warning light AUDI S8 2008 Owners Manual

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the add it ional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Tra iler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always fol low the ope rating and driv ing instruc tions
provided and use common sense.
(D Note
If you are go ing to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera ­
tion
mode => page 189, "Towing a Trailer". •
Technical requirements
Traile r hit ch
Use a we ight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trai ler weight.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehic le and trailer and must be
mounted secure ly on the ve hicle's chass is at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check wit h the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make s ure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch.
The hitc h must be installed in such a way t hat it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications
should be made to the veh ic le exhaust a nd brake systems. F rom time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain secure
ly
fastened .
When yo u are no t towing a trailer, re move the tra ile r hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from
behind =>& .
Traile r br ake s
If your tra iler is equipped with a braking syste m, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations .
The tra iler hydraul ic brake sys tem must not be di rect ly co nnected to
t he vehic le's hydrau lic brake system .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer light s
Trai ler lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
Aud i dea ler for correc t wir ing, sw itch es and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traf fic behind you using the regu lar
outside mirrors, then you
must instal l extended mirrors. It is impor ­
t ant that you
always have c lear v ision to the rear.
& WARNING
After removing the tr ailer hitch , do not store it in your vehi cle . In
ca se of sudden braking , the hitch could fl y forward and injure you
or your p assenger s.•

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Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the driver 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 downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
i mm edia te ly if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try t o stop the sway ing by accelerating.
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular ve hicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving down hill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Cool ant temp era tu re
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 12 must be observed care­
ful ly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flas hing
-F- , pul l off the road, stop and let t he engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
An yone n ot properl y re str aine d in a mo ving vehi cle is at a mu ch
g re ate r ri sk in an accid ent . N ever let any on e rid e in y our car who
i s not properl y wea rin g th e res tra int s pr ov ided by Audi.
•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy wi
ll greatly depend on how carefully you
l oad your trailer and opera te your r ig.
Before you actual ly tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely fam iliar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is di fficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trai ler generally requires steering action opposite to that when
backing up your veh ic le without a tra iler.
Ma inta in a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you n or mally wou ld because of t he added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass . After passing, al low plenty of room for your
t rai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a tra iler during the break-in period o f your veh ic le.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to t he extra
load=> page 380. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do
so o nly after doing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot b rake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. _,,,

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0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this could scratch your
vehicle 's paint or windows.
• Never wash your car in bright sunlight. Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint.
• When you wash your car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle
wi th a hose, be ca reful not to aim the stream of wa ter direc tly at
locks, or at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
finish .
• Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean the headlights. Only use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent sc ratches . It is best to use soapy
water .
~ For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the vehicle should only be
washed in special wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high-pressure
power washer is safe as long as you observe a few simple
rules.
- Before using the power washer, make sure you have read
and understood the WARNINGS :::>
& in "General infor­
mation" on
page 288.
- Always follow the operating instructions for the power
washer. - Make
sure that the jet on the spray hose produces a "fan
shaped spray".
- Do
not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle w ith a power washer always follow the
operating instructions. This applies particularly to the
operating
pressure
and the spraying distance. Maintain a sufficient distance
to soft materials such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration dead ­
ening materials (particularly on the underside of the engine hood).
Do not use a jet which sprays water in a
direct stream or one that
has a
rotating jet.
Water temperature should no t exceed 140 °F (60 °Cl.
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream.
This could cause invisible damage to the tires and weaken them,
even if the spray is from a relatively long distance and for a short
time. Damaged and weakened tires can fail and cause accidents
and personal injury .
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is
sufficient distance between the spray head and soft materials like
rubber hoses, plastic parts and sound-deadening materials . Never
aim the spray head at the same point for a long time. This also
applies to cleaning headlights and painted bumpers . Remember:
the closer the nozzle is to the surface of the material , the greater the
stress on the material. •

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Waxing
Wax protects the vehicle's paint.
-Use a m anually ap plied car wa x occasion ally to protect
t h e p aint.
A good wax coat ing protects t he vehicle paint to a large extent
against th e environm ental factors listed
under => page 288,
"Washi ng" and eve n against slight scratches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
wee k after you r vehic le has been delivered.
E ven i f you regularly use a
waxing process in automatic ca r washes,
we recommend that you manua lly app ly a coat of wax to give the
paint extra protection, part icu lar ly if water no longe r beads on the
clean paint.
P rotec t plastic body parts wi th ca r wax in the same way as the
vehic le body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to col lect on the front
bumper and on t he forward area o f the hood. They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 .
0 Note
Do not use car wax on
• matte or anod ized meta l trim
• rubber or rubber -like trim. •
Polishing
Polishi ng restores the gl oss t o the pain t.
Po lish your vehic le on ly if the paint has lost its shine and the g loss
ca nnot be broug ht back wi th wax .
I f the polish used does not contain preservat ive compounds, the
pai nt must be waxed
afterwards => page 291, "Waxing".
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 .
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal trim, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wax .•
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special c are.
Fo r envi ronmental reasons, Audi fab ricates the br ight trim st rips
and trim pieces from pure chromium -free aluminum .
Dirt and marks on the trim strips should be removed with a
pH­
balanced
clean ing agent (d o not use a chrome clea ner). Audi
dea lers carry c leaning products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not ha rm fu l to the e nvi ron ment.
T o avoid corrosion on the exterior trim strips, on ly a pH -ba lanced
solution shou ld be used for the windshield washer.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 . •
Vehicle care

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Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or spong e to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for vinyl trim. Remove water spo ts and traces of
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe­
cially to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's luster and pliability .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page288. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 288 . •
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone
chips . Scratches should be touched up soon after they occur to
prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification
label~ page 374.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 288. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and car
wash wax buildup.
-Remove snow from windows using a brush.
-Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
-Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner.
-Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.

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The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush. Use a non -abrasive
plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from windows and mirrors .
Oil, grease or silicone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
silicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
specially formulated solvent. Please contact your Audi dealer for
advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals .
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces . Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
through the windows.
& WARNING
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 .
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent mate­
rials . They can increase glare under poor visibility conditions such
as wetness, darkness, or when the sun is low on the horizon. In
addition, they can cause the windshield wipers to chatter.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires .
• To help prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete car care includes the weatherstrips as well.
-Apply a suitable rubber conditioner to the weatherstrips
from time to time.
To be able seal properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliable. Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
cone or coat them with talcum powder or glycerine to retain the
flexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winter.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288.
[ i ] Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
rain. •
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
-Wash the wheels with a sponge or hose brush every
other week.
-For deep cleaning afterwards, use only a dedicated acid­
free cast alloy wheel cleaner.
-Rub a coat of liquid wax onto the rims every three month.
Be sure to reach and treat all parts of the rim.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy wheels,
some special care is necessary . In addition to road dirt and salt,
Vehicle care

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brake dust is also corrosive. If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly specia l
acid-free cleaners formu lated for a lloy r ims . Safe
products are availab le at your Audi dealer. Never leave the cleaner
on the ri ms longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off
promptly, the acid contained in some c leaners can attack the
threads o n the wheel bo lts .
Never use abrasive or metal po lishing c leaning agents . If the protec ­
t ive coating has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road dirt, touch i t
up as soon as possible .
& WARNING
• Moisture and i ce on b rake s ma y affe ct b raking effi ciency
=> page 270 , "General information ". Te st the brakes carefully ea ch
t ime you wa sh the vehi cle .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288. •
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not nee d to be checked.
A ll body cavit ies which could be affected by corrosion have been
t horough ly pr otected a t the factory .
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treat ­
ment . If any wax should seep out of the cavity when the ambient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a plastic scraper and a suitable solvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be d angerous.
• Ben zine is flammable and to xic . If you use benzine for removing
the wax , keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away . Never
& W AR NING (continued )
dump benzine on the ground , into ope n streams or do wn sew age
drain s.
• Be sure to observe all safet y and env ironmental regulat ions .
Follow all in struction s on the cont ainer .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 . •
Chassis
Hav e the underc oating c hecked for damage from tim e to
time.
T he lower body shell of your Audi is also thoroughly protected
against corrosion .
Any damage to the undercoat ing caused by road hazards s hou ld be
repaired promptly.
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong place s can cau se a fire .
• Do not appl y additional undercoating or rustproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold , exhau st pipes , catalytic converter or
h eat shield s. Wh ile dr iving , the sub stan ce used for underco ating
could overheat and cau se a fire .
• Alway s re ad and heed all WARNINGS and other info rm ation
=> page 288 . •

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Care of interior
MMI display
- Clean the MMI display with a soft c lean clo th and an LCD
c le ane r.
The MM I disp lay can be c leaned with a pr ofessional ly available "LCD
cleaner". The cloth should be s lightly dampened with the c leaning
fl uid to clean the display.
0 Note
To avoid scra tc h ing the MMI display, you should never c lean it dry .•
MMI terminal
- First clean the MMI terminal with a brush to remove dust
from the housing.
- T hen wipe the MMI terminal with a clea n, soft, s lig htly
damp cloth .
The MMI terminal should be c leaned with a brush first so that no
d irt is trapped between the buttons and t he housing. We reco m­
mend giving the MMI terminal a final wipe with a c loth moistened
with water a nd dish was hing detergent.
0 Note
To prevent damage, make sure that no flu id ever gets i nto the M MI
terminal.
•
Aluminum trim
U se on ly neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
a lum inum surfaces . C hrome care products a nd alka line clea ners
wi ll attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informat ion
=> page 288 . •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabric coverings (e.g . seats, door trim pane ls, etc.)
shou ld be c leaned at regular intervals with a vacuum cleaner . This
re moves surface dirt partic les which could become embedded in
the fabric through use. Steam cleaners shou ld not be used, because
the steam tends to push the d irt deeper into the fa bric and lock it
there.
Normal cle aning
Genera lly, we recommend using a soft sponge or a lint -free
m icrofiber c loth to the clean fabric . Brushes should only be used for
carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
b y b rushes.
Norma l surface stains can be cleaned using a commercially avail­
able foam cleaner. Spread the foam on the surface of the fabric with
a soft sponge and work it in gent ly. Do not saturate the fabric . T hen
pat the foam dry using absorbent, dry cloths (e.g. microfiber cloth)
and vacuum it a fter it has dr ied completely .
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e.g. coffee, fruit juice, etc.l can be
treated with a mild detergent so lution . Apply the detergent so lution
with a sponge. In the case of stubborn stains, a detergent paste can be applied direct ly to the stain and worked into the fabric. After-.,_
Vehicle care

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Cleaning spots
- Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
- Remove fresh
grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the
leather.
- Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if
oil/grease spots
have dried on.
- Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt
marker, fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish,
etc.) with a spot
remover specifically formulated for
leather.
Leather care
- Every half year use an approved leather care product
(available from your Audi dealer) to care for the leather.
- Apply the product
very sparingly.
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If you have any questions abou t cleaning and caring for the leather
in your vehicle, it is best to contact your authorized Audi dealer, who
will be glad to help you and tell you about our full range of leather
care products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care kit
• Creams to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc .
• Oil/grease dissolving spray
• New and upcoming products.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 288.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on the leather surfaces in
your Audi .
• To avoid damage, have s tubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist. •
Applies to ve hicles: w ith Alc a nt ara up ho lst ery
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Moisten a cloth, squeeze out excess water and wipe down
the seat surfaces.
Removing stains
- Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or with diluted
ethyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
- Once the stain is no longer visible, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up the moisture .
Do not use leather cleaning products 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
leather should be protected against direct sunlight to prevent it
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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.
&, WARNING (continued)
• 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 Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
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
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
11 , or if you have the engine washed, the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore .,_
11 Use only the correct cleaning solut ions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care