vehicle starting system AUDI A8 2021 User Guide

Driving

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.
® Note
Always switch the Start/Stop system off when
driving through water > page 118.
G) 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.
118
G) 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
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
Depending on the engine, the indicator light
may appear if the engine is not stopped.
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
Drive system: please start the vehicle manually >

4N0012721BF
Driving

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.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force, and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity.
Braking effect
The response time from the brakes depends on
the weather and environmental conditions. To
ensure the optimal braking effect, the brake sys-
tem is cleaned at regular intervals. This is done
by applying the brake pads to the brake rotors for
a short period of time when driving at high
speeds when the windshield wipers are switched
on.
If the brake system becomes damp, for example
after driving in heavy rain, the braking effect may
be delayed. Other factors that could temporarily
increase the response time of the brakes include:
— Wet conditions
— Low temperatures, ice, and snow
— Roads covered in salt
— Dirty brake pads
Corrosion
Corrosion may form on the brake rotors if there is
no heavy braking, if the vehicle is not driven for
long periods of time, or if the vehicle is not driv-
en
frequently or for long distances. In this case,
braking heavily several times while driving at
high speeds can clean the brake rotors > A\.
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Se-
lect the “N” gear so that recuperation is not used
for braking.
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.
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Be-
cause recuperation is also used for braking, the
break-in period for new brake pads is 500 miles
(800 km).
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 >
119

Driving dynamic

There is a malfunction in the electronic steering
lock. You cannot turn the ignition on. Secure the
vehicle against rolling before exiting the vehicle
=> page 108. Do not tow your vehicle because it
cannot be steered. See an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
a Steering: malfunction! You can continue
driving
There is a malfunction in the steering system.
Steering may be more difficult or more sensitive.
Adapt your driving style. Have the steering sys-
tem checked immediately by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility. Please
note that the red indicator light may turn on af-
ter restarting the engine. Do not continue driving
if it does.
& Steering: malfunction! Adapt driving style.
Larger turning radius
The rear axle steering may have failed. The vehi-
cle will have a larger turning radius, and the sta-
bility when driving around curves will be compa-
rable to a vehicle without rear axle steering. Drive
carefully to an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction
corrected.
BS Steering lock: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the electronic steering
lock. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to have
the malfunction repaired.
Dynamic steering: correcting steering wheel
position
The steering is reinitializing. The steering wheel
will move easily after starting the vehicle. Reiniti-
alization might be necessary if the steering wheel
was moved while the engine was switched off.
The display turns off if the initialization was suc-
cessful.

ZX WARNING
Do not tow your vehicle if there is a malfunc-
tion in the electronic steering lock because
this increases the risk of an accident.

128
G) Tips
— If there is a malfunction, the steering wheel
may be crooked when driving straight.
—If the a or & indicator light only stays on
for a short time, you may continue driving.
All wheel drive (quattro)
Applies to: vehicles with all wheel drive
The all-wheel drive system distributes the driving
power variably to the front and rear axle to im-
prove the driving characteristics. It works togeth-
er with selective wheel torque control, which can
activate when driving through curves
=> page 129.
The all-wheel drive system is designed for high
engine power. Your vehicle is exceptionally pow-
erful and has excellent driving characteristics
both under normal driving conditions and on
snow and ice. Always read and follow safety pre-
cautions > A\.

Z\ WARNING
— Even in vehicles with all wheel drive, you
should adapt your driving style to the cur-
rent road and traffic conditions to reduce
the risk of an accident.
— The braking ability of your vehicle is limited
to the traction of the wheels. In this way, it
is not different from a two wheel drive vehi-
cle. Do not drive too fast because this in-
creases the risk of an accident.
— Note that on wet streets, the front wheels
can “hydroplane’” if driving at speeds that
are too high. Unlike front wheel drive
vehicles, the engine RPM does not increase
suddenly when the vehicle begins hydro-
planing. Adapt your speed to the road condi-
tions to reduce the risk of an accident.
Sylar)
Applies to: vehicles with sport differential

The sport differential distributes the drive power
to the rear axle based on the situation. The goal
is a high level of agility and ability to accelerate >

High-voltage system

G) Tips
Applies to: Audi charging systems
— For an uninterrupted charging process, we
recommend only charging using sockets
that are connected to a separately protected
circuit.
— It is recommended to use Audi charging sys-
tems in the wall mount clip* during opera-
tion. If this is not possible, always position
Audi charging systems ona secure surface
during the charging process > A\.
—To reduce the risk of overheating during op-
eration, do not place Audi charging systems
in direct sunlight for long periods of time. If
the control unit is overheated, the charging
Process is automatically paused until the
temperature has lowered back within the
normal range.
Charging
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

RAZ-0834


ss

Fig. 99 Left rear side of the vehicle: opening the high-volt-
age charging port door

RAZ-0835



Fig. 100 Charging unit: charging port and buttons/LED
Connecting the charging cable
If you charge your vehicle at a charging station,
the following sequence of steps may vary. Follow
134
the manufacturer guidelines and operating in-
structions for the charging station.
Requirement: the “P” gear must be selected, the
parking brake must be set, and drive ready mode
must have ended.
—If necessary, remove the charging cable from
the vehicle > page 139, Transport.
— Remove the cap from the charging cable if nec-
essary.
— First connect the charging cable to the power
supply, or remove it from the charging station.
— Unwind the charging cable completely.
— Unlock the vehicle.
—To open the charging port door, press on the
right
side of the door > fig. 99.
— Remove the cap from the vehicle charging port
and place it on the holder on the charging port
door.
— Plug the charging connector into the vehicle
charging port.
— Check if the charging option shown @) (immedi-
ate charging/timer charging) is the one you
would like to use for charging.
Starting to charge automatically (immediate
charging)
If charging is not delayed with a timer, the charg-
ing process will begin immediately. If necessary,
the charging station may need to be activated.
Follow the manufacturer guidelines and operat-
ing instructions for the charging station.
Timer charging
With timer charging, the charging process starts
and ends based on a timer that is set beforehand.
— To charge by timer, switch on the timer and
timer charging before exiting the vehicle
=> page 136.
While charging
The charging display on the charging unit @) will
pulse green while charging. It will pulse |} in
the instrument cluster. You can find the meaning
of the possible charging display colors under
> page 135.
The charging connector is locked while charging
and cannot be removed.

4N0012721BF
High-voltage system

Control unit: status and malfunction indicators


Indicator lights Meaning Solution
O Green The charger is ready to charge, | Starting the charging process
but is not charging. => page 134. CQ Off
O & Off
O 0 Off
9 Off
© Flashing green | The vehicle is being charged
O QO Off with the ground conductor
O B oft monitor activated.
O 6 off
9 Off
© Flashing green | The power cable has overheat- | After the cable cools down, the malfunc-
© a Yellow ed. Possible cause of the mal- | tion will be automatically cleared. Until it
O B oft function: a multi-phase socket | cools down, charging performance will be
O 6 of is being used in single-phase | reduced. If the malfunction continues,
mode. The charging perform- | have the power supply/household con-
© Off ance will be reduced. nection checked by a qualified electrician.
®) Flashing green |The control unit has overheat- | After the control unit cools down, the
O QA Off ed. The charging performance | malfunction will be automatically
will be reduced. cleared. Never leave the control panel in
O & Off P
@ 0 vel direct sunlight for long periods or time.
enow Until it cools down, charging performance
© Off will be reduced. If the malfunction con-
tinues, have the control unit checked by
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.
@ Yellow The charger is connected to
O O Off the vehicle. The high-voltage
O B oft battery is charged and the
charging process has ended
O 0 off successfully, or the vehicle is
© Off not requesting a charging pro-
cedure.
O Red The power cable has overheat- | After the cable cools down, the malfunc-
© Q Yellow ed. The charging process has __| tion will be automatically cleared and the
O B oft been interrupted. charging process will resume. If the mal-
O 6 of function continues, have the control unit
6 checked by an authorized Audi dealer or
Off

authorized Audi Service Facility, or have
the power supply/household connection
checked by a qualified electrician.

141

4N0012721BF
Driver assistance

Switching off
If you do not want to use the adaptive cruise as-
sist for a longer period of time, you can switch it
off.
> Push the lever away from you into position @)
until it clicks into place.
The indicator light and the set speed will turn off.

Z\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
— The adaptive cruise assist is only an assist
system, and the driver is still responsible for
controlling the vehicle. The driver is espe-
cially responsible for braking, steering,
starting to drive, and controlling the speed
and the distance from other vehicles.
— Turn on the adaptive cruise assist only if the
surrounding conditions permit it. Always
adapt your driving style to the current visu-
al, weather, road, and traffic conditions.
— Switch the adaptive cruise assist off tempo-
rarily when driving in turning lanes or high-
way exits. This prevents the vehicle from ac-
celerating to the stored speed when in these
situations.
— If you press the [SET] button @) when driv-
ing at speeds below 15 mph (20 km/h), the
minimum possible speed that the system
can maintain will be set. If no vehicle is de-
tected ahead of you, the vehicle will acceler-



ate up to that speed.

@) Tips
— Always keep your hands on the steering
wheel so you can be ready to steer at any
time. The driver is always responsible for
adhering to the regulations applicable in
the country where the vehicle is being oper-
ated.
— If you switch the ignition or the adaptive
cruise assist off, the stored speed is erased
for safety reasons.

D In certain countries.
— When the adaptive cruise assist is switched
on, the ESC and the ASR are switched on au-
tomatically.
— The system cannot be switched off or it may
be interrupted if the road exceeds the maxi-
mum possible grade for safe operation.
Switching lane guidance on and off
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist and lane guid-
ance

B8V-0692


Fig. 122 Turn signal lever: button for lane guidance and
lane departure warning
Within the limits of the system, lane guidance
provides corrective steering to assist the driver
with keeping the vehicle in the center of the lane
as much as possible. This feature can be deacti-
vated.
Ina traffic jam, lane guidance also helps with
leaving a space for emergency vehicles ) by
steering your vehicle as close to the edge of your
lane as possible.
Switching lane guidance on and off
Requirement: lane guidance must be preselected
in the MMI > page 174.
> To activate or deactivate the availability of the
lane guidance, press the button on the turn sig-
nal lever > fig. 122.
The system will assist the driver by providing cor-
rective steering only when adaptive cruise assist
is actively regulating and availability is switched
on.
169

4N0012721BF
Driver assistance

distance may be more or less than these tar-
get distances.
Overriding control
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

[RAZ-0096]


Fig. 125 Lever: overriding the control
Requirement: the adaptive cruise assist must be
switched on.
Overriding control
You can completely override the control, for ex-
ample when passing or if you would like to accel
erate more quickly.
> To accelerate manually, pull the lever toward
you in the direction of the arrow and hold it
there, or press the accelerator pedal.
> To resume the usual cruise control, release the
lever or remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
When you are in the Driver assistance display,
the message Overridden will appear.
Decreasing the distance
The function decreases the set distance and pro-
vides assistance, for example when merging
when a lane is ending.
> To further reduce the distance to the vehicle
ahead temporarily, pull the lever toward your-
self in the direction of the arrow and hold it in
that position.
> To resume the system control, release the lever.
The adaptive cruise assist reduces the distance
and, if necessary, accelerates the vehicle above
the set speed. When you are in the Driver assis-

D_ This is not available in some countries.

tance display, the message Overridden will ap-
pear.

Z\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
— Resting your foot on the accelerator pedal
could override the cruise control. Braking in-
terventions and corrective actions by the
system may not occur.
Driving in stop-and-go [3
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

RAZ-0398
Fig. 126 Instrument cluster: safe start monitor
Stopping with adaptive cruise assist
The adaptive cruise assist also assists you in stop-
and-go traffic. Within the limits of the system,
your vehicle may brake and remain at a stop if a
vehicle driving ahead stops.
Starting to drive with adaptive cruise assist!)
As long as the message ready to drive and A is
displayed, your vehicle will begin driving when
the vehicle ahead starts to move > /\.
If you are stopped for several seconds, your vehi-
cle will no longer drive autonomously for safety
reasons, and the message will turn off.
> To extend ready to drive for several seconds or
reactivate, pull the lever briefly towards you in
the direction of the arrow > page 173, fig. 125.
> To resume manual control of the vehicle, tap
the accelerator pedal. >
173

Driver assistance

Safe start monitor
The vehicle can still start to drive even if certain
obstacles are detected when starting to drive
> /\. If the surrounding area detection detects
an obstacle, you will be alerted to the danger by
the aA indicator light.
If you are in the Driver assistance display, the
display @ © fig. 126 and the message Warning!
will also appear. An audio signal will also sound.
Your vehicle will drive more slowly when starting.
This may also occur in some situations when
there is no apparent obstacle.
> Press the brake pedal to slow your vehicle
down.

ZA\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras © page 150.
— If the message ready to drive!) appears,
your vehicle will start driving even if there is
an obstacle between your vehicle and the ve-
hicle ahead. To reduce the risk of an acci-
dent, always make sure there are no obsta-
cles between your vehicle and the vehicle
driving ahead.

G) Tips
For safety reasons, adaptive cruise assist is
only active if:
— The driver's safety belt is fastened
— All doors and the hood are closed
— Your vehicle is not stopped for a long period
of time

D_ This is not available in some countries.
174
Driver intervention request
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist
Fig. 127 Instrument cluster: request for driver interven-
tion
The request for driver intervention instructs you
to resume manual control of the vehicle if the
adaptive cruise assist braking function is not able
to maintain a sufficient distance to the vehicle
ahead. The system will warn you of the hazard
with the A indicator light and the message Dis-
tance!. An audio signal will also sound.
The display @ only appears when the Driver as-
sistance display is open in the on-board comput-
er > page 16.

ZA\ WARNING
Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
Adjusting the adaptive cruise assist
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

You can adjust the adaptive cruise assist to your
own preferences. The settings depend on the ve-
hicle equipment.
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Driver assistance > (<3) > Adaptive
cruise assist.
Possible settings:
Lane guidance - If lane guidance is also active
when adaptive cruise assist control is active, you
can switch it on or off.
Driving program - Depending on the driving pro-
gram and the distance that are set, the vehicle

>

4N0012721BF
Driver assistance

handling will be adjusted from Sport to Moder-
ate and the lane guidance haptic feedback will be
adjusted.
Store last distance - The last distance that was
set will be stored after the ignition is switched
off. If the distance is not stored, distance
(time distance of approximately 1.8 seconds) is
automatically preset every time the ignition is
switched on.
Predictive control > Set speed limit - adaptation
to speed limits can be switched On or Off. Regu-
lation With tolerance can also be selected, if de-
sired.
In this scenario, you may fall below or ex-
ceed the set speed in favor of increased efficien-
cy.
Predictive control > Adjustment to curves along
route - regulation based on the road ahead can
be switched Off or set individually from Slow to
Fast. The setting influences vehicle handling with
predictive control, for example the speed for
driving through curves.
Werle lt
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist
if or fal is displayed when there is a malfunc-
tion, the adaptive cruise assist functions may be
unavailable or limited.

A message that indicates the cause and possible
solution may appear with some displays. The
weather conditions may be too poor or a sensor
may be covered. Clean the area in front of the
sensors > page 152 and try to turn on the sys-
tems again later.
If the malfunction remains, drive to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty immediately to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Applies to: vehicles with narrowed road assist
Narrow area
Depending on vehicle equipment, this message
appears in the Driver assistance display if the
adaptive cruise assist is adjusting the speed ina
narrow area, for example a construction zone.


Adaptive cruise assist: Please take over!
Adaptive cruise assist was ended, for example be-
cause the vehicle rolled backwards when starting
on a slight incline even though the system was
active. You must take over further control of the
vehicle.
Adaptive cruise assist: limited availability.
See owner's manual
This message appears when the sensor view is
limited, for example, when weather conditions
are too poor or a sensor is covered. You can
switch on the adaptive cruise assist, but certain
functions such as assistance in narrow areas will
not be available. Under certain circumstances,
some objects may be detected late or may not be
detected at all. Be especially careful. Cleaning
the area in front of the sensors > page 152 may
correct the malfunction.
Distance warning

Applies to: vehicles with distance warning
RAZ-0401
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist
Fig. 128 Instrument cluster: display of the current dis-
tance
[RAZ-0400}
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist:
Fig. 129 Instrument cluster: distance warning
General information
At speeds above approximately 40 mph (65
km/h), this function measures the distance to the >
175

4N0012721BF
Parking and maneuvering

© Two-car garages”
@ Tips
— If there is enough space in a two-car garage,
the system automatically selects the park-
ing position in front of the vehicle that the
driver has selected.
— You can also drive into a perpendicular park-
ing space yourself and then activate the sys-
tem. If this is the case, the front of the vehi-
cle should already be in the space () so that
the sensors can measure the space.
(oy oy a] for exiting parking spaces
Applies to: icles with assisted parking

Fig. 147 Overview of options for exiting a parking space
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the follow-
ing options for exiting parking spaces may be
available:
@ Leaving perpendicular parking spaces»)
@ Leaving parallel parking spaces
@® Exiting parking spaces in garages)

2 Only remote controlled parking.
Parking space search
Applies to: vehicles with assisted parking
S g 3
3]
&

Fig. 148 Upper display: activated parking space search
Activating the parking space search
> Press P@ in the lower display. Or:
> To activate the parking space search when the
parking aid is activated, press Pe in the upper
display.
Searching for parking spaces
> Drive forward to the row of parking spaces at a
low speed. For the best parking results, the ve-
hicle should be approximately 3 feet (1 m) from
the row of parking spaces.
> The parking space search is first done on the
side of your lane. To switch the side for the
parking space search, activate the turn signal
for that side. Depending on vehicle equipment,
you may also be able to press on the side next
to your vehicle in the upper display.
Selecting the parking space
If the system finds a parking space that could be
suitable for the vehicle length and width, it will
be displayed. The system automatically suggests
a parking option @.
If the parking space allows different parking op-
tions, they can be selected manually. Press one of
the suggested parking options @).
Starting the parking process
Once the vehicle has reached the correct position,
a P will appear above the selected parking space
©. The roof in the parking aid display @) may
show the required braking or driving direction.
197
>