check engine light AUDI A6 2014 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: AUDI, Model Year: 2014, Model line: A6, Model: AUDI A6 2014Pages: 304, PDF Size: 76.32 MB
Page 198 of 304

196  Intelligent  technology 
@ Tips 
-ABS  and ASR on ly work  correctly  when 
all  four  wheels  are  equipped with  identi
ca l tires. Different  tire  sizes can lead to  a 
reduct ion in  engine  power. 
- You may hear  noises when  the  systems 
described  are working. 
Switching  on  and  off 
- If  the  indicator  light DJ or til] (USA 
mode ls)/ [I] (Canada models)  appears, 
there  may be a malfunction 
¢ page  20 , 
¢ page  19. 
ESC turns  on automatically  when you  start  the  engine. 
Fig.  178 Ce nter  co ns ole, f). O FF bu tton 
ESC levels 
Sport  mode on 
The following  situations  are exceptions  where 
it  may be usefu l to  switch  on  sport mode  to 
allow  the  wheels  to  spin: 
- Rocking the  vehicle  to  free  it  when  it  i s st uck 
- Dr iving  in deep  snow or  on loose g round 
- Driving  with  snow chains 
Sport  mode off 
Beha vio r 
The ESC a nd ASR stabilization  fun ct ions  The fu ll stabilization  function  o f the  ESC 
are  limited ¢.&, . 
Op eration Pr ess the 1.$ O FFI button . 
Indicato r I) turns  on. 
lights 
Driv er mes- Stabiliza tion control  (ESC ): Sport 
sage s  Warning!  R educed  stability 
,8. WARNING 
You should  only  switch  sport  mode  on if 
your  driving  abilities  and  road cond itions 
permit. 
- The stabilization  function  is limited 
when  sport  mode  is sw itched  on.  The 
dr iv ing whee ls could  spin  and  the vehicle 
cou ld swe rve, especially  on slick  or  slip
pery  road surfaces . 
{D) Tips 
Sport  mode  cannot  be  switched on when 
adapt ive cr uise control*  is switched  on. 
-
and ASR is availab le  again . 
Press the 
1 .$ O FF I button  again. 
fl tu rns off. 
Stabilization  c ontrol  (ESC ): On 
Braking 
General  information 
What  affects  braking  efficiency? 
Operating  conditions  and  driving  habits 
The bra kes on today's  automobiles  a re still 
s u bje ct  to wear, depending  largely  on ope rat
i ng conditions  and driving  hab its 
¢ A . On 
vehicles that  are  either driven  most ly  in  stop
and-go  city  traff ic or  are driven  hard,  the 
brake pads should  be  checked by your author
ized Audi  dealer  more  often  than  specified in 
the 
Warranty & Maintenance booklet . Failure .,,_  
Page 206 of 304

204  Driving  and  en vir onm ent 
The consumption  estimates  as  published 
by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 
(EPA) and Transport  Canada  may not  corre
spond  to  your actual  consumption  on the 
road, which will vary depending  upon  vehi 
cle load and  speed,  road and weather  con
ditions,  tr ip  length,  etc . 
Drive  smoothly  and  keep a  lookout 
ahead 
Vehicles use  the  most  fuel  when  they  are  ac
celerating. 
•  Avoid unnecessary  accelerating  and  braking. 
Vehicles use  the  mo st fuel  when  they are  ac
celerating . If you anticipate  what  is go ing to 
happen  next,  you will need  to  brake  less and, 
thus , accelerate  less.  Let the  vehicle coast 
wheneve r poss ible  -for  example  when you see 
that  the  next traffic  l ight  is red. 
Avoid  full  throttle 
Driving at  moderate  speeds  saves  fuel  and 
improves your  mileage. 
•  Try and  keep well below your car 's max imum 
speed . 
Accelerating  gently  reduces  fuel  consump
tion,  engine  wear,  and  does  not  disturb  the 
environment . 
Fuel consumption,  exhaust  emissions  and  en
g ine  no ise  increase  d isproportionately  at  high 
speeds.  If you dr ive at  approximately  three 
quarters  of top  speed,  fue l consumption  will 
be  reduced  by one  half.  Neve r dr ive faste r 
than  the  posted  speed  limit and  wea ther  con
d itions  permit. 
Reducing  unnecessary  idling 
Even when your  car is just  idling it burns  up 
fuel. 
•  Shut  the  engine  off when you are  not  dr iv ing 
the  vehicle.  • 
Do not  warm  up the  vehicle by letting  the 
engine  run  at  id le . 
T he  id ling  phase  is automatically  red uced for 
vehicles with the  Start/Stop  system . It  is effi 
cient  to  switch  off the  engine  in vehicles with 
out  the  Start-Stop -System  when  stopp ed at 
railroad  crossings  and  long  red  lights.  Tu rning 
the  engine  off for jus t 30-40  seconds  saves 
more  fuel  than  is burned  by starting  the  en-
. . gme  again . 
It takes  a  long time  for  the  eng ine to  warm  up 
fully when  i t is running  at  idle. However, wear 
and  noxiou s emissions  are  espec ially high 
when  the  eng ine  is warm ing up . So you should 
drive away as  soon  as you start  the  engine  and 
avo id  running  at  high rpms  while the  engine  is 
still warming  up. 
W Note 
Do not  leave engine  idling  unattended  af
ter  start ing . If wa rning  lights  should  come 
on to  indicate  improper  operation,  they 
wo uld  go unheeded . Ex tended  idling  also 
produces  heat,  wh ich could  res ult  in ove r
heating  or other  damage  to  the  ve hicle or 
other  property . 
Regular  maintenance 
A badly  tuned  engine  unnecessarily  wastes  a 
lot  of fuel. 
•  Have your veh icle serviced  at  reg ular  in ter -
vals . 
By having your ve hicle regu la rly se rviced by an 
Audi dealer  he lps to  ensu re tha t  it  runs  p rop 
erly and  economically . The condition  of your 
vehicle not  only affects  its safety  and  ability to 
ho ld  its va lue,  it also  affects 
fuel  con sump
tion . 
Check  your  oil e ach time  you 
fill y our tank. 
The  amount  of o il used  is re lated  to  engine 
load and  speed. 
It  is normal  for the  oil consumption  of a new 
engine  to  reach  its  lowest  value  after  a certa in 
mileage  has  bee n driven .  ..,.  
Page 208 of 304

206  Trailer towing 
Trailer  towing 
Driving  with  a  trailer 
General  information 
Your  Audi  was designed  primarily  for passen
ger  transportation . 
If  you  plan  to  tow  a trailer,  p lease  remember 
that  the  additional  load  will  affect  durability, 
economy  and  performance . 
Trailer  towing  not  on ly places  more  stress  on 
the  vehicle,  it  also  calls  for  more  concentra
tion  from  the  driver. 
For  this  reason,  always  follow  the  operating 
and  driving  instructions  provided  and  use 
common  sense. 
@ Note 
If  you  are  going  to  tow  a trai ler,  you  must 
activate  the  trailer  operation mode 
c:::> page 206, Operating instructions. 
Technical requirements 
Trailer  hitch 
Use a  weight-carrying  hitch  conforming  to  the 
gross  trailer  weight.  The  hitch  must  be  suita ble  for  your  vehicle  and  trailer and must  be 
mounted  securely on the  vehicle's  chassis  at  a 
technically  sound location . Use  only  a  trailer 
hitch  with a  removable  ball mount.  Always 
check  with  the  trailer  hitch  manufacturer to 
make  sure  that you  are  using the  cor rect 
hitch. 
Do  not use a bumper  hitch. 
The  hitch  must  be  installed  in such  a way  that 
it  does  not  interfere  with  the impact-absorb
ing  bumper  system.  No modifications  should 
be  made  to  the  vehicle  exhaust  and  brake  sys
tems . From  time to  time,  check  that  all hitch 
mounting  bolts  remain  securely  fastened. 
When  you are not  towing  a  trailer, remove  the 
trai ler  hitch  ball mount.  This  prevents  the 
hitch  from  causing  damage  should  your vehi
cle  be struck  from  behind 
c:::> A. 
Trailer  brakes 
If your  trailer  is equipped  with  a brakin g  sys
tem,  check  to be  sure  that  it  conforms  to  all 
regulations. 
T he  trailer  hydraulic  brake  system must not be 
directly  connected  to  the vehicle's  hydraulic 
brake  system . 
Safety  chains 
Always  use  safety  chains  between  your  veh icle 
and  the  trailer. 
Trailer  lights 
Trailer lights must  meet  all  regulations.  Be 
sure  to  check  with  your  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 important 
that  you 
always have  clear  v is ion  to  the  rear . 
A WARNING 
--
After removing  the trailer  hitch,  do  not 
store  it  in your  vehicle . In  case  of  sudden 
braking,  the  hitch  could  fly forward  and  in
jure  you or your  passengers. 
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  prevent it  from  shift ing  forward, 
backward  or  sideways. 
Never allow a  passenger to ride  in a trailer 
c:::> A in Driving  instructions  on page 208. 
Engine  cooling  system 
Towing  a trailer  makes  the  engine  work  hard
er . It  is important  that  the  cooling  system 's 
performance  is up  to  the  additional  load.  
Page 226 of 304

224  Checking  and  filling 
Checking  and  filling Engine  hood 
Releasing  the  engine  hood 
The engine  hood  is released  from  inside  the 
vehicle . 
Fig. 186 Driver foo twell:  release  lever 
Fig. 187 Rocker  switch un der  the  hood 
Make  sure  the  wiper  arms  are  not  raised  up 
from  the  windshield.  Otherwise  the paint 
could  be  damaged . 
.,.  Pull  the  lever  under  the  instrument  panel  in 
the  direction  of the  arrow 
¢ fig.  186. 
.,. Raise  the  hood  slightly¢,&. . 
...  Press  the  rocker  switch  under  the hood  up
ward 
~ fig.  187. This  releases  the  catch. 
•  Open  the  hood. 
&_ 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  compartment . Wait  until  no  steam  or 
coolant  can  be  seen  or  heard  before  care
fully  opening  the  hood . 
'Working  in the  engine  compartment 
Be especially careful whenever  you  work in 
the  engine  compartment. 
Whenever  you must  perform  any work  in the 
engine  compartment,  for  example  checking 
and filling  different  fluids,  there  is a risk of  injury,  burns and  accidents. To prevent  per
sonal  injury  always observe the  following 
WARNINGS.  The engine  compartment  of  any 
vehicle is a hazardous  area 
¢ ,&. . 
A WARNING 
To help  avoid  injury, before  you  check  any
thing  under  the  hood: 
- Turn  off the  engine. 
- Switch  off the  ignition . 
- Apply the  parking  brake. 
- Move selector  lever to  P (Park). 
- Always  let  the  engine  cool  down.  Hot 
components  will  burn  skin  on  contact. 
- To reduce  the  risk of  being  burned,  never 
open  the  hood  if you  see  or  hear  steam 
or  coolant  escaping  from  the  engine 
compartment.  Wait  until  no  steam  or 
coolant  can be  seen  or  heard  before  care
fully  opening  the hood. 
- Keep  children  away  from  the  engine  com
partment. 
- Never  spill  fluids  on  hot  engine  compo
nents . They can  cause  a fire  . 
- Never  touch  the  radiator  fan.  The auxili
ary  electric  fan  is temperature controlled 
and  can  switch  on  suddenly  . 
- Never  open  the  coolant  reservoir  cap 
when  the  engine  is still  warm . The  cool
ant  system  is pressurized  and  hot  cool
ant  could  spray  out. 
- Protect  your  face,  hands  and  arm  from 
steam  or  hot  engine  coolant  by placing  a 
thick  rag  over the cap  when  you  open  the 
coolant  reservoir. 
- Do  not 
remove the  engine  cover  under 
any  circumstances.  This  increases the 
risk of  burns. 
- If  work  on  the  fuel system  or the  electri
cal  system  is necessary:  
Page 228 of 304

226  Checking  and  filling 
Engine  compartment 
Engine compartment  overview 
These are the  most  important  items  that you  can check . 
Fig. 188 Typi cal layout  for conta iner s and  en gine  o il filler  cap 
(D Jump  start  point(-)  with  hex 
head  screw  ................. 
237,274 
@ Jump  start point(+)  under  a  cov-
er  .. .. .. .. ........ .. ..... . 
237,274 
® 
© 
® 
® 
Brake  fluid reservoir ((0))  . .  . .  .  234 
Engine  oi l fille r cap (
Windshield/headlight  washer 
232 
t . (.'R ) con  ainer  ,,.., ...... ....... . 238 
The  engine  oil  filler  neck  (item @)  may  be  lo
cated  in  a different  area  depending  on  the  ver
sion  of  the  engine. 
~ WARNING 
Before  yo u check  anything  in the  engine 
compartment,  always  read and  heed  all 
WARNINGS 
¢ &. in Working in the  engine 
compartment  on page  224. 
-
Engine  oil 
Engine oil  specifications 
The engine  in your Audi needs  the  righ t kind 
of  oil. 
The  engin e  in your  Audi  is a  sophisticated 
powerpl ant  that  was  bu ilt  to  exacting  spe cifi
cations . Thi s engine  needs  the  righ t kind  of 
engine  oil  that  meets  specification s regarding 
quality  and  v iscosity  so  that  it  can  run 
smoothly  and  reliably . Choosing  the  right oil 
and  changing  oil  within  the tim e and  mileage 
intervals  printed in you r vehicle's  Warra nty 
& 
Maintenance  booklet matters  a lot  more  to
day  than  it did  years  ago . Audi  has  developed 
a special  quality  standard  for  engine  oil  that 
will  h elp  assur e that  your  vehicle's  engine  wi ll 
get  the  lubr ication  it  need s for  proper  opera -
tion.  ..,.  
Page 230 of 304

228  Check ing  and  filling 
current  list  of  oils  (manufacturers , brand 
names etc.)  that  conform  to  Aud i oi l standard 
VW 502  00  (vehicles with  gasoline  engine)  or 
VW 507  00  (vehicles with  diesel  engine). 
C hang in g  th e  en gin e oil 
The engine  oil  and o il filter  must  be changed 
according  to the  m ileage (ki lomete rs) and 
time  inte rva ls spec ified  in your  vehicle's  War
ranty 
& Maintenance  booklet . Do not  exceed 
these  intervals  - harmful  deposits  from  old 
engine  o il can reduce engine  performance  and 
can lead to  expensive engine  repairs . 
Changing  the  oil  at  the  recommended  inte r
va ls is so very  important  because the  lubricat
ing  properties  of  oi l decrease grad ually  during 
norma l vehicle  use. If  you  are not  sure when 
you  have your  oil  changed,  ask your  author
ized Audi  Service Advisor . 
Under some  circumstances  the  engine  o il 
should  even be changed  more  frequently . 
Change oil  more  often  if you  drive  mostly 
short  d istances,  operate  the  vehicle  in dusty 
areas or  mostly  under  stop-and-go  traffic  con
d itions,  or  when  you  use your  vehicle  where 
temperatures  stay below  freezing  point  fo r 
l ong  periods. 
Detergent  add it ives  in the  o il w ill  make fresh 
oil  look  dark  after  the  eng ine has been run
n ing fo r a short  time.  This  is no rma l and is not 
a reason to  change the  o il  more  often  than 
recommended. 
Dama ge  or ma lfun cti ons  du e to  la ck of 
maint enan ce 
It  is essential  that  you change your  oil  at  the 
recommended  intervals  using  only  engine  oil 
that  complies  with  Audi  oil  standard 
VW  502  00  (vehicles wi th gaso lin e engine)  or 
VW 507  00  (veh icles with  diese l engine) . Yo ur 
Limited  New Vehicle Warranty  does not  cover 
damage  or  ma lf u nctions  due to  failure  to  fol
low  recommended  maintenance  and use re
qu irements  as set forth  in the  A udi  Owner's 
Manual  and War ranty 
& Maintenance  book let. 
Your dea ler will  have  to deny warranty  cover
age unless you  present  to  the  dealer  proof  in  the  form  o
f Service or  Repair Orders that  all 
scheduled  maintenance  was performed  in a 
t imely  manner. 
Engine  oil  consumption 
The engine  in your  vehicle depends  on on ade
quate  amount  of  oil to lubricate  and  cool oil 
of  its  moving  ports. 
In  order  to  provide  effective  lubrication  and 
cooling  of  interna l engine  components,  all  in
ternal  combust ion engines  consume  a certain 
amount  of  oil.  Oil consumpt ion varies  from 
engine  to engine  and may change sign ificantly 
over the  life  of  the  engine.  Typically , engines 
with  a spec ified  break- in period  (see 
¢ page  201) consume  more  oil  during  the 
break -in  pe riod t han they  consume  afte r o il 
consumption  has stabilized. 
Under  normal  cond it ions, the  rate  of  oil  con
sumption  depends  on the  q ua lity  and viscos ity 
of  the  oil , the  RPM (revol utio ns per  minute)  at 
which  the  engine  is opera ted, the  ambient 
temperature  and  road conditions . Furt her fac
tors  are the  amount  of  oil  dilution  from  water 
condensation  or  fue l residue  and the  oxida 
tion  level of  the  oil.  As any engine  is subject  to 
wear  as m ileage builds  up, the  oil  consump
t ion  may increase over  time  until  replacement 
of  worn  components  may become  necessary . 
With  a ll these  variab les coming  into  p lay, no 
standard  rate  of  oil  consumpt ion  can be es
tablished  or  spec ified . There is no alternative 
to  regular  and frequent  checking  of  the  o il lev
el,  see 
Not e. 
If  the  yellow  engine  oil  level warning  symbol 
in the  instrument  clus ter 
II lights  up, you 
shou ld check the  oil  leve l as soon  as possib le 
¢ 
page 229 . Top off the  oil  at  your  earl iest 
convenience 
9 poge 229. 
,&. WARNING 
Before you  che ck anything  in the  engine 
compartmen t, a lways rea d and heed al l 
WAR NIN GS ¢.& 
in  Working  in the  engine 
comportment  on page  224 . 
- 
Page 234 of 304

232  Check ing  and  filling 
Checking  the  engine  coolant  level 
The engine  coolant  level  can be checked  with 
a quick glance . 
Fig . 191 Eng ine  compartment:  cover  on  the  coolant 
expa nsion  tank 
Before you check  anything  in the  engine  com
partment, 
a lwa ys  re ad and  h eed a ll WA RN
INGS o .A in Working  in the  engine  compart
ment  on page  224 . 
.,  Park your vehicle on a  level  surface. 
.,  Switch 
off the  ignit io n. 
.,  Read the  eng ine coolant  level from  the  cool 
ant  expans ion tank 
o fig . 191, o page  226, 
fig.  188.  With  a cold eng ine, the  coolant 
level should  be  between  the  "min"  and 
"max"  markings. When  the  engine  is warm, 
the  leve l may be  slightly  above  the  "max" 
marking. 
The location  of the  coolant  exp ans ion tank 
can be  seen  in the  engine  compartment  illus
tration 
o page  226. 
To obtain  an  accurate  read ing, the  engine 
must  be  switched 
off. 
The expans ion tank  in your vehicle is equipped 
with an  e lectric  coolant  level sensor . 
When  the coolant  level is too  low,  the warning 
light  in the  Auto-Check System 
o page  17 will 
illum inate  unt il you add  coolant  and  the  level 
has  been  restored  to  normal.  Even though 
there  is an  electric  coolant  level senso r,  we 
still  recommend  you check the  coolant  leve l 
from  time  to  time. 
Coolant  loss 
Coolant  loss  may indicate  a leak in the  cool ing 
system.  In the  event  of coolant  loss, the  cool- ing system  shou
ld be  inspected  immediately 
by your authorized  Audi dea ler . It  is not 
enough  mere ly to  add  coolant . 
In a 
sea le d system,  losses  can occur on ly if 
the  boiling point  of the  coo lant  is exceeded  as 
a  resu lt  of overheating. 
A WARNING 
-The  cooling system  is under  pressure  and 
can  get  very hot . Red uce the  risk of scald
i ng from  hot  coolant  by fo llow ing these 
steps. 
- Turn 
off the  engine  and  allow it to  cool 
down. 
- Protect  your face,  hands  and  arms  from 
escaping  flu id and  steam  by covering  the 
cap with  a large,  th ick rag . 
- Turn the  cap slowly  and very  carefully  in 
a counter-clockwise  d irect ion while ap
plying light,  downward  pressure  on the 
top  of the  cap  . 
- To  avo id being  burned,  do not  sp ill anti
freeze  or coolant  on the  exhaust  system 
or hot  engine  parts . Under certa in cond i
tions,  the  ethylene  glycol in engine  cool
ant  can catch  fire. 
0 Note 
Do not  add  any type  of  radiator  leak seal
ant  to  your veh icle's  engine  coolant . Add
i ng  radiator  repa ir fluid  may adverse ly af
fe ct the  funct io n  and  performance  of your 
cooling system  and  could  result  in damage  not  covered by your New Vehicle Limited 
Warranty. 
Adding  coolant 
Be very careful  when adding  engine  coolant . 
Befo re you check anyth ing  in the  eng ine  com
partment , 
alway s  re ad  and  h eed all  WARN
IN GS o .A in  Working  in the  engine compart
ment  on page  224. 
.,  Tu rn 
off the  engi ne. 
.,  Let the  eng ine cool down.  
Page 235 of 304

~ Place  a thick rag over the  coolant  expansion 
tank ¢ 
page  232,  fig . 191 and ca refull y 
twist  the  cap counter-clockwise ¢ ,A. 
~ Add coolant  mixed in the  correct  ratio 
¢page  231,  Coolant. 
~ Twist  the  cap on again tightly . 
Replacement  engine  coolant  must  conform  to 
exact  specifications ¢ 
page  231, Coolant . 
We recommend  using on ly coolant  addi-
tive 
Gl2++,  Gl3 or  in an emergency G l2+ . Do 
not use  a different  add itive.  In an emergency 
use plain water  unti l you can get  the  correct 
addit ive and  ca n restore  the  correct  ratio.  This 
should  be done  as  soon  as  possible . 
If you have lost  a considerable  amount  of 
coolant,  then  you should  add  co ld a ntifree ze 
and  cold water  only when the  eng ine is co ld. 
A lways use 
new engine  coolant  when  ref illing. 
D o no t fill coolan t above  the  "M AX " mar k. Ex
cess coolan t will be forced  ou t th rough  the 
p ress ure re li ef va lve i n the  cap when  the  en 
gin e  becomes  hot . 
&_ WARNING 
- The coo ling system  is under  press ure and 
can get  very hot.  Reduce the  risk of 
sca ld ing from  hot  coolant  by f ollowing 
these  steps . 
-Tu rn off the engine  and  allow i tto cool 
down. 
- P rote ct your f ace, han ds  an d ar ms from 
escaping  f lu id  and  ste am by cover ing 
the  cap with a  large,  thick  rag. 
- Tu rn the ca p slowly and  very ca re fully 
in a counte r-clockwise  direct ion wh ile 
ap plying  light,  downwa rd  p ress ure on 
the  top  of the  cap. 
- To avo id being  burned,  do not  sp ill an
tifreeze  or coolant  on the  exhaust  sys 
tem  or hot  engine  parts . Under certa in 
conditions,  the  ethylene  glyco l in en
g ine coolant  can catc h fire. 
- Antifreeze  is poisonous.  Always store  an
t ifreeze  in its or iginal conta iner and well 
o ut  of the  reac h of c hildren . 
Checkin g and  fillin g 233 
-If  you dra in the  coo lant,  it  m ust  be 
caught  and safely stored  in a pr oper con 
tainer  clearly marked  "poison". 
([)  Note 
-Coo lant  poll utes  the  environment  a nd 
co uld  cause  an  engine fi re . Excess cool -
ant  will be forced  out  th ro ugh the  pres
sure  relief valve  in the  cap when  the  en
gine becomes  hot . 
- If, in an eme rgency, on ly wate r can be 
added,  the  co rrect  ratio  between  water 
and  antifreeze ¢ 
page  231 must  be re
s tored  as  soon  as  poss ible. 
@) For the  sake of the  environment 
Drained coola nt  sho uld  not  be reused.  A l
ways d ispose  of used  coolant  while observ
i ng all env iro nmental  regula tions . 
Radiator fan 
The radiator  fan  switches  on automatically  by 
itself . 
An auxiliary electric  radiator  fan switches  on 
and  off depending  on coolant  temperature 
and  othe r vehicle ope rat ing cond it io ns. 
After you switch  the  engine  off, the  aux iliary 
fan  can continue  running  for  up to  10  m inutes 
- even w ith  the ignition  off . It can even switch 
o n  aga in  later  by  itself¢.& , if 
- the  temperature  of the  engine  coo lant  r ises 
due  to  the  heat  build- up from  the  engine  in 
the  engi ne compa rtment,  or 
- the  engine  compa rtment  heats  up because 
the  vehicle  is parked  in intense  sunlig ht. 
&_ WARNING 
- To reduce the  risk of perso nal  in jury nev
er touch  the  rad iator  fan . 
- The a uxiliary electric  fan  is temperat ure 
controlled  a nd can switch  on suddenly 
e ven when  the  engine  is not  ru nning. 
- The a uxiliary radiator  fa n sw itches  on a u
tomatically  wh en the  engine  coo lant 
reaches  a certa in tem pera tu re  and w ill  .., 
• 
•  
Page 236 of 304

234  Checking  and  filling 
continue  to  run until  the  coolant  temper
ature  drops. 
Brake  fluid 
Checking brake fluid  level 
Fig.  192 Engine  compartment : cove r on  the  brake fl uid 
reservo ir 
Before you check  anything  in  the engine  com
partment, 
always  read  and  heed all  WARN
INGS ~ .&. in Working  in the  engine  compart 
ment  on page  224. 
.,.  Read  the  brake  fluid  level from  the  brake 
fluid  reservoir~ 
fig. 192 , ~ page  226, 
fig. 
188. The  brake  fluid  leve l must  be be
tween  the  "MIN" and "MAX"  markings . 
The  location  of  the  brake  flu id  reservoir  can  be 
seen  in  the engine  compartment  illustrat ion 
~ page 226. 
The  fluid  level may  drop slightly after  some 
time  due  to  the automatic  adjustment of  the 
brake  pads . Th is  is not  cause  for alarm. 
I f the  brake  fluid  level  falls 
considerably be
lo w  the  "MIN"  mark,  the  brake  wa rning/indi
cator  light 
1111 (U.S. models)/ . (Canadian 
models)  will come  on~ 
page  15. Do  not  con
tinue  to operate  the vehicle.  The  comp lete 
brake  system  should  be thoroughly  checked 
by an  authorized  Audi dealer  or  other  quali
fied  facility  and  the  ca use  corrected.  If  the 
brake  fluid  level  is too  low,  the  brake  warning/ 
indicator  light  w ill illuminate . Contact  an  au 
thorized  Audi  dealer 
immediately . 
Changing  brake fluid 
Have the  brake  fluid  changed  by an experi
enced  technician . 
Brake fluid  absorbs  moisture  from  the  air.  If 
the  water  content  in  the  brake  fluid  is  too 
high,  corrosion  in the  brake  system  may  result 
after  a period  of  time . The  boiling  point  of  the 
brake  fluid will also  decrease  considerably  and 
decrease  braking  pe rformance . 
Therefore,  the  brake  fluid  must  be  changed 
every two  years. Always  use  new  brake  flu id 
which  conforms  to  Federal Motor Vehicle 
Standard  "FM VSS 116  DOT  4". 
The  brake  fluid  reservoir  can  be  diff icult  to 
reach,  therefore,  we  recommend  that  you 
have  the  brake  fluid  changed by your  author
ized 
Audi  dealer . Your dealer  has  the  correct 
tools,  the  right  brake  fluid  and  the  know-how 
to  do  this  for  you. 
A WARNING 
- Brake fluid  is poisonous . It  must  be stor
ed  only  in  the  closed  original  container 
out  of the  reach of  children! 
- Brake failure  can  resu lt  from  o ld or  inap
propriate  brake fluid.  Observe  these  pre
cautions: 
- Use only  brake  fluid  that  meets  SA E 
specification 
J 1703  and  conforms  to 
Federal  Motor  Vehicle  Standard  116. 
Always check  with  your  authorized Audi 
dealer  to  make  sure  you  are  using  the 
correct  brake  fluid. The  correct  type  of 
brake  flui d  is also  ind icated  on  the 
brake  fluid reservoir. 
- The  brake  fluid must  be  new.  Heavy use 
of the  brakes  can  cause  a  vapor  lock if 
the  brake  fluid  is  left  in the  system  too 
long.  This can  seriously  affect  the  effi
c ie ncy of the  brakes  as  well  as your 
safety.  This  could  result  in an  accident. 
(D Note 
Brake fluid  will damage  the  paint  of your 
vehicle .  
Page 238 of 304

236  Check ing  and  filling 
& 
Batt ery  aci d c ont ain s  s ulfuric  acid . 
A lw ays  wear  gloves  and eye protec-
ti on. 
@ 
No 
- spark s 
- fl ame s 
·  sm okin g. 
~ 
When  a  b atte ry is ch ar ged , it  p rodu -
c es  hydr oge n gas  wh ich  i s ex plosi ve 
and  co uld  cause  pe rso nal  injur y. 
® 
Alway s keep  the  b att ery  well  out  of 
re ach of  children. 
A WARNING 
Whenever  working  on  the  battery  or  on 
the  electrical  system,  there  is the  r isk  of 
injury,  acc ident  and  even  fire.  Read  and 
heed  the  following  WARNINGS: 
- Always wear  eye  protection.  Do not  let 
battery  acid  or  any  lead  part icles  get  on 
your  sk in or  cloth ing . Sh ield  your  eyes . 
Explosive  gases  can  cause  blindness  or 
other  injury. 
- Battery  acid  contai ns  sulfur ic acid.  Sulfu
ric acid  can  cause  blindness  and  severe 
burns. 
- Always wear  gloves  and  eye  protection. 
Do not  tilt  the  battery  because  ac id 
could  leak  out  of the  vent ilation  open
ings. 
- If you  get  battery  acid  in your  eyes  or 
on  your  sk in,  immediately  rinse  with 
cold  water  for  severa l m inutes  and  get 
medical  attention . 
- If you  should  ingest  any  battery  acid, 
seek  medical  attention  immediately . 
- Do not  expose  the  battery  to  an  open 
flame,  electric  sparks  or  an  open  light. 
- Do not  smoke. 
- Do not  interchange  the  positive  and  neg-
ative  cab les. 
- When  working  on  the  battery,  be  sure 
not  to  short-circuit  the  terminals  with 
tools  or  other  metal  objects.  This would 
cause  the  battery  to  heat  up  very  quickly, 
wh ich  could  lead  to  damage  or  explosion 
and  personal  injury.  -
When  a  battery  is charged,  it  produces 
hydrogen  gas  which  is explosive  and 
could  cause  personal  injury. 
- Always keep  the  battery  well  out  of  the 
reach  of  children. 
- Before  work  is  done  on  the  electrical  sys
tem,  disconnect  the  negat ive ground  ca
ble. 
- Before  performing  any work  on  the  e lec
trica l system,  switch  off  the  engine  and 
ignit ion  as  well  as  any  electrical  equip
ment.  The  negative  cable  on  the  battery 
must  be  disconnected . 
If you are just  go
ing  to  replace  a  light  bulb,  then  it  is 
enough  to  swi tc h  off  the  lights. 
- Before  disconnecting  the  battery,  switch 
off  the  anti-theft  alarm  system!  Other
wise  you  wi ll set  off  the  alarm. 
- When  disconnecting  the  battery,  f irst 
d isconnect  the  negat ive cab le  and  then 
the  posit ive c ab le. 
- Before  reconnecting  the  batte ry, ma ke 
sure  all  e lectr ica l consumers  are  sw itch
ed  off.  Re connect  the  pos it ive cable  first 
and  then  the  negative  cable.  Never  inter 
change  the  cables  - this  could  start  a fire! 
- Never  charge  a  frozen  or  a  thawed-out 
battery.  It  could  exp lode!  If  a  battery  has 
frozen,  then  it  must  be  replaced . A dis
charged  battery  can  freeze  over  at  32 
°F 
(0 oc). 
- Make sure  the  vent  hose  is always  attach
ed  to  the  opening  on  the  s ide  of the  bat
tery. 
- Never  use  batteries  which  are  damaged. 
There  is the  danger  of an  explosion!  Al
ways  rep lace  a  damaged  battery. 
A WARNING 
Ca lifornia  Proposition  65  Warning: 
- Battery  posts,  terminals  and  related  ac
cessories  conta in  lead  and  lead  com
pounds,  chemicals  known  to  the  State  of 
California  to  cause  cancer  and  reproduc
tive  problems . Wash  hands  after  han-
dling. 
~