check engine light AUDI A5 COUPE 2010 User Guide

Clear vision
0 Note
Always be aware of changes in outside light conditions while you
are driving. Respond in time to fading daylight by turning the light
switch to position
gO (or "AUTO") to turn on your headlights. •
Instrument lighting
The basic brightness of the illumination for the instru ­
ments, the center console and the display can be
adjusted.
Press the knob to release it.
Fig. 54 Instrument
lighting
- Rotating the knob to the right"+" will increase the basic
brightness when it is dark.
Rotating the knob to the left" -" will decrease the basic
brightness when it is dark.
- Pressing the knob will prevent unintentiona l changes.
0 Note
The instrument cluster and center console illumination (gauges and
needles) comes on when you switch on the ignition and the
vehicle headlights are off
.
Be aware of the following difference between
models built to US or Canadian specifications:
• USA models: illumination of the instrument cluster (gauges and
needles), dash and center console around the gearshift lever is
controlled by a light sensor located in the instrument panel. The
instrument panel illumination will automatically become dimmer
as the daylight fades away and eventually will go out completely
when outside light is very low. This is to remind you, the driver, to
switch on the headlights before it gets too dark.
• Canada models: instrument panel illumination will stay bright
regardless of the intensity of ambient light . Always be aware of
changes in outside light conditions while you are driving. Respond
in time to fading daylight by turning the light switch to position
gD
(or "AUTO" if your car is equipped with this feature) to turn on your
headlights. •
Applies to vehicles : w ith xenon head ligh ts
Xenon headlights
After starting the engine, the xenon headlights are automatically
adjusted to the load and angle of the vehicle (for example, during
acceleration and braking!. This prevents oncoming traffic from
experiencing unnecessary headlight glare from your xenon head­
lights.
If the system is not operating properly, a warning symbol in the
Auto-Check Control is displayed
:::::> page 36. •

ll}JI Intelligent technology
---""'------------ ....::....:...:~---------------------------
almost no grip. Without EDL, this would be difficult, if not impos­
sible.
How the system works
The EDL operates automatically. It monitors the rotational speed of
wheels with the help of the ABS sensors=:,
page 238 . If a noticeable
slip is detected at the wheels (e.g. on slippery ground on one side),
the spinning wheels are braked and power is transferred to the
other wheels. This is done up to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/h).
Noises from the brake system signal that wheel spin is being
controlled.
Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, apply
plenty of throttle until the car starts to move.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads on this wheel, the EDL cuts out tempo­ rarily. The vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way
as a vehicle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto ­
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your ability to control your car. Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning . This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=:,
page 15. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP) . When the vehicle starts up and acceler ­
ates, the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the
engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatically , i.e. without the driver's intervention .
With the aid of the ABS sensors=:,
page 238, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, engine torque
is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to lock onto
the road surface. The system is active across the entire speed range.
The ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of action.
Activating
The ESP is automatically activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self-test . You can activate a deactivated ASR if required
by pressing the=:,
page 234, fig. 215 button. When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display.
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds) =:,
page 234, fig. 215. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light comes on, see=:,
page 13. The message ASR off ._

llffl __ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions, such as the remote key or power seat
adjustment, may not be available. The convenience functions will be
available again when you turn on the ignition and start the engine.
With the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with the engine turned off or
use other MMI functions, the battery is being discharged .
If starting capability is jeopardized due to energy consumption, the
following warning appears in the MMI display :
Please start engine, otherwise system will switch off in
3 minutes.
The warning indicates that the system will be turned off automati­
cally after 3 minutes. If you wish to continue using the functions,
you have to start the engine .
With the engine running
Although electrical energy is generated when the vehicle is being
driven, the battery can become discharged. This happens mostly
when little energy is being generated and a great deal consumed and the battery's state of charge is not optimal.
To bring the energy balance back into equilibrium, consumers
which require especially large amounts of energy are temporarily
cut back or switched off. Heating systems in particular require a
great deal of energy. If you notice, for example, that the heated
seats* or the heated rear window are not heating, they have been
temporarily cut back or switched off. These systems will be available
again as soon as the energy balance has been restored.
You will also notice that engine idle speed has been increased
slightly . This is normal and not a cause for concern. By increasing
engine idle speed the additional energy required is generated and
the battery is charged.
Driver not ification in the instrument cluster
d isplay
If battery power drops into the range where it can limit the ability of
the engine to start, this is shown in the instrument cluster display
with the following driver message:
'-' Low battery charge: battery will be charged while driving
This notification reminds you that the starting capability of the
engine may be limited. As soon as you start driving again, the
battery will be recharged and the notification will go out.
Driver notification appears and goes out again
If this driver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
while driving and it goes out again after a while, the battery has
been adequately recharged.
Driver notification appears and does not go out again
If this driver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
while driving and does not go out again, the battery's state of
charge is not in the optimal range . Starting ability is restricted . Have
the battery checked as soon as possible by an authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop. •

Trailer load d is trib ut ion
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in place to prevent it
from shifting forward, backward or sideways.
Ne ver allo w a passen ger to rid e i n a tr ailer => & in "Driving instruc ­
tions" on
page 249.
En gin e c ool ing syst em
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It is important that
the cooling system 's performance is up to the additiona l load. Make
sure that the cooling system has enough flu id.
Ti re press ure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the labe l located either on the
driver's side B-pillar (visible when the door is open} or inside the fuel
filler flap . Inflate trailer tires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' spec ­
ifications.
Ligh ts
The headlight settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off . Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are working properly .
Safe ty c hain s
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.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r t owing
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of veh icle and trailer,
please note t he following :
Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded .
- Be especia lly careful when passing other vehicles .
Observe speed l imits .
Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
Always apply brakes early.
Monitor the temperature gauge.
W eight distrib utio n
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a h ighly
unstable distribution of weight . If this cannot be avoided, drive at
very low speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
t he tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis ­
sible, while 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 whi le observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considerations.
S pee d
The higher the speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the d river to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable -particularly when going downhill .
Reduce vehicle speed
i mmed iatel y if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying .
Do not try to st op the swa ying b y accelerating.
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 _io _ n __ lffllll
•
- Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
- Once the stain is no longer v isible, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up the moisture.
Do not use lea ther cleaning produc ts on Alcantara®.
You may use a suitable shampoo for removing dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the
surface. If the car is left standing in the sun for long periods, the
Alcantara® should be protected against direct sunlight to prevent it
from fading. Slight color variations will develop in normal use and are not an indication of material deterioration.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes , shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara ® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer ­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids. •
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution . Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly .
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash.
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them .
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your authorized Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 252. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine comport­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine => &.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts .
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the .,_
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_ h_ e_c _ k_ i_ n ...;:g:- a_ n_ d_ f_ il _li _n ...::g ::.- _____________________________________________ _
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
-Open the driver's door .
Fig. 220 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel
~ fig. 220 in the direct ion of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 221 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind ­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Pull up on the release under the hood :::} fig. 221. This
releases the catch .
- Open the hood all the way:::}& .
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• 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. •

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
© Windshield/headlight * washer container (~ l . . . . . . . 286
0 Power steering reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
The position of the engine oi l filling hole=> fig. 222 (item
@l can
differ depending on the engine design .
& WARNING
Befo re you che ck a nythin g in the en gin e com partment , always
read and h eed all WARNING S
=> & in "Workin g in th e e ngine
co mp artm ent " o n
page 271. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
T he engine in your Audi is a sophisticated power plant that was built
to exacti ng specifications . This engine needs the right kind of
engine oil that meets specifications regarding qua lity and viscosity
so that it can run smoothly and reliably. Choosing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage intervals printed in your
vehicle's Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a spec ial quality standard
for engine oi l that will help assure tha t your vehicle's engine will get
the lubr ication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many synthe tic oi ls availab le today provide better engine
lubrication that can outlast traditional pet roleum-based oils ,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthet ic or petroleum -based engine oil, the oi l
that you use must conform to Audi's oi l quality standard VW 502 00
to help keep your veh ic le's engine running smoothly and help prevent the formation of harmful deposits
, sometimes called
"sludge", that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine oi ls avai lable in the U .S . and Canada
that meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00 are synthetic engine oils. This does not mean, however, that every
synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00 . So
a lways be sure that you use an approved oi l.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the fo llowing specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oil sta ndard VW 502 0 0
Oil container labels may carry th e specification singly or in combi­
nation with o ther designa tions and oil quality standards.
Visc osit y
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
v iscosity grade oi l for your engine depends on c limactic or seasona l
conditions where you drive. You can use oil wi th a viscosi ty grade of
SAE 5W40 across al l temperature ranges for normal driving condi­
tions .
Howeve r, if engine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can a lso use viscosity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W -40 as long as it
meets Audi oil qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications.
Because engine o il that meets the Audi o il standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you n eed it, we strongly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart (liter) of o il that
express ly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the oil while on the road .
Only if the level of the oil is at or below the minimum mark - and no
oi l that expressly conforms to Audi oil standard VW 502 00 specifi ­
cations is availab le - may you top o ff with a high qua lity engine oil,
preferably synthetic -based, that meets ACEA A3, ACEA A5 or
ACEA 85 or API SL specifications, but even then, on ly in viscosity
grades SAE 5W -40, SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40. However, during the
en tire time between oil change intervals, never top off with more _,.
Vehicle care I t •

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
than a total of 0.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not conform to Audi
oi l specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oi l that has been approved for
your vehicle, please contact e ither your authorized Audi dealer or
Aud i Custo mer Relations at 1 (800) 822 -2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca. Here you will a lso find a
current list of o ils (manufacture rs, brand names etc.) that con form
to Audi oi l standard VW 502 00.
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil fil ter must be changed according to the
mi leage (kilometers) and time intervals specified in your vehicle's
Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -
harmful deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance a nd can lead to expens ive eng ine repairs.
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very important because the lubricating properties of oi l decrease gradual ly during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your authorized Audi Service Adviso r.
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed more frequently . Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, ope rate the vehicle in dusty areas or m ostly under stop ­
and -go traffic cond itions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatu res stay below freezing point for long per iods.
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short time. This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oi l more o ften than recommended.
Dam age or malfunctions d ue to la ck of ma inten ance
It is essential that you change your oi l a t the recommended in terva ls
using on ly engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not cover
damag e or ma lfunctions due to failure to follow recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and War ranty & Mai ntenance booklet. Your dealer wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in the form of Service or Repair Orders that all schedu
led maintenance
was performed in a timely manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The e ngine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount o f oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrica tion and coo ling of in terna l
engine components, all interna l combustion engines consume a
cer tain amoun t of oil. Oi l consump tion varies from e ngine to engine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine. Typical ly,
engi nes w ith a specified break -in p eriod (see =>
page 243) consume
more o il during the break- in period than they consume after oil
consump tion has stabi lized .
Under normal conditions, the ra te of oil consumpt ion depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the R PM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil di lution from water
con densa tion or fue l residue and the oxi dation leve l of t he oi l. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consump ­
tion may increase over time until replacemen t of wo rn components
may become necessary.
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oi l
consumptio n can be establ ished o r speci fied. There is no alternat ive
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yel low engine oil l evel warn ing sy mbol in t he instrumen t
cluster ._ lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
p ossible :::::>
page 275. Top off the o il at your earliest conven ience
=>
page 275.
& WARNING
Befo re you che ck anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNINGS
:::::> & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 271 .

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especia lly important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold. If necessary, increase the proportion of
coo lant additive to 60%.
• When adding coolant additive to your coo ling system,
reme mber:
- We recommend using only coolant additive G12+ + (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant addit ive is ava ilable at autho­
rized Audi dealers . Other types of antifreeze can significantly
reduce corrosion protection . The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage.
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolant . Adding radiator repair fluid may adverse ly affect the
function and performance o f your cooling system and cou ld result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checke d with a quick
glance.
Fig . 2 25 Engine
c omp artmen t: Coo la n t
e xpan sion tank
Be fo re y ou c heck anything in the e ngine compar tm en t,
always read and heed all WARNINGS==> & in "Working in
the eng ine compartment" on
page 271.
Tur n off the ignitio n.
- Let the engine coo l down.
P lace a th ick rag ove r the coola nt expans io n tank
==> fig. 225 and carefully twist th e cap counter-c lockwise
==> & .
Read t he e ngin e coola nt level i n the open coo la nt expan­
sion tank==> fig. 225. W ith a cold eng ine, the coolant leve l
sho uld be bet ween the "m in" and "max" markings. W hen
t h e eng ine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
"max" marking .
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment illustration=>
page 272.
To obtain an accurate read ing, the engine must be switched off .
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an e lectric
coo lant leve l sensor.
When the coolant leve l is too low, the warning light in the Auto ­
Check System =>
page 30will blink until you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coo lant level sensor, we still recommend you check the co olant level
from t ime to time.
C oolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a le ak in the cooling system . In the event
of coo lant loss, the co oling system should be inspec ted i mmedi ­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer. It is not enough mere ly to add
coo lant.
In a
s ealed system, losses can occur on ly if the boi ling point of the
coo lant is exceeded as a result of overheating. ...

___________________________________________ C_ h_e _c_ k_ i_n _g _ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n _g __ ll'I
•
& WARNING
The cooling sy stem i s under pre ssure and can get very hot . Redu ce
the risk of scalding from hot coolant by following these steps.
• Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down .
• Protect your face, hands and arms from escaping fluid and
ste am by cover ing the cap with a large , thick rag .
• Turn the cap slowly and very carefully
in a counter -clockwise
dire ction while applying light , downward pressure on the top of
the cap .
• To avoid being burned, do not spill antifreeze or coolant on the
e x haust system or hot engine parts . Under certain conditions, the
ethylene glycol in engine coolant can catch fire .
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sea lant to your vehicle's engine
coolant. Adding radia to r repa ir flu id may advers ely affect the fu nc­
tion and performance of your coo ling system and could res ult in
damage not covered by y our New Vehic le Lim ited War ra nty .•
Adding coolant
B e very care ful when ad ding e ngine cool ant.
Be for e you check a nything in the engine com partmen t,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Work ing in
t h e eng ine compa rtment" on
page 271 .
-Tur n o ff th e en gine.
- Let the e ng in e cool d own.
- Plac e a thi ck rag over the coo la nt expansion tank
~ page 2 78 , fig. 2 25 and carefully tur n t he cap coun te r­
cl ockwi se
~ &.
Add coo lan t.
- Twist the cap on aga in
tightly.
Replacement engine coolant must conform to exact specifications
~ page 2 77, "C oolant". Even in an eme rgency, if co olant addi tive
G12+ +, G12 + or G12 is not availab le, do not use a different additive.
U se pla in water ins tead until you can ge t the c orrect add itive and
can res tore the correc t rat io. Th is shou ld be done as soon as
p os sible.
I f y ou hav e los t a co ns ide rab le amou nt of coo la nt, then y ou should
add cold antifreeze and cold water only when the engine is cold .
A lways use
new e ngine c oolant w he n r efil ling .
D o not fill coolant a bove the " MAX" mark. Excess coola nt w il l be
forced out through the pressure relief va lve in the cap when the
eng ine becomes hot.
& WARNING
• The cooling system is under pressure and can get very hot .
Reduce the risk of scalding from hot coolant by following these
steps.
-Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down .
- Protect your face , hands and arms from escaping fluid and
steam by covering the cap with a large , thick rag .
- Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counter -clockwise
direction while applying light, downward pressure on the top
of the cap.
- To avoid being burned, do not spill antifreeze or coolant on
the exhau st system or hot engine parts. Under certain condi ­
tions, the ethylene glycol in eng ine coolant can catch fire .
• Antifreeze is poisonous. Always store antifreeze in its original
container and well out of the reach of children .
• If you dra in the coolant , it must be caught and safely stored in
a proper container clearly marked "poison ".
~
Vehicle care I t •