2012 AUDI A7 sensor

Vision
Sun visors
( J
Fig. 38 Sun v isor
The sun visors for the driver and passenger
can be released from their brackets and
turned toward the doors
c::> fig. 38 @.
The mirror light switches on when the cover
over the vanity mirror @opens.
Sun shad e
Applies to vehicles: with s un shade
The sun shade is located on the luggage com­
partment shelf.
F ig. 3 9 Sun sh ade i n lowe red pos iti on
When the sun shade is in the lowered posi ­
tion, it is secured in the retainer @.
.. To raise @ the sun shade, remove it from
the retainer .
A WARNING
Do not use the sun shade to secure ca rgo .
The luggage compartment cover is not a
surface fo r stor ing objects. Objects placed
on the cover co uld end anger all vehicle oc­
c upants d uri ng sudden braking ma neuvers
or in a cras h. Clear vi
sion 45
Wiper and washer
system
Switching the windshield wipers on
Fi g. 40 W ind shield wiper leve r
Move the w indshie ld w iper lever to the co rre­
sponding position:
@ -Windshield wipers off
©-Rain sensor mode. The windsh ield wipers
switch on once the vehicle speed exceeds ap­
proximately 2 mph (4 km/h) and it is ra ining .
The hig her the rain sensor sensitivity is set
(sw itch @to th e right), the earlier the wind ­
shield wipe rs react to moisture on the w ind­
shield . Yo u can deactivate rain senso r mode in
the MMI, whi ch will then ac tivate inte rm ittent
mode. Se lect:
I CAR I fu nct io n but ton> Car sy s­
tems
contro l button > Driver a ssist > Rain
sensor > Off.
In inte rmittent mode, yo u can
adjust the interval time using the switch @.
@ -Slow w iping
@ -Fast wip ing
© -Single wipe . If you hold the lever in this
position longer, the wipers switch from slow
wip ing to fast w iping.
® -Clean the w indshie ld. The wipers wipe
one time after severa l seconds of driving to
remove water droplets. You can switch this
funct io n off by moving t he lever to pos itio n®
within 10 seconds after the afte rwipe . The af­
terwipe function is reactivated the next time
yo u s witch the igni tion on.
Cleaning the headlig hts . The head light wash ­
er system* only funct ions when the lights are
switched on. The headligh ts and the night
II>

46 Clear vis ion
vision system camera* are cleaned a utomati­
cally the first time the lever is press in posi ­
tion ® and every 8 times it is pressed after
that . They are also cleaned every time you
hold the lever in pos ition ® for longer than 8
seconds .
A WARNING
- The ra in sensor is only des igned to assist
and support the drive r. It remains entire­
ly the dr iver's respons ibility to monito r
o ut side weather conditions and to man­
ually activa te the wipers as soon as rain
or drizzle reduces visibility through the
windshield.
- The windshie ld m ust not be treated with
water -repe llent materials. They can in ­
c rease glare under poor visibi lity condi­
tions such as wetness, darkness, or when
the sun is low on the horizon. In addi­
t ion, they can cause the windshield wip­
ers to chatter .
- Proper ly functioning w indshie ld w iper
blades are required for a clear view and
safe dr iv ing
Q page 46, Replacing
windshield wiper blades .
([) Note
- In the case of frost, check whether the
winds hield wiper b lades are frozen to
the windshie ld. Switching on the wind­
shield wipers can damage the wiper
blades!
- Prior to using a car wash, the wi ndsh ield
wipe r system must be switched off (lever
i n position 0). This helps to preve nt unin­
tention al swi tching on and damage to
the windshie ld w iper system.
- Do no t use the wipe rs to cle ar a fros ted
window. Using the w ipers as a conven­
ient ice scraper will destroy the wiper
b lades .
(D Tips
- The w indshield wi pers are swi tched off
when the ignition is off . Activate the
windsh ield wipers after the ignition is
'
switched back on by moving the w ind ­
shield wiper lever to any position.
- Worn or d irty windshield wipe r blades
result in st reaking. This can affect the
rain sensor function . Check your wind­
shield wiper blades regularly.
- The washer fluid nozz les of the wind ­
shield washer system a re heated at low
tempe rat ures when the ignition is on .
- When stopping temporarily, e.g . at
a
traffic light, the set speed of the wind ­
shield wipers is automatically reduced by
one speed.
Replacing windshield wiper blades
Wiper blades in good condition help keep the
windshield clear .
Fig. 41 Re mov ing w in d sh iel d wipe r bl ades
Service position
... Switch the windshie ld w ipers off (position
@ Q page 45, fig . 40) .
.,. Switch t he ignit ion off and move t he wind ­
shie ld w iper lever to position@Q
page 45,
fig. 40.
Or
.,. Sele ct in the MMI: ICAR lfunction button>
Car sy stem s control button > Servicing
&
checks > Wiper service po sition > On . The
windsh ie ld wipers move in to the service po­
sition.
Removing the wiper blade
.,. Fold t he windsh ie ld w iper arm away from
t he wi ndshield .
.,. Press the locking knob
(D Q fig. 41 on the
wiper blade . Ho ld the wiper blade firmly . ..,.

Adaptive cruis e control an d bra kin g guard 79
Adaptive cruise control
and braking guard
Introduction
App lies to vehicles: with adaptive cruise co ntrol
The adaptive cruise control system assists the
driver by regulating vehicle speed and helping
to maintain a set distance to the vehicle
ahead, within the limits of the system. If the
system detects a moving veh icle up ahead,
adaptive cruise control can brake and then ac ­
celerate your vehicle . T his helps to make dr iv­
ing more comfortable both on long highway
stretches and in stop-and-go traffic.
Aud i brak ing guard can warn you about an im­
pending col lision w ith a vehicle up a head that
is slower or has s lowed down and start slow­
ing your vehicle down with the brakes
¢page 85.
Adaptive cruise control and Audi brak ing
guard have technica l limitations that you
must know, so p lease read this sect ion care­
fu lly, understand how the system works and
use them properly at all times.
General information
General information
Ap plies to vehicles: with adaptive cruise co ntrol
Fig. 81 Fr ont of th e ve hicle : sensors an d video camera
The areas that contain the radar and ultrason­
ic sensors and the video camera
¢ fig. 81
must never be covered by stickers, or other
things or coated with dirt, insects, snow or ice
that will interfe re with the adapt ive cru ise
control system and Audi braking guard . Re­
move snow with a hand brush and remove ice with a de-icing spray that does not contain
solvents.
T
he function of the Adaptive cruise cont ro l
system and A udi braking guard is limited un­
der some conditions.
- Objects can on ly be detected when they are
w ith in sensor range
¢page 81, fig. 84 .
-The system has a limited ability to detect
objects that are a shor t distance ahead,
off
to the side of your vehicle or moving into
your lane from the front or moves into your
lane from the side .
-When driving through curves
¢ page 80.
- Some kinds of veh icles are hard to detect;
for examp le motorcycles, veh icles with high
ground clearance or overhanging loads may
be detected when it is too late or they may
not be detected at a ll.
- Stationa ry objects
c::> page 80.
A WARNING
Improper use of the adaptive cruise con­
trol can cause collisions, other accidents
and serious personal injury.
- Never let the comfort and convenience
that adaptive cruise control and Audi brak ing guard offer distract you from the
need to be alert to traffic conditions and
the need to remain in full control of your
veh icle at a ll t imes,
- Always remember that the adaptive
cru ise cont rol and Aud i brak ing guard
have lim its -they will not s low the vehi­
cle down or maintain the set d istance
when yo u drive towards an obstacle or
someth ing on or near the road tha t is not
mov ing, such as vehicles stopped in a
traffic jam, a stalled or disabled vehicle.
If registered by the radar sensors, vehi­
cles or obstacles that are not moving can
trigger a collision warning and if con­
f irmed by the video camera, an acute col­
lision warning.
- Always remember that the adaptive
cru ise contro l cannot detect a vehicle
that is driving towards you in your traffic
-
lane and that it cannot detect narrow ..,.

80 Adaptive cruise control and braking guard
vehicles such as motorcycles and bicy­cles.
- The adaptive cruise control system can ­
not detect people, animals and cannot
detect objects or traffic that crosses your
lane of travel.
- Never drive at speeds that are too fast
for traffic, road and weather conditions.
- Never use adaptive cruise control when
you cannot drive safely at a steady speed, including on winding roads or
when road conditions are poor (for exam ­
ple, in construction sites, on ice, gravel,
in fog, heavy rain or on wet roads that in­
crease the risk of hydroplan ing).
- Never follow a veh icle so closely that you
cannot stop your vehicle safely. The
adaptive cruise control cannot slow or
brake the vehicle safely when you follow
another vehicle too closely . Always re­
member that the automatic braking
function cannot bring the vehicle to a sudden or emergency stop under these
conditions.
- Never rest your foot on the accelerator
pedal, especially when the adaptive
cruise control is being used. Pressure on
the accelerator will override the adaptive cruise control braking function and pre­
vent the brakes from being applied when adaptive cruise contro l detects a situa­
tion when the brakes must be applied.
- Never use adaptive cruise control when
the radar sensors cannot accurately de­
tect vehicles moving in traffic. The radar
sensor's vision can be reduced by heavy
rain, ice, snow, heavy road spray and re­
flections from guard rails, tunnel entran­
ces, etc. These and similar conditions can
prevent vehicles from being accurately
detected and in some cases they may not
be detected at all .
- Always turn off adaptive cruise control
when entering turn lanes, exit lanes and
construction zones or in similar situa­
tions because the vehicle will automati­ cally accelerate to the stored speed when
the road ahead is clear. -
To prevent unintended operation, always
switch ACC off when it is not being used.
(D Note
The sensors can be moved by impacts or
damage to the bumper, wheel housing and
underbody. Damage in these areas could
change the way the adaptive cruise control
system and Audi braking guard work to­
gether . Have your authorized Audi dealer
check to make sure that the adaptive
cruise control system is working properly if
your vehicle had a minor frontal impact or
was damaged in the area of the sensors.
In curves
Applies to vehicles: wi th adaptive cruise control
Fig. 82 Exampl e: dri ving into a curve
When driving into a curve c:::> fig. 82 and out of
a curve, the adaptive cruise control may react
to a vehicle in the next lane and apply the brakes. You can override or prevent the brak­
ing by pressing the accelerator pedal briefly.
Stationary objects
Applies to vehicles: with adaptive cruise control
Fig. 83 Exam ple: object changing la nes a nd stat io na ry
ob ject .,..

Adaptive cruise control and braking guard 85
@ Tips
- Distance 3
is set automatically each time
you switch the ignition on.
- Your standard settings are automatically
stored and assigned to the remote con­
trol key being used.
Audi braking guard
Descript ion
Applies to vehicles: with adaptive cruise contro l
Fig. 90 Instrument cluster: approach warning
Audi braking guard uses radar sensors and a
video camera. It is active at speeds above
about 6.2 mph (10 km/h) and also works
within system limits when adaptive c ruise
control is switched off.
On vehicles w ith adaptive cru ise control and
Audi side assist (Aud i pre sense plus), system
functions also engage when a collision is im­
minent
c::> page 182.
What can Audi braking guard do?
When detected in time, the system can assess
situations when a vehicle ahead brakes sud­
denly or if your own veh icle is traveling at a
h igh speed and approaching a veh icle up
ahead that is moving more slowly . Audi brak­
in g guard does not react if it cannot detect
the situation.
The system advises you of various s ituations:
- The
distance warning is given if you are too
close to the vehicle ahead for a long time. If
the vehicle ahead brakes sharply, you will not be able to avoid a coll is ion . The ind icator
light
I in the disp lay comes on. Take imme- diate action to avoid
the collision and in­
crease the distance to the vehicle up ahead.
- The
approach warning is given when a de­
tected vehicle up ahead in your lane is mov­
ing much more slowly that you are or if it
brakes sharp ly. When this warning is given,
it may only be possible to avoid a collision
by swerving or braking sharply. The indicator
light
I and the symbol in the display will
warn you about the danger
c::> fig . 90 . You
w il l also hear an acoustic signal.
If you do not react fast enough or do not react
at all to the situation, Audi braking guard w ill
intervene by braking and the message
braking
guard intervention
will appear.
- If a collision is imminent, the system will
first provide an
acute warning by braking
sharply.
- If you do not react to the acute warning, Au­
di braking guard will brake w ith increased
force in severa l stages to reduce the speed
in a poss ible collis ion. On veh icles with
adaptive cruise control and Audi side assist
(Audi pre sense plus), the system can brake
with increasing force up to maximum dece l­
eration shortly before a sensed collision
c::>page 182.
-If the Audi braking guard senses that you
are not brak ing hard enough when a colli­
sion is imminent, it can increase the braking
force.
Audi braking guard takes the driver's reaction
time into consideration in order to provide
timely warnings. The system reaction time de­
creases automatically in some situations, for
example when it detects acce lerator pedal use
or steering input . The Audi braking guard in­
tervent ion stops in certa in situations, for ex­
amp le if you press the accelerato r pedal to
pass the vehicle moving ahead of you in your
lane .
Which functions can be controlled?
You can switch Audi braking guard and the
distance/approach warning on or
off i n the
MM I ¢ page 86, Settings in the MMI.

86 Adapti ve crui se co ntrol a nd bra king guard
& WARNING
The Audi braking guard is an assist system
and cannot prevent a collision by itself.
The driver must always intervene . The driv­
er is always responsible for braking at the
correct time.
- Always pay close attention to traffic, even when the Audi braking guard is
switched on. Be ready to intervene and
be ready to take comp lete control when­
ever necessary. Always keep the safe and
legal distance between your vehicle and
vehicles up ahead.
- Audi braking guard works within limits
and w ill not respond outs ide the system
limits, for examp le when approaching a
stopped vehicle or stationary obstacle
(end of a traffic jam or vehicle that has
broken down in traffic).
- Always remember that the radar sensor
for the Audi braking guard works only
within defined detection and range limits
that may prevent the proper detection of
other vehicles.
- The radar sensor's function and range
can be reduced by rain, snow and heavy
spray. moving vehicles up ahead may not
be promptly detected or may not be de­
tected at all.
- Reflective surfaces includ ing crash barr i­
ers or tunnel entrances may impair the
function of the radar sensor .
(D Tips
Lack of attention can cause coll is ions, oth­
er accidents and ser ious personal injuries.
- You can stop the Audi braking guard in- tervention w ith increas ing braking force
by applying the brakes yourself or by ac­
celerat ing rapidly .
- Audi braking guard error messages
.:> page 86.
Settings in the MMI
Applies to vehicles: wit h adaptive cruise contro l
., Sele ct: I CAR I function button > Car system s
contro l button > Driv er a ssis t> Audi brak ­
in g gu ard .
S ys tem -
Switch Audi braking guard On and
Off. When you switch the ignit io n on, the
message
Audi brakin g gu ard off appears in
the instr ument cluster disp lay if the system is
switched off.
Earl y wa rnin g -The distan ce and approach
warnings in the d isplay can be switched
On /
Off .
(D Tips
-Yo ur settings are automatically stored
and assigned to the remote contro l key
being used at the times the settings are
made.
- If you switch the ESP to sport mode, A u­
di braking guard switches off a utomati ­
cally¢
page 186.
Messages
Applies to vehicles: wi th adaptive c ruise control
ACC unav ailable
ACC and braking guard: unavailabl e
The system cannot detect moving vehicles up
ahead co rrectly and is sw itched off . The sen­
sors have been displaced or a re not working
properly. The Audi pre sense functions may a l­
so be affected.
ACC: unava ilable at this time. No sensor vi­
sion
A CC and b raking gu ide: un available at this
time . No sensor vision
This message appears if the sensor view is ob­
structed, for examp le by leaves, snow, heavy
spray or d irt. Clean the sensors¢
page 79,
fig. 81.
ACC: un availabl e at this time. Incline too
steep

88 Audi side a ssist
Audi side assist
Lane Change Assistant
Description
App lies to vehicles: wit h side ass ist
The side assist helps you when changing
lanes.
F ig . 91 Rear bumper : Pos it ion of rada r se nsors (not
v is ib le on outs ide)
:R 0 0 C)
" a,
F ig . 92 S ignal lig ht on the outside m irror -driver's side
Side assist uses radar sensors (not visib le on
outside)¢
fig. 91 to help the driver check
blind spots, and see what is happen ing in traf­
f ic beh ind the vehicle¢
page 89, fig. 93.
Signa l lights are built into both o utside mir­
rors ¢
fig. 92. The s ignal light on the left out­
side mirror assists when moving over into the
left lane and the signal light on the right out­
side mirror assists when moving over into the right lane.
The s ignal light comes on to tell you that side
assist has detected a vehicle on that side and
that the position of this othe r vehicle should
be taken into account if yo u were to change
l anes . This is called the
informati ona l stag e
s ignal ¢
page 90. The informational stage
signal is designed so that you notice it only
when you are look ing in the ou ts ide mirror. When you activate the turn signal and side as­
sist detects a vehicle in a notable location, the
corresponding signal on the outside mirror
¢ fig. 92 (!) flashes br iefly and brightly sever­
al times. This is the
alert stage signal
¢ page 90.
Activating and deactivating
Appl ies to veh ic les : w it h side assist
Activating
• Press th e button @¢ page 88 , fig . 92 . The
ind icator on the button lights up .
Deactivating
• Press the button again. The indicator light
on the button goes out.
T he system works at speeds faster than
19 mp h (30 km/h).
A WARNING
-
-Improper reliance on the side assist sys-
tem can cause collis ions and serious per­
sonal injury:
- Never rely on ly on s ide ass ist whe n
changing lanes.
- Always chec k rear v iew mirro rs to make
su re that it is sa fe to change l anes.
- Side assist cannot de te ct all veh icles un­
der a ll condi tions- d anger of a cc iden t!
- Side assist cannot detect vehicles in time
to a le rt you when they ap proa ch from
be hind at very hig h spee d, or fall drop
back very q uickly.
- The radar sensor's
vision ca n be reduced
or entire ly blocked by rain, snow, and
heavy spray . This can resu lt in side assist
not adequately detecting vehicles or, in
some cases, not detecting them at all.
Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling and the relevant area
around the vehicle .
- Please note that side ass ist indicates
there are approaching vehicles, or vehi­
cles in your blind spot, o nly after you r ve­
h icle has reach ed a driv ing speed of at
least 19 mph (30 km/h). ..,

-Side assist signal does not work around
tight corners (turning radius less than
328 feet or 100 m).
- Side assist is no replacement for the driv­
er's full attention. The driver alone is re­
sponsible for lane changes and similar
driving maneuvers. Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling and the
relevant area around the vehicle.
(D Note
- To ensure that you do not adversely af­
fect side assist, do not block the area on
the rear bumper where the radar sensors
are located with foreign objects (such as
stickers or bicycle racks).
- Make sure that the signal light on the
outside mirror is not blocked by stickers
or other items.
(D Tips
- Side assist automatically deactivates if it
detects that the radar sensors are
blocked¢
page 94. The indicator light
on the button goes out.
- The area on the bumper where the radar
sensors are located must consistently re­
main free of snow, ice, and heavy soiling
so that side assist can function properly.
Follow the additional notes on
¢ page 94.
- Additional tinting on the front side win­
dows can make it harder to see and cor­
rectly understand the signal light on the
outside mirror.
- For Declaration of Compliance to United
States FCC and Industry Canada regula­
tions
Q page 2 76.
Audi side assist 89
Sensor detection area
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Fig. 93 Schematic illustrat ion : Sensor detection a rea
The detection ¢ fig. 93 of the radar sensor de­
tection area is made up of:
- the approach area (light red area)
(D, about
230 feet (70 m) behind the vehicle, and
- the "blind spot" (dark red area) @.
Th e radar sensors cover the adjacent left and
r ight lanes. Other lanes are
not covered by the
radar sensors.
(D Tips
Side assist does not measure actual lane
width. The system assumes a fixed lane
width. Detection in the left and right lanes
is based on this assumed lane width.
When driving on narrow roads or when
driving to the left or right of the center of
a travel lane, it is possible that vehicles
will be detected that are
not in the lane
next to the lane you are using
~page 93.
Operation
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Side assist compares the distance and differ­
ence in speed of detected vehicles with the
speed of your vehicle. Whenever the differ­
ence in speed and distance is registered as no­
table if you were to change lanes, a signal
light appears on the respective mirror.
The signal can light up if you are passed by a
vehicle or if you are passing another vehicle.
If you pass another vehicle slowly (difference
in speed less than 9 mph, or 15 km/h), the ..,.