2021 AUDI Q8 warning

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.
“Pp” (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 100.
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.
98
—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.

ZA\ 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 96.
— 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.

Driving


ZA\ WARNING
The driving wheels could spin and the vehicle
could swerve on slick or slippery road surfaces
when using kick-down, which increases the
risk of an accident.
Launch Control
Applies to: RS models


Launch Control provides the best possible accel-
eration when starting from a stop.
Requirements
— The engine must be at operating temperature.
—The steering wheel must not be turned.
— Start/Stop system* must be deactivated
=> page 103.
— ESC must be limited > page 116.
— Driving program “S” > page 98 or the dynamic
Audi drive select* mode must be selected
> page 111.
Using Launch Control
— Press the brake pedal with your left foot and
hold it all the way down for at least one second.
— With the brake pedal pressed, press the accel-
erator pedal all the way down with your right
foot at the same time.
— Once the engine reaches a constant speed, re-
move your foot from the brake pedal.
Once the vehicle has started moving, reactivate
the ESC so that it is fully functional.

Z\ WARNING
Only use Launch Control when road and traffic
conditions allow it and other road users will
not be endangered or impacted by your driv-
ing and the vehicle's acceleration. The driving
wheels could spin and the vehicle could
swerve, especially on slick or slippery road
surfaces, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.
C) Note
When accelerating using Launch Control, all
vehicle components are subject to heavy
loads. This can result in increased wear.

100
G) Tips
After accelerating using the Launch Control,
the temperature of some vehicle components
may increase greatly. If that happens, the
function will not be available for a few mi-
nutes to reduce the risk of damage. After a
cool-down period, Launch Control will be
available again.

Parking lock emergency release
@

B4M-0189



@

Fig. 87 Footwell: releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
The emergency release is located under the floor
mat on the driver's side. Read and follow the im-
portant instructions about towing > page 295.
Releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
» Secure the vehicle against rolling > page 96.
> 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 (4) 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.

4M8012721BF
Driving


ZA WARNING
— The parking lock must be released using the
emergency release before towing the
vehicle.
— Only use the parking lock emergency release
if the vehicle is secured against rolling
= page 96. 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.
[Bi 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 96. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
[i 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.
[8] 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.
[@] 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.
[8] 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
engine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
the malfunction corrected.
fs] Selector lever: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. Please contact Service
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev-
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
& Selector lever: malfunction! Gear change on-
ly possible if using both shift paddles.
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev-
er. You can continue driving with restricted func-
tion. The selector lever is not working. Gears can
only be selected by tapping both shift paddles at
the same time when the vehicle is stationary. The
“P” gear is automatically engaged when you turn
off the engine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.
5] P button: malfunction! Auto P when engine
off. Please contact Service >
101

4M8012721BF
Driving

Brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 km). They
must be “broken in” first. However, you can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period.
Brake pad wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
Brake pad wear increases when driving frequently
in the city or short distances or when using a very
sporty driving style.
Ceramic brakes
Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brakes
Ceramic brakes provide excellent deceleration
rates.
The break-in period for new ceramic brakes may
be significantly longer than for standard brake
rotors. Due to the properties of the material,
they may cause noises at lower speeds. Ceramic
brakes also absorb more moisture in wet condi-
tions. Therefore, there will temporarily be less
braking force than when the brakes are dry. You
can compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal harder.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The automatic post-collision braking system can
help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addition-
al collisions after an accident. If the airbag con-
trol module detects a collision, the vehicle is
braked by the ESC.
The vehicle does not brake automatically if one of
the following occurs:
— The driver presses the accelerator pedal, or
— The braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that
would be initiated by the system
— The ESC, the brake system, or the vehicle elec-
trical system is not functioning

ZX WARNING
— Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-

danger other road users and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
place your foot under the brake pedal.
() 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 108. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
(i) 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 250.
Messages
EG if © Brakes: malfunction! Stop vehicle
safely
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
ES/ Gana B also 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\.
105

Driving

Ga / @ 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
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 96.
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 EG / @ 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.
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.
> 1f i ii ® 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.

ZX 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.

106
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 >

4M8012721BF
Driving


rolling before exiting the vehicle > page 96.
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.

ZA 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
ii) B) Parking brake: malfunction! Safely
stop vehicle. See owner's manual
GG / © 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
= page 96. See an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
ww Parking brake: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the parking brake. Drive
to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility immediately to have the malfunc-
tion corrected. Do not park the vehicle on inclines
and shift to “P”.
x | / Parking brake: warning! Vehicle parked
too steep
The braking force may not be enough to secure
the vehicle from rolling away. Park the vehicle in
a place with less of an incline.
& / {Q) Parking brake: applied
The parking brake is set. Press and hold the brake
pedal to release the parking brake.
Special driving situations
Sporty driving
Applies to: RS models
When driving in a sporty style, the wear on all ve-
hicle components is greatly increased, especially
on the engine, transmission, tires, brakes, and
suspension. This can result in increased wear. Al-
so note the following points:
107
>

Driving

— Make sure the vehicle is in good condition.
Make sure to check the brake pads, tire tread,
and tire pressure (when tires are warm).
— Beforehand, warm up the engine by driving no
higher than two-thirds of the maximum permit-
ted engine RPM. The engine oil must be
brought to a minimum temperature of 158 °F
(70°C).
— Before stopping the vehicle, allow the engine
and brakes to cool back down to a regular oper-
ating temperature by driving normally.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— dynamic Audi drive select mode* > page 111
— Limit ESC > page 116
@) Tips
Wear caused by load does not constitute a ve-
hicle fault as defined by the terms of the war-
ranty.
Driving uphill and downhill
When driving uphill, downhill, or at high alti-
tudes, note the following information:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
— Do not try to turn around if you cannot safely
drive on an incline or hill. Instead, drive in re-
verse.
— When driving down hills, you can activate the
hill descent control if you press the brake pedal
while driving in “D” gear. The automatic trans-
mission will select a gear suitable for driving
down the hill and will attempt to maintain the
speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the
time the brake pedal was pressed. Press the
brake pedal if necessary. The hill descent con-
trol will switch off once the hill levels out or
you press the accelerator pedal.
— Utilize the engine braking effect when driving
downhill by selecting the “S” driving program
=> page 98. This especially applies when towing
a trailer. This reduces the load on the brakes.
— Apply the brakes in intervals and do not press
the brake pedal continuously.
— Use the hill descent assist if necessary
=> page 109
108
Inclinometer
Applies to: vehicles with a tilt angle display
You can display the vehicle's sideways angle and
lengthwise angle in relation to the horizon.
— Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Vehicle data.
— You may need to scroll down to the Inclinome-
ter display.
The sideways angle of your vehicle should not ex-
ceed the yellow range in the gauge. If it reaches
the red range, there is a risk that the vehicle
might tip.
The steering wheel angle, the elevation, the com-
pass direction, and the geo-coordinates of the
current vehicle position are displayed in addition
to the current vehicle angle. You will also receive
information about the maximum sideways and
lengthwise angle that was reached in the current
driving cycle. These values are reset when the ig-
nition is switched off.
Note that the accuracy of the display depends on
the driving situation.

ZA\ WARNING
— Only drive on inclines that your vehicle is de-
signed to handle. Do not exceed the hill
climbing ability of your vehicle. Your vehicle
could tip or slide.
— Do not drive at an angle on steep inclines
and hills. If your vehicle is about to tip, you
must immediately start steering in the di-
rection of the downward slope to reduce the
risk of an accident.
— Always be ready to brake when using the hill
descent control function.
— Applies to: vehicles with an inclinometer: Do
not rely only on the inclinometer when as-
sessing the driving situation.
ier A dials)
Your vehicle is not an offroad vehicle. Note the
following points when driving offroad:

— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and >

4M8012721BF
Driving

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 111
— Hill hold assist* > page 109
—Inclinometer* > page 108
— Raising the vehicle > page 112
— Limit ESC > page 116

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-
ers
@ 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.
Hill descent assist
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 “Z 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 2a 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
44 indicator light will turn on. Once the require-
ments are met again, the system will be able to
provide active regulation again.

109
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