ABS AUDI A5 2008 8T / 1.G Owner's Manual

Checking and topping up fluids 238Brake fluidChecking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked at a glance.– Check the fluid level on the brake fluid reservoir
⇒fig. 228. It should always be between the “MIN” and
“MAX” marks.In right-hand drive vehicles the brake fluid reservoir is on the other
side of the engine compartment.
The fluid level may drop slightly after a period of time due to the
automatic compensation for brake pad wear. This is quite normal.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in a short time, or drops
below the “MIN” mark, there may be a leak in the brake system. If
the fluid level in the reservoir is too low, this will be indicated by the
brake warning lamp ⇒page 31. If this should happen, take the car
to a qualified workshop immediately and have the brake system
inspected.
Changing brake fluid
When required, the brake fluid should be changed by a
competent mechanic with the proper equipment.Brake fluid gradually absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. If the
water content in the brake fluid is too high, this may cause corrosion
in the brake system over time. In addition, the boiling point of the
brake fluid will be considerably reduced. This could adversely affect
the braking ability in certain circumstances.
For this reason the brake fluid must be changed periodically.
Your vehicle's Service Schedule will tell you when the brake fluid has
to be changed.
It is advisable to have the brake fluid changed as part of a regular
Inspection Service at your Audi workshop. They are familiar with the
procedure and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as
well as the proper facilities for disposing of the old fluid.
Use only the genuine brake fluid specified by the factory Qualified
workshops know that the brake fluid “DOT 4” is approved by Audi.
The brake fluid must be fresh and unused.
WARNING
•
Brake fluid is poisonous; store it in the sealed original container
in a safe place out of reach of children.
•
Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake
fluid is left in the system for too long. This would seriously affect
the efficiency of the brakes and the safety of the car – risk of acci-
dent.Caution
Please note that brake fluid will attack the paintwork on contact.
Fig. 228 Engine
compartment: Mark-
ings on brake fluid
reservoir
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Checking and topping up fluids239
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
For the sake of the environment
If the fluid has to be drained out of the brake system, use an appro-
priate container to catch the used brake fluid and dispose of it in the
proper manner.BatteryGeneral notes
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge.The battery is virtually maintenance-free. It is checked as part of the
Inspection Service.
We recommend that you replace a battery once it is older than 5
years.
When an airbag is triggered, the battery will, under certain circum-
stances, be disconnected from the on-board power supply for
safety reasons ⇒ in “General notes on airbag system” on
page 176.
Disconnecting the battery
If the battery is disconnected, some of the vehicle's functions will
become inoperative (e.g. electric windows). These functions will
require resetting after the battery is reconnected. For this reason,
the battery should only be disconnected from the vehicle's electrical
system when absolutely necessary.
If the vehicle is not used for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle for a period of several days or weeks,
the power management will gradually shut off the on-board
systems one by one, or reduce the amount of current they are using.
This limits the amount of power consumed and helps to ensure reli-
able starting even after a long period ⇒page 202.Please note that certain convenience features, such as the Audi
advanced key*, the remote control key or the electrical seat adjust-
ment may not be available when you unlock the vehicle. These func-
tions will be restored when you switch on the ignition and start the
engine.
Winter conditions
At low temperatures the battery has to work very hard. It also
provides only a fraction of the starting power it has at normal
temperatures.
For this reason, we recommend having the battery checked and
charged if necessary before the start of winter ⇒page 241.
WARNING
•
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge. For queries
regarding the vehicle battery please contact an Audi dealership or
other qualified workshop (risk of chemical burns / risk of explo-
sion).
•
The battery must not be opened. Do not attempt to make any
changes to the electrolyte level of the battery. Otherwise, there is
a risk that a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gas can accumulate
and cause an explosion.Note
If the vehicle is to be left standing for a period of several weeks at
extremely low temperatures, the battery should be removed from
the vehicle. This ensures that it cannot “freeze up” and be
damaged.
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Index 302AABS
SeeAnti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . 18
AC mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 107
Acceleration figures
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Adapter for anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . 264
adaptive light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
advanced key
Locking and unlocking the vehicle . . . 45
START ENGINE STOP button . . . . . . . 118
Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Switching on the ignition . . . . . . . . . . 118
Air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93, 101
AC mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
See alsoDeluxe automatic air conditioner
93
Air recirculation mode
Deluxe automatic air conditioner . . . . 97
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . . .
106
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Deactivating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Head-protection airbag . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Key-operated switch for front passenger's
airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Alterations to the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Alternator
Fault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Anti-dazzle interior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Anti-freeze additive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Anti-knock properties of petrol . . . . . . . . 227
Anti-lock brake system
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Anti-theft alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Interior monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Tow-away protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Armrest (front)
Adjusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Storage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Ashtrays
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Audi hold assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Auto Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Auto-check control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Automatic air conditioner plus
SeeDeluxe automatic air conditioner plus
101
Automatic gearbox
Manual release (multitronic®) . . . . . . 136
multitronic® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Safety interlock for ignition key . . . . 116Selector lever positions (multitronic®) . . .
131
Steering wheel with tiptronic controls . . .
135
Automatic headlight control . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Auxiliary heating
Deluxe automatic air conditioner plus . . .
111
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Running time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Switching on/off immediately . . . . . . 112
Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Average fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Axle weights
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
BBattery
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Low charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Power level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Power management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Winter conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Bayonet fastener
Bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Bulb holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
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