2011 AUDI A6 warning lights

Driving Safely ---------------------"~'----
Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
- Make sure that all lights and signals are operating
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good visi-
bility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully::::>
page 93.
-Make sure that nothing can interfere with the pedals.
- Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for your height .
- Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right child restraint correctly to
protect children ::::,
page 219, "Child Safety".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen­ gers do the same::::,
page 75, "General recommenda­
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it properly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten their safety belts properly
=:> page 187. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen­
trate on the road without being distracted .
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road::::,,& . There­
fore:
Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by using
a cellular telephone.
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
- Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ S_a _f_e _t-=y '-- b_e_ l_ t _s _____________________________________________ _
-Make sure that your passengers also buckle up a nd prop ­
erly wear their safety belts .
- Protect c hildren with a child rest raint system appropria te
fo r the size and ag e.
The warn ing light ~ in the instrument cluster lights up when the igni­
tion is sw itched on as a reminder to fasten the safety belts. In addi­
tion, you w ill hear a wa rning tone for a certa in period of t im e.
Fasten your safety belt and ma ke sure that your passenge rs also
properly put on their safety belt s.
& WARNING
• Safety belts are the singl e most effective means available to
reduce the risk of serious injury and death in automobile a cci­
dents . For your protection and that of your pas senger s, always
co rrectly wear safety belts when the vehicle is mo ving .
• Failure to pay attention to the warning light that come on,
could lead to personal injur y.
u
Why safety belts?
Frontal collisions and the law of physics
Frontal crashes create very stron g forc es for people
riding i n vehi cles.
Fig . 171 Unbe lted
o ccupa nts in a vehicle
h eadin g for a w all
Fig . 1 72 The ve hicle
cr as hes int o t he w all
T he p hys ica l pr inc iples are simple. Both the vehicle and the passen­
gers possess energy which var ies wit h veh icle speed and body weight.
Enginee rs ca ll t his ene rgy "kinetic energy."
The higher the speed of the veh icle and the greater the vehicle's
we ight, the more energy that has to be "absorbed" in the crash .
Vehicle speed is the most sig nifican t fa ctor. If t he speed doubles
from 15 to 30 mph (25 to 50 km/h), the energy increases 4 times! .,

Driving and environment
(I] Tip s
The consumption estimates as pub lished by ENV IRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre­
spond to your actual consumption on the road, which will vary
depending upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating .
-Avo id unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most fue l when they a re accele rating. If you antici­
pate what is going to happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, accelerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possible -for
example when you see that the next traffic l ight is red. •
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
- Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed .
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and does
not disturb the environment.
Fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
disproportionately at high speeds . If you drive at approx imately three
qua rters of top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by one half.
Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather condi­
tions permit.
a Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
-
Shut the engine off when yo u are not driving the vehicle.
- Do not warm up the vehic le by letting the eng ine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting for
trains to pass at rai lroad crossings, o r at traffic lights that have long
wa its on red . Turn ing the eng ine off for just 30-40 seconds saves
more fuel than is burned starting the engine again.
It takes a long t ime for the engine to warm up fully when it is running
at idle. Howeve r, wear and noxious emissions are espec ially high
when the eng ine is wa rm ing up. So you sho uld d rive away as soon as
you start the engine and avoid running at hig h rpms while the eng ine
is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which cou ld result in
overheat ing o r othe r damage to the vehicle or other p roperty. •
Regular maintenanc_e ____________ _
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel .
- Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having yo ur vehicle regularly se rviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economically . T he condition of your
vehicle not only a ffects its safety and ability to ho ld its va lue, it a lso
affects
fu el con sumption .
Check your o il e ach tim e you fill you r tank.
~

Trailer towing
"---------------------------------------------------
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor ­
tation .
If you p lan to tow a t railer, p lease remember that the additional load
w ill affect durability, economy and performance.
Tr ailer towing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it also calls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, a lways follow the operating and dr iv ing inst ructions
prov ided and use common sense .
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the tra iler ope ra­
tion mode =>
page 170, "Towing a tra iler". •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we igh t-car rying h itch co nform ing to the gross tra iler we ig ht.
The h itch must be suitab le for your vehicle and trailer and must be
mou nted securely o n th e vehi cle's ch assi s at a
techni cally sound loc a­
tion . Use only a trailer hitch with a removab le ball mount. Always
check wit h the t railer h itch manufactu rer to make sure that yo u are
using the correct h itch .
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The h itch mus t be installed in such a way t hat it does not in terfe re
w ith t he impact-absorb ing bumper system. No modifications shou ld be made to t
he veh icle exha ust and bra ke systems. From t ime to
time, check that a ll hitch mounting bo lts rema in securely fastened.
W hen you are no t tow in g a tra ile r, remove the t railer hit ch ball
mount. This prevents the hitc h from caus ing damage should your
vehicle be str uck from behind=>& .
Trailer brakes
If your trail er is e quipped w ith a b raking system, che ck to be s ure t hat
it conforms to all regulations.
T he tra ile r hydrau lic brake system m ust not be directly connected to
t he vehicle's hyd raulic b rake sys tem .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your veh icle and t he tra ile r.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check w ith your
Audi de aler fo r corr ec t wir ing , sw itches and re lays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see t he t raff ic be hind you using t he regular
outs ide mirrors, then you
must install extended mi rrors. It is impor­
t an t th at yo u
always ha ve clear vi sion to the re ar.
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking , the hitch could fly forward and inju re you
or your passengers. •

lffl) __ C_ h_e _c_ k_ i_ n _ g_ a_ n _ d_ f_il _l _in ____ g ___________________________________________ _
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil fi lter must be changed according to the mileage
(kilometers) and t ime intervals specified in your vehicle 's Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet . Do not exceed these interva ls -harmful
deposits from o ld engine oil can reduce engine performance and can
lead to expensive engine repairs .
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very impo rtant
because the lubricating properties of o il decrease gradually during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your author ized Audi Service Adv isor .
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
mo re frequently. Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop­
and-go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where temper­
atures stay be low freezing point for long periods.
Detergent addit ives in the oi l wi ll make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short t ime. This is normal and is not a
reason to change the oil more often than recommended .
Damage or malfunctions due to lack of maintenance
It is essential that you change your oil at the recommended intervals
using only engine oi l that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle War ranty does not cover
damage or malfunctions due to fai lure to follow recommended main­
tenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner 's
Manual and Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Your dealer will have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
the form of Serv ice or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a time ly manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of internal
eng ine components, all inte rnal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change sign ifican tly over the lif e of the engine. Typically,
engines with a specified break- in period (see~
page 251) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stab ilized .
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on the
quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute) at
which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
condensation or fuel residue and the ox idation level of the oil. As any
eng ine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consumption
may increase over time until replacement of worn components may
become necessary.
With all these variab les coming into play, no standard rate of oil
consumption can be established or specified . There is no alternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level , see
Note .
If the yellow engine oil leve l warning symbol in the instrument
cl uster lights up, you should chec k the oil level as soon as possible
with the oil dipstick~ page 283. Top off the oil at your earliest
convenience ~
page 284.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS~
& in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 279.

lffl!I.___F_ u_ s_e _s_ a_n_ d_ b_u _ l_ b_ s _______________________________________________ _
No. Consumer
Fuse panel (black)
-
1 Digital Signal Processing (DSP)/
BOSE amplifier
2 Communication , Antenna amplifier
3 Electromechanical parking brake, left
4 Electromechanical parking brake, right
5 Luggage compartment power outlet
6 Battery energy management
7 Intelligent power module rear
(lights right-side)
8 Intelligent power module (comfort)
9 Intelligent power module rear
(lights left-side)
10 Power window opener (right-side)
11 Parking System
12 Cigarette lighter rear
Fuse panel (brown)
1 Rear view
2 Electric rear lid (Avant)
3 Electric rear lid (Avant)
Electric rear lid (Avant)
5 Communication , Antenna amplifier
7 MMI
9 Digital Tuner
Amps
-
30
5
30
30
20 5
20
-
5
30
-
35
5
20
5
30
30
20
5
5
5
•
Bulbs
Replacing light bulbs
For your safety, we recommend that you have your autho­
rized Audi dealer replace burned out bulbs for you.
It is becoming increasingly more and more difficult to replace vehicle
light bulbs since in many cases, other parts of the car must first be
removed before you are able to get to the bulb . This applies especially
to the light bulbs in the front of your car which you can only reach
through the engine compartment .
Sheet metal and bulb holde rs can have sharp edges that can cause
serious cuts, and parts must be correctly taken apart and then prop­
erly put back together to help p revent breakage of parts and long
term damage from water that can enter housings that have not been
properly resealed .
For your safety, we recommend that you have your authorized Audi
dealer replace any bulbs for you , since your dealer has the proper
tools, the correct bulbs and the expertise.
Gas discharge lamps (Xenon lights)*:
Due to the high electrical voltage, have the bulbs replaced by a qual­
ified technician. Headlights with Xenon light can be identified by the
high voltage sticker .
& WARNING
Contact with high-voltage components of the electrical system
and improper replacement of gas discharge (Xenon) headlight
bulbs can cause serious personal injury and death.
• Xenon bulbs are pressurized and can explode when being
changed.
• Changing Xenon lamps requires the special training, instruc-
tions and equipment. .,_

___ 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

Alphabetical index -________________ fWI
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
How the system works ....... .. .. . 244
Anti-theft systems Anti-theft alarm system ....... ... .. 49
Electronic immobilizer ............. 40
Ashtray Front .............. ...... .. .. .. .. 91
Rea r ........ .... .. .. ... ......... 91
ASR How the Anti-Slip Regulation System works . ...... .. ... .. .. ......... 244
Asterisk What does it mean when something is
marked with an asterisk? ........... S
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature
346
AUTO mode AC climate controls ...... .... .. .. .. 99
Auto Safety Hotline .... .. .. .. ....... 185
Auto-Check Control .. ........ .... ... .. 24
Automatic belt retractor ............. 191
Automatic car wash
See Washing ....... .. .... .. .. .. . 261
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) ..... .. 148, 155
Automatic transmission 6-speed automatic transmission ... . 146
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) .... 148, 155 Driving ............ .. .. .. .. .... . 146
Dynamic shift program ... .. .. .. .. . 149
Emergency release for selector lever . 152
Emergency release for selector lever
(mu ltitron ic®) .............. .... 159
Fail-safe mode .............. 151, 158
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Ignition key safety lock
.... ... .. .. . 109
Kick -down . .. .. .... .. .. .. ....... 149
Manual shift program .. ... ... .... . 150
multitronic ® ....... ... ... .. .. ... 152
Selector lever .... .. .. .. .. .. . 147, 154
Shift buttons . ........... ... 151, 158
Steering wheel with tiptron ic® . 151, 158
Average speed .. ... .... .. .. .. .... .... 34
Avoid damaging the vehicle ........... 252
B
Battery ... ..... .................... 290
Battery location ins.ide the luggage
compartment . ........ ......... 291
Charging ................ .... .. .. 292
Important warnings when wo rk ing on the
battery . .. .. ..... ....... ... .. .. 291
Jump starting ..... ...... ..... .. .. 332
Low ..... .. ... ..... .. ....... .... 249
Replacing the battery .. .. ... ...... 294
State of charge .... ... ........... 249
Voltage ................. .. .. .. .. . 31
Winter operation ...... .. .. .. ..... 290
Working on the battery .... ... .. .. . 291
Before driving .. ... ... .. ... .. .. .. .. . 177
Blended gasoline ................... 273
Body cavity seal ing . ...... .. ......... 266
Booster seats . .. .. ........ ......... 227
Brake assistant ...... ............... 247
Brake booster . ........ ... ... .. .. ... 246 Brake fluid
Changing the brake fluid ....... .... 289
Checking the brake fluid level ....... 289
Reservoir . .... .. .. ... .... ... ... . 289
What is the correct brake fluid level? . 289
What should I do if the brake fluid warning
light comes on? . ................ 289
Brake light Defective ... .. ................... 21
Brake system . .. .. .. .. .. ... ..... .. .. 289
Anti-lock brake system ............. 17
Brake fluid ........ ............. . 289
Brake fluid spec ificat ions for refil l and
replacement . .... ....... ... ... . 289
Brake pads .. .. .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. 252
Electromechanical parking brake ... . 113
General informat ion ..... ...... .. . 245
How does moisture or road salt affect the
brakes? ... .................. .. 245
Malfunction ...................... 26
Warning/indicator lights ... .. .. .. .. 18
Worn brake pads symbol ........... 31
Break -in period ... .. .. .............. 251
Brake pads . ... ................ .. 252
Tires ... .... .................... 251
Bulbs .................. .. .. .. .. ... 330
Bumper cover Caution when parking near a parking barri-er or curb . ................... .. 114
C
California Proposition 65 Warning ..... 280
Battery specific .... .............. 292
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data