open hood AUDI A4 AVANT 2008 Owners Manual

® Reset button for Service indicator .... ... .. .... ... .
@ Reset button for trip odometer .... .... .... ...... .
17
18
The instrument cluster illuminates whenever you switch on the ign i­
tion with the
vehicle headlights off. The instrument cluster illumina­
tion dims automatically as the daylight begins to fade away . It goes
out completely when the outside light is very dim . The reason for
this is to remind you to turn on the headlights when the light condi ­
tions become poor.
•
Engine coolant temperature gauge
The engine coolant gauge 0~ page 12, fig . 2 only works when the
ignition is on. To prevent damage to your engine, please note the
f o llowing important points:
Engine cold
As long as the needle remains at the left end of the gauge, the
engine still has not reached its operating temperature. Avoid high
engine speeds, heavy engine loads and heavy throttle .
Normal temperature
When the engine has reached its operating temperature, the needle
wi ll move into the midd le of the gauge and remain there. If the
engine is working hard at high outside temperatures, the needle
may turn further to the right. This is no cause for concern as long as
the
J_ warning light in the instrument cluster does not illuminate.
When the
_t_ warning light starts to flash, this can mean one of two
th ings : either the coolant
temperature is to o high, or the coolant
level is too low~ page 31 .
& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in ~ page 265, "Engine compart­
ment" before opening the engine hood and checking the engine
c oolant level .
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and warning /indicator lights
& WARNING (continued )
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment . You
could burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant.
0 Note
• Mounting additional lights or accessories in front of the air inlets
reduces the coo ling effect of the radiator . At high outside tempera ­
tures or high engine load, the engine cou ld overheat.
• The front spoi ler has been designed to properly distribute the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving. If the spoiler is damaged,
this could reduce the cooling effect and the engine could then over ­
heat. Ask your author ized Audi dealer for assistance .•
Tachometer {engine rev counter)
The tachometer indicates the engine RPM (revolutions per
minutes).
The tachometer 0 ~ page 12, fig. 2 is the left one of the two large
c lock -type displays.
The engine turns at a speed
1,000 times the sin gle digit in the
display, e .g . if the needle points at the "2", the engine turns at
2,000 RPM.
If the engine RPMs drop below 1,500, you shou ld downshift to the
next lower gear. The red area at the end of the scale indicates
maximum permissible engine RPMs after the break-in period.
Before reaching this area, you should either shift into the next
higher gear or ease your foot off the accelerator pedal.
.,_

Driver information display
& WARNING
• Never rely exclusively on the outside temperature display to
determine if a road surface is icy or not. Keep in mind that road
surfaces, especially bridges and overpasses, could be ice covered
and slippery even at an outside temperature above 41 °F
1+5 °Cl.
• Always remember, even if the "snowflake" symbol lice
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 conditions when the chance of encountering icy road
surfaces increases.
[ i ] Tips
When using the navigation system feature "Destination", the
outside temperature is also displayed.•
Miles (kilometers) to empty
The miles (kilometers) to empty indication is a valuable
aid to schedule the refueling stops on a trip.
Fig . 13 Center display:
miles (kilometers) to
empty
Th is feature shows you the estimated range in miles (kilometers)
:::::, fig. 13 until the tank runs dry. This feature calculates how far you
could drive with the amount of fuel left in your fuel tank while
driving under the current driving conditions. The remaining
distance is recalculated every
6 miles (10 km).
While calculating the miles (kilometers) to empty, the system also
calculates your fuel consumption over the last
18 miles (30 km).
Remember:
-the more economica lly you drive, the further you can
go.•
Warning : engine hood, door or rear lid open
Fig . 14 Display: door ,
rear lid, and engine
hood open
With the ignition switched on, the open-door-or-lid warning illumi­
nates when at least
one door, or the engine hood or the trunk lid is
not closed . The symbol also shows you which door(s) or lid is not
closed. The illustration shows that both the driver's and the right
rear door are not closed
:::::, fig. 14.
If the engine hood or trunk lid are not closed, the display will flash.
As soon as all the doors and lids are properly closed, the warning
goes out.
~

You can switch off the open-door-or-lid warning display by briefly pressing the On Board computer control
but tons => page 39. The
open door or trunk warn ing will, however, illuminate again as soon
as there is a change in the position of the doors, engine hood or
trunk lid. •
On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD)
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) (USA
models) / (Canada models)
The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU in the instrument cluster
=> page 19, fig. 9 is part of the On -Board Diagnostic (OBD II) system.
The warning/indicator light il luminates when the ignition is
switched on and goes out after the engine starts and the idle has
stabi lized . This indicates that the MIL is working prope rly.
If the light do es not go out after the engine is started, or illuminates
while you are driving, a malfunction may exist in the engine system.
If the light starts flashing, the catalytic converter could be damaged .
Continue driving
w ith redu ced pow er (avoiding sustained high
speeds and/or rapid accelerations) and have the condition
corrected. Contact your authorized Audi dealer.
If the light illuminates, the e lectronic speed limiter may also be
malfunctioning . For more
information=> page 28, "Electronic speed
limiter".
An impr operly c lo se d fuel filler cap may al so cau se th e MIL l amp to
illumi nate
=> page 269. •
Controls and equip ­
ment
Dri ver inf orma tio n di spl ay
On -Board Diagnostics
F ig. 15 Locatio n of
Da ta Li nk Co nnecto r
( DL Cl
On-Board Diagnostics monitors the components of your emission
control system . Each control led component in your engine system
has been assigned a code. In case of a malfunction, the component
wil l be identified and the fault stored as a code in the control
modu le memory.
The M IL lamp may a lso illuminate if there is a leak in the on-board
fuel vapor recovery system. If the light illuminates after a refuelling,
pull off the road and stop the vehicle, then check that the fuel fi ller
cap is proper ly closed
=> page 269.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, the stored data can only be
displayed using special diagnos tic equipment (generic scan tool for
OBD).
In order to connect the special diagnostic equipment, push the plug
into the Data Link Connector (DLC). The DLC is located to the right of
the engine hood release
lever => fig. 15 .
Your author ized Audi dealer or a qua lified service station can inter­
pre t the code and perform the necessary repair. •
irechnical data

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.
.,_

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 .
.,_

___ 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. •

-Checking and filling Pll':f..._--=--=--------------
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 203 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
- Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel=> fig. 203 in the direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 204 Release lever
under the hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind ­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Lift the hood
slightly=> ,&.
- Pull the release under the hood => fig. 204. This releases
the catch.
- Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by a gas strut.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood
if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart-.,..

Checking and filling -
-----------------------------==--------=--
& WARNING (continued)
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood.
•
Closing the engine hood
- Pull the hood down until the pressure from the strut is
reduced.
- Let the hood
drop down and latch in place. Do not try to
push
it shut; it may fail to engage =:>& .
& WARNING
A hood that is not completely latched could fly up and block your
view while driving.
• When you close the engine hood, check it to make sure the
safety catch has properly engaged. The hood should be flush with
the surrounding vehicle body parts.
• If you notice while driving that the hood is not secured prop­
erly, stop at once and close it. •
Working in the engine compartment
Be especially careful whenever you work in the engine
compartment.
Whenever you must perform any work in the engine compartment,
for example checking and filling different fluids, there is a risk of
injury, burns and accidents. To prevent personal injury always
observe the following WARNINGS . The engine compartment of any
vehicle is a hazardous area
=> & .
• I I • • I
& WARNING
To help avoid injury, before you check anything under the hood:
• Turn off the engine.
• Remove the ignition key .
• Apply the parking brake.
• Move selector lever of automatic transmission to
"P" (Park);
put manual transmission in Neutral.
• Always let the engine cool down. Hot components will burn
skin on contact.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart­
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood.
• Keep children away from the engine compartment.
• Never spill fluids on hot engine components. They can cause a
fire.
• Never touch the radiator fan. The auxiliary electric fan is
temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly.
• Never open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is still
warm . The coolant system is pressurized and hot coolant could
spray out.
• Protect your face, hands and arm from steam or hot engine
coolant by placing a thick rag over the cap when you open the
coolant reservoir .
• If work on the fuel system or the electrical system is necessary: -Always disconnect the battery.
- Never smoke or work near heaters or open flames. Fluids in
the engine compartment could start a fire .
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available.
• To avoid electrical shock and personal injury while the engine
is running or being started, never touch:
- Ignition cables
.,_
Vehicle care

Alphabetical index -
-------------=----
Convertible child seats
How do I properly ins ta ll a conve rtible
child seat in my vehicle? ......... 216
Safety instructions . ...... ...... .. 216
Convertible locking retractor
Act ivating .. .. .... .... ........... 222
Deactivating ...... .... ........... 223
Using to secure a child safety seat 220,
222
Coolant system ... .. .... .... ........ 280
Coo ling System
Expansion tank .... ....... ... .... . 281
Cornering light .. .... .... ...... .... .. 75
Cruise control . ...... .... ........... 140
Changing a stored speed .... ... .. . 140
Setting and storing a vehic le speed . 140
Switching off . ........... .... .... 141
Switching off temporari ly .......... 141
Switching on .... .... .... .... .... 140
Warning/indicator lights .. ... .... ... 21
Cruising range .................. ..... 40
Cup holder ......................... 118
D
Data .............................. 343
Data recorder ... .... .... .... ..... .. . 236
Date display ......................... 14
D aytime running lights ................ 74
dEF indication .............. ......... 15
Defogging the windows .. .... .... .... 131
Defrosting the windows ...... .... .... 131
Defrosting /defogging windows .. .... .. 131
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Determining
correct load limit ..... .. . 302 Dynamic shift program ... .... ...... .. 153
Digita l clock .. ...... ..... .. .... .... .. 14
Setting the time ..... ...... .... .... 14
E
Digita l compass ...................... 93
Dimensions . ....... ... .. .... .... ... 341
Dipstick Location .... .... ... .. .... .... ... 277
Doors, power locks .. ...... ....... .... 58
Drive Information System Help .. ...... .... ... .. .... .... .... 43
Driver
See Seating position ........... ... 168
Driver information display ....... .... .. 24
Mi les (ki lometers) to empty .... ... .. 26
Open door or rear lid warning .. .... . 26
Outside
temperatu ire disp lay ....... . 25 ECON
When should I use ECON? ...... ... . 128
EDL Electronic differential lock .... .... . 237
Ele ctrically heated front seats ..... ... . 132
Electronic differential lock
Warning/indicator lights ...... .... .. 21
Electronic differential lock (EDU
How the system works ............ 237
Elect ronic immobilizer . ... .... .... .... 16
Electronic power contro l
EPC warning/indicator light ....... .. 23
Parking brake warning .. .... ... .. .. 29 Electronic stabilization program
(ESP)
Sound system display
...... .... .... 25 How
the system works ............ 236
Text messages .. ....... ...... .... . 29 Warning/indicator
lights ...... ...... 22
Driver Informa tion System Emergency
closing
Menu display .. ... .... .... .... ... . 41 Power sunroof ...
.... ........... .. 69
Practical example .................. 44 Emergency
flasher .. ... .... .... ...... 79
Setting .. .... ....... ...... .... .... 43 Warning/indicator
lights ...... ...... 22
Types of disp lay ..... ...... ... .... . 42 Emergency
locking ................... 61
Driver's seat memory ................ 100 Emergency
starting ... .... ... .... .... 330
Assigning the keys ....... ... .. .... 102
Emergency towing .................. 332
Recalling a seat position .. .... .... . 101
Emergency un locking (on ly manually)
Storing a seat position ............ 101
Rear lid . ... .. .... .... ...... .... .. 62
Driver's seat cushion extension ...... .. 100
Engine
Driving messages .... .... .... .... .... 29
4-cylinder (200 hp) ...... .. .... .... 274
Driving safely ....... ... .. .... .... ... 166 6-cylinder (255
hp) ................ 275
Driving time ... .. ...... .... ... .. .... . 40 Coolant
......................... 280
Dup licate key .... .... .... ...... ... .. . 52 Hood ......
...... .... ...... ..... 272
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data