AUDI A5 2008 8T / 1.G Owners Manual
Manufacturer: AUDI, Model Year: 2008, Model line: A5, Model: AUDI A5 2008 8T / 1.GPages: 313, PDF Size: 12.13 MB
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Driving129
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data joined the motorway you can then activate the cruise control system 
as if you were resuming the function ⇒page 128, “Resuming cruise 
control”.
Pre-selection after starting the engine
After starting the engine there is no cruising speed stored in the 
system. The current speed is stored when you briefly push lever   
up towards   (if the speed is above 30 km/h). If the speed is lower, 
30 km/h is stored.
Switching off the cruise control systemWhile driving
– Press the lever   to position   (click stop engaged) 
⇒page 125, fig. 138.
When the vehicle is stationary
– Switch off the ignition.The stored speed will be deleted when the ignition is switched off.
AA
A+
AA
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Automatic gearbox 130Automatic gearboxmultitronic
®
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®IntroductionThe vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled continu-
ously variable transmission (multitronic
®). Unlike conventional 
automatics, the gear ratios are not shifted in fixed steps but contin-
uously variable. This gives smoother transmission and makes for 
better fuel economy.
The gearbox selects the gear ratio and shifts up or down automati-
cally according to the gear change programmes stored in the 
control unit ⇒page 133, “Dynamic gear control program (DCP)”.
The gearbox also has the tiptronic manual shift feature. This system 
allows the driver to select gears manually if required ⇒page 134.
Please note that on vehicles with a multitronic gearbox, torque is 
transmitted via a multi-plate clutch, and not via a torque converter 
as on conventional automatics. This means that the car will not 
“creep” as much as conventional automatics when the engine is 
idling if you stop temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S 
or R.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®General notes on using multitronic
®
The transmission ratio is varied continuously.Driving away from a standstill
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the button in the 
selector lever handle), move the selector lever to the 
desired position, for instance D, and release the interlock 
button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a slight move-
ment can be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator ⇒.
Stopping briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle when stationary 
(for instance at traffic lights).
Fig. 144  Detail of the 
centre console: 
Selector lever with 
interlock button
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Automatic gearbox131
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– To prevent the vehicle from rolling away, apply the 
parking brake before moving off on steep gradients 
⇒.
– As soon as you accelerate as normal, the parking brake 
will automatically be released and the vehicle will start 
moving.
Pa rking the c ar
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒.
– Apply the parking brake.
– Press and hold the interlock button, move the selector 
lever to P and release the interlock button.Your vehicle is equipped with the hill hold assist function which 
makes it easier to drive away on a slope. The system is activated 
when you press and hold the brake pedal for a few seconds. When 
you release the brake pedal the braking force will be maintained for 
a moment in order to prevent the vehicle rolling back when you drive 
away.
The engine c an only be started when the selector lever is at P or N.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selector lever to P. On a 
gradient the parking brake should be applied first and the selector 
lever should be moved to P. This reduces the load on the locking 
mechanism and makes it easier to move the selector lever out of 
position P.
WARNING
•
Do not press the accelerator while selecting a gear with the 
vehicle stationary and the engine running, as this could cause an 
accident.
•
Please note that some power will still be transmitted when you 
stop temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S or R. For this reason, to avoid risking an accident, apply the footbrake firmly 
when stopping to prevent the vehicle rolling away.
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this 
could cause an accident.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Selector lever positions
This section covers all the selector lever positions.The current selector lever position is shown in the instrument 
cluster display.
P - Parking lock
This locks the driving wheels mechanically. The parking lock must 
only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒.
The interlock button (the button in the selector lever handle) must 
be pressed in and the brake pedal must be depressed before 
moving the selector lever either in or out of position P. The lever can 
only be moved out of position P when the ignition is on.
R - Reverse gear
When reverse gear is engaged the gearbox automatically selects the 
lowest gear ratio.
Fig. 145  Display: 
Selector lever posi-
tions
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Automatic gearbox 132Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary 
and the engine is idling ⇒.
To move the selector lever to position R, press in the interlock 
button and at the same time press the brake pedal. Depending on 
the model, one or two reversing lights will come on in selector lever 
position R (when ignition is switched on).
N - Neutral
In this position the gearbox is in neutral ⇒.
D - Drive (forwards)
In this position the gearbox automatically selects the best gear 
ratio. This depends on the engine load, the road speed and the 
dynamic gear control program (DCP).
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to D if 
the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
In some situations (such as on mountain roads or when towing a 
trailer or caravan) it can be advantageous to switch temporarily to 
tiptronic mode ⇒page 134, so that the gear ratios can be selected 
manually to suit the driving conditions.
S - Sport position
Select this position if you wish to take full advantage of the car's 
performance. This setting makes use of the engine's maximum 
power output. When accelerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to S if 
the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒.
WARNING
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this 
could cause an accident.
•
In selector position D or S the vehicle must always be held with 
the foot brake when the engine is running. This is because an auto-
matic gearbox still transmits power even at idling speed, and the vehicle tends to “creep”. The throttle must on no account be 
opened inadvertently (for instance by hand from the engine 
compartment) when a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary. 
The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately (in some 
cases even if the parking brake is engaged) and possibly cause an 
accident.
•
To avoid accidents, apply the parking brake and put the 
selector lever in position P before opening the bonnet and working 
on the vehicle with the engine running. Please observe the impor-
tant safety warnings ⇒page 231, “Working on components in the 
engine compartment”.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Selector lever lock
The selector lever lock prevents gears from being 
engaged inadvertently, so that the vehicle is not set in 
motion unintentionally.The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch on the ignition.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 146  Selector lever 
lock functions
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Automatic gearbox133
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Press the brake pedal and at the same time press in the 
interlock button.Automatic selector lever lock
The selector lever is locked in the P and N positions when the igni-
tion is on. The brake pedal must be depressed before the lever can 
be moved out of either of these positions. The following message 
appears in the instrument display as a reminder for the driver when 
the selector lever is in position P or N:
WHEN STATIONARY APPLY FOOTBRAKE WHILE SELECTING GEAR.
The selector lever lock only works if the vehicle is stationary or 
driving at speeds up to 5 km/h. At higher speeds the selector lever 
lock in the N position is disengaged automatically.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved 
quickly through position N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This 
makes it possible, for instance, to “rock” the vehicle backwards and 
forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The selector lever lock 
engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed and the 
lever is in position N for more than about a second.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever handle prevents the driver 
from inadvertently engaging particular gears. Press the button in to 
disengage the selector lever lock. The illustration shows the selector 
lever positions in which the button has to be pressed, highlighted in 
colour ⇒page 132, fig. 146.
Safety interlock for ignition key
The key can only be withdrawn with the ignition switched off and 
the selector lever in position P. When the ignition key is removed, 
the selector lever is locked in position P.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature is designed to give maximum 
acceleration.When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of 
resistance at full throttle, the gearbox will select a lower gear, 
depending on road speed and engine speed. While you keep the 
accelerator depressed the engine speed is automatically controlled 
to give your vehicle maximum acceleration.
WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slippery or wet, the kick-
down feature could cause the driving wheels to spin, which could 
result in skidding.Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Dynamic gear control program (DCP)
The multitronic
® gearbox is controlled electronically.
The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled gearbox. 
The gear ratios are selected automatically according to preset gear-
shift programmes.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox will select the most 
economical shift programme. It will then change up early and delay 
the downshifts to give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy acceleration, if you open the 
throttle quickly, or if you use the kick-down or the car's maximum 
speed, the gearbox will automatically select the more “sporty” shift 
programmes.
The gearbox is self-adapting, and continuously selects the most 
suitable shift programme. At the same time, the driver can also 
make the gearbox switch to a more "sporty" programme by pressing 
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Automatic gearbox 134the accelerator quickly. Depending on road speed, this makes the 
gearbox shift down early into a lower gear ratio for more rapid accel-
eration (for instance to pass another vehicle), without having to 
press the accelerator all the way down into the kick-down position. 
After the gearbox has shifted back up it returns to the original 
programme, depending on your style of driving.
The gearbox continuously adapts the gear ratios on uphill gradi-
ents. If the brake pedal is pressed on a downhill gradient the 
gearbox automatically shifts to a lower gear ratio. This increases the 
engine braking effect.Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Manual gear selection (tiptronic mode)
With the manual shift programme (tiptronic) the driver 
can manually select seven pre-programmed gears.
Switching over to the manual programme
– From position D, push the selector lever to the right. As 
soon as the automatic gearbox has changed over to this 
programme, the display will show the selected gear.
Shifting up a gear
– Briefly push the selector lever forwards (in the tiptronic 
gate) ⇒fig. 147   .
Shifting down a gear 
– Briefly pull the selector lever backwards (in the tiptronic 
gate) .With the tiptronic system the driver can manually choose between 
7 different pre-programmed gears. The manual programme can be 
selected either when stationary or while driving (by moving the 
lever out of position D).
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the next 
gear shortly before the maximum engine speed is reached.
If you select a gear which is lower than the gear shown in the instru-
ment display ⇒fig. 148, the gearbox will only shift down when 
there is no longer a risk of overrevving the engine.
Fig. 147  Centre 
console: Manual gear 
selection (tiptronic 
mode)
Fig. 148  Display: 
Manual gear selection 
(tiptronic mode)
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Automatic gearbox135
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data When the vehicle slows down (for instance when braking), the 
gearbox automatically shifts down into the next gear when the 
minimum engine speed is reached.
Changing down to a lower gear increases the engine braking effect 
on downhill gradients.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of 
resistance at full throttle, the gearbox will select a lower gear, 
depending on road speed and engine speed.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Back-up programme
A back-up system is in place should a fault occur in the 
control system.The automatic gearbox switches to the back-up programme if a fault 
should occur in the control system. This is indicated by all segments 
of the display panel either lighting up together or going out 
completely.
It is still possible to move the selector lever to all positions. The 
manual shift programme (tiptronic) is not available when the back-
up programme is active.
It will still be possible to use reverse gear in the normal way. 
However, the electronic lock for reverse gear will be switched off.
Caution
Should the gearbox ever switch into the back-up programme, you 
should take the vehicle to an Audi dealer or qualified workshop as 
soon as possible.
Applies to vehicles: Tiptronic controls on steering wheelSteering wheel with tiptronic controls
The paddle levers on the steering wheel enable the driver 
to manually select seven pre-programmed ratios (gears).– Briefly pull the left-hand paddle lever   to change down 
to a lower gear.
– Briefly pull the right-hand paddle lever   to change up 
to a higher gear.The paddle levers are activated when the selector lever is in position 
D or S, or the position for the manual shift programme (tiptronic).
The manual shift programme can, of course, still be operated using 
the selector lever in the centre console.
Fig. 149  Steering 
wheel: tiptronic 
switchesA…A+
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Automatic gearbox 136Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Manual release of selector lever
The selector lever can be released manually if the elec-
trical power supply should fail.The manual release mechanism is behind the ashtray.
– Slide open the cover for the ashtray.
–Slide the switch   ⇒fig. 150 to the right to release the 
ashtray.
– Take out the ashtray  .
– You will now see a small cover cap at the front of the 
opening in the ashtray mounting unit.– Loosen and remove this cover cap.
– Use a screwdriver or similar object to press down the pin, 
which is now accessible, and hold it down ⇒fig. 151.
– Now press the interlock button on the selector lever and 
move the selector lever to position N.
The selector lever can only be moved out of position P if the ignition 
key is inserted and the ignition is switched on. If the power supply 
should ever fail (discharged battery, etc.) and the vehicle has to be 
pushed or towed, the selector lever must first be moved to 
position N. This is possible after operating the manual release 
mechanism.
Fig. 150  Removing 
ashtrayFig. 151  Manual 
release of selector 
lever
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AB
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Audi parking system137
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Audi parking systemParking aid systemsApplies to vehicles: with parking systemGeneral notes
Depending on the optional equipment fitted, there are 
various parking aid systems to assist you when parking or 
manoeuvring in tight spaces.parking system*:
The parking system comprises the rear acoustic parking aid 
⇒page 137.
The rear acoustic parking system uses ultrasonic sensors to 
measure the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle which 
has been detected. There are four sensors which are located in the 
rear bumper (two in the centre, two at the sides).
parking system plus*:
The parking system plus* comprises the rear and front acoustic 
parking aid ⇒page 138 in conjunction with a graphic display.
The parking system plus* uses ultrasonic sensors to measure the 
distance between the vehicle and an obstacle which has been 
detected. There are a total of 8 sensors located in the front and rear 
bumpers (2 in the centre and 2 on the side of each bumper).
parking system advanced*:
The parking system advanced* comprises the rear and front 
acoustic parking aid in conjunction with the graphic display as well 
as a reversing camera (Rear View) ⇒page 140.
The reversing camera is located in the boot lid ⇒page 140, fig. 154 
and assists the driver when parking or manoeuvring in tight spaces. 
The reversing camera provides an image which is shown in the MMI display. It represents the mirror image of a section of the area 
behind the vehicle ⇒page 144, fig. 159.
Note
There is a slight delay in the picture display.parking systemApplies to vehicles: with parking systemRear parking aid
The parking aid gives an acoustic warning if it detects any 
obstacles behind the vehicle.– Engage reverse gear. You will hear a short beep to 
confirm that the rear parking aid has been activated. The 
rear parking aid remains active for as long as the reverse 
gear is engaged.The measuring range of the sensors in the rear bumper starts at 
approximately:
Reversing
When the vehicle is reversing, the system starts to beep when it 
registers an obstacle within its detection range (see above). The 
warnings will beep increasingly rapidly as the vehicle approaches 
the obstacle.Rear
Side
0.60 m
Centre
1.60 m
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Audi parking system 138When the vehicle is less than approx. 0.30 m away from the obstacle 
the warning tone will sound continuously. From here at the latest, 
the driver should then not reverse any further.
The volume of the warning beeps will be gradually reduced after 
about 4 seconds if the vehicle remains at a constant distance from 
a detected obstacle (it will not be reduced if the obstacle is closer 
than 0.30 m). The warnings will then return to the normal volume if 
the vehicle approaches the detected obstacle again.
Warning beeps
The warning beeps are produced by sound boxes. The volume and 
pitch of the beeps can be adjusted in the MMI ⇒page 148.
WARNING
•
The sensors have blind spots in which obstacles are not regis-
tered. It is particularly important to ensure that there are no small 
children or animals near the vehicle, as the sensors may not 
always be able to detect them.
•
The parking aid cannot replace the full concentration of the 
driver. The driver is always responsible for safety during parking 
and other manoeuvres. Always keep a close watch on the area 
around the vehicle.
•
Please note that low obstacles detected by the system may no 
longer be registered by the sensors as the car moves closer, so the 
system will not give any further warning. Certain kinds of obsta-
cles (such as wire fences, chains, thin painted posts or trailer draw 
bars, etc.) may not always be detected by the system (accident 
risk).Note
•
To ensure that the acoustic parking aid works properly, the 
sensors must be kept clean and free of snow and ice. Please observe 
the additional notes on ⇒page 152.
•
Please refer to the notes on towing ⇒page 147.
parking system plusApplies to vehicles: with parking system plusParking aid (front and rear), with display
The parking aid gives an acoustic and a visual warning if 
it detects any obstacles in front of or behind the vehicle.The parking aid switch 
 is located in the centre console or 
next to the selector lever, depending on the equipment 
fitted.
Fig. 152  Parking aid 
switch in centre 
consoleFig. 153  MMI display: 
proximity graphic
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