2016 AUDI Q5 warning

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,...., Operating conditions and dr iving habits
The brakes on today 's au tomobiles a re still s ub­
ject to wea r, depend ing la rgely on ope rating con­
ditions and driving habits¢.&. . On vehicles that
ar e e ither driv en most ly in stop-and -go city traf­
f ic or are driven ha rd, the brake pads should be
checked by your authorized Aud i dealer more of­
ten than specified in the
Warranty & Mainte­
n ance boo klet .
Failure to have your brake pads
inspected can resu lt in reduced brake perform­
ance.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking ef­
fect of the eng ine . This way, you prevent unnec ­
essary wear on the brake system . If you must use
your b rakes , do not ho ld the brakes down con tin­
uously. Pump t he b rakes at intervals.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depend ing on the
speed , braking force and outs ide cond itions such
as tempe rature and humidity .
Effect of water and road sa lt
In certain situations, for example a fter driving
t hrough water, in heavy ra in , after overnight con­
densat ion or after washing your car, the braking
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
b rake rotors and b rake pads . T he brakes must be
d ried first w ith a few careful b rake applica tions.
At highe r speeds and with the windsh ie ld w ipers
turned on, the bra ke pads press aga inst the brake
rotors for a short amount of time . Thi s occ urs at
r egular intervals wit hout the d river noticing and
p rovides for be tter br ak e response time u nder
wet conditions.
The eff ectiv eness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehi cle is dr iven on a salt-covered road
and the brakes are not used. L ikewise, you clean
off acc umu la ted salt coat ing from b rake discs
and pads with a few ca utious applications of the
b rake ¢.&. .
Corrosion
There may be a tende ncy for d irt to b uild up on
the brake pads an d cor ros io n t o fo rm on the discs
if the ca r is not driven regular ly or only fo r sho rt
trips with little use of the brakes .
Intelligent Technology
If
the brakes are not used frequent ly, or i f co rro­
sio n 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 shou ld notice a sudden inc rease in brake
peda l travel, t hen one of t he two brake circ uits
may have fai led ¢
&..
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions ca n occur i n the b rake system if the
br ak e fluid level is too low . T he brake f lu id leve l
is moni tored elect ronically .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the press ure that
yo u generate with the b rake peda l.
It only oper­
ates while the eng ine is r unning or w it h t he igni­
tio n sw itched on (hybr id drive*) ¢.&, .
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be chec ked by visual in ­
spect io n of t he condition of the brake pads
t hr ough the openings in the wheel.
If necessary,
t h e wheel may be removed fo r th is i nspe ction
¢ page 259, Replacing wheels .
.&_ WARNING
--
-New brake pads don't have the bes t stop ­
p ing power an d m ust be " broken-in" d uring
the initial 250 miles (400 km). You can compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal more firmly. This also applies later
when new pads are insta lled.
- You sho uld perform braking maneuvers for
the purpose of cleaning t he brake system
only if road condit io n s pe rmit . O ther road
users m ust not be put at r is k - you may
cause an accident!
- Before descending a steep g rade, reduce
speed and sh ift transmission into a lower
gea r or l ower dr iv ing ra nge. Do not r ide the
b rakes or hold the ped al down too long or
too often. This co uld cause t he b rakes to ge t
hot and dimi nish braking eff ic ien cy .
- Do no t "ride the br akes" by res ting you r foot
on the pedal when you do no t intend to ...,
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,...., A cen ter differentia l distrib utes the driving power
variab ly to the front and rear axle.
It works to­
gether with selective wheel torque control, which
ac tivates when driving through curves
¢page 190.
The all-wheel drive concept is designed for high
engine power. Your ve hicle is exceptionally pow­
erful and has excellent driving characterist ics
both under norma l dr iving condit ions and on
snow and ice. Always read and follow safety pre ­
cautions ¢.&. .
Winter tires
When driving in the w inter, your vehicle with a ll­
wheel drive has an advantage, even with regular
tires. In winter road conditions it may be adv isa­
b le to mount w inter t ires (or all-season tires) for
i mproved driveab ility and brak ing : these tires
must be mounted on
all four wheel s. See a lso
¢ page 249, Winter tires.
Tire chains
Where tire chains are manda tory on certain
roads, this normally also applies to vehicles w ith
a ll-wheel drive¢ page 249 , Snow chains.
Replacing wheel s/tires
Veh icles with all -whee l dr ive must always have
tires of the same s ize. A lso avo id tires with differ­
ent tread depths . For detai ls see page
¢ page 241, New tires or wheels.
A WARNING
Always adjust you r driving to road and t raff ic
conditions. Do not let the extra safety affo rd­
ed by all-wheel drive te mpt you into tak ing
extra risks.
- Alt hough the all-whee l dr ive is very effec­
t ive, always remember th at br akin g ca pac ity
is limited by tire traction. Yo u should t here­
fore not d rive at excess ive speeds on icy or
slippery road surfaces.
- On wet road surfaces, be caref ul not to drive
too fast because the front wheels co uld be­
gin to slide on top of the water (a quaplan­
ing). If this shou ld occu r, you w ill have no
warning from a sudden increase in eng ine
speed as with a front -whee l dr ive vehicle.
Intellig ent Technology
Always d rive at speeds which are suited to
the road conditions -risk of c rash.
Energy management
Starting ability is optimized
E nergy management controls the distribution of
electrical energy and thus optimizes the availa­
bility of electrical energy for starting the engine .
If a vehicle with a conventional energy system is
not dr iven fo r a long pe riod of time, the ba ttery is
discharged by id ling curre nt cons umers (e.g. im­
mobili ze r). In ce rtain circumstances i t can resu lt
i n t he re being insuffi cient energy av ailabl e to
st ar t the eng ine.
Intellige nt ene rgy manageme nt in yo ur vehicle
hand les the d ist ribution of electrical e nergy.
St art ing abil ity is m arkedly improved and the life
of the ba ttery is ex tende d.
Bas ica lly, energy management co nsists of
bat­
tery diagnosis , idling current management
and
dynami c energy management .
Battery diagnosis
Battery d iagnosis continuously determ ines the
state of the battery . Sensors de termine battery
vo ltage, battery curren t and batte ry tempera­
tu re . This determines t he cur rent state of c harge
and the power of t he ba ttery.
Idling current management
Idli ng cur rent management reduces energy con ­
s u mption wh ile the vehicle is standing . With the
ignition switched off , it contro ls the energy sup­
ply to the vario us elec trical componen ts. Data
fr om b attery diagnosis is co nsidere d.
Depend ing on the ba tte ry's s ta te of charge, indi­
v idual consumers are gradually turned off to pre­
ven t ex cess ive disc ha rge of t he battery and thus
m ain ta in starting c ap abili ty.
Dynamic energy management
While the vehicle is being driven, dynam ic e nergy
manageme nt dis trib utes the energy generated
according to the needs of the ind ividual compo-
nents.
It regula tes consu mption, so that more ..,.
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,...., Driving and the
environment
Breaking in
New engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km).
For the first 600 miles (1 ,000 kilometer s):
"' Do not use full throttle .
"' Do not drive at engine speeds that are more
than 2/3 of the max imum permitted RPM .
From 600 to 1,000 miles (1 ,000 to 1 ,500
kilometers):
"' Speeds can gradually be increased to the maxi­
mum pe rm issib le road or engine speed .
During and after break-in pe riod
"' Do not rev the engine up to high speeds when it
is cold. This applies whether the transmission is
in N (Neutral) or in gear .
After the break-in period
"'Do not exceed maximum engine speed under
any c ircumstances.
"'U pshift into the next higher gear
before reach­
ing the red area at the end of the tachometer
sca le
c=>page 10.
During the first few hours of driving, the eng ine's
internal friction is higher than later when all the
mov ing parts have been broken in . How well this
b reak-in process is done depends to a considera­
b le exte nt on the way the veh icle is d rive n during
t he first 1,000 miles (1,500 kilometers).
(D Note
Extremely high eng ine s peeds a re au toma ti­
cally reduced. However, t hese rpm limits are
programme d for a n engine well run-i n, not a
n ew engine.
@) For the sake of the environment
D o not dr ive with u nnecessari ly high eng in e
spee ds -up sh ifting ea rly saves fuel, reduces
n oise and pr otects the envi ronme nt.
Driving and the envir onment
New tires
If your vehicle is runn ing on new tires, d rive very
car efu lly fo r the firs t 35 0 miles (500 kilometers)
a ft er fit ting.
WARNING
New tires tend to be slippe ry and must a lso
be "bro ken-in". Be sure to remembe r th is dur­
i ng the fi rst 350 m iles (500 kilometers).
Brake gent ly. Avoid following closely behind
other vehicles or other s ituations that m ight
r equire sudden, hard b raking.
Catalytic converter
Applies to vehicles: wit h gasoli ne e ngi ne
It is very important that your emission control
system (catalytic converter) is functioning prop­
erly to ensure that your vehicle is running in an
environmen tally sound manner.
"' Always use lead-free gasoli ne c> page 212,
Gasoline .
"' Never run t he tank down all the way to empty.
"'N ever put too much mo to r oil in yo ur eng ine
c=> page 2 24, Adding engine oil 'l:::r. .
"' Never try to push- or tow-start your veh icle.
T he cat alyt ic co nverter is an efficie nt "cle an-up"
device built into the exhau st sys tem o f the ve hi­
cl e. T he catalyt ic converte r burns many of the
po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are re ­
l eased into the atmosphere.
T he ex clusive use of u nleaded fuel is critic ally im ­
por tant fo r the life o f the catalytic converte r and
prope r fu nct ion ing of the engine.
A WARNING
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The temperat ure o f the exhaust system is
hi gh, both when driv ing and after stopping
the eng ine.
-
- Never touch the exhaus t tail pipes once they
have become hot. This cou ld res ult in burns.
- Do not park or operate the vehicle in a reas
where the hot exhaust system may come in
contact w ith dry g rass, brush, fuel sp ill o r
other mate rial wh ich can ca use a fire.
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Driving and th e en vironm ent
- Do not apply additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust mani­
fold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or heat sh ields . During dr iv ing, the substance
used for undercoating could overheat and
cause a fire .
{U) Note
-Be aware that just one tank filling with
leaded fuel will already seriously degrade
the performance of the catalytic co nverter .
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil level
c:>page224 .
-Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty . The engine could mis­
fire. Unburned fuel could also get into the
exhaust system and this could cause the
catalytic converte r to overheat.
- Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle
. . 1s moving.
- Do not continue to operate your vehicle un ­
der these cond itions, as otherwise fuel can
r each the catalytic converte r. This could re­
su lt in overheating of the converter, requir­
i ng its replacement .
- To assure efficient operation of the Emis ­
s ion Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with the service recommen­
dations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet .
- Lack of proper maintenance as well as im­
proper use of the vehicle will impair the
function of the em ission control system
and could lead to damage.
@ For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emission Control System is op­
erat ing properly, the exhaust gas can have a
sulfur-like exhaust gas smell under some op­
erat ing states . This depends on the su lfur
content of the fuel be ing used. Using a differ­
ent brand of fue l may he lp, or filling the tank
with lead-free super grade gasoline.
198
Diesel particulate filter
Applies to vehicles: with diesel engine
The diese l particulate filter filters near ly all of
the soot particles out of th e exhaust. The filter
cleans itself automat ically under normal d riving
conditions. If the filter cannot clean itself (for ex­
ample, because you are only driving shor t distan­
ces), the filter becomes clogged with soot and
the
II symbol for the diesel part iculate filter il­
luminates
c:> page 34 .
&_ WARNING
-Do not park your vehicle over flammable
materials such as grass or leaves because
the high temperature of the diesel particu­
late filter could start a fire.
-
- Do not apply an underbody protectant in the
exhaust system area or a fire could start.
Avoid damaging the
vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over
curbs, steep ramps, etc., make certain that low­
lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust system
parts do no t bottom out and ge t damaged.
This is espec ially true for vehicles with low-s lung
chassis (sports chassis)* and fully loaded
vehicles.
Economical and environ­
mentally-friendly driving
General
Your personal style of driving will determine the
economy of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and
noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear
on your engine, brakes and tires largely depend
on three factors:
- your personal driving style
- operating conditions
- technical limitations
If you anticipate what you need to do next and
drive economically, you can easily cu t your fuel

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,...., Offroad driving Driving under difficult
conditions and off-road
General information
The operation of the Electronic Stabilization Con­
trol (ESC) is expanded for operation away from paved roads. In situations where slip or a differ­
ential locking fun ction is required , the offroad
mode can be activated ¢
page 190. Your Audi al­
so has permanent all-wheel drive in addition .
However, your Audi is not a pure offroad vehicle.
It was not built for driving under extreme condi­
tions, e.g. for tr ips that are in the nature of an
expedition .
Drive only on roads and offroad sections which
match the design of your vehicle and your abili­
ties as a driver. Never take risks!
Before driving offroad
-Check the engine oi l level, tire pressure, coo l­
ant level, and the fluid level in the windshield
washer reservo ir.
- Stow luggage items and other objects in the
luggage compartment, and secure them
against sliding around.
After driving offroad
-After trips offroad, remove any twigs and other
foreign objects from the gri ll, the underbody
and the wheels. Pay special attention to foreign
objects (stones) which have become lodged in
the tire tread.
- Clean the body and the vehicle underside, and
inspect the vehicle for possible damage.
- Clean dirty windows, headlamp lenses, rear
lights, and license plates.
- Perform a brake check (particularly after travel­
ling through water).
A WARNING
-Drive especially attentively and plan ahead
in difficult road condit ions and when off­
road. Excessive speed or incorrect maneu­
vers can cause injuries and damage to the
vehicle .
Offroad driving
-Always adapt your speed and driving style to
road, offroad, traffic, and weather condi­
tions. Drive especially slowly offroad when
your view is restricted.
- Please be aware that in offroad mode, par­
ticularly on a smooth and slippery road, the
wheels may have an increased tendency to spin and the vehicle may break away - dan­
ger of skidd ing!
- Stability is lim ited in the offroad mode .
@) For the sake of the environment
Avoid damage to the environment and re­
spect nature.
(D Tips
Only drive where it is permitted and stay on
marked roads and paths.
Explanation of some technical terms
The following data refer to ideal conditions. De­
pending on vehicle load and ground conditions
and the environment, the numbers may vary. It is
the driver's responsibility to decide whether ave­
hicle can overcome a specific s ituation
¢ ,&. .
Gradient angle
The number of meters in altitude gained over a
distance of 109.4 yards or 100 meters (grade)
are given as a percentage or degrees. Informa­
t ion about the gradient the vehicle can cl imb un­
der its own power (depends in part on the road
s ur face and eng ine power). Maximum permitted
grade: 31
°
Ground clearance
The distance between the road surface and the
lowest point of the vehicle underbody. Ground
clearance 7.9 in (200 mm)
_& WARNING
-
Exceeding the stated maximum figures can
result in severe injuries or vehicle damage.
- All the information was gathered on level,
firm and non-slippery road surfaces, and un-
der dry weather conditions.
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Offroad dri ving
- Ideal conditions do not prevai l offroad . Nev­
er utilize the maximum readings to their
fullest, always leave a safety reserve.
Driving tips
On poor rood ond offroad, there is always only
one motto: Plan ahead and drive slowly!
Pl ease observe the following when driv ing away
from paved roads:
.,. Drive only on roads and off road sections which
ma tch the des ign of your vehicle and yo ur abili ­
ties as a driver . Neve r take risks!
... Drive slowly and p lan ahead!
... Take into consideratio n the
ground clearan ce
of your veh icle.
.,. Activate the
offro ad mode Q page 190 as need­
ed .
.,. Use the
hill desc ent a ssis t Q page 192 when
driv ing down steep sections on hills .
Unpaved roads and offroad
Drive s low ly on unfam iliar roads and unknown
offroad sections, and look out for unexpected ob­
stacles (e .g. potholes, rocks, tree stumps, etc .) .
To prevent the veh icle from bottoming and avoid
damage to the underbody, you should d rive
stra ight across severe bumps in the ground with
only one side of the vehicle so that only two of
your wheels cross the b umps.
Drive briskly through sandy or marshy offroad
sections and do not stop , if at all possible .
Driving through water
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage when
driving throug h water, fo r example on flooded
roads:
- T he wate r must no t be any higher than the bot-
tom of the vehicle body .
- Do no t drive fas ter than wa lking spee d.
Driving on a slope
If you ever find yo urself not able to cl imb a s lope,
do not try to turn around, d rive back down in
re ­
verse .
Otherw ise, you run the risk of tipping over.
202 If the vehicle thre
atens to tip o ver when dr iving
across a slope, you must immediately stee r
downhill in the direction of the slope.
Do no t pa rk you r vehi cle on steep s lopes or
grades .
To reduce the risk of tipping over, drive on slopes
i n the d irect io n of the downwa rd slope (fa ll line) -
not cros swi se .
& WARNING
After driving thro ugh water, mud, slush, etc.,
the brakes may be slow to take effect beca use
of wet brake rotors and pads. Dry the brakes
f irst by braking carefu lly to restore the full
braking effect .
(D Note
- Vehicle components such as the engine,
transmiss ion, suspension or electrical sys­
tem can be seve rely damaged by driving
throug h water.
-Always switch off the Start-Stop-System *
when driving through water Qpage 93.
(D Tips
-Check the de pth of the water before driving
through it.
- Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse or
switch the engine of f whe n driving through
water.
- Keep in mind that oncom ing vehicles may
create waves that raise the water level and
make it too deep fo r your vehicle to drive
t h roug h safe ly.
-Avoid driv ing through salt water beca use it
can cause corrosion.

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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, please remember that
the additional load will affect durability, econo­ my and performance.
T railer 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.
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
er 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
bo lts remain securely fastened.
When you are not towing a trailer,
remove the
tra iler hitch ball mount . This prevents the hitch
from causing damage should your vehicle be
struck from beh ind ¢
,&. .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
check to be sure that it conforms to all regula­
tions .
Trailer mode
The trailer hydraulic brake system must not be
directly connected to the vehicle's hydraulic
brake system ¢.&. .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle
and the trailer.
Trailer lights
T ra iler lights must meet all regulations . Be sure
to check with your author ized Audi dealer for cor­
rect 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.
,8. WARNING
-If a trailer has electrical brakes please note
that these brakes are not activated by the
factory-fitted control unit -risk of accident!
- After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In case of sudden
braking, the hitch could fly forward and in­
jure you or your passengers.
- Never install a "weight distributing" or
"load equalizing" trailer hitch on your vehi­
cle. The vehicle was not designed for these
kinds of trailer hitches . The hitch attach­
ment can fail, causing the trailer to tear
loose from the vehicle.
- The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for your
vehicle, found on the safety compliance la­ bel on the driver's side B-pillar, must never
be exceeded under any circumstances. Ex­
ceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of
your vehicle is likely to damage your vehicle,
and such damage will not be covered by
your Limited New Vehicle Warranty. Exceed­
ing the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating will al­
so change the performance and handling
characteristics of your vehicle, which could
cause a crash resulting in serious injury or
death.
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,...., Weight distribution
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car res ults
in a high ly unstable distribution of weight. If this
cannot be avoided, drive at very low speeds only
to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is eas ier to operate and control.
This means that the tow vehicle should be loaded
to the extent possible and permissible, while
keeping the trailer as light as possible under the
circumstances. Whenever possible, transfer
some cargo to the luggage compartment of the
tow vehicle while observ ing tongue load require­
ments and vehicle loading considerat ions.
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 permiss ible speed . Reduce
your speed even more if load, weather or wind
conditions are unfavorable - part icularly when
going downhill.
Reduce veh icle speed
immediately if the tra iler
shows the slightest sign of swaying .
Do not try
to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed lim its . In some areas, speeds for
veh icles towing trai lers are lower than for regular
veh icles.
Always apply brakes early. When driving down­
h ill , shift into a lower gear to use the engine
braking effect to slow the veh icle. Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fa il.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge r=;, page 10 must
be observed carefully . If the needle moves close
to the upper end of the scale, reduce speed im­ mediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the
instrument cluster starts flashing., pull off
the road, stop and let the engine
idle for about
two minutes to prevent heat build-up.
A WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving
vehicle is at a much greater risk in an acci-
-
Trailer mode
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 differently when towing a
t railer because o f the additional weight and dif­
ferent weight distribution. Safety, performance
and economy will greatly depend on how carefu l­
ly you load your trai ler and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice
tu rning, stopping and backing up in an area away
from traffic. Keep practicing until you have be­
come comp lete ly familiar w ith the way your vehi ­
cle-tra iler combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficu lt and requires practice.
Backing up with a t railer generally requires steer­
ing action opposite to that when backing up your
vehicle without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle
and the one in front of you . You will need more
room to stop. To compensate for the trailer, you
will need a larger than normal turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accel­
erate as fast as you normally would because of
the added load. Make sure you have enough room
to pass. After passing, allow p lenty of room for
your trailer before c hanging lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane
changes.
(D Tips
- Do not tow a trailer during the break-in peri­
od of your veh icle.
- If you tow a trailer, your Audi may requ ire
more frequent maintenance due to the ex­
tra load
r=;, page 280.
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