brake AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 Service Manual

___ D_ r_i v_ in_,.. g"'- a_ n_ d_ e_ n_ v_i_r _o _n_ m_ e_n_ t _______________________________________________ _
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effec t during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are installed .
New brake pads have to be "burn ished in" before they have optimal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you shou ld avoid putting severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very high speeds or, for example, on moun ­
tain passes.
& WARNING
Ne w brake p ad s don't h ave the bes t sto pp in g po we r and mu st b e
"brok en-in " durin g the initial 100 to 1 50 m il es ( 150 to 200 kil ome ­
t e rs) of norm al cit y dri ving . Y o u can com pensat e for thi s by
p re ss ing the br ake p ed al more firm ly. Th is also appli es later w he n
n ew pad s a re in sta lled.
:J
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control system
(catalytic converter) is functioning properly to ensure that
y o ur vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
- Always use lead-free gasoline=> page 244, "Fuel supply".
- Never run the tank down a ll the way to empty.
- Never put too much motor o il in your engine =>
page 255,
"Adding eng ine oi l 'l:::r.11
•
- Neve r try to push -or tow -s ta rt yo ur vehic le.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up" device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle. The catalytic converter burns many
of the po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere.
The exc lusive use of unleaded fue l is critica lly important for the l ife
of the cata lytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not p ark or op erate th e veh icle in are as w here the h ot
ex hau st sys tem m ay come in co ntac t w ith dr y gr ass, brush , fuel
s pill or other mater ial which can cau se a fire .
• Do not apply a dditi ona l u nder coating or ru stpr oofing on or
n ea r the exhau st m anifold , exhau st pipe s, ca ta lytic conv ert er or
h eat shie ld s. Dur in g d riving , the sub sta nce use d fo r und ercoa ting
coul d ove rhea t and cause a fire .
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank filling with leaded fue l wi ll already
seriously degrade the performance of the catalytic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oi l level =>
page 255.
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes comp letely empty . The
engine cou ld misfire. Unburned fuel could also get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic conver ter to overheat .
• Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle is moving.
• Do not con tinue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fuel can reach the cata lytic converter . This cou ld result
in overheating of the converter, requiring its rep lacement .
• To assure eff icient operation of the Em ission Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. •

- Lack of proper maintenance as wel l as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system
and could lead to damage.
'£> For the sake of the environm ent
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a su lfur -like exhaust gas sme ll under some
operating states. This depends on the sulfur content of the fuel
being used. Using a different brand of fue l may help, or filling the
tank with lead-free super grade gasoline. •
Avoid damaging the vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps,
etc., make certain that low- lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust
system parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
This is especially true for vehicles with low -slung chassis (sports
chassis)* and fully loaded vehicles.
a
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Your personal style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear on your engine,
brakes and tires largely depend on three factors:
• your personal driving style
• operating cond itions
• technica l limitat ions
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Driving
and environm ent
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economica lly,
you can easily cut your fuel consumpt ion by 10 -15 percent . This
section wil l give you some tips on how you can help the environ­
ment and your pocketbook.
[ i ] Tips
The consumption est imates as published by ENV IRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre ­
spond to your actua l consumption on the road, which will vary
depending upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather condi­
tions, trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they ore accelerating .
-Avoid unnecessary accelerating and brak ing.
Vehicles use the most fue l when they are accelerating . If you antici­
pate what is going to happen next, you wi ll need to brake less and,
thus, acce lerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possib le - for
examp le when you see that the next traffic light is red. •
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
-Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed.
Acce lerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and
does not disturb the environment.
Fue l consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
disproportionately at high speeds . If you drive at approximately
three quarters of top speed, fuel consumption wil l be reduced by •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ T_ r _a_ il_e _r_ t_ o_ vv_ in__... g,_ __________________________________________________ _
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the additional load
will affect durability, economy and performance.
Trailer towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso calls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reasons, always fo llow the operating and driving instruc ­
tions provided and use common sense. •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight -carrying hitch conforming to the gross trailer weight.
The hitch must be suitab le for your veh ic le and tra iler and must be
mounted securely on the vehicle's chass is at a technically sound
l ocation. Use only a trailer hitch with removable bal l mount. A lways
check with the trailer hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not u se a bumper hit ch .
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system . No modifications
should be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems . From
time to time, check that all hitch mount ing bo lts re main securely
fastened.
When you are not towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from behind
=:, & .
Tire pre ssur e
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehic le to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load"on the s ticker on the right door ­
jamb . Inflate trai ler tires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' specifica ­
tions.
Lights
The head ligh t sett ings should be checked with the trai ler attached
before driving off. Have the head lights adjusted as necessary so
that you can see the road ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights are working prop ­
erly .
Engine cooling sy stem
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It is important tha t
the cooling system's performance stands up to the additional
strain. Make sure that the coo ling sys tem has enough fluid .
Trailer brakes
If your traile r is equipped wi th a braking system, check to be sure
that it conforms to all regu lations .
The trailer hydraul ic brake system must not be direct ly connected to
the vehic le's hydraulic brake system .
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trai ler
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 shou ld cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch.
~

Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check with your autho rized 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 .
.1
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
Trailer towing
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 on -coming traffic.
Check proper working of vehicle and trailer lights .
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

-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.

[ 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 ex tra load=>
page 316 . •
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 arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the veh ic le and
the trailer wheels .
- Wit h chocks in p lace, s low ly 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 restarting after p arking :
- Start the e ngine .
- Shift transmiss ion into gear.
- Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
from the w heel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retr ieve t he wheel blocks.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r to wing
[ 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

___ 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 . _,,,

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
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_ h_e _c _ k_ i_ n ...:::g:;..._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in ....;g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
Closing the engine hood
-Pull t he hood down until the pressure from the strut is
reduced.
- Let t he hood
drop down and latch in place. Do not try to
push it shut;
it may fai l 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
~ 6 .
& WARNING
To help avoid injury, before you check anything under the hood :
• Turn off the engine.
• Remove the ignition key.
• Apply the parking brake.
& WARNING (continued)
• 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
- Other components of the high voltage electronic ignition
system.
• If you must perform a check or repair with the engine running:
~