warning lights AUDI Q7 2009 Owner´s Manual

Applies to vehicles : wit h automat ically di mmi ng in side mirr or
Automatically dimming inside mirror
The automatic dimming function can be turned on and off
if required.
Disabling auto dimming
Fi g. 8 1 In side r ear
v iew mirror
- Press butto n @ ~ fig. 8 1 briefly, -th e gree n indicator
light @ goes out .
A ctivating /re activ ating auto dimming
- Press button@
briefly, -the green indicato r light @
goes on.
Automa tic dimming func tio n
The automatic dimming function is activated every time the ignition
is turned on . The green indicator light is lit to indicate auto dimming
is active.
When dim ming is activated, the inside m irror will darken
automati ­
cally
in response to the amount of light striking the mirror (such as
headlights from rearwa rd approaching vehicles). Even in dimm ing
mode, the mirror surface turns bright when :
• the interior light is switched on
• reverse gear is engaged .
Controls and equip­
ment
Cl ea r vision
& WARNING
The glas s of the in side re ar vie w mirror i s layered and cont ain s an
electrolyte to a chieve it s properties. Be aware of liquid electrolyte
leaking from a bro ken mirror gl ass. Thi s liquid can cause irrit ation
to skin , eyes , and re spir atory sy ste m . If you get el ectrolyte in your
e ye s or on your skin , immed iatel y rinse w ith plenty of w ater.
If irri ­
t a tion per sists, s eek medical attention .
0 Note
Liquid electrolyte leaked from a broken mirror glass wil l damage any
p lastic surfaces it comes in contact with . C lean up sp illed e lectrolyte
immediately with clear water and a sponge .
[ i ] Tip s
• If you sw it c h off the automati c di m mi ng function on the in side
mirror , autom atic dimming of the out side mirrors* will likewise be
dis abled .
• Check to make sure there are no objects preven ting light from
reaching the inside mirror.
• Do not attach any stickers to the windshie ld in front of the light
sensor*, as this would interfere with the automatic operation of the
headlig hts and the automatic d imming of the inside mirror.
• Be aware that automatic dimming of the inside mirror can only
operate properly if the rear window sun b lind* is retracted. •
I • •

farther away than when seen in a flat mirror. If you use this mirror to
estimate distances of fol lowing ve hicles when chang ing lanes, you
cou ld estimate incorrect ly and cause an accident .
• I f the mirro r housing is moved uninten tio nal ly ( for example,
while parking your vehicle), then you must first fo ld the mirror elec ­
tr ically. D o not readj ust the mirro r ho us ing manua lly . You could
damage the motor which contro ls the mirror .
• I f you take the veh ic le to an automatic car wash, y ou mus t fold
the exterior mirrors flat to prevent damaging them . Power folding
ex terior mirr ors* must no t be folded in or out by hand . Use the
power function!
[ i ] Tips
If there shou ld be a malfunction in the electrica l system, you can
sti ll adj ust the outside mi rrors by pressing the edge of the mirro r.•
Appl ie s to v ehicl es: with au tomat ic d imm ing for outs id e m irro rs
Automatic dimming for outside mirrors
The outside mirrors are dimmed together with the automatic
dimming o f the inside mir ror . When the ignition is switched on, the
mirrors dar ken au tomat ical ly dependin g on the light strik ing them
(e .g. head lights from the rear).
When t he in ter ior lig hting is switched on and when reverse gear is
engaged, the m irrors are switched back to the ir original brightness
(n ot di mmed).
& WARNING
The glass of the inside rear view mirror is layered and contain s an
ele ctrolyte to a chieve its propert ies . Be aware of liquid ele ctrolyte
leaking from a broken mirror gla ss. This liquid can cau se irritation
to skin , eyes , and re spiratory system . If you get elect rolyte in your
Controls and equip ­
ment
Cl ea r vision
& WARNING (continued )
eyes or on your s kin , immed iately rinse with plenty of water . If irri­
tation per sists , seek medical attent ion .
0 Note
Electrolyte leak ing fro m a broken mirror g lass attacks the vehic le
paint and plastic surfaces . C lean up spilled electro lyte immediately
with c lear water and a sponge .
[ i ] Tips
• If automatic dimming for the inside mirror i s swit ched off, the
o uts ide mirror s are also not dimmed automatically .
• Automatic di mming for the mirr or only opera tes prop erly if the
sunshade * for the rear window is retracted, or the light striking the
inside mirror is not h inde red by o ther o bjec ts. •
Digital compass
Ap plies t o vehicles : with d ig ita l com pass
Activating or deactivating the compass
The direction is displayed on the interior rear vie w mirror.
I • •
Fig . 8 3 Inside re ar
view mirror : digital
co mp ass ac tivat ed

• ..__A_ d_ a-:.. p_t _iv _ e_ C_r_ u_ i _s _ e_ C_ o_n_ t_ r_ o_ l _____________________________________________ _
& WARNING
Following other vehicles too closely increases the risk of a crash
and serious personal injury .
• Following other vehi cles too closely , particularly at h igher
speeds increases the risk of colli sions and serious personal injury.
• Setting short distances to the traffic ahead reduces the time
and distance available to bring your vehicle to a safe stop and
makes it even more necessary to pay close attention to traffic .
• Always select a speed and distance to traffic ahead that is safe
and appropriate under the prevailing traffic , road , weather and
lighting conditions .
• Never rely on the distan ce control feature of ACC alone to
prevent rear-end collisions. Always be prepared to brake and take
evasive action to avoid collisions and other acc ident situations .
• Never allow the closing speed between you and other vehicles
to be so h igh that the Adaptive Cruise Control may not be able to
slow your vehicle safely. If closing speed is too high , you must
apply the brakes yourself to reduce the risk of a rear-end crash .
• Always select a greater following distance to the vehicle ahead
on wet roads than on dry roads .
• Always re ad and heed the informat ion and WARNINGS ::::>
& in
"Description" on
page 152.
[ i J Tips
The distance setting i s re set to the factory default DISTANCE 3 the
next time the i gnition is turned on. •
Driver information
Applies to veh icles : w ith Adapt ive Cru ise Cont rol
Displays in the instrument cluster
Depen din g o n the driving si tuati on, driver inf ormation is
dis played in the ins trumen t clus ter.
@ Spe ed om eter and indicator lig ht displ ay
@ Display in the instru ment clu ster
Fig . 16 7 Overview
in strument clu ste r
© Speedometer and ind icator light display
Im por tan t in fo rm ati on co ncerni ng veh icle ope ration w ith Ada ptiv e
Cruise Control is shown in display area@. T he desired speed you
s et is in dica te d in the spee dome ter (LED l igh ts aro un d t he edg e).
T he indicator lights show whether the system has detected a v ehic le
trave ling ahead .
© Display in the instrument cluster
In di sp lay area @ informati on fr om the navigati on syste m* a nd t he
trip computer is disp layed in addition to information about Adaptive
Cru ise Control.
You can s ele ct amo ng th e di ffer ent i nformati on by repeat ed br ief
taps on the [R ESET] button on the windshield wiper lever
=> p ag e 41 , "O peration". ~

• ..__A_ u_ t _o_ m_ a_ t_ i_ c _ t_r _a _n_ s_ m_ is_ s_io _ n ________________________________________________ _
Select R only when the vehicle is at a full stop and the engine is
running at idle speed=>
& in "Driving the automatic transmission"
on
page 184.
Before you move the selector lever to R, press both the button in the
handle of the selector lever
and the brake pedal at the same time.
When the ignition is on, the backup lights illuminate when the
selector lever is moved into R.
N -Neutral
The transmission is in neutral in this position. Shift to this position
for standing with the brakes applied =>
page 186 .
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the footbrake before and while moving the
lever out of
N.
D -Normal position for driving forward
Position Dis for normal city and highway driving. It ranges from zero
to top speed and all gears shift automatically, depending on engine
load, driving speed and automatically selected shift programs.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the lever to
D out of N.
In certain circumstances it may be advantageous to temporarily
switch to the manual shift program to manually select gear ratios to
match specific driving conditions=>
page 788.
S -Sport position
Select this position for sportier performance. In this position, the
transmission will not upshift as soon, allowing the vehicle to use the
increased power available at higher engine speeds to achieve live­
lier acceleration.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the lever to
S out of N.
& WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS => & in "Driving the automatic
transmission" on
page 184.
0 Note
Coasting downhill with the transmission in N and the engine not
running will result in damage to the automatic transmission and
possibly the catalytic converter. •
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
The Automatic Shift Lock safeguards you against acciden­
tally shifting into a forward or the reverse gear and
causing the vehicle to move unintentionally.
Fig. 199 Shift gate:
selector lever lock
positions and interlock
button highlighted
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
- Turn the ignition on.
Step on the brake pedal.
At the same time press and hold
the interlock button on the side of the gear selector knob
=> fig. 199 with your thumb until you have moved the
selector lever to the desired position.
~

• .___A_ d_v_ a_ n_c_ e_ d_ P _a_r_k _i_ n -=g,_ S-=y"- s_ t_ e_ m __________________________________________ _
-Press the sw itch PJJJ! in the cente r console ~ page 191,
fig. 206 t o activate the A udi pa rking system m anually .
Activation of the acoustic parking system is confirmed by
a brief acknowledgement sound . The indicator light in
the switch lights up.
D ea ctivation
If you drive forwards faster tha n approx. 6 mph (10 km/h),
or
- if you switch the ign ition off, the entire acoustic parking
assist is automatically deactivated, or
- you can press the sw itch
P111! i n the center console
=> page 191, fig. 206 to deact ivate the Audi parking
system. The indicator light in the switch goes out.
You have to turn on the acoustic parking assist m anuall y if you wish
to park the vehicle forwards or if you w ish to approach an obstacle
forwards and want a distance warning .
The range at which the sensors start to measu re is
about:
Front
Rear
W arning ton es side
cen
te r
side
cen ter 3 ft (0
.90 ml
4ft (1.20 ml
2 ft (0.60 ml
5 .2 ft (1.60 ml
Distance warning is given by chimes which are generated by a
signal generator . The volume and the pitch of the chimes can be
adjusted in the MMI => page 201.
Mute In the case of vehic les with automa tic transmission, an acoustic
distance warning is discontinued when the transmission selector lever is moved to the P position. However, the system remains
active
. As soon as the selector lever is moved from the
P posi tion
and the vehicle approaches an obstacle, the acoustic distance
warning resumes .
Dri ving fo rward/ba ckvv ard
Distance warning when driving forward/backward is based o n
detection of an obstacle in the range of the parking assist . As the
distance dec reases, the time interval between the audible tones
becomes shorter.
When the distance is less than approx . 1 ft (0.30 m), the tone
becomes continuous. At this point you shou ld s top backing up or
driving forward .
If the distance to an obstac le remains the same, the vo lume of the
distance warning is gradually reduced after about
4 seconds (does
not app ly to the zone for the cont inuous tone). If you sta rt to
approach the detected obstacle again, the distance warning will
sound at the normal volume again .
P a rk ing
When you selec t ano ther gear when parki ng (e .g . reverse/forward),
the warning tones are temporarily suppressed, but the visual display remains on the MMI display . If you start approaching a
detected obstacle again, the distance warning wi ll sound at the
normal vo lume again .
Vi sual disp lay
T he segments on the MMI display indicate a change in the distance
between the vehicle and an obstacle . The number of segments
displayed depends on the obstacles in front of or behind the
vehic le. The c loser the vehic le comes to the obstacle, the closer the
segments approach the vehic le => page 191, fig. 207. When the
segment before last is disp layed, the veh icle has reached the colli­
sion zone. At this point you should stop backing up or driving
forward =>
&,. ..,.

Driving Safely -
----------------
Safety is everybody's responsibility! •
Important things to do before driv ing
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
- Make sure that al l lights and signals are operat ing
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good
visibility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully :::>
page 119.
-Make sure that noth ing can interf ere w ith the pedals.
Adjust fro nt seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for
your height .
Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints
according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right ch ild restraint correctly to
protect children :::>
page 263, "Child Safety".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen ­
gers do the same :::>
page 92, "General recommenda ­
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it p roperly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten their safety belts properly
~ page 231. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
What impa
irs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen­
trate on the road without being distracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road :::>& .There ­
fore:
- Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a cellula r telephone .
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Safety belts ----=-----------------
Before driving off
, always:
Fasten your safety belt and make sure you are wearing it
properly.
Make sure that your passengers also buckle up and prop­
erly wear their safety belts.
- Protect children with a child restraint sys tem appropriate
for the size and age.
The warning light .ft in the instrument cluster lights up when the
ignition is switched on as a reminder to fasten the safety belts. In
addition, you will hear a warning tone.
After the ignition is switched on, the warning light in the instrument
cluster will a lways come on for about 6 seconds and if the driver has
not fastened the safety belt, a warning tone will also sound for
about 6 seconds. As soon as the driver has fastened the safety belt,
the warning tone will stop and the warning light will go out.
If the driver or front seat passenger have not buckled-up within
about 10 seconds after the warning tone has stopped and the
vehicle is moving faster than about 15 mph, the warning tone will
sound again for about 6 seconds and then stop for 24 seconds and
then repeat this reminder sequence for a maximum of 2 minutes. At
speeds be low 5 mph, the warning tone will not sound .
Fasten your safety belt and make sure that your passengers also
properly put on their safety belts.
& WARNING
• Safety belts are the single most effective means available to
reduce the risk of serious injury and death in automobile acci ­
dents . For your protection and that of your passengers , always
correctly wear safety belts when the vehicle is moving.
• Failure to pay attention to the warning light that come on,
could lead to personal injury.
a
Why safety belts?
Frontal co11isions and the law of physics
Frontal crashes create very strong forces for people riding
in vehicles.
Fig. 240 Unbelted
occupants in a vehicle
heading for a wall
Fig. 241 The vehicle
crashes into the wall
The physical principles are simple. Both the vehicle and the passen­
gers possess energy which varies with vehicle speed and body
we ight . Engineers call this energy "kinetic energy."
T he higher the speed of the vehicle and the greater the vehic le's
we ight, the more energy that has to be "absorbed" in the crash .
Vehicle speed is the most significan t factor . If the speed doubles
from 15 to 30 mph (25 to 50 km /h), the energy increases 4 times! .,

___ D_ r_i v_ in_... g"'- a_ n_ d_ e_ n_ v_i_r _ o _n_ m __ e_n _ t _______________________________________________ _
one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary =citing
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings , or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fuel than is burned starting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fu lly when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious emissions are especially
high when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which could result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regu1ar ma1--.tenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- Have your vehic le serviced at regular intervals . By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an authori
zed Audi
dea ler helps to ensure that it runs properly and economica lly. The
condition of your vehicle not only affects its safety and ability to
hold its value, it a lso affects
fu el con sumpti on.
C he ck your oil each time you fill your t ank .
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
It is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mileage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly assess oil consumption .
T his also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emiss ion Control
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alter or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle 's Em ission Control System and other important vehicle
components .•
Fewer short tr ips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short dista nces wi th a cold engine. _,

llffl!I Driving off road __ _...,______;, _____________________________ _
Driving off road
Driving in difficult road conditions
and offroad
General information
The operat ion o f the Elect ronic Stab ilizat ion Prog ram ( ESP) is
e x panded for operation away from paved roads . In situations where
s lip o r a di fferential lockin g function is required, the ESP o ffroad
mode can be activated~
page 288. Hill descent contro l is also avai l­
able in the ESP off road m ode, w hich a utomat ical ly bra kes t he
vehicle and thereby keeps speed constant when different whee l
speeds are de tected whe n descend ing a hill ~
page 289 . You r Audi
a lso has permanent all -wheel drive in add ition .
Howeve r, your Audi is not a pure offroad vehicle . It was n ot bu ilt fo r
dr ivin g und er ex tre me cond itions, e.g . for tr ips t hat ar e in t he n atu re
of an expedition.
Drive only on roads and offroad sections which match the design of
your vehicle and your abilitie s as a driver . Never take r isks!
Before driving offr oad
• Check the engine oil level, tire pressure, coolant level, and the
fl uid level in t he windshie ld wash er r eservo ir.
• Stow luggage items and other objects in the luggage compart ­
ment, and secure the m aga inst sl iding around .
After driving offroad • After trips offroad, remove any twigs and other forei gn ob jects
from the gri ll, the underbody and the whee ls. Pay special attention
t o foreig n objects (stones) which have become lodged in t he tire
tread.
• Clean the body and the vehicle underside, and inspect the
veh ic le for possible damage. •
Clean dirty windows, headlamp lenses, rea r lights, and license
plates.
• Perform a bra ke check (particularly af ter travel ling through
wa ter).
& WARNING
• Drive especially attentively and plan ahead in difficult road
c onditions and when offroad . Excessive speed or in correct maneu ­
vers can cause injuries and damage to the vehicle.
• Alway s adapt your speed and d riv ing style to road , offroad,
traffic, and weather conditions. Drive especially slowly offroad
when your v iew is restri cted .
• Please be aware that in ESP offroad mode , particularly on a
smooth and slippery road , the wheels may have an in creased
tendency to spin and the vehicle may break away -danger of skid ­
ding !
• Stability is limited in the ESP offroad mode.
Avo id dam age to the envir onme nt an d respect na ture .
[ i ] Tips
On ly dr ive where it is perm itted and s tay on marked roads a nd
paths.
Explanation of some technical terms
T he fol lowing data refer to idea l conditions. Depending on vehic le
lo ad and g round cond itions and the environ ment, t he num ber s may ...

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