check engine light AUDI A4 AVANT 2008 User Guide

BRAKE
(Ci))
BRAKE
_j_
COOLANT
~
OIL
PRESSURE USA
models:
Malfunction in the brake system
Canada models:
Malfunction in the brake system
Engine coolant level too low/
engine coolant temperature too
high
-
Engine oil pressure
too low =>
page 31
=> page 31
=> page 31
=> page 32
Red symbols indicate a priority 1 malfunction -Danger!
When a red symbol appears , a warning tone will sound consecu­
tively three times. The symbol continues to flash until the malfunc ­
tion has been repaired. If there are more than one priority 1 malfunc­
tions, the symbols appear one after the other for about two
seconds .a
Brake system malfunction BRAKE (USA models)/
(CD) (Canada models)
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as soon as possible.
When BRAKE/ (CD) (Canada models) appears in the display
and flashes, this means there is a malfunction in the brake
system. In addition to the symbol, one of the following two
messages also appears in the display:
Stop vehicle, check brake fluid and hydraulic fluid levels
Warning! Fault in ABS brake system. Contact workshop!
- Pull of the road and stop the vehicle.
- Check the brake fluid
level :::;, page 284.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
USA models : if there is a malfunction in the ABS system, the ABS
warning/indicator light illuminates along with the BRAKE system
malfunction warning/indicator
light=> ,&..
Canada models: if there is a malfunction in the ABS system, the 0
warning/indicator light illuminates together with the ((l)) brake
system malfunction warning/indicator
light =>,&. .
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in => page 265, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the engine hood and checking the brake
fluid.
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard! Stop the car and
get professional assistance.
• If the brake system warning/indicator light illuminates
together with the ABS warning/indicator light, then the ABS
system is malfunctioning. The rear wheels could quickly lock up
when you apply the brakes. This could lead to loss of control and
your vehicle could slide! Drive carefully to the nearest authorized
Audi dealer and have the malfunction corrected. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -L
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the - L symbol in the display flashes, then either the
engine coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant level
is too low. In addition to the symbol, the following message
also appears in the display:
Switch off engine, check coolant level
- Pull off the road and stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.

Driver information display
-Check coolant level :::> page 281.
-Add coolant if necessary=> page 282.
-Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
-Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be
the cause of the malfunction.
I f the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
=> page 22, then the fan belt may be damaged.
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights
=> page 79, "Emer­
gency flasher
A" .
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded .
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
=> page 265, "Engine compartment" .
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the-~-symbol illuminates. It indicates a
cooling system malfunction likely to result in serious damage to the
engine. •
Engine oil pressure malfunction ~
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair. Driving with a low-oil-pres­
sure indication is likely to result in serious damage to the
engine.
If the 9=::;,. symbol appears in the display and blinks, the oil
pressure is too low. In addition to the symbol, the following
message also appears in the display:
Switch off engine, check oil level
Immediate actions
-Pull off the road and stop the vehicle.
-Shut the engine down.
-Check the engine oil level with the dipstick=> page 277.
Dipstick reading checks too lovv
-Top off oil to the proper level => page 278.
-Make sure that the oil pressure warning symbol 9=::;f.
appears no longer in the display before you start driving
again.
Dipstick reading checks OK
-If the 9=::;f. symbol starts flashing again even though the
engine oil level checks OK on the dipstick,
do not start
driving again and do not let the engine run at idle .
Instead, contact your authorized Audi dealer for assis-
tance.
.,_

[ i J Tips
• The engine oil pressure symbol ~ is not an indicator for a low
engine oil level. Do not rely on it . Instead , check the oil level in your
engine at regular interval s, preferably each time you refuel , and
always before going on a long trip.
• The yellow oil level warning indication requires oil refill or
workshop service without delay . Do not wait until the red oil pre s­
s ure warning symbol
~ starts to fla sh before you respond to the
low oil level warning
-... . By then , your engine may already have
s uffered serious damage. •
Yellow symbols
A yellow symbol means WARNING .
Yellow symbols mean:
Controls and equip ­
ment
Fig . 2 0 Display : lo w
fu el lev el warn ing
( priority 2 )
Driver information display
Low fuel leve l ~ page34
Check engine oil level ~ page34
Engine oil sensor malfunction ~ page34
-
Light/rain* senso r defective ~ page34
Worn b rake pad s ~ page34
USA models: ~ page34 Speed wa rn ing 1 ..
Canada models: ~ page34 Speed wa rning 1
Dyn amic headl ight ra nge con-
~ page34 trol* defect ive
W inds hield washer fluid level low
~ page34
-
USA models : ~ page34 Speed warn ing 2
Canada models : ~ page34 Speed war ning 2
Battery voltage too high or too
~ page35 low
Defective light bulb
~ page35
Adaptiv e light* defective ~ page35
Ye llow symbo ls ind icate a p riority 2 mal funct ion - Warning!
When a yellow symbo l appears, a warning tone wil l sound
once.
Check the displaye d functio n as so on as possi ble. I f more than one ._
irechnical data

Driver inf ormation di spl ay
priority 2 malfunction is detected, al l symbols will appear one after
t he other for about two seconds. •
Applie s to ve hicles: with Ligh ting pac kage
Light/rain* sensor defective fif>
~o Aut om atic hea dlig ht s/a utom atic w ipers defe ct iv e
If the symbol il luminates, the light /rain sensor has failed. For safety
reasons the low beams a re turned on permanently with the switch
in
AUTO. H owever, you can continue to turn the lights on and off
using the light sw itch . In the case of a defect in the ra in se nsor, the
windshield wiper lever functions are still available. Have the
l ight/ra in sensor checked as soon as poss ible at a dealersh ip .•
Fuel supply too low flt)
When the .ffi symbol illuminates, th is means there is about 2 to 2 .5
gallons (8 to 10 l itres) of fue l left in the fue l tank. Time to refuel!
=> page 268 . •
Checking the engine oil level ~ ..
When the ~ symbol illum inates, check the engine o il leve l as soon
as
possib le => page 277. Top off the oil at your ear liest opportunity
=> page 278 . •
Engine oil sensor defective ~ ...
If the ~-symbo l il lum inates, contact your authorized Audi dea ler
and have the oil sensor inspected . Until you have this done, check
the oi l leve l each t ime you refuel just to be on t he safe side
=> page 277. •
Worn brake pads 0
If the O symbo l illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dealer to
have the front brake pads inspected (on that occasion have the rear
brakes inspected as we ll to be safe) .•
Speed warning 1 8 (USA models)/ 0 (Canada
models)
I f the 0 symbo l il luminates, this means you are driving faster than
the set vehicle speed. Slow
down! => page 35. •
Applies to ve hicles : w ith d ynami c head light rang e adjus tment
Headlight range control defective {a:>
If the t0 illuminates, the dynamic head light range control is no
longer working properly. Have the system checked a nd repaired at
your Audi dealer .•
t·,···
Windshield washer fluid level too low <;p
If the O symbol illuminates, add windshield washer fluid to the
washer system and a lso fo r the headlight washer system*
=> page 291. •
Speed warning 2
0, (USA models)/ 9. (Canada models)
If the 0 symbol illum inates, this means you have driven faster than
the second set vehic le speed . S low
down!=> page 35 . •

Openin g and closing
Anti-theft alarm system
Description
The anti-theft alarm triggers an alarm if anyone attempts
to break int o the vehicle.
The anti-theft alarm system triggers an audible alarm and turns on
t he emergency flasher if an unauthorized interference with the
vehic le is sensed by the system .
How is the anti-theft al arm sy stem swit ched on ?
The anti -theft alarm system is switched on when you lock the
dr iver's door manually using your key, o r w hen you use the remote
control. The system is activated approximate ly 30 seconds after the
vehic le is locked. T he indicator light on top of the door trim s tart
flashing rapidly for 30 seconds and then b link slowly.
How is th e anti -theft alarm system switched off ?
The anti-theft alarm system is switched off only when you use the
r emote contro l to unlock your vehicle. If you do not open a doo r
within 60 seconds after you have un locked with the remote control,
the vehicle wi ll loc k itse lf aga in automat ical ly .
If you lock just the driver's door using your key , the front
passenger 's door, the rear and the fue l filler flap remain locked.
I f you use the veh icle key to unlock the driver's door, the other
doors , the rear lid and the fuel tank flap will remain locked . The
a lar m system wil l not be deactivated u nless you insert the key in the
ignition switch within 15 seconds and turn on the ignition . If you fail
to do this, the alarm wi ll sound.
Wh en w ill t he anti th eft ala rm sys tem b e trigg ere d?
When the vehicle is locked, the ala rm system monitors and pr otects
the fo llowing parts of the vehic le:
• engine compartment
• luggage compartment •
doors
• veh ic le incline
• ignition
• factory installed radio .
When the system is activated , the alarm will be triggered if one of
the doors, the engine hood or the rear lid are opened, or if the igni ­
tion is turned on or the radio removed or if the vehicle incline has
been changed .
The anti -theft alarm system wi ll also go off when you unlock the rear
lid with yo ur key and open it. The alarm is switched off again when
you c lose the rear lid .
The anti -theft alarm system wil l also go off when the battery is
disconnected.
You can also trigger the alarm by pressing the PANIC button on your remote c ontro l. This wil l a lert other people in case of emergency.
Press the
PANI C button again to turn off the a larm .
How i s the anti-theft alarm switched off when
trigg ere d ?
The ala rm system is switched off when you un lock the veh ic le using
the remote contro l or when the ignition is switched on . The a larm
wi ll also switch itse lf off when it co mes to the end of its cyc le .
Em ergen cy flash er
The emergency flasher wil l b link briefly when the doors, engine
hood and rear lid are properly closed .
I f the emergency flashers do not blink, check the doors, engine hood
and rear l id to make sure t hey are proper ly c losed . If you close a
door, the hood or the rear lid with the anti -theft a larm switched on,
the emergency flas hers wil l b link only after you have closed the
door or lid .
.,_

Opening and closing
Switches for rear windows
© operates the left rear window.
@ operates the right rear window.
Safety switch
© Safety switch for rear window operation.
_& WARNING
• Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, especially with
access to vehicle keys. Unsupervised use of the keys can result in
starting of the engine and use of vehicle systems such as power
windows, etc. which could result in serious injury.
• Remember -you can still open or close the power windows for
about ten minutes after the ignition is switched off. Only when
either of the front doors are opened are the power windows
switched off.
• Be careful when closing the windows. Check to see that no one
is in the way, or serious injury could result!
• Always remove the ignition key whenever you leave your
vehicle.
• If you lock your vehicle from the outside, no one, especially chil­
dren, should remain in the vehicle.
• Do not stick anything on the windows or the windshield that
may interfere with the driver's field of vision. •
Switches in the driver's door
The driver can operate all windows.
If the respective switch is pushed or pulled the window will
open or close. The power window switches have a
two-posi­
tion function:
Opening the windows
- Push the switch to the first stop and hold it there until the
window has lowered to the desired position.
- Push the switch briefly to the
second stop: the window
wi ll automatically open all the way.
Closing the windows
- Pull the switch up to the first stop and hold it there until
the window has risen to the desired position.
- Pull the switch quickly to the
second position: the
window will automatically close all the
way => & in
"Controls" on page 65.
Activating/deactivating rear windows
- Push the switch to the depressed position to activate the
rear windows - the light in the switch will go out.
- Briefly press the switch to deactivate the rear windows -
the switch will return to the safety position and the light
~ will illuminate.
The safety switch©~ page 65, fig. 63 in the armrest on the driver's
door turns off the rear power windows. Only when the safety switch
is depressed can the rear windows be opened or closed . The symbol
in the safety switch illuminates when the power windows in the rear
doors are switched off (button NOT depressed) . This feature has
been provided for the safety of small children riding in the rear of
the vehicle.
[ i] Tips
The windows can still be opened and closed for about ten minutes
after the ignition has been turned off. The power windows are not
shut off until one of the front doors is opened .•

• USA models: illumin ation of the in strument clu ste r (gauge s and
needle s), dash and center con sole around the gear shift lever i s
c ontrolled by a light sen sor l oca ted in the in strument panel . The
instrument panel illum ination will automatic ally become dimmer
a s the d aylight f ade s aw ay a nd e ventuall y will go out completel y
wh en out side light is very low . Thi s is to remind you , the driver , to
s witch on the he adlight s before it get s too dark.
• Canada model s: instrument panel illum ination will sta y br ight
rega rdle ss of the inten sity of ambient light . Al ways be aw are of
changes in outside light conditions while you are driving . Respond
in time to fading daylight by tu rning the light switch to position
1[D
(or "AUTO" if your car is equipped with this feature) to turn on your
he adlight s.
•
App lies to veh icle s: w it h xe non head lig hts
Xenon headlights
After sta rting the engine, the xenon head lights are automatica lly
adjusted to the load and angle of the veh ic le ( for example, during
accel eration and braking) . This prevents oncoming traffic from
experienc ing unnecessary headlight glare from your xenon head ­
lights.
I f the system is not operating properly, a warning symbol in the
Auto-Check Control is
displayed=> page 34. •
Controls and equip ­
ment
Cl ea r vision
Emergency flasher ~
The emergency flasher ma kes other motorists aware that
you or your vehicle are in an emergency situation .
Fig. 77 Ce nter
co nso le: e merg en cy
fl as he r sw it ch
- Press the switch &1. ~ fig. 77, to switch t he eme rgency
flasher on or off.
When the emergency flasher is on, all four turn signal blink at the
same time. The turn signal indicator lights ¢
9 in the instrument
c luster, as we ll as the light in the emergency flasher
switch ~ blink
likewise.
The emergency flasher wi ll automatically switch on if you are in an
accident where the airbag has deployed .
[ i] Tip s
You shou ld switch on the emergency flasher when :
• you are the las t vehicle standing in a traffic jam so that any other
vehicles coming can see you, or when
• your vehicle has broken down or you are in an emergency situa -
tion, o r when _.,

_________________________________________ ___:l:.:.. n !.!t ~e :.:.11 :.!.ig ~e :.:..n !.!t :... t::.: e::.: c~ h:..:.:..,: n~o =.!l~o ~g Lly '.,_ _l!III
speed of the vehicle about its vertica l axis, the lateral acce leration
ac ting on the veh ic le, the brake pressure and the s teering ang le a re
a ll measured .
The direction in which the driver wishes to travel is determined with
the aid of the steering angle and veh icle speed and is continua lly
compared with the actual behavior of the vehicle. If the two do not
match, -for example, when the vehicle starts hydrop la ning on a
wet road -
, ESP will au tomatical ly brake the appropria te wheel to
correct the problem .
The vehicle is then stabi lized by the forces acting on the whee l
during braking . If the vehicle is
oversteering (r ea r tends to skid out
of the turn), t he brakes are main ly app lied on the whee l that is on
the outside of the curve . In the case of a vehicle that is
understeering
(tendency to s lide out of the curve) , the bra kes are applied at the
rear whee l that is on the inside of the curve. An acoustic signal indi ­
cates when ESP brake appl ication cuts in
=> & .
The system operates across the entire speed range in combination
wi th the ABS system
~ page 240. If the Ant i- Lock Brake Sys te m
(ABS) malfunctions, the ESP wi ll be out of act ion as well.
Ac tivat ion
When you turn on the engine, ESP will automatica lly be activated
and will perfo rm a self -test.
You can activate a deactivated ESP or deact ivated ASR as requ ired
by pressing the
=> page 236, fig. 199 button.
D eac tiva tion
Norma lly, the ESP should always be on .
When necessary, you can deact ivate Anti -Slip Regulat ion (ASR) or
the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) by pressing the button
=> page 236, fig. 199 .
• Dea ctivating A SR: Tap briefly on the ESP button . In certain excep ­
t iona l situations (e .g. driving wit h tire chains or a t a forced pace
around a track), the Anti-S lip Regu lation (ASR) can be deactivated
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
=> page
238 . The ESP check light flashes . T ap the ESP button again
t o r eact ivate ASR. The ESP check light g oes out .
• Deactiv ating ESP : Press the ESP button for more than 3 seconds .
W ith ESP deactivated, the ESP check ligh t illum inates cons tant ly .
Press the ESP button again to reactivate ESP . The ESP check light
g o es out .
& WARNING
The Electronic Stabilization Program i s neve rthele ss subject to the
laws of physi cs . It is part icularly important to pa y attent ion to thi s
fact on we t and slippery roads . It is therefore important that you
always adapt your driving to the condit ion of the road and traffic
c onditions. Do not allow the inc reased safety provided by the Elec ­
tronic Stabiliz ation Program sy stem to lull you into a ccepting
additional safety ri sk s.
• Plea se note that when ESP or ASR is dea ctivated , the drive
wheels can spin on icy and slippery roads and the vehicle can
break a way -da nger of skidding! •
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The elec tr o nic differen tial l ock mon itors t he r ota tion al
speed of the drive wheels .
Gener al not es
The elec tronic d if f erential l ock (EDU helps the ca r to start mov ing,
accelerate and c limb a grad ient on surfaces providing poor or
a lmost n o grip. W ithout EDL, th is w ould be difficult, if no t impos ­
sib le.
How the system works
The EDL operates automatical ly. It monitors the rotational speed of
the drive whee ls on an ax le with the he lp of t he ABS senso rs
=> page 2 40 . If a noticeable difference in rotational speed between
the drive wheels on one axle is de tected (e .g. on sl ippery grou nd
on .,,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Intelligent technology
------~----- ~~--------------------------------------
one side), the spinning wheel is braked, thereby transferring power
to the other drive wheel or wheels (all- wheel drivel. This is done up
to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/h). Noises from the brake
system signal that wheel spin is being control led.
Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, gradual ly increase the pressure on the accelerator
pedal until the car starts to move. The wheel less able to transfer
power spins.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads, the EDL cuts out temporarily. The
veh ic le remains operational and behaves in the same way as a
vehic le without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto ­
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your
ability to control your car . - Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
ca n take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i ] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
indicated by the ABS warning
light => page 21. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP) . When the vehicle starts up and acceler­
ates, the wheels are prevented from sp inning by adjus tin g the
engine power to match the amount of grip availab le from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatical ly, i.e . w ithout the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS
sensors=> page 240, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, the engine
power is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to
lock onto the road surface. The system is active across the entire
speed range.
The ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction shou ld
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of act ion.
Activation
The ESP is automatica lly activated when the eng ine is started, and
it performs a self-test. You can activate a deactivated ASR, if
requ ired, by pressing
t h e=> page 236, fig . 199 button .
Deactivation
You can deactivate the ASR, if required, by pressing the button (for
less than 3
seconds) => page 236, fig. 199. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light flashes,
see=> page 22.
Normally, the ESP shou ld always be on, however, it may be advanta­
geous to turn off the system in certai n special cases when some
degree of wheel spin is desired such as :
• when driving with snow chains

llffl.___l_n _t _e _ll _ig =- e_n _ t_ te_ c_h _n_ o_ lo-'g'"'-=- y ___________________________________________ _
&, WARNING (continued )
• Before des cending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans­
mi ssion into a lo wer gear or lower driving po sition . Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
cau se the brake s to get hot and dimini sh braking efficiency .
• Do not ride the brakes by resting your foot on the ped al when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat, premature wear and in creased stopping distan ce.
• Under certain climati c and operating conditions such a s
passing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
v ehicle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced . In winter ,
ice can a ccumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Cautiously apply brakes for a te st. Brakes will dry and ice coating s
will be cleaned off after a few cautious brake applicat ions .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-co vered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking effi ciency . Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
c autious brake appli cations .
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
spoiler , be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed .
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective ­
ness of the entire brake system .
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance . Avo id driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop .•
Brake booster
T he brake booster add s ex tra braking power.
The bra ke booster works wit h vacuum pressure which is created
only whe n th e e ng in e is
runn ing=> &,.
& WARNING
• Never let the vehi cle roll to a stop with the engine shut off .
• If the brake booster is not working , for example when towing
your vehicle , or because the brake booster has somehow been
damaged, the brake pedal must be pre ssed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
A BS preven ts th e wh eels fr om lock ing up und er b rak ing.
T he ABS contributes effectively to vehicle contro l since it prevents
th e w heels from
lo cki ng w he n t he brakes a re a ppli ed. T h is mea ns
that the vehicle remains steerable and is less likely to skid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake . Just hold the brake
pedal down .
However, do not expect that the ABS shortens braking distance
u nder all circum sta nces. Whe n driving o n gravel or on newly fa lle n
snow on top of icy surfaces, braking distance may be even longer,
t herefore, under these ci rcums tances, it is espec ial ly i mpo rtant th at
you driv e slowly and with great care.
How the ABS system works
An automatic check is made when a speed of about 4 mph (6 km/h)
i s r eac hed . Wh en th is happe ns, a pumpi ng noi se can be hea rd.
I f a n indiv idual wheel be gins to rotat e too slowly i n relation to
vehic le speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatical ly reduces
brake pressur e to prevent tha t whee l from loc king .
Th is a utomatic adjustment process wi ll cause a
slight vibration of
t he brake peda l a nd s om e noi ses t o a lert y ou th at ve hicle spee d
must be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions. _..