2021 AUDI A8 sensor

4N0012721BF
Lights and Vision

switched on again by moving the windshield
wiper lever to any position. The single wipe
function (lever in position @) also functions
when the ignition is switched off.
— Worn or dirty windshield wiper blades result
in streaking. This can affect the rain sensor
function. Check your windshield wiper
blades regularly.
— The washer fluid nozzles for the windshield
washer system are heated when the ignition
is on if the outside temperature is low.
— When stopping temporarily, such as at a
traffic light, the speed of the windshield
wipers automatically reduces by one level.
[eG ce a es ce wiper blades

B8V-0696]
Ae


Fig. 52 Windshield wipers: changing the wiper blades
Wiper blade replacement position
> Switch off the ignition and hold the windshield
wiper lever in position @) > page 66, fig. 51 un-
til the windshield wiper moves into the wiper
blade replacement position.
> To bring the windshield wipers into the normal
position, switch the ignition on and hold the
windshield wiper lever in position @) until the
windshield wipers go back to the original posi-
tion, or drive faster than 8 mph (12 km/h).
You can also turn the wiper blade replacement
position on or off in the MMI:
> Switch the windshield wipers off (position @
=> page 66, fig. 51).
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Wiper change po-
sition.
Cleaning the wiper blades
Requirement: the windshield wipers must be in
the wiper blade replacement position.
> Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
> For information on cleaning, see > table on
page 311.
Replacing the wiper blades
Requirement: the windshield wipers must be in
the wiper blade replacement position.
> Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
> Press the locking knob @) on the wiper blade.
Hold the wiper blade firmly.
» Remove the wiper blade from the windshield
wiper arm mount (2).
> 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.

ZA 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.
67
>

Lights and Vision

G) 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.
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.
gS 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.
Digital compass
Switching the compass on and off
Applies to: vehicles with digital compass

BFV-0288


Fig. 53 Rearview mirror: digital compass is switched on
68
> To turn the compass on or off, press the button
@ until the compass display in the mirror turns
on or off.
The digital compass only works when the ignition
is turned on. The directions are indicated with ab-
breviations: N (north), NE (northeast), E (east),
SE (southeast), S (south), SW (southwest), W
(west), NW (northwest).
G) Tips
To prevent inaccurate compass readings, do
not bring any remote controls, electrical devi-
ces or metallic objects near the mirror.

4N0012721BF
Sitting correctly and safely

@) Tips
If you are transporting children in the vehicle,
read the information and follow the safety
precautions > page 88.
Safety systems monitoring
The Ea 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.

py-TYdg fo) a
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.




RAZ.0089)



The locations of the airbags are labeled with
“AIRBAG”. The following airbags are installed in
your vehicle:
@ Driver's airbag
@ Front passenger's airbag
@® Front and rear side airbags
@ Head curtain airbag with ejection mitigation
Fig. 73 Airbag overview image (enlarged section: deployed airbags)
© Front and rear central airbags in some mod-
els
© Knee airbags
Airbags offer the best possible protection in your
vehicle during an accident when they are used to-
gether with safety belts that are fastened cor-
rectly, and when passengers are sitting in the
8s

Sitting correctly and safely

correct seating position. Airbags are a supple-
mentary restraint system and do not replace
safety belts.
Airbags may deploy during front-impact, side-im-
pact, or rollover accidents.
The deployment area for the airbag system can-
not be defined for every situation, since the cir-
cumstances surrounding accidents can vary wide-
ly. Factors that play an important role include the
condition of the object that the vehicle hits (hard
or soft), the angle of impact, vehicle speed, etc.
The deciding factor for the deployment of the air-
bag system is the deceleration that occurs during
an accident. Sensors in the vehicle are designed
to detect the severity of an accident in conjunc-
tion with the control module, and to provide a
targeted and timely deployment of the restraint
system. If the vehicle deceleration that is meas-
ured during an accident is below the specified
reference values in the control module, then the
airbags will not deploy, even though the vehicle
may be severely damaged from the accident. In
these cases, the vehicle occupants will be pro-
tected by the safety belts if they are fastened and
worn correctly.
The deployment of the front passenger's airbag
will depend on the occupancy of the seat
=> page 86.
Each deployed airbag is filled with gas. When this
occurs, the airbag covers open and the airbags
unfold with great force into the deployment zone
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-
86
ty, or call Audi customer support at
1-800-822-2834.
G) 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. 74 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
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: >

4N0012721BF
Sitting correctly and safely

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 a small 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 8; ON @ indi-
cator light in the headliner:this indicates if the
front passenger's airbag is activated or deacti-
vated
-Ba 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. >
87

Assist systems

Assist systems
General information
SP ae eel idol ay

ZA WARNING
— As the driver, you are always completely re-
sponsible for all driving tasks. The assist
systems cannot replace the driver's atten-
tion. Give your full attention to driving the
vehicle, and be ready to intervene in the
traffic situation at all times.
— Activate the assist systems only if the sur-
rounding conditions permit it. Always adapt
your driving style to the current visual,
weather, road, and traffic conditions.
— 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.
— For the assist systems to be able to react
correctly, the function of the sensors and
cameras must not be restricted. Note the in-
formation on sensors and cameras
> page 151.

@ Tips
— Pay attention to applicable local regulations
relating to driving tasks, leaving space for
emergency vehicles, vehicle distance, speed,
parking location, wheel placement, etc. The
driver is always responsible for following
the laws that are applicable in the location
where the vehicle is being operated.
— You can cancel a steering or braking inter-
vention by the system, by braking or accel-
erating noticeably, steering, or deactivating
the respective assist system.
— Always check the assist systems settings be-
fore driving. The settings could have been
changed, for example by other drivers or by
using another user.
150
System limitations
ZA\ WARNING
—The use of an assist system cannot over-
come the natural laws of physics. A collision
cannot be prevented in certain circumstan-
ces.
— Warnings, messages, or indicator lights may
not be displayed or initiated on time or cor-
rectly, for example, if vehicles are approach-
ing very fast.
— Corrective interventions by the assist sys-
tems, such as steering or braking interven-
tions, may not be sufficient or they may not
occur. Always be ready to intervene.
G) Tips
— Due to the system limitations when detect-
ing the surrounding area, the systems may
warn or intervene unexpectedly or too late
in certain situations. The assist systems may
also interpret a driving maneuver incorrectly
and then warn the driver unexpectedly.
— The systems may not function as expected
in unusual driving situations, such as driving
offroad, on unpaved roads, on loose ground,
on inclines, or on grooves in the road.



— The systems may not function correctly in
unclear traffic situations, such as turning
lanes, exit ramps, construction zones, rises
or dips that obstruct visibility, intersections,
toll stations, or city traffic.
— The detection of the surrounding area can
be limited, for example by vehicles driving
ahead or by rain, snow, heavy spray, or light
shining into the camera.
— The steering wheel touch recognition may
be limited when you wear gloves. Steering
intervention requests from the steering as-
sist systems may occur more frequently.
— If accessories have been mounted on the
steering wheel, the steering assist systems
may
be limited. The frequency of steering
intervention requests from the steering as-
sist systems may vary as well.

4N0012721BF

Assist systems

Surrounding area
detection

SY d camera coverage areas

RAZ-0610)




B8V-0687


Fig. 109 Rearview camera coverage area
The assist systems analyze the data from various
sensors and cameras installed in the vehicle. Do
not use any assist systems if there is damage to
the vehicle in an area where sensors and cameras
are located or on the vehicle underbody, or if the
vehicle was involved in a collision. The functional-
ity of the sensors and cameras could be impaired,
or they could malfunction. Have an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
check their function.
Radar sensors
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the area
surrounding the entire vehicle may be detected
> fig. 108 @.
The wheel sensors on the rear corners of the vehi-
cle are positioned so that the adjacent lanes to
the left and right are detected on roads with a
normal lane width.
Ultrasonic sensors
Depending on vehicle equipment, various areas
may be displayed in the MMI using the ultrasonic
sensors > fig. 108.
The range of the displays depends on the location
of the ultrasonic sensors:
@ Approximately 4 feet (1.20 m)
@® Approximately 3 feet (0.90 m)
@® Approximately 5.2 feet (1.60 m)
© Approximately 3 feet (0.90 m)
© Approximately 3 feet (0.90 m)
The side area © is detected and evaluated when
passing. There may have been changes to the sur-
rounding area after switching the ignition off and
on again, after opening the doors, or if the vehi-
cle is left stationary for a period of time. In this
case, the area will appear black until the area has
been detected and evaluated.
Cameras
Use the camera image on the display to assist you
only if it shows a good, clear picture. Keep in
mind that the image in the display is enlarged
and distorted. Under certain circumstances, ob-
jects may appear different and unclear on the dis-
play.
The rearview camera can only detect the area
marked in red > fig. 109. Only this area is dis-
played on the upper display > A\.

ZA WARNING
Sensors and cameras have spots in which the
surrounding area cannot be detected. Objects,
animals, and people may only be detected
with limitations may not be detected at all.
Always monitor the traffic and the vehicle's >


151

Assist systems


surroundings directly and do not become dis-
tracted.

C) Note
— Obstacles may disappear from the measure-
ment range when approaching them, even if
they were already detected.
—Insome situations, the ability of the sen-
sors and cameras to detect and display cer-
tain objects may be limited.
— Objects located above the coverage area,
such as bumpers on parked cars, garage
doors that are partially open, or objects
that are hanging
— Low obstacles
— Narrow objects, such as barrier chains, fo-
liage, poles, or fences
— Projecting objects, such as trailer draw
bars
— Objects with certain surfaces and struc-
tures,
such as fabric
@) Tips
— The sensors and cameras and the areas
around them must not be obstructed be-
cause this can impair the function of the
systems that depend on them. Make sure
that the sensors and cameras are free of
snow, ice, and other deposits. Do not use
any accessories, stickers, or other objects
that extend into the range of the sensors
and cameras.
— On vehicles that have factory-installed li-
cense plate brackets on the front of the ve-
hicle, the brackets may only be replaced
with ones that are the same size and made
of the same material. Do not install any li-
cense plate brackets on the front of vehicles
that do not have factory-installed brackets.
Otherwise, the function of the system could
be impaired.
— The function of the sensors and cameras
may be limited when light and visibility con-
ditions are poor, for example when driving
into a tunnel, when there is glare, or when
there are reflective objects.
152
— External ultrasonic sensors, such as those in
other vehicles, can interfere with the sen-
sors.
— The coverage areas of the sensors > fig. 108
and cameras > fig. 109 are diagrams and do
not represent a true-to-scale image of the
sensor ranges.
— The system complies with United States FCC
regulations and ISED regulations
=> page 341.
Locations of the sensors and cameras


RAZ-0920



Fig. 110 Front area: sensors and cameras






Fig. 111 Rear area: sensors and cameras
Front area
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the follow-
ing sensors and cameras may be installed:
— Laser scanner in the front of the radiator grille
oA
— Camera behind the windshield
— Peripheral cameras on the exterior mirrors
— Front peripheral camera in the radiator grille
— Night vision camera in the radiator grille
— Front and side ultrasonic sensors
— Radar sensors at the front corners of the vehi-
cle
— Radar sensor in the front in the bumper