instrument cluster AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 Owner's Guide

Side airbags
Description of side airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental protecti on
to pro perly restrained fr ont seat occupants.
Fi g. 177 Si de air bag
l oca tio n in th e driv er's
sea t
The s ide airbags are located in the sides of the front seat backrests
=> fig. 177 facing the doors. They are identified by the word
" AIRBAG" .
The side airba g sy stem b asica lly con sis ts of :
• the electronic contro l module and external side impact sensors
• the two s ide airbags located in th e sides of the front backrests
• the airbag warning light in the instrument cluster .
Th e airbag system is monitored elec tronically to make certain that
it is function ing properly at all times . Each time you turn on the igni ­
tion , the airbag system indicator light will come on for a few
seconds (self diagnostics).
The side airbag system supplements the safety belts and can help to reduce the risk of injury to the driver 's and front passenger 's
uppe r torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side co lli­
sion . The airbag d eploys only in side impacts and on ly when the
vehicle acceleration registered by the contro l unit is high enough. If
this rate is below the reference value programmed into the contro l
Safety first
Airbag syst em
unit, the side airbags will not be triggered, even though the car may
be badly damaged as a result of the collision . It is not possible to
def ine an airbag trigger ing range that will cover every possible
ang le of impact, since the circumstances will vary considerably
between one collision and another . Important factors include , for
examp le, the nature (hard or soft) of the impacting object, the angle
of impact, vehicle speed, etc.=>
page 188, "Impo rtant safety
instructions on the side airbag system" .
Aside from their norma l safety function, safe ty bel ts work to help
keep the driver or front passenger in position in the event of a side
coll ision so that the side airbags can provide protec tion .
The airbag system is
not a subst itute for your safety belt . Rather , it
is part of the overall occupant restraint system in your vehicle.
Always remember that the side airbag system can on ly he lp to
protect you if you are wearing your safety belt and wearing it prop ­
erly. This is another reason why you should a lways wear your safety
belts, not just because th e law requires you to do so~
page 159 ,
"Genera l notes".
It is important to remember that while the supp lementa l side airbag
system is designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, othe r
injuries , for example, swelling , bruising, and minor abras ions can
also be associated with deployed side airbags . Remember too, side
airbags will deploy only once and on ly in certain kinds of accidents
- your safety belts are a lways there to off er protection.
Vehic le damage , repair costs or even the lack of veh icle da mage are
not necessarily an indica tion of over -sensitive or failed airbag acti­
va tion. In some collision s, both front and side airbags may infla te .
Remember too, that airbags will deploy on ly once and only in
certain kinds of collisions -your safety belts are always there to
offer protection in those acc idents in which airbags are not
suppos ed to deploy or when they hav e already deployed .
The si de airbag system will not d eploy :
• when the ig nition is turned off
• in side collisions when the acceleration measured by the sensor
is too l ow ..
~ehicle care Technical data

-Tr
aile r t owing ---=--------------
W eig ht dis tri buti on
Towing a loaded trailer with 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 avoid the risk of los ing 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
compartment of the tow vehicle while observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considerations .
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult 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 condi tions -particularly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
imm ed iately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the s waying by a ccelerating .
Observe speed limits. In some areas speeds for vehic les towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Always app ly brakes early. When driving downhill, 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 lan t tem pe ra ture
The coolant temperature gauge~ page 73 must be observed care ­
fully. 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 temperature 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 prop erl y r estr ained in a mo ving ve hic le is at a much
gre ater ri sk in an accident. N ever let an yone rid e in your car who
is not p roperl y wearing the r estraint s pro vid ed by Audi.
c
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trai ler because of
the additional weight and weight distribution . Safety, performance
and economy will great ly depend on how carefu lly you load your
trai ler and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing unti l you
have comp letely become familiar with the way your vehicle -trailer
combination behaves and responds .
Backing up is difficu lt and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer genera lly requires s teering action opposite of that when
backing up your vehic le without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between you r vehicle and the one in
front of you. You will need more room to stop.
To compensate for the trailer, you wi ll need a larger than normal
turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you nor mally wou ld because of the added load . Make sure yo u have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns o r rapid lane changes.

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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 ..,_

Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
• The tire pressures should only be checked and adjusted when
t he t ires are co ld . The s lightly raised press ures of warm tires must
not be reduced .
• Adjust t he tire p re ssure to the load you are carrying.
• Reinstall the va lve stem cap on the valve.
When should I check the tire pressure?
The correc t tire p re ssur e is espec ially i mportant at high speeds. The
pressure should there fore be c hecked at least once a month and
a lways before starting a journey. Do not forget to check the tire pres ­
su re for t he spare whee l::::>
page 291.
When should I adjust the tire pressures?
Adjust the ti re pressur e to the load you are carrying. A fter chang in g
a wheel
or replacing whee ls you have to adj ust t he t ire pressure s on
a ll whee ls. In addition, o n ve hicles w ith t ire pressure monito ring
system * you must then store the new tire pressures in the system
=> page 41.
& WARNING
Incorrect tire pres sures and /or underinflation can lead sudden tire
failure, loss of control , collision, serious personal injury or even
death .
• When the warning symbol ( appears in the instrument
cluster , stop and inspect the tires .
• Incorrect tire pressure and /or underinflation can cause
increased tire wear and can affe ct the handling of the vehicle and
stopping ability .
• Incorre ct tire pressures and /or underinflat ion can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehi cle control.
• The driver is responsible for the correct tire pressures for all
tires on the vehicle . The appli cable pre ssure values are located on
a sticker on the driver 's side 8-pillar or on the inside of the fuel
filler flap .
& WARNING (continued )
• Only when all tires on the veh icle are filled to the correct pres­
s ure, the tire pressure monitoring system * can work correctly .
• The use of incorrect tire pressure values can lead to accidents
or other damage . Therefore it is essential that the driver observe
the specified tire pressure values for the tires and the correct pres­
sures for the function of the tire pressure monitoring system*.
• Alway s inflate tires to the recommended and corre ct tire pres ­
sure before driving off.
• Driving with underinflated tires bend more , letting them get
too hot resulting in tread separation , sudden tire failure and loss
of control.
• Excessive speed and /overloading can cause he at build -up ,
sudden tire failure and loss of control.
• If the tire pressure is too low or too high , the tires will wear
prematurely and the vehicle will not handle well.
• If the tire is not flat and you do not have to change a wheel
immediately, drive at reduced speed to the nearest service station
to che ck the tire pressure and add air as required .
0 Note
Driving without valve stem caps can cause damage to the tire
valves. To p revent this, a lways make sure tha t factory installe d va lve
stem caps on al l wheels are securely mounted on the va lve .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Underinflated tires wi ll a lso increase the fue l consumption. •
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of load or weight that any vehic le and
any tire can carry. A vehicle that is overloa ded wil l n o t handle well _,.
Vehic le care

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Fuses and bulbs
Fuses
Replacing a fuse
A problem in the electrical system may be caused by a
blown fuse.
Fig. 223 End face of
instrument panel :
removing cover plate
to access fuses
Fig. 224 Schematic
image of exposed fuse
box as located on the
left end face of dash
panel
- Switch off the ignition and the electrical component
affected.
Carefully pry the face cover off the instrument panel
using the ignition key or a screwdriver~ fig . 223 . -
Check the fuse listing on the next pages to find out which
fuse belongs to the component which has failed
~ page 301 , "Fuse list".
- Remove the blown fuse with the plast ic clip provided.
The clip is located on the holder in the fuse box.
- Replace a blown fuse (recognizable by the melted metal
strip inside) w ith a fuse of the
some amperage.
- Firmly snap the cover back onto the instrument panel
face.
The various electrical circuits are protected by fuses . The fuses a re
clustered in a centralized unit. The unit is located behind the face
panel at the end of the instrument panel.
Two spare fuses and a sticker identifying the fus es are located on
the inside of the fuse box cover.
& WARNING
Never replace a fuse with one that has a higher amperage rating.
• A fuse with a too high amperage could damage the electrical
part and cause a fire.
(D Note
• On no account should fuses be repaired (e.g . patched up with tin
foil or wire) as this may caus e se rious damage elsewhere in the elec ­
trical circuit or cause fire.
• If a fuse blows repeatedly, do not keep replacing it. Instead, have
the cause for the repeated short circuit or overload tracked and
fixed. _,,

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A
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Acoustic park assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Adaptive Light Air outlets
Climate controls .. .... ...... ..... 115
How should I adjus t the air outlets to de­
frost my windows as quickly as
possible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Warning/indicator lights
... ... .... .. 20
When must the system be inspected? . ..
179
All Wheel Drive ... .... .... ...... .... 218
Alloy wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
defective ............. ........ .. . 34 Air quality sensor .
.... .... .... .... .. 114 All-whee l drive
adaptive light .. ... .... .... ... ...... . 79 Air recirculation
............... ..... 113
Winter tires .. ......... .... .... .. 284
Adding Engine coolant ... .... .... ...... .
259
Engine oi l ..... .... ... .... .... .. .
255
Windshield washer fluid .... .... . .
266
Additiona l accessories .. ...... ...... . 318
Additives Engine oil . ..... .. ..... ... ...... . 255
Adjusting Instrument cluster illumination .. .... 15
Steering wheel co lumn .... ... .... 118
Adjusting the seats
Manual seats ...... .... ........... 94
Advanced Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Children ... ........... .... ... ... 191
Components ...... .... .......... 175
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
How the components work together 176
Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Weight -sensing mat . .... ... .. .... 191
Air conditioning
See Climate controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Air distribution Clima te con trols ... .... ... .... ... 114 Climate controls
...... ...... ... .. 114 Alternator
When should I use the air recircu lation?
114
Air ventilation in the glove compartment ...
108
Airbag system ..... ... .... ..... . 168, 188
Care ... ... .... .... .... .... .... .. 182
Child restraints .............. .... 192
Components (front airbags) .. ... ... 175
Danger of fitting a child safety seat on the
front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Front airbags . ....... ..... .... ... 172
How do the front airbags work? . . . . 177
How many airbags does my vehicle have? 175
Important safety instructions on the knee
airbag system .... .... .... .... .. 186
Important things to know ... .... .. 168
Indicator light ... .......... ... ... 179
Knee airbags .... . .. .. ........... 184
Monitoring .... .... .... .... .... .. 179
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light ..... 180
Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
See Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Anti -freeze
S ee Engine coolant system .. ...... 257
Anti-glare inside day-night mirror ...... 88
Anti-lock brake system How the ABS system works . .... ... 216
Warning/indicator lights ........... . 20
An ti- Slip Regulation System (ASR)
How the sys tem works .. ... .... ... 214
Anti-Theft Alarm System Tilt sensors ..... ....... ..... ...... 58
Anti-theft alarm system .. .. .. .... .... . 57
Anti -theft systems
Electronic immobilizer ......... .... 49
Armrest Adjusting ...... .... ..... .. ..... . 100
Storage bin
Ashtray 100
Front ....... .................... 104
Rear .......... .... .... ........ .. 105
Asterisk What does it mean when something is marked with an asterisk? . ..... ... .. 6
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature 316