2018 AUDI A7 brake

Ass is tance sy stem s
~-~ ---Di sta nce 1: this setting corresponds
to a distance of 92 ft (28 m) when traveling at 62
mph (100 km/h), for example (time between: 1
second) .
~-- ~--Di stan ce 2: this setting corresponds
to a distance of 118 ft (36 m) wh en traveling at
62 mph (100 km/h), for example (time between:
1.3 seconds) .
~--- ~-Distance 3: this setting corresponds
to a distance of 164 ft (SO m) when traveling at
62 mph (100 km/h), for example (time between:
1.8 seconds) .
~--- -~ Distance 4 : This setting corresponds
to a distance of 210 ft (64 m) when traveling at
62 mph (100 km/h), (time d istance of 2.3 sec­
onds) .
A WARNING
Following other vehicles too closely increases
the risk of collisions and ser ious personal in­
jury .
- Setting short distances to the traffic ahead
reduces the time and distance available to
br ing your vehicle to a safe stop and makes
it eve n mo re necessary to pay close atten­
t ion to traffic.
- Always obey applicable traffic laws, use
good judgment, and select a safe following
distance fo r the traffic, road and weather
cond itio ns.
(D Tips
-Distance 3 is set automatically each time
you switch the ignit ion on.
-Your settings are automatically stored and
assigned to the remote control key being
used.
Selecting the driving mode
Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive cruise control
.. Se lect the des ired driving mode in dr ive se lect
q poge 105 .
92
@ Tips
Your settings are automatically stored and as­
signed to the remote contro l key being used.
Request for driver intervention
Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive cruise control
Fig . 98 Ins trumen t cluster : request for dri ver in te rven tion
In certain situations, the system will request you
to take action :
-If the braking from the adaptive cru ise control
system is not eno ugh to ma inta in eno ugh dis­
tance to the object ahead .
The danger is indicated by
the . indicato r light
q fig. 98. An aud io signa l will also so und.
- Press the brake pedal to slow your vehicle down .
Audi braking guard
Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive cruise control
Fig. 99 Instrumen t cl uster : approac h warn in g
The braking guard uses radar sensors and a v ideo
camera .
It also functions within the limits of the
system when adaptive cru ise control is switched
~ ~

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J ' What can the braking guard do?
When detected in time, the system can assess
dangerous sit uat ions where an object a head
brakes suddenly or if your own vehicle is traveling
at a high speed and approaching an object that is
mov ing more slowly. The brak ing guard does not
react if it cannot detect the situation.
The system advises you of various dangero us sit­
uations :
- T he
distan ce warning occurs if you d rive too
closely to the object ahead for a long period o f
time . If the object ahead brakes strongly, you
would not be able to avoid a collision .
The.
indicator light appears as an indication for th is.
- The
app roach wa rning occurs when an object
ahead is traveling more s low ly or brakes
strongly. When th is warning occurs, it may on ly
be poss ible to avoid a co llision by swerving or
braking strongly . The danger is indicated by the
• ind icator light ~ fig . 99 . An aud io signal w ill
also sound .
If you do not react early enough or at a ll to a dan­
ge rous situation, the braking guard suppo rts you
w ith a brak ing intervent ion .
- If a co llision is imminent, the system will first
provide an
ac ute warning by braking sharply.
- If you do not react to the acute warning, the braking guard can increase the braking force
within the limits of the system
ll . Th is reduces
the veh icle speed in the event of a collision .
- The system can init iate comp lete decelerat ion
shortly before a collision
l l. Full deceleration at
high speeds occurs only in vehicles with adap­
t ive cru ise control and s ide ass ist (pre sense
plus).
- If the braking gua rd determines that you are
not brak ing st rongly eno ugh whe n there is an
i mpending co llision, i t can increase the brak ing
fo rce .
- T he pre se nse functions also engage whe n
the re is an impend ing
collision ~ page 95.
ll This is not availa ble in so me co untrie s.
A ss istance systems
Which functions can be controlled?
Yo u can swit ch t he b raking guard and t he d is ­
tance/approach warning on or
off in the Infotain ­
ment system
~ page 94, Settings in the Info­
tainment system .
A WARNING
--
Lack of attention can cause collisions, other
accidents and ser ious personal inj uries. The
braking guard is a n assist system and cannot
pr event a collision by itself . T he dr iver m ust
a lways inte rvene . The d river is always respon­
s ib le for b raking at the co rrect t ime.
- Always pay close atten tion to traffic, even
when the b raking gua rd is switched on. Be
ready to in tervene and be rea dy to take
comp le te co ntro l wheneve r ne cess ary. A l­
ways keep the sa fe and legal distance be ­
tween your vehi cle a nd ve hicl es up ahead .
- B raki ng g uard works w it hi n limi ts a nd will
not respond o uts ide the system limits, fo r
examp le when approach ing a stopped veh i­
cle or stationary obstacle (end of a traff ic
jam or vehicle that has broken down in traf ­
fic).
- Always remember that the radar sensor for
the brak ing guard works only within def ined
detection and range limits that may prevent
the proper detect ion of other vehicles.
- The radar sensor's function and range can
be reduced by rain, snow and heavy spray.
Mov ing vehicles up ahead may not be
promptly de tected or may no t be detected
at a ll.
- Reflective surfaces includi ng crash ba rriers
or tunne l entra nces may impair the function
of t he ra da r se nso r.
(D Tips
- You can cancel the braking with increas ing
force tha t is initiated by t he sys tem by brak­
ing yourse lf, by acce le ra ting not iceably or
by swe rving.
- Keep in mind that b raking gua rd can b rake
unexpectedly. A lways secure a ny cargo or
93

Assistance systems
objects that you are transporting to reduce
the risk of damage or injury.
Settings in the Infotainment system
A pp lies to: ve hicles w ith Audi a daptive cruise co ntro l
~ Se lect : the ICARI function button > (Car)* Sys­
tems
control button > Driver assistance > Audi
braking guard .
System -
switch the brak ing guard On /Off. When
you switch the ign ition on, the message
Braking
guard: Off
appears if the system is switched off.
Early warning -the distance and approach warn ­
ings in the display can be sw itched
On /Off .
(D Tips
-Your settings are automatically stored and
assigned to the remote control key being
u sed .
-If you restrict or switch off the ESC, the
braking guard also switches itse lf off
c;, page 121.
-Switch braking guard off when you are load ­
in g t he ve hicle onto a vehicle ca rr ier, t rain,
sh ip or other type of transportation. This
ca n prevent undesired warnings from the
braking guard system.
Messages
App lies to: ve hicles w ith Audi a daptive cruise co ntro l
Braking guard: Off
This message appears if the system is switched
off throug h the I nfota inment system . Otherwise,
if the system is turned off, the information ap ­
pears every time shortly after the start of the
trip.
The message also appears if the system is not
ava ilable due to a malfunct ion or if the ESC is
sw itched off
c:;, page 121 . If this is the case, the
system w ill not prov ide warnings about a possi­
b le co ll ision.
Braking guard: engaged
This message appears if a sharp brake pressure
was applied due to an acute warning.
94
ACC : Unavailable!
ACC and Audi braking guard: Unavailable
The system cannot guarantee that it will detect objects correctly and is sw itched off. The sensors
have been moved or are faulty . The pre sense
functions may also be affected . Drive to an au­
thorized Audi dea le r or aut horized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor­
rected.
ACC: Currently unavailable. No sensor vision
ACC and Audi braking guard: Currently unavail­
able. No sensor vision
This message appears if the sensor v iew is ob­
structed, for examp le by leaves, snow, heavy
spray or dirt . Clean the sensors
c:;, page 87,
fig . 90 .
ACC : Currently unavailable. Gradient too steep
The road exceeds the maxim um possible angle
for safe adaptive cruise control operation. Adap ­
tive cruise control is switched off.
ACC : Only available in D, Sor M
Select the D/S or M selector lever position.
ACC: Currently unavailable. Parking brake ap ­
plied
The adaptive cruise control system switches off
automat ica lly if the parking brake is set.
ACC : Currently unavailable. Stability control
(ESC) input.
This message appears if the electro nic stabiliza­
tion control (ESC) is taking action to stab ilize the
vehicle. In th is case, adaptive cruise control
switches off automatically.
ACC off: Manual control!
This message appears when adaptive cruise con ­
trol cannot set the parking brake. Press the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from ro llin g.
• ••
Three white dots appear if a setting cannot be se­
l ected w ith the operating lever. For example, this
happens if adaptive cru ise control cannot start
driv ing automat ically in stop-and-go traff ic

Intelligent Technology
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

Intelligent Technology
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
IJIJ,

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J ' intervals and ensures a better reaction time for
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
-
Intelligent Technology
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
123

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 .
124
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
c> .&. . II>-

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J ' greater than the amount being generated in or­
der to maintain an optima l vehicle battery charge
level.
(D Tips
-Energy management cannot overcome the
l aws of physics. Note that the charge leve l
and length of the vehicle battery life are
limited.
-When the starting ability is endangered, the
(•) indicator light turns on qpage 14.
What you should know
Maintaining the starting ability is the highest
priority.
A lot of stress is placed on the vehicle battery
when driving short distances, during city driving,
and at co ld times of the year. A lot of energy is
used but little is generated. It is a lso critical
when the engine is not running but electrical
equipment is switched on. In this case, energy is
used but none is generated.
In situations like this, energy management will
actively regulate the distribution of energy.
Long periods without use
If you do not drive your vehicle for several days or
weeks, e lectrica l equipment is gradually sca led
back or switched off. This reduces energy use and
ensures the vehicle wi ll be able to start after long
periods of time. Some convenience functions,
such as interior lighting or power seat adjust­
ment, may not be available under certain circum­
stances . These convenience functions will be
ava ilable again once you switch the ig nition on
and start the engine.
With the engine switched off
The vehicle battery will drain if you use Infota in­
ment functions such as listening to the radio
while the eng ine is switched off.
The vehicle's ability to start may be impaired by
the energy use, a message will appear in the In­
fotainment system d isplay .
The message ind icates that the system will
switch off automatically soon. If you wou ld like
Intelligent Technology
to continue using the functions, you must start
the engine.
With the engine running
Although e lectr ical energy is generated wh ile
dr iv in g, the veh icle battery can drain. This can
happen if little energy is generated but much is
used, and the charge level of the vehicle battery
is not optimal.
To r esto re the balance of energy, components
that require large amounts of energy are tempo­
rarily scaled back or switched off . Heating sys­
tems in particular require a great deal of energy .
If you notice, for example, that the seat heating*
or rear window defogger is not work ing, then it
has been temporarily reduced or sw itched off.
These systems are available aga in as soon as the
energy supply has been restored .
In add ition, you may notice that the idle speed
has slightly increased. That is normal and no
cause for concern. By increasing the idling speed,
the addit ional required energy will be generated
and the vehicle battery w ill be charged .
Notice about data
recorded by the Event
Data Recorder and
vehicle control modules
Event Data Recorder
This vehicle is equ ipped w ith an Event Data Re­
corder (EDR) . The ma in purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or near crash-l ike situa­
tions, such as an airbag deployme nt or hitt ing a
road obstacle, data that will ass ist in understand­
ing how a vehicle 's systems performed. The EDR
is designed to record data related to vehicle dy ­
namics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record such data as:
-How various systems in your vehicle were oper ­
ating;
-Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
be lts were buckled/fastened;
-How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
..,.
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