engine coolant AUDI Q7 2009 Owner´s Manual

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Instruments
Instrument cluster and controls
The instrument cluster is your central source of informa­
tion .
Fig. 2 Overview of the instrument cluster
G)
@
®
©
©
©
0
©
Coolant temperature gauge ................... .. .
Tachometer with time and date display . ... .... ... .
Warning/indicator lights .. ...... ...... .......... .
Driver information system ........ ........... ... .
Speedometer with odometer ............. .... ... .
Fuel gauge . ..... .. ... ....... ........ ......... .
Advanced Parking System . .... ... .. ... ......... .
Reset but ton for trip odometer
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
13
14, 14
17
25
15
15
191
15
© I CH ECK] button . .......... ..... ... .... .. .... •..
@ Instrumen t cluster illumination .. ... ........ .... . .
[ i] Tips
16
17
The illumination for the instrument cluster lights up whenever you
switch on the ignition with the
vehic le headlights off. As the
daylight fades, the instrument cluster illumination likewise dims
automatically and will go out completely when the outside light is
very low. This feature is meant to remind you to switch on the head­
lights when outside light conditions become poor. •
Engine coolant temperature gauge
The engine coolant gauge=> fig. 2 G) only works when the ignition
is on. To prevent damage to your engine, please note the following
important points:
Engine cold
As long as th e needle remains at or close to the bottom of the
gauge, the engine still has not reached its operating temperature .
Avoid high engine speeds , heavy engine loads and heavy throttle
applications.
Normal temperature
When the engine has reached its operating temperature, the needle
will move into the middle of the gauge and remain there. If the
engine is working hard at high outside temperatures, the needle
may rise up . This is no need to worry as long as the
_f_ warning light
in the instrument cluster does not illuminate . .,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Warning light in the instrument cluster -t
When the _L warning light in the instrument cluster starts to flash,
this can mean one of two things: either the coolant
temperature is
too high, or the coolant
level is too low~ page 33.
If the needle is well in the upper area of the gauge, the coolant
temperature is too high.
Stop the vehicle, switch the engine off and
allow the engine to cool.
If the warning light comes on again after
driving a short distance, contact an authorized dealer.
& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in ~ page 324, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the engine coolant
level.
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment . You
could burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant.
0 Note
• Mounting additional lights or accessories in front of the air inlets
reduces the cooling effect of the radiator. At high outside tempera­
tures or high engine load, the engine could overheat.
• The front spoiler has been designed to properly distribute the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving. If the spoiler is damaged,
this could reduce the cooling effect and the engine could then
over­
heat. Ask your authorized Audi dealer for assistance. •
Tachometer (engine rev counter)
The tachometer indicates the engine RPM (revolutions per
minutes).
The tachometer 0 ~ page 13, fig. 2 is the left of the two large clock ­
type displays. The
engine turns at a speed
1,000 times the single digit in the
display, e.g. if the needle is pointing at the "2" the engine is turning
at 2,000 RPM.
If engine RPM drops below 1,500, you should downshift to the next
lower gear. The red area at the end of the scale indicates maximum
permissible engine RPM after the break -in period. Before reaching
this area, move the selector lever to position "D (Drive)" or ease your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
0 Note
The tachometer needle should not move into the red range. If it
does, then only for a
very short period of time. You could damage
your engine by driving at high RPM .
'£> For the sake of the environment
Upshifting early saves fuel and reduces engine noise.•
Digital clock with date display
Date and time of day can be set in the MM/.
Fig . 3 Instrument
cluster with digital
clock
The date, time of day, and time and date format can be set in the
MMI. You can find out more in the MMI manual. .,_

Driver messages and yellow symbols
If a yellow symbol appears in the display, a driver message is also
displayed automatically.
For example, the symbol appears in the display, indicating low
windshield washer fluid level. The following message also appears:
Please top up washer fluid
The driver message disappears after a few seconds. The driver
message can be displayed again by briefly pressing the
I CH ECK]
button. •
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER.
-Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle.
Turn off the engine.
Fig . 18 Display: engine
coolant level warning
(priority 1)
- Check the malfunctioning system. Contact your autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop for assistance.
Red symbols indicate a priority 1 malfunction -Danger!
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
Driver information display
With a priority 1 malfunction, a large symbol appears in the center
area of the display => fig. 18. When the symbol appears,
three
warning tones sound in succession. The symbol continues to blink
until the malfunction has been repaired.
If there are
more than one priority 1 malfunctions, the symbols
appear one after the other for about 2 seconds.
An additional driver message can also be displayed by briefly
pressing the
! CHECK ] button.
The red symbols mean:
0
BRAKE

[ i] Tips
Alternator malfunction
USA models:
Brake system malfunction
Canada models:
Brake system malfunction
Engine coolant level too
low/engine coolant temperature
too high
Engine oil pressure too low
Faulty steering
Faulty ignition switch
=> page32
=> page 32
=> page32
=> page33
=> page 33
=> page 34
=> page 34
• If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ © (Canada
models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a brake system
malfunction. By pressing the
I CH ECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Please note
=> page 32. ..
Vehicle care
I I irechnical data

Driver information display
• Speed warnings threshold 1 8 (USA modelsl/8 (Canada
models) and threshold
2 e , (USA modelsl/ 8 (Canada models) are
also shown as red symbols. The warning is always shown as a small
symbol in the upper area of the display=>
page 38. •
Alternator malfunction 0
If the O symbol in the instrument panel display flashes, then there
is a malfunction in the alternator or the vehicle electronics. A
warning to the driver will appear, too. The driver warning goes out
after about
5 seconds, but it can be brought up at any time by
pressing the
( CHECK ] button again.
Usually, you can still drive to the next dealership. Turn off all but the
most necessary electrical consumers, since these drain the vehicle's
battery.
0 Note
If the _t warning symbol (coolant system malfunction) also lights
up on the instrument panel during the trip=>
page 33, then you
have to stop immediately and turn off the engine. The coolant pump
is not working anymore -danger of damage to the engine! •
Brake system malfunction
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (©)
(Canada models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is
a brake system malfunction. By pressing the [ CHECK]
button, you can bring up a driver message which explains
the malfunction in more detail.
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid level
-Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check the brake fluid level=>
page 341.
-Contact your nearest authorized Audi dealer or qualified
workshop if necessary.
Warning! Fault in ABS brake system. Contact
workshop
- Drive carefully to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qualified workshop and have the malfunction corrected
=> & .
If the ABS system malfunctions, the ABS warning/indicator light illu­
minates together with the brake system malfunction warning/indi­
cator light=>& .
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in => page 324, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the brake fluid .
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard. Stop the car and
get professional assistance .
• USA models: If the BRAKE warning light and the .-..-warning
light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up first under
hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control
and an accident . Have your vehicle repaired immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop. Drive slowly and
avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• Canada models: If the brake warning light and the ABS
warning light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up
first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of _.,

& WARNING (continued)
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme­diately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop.
Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applications. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -L
A mo/function in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the _ t symbol in the display blinks, then either the
engine coolant temperature is too high, or the coolant level
is too low. An additional driver message can also be
displayed by pressing the [ CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check coolant level
- Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check coolant level => page 338.
- Add coolant if necessary => page 339.
- Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
- Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be
the cause of the malfunction.
If the O warning symbol (alternator malfunction) also lights up on
the instrument panel~
page 32, then the fan belt may be damaged .
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights
~ page 76, "Emer­
gency flasher
A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
~ page 324, "Engine compartment".
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the _f_ symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine. •
Engine oil pressure malfunction "l::;r.
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair. Driving with a low-oil -pres­
sure indication is likely to inflict severe damage to the
engine.
If the 'l::::11 symbol appears in the display and blinks, the oil
pressure is too low. An additional driver message can also
be displayed by pressing the [CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check oil level
Immediate actions
- Pull off the road.
I • •

Warm and cold -______________ ....:...:...:..:..;______
Warm and cold
Climate control
Description
The air conditioner is fully automatic and is designed to
maintain a comfortable and uniform climate inside the
vehicle.
We recommend the following settings:
- Set the temperature to 72 °F (+22 °C).
- Press the [AUTO
I button.
With this setting, you attain maximum comfort in the least amount
of time. Change this setting, as desired, to meet your personal
needs .
The climate controls are a combination of heating, ventilation and cooling systems, which automatically reduce humidity and cool the
air inside your vehicle.
The air temperature, air flow and air distribution are automatically
regulated to achieve and maintain the desired passenger compart­
ment temperature as quickly as possible.
The system automatically compensates for changes in outside
temperature and for the intensity of the sunlight entering the
vehicle. We recommend you use the
Automatic mode:::::, page 126
for year -round comfort.
Please note the following:
Turn on the air conditioner to reduce humidity in the vehicle. This
also prevents the windows from fogging up.
When the outside temperature is high and the air is very humid,
condensation from the evaporator may drip under the vehicle . Th is
is normal and does not indicate a leak.
Controls and equip ­
ment
If the outside temperature is low, the fan normally only switches to
a higher speed once the engine coolant has warmed up sufficiently.
The air conditioner temporarily switches off when you drive off from
a standstill using full throttle to save engine power.
The compressor also switches off if the coolant temperature is too
high, so that the engine can be adequately cooled under extreme
loads.
Air pollutants filter
The air pollutants filter (a combined particle filter and activated
charcoal filter) reduces or prevents outside air pollution (dust, or
pollen) from entering the vehicle. The air is also filtered in air recir­
culation mode.
The air pollutants filter must be changed at the intervals specified in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet, so that the air conditioner
can properly work.
If you drive your vehicle in an area with high air pollution, the filter
may need to be changed more frequently than specified in your
Audi Warranty
& Maintenance booklet . If in doubt, ask your autho ­
rized Audi Service Advisor for advice.
Key coded settings
The air conditioner settings selected are automatically stored and assigned to the key being used. When the vehicle is started, the air
conditioner automatically selects the settings assigned to that key.
This way every driver will maintain his/her own personal settings
and does not have to reset them manually.
If a different driver uses your key and changes the air conditioner
settings, the latest adjustments will erase and replace the settings
you have stored. _.,
I • •

• ..__O_ n_ t_h _e _ r_o _a _ d __________________________________________________ _
& WARNING
Never start or let the engine run in a confined or enc losed area .
Exhaust fumes from the engine contain carbon monoxide , a color ­
le ss and odorless gas . Carbon monoxide can be fatal if inhaled .
• Never leave the engine idling unattended . An unattended
vehi cle with a runn ing engine poses a danger of personal injury or
theft.
0 Note
• Avoi d high engine speed s, fa st a ccele rati on or heavy eng ine
loads while the engi ne is sti ll cold. This cou ld damage the engine.
• The e ngi ne canno t be sta rt e d by pushing o r to w ing the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
To avoid unnecessary engine wear and to re duce ex hau st emis ­
sions, do not let your vehicle stand and warm up. Be ready to drive
off immed iate ly afte r start ing y our veh icle. Maintain modera te
sp eed unt il the engine is completely warm. Remembe r, th e engine
performs best a t operati ng tempe ra ture .•
Stopping the engine
- Turn t he ignit ion key to position ©~ page 1 43, fig. 153 .
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotroni c only work when the engine
is running . With the ignition turned off , you have to apply more
force when steering or braking . Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries .
& WARNING (continued )
• The radiator fan can continue to run for up to 10 minutes even
after you have turned off the engine and removed the ignition key .
The radiator fan can also turn on again if the engine coolant heats
up because of inten se sunlight or heat build -up in the engine
compartment .
0 Note
Do not stop the engine immediatel y after hard or extended driving.
Keep the eng ine runn ing f or ap proximate ly t wo minu tes to preven t
excessive heat build -up. •
Starting and stopping the engine
with Convenience key
Ap plies to vehicles: wit h C onvenien ce key
Starting the engine with th e [ START) button
This button s witches on the i gnition and starts the en gine.
Fig. 154 C onvenienc e
key ; EN GINE START
button
T he [ S TA RT ] b utto n is prov ided with two-stage operation
~ fig . 15 4. .,,_

• .___O_ n_ t_h _e _ r_o _a_ d __________________________________________________ _
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotronic only work when the engine
is running. With the ignition turned off, you have to apply more
force when steering or braking. Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
• For safety reasons, you should always park your vehicle with
the selector lever in P. Otherwise, the vehicle could inadvertently roll away.
• After the engine has been switched off, the radiator fan can
continue to run for up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition
switched off. It can also switch on again after some time if the
coolant temperature rises as the result of a heat buildup or if the
engine is hot and the engine compartment is additionally heated
by the sun's rays.
0 Note
If the engine has been under heavy load for an extended period,
heat builds up in the engine compartment after the engine is
switched off -there is a risk of damaging the engine. Allow the
engine to run at idle for about 2 minutes before switching it off. •
Applies to vehicles: w ith Conven ience key
Driver messages in the instrument cluster
display
If a function is not present, a driver message appears.
No key identified
This message appears when the [STAR T) button is pressed if there
is no master key inside the vehicle or if the system does not recog­
nize it . For example, the master key cannot be recognized if it is
covered by an object (e.g. aluminum brief case) which
screens the radio signal. Electronic devices such as cell phones can also inter­
fere with the radio signal.
Press brake pedal to start engine
This message appears if you press the [ START) button to start the
engine and do not depress the brake pedal. The engine can only be
started if the brake pedal is depressed.
Engage N or P to start engine
This message appears when the engine is started if the selector
lever for the automatic transmission is not in the P or N position.
The engine can only be started with the selector in these positions.
? Key not in vehicle
This message appears along with the symbol if the master key is
removed from the vehicle with the engine running. It is intended to
remind you (e.g. when changing drivers) not to continue the journey
without the master key.
If the master key is no longer in the vehicle, you cannot switch off
the ignition after stopping the engine and you also cannot start the engine again. Moreover, you cannot lock the vehicle from the
outside with the key.
Shift to P, otherwise vehicle can roll away. Doors do not lock if lever
is not in
P.
This message appears for safety reasons along with a warning
buzzer if the selector lever for the automatic transmission is not in
the P position when the ignition is switched off with the
[STOP)
button and the driver's door is opened. Move the selector lever to
the P position, otherwise the vehicle is not secured against rolling
away. You also cannot lock the vehicle using the locking button on
the door handle or using the remote key.
To engage steering lock, press and hold STOP button
This message appears for safety reasons if the engine and the igni ­
tion have been switched off by pressing the [
STOP) button once, .,,_

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 ...

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