2009 AUDI S6 trailer

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Adaptive Air Suspension
Adaptive Air Suspension and
Damping
A pplies to vehicles: wi th Adap tive Air Suspens ion
Description
Adaptive Air Suspension and damping can be regulated
and they adapt automatically to a request from the driver
and the driving situation at the time.
Adaptive Air Suspension is an electronically controlled springing
and damping system . This chassis system makes it easier on the
driver by adapting to the particular situation through imperceptible
control processes.
The
Adaptive Air Suspension component regulates ground clear ­
ance depending on vehicle speed, load condition and driver input.
When the system is in automatic mode, accelerating to a speed above a predetermined limit will make the vehicle lower itself. On
the other hand, driving more slowly results in the vehicle raising again at specific speeds.
The
damping component provides individual control of the
damping forces. For example, with damping characteristics set to
provide greater comfort, damping is set somewhat harder for a brief
period only as required, for example, when going around a curve or
over rough road surfaces as well as when braking.
Settings
Adaptive Air Suspension provides the driver with the opportunity to
set the chassis characteristics also to their individual preference.
With the driving modes
standard, automatic and dynamic the driver
has three chassis settings available, ranging from comfort to sporty .
In addition,
lift provides a fourth mode which can be selecting for
driving over poor stretches of road :::::,
page 185, "Chassis controls". The modes are set in
MMI:::::,
page 185.
& WARNING
The height of the parked vehicle can change due to temperature
fluctuations or changes in load.
0 Note
• Whenever you park your vehicle, always make sure there is
adequate clearance above and below the vehicle. The height of the parked vehicle can change as the result of temperature fluctuations,
changes in load condition and changes in the driving mode (ground
clearance!.
• If the vehicle is being transported (e.g. by tow truck, train, ship,
etc.) , mount the tie -down chains/cables over the running surface
(circumference) of the tires . Never secure the vehicle by the axle, the
suspension struts or the front or rear towline eye. For technical
reasons, the pressure in the suspension struts may change during
the transport, which could result in the vehicle no longer being
secured properly.
• To prevent damage to the vehicle underbody, remember that
your vehicle is not an off-road vehicle, even in the "lift" mode. The
ground clearance is insufficient for this type of operation.
• If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the trailer oper­
ation mode :::::,
page 186.
[ i] Tips
Before you raising your vehicle using the vehicle jack (for example,
when changing a flat tire) you must activate the jacking mode
=> page 186. •

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The ignition must be switched on to set the driving modes.
- Press the !CARI function button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears=>
page 185, fig. 189.
- Select the desired mode with the control knob.
Please note that not every driving mode can be selected in every
driving situation. For example, it is not possible to switch to "lift"
mode at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h). This mode is then shown
greyed out in the MMI display.
For additional information on the driving modes=>
page 185,
"Chassis controls". •
Applies to vehicles: with Adaptive Air Suspension
Jacking mode when changing a flat tire
This mode must be activated before raising the vehicle
with a vehicle jack.
Fig. 190 MMI display :
Activate jacking mode
Switching jacking mode on and off
-Press the (CAR] function button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears.
- Press the !SETUP) function button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears=> fig. 190. - Turn the control knob to
Vehicle jack mode and select on
or
off as required.
The vehicle jack mode must be activated before changing a wheel
so that the automatic control processes for the air suspension do
not make lifting with the vehicle jack more difficult.
[ i ] Tips
The vehicle jack mode is switched off automatically at speeds above
9 mph (15 km/h).•
Applies to vehicles: with Adaptive Air Suspension
Towing a trailer
Automatic lowering is not desirable when towing a trailer.
Fig. 191 MMI display:
Activate towing opera­
tion
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the trailer
towing mode.
Switching the trailer towing mode on and off
manually
- Pressthe!CARJfunction button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears.

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- Press the I SETUP I functio n button . The menu Ad aptiv e
Air
Su spen sion appears~ page 786, fig. 191.
- Select
Trailer towing mode on or off as requ ired .
Leve l A djus tment w he n t ow ing a tra il e r
• Before hitching up the trailer and before adjusting the tongue
weight at the trailer, the automatic or standard mode
mu st be
selected, so that the vehicle is at normal level=>
page 185, "Setting
the driving modes".
• If driving in dynamic mode is desired, this mode
mu st be
selected before hitching up the tra iler and before adjust ing the
tongue weight . However, note that your vehicle is lowered and
ground c learance is reduced .
• If you have to drive under difficult road conditions, you can
select lift mode after hitching up the trailer or after adjusting the
tongue weight .
Restri ctions when op erating wi th a trailer
When operating wi th a trailer, the lift mode can only be selected up
to about 25 mph (40 km/h) . The system automatically goes out of li ft
mode when speed exceeds about 31 mph (50 km/hl.
If the veh icle is in automatic, standard or lift mode before the tra iler
towing mode is activated, the dynamic mode cannot be activated.
I f the vehic le is in dynamic mode before towing operation is acti ­
vated, it can be driven in this mode. If the suspension is switched
from this mode to automatic mode, dynamic mode cannot be re ­
selected.
[ i ) Tips
If the trai ler towing mode has been activated, the vehicle will not
sink to the dynamic level if selected. •
Controls and equip­
ment I • •

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the additional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Trai ler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always fol low the operating and driving instructions
provided and use common sense.
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera­
tion mode =>
page 186, "Towing a trailer".
Technical requirements
Tra iler hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trailer weight .
The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and trailer and must be
mounted secure ly on the ve hicle's chass is at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check with the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make sure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch.
The hitch must be installed in such a way tha t it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications should be made to the vehic le exhaust and brake systems. From time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain securely
fastened.
When you are no
t towing a trailer, remove the traile r hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from behind=>& .
Traile r br akes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations .
The trai ler hydraulic brake system must no t be direct ly connected to
the vehicle's hydraulic brake system.
Safet y chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer light s
Trailer lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
Audi dealer for correc t wiring, sw itches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traf fic behind you using the regu lar
outside mirrors, then you
must install extended mirrors. It is impor­
tant that you
always have c lear vision to the rear.
& WARNING
After rem oving the tr aile r hitch , do not store it in your vehi cle. In
ca se of sudde n braking , the hit ch co uld fl y for ward and injure you
or your p asseng ers. a

Operating instructions
Max im um tra iler weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical class 1 or class 2
trailer.
T ra ile r l oa d di stributio n
Be sure the load in the trailer is he ld securely in place to prevent it
from shifting forward, backward or sideways .
Never allo w a passe nger to r ide in a tr aile r~ & in "Driving instruc­
tions" .
Engin e c oolin g sys te m
Towing a trailer makes the eng ine work harder. It is important that
the cooling system's performance is up to the additiona l load. Make
sure that the coo ling system has enough fluid .
Tire pr ess ure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the co ld tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the labe l located on the driver's
side B -pillar {visible when the door is open). Inflate trailer tires to
trailer and tire manufacturers' specifications .
Light s
The head light settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off . Check to make sure both vehicle and trai ler lights
are working properly.
Safe ty chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave e nough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you insta ll safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the r oad when you a re driving .
The chains should cross under the tra iler tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r t owing
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera­
tion mode ~
page 186, "Towing a trailer". •
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of veh icle and trailer,
please note t he following :
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
Be espec ia lly careful whe n passing other vehicles.
- Observe s peed l imits .
Do not drive at the maximum permiss ible speed .
Always apply brakes ear ly.
Moni tor t he temperature ga uge.
Weight distr ibution
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly
unstable distr ibution of weight. If this 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 vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and perm is ­
s ib le, while keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum ­
stances . Whenever possible, transfe r some cargo to t he luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle whi le observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considera tions . .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable -particularly when going downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
im med ia tel y if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to s top the swayi ng by accelerating.
Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving downhill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
C ool ant t emp era tur e
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 12 must be observed care­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing
- F- , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
A nyo ne n ot properly re str aine d in a moving vehi cle i s at a mu ch
g re ater ri sk in an accident . Never let any on e r ide in y our car who
is n ot pr operl y wea ring th e re stra ints pr ovided b y Audi . •
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you
l
oad your trailer and operate your r ig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely familiar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Back ing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer generally requires steering action opposite to that when backing up your vehic le without a tra iler.
Ma intain a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you nor mally wou ld because of the added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break -in period of your vehicle.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to the extra load=>
page 372. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot park on a slope with a trailer. If it cann ot be
avoi ded, do so only after d oing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. ._

Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
The correct tire pressure for the spare wheel is located on a label on
the driver's side 8 -pillar.
Because technical changes may be made to vehicle equipment
during the mode l year, always compare the tire size designation on
the tire pressure label on your vehicle with the tires on your vehicle.
Make sure that the tire size information on the vehicle label is the
same as the size of the tires on the vehicle. This is especially impor­
tant if the vehicle belongs to someone else or you bought the
vehic le with different rims/tires or you bought the vehicle as a previ ­
ously owned vehicle.
Remember, your safety and that of your passengers also depends
on making sure that load l imits are not exceeded. Vehicle load
includes everybody and everything in and on the vehicle . These load
limits are techn ically referred to as the vehicle's Gross Veh icle
Weight Rating ("GVWR"l. The Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR"l is
the maximum load that can be applied at each of the vehicle's two
axles. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating are listed on the safety compliance sticker label located on
the driver's side 8-pillar. The tire pressure label on your Audi lists
the maximum comb ined weight of all of the occupants and luggage
or other cargo that the vehicle can carry. For the location of the tire
pressure label =>
page 327, fig. 247.
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause loss of vehicle control, a crash or
other accident , serious personal injury, and even death .
• Carrying more weight than your vehicle was designed to carry
will prevent the vehicle from handling properly and increase the
risk of a loss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance.
• Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly
causing loss of control and a crash.
& WARNING (continued)
• Always make sure that the total load being transported -
including the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer -does not make the vehicle heavier than the
vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating .
& WARNING
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can lead to a
serious or fatal accident.
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation cause increased
tire wear and can affect the handling of the vehicle.
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehicle control. •
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the tires originally installed
on your vehicle is listed on the tire pressure label located
on driver's side 8-pillar.
The recommended tire pressures are on the tire pressure label and
in the table=>
page 327, "Cold tire inflation pressure". This means
that the pressure must be checked and adjusted when the tire has
not been driven for more than a couple of mi les (kilometers) at low
speeds during the previous three hours. Air in the tires expands
when the tire heats up as a result of internal friction as it flexes in
use. The tire pressure is higher when the tire has warmed up than
when it is "cold ."
It is the inflation pressure in a "cold" tire that counts. Therefore, you
should never let air out of a warm tire to match "Cold tire inf lation
pressure" recommendations=>
page 327. The tires wou ld then be
underinflated and could fail suddenly. .,_
Vehicle care I t •

Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
& WARNING (continu ed )
• The driver is respon sible for the correct tire pres sures for all
tire s on the vehicle . The applicable pre ssure values are located on
a sticker on the driver 's side B-pillar .
• Only when all tires on the veh icle are filled to the correct pre s­
sure , the tire pressure monitoring system can work correctly .
• The use of incorre ct t ire pressure values can lead to a ccidents
or other damage. Therefore it is essential that the driver observe
the specified tire pressure values for the tires and the correct pre s­
sures for the function of the tire pressure monitor ing system.
• Always inflate tires to the recommended and corre ct tire pres ­
sure before driving off.
• Driving with underinflated tires bend more , letting them get
too hot resulting in tread separation, sudden tire failure and loss
of control.
• Excessive speed and /overloading can cause heat build-up ,
sudden tire failure and loss of control.
• If the tire pre ssure is too low or too high, the tires will wear
prematurely and the vehicle will not handle well .
• If the tire is not flat and you do not have to change a wheel
immed iately , drive at reduced speed to the nearest service stat ion
to check the tire pres sure and add air as required.
0 Note
Dr iving w ithout valve s tem caps can cause damage to the t ire
valves . To prevent this, a lways make sure that factory installed valve
stem caps on a ll whee ls are securely mounted o n the va lve.
For the sake of the environment
Unde rin fla ted tires will a lso increase the f uel c onsump tion .•
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of load or weight that any vehic le and
any t ir e can carry. A veh icle that is overloaded w il l not handle wel l
and is more difficu lt to stop. Overloading can not only lead to loss
o f veh ic le control, but ca n also damage impor ta nt parts of the
vehic le and can lead to sudden tire failure, inc luding a blowout and
sudde n defla tion that can cause the vehic le to crash .
Your sa fety and that o f your passen gers also depends on mak ing
sure that load limits are not e xceeded. Vehicle load includes every ­
body and everythi ng in and on the veh ic le. T hese load lim its a re
technica lly referred to as the vehicle's
Gross Vehi cle We ight Rating
(" GVWR") .
T he "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehic le, all factory
insta lled acces so ries, a ful l ta nk of fuel, oil, coolant an d othe r flui ds
p lus maximum load. The maximum load inc ludes the number o f
p asse ngers that the vehicle is inte nded t o carry ("sea ting capacity")
w ith an assu med we ight o f 150 l bs (68 kg) fo r each passe nger at a
designated seating position and the total weight of any luggage in
t he vehicle. If you tow a trailer, the we ig ht o f the tra iler h itch an d th e
tongue weight of the loaded trailer must be included as part of the
ve hicle l oad.
The
Gross Axle Weight Rating !"GAWR") is t he maximum load that
can be applied a t each of the vehicle's two ax les.
The Gross Veh icle Weig ht Rating and t he G ross Axle Weig ht Rat ing
are listed on the safety comp liance sticker labe l located on the
d river 's s ide B -pi llar . Y o ur Au di h as 5 s eating positi ons, 2 i n the fro nt
and 3 in the rear for total seating capacity of 5 . Each seating position
has a safe ty bel t~
page 205, "Safe ty belts".
The fact that th ere is an upper limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating means that the total weight of whatever is being
carried in the vehic le (includ ing the we ight of a trai ler hitch and the
tong ue weight of the loaded trai ler) is limited. The more passengers
i n the v ehicle or pass engers wh o are heavie r than t he sta nd ard
we ights assumed mean that less weight can be ca rried as luggage . .,_
Vehicle care I t •