AUDI A4 AVANT 2008 Owners Manual

____________________________________________________ T_r_a _i_le _ r_t_ o _ w_ i
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Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check with your
authorized Audi dealer for correct wiring, switches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you using the regular
outside mirrors, then you
must install extended mirrors. It is impor ­
tant that you
always have clear vision to the rear .
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure you
or your passengers. •
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical class 1 or class 2
trailer .
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in place to guard
against shifting, be it forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer~ & in "Driving instruc­
tions".
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the sticker on the right door­
jamb. Inflate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' specifica­
tions .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation Lights
The
headlight settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off. Adjust as necessary so that you can see the road
ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check proper working of vehicle and trailer lights .
Power Supply
The power supply to the trailer is disconnected when the ignition
key is removed.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle . Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you install safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch.•
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle and trailer,
please note the following:
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
- Observe speed limits.
- Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
- Always apply brakes early.
- Monitor the temperature gauge.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

III.___T_ r_a _il _e_ r_ t_o _vv_ i_ n """g"'- ---------------------------------------------------
W eig ht d is tri buti on
Towing a loaded tra iler wit h an empty car resu lts in a high ly
unstable distribution of weight . If this cannot be avoided drive at
ve ry low speeds only to avo id the risk of losing steering control.
A "ba lanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
the tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis ­
sib le whi le keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum ­
stances. Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage
compar tment of the tow veh icle whi le observi ng tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
T he higher the speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the driver to
contro l the rig . Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
Reduce your speed even more under unfavorable load, weather or
wind conditions -part icularly when going dow nh ill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immedi ately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not tr y to stop the s waying by a cceler ating .
Observe speed limits . In some areas speeds for veh ic les towi ng
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Always app ly brakes early. When driving downhi ll, shift into lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle. Use
of the brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
C oo la nt tempe ra tu re
The coola nt temperature gauge => page 13 must be observed care ­
ful ly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or switch off the air conditioner.
If the coolant te mperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts
flashing -~-, pul l off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build -up .
& WARNING
An yone not p rop erl y res trained in a mo ving vehicl e is at a much
gre ate r risk in an accident. Never let an yone rid e in your car who
is not p rop erl y wear ing the re stra int s pro vided b y Aud i. •
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a tra iler because of
the additional weight and weight distribution. Safety, performance
and economy wi ll great ly depend on how carefu lly you load your
trai ler and operate your rig.
Before you actual ly tow your tra iler, practice turning, stoppi ng and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing unti l you
have comp letely become familiar with the way yo ur vehicle -trailer
combination behaves and responds .
Backing up is difficu lt and requires practice. Backing up with a
trai ler genera lly requ ires steering action oppos ite of that when
backing up your vehic le without a trailer.
Mainta in a greater distance between you r vehic le and the one in
front of you. You will need more room to stop.
To compensate for the trai ler, you wi ll need a larger than normal
t urning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you nor mally wou ld because of t he added load . Make sure yo u have
enough room to pass. After passing, al low plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.

Traile r to win g -______________ _,..,_l'flllll
[ i] Tip s
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte ­
nance due to the extra load
=> page 346 . •
Parking on a slope
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
Wh en p arkin g:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the veh ic le and
the trailer wheels .
- Wit h chocks in p lace, s lowly release t he brakes until
wheel blocks absorb t he load.
- T urn t he wheels towards the curb .
- Apply the parking brake.
- Place an automatic transmission in
P , respect ively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
Wh en re starting aft er p arking:
- Start the e ngine .
- Shift transmission into gear.
- Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
from the wheel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the whee l blocks.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
[ i
] Tip s
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Vehicle care

___ C_ le_ a_n _ i_ n_ g~ a_ n_d~ p_ ro_ t_e _c _t_ i_o _n _____________________________________________ _
Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preser ves vehicle value.
Any automob ile is exposed to industria l fumes, corrosive road salt,
muddy dog feet, etc. A well cared for Audi can look like new many
yea rs a fter purc hase. Regu lar a nd co rrec t care wil l co ntribu te to
maintaining the beauty and value of your Audi.
Furthermore , good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warranty claim should corrosion damage or paint defe cts occur .
Your authorized Audi dea ler has a variety of dedi cated vehicle-care
product s
and can advise yo u wh ic h ones to use for c lea nin g t he
e xterior and interior of your vehic le.
W hethe r you use p roducts reco mm end ed b y Audi o r other c omm er­
cia lly avai lab le cleaning agents , please make very sure you apply
t hem correct ly .
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous. Keep them out of the rea ch
of children .
• Heed all caution label s.
• Always read directions on the container before using any
produ ct. Follo w the se dire ction s carefully.
• Most chemical cleaners are con centrates and have to be
diluted .
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated areas .
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , diesel fuel, nail polish remover
or other volatile fluids. They may be toxic , flammable or hazardous
in other ways. Do not wash , wax or dry the vehicle with the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& W ARNIN G (continued )
• Do not clean the undersides of chassis , fenders , wheel cover s,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sharp -edged metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking efficiency
=> page 239 , "General information ". Test the brakes carefully each
time you wash the vehicle.
Se lect only env ironmen tal ly fr iend ly c leaning pr oducts. Le ft o ver
cleaning products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequent wash in g pro te ct s the vehi cle.
Th e bes t protect ion aga inst enviro nmental in fl uences is frequent
washing and waxing .
Ho w o ften t his is required depends on:
• How much t he vehicle is used
• Where the vehic le is pa rked (garage, i n the ope n under t rees,
etc.)
• The seaso nal and wea the r cond itions
• Environmental influences
T he lo n ger bir d dropp ings, i nsec ts, tree resin, road and ind ust ria l
grime, tar, soot, road salt and other materials remain on the vehicle
b ody, the m ore lasti ng the ir des tru cti ve effects will be . .,.

Cleaning and protection -
------------~---
High temperatures, as from exposure to intense sunlight, intensify
the corrosive effect particularly when humidity is high as well.
Under certain circumstances,
weekly washing may be necessary.
Under other conditions, a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate.
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 254 . •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash. However, the effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care
material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper­
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau­
tions such as closing the windows and power roof* . Remove
antenna if applicable.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle -such as
spoilers, roof rack, etc . - it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
- Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the
WARNINGS=> & in "General informa­
tion" on
page 254 .
- First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge
glove or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed to pick up road dirt. In this way, you will not
scratch the paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the
next time you wash the car.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms . You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
.,
Vehicle care

___ C_ le_a_ n_in ~ g_ a_n _ d_ p_ ro_ t_e _c _t _io _ n ___________________________________________ _
&, WARNING (continued )
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 254 .
0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of t he veh icle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this cou ld scratch your
veh ic le's paint or w indows .
• N ever wash your car in bright sunlight . Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint.
• When yo u wash your ca r in the winter : if you rinse you r ve hicle
with a hose, be carefu l not to aim the stream of water directly at
l ocks, or at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring spo nges or similar pr oducts. They can damage yo ur paint
finish .
• Never use a dry cloth or spo nge t o clean the head ligh ts . O nly use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent scratches . It is best to use soapy
water.
<£> For the sake of the environment
I n the interest of the environment, the vehic le shou ld on ly be
washed in specia l wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car w ith a high -p ressure
po wer w asher is s afe as l ong as you observe a few simple
rules .
-Before us ing the power washer, make s ure you have rea d
and unders tood the
WAR NINGS:=> & in "General infor­
mati on" o n
page 254.
-Always follow the operating instru ctio ns fo r th e p owe r
w ash er.
-Make sure t hat t he jet o n the spray hose pro duces a "fan
sha ped sp ray".
-Do not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft ma terials.
When cleaning the vehicle w ith a power washer always follow the
opera tin g instruc tions. Th is appl ies partic ula rly to the
operating
pre ssure
and t he spraying distance . Maintain a sufficient distance
t o so ft m ateria ls such as rubber hoses and sound/vib rat ion dead ­
ening materia ls (particularly on the underside of the engine hood).
D o no t use a jet w hich sprays wa ter in a
direct stream o r one tha t
has a
rotating j et .
Water temperature shou ld not exceed 140 °F (60
°CJ.
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays the water in a direct
s tream . This could cause invi sible damage to the tire s and weaken
them , even if the spray is from a relatively long distan ce and for a
s hort amount of time . Damaged and weakened tires c an f ail and
ca use ac cidents and personal injur y.
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehic le, always make sure that there is
su fficient dis tance between the spray head and so ft m ater ia ls l ike
rubber hoses , plastic parts and sound -deadening materials . Never
a im the spray head a t the same p oint for a l ong time . This a lso
applies to cleaning head lights and painted bumpers . Remember:
t he c loser t he n ozzle is to the surface o f the mate rial, the greater the
stress on the material. •

Cleaning and protection -------------~----
Waxing
The wax will protect the vehicle's paint.
-Use a m anually ap pli ed ca r wax occasionally to protect
t h e p aint.
A good wax coat ing protects t he vehicle pa int to a large extent
against the environmental factors listed
under ~ page 254,
"Washi ng" a nd eve n against s light sc ratches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
week after you r veh ic le has been delivered.
E ven if you regu lar ly use a
waxing process in automatic car washes,
we recommend that you manua lly apply a coat of wax to give the
paint extra protection, particu lar ly if water no longer beads on the
clean paint.
P rotec t plastic body parts wi th ca r wa x in the same way as the
vehic le body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to col lect on the front
bumper a nd o n th e forward area o f the hood. T hey are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 254 .
0 Note
Do not use car wax on
• matte or anod ized metal t rim
• rubber or rubber -like trim. •
Polishing
Polishin g restores the gloss on the paint.
Po lish your vehic le on ly if the paint has lost its shine and the g loss
cann ot be broug ht back wi th wax .
If the polish used does not contain preservative compounds, the
paint must be waxed
afterwards ~ page 257, "Waxing" .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 254 .
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal trim, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wax. •
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special care.
F o r envi ronmenta l reasons Audi fabr ica tes the brigh t trim s tri ps a nd
trim pieces from pure chromium -free a luminum.
Dirt patches and marks on the trim strips shou ld be removed with a
pH -balanced cleaning agent (do no t use a chro me cleaner). Audi
dea lers carry cleaning products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle a nd are not harmf ul to t he enviro nm ent .
T o avoid corrosion on the exterior tr im strips, on ly a pH -ba lanced
solution shou ld be used for the windshield washer.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page254 .•
Vehicle care

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Plastic and vinyl
Plastics needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for vinyl trim . Remove water spots and soap
traces with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to
rub dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe­
cially to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's luster and pliability .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
:::::, page 254. •
Applies to vehicles : with A lum inum t rim
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
:::::, page 254. •
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone
chips . Scratches should be touched up soon after they occur to
prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be smoothed with sand paper
and covered with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can
be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification
label:::::, page 340 .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
:::::, page 254. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup.
-Remove snow from windows using a brush.
-Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
-Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner. ._.