2011 AUDI A6 instrument cluster

Driver m essages and yellow symbols
If a y ellow symbol appears in the display, a dr iver message is a lso
displayed automatically .
For example, the symbo l appears in the display, ind icating low
windshield washer flu id level. The following message also appea rs:
Please refill washer fluid
Th e d river message d isappears after a few seconds . The d rive r
message can be displayed again by briefly press ing the
I CHECK ]
button.•
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER.
-Pu ll off the road.
- Sto p the veh icle.
- Turn off t he eng ine.
Fi g. 1 7 Disp lay:
e ngine c oolan t le vel
warn in g { priority 1 )
- Check th e ma lfu nct ioning system . Contac t your au tho-
rized A ud i dea ler or a qualified works hop fo r assistance .
Red symbo ls indi ca te a pr io rit y 1 malfu nction - D ange r!
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Driver information display
With a prior
ity 1 malfunction , a large symbol appears i n the center
area of the display :::> fig . 1 7 . When the symbol app ears,
three
warning tones sound in s uccession . The symbol conti nues to bli nk
until the ma lfunction has been repaired.
If the re a re
more than one pr io rit y 1 ma lf u nctions, t he sy mbols
appear one after the other for about 2 seconds.
An addi tion al dr iver mes sage can also be displayed by b rie fly pressing
the [
CHECK ] button.
T he red symbols mean:
0
BRAKE

Al ternator malf unc tion
USA models:
Brake system malfunction
Canada models:
Bra ke system malfu nction
=:> page 2 6
=:> page 26
=:> page 26
Engine coolant level too I[:::> page 2 7
low/engine coolant temperature
too high
c:e::,, Engine oil press ure too low
Faulty steering
Faulty ignit ion sw itch
(I] Tips
=:> page 28
=:> page 28
=:> page 29
• If the wa rning/ind icator ligh t BRAKE (USA models)/ {(])) (Canada
mode ls) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a b rake system
ma lfunction . By p ress ing t he
I CHECK] button, yo u can br ing up a
dr iver message which exp la ins the ma lfunction in mo re deta il. Please
no te :::,
page 26. ~
Vehicle care Technical data

Driver info rmation d isplay
• Speed warnings threshold 1 B (USA models)/ 8 (Canada models)
and thresho ld 2
9, (USA mode ls)/ 8, (Canada models) are also shown
as red symbols . The warning is always shown as a small symbol in the
upper area of th e display ~
page 32. •
Alternator malfunction 0
If the D symbol in the instrument panel d isplay flashes, then there
is a malfunction in the alternator or the vehicle electronics . A warning
to the driver will appear, too. The driver warning goes out after about
5 seconds, but it can be brought up at any time by pressing the
[CHECK] button again .
Us ua lly, you can still drive to the next dea lership. Tu rn off all but the
mos t necessary elec trical consumers, since these drain the vehicle 's
battery.
0 Note
If the _ f_ warning symbol (coolant system malfunction) a lso lights up
on the instrument panel during the trip~
page 27, then you have to
stop immediate ly and turn off the engine. The coo lant pump is not
work ing anymore - danger of damage to the engine! •
Brake system malfunction
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning /indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (©)
(Canada models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a
brake system malfunction . By pressing the [CHECK] bu tton,
you can bring up a driver message which expla ins the
malfunct ion in more deta il.
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid level
- Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle .
- Turn off the engine .
- Chec k the bra ke fluid level=>
page 289 .
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility if neces-
sary.
Warning! Fault in brake system. Conta ct
workshop
- Drive carefully to the nearest authorized repair facility and
have the malfunct ion corrected=> &,.
Parking brake! Please contact workshop
-If the warning/indicator light flashes when the vehicle is
statio nary or afte r the ignition is turned on, check to see if
the parking brake can be released. Drive to an authorized
repair facility as soon as possible and have the malfunc ­
tion corrected . If the parking brake cannot be re leased,
contact your neares t authorized repa ir facility .
If the warning/indicator light flashes while you are
dr iv ing , it is possible that the traction control or the emer ­
gency brake has malfunctioned. It is poss ible that the
park ing brake cannot be applied . It is also poss ible that
the parking brake cannot be released after it has been
applied . Drive to an authorized Audi dealer to have the
ma lfunction corrected .
If the ABS system malfunctions, th e ABS warn ing/indicator light i llu­
m inates together w ith the brake system malfunction warning/indi-
cator light~& . .,_

Battery voltage 1• i
If the battery's state of charge is not in the optima l range, the
symbo l is show n in the di splay and the d river me ssage
Low battery
charge: battery will be charged while dri ving
appears.
Whi le this d river notification is displayed, you have to be prepared for
limited starting capability .
Driver message appears and goes out again
If this driver message appears after the ignition is turned on or while
driving and it goes o ut again afte r a while, the ba ttery has been
adequate ly recharged.
Driver me ssage appears and does not go out again
If th is dr iver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
wh ile driving and does not go ou t aga in, the battery 's state o f charge
is not in the opt imal range . Starting capability is restricted. Have the
bat tery checked by an au thor ized A udi dea le r as soon as possible. •
Worn brake pads U
._ Brake pads!
If the war ning lig ht ill um inates, immediately co ntact your au tho rized
Audi dea ler or qualified wor kshop to have all brake pads inspected.
On USA mode ls the warn ing light comes on together w it h the
warning light
BRAKE . Both sets of brake pads on an axle must a lways
be re placed at th e same time.
& WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal
injury .
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Driver information display
& WARNING
(co ntinued )
• If the warning light... and the warning light BRAKE1l with the
mes sage Brake pads! comes on in the instrument cluster di splay,
immediately contact your authorized Audi dealer or qualified
workshop to have all brake pads checked or replaced if necessary. •
Headlight range control defective ((
~ ~ Headlight range control defective
If the symbo l illumina tes, the dynam ic he adlig ht r an ge con tro l is no
longer working properly. Have the system checked and repaired at
your Audi de aler. •
Engine oil Level~
Please che ck oil level
Whe n the symbol i llumina tes, check t he engine o il level as soo n as
poss ible => page 283 . Top off the oil at yo ur earlies t oppor tunity
=>page284 .•
Engine oil sensor defective _t..
Oi l level! sensor defective
If the symbo l illuminates, contact your author ized A udi dealer and
have the oi l senso r inspected. Un til you have t his don e, check the oil
level each time you refue l just to be on the safe side => page 283. •
ll BRAKE : USA mode ls only
Vehicle care Technical data

Driver information display
Applies to veh icles : w ith eng ine s peed limitat ion
Engine speed limitation .?i
11'1 Do not exceed max. engine speed of XXXX rpm
The -symbol illuminates when there is an engine control malfunc­
tion. The indicator light in the instrument cluster also illuminates.
The engine speed is limited to the speed displayed in the driver infor­
mation system. Keep in mind that the engine speed will not exceed
the value d isp layed in the drive r informat ion system, for example
when downshifting.
Please go to an authorized Audi dealer or other qualified workshop to
have the malfunction repaired.•
Applies to vehicles: wi th Adap tive Light
Adaptive Light defective
adaptive light defective • r
When this symbol illuminates, it means that Adaptive Light is
defective. Go to an authorized dealership to have the headlights or
the control unit for the Adaptive Light repaired. •
Ignition lock malfunction ..e
If the symbol in the display comes on, there is a malfunc-
t ion in the electronic ignition lock. An additional driver
message can be displayed by pressing the [CHECK] button:
Defective ignition switch
-Drive to an aut horized service facility at your earliest
convenience to have the malfunction corrected.•
Windshield wipers faulty , . .>
.... Windshield wiper malfunction
When this symbol . illuminates, it means that the electronics for
the windshield wipers are defective . Please go to an authorized deal­
ership to have the windshield wiper system repaired. •
Speed warning system
Overview
The speed warning system helps you to keep your driving
speed below a set speed limit.
Th e speed warning system warns the driver if he exceeds a previously
stored maximum speed. A warning tone will sound as soon as the
vehicle speed exceeds the set speed by about 3 mph (3 km/h). At the
same time, a warning symbol appears in the display.
The speed warning system has
two warning thresholds that function
independently of each other and that have somewhat different
purposes :
Speed warning 1
You can use speed warning 1 to set the maximum speed while you are
driving. This setting w ill remain in effect until you turn off the igni­
tion, assum ing that you have not changed or reset the setting .
Th e speed warning symbo l
'8 (USA models)/ 8 (Canada mode ls) in
the warning 1 display appears when you exceed the maximum speed.
It goes out when the speed falls be low the stored maximum speed.
Th e speed warning symbol will also go out if the speed
exceeds the
stored maximum speed by more than about 25 mph (40 km/h) for at
least 10 seconds. The stored maximum speed is deleted.
Sett ing speed warn ing 1
=> page 33. ~

Speed warning 2
Storing war ning 2 is recommended i f you o/woyswantto be reminded
of a certain speed, fo r example when you are travel ing in a country
that has a genera l maximum speed limit, or if you do not want to
exceed a specified speed fo r winter tires .
The speed warning 2 symbol,
8 , (USA mode ls)/ 8, (Canada models)
appears in the display when you exceed the stored speed limi t. Unlike
warning 1, it will not go out until the vehicle speed drops below the
sto red speed limi t.
Setting speed warn ing 2
=> page 33 .
(I) Tips
Even though your ve hicle is eq uipped with a speed war ning system,
you should st ill watch the speedometer to make sure you are no t
dr iv ing faste r th an the speed lim it. •
Speed warning 1: setting a speed Limit
Warning threshold 1 is set by the [ CH ECK] button .
Storing the maximum speed
-Drive at the desired max imum speed .
Fig. 19 CHE CK butt on
in the i nstrument
clu ste r
- Briefly pre ss the [CHECK] button ~ fig. 19.
Con tro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Driver information display
Resetting the maximum speed
- Drive the vehic le at a speed of at leas t 3 mph (S k m/h)
- Press the [ CH EC K] button for more t han 2 seconds .
The speed warning symbo l 8 (USA models)/ 8 (Canada models) will
appea r briefly in the d ispl ay when you release the bu tton to indica te
that the maximum speed has been stored successf ully.
Th e maximum spee d rema ins s tored until it is cha nged by p ressing
the button again briefly or until it is deleted by a lengthy push o n the
bu tton .•
Speed warning 2: setting a speed Limit
Warning threshold 2 is set, changed and deleted in the
fv1fv1l.
- Select: Funct io n button [CAR ]> Systems* > Instrument
cluster > Speed warning .
Warning threshold 2 can be set in the speed range starting from
20 mph to 150 mph (30 km/ h to 240 km/h). Settings can each be
adjusted in intervals of 5 mph (10 km/h). •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Driver information display
In addit io n, all the values in the single -trip or t he total-tr ip memory
c an be delete d sim ultaneously.
[ i ] Tips
All stored values will be lost if the vehicle battery is disco nnected .•
MMI settings
B asic s ettings for the trip computer can b e made in the
MMI.
-Select: Funct ion button I CAR] > Systems *> Instrument
cluster > On-board computer 1 or On-board computer 2 .
The values in the s ingle-trip or the total-tr ip memory can all be reset
t o ze ro at the same t ime u nder
Reset in t he me nu.
In addit ion, you can determine w hat information from t he tr ip
compu ter should be shown in the ins trument cl uste r display. If one
of the p ieces of dr ive r info rmation is tur ned
Off, that dr ive r informa ­
t ion will not be shown in t he di sp lay . The i nformation w ill contin ue to
be ca lculated by the t rip compu ter and can be tur ned bac k
On at any
time. •

brightness increases again, the low beams are turned off again auto­
matically =>& .
In the
AUTO position the low beams are switched off automatically
when the ignition is turned off.
Light Sensor Malfunction
In the event of a light sensor ma lfunct ion, the driver is notified in the
instrument cluster display:
Automatic headlights/automatic wipers defective
For safety reasons the low beams are turned on permanently with t he
switch in
AUTO. However, you can continue to turn the lights on and
off using the light switch. Have the light sensor checked as soon as
possible at a dealership.
& WARNING
• Never use daytime running lights to see where you are going.
They are not bright enough and will not let you see far enough
ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark. Always
switch on the low beams at dusk or when it is dark.
• Automatic headlights are only intended to assist the driver .
They do not relieve the driver of his responsibility to check the
headlights and to turn them on manually according to the current
light and visibility conditions. For example, fog and rain cannot be
detected by the light sensors. So always switch on the headlights
under these weather conditions and when driving in the dark
io.
• Crashes can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and
when you cannot be seen by other motorists.
- Always turn on the headlights so that you can see ahead and
so that others can see your car from the back.
[ i ) Tips
• With the switch in AUTO front fog lights and rea r fog ligh ts cannot
be turned on in addition .
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Clear vision
•
The light sensor for headlight control is located in the rear view
mirror mount. Do not apply any stickers to the winds hield in this area
to prevent malfunctions or failures .
• If you remove the ignition from the ignitio n lock w hile the head­
lights are still on, a buzzer will sound as long as the dr iver's door is
open to remind you to turn off the lights.
• Always observe the specific loca l regulations for your area as to
when to use your lights .•
Adjusting exterior lighting
The functions are set in the MMI.
-Select: Function button [CAR]> Systems* > Exterior
lighting .
Coming home
The Coming home function ensures tha t after turning off the igni­
tion and opening the driver's door
the vehicle per iphery is illum i­
nated in the dark. In addition, the front fog lights, the tail lights and
the license plate light are turned on. On-time can be set for a per iod
from O (off) to 60 seconds .
Leaving home
The Leaving home function ensu res that when unlocking the vehicle
per iphery is illuminated in the dark. In addition, the front fog lights,
the tail lights and the license plate light are turned on. This function
can be turned on and off .
Daytime running lights
USA models: On vehicles with xenon lights the daytime running
lights can be turned on or off using this function . On vehicles with
halogen lights there is no daytime running lights function .
Canada models: The function cannot be turned off. It is activated
automatically each time the ignition is tur ned on. This menu item is
shown "greyed out". •
Vehicle care Technical data

Clear vision
-Press the switch /4. => page 61, fig. SO to turn the emer-
gency flashers on or off.
When the emergency flasher is on, all four turn signals blink at the
same time. The turn signal indicator lights¢¢ in the instrument
cluster, as well as the light in the emergency flasher switch~ blink
likewise.
The emergency flashers will turn on automatically if you are in an accident where the airbag has deployed.
(I) Tips
You should turn on the emergency flashers when:
• you are the last vehicle standing in a traffic jam so that any other
vehicles coming can see you, or when
• your vehicle has broken down or you are in an emergency situa­
tion, or when
• your vehicle is being towed by a tow truck or if you are towing
another vehicle behind you .•
Turn signal ¢ c> and high beam ~D lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column is used to
operate the turn signals and the high beam as well as the
headlight flasher .
i
'
-to
"' -w
"' cc
Fig. 51 Turn signal
and high beam lever
The turn signal and high beam lever has the following func­
tions:
Turn signals ¢ Q
- Lift the lever up all the way=> fig. S 1 © to use the right
turn signals, or push the lever down all the way@to use
the left turn signals.
Auto-blink
-Move the lever (up or down) just to the point of resistance
to use the turn signals for as long as you need them, for
example when changing lanes.
- Move the lever (up or down) just to the point of resistance
and then release it right away to make the turn signals
blink
three times . You can use this feature for example
when changing lanes on highways.
~