service AUDI Q7 2011 Owner´s Manual

_________________________________________ I_ n_ t_ e_ ll_,igent technology ,__E~-
If an individual wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to vehicle
speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatically reduces brake pres­
sure to prevent that wheel from locking .
Thi s automatic adjustment process wi ll cause a
slight vibration of
the brake pedal and some noises to alert you that vehicle speed must
be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions.
_& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction. Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risks.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics .
(I) Tips
• If ABS is not funct ioning properly, a warning light will come on .
See ~
page 19.
• If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
ind icat ed by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power and
thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance.
If the driver presses the
brake peda l very qu ickly , the brake assistant automatically boosts the
braking force to the maximum level, up to the point where the anti­
lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the whee ls from locking.
You should then keep the brake pedal pressed until the vehicle has
braked to the required speed. The brake assistant switches itself off
as soon as you release the brake pedal.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Automatic full braking
assist
This function allows full braking in spite of high brake pedal forces
(e .g . when the brakes are severely stressed because the veh icle is fully
loaded). The driver notices this function through a reduction of pedal
force and increased pedal travel. When the brake pedal is released,
full braking assist switches off again automatically.
If there is an ABS failure, the brak e assistant and automatic full
braking assist are not available.
Th e brake assistant will not be operative if there is a ma lfunction in
the ABS .
_& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast, especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely. Increased risk of an
accident cannot be compensated for even by the brake assistant ,
so always maintain a safe speed.•
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort.
The advanced Servotronic ® power steering system senses the road
speed and electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortable and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed .
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result , the
steering wheel will be hard to turn .
Th e power steering fluid level is checked during the scheduled main­
tenance services.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

_________________________________________ I_ n_ t_ e_ ll_,igent technology ,__E~-
& WA RNING (c on tinued )
planing ). If this should occur, you will have no warning from a
sudden in crease in e ngine speed as with a front -wheel drive
veh icle. Always drive at speeds which are suited to the road condi ­
tions - risk of crash .•
Energy management
Starting ability is optimized
E nergy ma nagement co ntr ols the distribution of elec­
trical energy and thus optimizes the availa bility of elec ­
trical energy for s tarting the engine.
If a vehicle with a convention al ene rgy sys tem is not driven fo r a lo ng
pe riod of time, the battery is d ischarged by idling cu rr ent consumers
(e.g. immo bilizer) . In ce rtain c ircumstances it can result i n there
being insufficien t energy avai lab le to start the engine .
Inte llige nt ene rgy management in your ve hicl e han dles the dist ribu ­
ti on of e lectr ica l energy. Sta rting ability is m arkedly improved a nd
the life of the battery is extended.
B as ically , energy managemen t consis ts of
battery diagno sis , idling
current management
and dynamic energy management .
Battery diagnosis
Battery d iagnosis continuously determ ines the state of the battery .
Sensors de term ine ba tte ry vo ltage, ba ttery curren t and batte ry
temperature. Th is determines t he current state of charge and the
powe r of th e battery .
Idling current management
Idli ng cu rrent m anageme nt reduc es ene rgy consu mptio n while the
vehicle is standing. W ith the ignition switc hed off, it controls the
ene rgy su ppl y to the v ari ou s ele ct rical com pone nts. Da ta fr om
battery diagnosis is considered .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Depend
ing on the battery 's state of charge, individual consumers are
gr adu ally t urned o ff to prevent excess ive disch arge of the bat tery an d
t hus maintain start ing capability .
Dynamic energy management
While the vehicle is being dr iven, dynamic energy management
dis tributes the energy gene rated a ccording to the needs o f the in d i­
vidua l compo nen ts. It regulates consumpt io n, so that more electr ica l
energy is no t be ing use d th an is being gene ra ted and ensures an
op timal state of charge for the battery .
(I) Tips
• But even energy ma nagement cannot negate the limits o f phys ics .
Consider that t he power and life o f a battery are limited.
• If starting ab ility is threatened, yo u are informed by a warn ing
~ page 264, "D river notification i n the instrument cluste r display" .
What you should know
The high est priorit y is g iv e n to maintaining starting capa­
bility .
The b att ery i s seve rely t axed in short -dist ance d riving, in city t raffic
and dur ing the cold time of year . Ab undant electr ica l energy is
re quir ed, bu t on ly a li ttle is generate d. It is also crit ical if t he engine
is not run ning and electr ica l compone nts ar e turn ed on. In this
instance energy is being cons umed but none is being ge ne rated.
It is i n pre cise ly these s itu ations t hat yo u will notice energy m anage­
ment act ive ly regulat ing the d istribut ion of ene rgy .
Vehicle stands for an extended period
If yo u do not drive your ve hicle over a period of several days or wee ks,
elect rical compo nents are g radually cut bac k or switched off. This
red uces ene rgy cons umption and ma inta ins start ing capability ove r a
l o nger pe riod.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
----------------------------------------------'
Driving and environment
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km)
and afterwards
New engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first 1,0 00 miles
(1,50 0 km) .
For the first 600 miles (1,000 kilometers):
- Do not use fu ll thrott le .
- Do not drive at engine speeds that are more than 2/3 of
the maximum permitted RPM .
From 600 to 1,000 miles (1 ,000 to 1 ,500
kilometers):
- Speeds can
gradually be increased to the maxim um
perm iss ible road or engine s peed .
During and after break-in period
- Do no t rev the eng ine up to high speeds when it is co ld.
T h is app lies w hether th e t ransmission is in N ( Neutral) o r
1 n gear .
After the break-in period - Do not exceed maximum engine speed under any circum ­
stances.
- U pshift i nto the nex t higher gear
before reach ing t he red
area at t he end of the tachometer scale==>
page 10.
Dur ing the first few hours of driving, the engine's interna l friction is
hig her than later w hen all the moving pa rts have been broken in. How
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation we
ll th is b reak-in p rocess is done depends to a cons iderab le extent on
the way the veh icle is d riven dur ing the f irst 1,000 miles (1,500 kilo­
meters).
0 Note
E x tremely high e ngine speeds are automatic ally reduced. However,
these rpm limits are programmed for an engine well run- in, not a new
engi ne.
~ For the sake of the environment
Do no t dr ive with u nnecess arily hig h engine speeds -upshift ing early
saves f uel, reduces noise and protects the environme nt.•
New tires
If y our veh icle is run nin g on n ew tir es, dr ive parti cula rl y
carefu l for the fi rst 35 0 mil es (500 kil ometer s) af ter fit ting.
& WARNING
New tires tend to be slippery and must also be "broken -in ". Be
sure to remember this dur ing the first 350 miles (500 kilome ­
ter s) . Brake gently. Avoid following closely behind other vehicles
or other situations that might require sudden, hard braking.
u
New brake pads
Remember tha t new brak e pa ds d o no t hav e a fu ll braki ng
eff ect d uri ng the first 250 mi les (400 k ilomet ers) after they
are i nsta lled.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
New brake pads have to be "burnished in" before they have optimal
grab ~& .
Dur ing the break-in period, you should avoid putting severe loads on
the bra kes. Severe loads incl ude, for example, sudden hard braking,
in part icu lar at very high speeds or, for examp le, on mountain passes .
& WARNING
New brake pads don't have the be st stopping power and must be
" b roken-in " du ring the initial 100 to 150 miles (150 to 200 kilo­
meters ) of normal city driving . You can compensate for this by
pressing the brake pedal more firml y. This also applies later when
new pad s are installed.
'1
Ap plies to veh icles : w it h gasoline eng ine
Catalyt·c converter
It is very important tha t your emission con trol system
(catalytic c onverte r) is f unctioning properly to ensure
that your vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
- Always use lead-free gasoline~ page 291, "Gasoline" .
- Never ru n the tan k down a ll the way to empty .
- Nev er put to o mu ch mot or oil in y our engin e~
pag e 306,
"Add ing engin e oil~" -
- Neve r try to push -or tow-start yo ur vehicle .
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up" dev ice built into the
exhaust system of the ve hicle. The catalytic converter burns many of
the pollutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere. The exclusive
use of unleaded fuel is critically important for the life of
t he c atal ytic converte r and proper f unct ion in g of t he engi ne.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot
e x haust system may come in contact with dry grass , brush , fuel
s pill or other material whi ch can cau se a fire.
• Do not apply additional undercoating or rustp roofing on or
near the exhau st manifold, exhaust pipe s, catalytic converter or
heat shields. During driving , the substance used for undercoating
c ould overheat and cau se a fire .
0 Note
• Be aware th at just one tank fi lling wit h le aded fu el w ill alre ady
ser iously degrade the performance of the catalytic co nverter.
• Do not excee d the correct engine oil leve l~
page 306.
• Do not drive unti l the f uel tank becomes complete ly empty . The
eng ine could misfire. Unbu rned fuel could also ge t into the exha ust
system and th is could cause the catalytic converter to overheat.
• Do not tu rn off the igni tion whi le the veh icle is moving .
• Do not contin ue to operate your vehicle under these conditions, as
o therwise fuel can reach the cata lytic converter . This could result in
overheating of the converte r, requiring its rep lacement.
• To assu re eff icient operat ion of the Emission Co ntrol System:
- Have yo ur vehicle main taine d pr operly and in a ccordan ce wi th
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet .
- Lack of p roper maintenance as well as improper use of the
veh icle w ill imp air the f unction of the emiss io n con trol syste m and
could lead to damage. ..

• Driving and environment
------------------------------------------------'
ffi For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a sulfur-like exhaust gas smell under some
operat ing states. This depends on the sulfur content of the fue l being
used. Using a different brand of fuel may help, or filling the tank with
lead-free supe r grade gasoline. •
Applies to vehicles: with d iesel engine
Diesel particulate filter
The diesel particulate filter filters nearly all of the soot particles out
of the exhaust. The filter cleans itself automatica lly under norma l
driving conditions. If the filter cannot clean itself (for example,
because you are only driving short distances), the fi lter becomes
clogged with soot and the symbol for the diesel particulate filter
illuminates ~
page 40.
& WARNING
• Do not park your vehicle over flammable materials such as
grass or leaves because the high temperature of the diesel partic­
ulate filter could start a fire.
• Do not apply an underbody protectant in the exhaust system
area or a fire could start. •
Avoid damaging the vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps, etc.,
make certain that low-lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust system
parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
Thi s is espec ially true for vehicles with low-slung chassis (sports
chassis)" and fully loaded vehicles. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Your personal
style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear on your engine,
brakes and tires largely depend on three factors:
• your personal dr iv ing style
• operating conditions
• technical limitations
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economically,
you can easily cut your fuel consumption by 10-15 percent. This
section will give you some tips on how you can he lp the environment
and your pocketbook.
(I) Tips
The consumption est imates as published by ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre­
spond to your actual consumption on the road, which will vary
depending upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc.
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating.
-Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating . If you antici­
pate what is going to happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, accelerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possible - for
example when you see that the next traffic light is red. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
-Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed.
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and does
not disturb the environment.
Fuel consumption , exhaust emiss ions and eng ine no ise increase
disproportionately at high speeds . If you drive at approximately three
quarte rs of top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by one ha lf.
Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather condi­
tions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the engine 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 railroad 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 aga in.
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is running
at idle . However, wea r and noxious emiss ions 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
ove rheating or other damage to the vehicle or other property. •
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel .
-Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serv iced by an authorized Aud i dealer
helps to ensure that it runs properly and economically. The condition
of your vehicle not only affects its safety and ability to hold its value,
it a lso affects
fuel consumption.
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
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 value after a certain mileage has been d riven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) befo re you can properly assess oi l consumption.
This also app lies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your veh icle ma inta ined properly and in accordance w ith the
service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet.
Lack of proper maintenance as well as im proper use of the vehicle will
impair the function of the emission control system and could lead to
damage .
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Control
System un less approved by the manufacturer. ._

Driving and environment
------------------------------------------------'
• Do not alter or remove any device, such as heat shields, switches,
ign ition w ires, valves, which are designed to protect your vehicle 's
Emission Control System and other important vehicle components. •
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short distances with a cold engine.
The engine and catalytic converter have to reach their optima l oper­
ating temperature
to reduce fuel consumption and noxious emis­
sions effectively.
Just after starting, a cold engine in a mid-size car only achieves a fuel economy of 6-8 miles per gallon (30-40 l/l00km). After about a half
a mile, fuel economy climbs to 12 mpg (20 l/100 km) . After about
2.5 mi les (4 km), the engine is at its proper operating temperature
and fue l economy has reached a normal level. So you can see that you
should avoid short trips whenever possible.
Th e
outside temperature is also critical in this regard. Your car
consumes more fuel in the winter than in the summer. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving off road
------------------------------------------------------'
vary. It is the driver's responsibility to decide whether a vehicle can
overcome a specific situation
=> &-
Gradient angle
The number of meters in altitude gained over a distance of 109 .4
yards or 100 meters (grade) are given as a percentage or degrees.
Information about the gradient the vehicle can climb under its own
power (depends in part on the road surface and engine power).
Maximum permitted grade: 31
°
Lateral angle (slope of vehicle)
Indicates the angle up to which the vehicl e can be driven diagonally
or across the fall line on a slope without the vehicle tipping over s ide­
ways (depends on center of gravity). Maximum permitted late ral
angle: 35°
Breakover angle
Indicates the angle up to which the vehicle can dr ive over a ramp at
low speed without the underside of the vehicle hitting the edge of the
ramp.
• Vehicles without air springs: maximum breakove r angle: 21, 1 °
• Vehicles with adaptive air suspension*: maximum breakover
ang le: 23.8° (at high level 2)
Approach /departure angle
Transition from the horizontal plane to a gradient or from a grade
back to level ground. Indicates the angle up to which the vehicle can
drive onto or off a slope at low speed without striking the bumper or
the underbody.
• Vehicles without air springs: maximum approach/departure
ang le: 21.0° (front), 23.4° (rear)
• Vehicles with adaptive air suspension*: maximum
approach/departure angle at high level 2: (front) 23,5°, (rear) 25 .4°
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Ground clearance
Th
e distance between the road surface and the lowest point of the
vehicle underbody.
• Vehicles without air springs: ground clearance: 8.1 in
(204 .8 mm)
• Vehicles with adaptive air suspension*: maximum ground clear­
ance: 9.4 in (239.8 mm) at high leve l 2
& WARNING
Exceeding the stated maximum figures can result in severe inju­
ries or vehicle damage.
• All the information was gathered on level, firm and non-slip­
pery road surfaces, and under dry weather conditions.
• Ideal conditions do not prevail offroad. Never utilize the
maximum readings to their fullest, always leave a safety
reserve.
u
Driving tips
On poor road and off road, there is always only one
motto: Plan ahead and drive slowly!
Please observe the following when driving away from paved
roads:
- Drive only on roads and offroad sections which match the
design of your vehicle and your abilities as a driver. Never
take risks!
- Drive slowly and plan ahead!
- Take into consideration the
ground clearance of your
vehicle .
- Activate the
ESP offroad mode~ page 256 as needed.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information Your Audi was design ed primarily for passenger transpor ­
tation .
If you plan to tow a t rai ler, p lease rem emb er that the add itiona l load
wi ll affect durab ility, economy and performance.
T railer tow ing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it a lso calls
for more concentrat ion from the driver.
For this reason, a lways follow the ope rating and dr iv ing instr uctions
prov ided and use common sense .
(D Note
If you are going to tow a t ra iler , you must ac tivate the tra ile r ope ra­
tion mode ::::;,
page 182, "Towing a trailer". •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we igh t-car rying hit ch confo rm ing to the g ross tra ile r weig ht.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and tra iler and must be
mou nted secure ly o n th e veh icle's chassis a t a
te chnically sound loca­
tion. Use only a trailer hitch with a removab le ba ll mount. Always
check w ith the tra iler h itch manufacturer to ma ke sure tha t you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hitch .
The hitch must be i nstalled in such a way t hat i t does not interfe re
w ith the impact-absorbing bumper system. No mod ificat ions should
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
be made to the vehicle exhaust and b
rake systems. From time to
time, check that all hitc h mounting bo lts rema in securely fastened.
Whe n you are no t towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hi tch ba ll
mount. This prevents the hitch from caus ing damage should your
vehicle be s truck from behind::::;,& .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer i s eq uipped w ith a b raking system, che ck to be s ure that
it conforms to all regulat ions.
T he tra iler hyd raulic brake system must not be directly connected to
the vehi cle's hydraul ic brake system ::::;, & .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains betwee n your vehicle and t he tra iler .
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulat ions. Be sure to check w ith your
au thor ized A udi deale r for co rrect wi ring, switc hes, and re lays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see the traff ic beh ind you us ing t he regular
outside m irro rs, then you
must install extended mirro rs. It is impor­
t an t th at yo u
always have cle ar vision to the re a r.
& WARNING
• If a trailer has electrical brakes please note that these brakes
are not activated by the factory-fitted control unit -ri sk of acci ·
dent!
• Afte r 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

pressure label is located o n the dr iver's side B-pillar. Inflate trailer
t ires to tra ile r and t ire ma nufacturers' spec ifications.
Lights
T he headl ight settings shou ld be chec ked with the tr ailer attached
before driving off. Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights
are wo rking properly.
Safety chains
Be sure tra ile r safety cha ins are p roperly connected from the t rai ler
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to perm it
tu rning corners . When you install sa fe ty ch ains, ma ke sure they will
not drag on the road when you are driving.
T he chains should cross under the trai ler tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the h itch .
0 Note
If you are goi ng to tow a trai ler , you must activate the trai ler opera­
tion mode =>
page 182, "Towing a trailer". •
Driving instructior,s
Driving with a trailer always requires e xtra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possib le handling of ve hicle a nd trailer ,
please note the following :
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especia lly careful when pass ing other vehicles .
- Observe speed limi ts.
- Do not drive at the maximum pe rmissible speed.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
- Always apply brakes early.
- Mo
nitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distri but ion
T owing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly unstable
distribution of we ight . If t his 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 veh icle shou ld be loaded to the extent poss ible and permissib le,
wh ile keeping the tra ile r as lig ht as poss ible unde r the ci rc u mstances.
Whe never possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage compart ­
me nt o f the tow vehicle while observing tongue load requirements
and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more d ifficult it becomes for the driver to
control the r ig . Do not dr ive at the maxim um permiss ible speed .
Reduce your speed eve n more if load, weather or w ind conditions are
unfavorable -particular ly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immed iately if the tra ile r shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not tr y to stop the s wayi ng by a ccele rating .
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for veh icles towing
trailers are lowe r than for regular veh icles .
Always apply brakes early. When driving downhi ll, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine brak ing effect to slow t he ve hicle . Use of the
brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fa il.
Coolant temperatur e
The coo lant temperature gauge=> page 10 must be observed care­
fu lly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the sca le, reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coo lant temperature warning light in the instrument clus ter
starts flash ing
- F- , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent hea t buil d-up.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data