2021 AUDI A4 ESP

8W1012721BC
Lights and Vision


— High beam assistant is only intended to as-
sist the driver. The driver is responsible for
controlling the high beam headlights and
adjusting them to match the lighting and
visibility conditions.
— High beams can cause glare for other driv-
ers, which increases the risk of an accident.
For this reason, only use the high beams or
the headlight flasher when they will not cre-
ate glare for other drivers.
G) Tips
Adhere to any local applicable regulations
when using the lighting equipment, for exam-
ple in regard to reducing glare for other driv-
ers. The driver is always responsible for adher-
ing to the regulations applicable in the coun-
try where the vehicle is being operated.
Adjusting the exterior lighting
You can adjust the exterior lighting separately.
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.

> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Light & Visibility > Exterior light-
ing.
Automatic headlights
You can adjust the following settings in the Auto-
matic
headlights menu:
Activation time - You can adjust if the headlights
switch on Early, Medium, or Late based on the
sensitivity of the light sensor.
High beam assistant - You can switch the high
beam assistant on and off.
Entry/exit lighting
The Entry/exit lighting illuminates the area
around the vehicle when the vehicle is unlocked
or when the driver’s door is opened while the ig-
nition is off. The entry/exit lighting works when it
is
dark and the light switch is in the AUTO posi-
tion. The front and rear daytime running lights*
switch on automatically each time the vehicle is
unlocked regardless of how bright it is outside
the vehicle.
Daytime running lights
USA models: The daytime running lights can be
switched on and off.
Canada models: This function cannot be switched
off. They activate automatically each time the ig-
nition is switched on.
Emergency flashers

Fig. 43 Center console: emergency flashers
The emergency flashers help to make other driv-
ers aware of your vehicle in dangerous situations.
» Press the A @ button to switch the emergency
flashers on or off.
When the emergency flashers are turned on, the
a and By indicator lights will flash at the same
time.
You can indicate a lane change or a turn when the
emergency flashers are switched on by using the
turn signal lever. The emergency flashers stop
temporarily.
The emergency flashers also work when the igni-
tion is turned off.
@) Tips
You should switch the emergency flashers on
if:
— you are the last car in a traffic jam so that
all other vehicles approaching from behind
can see your vehicle
— your vehicle has broken down or you are
having an emergency
— your vehicle is being towed or if you are tow-
ing another vehicle
53

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, >

8W1012721BC
Sitting correctly and safely

Sitting correctly and
safely
Correct passenger
seating position
General information
As the driver, you are responsible for making sure
every passenger is sitting correctly in their seat
and maintaining this seating position while driv-
ing. Make sure that:
— Every passenger in the vehicle has adjusted his
or her seat correctly > page 63
— The steering wheel is adjusted correctly
=> page 66
— The mirrors are adjusted so that there is a suffi-
cient view of the area around the vehicle
=>page 55
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her
head restraint adjusted correctly > page 67
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her
safety belt fastened correctly > page 68
— The activation status of the front passenger's
airbag is suitable for the passenger in the front
passenger's seat > page 74
— Children are secured in suitable child safety
seats that are secured to appropriate vehicle
seats > page 76. Read and observe the impor-
tant safety information pertaining to the use of
child safety seats on the front passenger's seat
=> A\ in General information on page 76.
Examples of incorrect seating positions
Safety belts can only provide its optimal protec-
tion when they are routed correctly. Incorrect
seating positions significantly reduce the protec-
tive functions of the safety belts and increase the
risk of injury due to incorrect belt routing.
The following list includes examples of seating
positions that could be dangerous for all vehicle
occupants. This is not a complete list. The pur-
pose is to provide examples to increase your
awareness of the topic. The following points ap-
ply when the vehicle is in motion:
— Never stand inside the vehicle.
— Never stand on the seats.
— Never kneel on the seats.
— Never tilt your backrest too far back.
— Never lean against the instrument panel.
— Never lie down on the rear bench seat.
— Never sit only on the front section of the seat.
— Never sit sideways on the seat.
— Never lean against the window.
— Never place your feet out of the window.
— Never place your feet on the instrument panel.
— Never place your feet on the seat cushion.
— Never ride in the footwell.
— Never sit on the armrests.
— Never drive or ride in a seat without fastening
your safety belt.
— Never ride in the luggage compartment.

ZA WARNING
Incorrect seating positions, failure to wear a
safety belt, or being too close to an airbag in-
crease the risk of serious or fatal injury to ve-
hicle occupants, especially if the airbags de-
ploy and come into contact with occupants
who are not seated correctly. Note the impor-
tant information and warnings in the chapters
for the topics given above.
Gi) Tips
If you or other vehicle passengers have physi-
cal limitations that prevent sitting in a correct
position, modifications to the vehicle may be
necessary. For more information, contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility, or call Audi customer support
at 1-800-822-2834.


Front seats
General information
Make sure that:
— You can press the pedals down completely
while your legs are slightly bent
— The distance between your upper body and the
steering wheel or instrument panel is at least
10 inches (25 cm)
— The distance between your knees and the in-
strument panel is at least 4 inches (10 cm)
63
>

Sitting correctly and safely

> Move the head restraint upward all the way.
> Insert a suitable object, such as the extended
vehicle key or mechanical key, into the release
point @ on the inside or outside of the base.
> Press the button @) and pull the head restraint
out of the backrest.
Installing the headrests
> Fold the backrest forward slightly > page 85.
>» Slide the posts on the head restraint down into
the guides until the posts click into place.
> Press the button @) and slide the head restraint
all the way down. It should not be possible to
remove the head restraint from the backrest
without pressing the button.
Safety belts
Each seat is equipped with a three-point safety
belt. Safety belts that are worn correctly are the
most effective way to reduce the risk of serious or
fatal injuries in a collision. Therefore, wear your
safety belt correctly and make sure that all vehi-
cle passengers are also wearing their safety belts
correctly when the vehicle is moving.
Even though your vehicle is equipped with an air-
bag system, every vehicle passenger must still al-
ways wear the appropriate safety belt. In addi-
tion to their normal protective function, safety
belts also hold vehicle occupants in the correct
seating position in the event of a collision so that
the airbags can deploy correctly and provide addi-
tional protection. Safety belts provide protection
during collisions when the airbags do not deploy
or if they have already deployed.

ZA WARNING
The risk of serious or fatal injury increases if
the safety belt is not fastened, if it is worn in-
correctly, or if it is damaged.
— All vehicle occupants, including the driver,
must fasten their safety belts correctly be-
fore every trip and must always keep their
safety belts fastened during the trip, regard-
less of whether the seat is equipped with an
airbag or not. This also applies to children

68


that are seated in a child safety seat that is
appropriate for their weight and age and
that is secured with a safety belt.
In the event of a collision, vehicle occupants
that are not wearing safety belts could be
propelled through the vehicle interior and
collide with vehicle components, such as the
steering wheel, instrument panel, wind-
shield, or doors. In some situations, vehicle
occupants could also be ejected from the ve-
hicle. Vehicle occupants in the rear seats
who do not wear safety belts not only en-
danger themselves, but also other people in
the vehicle.
Only one person may be fastened with a
safety belt at a time. Never secure more
than one person, including children, with a
single safety belt.
Never allow children or infants to ride on an-
other person's lap and be belted into the
safety belt with them.
Insert the belt buckle only in the belt latch
belonging to the corresponding seat, so that
the protective function is not impaired.
To ensure the maximum protective function
of the safety belts, all vehicle passengers
must sit in the correct seating position
=> page 63.
Check the condition of your vehicle’s safety
belts regularly > page 256. If you find dam-
age to the belt webbing, the belt connec-
tions, the retractor, or the buckle, have the
damaged safety belt replaced by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
The safety belts must not be removed or
modified in any way. Do not attempt to re-
pair the safety belts yourself.
Safety belts that are strained during an acci-
dent must be replaced by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty.

Sitting correctly and safely


of whether the seat is equipped with an air-
bag or not.
— Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, out of the window, or on the seat sur-
faces. To help ensure that the airbag system
can deploy correctly, never bend forward or
lean on the door or the side window. Other-
wise, serious and possibly fatal injuries can
occur if the airbags deploy.
— People, animals, or objects between the
passengers and the airbag system can inter-
fere with the correct deployment of the air-
bag or can be thrown through the vehicle in-
terior, increasing the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Make sure that nothing is located
between the vehicle occupants and the air-
bag system. Do not secure or transport any
objects within the deployment zone of the
airbag systems, especially on the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, on the
doors, on the windows, or in the footwell.
— Never put stickers on the airbag system cov-
ers or cover them with any objects.
— 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.
— You must not use seat or protective covers
that are not specifically approved for use on
Audi seats with side airbags. Since the side
airbags deploy from the seat backrest, such
covers could impair the protective function
of the side airbags.
— Damage to the original seat covers in the
side airbag deployment area must always be
repaired by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Airbag system components are installed at
various locations in your vehicle. Incorrect
work or repairs on the vehicle could damage
the airbag system components or impair
their functionality. This may prevent the air-
bags from deploying or cause them to de-
ploy incorrectly in the event of an accident,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal

72
injuries. Only have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility make re-
pairs or modifications to a vehicle.
— The airbag system can only provide protec-
tion during one collision. If there is another
collision, the airbag system will not deploy
again. If the airbag system has deployed,
have it replaced immediately by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
— Fine dust may appear if the airbags deploy.
This is completely normal and does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The fine dust can ir-
ritate the skin and mucous membranes in
the eyes and can cause difficulty breathing,
particularly for individuals who have or have
had asthma or other health issues that af-
fect breathing. Exit the vehicle or open the
windows or doors to get access to fresh air.
(i) Tips
If you are transporting children in the vehicle,
read the information and follow the safety
precautions > page 76.
Safety systems monitoring
The ka indicator light in the instrument cluster
monitors the safety systems such as the airbags
(including the control modules, sensor, and wir-
ing) and the belt tensioners. It turns on when you
switch the ignition on and turns off after several
seconds.


If the indicator light does not turn on when the
ignition is switched on, does not turn off after
several seconds, or turns on or flashes while driv-
ing, there may be a malfunction in one of the
safety systems. Drive to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately
to have the malfunction corrected.

ZA WARNING
Have the malfunction in the safety systems in-
spected immediately. Otherwise, there is a
risk that the systems may not activate during
an accident, which increases the risk of seri-
ous or fatal injury.

Sitting correctly and safely

within milliseconds. Inflated airbags reduce the
movement of passengers wearing safety belts in
the direction of the impact and thus help to re-
duce the risk of injury. They can help to protect
the head, upper body, and lap, for example. How-
ever, there is the possibility that airbag deploy-
ment can cause injuries.
The airbag system only works when the ignition
is turned on.
If you or other vehicle passengers have physical
limitations that prevent sitting in a correct posi-
tion, modifications to the vehicle may be neces-
sary. For more information, contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty, or call Audi customer support at
1-800-822-2834.
@) Tips
The side curtain airbags in your vehicle have
ejection mitigation functions. This reduces
the risk of being ejected from the vehicle inte-
rior during an accident, especially in the event
of a vehicle rollover.
Advanced airbag system

Fig. 69 Headliner: indicator light to display the status of
the front passenger's airbag
The Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle has
been certified to comply with the requirements
of the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) 208, as well as Canada Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 208 as applica-
ble at the time your vehicle was manufactured.
According to these requirements, the front Ad-
vanced Airbag System on the passenger’s side
has been certified for “suppression” for infants
approximately 12 months old and younger, and
74
for “low risk deployment” for children aged 3 to
6 years old (as defined in the standard).
The advanced airbag system will activate or deac-
tivate the front passenger's airbag based on the
occupancy of the seat. If a front airbag deploys
during an accident, the deployment force will
adapt to the passenger.
Components
The advanced airbag system consists of the fol-
lowing components:
— Front airbags in the steering wheel and in the
instrument panel on the front passenger's side:
these can protect the front passengers during
an accident
— Passenger occupant detection sensor in the
front passenger's seat: this detects if the front
passenger's seat is occupied (for example, by a
person or asmall child in a child safety seat)
— Seat position sensors on the front seats: these
determine the distance between the seat and
the steering wheel or instrument panel
— Sensors in the front seat belt latch: these de-
tect if the safety belts are fastened
— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; ON ® indi-
cator light in the headliner:this indicates if the
front passenger's airbag is activated or deacti-
vated
- ka indicator light in the instrument cluster:
this monitors the function of the Advanced Air-
bag System components to ensure they are
functioning correctly
How the components function together
The passenger occupant detection sensor in the
front passenger's seat detects if the front pas-
senger's seat is occupied. The passenger occu-
pant detection sensor measures the electrical ca-
pacity on the front passenger’s seat. The pas-
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated de-
pending on the electrical capacity that is meas-
ured.
The passenger's airbag is activated if:
— The electrical capacity is higher than the
threshold stored in the control module

8W1012721BC
Sitting correctly and safely

— The electrical capacity is the same as or greater
than the electrical capacity of a typical adult
The passenger's airbag is deactivated if:
— The electrical capacity is lower than the thresh-
old stored in the control module
— The electrical capacity is the same as or less
than the electrical capacity of a typical one-
year-old child in a child safety seat that has
been used for certification in accordance with
FMVSS 208
If the front passenger's airbag is activated, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ indicator light
will turn on. If the front passenger's airbag is de-
activated, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #;
indicator light will turn on.
The deployment force of the front airbags adapts
based on whether or not the safety belt is used
and the distance between the seat and the steer-
ing wheel/instrument panel. For example, if a
person is too close to the front airbag, the front
airbag will deploy with less force to help reduce
the risk of injury.
Meaning of PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 3; ON
® indicator light
When the ignition is switched on, the system de-
tects whether the front passenger's seat is occu-
pied. PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON @
will turn on for several seconds during this proc-
ess. Then it will indicate whether the front pas-
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated.
— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #%%;: the front
passenger's airbag is deactivated and will not
deploy in the event of an accident.
— PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®:: the front pas-
senger's airbag is activated and could deploy in
the event of an accident.
If a change to the occupancy status of the front
passenger's seat is detected
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #, ON @ will
flash for several seconds and will then display the
status of the front passenger's airbag.
Always make sure the indicator light corresponds
to the occupancy of the front passenger's seat.
— An adult or individual of similar size in the
front passenger's seat: the front passenger's
airbag must be activated, therefore
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must remain
turned on.
— An individual of smaller size (for example, an
adolescent or small adult) in the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be activated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must stay on.
— Child in a child safety seat on the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #¥; must stay on.
— Front passenger's seat not occupied: the front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF %; must stay on.

Z\ WARNING
— An adult or a person with a small stature
(such as a young person or small adult) seat-
ed on the front passenger's seat will not be
protected by the passenger's airbag in the
event of a collision if the passenger's airbag
is deactivated. This increases the risk of in-
jury and death. Always make sure that
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ remains on
while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ does not
turn on, make sure the front passenger is
sitting correctly in the seat > page 63 and
that there is nothing covering the front pas-
senger's seat (such as blankets or pillows).
If PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®@ 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.
—Achild ina child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat - especially in a rear-facing
child safety seat - can receive a severe im-
pact if the front passenger's airbag deploys,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injury. Always secure child safety seats on
the rear seats. If special circumstances re-
quire the use of a child safety seat on the
front passenger's seat, always make sure

75