spindlewood

Every time I clean my car I wonder about this. What lurks beneath?

SYMAWD

To put the car in neutral when the battery is dead.

spindlewood

Thanks for this. Even with your description, it was hard to find in the manual. After some Googling, I found that it is listed under "Parking Lock Emergency Release" on page 90. Never knew this existed. So in reading, it looks like this serves a couple of functions.

The manual doesn't mention that this also puts the car in Neutral as a byproduct of releasing the parking lock. Is this correct?

The info also says "The parking lock must be released with the emergency release when driving through mountains/maneuvering." Never heard of this - what is this about?

Here's from the manual:
Parking lock emergency release The parking lock must be released with the emergency release when driving through mountains/maneuvering. The emergency release is located under the floor mat on the driver's side.

Releasing the parking lock using the emergency release

• To prevent the vehicle from rolling unintentionally, set the parking brake (page 80) or press the brake pedal.
• There are two slits on the cover. Position the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit i n one of the slits on the cover and pry the cover off .
• Insert the socket wrench (from the vehicle tool kit) into the opening (fig. 93).
• Turn the socket wrench all the way clockwise (1) and press it downward (2) until it locks into place.
• Leave the socket wrench inserted.

Resetting the parking lock

• Press the brake pedal and start the engine. Keep the brake pedal pressed and engage the following selector lever positions one after the other: "N", "D" and back to "N".
• Turn the engine off again.
• Grasp the socket wrench with both hands and pull it up and out carefully to remove.
• Install the cover.

When the parking lock emergency release is used, the (yellow gear type circle with exclamation) indicator light and the "N" selector lever position turn on in the instrument cluster. The message Danger of rolling away! P not possible. Please apply parking brake also appears.

WARNING

• Only activate the emergency release while on a level surface or a slight slope.
• The parking lock may only be released using the emergency release if the parking brake is set. If it is not functioning, secure the vehicle from rolling using the brake pedal or other suitable means, such as blocking a front and a rear wheel. An unsecured vehicle may roll away, which increases the risk of an accident.
• To reduce the risk of an accident, you must not drive when the emergency release is activated.

Note

• Read and follow the important instructions about towing ( page 365).
• The risk of damage increases if you do not remove the socket wrench carefully when resetting the parking lock.

SYMAWD

The mountain driving part is a typo. It's so that you can get your car on a tow truck when dead. However, if you have the parking brake set, you will still need power to take that off.

spindlewood

All makes sense now. Good reminder about the parking brake. Thanks.

Serious typo there. I guess it was supposed to say: "The parking lock must be released using the emergency release before towing the vehicle." At least this is what it said in some prior manual.

According to another post in the Q7 forum,
This is of course if the car is not on a flatbed tow truck - which is the only way you should tow this vehicle anyway. But it is good info anyway.

JonnyRotten

This is a great thread. Great information should you need to know where the parking lock is.
Thanks for starting this @spindlewood and thanks for the feedback @SYMAWD