2016 AUDI A7 check engine light

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@ Tips
For additional information on the diesel par­
ticulate fi lter, refer to ¢
page 198.
!?) Engine speed limitation
App lies to vehicles: with e ngin e speed limitat ion
Ill Engine speed maximum XXXX RPM
The engine speed is automatically limited to the
speed displayed in the instrument cluster. This
protects the eng ine from overheating.
The engine speed limitation deactivates once the
engine is no longer in the critical temperature
range and you have released the accelerator ped­
al.
If the engine speed limitation was activated by
an engine control malfunction, the
Im indicator
light also turns on. Make sure that the speed
does not go above the speed d isplayed. Drive to
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility immediately to have the malfunc­
tion corrected .
.., Engine oil sensor
• Oil level! Sensor defective
If the symbol illuminates, contact your author­
ized Audi dealer and have the oil sensor inspect ­
ed. Until you have th is done, check the oil level
each time you refuel just to be on the safe side
¢page 222.
f Engine warm-up request
n Please warm up engine
Fuel has entered the engine oil, either from low
outside temperatures or frequent short d rives.
Drive until the engine is warm so that the fuel in
the eng ine oi l wi ll evaporate. Avoid high eng ine
speeds, full accelerating and heavy engine loads
when doing this .
Bil Fuel tank system
Ii] Please refuel
Instruments and indicator lights
If the indicator light turns on for the first time
and the message appears, there are about 2.6
gallons (10 liters) of fue l left in the tank.
Ii] Fuel tank system malfunction! Contact deal­
er
T he re is a malfunction in the fuel tank system.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Serv ice Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected .
{!) Tips
More information on refueling is available on
page
¢ page 212.
• Washer fluid level
m Please refill washer fluid
Fill the washer fluid for the windshield washer
system and the headlight washer system* when
the ignition is switched off ¢
page 231.
• Windshield wipers
m Windshield wiper defective
There is a malfunction with the windsh ield wip­
ers .
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Serv ice Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected .
~/0$ Defective light bulb warn ing
If the J:!1 ind icator light turns on, a light has
failed. The message ind icates the location of the
light. If the
[tD indicator light a lso turns on, then
a rear fog light has failed. The position of the in­
dicator light corresponds with the location on the
vehicle.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
A udi Service Facility immed iately to have the
malfunction corrected.
Vehicle lights: Malfunction
There is a malfunction in the headlights or the
light switch.
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-Inspection or oil change reminder: After a cer­
tain distance driven, a message appears in the
instrument cluster display each time the igni­
tion is switched on or off
c> fig. 13. The remain­
ing distance or time is displayed briefly .
-Inspection or oil change due : If your vehicle is
due for an inspection or oil change or both, a
message appears br iefly in the instrument clus­
ter display when switching the ignition on or
off:
Inspection due! or Oil change due! or Oil
change and inspection due! .
Checking service intervals
You can check the remaining distance or time un­
til the next oil change or next inspection n the
Car menu. To do th is, select: the ICAR !function
button
> (Car) * Systems control button > Service
& control
> Servi ce intervals .
Resetting the indicator
Your authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will reset the service interval dis­
play after performing service .
If you have changed the oil yourself, you must re­
set the oil change interval.
To reset the indicator, select: the ICARI fu nct ion
button
> (Car)* System control button > Service
& control > Service intervals. Turn the control
knob downward to
Reset oil change interval and
press the control knob.
(D Note
- Only reset the oil change indicator if the o il
was changed.
- Fo llowing the service intervals is critical to
maintain ing the service life and value of
your vehicle, especially the engine. Even if
the mileage on the vehicle is low, do not ex­
ceed the time for the next service.
- Calculating the time to the next oil change
i s interrupted when the vehicle battery is
disconnected. If the vehicle is not driven for
a long period of time, check the mainte­
nance schedule so that you can follow the
maintenance interva ls.
Instruments and indicator lights
Head-up display
Applies to vehicles: wit h Head-up disp lay
Fig. 14 Examp le : Indicato rs i n th e Head -up dis play
Fig . 15 Instrument panel: head-up display knob
The Head-up display projects certain warnings or
selected information from the assistance sys ­
tems* or navigation* on the windsh ield . T he dis­
play appears w ith in the dr iver's field of vision.
Switching on/off
... To switch the head-up d isplay on or off, press
the knob~
c> fig. 15.
Adjusting the height
The height of the display can be adjusted to the
individual driver.
... Make sur e you are seated correctly
r=!)page 127 .
... Tur n the knob~ to adjust the disp lay .
Settings in the Infotainment system
... Sele ct: the I CARI function button > (Car)* Sys­
tem
control button > Driver assistance > Head­
up display > Head-up display contents or Dis-
play brightness. ..,
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There must be at least 10 inches (25 cm) be­
tween your chest and the center of the steering
wheel.
If you cannot sit more than 10 inches (25
cm) from the steering wheel, see if adaptive
equipment is available to help you reach the ped­
als and increase the distance from the steering
wheel.
For detailed information on how to adjust the
driver's seat, see
r:::>page 53.
In vehicles with the memory function*, the steer­
ing column settings are stored together with the
seat position.
A WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjustment
and improper seating position can cause seri­
ous personal injury.
- Adjust the steer ing wheel column only when
the vehicle is not mov ing to prevent loss of
vehicle control.
- Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so
that there is a minimum of 10 inches (25
cm) between yo ur chest and the steering
wheel
r:::>page 127, fig. 144. If you cannot
mainta in this min imum d istance, the a irbag
system cannot protect you properly .
- If phys ica l limitations prevent you from sit­
ti ng 10 inches (25 cm) or more from the
steering wheel, check with your authorized
Audi dealer to see if adaptive eq uipment is
available.
- If the steering wheel is aligned wi th your
face, the supp lemental driver's airbag can­
not provide as much protection in an acci­
dent. Always make sure that the steering
wheel is aligned w ith your chest.
- Always hold the steering wheel with your hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi­
t ions to reduce the r isk of personal injury if
the driver 's airbag deploys.
- Never hold the steer ing wheel at the 12
o'clock posit ion or w ith your hands inside
the steering wheel rim or on the steering
wheel hub. Holding th e steering wheel the
wrong way can cause se rious injuries to the
hands, arms and head if the driver's a irbag
dep loys .
Drivi ng
Easy seat entry
Applies to vehicles: with power steering wheel adjustment
Easy seat entry makes it easier to enter and exit
the vehicle by adjusting the steering column au­
tomatically.
.. In the Infotainment system, select: the ICARI
function button > ( Car) * Systems control but­
ton
> V ehicle sett ings > Se ats> Driver 's se at>
Ea sy se at entry > On .
When easy seat entry is sw itched on, the steering
column goes back up into the park pos ition when
the ignit ion is switched off . After entering the ve­
hicle, the steeri ng column returns to the stored
pos ition once the ig nit ion is switched on.
Starting and stopping
the engine
Starting the engine
The I STAR T ENGIN E ST OPI button switches the
ignition on and starts the engine .
Fig . 8 1 Center console: START ENGINE STOP button
Sta rting the engine
.. Press the brake pedal a nd move the selector
lever to the P o r
N position.
.. Press the
I START ENGINE STOP j button . The
eng ine will start .
.. It is possib le that there will be a slight delay
when starting the engine in diesel vehicles in
colder temperatu res. Therefore, you must hold
the brake pedal down unt il the engi ne starts .
The indicator light turns on whi le the engine is
preheating
m . ...
75

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-The ignition will turn off if you press the
I START ENGINE STOP I button during a stop
phase . The needle in the tachometer
moves
into the OFF position.
General information
Applies to vehi cles: with Start-Stop-System
The standard Start-Stop mode con be canceled
for different system-related reasons.
Fig. 85 Instrument cluster: Eng ine stop tempora rily un­
avai lable
Engine does not switch off
Before and during each stop phase, the system
checks if certain conditions have been met . For
examp le, the engine will not switch off in the fol­
lowing situations:
- The engine has not reached the minimum re­
quired temperature for Start-Stop mode.
- The interior temperature selected by the A/C
system has not been reached.
- The outside temperature is extremely high/low.
- The windshield is being defrosted@.
- The parking system* is be switched on .
- The battery charge level is too low .
- The steering wheel is turned at a sharp angle or
is moving .
- After engaging the reverse gear.
- On sharp inclines.
@J also appears in the instrument cluster dis­
play.
Engine automatically restarts
The standard Start-Stop mode will be canceled
during a stop phase in the following situations .
The engine restarts without any action by the driver.
Driving
- The vehicle rolls, for examp le while on a s lope.
- The interior temperature varies from the tem-
perature selected in the A/C system.
- The windshield is being defrosted@.
- The brake pedal is pressed severa l times in a
row.
- The battery charge level becomes too low.
- High power consumption.
The engine can turn off again when the condi­ tions for Start-Stop mode are met.
Ignition is switched off automatically
To prevent the battery from draining, the igni­
tion
will switch off automatically under the fol­
lowing conditions:
- The vehicle has already been driven.
- The Start-Stop-System has stopped the engine.
- The driver's door is opened .
- The driver's safety belt is removed.
- The brake pedal is not pressed down.
- The vehicle is stationary.
In this case, the activated low beam is replaced
by the parking light. The parking lights will
switch off after approximately 30 minutes or
when you lock the vehicle.
If the Start-Stop-System has not turned off the
engine or if you have switched the Start-Stop­
System off manually, the ignition will not be au­
tomatically switched off and the engine will con­
tinue to run
c> .&. .
A WARNING
--Never allow the engine to run in confined
spaces, because this increases the risk of as­
phyxiation .
@ Tips
-If you shift into the D or N position after
shifting into reverse, the vehicle must be
driven faster than 6 mph (10 km/h) in order
for the engine to switch off again .
81

Intelligent Technology
ESC lev els
Sport mode on Sport mode off
Beha vior
The ESC and ASR stabilization f unctions are The full stabilization function of t he ESC
limited
c> ,& . and ASR is avai lab le again .
Operation Press the 1.$ OFF I button. Press the 1.$ OFF I button agai n.
In dicato r II turns on. II turns off.
light s
Driv er m es- S ta bi liz at ion contr ol (ESC ): sport. Warn -Stabiliz ati on c ontr ol (ESC ): on
s age s ing! Res tricted stabilit y
A WARNING
Only switch sport mode on when yo ur driving
abilities and the traffic situation permit, be­
cause there is a risk of sliding.
- The stabilization function is limited when
sport mode is switched on. The dr iv ing
wheels could spin and the vehicle could
swerve, especially on slick or slippery road
s u rfaces .
(D Tips
-Sport mode cannot be switched on if the
cruise control system* or adaptive cruise
control* is switched on.
- If the rear spoiler system malfunctions,
sport mode may not switch on or it may
switch off again automat ically.
Braking
What affects braking efficiency?
New brake pads
During the f irst 250 miles (400 km), new brake
pads do not possess the ir full braking effect, they
have to be "broken in" first
c> ,& . You can com­
pensate for this sl ightly reduced brak ing power
by pushing ha rder on the brake pedal. Avoid
heavy brak ing loads dur ing the b reak-in per iod.
Operat ing condit ions and d riving hab its
The brakes on today's automobi les are st ill sub­
ject to wear, depending largely on operating con ­
d itions and dr iving habits
c> ,& . On veh icles that
are either driven mostly in stop-and-go c ity t raf­
fic or are dr iven hard, the b rake pads should be
checked by your author ized Audi dea ler mo re of -
190
ten than specified in the Warrant y & Mainte­
nan ce b ookl et.
F ail ure to have your brake pads
inspected can resu lt in reduced brake perform ­
ance.
On steep slopes, you sho uld use the braking ef­
f ect of the engine. This way, you prevent unnec ­
essary wear on the brake system. If yo u must use
you r brakes, do not hold the brakes down contin ­
u ously. Pump the brakes at intervals .
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depend ing on the
speed, braking force and ou tside cond itions su ch
as temperature and hum idity .
Effect of wat er and road salt
In certa in situations, for examp le after driv ing
t hr ough water, in heavy rain, after overnight con­
densa tion or after washing yo ur ca r, the bra king
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads . The brakes must be
dried fi rst with a few careful brake applications .
At higher speeds and with the winds hield wipers
turned on, the brake pads press against the brake rotors for a short amount of time . This occurs at
r egular intervals without the driver noticing and
provides for better brake response time under
wet cond itions .
The effect iveness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is d riven on a salt-covered road
and the brakes are not used. Likewise, you clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs
and pads wi th a few caut ious applications of the
brake
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Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
~ Shut the engine off when you are not driving
the vehicle.
~ Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the en-
gine run at idle .
The idling phase is automatically reduced for
veh icles with the Start-Stop-System . It is effi­
cient to switch off the engine in vehicles without
the Start-Stop-System when stopped at railroad
crossings and long red lights. Turning the engine
off for just 30-40 seconds saves more fuel than is
burned by starting the engine again.
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up
fully when it is running at idle . However, wear
and noxious emissions are especially high when
the engine is warm ing up. So you shou ld drive
away as soon as you start the engine and avoid
running at high rpms while the engine is still
warming up .
(D Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after
starting. If warning lights should come on to
indicate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling a lso produces
heat, wh ich could resu lt in overheating or oth­
er damage to the vehicle or other property.
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
~ Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals.
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an
Aud i dea ler helps to ensure that it runs properly
and economica lly. The condition of your vehicle
not only affects its safety and ability to hold its
value, it a lso affects fuel consumption .
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load
and speed.
Driving and the environment
It is normal for the oil consumption of a new en­
gine to reach its lowest value after a certain mile­
age has been driven.
You must drive your veh icle about 3,000 miles
(5,000 kilometers) before you can properly as ­
sess oil consumption .
T h is also applies to fuel consumption and engine
o ut put .
CD Note
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and
in accordance with the service recommenda­
tions in your Warranty
& Maintenance book­
let . Lack of proper maintenance as well as
improper use of the vehicle will impair the
function of the em ission contro l system and
cou ld lead to damage.
- Do not alter or remove any component of
the Emission Control System unless ap­
proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not alter or remove any device, such as
heat shields, sw itches, ignition wires,
valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Emission Control System and other important vehicle components .
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high
on short trips .
~ Try to avoid dr iv ing short distances w ith a co ld
eng ine .
The engine and cata lytic converter have to reach
their optimal operating temperature to reduce
fuel consumpt ion and nox ious em issions effec­
t ively.
Just after starting, a co ld engine in a mid-size car
only achieves a fuel economy of 6-8 mi les per
gallon (30-40 l/100 km) . After about a half a
mile, fuel economy climbs to 12 mpg (20 l/100
km). After about
2.5 miles (4 km), the eng ine is
at its proper operating temperature and fuel
economy has reached a norma l level. So you can
see that you should avoid short trips whenever
poss ible. .,.
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Trailer mode Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger
transportation .
If you plan to tow a trailer, p lease remember that
the additional load will affect durability, econo­
my and performance.
Trailer towing not only places more stress on the
vehicle, it also calls for more concentration from
the driver.
For this reason, always follow the operating and
driving instructions provided and use common
sense.
(D Note
If you are going to tow a trai ler, you must ac­
tivate the trailer operat ion mode
c::> page 201, Operating instructions.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable
for your vehicle and trailer and must be mounted
securely on the vehicle's chassis at a
technically
sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a re­
movable ball mount. Always check with the trail­
e r hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch.
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it
does not interfere with the impact-absorbing
bumper system. No modifications should be
made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems.
From time to time, check that all hitch mounting
bolts remain securely fastened .
When you are not towing a trailer,
remove the
trailer hitch ball mount. This prevents the hitch
from causing damage should your vehicle be
struck from behind
c::> &, .
Trailer mode
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak ing system,
check to be sure that it conforms to all regula­
tions.
T he trailer hydraulic brake system must not be di­
rect ly connected to the vehicle's hydraulic b rake
system.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your veh icle
and the tra iler.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure
to check with your Aud i dealer for correct wiring,
switches and relays.
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you us­
ing the regular outside mirrors, then you
must in­
stall extended mirrors. It is important that you
always have clear vision to the rear .
A WARNING
--
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store
i t in your vehicle. In case of sudden braking,
the hitch could fly forward and injure you or
your passengers.
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical
class 1 or class 2 trailer.
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in
place to prevent it from sh ifting forward, back­
ward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer c::> &.
in Driving instructions on page 203 .
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It
is important that the cooling system's perform­
ance is up to the additional load. Make sure that
the cooling system has enough fluid . .,..
201

Trailer mode
Tire pressure
When tow ing a trailer, inflate the tires of your ve­
hicle to the cold tire pressure listed under " Full
load" on the label located on the driver's side B ­
pillar (visible when the door is open). Inflate
trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers'
specifications.
Lights
Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are working properly .
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety cha ins are p roperly connect­
ed from the trailer to the hitch on the vehicle.
L eave enough slack in the chains to permit turn ­
ing corners. When you install safety chains, make
sure they will not drag on the road when you are
driving.
The chains should cross under the trai ler tongue
to prevent it from dropping in case of separation
from the hitch.
Adjusting the Audi drive select
Make su re the vehicle is on a level su rface before
h itching up the trailer and before adjusting the
tongue weight . The vehicle must be in
auto or
comfort driving mode and not raised
r::!> page 101, r::!> 0.
Make sure that the vehicle is lowered. In Info­
tainment, select:
ICARI function button > Lower
control button.
If you must drive under poor road conditions, you
can raise the vehicle
after coupling the traile r or
after adjusting the tongue weight c::!> page 103 .
(D Note
-Changes in temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle.
- Always select
auto or comfort mode. Other­
wise, the tongue load specified for your ve­
hicle will no longer be applicable.
202
· Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care
and consideration .
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle
and trailer, please note the follow ing:
.,. Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself
is not loaded .
.,. Be especially carefu l when passing other
vehicles.
.,. Observe speed lim its .
.,. Do not drive at the maximum permissib le
speed.
.,. Always app ly brakes early .
.,. Monitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results
i n a h ighly unstab le distribution of weight. If th is
cannot be avoided, dr ive at very low speeds only
to avoid the risk of losing steer ing control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control.
This means that the tow vehicle shou ld be loaded
to the extent possible and permissib le, w hile
k eep ing the traile r as light as possible under the
circumstances. Whenever possible, transfer
some ca rgo to the luggage compartment of the
tow vehicle while observing tongue load require­
ments and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it be­
comes for the driver to contro l the rig. Do not
drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce
your speed even more if load, weather or wind cond itions are unfavorab le -particular ly when
going downh ill.
Red uce vehicle speed
immediately if the trailer
shows the slightest sign of swaying .
Do not try
to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limits . In some areas, speeds for
vehicles towing trai lers are lower than for regular
vehicles.
Always apply brakes early. When driving dow n­
hill, shift i nto a lower gear to use the engine