2018 AUDI A7 Owners Manual

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0 00 <.,;) ' Steering wheel heating
Applies to: veh icles with steering wheel heating
The steering wheel rim can be heated.
Fig . 73 Steering wheel: steering wheel heating button
~ Press the~ button to switch steer ing whee l
heating on/off. The message
Steering wheel
heating on /Steering wheel heating off
ap­
pears in the instrument cluster display.
The temperature is maintained at a constant lev­
e l when steering wheel heat ing is switched on.
The steering wheel heating settings are stored
automatically and ass igned to the remote control
key that is in use.
Warm and cold
63

Drivin g
Driving
General information
Breaking in
A new vehicle must be broken in for the first 1,000 mi les (1,500 km). Do not dr ive at speeds
t hat will exceed 2/3 of the max imum pe rm itted
engine speed (RPM) for the first 600 miles
(1,000 km), and avoid fu ll acceleration during
this period . You may gradually start increasing
the RPM and the speed between 600 miles
(1,000 km) and 1,000 miles (1,500 km) .
During the first hours of use, the engine has a
higher internal friction than later on when all
moving parts have settled into place with each
other.
How the vehicle is driven d uring the first 1,000
miles (1 ,500 km) a lso affects the engine quality .
Drive at moderate engine speeds after the initial
break-in per iod, part icu larly when running a cold
eng ine . Th is will reduce eng ine wear and improve
the m ileage .
Do not drive at too
low of an engine speed (RPM).
Shift down if the engine stops running "smooth­ ly". Extremely high eng ine speeds are automati­
cally reduced .
Reducing the risk of vehicle damage
@ Note
When driving on poo r roads, by cu rbs and on
s teep ramps, make su re t hat low-hang ing
compone nts such as the spo ile r and exha ust
system do not come into contact with these
or they could be damaged. This especially ap ­
plies to vehicles with low ground clearance
and veh icles that are heavily loaded.
Warming up/cooling down
Applies to: Sand RS models
By warming up/cooling down the engine carefu l­
ly, you can help red uce unnecessary stra in o n
your veh icle when driving in a sporty sty le .
64
The eng ine speed is lim ited when the engine is
cold - the full engine output is not availab le.
When the engine is at operat ing temperatu re,
the engine speed limitation moves to a h igher
RPM range. A lso, cold t ires may not have fu ll
road gr ipping capab ilities until they have warmed
up .
Your vehicle a lso has an after-run cooling fea­
ture . However, cooling down is still important.
The eng ine and the brakes as well as the exhaust
system and the transmission become very hot
whe n driving in a spo rty style . Before you shut
t h e ve hicle off, you should cool down the vehicle
by d rivi ng a few miles at low speeds with l igh t ac ­
ce leration.
Driving through water on roads
Note the following to reduce the risk of vehicle
damag e when driving throug h water, for exampl e
on f looded roads:
- The water must not be any higher t han the bo t­
tom of the vehicle body.
- Do not dr ive faster tha n wal king speed .
& WARNING
After driving th ro ugh water or m ud, the effec ­
tiveness of the brakes may be red uce d due to
mo isture on the brake rotors and brake pads.
A few careful brake app lications shou ld dry
off the brakes and restore the full braking ef­
fect .
@ Note
-Vehicle components such as the engine,
t ransmiss ion, suspens ion or elect rical sys­
tem can be seve rely damaged by drivi ng
throug h water .
- Always switch the Start/Stop system* off
when driving through water
¢ page 70 .
(D Tips
- Determine the depth before driving throug h
water.
- Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse or
switch the engine off whe n driving through
water.

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-Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may
create waves that raise the water level and
make it too deep for your vehicle to drive
through safely.
-Avoid driving through salt water, because
this can cause corrosion.
Economical and environmentally-friendly
driving
The amount of fuel consumption, the environ­
mental impact and the wear to the engine,
brakes and tires depends mostly on your driving
style. With an anticipatory and economic driving
style, fuel consumption can be reduced by ap­
proximately 10-15%. The following tips will help
you conserve the environment and your money at the same time.
Anticipatory driving
A vehicle uses the most fuel when accelerating.
When you drive with anticipation, you do not
need to brake as often and so you accelerate less.
When possible, let your vehicle coast with a
gear
engaged, for example, when you notice that the
next traffic light is red. This produces an engine
braking effect, which helps to protect the brakes
and tires and reduces the emissions and fuel con­
sumption to zero (fuel shut-off during decelera­
tion) .
Shift efficiently
Upshifting earlier is an effective way to save fuel.
Staying in a gear too long uses fuel unnecessari­
ly .
Press down on the accelerator pedal slowly and
avoid "kick-down".
Avoid full acceleration
You should rarely travel at the maximum vehicle
speed. High speeds cause a disproportionately
high increase in fuel consumption, emissions and
traffic noise. Slower driving saves fuel.
Reduce idling time
The Start/Stop system* helps to reduce the idling
time automatically. In vehicles without the Start/
8 Stop system*, it is efficient to switch the engine 00 \.J ' Driving
off when stopped at railroad crossings and long
red lights. Stopping the engine for 30-40 sec­
onds already saves more fuel than the amount of
extra fuel needed to restart the engine.
It takes a very long time in idle to warm the en­
gine up to operating temperature. Wear and
emissions are especially high in the warm-up
phase. Therefore, you should begin driving im­
mediately after starting the engine. Avoid high
RPMs while doing this .
Have maintenance performed regularly
By having maintenance performed regularly on
your vehicle, you can help to reduce fuel con­
sumption before you even start to drive. The maintenance condition of your vehicle not only
affects traffic safety and long-term value but al ­
so impacts
fuel consumption . A poorly main­
tained engine can lead to fuel consumption that
is 10% higher than normal.
Avoid short trips
The engine and emissions control system must
reach their optimal operating temperature to ef­
fectively reduce consumption and emissions .
A cold engine uses a disproportionately high amount of fuel. The engine reaches operating
temperature and consumption normalizes only
after approximately
2 .5 miles (4 km) .
Check the tire pressure
To save fuel, make sure the tires are always in­
flated to the correct pressure
Q page 215. The
fuel consumption can increase by S% if the pres­
sure is only 0.5 bar too low . Due to the increased
rolling resistance, low tire pressures will also
lead to greater tire
wear and will affect driving
behavior.
Do not drive on
winter tires year -round, as this
will consume up to 10% more fuel.
Eliminate unnecessary weight
Since every pound of extra weight increases fuel
consumption, a quick inspection of the luggage
compartment may be worth it to avoid unneces -
sary weight.
.,.
65

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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0 00 <.,;) ' -If the steering wheel is aligned with your
face, the supplemental driver's airbag can­
not provide as much protection in an acci­
dent . Always make sure that the steering
wheel is aligned with your chest .
- Always hold the steering wheel with your
hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi­
tions to reduce the risk of personal injury if
the driver's airbag deploys.
- Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands inside
the steering wheel rim or on the steering
wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the
wrong way can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms and head if the driver's airbag
deploys.
Power steering wheel position adjustment
Applies to: veh icles with power steering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel position can be adjusted elec­
trically up and down and forward and back.
Fig. 75 Switch for adjusting the steering whee l pos itio n
.,. To adjust the height, press the switch up/down.
The steering column will continue moving as
long as you are pressing the switch .
.,. To move the steering wheel forward or back,
press the switch forward/back. The steering
column will continue moving as long as you are
pressing the switch.
The steering wheel can also be adjusted when the ignition is switched off .
In vehicles with memory fun ction*, the steering
column settings are stored together with the
seat position.
Driving
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.
- If the steering wheel is aligned with your
face, the supplemental driver's airbag can­ not provide as much protection in an acci­
dent. Always make sure that the steering
wheel is aligned with your chest.
- Always hold the steering wheel with your
hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi­
tions to reduce the risk of personal injury if
the driver's airbag deploys .
- Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock position or with your hands inside
the steering wheel rim or on the steering
wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the
wrong way can cause serious injuries to the
hands, arms and head if the driver's airbag
deploys.
Easy seat entry
Applies to: vehicles with power stee ring wheel adjus tment
Easy seat entry makes it easier to enter and exit
the vehicle by adjusting the steering column au ­
tomatically.
.,. In the Infotainment system, select the ICARI
function button > (Car)* Systems control but­
ton
> Vehicle settings > Seats > Driver's seat >
Easy seat entry > On.
When easy seat entry is switched on, the steering
column goes back up into the park position when
.,.
67

Driving
the ignition is switched off. After entering the ve­
hicle, the steering co lumn returns to the stored
position once the ignition is sw itched on.
Starting and stopping
the engine
Starting the engine
The I S TAR T ENGINE ST OP I button switches the
ignition on and starts the engine.
Fig. 76 Center co nsole : START ENGINE STO P butto n
Starting the engine
.. Press the brake pedal and move the se lector
lever into the P or N po sit ion
¢ ,A .
.. Press the I START ENGIN E STOPI button . The
engine will start .
Switch ing the ignition on /off
If you wou ld like to switch the ignition on with­
out starting the engine, follow these steps:
.. Press the I S TAR T ENG IN E STOPI button with­
out
pressing the brake pedal. Vehicles w ithout
the Start/Stop system *: the needle in the tach­
ometer
moves into the READY position.
.. To switch the ignition off, press the button
again . The needle in the tachometer
moves into
the
OFF pos it ion .
E quipment that uses a lot of electricity is switch­
ed off temporarily when you start the engine .
If the engine does not start immediate ly, the
starting procedure stops automatically after a
short time. Repeat the starting procedure.
ll Thi s fun ctio n is not availab le in all c oun tries.
68
Start /Stop system*
See the information in ¢ page 70, Start/Stop
system.
A WARNING
To reduce the risk of poisoning, never allow
the engine to run in confined spaces.
(D Note
Avoid high engine speed, full th rottle, and
heavy engine load if the engine has not
reached operating temperature yet . You could
damage the engine.
@ For the sake of the environment
Do not let the engine run while parked to
warm up. Begin driving immediate ly. This re­
duces unnecessary emissions.
(D Tips
- Some noise after starting the engine is nor­
ma l and is no cause for concern.
- If you leave the veh icle w ith the ignition
switched on, the ignition w ill switch off af ­
ter a certain amount of time . Make sure that
electrical equipment such as the exterior
lights are switched off .
Stopping the engine
.. Bring the vehicle to a full stop .
.. Move the selector lever to the P or N posit io n.
.. Press the I START ENGINE STOP I button
¢ page 68, fig. 76.
Steering lock1>
The steering locks when you turn the engine off
using the
I STAR T ENGIN E STOPI button and
open the driver's door . The locked steering helps
prevent veh icle theft .
Emergency off function*
If it is absolutely necessary, the engine can also
be turned off while driving in the R or D/S selec-
tor lever position at speeds be low 6 mph (10 km/
...

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \,;J ' h). To stop the engine, press and hold the
I START ENGINE STOPI button and also press the
brake pedal.
A WARNING
- Never turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. The full func­
tion of the brake booster and the power
steering is not guaranteed. You may need to
use more force when braking or steering.
Because you cannot brake and steer as you
usually would, this could lead to accidents
and serious injuries.
- Always take the key with you whenever you
leave your vehicle. Otherwise, the engine
could be started or electrical equipment
such as the power windows could be operat­
ed. This can lead to serious injury.
- For safety reasons, always park the vehicle
with the selector lever in the P position.
Otherwise, there is the risk that the vehicle
could roll unintentionally.
@ Note
If the engine has been under heavy load for
an extended period of time, heat builds up in
the engine compartment after the engine is
switched off and there is a risk of damaging
the engine. For this reason, let the engine run
at idle for approximately two minutes before
shutting it off.
(D Tips
For up to 10 minutes after stopping the en­
gine, the radiator fan may turn on again auto­
matically or it may continue to run (even if
the ignition is switched off) for the following
reasons:
- The coolant temperature is increasing due
to trapped heat.
- If the engine is warm and the engine com­
partment also heats up from strong sun­
light.
- Applies to: vehicles with particulate filter:
The emissions control system is heated
through the regeneration process, even if
the engine has not reached its operating
temperature yet.
Driving
Messages
Turn off ignition before leaving car
This message appears and a warning tone sounds if you open the driver's door when the ignition is
switched on.
Press brake pedal to start engine
This message appears if you do not press the
brake pedal when starting the engine.
fll Is key in the vehicle?
This indicator light turns on and this message ap­
pears if the ignition key was removed from the
vehicle when the engine was running. If the igni­
tion key is no longer in the vehicle, you cannot
switch on the ignition or start the engine once
you stop it. You also cannot lock the vehicle from
the outside.
Shift to P, otherwise vehicle can roll away.
Doors do not lock if lever is not in P.
This message appears for safety reasons if the
transmission is not in the P position when you
switch the ignition off. Move the selector lever to
the P position. Otherwise the vehicle is not pro­
tected from rolling and it cannot be lock ed.
II Key is not recognized. Hold back of key
against marked area. See owner's manual
If the indicator light turns on and this message
appears, there is a
malfunction ~ page 70.
Turn off ignition before leaving car. Battery is
discharging
This message appears if the driver's door is opened while the ignition is switched on. Always
switch off the ignition if you are leaving the vehi­
cle. Also see
~ page 71 .
Shift to P and turn off ignition before leaving
car, otherwise vehicle can roll away
This message appears if the driver's door is
opened while the ignition is switched on and the
selector lever is not in the P position . Move the
selector lever into the P position and switch the
ignition off when you exit the vehicle . Otherwise
the vehicle could roll. Also see
~ page 71 .
69

Driving
Starting the engine when there is a
malfunction
It may not be possible to start the engine under
certain circumstan ces, for example if the battery
in the vehicle key is drained, if interference is af­
fected the key or if there is a system malfunc ­
tion .
Fig . 77 Cen te r co nsole /rem ote co ntro l key : sta rt ing t he
en gine
if t h ere is a m alfu nction
Req uiremen t: the messa ge Key i s no t recog­
nized . Hold back of key against marked a rea.
See owner's manual
must app ear and the DJ in ­
dicator light must tu rn on .
,.. Hold the remo te contro l key in the loc ation in­
dicated as shown in the illustration
y >l) c::> fig . 77.
,.. Press the b rake pedal.
,.. Press the I S TAR T ENGINE STOPI button . The
engine will start.
,.. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or author­
ized Audi Service Facility immed iately to have
the malfunc tion cor rected .
(D Tips
You can view the message again by pressing
the
I START ENGINE STOP ! button.
Start/Stop system
Description
Applies to: veh icles with Sta rt/Stop system
The Start/Stop system can help increase fuel
economy and reduce
CO 2 em issions.
I n Start/Stop mode, the engine shuts off a uto­
mat ica lly w hen the veh icle is stopped, such as at
ll Ma rket -spe cifi c
70
a traffic light . The ignition remains sw itched on
during this stop phase . The engine wi ll restart
automat ica lly w hen needed .
Applies to A7 Sportback: the Start/S top system
activates au tomatically once t he ignition is
switched on .
Applies to 57 Spo rtback: the last Sta rt/S top sys­
tem set ting is res tored when the ign it io n is
swi tched on .
Basic requirements for Start/Stop mode
- The d rive r's doo r must be closed .
- The driver 's seat be lt much be fastened .
- The hood must be closed .
- The vehicle m ust have driven faster than
2.5 mph (4 km/h) since the last t ime it stop­
ped.
- A t railer m ust not be hitched to the vehicle .
@ Note
A lways switc h the Sta rt/Sto p system off when
driving thro ugh water
c::> page 70.
a) Tips
T he engine s tops shor tly before the ve hicle
comes to a stop
ll.
Stopping/starting the engine
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
Fig. 78 In str umen t cluste r: e ngin e sw it ch ed off (stop
p hase )
,.. Bra ke the vehicle to a stop. The engine stops
shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop or if
the vehicle is stat ionary
1> . Keep your foo t on .,..