towing AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 Owners Manual

Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Trailer to\Ning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Important things to know . . . . . . . 168 Driv ing with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Trailer towing tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
179
Knee airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Side a irbags . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Child Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Impor tant things to know . ..... .
Child safety seats ............. .
Insta lling a chi ld safety seat .... . 190
195
200
Add it ional Information ....... .. . 203 Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Lower anchorages and tethe r for
children (LA TCH) . .. ... ... ... ... .
205 Cleaning and protection . . . . . . . 230
~----
t
Vehicle operation .... ... . 211
212
212
2 12
215
Intelligent
technology ... ... ... .
Notice about data recorded by
ve hicle contro l modules .. ..... .
Electronic Stabilization Program
(ESPJ . .... ... ......... ... ... .. .
B rak ing ..... ... .... .... ... ... .
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system ............... .
Driving with your quattro® ..... .
Driving and environment .... . . 217
2
18
2 19
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and
afterwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 9
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . .
220
Avoid damaging the ve hicle . . . . . 221
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution . . . . . . . . .
221
General information ........... .
Care of exterior ................ .
Care of inte rior ...... .... ... ... .
Fue l supply and filling your fuel
tank ........................... .
Gasoline ........... ........... .
Fuel tank ..................... .
Checking and filling .. ... ...... .
Engine hood ......... ......... .
Engine compartment ...... ... . .
Engine oil ..................... .
Engine cooling system ......... .
Brake fluid ................ ... . .
Battery . ... ... ... ............. .
W indshield /headligh t washer
rese rvoir ...................... .
Tires and \Nheels .......... .... .
Tires ..... .. ..... ... .. - . -.. • · · ·
230
230
238
244
244
245
249
249
251
252
257
260
261
266
267
267
Table of contents
Do-it-yourself service ... 289
What do I do no\N? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Trunk escape ha ndle . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Jack, tools and spare wheel . . . . . . 290
Whee l change .............. .... 293
Fuses and bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Fus es ................. ......... 300
Bulbs .......................... 302
Emergency situations . . . . . . . . . . 304
Genera l ... .. ... .... _ .. _ ...... .. 304
Starting by pushing or towing . . . . 304
Starting with jumper cables . . . . . . 304
Use of jumpe r cables . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Em ergency towing with commercial
tow truck ... ......... ....... .. .
Lifting vehicle ................. .
Technical data
General information 306
308
311
312
Explanation
of technical data 312
Vehic le ide ntific ation . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Weights ........................ 313
Dimensio ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
~ehicle care irechnical data

Clear vision
inst rument panel ill umination will automaticall y become dimmer
a s the daylight fades away and eventually will go out completely
when out side l ight i s very low . Thi s is to remind you , the dri ver , to
s witch on the headlights befor e it g ets too dark.
• Canada model s: instrument panel illumination will stay bright
re gardles s of the intensity of ambient light . Alway s be aware of
c hange s in outside light cond itions while you are d riv ing . Resp ond
in time to f ading dayl ight by turning the ligh t switch to po sit ion
io
(or "AUTO" if your car is equipped with this feature) to turn on your
he adl ights . •
Ap plie s to vehic le s: wi th x eno n hea dlig ht s
Xenon headlights
After s tarting the engine, the xenon headligh ts are automatically
adjusted to the load and angle of the vehicle (for example, during
acce leration and brak ing) . This prevents oncoming tra ffic from
experienc ing unnecessa ry glare from your head lights .
If the system is not operating properly, a warning sy mbol in the
Auto -Check Contro l is displayed:::::,
page 34. •
Emergency flasher &.
The emergency flasher makes other mot orists aw are that
y o u or your vehicle are in an emergency situation.
1Jia---------------...,i ij ::c .,
"'
-
Fig. 9 3 Ce nter
cons ole: e mergen cy
fla sher swit ch
Press the sw itch ~~fig . 93, to sw itch the emergency
fl ash er o n or o ff.
When the emergency flasher is on, al l four turn signa l blink at the
same time . The turn signal indicator lights¢¢ in the instrument
cluster, as we ll as the light in the emergency flasher sw itch
t!:;,,. b link
likewise .
The emergency flasher will automatica lly switch on if you are in an
accident where the airbag has deployed .
[ i ] Tips
You should switch on the emergency flasher when :
• you are the last vehicle stand ing in a t raffic jam so that any other
veh ic les coming can see you , or when
• your vehic le has broken down or you are in an emergency situa ­
tion, or when
• your veh ic le is being towed by a tow truck or if you are towing
another vehicle behind you .•

__________________________________________________ S_ e_ a_t _s _ a_n _ d_ s_ t _ o_ r_a ...;:g ::.. e _ ___,_
Luggage compartment
Ski sack
Use the ski sack to transport and protect skis and other
long , light items in the passenger compartment.
Loading
Fig . 117 Luggage
compartment, rear
seatback back panel:
ski sack hatch cover
Fig . 118 Ski sack:
securing
- Open the luggage compartment lid and clear a space in
the center.
- Reach ins ide the finger openings on the hatch cover and
pull the recessed buttons together to release the cover
from the seatback back panel :::;, fig. 117.
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
- Inside the passenger compartment, fold the armrest out
of the rear seatback.
- Reach into the recess, release and open the inner hatch
cover.
- Pull out and unfold the ski sack .
- Load skis or similar objects through the luggage
compartment into the interior of the vehicle :::;,,& .
Securing
-Pull the lose belt end until the belt sits tight :::;, fig. 118.
Stowing
- In the luggage compartment, close the ski sack hatch
cover .
- Inside the passenger compartment, fold the ski sack up
neat and tight.
- Close and engage the inner hatch cover.
- You can now fold the armrest back into the rear seat back.
& WARNING
• Always keep the first aid kit in the vehicle at all times . Be partic­
ularly careful to do so when you remove the seatback center
section in order to use the ski bag. If you do not have the first aid
kit with you, you may not be able to give first aid in the event of an
accident.
• The ski sack is intended only for the transportation of skis and
other light objects . To reduce the risk of serious personal injury
never transport heavy or pointed objects in the ski sack.
• When braking rapidly or during an accident the load could be
displaced and cause injury to occupants. .,
~ehicle care irechnical data

• .___O_ n_ t_h _e _ r_o _a_ d __________________________________________________ _
Starting and stopping the engine
Starting the engine
The engine can only be started with your original Audi
key.
- Set the parking brake.
- Move the selector lever to the neutral position (automatic
transmission: selector lever in P or N)
=> &.
- On vehicles with manual transmission, fully depress the
clutch pedal.
- Turn the ignition key to position
0 => page 119, fig. 136
- do not depress the gas pedal when starting the engine!
- Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts.
A cold engine may at first be loud after it has been started. This is
due to the hydraulic valves building up the oil pressure. This normal
and no need for concern.
If the engine does not start immediately, stop trying after 10
seconds and then try to restart the engine about 30 seconds later.
What to do if the engine does not start
• ~ page 304, "Starting with jumper cables"
• ~ page 306, "Emergency towing with commercial tow truck".
& WARNING
Never start or let the engine run in a confined or enclosed area .
Exhaust fumes from the engine contain carbon monoxide, a color­
less and odorless gas. Carbon monoxide can be fatal if inhaled.
• Never leave the engine idling unattended. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine poses a danger of personal injury or
theft.
0 Note
• Avoid high engine speeds, fast acceleration or heavy engine
loads while the engine is still cold. This could damage the engine.
• The engine cannot be started by pushing or towing the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
To avoid unnecessary engine wear and to reduce exhaust emis­
sions, do not let your vehicle stand and warm up. Be ready to drive
off immediately after starting your vehicle. Maintain moderate
speed until the engine is completely warm. Remember, the engine
performs best at operating temperature.•
Stopping the engine
- Turn the ignition key to position (D => page 119, fig. 136.
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotronic only work when the engine
is running . With the ignition turned off, you have to apply more
force when steering or braking. Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
• The radiator fan can continue to run for up to 10 minutes even
after you have turned off the engine and removed the ignition key.
The radiator fan can also turn on again if the engine coolant heats
up because of intense sunlight or heat build-up
in the engine
compartment. _,.

________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n_, g,::._ S_ a_ fe__, ly'-------.J"'
Only use floor mats that leave the pedal area free and can be
secured with floor mat fasteners.
If a brake circuit fails, increased brake pedal travel is required to
bring the vehicle to a full stop.
& WARNING
Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of vehicle control
and increase the risk of serious injury.
• Never place any objects in the driver's footwell. An object could
get into the pedal area and interfere with pedal function . In case
of sudden braking or an accident, you would not be able to brake
or accelerate!
• Always make sure that nothing can fall or move into the
driver's footwell. •
Floor mats on the driver side
Always use floor mats that can be securely attached to
the floor mat fasteners and do not interfere with the free
movement of the pedals.
-Make sure that the floor mats are properly secured and
cannot move and interfere with the pedals~&.
Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area unobstructed and that
are firmly secured so that they cannot slip out of position. You can
obtain suitable floor mats from your authorized Audi Dealer.
Floor mat fasteners are installed in your Audi.
Floor mats used in your vehicle must be attached to these fasteners.
Properly securing the floor mats will prevent them from sliding into
positions that could interfere with the pedals or impair safe opera ­
tion of your vehicle in other ways .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
Pedals that cannot move freely can result in a loss of vehicle
control and increase the risk of serious personal injury.
•
Always make sure that floor mats are properly secured .
• Never place or install floor mats or other floor coverings in the
vehicle that cannot be properly secured in place to prevent them
from slipping and interfering with the pedals or the ability to control the vehicle.
• Never place or install floor mats or other floor coverings on top
of already installed floor mats. Additional floor mats and other
coverings will reduce the size of the pedal area and interfere with
the pedals.
• Always properly reinstall and secure floor mats that have been
taken out for cleaning .
• Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the driver foot­
well while the vehicle is moving. Objects can become trapped
under the brake pedal and accelerator pedal causing a loss of
vehicle control . •
Stowing luggage
Loading the luggage compartment
All luggage and other objects must be properly stowed
and secured in the luggage compartment.
Loose items in the luggage compartment can shift
suddenly, changing vehicle handling characteristics. Loose
items can also increase the risk of serious personal injury in
a sudden vehicle maneuver or in a collision.
- Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment . ..,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ ln_ te_ ll..,,ig ..,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
• Do not "ride the brakes" by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat, premature wear and increased stopping distance.
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle, the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced. In winter,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads, linings, discs and drums .
Cautiously apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few cautious brake applications .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-covered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking efficiency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
cautious brake applications.
• If you damage the front spoiler, or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective ­
ness of the entire brake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop. u
Brake booster
The brake booster adds extra braking power.
The brake booster works with vacuum pressure which is created
only when the engine is running~ &.
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working, for example when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake booster has somehow been
& WARNING (continued)
damaged, the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance. •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under braking.
The ABS contributes effectively to vehicle control since it prevents
the wheels from
locking when the brakes are applied. This means
that the vehicle remains steerable and is less likely to skid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down.
However , do not expect that the ABS shortens braking distance
under
all circumstances. When driving on gravel or on newly fallen
snow on top of icy surfaces, braking distance may be even longer,
therefore, under these circumstances, it is especially important that
you drive slowly and with great care.
How the ABS system works
An automatic check is made when a speed of about 4 mph (6 km/h)
is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be heard.
If an individual wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to
vehicle speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatically reduces brake pressure to prevent that wheel from locking.
This automatic adjustment process will cause a
slight vibration of
the brake pedal and some noises to alert you that vehicle speed
must be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions.
& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction . Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the .,_

___ 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.

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement "THE COMBINED
WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX
LBS"on your vehicle's placard (tire infla­
tion pressure label)=>
page 271, fig. 207.
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from
"XXX" kilo­
grams or
"XXX" pounds shown on the
sticker=>
page 271, fig. 207.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the
"XXX"
amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five
150 lbs. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs.
( 1400- 750 (5 x 150) = 650 I bs.)
Tires and wheels 1111111
5. Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step
4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the avail­
able cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
- Check the tire sidewall (=>
page 279,
fig. 211) to determine the designated
load rating for a specific tire. •
Vehic le care