2021 AUDI Q2 tow

Driving
Driving
General notes
Running in
A new vehicle should be run in over
a
distance of
1,500 km. For the first 1,000 km the engine
speed should not exceed 2/3 of the maximum
permissible engine speed - do not use full throt­
tle and do not tow a trailer or caravan. From
1,000 to 1,500 km you can gradually increase
the engine rpm and road speed.
During its first few hours of running, the internal
friction in the engine is greater than later on
when all the moving parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1,500 km
also influences the engine quality. After this
peri­

od you should continue driving at moderate en­
gine speeds, in particular when the engine is

cold.
This helps to reduce wear and tear on the
engine and increases the potential mileage which
can be covered by the engine.
You should also avoid driving with the engine
speed too low. Change down to a lower gear
when the engine no longer runs "smoothly". Ex­
cessively high engine speeds are prevented by an
automatic rev limiter.
A WARNING
After driving through water, mud, sludge,
etc., the braking effect can be delayed slightly
due to moisture on the discs and brake pads.
Applying the brakes carefully several times
will remove the moisture and restore the full
braking effect.
© CAUTION
- Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, gearbox,
running gear or electrical components) can
be badly damaged when driving through
water.
- Always switch off the start/stop system*

^>page
79 before driving through water.
© ' Note
- It is advisable to check the depth at the
deepest point before approaching the wa­
ter.
- Do NOT stop the vehicle, drive in reverse or
switch off the engine before you are out of
the water.
- Bear in mind that waves created by oncom­
ing traffic could exceed the permissible
wading depth of your vehicle.
- Avoid driving through salt water (corrosion).
Avoiding damage to the car
© CAUTION
Take care not to damage
Low-mounted
parts
of the car (such as the spoiler or exhaust sys­
tem) on steep ramps, uneven road surfaces or
roadside kerbs, etc. This applies especially to
vehicles with low ground clearance and to all
vehicles when fully laden.
Driving through water on roads
Please note the following in order to prevent
damage to the vehicle when driving through wa­
ter (e.g. on flooded roads):
- The water level must not be higher than the ve­
hicle's underbody.
- Do not drive faster than walking pace.
How to improve economy and minimise
pollution
Fuel economy, environmental impact and wear
on the engine, brakes and tyres depend largely
on the way you drive the vehicle. By adopting an
economical driving style and anticipating the
traffic situation ahead, you can reduce fuel
con­

sumption by 10
-15
%. The following section
gives you some tips on Lessening the impact on
the environment and reducing your operating
costs at the same time.
Anticipate well in advance
A car uses most fuel when accelerating. If
you
an­
ticipate hazards and speed changes well in ad­

vance,
you will need to brake less and thus accel­
erate Less. Wherever possible, Let the car slow
down gradually with a gear engaged, for •
72

Driving
Steering
Adjusting the steering wheel position
The height and reach of the steering wheel can
be adjusted as required to suit the
driver.

Fig.
68 Steering column: Lever for steering column adjust­
ment

•
Push the Lever
^>Fig.
68 down
<=> /\.
•
Move the steering wheel to the desired
posi­

tion.

•
Then push the lever towards the steering
col­

umn until the catch engages.
WARNING
- Never adjust the position of the steering
wheel when the vehicle is moving - this
could cause an accident.
- Press the lever upwards so it is secure and
so that the position of the steering wheel
cannot shift unexpectedly while the vehicle
is moving - risk of accident!
Starting and stopping
the engine (vehicles with
ignition Lock)
Starting the engine
Applies to: vehicles with ignition lock
Insert the key in the ignition lock to switch on
the ignition and start the engine.

Fig.
69 Ignition lock: Ignition key positions
Switching the ignition on/off

•
To switch on the ignition, turn the ignition key
to position ®. Vehicles without start/stop sys­

tem*:
The rev counter needle will move to the
READY position.
• To switch off the ignition, turn the ignition key
to position ©. The rev counter needle will
move to the OFF position.
Diesel engines are automatically preheated when
you switch on the ignition.
Starting the engine

•
Manual gearbox: Press the clutch pedal all the
way down and move the gear lever into neutral.

•
Automatic gearbox: Press the brake pedal and
move the selector lever to position P or N.

•
Turn the ignition key briefly to position @. The
ignition key automatically returns to position
®. Do not press the accelerator.
Applies to: vehicles with diesel engine

•
The engine may take a few seconds Longer than
usual to start on cold days. Please keep your
foot on the clutch pedal (manual gearbox) or
brake pedal (automatic gearbox) until the en­
gine starts. The indicator Lamp
E g
lights up
while the glow plugs are preheating.
74

Driving

Electro-mechanical

parking brake

•_ -_-

:c
2C

Fig.
74 Centre console: Button for parking brake and hold
assist
Your vehicle is equipped with an electro-mechan­
ical parking brake
(l)
^>Fig.
74. The parking brake
replaces the conventional handbrake, and is
mainly intended to prevent the vehicle from
roll­

ing away accidentally.
Applying/releasing the parking brake
manually
• To apply the parking brake, pull the button (®).
The LED in the button will light up. In addition,
the warning lamp || will light up in the instru­
ment cluster.

•
To release the parking brake manually, press
the brake or accelerator pedal with the ignition
switched on and simultaneously press the but­
ton
©).
The LED in the button and the warning
lamp on the display will go out.
Releasing the parking brake automatically
Important: The parking brake must be applied
and the driver's door must be closed.

•
Accelerate in the usual way to drive off and re­
lease the parking brake automatically.
Further features and safety functions are availa­
ble for driving off, in addition to the automatic
parking brake release function
^>page
83,
Driv­

ing away from a standstill.
Preventing the parking brake from being
released automatically
In certain situations, e.g. on a steep hill or when
towing a trailer, you may wish to prevent the ve­
hicle from rolling back.

•
To prevent the parking brake from being re­
leased automatically, pull and hold the but­
ton ©) while you press the accelerator. The
parking brake will remain engaged and prevent
any tendency to roll back down the slope.

•
You can release the button
(®)
as soon as the
engine is delivering enough power to the
wheels.
Emergency braking function
You can use the emergency braking function in
emergencies or if the main brake system fails or
the pedal is obstructed.
•
PuLl
and hold the button
«EJ.

• The brakes will be released immediately if you
release the button
®
or press the accelerator.
If
you
pull and hold the button
(®)
while the
vehi­

cle is moving, this will initiate an emergency
brake application. The brakes are then applied
hydraulically at all four wheels. The effect is
simi­

lar to heavy braking
<=> /\.

To prevent the emergency braking function from
being used accidentally, a warning buzzer sounds
when the button
(®)
is operated. The brakes are
released immediately when you release the but­
ton (®) or press the accelerator.
Parking the car

•
Press the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a

stop.

•
To apply the parking brake, pull the button
©).

• Automatic gearbox: Move the selector lever to
position P.
• Switch off the engine
•» A-
•
Manual gearbox: Engage first gear.

•
When parking on a hill or gradient, turn the
steering wheel so that the vehicle would roll in­
to the kerb if it did start to move accidentally.

A
WARNING
- Take care never to press the accelerator
pedal or release the clutch inadvertently if
a

gear is engaged or if the selector Lever is not
in position
P
or
N
(on automatic vehicles)
while the vehicle is stationary with the en­
gine running. The vehicle will otherwise
82

Driving
©
y Note

If the selector lever does not lock automati­
cally, a malfunction has occurred. In this case,
the power transmission is interrupted to pre­
vent the vehicle from moving unintentionally.
Proceed as follows to engage the selector lev­
er lock again:
- Applies to vehicles with 6-speed gearbox:
Briefly press the brake pedal.
- Applies to vehicles with 7-speed gearbox:
Press the brake pedal. Move the selector
lever to position
P
or
N
and then select a
gear.
- If the vehicle does not move forwards or
backwards even though a gear is selected,
proceed as follows:
- If the vehicle does not move in the desired

direction,
the system may have failed to en­
gage the gear correctly. In this case, press
the brake pedal and select the gear again.
- If the vehicle still does not move in the de­
sired direction, a system malfunction has

occurred.
Seek professional assistance and
have the system checked.
General notes on driving an automatic
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox

Fig.
77 Detail of the centre console: Selector lever with in­
terlock button
Starting the engine

•
Move the selector Lever to
P
or N. In the case of
Low outside temperatures (below -10 °C), the
engine can only be started when the selector
lever is in position P.
Driving away from a standstill

•
Press and hold the brake pedal.

•
Press and hold the interlock button (the button
in the selector lever handle), set the selector
lever to the desired position (e.g. D)
^>page
86
and release the interlock button.

•
Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a
slight movement can be felt).

•
Release the brake and press the accelerator
There are several convenient functions to help
you drive away on gradients
^page
83.
Stopping briefly

•
Press the brake pedal to hold the vehicLe when
stationary (for instance at traffic lights).

•
Do not press the accelerator.

•
To prevent the vehicLe from rolling away, apply
the parking brake before moving off on steep
gradients
•=>^
and
•=>(]).

• As soon as you acceLerate as normal, the park­
ing brake will automatically be released and
the vehicLe will start moving. Important: The
driver's door must be closed.
Stopping/parking the car
If
you
open the driver's door while the selector
lever is not in position P, the vehicle can roll
away. The message Shift to P, otherwise vehicle
can roll away. Doors do not lock if lever is not in
P. appears on vehicles with convenience key*. A
buzzer will also sound.

•
Press and hold the brake pedal
<=>
A..

•
Apply the parking brake.

•
Move the selector Lever to P.
In some situations (such as on mountain roads or
when towing a trailer or caravan) it can be advan­
tageous to switch temporarily to the manual
shift programme so that the gear ratios can be
selected manually to suit the driving conditions

^>page
90.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selec­
tor lever to P. On a gradient the parking brake
should be applied first and the selector Lever
should be moved to
P ^>page
82. This reduces
the load on the locking mechanism and makes it
easier to move the selector lever out of position
P. •
88

Driving
A WARNING
- The driver should never get out of the
vehi­

cle when the engine is running and a gear is

engaged.
If you have to leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must apply
the parking brake and engage the parking
lock P.
-If the engine is running and a gear is engag­
ed (D/S or R) or the vehicle is in "tiptronic"

mode,
you will need to hold the car with the
footbrake. Otherwise, the car will "creep"
forwards as the power transmission is not
fully interrupted even when the engine is

idling.

- The accelerator pedal must on no account
be pressed inadvertently when the vehicle is
stationary. The vehicle could otherwise start
moving immediately (in some cases even if
the parking brake is engaged) and possibly
cause an accident.
- Do not press the accelerator while selecting
a gear with the vehicle stationary and the
engine running, as this could cause an
acci­

dent.
- Never move the selector lever to R or P
when driving at normal speeds, as this could
cause an accident.
- Before you drive down a steep gradient, re­
duce the speed and use "tiptronic" to select
a low gear.
- Never allow the brake to drag when driving
downhill and do not use the brake pedal too
often
or
for long periods. Constant braking
will cause the brakes to overheat and will
considerably reduce the effectiveness of the
brakes. It will increase the braking distance
and could cause the brake system to
fail.

- To avoid rolling back on gradients always
hold the vehicLe with the footbrake or park­
ing brake if you have to stop.
- Never attempt to hold the vehicle with the
clutch when stopping on a gradient. The
clutch is disengaged automatically if it is
overloaded and becomes too hot - accident
risk! If the clutch is overloaded, the indica­
tor lamp
0
will light up and a message will
appear
^>page
92.
© CAUTION
- When you have stopped on a gradient, do
not try to stop the vehicle rolling back by ac­
celerating when a gear is engaged. This
could cause the automatic gearbox to over­
heat and become damaged. Apply the park­
ing brake or press the brake pedal in order
to prevent the vehicle from rolling back.
- If you allow the car to roll with the selector
lever in position N with the engine switched
off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged
as it will not be lubricated
^page
328,
Tow-starting / towing
away.

- In certain driving and traffic conditions, for
instance in stop-and-go traffic, if you have
to pull away frequently or if the vehicle
creeps forwards over a long distance, the
gearbox can overheat and become dam­

aged.
If the indicator Lamp
[5J
or the warn­
ing
lampH
Lights up, stop the vehicle at
the first opportunity and let the gearbox
cool down
^>page
92.
© Note
For safety reasons the parking brake will only
release automatically if the driver's door is

closed.

Downhill speed control
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
The downhill speed control function helps the
driver when driving down steep gradients.
Downhill speed control is activated on a downhill
gradient when the selector lever is in D/S and the
driver presses the brake pedal. The gearbox auto­
matically selects a suitable gear for the gradient.
The downhill speed control function attempts to
maintain the speed at which the vehicLe was trav­
elling when the foot brake was applied (subject
to the laws of physics and technical limitations of
the power train). It may be necessary to adjust
the speed again using the foot brake. The down­
hill speed control can change down to 3rd gear
but no further, so it may be necessary to change
to tiptronic mode on very steep gradients. In this

case,
change down manually to 2nd or 1st gear in •
CO
89

Driving

CO

< o rN
iv
rN
i—i

00
Releasing the selector lever manually (left-
hand drive vehicles)
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox

The
selector lever can be released manually if
the electrical power supply should
fail.

K

Fig.
80 Selector lever: Removing the boot

Fig.
81 Manually releasing the selector lever from position
P
This section describes how to manually release
the selector Lever on Left-hand drive vehicles.
The selector lever must be manually released
from position
P
in order to move or tow the
vehi­

cle.

The manual release mechanism is Located on the
right underneath the selector gate. Releasing the
selector lever requires a certain degree of practi­
cal
skill.
We therefore advise you to obtain pro­
fessional assistance.
To release the selector lever, you
wilL
need the
screwdriver from the vehicle's tool kit, which is
located in the luggage compartment

^>page
319. Use the flat-blade side of the rever­
sible screwdriver insert.
Removing the selector lever boot
• Apply the parking brake
& ^/^
to prevent
your vehicle from moving. If this is not possi­

ble,
use other means to prevent your vehicle
from moving.

•
Switch off the ignition.
• To loosen the selector lever boot, carefully in­
sert the flat-blade side of the screwdriver into
the opening
at
the side of the boot
^>Fig.
80.

•
Carefully lever off the boot with the screwdriver

and,
at the same time, pull the boot upwards
-arrow- at the crease with your hand until it is
released at all four corners.

•
Fold the boot over the selector lever knob

=>
Fig.
81.
Releasing the selector lever manually

•
Insert the screwdriver in the opening for the
yellow release lever
^>Fig.
81.

•
Using the screwdriver, carefully pull the release
lever towards the rear as far as it will go and
hold it in this position.

•
Now press the interlock button on the selector
lever
®
and move the selector lever to position
N.

•
After manually releasing the selector lever
make sure you clip the gear lever boot back into
the gearshift gate.
A WARNING
- Only use the manual release mechanism
when the vehicle is on level ground or a
slight gradient.
- The selector lever must not be moved out of
position
P
if the parking brake is not ap­

plied.
If this does not work, use the brake
pedal to hold the vehicle or use wheel
chocks or similar to block one of the front
and rear wheels. If
you
do not apply the

brake,
the vehicle may roll away and cause
an accident.
93

Driving
Releasing the selector lever manually
(right-hand drive vehicles)
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox

The
selector lever can be released manually if
the electrical power supply should
fail.

n

Fig.
82 Selector lever: Removing the boot

m

i

Fig.
83 Manually releasing the selector lever from position
P
This section describes how to manually release
the selector lever on right-hand drive vehicles.
The selector lever must be manually released
from position
P
in order to move or tow the
vehi­

cle.

The manual release mechanism is located on the
right underneath the selector gate. Releasing the
selector lever requires a certain degree of practi­
cal
skill.
We therefore advise you to obtain pro­
fessional assistance.
To release the selector lever, you will need the
screwdriver from the vehicle's tool kit, which is
located in the luggage compartment

^>page
319. Use the flat-blade side of the rever­
sible screwdriver insert.
Removing the selector lever boot

•
Apply the parking brake fâ)
o^
to prevent
your vehicLe from moving. If this is not possi­

ble,
use other means to prevent your vehicle
from moving.

•
Switch off the ignition.
• To Loosen the selector lever boot, carefully in­
sert the flat-blade side of the screwdriver into
the opening
at
the side of the boot
^>Fig.
82.

*•
Carefully lever off the
boot
with the screwdriver

and,
at the same time, pull the boot upwards
-arrow- at the crease with your hand until it is
released at
alL
four corners.

•
Fold the boot over the selector lever knob

^Fig.
83.

•
Take out the panel for the selector Lever
posi­

tion indicator and Let it hang down to one side,
suspended by the cable
0 •=>
Fig.
83.
Releasing the selector lever manually

•
Insert the screwdriver in the opening for the
yellow release lever (section
@
of
<$
Fig.
83).

•
Using the screwdriver, carefully pull the release
lever towards the rear as far as it will go and
hold it in this position.

•
Now press the interlock button on the selector
lever
@
and move the selector Lever to position
N.

•
After manually releasing the selector lever,
make sure you fit the panel for the selector lev­
er position indicator back in the selector gate
and clip the selector lever boot back into place.
A WARNING
- Only use the manual release mechanism
when the vehicle is on level ground or a
slight gradient.
94

Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Driving the vehicle with a
trailer or caravan
Technical requirements

The
towing bracket must comply with certain
technical requirements.
Your car is intended mainly for transporting pas­
sengers and luggage. However, if suitably equip­

ped,
it can also be used to tow a trailer or cara­

van.

If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing
bracket it will already have the necessary techni­
cal modifications and meet the statutory require­
ments.
A 13-pin socket is provided to make the electrical
connection between the car and the trailer. If the
trailer you wish to tow has a 7-pin plug, the nec­
essary adapter cable can be obtained from a spe­
cialist retailer.
If
a
towing bracket is to be fitted after the car is

purchased,
this must be done according to the in­
structions of the towing bracket manufacturer

^page
102.
A WARNING
If
a
towing bracket is retrofitted, the installa­
tion should be carried out by
a
qualified work­

shop.

- In particular in high outside temperatures it
is not possible to drive up long steep gradi­
ents without
a
suitable cooling system. The
engine would then overheat.
- Incorrect installation can result in a safety
risk.
Points to check before towing
There are a number of points which need to be
checked before towing a trailer or caravan.

*•
Observe the maximum permitted trailer
weights
^>page
342.
Trailer weights
Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer
weights.
If
you
do not load the trailer up to the maximum
permitted trailer weight, you can then climb cor­
respondingly steeper gradients.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only ap­
plicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above sea

level.
With increasing altitude the engine power
and therefore the car's climbing ability are im­
paired because of the reduced air density, so the
maximum trailer weight has to be reduced ac­
cordingly. The weight of the car and trailer must
be reduced by about 10% for every further
1000 m (or part thereof). This figure refers to
the combined weight of the (loaded) vehicle and
(Loaded) trailer.
The figures for the draw bar weight that appear
on the identification plate of the towing bracket
are for certification purposes only. The correct
figures for your specific model, which may be
lower than these figures for the towing bracket,
are given in the registration documents and in

•=>
page 343.
Drive select*
Please note that the
efficiency*
mode is not
available in towing mode.
Exterior lights
Before starting
a
journey, make sure that all the
lights for the trailer are working properly.
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy ob­
jects are as near to the axle as possible. Loads
carried in the trailer must be secured to prevent
them slipping. A badly distributed load can also
affect handling. This can activate the trailer sta­
bilisation feature and cause the vehicle to reduce

speed.

Where possible, operate the trailer with the max­
imum permitted draw bar weight on the ball
joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit. •
96