service AUDI S8 2010 Owners Manual

Pedal area ... ........ ......... 192
S towing luggage .............. 193
Reporting Safety Defects ....... 195
Safety be lts ................... 197
General notes ................. 197
Why safety belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Safe ty be lt pretensioners . . . . . . . 204
Airbag system ................ 206
Important th ings to know . . . . . . 206
F ront airbags ......... ........ 210
Mon ito ring the Advanced A irbag
Syst em ...................... 217
Knee airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 22
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Side curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Child Safety ................... 231
Important things to know ...... 231
Child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Ins ta lling a ch ild safety seat . . . . 24 1
LAT CH Lower anchorages and
t ethers for chi ldren . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Add itiona l Informa tion 251
Vehicle operation ...... 252
Intelligent tec hno logy ........ 252
Notice about data recorded by
v e hicl e contro l modu les . . . . . . . . 252
Electronic Stab ili z ati on Program
(ESP) ........................ 252
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Servotronic ® -advanced power
steer ing system ............ ... 257
Dr iving with your quattro® ...... 257
Energy management . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Driving and environment
..... 261
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km)
and afterwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Avoid damaging the veh icle 263
Dr ivi ng th rough wat er on roads . 263
Operate your veh icle economica lly
and m inimi ze po llution . . . . . . . . 263
Trailer towing ................ 266
Dr iving wi th a traile r . . . . . . . . . . . 266
T railer tow ing tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Vehicle care .............. 270
Clea nin g and pro tect ion ...... 270
General information . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Care of exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Care of interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Fuel supply and filling your fuel
tank .......................... 283
Gasol ine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
F u el tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Checking and filling . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Eng ine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Eng ine compartment . . . . . . . . . . 290
Engine oil ............... ..... 291
Engine cooling system . . . . . . . . . 296
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Bat tery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
W indshield/head light washer
containe r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tires and wheels .............. 306
Ti res 306
T ir e pressure monitor ing system 326
Table of contents
Do-it-yourself service
What do I do now? .......... .
Trunk escape handle ......... .
Emergency wa rning tria ngle ... .
Jack, tools and spare wheel ... .
Changing a wheel ........... . .
Fuses and bulbs ............. .
Fuses ...................... .
Bulbs ...................... .
Emergency situations ....... .
General ..................... .
Starting by pushing or towing ..
S tarting with jumper cables ... .
Use of j umper cables ......... .
Emergency towing with
commercial tow truck ........ .
Lifting vehicle ............... .
Technical data
General information
Explanat ion of technical data .. .
Vehicle identification ......... .
We ig hts ... ....... ....... ... .
Dimensions ................. .
Data .......... ......... ...... .
350 hp, 8-cylind er engine, with all
whee l dr ive ................. .
Consumer Information ...... .
Warranty coverages .......... .
Ope rating your vehicle outs ide the
U.S.A. or Canada ............. .
Aud i Se rvice Repair Man uals and
Literature ................... . 332
332
332
332
333
335
342
342
346
348
348
348
3
4 8
349
350
353
356
356
356
356
357
357
360
360
361
361
361
361
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Vehicle literature
In addit io n to this Owner 's Manua l, your Aud i comes w ith the
• MMI Operat ing Instructions
• Warra nty
& Ma intenance booklet .
If yo u are m issing one of these pub lications, or if you believe that the
i n fo rm ation is not complete, co ntact your a uth o rized A udi de aler fo r
assistance.
MMI Operating Instructions
contain detailed desc ription of the A udi Mu lti Media Interface (MMI)
including the nav igat ion system, the sound system and the handheld
phone.
The Warranty & Maintenance booklet
exp la ins how you ca n keep your A udi in top d riving condition by having
it serviced regularly and conta ins deta iled informat io n about the
warran ties covering your Audi. Always have the booklet with you
when you take your veh icle to an author ized Aud i deale r for serv ice.
Your Audi Service Adviser will record each scheduled serv ice and can
answe r any questions yo u may have reg arding how to m ainta in your
vehicle.
In Canada,
the vehicle literature is also ava ilab le in French. To obtain a copy,
contact yo ur dealer or wri te to :
Au Canada, on peut se procurer un exemplaire en frani;:ais de ce docu­
ment aupres du concessionna ire o u de:
Volkswagen Canada Inc. Client Assistance
Assistance a la Clie ntele
7 77 Bayly St reet, West,
Ajax, Ontario LlS 7G7
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle Literature
If you sell your Audi
all literature should be left in the vehicle to make the Warranty terms
as well as all operating, safety and maintenance information avail­
able to the next owner.
If you change your address or if you bought
this Audi used
be sure to se nd in a "Notice of Address C hange "/ "Notice of Used Car
Purchase" post card. This card can be found in the Warranty
& Ma in­
t enance boo klet o r obta ined from your authorized Audi dealer.
It is in your own int ere st that we are able to contact you should the
need ari se .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Controls and equip­ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care About this Owner's Manual
Do-it-yourself service Technical data

There is still approximately 2.4 gallons (9 liters) of fuel left. This message is meant to remind you to
refuel.
(D Note
Never run the tank completely dry. An irregular supply of fuel can
cause engine misfiring and fuel could enter the exhaust system. The
catalytic converter could then overheat and be damaged. •
[CHECK) button
You can perform different functions with this button.
Fig. S CHECK button
in the instrument
cluster
The [ CHECK] button performs the following functions:
Switching on the clock and odometer
With the ignition turned off, the odometer reading and the digital
clock with date display can be switched on for about 30 seconds by
pressing the [
CHECK] button~ fig. 5.
Starting the Auto-Check sequence
The Auto-Check system~ page 26 constantly monitors certain indi­
vidual functions and components of the vehicle when the ignition is turned on and when the vehicle is moving.
With the ignition turned on, you can start the "Auto-Check sequence"
by pressing the
(CHECK) button. You can perform an Auto-Check
Con tro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
sequence when the vehicle is stationary and the ignition is turned on
or when the vehicle is moving not faster than 3 mph (5 km/h).
Calling up the driver information
A yellow or red symbol appears in the instrument cluster display,
usually with a driver message. The driver message display disappears
after about 5 seconds. The driver message can be displayed again by
briefly pressing the [
CHECK) button.
Setting the speed warning
By pressing the [ CHECK] button briefly, you can set threshold 1 of
the speed warning while you are driving ~
page 35. By maintaining
pressure on the [
CHECK ) button, you delete the warning threshold.•
Instrument cluster illumination
The basic brightness of the illumination for the instru­
ments, the center console and the display can be
adjusted.
Fig. 6 Instrument
cluster illumination
- Press the"+" button to increase the brightness during the
hours of darkness.
- Press the"-" button to decrease the brightness during the
hours of darkness. .,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Driver information displ ay
Driver information display
Introduction
General notes
The driver information display inside the instrument
cluster provides you, the driver, with much useful infor­
mation .
Fig. 8 Inst rument
cluster: center d isplay
Informat ion from the Driver Information System is shown in the
display in the center of the instrument cluster.
When you tu rn on the ign ition and while you are driving, some func­
tions and vehicle components are scanned for their operating status. Malfunctions or required service procedures are signalled audibly and
shown by red and yellow lighted symbols and reminders to the driver
in the display .
T he d river is a lso shown information about radio and CD operation
and directions for the navigation system. You can find additional
information on these subjec ts in the MMI manual.
The Driver Informat ion System provides the following functions: Sound system display
:::>
page23
Outside air temperature :::>page23
Digital speedometer :::>page23
Door open indicator :::>page24
Defective light bulb :::>page24
Service interval display :::> page25
Auto Check system :::> page26
Driver information :::>page27
Speed limiter :::>page26
Trip computer :::> page36
Tire pressure mon itoring* :::>page326
Selector lever position => page 155
[]] Tips
In the event of a malfunction either a red or yellow ico n appea rs in the
display . Red symbols indicate
Da nge r=> page 28. Yellow symbols
ind icate a
Wa rning => page 32. •

Sound system display
Fig. 9 Display: sound
system
The name of the radio station you are tuned to or its frequency and
reception range are shown in the upper area of the display.
When the
CD is in use, the title of the track being p layed is shown. The
number of the
CD (CDl to CD6) currently being played is also
shown. •
Outside temperature display
Fig. 10 Display:
outside temperature
At temperatures below 41 °F (+5 °C) a snowflake symbol appears
ahead of the temperature display. It is intended to remind the driver
to pay special attention to
ice on the road .
Contro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Driver information display
If the vehicle is stationary, or if you are driv ing at a very low speed, the
temperature shown in the display might be slightly higher than the
actual outside temperature. This is caused by the heat being radiated
from the engine.
If you have selected the °C (degrees Celsius) unit for temperature in
the
MM I, the outside temperature display a lso appears automatically
in
°C.
& WARNING
• Never rely exclusively on the outside temperature display to
determine if a road surface is icy or not. Keep in mind that road
surfaces, especially bridges and overpasses, could be ice covered
and slippery even at an outside temperature above 41 °F (+5 °C).
• Always remember, even if the "snowflake " symbol (ice
warning) does not appear in the display, black ice could be on the
road.
• Always reduce your speed and drive with special care in cold
weather conditions when the chance of encountering icy road
surfaces increases. •
Digital speedometer
Fig. 11 Display :
Digital speedometer
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Wo rk with due care when handling the high-voltage section of
gas di scharge (xenon) lights. Failure to do so could result in death
or ser ious injury.
[ i ] Tips
Have the bulb rep laced or the connection repaired by your autho rized
Audi Se rvice departmen t.•
Service interval display
The service interval display reminds you when your next
service is due.
Fig . 14 D ispl ay :
Service inte rval disp la y
Th e date for serv ice is ca lculated automat ica lly . B ased on t he average
distance driven in previous months, a monthly driving distance is
c al cul ated. As soon as the dis tan ce rem aining to the nex t se rvi ce
drops below the distance dr iven mont hly, the serv ice reminder is initi­
a ted. The m aximum pe riod from one se rvi ce to the ne xt is one ye ar.
Service reminder
30 day s befo re th e nex t serv ice i s du e, a serv ice reminde r appears in
the display when yo u turn on t he ignit ion~ fig. 14 .
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Driver information display
After about 5 seconds the disp
lay switches back to norma l. The
dis tan ce and tim e rema ining a re up dat ed ea ch time the ign ition is
t urned on until the date due for service is reached .
Service due
When the due date for service is reached, t he message Service due !
appe ars in t he inst rume nt cluster immedi ately after yo u turn on t he
ignition . Additionally, a wa rning tone sounds . After about 5 seconds
t he disp lay sw itches ba ck to no rm al.
0 Note
If you d isconnect the batte ry termina ls, no ca lculations can be made
for the service in terva l display during this time and no serv ice
reminder will appear. Remember that observing t he p roper service
in terva ls is vi tally im portant to exte nd ing the life of your veh icle,
particular ly the e ngine, and maintainin g its va lue. Eve n if the mileage
dr ive n is low, the max im um per io d of o ne year from one serv ice to the
next must not be exceeded. •
On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD)
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
The Ma lf u nc tion Indica tor Lamp ( MIL) in the ins trument cl uster
~ page 14, fig . 7 i s pa rt of t he On-B oard D iagnost ic (O BD II) system.
Th e warn ing/i nd ica to r lig ht ill umi nates when the ig nition is swi tched
on and goes out after the engine starts and the idle has stabilized.
Thi s ind ic at es that the MIL i s working prope rly .
If the light does not go out afte r th e e ngine is started, or ill uminates
w hil e you a re dr iv in g, a malf unct io n may e xis t in t he engine system.
If the light illum ina tes, the ca talytic conve rter co uld be damaged .
Continue driving
with reduced power (avo iding susta ined high
s peeds and/or rapi d acc elera tions) and h ave the con dition cor rec ted.
Contact your authorized A ud i dea le r. .,_
Vehicle care Technical data

Driver information display
If the light illuminates, the electronic speed limiter may also be
malfunctioning. For more information~
page 26, "Electron ic speed
limiter".
An improperly closed fuel filler cap may also cause the MIL light to
illuminate ~
page 285. •
On-Board Diagnostics
Fig. 15 Location of
Data Link Connector
(OLC)
On-Board Diagnostics monitors the components of your emission
control system. Each mon itored component in your engine system
has been assigned a code. In case of a malfunction, the component
will be identified and the fault stored as a code in the control module
memory.
The MIL light may also illum inate if there is a leak i n the on-board fuel
vapor recovery system.
If the light illuminates after a refuelling, stop
the vehicle and make sure the fuel filler cap is properly closed
~page 285.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, the stored data can only be
displayed using special d iagnostic equipment (generic scan too l for
OBD).
In order to connect the special diagnostic equipment, push the plug
into the Data Link Connector (DLC). The DLC is located to the right of
the hood release~ fig. 15. Your authorized
Audi dealer or a qualified service station can inter­
pret the code and perform the necessary repair.•
Electronic speed limiter
Your vehicle may be factory equipp ed w ith tires that are rated for a
maximum speed of 130 mph (210 km/h) . This is less than the
maximum speed of your vehicle. To reduce the risk of sudden tire
failure and loss of control if the vehicle is operated at excessive
speeds, your vehicle a lso has an electronic speed limiter. The elec­
tronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from going faster than the
tire speed rating . For more information ~
page 318.
If the eng ine control unit receives faulty vehicle road speed signals ,
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) will illuminate. If this
occurs, contact the nearest a uthorized Aud i dealer for assistance.
& WARNING
Always observe the posted speed limits and adjust your speed to
suit prevailing road , traffic and weather conditions. Never drive
your vehicle faster than the maximum speed rating of the tires
i nstalled. •
Auto Check Control
Introduction
The Auto-Check control monitors the funct io n of certain vehicle
features and components . It simply makes sure these features and
components are working properly. The Auto-Check control works as
long as the ignition is on, as well as whenever the vehicle is driven.
If a component is malfunctioning or if the need for an urgent repair
has been detected, this w ill appear in the instrument cluster display . .,,_

Driver information display
is too low. An additional driver message can also be displayed
by pressing the [CHECK) button:
Switch off engine and check coolant level
-Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check coolant level=>
page 297.
-Add coolant if necessary=> page 298.
-Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
- Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be the
cause of the malfunction.
If the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
=>
page 16, then the fan belt may be damaged .
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights=>
page 63, "Emer­
gency flasher A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
& WARNING (continued)
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
=> page 281, "Engine compartment".
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -~-symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine. •
Engine oil pressure malfunction "t':::7':
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair. Driving with a low-oil-pres­
sure indication is likely to inflict severe damage to the
engine.
If the ~ symbol appears in the display and blinks, the oil
pressure is too low. An additional driver message can also be
displayed by pressing the [CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check oil level
Immediate actions
-Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine .
-Check the engine oil level with the dipstick=> page 293.
Dipstick readings checks too low
- Top off oil to the proper level=> page 294.

- Make sure that the oil pressure warning symbol 't=:1:
appears no longer in the display before you start driving
again.
Dipstick reading checks OK
- If the oil pressure warning symbol 't=:1: starts flashing
again even though the engine oil level checks OK on the
dipstick,
do not continue driving and do not let the
engine run in idle.
Instead, contact your authorized Audi
dealer for assistance.
[ i) Tips
• The engine oil pressure symbol~ is not an indicator for a low
engine oil level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your
engine at regular intervals, preferably each time you refuel, and
always before going on a long trip.
• The yellow oil level warning indication _ requires oil refill or
workshop service without delay. Do not wait until the red oil pres­ sure warning ~ starts to flash before you respond to the low oil
level warning _ . By then, your engine may already have suffered
serious damage. •
Steering malfunction i
If there is a malfunction in the electronic steering column
lock, the steering cannot be unlocked.
If the i symbol in the display blinks, there is a malfunction
in the electronic steering column lock . An additional driver
message can also be displayed by pressing the (
CHECK)
button:
Do not drive vehicle: Steering defective
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility.
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Driver information display
-
Do not tow your vehicle.
& WARNING
Your vehicle must not be towed in the event of a malfunction in
the electronic steering column lock because it cannot be steered
due to the locked steering. If it is towed with the steering locked,
there is the risk of an accident. •
Ignition lock malfunction ,Pe
A malfunction in the ignition lock must be repaired imme­
diately.
If the 2e symbol in the display blinks, there is a malfunction
in the electronic ignition lock. An additional driver message
can also be displayed by pressing the
(CHECK] button:
Ignition lock defective. Contact workshop !
- Do
not turn the engine off.
- Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer to have
the malfunction corrected.
If there is a malfunction in the electronic ignition lock, the ignition
cannot be turned off . Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer
to have the cause of the malfunction corrected.
If your vehicle has a Convenience key*, then you should not use the
[ STOP
l button to shut off the engine. You will not be able to start the
engine again once the ignition is switched off. •
Vehicle care Technical data