ignition AUDI S8 2009 Owners Manual

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•
prevent it from fading. Slight color variations will develop in normal
use and are not an indication of material deterioration.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara ® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids .•
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution . Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight .
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash.
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them.
& 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
~ page290. a
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
2 l, or if you have the engine washed, the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore .,_
21 Use only th e correct cleaning solut ions. N ev er us e gasolin e or di ese l fu el.
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
essential to have a long-lasting corrosion protection reapplied to al l
s urf aces, sea ms, joi nts a nd compo nents i n th e en gine c om par t­
m ent .
& WARNING
Be aware: The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment , be sure to read the
information =>
page 301.
• Before reaching into the front plenum panel, always remove the
ignition key . Otherwise, the windshield wipe r system could unin ­
tentionally be switched on , possibly causing personal in jury from
the moving wiper linkage .
• Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan . The
auxiliary fan is temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly
- even when the ignition is off.
• Do not wash, wax or dry the engine with the engine running .
Moving or hot parts could injure you .
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis , fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp -edged metal parts.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>
page 290 . •

•
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Gasoline
Fuel supply Using the right fuel helps keep the environment clean and
prevents engine damage.
Fuel r ecomm end ati on
The fuel recommended for your vehic le is unl eade d prem ium grade
gaso line . See also ~
page 380, "Data". Audi recommends using TOP
T IER Detergent Gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 91 AKI (95
RON). For more information on TOP TIER Detergent Gaso line, please
go to the official website (www.toptiergas .com).
The recommended gasoline octane rating for your engine can also be found on a label located on the inside of the fuel fille r flap. This
rating may be specified as AK I or RON .
Your vehic le may also be operated us ing unleaded regular gasoline
with a minimum octane rating of 87 AKl/91 RON . However, using 87
AKl/9 1 RON octane fuel will slightly reduce engine performance.
Use unle ad ed ga so line only . Unleaded gaso line is avai lable
throughout the USA, Canada, and in most European countries. We
recommend that you do not take your vehicle to areas or countr ies
where un leaded gasoline may not be available .
For more information on refueling your vehicle, see~
page 304.
Octane ra tin g
Octane rating indicates a gaso line's ability to resist engine
damaging "knock" caused by premature ignition and detonation.
Therefore, buying the correct grade of gaso line is very important to
help prevent possible engine damage and a loss of engine perfor ­
mance.
F ue l supply and fillin g you r fu el tank
Gasoline most common ly used in the United States and Canada has
the following octane ratings that can usua lly be found on the filler
pump:
• Premium Grade : 91 -96 AKI
• Regular Grade: 87 -90 AKI
Explanation of the abbreviations:
AKI = Anti Knock Index= (R +M)/2 = (RON +MON)/2
RON = Research Octane Number
MON
= M otor Octane Number .
0 Note
• Do not use any fue l with octane ratings lower than 87 AKI or 91
RON otherwise expensive engine damage will occur .
• Do
not use leaded gasoline. The use of leaded gasoline w ill
severe ly damage your vehicle's catalytic converter and its abi lity to
control exhaust emissions. •
Blended gasoline
Use of g aso line containing alco hol or M TB E ( meth yl
t er tiary butyl e ther )
You may use unleaded gasoline blended with alcohol or MTBE
(commonly referred to as oxygenates) if the blended mixture meets
the follow ing criteria:
Bl end of g asoline m eth anol (wood al coho l or methyl alc oh ol)
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher .
• Blend must contain no more than 3% methanol.
• Blend must contain more than 2% co-solvents.
Vehicle care I t •

<£> For the sake of the environment
As soon as the correctly operated nozzle switches off automatically
for the first time, the tank is full. Do not try to add more fuel because
fuel may spill out. In addition, the expansion space in the fuel tank
will be filled -causing the fuel to overflow when it becomes warm
and pollute the environment.
[ i] Tips
• Running your engine while refuelling may cause vapors to
escape or even cause fuel to spill out of the tank. This would then
shut off the fuel nozzle before the tank is full.
• Do not refuel your vehicle with the ignition turned on . The fuel
gauge may otherwise not indicate the correct fuel level after
refuelling. •
Unlocking the fuel filler flap by hand
You can open the fuel filler flap by hand if the power
locking system should fail.
Fig . 259 Luggage
compartment : Right­
side storage area
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Fig. 260 Luggage
compartment : Emer­
gency opening of fuel
filler flap
- Rotate the two pins @ to the vertical position to open
the storage area. ::::;, fig. 259.
- Unclip the loop @ and move it to position ©::::;, fig.
260.
- Pull the loop down to position © to unlock the fuel filler
flap. •
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

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•
Closing the engine hood
- Pull the hood down until the pressure from the struts is
reduced .
- Let the hood
drop down and latch in place. Do not try to
push it shut;
it may fail to engage => &.
& WARNING
A hood that is not completely latched could fly up and block your
view while driving.
• When you close the engine hood, check it to make sure the
safety catch has properly engaged. The hood should be flush with
the surrounding vehicle body parts.
• If you notice while driving that the hood is not secured prop­
erly, stop at once and close it. •
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 personal injury always
observe the following WARNINGS. The engine compartment of any
vehicle is a hazardous area
~ & .
& WARNING
To help avoid injury, before you check anything under the hood :
• Turn off the engine.
• Remove the ignition key.
• Apply the parking brake .
& WARNING (continued)
• 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 compart­
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood.
• Keep children away from the engine compartment .
• Never spill fluids on hot engine components. They can cause a
fire.
• Never touch the radiator fan. The auxiliary electric fan is
temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly.
• Never open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is still
warm . The coolant system is pressurized and hot coolant 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.
• If work on the fuel system or the electrical system is necessary :
- Always disconnect the battery.
- Never smoke or work near heaters or open flames . Fluids in
the engine compartment could start a fire.
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available.
• To avoid electrical shock and personal injury while the engine
is running or being started, never touch:
- Ignition cables
- Other components of the high voltage electronic ignition system.
• If you must perform a check or repair with the engine running: -First, fully apply the parking brake, move selector lever to "P"
(Park). .,
Vehicle care
I t •

Checking and filling -
------------------------------------------- -=----- =------
0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especially important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold. If necessary, increase the proportion of
coolant additive to 60%.
• When adding coolant additive to your cooling system,
remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive G12+ + (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is available at autho­
rized Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can significantly
reduce corrosion protection . The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage .
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and cou ld result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty .•
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
Fig . 269 Engine
compartment : Coolant
expansion tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS==> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 309.
Turn off the ignition .
Read the engine coolant level from the coolant expan­
sion tank==> fig. 269. With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" markings. When
the engine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
" max" marking .
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment illustration=>
page 310.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off .
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant level is too low, the warning light in the Auto­
Check System =>
page 31 will blink until you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coolant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant level
from time to time.
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system. In the event
of coolant loss, the cooling system should be inspected immedi­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer. It is not enough merely to add
coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating.
& WARNING
The cooling system is under pressure and can get very hot. Reduce
the risk of scalding from hot coolant
by following these steps. ~
Vehic le care I I Technical data

Checking and filling 111111 _______________________________ =..:..:..::...:::...:...:~:....:...;_.:....::___--:::-------J
& WARNING !continued )
• Antifr eeze is po isonous. Always store antifreeze in it s original
c ontainer and well out of the re ach of children .
• If you drain the coolant, it must be caught and safely stored in
a proper co ntainer cle arly m arked "poi son ".
0 Note
• Coolant po llutes the environment and cou ld cause an engine
fire. Excess coolant will be forced out through the pressure relief
valve in the cap when the engine becomes hot.
• I f, in an emergency, only wa ter can be added, the correct ratio
between water and antifreeze=>
page 316 must be restored as soon
as possib le .
W For the sake of the environment
Drained coolant should not be reused. A lways dispose of used
coolant while observing all environ mental regula tions . •
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on au tomatically by i tself.
T he radiator fan is driven by the engine via the V-belt. The viscous
clutch regulates the speed of the fan according to the temperature
of the coo lan t.
An auxiliary electric radiator fan * switches on and off depending on
coolant tem perature and o ther vehic le opera ting condi tions.
After you switch the engine off , the auxiliary fan can continue
running for up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition off. It can even
switch on again later by itself=>&, if
• the temperature of the engine coolant rises due to the heat
bu ild -up from the engine i n the engine c ompar tment, or •
the engine compartment heats up because the vehicle is parked
in intense sunligh t.
& WARNING
• To reduce the ri sk of personal injury never touch the radiator
f a n .
• The aux iliary electric fan i s te mperature controlled and can
switch on suddenly even when the engine is not running .
• The au xiliary radiato r fan switche s on automatic ally when th e
eng ine coolant reache s a certain temperature and
will continue to
r un until the coo lant tempe rature drop s. •
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
T he brake fluid level can be checked with a quick glance.
-w ;:;
Fig . 270 Engin e
c o mpartm ent: B ra ke
fluid r ese rvo ir
Before you check anything in the e ngine comp artmen t,
always read and heed all WARNINGS:::::> & in "Working in
t h e engi ne compartment" on
page 3 09. .,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Checking and filling -
---------------------=----"=---------
checked by a service facility. The electrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged =>
page 323.
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 certain 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 234.
Disconnecting the battery terminals
Some vehicle 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
vehicle electrical system when absolutely necessary for repairs .
Vehicles not driven for long periods 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 consumption and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
=> page 276.
Be aware that when you unlock your vehicle, some of the conve ­
nience functions may not operate, such as the Convenience key*,
the remote control or the power seat adjustment. The convenience
functions will be available again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
Winter operation 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 consump tion, particularly in city traffic or
when traveling only short distances. Let your authorized Audi dealer
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
=> page 323. A well charged battery will not only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but will also last longer.
[ i] Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several weeks at extremely low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. This will prevent it from being damaged and
having to be replaced.•
Working on the battery
Be especially careful when working on or near the battery.
Fig . 271 Luggage
compartment: Right·
side storage compart­
ment
Fig . 272 Luggage
compartment : Battery
The battery is located in the luggage compartment on the
right side behind a cover. Before you check anything in the
luggage compartment,
read and heed all WARNINGS=>& . .,_
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

-Checking and filling PW~--=----=----------------
-To open the side storage compartment, turn the two pins
@ ~fig . 271 to the vertical position.
The positive(+) battery terminal is protected by a plastic cover . This
cover must be removed to access the positive(+) terminal when
connecting jumper cables to start the eng ine.
Always heed the safety warnings , when working on the vehicle
battery or the vehicle electrica l system to prevent injury.
The following WARNINGS are very important when
working on the battery:
Always heed the following WARNING SYMBOLS and safety pre­
cautions when working on the battery .
@
®
Always wear eye prote ction .
Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Always wear
gloves and eye protection .
No
• sparks
- flames
· smoking.
When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen
gas which is explosive and could cause personal injury .
Always keep the battery well out of reach of chil­
dren .
& WARNING
Whenever working on the battery or on the electrical system,
there is the risk of injury, accident and even fire. Read and heed the
following WARNINGS :
& WARNING (continued)
• Always wear eye protection. Do not let battery acid or any lead
particles get on your skin or clothing. Shield your eyes. Explosive
gases can cause blindness or other injury.
• Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid can cause
blindness and severe burns.
-Always wear gloves and eye protection . Do not tilt the
battery because acid could leak out of the ventilation openings.
- If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immedi­
ately rinse with cold water for several minutes 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 negative cables.
• 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, which 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 system, disconnect the
negative ground cable.
• Before performing any work on the electrical system, switch off
the engine and ignition as well as any electrical equipment. The
negative cable on the battery must be disconnected. If you are just
going to replace a light bulb , then it is enough to switch off the
lights.
• Before disconnecting the battery, switch off the anti-theft
alarm system! Otherwise you will set off the alarm.

Checking and filling -
--------------~-
•
& WARNING (continued)
• When disconnecting the battery, first disconnect the negative
cable and then the positive cable.
• Before reconnecting the battery, make sure all electrical
consumers are switched off. Reconnect the positive cable first and
then the negative cable. Never interchange the cables -this could
start a fire!
• Never charge a frozen or a thawed-out battery. It could
explode! If a battery has frozen, then it must be replaced. A
discharged battery can freeze over at 32 °F (0 °CI.
• Make sure the vent hose is always attached to the opening on
the side of the battery.
• Never use batteries which are damaged. There is the danger of
an explosion! Always replace a damaged battery.
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
• Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive problems. Wash hands after
handling.
0 Note
• Do not disconnect the vehicle battery when the ignition is
switched on or when the engine is running, otherwise, you will
damage electronic components in the electrical system.
• If your vehicle is going to stand for a long period of time without
being driven, protect the battery from "freezing", otherwise it will
be damaged and will then have to be replaced .•
Battery charging
Starting the engine requires a well charged battery.
Always read and heed all WARNINGS below=> & and => &
in "Working on the battery" on
page 321.
-Turn off the ignition and all electrical consumers.
- Make sure the area is well ventilated when you charge
the battery.
- Attach the red (positive
8) clamp of the charging equip­
ment to the positive terminal of the battery and the black
(negative(:)) clamp to the jumper terminal.
- Only now plug the mains lead for the charging equip­
ment into the wall outlet and turn it on=> &.
-Make sure the charging rate is not over 30 amps/14.8
Volt.
-When the battery is fully charged: Turn the charging
equipment off and remove the mains lead from the wall
outlet.
- Now remove the clamps for the charging equipment .
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures of only O °C . Allow
a frozen battery to thaw completely before attempting to charge it
=> &. However, we recommend not using a thawed battery again
because the battery casing can be cracked due to ice formation and
can leak battery acid.
Battery charging (Maximum charging rate of 30
amps/14.8 Volt)
When charging at /ow voltages (e.g. with a trickle charger), the
battery cables do not have to be disconnected first. The battery caps
should
not be opened when charging a battery. ._.
Vehicle care I t •