AUDI R8 SPYDER 2012 Owners Manual

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2012 Audi RS Spyder
Owner's Manual
Audi
Vo rspr ung du rch Techn ik (HD

Introduction
Thank you for choosing an Audi R8 Spyder -we value your trust in us.
Your new Audi R8 Spyder incorporates the newest technology as we ll as numer ­
ous features d esig ned fo r you r comfo rt, conve nience and safety . We recommend
you read your Own er's Manua l tho roughly so that yo u ca n qu ickly becom e ac­
quain ted with yo ur Audi .
In addition to exp laining how the different features work , we also g ive you many
u sef ul tips and information concerning your safety and that of yo ur passengers,
how to ca re fo r you r vehicle and maintain your v ehicle's va lue .
We hope you en joy driving your Audi R8 Spyder and we w is h you safe and pleas­
ant motor ing .
AUDIAG
12256 14272 1

2 Table of contents Vehicle literature .. .. .. .. .. ... .
About this Owner's Manual ...
Controls and equipment .. ... .
Cockpit ................ .... .. . .
General illus tration .... ... .. .. ... .
Instruments and warning/
indicator lights ........ .. .. .. . .
Ins truments . .. .. ..... ... .. .. ... .
War ning/ indi cator lights ... .. ... .. .
Driver information system .. .
Introduct ion . .. .. ..... ... .. .. ... .
Service interval disp lay . ... .. .... . .
On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD) .. .
T rip computer ............ .. .. .. . .
M enu display ....... ......... .. . .
Lap timer .. .......... ........ .. .
4
5
6
6
6
8
8
11
21
21
22
22
23
25
27
Speed war ning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Opening and closing .. .. .. .. . .
Keys ........................ .. .
P owe r locking system ............ .
Fr ont lid . .. .. . .......... .. .. .. . .
Ant i- t heft ala rm system ... .. .. .. . .
P owe r win dows .. .. ... ... .. .. ... .
Convertible top .............. .
Convertible top ....... ... .. .. ... .
W ind deflecto r ... .. ... ... .. .. ... .
Rear window . .. .. ..... ... .. .. ... .
Convertible top emergency operation .
Clear vision .. .. ..... ... .. .. ... .
Lights ..... ... . ...... ... .. .. ... .
Inter ior lights .............. .. ... .
Sun visors ...................... .
W iper and washer system ....... .. .
M irrors .. .. ................ ... . .
Di git al compass .... ...... .. .. .. . .
32
32
34
37
3 8
39
4 0
4 0
42
4 2
43
49
4 9
52
53
53
56
57
Seats and storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Ge ne ral recomme ndat ions ... .. .. . .
P owe r seats ............. .. .. .. . .
H ead res traint s .......... .... ... .
Cup holder .............. .. .. ... . 59
60
6
1
6 1
Asht ray ... .... .. ... .. ..... .... . .
Cigarette lighter/socket . ..... ... .. .
Storage ... .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .
Warm and cold ... .. ..... .... . .
Climate controls .. .. .... .... ... .. .
Heated seats ................... .
On the road ... ... .. ..... .... . .
Steering .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. .
Ig nit ion lock/Ignition switch ....... .
Starting the engine ............ .. .
Stopping the eng ine ............. .
Pa rking brak e .. .. ............... .
Cru ise con trol ... . ... ... .... ... .. .
Audi mag netic ride ............... .
Transm1ss1on .. ... .. ....... ... .
Manua l transm iss ion ......... .. .. .
R t ronic ... .... .. ............. .. .
62
62
62
65
65
69
70
70
70
71
72
72
74
75
77
7 7
78
Parking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Par king sy stem adv anced
Homelink ® ................... .
Universa l remote cont rol ........ .. .
Safety first .. ....... .......... .
82
8 8
88
91
Driving Safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Gener al notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
P roper oc cupant se ati ng positions . . . 92
D rive r and passenger si de footwe ll . . . 95
Stow ing luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Reporting Sa fety Defects . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Active rollover protection system 99
Safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Genera l notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Why safety belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Illustrat ing the principle of an
acc iden t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
How are safety b elts wo rn cor rect ly? . 104
Safe ty be lt pre tensioners . . . . . . . . . . 107
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
I m po rtant t hings to know . . . . . . . . . . 109
F ron t air bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System .... .... .. .... ... .. .. .. . .
Knee airbags . ... ...... ... .. .. .. . .
Side airbags ............. .... .. . .
Child Safety ... ..... ... .. .. .. . .
120
124
127
130
Important things to know . . . . . . . . . . 130
C hi ld safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Instal ling a child safety seat . . . . . . . . 138
Addit io nal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Vehicle operation ....... .. .. . .
Intelligent technology .. .. ... .
Not ice about data recorded by veh icle
con trol modules . .... ... .. .. .. .. . .
E lect ron ic Stability Con trol ( ESC) .. . .
Rear spoiler ............. .. .. .. . .
Braking .... .. .. ... . .... ... .. .. . .
Powe r stee ring . .. ..... ... .. .. .. . .
Driving with your quattro ® ... .. .. . .
E nergy management ...... .. .. .. . .
Dry s ump lubr ication ...... .. .. .. . . 142
142
142
1
42
1 4 4
1 4 5
146
147
147
149
Driving and environment . . . . . 150
Break- in period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Driving through water on roads . . . . . 150
Cata lytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Sporty driving ............... .... . 151
Operation and maintenance . . . . . . . . 15 1
T railer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Cleaning and protection . . . . . . 153
Gene ral inf ormatio n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 53
Ca re of exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Ca re of interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Fuel supply and filling your
fuel tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
164
Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
F ue l tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Checking and filling . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine compartment lid . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Eng ine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Eng ine cooling system..... .. .. .. .. 175
Brake fluid . ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. .. 178
Table of contents 3
Battery ... .. .... ... .. .. ..... ... .
Windshie ld washer container
Tires and wheels .... .... ... .. .
Tires ... .. .. .... ... .. .. ..... ... .
Tire pressure monitoring system 178
182
183
183
200
Do-it-yourself service . . . . . . . . . 203
What do I do now? . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Tr unk escape handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Breakdown k it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Tire repair . .. .. .. ............... .
What should I be aware of when
h . t· 7 c
anging a rre. . .. .............. .
Jump-starting .. .. ... .. .. ... ..... .
E mergency towing wit h commercia l
tow tr uck . .... .. .. . ............ .
Fu se s and bulbs ... ........... .
Electr ica l fuses . .. ............... .
B ul bs ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... ... . 203
206
209
212
213
2
13
214
Technical da ta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
General information . . . . . . . . . . 215
Explanation of techn ica l da ta . . . . . . . 215
Vehicle identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Dimens ions.. .. ...... ............ 216
Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
R8 Spyder 4.2 quattro . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
R8Spyder5.2quattro ............. 217
Dimens ions .. .... .... .... ... .... . 218
Capacities (approx .) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Consumer Information . . . . . . . 219
Warranty coverages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Operating your ve hicle outs ide the
U .S.A. or Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Audi Se rv ice Repair Manuals and
Li te ratu re . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Maintenance ... .. .. . ... ...... ... . 219
Additional accessories, modifications and parts rep lacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Inde x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
•
•

4 Vehicle literature
In addition to this Owner's Manual, your Audi
comes with a Warranty
& Maintenance book­
l et.
Moreover, depending on the model and the
eq uip ment, there may be additiona l instruc­
tion booklets delivered with your vehicle (for
examp le, Operating Instr uctions for your
Sound System, Navigation System etc.) .
If you are missing one of these publications,
or if you believe that the information is not
comp lete, contact your authorized Audi dea ler
for assistance .
The Warranty & Maintenance booklet
explains how yo u can keep you r Audi in top
driving condition by having it serviced regu lar­
ly and contains detai led information about
the warranties covering your Audi. Always
have the booklet with you when you take your
vehicle to an author ized Audi dealer for serv­
ice . Your Audi Service Adviser w ill record each
scheduled service and can answer any ques­
tions you may have regarding how to maintain
your ve hicle.
In Canada,
the vehicle literature is also availab le in
French . To obtain a copy, contact your dealer
or write to :
Au Canada, on peut se procurer un exemplaire
en fran~ais de ce document aupres du conces­
sionna ire ou de:
Volkswagen Canada, Inc.
Client Assistance
Assistance a la Clientele
777 Bayly Street, West,
Ajax, Ontario LIS 7G7
If you sell your Audi
all literature should be left in the veh icle to
make the Warranty terms as well as all oper­
ating, safety and ma intenance information
ava ilable to the next owner.
If you change your address or if you
bought this Audi used
be sure to send in a "Notice of Address
Change"/ "Notice of Used Car Purchase" post
card. Th is card can be found in the Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet or obtained from your
authorized Aud i dealer .
It is in your own interest that we are able to
contact you should the need arise .

This owner's manual contains important infor­
mation, tips, suggestions , and warnings for
the use of your vehicle.
Make sure that this owner 's manua l is always
l ocated in the vehicle . This is especially impor­
tant if you allow other people to drive the ve­
hicle, or if you sell it.
This owner's manua l describes the
equipment
range
specified for this model at the editoria l
deadline date. Some of the equipment descri­ bed here will only be available at a later date,
or only in spec ific markets.
Some sections in this owner's manua l do not
apply to a ll vehicles . In that case, the
range of
applicability
is g iven at the beginning of the
section, e.g. "Applies to vehicles: with R tron­ ic". In addition, optional equipment is ind icat­
ed by an asterisk
"*" .
The details in the illustrations may be differ­
ent from those in your vehicle, and are intend­
ed to be viewed as a bas ic guide.
Please note that the
pictures in this manual
show the E uropean Audi RB model. It may
show features not ava ilable in North America.
You will find a
table of contents at the begin­
ning of this book, which disp lays all topics de­
scribed in this manual in order of appearance.
You will f ind an alphabetical
index at the end
of this book.
A ll
directions , such as "left", " right", "front",
"back", are relative to the direct ion of travel.
* optional equipmen t
~ This section continues on the next page .
® Reg istered trademarks are identified with
a®.
If this symbol is missing, it is no gua r­
antee that the terms can be used freely.
c:> .&. Cross -reference to a "WARNING!" with-
in a sect ion. For ind ication with a page num­
ber, the corresponding "WARNING!" can be
found outside of the section.
About this Owner 's Manual 5
A WARNING
Text with this symbol conta ins important
information on safety and how to reduce
the r isk of personal injury or death.
@ Note
Text with th is symbo l draws your attention
to potentia l sources of damage to your ve­
hicle.
® For the sake of the environment
Text with th is symbo l conta ins information
about the environment and how you can
help protect it.
(D Tips
Text with th is symbo l contains specia l tips
and other informat ion about gett ing the
most out of your vehicle and its features.
•
•

6 Cockpit
Cockpit
General illustration
Fig. l Cockp it: left sect io n
Fig . 2 Co ck pi t: r ig ht sect io n

(!) Adjuster control for outside mir-rors .... ..... .......... .. .
@ Door handle
@ Power locking switch
© Switches for:
- Front lid release .......... .
- Fuel filler flap release . .. .. .
® Air outlets ............ .... .
® Light switch ............... .
(J) Turn signal and high beam ... .
@ Multifunction steering wheel
with:
- Horn
- Driver's airbag ........... .
- Audio, telephone and voice
control system operating but­
tons
- Shift buttons for manual oper-
at ion (R tronic) ........... .
® Instrument cluster
@ Switches for: 57
36
37
166
67
49
51
113
81
8
- Windshield wiper/washer 53
- Trip computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
- Menu display . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
- Lap Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
- Speed warning system . . . . . . 29
@ Steering lock/ignition/starte r
switch (in the steering wheel
column) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
@ Adjustable steering column . . . 70
@ Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
@ Instrument lighting . . . . . . . . . 52
@) Data Link Connector (DLC) for
On Board Diagnostics (OBD II) . 22
@) Power window switches . . . . . . 39
@ Navigation system
@ Glove compartment (lockable) . 63
@ Front passenger's airbag . . . . . 113
@ Rear window defogger switch . 69
@ Climate controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
@ Gear shift lever or selector lever
(R tronic) :
- Manual transmission
- R tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
@ Switches for: -Audi magnetic ride ........
.
- Electronic Stability Control ..
- Em ergency flasher ........ .
- Retractable rear spoiler .... .
- Parking system ...... ..... .
Cockpit 7
75
142
so
144
82
@ Convertible top switch . . . . . . . 40
@ Rear window switch . . . . . . . . . 42
@ Parking brake lever . . . . . . . . . . 72
(D Tips
-Some of the equipment or features
shown in the general illustration may be
standard equipment on your vehicle or
my be optional equipment depending on
your model.
-A separate brochure is provided for your
factory-installed Audi Navigation Sys­
tem.

8 Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Instruments and warning/indicator Lights
Instruments
Instrument cluster and controls
The instrument cluster is your central source of information.
Fig. 3 Overv iew of the inst rument cluster
(D Eng ine oil temperature . . . . . . . 8
@ Tachometer with time and date
display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 9
® Warning/indicator lights . . . . . 11
© Coolant temperature gauge . . . 9
® Fuel gauge........... .... .. 10
@ Speedometer w ith odometer . . 10
(i) Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
@ Set/Check button . . . . . . . . . . . 9
® Driver information display . . . . 21
@ I RESET ! button for trip odome-
ter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The illumination for the instrument cluster
lights up whenever you switch on the ignition
with the
vehicle headlights off. The gauges
are also illuminated when the lights are
turned on.
Engine oil temperature display
The engine oil temperature display Q page 8,
fig. 3 only operates with the ignition on . To
prevent engine damage, please observe the
following important points concerning the
temperature ranges.
Cold range
If the needle is at the bottom of the gauge,
the engine oil has not reached operat ing tem­
perature yet . Avoid high engine speeds, full
throttle applicat ions and heavy engine loads .
Normal range
The engine has reached operating tempera­
ture when the needle moves into the center of
the gauge under normal driving conditions .
The needle may move higher on the gauge
with heavier engine load at high outs ide tem­
peratures. This is not a cause for concern as
long as the . indicator light in the display
does not flash.
Warning light .
If the symbol . in the display flashes, ei­
ther the engine oil temperature is too high or
the engine o il level is too low
Q page 174 .
If
the needle is well in the upper area of the
gauge, the engine oil temperature is too high .
Stop the vehicle, switch the engine off and
allow it to cool.
If the warning l ight comes on
again after driving a short distance, contact
an authorized Audi dea ler.