Driving
_& WARNING
- Never turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. The full func
tion of the brake booster and the power
steering is not guaranteed. You must use
more force to turn or brake if. Because you
cannot steer and brake as you usually
would, this could lead to accidents and seri
ous injuries.
- Please note that the brake booster and pow
er steering only work when the engine is
running. When the engine off, you must use
more force to steer or brake the vehicle. Be
cause the usual steering and brak.ing capa
bility is not available, the risk of accidents or
injuries increases .
- Always take the vehicle key with you when
leaving the vehicle, even for a short period
of time. This applies particularly when chil
dren remain in the vehicle . Otherwise the
children could start the engine or operate
electrical equipment such as power win
dows.
- For safety reasons, always park the vehicle
with the selector lever in the P position.
Otherwise, there is the risk that the vehicle
could roll.
- After the engine has been switched off, the
radiator fan can continue to run for up to 10
minutes -even with the ignition switched
off. It can also switch on again after some
time if the coolant temperature rises as the result of heat buildup or if the engine com
partment is heated by the sun's rays and the
engine is hot.
(D Note
If the engine has been under heavy load for
an extended period of time, heat builds up in
the engine compartment after the engine is
switched off- there is a risk of damaging the
engine. For this reason, let the engine run for
at idle for approximately two minutes before
shutting it off.
84
Starting the engine if there is a
malfunction
Applies to vehicles: with convenience key
It may not be possible to start the engine under
certain circumstances, for example if the battery
in the vehicle key is drained, if interference is af
fected the key or if there is a system malfunc
tion.
Fig. 79 Steering column/remote control key: starting the
e ngin e if there is a malfunct ion
As long as the message y>>) Key not recognized.
See owner's manual
appears, you can start your
vehicle using the emergency start function.
.,. Press the brake pedal¢ ,&.
in Engine with the
button
START ENGINE S TOP Starting on
page 83.
.,. Press the ~1s=T-A~R~T~E-N~G=r-N~E~S~T~O~P~ I button.
.,. Hold the master key in the location indicated as
shown in the illustration
t>>) ¢ fig. 79. The en
gine will start.
.,. If the engine does not automatically start,
press the
I START ENGINE STOPI button again .
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected .
@ Tips
You can display the message that appears
during an emergency by pressing the
I START ENGINE STOPI* button.
Messages
Turn off ignition before leaving car. Battery is
discharging .,.
e-tron
overhangs, carports or similar structures . Switch
the ignition
off. Have the problem corrected by
an author ized Audi dealer or authorized A udi
Serv ice Facility .
• Elec tric s ystem: o verheated. Safel y park ve
hicle and check coo lant
The coolan t leve l is too low or the coolant tem
pera ture is too high .
S top the vehicle in the outdoo rs as soon as it is
safe ly possible . Switch the ignition off.
Read the important safety precautions ¢.&.
in
Coolant on page 109 and check the coolant level
¢page 108.
If the coolant level is OK, the malfunction may be
caused by the system overheating . Let the vehi
cle's electric drive system cool down for some
time .
If the message turns
off after cooling down and
sw itching the ign ition back on, you ca n continue
driving. Contact an author ized Audi dealer or au
thor ized A udi Se rvice Facility immed iate ly to have
the ma lf u nction co rrected.
If the indicator lig ht stays on, contact an author
ized A ud i dealer or authorized Aud i Serv ice Faci li
ty .
Bil Drive system : sys tem fault! Pleas e contact
work shop
There is a malfunction in the plug-in hybrid sys
tem. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au
thor ized Audi Service Facility immediate ly to have
the ma lfunction corrected .
II Drive sy stem: system fault! Restart not po s·
sible. Ple ase contact wo rkshop
There is a mal func tion in the plug -in hybrid sys
tem . Do not open the engine compartment lid .
Drive to an a uth orized Aud i dea le r or authorized
Aud i Serv ice Facility immediately to have the
malfunct io n corrected.
II Batter y temperature too low . Engine start
not possible . See owner's manual
The outside temperature is too low. The vehicle
can no longer start at temperat ures below -18 °F
102
(- 28 °C) . Contact your author ized Audi dealer or
autho rized Audi Service Facility.
POWER LIMIT Warning! Limited power
If the indicator l ight turns on and this message
appears , there may be an engine cont rol mal
funct ion. The
(m ind icator light in t he instr u
ment clus ter a lso turns on. The e ng ine o utput is
reduced. Dr ive to an a utho rized Audi dea ler or
autho rized Audi Service Facility immedia tely to
have the malfunction corrected.
II e -tron mode : EV curr ently unavailable
This message appears w hen the 1-,$ 1 button is
pressed and the conditions for e lectric drive
mode are no t me t.
IIJ Vehicle sound: malfunction! Pedestrians
cannot h ear vehicle. P lease contact Service
if the indicator light t urns on and this message
appears, pedestrians and bicyclists can no longer
hear the vehicle when it is driving in electric
mode. Turn off the veh icle and switch to dr iv ing
with the gasoline e ngine . To activate the gasoli ne
engine, select the
Charge batt ery mode
¢page 103 with the kl"I button. Drive to a n au
tho rized Audi dea le r or a uthorized Audi Service
Facility immediate ly to have the malfunction cor
rected.
Range display
Applies to vehicles: wit h pl ug-in hy brid drive
Fig. 89 Ins trument cluster example image: range disp lay
The range can be d isplayed in the on -board com
p uter ¢
page 29.
Depend ing o n the selected p lug-in hybrid mode,
the d isp lay disp lays the follow ing informa tion:
Ill>
e-tron
Additional information about the vehicle tool kit may be found under
c::, page 280 and informa
tion about the tire mobility kit under
c:> poge281 .
(D Tips
The vehicle must not be operated without the
tire repair set.
Vehicle transport
Applies to veh icles: w ith plug- in hybrid drive
The following contains information you should
know about transporting your vehicle.
The MQB-A lithium-ion battery system equipped
in your vehicle is composed of SANYO 12 U F 261
591 type batteries and has it passed test 38.3 in
accordance with the UN Tests and Criteria hand book. The vehicle may be transported with the
battery installed as conventional class 9 hazard
ous materials without additional offic ial consent
for air and sea transportation (current law ICAO
TI and IMDG-Code 01.01.2012) .
Jump starting and 12 volt battery
Applies to veh icles: with plug -in hybrid drive
Fig. 96 Engine compartment: connectors for a charger and
j ump start cables
The vehicle is equipped with one 12 vo lt battery
and one high-voltage battery.
If the 12 volt battery is drained, it can be charged
with a charger or you can jump start the vehicle
using another vehicle battery in the same way as
a conventional vehicle .
Note the information on charging the battery
¢
page 249 and for jump starting the vehicle
c:>poge297 .
108
.,. Open the hood¢ page 23 7.
.,. Remove the fuse box cover @ to access the
positive terminal
0 c::> page 239.
.,. Clamp the terminal clamps from the charging
device or jump start cable to the positive termi
nal
0 and to the body ground point 0-
(D Note
You must not give a jump start with your vehi
cle. This could cause s ignificant damage to
the electrical system in your veh icle.
Coolant
App lies to vehicles: with plug-in hybrid drive
Fig. 97 Engine compartme nt: coolant expa nsion tank
Your vehicle has two coolant expansion tanks
that are separate from each other:
@ : expansion tank for gasoline engine and elec
tric motor.
@ : expansion tank for the high-voltage area .
The expansion tank@ must not be opened
c:>&_ .
.,. Switch the ignition off .
.,. Open the hood
c:> poge 237.
...
.,. Always check the coolant level in both coolant
expansion tanks @ and @ using the outer
markings.
.,. When you fill coolant in the expansion tank@,
please refer to
c::> page 244, Cooling system.
.,. Do not drive any farther if the expansion tank
@ is missing coolant. Contact an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately ¢&_ . ..,.
,....,
N
0 > CX) ,....,
I.Cl U"I ,....,
I.Cl ,....,
,&_ WARNING
-Read and follow t he warn ings in
¢ page 236, Working in the engine com
partment
before open ing the hood and
check ing t he coolant level.
- The expansion tank @ may only be opened
and filled by an a uthorized Aud i dea ler or
authorized Aud i Service Fac ility.
- Coo la nt can enter the inside of the battery
when f illing the expansion tank @ and
cause a short c ircuit, which inc reases the
risk of fi re .
Refueling
Opening the fuel filler flap
Appl ies to vehicles: with plug- in hybrid drive
Fig. 9 8 Driver 's doo r: button il
The ta nk sys tem must be ve nted be for e refueling
.. Pull on the
Iii switch.
.. The fue l filler door automatically opens w ith in
a few seconds afte r vent ing .
Read and fo llow the directions for inserting the
f u el pump noz zle
¢ page 109.
Read and fo llow the inst ruct io ns for refueling
¢ page 230.
e-tron
Inserting the fuel pump nozzle
Applies to vehicles: with plug- in hybrid
Fig . 99 Fue ling proce du re : in ser t the fuel pump nozzle co r
r ect ly
M ake s ure w hen inse rting the f uel pu mp noz zle
t h at you do no t press o n the fuel filler door open
er (!) with the fue l pum p nozzle . See the labe l in
the f ue l fi ller door @. Otherwise, a va lve wi ll lock
in the fue l filler neck and stop the fueling , even if
t h e tank is not full. You must vent the tank sys
tem again if yo u press on the fuel fille r doo r
opener. The f uel p ump nozzle can stay in the fue l
filler neck when doing this.
Vent the tank system by pulling the
Iii switch in
the d river's door
¢ page 109.
Driver messages
Applies to vehicles: with plug-in hybrid drive
ti Tank flap open . Please press button again
for fueling
Fueling is possib le for a certain amou nt of time
after press ing the
Iii button . Yo u m ust press the
Iii button again if th is time is exceeded .
ti Tank flap malfunction! Unlock tank flap
manually . See owner's manual
T he re is a ma lfunction. Yo u must man ually un
lock the fue l fi ller door
¢ page 110.
ti Warning! Limited power
The fue l ta nk is almos t emp ty . You must ant ici
p at e a sign ifi can t power loss. Drive i mmed iate ly
t o a ga s st at ion .
POWER LIMIT Warning! Limited power
109
Trailer mod e
load" on the la bel located on the driver's side B
pillar (visib le when the door is open) . Inflate
tra iler tires to trailer and tire manufacturers'
specif ications.
Lights
Check to make sure both vehicle and t railer lights
are working p roper ly.
Safety chains
Be sure t railer safety chains are properly connect
ed from the trai le r to the hi tch on the veh icle.
L eave enough sla ck in the cha ins to permi t turn
ing corners. When yo u install safety chains, ma ke
sure they wi ll not drag on the road when yo u are
driving .
The cha ins s hou ld cross under the trailer tongue
t o prevent it from dropping in case of separation
from the h itch .
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care
and consideration .
To obtain t he best poss ible handling of vehicle
and traile r, please note the fo llow ing :
.,. Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself
is not loaded.
.. Be especi ally ca ref ul when pass ing othe r
vehicles.
.. Observe speed limi ts .
.. Do not d rive at the maximum permissible
speed.
.. Always apply brakes early.
.. Monitor the temperature gauge .
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded t railer w ith an empty car res ults
in a high ly unstable distribution of weight . If this
cannot be avoided, drive at very low speeds on ly
to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easie r to operate and cont rol.
This means that the tow vehi cle should be loaded
to the extent possible and permissible, while
keep ing the tra iler as light as possib le under the
circumstances. Whenever possible, transfer
some cargo to the l uggage compartment of the
128
tow veh icle wh ile observing tong ue load require
ments and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the mo re diff icu lt i t be
comes for the driver to con trol the r ig. Do not
drive at t he maxim um permissible speed. Reduce
you r speed even more if load, weather or wind
con dit ions are unfavorab le - partic ularly when
go ing downh ill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the trailer
shows the slightest sign of swaying.
Do not try
to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limi ts. In some areas, s peeds fo r
vehicles towing trailers are lower than for regular
vehicles .
A lways apply bra kes early. Whe n driving down
hill, shift in to a lower gea r to use the engine
b raki ng effect to slow the vehi cle. Use of the
brakes alone ca n cause them to over heat and fai l.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge 9 page 12 must
be obse rved caref ully. The coolant temperature
c a n incre ase if yo u drive o n long incl ines in a low
gear a t high engine speeds . Red uce your speed
immediately if the LE Ds in the top part of the dis
play turn on .
Fo r more info rm ation abou t indicator lights, re
fer to . ¢
page 20 .
A WARNING
-
Anyone not prope rly restrai ned in a moving
vehicle is at a much greate r risk in an acci
dent. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wear ing the restraints provided
by Aud i.
Trailer mode notes
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differen tly when towing a
trailer because o f the additiona l weight and di f
ferent weight distribution. Safety, performance
and economy will g reatly depend on how caref ul-
l y you load your trai ler and operate you r rig. ..,_
Checking and Filling
CJ) Note
-Only use Ad Blue that conforms to the
standard ISO 22241-1. Do not mix any addi
tives with the AdBlue and do not dilute it
with water.
- Only use refill bottles that are approved for your vehicle. Using other systems can cause Ad Blue to leak.
- Do not add Ad Blue to the diesel tank or add diesel fuel to the Ad Blue tank. Do not start
the engine under any circumstances if the
wrong fuel is filled in the tank . There is a
risk of damaging the fuel tank system and
the engine . See an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for assis
tance.
- AdBlue attacks surfaces such as painted ve
hicle components, plastic and carpet. Re
move the fluid as quickly as possible with a
damp cloth and plenty of cold water. If the
Ad Blue has already crystallized, use warm
water and a sponge. AdBlue residue that is
not removed will crystallize and can damage
the affected surface .
- Do not store the refill bottle in the vehicle.
If it leaks, the escaping Ad Blue could dam
age the vehicle interior .
- Do not allow Ad Blue to come into contact
with clothing. If there is contact with the
fluid, flush immediately with plenty of wa
ter .
(D Tips
-You can obtain refill bottles from an author
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility .
- Follow the Ad Blue manufacturer's instruc
tions for use and storage .
- A permitted refill bottle contains approxi
mately 1.9 liters of AdBlue .
- Ad Blue can freeze at very low temperatures.
If this happens, the system will not detect
that the Ad Blue was refilled and it will con
tinue to inform you of the low AdBlue level.
The message turns off as soon as the tank
thaws out again.
236
Engine compartment
Working in the engine compartment
Special care is required if you are working in the
engine compartment
For work in the engine compartment such as
checking and filling fluids, there is a risk of in
jury, scalding, accidents, and burns. For this
reason, follow all the following listed warnings
and general safety precautions. The engine
compartment is a dangerous area.
¢ .&. .
.8, WARNING
To reduce the risk of injuries, complete the
following steps before opening the hood:
- Turn the engine off.
- Switch the ignition off.
- Set the parking brake.
- Place the selector lever in the P position.
- Let the engine cool down.
- Never open the hood when you see that
steam or coolant drips from the engine
compartment- there is a danger of burns!
Wait until no steam or coolant flows out.
- Keep children away from the engine com
partment.
- Never spill fluids on a hot engine. These flu
ids (such as the freeze protection contained in the coolant) can catch fire.
- Avoid short circuits in the electrical system,
especially the battery.
- When working in the engine compartment,
remember that the radiator fan can switch
on even if the ignition is switched off, which
increases the risk of personal injury.
- Never open the cap on the coolant expan
sion tank when the engine is warm . The
cooling system is under pressure.
- To protect your face, hands, and arms from
hot steam or coolant, cover the cap with a
large cloth when opening.
- Do not remove the engine cover under any
circumstances . This increases the risk of
burns.
- If tests need to be performed with the en-
-
gine running, there is additional danger due ~
Check ing and F illing
Read and follo w the WARN IN GS before check
ing anything in the engine compartment
c::> page 236, Working in the engine compart
ment.
Make sure the wiper arms are not raised up from
the windshield. Otherwise the paint could be
damaged .
Applies to vehi cles w ith p lug-in hybrid dr ive* :
switch the ignition off before re leasing the hood
so that the gasoline engine does not start auto mat ica lly.
... With the driver's door open, pull the lever be
low the instrument panel in the direction of the
arrow
c::> fig. 191 .
... Raise the hood s lightly c::> ,&. .
... Press the rocker switch under the hood upward
c::> fig. 192. This releases the catch.
... Open the hood .
A WARNING
Never open the hood when you see that steam
or coolant drips from the engine compart-
238
ment- there is a dange r of bu rns! Wait unt il
no steam or coolant flows out.
Closing the hood
... Push the hood down until the force of the strut
is overcome.
... Let the hood fall lightly into the latch .
Do not
press it in .
c::> ,&..
A WARNING
If the hood is not latched complete ly, it could
f ly up wh ile you are dr iving and obst ruct your
vision .
- For safety reasons, the hood m ust always be
closed securely while driv ing. Because o f
this, always chec k the hood after closing it
to make sure it is latched correctly. The
hood is latched if the front corners cannot
be lifted.
- If you notice that the hood is not latched
while you are driving, stop immed iate ly and
close it, because this increases the risk of an
accident.
.... N
0 > CX)
.... I.Cl U"I
.... I.Cl ....
Checking and Filling
Gasoline engine compartment overview
The most important check points .
Fig. 193 Typical location of the rese rvoir , engine oil dipst ick, and engine oil filler opening
CD
@
®
©
®
©
(J)
®
Coolant expansion tank (-L) .... .
Engine oil dipstick ............ .
Engine oil filler opening(~) .. .
Brake fluid reservoir (0))
Battery(+) under a cover ..... . .
Body ground point(-)
Washer fluid reservoir
(O) ..... .
Fuse housing . .... .... ....... .
245
242
242
246
248
251 291
The engine oil filler opening and the dipstick
(items ® and @)
q fig. 193 may be located in a
different area depending on engine version .
_& WARNING
=
Read and follow all WARNINGS before check-
i ng anything in the engine compartment
¢page 236.
(D Tips
Plug-in hybrid drive*: read the information re
garding the coolant expansion tank under
¢page 108 and the battery(+) under
¢ page 108 .
239