check engine light AUDI S8 2008 Owner's Guide

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-Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
=> fig. 268. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left
side~ page 308.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto­
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
«D>l will come on~ page 22 and~ page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or other qualified
facility and the cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the
brake warning/indicator light will illuminate. Contact an authorized
Audi dealer
immediately. •
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni­
cian.
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 performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Stan­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho­
rized
Audi dealer. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know-how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonous . It must be stored only in the closed
original container out of the reach of children!
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid .
Observe these precautions:
-Use only brake fluid that meets SAE 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 fluid is also indicated 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 efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety . This could result in an accident .
0 Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehicle .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special tools required and the necessary expertise, we recom ­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dealer. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the electrolyte level .,,_

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checked by a service facility. The e lectrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged =>
page 321.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With ce rtain types of airbag deployment, the battery is discon­
nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons=>
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 232.
Di sconn ecting the b atte ry terminal s
Some veh ic le functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected. These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again. To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
veh icle electrical sys tem when absolu tely necessary for repairs.
Veh icl es not driv en for lo ng p eriods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumpt ion and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
=> page 274 .
Be aware that when you unlock your vehicle, some of the conve ­
nience functions may not operate, such as the Advanced Key*, the
remote control or the power seat adjustment. The convenience
functions will be ava ilable again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
W int er operati on
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop. This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc. , are
used more often .
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when trave ling only short distances . Let your authorized Audi dea ler
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
=> page 321. A well charged battery will n ot only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but wi ll also last longer.
[ i ] Tips
If your vehic le is left standing for severa l weeks at extreme ly low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. Th is wil l prevent it from be ing damaged and
having to be replaced.•
Working on the battery
Be espe cially careful when w orking on or near the battery.
Fig . 2 69 Lugg age
co mpartment : R ight ­
si de sto ra ge c omp art­
m ent
F ig. 2 70 Lugg age
co mp artment : B atte ry
T h e ba tter y is lo ca te d in t he luggage compartm ent on the
r ight side b ehind a c ove r. Before you check a nything in the
luggag e co m partment,
read and heed all WARNINGS =>& . .,.
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

Checking and filling -
----------------=--_;::;;.__,
Windshield/headlight washer
container
Using plain water is not adequate for filling the wind­
shield washer system and the headlight washer system.
Fig . 271 Engine
compartment: Wind·
shield and headlight
washer
fluid container
1-.•,
The washer fluid container is marked with the symbol its cap.
- Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working
in the engine compartment" on
page 307.
- Lift the filler cap tongue to add washer fluid. You can fill
the container to the top.
- Press the cap back onto the filler neck after filling the
container .
You can find the reservoir capacity in the table in=> page 378.
Use winterized windshield washer solvent during the cold season
even though the vehicle is equipped with heated washer jets. It
helps to keep your windshield clean and prevents the fluid from
freezing in the winter.
Follow the directions on the container for the correct amount to be
used.
0 Note
Do not mix engine coolant antifreeze or any other additives to fill up
the windshield washer reservoir. •
Vehic le care
I I irechnical data

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fl::. WARNING (continued)
• Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all
WARNINGS~ page 299, "Engine compartment".
0 Note
• Applying a higher voltage booster battery will cause expensive
damage to sensitive electronic components, such as control units,
relays, radio, etc .
• There must be no electrical contact between the vehicles as
otherwise current could already start to flow as soon as the positive
( + ) terminals are connected.
[ i) Tips
• The discharged battery must be properly connected to the
vehicle's electrical system. When jump starting or charging the battery , never connect the negative ground cable to the battery
negative post because the battery manager system must be able to
detect the battery's state of charge. Always connect the negative
ground cable to the negative ground post of the battery manager
control unit .•
Use of jumper cables
Make sure to connect the jumper cable clamps in exactly
the order described below!
Fig. 297 Jump starting
with the battery of
another vehicle: A -
discharged vehicle
battery, B -booster
battery
The procedure described below for connecting jumper
cables is intended to provide a jump start for your vehicle.
Vehicle with discharged battery:
-Turn off lights and accessories, move lever of automatic
transmission to
N (Neutral) or P (Park) and set parking
brake.
Connect POSITIVE (+) to POSITIVE (+) (red)
1. Connect one end to the positive terminal => fig. 297 G)
of your battery @.
2. Connect the other end to the positive terminal
@ of the
booster battery
@.
Connect NEGATIVE (-) to NEGATIVE (-) (black)
3. Connect one end to the negative terminal @ of the
booster battery
@.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service irechnical data

______________________________________________ A_ l.!. p _h_ a_ b_e _ t_i c_ a..:..l ...:.. in :..:..:. d:..:e :..: x_;__ _,n
Kne e airbags ...... ... .. .... ..... 234 ASR
Moni to ring .. ... .... .... ....... .. 229 How the Anti-S lip Regu la tion Sys tem
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ligh t .... . 230 works ...... ... .... .... .... .... 270
Repairs ........ .... .... ......... 232
Safety instructions ... .... ... .... . 231
Side airbags ... .. .... .... ... .... . 237
Side curtain air bags (SIDEGUARD) .. 240
Warning/indicator lights ...... .... .. 19
Weight -sens ing mat ...... ... .... . 2 44
When mu st the syst em be insp ected?
229
Aircra ft
T ransporting your v ehicle .. ........ 369
All W hee l Dr ive ...... .... ... .... .... 273
Alloy whee ls ... .... .... .... ... .... .. 293
A ll-whee l drive
W int er tir es . ..... .... ... ... . .... . 34 1
A lternator
See Ge ne ra tor . ....... ... .... .... . 18
An ti-free ze
See Engine coolan t ..... .... .... .. 314
An ti- lock brak e system
How th e ABS syst em works ....... . 272
Wa rning /indi cato r ligh ts .. .. .. .... .. 21
Anti -Sl ip Reg ulat io n System (ASR)
H ow the system works .... .... .... 270
Anti -theft systems
Anti -theft alarm system .. ... .... ... 61
E lectron ic immob ilizer . .... .... .... 49
Ashtray Fron t .. .... ... .. .... ...... .... .. 106 Aud
i Service Repa ir Manua ls and Literatu re
380
A UTO mode
AC climate con tro l .. .. .... .... .... 117
Auto Safety Hotline .... .... .... ... .. . 207
A ut o-C heck Con trol ...... .... ... .... .. 28
Automatic belt retracto r ... .. .... .... . 213
Automati c car wash
See Washing . .............. .... .. 289
A ut om atic Sh ift Loc k (ASU . ...... .... . 165
Automat ic transmission
6 -speed automat ic t rans missio n .... 163
Auto matic S hift Lock (ASU .... .... . 165
Dr iving . ...... .... .... .... .... ... 163
Dynamic sh ift p rogram .. ...... .... 166
Em ergency release fo r selecto r leve r 168
F a il- safe mode . ...... .... .... .... 168
I gnition key s afety lock . ...... .... . 130
K ick -down .... .... .... .... ... .... 166
Manual sh ift program ....... .... .. 167
S ele ctor le ve r ... ........... .... .. 164
Shift buttons ... .... .... .... .... . 168
S teering wheel w ith tiptronic . ...... 168
Average speed . ...... .... .... .... ... . 38
Avo id damaging the ve hicle .. ...... ... 279
B
Rear . ...... .. ...... .... ......... 107 Background lighting . ...... .... ... .. .. 76 Ba
ttery .... ... .. .... .... ...... .... . 318
Ba ttery location ins ide the luggage
compa rtmen t ... .... ... .... .... . 319
Chargi ng .. .... .... ... .... .... ... 321
Impo rtant wa rnings when working on the
battery .. .... .... ... .... ...... . 319
low ...... .... .... .... ... .... .... 274
Replaci ng t he battery .. ... .... ... . 3 22
State of cha rge . ...... .... .... ... . 27 4
Winter operat ion ..... .... .... .. . . 318
Wo rking on the batte ry . ....... ... . 319
Battery vo ltage .. .. .. .... .... .... ..... 35
B efo re driving ... .... .... ...... .... . 199
Blended gasoline ... .. .... .... .... ... 30 1
Body cavity sealing ........ .... .... .. 294
Boos ter seat ... .. .... .... ... .... .... 251
How do I properly install a booster seat in my veh ic le? . .... .... ... .... .... 251
Safety instructions .. ...... .... ... . 251
Brake flu id
Changing the brake fluid ...... .... . 318
Check ing the brake fluid leve l .... .. 317
What is the co rrect brake fluid leve l? 317
What s hould I do i f th e brake fluid warning
l ight com es on? . .... .... .... .... 317
Brake system Ant i- lock brake sys tem .... .... .... . 21
B rake assis ta nt .... .... ... .... .... 272
Brake booster .. ... .... ... .... .... 271
Brake flu id . ... .... .... ... .... .... 317
Brake f luid specifications for ref ill and
replace men t . .... .... .... ...... . 318
Bra ke light de fective . .... . .... .. .. . 26
Brake pads . ...... .... ... .... .... 278
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Electromechanical parking brake ... 134
Fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
How does moisture or road sal t affect the
brakes? ....................... 270
Malfunction ..... ... ... .. .... .... . 30
Warning/indicator lights ... .... .... 22
Worn brak e pads symbol ..... .. .... 34
Break -in period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
B rake pads .. ...... .... ......... . 278
Tires ..... .. .. .... .... ......... . 277
Bu lbs ... .... .... .... ....... .... ... 362
Bumper cover Caution when parking near a parking bar -
rier or curb ...... ... .... .... ... 135
C
Ca lifornia Proposition 65 Warning 308
Battery specific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Capacit ies .. .... .... .... .... ... .... 378
Car care . .... .... .... .... .... .... .. 288
Int erior .. .... .... .... .... ...... . 295
P lastic and vinyl .. .... .... ... .... 292
Weatherstrips ...... ... .. ...... .. 293
Car carrier Transporting your vehicle ........ . 369
Care of exterior . .... .... .... .... .... 288
Cargo area
See Loading the luggage compartment ..
205
Cargo net .... .... .... .... ... .... ... 101
Catalyt ic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 Central locking
Emergency locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Changing a flat tire ...... .... ... .. .... 45
Changing a wheel .... ..... .. .... .... 351
Changing engine oi l .. .... .... .... ... 313
Chassis Undercoating ... .. .... .... .... ... 294
See also Adaptive Aur Suspension . .. 185
CHECK button .... .... .... ..... .. .... 15
Checking Engine coolant level ... .... ..... .. 315
Checking tire pressure ... .. .... .... .. 331
Child restraints Danger of using child restraints in the front seat ... ....... ...... .... .. 220
What types o f child restraint anchors are
avai lable? ... ....... ...... .... .. 256
Where can I get additional information
about child r estraints? ...... ... .. 257
Child safety ...... .. . ... .... ... . 243, 248
Additiona l information ............ 262
Booster seat ... .... ... .... .... ... 251
Convertible child safety seat .... ... 249
Conv ert ible locking r etractor ... .... 253
Guidance fixtures for lower anchorages
259
Important safety instructions for using
child safety seats ..... .. .... .... 246
Important things to know when driving with children . .... .... .... ...... 243
Infant seat .... .... .... .... ... ... 248
Installing a child restrain t using the
LATCH system ...... ...... ..... . 261 Mounting and releasing the anchorage
hook .......................... 262
Older children and safety belts ..... 252
Safety belts and older children .... . 252
Tether anchors .. ...... .... ... .. . 262
Tether strap ........... .... .... .. 263
Which restraint system should my older chi ld wear? .................. .. 252
Child safety lock
Rear doors (mechanical! ...... .... .. 58
Rear doors (power) .... .... .... .... 58
Child safety seat .. .... .... ...... .... 248
Convertible locking r etractor .... ... 253
How do I properly insta ll a chi ld safety
seat in my vehicle? .. ........ .... 246
Installing .. .. .. .... .... ..... .. ... 253
LATCH system ................... 261
Safety instructions .. ...... .... ... 246
Cigarette I ig hter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Cleaning Alcantara (synthetic suede) .... .... 298
Engine compartment ...... .... ... 299
Fab rics and fabric coverings ... .... 295
Instrument panel ...... ....... .... 296
Interior ... .... .... .... .... .... .. 295
Leather ... .... .... .... ..... .. ... 297
MMI display .............. .... ... 295
MMI terminal ...... .... ..... .. ... 295
Plastic and viny l ... .... .... ....... 292
P lastic parts ..................... 296
Safety belts ... .... .... ... .... ... 299
Trim strips . ....... .... ... .... ... 291
trim strips . ....... .... ....... .... 292
Lower anchorages ........... ..... 258 Cleaning and protection ............. 288

lll'ffll_....:..A..:.;l~ p :..;h..:.; a= b..:e :..;t:.:..i c::..:: a.:..l .,;. in :..:..:. d:..;e :..;x..:..,_ ___________________________________________ _
Driver's seat memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Activating remote contro l key .. ... .. 95
Recalling a seat position ...... .... . 94
Storing a seat position ............. 94
Driving messages .................... 29
Dr ivingsafely .... .... .... ...... .... 198
Driving time .... ... .. .... .... ...... .. 38
Dup licate key ......... ............... 47
DVD p layer for navigation system . . . . . 112
E
Easy entry feature 129
Electromechanica l parking brake
Emergency braking ............... 136
Malfunction ........ .... .... .... . 136
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Re leasing and app lying .... .... ... 134
Starting
off with a trailer . ...... ... 136
Warning/indicator lights ........... 22
Electronic differential lock (EDU
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Warning/indicator lights ........... 21
Electronic immobilizer .. ...... ..... 14, 49
Electron ic power contro l
(EPC) warning/indicator light .. .... .. 18
Electronic speed limiter .. .. .. .... ..... 28
Electronic stabi lization program (ESP)
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Warning/indicator lights ........... 18
Emergency braking .. ....... .. ...... 136 Emergency
closing
Power sunroof ................. 67, 68
Emergency flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Warning/indicator lights ..... ...... 19
Emergency locking ....... .... .... .... 54
Emergency locking of doors ........... 54
Emergency starting ........ .... ... .. 364
Emergency towing ..... .. .... .... ... 366
Emergency warning triangle ... ....... 348
Energy management .... .... ... .. ... 274
Battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Driver notification ................ 275
Engine 4.2 I, 8-cylinder (350 hp) .... .... ... 308
6 .0 I, 12-cylinder (450 hp) .......... 309
Compartment . .... .... .... .. 308, 309
Coolant ......................... 314
Hood ... .. .... .... .... .... .... .. 306
Starting ...... .............. 129, 130
Starting with jumper cables .. ... .. 364
Stopping ........................ 131
Engine compartment ... .. .... .... ... 308
Safety instructions .......... ..... 307
Working the engine compartment .. 307
Engine coolant ..................... 314
Adding coolant ............. ..... 316
Checking the engine coo lant level .. 315
Expansion tank .................. 315
Malfunction symbo l ...... .... .... . 31
Radiator fan ...... .... .... .... ... 317
Temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Engine data ........................ 378 Engine hood
Closing ..... .. .... .... ...... ... . 307
How to release the hood . . . . . . . . . . 306
Engine oi l ..... ... .... .... .... ...... 309
Adding ......................... 312
Additives ........................ 312
Changing .. .... .... ..... .. .... .. 313
Checking the engine oil level ....... 311
Indica tions and conditions requiring extra
checking .. ...... .... ...... .... 311
Oil consumption ................. 311
Oil grades .. .... .... ... .... .... .. 309
Oil level symbol .... .... ...... ... .. 35
Pressure ma lfunction ... ... .... .... 32
Recommended oil check intervals .. 311
Sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Specification and viscosity ......... 309
Environment Break -in period .................. 277
Catalytic converter .... .... .... ... 278
Disposing of your vehicle battery ... 322
Driving at high speeds ....... ... .. 279
Driving to minimize pollution and noise .
279
Fuel ...... .... ........... .... ... 303
Fuel economy .......... .... .... .. 279
L eaks under your vehicle .......... 307
Le tting the vehicle stand and warm up ..
280
Proper disposal of drained brake fluid
318
Proper disposal of drained engine coolant . .... .... .... .... ....... 316