2021 AUDI A4 warning lights

8W1012721BC
Lights and Vision

Lights and Vision
Exterior lighting
Switching the lights on and off


Fig. 41 Instrument panel: light switch with button
@ Light switch
Turn the light switch @ to the corresponding po-
sition when the ignition is switched on. The 2
symbol and the selected position will turn on (ex-
cept position 0).
O - The daytime running lights* will automatical-
ly turn on. In vehicles for some markets, you can
switch the automatic daytime running lights on
and off in the MMI.
AUTO - The headlights will automatically adapt to
the surrounding brightness.
300: — Parking lights
20 - Low beam headlights
When the low beam headlights or parking lights
are switched on, the corresponding Be or 200 in-
dicator light will turn on depending on vehicle
equipment.
@ All-weather lights Zo
Requirement: the light switch must be in the AU-
TO or ZO position.
The headlights automatically adjust so that there
will be less glare, for example when the road sur-
face is wet.
Automatic headlight range control
Your vehicle is equipped with automatic head-
light range control. It reduces glare for oncoming
traffic if the vehicle load changes. The headlight
range adjusts automatically.
Audi adaptive light
Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive light
Audi adaptive light provides better visibility when
driving in the dark. The lights are adapted to the
road conditions based on speed, such as when
driving on expressways, rural roads, at intersec-
tions, and around curves. The adaptive lights only
function when the light switch is in the AUTO po-
sition and the all-weather lights are switched off.
ZA WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 117.
— Automatic headlights are only intended to
assist the driver. The driver is still responsi-
ble for controlling the headlights and may
need to switch them on and off manually
depending on light and visibility conditions.
For example, fog cannot be detected by the
light sensors. So always switch on the low
beams ZO under these weather conditions


and when driving in the dark.

G) Tips
— If the vehicle battery has been discharging
for a while, the parking light may switch off
automatically. Avoid using the parking
lights for several hours.
— When using lighting equipment, the driver
is responsible for adhering to any local ap-
plicable regulations while driving and when
parking the vehicle.
— Only the front headlights turn on when the
daytime running lights are switched on*. In
vehicles in certain markets, the tail lights
will also turn on.
—Incool or damp weather, the inside of the
headlights, turn signals, and tail lights can
fog
over due to the temperature difference
between the inside and outside. They will
clear shortly after switching them on. This
does not affect the service life of the light-
ing.
51

Lights and Vision


Turn signal and high beam lever

BFV-0012


Fig. 42 Lever: switching on the turn signal and high beams
The lever operates the turn signals, the high
beams and the headlight flasher.
Turn signals @ >
The turn signal will activate when you move the
lever
into a turn signal position while the ignition
is switched on. The respective Kl or By indicator
light will flash.
@ Right turn signal
@® Left turn signal
The turn signal blinks three times if you tap the
lever (convenience turn signal).
If an indicator light blinks twice as fast as usual,
a turn signal bulb has failed. Carefully drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
High beams 20 and headlight flasher
> Move the lever to the corresponding position:
@) High beams on (vehicles with high beam assis-
tant*) > page 52
@ High beams off or headlight flasher
The
ED indicator light in the instrument cluster
will turn on.

Z\ WARNING
High beams can cause glare for other drivers,
which increases the risk of an accident. For
this reason, only use the high beams or the
headlight flasher when they will not create
glare for other drivers.

52
item luo
Applies to: vehicles with high beam assistant
The high beam assistant automatically turns the
high beams on or off depending on the surround-
ing conditions.
A camera on the rearview mirror mount can de-
tect light sources from other road users. The high
beams switch on or off automatically depending
on the position of vehicles driving ahead and on-
coming vehicles, the vehicle speed as well as oth-
er environmental factors and traffic conditions.
Activating high beam assistant
Requirement: the light switch must be in the AU-
TO position and the high beam assistant must be
switched on in the MMI > page 53.
> To activate the high beam assistant, tap the
lever forward @) > page 52, fig. 42. The 3&4 in-
dicator light will appear in the instrument clus-
ter display and the high beams will be switched
on or off automatically. The Ea indicator light
will turn on if the high beams are switched on.
Activating and deactivating the high beam
head lights manually
If the high beams did not switch on or off as ex-
pected, you may switch them on or off manually
instead:
> To activate the high beams manually, tap the
lever
forward @) > page 52, fig. 42. The & in-
dicator light will turn on.
> To deactivate the high beams manually, pull
the lever back @) > page 52, fig. 42. The high
beam assistant is deactivated.
Operating the headlight flasher
> To operate the headlight flashers, pull the lever
back @) > page 52, fig. 42. If the high beam
headlights are not switched on, the high beam
assistant will remain activated.

Z\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 117.

Lights and Vision

0 - Deactivates all adjustment functions.
Q/ #- Selects the left or right exterior mirror.
To adjust the mirror glass in a mirror, press the
knob in the desired direction.
GA - Heats the mirror glass depending on the
outside temperature.
©) - Folds the exterior mirrors*. To fold the mir-
rors out, turn the knob to one of the other posi-
tions. In the MMI, you can select if the mirrors
fold in automatically when you lock the vehicle
=> page 34.
Front passenger's exterior mirror tilt
function*
Requirement: the knob must be in the position
for the front passenger’s exterior mirror.
The mirror surfaces tilt slightly when reverse
gear is selected to provide a better view, for ex-
ample of the edge of the curb.
You can adjust the mirror surface by turning the
knob in the desired direction.
The mirror moves from the reversing position
back to the original position:
— When you switch the ignition off
— When you drive forward at speeds faster than 9
mph (15 km/h).
— When the knob is no longer in the position for
the front passenger exterior mirror

Z\ WARNING
Curved mirror surfaces (for example convex)
enlarge the field of vision. However, they
make objects in the mirror appear smaller and
farther away. When using these mirrors to es-
timate your distance to vehicles behind you
when changing lanes, you could estimate in-
correctly, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.

@) Note
— Applies to: vehicles with power folding exte-
rior mirrors: If the mirror housing was
moved by outside forces (such as an impact
when maneuvering), you must use the pow-
er folding function to fold the mirror all the
56
way out. The mirrors will make a loud noise
when they latch into place. The mirror hous-
ing must not be moved back into place by
hand because this could impair the function
of the mirror mechanism.
— Applies to: vehicles without power folding
exterior mirrors: If the mirror housing was
moved by outside forces (such as an impact
when maneuvering), you must move it back
in place by hand.
— If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Never fold power folding exterior mirrors*
by hand. Only fold them in and out using
the power controls.
@) Tips
If the power adjusting function malfunctions,
the glass in both mirrors can be adjusted by
pressing on the edge of it by hand.
Dimming the mirrors
Manual dimming rearview mirror
> Pull the lever on the bottom of the mirror back.
Automatic dimming rearview mirror
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
> The interior and exterior mirrors dim automati-
cally when light shines on them, for example
from headlights on a vehicle behind you.

ZA WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
— Electrolyte fluid can leak out from broken
mirror glass. This liquid can irritate the skin,
eyes and respiratory system. If there is con-
tact with the fluid, flush immediately with
plenty of water. Consult a physician if neces-
sary.
— Repeated or long-term exposure to electro-
lyte fluid can lead to irritation of the air-
ways, especially in people with asthma or
other respiratory conditions. Take deep
breaths immediately after leaving the vehi-
cle or, if this is not possible, open all of the
doors and windows as wide as possible.

Lights and Vision

Windshield wipers
Switching the windshield wipers on

RAZ-0149.



Fig. 51 Lever: rear window wiper (allroad)
> Move the windshield wiper lever S7 to the cor-
responding position:
@ Windshield wipers off
@ Rain sensor/intermittent mode. The wind-
shield wipers switch on once the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 2 mph (4 km/h) and it is
raining. The higher the sensitivity of the rain sen-
sor that is set (switch © to the right), the earlier
the windshield wipers react to moisture on the
windshield. You can deactivate the rain sensor
mode, which switches the interval mode on. In
intermittent mode, you can adjust the interval
time using the switch ©.
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Light & Visibility > Rain sensor.
@ Slow wiping
@ Fast wiping
@ Single wipe. If you hold the lever in this posi-
tion longer, the wipers switch from slow wiping
to fast wiping.
58
© Clean the windshield 7. The number of wipes
and afterwipes depends on how long the lever is
held in position ©).
The wipers wipe one time after several seconds of
driving to remove water droplets. You can switch
this function off by moving the lever to position
© within ten seconds of the afterwipe. The after-
wipe function is reactivated the next time you
switch the ignition on.
If you hold the lever in position ©) for longer
than half a second, the edge wiping feature will
be activated. This moves the windshield wipers
closer to the edge of the windshield and per-
forms an afterwipe to clean the residue that re-
sults from the wiping process from the edge of
the windshield. The function is available when
driving at speeds up to 75 mph (120 km/h).
The headlight washer system* operates only
when the low beam headlights are on. If you
move the lever into position ), the headlights
will be cleaned at fixed intervals.
Applies to: vehicles with rear window wiper: @) -
Wiping the rear window J. The number of wipes
depends on the windshield wiper movement.
The rear wiper automatically switches on when
the reverse gear is selected and the front wind-
shield wipers are on and running.
Applies to: vehicles with rear window wiper: ®) -
Cleaning the rear window &. The number of
wipes depends on how long the Lever is held in
position @).
This may also clean the rearview camera, depend-
ing on the vehicle equipment.

Z\ WARNING
— The rain sensor is only intended to assist the
driver. The driver may still be responsible for
manually switching the wipers on based on
visibility
conditions.
— The windshield must not be treated with
water-repelling windshield coating agents.
Under unfavorable conditions, such as wet-
ness, darkness, and when the sun is low,
these coatings can cause increased glare, >

Lights and Vision

> Remove the wiper blade from the windshield
wiper arm mount @).
> Insert the new wiper blade into the mount on
the wiper arm until it clicks into place.
> Place the wiper arm back on the windshield.
> Exit the wiper blade replacement position.

ZX WARNING
— For safety reasons, the windshield wiper
blades should be replaced once or twice
each year.
— Dirty windshield wiper blades can impair vi-
sion, which increases the risk of an accident.
©) Note
— The windshield wipers must only be lifted
up when in the wiper blade replacement po-
sition. Otherwise, you risk damaging the
paint on the hood or the windshield wiper
motor.


— You should not move your vehicle or press
the windshield wiper lever when the wiper
arms are folded up from the windshield. The
windshield wipers would move back into
their original position and could damage the
hood and windshield.
Gi) Tips
— You can also use the wiper blade replace-
ment position for other reasons, for exam-
ple if you want to protect the windshield
from icing by using a cover.
— You cannot activate the wiper blade replace-
ment position when the hood is open.
(aE Th} anging the rear wiper blade
Applies to: vehicles with rear window wiper

B8R-0380



Fig. 53 Rear window wiper: installing the wiper blade
60
Cleaning the wiper blades
> Fold the wiper arm away from the rear window.
>» For information on cleaning, see > table on
page 256.
Removing the wiper blade
> Fold the wiper arm away from the rear window.
> Remove the wiper blade from its holder.
Installing the wiper blade
> Press the wiper blade mount into the retainer.
> Fold the window wiper arm back onto the rear
window.

ZA WARNING
For safety reasons, the windshield wiper
blades should be replaced once or twice each
year.
Messages
If the & indicator light turns on, then there is a
windshield wiper malfunction. The message that
is also displayed indicates the cause and possible
solutions. If one of the messages does not turn
off, drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.


a Automatic wipers: malfunction! See owner's
manual
The light/rain sensor is malfunctioning. You can
still control all functions that are not controlled
by the rain sensor using the windshield wiper lev-
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.

Sitting correctly and safely

— Your thighs are lightly supported by the front
surface of the seat
— The backrest is in an upright position and your
back is resting against it
— You have a sufficient view of the area around
the vehicle
— You have a clear view of the instrument cluster,
indicator lights, and the head-up display*

Z\ WARNING
— If you are too close to the steering wheel or
instrument panel, the airbag system cannot
provide the optimal protection, which in-
creases the risk of injury and death.
— To reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking maneuvers or accidents,
never drive with the backrest reclined very
far. The airbag system and seat belts can on-
ly provide optimal protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the driver
is wearing the seat belt correctly. If the
backrest is angled back too far, the safety
belt can shift to soft areas of the body, such
as the stomach, which increases the risk of
injury.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, only adjust
the seats when the vehicle is stationary.
— Be careful when adjusting the seat. Lack of
control or attention when adjusting can re-
sult in injuries due to pinching to vehicle oc-
cupants both in the front seats and rear
seats.
— Never place objects in the driver's footwell.
Objects could shift and enter the area
around the pedals, which could prevent you
from using them. You would then be unable
to use the pedals if sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers were needed, which increas-
es the risk of an accident.
— Make sure that the floor mats are always se-
curely attached.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, never place
additional floor mats or other floor covers
over the installed floor mats, because this
reduces the pedal's range of motion and can
impair pedal operation.
—To reduce the risk of injury, never place your
feet on the instrument panel, out of the



64

window, or on the seat surfaces. This also
applies to passengers in the rear seats.
(@) Note
Applies to: vehicles with manually adjustable head re-
straints

To reduce the risk of damage, be very careful
when adjusting the seat to make sure the
head restraints do not come into contact with
the headliner or the sunroof*.
Power seat adjustme






Fig. 57 Front seat: adjusting the seat (version B)
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Adjusting the backrests
> To move the backrest forward or backward,
press the button @) forward or backward.
Adjusting the seat position
> To move the seat forward or backward, push
the button @) forward or backward.
> To adjust the seat upward or downward, push
the rear section of the button @) upward or
downward.
> To adjust the seat surface, press the front part
of the button @) upward or downward.

8W1012721BC
Driving


ZA WARNING
— Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-
danger other road users and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
place your foot under the brake pedal.
@) Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 107. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
@) Tips
— In vehicles with an electromechanical brake
booster, the resistance in the brake pedal
may vary depending on the driving situation
(such as if driver assistance system are ac-
tive).
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.

— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 229.
Ga 7 @ Brakes: malfunction! Stop vehicle
safely
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
[S/ Bana fA also turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution. If
the brake booster is not working, you have to use
much more force when braking the vehicle.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance. Read and follow the other safety pre-
cautions > A\.
Hie / © Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality. You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle against rolling > page 96.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the EG i @
indicator light turns on briefly to check the func-
tion. If the indicator light does not turn on, there
is a system malfunction.
file / © stays on, there is a malfunction in
the brake system.
@- A high load was placed on the brakes from
driving downhill for a long period of time. Follow
the instructions in the message to utilize the en-
gine braking effect and to relieve the brakes.

Z\ WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that >

105

Driving

Offroad driving
Applies to: allroad
Your vehicle is not an offroad vehicle. Note the
following points when driving offroad:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and
drive across raised areas of the ground with the
wheels on one side of the vehicle, instead of al-
lowing the center of the vehicle to pass over the
raised areas.
— To reduce the risk of becoming stuck, drive
through sandy or swampy areas at a steady
speed and without stopping, if possible.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* Offroad mode > page 110
— Hill hold assist* > page 108
— Limit ESC > page 114

ZA WARNING
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the ve-
hicle and your driving ability.

@ For the sake of the environment
Avoid actions that are damaging to the envi-
ronment. Show respect for the natural envi-
ronment and remain on marked routes.
G) Tips
Clean your vehicle after driving offroad. Dirt
and stones falling off your vehicle can affect
other road users.
Driving through water
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system*.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
108
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the
full braking effect will be restored.
@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
ter
Gi) Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
Hill descent assist
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist


The “2 button is located above the selector lever
in the center console. It lights up when the sys-
tem is turned on.
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “2 again.
Active regulation
Regulation begins shortly after you start driving
and is possible at speeds up to approximately 19
mph (30 km/h) and on hills that have an approxi-
mately 6-60% grade. If these conditions are met,
regulation will be activated and the indicator
light will turn on.