2012 AUDI A7 wipers

20 Instruments and warning/indicator lights
!?' Engine speed limitation
Ap plies to vehicles: wit h eng ine spee d limi tation
(ii Engine speed maximum XXXX RPM
The engine speed is automatically limited to
the speed displayed in the driver information
system. This protects the engine from over­
heating.
The engine speed limitation deactivates once
the engine is no longer in the critical tempera­
ture range and you have released the accelera­
tor pedal once.
If the engine speed limitation was activated by an engine control malfunction, the indica­
tor light~ also turns on. Make sure that the
speed does not go above the speed displayed .
Drive to your authorized Audi dealer immedi­
ately to have the malfunction corrected.
~ . Engine oil level
II! Add oil, max. x qt (l) . You may continue
driving
When the symbol II and driver message ap­
pear, add the amount of oil appearing in the
display at the next opportunity
c:> page 221.
~ .... Engine oil sensor
• Oil level! Sensor defective
If the symbol illuminates, contact your au­
thorized Audi dealer and have the oil sensor inspected. Until you have this done, check the
oil level each time you refuel just to be on the
safe side<=>
page 221.
Bil Fuel level indicator
Ji Please refuel
If the indicator light turns on for the first
time and the message appears, there are
about 2.6 gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the
tank . Time to refuel
<=> page 212.
Ji Tank system malfunction! Contact dealer
If the indicator light turns on and this mes­
sage appears, there is a malfunction in the
tank system.
Drive to your authorized Audi dealer immedi­
ately to have the malfunction corrected.
o Windshield washer fluid level
B Please refill washer fluid
If the symbol illuminates, add windshield
washer fluid to the washer system/headlight
washer system*
c:> page 230.
~ Windshield wipers
,,., Windshield wiper defective
There is a malfunction with the windshield
wipers.
Drive to your authorized Audi dealer immedi­
ately to have the malfunction corrected .
~/0$ Defective light bulb warning
fa-If the indicator light turns on, a bulb has
failed. The message indicates the location of
the bulb.
[I-if a rear fog lamp has failed, the indicator
light turns on to indicate the location on the
vehicle .
Vehicle lights: malfunction
If the message appears, there is a malfunc ­
tion in the headlights or light switch .
Drive to your authorized Audi dealer immedi­
ately to have the malfunction corrected .
A WARNING
-
-Light bulbs are pressurized and could ex-
plode while they are being changed caus­
ing serious personal injury.
- Work with due care when handling the
high-voltage section of gas discharge
(xenon) lights. Failure to do so could re­
sult in death or serious injury.

Instruments and warning/indicator lights 21
@ Tips
Have the bulb replaced or the connection
repaired by your authorized Audi Service
department.
~()) Headlight range control
II Headlight range control: defective!
If
the symbol illuminates, the headlight range
contro l is no longer working properly . Have
the system checked and repa ired at your Aud i
dealer .
l§O Adaptive Light
Applies to vehicles: with Adapt ive Light
rlJ Audi adaptive light: system fault
If the indicator light turns on and this mes­
sage appears, there is a malfunction in the
adapt ive light system. The headlights still
function .
Go to an authori zed dea lership to have the
headlights or the control unit for the Adapt ive
Light repaired .
~D Light/rain sensor
f'al Automatic headlights/automatic wipers:
system fault
If
the indicator light turns on and th is mes­
sage appears, the light/ra in sensor is not
functioning correctly .
For safety reasons the low beams are turned
on permanent ly w ith the switch in
AUTO.
However, you can continue to turn the lights
on and off using the light switch. You can still
control all funct ions that are independent of
the rain sensor through the windshield wiper
l eve r.
Contact your author ized Audi dealer as soon
as possible to have the prob lem cor rected.
¢ Q Turn signals
The indicator light blinks when you use either
turn signal .
Whenever you use the left II or the right rl
turn signal, the indicator light blinks. When
you use the emergency flashers, both indica­
tor lights flash .
If one of the turn signa l light bulbs burn out,
the turn signal will blink twice as fast as nor­
mal. Carefully dr ive to your authorized Audi
dealer immed iately to have the malfunction
corrected. The ind icator light does not indi­
cate a malfunction if a turn signal on the tra il­
er or on the vehicle fails in trailer towing
mode.
(D Tips
For more information on the turn signals,
refer to
¢ page 43.
CRUISE/' (-) Cruise control
The warning/indicator light mi1'lm (USA mod­
els)/ll (Canada models) illuminates when
the cruise control is activated¢
page 77.

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 . ..,.

.. Remove the wiper blade in the direction of
the arrow .
Installing the wiper blade
.. Inse rt the new wiper blade into the moun t
on the w iper arm @until you hea r it latch
i nto place.
.. Place the wiper arm back on the windshie ld .
.. Switch the ignition on.
.. Press the w indshield wiper lever.
Or .. Se lect : ICAR lf u nction button>
Car sy stem s
control button > Servicing & check s > Wiper
se rvice position
> Off .
A WARNING
-If the wi ndshield wipe rs smear the wind­
shield, clean the w iper blades with w ind­
shield washe r fl uid . If the wiper blades
are extremely d irty, yo u can also clean
th em with a soft sponge or cloth.
- For yo ur safe ty, you should replace the
wiper blades once or twice a year . See
yo ur aut horiz e d Aud i dea ler for rep lace­
me nt blades .
(D Note
-The wi ndshield wiper blades mus t only
b e fo lded away when in t he se rv ice posi ­
tion! Otherwise, you risk damaging the
paint on the hoo d or the wi ndshield wip­
e r mo to r.
- Y ou sho uld not m ove y our vehicle or
press the w indshie ld w iper lever when
the wiper arms are folded away from the
windsh ield . The windshield w ipers would
move back into the ir o rig inal position
and could damage the hood and w ind­
s h ield.
- To he lp prevent damage to the wiper sys­
tem, a lways loosen blades which are fro­
zen to the windsh ield before operat ing
wipers.
- To he lp prevent damage to w iper blades,
do not use gasoline, ke rosene, pa int
t hi nner, or othe r solve nts on or nea r th e
wipe r blades. Clear vi
sion 4 7
- T o help p revent damage to the wiper
arms or other components, do not at­
tempt to move the wipers by hand.
(D Tips
- Commercial hot waxes appli ed by a uto­
matic ca r washes affect the cleanability
o f the windshie ld .
- Yo u can also use the serv ice po sit ion, for
example, if yo u want to p rotect the
w indshield from icing by using a cover .
- Yo u cannot activate the se rv ice position
w hen the hood is ope n.
Mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors
Fig. 42 Forwar d sect io n of dr ive r's ar mrest : power mir­
r o r cont rol s
Turn the knob to t he des ired po sition:
q;p -In this pos ition, you can adjust the
drive r's and fro nt pass enge r's exte rior mi rrors
by turning the knob in the desired d irection.
® -The mirrors are heated depending on the
outside temperature .
8 -The exterior mirrors fold in. In the MMI,
you can select if the mirrors fo ld in automati­
ca lly when you lock t he vehicle¢
page 32.
Driver exterior mirror tilt function
To he lp you see the curb when backing into a
par king space , the s urface of t he mirror tilts
slight ly. The knob must be in the
P position
for t his to happen .
You can adjust the tilted m irror surface by
turning the kno b in the desire d di rect ion.
When you move out of reverse and into

202 Cleaning and protec tio n
directly at locks, or at door or hatch
openings -they can freeze shut.
- Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen scouring sponges
or similar products . They can damage
your paint finish.
- Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean
the headlights . Only use wet cloths or
sponges to prevent scratches. It is best
to use soapy water.
- You should remove debris (such as in­
sects) from the headl ight lenses on a
regular basis, for example when refuel­
i ng your vehicle. Never clean the head­
li ghts w ith a dry cloth or sponge. Use a
wet cloth or sponge.
It is best to use
soapy wa ter.
@ For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the envi ronment, the ve­
hicle sho uld only be washed i n special
was h bays.
Washing your vehicle with a power
washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high­
pressure power washer is safe as long as you
observe a few simple rules.
.. Befo re using the power washer , make sure
yo u have read and understood the WARN­
INGS¢
A in General information on
page 200.
.. Always fo llow the operating instructions for
the power washer .
.. Make sure that the jet o n the spray hose
produces a "fan shaped spray" .
.. Do
not hold the spray nozzle too close to
soft materia ls .
When cleaning the veh icle with a power wash­
er
always follow the operating instructions .
This applies particularly to the
op erating
pr essure
a nd the s pray ing di stance . Keep a
d ista nce from soft materials such as rubber
hoses o r insulat ing ma ter ial as well as sensors
and camera lenses . Do not use a jet which sprays water in a
d
ir ect
stream
or one t hat has a rotating jet .
Water temper ature sho uld not ex ceed 140 °F
(60 °().
A WARNING ~ -
Neve r wash tires with a jet that sprays wa­
ter i n a direct stream. This could cause in ­
vis ib le damage to the t ires and weaken
them, even if the spray is from a re lative ly
l ong distance and for a short time. Dam­
aged and weakened tires can fail and cause
accidents and personal inj ury.
'
([) Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, a lways
make sure that there is suffic ient d istance
between the spray head and soft materia ls
like rubber hoses, plast ic pa rts and sound­
deaden ing mater ials as w ell as sensors
and camera lenses. Neve r aim t he sp ray
head at the same point for a long time.
This also applies to cleaning headligh ts
and painted bumpers. Remembe r: the
closer the nozzle is to the surface of the
materia l, the greater the stress on the ma ­
terial.
Sensors and camera lenses
- Remove snow with a hand br ush and remove
ice with a de- ic ing spray that does not con­
tain so lvents .
- Clea n the sensors (adaptive cruise control*,
pa rk ing system*) w ith a cleaning so lution
that does not contain so lvents and a soft
cloth .
- The camera lens or the area in front of the
came ra le ns is no rmally cleaned by the
w indshie ld w ipers o r he adlig ht wipers (night
vision system *).
If the lens or the area is ex­
ceptionally di rty, clean the area wit h glass
cleaner and a soft, dry cloth .
(D Note
-If you was h your veh icle with a pres sure
washer,

Manual shift program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Selector lever .................. ... 103
Shift buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Steering wheel with tiptronic . .. .. .. . 106
Automatic wipers .......... .. .. .. .... 45
Auto Safety Hotline ............ ... .. 126
Average consumption .......... ... .. .. 23
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Avoid damaging the vehicle .. .. .. .. .. . 193
B
Battery ... .. .. ............. .. .. ... 226
Charging . .. ............. .... .. ... 229
Important warnings ...... .. .. .. .. . 227
Jump starting ............... ... ... 264
Location ... ... .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 227
l ow . .. .. .. .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. . 190
Replacing the battery ..... .. .. .. .. . 230
State of charge ........... .... .. ... 190
Winter operation ............ ... .. . 226
Working on the battery ....... ... .. . 227
Before driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Blended gasoline .......... .... .. .. . 211
Blower (automatic climate control) . . . . . . 68
Blower (climate control) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Body cavity sealing ............ ... .. . 205
Booster seats ............. .. .. .. .. . 172
Brake fluid Changing the brake fluid ....... ... .. 226
Checking the brake fluid level ... ... .. 225
What is the correct brake fluid level? .. 225
What should I do if the brake fluid warn-
ing light comes on? ....... .. .. .. .. . 225
Brake system Anti-lock braking system . ......... ... 18
Brake assist system .......... .... .. 184
Brake booster ............ .... .. .. . 188
Brake fluid .............. .... .. .. . 225
Brake fluid specifications for refill and re-
placement ................. ... ... 226
Brake light defective ......... ... .. .. 20
Brake pads . ............. .... .. ... 192
Electromechanical parking brake .. .. .. 74
Fluid reservoir ........... .... .. .. . 225
How does moisture or road salt affect the
brakes? .. ............ ...... .... .. 187
Index 279
Warning/indicator lights ............. 14
Worn brake pads symbol ............. 19
braking guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Messages . .. .. .. .... ........... .. . 86
Settings .. .. .. .. ................. . 86
Break-in period .. .... .. .. ...... ..... 192
Brake pads ...... .. ............... 192
T ires ... .. .. .. .. ... .. .......... .. 192
Bulbs .... .. .. .. .. .. ............... 263
C
California Proposition 65 Warning ..... 217
Battery specific .. .... ............. 228
Capacities .. .. .. .. .... ........... .. 272
Engine oil ........................ 218
Car care .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .... ........ 200
Exterior ... .. .. .... ... .. ..... ..... 200
Interior . .. .... .. .. . .............. 206
Cargo area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Cargo net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Catalytic converter ................. . 193
Center armrest Cockpi t ..... .. ................... .
Sl
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Emergency locking . ............... .. 35
Certification ...... .. ............... 276
Changing a wheel .. ............. .. .. 254
Changi ng engine oil .... ............. 222
Chassis (undercoating) ............... 205
Checking Engine coolant level ............ .... 223
Tire pressure . .. .. ................. 237
Child restraints Danger of using child restraints in the
front seat ........................ 139
Where can I get additional information
about child restraints and their use? .. 181
Child restraint system anchors ....... . 177
Child safety ....... .. ..... .......... 163
Convertib le locking retractor ......... 17 4
Important safety instructions for using
child safety seats . .. ........... .... 167
Important things to know when driving
with children .. .... ............... 163
Tether anchors ..... .............. . 180
Tether straps .. .. ................. 180
•
•

Glove compartm ent (cooled) . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Gross Veh icle Weight Rating (GVWR) ... 270
H
Head-up Di splay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
H eadlig hts
C leaning system ... .... ... .. .. .. .. ..
45
Defective .. ...... ..... .. .... .. .. .. 20
H eadlig ht range control . . . . . . . . . 21, 41
Washer rese rvoir .......... ... ... .. 230
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 122
Ad justing .. .. .. .. .... ... .. .. .. ... 122
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Removi ng .. .. ... .. ... ... .. .. .. .... 52
Heated
exterior mi rrors ....... ... .. .. .. .. ..
47
rear window (automatic climate contro l) 68
rea r window (cl imate control) . .. .. .. .. 66
seats (automatic climate contro l) . . . . . . 68
seats (cl imate control) .......... .... . 66
windshie ld washer spray nozzl es ... ... 45
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
H eavy clo thing and safety belts . .. .. .. . 13 1
High beam . ................ ... ... ... 43
H igh voltage warning labe l .. .. .. .. .. . 270
H ome Link ® universal remote cont ro l .. . 115
Hood (release lever) ........ .. .. .. .. . 216
H orn ... .. .. .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 8
H ow are c hild restra int system anchors re-
l ated to child safety ............. ....
177
How many airbags does my vehicle have? 145
H ow o ften sho uld I check my t ire p res-
sures? . ... .. .. .... .. .... ... .. .. ...
23 8
How safety belt pre tensione rs wo rk ... . 135
Hydroplaning ............. .... .. .. . 242
I
Immo bilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Impor tant things to do before driving . . 118
Improperly worn safety belts . .. .. .. .. . 134
Indica to r ligh ts
refer to Wa rning/indicator lights . ... .. 11
Infant seats ... ........... .. .. .. .. . 169
Inde x 283
Installing child safety seats
Safety be lts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 7 4
Installing the upper tether s trap on the
an cho rage .. .. .. .. .... ........... ..
180
Instruments
Adjus ting the light ing ......... .... .. 44
Instruments and controls General illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Instrument cluster .. ........... .... .
10
Interior ligh ting
Ambience lighting . .. .. .. ..... ... .. . 44
Front and rear ..... . .. .. ..... ... .. .
44
Inter mittent (w indshield wipers) .. .. .. . 4 5
l
Jack 252
Jump-starting . .. .. .. ............... 264
Jumper c ables . .. ...... ............. 2 65
K
Key ........... ... .. ................ 29
Battery replacement master key . . . . . . . 30
Emergency key . ...... ........... .. . 29
K ey rep lacemen t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
Master key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Mechan ica l key ..... . .. .. ..... ... .. . 30
Valet key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Kick-down
t iptron ic . ....... .. . .. ... .... ... ..
104
Knee a irbags ....... ................ 154
Desc ription .. .. .. .. ... ....... ..... 154
H ow they wor k ... ................. 156
Important sa fety inst ru ctions .... .. .. 156
L
LATC H 177
Des cription .. .. .. ................. 178
Installing a ch ild restr aint ....... .. .. 179
Loca tion . ... .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 178
Mounting and releasing the anchorage
hook ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... ..
1 79
Leat he r .. .... .. .... ... .......... .. 2 0 7
Leather (cleaning) .. .... ......... .. .. 208
Leav ing home ..... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. . 4 3
Lifting jack ....... .. ..... .......... 256
•
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