check engine AUDI TT ROADSTER 2008 Owner's Manual

one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditi ons permit. •
Reducing unnecessary Idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the eng ine run at
idle.
I t makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at railroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fue l than is burned s tarting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is
running at idle . However, wear and noxious emissions a re especial ly
high when the engine is warming up . So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high RPMs whi le
the engine is stil l warming up .
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended idl ing also produces heat, wh ich cou ld
result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned en gine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- Have your v ehicl e serv ice d at reg ular intervals.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Dri
ving and environm ent
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dea ler helps to
ensure that i t runs properly and economically . The conditio n of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel consumption .
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed .
I t is normal for the oi l consumption of a new eng ine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mi leage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometres) be fore you can proper ly assess o il consumpt ion.
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
t he service recommendations in your Main tenance
& Warranty
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehicle wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to da mage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer .
• Do no t al te r or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
veh ic le' s Emission Control System and o ther i mportant vehicle
components. •
Fewer short trips
Fu el consu mption will alwa ys be relatively high on shor t
trips.
- Try to avo id driving short dista nce s wi th a cold engine.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Cleaning and prot
ection
-~--------------
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
H eavily soiled safety be lts may no t retract properly.
- Keep belts c lean.
- For clean ing, use a mild soa p an d wa ter so luti on. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from d irect sunlight.
- D o not allo w inertia reel safe ty belts to retra ct before
they are com pletely dry .
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly .
& WARNING
Damaged safety belt s can break in a crash .
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
y ou and yo ur pas senger s would not be adequatel y prote cted in an
accident .
• Safety belt performance depend s on correct in stallation . Never
remove belt s from the vehicle to clean them.
• Do not u se chemi cal cleaning agents , blea ch or dyes . They h ave
c orrosive propertie s wh ich weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts , in spect them for dam age . If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and the infor mation
=> page 200 . •
Engine compartment
Be es pecially caref ul when cle aning the engine compart­
ment.
Alwa ys swit ch off the ignition before cle aning the engine => & .
Plenum pan el
Remove leaves from the plenum pane l in front of the w indshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
inter ior through the heating and ventilation ducts.
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion ­
pro tected at the factory.
Good anti -co rros io n treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequent ly driven on salt treated roads, the
enti re eng ine compartmen t and p lenum panel should be thor ­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage . At the same time, the unde rside o f the vehicle shou ld be
washed as we ll.
I f the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solut ions
ll, or if you have the engine washed, the anti ­
corrosion treatment is almost a lways removed as well. It is therefore
essential to have a long-lasting corrosio n pro tec tion reapp lied to a ll
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the engine compart ­
ment .
& WARNING
Be awa re: Th e engine comp artment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardou s area .
• Befo re working in the eng ine compartme nt, be sure to read the
i nformat ion =>
page 212 . .,.
11 Use on ly the correct cleaning so lutions. Never use gasol ine or diesel fuel.

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Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
- Open the driver's door .
Fig. 147 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
- Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel => fig. 147 in the direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 148 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Lift the hood slightly =>& .
Pull up on the release under the hood=> fig. 148. This
releases the catch.
- Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by two gas struts.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• 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. •
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
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 the 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 :
• Switch off the engine.
• Remove the ignition key.
• Apply the parking brake.
& WARNING (continued)
• Move selector lever of automatic transmission to "P" {Park);
put manual transmission in Neutral.
• 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: .,_

_____________________________________________ C_h_ e;::..:. c:..:..k :..:..in ;..:..= g:.....:.; a:..:..n :....:d :..:....:. f.:.:il .:.:li :..:..n :.::g:!-_ ___,J-
& WA RNING !continued )
-First, fully apply the parking br ake , move selector lev er of
automatic tran smi ssion to "P " (P a rk ); put manu al tran smi ssio n
in Neutral.
- Alw ays use extreme c aution to p revent clothing, j ewelry , or
long hair from getting caught in the radi ator fan , V -belts or
other moving pa rt s, or from c onta cting hot parts. Tie b ack hair
before starting , and wear no cloth ing th at will hang or droop
into the engine.
• Minimize exposure to emi ssion and ch emical hazards
:=> & .
& WARNING
California Propo sition 65 Warning :
• Engine exha ust , some of its constituent s, and certa in vehi cle
c omponents contain or emit chemical s known to the State of Cali ­
fornia to cause cancer and birth defe cts and reprodu ctive harm . In
addition , certain fluid s cont ained in vehicle s and certain produ cts
of compone nt wear contain or emit chemi cals known to the State
of Cal ifornia to cause cancer and birth defe cts or oth er repr oduc ­
tive ha rm.
• Battery post s, terminals and related ac cess ori es conta in lead
and le ad compou nds , c hemic als kno wn to th e St ate of California
to c ause cancer and reproductive harm s. Wa sh hand s after
ha ndling.
0 Note
When adding fluids , always make sure that they are poured into the
proper container o r filler opening, otherwise ser ious damage to
vehicle systems will occur .
ffi For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehic le floor pan from under­
neath regularly. If you see spots from oil or other vehicle fluids, have
your vehicle inspected by an authorized Aud i dealer .•
Engine compartment
Ap plies to vehic le s: wit h 1.8 I1 80-h p engi ne
2.01 200 -hp engine
These ar e the most im por tant i tems tha t yo u can check.
Fig . 149 En gine c omp art men t: 2.01 200 -hp engine
0 Coolan t expansion tank (J_ ) ..... .... ........ ..• ..
0 Engine oil filler cap(~) ... ... .. .. .... .... ... ... .
© Engine oil dipstick (orange) ........ ....... ..... . .
© Brake fluid reservoir ( ) . .... .. ... .. ...... ... ... .
Vehic le care I I
228
225
224
230 .,.
irechnical data

-Checking and filling P'll:I ---=---------------
© Jump start points(+) under a cover, ( -) bolt head
© Windshield/headlight washer container ( O ) .. ... .. .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Wo rking in the engine
compartment" on page
220. •
Applies to v ehi cles: with 3,2 1 250 -h p eng in e
3 .21 250 -hp engine
279
236
These are the most important it ems that you can check.
Fig . 150 Engine compartment: 3.21 250-hp engine
G) Coolant expansion tank (J -) ..... ... .. ..... .. ... .
0 Engine oil dipstick (orange) . ... .. ...... ........ . .
© Engine oil filler cap ( © Brake fluid reservoir ( ) ............. .... .. .. .. .
228
224
225
230
© Jump start points(+) under a cover,( -) bo lt head ... .
© Windshield/headlight washer container (O ) .. .... . .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on page
220. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
279
236
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
The engine in your Audi is a sophisticated powerp lant that was built
to exacting specifications. This engine needs the right kind of
engine oil that meets specifications regarding quality and viscosity
so that it can run smoo thly and re liably. Choosing the right oil and
changing oil wi thin the time and mileage interva ls printed in your
vehic le's Maintenance
& Warranty booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standard
for engine oil that will help assure that your vehicle's engine will get
the lubrica tion it needs for proper operation.
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years. Many synthetic oils available today provide better engine
lubrication that can outlast traditional petroleum -based oils,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthe tic or petro leum-based engine oil, the oil
that you use must conform to Audi's oil quality standard VW 502 00
to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"sludge,' ' that over time can lead to expensive repairs. •

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
At the time of printing, engine oils available in the U.S . and Canada
t hat meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils . This does not mean, however, that every
synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00. So
always be sure that you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the follow ing spec ifica tions pr inted on the oil container:
Au di oi l stan dar d VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi­
nation with other designations and o il quality standards.
V isc osit y
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
viscosity grade oi l for your engine depends on climactic or seasona l
conditions where you drive . You can use oil with a v iscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi ­
tions.
However, if eng ine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can a lso use viscosity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W-40 as long as it
meets Audi oil qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Because engine oil that meets the Audi oil standard may not be
available everywhere when you need it, we s trong ly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart ( liter) of oil that
expressly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the o il while on the road.
On ly if the level of the oil is at or below the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick -and no oil that express ly conforms to Audi oi l standa rd
VW 502 00 specifications is available -may you top off with a high
qual ity engine oi l, preferably synthetic -based, t hat meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA 85, API SL or ILSAC GF -3 specifications, but even
then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W -40, SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40.
However, dur ing the entire time between oi l change intervals, never
top off w ith more than a total of 0.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not
confo rm to Audi oil specificat ion VW 502 00. For more information about engine oil that has been approved for
your vehicle, p lease con tac t ei the r your authorized Audi dea ler or
Aud i Customer Relations at 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
www .audiusa .com or www .audicanada.ca. Here you will a lso find a
current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.l that conform
to Audi oi l standard VW 502 00 .
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mi leage (k ilometers) and time intervals specified in your vehic le's
Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -
harmfu l deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expens ive eng ine repairs.
Changing the oil at the recommended interva ls is so very important
because the lub ricating properties of oi l decrease gradua lly during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask you r authorized Audi Service Advisor .
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oi l mo re often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas o r mostly under stop­
and -go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for long per iods.
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oi l look dark after the
engine has been running for a sho rt time. Th is is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended.
D amag e or malfun ctions due to la ck of mai nten ance
It is essential that you change your oi l at the recommended interva ls
using on ly engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle War ranty does not cover
damage or malfunctions due to failure to fol low recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Maintenance
& Warranty booklet . Your dealer wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a timely manner. •
Vehicle care I t •

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Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle de pen ds on an ade quate
amount of oil to lubric ate and co ol all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of interna l
engine components, al l internal co mbustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change sign ificant ly over the life of the engine . Typ ical ly,
engines with a specified break -in period (see=>
page 192) consume
more oil duri ng the brea k-in period than they consume afte r oil
consumption has stabi liz ed.
Unde r no rmal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of t he oil, the RPM ( revo lutions per m inute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
co nd itions. Further factors are the amount of oi l dilut io n from water
condensation or fue l residue and the oxidation leve l of the oil. As
any e ng ine is subject to wear as mil eage builds up, the o il consump ­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these var iables com ing into p lay, no standard rate of oil
consu mption can be es tab lished or speci fied. There is no a lternative
t o regular and frequent checking of the oi l leve l, see Note.
If the yellow engine oi l level warning symbol in the instrumen t
cluster _ lights up, y ou should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick=> page 224. Top off the oil at your
ea rlies t conve nience =>
page 225.
ln. WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , alway s
re ad and heed all WARNINGS =>
& in "Working in the engine
c ompartment" on
page 220.
0 Note
D riving with an insufficient o il level is lik ely to cause seve re damage
to the engine .
[ i ] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display 't!:r. is not an indicator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead , check the oil level in your engine at
regular intervals , preferab ly ea ch time you refuel , and alw ays before
going on a long trip.
• I f you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
a m oun ts o f oi l, we recommend tha t you consu lt your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the acc urate measure ment o f oil co nsum ptio n requires grea t
care and may take some time . Your Audi dea ler has instructions
about how to measu re oil consump tion accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Fig . 151 Illust rat ion of
principle 1 : Marker s on
oil dip stic k
~

Checking and filling -
------------- --------=----" =---------
M ....
9
i
Fig. 152 Illustration of
principle 2: Markers on
oil dipstick
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 220.
Determining oil level
- Park your vehicle so that it is horizontally level.
- Wh ile at operating state temperature, briefly let the
engine run at idle and then shut it off .
- Wait approx. two minutes.
- Pull out the oil dipstick. Wipe off the oil dipstick with a
clean cloth, and slide it back in as far as it will go.
Pull it back out and read off the oil level
~ page 224,
fig. 151 or~ fig. 152. Top off the engine oil, if applicable
~ page 225.
Oil level within range @
- Do not add oil.
Oil level within range @
- You can add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be within
range @.
Oil level within range ©
-You must add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be
within range@.
The oil level needs to be checked at regular intervals . The best times
to do this are whenever you refuel and prior to long trips. •
Adding engin e oil ~
Fig . 153 Engine
compartment : Oil filler
cap location
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment " on
page 220.
- Unscrew the cap "l=:7': to the engine oil filling hole
~ fig. 153.
- Carefully top off with the appropriate oil in 0.5 liter doses.
- Check the oil level again after two minutes ~
page 224.
-Top off the oil again, if necessary.
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil dipstick in as far as it will go . .,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

llffll,.___C_ h_e _c_ k_ i_ n ...:::g::;...._ a_ n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g=- --------------------------------------------
& WARNING
• While topp ing off , the oil mu st not come in c ont act with hot
engine part s -fire h azard!
• The oil filler cap mu st be p rope rly se cured to prevent o il from
be ing spra yed on the hot engine and exhau st sy stem when the
engine is running -fire ha zard!
• If your skin has come in conta ct w ith the engine oil , you mu st
su bse quentl y cleanse it th oroughly .
0 Note
• The oil level must not be above range @-danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authorized dealership to draw off oi l, i f
necessary .
• Audi does not recommend the use of o il additives. They ma y
damage the engi ne and adver sel y affe ct yo ur Ne w Vehi cle W arra nty.
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in contact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and fol low legal regulations when disposing of empty
o il containers .•
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service s tation.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, alway s read
and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in the engine compart ­
ment" on
page 220.
The engine oil must be changed according to the intervals specified in your Maintenance
& Warranty book let. This is very important because the lubricating properties of oil diminish gradually during
n
ormal vehicle use .
Under some circumstances the engine oil should be changed more
frequently. Change oil more often if you drive most ly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or unde r predomi­
nant ly stop -and -go traffic conditions, or have your vehic le where
t emperatures remain below freezing for extended per iods .
Detergent additives in the oi l wi ll make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short time . This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oi l more often than recommended.
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the special
t ools and necessary expertise required, we strong ly recommend
that you have your oil changed by an authorized
Aud i de aler or a
qualified serv ice stat ion.
If you choo se to change your oil your self , please note the fo llowing
i m portan t information:
& WARNING
To reduce the ri sk of personal injury if you m ust change th e engine
oil in y our v eh ic le you rself:
• Wear eye protection.
• To reduce the risk of burns from hot engine oil , let the engine
cool down to the touch.
• Wh en removing the oil dra in plug with your fingers , st ay as far
away as possible . Al way s keep your fore arm p ara llel to the ground
to help pre vent hot oil from running down your arm.
• Drain the oil into a contain er de signed for thi s purpo se , o ne
large enough to hold at lea st the total amount of oil in your engine .
• Engine oil is pois onou s. Keep it well o ut of the reach of children .
• Con tinuou s contact with used engine oil i s harmful to your
s kin. Al ways pr ote ct your s kin b y was hing oil off th oroughl y with
s oap and w ater . .,_