2021 AUDI Q2 traction control

Instruments and controls

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Bonnet
| Warning! Bonnet not locked. Stop vehicle
and check bonnet lock
If the warning lamp lights up and the message
appears, the bonnet lock is not correctly engag­

ed.

Stop your vehicle without delay and close the
bonnet
^page
296.

f*lu
Electronic stabilisation control (ESC)
If the indicator lamp
§jj
flashes while the vehicle
is in motion, the ESC or traction control system
(ASR) is intervening.
If the indicator lamp
§|j
lights up, the ESC sys­
tem has been switched off for system reasons. In
this case, the ESC can be reactivated by switching
the ignition off and then on again. If the indica­
tor lamp goes out, this means the system is fully

functional.

If the indicator lamp
|g
lights up, the ESC sys­
tem has been partially or completely switched off
via the
J^OFF
button
^>page
145.
Stabilisation control (ESC/ABS): fault! See
own­

er's manual
If the indicator lamp
§§J
and the ABS indicator
lamp
EJ
light up and the message appears,
there is a malfunction in the anti-lock brake sys­
tem or electronic differential lock. This will also
cause an ESC malfunction. The vehicle can still be
braked in the normal way (however the ABS
con­

trol function will be out of action).
Drive to a qualified workshop without delay and
have the fault rectified.

(T)
Note
For more information about the ESC and ABS
systems, refer to
^>page
145.

O Brake
pads

S
Brake pads!
The brake pads are worn.
Drive to a qualified workshop without delay and
have the brake pads checked.

*S
Hill hold assist

|§i
Hill hold assist: unavailable
If this message appears, the hill hold assist is un­
available.
Manual control!
If this message appears, press the brake pedal.
Use the parking brake for the hill start

^>page
82.

<^b
Engine management
Drive system: fault. Please contact work­
shop
If the indicator lamp
Qg
lights up, there is a fault
in the engine management system.
Drive slowly to a qualified workshop without de­
lay and have the engine checked.
EPC Engine management
Applies to: vehicles with petrol engine
If the indicator lamp
\$fi
lights up, there is a
fault in the engine management system.
Drive slowly to a qualified workshop without de­
lay and have the engine checked.

W
Engine management
Applies to: vehicles with diesel engine
If the
indicator
Lamp
|jjj
Lights up when the
igni­

tion is switched on, the glow plugs are preheat­

ing.

If the indicator lamp does not light up or if it
flashes while the vehicle is moving, there is a
fault in the engine management system.
Drive slowly to a qualified workshop without de­
lay and have the fault rectified.

O
Emission control system
If the indicator Lamp
£3 Lights
up or flashes, a
fault has occurred which can reduce the quality of •
33

Driving
start moving immediately and could cause
an accident.
- You should only use the emergency braking
function in a real emergency, for example if
the brake system were to fail or if the brake
pedal were to be obstructed. If
you
use the
emergency braking function by activating
the parking brake switch, this has the same
effect as heavy braking. Please remember
that the ESC (and the integrated ABS, EDL
and traction control functions) is still sub­
ject to certain physical limits. In a corner or
in bad road or weather conditions an emer­
gency stop can cause the vehicle to skid or
lose steering control.
- It is not possible to apply the parking brake
if the electrical power supply fails. In this

case,
park the vehicle on a
level
surface and
select 1st gear (manual gearbox) or move
the selector lever to position
P
(automatic
gearbox) to prevent
it
from rolling. Obtain
professional assistance.
- Always take the key with you when leaving
your
vehide
- even if
you
only intend to be
gone for
a
short time. This is especially im­
portant if children are left in the car. They
might otherwise be able to start the engine,
release the parking brake or use power-op­
erated equipment such as the electric
win­

dows - this could lead to injuries.
- Do not leave anyone (especially children) in
the vehicle when it is locked. Locked doors
could delay assistance in an emergency, po­
tentially putting lives at risk.
© Note
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
You can apply the parking brake manually or
switch on the hold assist* when stopping at
traffic lights, etc. You do not then have to
hold the car with the brake pedal, as the
brakes will stop it creeping forward while a
gear is engaged in the automatic transmis­

sion.
When you drive off in the normal way,

co
the parking brake will be released automati-
<

° cally
and your vehicle will start moving

2 •=>
page 83. o < 00

O
Note
- Any slight noise which may be heard when
the parking brake is applied or released is
quite normal and no cause for concern.
- The parking brake runs an automatic test
cycle at regular intervals when the vehicle is

parked.
This may cause a slight noise, which
is normal.
- If the electrical power supply fails, it is not
possible to release the parking brake (if it
was applied) or to apply the parking brake
(if it was released)
•=> A-
Obtain professional
assistance.
Driving away from a
standstill
Various features and safety functions are availa­
ble for driving off, depending on the equipment
in your vehicle.
Hill starting with the parking brake applied
Important: The driver's door must be closed.

•
To drive off more easily on a slope, apply the
parking brake and drive off just as you usually

would.
The parking brake will be released auto­
matically, but not until there is enough power
at the wheels to make the vehicle move in the
desired direction.
Hill starting with the hill hold assist
The hill hold assist function makes it easier to
drive away on a slope.
Important: The driver's door must be closed and
the engine must be running.

•
To activate the hill hold assist, press and hold
the brake pedal for several seconds. The vehicle
must be on a slope and facing uphill.
When you release the brake pedal the braking
force will be maintained for
a
moment
^^
in
order to hold the vehicle and make it easier for
you to drive away. •
83

Driver assist systems
Setting the speed and activating the cruise
control

•
To set the current speed as the cruising speed
and activate the cruise control, press the
|SET|

button
<=>Fig.
104
"=>^.
The speed setting is in­
dicated by the LEDs © in the speedometer and
is also shown briefly in the system status
indi­

cator©
OF/g.
J
05.

•
Vehicles with automatic gearbox: To activate
the cruise control when the vehicle is station­
ary, the hold assist* function must have been
activated
or
you must press the brake pedal.
Switching off the adaptive cruise control

•
Push the Lever away from you to position © un­
til it engages. The message
ACC:
off will ap­
pear.
The LEDs indicating the stored speed in the
speedometer dial will go out.
(3) Warning and indicator lamps

I
- The adaptive cruise control is switched on.
No vehicle has been detected in front. A constant
cruising speed is being maintained.
] - A vehicle in front has been detected. The
adaptive cruise control is regulating the speed to
maintain a constant distance to the vehicle in
front, and will accelerate and brake the vehicle
automatically.

I
- Automatic gearbox: The adaptive cruise
con­

trol is switched on. A vehicle in front has been de­

tected.
Your vehicLe is stationary and will not be
set in motion again automatically.

I
- The adaptive cruise control alone is not able
to brake the vehicle sufficiently to maintain a
safe distance to the vehicLe in front. You must in­
tervene
ipage
117,
Driver intervention prompt.

©
Graphical display in instrument cluster
If the adaptive cruise control is not shown on the
instrument cluster display, you can call up the
display using the controls on the multi-function
steering wheel
^>page
15.
The graphical display shows you when a vehicLe in
front is detected and indicates how far away you
are from that vehicle:
No vehicle - No vehicLe has been detected in
front.
Vehicle in silver - A vehicle has been detected in
front.
Vehicle in red - Driver intervention prompt

<5page
117.

The five distance bars on the scale © represent
the distance setting (for information on how to
change the distance setting, refer to

^>page
116). The distance bars are coloured in
red from the bottom up if the actual distance is
shorter than the distance selected.

A
WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
If
you
press the
|SET|
button at
a
speed of less
than 30 km/h, the vehicLe will automatically
accelerate up to the minimum speed setting
of 30 km/h.
Note
- The speed setting is cleared for safety rea­
sons when you switch off the ignition or the
adaptive cruise control system.
- Applies to vehicles with front-wheel drive:
The electronic stabilisation control (ESC)
and traction control system (ASR) are auto­
matically activated when the adaptive cruise
control is switched on.
Setting a new speed
Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive cruise control

Fig.
106 Control lever: Setting a new speed

•
Briefly push the lever towards ©/© to in­
crease or reduce the cruising speed in small

steps.
•
114

Intelligent technology

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Intelligent technology
Electronic stabilisation
control (ESC)
Description
The electronic stabilisation control (ESC) increa­
ses the car's stability. It reduces the tendency to
skid and improves the stability and roadholding
of the vehicle. The ESC detects critical handling
situations, such as understeer, oversteer and

wheelspin
on the driven wheels. It stabilises the
vehicle by braking individual wheels or by reduc­
ing the engine torque. The indicator
lamp^
in
the instrument cluster starts flashing as soon as
the ESC intervenes.
The following systems are integrated in the ESC:
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under
braking until the vehicle has reached a virtual

standstill.
You can continue to steer the vehicle
even when the brakes are on
full.
Keep your foot
on the brake pedal and do not pump the brakes.
You will feel the brake pedal puLsate while the
anti-lock brake system is working.
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can shorten the braking
distance. The braking force is automatically boos­
ted if
you
press the brake pedal quickly in an
emergency. You must keep pressing the brake
pedal until the danger has passed. On
vehides

with adaptive cruise control*, the response of the
brake assist system will be more sensitive if you
are too close to the vehicLe in front.
Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of
wheelspin,
the traction control
system reduces the engine torque to match the
amount of grip available. This helps the car to
start moving, accelerate or climb a gradient.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes the
spinning wheel and directs the power to the
oth­

er driven wheel (or wheels on quattro* versions).
This function is not available at high speeds.
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automatically
if subjected to excessive loads. The vehicLe can
still be driven. The EDL will switch on again auto­
matically when the brake has cooled down.
Steering recommendation
The ESC helps to stabilise the vehicle by changing
the steering wheel torque.
Trailer stabilisation system
Applies to: vehicles with trailer stabilisation system
Trailers have a tendency to sway. If the
ESC
de­
tects that the trailer is swaying and this is affect­
ing the towing vehicLe, it will automatically brake
the vehicle in order to stabilise the trailer

^>page
97.
Selective wheel torque control
Selective wheel torque control intervenes when
cornering by braking the wheel(s) on the inside of
the bend individually as required. This enables
precision cornering.
Multicollision brake assist system
The "multicollision brake assist system" can help
to reduce the risk of skidding and further
colli­

sions during an accident. If the airbag control
unit detects that
a
collision has taken place up­
wards of
a
certain speed, the vehicle is braked by
the
ESC.

The vehicle will not be braked automatically if:
- the driver presses the accelerator,
- or the
ESC,
the brake system or the vehicle's
electrical system are not fully functional.
WARNING
- The grip provided by the ESC and the inte­
grated systems is still subject to the physi­
cal limits of adhesion. Always bear this in

mind,
especially on wet or sLippery roads. If
you notice the systems cutting in, you
should reduce your speed immediately to
suit the road and traffic conditions. Do not

let
the extra safety provided tempt you into
taking any risks when driving - this can
cause accidents.
145

Intelligent technology
Remember that the accident risk always in­
creases
if
you
drive fast, especially
in
cor­
ners
or
on a wet
or
slippery
road,
or if
you
follow too close behind the vehicle in front
of
you.
Please bear
in
mind that even
the

ESC
and
the
integrated systems cannot
compensate
for
the increased accident risk.
When accelerating
on
a uniformly slippery
surface
(for
instance
all
four wheels on
ice

or snow), press the accelerator gradually
and carefully. The driven wheels may other­
wise start
to
spin
(in
spite
of
the integrated
control systems), which would impair the
car's stability and could lead
to
an accident.
© Note
The ABS and ASR systems can only work
properly
if
a 11
four tyres have a similar de­
gree
of
wear. Any differences
in the
rolling
radius
of
the tyres can cause the system
to

reduce engine power when this
is not
de­

sired.

The systems can make noises when they in­
tervene.
Switching on/off

The ESC
is switched on automatically when
the
engine is started.

^OFF

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y

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3
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Fig.
139 Centre console (top): ESC button

The ESC operates
in
several levels. Depending
on

which Level
is
selected,
the
stabilising function
of

the ESC
is
restricted
or
switched
off,
and the ve­
hicLe
is
stabilised
to
a greater
or
Lesser degree.
In the following special situations,
it
may be ad­
visable
to
switch on off-road mode
to
allow a cer­
tain amount
of
wheelspin:
- Rocking
the car
backwards and forwards
to
free
it
- Driving
in
deep snow
or
on Loose surfaces
- Driving with snow chains
- Driving
on
rough terrain when much
of
the car's
weight
is
lifted
off
the wheels (axle articula­
tion)
- Braking
on
unsurfaced tracks when driving
downhill

For
your own safety you should switch
off
the
off-

road mode
in
time.
Characteris­
tics
Operation
Indicator
lamps
Driver mes­

sages*

Off-road mode
on

The stabilising function
of

the ESC and traction controL
system (ASR)
is
restricted
Press the
&m
button brief­
ly-

1*1
Lights
up.

Stabilisation control (ESC):

offroad.
Warning! Restric­
ted stability
ESC/ASR
off

The stabilisation function
is

no Longer available
•=>
A-

ESC
and traction controL
system (ASR) are switched

off.

Press
the
&m
button
for

longer than
3
seconds.

•M and
IWHUrt*
liant UP.
Stabilisation control (ESC):
off. Warning! Restricted
stability
Off-road mode
off
or
ESC/ASR on
The stabilising function
of

the ESC and traction control
system (ASR) is fully availa­
ble again.
Press the
#*
button again.

|*|goes
out,
or^and

të&Éid*
go
out.
Stabilisation control (ESC):
on
146

Intelligent technology

/r\
WARNING
You should switch on the off-road mode or
switch off the ESC/traction control system
(ASR) only if your driving ability and the traf­
fic conditions allow you to do so safely -
dan­

ger of skidding!
- The stabilising function is restricted when
off-road mode is switched on. The driven
wheels may start to
spin,
causing the
vehi­

cle to lose grip, in particular on slippery or
wet roads.
- When the ESC/traction control system
(ASR) is switched off, the vehicle will not be

stabilised.

Brakes
New brake pads
New brake pads do not give full braking effect for
the first 400 km, they must first be "bedded in".
However, you can compensate for the slightly re­
duced braking effect by applying more pressure
on the brake pedal. Avoid placing a heavy load on
the brakes during the running-in period.
Wear
The rate of wear on the brake pads depends a
great deal on how you drive and the conditions in
which the vehicLe is operated. Negative factors

are,
for instance, city traffic, frequent short trips
or hard driving with abrupt starts and stops.
Noises
Brake noise may develop in certain situations, de­
pending on the speed, braking force and ambient
conditions (such as temperature and relative hu­
midity).
Effect of moisture and salt
In certain conditions, such as in heavy
rain,
early
morning dew, or after washing the car or driving
through water, the full braking effect can be de­
layed by moisture (or in winter by ice) on the
discs and brake pads. The brakes should be
< "dried" by pressing the pedal to restore full brak-

R
ing effect.
When you are driving at higher speeds with the
windscreen wipers on, the brake pads are very
briefly brought into contact with the brake discs.
This automatic process which goes unnoticed by
the driver is carried out at regular intervals and is
intended to improve braking response in wet
con­

ditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can also be
tem­

porarily reduced if the car is driven for some dis­
tance without using the brakes when there is a
lot of salt on the road in winter. The layer of salt
that accumulates on the discs and pads can be
removed with a few cautious brake applications.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on
the brake pads and corrosion to form on the discs
if the car is used infrequently, or if
you
only drive
low mileages without using the brakes very

much.

If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corro­
sion has formed on the discs, it is advisable to
clean off the pads and discs by braking firmly a
few times from a moderately high speed
•=> A-

Faults in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase
suddenly, this may mean that one of the two
brake circuits has failed. Drive immediately to the
nearest qualified workshop and have the fault

rectified.
On the way to the dealer, be prepared
to use more pressure on the brake pedal and al­
low for longer stopping distances.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the
brake fluid level is too low. The brake fluid level
is monitored electronically.
Brake servo
The brake servo amplifies the pressure you apply
to the brake pedal. It only works when the engine
is running. •
147

Intelligent technology

/K
WARNING

- When applying
the
brakes
to
clean
off
de­
posits
on the
pads and discs, select
a
clear,
dry
road.
Be sure
not to
inconvenience
or
en­
danger other road users;
do not
risk an
acci­

dent.
- Never
let the car
coast with
the
engine
switched
off
(this can cause accidents).

(T)
CAUTION

- Never
let the
brakes "drag"
by
leaving your
foot on
the
pedal when you
do not
really
in­

tend
to
brake. This overheats
the
brakes,
re­

sulting
in
longer stopping distances
and

greater wear.
- Before driving down
a
long,
steep gradient,
it
is
advisable
to
reduce speed
and
select
a

lower gear.
In
this way you will make use
of

the engine braking effect and relieve
the

load
on the
brakes.
If
you
still have
to use

the brakes,
it is
better
to
brake firmly
at in­

tervals than
to
apply
the
brakes continuous-

Ly

-
If
the brake servo
is out of
action,
you must
apply considerably more pressure
to the

brake pedal than you normally would.
-
If
you
wish
to
equip
the
car with accessories
such as a front spoiler
or
wheel covers,
it is

important that
the
flow
of air to the
front
wheels
is not
obstructed, otherwise
the

brakes can overheat.

Electro-mechanical

power steering
Electro-mechanical power steering assists
the

driver when steering.
The degree
of
power assistance
is
adapted elec­

tronically,
depending
on the
speed.
Warning/indicator lamps
and
driver
messages
| Do not drive vehicle: steering defective
If the warning lamp lights
up
permanently
and

the message appears, there
may be
a power
steering failure.
Stop
the
vehicle
in a
safe place
as
soon
as
possi­

ble.
Do
NOT drive on. Obtain professional assis­

tance.

S
Steering malfunction: you can continue driv­
ing
If the indicator Lamp Lights up,
the
steering
re­

sponse
may be
heavier
or
lighter than usual.
In

addition,
it is
possible that
the
steering wheel
will
be off
centre when driving
in a
straight line.
Drive slowly
to
a qualified workshop and have
the

fault rectified.
Note
You
can
drive
on if
the warnina/indicator
g/

Lamp
||
or y
|
lights
up
only briefly
Four-wheel drive
(quattro)
Applies to: vehicles with four-wheel drive

On
quattro models
the
engine power is distrib­
uted
to all
four wheels.
General notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles,
the
engine power
is

distributed
to all
four wheels. The distribution
of

power
is
controlled automatically according
to

your driving style and
the
road conditions. Also
refer
to
^>page
145,
Electronic stabilisation con­
trol
(ESC).

The four-wheel drive
is
specially designed
to

complement
the
superior engine power
of
your

Audi.
This combination gives
the car
exceptional
handling
and
performance capabilities
-
both
on

normal roads and
in
more difficult conditions,
such
as
snow and
ice.
Even
so (or
perhaps espe­
cially
for
this reason),
it is
important
to
observe
certain safety points
<=> A-

Winter tyres
Thanks
to its
four-wheel drive, your
car
will have
plenty
of
traction
in
winter conditions, even with
•

148

Wheels

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All-weather tyres can also be used instead of
winter tyres. Please note that winter tyres
with the
A
symbol are required by law during
the winter season in some countries.
Snow chains
Snow chains will improve braking ability as well
as traction in winter conditions.
• Snow chains can be used on the front wheels
only. This also applies to vehicles with four-
wheel drive*.

•
Check that the snow chains are correctly seated
after driving for
a
few yards; follow the instruc­
tions given by the manufacturer.

•
Keep your speed below 50 km/h. Please ob­
serve the applicable local regulations.
Only use snow chains with fine-pitch links. The
links must not protrude more than 13.5 mm
from the tyres (including tensioner).
You must remove the snow chains on roads which
are free of snow; otherwise the vehicLe handling
may be impaired and the tyres may be damaged.
For technical reasons snow chains may only be
used on tyres with certain wheel rim/tyre combi­
nations.
Rim size
6.0]xl6 (steel)
Rim offset Tyre size
43 mm 205/60 R16
A WARNING

UnsuitabLe
or incorrectly mounted snow
chains can cause you to lose control of the ve­

hicLe-
risk
of accident!
© CAUTION
Snow chains can damage the rim/hubcap* if
they make direct contact with it. Remove the
hubcaps* beforehand. Use snow chains which
have a protective coating.
© Note
When driving with snow chains, it may help to
switch on off-road mode
^page
146.
Low-profile tyres
Applies to: vehicles with low-profile tyres
Your vehicLe is fitted with low-profile tyres* as
standard equipment. Low-profile tyres have a
lower sidewall and provide a wider tread surface
and rim diameter than other wheel/tyre combi­
nations. This makes the car's handling more

agile.
However, the ride may be Less comfortable
on poor-quality roads and tracks, and rolling
noise may be louder.
Low-profile tyres can be damaged more quickly
than standard tyres, for example by heavy jolts,
potholes, manhole covers, speed humps and

kerbs.
It is therefore particularly important to
ensure that they are inflated to the correct pres­
sure
o
page 307.
Drive with particular care on poor-quality roads
to ensure that you do not damage the rims and

tyres.

Make sure to check your wheels regularly (every
3,000 km) for damage such as blisters/tears on
the tyre sidewalls or deformations/cracks on the

rims.

After a heavy jolt, or if any damage occurs, you
should have the rims and tyres checked and if
necessary replaced by
a
qualified workshop.
Tyre wear occurs more quickly on low-profile
tyres than on standard tyres.
Summer tyres are not suitable for cold condi­

tions,
snow or ice. Use winter or all-season tyres
when driving in these conditions
^>page
308.
Tyre pressure loss
indicator
Tyre pressure loss indicator lamp
Applies to: vehicles with tyre pressure loss indicator

The
tyre pressure loss indicator in the instrument
cluster informs the driver if the tyre pressure is
too low or a system malfunction has occurred.
The tyre pressure loss indicator makes use of the
ABS sensors to compare the rolling circumfer­
ence and the vibration of the tyres. If changes in
the inflation pressure are detected on one or •
309