2010 AUDI Q7 brakes

Intelligent technology
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& WA RNING (conti nu ed )
• Plea se be aware th at in ESP offroad mode , particularly on a
s mooth and slippery road, the wheels may have an incr eased
tendency to spin and the vehicle may break awa y -danger of skid ­
ding!
• Stabilit y is limited in the ESP offroad mode. •
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The electronic differential lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
General notes
The electronic differe ntia l lock (EDL) helps the ca r to sta rt moving,
acce lerate and climb a gradient on surfaces provi ding poor or almost
no grip. W ithout ED L, th is would be d iff ic ul t, if not impossible .
How the system works
The EDL operates automatically . It mo nitors the rotational speed of
w heels wi th the help of the ABS sensors ==>
page 256 . If a not iceab le
slip is detected at the wheels (e .g . o n slippery g round on one side),
the spin ning whee ls are braked and power is transferred to the other
wheels. This is done up to a speed of about 60 mph ( 100 km/h) .
Noises from the brake system signa l that wheel spin is being
cont rolled.
Driv ing off
W hen d rivi ng off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you acce lerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface with
less grip, apply
plenty of th rottle until t he car starts to move .
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc b rake of the bra ked wheel from overhea ting if
subjected to excessive loads on this whee l, t he EDL cuts out tempo ­
ra rily. The vehicle rema ins operat iona l and behaves in the same way
as a veh icle without EDL. As soon as the brake has coo
led down, EDL sw itches on again auto­
m atically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accele rator pedal. Even
with the EDL working , the drive wheels c an spin and reduce your
ability to control your car . Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks . Always adapt your d riv ing style to the road
c ondition s and traffic situation.
[ i ] Tips
If a fa ult occurs in the A BS, the ED L is also no t fu nct io ni ng. This is
ind icated by the ABS warn ing light==>
page 19. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti- S lip Re gula tion System preven ts the drive n
w heels from spinning when the car is acc ele rating .
General notes
The Anti-S lip Reg ulation Sys tem (ASR) is in tegr ated in the ele ctroni c
stabilization program (ESP) . When the ve hicle starts up and acceler­
a tes, the whee ls are p reven ted from sp inning by adjust ing t he engine
power to match the amoun t of grip ava ilable from the road surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatica lly, i.e. witho ut the driver 's intervent ion.
With the aid o f th e ABS sensors ==>
page 256, ASR moni to rs the speed
of the driven wheels. If the whee ls start to spin, engine torque is
reduced automatically unt il the tires find enough grip to lock onto
the road s urface. The system is active ac ross the en tire speed range .
'1>

Intelligent technology
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The ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR w ill also be out of action.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four whee ls must be fitted
with ident ical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when th is is not desired.
See also=>
page 326, "New tires and replacing tires and whee ls" .•
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending large ly on operating conditions and driving habits=>& .
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop -and -go city traffic or
are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your authorized
Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Warranty & Mainte­
nance booklet.
Failure to have your brake pads inspected can result
in reduced brake pe rformance .
On steep slopes, you should use the brak ing effect of the engine . This
way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you must
use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously. Pump the
brakes at intervals.
Noises may occur when braking depending on the speed , braking
force and outside conditions such as temperature and humidity.
Safety first
Moisture or road salt
If you are driving faster than 31 mph (SO km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads wi ll briefly touch the brake discs in
regular interva ls so as to improve reaction time when braking on wet
surfaces . You, the driver, will not not ice anything.
Under certain cond itions, for example, when driving through wa ter or
very heavy rain, or even after washing yo ur vehicle , the braking effect
can be reduced due to moisture (or in free zing conditions ice) on the
brake pads. A few careful brake applications should dry off the brake
pads or remove any ice coatings .
The effect iveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
dr iven on a sa lt-covered road and the brakes are not used. Here too,
you should clean off accumu lated salt coating from brake discs and
pads with a few careful applications of the brake=> & -
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up o n the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the dis cs if the car is no t driven regularly or only
for short trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high speed=> &.
Faults in the brake system
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then one
o f the two brake circuits may have failed==>& .
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
too low. The brake fluid level is monitored e lectron ically .
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi­
tion of the brake pads through the openings in the wheel. If neces­
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection =>
page 339,
"Changing a wheel". ._.
Vehicle care Technical data

lillill.a._...:I:..: n~ t .::.e::::..::.: ll~igent technology ,_ _______________________________________ _
in. WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road condition s permit. Other
road u sers must not b e put at r isk - you may cau se an ac cident!
• Before d esc ending a steep gr ade , redu ce speed and shift t ran s­
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range. Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
c ause the brake s to get hot and diminish braking efficiency.
• Do not "ride the brakes " by re sting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. Thi s may caus e the brakes to overheat ,
premature wear and increa sed stopping di stance.
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
pas sing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle, the effectiveness of the brake s can be reduced . In winter,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings , disc s and drums .
Carefully apply brakes for a test. Brake s will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few careful brake applications.
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -cov ered roads
without using your brakes can al so affect braking efficiency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake d iscs and pads with a few
careful brake applications.
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
s poiler , be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective­
ness of the entire brake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qualified wo rkshop. •
Brake booster
The brake booster adds e xtra brakin g pow er .
The brake booster wor ks with vacuum pressure which is created on ly
w hen the en gine is ru nning =>& .
in. WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off .
• If the brake booster i s not working , for example when towing
your vehicle , or because the brake booster has somehow been
damaged , the b rake pedal must be p ressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistan ce.
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS)
AB S prevents the wheels from locking up under br aking.
T he ABS co ntribu tes effectively to vehicle co ntrol s ince it prevents t he
w hee ls from
locking when the b rakes are a pplied. This means t hat t he
veh icle rema ins steerable and is less likely to s kid .
W ith ABS you do not need to
pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down .
However, do not expect the ABS to shorten braking distance u nder
all
circums tances. When driving on grave l or on newly fa llen snow on top
of icy su rfaces, braking dis tance may be even longer, therefore, under
these c irc umstances, it is especially important that you dr ive slowly
and w it h great care .
How the ABS system works
An automatic check is made when a speed of about 12 mph (20 km/h)
is reached . When this happens, a p umping noise can be hea rd. ._

_________________________________________ I_ n_ t_ e_ ll_,igent technology ,__E~-
If an individual wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to vehicle
speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatically reduces brake pres­
sure to prevent that wheel from locking .
Thi s automatic adjustment process wi ll cause a
slight vibration of
the brake pedal and some noises to alert you that vehicle speed must
be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions.
_& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction. Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risks.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics .
(I) Tips
• If ABS is not funct ioning properly, a warning light will come on .
See ~
page 19.
• If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
ind icat ed by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power and
thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance.
If the driver presses the
brake peda l very qu ickly , the brake assistant automatically boosts the
braking force to the maximum level, up to the point where the anti­
lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the whee ls from locking.
You should then keep the brake pedal pressed until the vehicle has
braked to the required speed. The brake assistant switches itself off
as soon as you release the brake pedal.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Automatic full braking
assist
This function allows full braking in spite of high brake pedal forces
(e .g . when the brakes are severely stressed because the veh icle is fully
loaded). The driver notices this function through a reduction of pedal
force and increased pedal travel. When the brake pedal is released,
full braking assist switches off again automatically.
If there is an ABS failure, the brak e assistant and automatic full
braking assist are not available.
Th e brake assistant will not be operative if there is a ma lfunction in
the ABS .
_& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast, especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely. Increased risk of an
accident cannot be compensated for even by the brake assistant ,
so always maintain a safe speed.•
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort.
The advanced Servotronic ® power steering system senses the road
speed and electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortable and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed .
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result , the
steering wheel will be hard to turn .
Th e power steering fluid level is checked during the scheduled main­
tenance services.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a f ull braki ng
e ff e ct during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are i nsta lle d.
New bra ke pads have to be "b urnished in" before they have opt ima l
grab=> &.
Dur ing the break -in period, you sho uld avoid putting severe loads on
the brakes. Severe loads incl ude, for example, sudden hard braki ng,
in particu lar at very high s peeds or, for examp le, on mountai n passes.
& WARNING
New brake pads don 't have the be st stopping power and must be
" broken -in " during the initial 100 to 150 miles (150 to 200 kilo­
meters ) of normal cit y driving. You can compensate for thi s by
pressing th e brak e pedal more firmly. This also applies lat er wh en
new pad s are installed. n
Appli es to ve hicles : w it h g aso line eng ine
Catalytic converter
--
I t is very important th at your emission control system
(ca talytic co n verter) i s func tioning properly to e nsure
that you r vehicle is running in an environmentally sou nd
manner.
- Always us e lead-fr ee gasoli ne ~ page 287, "Gaso line" .
- Never run the tan k down a ll the way to empty.
- Never put too m uch motor oil in your engine~
page 302,
"Add ing e ngi ne o il "t::r.11
•
-Nev er try to p ush- or tow-sta rt yo ur veh icle.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean- up" device b uilt into the
exha ust sys te m of the ve hicle. The cat alytic converte r burns many of
t he polluta nts in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphe re.
Th e e xcl usive use of unleaded fuel is cr itic ally important for the life of
the catalytic converte r and proper f unction ing of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot
exhaust system may come in contact with dry grass, brush, fuel
spill or other material which can cause a fire .
• Do not apply additional undercoating or rustproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold , exhaust pipes, catalytic conve rter or
heat shields. During driving, the substance used for undercoating
could overheat and cause a fire .
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank fi lling wit h leaded fu el wi ll alrea dy
ser iou sly degrade the performan ce of the ca talyt ic co nve rter.
• Do not excee d the correct engine oil leve l=>
page 302 .
• Do not dr ive unti l the f uel tank becomes complete ly empty. The
eng ine could misfire . Unburned fuel could a lso get into the exha ust
system and th is could cause the catalytic converter to overheat.
• Do not t urn o ff the igni tion whi le the ve hicl e is moving.
• Do not contin ue to operate your vehicle under these conditions, as
o therwi se fuel c an reach the cat alytic c onve rter. Th is cou ld resu lt in
over heating of t he converte r, requir ing its rep lacement.
• T o ass ure eff ic ient opera tion of the Emi ssion C ontro l Sy stem:
- Have your vehicle maintaine d properly and in accordance with
t h e se rvice recommenda tions in your Warranty
& M ain tenance
booklet. •

Driving and environment
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- Lack of proper maintena nce as well as improper use of the
vehicle w ill imp air t he funct io n of t he emission con trol system and
could lead to damage.
<£> For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emiss ion Contro l System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a sulfur-like exhaust gas sme ll under some
operat ing states. This depends on the s ulfur content of the fue l being
used. Using a differe nt brand of fuel may help, or filling the tank with
lead-free supe r grade gasoline. •
Applies to vehicles: w ith diesel eng ine
Diesel particulate filter
The d iese l part iculate filter fi lters nearly all of the soot particles out
of the exhaus t. T he filte r cleans i tself automa ticall y unde r no rm al
driving con dit io ns. If the f ilter cannot clea n itself (for example,
because yo u are on ly driving short dis tances), the f ilter becomes
clogged w it h soot and the symbo l for the diesel particulate fi lter
illuminates ~
page 35.
& WARNING
• Do not park your vehicle over flammable materials such as
grass or leaves because the high temperature of the diese l partic ­
ulate filter could start a fire .
• Do not apply an underbody protectant in the exhaust system
area or a fire could start .•
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Avoid damaging the vehicle
Whe
n you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps, etc.,
m ake ce rtain that low-lying p art s s uch as spoilers and e xhaust system
parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
Thi s is espec ia lly t rue for vehicles with low-s lung chassis (sports
chass is) * and f ully loaded vehicles. •
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Your personal style of driving will det ermine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, env ironmenta l im pact , and wea r on your e ng ine,
brakes and tires largely depend on t hree factors:
• your person al driv in g style
• operating conditions
• techni cal lim itations
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economically,
you can e asily cut you r fu el consum ptio n by 10- 15 pe rcen t. T his
sect io n w ill give you some tips on how you can help the environment
and yo ur po cketbook.
rn Tips
Th e consumption est ima tes as published by E NVIRO NMEN TAL
PROT ECTION AGENCY ( EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre­
spond to your act ual consumption on the roa d, which will vary
depend ing upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather co ndit ions,
trip length, etc.•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information Your Audi was design ed primarily for passenger transpor ­
tation .
If you plan to tow a t rai ler, p lease rem emb er that the add itiona l load
wi ll affect durab ility, economy and performance.
T railer tow ing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it a lso calls
for more concentrat ion from the driver.
For this reason, a lways follow the ope rating and dr iv ing instr uctions
prov ided and use common sense .
(D Note
If you are going to tow a t ra iler , you must ac tivate the tra ile r ope ra­
tion mode ::::;,
page 180, "Towing a trailer". •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we igh t-car rying hit ch confo rm ing to the g ross tra ile r weig ht.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and tra iler and must be
mou nted secure ly o n th e veh icle's chassis a t a
te chnically sound loca­
tion. Use only a trailer hitch with a removab le ba ll mount. Always
check w ith the tra iler h itch manufacturer to ma ke sure tha t you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hitch .
The hitch must be i nstalled in such a way t hat i t does not interfe re
w ith the impact-absorbing bumper system. No mod ificat ions should
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
be made to the vehicle exhaust and b
rake systems. From time to
time, check that all hitc h mounting bo lts rema in securely fastened.
Whe n you are no t towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hi tch ba ll
mount. This prevents the hitch from caus ing damage should your
vehicle be s truck from behind::::;,& .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer i s eq uipped w ith a b raking system, che ck to be s ure that
it conforms to all regulat ions.
T he tra iler hyd raulic brake system must not be directly connected to
the vehi cle's hydraul ic brake system ::::;, & .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains betwee n your vehicle and t he tra iler .
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulat ions. Be sure to check w ith your
au thor ized A udi deale r for co rrect wi ring, switc hes, and re lays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see the traff ic beh ind you us ing t he regular
outside m irro rs, then you
must install extended mirro rs. It is impor­
t an t th at yo u
always have cle ar vision to the re a r.
& WARNING
• If a trailer has electrical brakes please note that these brakes
are not activated by the factory-fitted control unit -ri sk of acci ·
dent!
• Afte r removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle .
In case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure
you or your passengers .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

pressure label is located o n the dr iver's side B-pillar. Inflate trailer
t ires to tra ile r and t ire ma nufacturers' spec ifications.
Lights
T he headl ight settings shou ld be chec ked with the tr ailer attached
before driving off. Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are wo rking properly.
Safety chains
Be sure tra ile r safety cha ins are p roperly connected from the t rai ler
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to perm it
tu rning corners . When you install sa fe ty ch ains, ma ke sure they will
not drag on the road when you are driving.
T he chains should cross under the trai ler tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the h itch .
0 Note
If you are goi ng to tow a trai ler , you must activate the trai ler opera­
tion mode =>
page 180, "Towing a trailer". •
Driving instructior,s
Driving with a trailer always requires e xtra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possib le handling of ve hicle a nd trailer ,
please note the following :
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especia lly careful when pass ing other vehicles .
- Observe speed limi ts.
- Do not drive at the maximum pe rmissible speed.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
- Always apply brakes early.
- Mo
nitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distri but ion
T owing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly unstable
distribution of we ight . If t his cannot be avoided , drive at very low
speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that the
tow veh icle shou ld be loaded to the extent poss ible and permissib le,
wh ile keeping the tra ile r as lig ht as poss ible unde r the ci rc u mstances.
Whe never possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage compart ­
me nt o f the tow vehicle while observing tongue load requirements
and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more d ifficult it becomes for the driver to
control the r ig . Do not dr ive at the maxim um permiss ible speed .
Reduce your speed eve n more if load, weather or w ind conditions are
unfavorable -particular ly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immed iately if the tra ile r shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not tr y to stop the s wayi ng by a ccele rating .
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for veh icles towing
trailers are lowe r than for regular veh icles .
Always apply brakes early. When driving downhi ll, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine brak ing effect to slow t he ve hicle . Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fa il.
Coolant temperatur e
The coo lant temperature gauge=> page 10 must be observed care­
fu lly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the sca le, reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coo lant temperature warning light in the instrument clus ter
starts flash ing
- F- , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent hea t buil d-up.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data