maintenance AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 User Guide

Checkin g a nd fillin g -
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•
prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"sludge", that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine oi ls available in the U.S . and Canada
that meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils. This does not mean, however, that every
synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00. So
always be sure that you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the fo llowing specifications pr inted on the oil container:
A ud i oil stan dard VW 50 2 0 0
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi­
nation with other designations and oil quality standards.
V isc osi ty
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
viscosity grade oil for your engine depends on climactic or seasona l
conditions where you drive. You can use oil with a viscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal dr iving condi ­
tions.
However, if engine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can a lso use viscosity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W-40 as long as it
meets Audi oil qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Because engine oil that meets the Audi oil standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
t hat you a lways carry with you an extra quart ( liter) of oil that
express ly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
t o top off the oil while on the road .
On ly if the level of the oil is at or be low the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick -and no oil that express ly conforms to Audi oil standard
VW 502 00 specifications is available -may you top off with a high
quality engine oil, preferably synthetic -based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA B5, API S L or ILSAC GF -3 specifications, but even
then, on ly in viscosity grades SAE 5W -40, SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40.
However, during the ent ire time between oi l change intervals, never top off with more than a total of 0
.5 qt/ liter engine oi l that does not
conform to Audi oil specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oi l that has been approved for
your vehicle, p lease contact either your authorized Audi dea ler or
Audi Customer Relations at 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca. Here you will also find a current list of o ils (manufacture rs, brand names etc.) that confo rm
to Audi oil standard VW 502 00.
Changing th e engine oil
The engine oil and oil f ilter must be changed according to the
mi leage (ki lometers) and time intervals specified in your vehic le's
Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Do no t exceed these intervals -
harmfu l deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expensive eng ine repa irs.
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the l ubricating properties of oi l decrease gradua lly during
norma l vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, as k your authorized Audi Service Advisor.
Under so me circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently . Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, opera te the vehicle in dusty areas or m ostly under stop­
and-go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for long periods .
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short time. This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended.
D amag e or malf unct ions due to la ck of maintenan ce
It is essential that you change your oi l at the recommended intervals
using on ly engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehic le Warranty does not cover
damage or malfunctions due to failure to fol low recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Wa rranty & Maintenance booklet. Your dea ler wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in _,.
Vehic le care

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the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a timely manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of internal
engine components , all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine. Typically,
engines with a specified break -in period (see~
page 219) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabilized.
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
condensation or fuel residue and the oxidation level of the oil. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up , the oil consump­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil
consumption can be established or specified. There is no alternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note.
If the yellow engine oil level warning symbol in the instrument
cluster lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick~ page 254. Top off the oil at your
earliest convenience~
page 255.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 250.
0 Note
Driving with an insufficient oil level is likely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display 't!::r. is not an indicator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your engine at
regular intervals, preferably each time you refuel, and always before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oil, we recommend that you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the accurate measurement of oil consumption requires great
care and may take some time . Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how to measure oil consumption accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Fig. 198 Illustration of
principle 1: Markers on
oil dipstick ..,_

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•
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left side~
page 252 .
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto­
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm .
If the brake fluid level falls
considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U .S. models :
BRAKE, Canadian models :
(CD) ) wi ll come on
~ page 23 and ~ page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor ­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop
and the cause corrected . If the brake fluid level is too low, the brake
warning/indicator light will illuminate. Contact an authorized Audi
dea ler
immediately .•
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni­
cian.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air . If the water content in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid wil l also
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federa l Motor Vehic le Stan­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho ­
rized
Audi dealer. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know -how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonous. It must be stored only in the closed
original container out of the reach of children!
& WARNING (continued)
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid.
Observe these precautions :
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specification
J 1703 and
conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 116. Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make sure you are using
the correct brake fluid. The correct type of brake fluid is also
indicated on the brake fluid reservoir .
- The brake fluid must be new . Heavy use of the brakes can
cause a vapor lock if the brake fluid is left in the system too
long. This can seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety . This could result in an accident.
0 Note
Brake fluid wil l damage the paint of your vehicle .
ci> For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special tools required and the necessary expertise, we recom­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dealer. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With
high outside temperatures it is
advisab le however to check the fluid level at regular intervals
through the transparent battery housing. Also check the fluid level
each time you charge the battery . After charging the battery
~ page 265, you shou ld likewise check the battery acid level. ...
Vehic le care

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Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service .
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
Disconnecting the battery terminals
Some vehicle functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected . Th ese functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again. To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
vehicle electrical system when absolutely necessary for repairs .
Vehicles not driven for long periods
If you are going to let your vehicle stand for a long time and not
drive it, you should remember there are electrical components
which are still functioning and they will draw energy from the
battery and drain it, for example, the engine immobilizer. To prevent
this, you can either charge the battery occasionally to keep it in
good working condition or you can disconnect the negative cable
on the battery.
Winter operation
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop. This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when traveling only short distances . Let your authorized Audi dea ler
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
=>
page 265 . A we ll charged battery wil l not only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but will also last longer.
Replacing battery
The new battery must have the same capacity, voltage (12 volts),
amperage, construction and plug sea ling, as the origina l battery.
Specifications are listed on the battery housing. Batteries specially
developed by Audi fulfill the maintenance, output, and safety
requirements. When installing the battery, make sure the ignition and all electrical
consumers are switched off=>
0.
We recommend that you use maintenance -free or cyc le-resis­
tant/leak-proof
batteries according to the standards TL 825 06 (from
December 1997) and VW 7 50 73 (from August 2001).
Replacing the battery should be carried by a qualified workshop.
Please follow the instructions on the battery cover.
0 Note
• All work on the battery requires technical knowledge. Please
contact an Audi dealership or another authorized facility for ques­
tions about the battery -danger of acid burns and exp losion hazard!
• Make sure the ventilation hose on the side of the battery is
connected, otherwise fumes or battery acid can leak out.
• Battery holder and terminals always have to be secured correctly.
• Before all work on the battery follow the
warnings below=> & in
"Working on the battery" on
page 263.
Because of the problem of proper disposal of a battery, we recom­
mend your authorized Audi dealer change the battery for you.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid and lead and must always be
disposed of properly in compliance with all environmental regula ­
tions . Disposing of vehicle batteries improperly is very dangerous to
the environment . Make sure that the removed battery cannot over ­
balance, otherwise sulfuric acid might escape!
[ i ] Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several weeks at extremely low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. This will prevent it from being damaged and
having to be replaced.•

-Gen eral inf orm ation PW'f,___ ______________ _
General information
Explanation of technical data
Some of the technical data listed in this manual requires
further explanation .
The technical data for your vehicle is listed in the charts starting on
~ page 314 . This section provides general information, notes and
restrictions which apply to this data. •
Vehicle identification
The key data is given on the vehicle identification number
(VIN) plate and the vehicle data sticker.
F ig . 232 Ve hicle Iden ti­
fi cati on N umber (VI N)
p late: loca tio n
on
driv er's side das h
pa nel
Fi g. 233 The vehi cle
i d e ntifi cat ion la be l -
insid e th e lu gga ge
co mp art me nt
T he Vehicle Identificati on Number (VIN )
is located on the driver's side so that it is visible from the outside
through the windshield ~ fig . 232 .
The veh icle ide ntification lab el
is located in the luggage compartment in the spare whee l well.
The label
~ fig . 233 shows the following vehicle data :
0 Production control No.
0 Vehicle identification No.
G) Type code number
© Type designation/engine output in Ki lowatts
© Engine and transmission code letter
© Paint No./lnterior
0 Optiona l equipment No.'s
Vehicle data 2 to 7 are also found in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet.
The safet y co mpliance sti cke r
is your assurance that your new vehicle complies with a ll app licable
Federa l Motor Vehic le Safety Standards which were in effect at the
time the veh ic le was manu factured. You can find this sticker on the
left door jamb. It shows the month and year of production and the .,,_

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Consumer Information
Warranty coverages
Your Aud i is c overed b y the follo wing warra nti es:
• New Vehicle Limited Warranty
• Limited Warranty Against Corrosion Perforation
• Emissions Control System Warranty
• Emissions Performance Warranty
• California Emissions Control Warranty (USA vehicles only)
• California Emissions Performance Warranty (USA vehicles only)
Detailed information regarding your warranties can be found in
your
Warr anty & M aint ena nce booklet .•
Operating your vehicle outside the
U .S.A. or Canada
Government regulations in the United States and Canada require
that auto mobiles meet specific em ission regulations and safety
standards . Therefore, vehic les built for the U .S .A. and Canada differ
from veh icles sold in other countries .
If you plan to take your vehic le outside the continental limits of the
United States or Canada, there is the possibility that
• unleaded fue ls for vehicles with cata lyt ic converter may not be
available;
• f uel may have a considerably lower octane rat ing . Imprope r fuel
may cause engine damage;
• service may be inadequate due to lack of proper service facilities,
tools or testing equipment;
• replacement parts may not be readily avai lable . •
Navigation systems for vehicles built for the U.S.A . and Canada
wil l not necessarily work in Europe, and may not work in other coun ­
tries outside of North America.
0 Note
Audi cann ot be responsible for mechanica l damage that could
resu lt from inadequate fuel, service or parts avai lability .•
Audi Service Repair Manuals and
Literature
Audi Official Factory Service Manuals are published as soon as
possible after model introduction . Se rvice manua ls are availab le
from :
Audi Technical Literature Ordering Center
Call tol l-free:
Tel. :
1 (800) 544-802 1
(from 8:00 AM to 8 :00 P M, EST, Monday through Friday)
or access thei r website
www .audi .dd sltd .com on the Internet to
order repair manua ls and other Audi literature. •
Maintenance
General
Your vehicle has been designe d to he lp keep maintenance requ ire ­
ments to a minimum. However, a certain amount of regu lar mainte ­
n ance is sti ll necessary to assu re your vehic le's safety, economy and ..,,

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re liabi lity. For detailed v ehicl e maintenance consult your Warranty &
M ainte nanc e book le t.
Und er diff icult op era ting co nd iti ons, for example at extreme ly low
outsi de temperatures, in very dusty regions, when towing a trailer
very frequent ly, etc ., some service work shou ld be performed
between the intervals specified. This applies particu lar ly to:
• oil changes, and
• cleaning or replacing the air filter.
<£> For the sake of the environment
By regularly maintaining your vehicle, you help make sure that emis­
sion s tandards are maintained, thus minimizing adverse effects on
the environment. •
Important considerations for you and your
vehicle
The increasing use of electronics, sophisticated fue l injection and
emission control systems, and the generally increasing techn ical
complexity of today's automobiles, have steadily reduced the scope
of maintenance and repairs which can be carried out by veh ic le
owners.
Also , safety and env ir o nment al concerns place very strict
limits on the nature of repairs and adjustmen ts to engine and trans ­
mission parts which an owner can perform.
Maintenance, adjustments and repairs usua lly require special tools,
test ing devices and other equipment availab le to spec ial ly trained
workshop personne l in order to assure proper performance, reli ­
abil ity and sa fety of the vehicle and its many systems.
I mproper maintenance, adjustments and repairs can impair the
operation and reliability of your vehicle and even void your vehicle
warranty. Therefore, proof of servicing in accordance with the main­
te nance schedule may be a condit ion fo r upholding a possible
warranty claim made within the warranty period.
Controls . and equip­
ment . Safety first Vehicle operation
Above all, operational safety can be adverse
ly affected, creating
unnecessa ry risks for you and your passengers .
If in doubt about any servicing, have it done by your authorized Audi
dealer or any other properly equipped and qua lified workshop. We
strongly urge you to g ive your authorized Audi dea ler the opportu ­
nity to perform al l scheduled maintenance and necessary repairs.
Your dealer has the fac ilities, original parts and trained spec ia lists
to keep your vehicle running properly.
Performing lim it e d maintenan ce yourself
The following pages describe a limited number of procedures which
can be performed on your vehicle with ord inary tools, should the
need arise and trained personne l be unavailab le. Before performing
any of these procedures, a lways thoroughly read all of the app li ­
cable text and carefu lly fo llow the instruct ions given. Always rigor ­
ously observe the
WARNINGS provided .
Before you che ck anything in t he engine compartment , al wa ys read
and heed all WARNINGS~
& and ~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 250.
_& WARNING
• Seriou s per sonal injury m ay occur a s a result of imprope rly
performed maintenance , adjustments or r epair s.
• Alway s be e xtremely ca reful when w orking on the veh icle .
Always follow commonly accepted safety practices and general c ommon sen se . Never risk per sonal injur y.
• Do not attempt any of the maintenance , che cks or repair s
de scr ibed on the follo wing page s if you are not f ully famili ar w ith
the se or other procedures with re spe ct to the vehicle , or are un cer ­
t a in ho w to pro ceed .
• Do not do an y work without the proper tools and equipment .
Have the ne ce ssary wor k done by your authorized Audi dealer or
another properly equipped and qualified work shop .
llJi,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Tec hn ica l da ta

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Infant seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
How do I properly ins tall an infant seat in
my vehicle? ...... .... .... .... .. 195
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Inside rear view mirror ..... .. .... .... . 88
Installing child safety seats
Sa fet y bel ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Instruments and controls ............. 12
Genera l ill ustration .... ... .... .... . 11
Illumination ...... ... . ......... 15, 81
Interior lights . ...... ... ........ .... . 84
Luggage compartment .. ...... ... .. 84
J
Jack and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Jumpe r cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Jump -starting 304
K
Key ...... ... .... .... .... .... ....... 47
Battery replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Coded sett ings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Conveni ence op ening and closing of pow -
er top . ... .. .... .... .... ........ 63
Convenience opening and closing of w indows ....... ........ .... ... . 53
Emergency key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Key replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Master key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Valet key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Key coded s ettings
Clima te con trols ... ...... ... . .... 110 Keyless
entry remote control
Kick -down 48, 51
multitronic® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
tiptronic® ............. .... ... ... 129
Knee airbags . .... ..... .. .... .... ... 184
Description ... ... ... ... .... .... .. 184
How they work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Important safety instructions 186
L
LATCH .................. .... .... .. 205
Description ... ... ... ... .... .... .. 205
Guidance fixtur es for lower anchorages .
206
Installing a child restraint .. .... ... 208
Location ... .. .... .. .. ... .. .. .... 205
Mounting and re leasing the anchorage
hook .... ... .... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 209
Leather .. ... .. ... .. . ..... .... .... .. 239
Cleaning .............. .... .... .. 240
Leaving-home-function ...... .... .... . 80
Lifting jack .. . ... .... ... .. ...... .... 296
Lifting vehicle . .... ................. 308
Light sensor defec tive . ...... ...... ... 33
Ligh t se nsor package
Auto mat ic headligh t control ... .... . 77
Lights Coming -home /leavi ng-home -function 80
Emergency flasher .......... ...... 82
Front fog lights . ...... .... .... .... 79
Headligh ts . .... ....... .... .... ... 76
High beam .... .... .... .... .... 76 , 83 High bea
m wa rning /indicator light ... 22
Ins trumen t panel illum ination ... .... 81
Side marker lights ..... ... ........ . 76
Turn signals ... .... ... ... . ... ..... 83
Xenon headlights .. .... ... .... .... 82
Load ing the luggag e compartmen t 153
Locking Power locking switch .............. 54
Rear lid .... ... .... ............... 55
R emote control .. .. ........... .. .. 51
Using the key ...... .... ... .... .. .. 53
Lower anchorage locator button ...... 205
Lower universal anchorage (Canada) ... 205
Lower universal anchorage bars (Canada) ...
205
Luggage
Stowing 153
Luggage compartment
Light .......... ....... .. .. .... ... 84
Sk i sack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
S ee also Loading the luggage
c ompartment .......... . ... .... 153
Lumbar support . ........... . ... ..... 98
M
Maintenance .. ..... .. .... .... ...... 316
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU .. .. 19 , 27
Manual operat ion
Power top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Manual s eats
Adjus ting the h ead restra ints ... .... 95
Fold ing the seatback forward ... ... . 95