2011 AUDI A6 towing

lffll.,___E_ m_ e_r -=g :.. e_ n_c -=y '-- s_i_t _u _a _ t_ i_ o _ n_ s ____________________________________________ _
When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it back
into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored in the
vehicle at all times.
& WARNING
If the towing loop is not screwed in as far as it will go, the thread
can pull out when the vehicle is towed· potential risk of an
accident. •
Rear towing loop
Do not install the rear towing loop until it is needed.
Fig. 241 Rear
bumper: screwing in
the towing loop
On the right side under the rear bumper there is a threaded
hole for the towing loop. The threaded hole is protected by a
cover.
- Remove the towing loop from the vehicle toolkit
=> page 318.
-Pull the protective cover out of the threaded hole
=> fig. 241 .
-Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as far
as it will go.
When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it back
into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored in the
vehicle at all times.
& WARNING
If the towing loop is not screwed in as far as it will go, the thread
can pull out when the vehicle is towed · potential risk of an
accident. •
Loading the vehicle onto a flat bed truck
Front hook up
Fig. 242 Vehicle on
flat bed truck
- Align the vehicle with the centerline of the car carrier
ramp.
- Attach the winch hook to the front towline eye previously
installed .
Rear hook up
-Align the vehicle with the centerline of the car carrier
ramp.

___ C_ o_n_ s _ u_m_ e_ r_ I_ n_ f_o _r_ m_ a_ t_io _ n _____________________________________________ _
Consumer Information
Warranty coverages
Your Audi is cov ered by the following warrantie s:
• Limited New Vehicle Warranty
• Limited Warranty Against Corrosion Perforation
• Emissions Control System Warranty
• Emissions Performance Warranty
• California Emissions Control Warranty (USA vehicles only)
• California Emissions Performance Warranty (USA vehicles only)
Detailed informa tion regarding your warran ties can be fo und in your
Warranty & Maintenance boo klet .•
Operating your vehicle outside the
U.S.A. or Canada
Government regulat ions in the United States and Canada req uire t hat
au tomobiles meet spe cific emi ss ion regula tions and safe ty s tan­
dards . There fore, ve hicles bui lt for the U.S.A . and Canada differ from
vehicles so ld in othe r countries.
If you plan to take your vehicle ou tside the continental lim its of the
United States or Canada, the re is the possibility that
• unle aded fue ls for vehicle s w ith c ataly tic converte r may n ot be
available;
• fue l may have a conside rably lower octa ne rat ing . Imp roper f ue l
may cause engine damage;
• serv ice may be inadequate due to lack of proper serv ice fac ilities,
too ls or testing eq uipment;
• replacement parts may not be read ily avai lab le . • N
avigation syst ems for veh icles built fo r th e U.S.A. and Canada
w ill not necessar ily work in Europe, and may not wo rk in other coun­
tries outside of North Ame ric a.
0 Note
Audi canno t be responsib le for mech anical dam age th at could res ult
from inadeq uate fue l, se rvice o r parts ava ilability. •
Audi Service Repair Manuals and
Literature
Audi Off ic ia l Factory Service Manuals and Lite rature are published as
so on as p ossible a fter mode l int rodu ct ion. Service manu als and liter­
ature are avai lab le to order from t he Aud i Tec hnical Lite rature
O rder ing Cente r at:
www.audi .techliterature .com •
Maintenance
General
Your vehicle has been des igned t o help keep m ainten ance re quire­
ments to a min imum. However, a certain amount of regular ma inte­
n an ce i s still ne cessary to assure your ve hicle's sa fe ty, ec onomy and
re liability . For deta iled veh icle maintena nce consult your Warranty
&
Maint enance bookle t.
Under difficult operating conditions, for example at extreme ly low
outs ide temperatures, in very dusty regions , when towing a trai ler
very frequent ly, etc., some se rv ic e w ork s hou ld be perfo rmed
between t he intervals specif ied. This app lies part icularly to: .,_

___ A_l_,_ p _ h_ a _ b_e _ t_ i_c __ a _l _i_n :...::d __ e::..: x:...::...,_ _________________________________________ _
A Temporarily turning off .......... . 124
warning/indicator lights .... ...... . 127
Danger of fitting a child safety seat on the
front passenge r seat ............
199
Accessories ..... ................... 348 Adaptive Light ......... ....... .. .. .. 61 Disposal .................. .. .... 211
Adapter for cupholder ................ 89 defective ........................ 32 Front airbags ......... ... .... 201, 202
Adaptive Air Suspension ............. 168
Automatic mode .. .. ... .... ...... 169
Comfort mode ................... 169
Description ..................... 168
Dynamic mode ... .. ... ...... .... 169
Jacking mode when changing a flat tire ...
170
Lift mode ....................... 169
Setting the driving modes ......... 169
Trailer towing mode .............. 170
Warning/indicator lights .... ....... 16
Adaptive Cruise Control ......... ... .. 119
Changing speed ....... ........... 123
Driver information .............. .
Driver intervention prompt ...... . . Adding
Engine coolant ........... ...... .
287
Engine oil ............ ...... ..... 284
Windshield washer fluid ........... 294
Additional accessories ............... 348
Additives
Engine oil ............ .. .........
284
Adjusting
Instrument cluster illum ination .....
11
Steering column electrically ........ 107
Steering column manually .. .. .. .. . 106
Adjus ting front seats ................. 75
Air conditioning
See Climate controls ...............
96
Air distribution How do the front airbags work?
.....
206
How many airbags does my vehicle have? .
204
How the Advanced Airbag System compo-
nents work together ............
205
Important things to know ... .. .. .. 197
Indicator light ................... 208
Monitoring ... .................. 208
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light ..... 209
Repairs ............ .. .. .. ...... 211
Safety instructions ............... 210
Side airbags .... .... ............. 213
Side curtain airbags .............. 216
Weight-sensing mat ..............
220
When must the system be inspected? 208
All Wheel Drive ... ... ............... 248 Dr iv ing in traffic ................ .
Driving program .. ...... ........ .
127
130
120
131
Climate controls 100 Alloy wheels ................. .... .. 265
Error messages . .. .. .... ........ .
Open road ... .. .. .. .. ....... ... . 129 Air pollutants filter
120 Climate controls .................. 96
All-wheel drive
Winter tire s .....................
311
Override ...................... .. 120 Airbag
Alternator
Request for driver to assume control
120 Warning/indicator lights ..... ...... 14 Malfunction ........ .............. 26
Save speed . ...... .. .. ........... 122 Airbag system .................. 197,214 Ambience lighting
Setting distance .. ...... ...... .. .
125 Advanced Airbag System .......... 201 Lighting profiles .. .. .............. 64
Setting time interval .............. 125 Advanced Airbag System components 204 Anti-freeze
Settings ...................... ..
131 Care ... .. .......... ....... .. .. . 211 See Engine coolant system ......... 286
Special driving situations .......... 131
Status messages ................. 129
Switching on and off .............. 122
System limits ................... 131
Child restraints .................. 221
Children ........................ 220
Components (front airbags) ... ..... 204
Anti-glare inside day-night mirror .... 69, 70
Anti-lock brake system
How the ABS system works ...... ..
246
Warning/indicator lights ........... 17

ffl Alphabetical index ------',.__ ___________________________________ _
Driv ing messages ...... ...... .. .. .. .. 24
Dr iv ing safely ..... .. .. .. .. ...... ... 176
Dr iving through water ... ... ... .. .. .. 252
Dr iv ing time .. ............ .......... 34
Duplica te key . .... .... .. .. .. ........ 3 7
Dust fi lter
Climate controls .. .. .. .... .. .. . ...
96
DVD player for navigation system . .. . .. . 86
Dynam ic shift program ............ .. 1 56
E
Easy entry feature . .. .. .. .. .... ..... 1 08
Electric seat adjustment
See Power seat ................... 76
Electromechanical parking brake
Emergency braking . ... .. .. .... .. .
11 5
Ma lf u nct ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Park ing .................... .. .. 114
Releasing and app ly ing ... .. ... .. .. 113
Starting off w ith a t railer ......... . 115
Warning/ind icator lights . .......... 17
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
How the system works ... .........
243
Warning/ind icator lights . .......... 17
Electroni c immobili ze r ... .... .. .. .. .. . 4 0
Electronic powe r control
(EPC) war ning/ indicato r light .. .. ... .
14
Electronic speed limiter ........ .... .. . 23
Ele ctro nic s tabiliza tion p rogram ( ESP)
How t he system wor ks ... .........
2 4 2
W arning/ind icator lights . .......... 14
Emergency braking ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. 115
Emergency closing
Power su nroof ... ... .. .. . ... ...
55, 56
Eme rgency flasher ................ ... 61
Wa rning/ind icator l ights . .. .. .. .. .. 15
Emergency locking of doors . .. .. .. .. .. 45
E mergency sta rt ing .... ..... ... .. .. . 332
Emergency towing .................. 335
Energy management ................ 249
Battery power .. .. .. .. .. .... ..... 250
Dr iver not ification ............... . 250
Engine
Compartment . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ...
280
Coolant .. ... .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. . 286
Hood . ... .. .. .. .... ... .. .. .. .. . 278
Starting ....... .. .. ........ . 108, 109
Starting with jumpe r cab les . .. .... . 332
Stopping ...... .............. ...
110
Engine compa rtment
Sa fety instructions . .... ... .. .. .. .
2 79
Working the eng ine compartment .. 2 79
En gine coolant system ........ .. .. .. . 286
Add ing coolant ................. . 287
Checking coo la nt level . ..... .. .. .. 286
Checking the engine coo lant level . .. 286
Ma lfu nction ... .. ..... ..... .... .. . 27
Radiator fan ....... .. ... . .. .. ... 288
E ngine coo lant tempe rature
T emperat ure gauge ............. .. . 8
Engine data ....... ...... .... .. .....
343
Engine hood
Closing .... ..... ..... .... .. .. .. .
2 79
How to re lease the hood ..... .. ... . 278
Engine oil .. ... .... ... .. . ... ... .. .. 281
Add ing .............. .... ... .. .. 284
Add itives .................. .... . 284
Changing .. ..... .......... .. .. .. 285
Checking the engine oil leve l ..... .. 2 83
Indi cat io ns and conditions requiring extr a
check ing . .. .. .. .. .............
283
Oil consumption .... ............. 282
Oil grades . .. .. .... ..... ....... . 281
Recommended oil check intervals ... 283
Specification and viscosity ..... .. .. 28 1
Engine oil leve l .... .. .. ............. . 31
Engine oil p ress ure
Mal fu nct ion .. .. .. .. .... ..........
28
Engine oil sensor defect ive . ...... ... .. 31
Engine speed limitation ....... ... .. .. . 32
Environmen t
Bre ak-in per iod ...... ...... .. .. ..
2 51
Ca taly tic converte r .. .... ......... 2 52
Disposing o f you r vehi cle bat tery .... 29 4
Driving at hig h speeds ..... ... . ... 254
Driving to minimize poll ution and noise . .
253
Fuel .. .. .... ....... ...... .... .. 27 5
Fue l economy .. .. .. ....... .. .. .. 2 53
Leaks unde r yo ur vehicle ... .. .. .. . 2 79
Lett ing the vehicle stand and warm up .. .
254
Proper disposa l of dra ined brake fluid 289
Prope r disposal of dra ined engine coo la nt
287
Proper disposal of drained engine oil 284,
285
Recy cling used e ng ine o il .......... 2 8 4

___________________________________________ A_ l::.. p _h _a_ b_ e_t _ic _a_ l_ in_ d _ e_x __ _
Lifting vehicle . ....... ... .. .. .. .. .. . 33 7
Light
Exterior lighting in the mirror housing .
61
leaving home ..................... 61
See also Ambience lighting .......... 64
Light senso r defective ............. .. ..
30
Lighting
See Ambience lighting . ............. 64
Lighting in the mirror housing ..........
61
Lights .................... ...... .. .. 58
Coming home ............. .. .. .. .. 59
Daytime running lights ......... .. .. 59
Emergency flashers ............ .. ..
61
Exterior lights .................... 59
Front fog lights . ........... .......
60
Headlights ..................... .. 58
High beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 62
High beam warning/indicator light ...
16
Leaving home ....... ...... .. .. .. .. 59
Rear fog lights ..... .. ............ .
60
Side marker lights ........... .. .. .. 58
Turn signals ............. ... .. .. .. 62
Xenon headlights ....... ..... .. .. .. 58
Loading the luggage compartment .. .. . 183
Loading the roof rack . ................ 88
Lockable backrest ..... ... ............ 83
Locking
Power locking switch .... ........... 44
Rear lid/trunk lid .... .. .. .. .. .... .. 46
Remote control key ........ .. .... ..
42
Using the key ....... ..... ... .. .. .. 43
Lower universal anchorage bars (Canada)
232
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Lower universal anchorages (Canada)
... 232
Luggage
Stowing ........................
183
Luggage compartment ............ ... . 83
Cargo net .. .. .. ............... ... 85
DVD player for navigation system ... . 86
Expanding . .. .. ........ ....... ... 83
Fastening eyelets .................. 84
Side Compartment ................ 86
Ski sack . ..................... ... . 86
See also Loading the luggage
compartment ..................
183
Lumbar support ............ .. .. .. .. . 78
M
Maintenance ...... .... .. .. .... ..... 346
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) . . .
15, 23
Master key .. .......... ........ ... .. . 38
Battery replacement .............. . 39
Check light . .. .. .................. 39
Mileage Average ................ .. .. .. .. . 34
I nstantaneous ................ ... . 34
Mirrors Activating the digital compass .......
73
Adjusting the anti-glare ... .. .. . 69, 70
Automatic dimming for the outside
mirrors ................ .. .... .. .
72
Automatically dimming inside mirror . 70
Inside day-night mirror ............. 69
Interior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69,
70
Outside mirrors ................... 71
Recalling position of outside mirrors .. 79
Storing position of outside mirrors ... 79
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag System
208
multitronic® ... .. ... ............. .. 152
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) .. .. .. .. . 155
Driving the multitronic® ........... 153
Dynamic shift program .. .......... 156
Fail-safe mode ...... .... .. .. .. ... 158
Kick-down ...... .. .............. 156
Manual shift program ............. 157
Selector lever ............ .. .. . .. . 154
Steering wheel with tiptronic ® ...... 158
tiptronic ... .... .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... . 157
N
Natural leather ... .. .. .... .......... 268
New tires and wheels . ............... 307
NHTSA
Contacting .. .. ................ ..
185
Number of seats ......... .... .... .. . 187
0
Occupant seating positions .......... . 178
Octane rating .................... .. 273
Odometer ................. ... ... ... 10
Oil
See Engine oil ............ .... ... 281
On-Board Diagnostic System (OBD)
Data Link Connector (DLC) ..........
23
Electronic speed limiter ............ 23
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) .. .. 23
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Alphabetical index -___________________________________ ____._ _______ _
Symbols
Red .. .................. .... ... ..
25
Yellow ...................... ... .. 29
Synchronization
Climate controls .......... ... ... .
105
Synchron izing climate control ...... ... . 98
T
Tachometer ............... .. .... .. .. . 9
Tank flap Unlocking the fuel filler flap by hand .
277
Technical modifications . ... .......... 349
Tem perature
Climate controls .......... .. .. .. ..
99
Setting for the driver's and front passen-
ger's side ......... .. .. .... ...... 99
Tether anchors ............. .... .... 237
Tether strap ........... .... .. .... .. . 23 7
The first
1,000 miles (1,500 km) and
afterwards ........ .. .. .. .. .. .. .
251
Tie-downs ............ .... .. .. .... . 185
Tips for the environment
Saving fuel ............... .. ... ...
88
Using the air conditioner only when
necessary ......... .. .... .. .. .. .
102
tiptronic ® ............ .. .. .. ... ... . 146
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) ......... 148
Driving ............ .. .. .. .. .... . 146
Dynamic shift program ..... .. .. .. . 149
Fail-safe mode ..... .. .. .. .... .... 151
Kick-down .............. ... ..... 149
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Manual
shift program .. .. .. .. .. .. . 150 Tools ... ..... ... ... ... . .. ... ... .. . 319
Selector lever ................. ... 147 T orn or frayed safety belts ............ 190
Tire pressure ..... ..... .. .. .. .. .. ... 302 Touch-up paint .... . ..... ........ ... 264
Tire pressure monitoring system ....... 314 Towing
Loss of air pressure ...... .....
15,315 Front eyelet ... .... ....... .. .. .. . 335
Malfunction .. .... ............. .. 315 Rear eyelet .... ..... ...... ... ... . 336
Resetting tir e pressures ......... .. 316 Tow truck procedures ........ ..... 335
Tire service life ................ ... .. 306 TPM S
T ires ..............................
295 Tire pressure monitoring system ... . 315
Service life ......... .. .. .. ....... 306 T railer towing .. .. .... ............. . 256
speed rating letter ,code .. ....... .. 309 Operating instructions .. .......... 257
Tire manufactu ring date ... ........ 309 T echnical requirements .. .. .. . 256,257
Tire specifications . .. .... .. ... .. .. 308 Tr ailer towing tips ............. .. . 258
Tread depth ..................... 306 Transmission
Uniform tire quality grading ........
310 tiptronic ® .......... ...... .... .. . 146
Winter tires .. .. ..... ...... ...... 311 Transport Canada ............ ...... . 186
Tires and vehicle load limits ... .. .... .. 303
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI) .......... . 306
Tires and wheels
Checking tire pressure ........... ..
302
Cold tire inflation pressure ......... 299
Dimensions ................... .. 307
General notes ........... ...... .. 295
Glossary of tire and loading terminology .
296
New tires and wheels ........... .. 307
Replacing .... .. ... ... .. ......... 308
Snow chains .. ................ ... 312
Tires and vehicle load limits ... ..... 303
Wheel bolts .................. ... 313
Trip computer
Fuel consumption .................
34
Mi leage ................ ... ... ... 34
Single-trip memory ........ .. . ... .. 35
Tota l-trip memory ......... ... . .. .. 35
Trip odometer .. .. .... ............... 10
What does it mean when dEF appears in
the trip odometer display? . ... .. ...
10
Trunk
See Rear lid .... . .. .... ... ..... ... 46
Trunk escape handle ....... .. .. ...... 318
Winter tires ................... .. 311 T urn s ignals ................ ... .. .. .. 62
Tir es/Wheels Warning/indicator
lights ... .. .. .. .. 15
Low aspect ratio tires ...... .. .. ... 314
Tire pressure monitoring system 15, 314
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data