2008 AUDI S6 ESP

Safety first ........ ... ... .. .
Driving Safely ................. .
General notes ... .............. .
Proper occupant seating positions Peda l area ... ..... ....... .... . .
Sto\Ning luggage . .... .... .... . .
Reporting safety defects ....... .
Safety belts .......... ....... .. .
Genera l notes ...... ........... .
W hy safety belts? ............. .
Safety belts ............. ... .. .
Safety belt tensioners . ....• .. ..
Airbag system ........... ... .. .
Important things to kno\N ...... .
Front airbags . ... ... .......... .
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System ... .. ... .... ..... ..... .
Side airbags .......... ... ... .. .
Side curta in airbags (SIDEGUARD™l
Child Safety ................... .
191
192
192
194
198
199
201
202
202
203
206
210
212
212
216
223
228
231
234
Important things to kno\N . . . . . . . 234
Child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Install ing a ch ild safety seat . . . . . 244
Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . 247
Lo\Ner anchorages and tether for
children (LA TCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
249
Vehicle operation . . . . . . . . 257
Intelligent technology . . . . . . . . . . 258
Notice about data recorded by
vehicle contro l modules . . . . . . . . .
258
Elect ronic Stabilizat ion Program
!ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
258
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Servotronic® -advanced po\Ner
steer ing system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
263
Driv ing \Nith your quattro® . . . . . . 264
Energy management . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Driving and environment . . . . . . . 267
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and
after\Nards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
267
Cata lytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Avoid damaging the vehicle . . . . . 269
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution . . . . . . . . . .
269
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Driv ing \Nith a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Trai ler to\Ning tips . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 274
Table of contents
Vehicle care ....... ... ... ... 277
Cleaning and protection ........ 278
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Care of exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Care of inte rior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Fuel supply and filling your fuel
tank ... .... ... .... ... .. .... ... .. 291
Gasoline . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 291
Fuel tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Checking and filling . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Engine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Engine cooling syste1T1 . . . . . . . . . .
303
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Windshield/headlight \Nasher
containe r .... .... .. ... .. .... ... 312
Tires and wheels ............... 313
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

About this Own er's M anu al
About this Owner's Manual
This owner's manual contains important information, tips, sugges­
tions, and warnings for the use of your vehicle.
Make sure that this owner's manual is always located in the vehicle .
This is especial ly important if you allow other people to drive the
veh ic le, or if you sell it.
This owner's manua l describes the
equ ip m ent r an ge specified for
this model at the editorial deadline date. Some of the equipment
descr ibed here will only be availab le at a later date, or only in
specific markets.
Some sections in this owner's manual do not apply to all veh icles.
In that case, the
range of appl icability is giv en at the beginning of
the section, e.g . "Appl ies to veh icles : with Audi Parking System". In
addition, optional equipment is indicated by an asterisk" *".
The deta ils in the
illu strations may be different from those in your
veh ic le, and are intended to be viewed as a bas ic guide .
You wil l find a
table of content s at the beginning of this book, which
displays all topics descr ibed in this manua l in order of appearance .
You wil l find an alphabetical
inde x at the end of this book.
All
dir ection s, such as "left", "right", "front", "back", are re lative to
the direction of trave l.
* optiona l equipment
.,. This section continues on the next page .
a Indicates the end of a section .
® Registered tradema rks are identified with a®. If this symbol is
m issing, it is no guarantee that the terms can be used freely.
=> &. Cross -reference to a "WARN ING! " within a section . For indi ­
cation with a page number, the corresponding "WARN ING!" can be
found outside of the section .
& WARNING
Text w ith thi s symbol cont ains impo rtant inform ation on saf ety
and how to reduce the ri sk of personal injury or death .
0 Note
Text with this symbol draws your attention to potent ial sources of
damage to your veh ic le.
W For th e sake of the environment
Text with this symbol contains in fo rmation about the environment
and how you can he lp protect it.
[ i ] Tips
Text with this symbol contains specia l tips and other information
about getting the most out of your vehicle and i ts features .•

Instruments and controls
General illustration
G)
0
©
©
©
©
0
©
Power window switches .. ...... .... ... .. ...... . .
Door handle
Memory buttons (driver's seat)
Power locking switch ................ .......... .
Adjuster control for outside mirrors .. .... .. .. ... . .
Air outlets ..... .. .. . ... .... .... .. . ..... ... .... .
Light switch ...... ....... .. .... .... .... .... ... .
Control lever for :
- Turn signal and high b eam .......... ...... ... .
- Lane assist .... .... ... .... .... .... ... .... ... .
G) Control lever for:
-Cruise control .... ... .. .. ... ... .. .... .... ... .
- Adaptive Cruise Contro l .. .. .... .... .......... .
@ Multifunction steering wheel with:
- Horn 63
91
56
83
118
70
74
150
132
135
- Driver's airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
- Shift buttons ..................... ... .... .... 158, 165
- Button for steering wheel hea ting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
@ Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
@ Switches for
@
@
-Windshield wiper /washer ....... .... .... ... ... .
- Trip computer ..... .. .... .... ...... ....... .. .
St eering lock/ignition /starter sw itch
Buttons for
Reset button for trip odometer ... .. .... .... ... .
- !CHECK] .. ... ... ..... ...... ........ ... .. ... .
78
40
124
15
16
- Instrument lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and controls
@ MMI Display
@ Depending on equipment , switches for:
- Elect ronic Stabilization Program (ESP)
- Emergency flashers .. ..... .... ... ... ... .... .. .
- Power sunshade ... ..... .... .... ... .... .. . ... .
- Valet key function . .... .... ..... ..... ... .. ... .
@ Buttons for
- Switching MMI display on/off
- Unlocking glove compartmen t
@ Glove compartment .. .... ... ... .. ..... ..... ... . .
@ Front passenger's a irbag ...... .... .... ... ..... . .
@ Climate controls .... . ... .... ... .. .... .... ...... .
@ Ashtray ... .. .... ................... .... ...... .
@ Shift lever for automatic transmission
- 6-speed automatic transmission .... .... ..... .. .
I .
.
® -mu t1trornc ... .. ... .... ... .... .... ... .. .. .. .
@ MMI Terminal
@ Storage with cupholder ... ..... .. .... .... ... .. .. .
@ Elec tromechanical parking brake ......... .. ...... .
@ ISTART ]-~STOP ] button .. ... .... .... .... .... ... .
@ Adjustable steering wheel, depending on equipment:
- mechanical .. .... .. .... ... .... .... .... .. .. .. .
- electrica l ... ...... ... .... ...... ...... .... ... .
@ Data Link Connector for On Board Diagnostics (OBD II)
@ Hood release ... .. .... ... .. .. .... .... .... .. . ... .
@ Switch for
- unlocking the fuel filler door ... ..... ... .... ... .
- unlocking the trunk lid ....... ...... .......... .
I • •
258
73
77
51
107
107
216
112
104
153
161
103
129
126
122
122
29
296
293
58 ...

- Press the"-" button to decrease the brightness during the
hours of darkness .
A light sensor in the instrument cluster controls the il luminat ion for
the instrument cluster, the center console and the displays. In a bright environment, using the buttons to change the brightness has
no effect.
[ i ] Tips
The illumination for the instrument cluster lights up whenever you
switch on the ignition with the vehicle head lights off. As the
daylight fades, the instrument cluster illumination likewise dims
automatically and wi ll go out comp lete ly 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. •
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
Instruments and warning /indicator lights
Warning /indicator lights
Overview
The warning/indicator lights indicate different functions
or a possible malfunction.
Fig. 7 Instrument cluster with warning/indicator lights
Your vehicle is equipped with severa l important warning and indi ­
cator lights to he lp you monitor the continued reliable operation of
your vehicle ::::;>& .
0
Electronic power control
Generator ::::;> page 19
=> page 79
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) => page 19
Vehicle care
I I Technical data

& WARNING (continued)
extreme caution when working under the hood => page 289,
"Engine compartment".
[ i ) Tips
Many functions are monitored by the Auto -Check system
=>
page 30. Malfunctions or faults wil l be identified either with a red
symbo l (pr ior ity 1 -Danger!) or with a yellow symbol (priority 2 -
Warning). •
Electronic power control r
This warning/indicator light monitors the electronic
power control.
The warning/indicator light (E lectronic Power Control) illumi -
nates when you turn on the ignition as a function check.
[ i ) Tips
If this warning/indicator light illuminates while you are driving, then
there is a malfunction in the engine electronics . Have the malfunc ­
tion corrected as soon as possible by your authorized Audi dealer or
qualified repair faci lity .•
Generator 0
This warning/indicator light detects a malfunction in the
generator or in the vehicle's electrical system.
The d warning/indicator light illuminates when you switch on the
ign ition and mus t go out after the engine has started .
If the
d warning/indicator light illuminates while you are driving,
you shou ld contact your authorized Audi dealer. Since the vehicle
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and warning /indi cator lights
battery is discharging, you shou ld switch off any unnecessary elec ­
trical consumers (for examp le, the air conditioner).
0 Note
If the _f_ warning/indicator light (malfunction in the engine coo ling
system) in the instrument cluster shou ld illuminate=>
page 33, stop
the vehicle and turn off the engine . The water pump is not work ing
- this can cause engine damage. •
Electronic stabilization program (ESP)
This warning/indicator light monitors the electronic stabi ­
lization program.
The warning/indicator light has the following functions:
• I t blinks while you are driving when the ESP is working.
• It illuminates when you switch on the ignition for approximately
2 seconds as a function check.
• It il luminates when there is a malfunction in the ESP.
• It illuminates when ESP or ASR (Anti-S lip Regulation) is deacti­
vated .
• It illuminates if there is a malfunction in the ABS, since the ESP
is part of the ABS system.
If the battery terminals were disconnected and re-connected, the
vehicle was jump started or the battery is
very weak, the ESP sensor
system goes through a learning process for the first few yards. The
warning/indicator light i lluminates . The warning/indicator light
goes out as soon as the learning process is complete.
If the ESP warning/indicator light illuminates and stays on after you
have started the engine, this may mean that the control system has
te mporarily switched off the ESP. If this is case, you can reactivate
the ESP by turning the ignition off and then on again . The
warning/indicator light should go out to show that the system is
fully functional again.
~
I • •

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
For more information about the ESP=> page 258. •
Airbag system
~ (USA models) / !_q· (Canada models)
This warning/indicator light monitors the airbag and the
tensioner systems.
The I (USA mode ls) t!l (Canada models) warning light illuminates
for a few seconds each time you switch on the ignition .
If the m (USA models)
t!.! r (Canada models) warning light does not
go out, or if it illuminates while you are driving, or if it starts to blink,
then there is a malfunction somewhere in the system. If the light
does not illuminate when you switch on the ignition, this also
means there is a malfunction.
& WARNING
If you have a malfunction in the airbag system, contact your autho­
rized Audi dealer immediately. Otherwise the airbag or the belt
tensioner may not work properly in an accident . •
Tire pressure monitoring system -telltale
indicator lamp
J
The warning/indicator light appears in the event of a
significant loss of air pressure.
The i warning/indicator light il luminates for a few seconds after
the ignition is turned on as function check and then goes out.
If the .., symbol appears, pressure is too low in at least one tire.
When the system detects a malfunction, the warning/indicator light
wil l flash for approximately one minute and then remain continu­
ously illuminated . This sequence wi ll continue upon subsequent vehicle starts up as long as the malfunction exists. Contact your
authorized Audi dealer and have the malfunction corrected.
For more information =>
page 44. •
Turn signals ¢ ¢
The indicator light blinks when you use either turn signal.
Whenever you use the left¢ or the right¢ turn signal, the indicator
light blinks . When you use the emergency flashers, both indicator
lights flash.
If one of the turn signa l light bu lbs burn out, the turn signal wil l
blink twice as fast as normal. •
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) U
The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is part of the On-Board Diag­
nostic (08D Ill system . The symbo l lights up when the ignition is
turned on and will turn off after the engine has started and has
settled at a constant idle speed. This indicates that the MIL is
working properly.
The warning light il luminates when there is a malfunction in the
engine electronic system. Contact your authorized Audi dealer and
have the malfunction corrected.
An improperly closed fuel filler cap may also cause the MIL light to
illuminate
=> page 293 .
For more information => page 29. •

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
ately in order to prevent damage to the underbody. The two
warning/indicator lights flashing together points to an extreme Low
level. A very
pronounced lowering of the vehicle (extreme Low level)
can result, for example, from a heavy load. As soon as the level has
returned to normal , the warning/indicator lights stop flashing, and
you can drive away.
0 Note
If the warning/indicator light flashes in conjunction with the
warning/indicator light, you should not drive the vehicle because
low -lying vehicle parts can bottom out as you drive over uneven
ground and be damaged as a result.•
High beam ~D
The ~Dwarning/indicator light illuminates when the high beams are
on or when you use the headlight flasher. For more information
about using the high beams, see:::::,
page 74. •
Cruise control
CRUISE (USA models) lvf (Canada models)
The warning/indicator light illuminates when the cruise control is
activated. •
Anti-lock brake system (ABS )
, (USA models ) / (Canada models)
This warning/indicator light monitors the ABS and the
electronic differential lock (EDL).
The warning/indicator light will come on for a few seconds when the
ignition is switched on . The light will go out after an automatic
check sequence is completed.
There is a malfunction in the ABS when:
• The warning/indicator light does not illuminate when you switch
on the ignition .
• The warning/indicator light does not go out after a few seconds.
• The warning/indicator light illuminates while driving.
The brake system will still respond even without the assistance of
the ABS system. See your authorized Audi dealer as soon as
possible to restore full braking performance.
For more information
regarding the ABS=>
page 262.
The ABS warning light and the brake warning light come on
together. The ABS will not work and you will notice a change in
braking response and performance.
Malfunction in the brake system
If the brake warning light=> page 23 and the ABS warning illuminate
together there may be a malfunction in the ABS, and there may also
be a malfunction in the brake system itself=>& .
In the event of a
malfunction in the brake system the warning/indi ­
cator light
BRAKE (USA models)/ ((j) (Canada models) in the instrument
cluster flashes. By pressing the [
CHECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Please note =>
page 32.
Malfunction in the electronic differential lock (EDL)
The EDL works together with the ABS. The ABS warning light will
come on if there is a malfunction in the EDL system=>
page 259. See
your authorized Audi dealer as soon as possible.
& WARNING
• If the -. (USA models)/ ..,, (Canada models) warning light
does not go out, or if it comes on while driving, the ABS system is
not working properly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with
the standard brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protec­
tion ABS provides. Contact your Audi dealer as soon as possible. _,,

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
& WARNING (continued)
• Canada models: If the brake warning light «D> 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
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme­ diately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop .
Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• If the brake warning/indicator light does not go out after a few
seconds and the parking brake released, or lights up while you are
driving, the fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir is too low . If you
believe that it is safe to do so, proceed immediately at low speed
to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or qualified repair facility
and have the brake system inspected.
• Always keep in mind that after several brake applications, you
will need greater pressure on the brake pedal to stop your vehicle. Do not rely on strained brakes to respond with maximum stopping
power in critical situations. You must allow for increased braking
distances . The extra distance used up by fading brakes could lead
to an accident. •