instrument cluster AUDI A5 COUPE 2008 Owner's Guide

Driving
124Press brake pedal to release parking brake
This message may appear when you press the switch to release the
parking brake. The parking brake can only be released, if you
depress the brake pedal and simultaneously press the switch or if
you use the parking brake auto release function ⇒page 122 . Parking brake malfunction !
This message will appear toge ther with the yellow symbol
 if a
malfunction should occur in the parking brake.
Fault in parking brake auto release
This driver message will appear in the event of a malfunction of the
parking brake auto release. The automatic release of the parking
brake when moving off from a standstill is not functioning correctly.
The parking brake must be released manually by pressing the
switch. Have the fault rectified by a qualified workshop.
Audi hold assist
Audi hold assist helps the driver when the vehicle is
stationary and automatically prevents the vehicle from
rolling away when driving off.
When the Audi hold assist functi on is on, the vehicle is auto-
matically prevented from rolling away and you no longer
have to keep your foot on the brake pedal.
Conditions for switching on Audi hold assist
– The driver's door must be closed.
– The driver's seat belt must be buckled.
– The engine must be running.
Switching on Audi hold assist
– Press button ⇒fig. 137 in the centre console to switch
on the Audi hold assist function. The indicator lamp in
the switch will light up.
Switching off Audi hold assist
– Press button ⇒fig. 137 to switch off the Audi hold
assist function. The indicator lamp in the switch will go
out.
– If you press button while the vehicle is being held by the Audi hold assist functi on, the electro-mechanical
parking brake

will automatically take over. The
parking brake will not take over if the foot brake is
applied simultaneously.
– Audi hold assist is switched off automatically if you open the driver's door, unbuckle the seat belt or switch off the
engine. If this happens when the green symbol

is
displayed in the instrument cluster, the parking brake
will be applied automatically to ensure that the vehicle is
parked safely.
Audi hold assist helps the driver to keep the vehicle stationary while
the engine is running, for instance on steep gradients, at traffic
Fig. 137 Detail of the
centre console: Button
for Audi hold assist
ABAB
AB
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Driving125
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
lights or in stop-and-g
o traffic. When the Audi hold assist function
is on, you don't have to keep your foot on the brake to prevent the
vehicle from accidentally rolling away. Once it detects that the
vehicle is stopped, Audi hold assist keeps the vehicle stationary. The
green symbol
 in the instrument cluste r indicates that the func-
tion is activated. You can now ta ke your foot off the brake pedal.
As soon as you drive off in the normal way, the parking brake will
automatically be released and the vehicle will start moving.
If the conditions for Audi hold assist change and the function is
switched off as a result, the parking brake will be applied automati-
cally to ensure that the vehicle is parked safely. The diode in the
button will go out when the Audi hold assist function is switched
off.
WARNING
The intelligent technology in Audi hold assist cannot defy the laws
of physics. Do not let the extra convenience provided by Audi hold
assist tempt you into taking a safety risk.•
Audi hold assist cannot keep the vehicle stationary in all condi-
tions on a gradient (e.g. if the road is slippery or icy).
•
Audi hold assist must be swit ched on again each time the
engine is started – Risk of accident!
•
Never get out of the vehicle wh en the engine is running and
Audi hold assist is switched on – Risk of accident!
•
Always ensure that the vehicle is stopped properly and safely
to avoid injury to yourself and others.Caution
Switch off the Audi hold assist function before driving the vehicle
into a car wash.
Note
•
Audi hold assist can be switched on only when the driver's door
is closed, the driver's seat belt is buckled and the engine is running.
•
Audi hold assist prevents auto matic vehicles from creeping
forwards when the brake pedal is released with the car in gear.
•
When the vehicle has been stationary for an extended period,
Audi hold assist will automatically apply the parking brake. In this
case, the green symbol
 in the instrument cluster display will
change to red
.
Cruise control systemIntroduction
The cruise control system allows you to maintain a
constant speed.
Fig. 138 Control lever
and pushbutton for
cruise control system
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Driving127
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Pull the lever to position ⇒page 125, fig. 138 to
switch on the system.
– Drive at the speed you wish to set the system to (must be higher than 30 km/h).
– Briefly press button .When the pushbutton is released, the current speed is stored in the
memory and the vehicle will maintain this speed. The cruise control
system is then operating. If you ha ve selected the display for the on-
board computer 1 or 2, a green symbol in the instrument cluster
display indicates that the cruise control is operating ⇒page 126,
fig. 140. The speed which is being maintained is displayed next to
the symbol.
The information for the cruise control system is shown briefly in the
system status indicator if you have selected the display for the
digital speedometer or the route guidance ⇒fig. 141. In addition,
the indicator lamp ⇒ page 126, fig. 139 lights up to tell you that the
system is in cruise mode.
Adjusting speed (without storing it)
When the cruise control system is operating it is possible
to briefly drive at a higher speed without storing this new
speed.– Press the accelerator, for example to overtake another
vehicle.Once you release the accelerator the system will automatically
revert to the speed you stored initially. However, the system will only
function in this manner fo r as long as the symbol ⇒page 126,
fig. 140 lights up green.
If your speed is more than 10 k m/h higher than the stored speed
over a period of more than 5 minutes the cruise control system will
temporarily be deactivated. The gr een symbol will go out and the
white symbol will light up. The stored speed will, however, be
retained ⇒page 128, fig. 142.Adjusting speed and storing new speedTo set a higher speed
– Move the lever up towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
– Release the lever to store the current cruising speed.
To set a lower speed
– Move the lever down towards ⇒page 125, fig. 138.
– Release the lever to store the current cruising speed.When you press and hold lever the speed is changed in incre-
ments of 10 km/h. The speed selected can be higher/lower than the
current driving speed.
Fig. 141 Symbol and
speed display while in
cruise mode (short-
term display)
AA
A1
AB
AA
A+
AA
A-
AA
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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 ri
sking an accident, appl y 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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Airbag system
176Airbag systemDescription of airbag systemGeneral notes on airbag system
The airbag is an integral part of the car's passive safety
system.In conjunction with the three-poin t seat belts, the airbag system
gives the front occupants additional protection for the head and
chest in the event of a severe frontal collision.
In a severe side collision the side airbags and the head-protection
airbags reduce the risk of injury to the occupants in the areas of the
body facing the impact ⇒.
In addition to th eir normal function of protecting the occupants in a
collision, the seat belts also hold them in a position where the
airbags can inflate properly and provide maximum protection.
The airbag system will only work with the ignition on. The airbag
system is monitored electronically; the airbag warning lamp indi-
cates whether the system is functioning properly.
The main parts of the airbag system are:•
the electronic monitoring system (control unit and sensors),
•
the two front airbags,
•
the front side airbags and head-protection airbags,
•
The airbag warning lamp in the instrument cluster.
There is a fault in the airbag system if the warning
lamp
•
does not come on when the ignition is switched on,
•
does not go out about 4 seconds after the ignition is switched
on,
•
goes out and then comes on again after the ignition is switched
on,
•
comes on or flickers while the car is moving.
WARNING
•
The airbags are not a substitute for the seat belts; they are an
integral part of the car's overall passive safety system. The airbags
can only offer effective protection if the occupants are wearing
their seat belts. For this reason it is very important to wear the
seat belts at all times ⇒page 170, “Why is it so important to use
seat belts?”.
•
The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protec-
tion if the occupant s are seated correctly ⇒page 70, “Seats and
storage”.
•
If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not
seated correctly while th e vehicle is in motion, you are at greater
risk of injury should the airbag system be triggered in an accident.
•
Components of the airbag system are located in various parts
of the vehicle. If repairs to other vehicle components make it
necessary to perform work on the airbag system or to remove or
install parts of the airbag system , this may cause damage to the
airbag system. As a result, the ai rbags may not inflate correctly or
may not be triggered at all in an ac cident situation. For this reason,
you should always have the work carried out by a qualified work-
shop.
•
If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system
checked immediately by a qual ified workshop. Otherwise the
system may fail to trigger in an accident.
•
Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in
any way.
•
Never make any alterations to the front bumper or the body.
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Airbag system
184
– The front passenger's airbag can be reactivated by turning the key to position .Deactivating front passenger 's airbag when a child
safety seat is in use
If you have no alternative but to in stall a rearward-facing child safety
seat on the front passenger's seat you must deactivate the front
passenger's airbag beforehand.
We recommend, however, that child seats should be only fitted on
the rear seat so that the front passenger's airbag can remain func-
tional and provide protection in an accident ⇒page 185 .
Monitoring of airbag system
The airbag warning lamp will light up for a few seconds every time
the ignition is switched on.
If the front passenger's airbag has been deactivated via the key-
operated switch, the indicator lamp “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” will
light up constantly as a reminder ⇒fig. 196. Please refer also to the
description of the
 warning lamp in the instrument cluster
⇒ page 16 .
When the front passenger's airbag is deactivated using the key-
operated switch, the seat belt warning lamp for the front passenger
 ⇒ page 17 is also switched off.
WARNING
•
If you have no alternative but to install a rearward-facing child
seat on the front passenger's se at, the front passenger's airbag
must be deactivated beforehand. Potentially fatal injuries to the
child can result if the front pass enger's airbag is not deactvated!
⇒ page 186, “Using a child safety seat on the front passenger's
seat”
•
If you have deactivated the front passenger's airbag, reactivate
it as soon as the child seat is no longer needed so that the airbag
can continue to give the required protection.
•
It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the key-operated
switch is set to the correct position.Note
All the other airbags in the car will remain functional if the front
passenger's airbag has been deac tivated with the key-operated
switch.
AON
WARNING (continued)
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Intelligent technology203
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Dynamic power management
While the vehicle is moving, this function distributes the available
power to the various electrical components and systems according
to their requirements. The power management ensures that on-
board systems do not consume more electrical power than the
alternator can supply, and thus
maintains the maximum possible
battery power level.
Note
•
The power management system is not able to overcome the
given physical limits. Please reme mber that the power and life of
the battery are limited.
•
A warning message will appear ⇒page 204, “Driver message in
the instrument cluster display” if the battery power has dropped to
a level where reliable starting is impaired.
Points to remember
Starting ability has first priority.Short trips, city traffic and low te mperatures all place a heavy load
on the battery. In these conditions a large amount of power is
consumed, but only a small amount is supplied. The situation is also
critical if electrical equipment is in use when the engine is not
running. In this case power is consumed when none is being gener-
ated.
In these situations you will be aware that the power management
system is intervening to control the distribution of electrical power.
When the vehicle is parked 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. 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 yo
u unlock the vehicle. These func-
tions will be restored when you switch on the ignition and start the
engine.
With the engine switched off
If you listen to the radio or us e the other MMI functions when the
engine is not running, this will discharge the battery.
The MMI display will show this wa rning message before the battery
power drops to a level where the starting ability is impaired.
Please start engine, otherwise system will switch off
in 3 minutes.
This message warns you that the system you are using will be
switched off automatically after 3 minutes. You should therefore
start the engine if you wish to continue using the system.
When the engine is running
Although the alternator generates electrical power, the battery can
still become discharged while the vehicle is being driven. This can
occur when a lot of power is being consumed but only a small
amount supplied, especially if the battery is not fully charged
initially.
To restore the necessary energy balance, the system will then
temporarily shut off the electrical components that are using a lot
of power, or reduce the current they are consuming. Heating
systems in particular use a large am ount of electrical power. If you
notice, for instance, that the seat heating* or the rear window
heater is not working, they may have been temporarily switched off
or regulated to a lower heat output. These systems will be available
again as soon as sufficient electrical power is available.
You may also notice that the engine runs at a slightly faster idling
speed. This is quite normal, and no cause for concern. The increased
idling speed allows the alternat or to meet the greater power
requirement and charge the battery at the same time.
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Intelligent technology
204Driver message in the instrument cluster displayIf battery power drops to a level at which you may encounter prob-
lems when starting the engine, the following message will appear
in the instrument cluster display:
 Low battery charge: Battery will be charged while driving
This message reminds you that th e starting reliability may be
impaired. The message will disappear as soon as you set off and the
battery is charged.
Message comes on and goes out again
If the message appears in the displ ay after the ignition is switched
on or while driving, and goes out again after a period of time, the
battery has been charged up again sufficiently while the vehicle was
being driven.
Message comes on and does not go out
If the message appears in the displ ay after the ignition is switched
on or while driving, and does not go out again, the battery is not
being maintained at the proper power level. Starting reliability may
be impaired. You should have the battery checked by a qualified
workshop as soon as possible.
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Towing a trailer209
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
additional mirrors fitted. Both exterior mirrors should be mounted
on hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors to give sufficient
vision to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, check
the headlight beam settings with
the trailer hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight
beams by means of the headlight range control ⇒page 56 .
Power supply
When you remove the ignition key the power supply to the trailer is
interrupted.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a
removable ball joint coupling. It is carried under the floor panel on
the left-hand side of the luggage compartment.
Note
We recommend having the car serviced between the normal inspec-
tion intervals if it used frequently for towing a trailer.Applies to vehicles: with towing bracketTrailer stabilisation system
Trailer stabilisation helps to reduce the risk of the vehicle
skidding when towing a trailer.When is the trailer stab ilisation system activated?
Trailer stabilisation is active when the following requirements are
met:•
The ESP must NOT be switched off ⇒page 196 ,
•
The trailer connector must be properly secured in the vehicle
socket.
•
Vehicle speed must be higher than approx. 60 km/h. How trailer stabilisation works:
In many cases, the driver can stabilise a swaying trailer by manually
braking the vehicle.
However, if the ESP detects that th
e trailer is swaying and this is
affecting the towing vehicle, it will automatically brake the vehicle
to stabilise the trailer by slowing it down. The warning lamp
 will
light up in the instrument cluste r. If possible, do not turn the
steering wheel at this stage.
In order to warn traffic behind you, the brake lights will come on
during this automatic braking operation.
A trailer weighing less than 70% of the kerb weight of the towing
vehicle may sway quite considerably without the trailer stabilisation
system intervening. This can happen when the swaying movements
of the light-weight trailer are not or hardly passed on to the towing
vehicle and are therefore not detected by the ESP.
If the system for activating the trai ler brake lights is defective, this
will be indicated in the instrument cluster display ⇒page 36, “Bulb
monitor ”.
Requirements for correct functioning of the trailer
stabilisation system
If these conditions are not met in full, the trailer stabilisation system
will only intervene to a limited extent or not at all ⇒.
•
The electrical connection between the towing vehicle and the
trailer must be functioning correctly, without any defects.
•
The load on the trailer must be properly secured.
•
The tyre pressures on both the vehicle and the trailer must be
adapted to the load that is being carried.
•
Where possible, operate the trai ler with the maximum permitted
draw bar weight.
•
The trailer overrun brake must be set correctly. This is important
to ensure that the trailer can be braked correctly, to avoid the vehicle
and trailer “jack-knifing” and to pr event excess braking of the trailer.
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Towing a trailer
210•
In low outside temperatures , both the towing vehicle and the
trailer should be fitted with winter tyres.
WARNING
It is essential that you adjust your speed to suit the weather, road
and traffic conditions. Do not let the trailer stabilisation system
tempt you into taking any risks wh en driving – this can cause acci-
dents.•
The ESP and trailer stabilisatio n system cannot defy the laws
of physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery
and wet roads and when towing a trailer with a light load.
•
The trailer stabilisation system is functional, regardless of
whether the trailer has a mechanical overrun brake or not.
•
The trailer stabilisation system is not always able to detect
swaying of trailers with a light load and will therefore not inter-
vene.
•
A trailer can still “jack-knife” on slippery roads with little grip,
even if the towing vehicle is eq uipped with the trailer stabilisation
system.
•
Trailers with a high centre of gravity may even tip over before
they start to sway sideways.
•
If you are not towing a trailer, but the trailer socket is being
used (e.g. for an illuminated bicycl e rack), the trailer stabilisation
system may be activated in extreme driving conditions.
•
Please note the additional information and warnings
⇒ page 210 .
Notes on towing
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care.Weight distribution
Try to avoid towing a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle. If this
cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow for the unbalanced
weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with increasing speed.
For this reason it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permis-
sible top speed in unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions.
This applies especially on a downhill gradient.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows
the slightest sign of swaying. Never try to stop the swaying by accel-
erating further.
Always brake in good time. If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply
the brakes gently at first and then firmly. This will prevent the jerking
that can be caused by the trailer wheels locking. Change down in
good time before going down a steep hill so that you can use the
engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recom-
mend having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a
high trailer weight. They can be purchased and installed at an Audi
dealer.
Overheating
When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running
fast in low gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature
gauge ⇒page 11 . Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to
the top end of the scale. If the temperature warning lamp
 in the
instrument cluster should start flashing, stop the car and let the
engine cool down by running it at idling speed for a few minutes.
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