2021 AUDI Q5 warning

Checking and Filling

may add a maximum of 1 quart (1 liter) of
ACEA C3 or API SN engine oil one time until the
next oil change.
For more information on the correct engine oil
for your vehicle, contact an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility. Have the oil
changed by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Service Facility.
@ Tips
Audi recommends using engine oils provided
by Audi Genuine Parts.
Messages
Ei Turn off engine. Oil pressure too low
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
engine oil level > page 250.
— If the engine oil level is too low, add engine oil
=> page 251. Only continue driving once the in-
dicator light turns off.
—If the engine oil level is correct and the indica-
tor light still turns on, turn the engine off and
do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
Applies to: vehicles with oil level warning
2 Please add oil immediately.
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
engine oil level > page 250 and add engine oil
immediately > page 251.
E& Add max. x qt (x 0) oil. You can continue
driving
Add the amount of oil shown immediately
=> page 251.
Es Please reduce oil level
There is too much oil in the engine and there is a
risk of damaging the catalytic converter or en-
gine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
engine oil extracted if necessary. Avoid high en-
gine speeds, full acceleration, and heavy engine
loads.
250
BB Oil level sensor: oil change necessary. Please
contact Service
Fuel has entered the engine oil. This will cause
the engine oil level to rise slowly and the engine
oil quality to decrease. Do not extract engine oil
to reduce the level, because this will increase the
risk of engine damage. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately to have engine oil extracted.
==.) Oil level system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
The sensor that checks the engine oil level has
malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty to have the malfunction repaired.
& Oil pressure sensor: malfunction! Please
contact Service
The sensor that checks the engine oil pressure
has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility to have the malfunction repaired.
FI Please drive to warm up engine
Fuel has entered the engine oil, either due to low
outside temperatures or frequent short drives.
Drive until the engine is warm so that the fuel in
the engine oil will evaporate. Avoid high engine
speeds, full accelerating, and heavy engine loads
when doing this.
Gi) Tips
The oil pressure warning BB is not an oil level
indicator. Always check the oil level regularly.
Checking the engine oil level
The engine oil level can be checked in the MMI.
Observe the safety precautions > /A\ in General
information on page 246.
> Park the vehicle on a level surface.
>» Shut the engine off when it is warm.
> Switch only the ignition back on.
> Wait approximately two minutes.
» Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Oil level.

80B012721BA
Checking and Filling

> Read the oil level in the display. Add engine oil — If you believe that your engine has in-
if the bar in the oil level indicator is just below creased its oil consumption, contact an au-
“min” > page 251. thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility to determine the cause.
@) Note Please note that an exact oil consumption
measurement must be done with the neces-
sary care and accuracy and may take time.
An authorized Audi dealer or authorized
@ Tips Audi Service Facility is trained in accurately
measuring the oil consumption.
— You can find information on engine oil and
engine oil capacities for the USA at www.
audiusa.com/help/maintenance, or for Can-
ada at www.audi.ca/ca/web/en/
customer-area/care-and-maintenance/
audi-service-schedules.html, or call
. 800-822-2834.
@) Tips
1a al A cea a 0.5 quart/600 miles (0.5 liter/1,000 km), de- gang
If the engine oil level is too low or too high,
there is a risk of engine damage.
The oil level indicator in the display is only an
informational display. If the oil level is too
low, a minimum oil warning appears in the in-
strument cluster. Add oil and close the hood.
The current oil level will be displayed on the
MMI the next time the ignition is switched on.





pending on driving style and operating condi- S
tions. Consumption may be higher during the 5
first 3,000 miles (5,000 km). The engine oil a
level must be checked regularly. It is best to
check each time you refuel your vehicle and
before long drives.
— Because of the lubrication and cooling of
the engine, combustion engines consume
oil. The oil consumption varies depending
on the engine and may change during the Fig. 172 Engine compartment: engine oil filler opening
service life of the engine. Engines generally cover
consume more oil at the beginning during
the break-in period. Then oil consumption Observe the safety precautions > page 246, Gen-
stabilizes after the break-in period. eral information.
— Under normal conditions, oil consumption > Turn the engine off.
depends on the quality and viscosity of the > Open the hood © page 247.
oil, the engine RPM, the climate conditions, > Unscrew the cap x for the engine oil filler
and the road conditions. The dilution of oil opening © fig. 172.
from condensation or fuel residue as well as > Carefully add 0.5 quart (0.5 liter) of the correct
the age of the oil also play a role. Because oil > page 249.
engine wear increases with mileage, oil con- > Close the engine oil filler opening cap.
sumption will increase again over time until > Close the hood © page 247.
it may be necessary to replace worn compo- > Restart the ignition after two minutes and read
nents. the current oil level in the MMI > page 250,
— Because all these variables play a role, it is Checking the engine oil level.
not possible to define an oil consumption > Applies to: using engine oil that meets the rec-
standard. Therefore, the oil level must be ommended specification: Add some more oil
checked regularly. again if necessary.
251

Checking and Filling


ZA\ WARNING
— When adding oil, do not let oil drip onto hot
engine components. This increases the risk
of a fire.
— You must close the cap on the oil filler open-
ing correctly so that oil does not leak out on-
to the hot engine and exhaust system when
the engine is running, because this is a fire
hazard.
— Always clean skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact with engine oil.
—
Engine oil is poisonous and must be kept out
of reach of children.
— Store the engine oil securely in the original
container.
@) Note
— The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not
cover damage or malfunctions if the recom-
mended intended use of the vehicle and
maintenance measures listed in the Audi
Owner's Manual and the Warranty & Main-
tenance Booklet were not followed.
— Only use high-grade engine oil that explicit-
ly meets the Audi oil quality standard for
your vehicle. Using another oil may cause
severe vehicle damage.
— Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.
Additives may cause engine damage that is
not covered by your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.

@ For the sake of the environment
— Oil should never enter the sewer system or
come into contact with the ground.
— Follow the legal regulations in the country
where you are located when disposing of
empty oil containers.
CET Ute Rie Lae!
Audi recommends having the oil changed at an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-
ice Facility.
Observe the safety precautions > page 246, Gen-
eral information.
252
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals
specified in the Warranty & Maintenance Book-
let. This is very important because the lubrication
function of the oil gradually declines during regu-
lar vehicle operation.
The engine oil should be changed more frequent-
ly under certain circumstances. Have the oil
changed more frequently if you often drive short
distances, your vehicle is predominantly in stop-
and-go traffic situations, is in very dusty environ-
ments, or is operated for long periods of time in
temperatures below zero.
Cleansing additives in the oil make fresh oil ap-
pear darker after the engine has run briefly. This
is normal and no reason to change the engine oil
more frequently than recommended.
Because correctly disposing of engine oil is diffi-
cult and special tools and technical knowledge
are needed for an oil change, Audi recommends
having your engine oil changed by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
If you change the engine oil yourself, please note
the following important information:

ZA WARNING
If you change the engine oil on the vehicle
yourself, the following precautions must be
followed:
— Wear protective eyewear.
— Due to the risk of scalding, allow the engine
to cool down sufficiently.
— Maintain enough distance when you are re-
moving the oil drain plug. While doing this,
keep your forearm parallel to the ground to
reduce the risk of hot oil dripping down your
arm.
— Drain the oil into a container designed for
this purpose that is large enough to hold the
full amount of oil in your engine.
— Engine oil is poisonous. Always store out of
reach of children.
— Prolonged contact of used engine oil with
the skin may cause skin damage. Always
wash oil off immediately with soap and wa-
ter to protect your skin.

80B012721BA
Checking and Filling

> Turn the cap to the right to tighten it until you
feel resistance a second time.
Coolant loss usually indicates that there is a leak.
Immediately drive your vehicle to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the cooling system inspected. If the
cooling system is not leaking, coolant loss can re-
sult from the coolant boiling due overheating
and then being forced out of the cooling system.

ZA\ WARNING
— The engine/motor compartment in any vehi-
cle is a potentially dangerous area. Stop the
engine and allow it to cool before working in
the engine compartment. Always follow the
information found in > page 246, General
information.
— Never open the hood if you can see or hear
steam or coolant escaping from the motor
compartment. This increases the risk of
burns. The cooling system is under pressure.
When you no longer see or hear steam or
coolant escaping, you may open the motor
compartment with caution.
— When working in the engine compartment,
remember that the radiator fan can switch
on even if the ignition is switched off, which
increases the risk of injury.
— Coolant additive and coolant can be danger-
ous to your health. For this reason, store the
coolant in the original container and away
from children. There is a risk of poisoning.

A WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive
The coolant expansion tank for the high-volt-
age system may only be opened or filled by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility.
— The coolant expansion tank cap is equipped
with a seal that must never be removed un-
der any circumstances > page 249, fig. 171.
If the coolant expansion tank for the high-
voltage system is not sealed, please contact
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

— When adding coolant, it may leak into the
inside of high-voltage components and
cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of
fire.


@) Note
Do not continue driving if the coolant expan-
sion tank is empty. Do not add any coolant,
because air could enter the cooling system
and damage the engine. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.
Brake fluid



BFV-0229]

Fig. 174 Motor compartment: cap on brake fluid reservoir
Observe the safety precautions > page 246, Gen-
eral information.
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid reservoir is located under a cover
on the driver’s side.
> Lift the cover > page 249, fig. 171 at both
openings and remove it.
> Read the brake fluid level on the brake fluid res-
ervoir > page 249, fig. 171. The brake fluid lev-
el must be between the MIN and MAX markings
ofA.
The brake fluid level is monitored automatically
Message
Ea / @ Brakes: stop vehicle and check brake
fluid level
Stop the vehicle and check the brake fluid level.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
255
>

Checking and Filling

Changing the brake fluid
Brake fluid should be changed at regular inter-
vals. Have the brake fluid changed by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty. The authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will inform you of the replace-
ment intervals.

Z\ WARNING
— If the brake fluid level is below the MIN
marking, it can impair the braking effect and
driving safety, which increase the risk of an
accident. Do not continue driving. See an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
— If the brake fluid is old, bubbles may form in
the brake system during heavy braking. This
could impair braking performance and driv-
ing safety, which increases the risk of an ac-
cident.
— The brake fluid in your vehicle must meet
the standard VW 501 14 and is available at
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility. If this brake fluid is not
available, another high-grade brake fluid of
equivalent quality may be used, and it must
meet the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Stand-
ard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4, Class 6.

@) Note
— If the brake fluid level is above the MAX
marking, brake fluid may leak out over the
edge of the reservoir and result in damage
to the vehicle.
— Do not allow any brake fluid to come into
contact with the vehicle paint, because it
will corrode the paint.
Electrical system
If the ie} / B or z= indicator light turns on,
there is a malfunction in the power supply, the
battery, or the vehicle electrical system.
= / B Electrical system: malfunction! Safely
stop vehicle
256
Do not continue driving and switch the ignition
off > A\. See an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Restart not
possible. Please contact Service
If you switch the ignition off, you will not be able
to restart the vehicle. Vehicle functions or driving
stability may be limited. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
Switch off all electrical equipment that is not
needed. If necessary, some equipment will be
switched off automatically. Vehicle functions or
driving stability may be limited. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately.
= Electrical system: low battery charge. Bat-
tery
will be charged while driving
The starting ability may be impaired.
If this message turns off after a little while, the
vehicle battery has charged enough while driving.
If this message does not turn off, drive immedi-
ately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

ZA\ WARNING
When there is an electrical system malfunc-
tion, vehicle functions may not work and driv-
ing stability may be limited, which increases
the risk of an accident. Do not continue driv-
ing and switch the ignition off. See an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility for assistance.

Battery
Peale ees)
Because of the complex power supply, all work on
batteries such as disconnecting, replacing, etc.,
should only be performed by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility > A\. >

80B012721BA
Checking and Filling

Multiple batteries with different technologies
may be installed in your vehicle:
— Vehicle battery (for example, for starting the
engine, basic power supply) > page 257, 12
Volt vehicle battery or > page 258, Other bat-
tery types
— Auxiliary battery (for example, for recuperation
or optional equipment) > page 258, Other bat-
tery types
— Plug-in hybrid drive: High-voltage battery (for
example, for electric driving) > page 122, In-
troduction.
Not running the vehicle for long periods of
time
The battery will gradually drain if the vehicle
does not run for long periods of time. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the electrical
equipment will be limited or switched off. Some
convenience functions, such as interior lighting
or power seat adjustment, may not be available
under certain circumstances. The convenience
functions will be available again when you start
the
engine.
Even when electrical equipment is switched off,
the equipment can still drain the battery if the
vehicle is not driven for long periods of time.
Deep draining results in a chemical reaction that
destroys the inside of the battery. The battery
must be charged every month to prevent this
= page 258. Contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for more infor-
mation.
Winter operation
Cold weather places an especially high load on
the 12 Volt vehicle battery. Have the battery
checked by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility before cold weather be-
gins.

authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility.
— Never connect a charging cable or jump
start cable directly to the 12 Volt vehicle
battery. Only use the connections in the en-
gine compartment > page 258.


Z\ WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
— Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms.
Wash hands after handling.

@) Note
— If the vehicle will be parked for long periods
of time, protect the battery against the cold
so that it will not be destroyed by “freezing”
=> page 258, Charging the 12 Volt vehicle
battery.
— There are electrical components under the
cargo floor behind a trim panel that warm
up during operation. To reduce the risk of
the components overheating, do not store
objects such as blankets under the cargo
floor. If the components overheat, they will
switch off temporarily. This will be indicated
by a message that will be displayed in the
instrument cluster until the temperature re-
turns to normal.
12 Volt vehicle battery
Explanation of warnings:
Always wear eye protection.



ZA\ WARNING
— All work on the battery or electrical system
in your vehicle can result in injuries, chemi-
cal burns, accidents, or burns. Because of
this, all work must be performed only by an

Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are
forbidden.


Battery acid is highly corrosive. Always
wear protective gloves and eye protection.
A highly explosive mixture of gases can
form when charging batteries. >


257

Checking and Filling


Always keep children away from battery
acid and the battery. @
@/
oo

Always follow the instructions in the oper-
ating manual.

@ For the sake of the environment
2 ¥ Lead-acid batteries must be disposed of
using methods that will not harm the environ-
ment. Do not dispose of them in household
trash. They contain harmful substances, such
as sulfuric acid and lead, and also recyclable
raw materials. Contact an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for
more information.
Other battery types
Explanation of warnings:
® ®
@/
oo

Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are
forbidden.
Always keep children away from battery
acid and the battery.
Always follow the instructions in the oper-
ating manual.




ZA WARNING
All work on the batteries must only be per-
formed by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Gases that escape from these different bat-
tery types can be poisonous or flammable.
— The contents of these battery types can be
corrosive. If any battery contents come into
contact with the skin, flush the affected
area for at least 15 minutes with clean wa-
ter. Then wash the affected area with soap.
Have the affected area examined by a medi-
cal professional.
©) Note
Components must not be connected to the
battery terminals and wires on these battery
types because this increases the risk of dam-
age, for example due to overvoltage.

258
@) For the sake of the environment

OE These types of batteries must be dis-
posed of using methods that will not harm
the environment. Do not dispose of them in
household trash. They contain harmful sub-
stances and recyclable raw materials. Contact
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for more information.
rging the 12 Volt vehicle battery
a N S >
a a
ao

Fig. 175 Engine compartment: connectors for a charger or
jump start cables
Observe the safety precautions > page 246, Gen-
eral information, > A\ in Battery general infor-
mation on page 257 and > A\.
Requirement: only use chargers with a maximum
charging current of 14.8 volts. The battery ca-
bles remain connected.
The charging cable connections are located in the
motor compartment. The ground point ©) is al-
ways located on the vehicle body.
> Switch off the ignition and all electrical equip-
ment.
> Open the hood > page 247.
» Press the release lever on the positive terminal
and fold the cover upward > fig. 175.
> Clamp the charger terminal clamps to the jump
start pins according to the instructions. (Hex
head bolt under a cover @), hex head bolt on
the vehicle body ©).
> Insert the power cable for the charging device
into the socket and switch the device on.
> At the end of the charging process, switch the
charger off and pull the power cable out of the
socket.
» Remove the charging device terminal clamps. >

80B012721BA
Checking and Filling

> Close the cover on the positive terminal.
> Close the hood > page 247.

ZA WARNING
— Never connect a charging cable or jump
start cable directly to the 12 Volt vehicle
battery. Only use the connections in the en-
gine compartment > page 258.
— A highly explosive mixture of gases can form
when charging batteries. Only charge the
battery in well-ventilated areas.
— A drained battery can freeze at tempera-
tures around 32 °F (0 °C). Do not charge or
use a frozen or thawed battery. If ice forms,
the battery housing can crack and battery
electrolyte can leak out, which increases the
risk of an explosion and chemical burns.
Contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for more informa-
tion.
— Do not connect or disconnect the charging
cable while charging because this increases
the risk of an explosion.

@) Tips
Read all of the manufacturer's instructions
for the charger before charging the battery.
Windshield washer
system

B4M-0135)

Fig. 176 Motor compartment: washer fluid reservoir cap
Observe the safety precautions > page 246, Gen-
eral information.
The windshield washer reservoir <> contains the
cleaning solution for the windshield/rear win-
dow* and the headlight washer system*
=> fig. 176, > page 249. The reservoir capacity
can be found in > page 313.
To reduce the risk of lime scale deposits on the
spray nozzles, use clean water with low amounts
of calcium. Always add window cleaner to the wa-
ter. When the outside temperatures are cold, an
anti-freezing agent should be added to the water
so that it does not freeze.
Message
BS Please add washer fluid
Fill the washer fluid for the windshield washer
system and the headlight washer system* when
the ignition is switched off.
CG) Note
—The concentration of anti-freezing agent
must be adjusted to the vehicle operating
conditions and the climate. A concentration
that is too high can lead to vehicle damage.
— Never add radiator anti-freeze or other addi-
tives to the washer fluid.
— Do not use a glass cleaner that contains
paint solvents, because this could damage
the paint.
Service interval display
The service interval display detects when your ve-
hicle is due for service.
The service interval display works in two stages:
— Inspection or oil change reminder: after driv-
ing a certain distance, a message appears in the
instrument cluster display each time the igni-
tion is switched on or off. The remaining dis-
tance or time is displayed briefly.
— Inspection or oil change due: if your vehicle
has reached an inspection or oil change interval
or both intervals at the same time, the mes-
sage Inspection due! or Oil change due! or Oil
change and inspection due! appears briefly af-
ter switching the ignition on or off.
Checking service intervals
You can check the remaining distance or time un-
til the next oil change or next inspection in the
Infotainment system.
259