Stop and start AUDI Q2 2021 Owner´s Manual

Driving
display.
The rev
counter needle will also move

to
the
READY position.

•
The engine will start again automatically when
you press
the
clutch pedal.
The
indicator lamp
will
go out.

Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox

•
Brake
the
vehicle
to a
stop.
The
engine will
be

switched
off
shortly before
the
vehicle comes
to
a
standstill
or
when
the
vehicle
is
station-

aryx).
Keep your foot
on the
brake pedal.
The

indicator
lamp
@/
@
will appear
on the
dis­
play.
The rev
counter needle will also move
to

the READY position.

•
The engine will start again automatically when
you take your foot
off
the brake pedal.
If the

parking brake
is
applied
or
hold assist*
is

switched on,
the
engine will only restart when
you press
the
accelerator pedal1).
The
indicator
lamp
will
go out.

Further information
for
automatic gearboxes
The engine will stop
if
the selector lever
is in po­

sition
P, N or D.

The engine will start again
if
you move
the
selec­
tor lever
to
R during
a
stop phase.
If you
do not
want
the
engine
to
start when mov­
ing
the
selector Lever through
R,
move
the
lever
to P quickly.
You
can
control whether
or not the
engine
is

switched
off by
varying
the
amount
of
pressure
on
the
brake pedal.
For
instance,
if
you brake
gently
in
stop-and-go traffic
or
before turning
off

at a junction,
the
engine will remain
on
while
the

vehicle
is at
a standstill.
As
soon as you press
the

brake pedal harder,
the
engine will
be
switched

off.

be switched
off. The rev
counter needle will
move
to the
OFF position.
- Keep your foot
on the
brake pedal during
a

stop phase
to
prevent
the
vehicle from mov­

ing.

-
If you press the
ISTART ENGINE STOP|
but­

ton*
during
a
stop phase,
the
ignition will
Note
Applies to: vehicles with manual gearbox
If the engine stalls, you
can
start
it
again
di­

rectly
by
pressing
the
clutch pedal immedi­
ately.
General notes
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system
Engine does
not
switch
off

The system checks that certain conditions
are

met before
and
during each stop phase.
If
the
in­

dicator lamp
Ey
appears
on the
instrument clus­
ter display,
the
engine will
not be
switched
off in

the following situations:
- The engine
has
not
yet
reached
the
minimum
temperature required
for
start/stop mode.
- The interior temperature selected
on the air

conditioner*
has
not
yet
been reached.
- The exterior temperature
is
very high/low.
- The windscreen
is
being defrosted
W.

-The parking
aid*
is
switched
on.

- The vehicle battery charge
is too low.

- The steering wheel
is
close
to
full lock
or the

vehicle
is
being steered.
- Reverse gear has just been selected.
- The vehicle
is on a
steep gradient.
-At high altitudes.
Engine cuts
in
again automatically
The stop phase
is
interrupted
in the
following sit­
uations,
for
example.
The
engine cuts
in
auto­
matically without intervention from
the
driver.
- The vehicle starts
to
roll (e.g.
on a
hiLl).

- The interior temperature deviates from
the air

conditioner setting.
- The windscreen
is
being defrosted
*$?.

- The brake pedal
is
pressed several times
in
suc­

cession.

- The vehicle battery charge drops
to an
insuffi­
cient level.

1'
May vary in different countries
80

Driving
- The power consumption is
high.

The engine switches off again when the condi­
tions for start/stop mode are once again
fulfil­

led1).

Ignition is switched off automatically
To prevent the vehicle battery from being dis­

charged,
the ignition will be switched off auto­
matically if certain conditions are met. For in­
stance:
- The start/stop system has switched off the en­

gine.

- The vehicle is stationary.
- The driver has left the vehicle.
If the dipped beam headlights are switched on in
this case, the side lights will be turned on in­

stead.
After approx. 30 minutes, or when you
lock the vehicle, the side Lights will be switched

off.

If the start/stop system has not stopped the en­
gine or if
you
have switched off the start/stop
system manually, the engine will continue
run­

ning and the ignition will not be switched off au­
tomatically
^A-

A WARNING
Never run the engine in confined spaces. The
exhaust gases are toxic - risk of poisoning!
© Note
If
you
select
D
or
N
after selecting reverse
gear on a vehicle with automatic gearbox, the
car must have been moving at over 10 km/h
before the system can switch off the engine

again.

Switching the start/stop system on/off
manually
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system

You
can switch the system off manually if you
don't want to use it.
_.

rA^OFF

un
S
o
>
CO CO

Fig.
73 Centre console: Switch for start/stop system

•
To switch the start/stop system off or on
man­

ually, press the
\OE1
button. The LED in the but­
ton will light up when the system is switched

off.

© Note
If
you
switch off the system during a stop

phase,
the engine will start again automati­
cally.
Driver messages in the instrument cluster
display
Applies to: vehicles with start/stop system

H
Automatic
start/stop
deactivated: Please re­
start engine manually
This message appears if certain conditions have
not been met during the stop phase and the
start/stop system cannot start the engine again
automatically. In this case, the engine must be
started manually.

2]
Automatic
start/stop:
system fault! Func­
tion unavailable
There is a malfunction in the start/stop system.
Drive to a workshop soon and have the fault
recti­

fied.

CO

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IV
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t-H
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1)
May vary in different countries
81

Driving

Electro-mechanical

parking brake

•_ -_-

:c
2C

Fig.
74 Centre console: Button for parking brake and hold
assist
Your vehicle is equipped with an electro-mechan­
ical parking brake
(l)
^>Fig.
74. The parking brake
replaces the conventional handbrake, and is
mainly intended to prevent the vehicle from
roll­

ing away accidentally.
Applying/releasing the parking brake
manually
• To apply the parking brake, pull the button (®).
The LED in the button will light up. In addition,
the warning lamp || will light up in the instru­
ment cluster.

•
To release the parking brake manually, press
the brake or accelerator pedal with the ignition
switched on and simultaneously press the but­
ton
©).
The LED in the button and the warning
lamp on the display will go out.
Releasing the parking brake automatically
Important: The parking brake must be applied
and the driver's door must be closed.

•
Accelerate in the usual way to drive off and re­
lease the parking brake automatically.
Further features and safety functions are availa­
ble for driving off, in addition to the automatic
parking brake release function
^>page
83,
Driv­

ing away from a standstill.
Preventing the parking brake from being
released automatically
In certain situations, e.g. on a steep hill or when
towing a trailer, you may wish to prevent the ve­
hicle from rolling back.

•
To prevent the parking brake from being re­
leased automatically, pull and hold the but­
ton ©) while you press the accelerator. The
parking brake will remain engaged and prevent
any tendency to roll back down the slope.

•
You can release the button
(®)
as soon as the
engine is delivering enough power to the
wheels.
Emergency braking function
You can use the emergency braking function in
emergencies or if the main brake system fails or
the pedal is obstructed.
•
PuLl
and hold the button
«EJ.

• The brakes will be released immediately if you
release the button
®
or press the accelerator.
If
you
pull and hold the button
(®)
while the
vehi­

cle is moving, this will initiate an emergency
brake application. The brakes are then applied
hydraulically at all four wheels. The effect is
simi­

lar to heavy braking
<=> /\.

To prevent the emergency braking function from
being used accidentally, a warning buzzer sounds
when the button
(®)
is operated. The brakes are
released immediately when you release the but­
ton (®) or press the accelerator.
Parking the car

•
Press the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a

stop.

•
To apply the parking brake, pull the button
©).

• Automatic gearbox: Move the selector lever to
position P.
• Switch off the engine
•» A-
•
Manual gearbox: Engage first gear.

•
When parking on a hill or gradient, turn the
steering wheel so that the vehicle would roll in­
to the kerb if it did start to move accidentally.

A
WARNING
- Take care never to press the accelerator
pedal or release the clutch inadvertently if
a

gear is engaged or if the selector Lever is not
in position
P
or
N
(on automatic vehicles)
while the vehicle is stationary with the en­
gine running. The vehicle will otherwise
82

Driving
start moving immediately and could cause
an accident.
- You should only use the emergency braking
function in a real emergency, for example if
the brake system were to fail or if the brake
pedal were to be obstructed. If
you
use the
emergency braking function by activating
the parking brake switch, this has the same
effect as heavy braking. Please remember
that the ESC (and the integrated ABS, EDL
and traction control functions) is still sub­
ject to certain physical limits. In a corner or
in bad road or weather conditions an emer­
gency stop can cause the vehicle to skid or
lose steering control.
- It is not possible to apply the parking brake
if the electrical power supply fails. In this

case,
park the vehicle on a
level
surface and
select 1st gear (manual gearbox) or move
the selector lever to position
P
(automatic
gearbox) to prevent
it
from rolling. Obtain
professional assistance.
- Always take the key with you when leaving
your
vehide
- even if
you
only intend to be
gone for
a
short time. This is especially im­
portant if children are left in the car. They
might otherwise be able to start the engine,
release the parking brake or use power-op­
erated equipment such as the electric
win­

dows - this could lead to injuries.
- Do not leave anyone (especially children) in
the vehicle when it is locked. Locked doors
could delay assistance in an emergency, po­
tentially putting lives at risk.
© Note
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
You can apply the parking brake manually or
switch on the hold assist* when stopping at
traffic lights, etc. You do not then have to
hold the car with the brake pedal, as the
brakes will stop it creeping forward while a
gear is engaged in the automatic transmis­

sion.
When you drive off in the normal way,

co
the parking brake will be released automati-
<

° cally
and your vehicle will start moving

2 •=>
page 83. o < 00

O
Note
- Any slight noise which may be heard when
the parking brake is applied or released is
quite normal and no cause for concern.
- The parking brake runs an automatic test
cycle at regular intervals when the vehicle is

parked.
This may cause a slight noise, which
is normal.
- If the electrical power supply fails, it is not
possible to release the parking brake (if it
was applied) or to apply the parking brake
(if it was released)
•=> A-
Obtain professional
assistance.
Driving away from a
standstill
Various features and safety functions are availa­
ble for driving off, depending on the equipment
in your vehicle.
Hill starting with the parking brake applied
Important: The driver's door must be closed.

•
To drive off more easily on a slope, apply the
parking brake and drive off just as you usually

would.
The parking brake will be released auto­
matically, but not until there is enough power
at the wheels to make the vehicle move in the
desired direction.
Hill starting with the hill hold assist
The hill hold assist function makes it easier to
drive away on a slope.
Important: The driver's door must be closed and
the engine must be running.

•
To activate the hill hold assist, press and hold
the brake pedal for several seconds. The vehicle
must be on a slope and facing uphill.
When you release the brake pedal the braking
force will be maintained for
a
moment
^^
in
order to hold the vehicle and make it easier for
you to drive away. •
83

Driving
Driving off with the hold assist
Applies to: vehicles with hold assist
The hold assist helps the driver if the vehicle is
stationary for a Long period or very often, for in­
stance at traffic lights, on steep gradients or in
stop-and-go traffic.
Important: The driver's door must be closed and
the engine must be running.
• To switch the hold assist on/off, press the but­
ton
«59 © ^>page
82, Fig. 74,
•=»^.
The LED in
the button will light up or go out.

•
Once it detects that the vehicle has stopped,
the hold assist keeps the vehicle stationary. In
this case, a green indicator Lamp
^
Lights up in
the instrument cluster. You can now take your

foot
off the brake pedal.

•
Drive off in the normal way: the brake will be
released automatically and the vehicle will
start moving.
In certain situations, the hold assist transfers the
job of holding the vehicle to the parking brake.
As soon as the parking brake is holding the
vehi­

cle
still,
the warning lamp || appears in the in­
strument cluster. In addition, the LED in the ®)
button will light up.
Driver messages in the instrument cluster
display

P.]
Hold assist: unavailable
If this message appears, the hold assist is un­
available or the system requirements have not
been met.
A WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist
If
you
do not drive away immediately after re­
leasing the brake pedal, or if the engine

stalls,
the vehicle could start to roll back. You
should therefore immediately press the brake
pedal or apply the parking brake.
A WARNING
The intelligent technology in the hold assist*
and hill hold assist functions cannot defy the
laws of physics. Do not let the extra conven­
ience afforded by the hold assist* and hill
hold assist functions tempt you into taking
any risks when driving - this can cause
acci­

dents.

- The hold assist* and hill hold assist func­
tions cannot keep the vehicle stationary in
all conditions on a gradient (e.g. if the road
is slippery or icy).
- Always ensure that the vehicle is stopped
properly and safely - risk of accident!

(T)
CAUTION
Switch off the hold assist* function before
driving the vehicle into a car wash.

©
r
Note
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
When the hold assist* function is switched

on,
it stops the vehicle from creeping for­
wards when you take
your
foot off the brake

pedal.

Off-road driving
General notes
The functions of the electronic stabilisation
con­

trol (ESC) have been augmented to provide extra
assistance when driving off-road. The
ESC
off-
road mode can be activated in situations when it
would be advantageous for the wheels to lock, or
when a differential Lock would normally be re­
quired
^>page
146.
This Audi model is not an off-road vehicle, how­
ever. When driving off-road you are advised to
avoid tracks or terrain which are not suited to
the design of the car and your own driving skills
and experience. Do not take any risks.
After driving off-road
- After driving, remove any pieces of foliage or
other objects which may be caught in the radia­
tor grille, under the car or in the wheels. In par­
ticular, inspect the tyre treads for stones.
- Clean the bodywork and underside of the
vehi­

cle and check the underside for possible dam­

age.

- Remove dirt from the windows, headlight
len­

ses and number plates. •
84

Driving
©
y Note

If the selector lever does not lock automati­
cally, a malfunction has occurred. In this case,
the power transmission is interrupted to pre­
vent the vehicle from moving unintentionally.
Proceed as follows to engage the selector lev­
er lock again:
- Applies to vehicles with 6-speed gearbox:
Briefly press the brake pedal.
- Applies to vehicles with 7-speed gearbox:
Press the brake pedal. Move the selector
lever to position
P
or
N
and then select a
gear.
- If the vehicle does not move forwards or
backwards even though a gear is selected,
proceed as follows:
- If the vehicle does not move in the desired

direction,
the system may have failed to en­
gage the gear correctly. In this case, press
the brake pedal and select the gear again.
- If the vehicle still does not move in the de­
sired direction, a system malfunction has

occurred.
Seek professional assistance and
have the system checked.
General notes on driving an automatic
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox

Fig.
77 Detail of the centre console: Selector lever with in­
terlock button
Starting the engine

•
Move the selector Lever to
P
or N. In the case of
Low outside temperatures (below -10 °C), the
engine can only be started when the selector
lever is in position P.
Driving away from a standstill

•
Press and hold the brake pedal.

•
Press and hold the interlock button (the button
in the selector lever handle), set the selector
lever to the desired position (e.g. D)
^>page
86
and release the interlock button.

•
Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a
slight movement can be felt).

•
Release the brake and press the accelerator
There are several convenient functions to help
you drive away on gradients
^page
83.
Stopping briefly

•
Press the brake pedal to hold the vehicLe when
stationary (for instance at traffic lights).

•
Do not press the accelerator.

•
To prevent the vehicLe from rolling away, apply
the parking brake before moving off on steep
gradients
•=>^
and
•=>(]).

• As soon as you acceLerate as normal, the park­
ing brake will automatically be released and
the vehicLe will start moving. Important: The
driver's door must be closed.
Stopping/parking the car
If
you
open the driver's door while the selector
lever is not in position P, the vehicle can roll
away. The message Shift to P, otherwise vehicle
can roll away. Doors do not lock if lever is not in
P. appears on vehicles with convenience key*. A
buzzer will also sound.

•
Press and hold the brake pedal
<=>
A..

•
Apply the parking brake.

•
Move the selector Lever to P.
In some situations (such as on mountain roads or
when towing a trailer or caravan) it can be advan­
tageous to switch temporarily to the manual
shift programme so that the gear ratios can be
selected manually to suit the driving conditions

^>page
90.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selec­
tor lever to P. On a gradient the parking brake
should be applied first and the selector Lever
should be moved to
P ^>page
82. This reduces
the load on the locking mechanism and makes it
easier to move the selector lever out of position
P. •
88

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

Driving

speed.
The upshift to the next higher gear is de­
layed until the engine reaches maximum rpm.
WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slippery
or wet, the kick-down feature could cause the
driven wheels to
spin,
which could result in

skidding.

Coasting mode
Applies to: vehicles with S tronic gearbox and coasting mode
In coasting
mode1)
you can use the vehicle's mo­
mentum to freewheel, for instance when ap­
proaching a speed restriction in a built-up area.
The engine is disengaged from the gearbox. This
allows you to save fuel by anticipating the traffic
situation ahead.
Requirements for using coasting mode

•
Efficiency mode selected in drive select*

^>page
131.

*•
The selector lever must be in position D.

•
Road speed less than approx. 130 km/h.

•
Road relatively level.
Activating coasting mode

•
Take your foot off the accelerator.
The
message1)
Coasting will then appear in the
"on-board computer" display. The engine ticks
over at idling speed while the vehicLe is coasting.
Stopping coasting mode

•
Press the brake or accelerator pedal or briefly
pull the paddle lever
^page
90, Fig. 79.
A WARNING
- When coasting mode is activated, there is
no engine braking effect and the vehicle
does not slow down as quickly as usual or
may even pick up speed if
you
are driving
down a slope - risk of accident!
- If other people are using your car, you
should draw their attention to the coasting

mode.

© Note
- The gear is no longer displayed when you
are in coasting mode (e.g.
E
instead of E7).
- The coasting mode is deactivated tempora­
rily on gradients of
15
% or greater.
- Coasting mode is not available while the
cruise control system* or adaptive cruise

control*
is switched on.
Launch control programme
Applies to: vehicles with S tronic gearbox and launch control
programme

The
launch control programme enables maxi­
mum acceleration.
The launch control programme is not available
for all engine/gearbox combinations.
Important: The engine must be warm and the
steering wheel must be pointing straight ahead.

•
Deactivate^
the start/stop system*
^>page
81.
The LED in the
Sj
button will light up.
•
Deactivate25
the hold assist*
^page
84. The
LED in the button will go out.

•
Press the
|aQFF|
button once briefly while the
engine is running
3) 4).

CO

rN
IV
rN
t-H
o < 00

1)
Not available for all countries.

2)
The system does not need to be deactivated on all gearbox
versions.

3'
On vehicles with driver information system, the ESC lamp
lights up permanently and the message Stabilisation
con­

trol (ESC): offroad. Warning! Restricted stability appears
temporarily in the instrument cluster to indicate the deac­
tivation status.

4)
Vehicles without driver information system: The indicator
lamp flashes slowly.
91

Driving

•
Briefly pull the selector lever back from
posi­

tion D/S to select position S, or move the selec­
tor lever to the right into the tiptronic gate, or
select dynamic mode in drive select*

^>page
131.

•
Press the brake pedal firmly with your
left
foot
and hold it down for at Least one second.

•
At the same time, press the accelerator all the
way down with your right foot until the engine
revs are high and steady.
• Take your
left
foot
off
the brake.
A WARNING
- Always adapt your driving style to the traffic
conditions.
- Only use the launch control programme
when road and traffic conditions permit,
and make
sure
your manner of driving and
accelerating the vehicle does not inconven­
ience or endanger other road users.
- Please note that the driven wheels may
start to spin when the off-road mode is
switched on, causing the vehicle to Lose

grip,
in particular on slippery or wet roads -
danger of skidding!
- When acceleration has been completed, you
should deactivate the off-road mode again
by briefly pressing the
|flQFF|
button.
© Note
- The gearbox may be hot after you have used
the launch control programme. In this case,
the programme may not be available for
several minutes. The programme will be
available again after
a
cool-down period.
-Accelerating with the launch control pro­
gramme places a heavy load on all parts of
the vehicLe. This can result in increased wear
and tear.
Gearbox malfunction
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
| Gearbox malfunction! Please stop the vehi­
cle and select P
There is a malfunction in the gearbox. Park the
vehicle safely and do not drive on. Obtain profes­
sional assistance.
| Gearbox overheating! Please stop the vehi­

cle.

The gearbox is overheating and could be dam­

aged.
Stop the vehicle and let the gearbox cool
down with the engine idling and the selector lev­
er in position P. If the warning lamp and the
message disappear, drive to a qualified workshop
soon and have the fault rectified. Do not drive on
if the warning lamp stays on and the message
does not disappear. Obtain professional assis­

tance.

E3
Gearbox malfunction: you can continue driv­
ing
Drive to a qualified workshop soon and have the
fault rectified.

S3
Gearbox malfunction: no reverse gear (you
can continue driving)
A gearbox malfunction has occurred. The gearbox
will switch to the back-up programme. The pro­
gramme will only move into certain gears or may
not be able to shift gears at all. The engine may

stall.
You can no longer engage reverse gear.
Drive to a qualified workshop without delay and
have the fault rectified.

jftj
Gearbox malfunction: you can continue driv­
ing in D until engine off
Park your vehicle well away from moving traffic.
Obtain professional assistance.

ty
Gearbox overheating: please adapt driving
style
You can continue driving at moderate speed. You
can resume normal driving if the indicator lamp
goes out.

LQ]
Gearbox: please press brake pedal and select
gear again
If
a
gearbox malfunction has occurred due to
overheating, this message will appear once the
gearbox has cooled down again.
92

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