (for instance by hand from the engine compartment) if a
gear is engaged while the vehicle is stationary with the engine
running. The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately
and possibly cause an accident.
•
Observe the following additional warnings if work on the fuel
system or the electrical system is necessary:
−Always disconnect the battery.
−Do not smoke.
−Never work near naked flames.
−Always keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately
available.Caution
When topping up fluids make sure the correct fluid is put into the
correct filler opening. This can otherwise cause serious malfunc-
tions or engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle regularly so that any
leaks are detected at an early stage. If you find oil spots or other
fluids, have your vehicle inspected by a qualified workshop.
Note
On right-hand drive vehicles* some of the containers / reservoirs
mentioned below are located on the other side of the engine
compartment.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and topping up fluids 256Closing the bonnet– To close the bonnet, pull it down to overcome the spring
pressure.
– Then let it drop into the catches; do not press down ⇒.
WARNING
•
For safety reasons the bonnet must always be completely
closed when the vehicle is moving. After closing it always check
that it is properly secured. The bonnet must be flush with the adja-
cent body panels.
•
Should you notice that the bonnet is not safely secured when
the vehicle is moving, stop the vehicle immediately and close the
bonnet properly, otherwise it could cause an accident.
Engine compartment layoutEngine compartment layout
Main components for checking and refillingFig. 252 Typical locations of fluid containers, engine oil dipstick and engine oil
filler cap
Jump-start terminal (+) under a cover . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid reservoir (
) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil filler cap (

) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil dipstick* (orange) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator expansion tank () . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jump-start terminal (-) with hexagon head . . . . . . . . .
Windscreen washer container (
) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering . . . . . . . .
A1
265, 294
A2
262
A3
259
A4
258
A5
261
A6
265, 294
A7
267
A8
225
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Checking and topping up fluids 262
WARNING
•
The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap
on the expansion tank when the engine is hot: you could be
scalded by escaping steam
•
The coolant and coolant additive can be a health hazard. Store
the coolant additive in the original container in a safe place out of
reach of children – risk of poisoning.For the sake of the environment
Drained off coolant should not be used again. Drain off the used
coolant into a suitable container and dispose of it in the proper
manner (observe environmental regulations).Radiator fan
The radiator fan can start running spontaneously.The radiator fan is driven by the engine via a poly V-belt. The speed
of the fan is varied by a viscous clutch according to the temperature.
There is also an auxiliary electric fan, which cuts in automatically
whenever the temperature of the coolant and the engine compart-
ment rises above a certain level.
The auxiliary fan can continue to run for as long as 10 minutes after
stopping the engine – even after the ignition is switched off. It may
also start running suddenly ⇒ after a while if•
residual heat raises the coolant temperature, or
•
the hot engine compartment is additionally heated up by the
sun.
WARNING
When working in the engine compartment be aware that the radi-
ator fan may start running suddenly – risk of injury.
Brake fluidChecking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked at a glance.– Check the fluid level on the brake fluid reservoir
⇒fig. 258. It should always be between the “MIN” and
“MAX” marks.In right-hand drive vehicles the brake fluid reservoir is on the other
side of the engine compartment.
The fluid level may drop slightly after a period of time due to the
automatic compensation for brake pad wear. This is quite normal.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in a short time, or drops
below the “MIN” mark, there may be a leak in the brake system. If
the fluid level in the reservoir is too low, this will be indicated by the
brake warning lamp ⇒page 32. If this should happen, take the car
to a qualified workshop immediately and have the brake system
inspected.
Fig. 258 Engine
compartment: Mark-
ings on brake fluid
reservoir
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Checking and topping up fluids263
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Changing brake fluid
When required, the brake fluid should be changed by a
competent mechanic with the proper equipment.Brake fluid gradually absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. If the
water content in the brake fluid is too high, this may cause corrosion
in the brake system over time. In addition, the boiling point of the
brake fluid will be considerably reduced. This could adversely affect
the braking ability in certain circumstances.
For this reason the brake fluid must be changed periodically.
Your vehicle's Service Schedule will tell you when the brake fluid has
to be changed.
It is advisable to have the brake fluid changed as part of a regular
Inspection Service at your Audi workshop. They are familiar with the
procedure and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as
well as the proper facilities for disposing of the old fluid.
Use only the genuine brake fluid specified by the factory Qualified
workshops know that the brake fluid “DOT 4” is approved by Audi.
The brake fluid must be fresh and unused.
WARNING
•
Brake fluid is poisonous; store it in the sealed original container
in a safe place out of reach of children.
•
Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake
fluid is left in the system for too long. This would seriously affect
the efficiency of the brakes and the safety of the car – risk of acci-
dent.Caution
Please note that brake fluid will attack the paintwork on contact.
For the sake of the environment
If the fluid has to be drained out of the brake system, use an appro-
priate container to catch the used brake fluid and dispose of it in the
proper manner.BatteryGeneral notes
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge.The battery is virtually maintenance-free. It is checked as part of the
Inspection Service.
We recommend that you replace a battery once it is older than 5
years.
When an airbag is triggered, the battery will, under certain circum-
stances, be disconnected from the on-board power supply for
safety reasons ⇒ in “General notes on airbag system” on
page 201.
Disconnecting the battery
If the battery is disconnected, some of the vehicle's functions will
become inoperative (e.g. electric windows). These functions will
require resetting after the battery is reconnected. For this reason,
the battery should only be disconnected from the vehicle's electrical
system when absolutely necessary.
If the vehicle is not used for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle for a period of several days or weeks,
the power management will gradually shut off the on-board
systems one by one, or reduce the amount of current they are using.
This limits the amount of power consumed and helps to ensure reli-
able starting even after a long period ⇒page 226.
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Index331
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data Automatic air conditioner plus
SeeDeluxe automatic air conditioner plus
101
Automatic cruise control
Seeadaptive cruise control . . . . . . . . 128
Automatic gearbox
Dynamic gear control program . . . . . 166
Kick-down feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Manual release (multitronic®) . . . . . . 168
multitronic® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Paddle levers (tiptronic mode) . . . . . . 167
Safety interlock for ignition key . . . . . 116
Selector lever lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Selector lever positions . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Steering wheel with paddle levers . . 167
tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162, 166
Automatic headlight control . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Automatic headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Auxiliary heating
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . .
110
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Running time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Switching on/off immediately . . . . . . 111
Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Average fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Axle weights
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
BBattery
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Low charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Power level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Power management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Winter conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Bayonet fastener
Bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Bulb holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Bicycle rack
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Bioethanol fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Blower
Deluxe automatic air conditioner . . . . . 96
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . .
104
Bonnet
Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Boot
SeeLoading luggage compartment . 192
SeeLuggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . 79
Boot lid
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Manual release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Brake system
Brake assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Brake light defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Brake pads worn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Electro-mechanical parking brake . . . 121
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
braking guard
SeeAudi braking guard . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Bulb holder
Bayonet fastener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Bulb monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Bulbs
Bayonet fastener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Changing (general notes) . . . . . . . . . . 304
Bulbs, changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Brake lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Bulb holder with bayonet fastener . 305,
306
Dipped headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Front fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Main beam headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Rear fog light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Rear lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Reversing light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Turn signals (rear) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Business equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
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Index339
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data Towing bracket, removable . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Towing bracket, retrofitting . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Towline anchorage
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Traction control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Notes on towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Points to check before towing . . . . . . 232
Technical requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Trailer stabilisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Trailer turn signals
Indicator lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Trailer weights
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Tread depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Trip recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Trips, checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Indicator lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Type plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Tyre Mobility System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 41, 268
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . 39, 41
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Tyre Mobility System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tyres
Inflation pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 268
Run flat tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274Tread wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tyre pressure monitoring system . 39, 41
Tyre service life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
UUniversal transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Unleaded fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48VVehicle data sticker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Vehicle identification data . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Vehicle identification number . . . . . . . . . 321
Ventilation
Deluxe automatic air conditioner . . . . . 93
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . .
101
Ventilation slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192WWarning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Dynamic steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 36
Electro-mechanical parking brake . 19, 20
Electronic stabilisation program . . . . . 17
Emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Engine management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Seat belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Suspension control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Warning triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Washer fluid level low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Washing the vehicle
By hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
With high-pressure cleaner . . . . . . . . 244
Waxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Weights
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wheel imbalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246, 268
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Changing wheels round . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Window heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 106
Windows
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
De-icing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Windows (electric)
SeeElectric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Windscreen washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Windscreen wiper and washer system . . . 65
Windscreen wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Changing blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Service position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Winter conditions
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Care of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
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