2012 AUDI A6 battery replacement

Removing the mechanical key
Fig. 17 Remote control master key : remov ing the me­
chanical key
• Press the release butto n@ c::> fig. 17.
• Pull the mechanica l key @ out of the mas ­
ter key.
Using the mechan ica l key, you can:
- lock and unlock the storage compartment
on the passenger's side
c::> page 56.
- lock and unlock the vehicle manually
c::>page 35 .
-lock the front and rear passenger doors me­
chanically
c:> page 36.
Master key battery replacement
F ig . 18 Remote master key: Removing the battery
holde r
Check li ght in the ma ste r key
The check light @ in the master key prov ides
information about different cond itions .
• The check light comes on briefly once when
a button is pressed, and during an "inquiry"
by the conven ience key system .
• If the check light does not come on, the
battery is dead and has to be replaced. In
addition, when the battery is dead the
I'!!
symbol appears in the instrument cluster
Op enin g an d clos ing 31
disp lay as well as the message: Ple ase
chan ge k ey batte ry.
Ma ster ke y battery replacement
We recommend having the battery changed
by an authorized Audi dea ler. However, if you
wish to rep lace the dead battery yourse lf, pro­
ceed as follows:
• Pull the mechanical key out of the master
key
c::>page 31.
• Press the release button @ on the battery
holder and at the same time pull the battery
holder out of the master key in the direction
of the arrow.
• Insta ll the new battery CR 2032 with the
"+" sign facing down.
• Push the battery holder carefully into the
master key .
• Install the mechanical key.
@ For the sake of the environment
Dispose of dead batteries properly so as
not to pollute the environment.
(D Tips
The replacement battery must be the
same specification as the origi nal.
Electronic immobilizer
The immobilizer helps to prevent unauthor­
ized use of your vehicle.
A computer chip inside your key automatically
deactivates the electronic immobilizer when
the key is inside the vehicle. When you remove
the key from the vehicle, the electron ic immo­
bilizer is automatically activated once aga in .
.&, WARNING
-
A lways take the key with you when you
leave the vehicle. The key ca n disa rm the
e lectronic engine immobilizer and permit
an unauthorized person to start the engine
and enable operation of the vehicle sys­
tems such as power window or power sun-
roof leading to serious personal injury. .,

should never be left unattended in the ve­
hicle because this increases the risk of in­
jury.
12-volt sockets
Fig. 5 4 Section of the trim panel of the luggage com·
partment: 12-volt socket
•
Fig . 55 Rear center console: 12-volt socket
~ To reach the 12-volt socket in the luggage
compartment, press the net down
¢ fig. 54.
There is an additional 12-vo lt socket in the
front and rear center console
~fig. 55.
The 12 vo lt sockets may be used for 12-volt
appliances with max imum consumption of up
to 120 watts.
Before you purchase any accessories, always
r ead and fo llow the information in
~ page 280, Additional accessories and parts
replacement .
A WARNING
The sockets and the electrica l accessories
connected to them operate on ly when the
ignition is switched on. Incorrect usage
can lead to serious injuries or burns. To re­
duce the risk of injuries, never leave chil-
S ea ts a nd s to rage 55
dren unattended in the vehicle with the ve­
h icle key.
(D Note
To avoid damaging the socket, only use plugs that fit properly.
- Never connect equipment that generates
electrical current, such as a solar pane l
or battery charger, to the 12 volt socket.
This could damage the vehicle's electri­
cal system.
- The 12 volt socket should only be used
for a short period of t i me as a power
source for electrical equipment. Please
use the electrical sockets in the vehicle
when connecting equ ipment for longer
periods.
- To avoid damaging the socket, only use
plugs that fit properly.
(D Tips
When the engine is off and accessories are
still plugged in and are on, the vehicle bat­
tery can still be drained.
Storage
(upholder
Fig. 56 Center console: cupholder
Fig. 57 Rear center armrest: cupholder extended

158 Airb ag sys te m
adult is properly seated and restrained at
one of the rear seating positions.
- Have the airbag system inspected by
your Audi dealer before transporting
anyone on the front passenger seat.
(D Tips
If the capacitive passenger detection sys ­
tem determines that the front passenger
seat is empty, the frontal airbag on the
passenger side will be turned off, and the
PA SSEN GER AIR B AG OFF light will stay
on .
Repair, care and disposal of the airbags
Parts of the a irbag system are installed at
many different places on your Audi. Installing,
removing, servicing or repairing a part in an
a rea of the vehicle can damage a part of an
airbag system and prevent that system from
working properly in a co llision.
There are some important things you have to know to make sure that the effect iveness of
the system will not be impaired and that dis­
carded components do not cause injury or po l­
lute the environment.
A WARNING
Improper care, servicing and repair proce­
dures can increase the risk of personal in­
jury and death by preventing an airbag from deploy ing when needed or deploying
an airbag unexpectedly:
- Never cover, obstruct, or change the steering wheel ho rn pad or airbag cover
or the instrument pane l or modify them
in any way .
- Never attach any objects such as cup
holders or telephone mountings to the
surfaces covering the airbag units.
- For cleaning the horn pad or instrument
pane l, use only a soft, dry cloth or one
moistened w ith plain water. Solvents or
cleaners cou ld damage the airbag cover
or change the stiffness or strength of the material so that the airbag cannot de­
ploy and protect properly.
- Never repair, adjust, or change any parts
of the airbag system.
- All work on the steering wheel, instru­
ment panel, front seats or electr ica l sys­
tem (including the installation of audio
equ ipment, cellu lar telephones and CB
radios, etc .) must be performed by a
qualified technic ian who has the training
and specia l equipment necessary.
- For any work on the airbag system, we strongly recommend that yo u see your
author ized Audi dealer or qualif ied work­
shop.
- Never modify the front b umper or parts
of the vehicle body.
- Always make sure that the s ide airbag
can inflate without inte rfe rence:
- Never install seat covers or rep lace­
ment upholstery over the front seat­
backs that have not been specifically
approved by Audi.
- Never use additional seat c ushions that
cover the areas where the side airbags
inflate.
- Damage to the orig inal seat covers or
to the seam in the area of the side a ir­
bag module must a lways be repaired
immediately by an author ized Audi
dealer .
- The airbag system can deploy on ly once.
After an a irbag has been deployed, it
must be replaced w ith new replacement
pa rts des igned and app roved especially
for your Aud i model version. Replace­
men t of comple te airbag systems or air­
bag components must be performed by
qua lified wor kshops only . Make sure that
any airbag service action is entered in
your Aud i Warranty
& Maintenance book­
let under
AIRBAG REPLACEMENT RE­
CORD.
- For safety reasons in severe accidents,
the alternator and starter a re separated
from the veh icle battery with a pyrotech-
n ic circuit inte rrupter . ..,.

234 Checking and filling
(D Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to
start the engine. This will seriously dam­
age sensitive electronic components, such
as control units, relays, radio, etc., as well
as the battery charger.
Battery replacement
The new battery must have the same specifi­
cations and dimensions as the original equip­
ment battery.
Intelligent energy management in your vehi­
cle is responsible for distributing the electri­
cal energy throughout your vehicle
~ page 194. The intell igent energy manage­
ment system will keep the engine battery
charged better than vehicles without this sys­
tem. To make sure the additional electrica l en­
ergy is available once again after you have
changed the battery, we recommend that you install batteries of the same type and manu­
facture only (the same as those installed at
the time your vehicle was delivered). Specifi­
cations are listed on the battery housing. Your
author ized dealer must code the battery in
the energy management system to enable you
to use the energy management funct ions cor­
rectly after replacing the battery .
The new battery must have the same capacity,
voltage (12 volts), amperage, construct ion
and plug sealing.
When installing the battery, make sure the ig­
nition and all electr ical consumers are switch ­
ed off.
(D Note
Make sure the ventilation hose on the side
of the battery is connected, otherwise
fumes or battery ac id can leak out.
@ For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal
of a battery, we recommend your author­
ized Audi dealer change the battery for
you . Batteries contain su lfuric acid and l
ead and must always be disposed of prop­
erly in compliance with all environmental
regulations. Disposing of vehicle batter ies
i mproperly is very dangerous to the envi­
ronment.
Windshield/head Light
washer container
Fig. 177 En g in e compart men t: w inds hield and head ­
lighr washer fluid reservoir
The washer fluid conta iner is marked w ith the
symbol~ on its cap.
"' Before you check anything in the engine
compartment,
always read and heed all
WARNINGS ~.&. in Working in the engine
compartment on page 220.
"' Lift the filler cap tongue to add washer flu ­
id. You can fill the container to the top.
"' Press the cap back onto the filler neck after
fi lling the container.
You can find the reservoir
capacity in the table
in
~ page 2 76.
Clean water should be used when filling up. If
possible, use soft water to prevent scaling on
washer jets. Always add a glass cleaner solu­
tion (with frost protection in the winter).
@ Note
Do not mix engine coolan t ant ifreeze or
any other additives to fill up the wind­
shield washer reservoir .