2021 AUDI A8 steering wheel

Sitting correctly and safely

Airbag system
ZX WARNING
— If you have not fastened your safety belt,
you are in an incorrect seating position, or
you are too close to the airbag system, the
airbag system will not be able to protect
you. This increases the risk of serious or fa-
tal injuries. Make sure that every vehicle
passenger has their safety belt correctly fas-
tened and is sitting in a correct seating posi-
tion = page 70. This is necessary regardless
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, in the footwell, or
on the rear shelf.

— 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

84


airbags deploy from the seat backrest, such
covers could impair the protective function
of the side airbags.
Applies to: vehicles with front center airbag:
Do not use seat covers or protective covers
that are not specifically approved for use on
Audi seats with center airbags. The center
armrest must be closed while driving. Since
the front center airbag deploys from the
driver's seat backrest, such covers could im-
pair the protective function of the center air-
bag.
Damage to the original seat covers in the
side airbag and front center airbag deploy-
ment area must always be repaired by an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized 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
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.

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

Warm and cold

Steering wheel heating
Switching on and off
Applies to: vehicles with steering wheel heating
> Press @ to switch steering wheel heating on or
off.
You can also operate the steering wheel heating
using the multifunction steering wheel
=> page 37.
Messages
Applies to: vehicles with steering wheel heating
@ Steering wheel heating: on / Steering wheel
heating: off
This message appears if you have switched the
steering wheel heating on or off.
Steering wheel heating: malfunction! See own-
er's manual
If this message appears, there is a malfunction.
Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
Auxiliary climate control
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
The auxiliary climate control system warms or
cools the vehicle interior. The vehicle will turn on
the auxiliary climate control system if needed,
depending on the last temperature that was set
with the climate control system controls. This
function can be used when the drive system is
switched off.
You can turn the auxiliary climate control system
on and off immediately in the MMI or set a timer.
Requirement: the charge level of the high-volt-
age battery must be sufficient.
G) Tips
— Using the auxiliary climate control while
charging can also reduce the charge level of
the high-voltage battery.
104
— Starting or stopping the vehicle will not
switch off the auxiliary climate control auto-
matically.
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Air conditioning > f.
Immediate start
You can immediately switch the auxiliary climate
control on and off using the — button. When this
function is switched on, a colored bar lights up
over the button and the remaining time is dis-
played.
The auxiliary climate control will run for a maxi-
mum of 30 minutes after the immediate start.
When charging with sufficient charging power,
the auxiliary climate control can run for up to 60
minutes.
Timer programming
You can set up and activate up to two timers for
the departure time.
> Select one timer.
> Set the date and press Next.
> Set the time (departure time) and press OK.
The timer will be activated automatically once
itis set.
> Set the second timer, if necessary.
By setting the departure time, you determine
when your vehicle should reach the desired tem-
perature. The departure time can be a maximum
of six days in the future. The auxiliary climate
control will continue to run approximately ten
minutes after the departure time is reached.
After switching off the ignition
Information about the active timer(s) will appear
on the upper display after switching off the igni-
tion. You can start the set climate control set-
tings immediately with the F button, or go to the
auxiliary climate control menu with the > button. >

4N0012721BF
Warm and cold

@) Tips
— Make sure the time and date match in the
system settings so that the timer can func-
tion correctly > page 263.
— The auxiliary climate control can also be
switched on and off immediately when a
timer is set.
— You can operate the climate control in the
vehicle interior when the high-voltage bat-
tery is charging using the charging timer
= page 136. The climate control output de-
pends on the power supply capacity.
Additional settings
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Air conditioning > F > <2.
Start A/C after unlocking
If this function is activated, the climate control
will continue to run for five minutes after the ve-
hicle has been unlocked.
Comfort aux. A/C
Applies to: vehicles with comfort auxiliary climate control
You can set if the steering wheel heating* and
seat heating” or seat ventilation* should also be
automatically activated with auxiliary climate
control. You can select the respective zones.
Window and mirror heating*
Applies to: vehicles with comfort auxiliary climate control
You can set if the rear window and mirrors should
also be heated during auxiliary climate control.
Messages
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
2— There is a malfunction in the auxiliary air
conditioning.
If this message appears, there is a system mal-
function. Drive immediately to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to
have the malfunction repaired.
Fluids in the A/C system
Refrigerant in the A/C system
The sticker in the engine compartment provides
information about the type and amount of refrig-
erant used in the vehicle’s A/C system. The stick-
er is located in the front section of the engine
compartment or at the front or back of the hood.

Symbol | Meaning

Warning: the A/C system must only
be serviced by qualified technicians. A
Refrigerant type
wt
ot
Lubricant type

Refer to the service information
(only available for authorized Audi
dealers or authorized Audi Service
Facilities)
Y

The A/C system must only be serv-
iced by qualified technicians.

Flammable refrigerant
Se
Be

Make sure all components are dis-
posed of correctly and never install
components in the vehicle that have
been removed from old vehicles or
a


taken from recycling.

Lubricant in the A/C system
The sticker in the engine compartment provides
information about the type and amount of refrig-
erant oil used in the vehicle’s A/C system. For the
refrigerant oil quantity, refer to the Technical Da-
ta > page 344.

ZX WARNING
To ensure secure and safe operation, the A/C
system must only be serviced by qualified
technicians and certified technicians (SAE
standard J2845).


@) Tips
— Never repair the A/C system evaporator with
components from old vehicles or from recy-
cling.
105
>

Driving


usual may increase the risk of accidents and
serious injuries.
— Secure the vehicle against rolling before ex-
iting the vehicle > page 108.

@) Note
— Avoid high engine speed, full throttle, and
heavy engine load if the engine has not
reached operating temperature yet. You
could damage the engine.
— If the engine has been under heavy load for
an extended period of time, heat builds up
in the engine compartment after the engine
is switched off and there is a risk of damag-
ing the engine. For this reason, let the en-
gine run at idle for approximately two mi-
nutes before shutting it off.
@ Tips
— Brief noises are normal when starting and
stopping the vehicle and are no cause for
concern.
— For up to 10 minutes after stopping the en-
gine, the radiator fan may turn on again au-
tomatically or it may continue to run, even if
the ignition is switched off.
— It may not be possible to start the vehicle in
extremely low temperatures.
— Power will be fully available once the engine
is at operating temperature.
Messages
Hj Engine start system: malfunction! Please
contact Service
Do not switch the ignition off because you may
not be able to switch it on again. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
B Engine start system: malfunction! Please
contact Service
There is a malfunction in the engine start system.
Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
108
B Remote control key: key not detected. Is the
key still in the vehicle?
The vehicle key was removed from the vehicle
while the engine is running. If the vehicle key is
no longer in the vehicle, you cannot switch the ig-
nition on or start the engine once you stop it. You
also cannot lock the vehicle from the outside.
Remote control key: hold back of key
against the designated area. See owner's man-
ual
The battery in the vehicle key may be drained or
there may be a malfunction. To start the vehicle,
you must also hold the vehicle key against the lo-
cation shown ?) > page 107, fig. 91.
If the malfunction remains, drive immediately to
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
When driving
Starting to drive, stopping, and parking
Starting from a stop
> Press and hold the brake pedal.
> Start the engine.
> Select a gear.
> Release the parking brake.
> Release the brake pedal. The vehicle may roll.
> Press the accelerator pedal to accelerate.
Securing the vehicle against rolling
Secure your vehicle to prevent it from rolling be-
fore exiting the vehicle.
> Set the parking brake.
> Select the “P” selector lever position.
> If parking on a steep road, turn the steering
wheel so that your vehicle will roll against the
curb in case it should start to move.
If one of these measures is not possible, for ex-
ample because there is no vehicle power, you
must secure your vehicle against rolling using ad-
ditional measures.
> Only park the vehicle on a level surface.
> Use suitable objects to block the front and rear
wheels.

4N0012721BF
Driving

pedal. This makes it possible to “rock” if it is
stuck, for example.
Manual shifti


RAZ-0411


Fig. 93 Center console: shifting manually with the selector
lever

RAZ-0003|



—
Fig. 94 Steering wheel: shift paddles*
You can shift the gears manually when in “D”
mode. The transmission must be in tiptronic
mode.
Shifting with the selector lever
You can shift into manual shifting mode while the
vehicle is stationary or while driving.
> To switch to manual shifting mode, tilt the se-
lector lever toward the front passenger's side
=> fig. 93. “M” will be displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
> Upshifting: push the selector lever forward ().
> Downshifting: push the selector lever toward
the rear (©).
> To switch back to automatic mode, tilt the se-
lector lever toward the driver's side.
Shifting with the shift paddles
Applies to: vehicles with shift paddles
> Upshifting: press the @ shift paddle > fig. 94.
> Downshifting: press the ©) shift paddle.

> To engage the lowest possible gear for maxi-
mum acceleration, press and hold the ©) shift
paddle.
> To switch back to automatic mode, press and
hold the @) shift paddle or push the selector
lever toward the rear.
If you stop using the shift paddles temporarily,
the transmission will switch back to automatic
mode. To keep shifting manually, tilt the selector
lever toward the front passenger's side.

— The transmission only allows manual shift-
ing when the engine speed is within the per-
mitted range.
— The transmission automatically shifts up or
down before critical engine speed is
reached.
Accelerator pedal

RAZ-0565

Fig. 95 Footwell: accelerator pedal
You can accelerate the vehicle using the accelera-
tor pedal.
Depending on the equipment, you may be able to
adjust the haptic feedback for the accelerator
pedal in the MMI.
— Select on the home screen: VEHICLE > (Charg-
ing & Efficiency) > Efficiency assist > (Interac-
tive accelerator).
Accelerator pedal feedback / predictive
messages
Haptic feedback in the accelerator pedal indi-
cates when you should take your foot off the ac-
celerator pedal to drive more efficiently.
111
>

Driving

The Start/Stop system is automatically activated
once
the ignition is switched on.
Switching the Start/Stop system off and on
The & button is located above the selector lever
in the center console. The LED in the button turns
on when the function is switched off.
> Press & to switch the system on or off.
If you switch the system off during a Stop phase,
the engine will start again automatically.
Basic requirements
— The driver's door and hood must be closed.
—"P","N", or "D" must be engaged.
— The steering wheel must not be turned far in ei-
ther direction.
— The vehicle must have driven faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h) since the last time it stopped.
— The vehicle is not in trailer mode.
® Note
Always switch the Start/Stop system off when
driving through water > page 118.
G) Tips
— Depending on the driving situation, the en-
gine may already stop when coasting before
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
— If you select the "D" position after shifting
into reverse, the vehicle must be driven fast-
er than 6 mph (10 km/h) in order for the
Start/Stop system to become active again.
This makes it possible to maneuver without
stopping the engine.
Stopping and starting the engine
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
> Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle
has stopped. The @ indicator light appears in
the instrument cluster once the engine stops
automatically.
> The engine starts again when you remove your
foot from the brake pedal. The indicator light
turns off.
If the parking brake is set, the engine will only
start again when the accelerator pedal is pressed.
118
G) Tips
— Press the brake pedal during a Stop phase
to keep the vehicle from rolling.
— The ignition will turn off if you press the
START ENGINE STOP] button during a Stop
phase.
— If you leave the vehicle briefly during a Stop
phase and then enter again, the driver's
door must be closed and the safety belt
must be fastened in order for the engine to
be able to restart.
— You can control if the engine will stop or not
by reducing or increasing the amount of
force you use to press the brake pedal. For
example, if you only lightly press on the
brake pedal in stop-and-go traffic or when
turning, the engine will not switch off when
the vehicle is stationary. If you press the
brake pedal harder, the engine will switch
off.
Starting and stopping the engine automat-
rely
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system


The system checks if certain conditions are met
before and during the Stop phase, and deter-
mines if the engine stops and how long it re-
mains stopped. For example, if power usage is
high, the engine will not be stopped. Along with
other conditions, the following factors influence
the automatic engine start or stop:
— Environmental conditions (slopes, inclines, ele-
vation, temperature)
— Battery (charge status, temperature, power us-
age)
— Engine temperature
— Assist systems
— Driving behavior
Depending on the engine, the indicator light
may appear if the engine is not stopped.
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
Drive system: please start the vehicle manually >