width AUDI Q7 2009 Owner´s Manual

• ..__A_ u_ d_ i _s _i_d _e_ a_ s_ s _ is_ t __________________________________________________ _
Applies to vehicles: wi th side ass is t
Sensor detection area
.,,....... ~
. . "' . . . ;
Fi g. 188 Sc hema tic
ill us trati on : Sens or
d etec tion area
The detection => fig. 188 of the radar sensor detection area is made
up of:
• the approach area (light green area)
G), about 230 feet (70 ml
behind the vehicle, and
• the "bl ind spot" (dark green area)@.
The radar sensors cover the adjacent left and right lanes. Other
lanes are
not covered by the radar sensors.
[ i J Tip s
Side assist does not measure actual lane width. The system
assumes a fixed lane width . Detection in the left and right lanes is
based on this assumed lane width. When driving on narrow roads or
when driving to the left or right of the center of a travel lane, it is
possible that vehicles wil l be detected that are
not in the lane next
t o the lane you are using =>
page 181. •
Applies to vehicles: wi th side assis t
Operation
Side assist compares the distance and difference in speed of
detected vehicles with the speed of your vehicle. Whenever the
difference in speed and distance is registered as notable if you were
to change lanes, a signal light appears on the respective mirror.
The signal can light up if you are passed by a vehicle or if you are
passing another vehicle.
If you pass another vehicle slowly (difference in speed less than 9
mph, or
15 km/h), the signal light will come on as soon as the other
vehicle is in your blind spot and is detected by side assist. When the
difference in speed is greater, the signa l light will not come on .•
Appl ies to vehic les : w ith side assist
Informational and alert stage signals
Side assist has two signal stages:
• the informational stage signa l, and
• the alert stage signal.
Side assist helps you by using the appropriate signal stage,
depending on whether or not you have activated the turn signal,
and thus have indicated that you are or are not changing lanes.
In fo rm ati onal sta g e si gna l
As long as you have not activated the turn signal, side assist informs
you of detected vehicles that are registered as being in a notable location if you were to change lanes. Whenever the detected
vehic le's difference in speed and distance is reg istered by side
assist as notable, the signal light on the respective mirror produces
muted illum inatio n.
The brightness of the informationa l stage signa l is designed not to
be as intense, so that it does not interfere with your view of the road
when you are driving and have no intention of changing lanes. _.,

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Ap plies to vehicle s: with side assist
General information
Side assist has lim its and cannot detect vehic les under all road and
weather conditions. P lease remember system limitations and
never
rely on the system, especially when:
• driving through curves=>
page 181,
• lanes are of different widths=> page 181. •
Ap plie s to vehicles: with side ass ist
When driving through curves
Side assist cannot detect vehicles in curves with a turning radius of
less than 328 feet (100 m).
When driving through a curve , it is possible that side assist may
register a vehicle two lanes
over, and the signal on the outside
m irror will ligh t up .•
A pplies to vehicle s: with side ass is t
Lane width
Controls and eq uip­
ment
,
' ' ' '
• •
Fi g. 19 5 Lanes o f a
n orm al w idth are in
d etec tion a re a
Fig . 19 6 Narrow l anes:
Si de ass is t m ay d etec t
v ehicle s tw o la n es
a w ay
Side assist's detection area is designed to cover lanes of standard
width to the le ft and right o f your trave l lane, depending on whethe r
you drive in the center of your lane or c loser to the edge.
If you drive in narrow lanes, side assist's detection area may also
inc lude other lanes -especially if you tend to dr ive on the edge o f
your lane=> fig . 196. Under these conditions, vehicles can also be
de tected tha t are two lanes away, and s ide assist then could switch
between the informational and warning stage signa ls.
When d riving in very wide lanes, vehicles in the adjacent lane may
not be detected because they are not inside the detection area. •
Notes
Applies to veh ic les : with side assist
Messages in instrument cluster display
If side assist turns off automatically, the indicator light on the
button will go out and you will see a message in the instr ument
cluster display:
Audi side a ssist not available : sensors po ssibly blocked
The side assist sensors are built into the rear bumper on the left and
right ( not visible on the outside) =>
page 174, fig. 185 . To ensure that
you do not adversely affect the way side assist functions, foreign .,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

• .___A_ u_ d_ i_s_ i_ d _e_ a_ s_ s_is _ t __________________________________________________ _
objects (such as stic kers o r bicyc le rac ks) shou ld no t be attach ed to
th e ar ea on the rea r bump er where t he sen so rs ar e loca ted. I f side
assist functions are adve rsely aff ect ed, you will see this m essage in
th e ins trum ent clu ster dis pla y. Remove an ything that may be
blocking the sensors.
If no veh ic le is detected for a longer period of time while d riving,
s id e ass ist w ill a lso sw itc h off aut omat ica lly.
Audi side assist currently not available If th ere is a tem porary prob le m (such as the veh ic le 's battery char ge
being low), side ass ist cannot be activated tem porar ily .
Audi side assist: system fault H ave the sys te m chec ked by an a uthorize d A udi dea ler o r qua lified
wor ks h op.
Audi side assist not available when towing
T he radar sensor 's view is limited when towing a trailer . Fo r vehicles
wi th a fac tory insta lle d t owi ng hitc h or a tra ile r h it c h th at was
install ed later according to factory specificat ions, side assist is
a uto matica lly deact iva te d as so on as the e lect ric a l c onn ectio n to
t h e trai ler's elect rical soc ket is m ade, and th is sta tus m essage
a ppears in the instrument c luster disp lay . Deactivat ion cannot be
gua ra nte ed w hen usin g a retro fitted to wi ng hitch that was not
insta lled according to factory specifications .•
Ap plies to vehic les : w it h side assist
Safety tips
T he s ide ass is t de tect io n may be limited whe n drivi ng a round
narrow street corners, on hilly streets, and under poor weather
c o ndition s.
It is possibl e that the radar sensors may also detect other ob jects,
suc h as h igh or s tagge re d guar drails. S
ide assist does not measure actua l lane width . The sys tem
assumes a fixed la ne wid th. Dete cti on in th e le ft an d rig ht l anes is
based on this assumed lane width . When d riv ing on narrow roads or
w hen driving to t he left or right of the ce nte r of a travel la ne, it i s
possible that vehicles will be detected that are
not in th e lane next
to the lane yo u are us ing.
& WARNING
• Improper reliance on the side assist system can cause colli ­
sions and serious personal injury :
- Never rely only on side assist when changing lanes.
- Always check rear view mirrors to make sure that it is safe to
change lanes .
• Side assist cannot detect all vehicles under all conditions ­
danger of accident!
• Side assist cannot detect vehicles in time to alert you when
they approach from behind at very high speed , or fall drop back
very quickly .
• The radar sensor's
vision can be reduced or entirely blocked by
rain , snow , and heavy spray . This can result in side assist not
adequately detecting vehicles or , in some cases, not detecting
them at all . Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant area around the vehicle .
• Please note that side assist indicates there are approaching
vehicles , or vehicles in your blind spot , only after your vehicle has
reached a driving speed of at least 19 mph (30 km /h).
• Side assist signal does not work around tight corners (turning
radius less than 328 feet , or 100 ml.
• Side assist is no replacement for the driver's full attention. The
driver alone is responsible for lane changes and similar driving
maneuvers . Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant area around the vehicle. .,,_

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 •

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
crashes and serious personal injuries . Have worn or damaged tires
replaced immediately.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
especially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
low speed.
Glossary of tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
means the combined weight (in excess of those standard items
which may be replaced) of automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, and heater, to
the extent that these items are available as factory-installed equip­
ment (whether installed or not).
Aspect ratio means the ratio of the height to the width of the tire in percent.
Numb ers of 55 or lower indicate a low sidewall for improved
steering response and better overall handling on dry pavement.
Bead
means the part of the tire that is made of steel wires, wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to fit the rim.
Bead separation means a breakdown of the bond between components in the bead.
Cord
means the strands forming the plies in the tire.
& WARNING (continued)
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history." Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
• If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side
when driving, always stop as soon as it is safe to do so and check
the wheels and tires for damage . •
Cold tire inflation pressure
means the tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
for a tire of a designated size that has not been driven for more than
a couple of miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the three hour period
before the tire pressure is measured or adjusted.
Curb weight means the weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment
including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, air condi­
tioning and additional weight of optional equipment.
Extra load tire
means a tire design to operate at higher loads and at higher infla ­
tion pressures than the corresponding standard tire. Extra load tires
may be identified as "XL",
"xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the side ­
wall.
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR")
means the load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured
at the tire -ground interfaces.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ("GVWR"l
means the maximum total loaded weight of the vehicle.

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•
Groove
means the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
L oad ra ting (code)
means the maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure. You may not find this information on all tires
because it is not required by law.
M ax im um l oad ra tin g
means the load rating for a tire at the maximum permissib le infla­
tion pressure for that tire.
Ma ximum l oaded v ehi cle weigh t
means the sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehic le capacity weight, and
(ct) Production options weight
M ax im um (p er mi ssibl e) infl ati on pr essur e
means the maximum cold inflation pressure to wh ich a tire may be
inflated. Also ca lled "maximum inflation pressure."
Normal occ upa nt wei ght
means 150 lbs. (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants
seated in the vehicle up to the to tal seating capacity of your vehicle.
O ccupant di stributi on
means distribution of occupants in a vehicle .
Outer di am eter
means the overall diameter of an inflated new tire.
O ve rall wi dth
means the linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewa lls of
an inflated tire, includ ing elevations due to labeling, decorations, or
protective bands or ribs.
Pl y
means a layer of rubber -coated para lle l cords.
P rodu ction opt io ns wei ght
means the combined weight of those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs . (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard
i t ems wh ich they replace, not previously considered in curb weigh t
or accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof
rack, heavy duty battery, and specia l trim .
Radi al p ly tire
means a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the
tread .
Reco mm ended infl ati on pr essu re
see => page 348, "Cold tire inflation pressure".
Rein force d tir e
means a tire des ign to operate at higher loads and at higher infla­
tion pressures than the corresponding standard tire. Reinforced
t ires may be identi fied as "XL", "x i", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the
sidewall.
R im
means a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon
wh ich the t ire beads are seated.
Rim di amet er
means nominal diameter of the bead seat. If you change your whee l
size, you wi ll have to purchase new tires to match the new rim diam ­
eter .
Rim siz e de sig nation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim wid th
means nominal distance between rim flanges.
Vehicle care I t •

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New tires and replacing tires and wheels
New tires and wheels have to be broken in.
Fig. 295 Tire specification codes on the sidewall of a tire
No.
G)
@
©
©
©
©
Description
Passenger car tire (where appl icable)
Nominal width of tire in millimeters
Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
Radial
Rim diameter code
Load index and speed rating
0
©
U.S. DOT tire identificat ion number
Sever snow conditions
Tire ply composition and materials used
Maximum load rating
@ Treadwear, traction and temperature grades
@ Maximum permissible inflation pressure
The tires and rims are essential parts of the vehicle's design. The
tires and rims approved by Audi are specially matched to the char­ acteristics of the vehicle and can make a major contribution to good
road holding and safe handling when in good condition and prop­
erly inflated =>& .
We recommend that all work on tires and wheels be performed by
an authorized Audi dealer. They are familiar with recommended
procedures and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as
well as the proper facilities for disposing of the old tires.
Authorized Audi dealers have the necessary information about tech ­
nical requirements for installing or changing tires and rims.
Replacing tires and wheels
Tires should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (for
example both front tires or both rear tires together).
Be sure to read and heed the information to the tire pressure moni ­
toring system =>
page 361.
Always buy replacement radial tires that have the same specifica ­
tions as the tires approved for your vehicle by Audi. Replacement
tires must always have the same load rating specification as the original equipment or approved optional tires listed in the table
=> page 351.
Audi -approved specification tires are specially matched to your
vehicle and its load limits, and can contribute to the important road-.,_
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
holding, driving characteristics, and safety of the vehicle. The table
(~ page 357) lists specifications of the tires approved for the Audi
models covered by your Owner's Literature .
The tire pressure label (On USA vehicles, the tire pressure label is
located on the driver 's side 8 -pillar . On Canada vehicles, the tire
pressure label is located either on the driver's side 8 -pillar or inside
the fue l fi ller flap)( ~
page 351, fig. 292) lists the specifications of
the original equipment tires instal led on your vehic le at the time i t
was manufactured.
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized infor ­
mation on the sidewa ll of all tires~
page 359, fig. 295 . This informa ­
tion identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics, the quality grade of the tire and also provides a tire identification
number for safety standard certificat ion and in case of a recall.
Ti re sp ec ifica tio ns
Knowledge of tire specifications makes it easier to choose the
correct tires . Radial tires have the tire specifications marked on the
sidewa ll, for example:
P 235 / 6 0 R 18 107 H XL
This contains the fo llowing information :
P Indicates the tire is for passenger cars (where applicable)
235 Nominal tire width in mm of the tire from sidewall edge to side -
wall edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire
60 Height/width ratio in percent (aspect ratio)
R T ire construction: Radial
18 Rim diameter code (in inches)
10 7 Load rat ing code
H Speed rat ing letter code
X L (or "xi" , "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" Indicates that the tire is a"Rein­
forced" or an "Extra Load" tire
M+ S (or "M/S"l Indicates that the tire has some mud and snow capa ­
bility T
he tires could also have the information of direction of rotation
~ page 347.
Ti re manuf acturing d ate
The manufacturing date is a lso indicated on the tire sidewa ll
(possibly only on the
inner side of the wheel) :
"DOT ... 2208 ... " means, for example, that the tire was produced in
the 22th week of 2008 .
Speed rating The speed rating le tter code on the whe els indicates the maximum
permissible road speeds~
& in "Winter tires" on page 363.
p
up to 93 mph ( 150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (158 km/h)
R upto 106mph(170km/hl
s upto 110 mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
u up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240
km/h)4
l
z over 149 mph (240 km/h)4
l
w up to 168 mph (270 km/h)41
y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)41
Your vehic le is norma lly factory equipped with tires, which possess
exce llent driving characteristics and give your Audi optimum
driving comfort . An e lectronic speed limiter ~
page 29will normal ly
prevent your vehicle from going faster than the tire speed rating
~ & - ..
41 For tires w ith a maximum speed capab ility over 149 mph (240 km /h ), tire
manufacture rs som etim es us e th e lette rs "ZR."

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•
Uniform tire quality grading
• Tread wear
• Traction AA A B C
• Temperature A B C
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire side wall
between tread shoulder and maximum section width=>
page 359,
fig. 295.
For example: Tread wear 200, Traction AA, Temperature A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Require ­
ments in addition to these grades .
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course .
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
one half (1 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual condi­
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differ­
ences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance => & .
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing
the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissi­
pate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure=>&.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law .
& WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
& WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla­
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure. •
Winter tires
Winter tires can improve vehicle handling on snow and
ice. At temperatures below 45 °F (7 °C) we recommend
changing to winter tires.
In some heavy snow areas, local governments may require true
winter or "snow" tires, those with very deeply cut tread. These tires
should only be used in pairs and be installed on all four wheels .
Make sure you purchase snow tires that are the same size and
construction type as the other tires on your vehicle .
Your vehicle is equipped with all -wheel drive, this will improve trac­
tion during winter driving, even with the standard tires. However,
we strongly recommend that you always equip all four wheels on .,_
Vehicle care I t •

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
0 Note
The specified torque for the wheel bolts is 120 ft lb (160 Nm) with a
tolerance of± 7,4 ft lb(± 10 Nm). Torque wheel bolts diagonally.
After changing a wheel, the torque must be checked as soon as
possible with a torque wrench -preferably by an authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop. •
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Audi is factory-equipped with low aspect ratio tires. These tires
have been thoroughly tested and been selected specifically for your
model for their superb performance, road feel and handling under
a variety of driving conditions . Ask your authorized Audi dealer for
more details.
The low aspect ratio of these tires is indicated by a numeral of
55 or
less
in the tire's size designation. The numeral represents the ratio
of the tire's sidewall height in relation to its tread width expressed
in percentage. Conventional tires have a height/width ratio of 60 or
more.
The performance of low-aspect-ratio tires is particularly sensitive to
improper inflation pressure. It is therefore important that low
aspect ratio tires are inflated to the specified pressure and that the
inflation pressure is regularly checked and maintained. Tire pres­
sures should be checked at least once a month and always before a
long trip~
page 353, "Checking tire pressure".
What you can do to avoid tire and rim damage
Low aspect ratio tires can be damaged more easily by impact with
potholes, curbs, gullies or ridges on the road, particularly if the tire
is underinflated.
In order to minimize the occurrence of impact damage to the tires
of your vehicle, we recommend that you observe the following precautions: •
Always maintain recommended inflation pressures. Check your
tire pressure every 2,000 miles (3,000 km) and add air if necessary.
• Drive carefully on roads with potholes, deep gullies or ridges.
The impact from driving through or over such obstacles can
damage your tires. Impact with a curb may also cause damage to
your tires.
• After any impact, immediately inspect your tires or have them
inspected by the nearest authorized Audi dealer. Replace a
damaged tire as soon as possible.
• Inspect your tires every 2,000 miles (3,000 km) for damage and
wear. Damage is not always easy to see. Damage can lead to loss of
air and underinflation, which could eventually cause tire failure. If
you believe that a tire may have been damaged, replace the tire as
soon as possible.
• Th ese tires may wear more quickly than others.
• Please also remember that. while these tires deliver responsive
handling, they may ride less comfortably and make more noise than
other choices.
Reduced performance in winter/cold season
conditions
All tires are designed for certain purposes. The low aspect ratio,
ultra high performance tires originally installed on your vehicle are
intended for maximum dry and wet road performance and handling.
They are not suitable for cold, snowy or icy weather conditions. If
you drive under those circumstances, you should equip your vehicle
with all -season or winter tires, which offer better traction under
those conditions. We suggest you use the recommended snow or all -season tires specified for your vehicle, or their equivalent.
Refer to~
page 363for more detailed information regarding winter
tires. •