2018 AUDI A7 Owners Manual

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Trailer h itches t hat are not installed at t he
factory may cause the pa rking system to ma l­
functi on o r they may restrict its function.
Parking systems
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Intelligent Technology Electronic stabilization
control (ESC)
Description
Elect ronic stabili zation control ( ESC) suppo rts
driver safety. It red uces the risk of slipping and
improves dr iving stabi lity. ESC detects crit ica l sit­
uations such as the vehicle overstee ring and un­
dersteeri ng or the w heels are sp inning. The vehi­
cle is stabilized by app lying the brakes or reduc ­
i n g e ngine torque . As soon as the ESC is active ly
regula ting, t he
Ii) indicato r light blink s in the in­
s trumen t clus ter.
The fo llow ing systems are in tegrated in the ESC:
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
ABS p reve nts the whee ls from lock ing whe n brak ­
ing. The vehicle can st ill be steered even d uring
hard brak ing. Apply steady press ure to the bra ke
pedal. Do not pump the pedal. A puls ing in t he
b rake pedal indicates that the system is act ing to
s tabili ze the vehicle .
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can dec rease brak ing dis­
tance. It inc reases brak ing power when the d river
presses the brake pedal q uick ly in eme rgency sit­
uations . You must press and hold t he b rake pedal
until the dangerous si tuatio n is ove r. In veh icles
w ith adapt ive c ruise con trol*, the bra ke assist
sys te m is more sensitive if t he di stan ce detec ted
t o the veh icle dr iv ing a head is too small. On
ve hicl es w ith ac tivated and funct io ni ng night vi ­
sion assist*, the brake assist system can respond mo re sensit ively if there is a warning .
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces eng ine power when the drive w heels
beg in sp inning a nd ad ap ts the force to the road
conditions. This makes i t easie r to sta rt, acceler ­
ate and dr ive up h ills.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
ED L appl ies the bra kes to a w heel that st arts
sp inning and transfe rs th e dr ive powe r to the
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othe r driving whee ls. This func tion is no t ava ila ­
ble at higher s peeds .
I n extre me cases , EDL au tomat ic al ly swi tches off
to keep t he b rake o n the br aked whee l from ove r­
h eating. The ve hicle is still wo rking co rrect ly. EDL
will switch on agai n automatically when co ndi ­
tions have returned to normal.
Steering recommendation
The ES C he lps to s tabili ze th e vehicle by ch ang ing
t h e steer ing torque.
In veh icles wi th dyna mic steer ing*, ESC a lso
h elps to stab ilize the steer ing in cr it ica l sit ua ­
t ion s.
Selective wheel torque control
Se lective wheel to rque con trol is used when driv­
i ng o n curves . The fron t whee l on the inside of
t h e curve or bo th whee ls on the i nside of th e
cu rve are braked se lective ly as needed. This al­
l ows mo re prec ise dr iving in curves .
Automatic post -collision braking system
The "automa tic post -coll is io n braking system"
can hel p t o reduce the risk of sl iding and of addi­
tiona l co llisions after an acc iden t. If th e a irbag
c ontro l modu le de tec ts a c ollisi on above a cert ain
vehicle speed, the ve hicle is brak ed by the ESC.
The veh icle does not brake automatically if :
- the drive r presses t he acce lerator pedal, or
- the bra kin g force generate d by the presse d
brake pedal is greater than the b raking force
that wo uld be in itiated by the system, or
- the ESC, the bra ke system or the ve hicle elect ri­
cal system are not functioning.
A WARNING
- The ESC and its integ rated systems can not
overcom e the lim its imposed by natura l
p hys ica l laws . Thi s is esp ec ially impo rtan t
on s lippery or wet roa ds. If the sys te m s be­
g in a cting to stab ilize y our vehicle, y ou
s ho uld immedi ately alter y o ur speed to
match the road an d traffic condi tions . Do
not let the increased safety provi ded tem pt

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your risk of a collision.
- Please note the risk of a co llision increases
when driving fast, especially through curves
and on slippery or wet roads, and when driv­
ing too close to objects ahead. The ESC and
its integrated systems cannot always pre­
vent collisions -there is still a risk of acci­
dents!
- Press the accelerator pedal carefully when
accelerating on even, slippery surfaces such
as ice and snow. The drive wheels can spin
Switching on /off
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even when these control systems are instal­
led and this can affect driving stability and increase the risk of a collision.
(D Tips
- ABS and ASR only function correctly when
all four wheels are equipped with identical
tires. Different tire sizes can lead to a reduc­ tion in engine power.
- You may hear noises when the systems de­
scribed are working.
ESC turns on automatically when you start the engine.
Fig . 138 Ce nter console: O FF ~ button
The following examples are unusual situations
where it may make sense to switch sport mode
on in order to allow the wheels to spin:
ESC levels
Sport mode on
- Rocking the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
- Driving in deep snow or on loose ground
- Driving with snow chains
Applies to: RS models: the ESC is designed to
function in levels. Depending on the level that is
selected, the stabil izat ion function of the ESC is
limited or switched off. The amount of stabiliza­
tion control will differ depending on the level.
Sport mode off
Behavior
The ESC and ASR stabilization functions Th
e full stabilization function of the ESC
are limited
c:::> &. . and ASR is available again.
Operation Press the I~ OFF I button . Press the I~ OF FI button again .
Indicator .turns on. II turns off.
lights
Me ssa ges Stabilization control (ESC): Sport Warn- Stabilization control (ESC): On
ing! Reduced stability
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ESC levels
Applies to : RS models
Sport mode on ESC/ASR off Sport mode off or
ESC/ASRon
Behavior
The ESC and ASR stabiliza -
The stabilization function is Th
e fu ll stabilization func-
tion functions are limited not available
¢ .&. . ESC and tion of the ESC and ASR is
¢ .&_. ASR are switched off. avai lab le aga in.
Operation Press the I~ OFFI button Press and hold the I~ OFFI Press the I ~ OFFI button
briefly. button
longer than 3 sec-
again.
onds .
Indicator II turns on. II and II turn on. II turns off or II and II
lights turn off.
Messages Stabilization control (ESC): Stabilization control (ESC): Stabilization control
Sport Warning! Reduced Off Warning! Reduced sta- (ESC): On
stability bility
A WARNING
-You should only switch sport mode on or
switch ESC/ ASR off if your driving abilities
and road conditions permit.
- The stabilization function is limited when
sport mode is switched on. The driving
wheels could spin and the vehicle could swerve, especially on slick or slippery road
surfaces.
- There is no vehicle stabilization when ESC/
ASR are switched off.
(D Tips
- ESC/ASR cannot be switched off or sport
mode cannot be switched on if the cruise
control system* or the adaptive cruise con­
trol* is switched on.
- If the rear spoiler system malfunctions,
sport mode may not switch on or it may
switch off again automatically.
Brakes
New brake pads
-
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effe ct during the first 2S0 mi (400 km). They
must be "broken in" first.
The break-in period can be considerably longer
for vehicles with ceramic brake rotors*. However,
you can compensate for the slightly reduced
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braking force by pressing firmly on the brake
pedal. Avoid heavy braking during the break-in
period.
Wear
Brake pad
wear depends large ly on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions .
This is espec ia lly true if you are driv ing frequently
i n the city and on curves or with a sporty driving
style.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity.
Noises may become more apparent at lower
speeds due to the nature of the materials in the
ceramic brake rotors*.
Effect of water and road salt
In certain situations, for example after driving
through water, in heavy rain, after overnight con­
densation or after washing your car, the braking
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads. The brakes must be
"dried" first with a few carefu l brake applica­
tions.
At higher speeds and with the windshield wipers
turned on, the brake pads press against the brake
rotors for a short amount of time. This action,
which is not felt by the dr iver, happens at regular
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the brakes in wet weather.
The braking effect can also be reduced if you are
driving on salted roads and you do not apply the
brakes for long periods of time. The layer of salt
on the brake rotors and pads must be worn off
first when the brakes are applied.
Due to its surface, the ceramic brake rotor* ab­
sorbs moisture in certain situations. Therefore,
there will temporarily be less braking force than
when the brakes are dry. You can compensate for
this by pressing the brake pedal harder.
Corrosion
Leaving the vehicle parked for long periods of
time, low mileage and avoiding heavy braking
can contribute to corrosion on the brake rotors
and to dirty brake pads.
If you usually avoid heavy braking or if there is
corrosion present, occasional heavy braking at
high speeds is recommended to clean the brake
rotors and
pads ¢.&. .
Brake system malfunction
If you notice that the brake pedal travel has sud­
denly increased, then a brake circuit in the dual­
circuit brake system may have malfunctioned. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
problem corrected. On the way there, drive with
reduced speed and keep in mind that you will
need a longer distance to stop and you will need
to press the brake pedal harder .
Low brake fluid level
When the brake fluid level is low, malfunctions in
the brake system may occur . The brake fluid level
is electronically monitored .
Brake booster
The brake booster amplifies the pressure you ap­
ply to the brake pedal. It only works when the en­
gine is running.
A WARNING
-Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
-
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traffic conditions permit. You must not en­
danger other road users. This increases the
risk of an accident.
- Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
- New brake pads do not achieve their full
braking effect during the first 250 mi
(400 km) . They must be "broken in" first.
The break-in period can be considerably lon­
ger for vehicles with ceramic brake rotors*.
However, you can compensate for the
slightly reduced braking force by pressing
firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy brak­
ing during the break-in period.
- Certain weather and operating conditions
such as driving through water, driving in
heavy rain or driving after washing your ve­
hicle can impair the effectiveness of the
brakes. In the winter, ice may build up on
the brake pads, rotors and drums. Check
these components by braking carefully. Ap­
plying the brakes carefully several times
dries the brakes and removes ice build-up .
- The efficiency of the brakes can also be im­
paired by driving for long stretches on roads
covered with salt without using the brakes.
You can remove salt deposits from the
brake rotors and pads by carefully applying
the brakes several times.
- If the front spoiler is damaged or you install
another spoiler, make sure the front wheel
brakes are ventilated properly. Otherwise,
the brake system could overheat, which re­
duces their effectiveness.
- Failure of a brake circuit impairs braking
performance, which increases braking dis­
tance. Avoid driving the vehicle and have it
towed it to the nearest authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
- If the brake booster is not working, you will
have to press much harder on the brake
pedal to compensate for the lack of the
booster .
@ Note
-Never let the brakes "rub" by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
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Intellig ent T echn olo gy
necessary. This causes the brakes to over­
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
- Before driving downhi ll a long distance on a
steep hill, decrease your speed and select a l ower gear. This makes use of the engine
braking effect and relieves the brakes. If
you need to brake additionally, brake in in­
tervals and not continuously .
(D Tips
-If the brake booster is not working, you
must press the brake pedal with much more
force than normal.
- If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil­
er, wheel covers or s imilar items, make sure
that the a ir flow to the front wheels is not
i nterrupted. Otherw ise the brake system
ca n become too hot.
Electromechanical
steering, dynamic
steering
The electromechanical steering supports the
driver's steering movements .
Power steering adapts electronically based on
the vehicle speed .
Indicator light s and me ssages
• Do not d rive vehicle: St eering d efecti ve
If t his ind icator light tu rns o n and stays o n and
this message appears, t he power steer ing may
have fai led.
Stop the veh icle in a safe locat io n as soon as pos­
sib le. Do
n ot continue dr iving. See an author ized
Aud i dea ler or authorized Aud i Serv ice Facility for
assistance.
l;:r-ij St ee ring : Sys tem f ault You can con tinu e
dri ving
If the ind icator light turns on and the message
appears, the steering wheel may be more diff i­
cult to move or mo re sensit ive tha n usual. The
steer ing whee l may a lso be at an angle when
driving straight .
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Drive slowly to an authorized Audi dea ler or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility to have the mal ­
funct ion corrected .
'I-ij Dyn ami c ste ering : Initializing
If the indicator l ight is blinking and this message
appears, dy namic stee ring* is be ing initialized.
The steer ing whee l will be easy to move afte r
start ing t he engine . Re -init ialization mig ht be
necessary if the steering wheel was moved hard
to the left and right while the vehicle was not
moving . The d isp lay turns off if the init ia li zation
was successful.
(D Tips
- If the . or 'Tfl indicator light only stays on
for a short time, you may cont inue driving .
- Th e dynamic steering stability systems
<=>page 120 are not avai lab le in the event of
a system malfunction.
- For additiona l information on dynamic
steering, see
<=> page 105.
All wheel drive (quattro)
Applies to: vehicles with all wheel drive
In all wheel drive, all four wheels are powered.
G en eral information
In all whee l dr ive, the dr iv ing power is divided be ­
tween all four whee ls. This happens automatical­
l y depending on your driving behavior as we ll as
the current road conditions . Also see
c> page 120, Electronic stabili zation control
(ESC).
A center differential distributes the driving power
variab ly to the front and rear ax le. It works to­
gether w ith selective whee l torque contro l, wh ich
activates when driving through curves
<=>page 120 . With the sport d ifferent ial*, power
distribution to the rear wheels is variable and can
be adjusted with d rive select
c> page 105 .
The all wheel drive concept is designed for high
engine power . Your vehicle is except ionally pow­
erful and has excellent driving characteristics
both under normal driving conditions and on
snow and ice. A lways read and follow safety pre-
ca utions
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By using all wheel d rive, yo ur vehicle has good
forward motion with standard t ires in winter con­
ditions. However, in winter we recommend using
wint er or all season t ires on all four wheels, be­
cause this will improve the braking effect.
Snow chains
If
t h ere are snow cha in laws, snow chains must
a lso be used on vehicles with a ll wheel drive
¢ page 221, Snow chains.
Replacing tires
For vehi cles w ith all whee l dr ive , only whee ls w ith
the same rolling circumferen ce s hou ld be used .
Avoid using tires with different tread depths
¢ page 212, New tires or wheels .
Offroad vehicle?
Your Audi is not an offroad vehicle -there is not
enough g round clearance. For this reason, avo id
d ifficult terrain .
_& WARNING
-Also, in vehicles with a ll wheel drive, adapt
yo ur dr iv ing style to the cu rrent road and
traff ic conditions . Do not let the increased
sa fety provided tempt you into taking risks ,
because th is increases the r isk of an acci­
dent .
- The braking ability of your veh icle is limited
to the tract ion of t he wheels . In this way, it
is not diffe rent from a two whee l dr ive vehi ­
cle. Do not be tempted to accelerate to a
hig h speed when t he road is slippe ry, be­
ca use this increases the risk of a n accide nt .
- Note that on wet streets , the fro nt wheels
can "hyd roplan e" if d riving at speeds that
are too hig h. Unlike front whee l drive
vehicles, t he eng ine does not rev highe r su d­
den ly when the vehicle begins hydroplaning .
For this reason, adapt your speed to the
road conditions to reduce the risk of an acc i­
dent.
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Rear spoiler
T he extendable rear spoiler increases driving sta­
bilit y.
Fig. 1 39 Cen ter conso le : b utton for t he rea r spo iler
T he rear spo iler retracts and extends. Var ious op­
erating modes (automatic o r manua l mode) can
be a ctivated .
Automatic mode (normal op eration)
- Extends automatically: when the vehicle speed
exceeds approx imately 80 mph ( 130 km/h) .
- Retracts automat ica lly: when the veh icle speed
drops be low approx ima tely SO mph (80 km/h) .
Manual mode
- Extend ing manua lly: br iefly tap the button to
fully extend the rear spo iler.
- Retracting manually: when dr iving at speeds
be low approximately 10 mph (20 km/h), press
and hold the button to retract the rear spoiler.
When at speeds between 10 mph (20 km/h)
and 80 mph (130 km/ h), the rea r spo ile r will
comp letely retract whe n you tap the butto n.
Indicator lights
,A I. Rear spoiler: System f ault!
The rear spoiler may not have extended due to a
malfunction . This cou ld change the vehicle 's driv ­
i ng character istics at high speeds. Do not dr ive
faster than 85 mp h (140 km/h) . Drive to an au­
thorized Audi dea ler or authori zed Audi Service
Facility immed iate ly to have the malfu nction cor ­
rected . T he color of the indicato r light depends
o n the vehicle speed .
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Intellig ent T echn olo gy
A WARNING
When extending and retracting the rear spoil­
er, make sure there are no persons or objects
w ith in the spoiler range to reduce the risk of
injury .
A WARNING -
Driv ing at higher speeds w ithout the rear
spoiler dep loyed can impa ir hand ling cha rac­
ter istics, mak ing the veh icle h arder to con­
trol.
- Always make sure that the spoiler is de ­
ployed whe n driving at speeds ove r 85 mp h
(140 km/h) . If the rear spoiler warning/indi ­
cator lig ht in the instrument cluster comes
on, the rear spoi ler may not have deployed.
- Never drive at speeds higher than 85 mph
(140 km/h) if the spoiler is not deployed .
Have the spoiler inspected as soon as possi­
ble by an author iz ed Audi dealer or qualif ied
workshop.
- Always obey speed limits and other traffic
laws .
@ Note
-Never push on the vehicle on the rear spoi l­
er . T his cou ld cause damage.
- To prevent damage to the rear spoiler do not lean or p lace anyt hing on it.
- Only operate t he rear spoiler manually when
the luggage compartment lid is close and
the rear spoiler moving parts are not
blocked. Otherwise, damage could occur.
(D Tips
Clean the rear spoi ler compartment every 2 to
3 months . To function correctly, the rear
spoiler must be free of ice, snow and leaves.
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Energy management
The starting ability is optimized
T he energy management sys tem manages the
electrical energy distribution and optimizes the
availability of electrical energy for starting the
engine.
When a vehicle with a conventional energy sys ­
tem is not driven for a long time, the veh icle bat­
tery is drained by equ ipment (for example, the
i mmob il izer). I n certa in circumstances, there
could may not be enough energy to start the en ­
gine.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intell igent ener­
gy management system fo r dist ributing elect rici­
ty. Thi s sign if icantly improves the start ing ab il ity
and increases the vehicle battery life .
The energy management system Is made up of
battery dia gno sis , idling current management ,
and dynamic energ y m ana gement .
Battery di agnosis
T he battery diagnos is determines the vehicle bat ­
tery cha rge level. The sensors detect the batte ry,
t h e battery cur rent, and the battery temperature .
The current cha rge level and the pe rformance of
t h e ve hicle battery are dete rm ined based on th is.
Idling current management
The idling current management decreases the
energy used while parked . With the engine
switched off , it ma nages the ene rgy distr ib ution
to the d ifferent e lectr ica l components . Data from
t h e battery d iagnosis is ta ken into a ccou nt for
t hi s.
Depend ing on the vehicle batte ry cha rge level,
electr ical eq uipme nt is switched off one item af ­
te r th e o ther to p revent the veh icle bat tery from
dra ining and to ma intain the starting ab ility.
Dynamic energy manag ement
While driv ing , dynam ic energy management dis­
t ributes the app ropr iate amo unt of energy to t he
electr ical eq uipme nt.
It contro ls the batte ry
c h arge level so tha t the amount of energy is no t
..,.