2021 AUDI Q7 stop start

Driving


time. If the parking brake is not set, the ve-
hicle could roll away, increasing the risk of
an accident.
— Do not leave your vehicle unattended while
the engine is running, because this increases
the risk of an accident.
— If the parking brake is set, it can release au-
tomatically when the accelerator pedal is
pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,
do not inadvertently press the accelerator
pedal and always shift into “P” when the ve-
hicle is stopped.
— If you leave the vehicle, switch the ignition
off and take the key with you. This is espe-
cially important when leaving persons or an-
imals in the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle
could start unintentionally, the parking
brake could release, or electronic equipment
could activate, which increases the risk of an
accident.
— No persons or animals should be left in a
locked vehicle. Locked doors make it more
difficult for emergency workers to enter the
vehicle, which puts lives at risk.
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal or set the parking brake immediately.
CG) Note
If you have to stop on an incline, always press
the brake pedal to hold the vehicle in place to
reduce the risk of the vehicle rolling back-
ward. Do not try to hold the vehicle in place
by pressing and holding the accelerator pedal.
The transmission can overheat, which increas-
es the risk of damage.
Hill hold assist
If you take your foot off of the brake pedal when
driving on hills, the braking force will be held for
several seconds. At that time, you can start driv-
ing without the vehicle rolling backward.


Requirement: the driver's door must be closed,
the engine must be on, and the vehicle must be
traveling uphill.
100
> To activate hill hold assist, press and hold the
brake pedal for several seconds while the vehi-
cle is stationary.

ZA WARNING
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal
or set the parking brake immediately.
— The hill hold assist cannot hold the vehicle
on inclines in every scenario (for example,
on slippery or icy ground).
Gears and driving programs
QS
(2


[RAZ-0410)


R
t
N
t.
Fig. 89 Center console: selector lever



The automatic transmission shifts automatically
depending on the selected gear and the current
driving style. When driving with a moderate driv-
ing style, upshifting early and downshifting late
will help to improve fuel economy. When driving
with a sporty driving style, the transmission per-
mits higher RPMs.
The gears are displayed next to the selector lever.
—P (Park)
—R (Reverse): driving in reverse
—N (Neutral): idle
— D (Drive)
Selecting a gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the release button () on the selector lev-
er.

4M1012721BC
Driving

—To select the nearest gear, move the selector
lever forward or back until you feel the first
pressure point.
—To skip a gear (for example, move from “D” to
“R”), move the selector lever past the pressure
point in the desired direction.
— The label next to the selector lever for the se-
lected gear will light up.
“N” (Neutral) gear
In the “N” gear, power is not transmitted to the
driving wheels. Use the “N” gear in a car wash
(with conveyor belts), for example.
If you unintentionally select “N” while driving
(faster than 1 mph (2 km/h)), you can also shift
back to “D” without pressing the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked
when the transmission is in the "N” gear.
“p” (Park) gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
The vehicle is secured from rolling away by the
parking lock when in the “P” gear.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the “P” button (2) on the selector Lever.
— The “P” next to the selector lever will light up.
“P” engages automatically if you switch the en-
gine off while the “D” or “R” gear is selected. If
you switch the engine off in “N”, “P” will engage
automatically after approximately 30 minutes.
If you want to switch to another gear from “P”,
the engine must be running.
If you cannot shift out of “P”, for example be-
cause the vehicle has no power, you may need to
use the emergency release for the parking lock
=> page 102.
Selecting the driving program
Various driving programs can be selected when in
the “D” gear. The programs influence when the
transmission shifts and how the accelerator ped-
al responds.
The selected driving program is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
—D (Drive): normal driving mode
—S (Sport): sporty driving mode
If you select the dynamic mode in Audi drive se-
lect*, the “S” driving program will be activated.
When the ignition is switched off, the driving pro-
gram may be reset to “D”.
To switch between the current driving program
and “S”, push the selector lever toward the rear.

Z\ WARNING
— Before you start driving, check if the label
for the desired selector lever position next
to the selector lever is lit up.
— Secure the vehicle against rolling before ex-
iting the vehicle > page 99.
— Power is still transmitted to the wheels
when the engine is running at idle. To pre-
vent the vehicle from “creeping”, you must
keep your foot on the brake in all selector
lever positions (except "P" and "N") when
the engine is running.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, do not
press the accelerator pedal when changing
gears if the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is running.
— Never select the “R" or "P” gears while driv-
ing. Doing so could cause an accident.
— The vehicle can roll even if the ignition is
switched off.

(i) Tips
If you shift between “D” and “R” within one
second, you do not need to press the brake
pedal. This makes it possible to “rock” if it is
stuck, for example.
101

4M1012721BC
Driving

The emergency release is located under the floor
mat on the driver's side. Read and follow the im-
portant instructions about towing > page 294.
Releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
> Secure the vehicle against rolling > page 99.
> Pry the cover off at one of the openings using
the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit
=> page 286.
> Insert the socket wrench from the vehicle tool
kit into the opening.
> Turn the socket wrench clockwise (@) until it
stops and press it downward @) until it locks in-
to place.
> Leave the socket wrench inserted.
Resetting the parking lock
> Grasp the socket wrench with both hands and
carefully pull it upward to remove.
> Install the cover.

ZA\ WARNING
— The parking lock must be released using the
emergency release before towing the vehi-
cle.
— Only use the parking lock emergency release
if the vehicle is secured against rolling
= page 99. An unsecured vehicle may roll,
which increases the risk of an accident.
— Only activate the emergency release while
ona level surface or a slight slope.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you must
not drive when the emergency release is ac-
tivated.
i Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle

Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible in a safe location and secure it so it
does not roll > page 99. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
& Transmission: too hot. Please stop vehicle
Do not continue driving. Select "P" and contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility for assistance.
i Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving
style
The transmission temperature has increased sig-
nificantly. Drive very cautiously or take a break
from driving until the temperature returns to the
normal range and the indicator light turns off.
fs] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. See owner's manual
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected.
[@] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. Please contact
Service
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
fal Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. No reverse
gear
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
You cannot engage the reverse gear. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
[&] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving in D until engine is off
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. If you turn the engine off, you will not be
able to select any other gears after restarting the >
103

4M1012721BC
Driving

— Do not drive with winter tires during the summ-
er.
— Use the Start/Stop system.
— Utilize the engine braking effect.
— Avoid driving short distances when possible.
@) Tips
The amount of noise produced by the vehicle
can increase significantly when driving with a
sporty style. Show respect to others around
you and the environment with the way you op-
erate your vehicle, especially at night.
tg eel: [aay
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent ener-
gy management system for distributing electrici-
ty. This significantly improves the starting ability
and increases the vehicle battery life.
@) Tips
— If you drive short distances frequently, the
vehicle battery may not charge enough
while driving. As a result, convenience func-
tions for electrical equipment may be tem-
porarily unavailable.
— The vehicle battery will gradually drain if
the vehicle is not driven for long periods of
time, or if electrical equipment is used
when the engine is not running. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the
electrical equipment will be limited or
switched off.
B Drive system: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle
There is a malfunction in the drive system. The
brake booster and the power steering may stop
working. Stop the vehicle immediately or as soon
as possible and do not continue driving. Secure
the vehicle against rolling before exiting the vehi-
cle > page 99. Have the problem corrected by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
B Drive system: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the drive system. Drive
slowly to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Start/Stop system
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
The Start/Stop system can help increase fuel
economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
In Start/Stop mode, the engine shuts off auto-
matically when stopped, for example at a traffic
light. If certain conditions are met, the engine
may stop before the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop. If you press the accelerator pedal
when this happens, the engine will start and driv-
ing power will be transmitted.
The ignition and important assist systems such
as the brake booster will remain available during
the Stop phase. The engine will restart automati-
cally when needed.
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.
105

Driving

@) Note
Always switch the Start/Stop system off when
driving through water > page 105.
@ 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.
@) 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


106
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
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
Drive system: please start the vehicle manually
This message appears when specific conditions
are not met during a Stop phase. The Start/Stop
system will not be able to restart the engine. The
engine must be started with the
START ENGINE STOP] button.


Vehicle starting system: malfunction! Please
contact Service
There is a malfunction in the Start/Stop system.
Drive the vehicle to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Service Facility as soon as possible to
have the malfunction corrected.
Brakes
General information
You can apply the vehicle's brakes using the brake
pedal.

Driving

@) Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 110. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
@ Tips
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.
— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 253.
EET
GG / @ Brakes: malfunction! Stop vehicle
safely
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
fs) and Ehlalso turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution. If
the brake booster is not working, you have to use
much more force when braking the vehicle.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance. Read and follow the other safety pre-
cautions > A\.
EG / @ Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality. You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
108
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle against rolling > page 99.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the EG / @
indicator light turns on briefly to check the func-
tion. If the indicator light does not turn on, there
is a system malfunction.
1f Be / B® stays on, there is a malfunction in
the brake system.
@- A high load was placed on the brakes from
driving downhill for a long period of time. Follow
the instructions in the message to utilize the en-
gine braking effect and to relieve the brakes.

ZA\ WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.

Electromechanical
parking brake
Operating the parking brake
The electromechanical parking brake is used to
secure the vehicle from rolling away unintention-
ally.
The @) switch is located under the selector lever
in the center console. It turns on when the park-
ing brake is set. You can release the parking brake
manually or automatically when you start to
drive.
Setting and releasing the parking brake
> Setting: pull the ©) switch.

4M1012721BC
Driving

> 1f Ba / © appears, the parking brake is hold-
ing the vehicle. You can remove your foot from
the brake pedal.
> Releasing: when the ignition is switched on,
press and hold the brake pedal and press the ©)
button.
If the red indicator light flashes, the braking
force has not built up enough or it has decreased.
You can also secure the vehicle by selecting the
“P” gear or pressing the brake pedal. Make sure
the indicator light is off before you start driving.
Automatically releasing the parking brake
when starting to drive
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed
and the driver’s safety belt must be fastened.
» Press the accelerator pedal to start to drive.

ZA\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of an accident, always
make sure the vehicle is situated safely
while stationary.
— If the parking brake is set, it can release au-
tomatically when the accelerator pedal is
pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,
do not inadvertently press the accelerator
pedal and always shift into “P” when the ve-
hicle is stopped.
— If the power supply fails, you cannot set the
parking brake once it is released, or release
it if it is set. Secure the vehicle against roll-
ing before exiting the vehicle > page 99. See
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized

Audi Service Facility for assistance.

G) Tips
— On steep inclines, especially when in trailer
mode, the vehicle may roll backwards unin-
tentionally when starting to drive. To reduce
the risk of this happening, pull and hold the
switch while pressing the accelerator
pedal. If enough drive power has built up at
the wheels and the vehicle does not roll
backwards, then release the switch to start
to drive.
— If you leave the vehicle when “D” or “R” are
engaged, the parking brake will be set auto-
matically.
— Noises when the parking brake is set and re-
leased are normal and are not a cause for
concern.
— The parking brake goes through a self-test
cycle at regular intervals when the vehicle is
stopped. Any noises associated with this are
normal.
Emergency braking function
Emergency braking should only be used in an
emergency, if the standard brake pedal is mal-
functioning or obstructed. When the emergency
braking function is activated, the braking effect is
similar to a heavy braking maneuver.
> Pull and hold the ©) switch while driving.
> An audio warning signal will sound and emer-
gency braking will begin.
> If you press the accelerator pedal, emergency
braking will be canceled.

Z\ WARNING
Heavy braking while driving through curves or
in poor road or weather conditions can cause
the vehicle to slide or the rear of the vehicle to
swerve, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.
Messages
Gg / ©) Parking brake: malfunction! Safely
stop vehicle. See owner's manual
GRING / Parking brake: malfunction! Please
release parking brake

If one of the two messages appears, there is a
malfunction in the parking brake. If the message
appears while stationary, check if the parking
brake is released and can be reset. If this is the
case, switch the ignition off and back on.
If the message stays on, if the parking brake can-
not be released, or if the message appears while
driving, do not continue driving. Secure the vehi-
cle against rolling before exiting the vehicle
109
>

4M1012721BC
Driving

— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and
drive across raised areas of the ground with the
wheels on one side of the vehicle, instead of al-
lowing the center of the vehicle to pass over the
raised areas.
— To reduce the risk of becoming stuck, drive
through sandy or swampy areas at a steady
speed and without stopping, if possible.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* offroad mode > page 113
— Hill hold assist* > page 111
—Inclinometer* > page 110
— Raising the vehicle > page 114
— Limit ESC > page 118

ZA WARNING
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the ve-
hicle and your driving ability.

@) For the sake of the environment
Avoid actions that are damaging to the envi-
ronment. Show respect for the natural envi-
ronment and remain on marked routes.
G) Tips
Clean your vehicle after driving offroad. Dirt
and stones falling off your vehicle can affect
other road users.
Driving through water
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the

full braking effect will be restored.

@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
ter.
@ Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
eee
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist
The “@ button is located in the function bar on
the lower display. It lights up when the system is
turned on.
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “ again.
Active regulation
Regulation begins shortly after you start driving
and is possible at speeds up to approximately 19
mph (30 km/h) and on hills that have an approxi-
mately 6-60% grade. If these conditions are met,
regulation will be activated and the a indicator
light will turn on.
Ready mode
If one of the requirements for active regulation is
not met, the system will be in ready mode. The
111
>