2018 AUDI A7 ECU

Seats and stor age
-Do not hang heavy objects on the coat
hooks, as they could cause personal injury in
a sudden stop.
CD Note
Objects on the rear shelf that rub against the
rear window can damage the rear window
heating wires.
Roof rack
Applies to: ve hicles w ith roo f rack
Fig . 60 Attac hment poi nts for the roof rack
If luggage or cargo is to be carried on the roof,
you must observe the following:
- Only a specia lly designed roof rack may be used
on your veh icle. These roof racks are the basis
for a complete roof rack system. Additional at­
tachments/carrie r systems are necessary to
transport luggage and sports equipment. We recommend roof racks and attachments from
the Audi Genu ine Accessor ies program.
-When installing the roof rack, make sure that it
is secured only at the designated po ints on the
roof <=>
fig. 60.
- Note the permitted axle load, permitted total
weight, and permitted roof load of you r vehicle
<=> page 254. The roof load is the total of the
weight of the roof rack, the attachments and
the cargo you are car rying. However, you must
also note the permitted load of the carrie r sys­
tem being used.
_& WARNING
-Follow the installation instructions provided
with the roof rack system.
If you do not se­
cure the roof rack system and objects on the
54
roof correctly, they could come loose from
the vehicle and cause an accident .
-Using a roof rack system increases the risk
of an accident, because it changes the vehi­
cle handling characteristics wh ile driving by
shifting the center of grav ity and/or the
in ­
creas ing the surface area exposed to wind.
You may need to adapt your driving sty le
a nd speed to the cur rent cond itions.
CD Note
Make sure that the luggage compartment lid
and the sunroof* do not come into contact
with objects on the roof when they are open .
@ For the sake of the environment
Your vehicle will require more fuel due to the
increased wind resistance . So remove the roof
rack after us ing it.
Luggage compartment
General information
_& WARNING
Read and follow the important safety precau­
tions in<=>
page 134, Storing cargo correctly.
Increasing the size of the luggage
compartment
Appl ies to : vehicles wi th fo lding back rests
The rear seat backrests can be folded forward ei­
ther separately or together.
Fig . 61 Back rest: release lever and secu ring knob

a co ,...,
N
" N ,...,
0 00 <.,;) ' Folding the backrest forward
.,. Pull the release lever @¢ fig. 61 in the direc-
tion of the arrow to fo ld the backrest forward.
Folding the backrest back into the upright
position
.,. Fold the backrest back up aga in until it latches
and the red marking @ is no longer visible
~ A -
A WARNING
-Be careful when folding the backrests for­
ward! Not paying attention and not check­
ing when folding the backrests can lead to
pinching injuries .
- The backrest must be latched securely to
ensure that the safety belt is protecting the
center seating position .
- The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the lug ­
gage compartment dur ing sudden braking .
(D Note
-If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is folded forward , you
could damage the head restraints on the
rear seat.
- To reduce the risk of damage, move the rear
head restraints down before folding the
rear backrests forward
~ page 49 .
-When folding the backrest forward, make
sure the outer safety belts are in the belt
guide recess so that they do not get pinched
in the backrest lock and damaged . Other ob ­
jects should be removed from the rear
bench seat to protect the backrest from
damage .
-
Seats and storage
Tie-downs
Applies to: vehicles with tie -downs
Fig. 62 Lug gage compar tmen t: loc ation of the tie -d owns
... To secure objects, for example using the lug­
gage compartment net, fold the tie -down re ­
tainer upward .
Luggage compartment net
Applies to: vehicles wit h luggage compartment net
The cargo net prevents small objects from slid­
ing.
Fig. 63 Luggage compar tmen t: cargo net st retched ou t
... Attach the hooks for the luggage compartment
net in the tie-downs.
A WARNING
-
For strength reasons, only objects with a max-
imum weight of 10 lbs (5 kg) should be se­
cured in the luggage compartment net. Heavi­
er objects are not adequately secured . There
is r isk of personal injury .
55

Seats and stor age
Luggage compartment cover
The luggage compartment cover consists of two
parts .
• Fig . 6 4 Cover in the open luggage compartment lid
F ig . 6 5 Cover behind the rear bench seat
Removing th e cover in the luggage
compartment lid
.. Remove the knobs @¢ fig. 64 from the ball
mounts.
" Pull the cover@out of the retainers @ in the
direction of the arrow.
In stall ing th e cov er in the luggage
c ompa rtment lid
" Slide the cover upward into the retainers @.
"Press the knobs (D onto the ball mounts.
Removing the c over beh ind the rear bench
s eat
" Pull the cover ¢ fig. 65 back.
"Pull the cover upward to release.
Install ing th e co ver beh ind the r ear bench
s eat
" Place the left and right s ides of the cover into
the mounts on the side trim.
9 C) ..,. ID
" Slide the cover forward until it locks into place.
56
A WARNING
,-
- To reduce the r isk of accidents, never install
the luggage compartment cover without se­
curing it.
- The luggage compartment cover is not a
surface for stor ing objects . Objects p laced
on the cover could endanger all veh icle oc­
cupants dur ing sudden bra king maneuvers
or in a crash.
(D Note
The defogger and antenna w ires in the rear
window can be damaged by objects on the
l uggage compartment cover rubbing aga inst
them.
Storage hooks
App lies to: vehicles wi th bag hooks
Fig . 66 Luggage compa rtment: storage hooks
You can also use the hooks to hang light purses,
bags, etc.
A WARNING
The hooks can ho ld a maximum weight of 6.6
lbs (3 kg). Heavier objects are not adequately
secured. There is r isk of personal injury.

a co .-, N
" N .-, 0 00 <..:l ' Pass-through with ski bag
Applies to: vehicles with pass-through and ski bag
Long objects, such as skis or snowboards, can be
transported in the ski bag*.
Fig . 67 Backrest: pass-through cover
.,. To load the ski bag in the vehicle, fo ld the rear
center armrest down.
.,. Fold the pass-through cover down C) fig. 67.
.,. Push the packed ski bag* through the opening
from the luggage compartment. The zipper
must face toward the rear .
.,. Secure the ski bag C) page 5 7.
(D Tips
You can also open the pass-through from the
luggage compartment. Push the release but­
ton down and push the cover forward.
Securing the ski bag
Applies to: vehicles with pass-through and ski bag
The ski bag* must be secured in the luggage
compartment.
Fi g. 68 Luggage compartment: securing the sk i bag•
S eats and storag e
Fig. 69 Rear bench seat: securing the sk i bag
There are two straps with hooks @on the bot­
tom side of the ski
bag* ¢ fig. 68. There is also a
securing
strap @¢ fig. 69 on the ski bag .
.,. To secure the ski bag in the luggage compart­
ment, engage the hooks into the rear tie-downs
¢ fig. 68 .
.,. Tighten the strap on the ski bag to prevent the
objects in the bag from slid ing around
C) fig. 69.
A WARNING
- The ski bag is only intended for transporting
skis and other light objects. To reduce the
risk of serious injuries, never transport
heavy or sharp objects in the ski bag.
- After loading, the ski bag must be secured
with the strap.
- Make sure that all objects that you are
transporting in the pass-through are secure.
They could slide around and increase the risk of injury when brak ing or during an acci­
dent .
(D Tips
-Only fold the ski bag up if it is dry.
- When transporting sk is or snowboards,
tighten the securing strap between the
bind ings.
- Lay skis in the bag with the points facing
forward and snowboards and ski pole points
facing the rear.
57

Driving
When not being used, a roof rack should be re­moved to decrease the wind resistance of the ve­
hicle. You will save approximately 12% of your
fuel when at speeds from 62- 7 5 mph
(100-120 km/h) .
Save energy
The engine drives the generator, which generates
electricity ; the fuel consumption also increases
with the demand for electricity. Therefore, switch electrical equipment off when you no longer
need it. Examples of equipment that uses a lot of
energy are air blowers at a high setting, the rear
window defogger and seat heating* .
@ Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after
starting. If warning lights should come on to
ind icate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces
heat, which could result in overheating or
other damage to the vehicle or other proper-
ty.
@ 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 emission control system and
could 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, switches, ignition wires,
valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Emission Control System and other important vehicle components .
@ Tips
The consumption estimates as published by
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre­
spond to your actual consumption on the
road, which will vary depending upon vehicle
66
load and speed, road and weather conditions ,
trip length, etc.
Steering
Manual steering wheel position adjustment
Applies to: vehicles with manual steering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel posi tion is adjustable up and
down and forward and back .
Fig. 74 Lever on th e stee ring column
.,. Pull the lever in the direction of the arrow
~A -
... Bring the steering wheel into the desired posi­
tion .
.,. Push the lever against the steering column un ­
til it is secure.
A WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjustment
and improper seating position can cause seri­
ous personal injury.
-Adjust the steering wheel column only when
the vehicle is not moving to prevent loss of
vehicle control.
-Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so
that there is a minimum of 10 in (25 cm)
between your chest and the steering wheel
~page 130, fig. 140 . If you cannot main­
tain this minimum distance, the airbag sys­
tem cannot protect you properly .
- If physical limitations prevent you from sit­
ting 10 in (25 cm) or more from the steer­
ing wheel, check with your authorized Audi
dealer to see if adaptive equipment is avail-
able.
.,.

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" N .... 0 00 \,;J ' Releasing the parking brake automatically
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed,
the driver's safety belt must be latched and the
parking brake must be set.
.,. To start driving and release the parking brake
automatically, press the accelerator pedal as
usual.
In addition to releasing the parking brake auto­
matically, other convenience and safety functions
are available when you start driving
¢page 74,
Starting to drive.
Preventing the automatic parking brake
release
The vehicle could begin rolling unintentionally,
depending on the hill or if towing a trailer.
.,. To prevent the parking brake from releasing au­
tomatically, pull and hold
the(®) switch and
press the accelerator pedal. The parking brake
remains set and prevents the vehicle from roll­
ing backward.
.,. You can release the C®l switch again once you
are sure that you are giving enough driving
force to the wheels by pressing the accelerator pedal.
Emergency braking function
You can use the emergency braking function in an
emergency situation, or if the standard brake op­
eration malfunctions or is disabled.
.,. Pull and hold the®) switch.
.,. As soon as you release the (®) switch or acceler-
ate, the braking stops.
Pulling and holding the
C®) switch while driving
the vehicle activates the emergency braking func­
tion. The vehicle is braked at all four wheels by
activating the hydraulic brake system. The brak­ ing effect is similar to heavy
braking¢&_ .
To reduce the risk of activating the emergency
braking by mistake, a warning tone (buzzer)
sounds when
the®> switch is pulled. Emergency
braking stops as soon as
the®) switch is released
or the accelerator pedal is pressed.
Parking
.,. Press the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
Driving
.,. Pull the®> switch to set the parking brake .
.,. Place the selector lever in the P position.
.,. Turn the engine off¢&_ .
.,. Turn the steering wheel when parking on in­
clines so that the wheels will roll into the curb
if the vehicle starts moving.
A WARNING
-
- Do not press the accelerator pedal inadver­
tently if a gear is selected when the vehicle
is stationary and the engine is running. Oth­
erwise, the vehicle will start to move imme­
diately and this could result in an accident.
- Emergency braking should only be used in
an emergency, when the normal brake pedal
has failed or the brake pedal is obstructed.
During emergency braking, your vehicle will
brake similar to heavy braking. ESC and the
associated components (ABS, ASR, EDL)
cannot overcome the laws of physics . In cor­
ners and when road or weather conditions
are bad, a full brake application can cause
the vehicle to skid or the rear end to swerve,
which
increases the risk of an accident.
- If the power supply fails , you cannot set the
parking brake if it is released . In this case,
park the vehicle on level ground and secure
it by placing the selector lever in the P posi­
tion. See an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
- Always take the vehicle key with you when
leaving your vehicle, even for a short period
of time. This applies particularly when chil­
dren remain in the vehicle. Otherwise chil­
dren could start the engine, release the
parking brake or operate electrical equip­
ment such as power windows, which in­
creases the risk of an accident .
- No one should remain in the vehicle when it
is locked - especially children . Locked doors
make it more difficult for emergency work­
ers to get into the vehicle, which puts lives
at risk.
(D Tips
When stopping at a traffic signal or stopping
in city traffic, you can set the parking brake
manually . The vehicle does not have to be
73

Driving
App lies to: ve hicles w ith S tro nic t ra n smi ssio n
Ii) 10 Tran sm issio n m alfunctio n: N o reve rse
ge ar. You c an c ontinue d riv ing
There is a system malfunct io n in the t ransm is­
sion . T he transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
will no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
You cannot engage the r everse gear. Drive to an
author ized Audi dealer or author ized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor­
rected .
[!l Transmi ssio n m alfun cti on : Sto p vehicl e and
s hift t o park .
Do not cont inue drivi ng. Select the P se lector lev­
er position and see an authorized Audi dea le r or
author ized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
(D Note
If the transmission has switched to emergen­
cy mode, drive to an author ized Audi dealer or
author ized A udi Se rvice Facility immediate ly
to have the ma lfunction corrected.
Selector lever emergency release
If the vehicle's power supply foils, the selector
lever con be released in on emergency.
F ig. 85 Fro nt ce nter console: emergency release for t hese ­
l ector lever
.,. T o reach the emergency release mechanism, re­
move t he ashtray insert * .
.,. Loosen and remove the sma ll cap in the ashtray
mount ~ fig. 85 .
.,. You now have access to a pin . Using a screw­
driver or s imilar object, press the pin down and
hold it in that posit ion.
80
.,. Press the release button in the selector lever
and move it into the N position .
Only move the selec tor lever o ut of the P posit ion
when the ignition is switched on. If the vehicle
must be pushed or towed due to a power failure
(for example, the vehicle battery is drained), the
selector lever must first be moved to the N posi­
tion using the emergency release mechanism.
A WARNING
- Only activate the emergency release while
on a level surface or a slight slope .
- Only move the selector lever out of the P po­
sition when the parking brake is set. If it is
not funct ioning, secure the veh icle from
ro lling using the brake pedal or other suita­
ble means, such as b locking a front and a
rear wheel. An unsecured vehicle may roll
away, which increases the risk of an acci­
dent .

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" N .... 0 00 \.J - Trailer towing Driving with a trailer
General information
Your veh icle is primar ily intended for transport­
ing people and luggage. However, if you dr ive
with a trailer , follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg­
u lations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle 's fuel
consumption, performance and wear. It also re­
quires highe r concentration from the driver.
A WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Certain requirements must be met when towing
a trailer.
Trailer hitch
Only use a trailer hitch with a removab le ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be perm itted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pu lled. Above all, it must be secure ly and safe ly
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. A lways follow the instructions given by
the trai ler hitch manufacturer .
Trailer brakes
If the tra iler has its own brake system, then fol­
l ow the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Trailer towing
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The coo ling sys­
tem must be designed for additiona l load and
contain enough coo lant
i::> @ .
@ Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitab le cooling system, especia lly if t he out­
side temperatures are high . otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
Operating instructions
Several things must be noted when towing a
trailer.
Towing capacity
Your vehicle can only be operated with class 1 or
class 2 trailers.
Load distribution
Poor cargo load and distribut ion can negatively
impact vehicle handling.
- Store objects preferably in the vehicle luggage
compartment . The vehicle should always carry
the heaviest poss ible load and the trailer
should have the lightest possible load.
- Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heavy objects are as close to the axle as poss i­
b le.
- Secure objects from sl iding out of place .
- Ut ilize the maximum permitted tongue weight
if possible .
Tires
Set the tire pressure on your vehicle for a "full
load"; see the tire pressure sticker
c::>page 215.
If necessary, also adjust the tire pressure on the
trailer according to the manufacturer's recom­ mendat ion .
Winter tires should be mounted on the vehicle and on the trailer during winter temperatures.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the tra ffic behind the trailer
with the standard exterior mirrors, then you
81