warning AUDI Q7 2009 Owner´s Manual

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
Genera l information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
ta tion.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the add itional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Trai ler towing no t only places more s tress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
F or this reaso n, always fol low the operating and driving instructions
prov ided and use common sense.
(D Note
If you are going to tow a tra iler, you must activate the trailer opera ­
tion mode =>
page 211, "Towing a trailer".
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we ight-carry ing hitch conforming to the gross tra iler weig ht.
T he hitch must be suitable for your vehic le and trailer and must be
m ounted secure ly on the veh icle's chassis at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check with the trai ler hitch ma nufacturer to make sure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be instal led in such a way that it does not in terfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications shou ld be made to the vehicle exhaust and b rake systems . Fro m
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r t owing
time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain securely
fastened .
When you are not towing a trai ler, rem ove the t railer hi tch bal l
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage should your
vehicle be struck from behind =>
&.
Trailer bra kes
If your trai ler is equipped with a b raking system, check to be sure
that it conforms to all regulations.
The tra iler hydraul ic bra ke system must not be directly co nnecte d to
the veh icle's hydrau lic brake system=> &.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trail er lights
Trai ler lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
au thorized Audi dea ler for correct wiring, switches, an d relays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see the traff ic behind you using the regular
outside mirrors, then you
must instal l extended mirrors. It is impor ­
t ant that you
always have clear v isi on to the rear.
& WARNING
• If a trailer has electrical brake s please note that the se brakes
are not act ivated by the fa ctory-fitted control unit -ris k of acci­
dent!
• After removing the trailer hitch , do not store it in your vehicle.
In case of sudden braking , the hitch could fly forward and injure
you or your passengers .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

pillar. On Canada vehicles, the tire pressure label is located either on
t he driver's side 8 -pillar or inside the fuel fil ler flap. Inflate trailer
tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' specifications.
L ight s
The head light settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off . Check to make sure both vehicle and trai ler lights
are working properly.
Sa fety c hain s
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle . Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you insta ll safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving .
The chains should cross under the tra iler tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch.
0 Note
If you are going to tow a traile r, you must activate the trailer opera ­
tion mode =>
page 211, "Towing a trailer" .
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle and trailer,
please note the fo llow ing:
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car i tse lf is not
loaded .
- Be especia lly careful when passing other vehicles .
- Observe speed l imits.
- Do not drive at the maximum permiss ible speed .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r t owing
Always apply brakes early .
- Monitor the temperature gauge .
Weigh t dis tr ibution
Towing a loaded trailer wi th an empty car results in a highly
unstable dis tribution of weight . If this cannot be avoided , drive at
very low speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
the tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis ­
sib le, while keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum ­
stances . Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle whi le observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considerations .
Speed
The higher th e speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the driver to
control the rig . Do not drive at t he maximum pe rmissible speed.
Reduce your speed even more
if load, weather or wind conditions
a re unfavorable -particularly when going downhil l.
Reduce vehicle speed
i mmedi ate ly if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not tr y to s top the swaying by accelerating .
Observe speed limits . In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trailers are lower than for regular vehicles .
Always apply brakes early. When driving downhill, shift into a lower gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fa il.
Coo lant t emperatu re
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 13 must be obse rved care ­
ful ly. If the need le moves close to the upper end of the sca le , reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner .
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts f lashing
- f- , pul l off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two minutes t o prevent heat build -up.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

ll'I __ T_ r _a_ il_e _r_ t_ o_ vv_ in__... g,_ __________________________________________________ _
& WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving vehicle is at a much
greater risk
in an accident. Never let anyone ride in your car who
is not properly wearing the restraints provided by Audi .
c:
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety,
performance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you
load your trailer and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing until you
have become completely familiar with the way your vehicle -trailer
combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer generally requires steering action opposite to that when
backing up your vehicle without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in
front of you. You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trailer, you will need a larger than normal turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you normally would because of the added load. Make sure you have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trailer before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i] Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle. • If you tow
a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte­
nance due to the extra load~
page 401. •
Parking on a s1ope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided , do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels.
- With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes until the
wheel chocks absorb the load.
- Turn the wheels towards the curb.
- Apply the parking brake.
- Move the selector lever to
P.
When restarting after parking:
- Apply the foot brake.
- Start the engine.
- Move the selector lever to
D.
-Release the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
from the wheel chocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the wheel chocks.
[ i] Tips
I f you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels, II-

-Cleaning and prot
ection
-~--------------
Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicle value.
Any automobi le is exposed to industrial fumes, corrosive road salt,
muddy dog feet, etc . A well cared for Audi can look like new many
years a fter purchase. Regu lar a nd correct ca re will co ntribu te to
maintaining the beauty and value of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
war ranty claim should co rros ion damage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dealer has a variety of dedicated vehicle- care
product s
and can adv ise whic h ones to use for clea ning the e xter ior
and interior of your vehicle.
Whethe r you use p roducts recommended by Audi or other c ommer ­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents , please make sure you apply them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous. Keep them out of the reach
of ch ildren .
• Heed all caution label s.
• Always read directions on the contai ner before using any
product. Follow the di rection s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
d iluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated area s.
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , nail polish remover
or other volatile fluids . They may be toxic , flammable or hazardous
in other way s. Do not wash , wa x or dry the vehicle w ith the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under side s of chassis , fenders , wheel cove rs,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sharp -edg ed metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking effi ciency
=> page 291 , "General info rmation ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wa sh the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
Se lect only enviro nmenta lly friend ly c leaning products . Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequen t washing pro tects the vehi cle.
Th e bes t protection against envi ronmental influences is frequent
washing and waxing . How often this is required depends on:
• Ho w much the vehic le is used
• Where the vehic le is parked (garage, in the open under trees,
etc.)
• T he seasonal and weather conditions
• Environmenta l influences
T he longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, tar, soot, road salt and ot her materials rema in on the ve hicle
body, the more lasting their destruc tive effects will be . High temper ­
atu res caused by exp osu re to in tense s un ligh t inte nsify the c orro -
sive effect, particularly when humidity is high as well.
~

Cleaning and protection -
----------------
•
Under certain circumstances, weekly washing may be necessary.
Under other conditions , a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate .
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed, preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 312. •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash . However, the
effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water , the type of wash and care
material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched , bring this to the attention of the oper­
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau­
tions such as closing the windows and the Panoramic sliding
sunroof. Factory installed antennas must not be removed.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle - such as
spoilers, roof rack, etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed .
& WARNING
Please take note of the following points before going through an
automatic car wash with your vehicle, so that you can avoid
damage to your vehicle.
& WARNING (continued)
• Compare the track of your vehicle with the distance between
the guide rails of the facility -there is a risk of damage to the
wheels and tires .
• Compare the height and width of your vehicle with the height
and width of the tunnel at the facility.
• Fold the exterior mirrors flat -there is a risk of damaging the
exterior mirrors. Power folding exterior mirrors* must not be
folded in or out by hand. Use the power function!
• Do not allow the wiper blade to fall onto the windshield after
the vehicle is dried -there is a risk of damaging the paint on the
hood.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page312. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS ::::>
& in "General informa­
tion" on page 312.
- First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge
glove or a clean brush.
Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Vehicle care I t •

-~_C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ...::g ::....- a_ n_ d_,__ P_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed t o road dirt. In this way, you wil l n o t sc ratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the cha ssis, fender s, wheel
c overs , or other h ard to rea ch part s without prote cting your h and s
and ar ms. You ma y cut your self on sharp -edged met al part s.
• Alw ays re ad and heed all WARNINGS and other inform atio n
=> pa ge 312 .
0 Note
• Never try to remove d irt, mud or dus t if the surface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth o r sponge, since this cou ld scratch your
vehic le's paint or windows .
• Never wash your car in bright sunl ight. Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your pain t.
• When you wash your car in the winter: if you rinse your vehic le
with a hose, be careful not to aim the stream of water directly at locks, or at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any k itchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
fi nish.
• Never use a dry cloth or sponge to c lean the head lights. Only use
wet cloths or sponges to preven t scratches . It is best to use soapy
water .
In the interes t of the environmen t, the vehic le shou ld on ly be
washed in spec ia l wash bays .•
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cle aning the exterior of you r ca r with a high- pressure
power washer is safe as long as you observe a few simple rules .
-Before us ing the powe r washer, make su re you have read
and unders tood the WAR NINGS~
& in "General infor ­
mation" o n
page 312.
Always follow the operat ing instructions fo r th e power
washer.
Make sure t hat the jet o n th e sp ray hose p ro d uces a "fa n
sha ped sp ray".
D o
not hold t he spray n ozzle too close to s oft ma te rials .
When cleani ng the vehicle with a power washer always follow the
operating instructions . T his applies particularly to the operating
pressure and the spraying distance. Maintai n a sufficient distance
to soft materia ls such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration dead ­
ening materia ls (pa rt icularly on the underside of the engine hood).
Do not use a jet which sprays water in a direct stream or one that
has a rotating jet.
Water temperature shou ld not exceed 140 °F (60 °C).
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sp ray s water in a direct stream .
Thi s could cause invisible damage to th e tires and weaken them ,
even if the spray i s from a re lat ively long distan ce and for a short
time . Damaged and weakened t ires can f ail and cause accidents
and person al injury .
~

Cleaning and protection --------------------=-----------
•
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is
sufficient distance between the spray head and soft materials like
rubber hoses, plastic parts and sound-deadening materials. Never
aim the spray head at the same point for a long time. This also
applies to cleaning headlights and painted bumpers. Remember:
the closer the nozzle is to the surface of the material, the greater the
stress on the material. •
Waxing
Wax protects the vehicle's paint.
- Use a manually applied car wax occasionally to protect
the paint .
A good wax coating protects the vehicle paint to a large extent
against the environmental factors listed under => page 312,
"Washing" and even against slight scratches.
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
week after your vehicle has been delivered.
Even if you regularly use a
waxing process in automatic car washes,
we recommend that you manually apply a coat of wax to give the
paint extra protection, particularly if water no longer beads on the
clean paint.
Protect plastic body parts with car wax in the same way as the
vehicle body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to collect on the front
bumper and on the forward area of the hood. They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
:=> page 312.
0 Note
Do not use car wax on
• matte or anodized metal trim
• rubber or rubber-like trim. •
Polishing
Polishing restores the gloss to the paint.
Polish your vehicle only if the paint has lost its shine and the gloss
cannot be brought back with wax.
If the polish used does not contain preservative compounds, the
paint must be waxed afterwards=> page 375, "Waxing".
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 312.
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal trim, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wax. •
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special care.
For environmental reasons, Audi fabricates the bright trim strips
and trim pieces from pure chromium -free aluminum. ._
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_ le_ a_n _i_n ~g_ a_ n_ d _~ p_r _o _t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Dirt and marks on the trim strips should be removed with a pH­
b ala nc ed
cleaning agent {do not use a c hrome cleaner). Au thorized
Audi dealers carry c leaning products which have been tested for use
on your vehicle and are not harmfu l to the environment.
To avoid corrosion on the exterior trim strips, only a pH-balanced solution shou ld be used for the windshield washer .
& WARNING
Always re ad and heed all WARNINGS and other inform ation
~ p age31 2.•
Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care.
Use a c lean , damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt . For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for viny l trim. Remove water spots and traces of
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge . Use a clean, soft cloth to
rub dry.
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all -purpose cleaner or w ith a solvent designed espe ­
cia lly to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's lus ter and pl iability.
& WARNING
Alw ays re ad and heed all W ARNIN GS and other infor mation
~ pag e 312 . •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral -pH products to remove spots and deposits from
a luminum surfaces . Chrome care products and alka line cleaners
wi ll attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and oth er inform ation
~ page 312. •
Touch-up paint
Min or paint damages should be touched up immediately.
Use e ither a touch- up paint stick or spray pain t to cover
m inor scratches and n icks.
Your authorized Audi dealer has touch -up paint for minor scratches
and stone chips. Scratches should be touched up soon after they
occur to prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch -up job will not be
enough . The affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti -rust primer before the painted finish can be restored .
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehic le identification labe l~
page 396.
& WARNING
Al way s read and heed all WARNINGS and oth er info rm ation
~ p ag e31 2.•

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•
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup.
- Remove snow from windows using a brush.
- Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
- Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner.
- Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush. Use a non-abrasive plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from windows and mirrors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can interfere with the function of the windshield wiper blades (chatter).
Oil, grease , or silicone residue can be removed with glass cleaner or
silicone remover. However, wax residue requires the use of a
specially formulated solvent. Please contact your authorized Audi
dealer for advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals.
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces. Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
through the windows .
& WARNING
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 312.
& WARNING (continued)
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent mate­
rials. They can increase glare under poor visibility conditions such
as wetness, darkness, or when the sun is low on the horizon. In
addition, they can cause the windshield wipers to chatter.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires.
• To help prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth .•
Weatherstrips
Complete car core includes the weatherstrips as well.
Apply a suitable rubber conditioner to the weatherstrips
from time to time.
To be able seal properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc. must remain pliable. Spray the weatherstrips with sili ­
cone or coat them with talcum powder or glycerine to retain the
flexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winter.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 312.
Vehicle care I t •

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[ i ] Tips
Keep si licone sprays off the windshie ld to avoid wiper smear in
rain. •
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
-Wash the wheels with a sponge or hose brush every
o ther week.
- For deep clean ing afterwards, use only a dedicated acid­
free cast alloy whee l cleaner.
Rub a coat of liquid wax onto the rims every t hree month .
Be sure to reach and treat all parts of the rim.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy wheels,
some special care is necessary. In add ition to road dirt and salt,
brake dust is also corrosive . If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly special
acid -free cleaners formu lated for a lloy rims . Safe
produc ts are available at your authorized Audi dealer. Never leave
the cleaner on the rims longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off promptly, the acid contained in some cleaners can attack
the threads on the wheel bolts .
Never use abrasive or metal po lishing c leaning agents. If the protec ­
t ive coating has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possible .
& WARNING
• Moisture a nd i ce on b rake s m ay affect brak ing effi cienc y
=> page 291 , "General information ". Te st the brake s carefully ea ch
t ime you wa sh the vehi cle .
& W ARN IN G (c ontinued )
• Always read and h eed all WARNINGS and other inform ation
=> p age 31 2. •
Body cavity sealing
The b ody cavity sealing does not need to b e checked.
All body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
thoroughly protected at the factory .
T his seal ing does not require any inspection or add it ional trea t­
ment. If any wax should seep out of the cavity wh en the ambient
t emperature is h igh, i t ca n be removed with a p lastic scrape r and a
suitable solvent.
& WARNING
S olvent s can be dangerous .
• Ben zine is flammable and toxic . If you use benz ine for re moving
the wax , keep sparks , flame and l ighted cigarettes away . Never
dump benzine on th e ground , into open streams or down sewage
dr ains.
• Be sure to ob serve all safety and environmental regulat ion s.
Follow all instru ctions on the cont ainer .
• Alway s r ead and heed all WARNINGS and other info rmation
=> page 312 . •
Chassis
Have the undercoating checked for damage from time to
time.
The lower body shell of your Audi is also thoroughly protected
against corrosion .