Automatic control system (Audi 80 B3)

Table of contents: Checking the system's readiness for… ↓ Brake system failure ↓ Oil pressure ↓ Coolant temperature/level ↓ Low beam or reverse lamp failure ↓

The system automatically monitors the functioning of various vehicle systems, provides warning acoustic and optical signals about their condition and the necessary types of repair and maintenance work.

In this way, it identifies faults, warns about them and thus helps to prevent serious consequences.

The system monitors operation constantly, not just after the ignition is turned on.

If a red flashing symbol of some function appears and a three-time sound signal is heard, this is a warning of danger. It is necessary to stop the machine immediately, find and eliminate the defect, if necessary, contact specialists.

Symbols with a yellow background and a single sound signal are of a warning nature and mean that the indicated System Function requires immediate technical inspection.

If any malfunction is detected after the ignition is turned on or while driving, the warning symbol for this function will remain lit until the defect is corrected.

If the computer detects several dangerous faults at once, the display will show the symbol of the fault that was detected first. After it is fixed, the next symbol will be displayed, etc.

Symbolic signs of defects of a warning nature are displayed one after another with an interval of about 1 second.

Checking the system's readiness for operation

Self-diagnosis mode

After turning on the ignition, with the engine off or in motion, but at a speed of no more than 5 km/h - briefly press the button indicated by the arrow in the figure - the control lamps will light up one after another on the display "Auto-Check-System".

The same button controls the intensity of the instrument panel backlight. The first inscription displayed is "BREMSLICHT" (Stop signal), which goes out immediately after pressing the brake pedal. On some modifications, the display shows the symbol instead of this inscription -

.

If there are no faults in the vehicle systems being tested, the display will show "OK" (Everything is fine).

If the word "BREMSLICHT" "Stop light" remains on the screen and is not removed. This means that you need to check:

brake light bulbs,
fuses,
brake light switches,
the wiring of this circuit.

And - the wiring of this circuit. If after pressing the brake pedal the inscription "BREMSLICHT" disappears, and instead of it the word "OK" or a symbol of a defect of some function does not appear - it is necessary to check the serviceability of the automatic control system itself.

If defects are detected, an acoustic signal will sound and one of the following symbols will be displayed on the screen:

Brake system failure

This warning light comes on when the brake fluid level is critically low.

If, in addition, there is an unusual free play of the brake pedal, it is possible that one of the brake circuits has failed.

In this case, you can carefully continue driving under your own power to the nearest service station, taking into account the need for additional physical effort on the brake pedal and the factor of increasing the braking distance of the car.

Oil pressure

When this symbol appears, stop the car immediately, turn off the engine, check the engine oil level, and top up if necessary.

If the symbol does not go out after this, you cannot continue driving. The engine should not even idle. The help of specialists is required.

Note: Remember that this is an oil pressure symbol, not an oil level symbol.

Coolant temperature/level

If this symbol is displayed on the screen while driving, it means one of two things:

coolant temperature too high,
the coolant level is critically low.

Stop immediately, turn off the engine and check the coolant level.

Warning: Do not touch the electric fan! It may turn on spontaneously at any time, even when the ignition is off.

If the symbol continues to glow and the coolant level is normal, you cannot continue driving. You need the help of specialists.

If the suspected cause of the malfunction is in the fan, and the coolant level is normal and the temperature control lamp has gone out, you can continue driving to the nearest service station under your own power. However, since the radiator requires air flow to cool, you should drive quickly and avoid idling the engine.