towing AUDI Q2 2021 Owner´s Manual

Driving
A WARNING
- The driver should never get out of the
vehi­

cle when the engine is running and a gear is

engaged.
If you have to leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must apply
the parking brake and engage the parking
lock P.
-If the engine is running and a gear is engag­
ed (D/S or R) or the vehicle is in "tiptronic"

mode,
you will need to hold the car with the
footbrake. Otherwise, the car will "creep"
forwards as the power transmission is not
fully interrupted even when the engine is

idling.

- The accelerator pedal must on no account
be pressed inadvertently when the vehicle is
stationary. The vehicle could otherwise start
moving immediately (in some cases even if
the parking brake is engaged) and possibly
cause an accident.
- Do not press the accelerator while selecting
a gear with the vehicle stationary and the
engine running, as this could cause an
acci­

dent.
- Never move the selector lever to R or P
when driving at normal speeds, as this could
cause an accident.
- Before you drive down a steep gradient, re­
duce the speed and use "tiptronic" to select
a low gear.
- Never allow the brake to drag when driving
downhill and do not use the brake pedal too
often
or
for long periods. Constant braking
will cause the brakes to overheat and will
considerably reduce the effectiveness of the
brakes. It will increase the braking distance
and could cause the brake system to
fail.

- To avoid rolling back on gradients always
hold the vehicLe with the footbrake or park­
ing brake if you have to stop.
- Never attempt to hold the vehicle with the
clutch when stopping on a gradient. The
clutch is disengaged automatically if it is
overloaded and becomes too hot - accident
risk! If the clutch is overloaded, the indica­
tor lamp
0
will light up and a message will
appear
^>page
92.
© CAUTION
- When you have stopped on a gradient, do
not try to stop the vehicle rolling back by ac­
celerating when a gear is engaged. This
could cause the automatic gearbox to over­
heat and become damaged. Apply the park­
ing brake or press the brake pedal in order
to prevent the vehicle from rolling back.
- If you allow the car to roll with the selector
lever in position N with the engine switched
off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged
as it will not be lubricated
^page
328,
Tow-starting / towing
away.

- In certain driving and traffic conditions, for
instance in stop-and-go traffic, if you have
to pull away frequently or if the vehicle
creeps forwards over a long distance, the
gearbox can overheat and become dam­

aged.
If the indicator Lamp
[5J
or the warn­
ing
lampH
Lights up, stop the vehicle at
the first opportunity and let the gearbox
cool down
^>page
92.
© Note
For safety reasons the parking brake will only
release automatically if the driver's door is

closed.

Downhill speed control
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
The downhill speed control function helps the
driver when driving down steep gradients.
Downhill speed control is activated on a downhill
gradient when the selector lever is in D/S and the
driver presses the brake pedal. The gearbox auto­
matically selects a suitable gear for the gradient.
The downhill speed control function attempts to
maintain the speed at which the vehicLe was trav­
elling when the foot brake was applied (subject
to the laws of physics and technical limitations of
the power train). It may be necessary to adjust
the speed again using the foot brake. The down­
hill speed control can change down to 3rd gear
but no further, so it may be necessary to change
to tiptronic mode on very steep gradients. In this

case,
change down manually to 2nd or 1st gear in •
CO
89

Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Driving the vehicle with a
trailer or caravan
Technical requirements

The
towing bracket must comply with certain
technical requirements.
Your car is intended mainly for transporting pas­
sengers and luggage. However, if suitably equip­

ped,
it can also be used to tow a trailer or cara­

van.

If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing
bracket it will already have the necessary techni­
cal modifications and meet the statutory require­
ments.
A 13-pin socket is provided to make the electrical
connection between the car and the trailer. If the
trailer you wish to tow has a 7-pin plug, the nec­
essary adapter cable can be obtained from a spe­
cialist retailer.
If
a
towing bracket is to be fitted after the car is

purchased,
this must be done according to the in­
structions of the towing bracket manufacturer

^page
102.
A WARNING
If
a
towing bracket is retrofitted, the installa­
tion should be carried out by
a
qualified work­

shop.

- In particular in high outside temperatures it
is not possible to drive up long steep gradi­
ents without
a
suitable cooling system. The
engine would then overheat.
- Incorrect installation can result in a safety
risk.
Points to check before towing
There are a number of points which need to be
checked before towing a trailer or caravan.

*•
Observe the maximum permitted trailer
weights
^>page
342.
Trailer weights
Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer
weights.
If
you
do not load the trailer up to the maximum
permitted trailer weight, you can then climb cor­
respondingly steeper gradients.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only ap­
plicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above sea

level.
With increasing altitude the engine power
and therefore the car's climbing ability are im­
paired because of the reduced air density, so the
maximum trailer weight has to be reduced ac­
cordingly. The weight of the car and trailer must
be reduced by about 10% for every further
1000 m (or part thereof). This figure refers to
the combined weight of the (loaded) vehicle and
(Loaded) trailer.
The figures for the draw bar weight that appear
on the identification plate of the towing bracket
are for certification purposes only. The correct
figures for your specific model, which may be
lower than these figures for the towing bracket,
are given in the registration documents and in

•=>
page 343.
Drive select*
Please note that the
efficiency*
mode is not
available in towing mode.
Exterior lights
Before starting
a
journey, make sure that all the
lights for the trailer are working properly.
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy ob­
jects are as near to the axle as possible. Loads
carried in the trailer must be secured to prevent
them slipping. A badly distributed load can also
affect handling. This can activate the trailer sta­
bilisation feature and cause the vehicle to reduce

speed.

Where possible, operate the trailer with the max­
imum permitted draw bar weight on the ball
joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit. •
96

Towing a trailer
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your car, and adjust
for "full
load"
conditions (refer to the sticker list­
ing the tyre pressures)
^>page
307. It may also
be necessary to adjust the tyre pressures on the
trailer according to the recommendations of the
trailer manufacturer.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road
behind the trailer with the standard mirrors. If
this is not the case you should have additional
mirrors fitted. Both exterior mirrors should be
mounted on hinged extension brackets. Adjust
the mirrors to give sufficient vision to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting
a
journey, check the headlight
beam settings with the trailer hitched up. Adjust
the headlight settings if necessary.
On vehicles with halogen headlights, the
head­

light range control must be adjusted, see

tapage
49.
The headlight range control will be adjusted au­
tomatically if your vehicle is equipped with LED
headlights*.
Power supply
To ensure that the engine can be started again
after the ignition is switched off, the power
man­

agement system
^>page
149 controls the distri­
bution of electrical power and gradually switches
off unnecessary electrical equipment. The trailer
is supplied with power during this period. The
power supply to the trailer is interrupted while
the engine is being started.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are
equipped with a removable
ball
joint coupling.
This is stored in the spare wheel well or in a sepa­
rate bag on the floor of the luggage compart­
ment, together with the necessary fitting instruc­

tions.

We recommend having the car serviced be­
tween the normal inspection intervals if it
used frequently for towing a trailer.
Trailer stabilisation system
Applies to: vehicles with towing bracket
Trailer stabilisation helps to reduce the risk of
the vehicle skidding when towing a
trailer.

When is the trailer stabilisation
system1'

activated?
Trailer stabilisation is active when the following
requirements are met:
- The ESC must be switched on
^>page
146 and
fully functional (no ESC malfunction).
- The trailer connector must be properly secured
in the vehicle socket.
- The vehicle speed must be higher than approx.
60 km/h.
How trailer stabilisation works
In many cases, the driver can stabilise a swaying
trailer by manually braking the vehicle.
However, if the ESC detects that the trailer is
swaying and this is affecting the towing vehicle,
it will automatically brake the vehicle in order to
stabilise the trailer. The indicator
Lamp Hi
will
flash in the instrument cluster. If possible, do
not turn the steering wheel at this stage.
In order to warn traffic behind you, the brake
lights will come on during this automatic braking

operation.

A trailer may sway quite considerably without the
trailer stabilisation system intervening.
If the system for activating the trailer brake
lights is defective, this will be indicated in the in­
strument cluster display
opage
35,
:&
Bulb

monitor.
•

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x)
Not available on vehicles for some markets.
97

Towing a trailer
Requirements for correct functioning of the
trailer stabilisation system
If these conditions are not met in
full,
the trailer
stabilisation system will only intervene to a
limi­

ted extent or not at all
>=>
A-
- The electrical connection between the towing
vehicle and the trailer must be functioning cor­
rectly.
- The load on the trailer must be properly se­

cured.

- The tyre pressures on both the vehicLe and the
trailer must be adapted to the load that is be­
ing carried.
- Where possible, operate the trailer with the
maximum permitted draw bar weight.
- The trailer overrun brake must be set correctly.
This is important to ensure that the trailer can
be braked correctly, to avoid the vehicle and
trailer "jack-knifing" and to prevent excess
braking of the trailer.
- At low outside temperatures, both the towing
vehicle and the trailer should be fitted with
winter tyres.
A WARNING
It is essential that you adjust your speed to
suit the weather, road and traffic conditions.
Do not let the trailer stabilisation system
tempt you into taking any risks when driving -
this can cause accidents.
- The ESC and trailer stabilisation system
can­

not defy the Laws of physics. This should be
kept in mind, particularly on slippery and
wet roads and when towing a trailer with a
light Load.
- The trailer stabilisation system is function­

al,
regardless of whether the trailer has a
mechanical overrun brake or not.
- The trailer stabilisation system is not always
able to detect swaying of trailers with a
light load and will therefore not intervene.
- A trailer can still "jack-knife" on slippery
roads with little grip, even if the towing ve­
hicle is equipped with the trailer stabilisa­
tion system.
-Trailers with a high centre of gravity may
even tip over before they start to sway
side­

ways.

-If
you
are not towing a trailer,
but
the
trail­

er socket is being used (e.g. for an illumina­
ted bicycle rack), the trailer stabilisation
system may be activated in extreme driving
conditions.
- Please note the additional information and
warnings
^>page
98, Driving tips.
Driving tips
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care.
Weight distribution
Try to avoid towing a loaded trailer with an unla­
den vehicle. If this cannot be avoided, drive extra
slowly to allow for the unbalanced weight distri­

bution.

Speed
Normally, you must not exceed 80 km/h when
towing a trailer or caravan. However, if the
trail­

er/caravan is equipped with a trailer stabilisation

system,
you can drive at max. 100 km/h. Please
observe any other regulations applicable in the
country in which you are travelling.
The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with
increasing speed. For this reason it is advisable
not to drive at the maximum permissible top
speed in unfavourable
road,
weather or wind
con­

ditions. This applies especially on a downhill gra­
dient.
You should always reduce speed immediately if
the trailer shows the slightest sign of swaying.
Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating fur­
ther.
Always brake in good time. If the trailer has an
overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at first
and then firmly. This will prevent the jerking that
can be caused by the trailer wheels locking.
Change down in good time before going down a
steep hill so
that
you can use the engine braking
effect to slow down the vehicLe.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by attach­
ing an extra stabiliser to the trailer. It should •
98

Towing
a
trailer

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have friction linings at the sides to prevent exces­
sive wear. Degrease and clean the ball joint be­
fore using a stabiLiser. The stabiliser can be pur­
chased and installed
at
a qualified workshop.
Electronic stabilisation control
The
ESC
-
in particular in conjunction with the
trailer stabilisation system
o^page
97 - makes
it

easier to stabilise a trailer
if it
starts to skid
or

sway. You should therefore keep the
ESC
switch­
ed on
at
all times.
Overheating
In hot weather, keep an eye on the coolant
tem­

perature gauge
^page
13. When climbing long
hills with the engine running fast in low gear, the
coolant temperature can increase. Reduce speed
immediately
if
the needle moves to the right end
of the scale. For information on the warning
lamp
||
refer to
opage
30.

Rear carrier systems
When using rear carrier systems (e.g. bicycle
racks) on the towing bracket,
it
is important not
to exceed the maximum load.
The total weight
of
the rear carrier system and
its

load must not exceed
75
kg for this vehicle. How­
ever,
it
is also important to observe the maxi­
mum permissible load for the rear carrier sys­

tem.

The greater the distance from the towing brack­
et, the smaller the maximum permissible Load
on

the rear carrier system. For this reason, you
should secure heavy objects as near as possible
to the towing bracket.
Note the instructions provided by the manufac­
turer of the rear carrier system.
Please make sure that the rear carrier system
is

approved for use on your vehicle.

l
Note
A WARNING
The use of an unsuitable rear carrier system
could cause severe damage
to
the towing
bracket. The towing bracket could then break
and cause an accident.
Degrease and clean the ball joint before using
a rear carrier system.

Removable towing
bracket

Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with removable towing bracket
Special care is required when fitting and remov­
ing the towing bracket.

Fig.
84 Luggage compartment:
Ball
joint for towing brack­
et (stowage example)
The removable ball joint attachment for the tow­
ing bracket is stored under the floor panel or in a
separate bag on the floor of the luggage com­
partment.
The ball joint can be fitted and removed by hand.
WARNING
Never use tools of any kind when fitting and
removing the ball joint. This could damage
the mechanism which locks the
ball
joint
in

place and impair its safety
-
risk of accident!
© Note
- Do not attempt to modify or repair the ball
joint or other towing bracket components.
- Should you have any difficulties when using
the towing bracket, or suspect that
it
is not
fitted properly, contact
a
qualified work­

shop.

- Before setting off, always check that the

ball
joint is secured properly
Opage
101.
99

Towing a trailer
- Never disengage the ball joint with the cara­
van / trailer still hitched or with a bicycle
rack or similar accessory still attached.
- It is advisable to remove the ball joint when
you are not towing a trailer. Check whether
the plug is properly inserted in the mount­
ing fixture and that the bumper cover is fit­

ted.

-The
ball
joint must be removed if
you
intend
to clean the car with a steam cleaning at­
tachment. Check whether the plug is prop­
erly inserted in the mounting fixture and
that the bumper cover is fitted.
- For installation and removal of the ball joint
we recommend using the gloves provided

for
this purpose.
Fitting the ball joint (step 1)
Applies to: vehicles with removable towing bracket

Fig.
85 Area below rear bumper: Pulling out plug

Fig.
86 Removable towing bracket:
Ball
joint
Mounting fixture
The mounting fixture for the ball joint is located
on the underside of the bumper
^>Fig.
85.

•
Remove the plug
^>Fig.
85 from the mounting

fixture.

•
Check that the mounting fixture is free of dirt;
clean if necessary
•=> /\.

The spring mechanism inside the ball joint
must be in the "ready" position.

•
Check
that
the red marking (5)
^>Fig.
86 on the
knob is inside the green zone on the
ball
joint.

•
Check that the locking ball
(Î)
is inside the hole
in the shaft section of the
ball
joint.

•
Check that the knob protrudes visibly from the
ball joint, so that there is a clear gap (?) be­
tween the knob and the
ball
joint.
The
ball
joint can only be installed if the internal
spring mechanism is in the ready position.
Continued
^>page
100, Fitting the
ball
joint
(step 2).
WARNING
It is important to keep the mounting fixture

clean.
Otherwise the ball joint may fail to en­
gage securely (accident risk).
Fitting the ball joint (step 2)
Applies to: vehicles with removable towing bracket

Fig.
87 Removable towing bracket: Setting the spring
mechanism to the "ready" position

Fig.
88 Removable towing bracket: Inserting the
ball
joint •
100

Towing a trailer
Setting the spring mechanism to the "ready"
position (if required)

•
Insert the key®
^>Fig.
87 for locking the ball
joint into the lock on the knob and turn it
clock­

wise.

•
Pull out the knob in direction ®, hold and turn
in direction ® until the locking ball (5) engages
Inserting the ball joint

•
With the spring mechanism in the "ready"
posi­

tion,
insert the ball joint into the mounting fix­
ture and push it upwards
<=$Fig.
88 in the direc­
tion indicated (arrow)
•=> ^.
The spring mecha­
nism should then engage automatically with an
audible click.

•
Lock the ball joint by turning the key
anti-clock­

wise.

•
Take out the key and press the cover cap onto
the lock.
Continued
^>page
101, Fitting the
ball
joint
(step 3).
Fitting the ball joint (step 3)
Applies to: vehicles with removable towing bracket
A WARNING
- If it is not possible to set the spring mecha­
nism to the "ready" position as described

above,
please contact
a
qualified workshop

and,
for safety reasons, do not use the ball
joint.
- To avoid injury, keep your hands away from
the knob when inserting the ball joint in the
mounting fixture.
Make sure that the knob can turn freely when
the
ball
joint is inserted.

Fig.
89 Removable towing bracket: Safety check

M \

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n
•>*
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Fig.
90 Area below rear bumper: Connecting socket®,
eye for safety cable (5)

•
Check
that
the green marking ®
^>Fig.
89 on
the knob is inside the green zone on the ball
joint.

•
Check that the knob is directly against the ball
joint, so that there is no gap (7) between the
knob and the
ball
joint.

•
Check that the ball joint is locked and the key is
removed (so that the knob cannot be pulled

out).

•
Check that the ball joint fits tightly in the
mounting fixture (try moving it about to check).
• To plug in the electrical connection for the
trail­

er, swivel the connecting socket down from un­
derneath the bumper®
^>Fig.
90.

*•
When you hitch a trailer up to your vehicle,
hook the safety cable into the eye on the tow­
ing bracket®
^F/g.
90.

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1-1

00
A WARNING
To avoid accidents, the towing bracket must
not be used if any one of the requirements
lis­

ted above is not met. If this is the case, the
101

Towing a trailer
ball joint must be fitted again properly

^>page
100. Please contact a qualified work­
shop in the event of
a
technical fault.

(T) Note
•
The eye ® on the towing bracket is intended
only for securing the safety cable of the
trail­

er.
Removing the ball joint
Applies to: vehicles with removable towing bracket

*—d

^•^Pfip-®
—
t*\®

Fig.
91 Removable towing bracket: Removing the ball
joint

IT)
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Fig.
92 Area below rear bumper: Fitting the plug

•
Take off the cover cap and insert the key ®

^Fig.
91 in the lock on the knob.

•
Unlock the ball joint by turning the key
clock­

wise.

•
Take hold of the ball joint and pull out the knob
in direction®.

•
Keep hold of the knob and turn it as far as it
will go in direction ®.

•
Release the knob. The spring mechanism will
remain in the "ready" position
<=> /\.
•
Pull the ball joint down out of the mounting fix­

ture.

•
Insert the plug into the mounting fixture

^>Fig.
92.

•
Swivel the electrical socket upwards as far as
the stop.

•
Stow the ball joint underneath the floor panel
or in the bag on the floor of the Luggage com­
partment, depending on your vehicle configura­

tion.

- Make sure that the plug is properly fitted in
the mounting fixture for the towing bracket.
Otherwise the ball joint may fail to engage
securely the next time it is attached if dirt
has accumulated in the mounting fixture.
- On vehicles in which the
ball
joint is stowed
in a bag on the floor of the luggage com­
partment, the bag must always be secured
to the front right fastening
ring.
Otherwise
the bag could be catapulted through the in­
terior of the vehicle in the event of sudden
braking or an accident - risk of injury and ac­
cident!
Retrofitting
Please contact a qualified workshop to find out
whether your vehicle can be retrofitted with a
towing bracket.

I

B38.2

556,1
301,1

Fig.
93 Installation dimensions and positions of securing
points •
102

Towing a trailer

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If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the car is

purchased,
this must be done according to the in­
structions of the towing bracket manufacturer.
The towing bracket is bolted to the body at the
securing points®
^F/'g.
93.
Qualified workshops are familiar with the meth­
od of installation and any modifications which
may be required for the cooling system.

/\
WARNING
If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the installa­
tion should be carried out by a qualified work­

shop.

- A towing bracket that is not fitted properly
constitutes an accident risk.
- For your own safety, please observe the in­
structions provided by the manufacturer of
the towing bracket.
©
1
CAUTION
- If the connector socket is not fitted correct­
ly, this could cause damage to the vehicle's
electrical system.
- In particular in high outside temperatures it
is not possible to drive up Long steep gradi­
ents without a suitable cooling
system,

there is a risk of damaging the engine.
103

Driver assist systems
Camera-based traffic
sign recognition
Description
Applies to: vehicles with camera-based traffic sign recogni­
tion

Fig.
97 Instrument cluster: Traffic sign recognition

Fig.
98 Windscreen: Camera window for traffic sign recog­
nition
Traffic signs detected by the system appear in
the instrument cluster display to keep you in­
formed of current speed restrictions and no-over­
taking zones
^>Fig.
97. Within certain system

limits,
it will display these additional traffic re­
strictions:

£5
///

s

G

^-if?

Speed limits in wet weather
Speed limits in foggy conditions (only dis­
played when the all-weather lights or rear
fog light are switched on)
Speed limits at certain times of day
Speed limits when towing a trailer
General notes
The traffic sign recognition system can detect
standardised speed Limit signs within the cam­
era's range of
vision.
It makes use of the naviga­
tion data to evaluate the detected speed limits
and show them on the display. Under certain
con­

ditions, the system will also display the legal
speed limits on roads without speed Limit signs.
The traffic sign for the currently detected speed
limit will flash on the display if
a
speed warning

threshold,
which has been set on the infotain­
ment system, is exceeded
^page
109.
Traffic sign recognition is not available in all
countries. For
a
current list, see the Internet (e.g.
www.audi.com). The system is also subject to
certain inherent restrictions and may be partially
or completely unavailable in the following situa­

tions:

- If visibility is impaired by snow,
rain,
fog or
heavy road spray.
- In dazzling light, e.g. from the sun or oncom­
ing traffic.
-At high speeds.
- If the camera's range of vision
^>Fig.
98 is im­

paired,
e.g. by dirt or stickers. Notes on clean­
ing
•=>
page 312.
- If the traffic signs are partially or completely

obscured,
e.g. by trees, snow, mud or other
vehicles.
- If traffic signs deviate from the standard ap­
pearance (round with red border).
- If traffic signs are damaged or bent.
- If matrix traffic signs are mounted on overhead
gantries.
- If traffic signs or routes have changed (naviga­
tion data out of date).
- If the system detects a speed sticker on a slow-
moving vehicle (such as a heavy goods vehicle).
WARNING
Always direct your full attention to the road
and surroundings, even when you are using
traffic sign recognition. The actual traffic
signs on your route always take precedence

over
the information on the display. It is al­
ways the driver's responsibility to assess the
traffic situation and take appropriate care.
- Under adverse conditions, the traffic sign
recognition system may misinterpret or fail
to detect traffic signs. It is therefore possi­
ble that the speed limit display may occa­
sionally be unavailable or even incorrect.
108