2021 AUDI A7 warning light

4K8012721BF
Sitting correctly and safely

— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON ® indi-
cator light in the headliner:this indicates if the
front passenger's airbag is activated or deacti-
vated
- 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
— 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.

ZA\ 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

75

4K8012721BF
Storage and convenience


ZA WARNING
— Do not put any hot beverages in the cup
holder while the vehicle is moving. Hot bev-
erages could spill, which increases the risk
of injury.
— Do not use any breakable beverage contain-
ers (for example, made out of glass or por-
celain). You could be injured by them in the
event of an accident.
@) 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
Additional storage
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.
— 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.

ZA WARNING
— The luggage compartment cover is not a
surface for storing objects. Objects 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 ac-
cident.
— The luggage compartment cover must al-
ways be securely fastened when in use to re
duce 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.

83

Storage and convenience

Tie-downs
There are tie-downs (a) in the luggage compart-
ment to secure pieces of luggage and objects.
>» Use the tie-downs to secure the cargo.
Cargo net
Applies to: vehicles with cargo net
Use the cargo net (2) to secure lighter objects in
the luggage compartment
> Fold the clip for the tie-downs upward.
» Attach the hooks for the cargo net to the tie-
downs.
Roof rack
General information
Applies to: vehicles with roof rack mount

RAZ-0522




Fig. 72 Roof: mounting points
If luggage or cargo is to be carried on the roof,
you must observe the following:
— These roof racks are the basis for a complete
roof rack system. Only roof racks that are suita-
ble for your vehicle may be used. Audi recom-
mends roof racks and attachments from the
Audi Genuine Accessories program.
— Make sure the roof rack is mounted on the vehi-
cle only at the specified locations @.
— Note the permitted axle load, permitted total
weight, and permitted roof load of your vehicle
=> page 332. The roof load is the total of the
weight of the roof rack, the attachments and
the cargo you are carrying. However, you must
also note the permitted load of the carrier sys-
tem being used.
86


AN WARNING
— Follow the installation instructions provided
with the roof rack system. If you do not se-
cure the roof rack system and objects on the
roof correctly, they could come loose from
the vehicle and cause an accident.
— The risk of an accident increases when using
a roof rack system, because it changes the
driving characteristics by shifting the center
of gravity and/or the increasing the surface
area exposed to wind. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.

() Note
Make sure that the luggage compartment lid
and the panoramic glass roof* do not come in-
to contact with objects on the roof when they
are open.
@) For the sake of the environment
Energy usage will increase because of the in-
creased wind resistance. Remove the roof rack
when you are no Longer using it.

4K8012721BF
Driving

Driving
Starting the vehicle
pyr Told T ola (ela)


=
Fig. 74 Center console: starting the engine

Requirement: the key must be in the vehicle.
Starting the engine
> Press and hold the brake pedal.
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. The
engine will start.


Plug-in hybrid drive: the electric drive system is
switched on. The combustion engine only starts
when necessary. The power meter indicates if the
electric drive system is switched on > page 15.
Equipment that uses a lot of electricity is switch-
ed off temporarily when you start the engine. If
the engine does not start immediately, the start-
ing procedure stops automatically after a short
time. If this is the case, repeat the starting pro-
cedure after approximately 30 seconds.
Stopping the engine
> Bring the vehicle to a full stop.
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. The
engine will switch off.


Plug-in-hybrid drive: the electric drive system and
the combustion engine are switched off.
Applies to: vehicles with steering lock: The steer-
ing is locked when you turn off the engine with
the selector lever in the “P” position and open
the driver's door. The steering lock helps prevent
vehicle theft.
Stopping the engine in an emergency
If necessary in an emergency, the engine can also
be stopped while driving using the emergency off
function*.

> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button twice in
a row or press and hold it one time.


Switching on and off
If you would like to switch the ignition on or off
without starting the engine, follow these steps:

> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button without
pressing the brake pedal.


Switching the ignition off automatically
To prevent the vehicle battery from draining, the
ignition and possibly the exterior lighting may
switch off automatically.
Requirements:
— Conventional drive system: the Start/Stop sys-
tem must have stopped the engine.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: you must have driven the
vehicle. The combustion engine must not be
running.
— You must have left the vehicle for longer than
30 seconds.
— The ignition must be switched on.
Among other indicators, the system detects that
you have left the vehicle based on the following
factors:
— The driver's door has been opened.
— The driver's safety belt has been unbuckled.
— The brake pedal is not being pressed.
The ignition will also be switched off after 30 mi-
nutes or if you lock the vehicle from the outside.

ZA WARNING
—To reduce the risk of asphyxiation, never al-
low the engine to run in confined spaces.
— Never turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. Switching it
off before the vehicle has stopped may im-
pair the function of the brake booster and
power steering. You would then need to use
more force to steer and brake the vehicle.
The fact that you cannot steer and brake as


93

Driving

— D (Drive)
Selecting a gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the release button @ on the selector lev-
er.
—To select the nearest gear, move the selector
lever forward or back until you feel the first
pressure point.
—To skip a gear (for example, move from “D” to
“R”), move the selector lever past the pressure
point in the desired direction.
— The label next to the selector lever for the se-
lected gear will light up.
“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 (2) 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.
Applies to: vehicles with S tronic transmission: If
you want to shift from “P” to “D” or “R”, the en-
gine must be running.
Applies to: vehicles with tiptronic transmission:
If you want to switch to another gear from “P”,
the engine must be running.
96
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 99.
Selecting the 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”.
To switch between the current driving program
and “S”, push the selector lever toward the rear.
Plug-in hybrid drive system: Not all plug-in hy-
brid modes are available in the “S” driving pro-
gram. The driving program or plug-in hybrid
mode will be automatically adjusted if it is not
compatible with an operation.

Z\ 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 94.
— 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.

4K8012721BF
Driving

minutes to reduce the risk of damage. After a
cool-down period, Launch Control will be
available again.

Parking lock emergency release

RAZ-0310)



Fig. 79 Center console: releasing the parking lock using
the emergency release
The emergency release is located in the front cup
holder under a cover. Read and follow the impor-
tant instructions about towing > page 313.
Releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
> Secure the vehicle against rolling > page 94.
» Remove the rubber mat.
> Pry the cover off the opening using the screw-
driver from the vehicle tool kit.
> Insert the socket wrench from the vehicle tool
kit in the opening so that the handle points to-
ward the front passenger's side.
> Turn the socket wrench clockwise (@ until it
stops and press it downward @) until it locks in-
to place.
>» Leave the socket wrench inserted.
Resetting the parking lock
> Grasp the socket wrench with both hands, care-
fully pull it all the way up, and then turn it
back.
> Now remove the socket wrench.
> Reinsert the cover and rubber mat.

IN WARNING
— The parking lock must be released using the
emergency release before towing the vehi-
cle.

— Only use the parking lock emergency release
if the vehicle is secured against rolling
= page 94. An unsecured vehicle may roll,
which increases the risk of an accident.
— Only activate the emergency release while
ona level surface or a slight slope.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you must
not drive when the emergency release is ac-
tivated.
Messages
& Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle


Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible in a safe location and secure it so it
does not roll > page 94. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
oy} Transmission: too hot. Please stop vehicle
Do not continue driving. Select "P" and contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility for assistance.
fs} Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving
style
The transmission temperature has increased sig-
nificantly. Drive very cautiously or take a break
from driving until the temperature returns to the
normal range and the indicator light turns off.
[8] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. See owner's manual
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected.
fs} Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. Please contact
Service
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized >
99

Driving

Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force, and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity.
Braking effect
The response time from the brakes depends on
the weather and environmental conditions. To
ensure the optimal braking effect, the brake sys-
tem is cleaned at regular intervals. This is done
by applying the brake pads to the brake rotors for
a short period of time when driving at high
speeds when the windshield wipers are switched
on.
If the brake system becomes damp, for example
after driving in heavy rain, the braking effect may
be delayed. Other factors that could temporarily
increase the response time of the brakes include:
— Wet conditions
— Low temperatures, ice, and snow
— Roads covered in salt
— Dirty brake pads
Corrosion
Corrosion may form on the brake rotors if there is
no heavy braking, if the vehicle is not driven for
long periods of time, or if the vehicle is not driv-
en
frequently or for long distances. In this case,
braking heavily several times while driving at
high speeds can clean the brake rotors > A\.
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Se-
lect the “N” gear so that recuperation is not used
for braking.
Brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 km). They
must be “broken in” first. However, you can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period.
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Be-
cause recuperation is also used for braking, the
break-in period for new brake pads is 500 miles
(800 km).
106
Brake pad wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
Brake pad wear increases when driving frequently
in the city or short distances or when using a very
sporty driving style.
Ceramic brakes
Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brakes
Ceramic brakes provide excellent deceleration
rates.
The break-in period for new ceramic brakes may
be significantly longer than for standard brake
rotors. Due to the properties of the material,
they may cause noises at lower speeds. Ceramic
brakes also absorb more moisture in wet condi-
tions. 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.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The automatic post-collision braking system can
help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addition-
al collisions after an accident. If the airbag con-
trol module detects a collision, the vehicle is
braked by the ESC.
The vehicle does not brake automatically if one of
the following occurs:
— The driver presses the accelerator pedal, or
— The braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that
would be initiated by the system
— The ESC, the brake system, or the vehicle elec-
trical system is not functioning

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.

4K8012721BF
Driving


— 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 109. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
@ Tips
— 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 269.
Messages
EG / @ Brakes: malfunction! Stop vehicle
safely

There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
BS / Bana B 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\.
GG / @ 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 94.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the TG /@
indicator light turns on briefly to check the func-
tion. If the indicator light does not turn on, there
is a system malfunction.
riie/ 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 stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.


Electromechanical
parking brake
Operating the parking brake
The electromechanical parking brake is used to
secure the vehicle from rolling away unintention-
ally.
The @) switch is located under the selector lever
in the center console. It turns on when the >
107