Driving
122a fault in the parking brake. Have the fault repaired by a qualified
workshop without delay ⇒page 31 .
Note
•
The parking brake can be applied at any time - even when the
ignition is switched off. However, the ignition must be switched on
before the parking brake can be released.
•
Any slight noise which may be heard when the parking brake is
applied or released is quite normal and no cause for concern.
•
The parking brake runs an automatic test cycle at regular inter-
vals when the vehicle is parked. This may also cause a slight noise,
which is normal.
Parking
Please note the following points to ensure there is no risk
of the car rolling away accidentally after it is parked.Parking t he c ar
– Use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.
– Pull the switch to apply the parking brake.
– Automatic gearbox: Move the selector lever to P.
– Switch off the engine ⇒ .
– Manual gearbox: Engage the first gear.
When parking on slopes
– Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle would roll into
the kerb if it did start to move accidentally.
WARNING
•
Always take the key with you when leaving the vehicle – even
if you only intend to be gone for a short time. This is especially
important if children are left in the car. They might otherwise be
able to start the engine, releas e the parking brake or use power-
operated equipment such as the elec tric windows - this could lead
to injuries.
•
Do not leave anyone (especially chi ldren) in the vehicle when it
is locked. Locked doors could delay assistance in an emergency,
potentially putting lives at risk.
Driving away from a standstill
The parking brake auto release function releases the
parking brake automatically when you wish to start
moving.Applying the parking brake when stopping
– Pull the switch to apply the parking brake.
Releasing the parking brake when driving away
– Drive off in the normal way: the parking brake will be released automatically and the vehicle will start moving.On vehicles with automatic gearbox, you can apply the parking
brake when stopping at traffic lights, etc. Then you do not have to
hold the car with the footbrake, as the parking brake will stop it
creeping forward while a gear is engaged in the automatic transmis-
sion. When you drive off in the normal way, the parking brake will be
released automatically and the vehicle will start moving.
Driving away on a slope
When driving away on a gradient, the parking brake auto release
function prevents the vehicle from rolling back unintentionally. The
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Driving123
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
braking force of the parking brake is only released when there is
enough power at the wheels to make the vehicle move in the desired
direction.
Note
For safety reasons the parking brake will only release automatically
if the driver's seat belt
is engaged in its buckle.Driving away when towing a trailer
Please note the following po ints to prevent the vehicle
from rolling back unintentionally on a gradient.– Pull and hold the parking brake switch and press the
accelerator. The parking brake will remain engaged and
prevent any tendency to roll back down the slope.
– You can release the parking brake switch as soon as the engine is delivering enough power to the wheels.Depending on the weight of the vehicle and trailer and the steep-
ness of the slope, there may be a tendency to roll back downhill
when driving away from a standstill. You can prevent this by pulling
out the parking brake switch as you press the accelerator (in the
same way as with a conventional handbrake).Emergency braking function
This feature enables you to stop the vehicle if the main
brake system should fail or if the pedal is obstructed.– Pull out and hold the parkin g brake switch to stop the
vehicle with the parking brake in an emergency.
– The brakes will be released immediately if you release the switch or press down the accelerator.
If you pull out and hold the park ing brake switch at a road speed
above about 8 km/h, this will initiate an emergency brake applica-
tion. The brakes are then applied hy draulically at all four wheels.
The effect is the same as an emergency stop (full brake application)
⇒
To prevent the emergency braking function from being used acci-
dentally, a warning buzzer sounds when the switch is operated. The
brakes are released immediately when you release the switch or
press down the accelerator.
WARNING
You should only use the emergency braking function in a real
emergency, for example if the brake system should fail or if the
brake pedal is obstructed. If you use the emergency braking func-
tion by activating the parking brak e switch, the effect is similar to
a full brake application (emergenc y stop). Please remember that
the ESP (with its combined ABS, EDL and traction control func-
tions) is still subject to certain physical limits. In a corner or in bad
road or weather conditions an emergency stop can cause the
vehicle to skid or lose steering control.Driver messages in the instrument cluster displayCaution: Vehicle parked too steep
This message can appear when you apply the parking brake if the
car is parked on a gradient steeper than about 30%.
In this case the parking brake may not be strong enough to prevent
the vehicle from rolling back accidentally.
Please release parking brake
However, please remember that, for safety reasons, the parking
brake will only release automatically if the driver's seat belt is
buckled.
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Automatic gearbox131
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– To prevent the vehicle from rolling away, apply the
parking brake before moving off on steep gradients
⇒ .
– As soon as you accelerate as normal, the parking brake will automatically be released and the vehicle will start
moving.
Pa rking the c ar
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒.
– Apply the parking brake.
– Press and hold the interlock button, move the selector lever to P and release the interlock button.Your vehicle is equipped with the hill hold assist function which
makes it easier to drive away on a slope. The system is activated
when you press and hold the brake pedal for a few seconds. When
you release the brake pedal the braking force will be maintained for
a moment in order to prevent the vehicle rolling back when you drive
away.
The engine c an only be started when the selector lever is at P or N.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selector lever to P. On a
gradient the parking brake should be applied first and the selector
lever should be moved to P. This reduces the load on the locking
mechanism and makes it easier to move the selector lever out of
position P.
WARNING
•
Do not press the accelerator while selecting a gear with the
vehicle stationary and the engine running, as this could cause an
accident.
•
Please note that some power will still be transmitted when you
stop temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S or R. For this reason, to avoid ri
sking an accident, appl y the footbrake firmly
when stopping to prevent the vehicle rolling away.
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this
could cause an accident.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Selector lever positions
This section covers all the selector lever positions.The current selector lever position is shown in the instrument
cluster display.
P - Parking lock
This locks the driving wheels mechanically. The parking lock must
only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒.
The interlock button (the button in the selector lever handle) must
be pressed in and the brake pedal must be depressed before
moving the selector lever either in or out of position P. The lever can
only be moved out of position P when the ignition is on.
R - Reverse gear
When reverse gear is engaged the gearbox automatically selects the
lowest gear ratio.
Fig. 145 Display:
Selector lever posi-
tions
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Automatic gearbox133
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Self-help
Technical data
– Press the brake pedal and at the same time press in the
interlock button.Automatic selector lever lock
The selector lever is locked in the P and N positions when the igni-
tion is on. The brake pedal must be depressed before the lever can
be moved out of either of these positions. The following message
appears in the instrument display as a reminder for the driver when
the selector lever is in position P or N:
WHEN STATIONARY APPLY FOOTBRAKE WHILE SELECTING GEAR.
The selector lever lock only works if the vehicle is stationary or
driving at speeds up to 5 km/h. At higher speeds the selector lever
lock in the N position is disengaged automatically.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved
quickly through position N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This
makes it possible, for instance, to “rock” the vehicle backwards and
forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The selector lever lock
engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed and the
lever is in position N for more than about a second.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever handle prevents the driver
from inadvertently engaging particul ar gears. Press the button in to
disengage the selector lever lock. Th e illustration shows the selector
lever positions in which the button has to be pressed, highlighted in
colour ⇒page 132, fig. 146.
Safety interlock for ignition key
The key can only be withdrawn with the ignition switched off and
the selector lever in position P. When the ignition key is removed,
the selector lever is locked in position P.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature is designed to give maximum
acceleration.When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of
resistance at full throttle, the gearbox will select a lower gear,
depending on road speed and engine speed. While you keep the
accelerator depressed the engine speed is automatically controlled
to give your vehicle maximum acceleration.
WARNING
Please note that if the road surf ace is slippery or wet, the kick-
down feature could cause the driv ing wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding.Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Dynamic gear control program (DCP)
The multitronic
® gearbox is controlled electronically.
The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled gearbox.
The gear ratios are selected automatically according to preset gear-
shift programmes.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox will select the most
economical shift programme. It will then change up early and delay
the downshifts to give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy acceleration, if you open the
throttle quickly, or if you use the kick-down or the car's maximum
speed, the gearbox will automaticall y select the more “sporty” shift
programmes.
The gearbox is self-adapting, and continuously selects the most
suitable shift programme. At the same time, the driver can also
make the gearbox switch to a more "sporty" programme by pressing
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Automatic gearbox135
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
When the vehicle slows down (for
instance when braking), the
gearbox automatically shifts down into the next gear when the
minimum engine speed is reached.
Changing down to a lower gear increases the engine braking effect
on downhill gradients.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of
resistance at full throttle, the ge arbox will select a lower gear,
depending on road speed and engine speed.
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic®Back-up programme
A back-up system is in place should a fault occur in the
control system.The automatic gearbox switches to the back-up programme if a fault
should occur in the control system. This is indicated by all segments
of the display panel either lighti ng up together or going out
completely.
It is still possible to move the selector lever to all positions. The
manual shift programme (tiptronic) is not available when the back-
up programme is active.
It will still be possible to use reverse gear in the normal way.
However, the electronic lock for reverse gear will be switched off.
Caution
Should the gearbox ever switch into the back-up programme, you
should take the vehicle to an Audi dealer or qualified workshop as
soon as possible.
Applies to vehicles: Tiptronic controls on steering wheelSteering wheel with tiptronic controls
The paddle levers on the steering wheel enable the driver
to manually select seven pre-programmed ratios (gears).– Briefly pull the left-hand paddle lever to change down to a lower gear.
– Briefly pull the right-hand paddle lever to change up to a higher gear.The paddle levers are activated when the selector lever is in position
D or S, or the position for the manual shift programme (tiptronic).
The manual shift programme can, of course, still be operated using
the selector lever in the centre console.
Fig. 149 Steering
wheel: tiptronic
switchesA…A+
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Audi parking system147
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Press the control button for Mode ⇒page 145,
fig. 161. “Parking mode 2” ⇒fig. 162 will appear in the
MMI display.
– Reverse and align the position of your vehicle in such a
way that the dark blue area marking ⇒fig. 162
borders onto the vehicle be hind or onto the parking
space line marking. If you are not parking next to obsta-
cles ⇒page 150 the long side of the dark blue marking
should border onto the kerb. The complete dark blue
area marking must fit into the parking space ⇒page 143,
fig. 157.
– When the vehicle is stationary turn the steering wheel to the right as far as it will go.
– Reverse into the parking space. If you are not parking
next to obstacles ⇒ page 150 the dark blue marking
should touch the kerb ⇒page 146, fig. 163. Stop your
vehicle.
– Turn the steering wheel to the left as far as it will go (vehicle is stationary).
– Continue to reverse into the parking space until the vehicle is standing parallel to the kerb. When reversing
you must also keep a close watch on the front end of the
vehicle ⇒.You can use “Parking mode 2” to park on the left or the right side of
the road. For this reason, the blue markings are shown in various
shades of blue. The dark blue ar ea marking and the dark blue
curve are used when parking on the right side of the road. The
light blue area marking and the light blue curve are used
when parking on the left side of the road. When the turn signals are on, the
display will only show the mark-
ings for the relevant side. To change the display to the other side,
just switch on the opposite turn signals.
The light blue and dark blue cu r v e s s h o w y o u w h e n t o t u r n t h e
steering wheel in the other direction, i.e. when the curve touches
the kerb. ⇒page 146, fig. 163.
The distance from your rear bumper to the red line is approx.
40 cm. From here at the latest, th e driver should not reverse any
further ⇒page 151 .
WARNING
Please note that objects which are not touching the ground may
appear to be further away than th ey actually are (e.g. the bumper
of a parked vehicle, a towing bracke t or the rear end of a truck). In
this case you should not use the orientation lines for judging the
distance (accident risk).
Caution
The MMI display shows the path of the rear end of the vehicle if you
were to reverse using the current steering angle. NB: The front end
of the vehicle swings out further than the rear.
Note
To ensure that the reversing camera works properly, the lens of the
camera ⇒page 140, fig. 154 must be kept clean and free of snow
and ice. Please observe the additional notes on ⇒page 152 .Applies to vehicles: with parking system and towing bracketTo w i n g b r a c k e tOnce the electrical connector for the trailer socket is plugged in on
vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket the rear sensors for the
AAA2
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Safe driving
164Correct sitting positionsCorrect sitting position for driver
The correct driving position is important for safe and
fatigue-free driving.For your own safety, and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we re commend the following driving
position.
– Adjust the steering wheel so there is a distance of at least 25 cm between the steering wheel and your breastbone
⇒fig. 173. – Move the driver's seat forwards or backwards so that you
can press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals all the
way to the floor with your knees slightly bent ⇒.
– Make sure that you can comfortably reach the top of the steering wheel.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒fig. 174.
– Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your back remains in contact with the upholstery.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 170 .
– Keep both feet in the footwe ll so that you are in full
control of the vehicle at all times.
For detailed information on how to adjust the driver's seat, see
⇒ page 70, “Seats and storage”.
WARNING
•
A driver who is not sitting in the correct position or who is not
wearing a seat belt can be fatally injured if the airbag is triggered.
•
Adjust the driver's seat so there is a distance of at least 25 cm
between your breastbone and th e centre of the steering wheel
⇒ fig. 173.
•
While driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands
on the outside of the rim at about the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi-
tion. This reduces the risk of injury if the driver's airbag inflates.
•
Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or
with your hands inside the rim or on the steering wheel hub. This
could result in serious injuries to the arms, hands and head if the
driver's airbag inflates.
•
To reduce any risk of injury to the driver during a sudden brake
application or in an accident, neve r drive with the backrest tilted
Fig. 173 Minimum
distance between
driver and steering
wheelFig. 174 Correct head
restraint position for
the driver
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Seat belts
172The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively
simple:
Both the moving vehicle and the passengers possess energy, which
is known as “kinetic energy” ⇒ page 171, fig. 178. The amount of
“kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight
of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the greater
the weight, the more energy there is to be absorbed in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If
the speed doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic
energy increases by a factor of four. Because these passengers are
not restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy has
to be absorbed at the point of impact ⇒fig. 179. This would result
in serious or potentially fatal injury.
Even at urban speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on the
occupants in a collision can reach the equivalent of 1 ton (1000 kg)
or more. At greater speed these forces are even higher. A rule of
thumb: if the speed doubles, the forces increase by a factor of four.
Passengers who do not wear seat belts are not “attached” to the
vehicle. In a frontal collision they will continue to move forward at
the speed their car was travelling just before the impact.
What happens to passengers not wearing seat belts?
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk fatal injuries in the
event of an accident.In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers will be thrown forwards
and make violent contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, wind-
screen, etc ⇒ fig. 180. Passengers not wearing their belts risk being
thrown out of the car, resulting in potentially fatal injuries.
The common belief that occupants can brace their weight with their
hands in a minor collision is false. Even at low speeds the forces
acting on the body in a collision are so great that it is not possible
to hold yourself in the seat.
Fig. 179 The vehicle
crashes against the
wall
Fig. 180 A driver not
wearing a seat belt can
be thrown forwardsFig. 181 A rear
passenger not wearing
a seat belt can be
thrown forwards
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