AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 Owners Manual

Vehicle care

___ C _l_e _a _ n_ in_g ~_ a_n _ d ____ p ____ r_ o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n _____________________________________________ _
Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves 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 purchase. Regu lar and correct care wil l co ntribut e to
maintaining the beauty and value of your Audi.
Furthermore , good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warranty claim should co rros ion damage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dea ler has a variety of dedi cated vehicle- care
product s
and can advise which ones to use for cleani ng the exterio r
and interior of your vehicle.
Whethe r you use products recom mended by A udi or other co mmer ­
cially availab le cleaning agents, please make sure you app ly them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous. Keep them out of the reach
of children .
• Heed all caution label s.
• Always read directions on the container before u sing any
p roduct. Follow the direction s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
d iluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated areas .
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , na il polish remo ver
or other volatile fluids . They may be toxic, flammab le or hazardous
in other way s. Do not wash , wax or dry the vehicle with the igni ­
tion on or the eng ine running.
& WA RNIN G (continued )
• Do not clean the unde rsides of chassis , fenders , wheel cover s,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sh arp -edged metal part s.
• Moisture and ice on brake s may impair braking eff iciency
=> page 215 , "General info rmation ". Test the brakes ca refully each
time you wash the vehicle.
Se lect only environmental ly fr iend ly c leaning pr oducts. Leftover
cleaning products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequent washing pro tects the vehi cle.
The bes t protection aga inst envi ron mental influences is frequent
washing and waxing .
Ho w o ften t his is required depends on:
• How much the vehicle is used
• Where the vehic le is parked (garage, in the ope n under t rees,
etc.)
• The sea so nal and wea the r condi tions
• Environmental influences
The longe r bir d droppings, i nsects, tree resin, road and indust ria l
grime, tar, soot, road salt and other materials remain on the vehicle
b ody, the mo re las ting thei r des tructive effects will be . _,,,

Cleaning and protection -
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•
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 230. •
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 .
The power top does not require specia l precautions before passing
through a car wash.
However, the car must not be treated with hot
wax after the wash cycle!
The wax could adversely affect the power
top and even damage the fabric over a period of time.
The power top does not have to be washed every time you use a car
wash . The power top can be spared if the car wash facility is
equipped with manually adjustable roof brushes or rollers.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau­
tions such as closing the windows and power top. The factory-fitted antennas for the radio, car phone and navigation system* are all
located inside the vehicle interior.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle
-such as
spoilers, 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 230. •
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 230.
- 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 road dirt. In this way, you wil l not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car. ..,.
Vehic le care

-Cleaning and protection P':ft':I _______________ _
& 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.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 230.
0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this could scratch your
vehicle's paint or windows.
• Never wash your car in bright sunlight. Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint .
• When you wash your car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle
with a hose, be careful not to aim the stream of water directly at
locks, or at door or hatch openings - they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
finish .
• Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean the headlights. Only use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent scratches . It is best to use soapy
water.
<£> For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the vehicle should only be
washed in special wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high-pressure
power washer is safe as long as you observe a few simple
rules.
- Before using the power washer, make sure you have read
and understood the WARNINGS~
& in "General infor­
mation" on
page 230.
Always follow the operating instructions for the power
washer.
Make sure that the jet on the spray hose produces a "fan
shaped spray".
Do
not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle with a power washer always follow the
operating instructions. This applies particularly to the
operating
pressure and the spraying distance. Maintain a sufficient distance
to soft materials such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration dead­ ening materials {particularly on the underside of the engine hood).
Do not use a jet which sprays water in a
direct stream or one that
has a
rotating jet.
Water temperature should not exceed 140
°F (60 °C).
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream.
This could cause invisible damage to the tires and weaken them,
even if the spray is from a relatively long distance and for a short
time . Damaged and weakened tires can fail and cause accidents
and personal injury.
0 Note
• Never use a power washer to clean the power top itself.

Cleaning and protection -
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•
• To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is
enough d istance between the sprayer and sof t materials like rubber
hoses, plastic parts and sound -deadening materials . Never aim the
sprayer at the same point for a re latively long period of t ime. This
also applies to cleaning headlights and painted bumpers. Remember : the closer the nozzle is to the surface of the material,
the greater the stress on the material. •
Power top care
The power to p requires s pecial c are.
Keeping your top look ing great and making certain that it lasts a
long time depend to a great extent on proper use and care. Remove
bird droppings as soon as possib le, since the corrosive chemicals in
them wi ll cause the rubber impregnation in your top to swell and
possibly allow the fabric to leak.
With normal soiling, all you need to do is c lear the top with a soft
brush and clear water. Always brush in the direction of the fabric
from front to rear.
If the top is very dirty and has spotted areas clean it with a brush
using a convert ib le top cleaner . Always brush in the direction of the
fabric from front to rear . R inse with plenty of clear water, and allow
t he t op to air-dry .
Chamois are not suitab le for drying the top.
Never use gasoline, spot remover, benzene, paint thinner or
solve nts to remove spots . We recommend that you only use
cleaners especia lly formulated for use on convertib le tops , and that
you fol low the produce use d irections carefully. Authorized Audi
dea ls can provide detailed information.
& WARNING
Always read and h eed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 2 30 .
0 Note
Never use a high -pressure power was her to clean the power top. •
Wind deflector
Clear the wind deflector with water or, if it is heavily soi led, a chem ­
ica lly neutra l cleaning solution .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 2 30 . •
Waxing
W ax pr otects the vehicle's p ain t.
- U se a manua lly ap plied ca r wa x occasi onall y to p ro tect
t h e paint.
A good wax coat ing protects the vehicle paint to a large extent
against the environmental factors listed under=> page 230,
"Washing" and even against slight scratches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
week after your vehic le has been delivered.
Even if you regular ly use a
waxing process in automa tic car was hes,
we recommend that you manual ly apply a coat of wax to give the
paint ex tra p rotecti on, particular ly if wa ter n o longer beads on the
c lean paint.
Protect plastic body parts with car wax in the same way as the
vehic le body.
Ve hic le care

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During warm weather dead insects tend to collect on the front
bumper an d on the f orwar d area of the hood . They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often .
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other informat ion
=> page 2 30.
0 Note
Do not use ca r wax on
• matte or anodized metal trim
• rubber or rubber -like trim. •
Polishing
Po lis hin g restores t he gloss to the pa int.
Po lish your vehicle on ly if the paint has lost its shine and the g loss
cannot be brought back with wax.
I f the p olish used does not contain preservative c ompounds, th e
paint must be waxed afterwards=>
page 233, "Waxing".
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the inform ation
=> page 23 0.
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal tr im, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wa x.•
Trim strips
Metal tri m nee ds speci al care.
For environmental reasons , Audi fabricates the bright trim strips
and trim pieces from pure chr omi um -free a luminum .
Dirt and marks on the trim strips should be removed w ith a
pH­
balan ced
cleaning agent (do not use a chrome cleaner). Audi
dea lers carry c leaning products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not harmful to the environment.
To avoid co rrosion on the exterior trim strips, only a p H-ba lanced
solu tion should be used for the windshield washer .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other inform ation
=> page 2 30 . •
Plastic and vinyl
Plas tics needs spe cial care.
Use a clean , da mp c loth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning so lution or
a mild sadd le soap fo r vinyl trim. Re move water sp ots and s oap
traces with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft c loth to
r ub dry .
Grease , tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with al l- purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe ­
cia lly to c lean vinyl.
Occas iona lly apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
t he material's luster a nd p liabili ty. .,

Cleaning and protection -
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•
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230. •
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 230 . •
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 312 .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page230. •
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.
Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or kitchen paper towel.
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a brush. Use a non -abrasive
plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from windows and mirrors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can interfere with the function of the windshield wiper blades (chatter!.
Oil, grease or silicone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
silicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
specially formulated solvent. Please contact your Audi dealer for
advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals. _,.
Vehic le care

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Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces. Wa x resi due on the cha mois can impair vision
through the windows .
& WARNING
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent mate­
rials. They can increase glare under poor visibility conditions such
a s wetne ss, darkness , or when the sun is low o n the horizon . In
addition , they can cause the wind shield wipers to chatter .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informat ion
~ page 2 30.
0 Note
• Never use war m or hot wa ter to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. Th is could cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the w ires of the rear defogger, do not p lace
any adhesive stic kers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires.
• To he lp prevent dirt from sc ratching the w indow, a lways scrape
in a forward direction -pushing t he scraper away from you -nev er
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete c ar ca re includes the wea the rs trips as well .
- App ly a s uitable rubber co ndit ioner to the weat herstr ips
f rom t ime to t ime.
To be able sea l properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid , etc. must remain pliable . Spray the weatherstrips with si li­
co ne or coat them w ith ta lcum powder or glycer ine to retain the
flexibility of the rubber and to protect them against free zing in the
winter .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the infor mation
~ page 2 30 .
[ i ] Tips
K eep si lico ne s prays off the windsh ield to avo id wiper smear in
rain .•
Ap plies to vehic les : w it h s teel whee ls te.g. if ref itt ed with winte r tiresl
Steel wheels
The wheels also have to be cle aned.
Always include the hub caps and wheel rims when
washing yo ur vehicle to remove roa d dirt, sal t sprays and
brake dust.
I f necessary, use a commercial wheel cleaner to remove accumu ­
la ted brake dust.
The wheel rims a re eas ier to kee p clean i f they are regular ly coated
with liquid wax .
Paint scratches sh ou ld be touc hed u p as so on as possible to p reven t
corrosion~
page 235, "Touch -up paint".
& WARNING
• Moisture and i ce on brakes may affect br aking efficiency -
~ page 215, "General information ". Test the brakes carefully after
ea ch vehicle wa sh .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page230. •

Cleaning and protection 1111111
------------------------------------=-----=----------
•
Ap plies t o vehi cles : wi th C ast allo y wh eels
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care .
-Wash the wheels w ith a sponge or hose brush every
other week .
- For deep cleaning after wards, use on ly a dedicated
acid ­
free cast alloy wheel c leaner .
- Rub a co at of
liquid wax onto t he rims every three m onth.
Be sure t o reach and tre at all parts of the rim .
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cas t alloy whee ls,
some special care is necessary . In addition to road dirt and salt,
brake du st is also corr osive. If left on f or to o long, brake dust can
cause pitting .
U se only specia l
acid-free cleaners formulated for alloy rims. Safe
p roducts are available at your Aud i dea ler . N ever leave the cleaner
on the rims longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off
promp tly, the acid conta ined in so me cleaners can attack the
threads on the wheel bolts .
Never use abrasive or metal po lishing cleaning agents . If the protec­
tive coating has been chipped, e .g. by kicked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possib le .
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on br akes may affect braking efficiency
=> page 215 , "General infor mation ". Te st the br ake s c arefully ea ch
time you wash the vehicle .
• Alw ay s read and heed all WARNINGS and ot her informat ion
=> page 2 30 . •
Body cavity sealing
T he body c avity seali ng does not need to be checke d.
A ll body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
given thorough protecti on a t the fact ory.
This sealing does not require any inspection or add itional treat ­
ment . If any wax shou ld seep out of the cavity when the ambient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a p lastic scraper and a
suitable solvent.
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Benz ine is fla mmable and to xic. If you use benz ine for removing
the wax, keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away . Never
dump benz ine on the ground , into open stream s or do wn sewage
drains .
• Be sure to ob ser ve all safety and environmental regulations .
Follow all in structions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 230. •
Chassis
Have the undercoating checked for damage from time to
time.
The lower body she ll of your Audi is a lso thoroughly pro tected
against corrosion.
Any damage to the u nde rcoating caused by road ha za rds sh ould be
repaired promptly .
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong pla ces can cause a f ire .
Ve hic le care

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
& WARN ING (continued )
• Do not apply additional undercoating or ru stpr oofing on or
near the e xhau st man ifold , ex hau st p ipe s, c atalyti c con verter or
heat sh ields . While d riving , the sub stan ce used for underco ating
c ould overheat and cau se a fire .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informati on
~ page 230.•
Care of interior
Aluminum trim
Use on ly neutral -pH produc ts to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alka line cleaners
wi ll attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the infor mation
~ page 2 30. •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabric coverings (e .g. seats, door trim pane ls, etc.)
should be cleaned at regu lar intervals with a vacuum cleaner. This
removes surface dirt partic les which could become embedded in
the fabric through use . Steam c leaners s hould not be used , because
the steam tends to push the dirt deeper into the fabric and lock it
t here .
Normal cleanin g
Generally, we recommend using a so ft sponge or a lint -free
microfiber cloth to the clean fabric. Brushes should only be used for carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
b
y brushes .
Normal surface stains can be cleaned using a commercially avai l­
able foam cleaner . Spread the foam on the surface of the fabric with
a soft sponge and work it in gently. Do not satura te the fabric. Then
pat the foam dry using absorbent, d ry cloths (e.g. microfiber cloth)
and vacuu m it after it has dried comp lete ly .
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e.g . coffee, fruit juice, etc.) can be
treated with a mild detergent solution. Apply the detergent solution
wi th a sponge . In the case of stubborn stains, a de tergent paste can
be applied direct ly to the stain and worked into the fabric. After ­
wa rds, use copious amounts o f clean wa ter to remove the
remaining detergent . App ly the water with a damp cloth or sponge
and pat the fabric dry with an absorben t, dry c loth.
Stains from choco late or makeup should have detergent paste (e.g.
ox -gall soap) rubbed into them . Afterwards, remove the soap with
water (damp sponge).
A lcoho l can be used to treat stains from grease, oi l, lipstic k or a ba ll­
point pen . Me lted grease or dye must be patted off us ing absorbent
material. It may be necessary to retreat the areas with detergent
paste and wa te r.
I n the case of general so iling of the upholstery and cover material,
we recommend hir ing a specialist that has the equipment to clean
t he seat covers and other fabric sur faces by shampooing and spray
extraction.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 230.