warning lights AUDI Q8 2021 Owner´s Manual

4M8012721BF
Lights and Vision

headlights are not switched on, the high beam
assistant will remain activated.

ZA WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 121.
— High beam assistant is only intended to as-
sist the driver. The driver is responsible for
controlling the high beam headlights and
adjusting them to match the lighting and
visibility conditions.
— High beams can cause glare for other driv-
ers, which increases the risk of an accident.
For this reason, only use the high beams or
the headlight flasher when they will not cre-
ate glare for other drivers.
G@) Tips
Adhere to any local applicable regulations
when using the lighting equipment, for exam-
ple in regard to reducing glare for other driv-
ers. The driver is always responsible for adher-
ing to the regulations applicable in the coun-
try where the vehicle is being operated.
Adjusting the exterior lighting
You can adjust the exterior lighting separately.
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.

» Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Light & Visibility > Exterior light-
ing.
Automatic headlights
You can adjust the following settings in the Auto-
matic
headlights menu:
Activation time - You can adjust if the headlights
switch on Early, Medium, or Late based on the
sensitivity of the light sensor.
High beam assistant - You can switch the high
beam assistant on and off.
Entry/exit lighting
The Entry/exit lighting illuminates the area
around the vehicle when the vehicle is unlocked
or when the driver’s door is opened while the ig-

nition is off. The entry/exit lighting works when it
is dark and when the AUTO light function is
switched on. The front and rear daytime running
lights* switch on automatically each time the ve-
hicle is unlocked regardless of how bright it is
outside the vehicle.
Daytime running lights
USA models: The daytime running lights can be
switched on and off.
Canada models: The daytime running lights can-
not be switched off. The lights activate automati-
cally each time the ignition is switched on.
Emergency flashers
SI S|
IF) | |
cc|

Fig. 35 Center console: emergency flashers
The emergency flashers help to make other driv-
ers aware of your vehicle in dangerous situations.
> Press the A @ button to switch the emergency
flashers on or off.
When the emergency flashers are turned on, the
a and By indicator lights will flash at the same
time.
You can indicate a lane change or a turn when the
emergency flashers are switched on by using the
turn signal lever. The emergency flashers stop
temporarily.
The emergency flashers also work when the igni-
tion is turned off.
G) Tips
You should switch the emergency flashers on
ite
53

Lights and Vision


ZA\ WARNING
Curved mirror surfaces (for example convex)
enlarge the field of vision. However, they
make objects in the mirror appear smaller and
farther away. When using these mirrors to es-
timate your distance to vehicles behind you
when changing lanes, you could estimate in-
correctly, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.
@) Note
— Applies to: vehicles with power folding exte-
rior mirrors: If the mirror housing was
moved by outside forces (such as an impact
when maneuvering), you must use the pow-
er folding function to fold the mirror all the
way out. The mirrors will make a loud noise
when they latch into place. The mirror hous-
ing must not be moved back into place by
hand because this could impair the function
of the mirror mechanism.
— Applies to: vehicles without power folding
exterior mirrors: If the mirror housing was
moved by outside forces (such as an impact
when maneuvering), you must move it back
in place by hand.
— If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Never fold power folding exterior mirrors*
by hand. Only fold them in and out using
the power controls.
G) Tips
If the power adjusting function malfunctions,
the glass in both mirrors can be adjusted by
pressing on the edge of it by hand.
Dimming the mirrors
Automatic dimming rearview mirror
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors


> The interior and exterior mirrors dim automati-
cally when light shines on them, for example
from headlights on a vehicle behind you.
56

ZA WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
—If the glass on an automatic dimming mirror
breaks, electrolyte can leak out. This liquid
can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory
system. If there is contact with the fluid,
flush immediately with plenty of water. Con-
sult a physician if necessary.
— Repeated or long-term exposure to electro-
lyte fluid can lead to irritation of the air-
ways, especially in people with asthma or
other respiratory conditions. Take deep
breaths immediately after leaving the vehi-
cle or, if this is not possible, open all of the
doors and windows as wide as possible.
— If electrolyte fluid comes into contact with
the eyes, flush them thoroughly with plenty
of clean water for at least 15 minutes and
then seek medical attention.
— If electrolyte fluid comes into contact with
the skin, flush the affected area with clean
water for at least 15 minutes, and then
clean with soap and water and seek medical
attention. Clean affected clothing and shoes
thoroughly before wearing again.
— If the fluid was swallowed and the person is
conscious, flush the mouth with water for at
least 15 minutes. Do not induce vomiting
unless this is recommended by medical pro-
fessionals. Seek medical attention immedi-
ately.

@) Note
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
If the glass on an automatic dimming mirror
breaks, electrolyte can leak out. This liquid
damages plastic surfaces and paint. Clean
this liquid as quickly as possible, for example
with a wet sponge.
G) Tips
Applies to: vehicles with automatic dimming mirrors
— If the light reaching the rearview mirror is
obstructed, the automatic dimming mirror
will not function correctly,

Lights and Vision

© Clean the windshield &. The number of wipes
and afterwipes depends on how long the lever is
held in position ©).
The wipers wipe one time after several seconds of
driving to remove water droplets. You can switch
this function off by moving the lever to position
© within ten seconds of the afterwipe. The after-
wipe function is reactivated the next time you
switch the ignition on.
If you hold the lever in position ©) for longer
than half a second, the edge wiping feature will
be activated. This moves the windshield wipers
closer to the edge of the windshield and per-
forms an afterwipe to clean the residue that re-
sults from the wiping process from the edge of
the windshield. The function is available when
driving at speeds up to 75 mph (120 km/h).
The headlight washer system* operates only
when the low beam headlights are on. If you
move the lever to position ©), the headlights and
the night vision assist camera* are cleaned at in-
tervals.
@ Wipe the rear window SJ. The number of
wipes depends on the windshield wiper move-
ment.
The rear wiper automatically switches on when
the reverse gear is selected and the front wind-
shield wipers are on and running.
Clean the rear window &. The number of
wipes depends on how long the lever is held in
position (8). This may also clean the rearview
camera, depending on the vehicle equipment.

— Properly functioning windshield wiper
blades are required for a clear view and safe
driving > page 58, Cleaning/changing wip-
er blades.



Z\ WARNING
— The rain sensor is only intended to assist the
driver. The driver may still be responsible for
manually switching the wipers on based on
visibility
conditions.
— The windshield must not be treated with
water-repelling windshield coating agents.
Under unfavorable conditions, such as wet-
ness, darkness, and when the sun is low,
these coatings can cause increased glare,
which increases the risk of an accident. They
can also cause wiper blade chatter.

58
@) Note
— If there is frost, make sure the windshield
wiper blades are not frozen to the wind-
shield. Switching on the windshield wipers
when the blades are frozen to the wind-
shield can damage the wiper blades.
— Prior to using a car wash, the windshield
wiper system must be switched off (lever in
position @). This prevents the wipers from
switching on unintentionally and causing
damage to the windshield wiper system.
@ Tips
— The windshield wipers switch off when the
ignition is switched off. You can activate the
windshield wipers after the ignition is
switched on again by moving the windshield
wiper lever to any position. The single wipe
function (lever in position @) also functions
when the ignition is switched off.
— Worn or dirty windshield wiper blades result
in streaking. This can affect the rain sensor
function. Check your windshield wiper
blades regularly.
— The washer fluid nozzles for the windshield
washer system are heated when the ignition
is on if the outside temperature is low.
— When stopping temporarily, such as at a
traffic light, the speed of the windshield
wipers automatically reduces by one level.
Cleaning/changing wiper blades


oO a S °
=
J 3
@—*s
Fig. 43 Windshield wipers: changing the wiper blades >

4M8012721BF
Lights and Vision

Wiper blade replacement position
> Switch off the ignition and hold the windshield
wiper lever in position @) > page 57, fig. 41 un-
til the windshield wiper moves into the wiper
blade replacement position.
> To bring the windshield wipers into the normal
position, switch the ignition on and hold the
windshield wiper lever in position @ until the
windshield wipers go back to the original posi-
tion, or drive faster than 8 mph (12 km/h).
You can also turn the wiper blade replacement
position on or off in the MMI:
> Switch the windshield wipers off (position @
=> page 57, fig. 41).
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Wiper change po-
sition.
Cleaning the wiper blades
Requirement: the windshield wipers must be in
the wiper blade replacement position.
> Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
> For information on cleaning, see > table on
page 281.
Replacing the wiper blades
Requirement: the windshield wipers must be in
the wiper blade replacement position.
> Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
> Press the locking knob (@) on the wiper blade.
Hold the wiper blade firmly.
> Remove the wiper blade from the windshield
wiper arm mount Q).
> Insert the new wiper blade into the mount on
the wiper arm until it clicks into place.
> Place the wiper arm back on the windshield.
> Exit the wiper blade replacement position.

Z\ WARNING
— For safety reasons, the windshield wiper
blades should be replaced once or twice
each year.
— Dirty windshield wiper blades can impair vi-

sion, which increases the risk of an accident.

CG) Note
— The windshield wipers must only be lifted
up when in the wiper blade replacement po-
sition. Otherwise, you risk damaging the
paint on the hood or the windshield wiper
motor.
— You should not move your vehicle or press
the windshield wiper lever when the wiper
arms are folded up from the windshield. The
windshield wipers would move back into
their original position and could damage the
hood and windshield.
@) Tips
— You can also use the wiper blade replace-
ment position for other reasons, for exam-
ple if you want to protect the windshield
from icing by using a cover.
— You cannot activate the wiper blade replace-
ment position when the hood is open.
Cleaning/changing the rear wiper blade

[RAZ-0637


Fig. 44 Rear window wiper: installing the wiper blade
Cleaning the wiper blades
> Fold the wiper arm away from the rear window.
> For information on cleaning, see > table on
page 281.
Removing the wiper blade
> Fold the wiper arm away from the rear window.
> Remove the wiper blade from its holder.
Installing the wiper blade
> Press the wiper blade mount into the retainer.
> Fold the window wiper arm back onto the rear
window.
59
>

Lights and Vision


ZA\ WARNING
For safety reasons, the windshield wiper
blades should be replaced once or twice each
year.
Messages
If the & indicator light turns on, then there is a
windshield wiper malfunction. The message that
is also displayed indicates the cause and possible
solutions. If one of the messages does not turn
off, drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.


aS Automatic wipers: malfunction! See owner's
manual
The light/rain sensor is malfunctioning. You can
still control all functions that are not controlled
by the rain sensor using the windshield wiper lev-
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
Digital compass
Scare ma mel Rei mela
Applies to: vehicles with digital compass

BFV-0288


Fig. 45 Rearview mirror: digital compass is switched on
60
> To turn the compass on or off, press the button
@ until the compass display in the mirror turns
on or off.
The digital compass only works when the ignition
is turned on. The directions are indicated with ab-
breviations: N (north), NE (northeast), E (east),
SE (southeast), S (south), SW (southwest), W
(west), NW (northwest).
G) Tips
To prevent inaccurate compass readings, do
not bring any remote controls, electrical devi-
ces or metallic objects near the mirror.

4M8012721BF
Sitting correctly and safely

— The distance between your upper body and the
steering wheel or instrument panel is at least
10 inches (25 cm)
— The distance between your knees and the in-
strument panel is at least 4 inches (10 cm)
— Your thighs are lightly supported by the front
surface of the seat
— The backrest is in an upright position and your
back
is resting against it
— You have a sufficient view of the area around
the vehicle
— You have a clear view of the instrument cluster,
indicator lights, and the head-up display*
Seat settings menu: quick access
Applies to: vehicles with seat settings in the MMI
If you press on the image of the driver's or front
passenger's seat in the climate control system
menu & page 90, fig. 82 @, you will go directly
to the seat settings for that seat.

to use the pedals if sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers were needed, which increas-
es the risk of an accident.
— Make sure that the floor mats are always se-
curely attached.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, never place
additional floor mats or other floor covers
over the installed floor mats, because this
reduces the pedal's range of motion and can
impair pedal operation.
—To reduce the risk of injury, never place your
feet on the instrument panel, out of the
window, or on the seat surfaces. This also
applies to passengers in the rear seats.


ZA WARNING
— If you are too close to the steering wheel or
instrument panel, the airbag system cannot
provide the optimal protection, which in-
creases the risk of injury and death.
—To reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking maneuvers or accidents,
never drive with the backrest reclined very
far. The airbag system and seat belts can on-
ly provide optimal protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the driver
is wearing the seat belt correctly. If the
backrest is angled back too far, the safety
belt can shift to soft areas of the body, such
as the stomach, which increases the risk of
injury.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, only adjust
the seats when the vehicle is stationary.
— Be careful when adjusting the seat. Lack of
control or attention when adjusting can re-
sult in injuries due to pinching to vehicle oc-
cupants both in the front seats and rear
seats.
— Never place objects in the driver's footwell.
Objects could shift and enter the area
around the pedals, which could prevent you
from using them. You would then be unable

@) Note
To reduce the risk of damage, be very careful
when adjusting the seat to make sure the
head restraints do not come into contact with
the headliner or the sunroof*.
G@) Tips
At the same time, only move the respective
seat using the controls.


Adjusting the front power seats

[RAz-0172




Fig. 47 Front seat: seat adjustment buttons
You can adjust the basic settings using the but-
tons.
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Adjusting the seat position
> To move the seat forward or backward, push
the button @ forward or backward.
63

Sitting correctly and safely

rivets on clothing in the area where the safety
belt is worn. Otherwise, the safety belt could
be damaged.
Cm cele tL mre


B4H-0462

° Rg a 2
z| x oO

Fig. 59 Releasing the belt buckle from the belt latch
Observe the safety precautions > page 68.
Fastening the safety belt
> Pull the safety belt by the belt buckle evenly
across your chest and lap.
> Insert the belt buckle in the belt latch belong-
ing to the seat until it audibly engages
fig. 58.
> Pull on the belt to make sure that the belt is se-
curely locked in the latch.
Unfastening the safety belt
> Press the red button on the belt latch > fig. 59.
The belt buckle will pop out.
> Guide the belt back by hand so that the safety
belt can roll up more easily.
Safety belt monitoring system
eB - If the indicator light turns on or flashes, a
safety belt is not fastened or it has been unbuck-
70

led while driving. Above certain speeds, addition-
al warning tones will sound.
Depending on the equipment, the safety belts in
the rear may also be monitored using the follow-
ing indicator lights:
aI - If this indicator light turns on, the safety
belt for the corresponding rear seat is not fas-
tened.
Ba - If this indicator light turns on, the safety
belt for the rear seat has been fastened.
- If this indicator light turns on with a white
light, the safety belt for the rear seat has been
fastened. If the indicator light flashes or turns
gray, a safety belt in the rear is not fastened or
has been unfastened while the vehicle is in mo-
tion.
Adjusting the height of the safety belt



B4G-0004| Rp \.

Fig. 60 Belt height adjustment for the front seats - safety
belt relay
> To move the belt higher, slide the safety belt re-
lay @ upward.
> To move the belt lower, press the release but-
ton @ and slide the safety belt relay 2) down-
ward.
> To check if the safety belt relay is securely
locked in place, pull firmly on the belt.
lav
@) Tips
You can also adjust the height of the front
seats
to change the position of the safety
belts.

Driving

Ga / @ Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality. You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle against rolling > page 96.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the EG / @
indicator light turns on briefly to check the func-
tion. If the indicator light does not turn on, there
is a system malfunction.
1f EG / @ stays on, there is a malfunction in
the brake system.
©) - A high load was placed on the brakes from
driving downhill for a long period of time. Follow
the instructions in the message to utilize the en-
gine braking effect and to relieve the brakes.
Electromechanical
parking brake
Operating the parking brake
The electromechanical parking brake is used to
secure the vehicle from rolling away unintention-
ally.
The @) switch is located under the selector lever
in the center console. It turns on when the park-
ing brake is set. You can release the parking brake
manually or automatically when you start to
drive.
Setting and releasing the parking brake
> Setting: pull the ©) switch.
> 1f i ii ® appears, the parking brake is hold-
ing the vehicle. You can remove your foot from
the brake pedal.
> Releasing: when the ignition is switched on,
press and hold the brake pedal and press the
button.
If the red indicator light flashes, the braking
force has not built up enough or it has decreased.
You can also secure the vehicle by selecting the
“P” gear or pressing the brake pedal. Make sure
the indicator light is off before you start driving.
Automatically releasing the parking brake
when starting to drive
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed
and the driver’s safety belt must be fastened.
> Press the accelerator pedal to start to drive.

ZX WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.

106
ZA WARNING
—To reduce the risk of an accident, always
make sure the vehicle is situated safely
while stationary.
— If the parking brake is set, it can release au-
tomatically when the accelerator pedal is
pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,
do not inadvertently press the accelerator
pedal and always shift into “P” when the ve-
hicle is stopped.
— If the power supply fails, you cannot set the
parking brake once it is released, or release
it if it is set. Secure the vehicle against >

4M8012721BF
Driving

drive across raised areas of the ground with the
wheels on one side of the vehicle, instead of al-
lowing the center of the vehicle to pass over the
raised areas.
—To reduce the risk of becoming stuck, drive
through sandy or swampy areas at a steady
speed and without stopping, if possible.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* Offroad mode > page 111
— Hill hold assist* > page 109
—Inclinometer* > page 108
— Raising the vehicle > page 112
— Limit ESC > page 116

ZA WARNING
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the ve-
hicle and your driving ability.

@) For the sake of the environment
Avoid actions that are damaging to the envi-
ronment. Show respect for the natural envi-
ronment and remain on marked routes.
G) Tips
Clean your vehicle after driving offroad. Dirt
and stones falling off your vehicle can affect
other road users.
Driving through water
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA\ WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the
full braking effect will be restored.

@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
ers
@ Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
Hill descent assist
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist
The “@ button is located in the function bar on
the lower display. It lights up when the system is
turned on.
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “Z again.
Active regulation
Regulation begins shortly after you start driving
and is possible at speeds up to approximately 19
mph (30 km/h) and on hills that have an approxi-
mately 6-60% grade. If these conditions are met,
regulation will be activated and the 2a indicator
light will turn on.
Ready mode
If one of the requirements for active regulation is
not met, the system will be in ready mode. The
44 indicator light will turn on. Once the require-
ments are met again, the system will be able to
provide active regulation again.

109
>

4M8012721BF
Driving dynamic

console, in front of the selector lever. The ESC is
automatically switched on when the ignition is
switched on.
Limiting ESC
In some situations, it may make sense to limit
the stabilizing function of the ESC so that the
wheels can spin, for example to rock a vehicle to
free it when it is stuck or to drive with snow
chains. The ESC can also be limited to provide
more sporty driving characteristics with fewer
stabilizing corrective actions.
—To limit the ESC, press the 0 button briefly.
The B indicator light will turn on.
— To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
light turns off.
Depending on the Audi drive select mode that is
selected, one of the following ESC modes will be
selected automatically:
— sport - this mode is designed for driving ona
level surface. It is used in all Audi drive select
modes except offroad.
— offroad - this mode is suited for driving offroad
and is designed for uneven terrain or loose
ground. If you select the offroad Audi drive se-
lect mode, the offroad ESC mode will be auto-
matically used.
Switching off ESC
For a more active control of the vehicle where the
stabilizing functions of the ESC cannot intervene,
the ESC can be switched off.
— To switch off the ESC, press and hold the Sor
button for more than three seconds. The B
and Ea indicator lights turn on.
— To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
lights turn off.

ZA WARNING
— When the ESC is switched off or limited,
there will be no vehicle stabilization or it will
be limited. The driving wheels could spin
and the vehicle could swerve, especially on
slick or slippery road surfaces. When there is


a heavy vehicle load and sudden driving ma-
neuvers, it may not be possible to prevent
the vehicle from tipping under certain cir-
cumstances, which increases the risk of an
accident.
— Because of the increased risk of an accident,
only drive with the ESC switched off or Limit-
ed when it is necessary. Reactivate the ESC
as soon as possible.
@ Tips
— If you select the Audi drive select* offroad
mode, hill descent assist will switch on.
— If the ESC is limited, switched off, or mal-
functioning, systems with an automatic
braking intervention function may not be
fully available.
— If malfunctions occur in other systems or
certain driver assist systems are active, the
ESC must be switched on by the system. The
ESC
may switch on automatically and can-
not be operated with the button.
B is / B © Stabilization control (ESC/
ABS): malfunction! See owner's manual


There is a malfunction in the ABS or EDL. This al-
so causes the ESC to malfunction. The brakes still
function with their normal power, but ABS is not
active.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
Other indicator lights
iff blinks while driving, the ESC is actively reg-
ulating. Operating noises may occur. If the indi-
cator light stays on, the ESC has been switched
off due to system needs. The indicator light turns
off when the system is fully functional.
117