check engine AUDI Q7 2009 Owner´s Manual

-Checking and filling PW---=---------------
& WARNING (continued )
-Always u se extreme caution to prevent cloth ing , jewelry, or
long hair from getting caught in the radiator fan , V-belt s or
other moving parts , or from contacting hot parts . Tie back hair
before starting , and do not wear clothing that will hang or
droop into the engine .
• Minimize exposure to emis sion and chemical hazards
::::> & .
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 W arn ing :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certain vehicle
c omponents cont ain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali­
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition , certain fluids contained in vehi cles and certa in products
of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defect s or other reprodu c­
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related ac cessories conta in lead
and lead compounds , chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hands after
handling.
0 Note
When adding f luids, always make sure that they are poured into the
proper container or filler ope ning, otherwise serious damage to
vehic le systems wi ll occur.
ci> For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehicle floor pan from under ­
n eath regu larly. If you see spots fro m oil o r o th e r v eh icle flu ids, hav e
your vehicle inspected by an author ized Audi dea ler. •
Engine compartment
These are th e m ost im porta nt items th at you can ch ec k.
Fig. 283 Typical layout for containe rs, engine oi l d ipstick and engine oil filler
cap
0 W indsh ield/headligh t was her conta iner ( 9 ) . . . . . . . . 346
0 Coolant e xpansion tank (- L l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
G) Engin e oil fi ller cap ("l::r.) . . . . • . . . . . . • • • • . . . • . . • . . 336
© Engine oil d ips tick (orange) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
© Brake fluid reservo ir ( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
© Pow er steer ing r eser voir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 93
0 Jump sta rt connector( +) u nder a cover,( -) w ith hex
head screw .... ... ..... .... ... .... ... ..... .... . 344 , 387
The positi on of t he e ngin e oil fi lling hole and t he engine oil dipstick
=> fig . 283 (position G) and ©l can vary according to the type of
eng ine. .,_

Checkin g and fillin g -
-----------------=---------
•
& WARNING
Befo re you c heck anythin g in th e engine comp artme nt, a lways
r e ad and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "Workin g in the en gine
co mp art m ent " o n page 331 . •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
The engine in your Audi is a sophisticated powerplant that was built
to exacting specifications. This engine needs the right kind of
engine oil that meets specifications regarding quality and viscosity
so that it can run smoothly and reliably . Choos ing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage intervals printed in your
vehic le's Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standard for engine oil that will help assure that your vehicle's engine will get
t he lubr ication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many synthetic oi ls availab le today provide better engine
lubrication that can outlast traditional petroleum-based oils,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthetic or petroleum -based engine oi l, the oi l
that you use must conform to Audi's oi l quality standard VW 502 00
t o help keep your vehic le's engine running smoo th ly and help
prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"s ludge," that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine oi ls avai lable in the U.S. and Canada
that meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils . This does not mean, however, that every synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00
. So
a lways be sure tha t you use an approved o il.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the fo llowing specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oil standard VW 50 2 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi ­
nation with other designa tions and oil quality standards .
Viscosity
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity. The proper
viscosity grade oi l for your engine depends on c limactic or seasona l
conditions where you drive. You can use oil with a viscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi ­
tions .
However, if engine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can a lso use viscos ity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W -40 as long as it
meets Audi oil qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Because engine o il that meets the Audi o il standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart (l iter) of oil that
express ly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the oil while on the road .
Only if the level of the o il is at or be low the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick - and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 specifica tions is avai lable -may you top off wit h a high
quality engine oi l, preferably synthetic-based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA 85, AP I SL or ILSAC GF -3 spec ifications, but even
then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W-40 , SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40 .
However, during the enti re time between oi l cha nge interva ls, never
top off with more than a total of 0.5 qt/ liter engine oi l that does not
conform to Audi oil specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oi l that has bee n approved for
your vehicle, p lease contact either your authorized Audi dea ler or
Audi C ustomer Relations at 1 (800) 822 -2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca . Here you will a lso find a .._
Vehicle care I t •

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current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.) that conform
t o Audi oi l standard VW 502 00 .
Changin g the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mi leage (ki lometers) and time intervals specified in your vehicle's
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Do not exceed these interva ls -
harmful deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expensive engine repairs.
Changing the oi l at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating prope rties of oi l decrease gradual ly during
normal vehicle use . If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your author ized Audi Serv ice Advisor.
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oil more often if you dr ive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop ­
and -go t raffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay be low freezing point for long per iods.
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short time . This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended.
Damag e or malfunctions due to lack o f mainten anc e
It is essentia l that you change your oi l at the recommended interva ls
using on ly engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not cover damage or ma lfunctions due to failure to follow recommended
main tenance and use requirements as set forth in the Aud i Owner's
Manual and Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Your dealer wi ll have
t o deny warranty cove rage unless you present to the dealer p ro o f in
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all schedu led maintenance
was pe rformed in a timely manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adeq uate
amount of oil t o lubric ate and c ool all of its m oving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and coo ling of interna l
engine components, al l interna l combustio n eng ines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significant ly over the life of the engine . Typ ically,
engines with a specified break-in period (see=>
page 2971 consume
more oil du ring the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabi lized .
Unde r normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and v iscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
cond itions. Fur ther factors are the amount of oil di lu tion from wate r
condensation or fue l residue and the oxidation leve l of the oi l. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage bu ilds up, t he oil consump ­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessa ry .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate o f oi l
consumption can be established or specified . There is no alternative
t o regula r and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yel low engine oil level warning symbo l in the instrument
clus ter lights up, yo u should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick=> page 335. Top off the oil at your
ea rliest convenience =>
page 336.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNING S
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment " on
page 331.

Checking and filling -
---------------------=----"=---------
0 Note
Driving with an insufficient oil level is likely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display~ is not an indicator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your engine at
regular intervals, preferably each time you refuel, and always before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oil, we recommend that you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed. Keep in mind
that the accurate measurement of oil consumption requires great
care and may take some time . Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how to measure oil consumption accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Fig. 284 Illustration of
principle 1: Markers on
oil dipstick Fig
. 285 Illustration of
principle 2: Markers on
oil dipstick
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 331.
Determining oil level
-Park your vehicle so that it is horizontally level.
- While at operating state temperature, briefly let the
engine run at idle and then shut it off.
- Wait approx. two minutes.
- Pull out the oil dipstick. Wipe off the oil dipstick with a
clean cloth, and slide it back in as far as it will go.
Pull it back out and read off the oil level=> fig. 284 or
=> fig. 285. Top off the engine oil, if applicable
=>
page 336.
Oil level within range @
- Do not add oil.
Oil level within range @
-You can add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be within
range @. _,,,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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Oil l ev el within r ange
©
- You must add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be
within range @.
The oil level needs to be checked at regular intervals. The best times
to do this are whenever you refuel and prior to long tr ips.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and the operating condi­
tions, oil consumption can be up to 1 quart per 1.200 miles (1 liter
per 2.000 km). Consumption may be higher within the first
3.000 miles (5.000 km) .•
Adding engine oil "l=:7:
Fig . 28 6 Engine
co mp artm ent: Oil filler
ca p loc ation
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
alw ay s read and h eed all WARNINGS ==> & in "Work ing in
the engi ne compartment" on
page 331.
- Unscrew the cap ==> fig . 286.
Carefully top off with the approp riate o il in 0.5 liter doses .
- Check the oil level again after two minutes
==> page 335.
- Top off the oil again, if necessary . - Sc
rew the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil
dipstick in as far as it will go .
& WARNING
• Whil e topping o ff, the oil mu st not come in cont act with h ot
eng ine p arts -fire haza rd!
• The oil filler cap mu st be properly se cured to pr eve nt oil from
b ei ng spr ayed on th e hot engi ne and e xhau st sy stem when the
engine i s running · fire ha zard !
• If you r skin has com e in contac t wit h th e eng ine oil, you mu st
s ub sequently clean se it thoroughly.
0 Not e
• The oil level must not be above range @- danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authori zed dealership to draw off oi l, if
necessary.
• Audi do es not re comm end the use of oil add it ives. They may
d a mage the engi ne and advers ely affe ct y ou r Ne w V ehicle W arra nty.
cj? For the sake of the environment
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in co ntact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and follow legal regulations when disposing of empty
oi l containers. •
Changing th e engin e oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service station.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, a lways r ead
a nd h eed all W ARNIN GS=:>
& in "Working in the engine compart-
ment" on
page 331 . .,_

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models; 60% for Canadian models). This mixture both assures the
necessary frost protection and protects metal components in the
engine's cooling system from corrosion and scaling. It also raises
the boiling point of the coolant.
Do not reduce the concentration of the coolant in the summer by
adding plain water.
Th e pro port io n of coo la nt additi ve mu st be at
lea st 50 % but n ot mor e th an 60 %
to maintai n ant ifreeze protection
and cooling efficiency. If the coolant frost protection is too low , the
coolant could free ze and damage the veh icle heating and engine
cooling system .
For year-round driving , antifreeze is added at the factory for temper ­
atures down to:
• -31 °F ( -35 °c1 usA
• - 40 °F ( - 40 °C) Canada.
You can mix the
Gl 2+ + coolant additive with other additives (G12+
or G12). Always check w ith your authorized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
B efo re you che ck anyt hing in th e eng ine compartmen t, alway s
re ad a nd he ed all WARN ING S~
& in " Working in the engine
c ompar tm ent " on
page 33 1.
0 Not e
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coo lant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especia lly important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold . If necessary, increase the proportion of
coolant additive to 60%.
• When adding coolan t additive to your coo ling system,
remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive
G12+ + (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is avai lable at autho­
riz ed Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can significantly reduce corrosion protection. The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage.
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolan t. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and could result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
F ig . 287 E ngine
com partm ent : Cool ant
ex pans io n tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
alw ays read and h eed all WARNINGS ~
& in "Working in
the eng ine compartment" on page 331.
- Turn off the ignition.
- Let the engine coo l dow n.
Place a thick rag over the coola nt expansio n tank
~ fig . 287 and carefully twist the cap counter-c lockwise
~ & - .,

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•
- Read the engine coolant level in the open coolant expan­
sion tank :::::>
page 338, fig. 287. With a cold engine, the
coolant level should be between the "min" and "max"
markings. When the engine is warm, the level may be
slightly above the "max" marking.
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment illustration~
page 332.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off.
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant level is too low, the warning light in the Auto­
Check System~
page 33will blink until you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coolant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant level
from time to time .
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system . In the event
of coolant loss, the cooling system should be inspected immedi­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer . It is not enough merely to add
coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating.
& WARNING
The cooling system is under pressure and can get very hot. Reduce
the risk of scalding from hot coolant by following these steps.
• Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down.
• Protect your face, hands and arms from escaping fluid and
steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
& WARNING (continued)
• Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counter-clockwise
direction while applying light, downward pressure on the top of
the cap .
• To avoid being burned, do not spill antifreeze or coolant on the
exhaust system or hot engine parts. Under certain conditions, the
ethylene glycol in engine coolant can catch fire.
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's engine
coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the func ­
tion and performance of your cooling system and could result in
damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Adding coolant
Be very careful when adding engine coolant.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS:::::> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 331.
- Turn off the engine.
Let the engine cool down.
Place a thick rag over the coolant expansion tank
=:> page 338, fig. 287 and carefully twist the cap counter­
clockwise :::::>& .
Add coolant.
- Twist the cap on again
tightly.
Replacement engine coolant must conform to exact specifications
~ page 337, "Coolant". Even in an emergency, if coolant additive .,,
Vehicle care I t •

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& WA RNING ! continued )
• The auxiliary ele ctric fan is temperature controlled and can
s w itch on suddenly even wh en t he engine is not runn ing .
• The auxiliary radiator fan swit ches on automatic ally when the
engin e coolant rea che s a cer tain temperature and will con tinue to
run until the coolant temperature drop s. •
Brake f luid
Checking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level c an be checke d with a quick gl ance .
Fig. 288 E ngine
comp artm ent: B ra ke
flui d rese rvoir
Be fore you check a nything in th e en g in e co mpart ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
t h e eng ine compartment" on
page 331.
- Read the brake fluid l eve l from the brake fluid reservoir
=> fig. 288. The brake flu id level mus t be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is locate d at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left side=>
page 332.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto ­
ma tic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm .
If the brake fluid leve l falls
considerably below the "MIN" mark , the
brake warning/indicator light (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
«D> l will come on=>
page 23 and=> page 32 . Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor ­
oughly checked
by an author ized Audi dealer or qua lif ied workshop
and the cause corrected . If th e brake fluid level is too low, the brake
warning/indicator light w ill illumi nate. Contact an authorized Audi
dea ler
immedi ately .
[ i ] Tips
The brake fluid reservoir is located underneath the cover .•
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experience d techni ­
cian.
Brak e fluid absorbs mois ture from the air. If the wate r conten t in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake sys tem may res ult
after a period of time . The boiling point of the brake fluid will also
decrease conside rably and decrease braking performance .
Therefore , the brake fluid mus t be changed
every two year s. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle S tan ­
da rd "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficul t to reach, therefore , we
recommend that y ou have the brake fluid changed by your autho ­
rized
Audi deal er. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know -how to do this for you .
& WARNING
• Brak e fluid is poi sonou s. It mu st be stored only in the clo sed
o riginal conta iner out of the rea ch of children! ..,.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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& WARN ING (c o ntinued )
• Brake failure can re sult from old or inappr opriate brake fluid .
Ob serve the se precautio ns:
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specific ation J 1703 and
c onform s to Fed era l Moto r Vehi cle St anda rd 116. Al ways c heck
with your authori zed Audi dealer to make sure you are u sin g
the corre ct brake fluid. The correct typ e of brake fluid i s also
indicated o n the brake fluid reser vo ir .
- The br ake flu id mu st be ne w. Heavy u se of the brake s can
c au se a vapor lock if the brake fluid i s left in the s ystem too
long. Thi s can seriou sly affect the effi cien cy of the brake s as
w ell a s your safet y. Thi s could re sult in an acci dent .
0 Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehicle .
For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special too ls required and the necessa ry expertise, we recom­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dea ler .•
Battery
General information
Under normal operating condi tions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With
high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the e lectrolyte level
checked by an au thorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop . The
e lectrolyte level should also be ch ecked each time the battery is
charged ~
page 344.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service .
Yo u are well advised to replace a battery that is o lder than 5 years .
With certain types of airbag dep loyment, the battery is discon ­
nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons~
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 255.
Disconnecti ng th e batt ery termin als
Some vehicle functions (power window regulators , for example) are
lost if the battery termina ls are disconnected. These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again . To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
vehic le electrical sys tem when abso lutely necessary for repairs .
Vehicles not driven for long per iods
If you do not drive your vehicle ove r a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off .
T his reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capab ility
over a longer period
~ page 295 .
Take i nto consideration that whe n you u nlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions, such as the master key remote function or
powe r seat adjustme nt, may not be ava ilable. The convenience
functions will be available again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine .
Wint er op erati on
Duri ng the winter mont hs, batte ry capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop . This is because more power is also consumed
whi le star tin g, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc ., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particular ly in city traffic or
when trave li n g o nly short dis tances . Let your authorized Audi dea ler
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 344. A we ll cha rged battery w ill not only preven t starting
problems when the weather is cold, but will also last longer . ..,_