2021 AUDI A4 tow

8W1012721BC
Lights and Vision

Interior lighting
Applies to: vehicles with interior lighting
The ambient lighting turns on when the ignition
is switched on. The O light switch position deacti-
vates the interior lighting.
You can adjust the interior lighting individually.
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
>» Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Light & Visibility > Interior lighting.
You can choose from various color profiles, such
as Maritime.
Additional settings and profiles:
— Brightness: you can adjust the brightness for
all of the interior lighting.
— Individual: you can adjust the brightness and
color of the interior lighting separately, divided
into contour and surface lighting.
— Audi drive select: the contour and surface
lighting color changes depending on the select-
ed drive select* mode.
@ Tips
Depending on vehicle equipment, when the
drive select function is activated, the color of
the contour and surface lighting may briefly
change to red or blue when the interior tem-
perature is manually increased or decreased.
Display brightness
You can adjust the instrument and display illumi-
nation separately. The settings depend on the ve-
hicle equipment.
> Applies to MMI: select on the home screen:
SETTINGS > Display & brightness.
Possible settings in the MMI:
— Cockpit dimming
— Head-up display
—MMI
— Audi virtual cockpit

Pitt aaa ce aria eda)


Fig. 46 Light switch: instrument illumination
%, - You can adjust the background brightness of
the instruments and display illumination.
> Press the knob (@) to release it.
> Turn the knob toward "-" or "+"
crease the brightness.
> Press the knob again to return it to its original
Position.
Ow
Depending on vehicle equipment, the instru-
ment illumination (needles and gauges) may
turn on when the lights are off and the igni-
tion is switched on. The illumination for the
gauges reduces automatically and eventually
turns off as brightness outside increases. This
function reminds the driver to turn the low
beams on at the appropriate time.
to reduce or in-
Vision
Adjusting exterior mirrors

RAZ-0150

©
Fig. 47 Driver's door: knob for the exterior mirrors
©

> Turn the knob in the driver's door to the desired
position:
55
>

8W1012721BC
Lights and Vision


— If electrolyte fluid comes into contact with
the eyes, flush them thoroughly with plenty
of clean water for at least 15 minutes and
then seek medical attention.
— If electrolyte fluid comes into contact with
the skin, flush the affected area with clean
water for at least 15 minutes, and then
clean with soap and water and seek medical
attention. Clean affected clothing and shoes
thoroughly before wearing again.
— If the fluid was swallowed and the person is
conscious, flush the mouth with water for at
least 15 minutes. Do not induce vomiting
unless this is recommended by medical pro-
fessionals. Seek medical attention immedi-
ately.

Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
Electrolyte fluid can leak out from broken mir-
ror glass. This liquid damages plastic surfaces
and paint. Clean this liquid as quickly as possi-
ble, for example with a wet sponge.

@
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
— If the light reaching the rearview mirror is
obstructed, the automatic dimming mirror
will not function correctly,
— The automatic dimming mirrors do not dim
when the interior lighting is turned on or
the reverse gear is selected.
Sun visors


Fig. 48 Roof headliner: sun visor
Sun visor
The sun visors can be moved out of their brackets
and turned toward the doors (@).
They can also be moved back and forth length-
wise in this position.
Vanity mirror
The mirror lighting* switches on when the cover
over the vanity mirror @) opens.
Applies to: vehicles with sunshade

Fig. 49 Rear door: sunshade
Rear door sunshade
> Pull the sunshade out and attach it to the re-
tainer on the upper door frame > fig. 49.
57

8W1012721BC
Sitting correctly and safely

Head restraints
General information
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints

B4G-0454



Fig. 60 Correctly-adjusted head restraint
Make sure that:
— The upper edge of the head restraint is as even
as possible with the top of your head
— The head restraint is as close as possible to the
back of the head
— The head restraints in any occupied rear seats
are all the way up

Z\ WARNING
— There is one head restraint for each seat. All
vehicle occupants must adjust the head re-
straint correctly before every trip. Having
head restraints that are not adjusted cor-
rectly or not installed in the vehicle increas-
es the risk of a neck injury during sudden or
unexpected driving or braking maneuvers or
in a collision.
— Only remove the rear seat head restraints if
it is necessary to install a child safety seat
= page 76. Stow the removed head re-
straints securely, for example in the luggage
compartment. Reinstall the head restraints
immediately once the child safety seat has
been removed. Driving without head re-
straints increases the risk of serious neck in-
juries.


Front head restraints
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints

[RAZ-0683|


Fig. 61 Front seat: adjusting the head restraint
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Adjusting the head restraints
> To adjust the head restraint upward or forward,
slide it until it locks into place.
> To adjust the head restraint downward or back-
ward, press the button on the side and slide the
head restraint. Release the button and slide the
head restraint farther until it locks into place.
Rear head restraints
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints

RAZ-0823

Fig. 62 Rear seat: adjusting or removing the head restraint
Adjusting the head restraints
> To adjust the head restraint upward, slide it un-
til it locks into place.
> To adjust the head restraint downward, press
the button @) and slide the head restraint. Re-
lease the button and slide the head restraint
farther until it locks into place.
Removing the headrests
Applies to: vehicles with removable head restraints
> Fold the backrest forward slightly > page 85.
67
>

Sitting correctly and safely


that PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; stays
on while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #¥; does not
turn on, remove the child safety seat and in-
stall it again according to the child safety
seat manufacturer instructions. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &%; still does
not turn on, the front passenger's seat must
not be used. Drive to an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the airbag system inspected.
— Fluids, electronic devices, or mechanical
damage on the front passenger's seat may
cause the front passenger seat occupant de-
tection to malfunction. The system may
then incorrectly detect if the front passeng-
er's seat is occupied. As a result, it could de-
ploy the front passenger’s airbag incorrectly
or fail to deploy it, which increases the risk
of serious or fatal injury. Make sure that no
wet objects (such as a wet hand towel) and
no fluids come into contact with the front
passenger's seat cushion. If the front pas-
senger's seat becomes wet, dry it immedi-
ately. Make sure no electronic devices (such
as a laptop or a retrofitted seat heater) are
on the front passenger's seat. Do not trans-
port any objects on or under the front pas-
senger's seat.
— Seat covers or protective covers may prevent
the advanced airbag system from correctly
detecting child safety seats or passengers in
the front passenger's seat. You must not use
seat covers or protective covers on the front
passenger's seat that are not specifically ap-
proved for use on Audi seats with an ad-

vanced airbag system.

Child safety seats
General information
When installing and using child safety seats, fol-
low the information in this Owner's Manual, the
applicable state and federal regulations, and the
manufacturer instructions for the child safety
seat.
76
You can also obtain useful and current informa-
tion from the following sources:
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration
http://www.nhtsa.gov
http://www.safercar.gov
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
http://www.safekids.org
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
http://www.carseat.org
Transport Canada Information Centre
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety
Audi Customer Experience Center
https://www.audiusa.com/help/contact-us
https://www.audi.ca/ca/web/en/models/layer/
contact.html

Z\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries,
children must always be secured in the vehicle
with a child safety seat that is appropriate for
their body size, weight, and age.
— Children ages 12 and under must be trans-
ported using the appropriate child safety
seat. Note differences in regulations be-
tween states and countries.
— Child safety seats secured incorrectly in the
vehicle may cause serious or fatal injuries in
the event of an accident. Always secure the
child safety seat according to the manufac-
turer instructions.
— Children or babies must not under any cir-
cumstances be held on the lap of the driver
or other passengers while driving.
— Do not secure more than one child in a child
safety seat.
— Never allow a child to sit in a child safety
seat unsupervised.
— Never allow children to ride unsecured in the
vehicle or to stand or kneel on the seats
while driving. In the event of an accident, a
child could be propelled through the vehicle.
This can cause serious or fatal injuries for
the child and passengers.
— If children use an incorrect seating position

while driving, they have a higher risk of

Sitting correctly and safely


belt retractor lock on the safety belt is acti-
vated if the child safety seat manufacturer
instructions require it.
— Due to the risk of fatal injury, never place a
rear-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat when the front passenger's
airbag is switched on.
— For the child safety seat to offer the maxi-
mum protection, it is especially important
to route the vehicle safety belt correctly. Al-
ways follow the instructions from the child
safety seat manufacturer for routing the
safety belt correctly. Incorrectly fastened
safety belts can cause injuries, even during
minor accidents.

lly securing a child safety seat to
the top tether a


RAZ-0325
Fig. 71 Version @ rear shelf / Version @) rear backrest: top
tether anchors for securing a child safety seat with an up-
per strap
80
RAZ-0093


Fig. 72 Version @ rear shelf / Version @ rear backrest: se-
curing the upper strap on the top tether anchor
Observe the safety precautions > page 76.
There is a top tether anchor behind every seat in
the rear bench seat to additionally secure a child
safety seat with an upper belt.
> Move the head restraint behind the child safety
seat upward.
> Applies to: version 1: Fold the cover for the top
tether anchor upward.
> Guide the upper belt on the child safety seat
under the head restraint or along both sides of
it and toward the rear (depending on the child
safety seat model).
> Fasten the belt to the top tether anchor
=> fig. 72. While doing this, make sure the belt
is not twisted and is not running over any sharp
edges.
> Secure the child safety seat according to the
child safety seat manufacturer instructions.
> Pull the belt tightly so that the child safety seat
rests at the top of the seat backrest.
> If necessary, move the head restraint behind
the child safety seat downward.

8W1012721BC
Storage and convenience

@) Note
Beverage containers in the cup holders should
always
have a lid. Otherwise, the liquid inside
could spill and cause damage to vehicle
equipment.
Storage and
compartments
Storage area behind the rear head
restraints
Applies to: vehicles with storage area behind the rear head re-
straints
The storage area can be used to carry light pieces
of clothing.

Z\ WARNING
The storage compartment must not be used
to transport heavy objects, hard objects, or
animals. Such objects endanger vehicle occu-
pants and increase the risk of injury during
sudden driving or braking maneuvers or in an
accident.
@) Note
Make sure that the heating grid strips for the
rear window defogger are not damaged by
abrasive objects.
@ Tips
To ensure the ventilation functions correctly,
the ventilation slots between the rear window
and the storage area must not be covered.
Additional storage options
Depending on vehicle equipment, there are a va-
riety of storage areas, compartments, and retain-
ers, such as the glove compartment, for safely
storing and securing objects.

Z\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of injury, make sure all
storage compartments are always closed
while driving.
— Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-

ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Store objects securely while
driving.
— Only use the storage compartments in the
door trim panels to store small objects that
will not stick out of the compartment and
impair the function of the side airbags.
— Due to strength reasons, only secure objects
up to 11 lbs (5 kg) with the straps* in the
luggage compartment. Heavier objects are
not adequately secured. There is risk of per-
sonal injury.
— Only lightweight clothing should be hung
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do
not use clothes hangers to hang clothing.
The pockets of the clothing must not con-
tain any heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged
objects. This could impair the effectiveness
of the side curtain airbags.
— Make sure your view toward the rear is not
blocked, for example by hanging clothing or
objects in the vehicle.


Luggage compartment
General information
All pieces of luggage or objects must be securely
fastened in the luggage compartment. Note the
following to maintain good vehicle handling:
> Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com-
partment.
> Stow heavy luggage as far forward in the lug-
gage compartment as possible.
> Use non-elastic cords attached to the tie-downs
to secure objects.

Z\ WARNING
— Applies to: vehicles with luggage compart-
ment cover: The luggage compartment cov-
er is not a surface for storing objects. Ob-
jects placed on the cover increase the risk of
injury to all vehicle occupants during sudden
driving or braking maneuvers or in the event
of an accident. >

83

Storage and convenience


— Applies to: vehicles with luggage compart-
ment cover: The luggage compartment cov-
er must always be securely fastened when in
use to reduce the risk of an accident.
— Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Always stow objects securely in
the luggage compartment and secure them
at the tie-downs. Use straps suitable for
heavy objects.
— If pieces of luggage or objects are secured
to the tie-downs with unsuitable or dam-
aged straps, this can increase the risk of in-
jury during braking maneuvers or accidents.
— When transporting heavy objects, the vehi-
cle characteristics will change due to the
shift in the center of gravity, which increases
the risk of an accident. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.
— The cargo net* is only strong enough to se-
cure light objects. Heavy objects are not ade-
quately secured. Attempting to secure heavy
objects increases the risk of injury.
— Never exceed the permitted axle and load
and vehicle weight > page 287.
— Never secure a child safety seat to the tie-
downs.
— Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cially if the luggage compartment lid is
open. Children could enter the luggage com-
partment and close the luggage compart-
ment lid from the inside. This creates the
risk of fatal injury, since the children would
be locked in and may not be able to escape
by themselves.
— Do not allow children to play in or on the ve-
hicle. Close and lock the luggage compart-
ment lid as well as all other doors when you
leave
the vehicle.
— Never transport passengers in the luggage
compartment. Every passenger must be cor-
rectly secured with the safety belts in the
vehicle > page 68.
— Be careful when releasing the backrest and
folding
it forward. To reduce the risk of be-


ing pinched, pay attention and check when
folding backrests forward.
— The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the lug-
gage compartment during sudden braking.
— The backrest must be latched securely to en-
sure that the safety belt is protecting the
center seating position.
— Always pull forward on the backrest to make
sure it is check if it is correctly locked in
place.


84
() Note
—To reduce the risk of damage, move the rear
head restraints down > page 67 before fold-
ing the rear backrests forward.
— 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.
— To reduce the risk of damaging the front
seats, make sure there is enough space be-
tween the front seat and the rear seat
equipment when folding the center backrest
forward.
— 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.
— Make sure that the heating grid strips for
the rear window defogger are not damaged
by abrasive objects.
— Applies to: vehicles with manual luggage
compartment cover: Let the luggage com-
partment cover roll up slowly to reduce the
risk of damage.
— Applies to: vehicles with partition net: Let
the partition net roll up slowly to reduce the
risk of damage.
(i) Tips
— The tire pressure must be adapted to the
load > page 245.
— You can purchase straps at specialty stores.

Driving

“N” (Neutral) gear
In the “N” gear, power is not transmitted to the
driving wheels. Use the “N” gear in a car wash
(with conveyor belts), for example.
If you unintentionally select “N” while driving
(faster than 1 mph (2 km/h)), you can also shift
back to “D” without pressing the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked
when the transmission is in the "N” gear.
“Pp” (Park) gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
The vehicle is secured from rolling away by the
parking lock when in the “P” gear.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the “P” button @) on the selector lever.
— The “P” next to the selector lever will light up.
“P” engages automatically if you switch the en-
gine off while the “D” or “R” gear is selected. If
you switch the engine off in “N”, “P” will engage
automatically after approximately 30 minutes.
If you want to switch from “P” to “D” or “R”, the
engine must be running.
If you cannot shift out of “P”, for example be-
cause the vehicle has no power, you may need to
use the emergency release for the parking lock
=> page 100.
Selecting a driving program
Various driving programs can be selected when in
the “D” gear. The programs influence when the
transmission shifts and how the accelerator ped-
al responds.
The selected driving program is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
—D (Drive): normal driving mode
— S (Sport): sporty driving mode
If you select the Dynamic mode in Audi drive se-
lect*, the “S” driving program will be activated.
When the ignition is switched off, the driving pro-
gram may be reset to “D”.
98
To switch between the current driving program
and “S”, push the selector lever toward the rear.

ZA WARNING
— Before you start driving, check if the label
for the desired selector lever position next
to the selector lever is lit up.
— Secure the vehicle against rolling before ex-
iting the vehicle > page 96.
— Power is still transmitted to the wheels
when the engine is running at idle. To pre-
vent the vehicle from “creeping”, you must
keep your foot on the brake in all selector
lever positions (except "P" and "N") when
the engine is running.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, do not
press the accelerator pedal when changing
gears if the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is running.
— Never select the “R" or "P” gears while driv-
ing. Doing so could cause an accident.
— The vehicle can roll even if the ignition is
switched off.

@) Tips
If you shift between “D” and “R” within one
second, you do not need to press the brake
pedal. This makes it possible to “rock” if it is
stuck, for example.