2018 AUDI A6 check engine

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" N
-Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may
create waves that raise the water level and
make it too deep for your vehicle to drive
through safely.
-Avoid driving through salt water, because
this can cause corrosion.
Economical and environmentally-friendly
driving
The amount of fuel consumption, the environ­
mental impact and the wear to the engine,
brakes and tires depends mostly on your driving
style. With an anticipatory and economic driving
style, fuel consumption can be reduced by ap­
proximately 10-15%. The following tips will help
you conserve the environment and your money at the same time.
Anticipatory driving
A vehicle uses the most fuel when accelerating.
When you drive with anticipation, you do not
need to brake as often and so you accelerate less.
When possible, let your vehicle coast with a
gear
engaged, for example, when you notice that the
next traffic light is red. This produces an engine
braking effect, which helps to protect the brakes
and tires and reduces the emissions and fuel con­
sumption to zero (fuel shut-off during decelera­
tion) .
Shift efficiently
Upshifting earlier is an effective way to save fuel.
Staying in a gear too long uses fuel unnecessari­
ly .
Press down on the accelerator pedal slowly and
avoid "kick-down".
Avoid full acceleration
You should rarely travel at the maximum vehicle
speed. High speeds cause a disproportionately
high increase in fuel consumption, emissions and
traffic noise. Slower driving saves fuel.
Reduce idling time
The Start/Stop system* helps to reduce the idling
time automatically. In vehicles without the Start/
8 Stop system*, it is efficient to switch the engine 0 \.J ' Driving
off when stopped at railroad crossings and long
red lights. Stopping the engine for 30-40 sec­
onds already saves more fuel than the amount of
extra fuel needed to restart the engine.
It takes a very long time in idle to warm the en­
gine up to operating temperature. Wear and
emissions are especially high in the warm-up
phase. Therefore, you should begin driving im­
mediately after starting the engine. Avoid high
RPMs while doing this .
Have maintenance performed regularly
By having maintenance performed regularly on
your vehicle, you can help to reduce fuel con­
sumption before you even start to drive. The maintenance condition of your vehicle not only
affects traffic safety and long-term value but al ­
so impacts
fuel consumption . A poorly main­
tained engine can lead to fuel consumption that
is 10% higher than normal.
Avoid short trips
The engine and emissions control system must
reach their optimal operating temperature to ef­
fectively reduce consumption and emissions .
A cold engine uses a disproportionately high amount of fuel. The engine reaches operating
temperature and consumption normalizes only
after approximately
2 .5 miles (4 km) .
Check the tire pressure
To save fuel, make sure the tires are always in­
flated to the correct pressure
Q page 211. The
fuel consumption can increase by S% if the pres­
sure is only 0.5 bar too low . Due to the increased
rolling resistance, low tire pressures will also
lead to greater tire
wear and will affect driving
behavior.
Do not drive on
winter tires year -round, as this
will consume up to 10% more fuel.
Eliminate unnecessary weight
Since every pound of extra weight increases fuel
consumption, a quick inspection of the luggage
compartment may be worth it to avoid unneces -
sary weight.
.,.
65

Driving
When not being used, a roof rack should be re­moved to decrease the wind resistance of the ve­
hicle. You will save approximately 12% of your
fuel when at speeds from 62- 7 5 mph
(100-120 km/h) .
Save energy
The engine drives the generator, which generates
electricity ; the fuel consumption also increases
with the demand for electricity. Therefore, switch electrical equipment off when you no longer
need it. Examples of equipment that uses a lot of
energy are air blowers at a high setting, the rear
window defogger and seat heating* .
@ Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after
starting. If warning lights should come on to
ind icate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces
heat, which could result in overheating or
other damage to the vehicle or other proper-
ty.
@ Note
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and
in accordance with the service recommenda­
tions in your Warranty
& Maintenance book­
let. Lack of proper maintenance as well as
improper use of the vehicle will impair the
function of the emission control system and
could lead to damage.
- Do not alter or remove any component of
the Emission Control System unless ap­ proved by the manufacturer .
- Do not alter or remove any device , such as
heat shields, switches, ignition wires,
valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Emission Control System and other important vehicle components .
@ Tips
The consumption estimates as published by
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre­
spond to your actual consumption on the
road, which will vary depending upon vehicle
66
load and speed, road and weather conditions ,
trip length, etc.
Steering
Manual steering wheel position adjustment
Applies to: vehicles with manual steering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel posi tion is adjustable up and
down and forward and back .
Fig. 75 Lever on th e stee ring column
.,. Pull the lever in the direction of the arrow
~A -
... Bring the steering wheel into the desired posi­
tion .
.,. Push the lever against the steering column un ­
til it is secure.
A WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjustment
and improper seating position can cause seri­
ous personal injury.
-Adjust the steering wheel column only when
the vehicle is not moving to prevent loss of
vehicle control.
-Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so
that there is a minimum of 10 in (25 cm)
between your chest and the steering wheel
~page 126, fig. 138. If you cannot main­
tain this minimum distance, the airbag sys­
tem cannot protect you properly .
- If physical limitations prevent you from sit­
ting 10 in (25 cm) or more from the steer­
ing wheel, check with your authorized Audi
dealer to see if adaptive equipment is avail-
able.
.,.

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" N .... 0 0 \.J ' instrument cluster display. The needle in the
tachometer also moves into the
READ Y posi­
t ion
ll .
~ The eng ine starts aga in when you take your
foot off the brake pedal. The ind icator light
turns off.
Additional inf ormation
The engine stops in the P, N and D se lector lever
positions.
I f you select the R pos ition dur ing a stop phase,
the engine will start again .
Shift to P q uickl y to p revent t he engine from
starti ng u ninten tiona lly w hen s hift ing t hrough R .
You can determ ine for yourself if the eng ine will
stop or not by reducing or increas ing the amount
of force you use to press the bra ke pedal. For ex­
ample, if you only lig htly press on t he b rake ped­
a l in stop-and -go traff ic or w hen tu rning, the en ­
gine will not switch
off when the vehicle is sta ­
tionary . As soon as yo u press the brake down
harder, the eng ine will switch off.
(D Tips
-Press the b rake pedal during a Stop p hase
to keep the ve hicle from rolling.
-The ignition wi ll tu rn off if you press the
I START E NGINE STOP ! button during a stop
phase . The need le in the tachomete r moves
i nto the
OFF position.
General information
App lies to: ve hicles with Start/Stop system
The standard Start/Stop mode can be canceled
for various system-related reasons.
Engine does not switch off
B efore and d urin g e ach stop phase , the system
checks if certa in con ditions have been me t. If the
@j indicator light appears in the instrument cl us­
ter disp lay, the engine will not be stopped, for
examp le in the fo llow ing s ituations:
ll Ma rket -specific
Driving
-The engine has not reached the minim um re ­
quired temperature for Sta rt/Stop mode.
-The interior temperature selec ted by the cli -
mate control system has not been reached .
-The outside tempe ra ture is ex tremely high/low.
-The winds hield is bei ng defros ted® .
-The parking system * is sw itched on .
-The vehicle battery charge level is too low .
-The steering wheel is tu rned at a sharp angle o r
is moving.
-After engaging the reverse gear.
-On sharp inclines .
Engine automatically restarts
The standard Start/S top mode w ill be can celed
dur ing a stop phase in the followi ng si tuatio ns.
T he eng ine restarts wi thout any action by the
driver .
-The vehi cle ro lls, fo r example whi le on a slope .
-The inte rior tempe rature d iffers from t he tem-
pe ra ture selected in the A/C system.
-The winds hield is bei ng defrosted® .
-The brake peda l is pressed severa l times in a
row .
-The vehicle battery charge level is too low.
-Power consumption is high.
T he eng ine can turn off aga in when the cond i­
tions for Start/Stop mode are met.
Ignition is switched off automatically
T o p reve nt the vehicle battery from dra ining, the
i gni tion will switc h off
automaticall y under the
f o llow ing co nditions:
-The vehicle has already been dr iven .
-The Start/Stop system has stopped the engine .
-The driver's door is opened .
-The driver's safety belt is unbuckled.
-The brake peda l is not pressed .
-The vehicle is stat ion ary.
In this case, the activated low beam is replaced
by the pa rk ing light. The par kin g lights wi ll
swi tch off afte r approx imately 30 m inutes o r
whe n you lock t he ve hicle.
71

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" N .... 0 0 \.J - Trailer towing Driving with a trailer
General information
Your veh icle is primar ily intended for transport­
ing people and luggage. However, if you dr ive
with a trailer, follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg­
u lations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle 's fuel
consumption, performance and wear. It also re­
quires highe r concentration from the driver.
A WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Certain requirements must be met when towing
a trailer.
Trailer hitch
Only use a trailer hitch with a removab le ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be perm itted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pu lled. Above all, it must be secure ly and safe ly
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. A lways follow the instructions given by
the trai ler hitch manufacturer .
Trailer brakes
If the tra iler has its own brake system, then fol­
l ow the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Trailer towing
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The coo ling sys­
tem must be designed for additiona l load and
contain enough coo lant
i::> @ .
@ Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitab le cooling system, especia lly if t he out­
side temperatures are high . otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
Operating instructions
Several things must be noted when towing a
trailer.
Towing capacity
Your vehicle can only be operated with class 1 or
class 2 trailers.
Load distribution
Poor cargo load and distribut ion can negatively
impact vehicle handling.
- Store objects preferably in the vehicle luggage
compartment . The vehicle should always carry
the heaviest poss ible load and the trailer
should have the lightest possible load.
- Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heavy objects are as close to the axle as poss i­
b le.
- Secure objects from sl iding out of place .
- Ut ilize the maximum permitted tongue weight
if possible .
Tires
Set the tire pressure on your vehicle for a "full
load"; see the tire pressure sticker
c::>page 211.
If necessary, also adjust the tire pressure on the
trailer according to the manufacturer's recom­ mendat ion .
Winter tires should be mounted on the vehicle and on the trailer during winter temperatures.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the tra ffic behind the trailer
with the standard exterior mirrors, then you
81

Trail er to wing
must attach additiona l exterior mirrors . Adjust
them so you have a sufficient visibility behind
you .
Exterior lighting
Follow the lega l regulat ions regard ing the light ­
ing eq uipment on your trailer . Conta ct an author ­
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili­
ty for more information.
Before start ing to drive, check a ll l ight ing equip­
men t on the hitc hed trailer.
The headlig ht range contro l adjusts automatical­
ly to the light range of the headl ights.
Safe ty chain s
Make su re the safety chains are correctly applied
when pulling a trailer . The chains should hang
enough so t hat the trailer can dr ive around
curves. However, they must not touch the
g round .
Air su spension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The air suspension must be at the standard vehi­
cle height before you set the tongue weight on
the trailer a nd h itch the trailer ¢@ ,
¢page 106,
Raising/lowering the vehicle .
For ve hicles w ith a factory-installed tra iler hitch,
the air suspension trailer mode will automat ically
sw itch on if you connect the trailer cable to the
socket.
F or ve hicles w ith a retro fitted trailer hitch, you
must switch on the air suspension trailer mode
manually . Select in the Infota inment system:
ICARI function button > ( Car )* s yste m s contro l
button
> V ehicle setting s > Air su spen sion : trail ­
e r > On .
Switch it off again after tow ing a tra ile r.
You can also switch off tra iler mode ma nually
while driving , for example, when using a bicycle
rac k system .
If you have to drive through difficult road condi­
tions , you can raise the vehicle aga in after hitch­
ing the t rai ler or after adjust ing the tongue
weight .
82
@ Note
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
-Changes i n temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle .
- Set the air suspension to the standard veh i­
cle he ight, otherwise the applicable tongue
we ight no longer appl ies to your veh icle .
(D Tips
-Use chocks when park ing on inclines if the
trai ler is loaded.
- We recommend also hav ing the vehicle in­
spected between the inspection intervals if
you are towing a trailer frequently .
- Avoid driv ing with a trai ler dur ing the veh i­
cle break-in per iod.
Driving with a trailer
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.
Sp eed
Adhere to t he lega l speed lim its . Fo llow the legal
regu lat ions
sp ecific to the country.
As the speed increases, the dr iv ing stab il ity of
t h e tra ile r decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the max imum lega l speed lim it w hen
t h ere are unfavorab le road, weather and/or wind
conditions. This especia lly applies when driving
downh ill.
Yo u m ust always red uce your speed as soon as
you notice even the slightest swinging motion o f
the trai ler . Never try to "straight en out" the trai l­
er by acce lerating.
The we ight d istr ibution is very poor if the vehicle
is empty and the trai ler is loaded. However if you
must drive under these circumstances, then drive
especially slowly .
Brakes
B rake in a time ly manner. Downs hift befo re dr iv ­
i ng down hill so that the engine can assist with
braking ¢&. .
When using a trailer w it h over run bra kes, fi rst
bra ke gently t hen q uick ly. This red uces the r isk of
j erking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up .
IIJJ,,

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" N .... 0 0 \,;J ' Wear Brake pad
wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
This is especially true if you are driving frequently
in the city and on curves or with a sporty driving
style.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity.
Effect of water and road salt
In certain situations, for example after driving
through water, in heavy ra in, after overnight con­
densat ion or after washing your car, the braking
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads. The brakes must be
"dried" first with a few careful brake applica ­
tions.
At higher speeds and with the windshie ld wipers
turned on, the brake pads press against the brake rotors for a short amount of time. This action,
which is not felt by the driver, happens at regular
intervals and ensures a better reaction time for
the brakes in wet weather .
The braking effect can also be reduced if you are
driving on salted roads and you do not apply the brakes for long periods of time. The layer of salt
on the brake rotors and pads must be worn off
f ir st when the brakes are applied.
Corrosion
Leaving the vehicle parked for long periods of
time, low mileage and avo iding heavy brak ing
can contribute to corrosion on the brake rotors
and to d irty brake pads .
If you usually avoid heavy braking or if there is
corros ion present, occasional heavy braking at
high speeds is recommended to clean the brake
rotors and
pads¢ &..
Brake system malfunction
If you notice that the brake pedal travel has sud­
denly
increased, then a brake circuit in the dual­
circu it brake system may have malfunct ioned.
Drive to an authorized Aud i dealer or authorized
Intelligent Technology
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
problem corrected. On the way there, drive with
reduced speed and keep in mind that you will
need a longer distance to stop and you will need
to press the brake peda l harder.
Low brake fluid level
When the brake fluid level is low, malfunctions in
the brake system may occur . The brake fluid level
is e lectronically monitored.
Brake booster
T he brake booster amplifies the press ure you ap­
ply to the brake pedal. It on ly works w hen the en­
gine is running.
A WARNING
-
-Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic cond itions permit. You must not en­
danger other road users. This increases the
risk of an accident .
- Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident .
- New brake pads do not ach ieve the ir full
braking effect dur ing the first 250 m i
(400 km). They must be "broken in" first .
However, you can compensate fo r the
slightly reduced braking force by pressing
firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy b rak­
ing during the break -in period.
- Ce rtain weather and operating conditions
such as driving through water, dr iv ing in
heavy rain or driving after washing your ve ­
hicle can impair the effectiveness of the
brakes. In the winter, ice may build up on
the brake pads, rotors and drums. Check
these components by braking carefully. Ap­
plying the brakes carefully several times
dries the brakes and removes ice build-up .
- The efficiency of the brakes can also be im­
pa ired by dr iv ing for long stretches on roads
covered with salt without using the brakes.
You can remove salt deposits from the
brake rotors and pads by carefully applying
the brakes several times.
121

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" N .... 0 0 \,;J ' Checking and Filling Fuel
Gasoline grade
A pplies to: ve hicles with gasoline engines
The correct gasoline grade is stated on the inside
of the fuel filler door .
The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter
and must only be driven with
unleaded gasoline .
Audi recommends using TOP TIER Detergent Gas­
oline. Additiona l information on TOP TIER Deter­
gent Gasoline can be found on the official web­
site (www .topt iergas.com).
The individual gasoline grades are differentiated
by
octane ratings. T his value is given with (R +M)/
2 equating to AKI or in RON.
The following headings match the corresponding
sticker in the fuel fi ller door.
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY MIN. (R+M)/2 87
Regular/ MIN. RON 91 Regular
Use regu lar gasoline with minimum 87 AKI/
91 RON
i::> (@ .
The maximum engine power is only reached if
premium gasoline 91 AKI/ 95 RON is used.
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY PREMIUM MIN . (R
+M)/2 91 / SUPER MIN. RON 95
Using premium gasoline with minimum 91 AKI/
95 RON is recommended.
If premium gasoline is not available, you can also
use regular gasoline 87 AKI/ 91 RON . However
this does reduce the engine power slightly.
({D) Note
-Fill in g the tank just one time with leaded
fuel or other metallic additives will cause
permanent deterioration to the catalytic
converter function.
- When gasoline with an octane rating that is
too low is used, high speeds or heavy engine
load can lead to eng ine damage.
Checking and Filling
(D Tips
The vehicle may be filled with fuel that has a
higher octane rating than what is required by
the engine .
Blended gasoline
Applies to : vehicles wi th gasoli ne e ngi ne
Use of gasoline containing alcohol or MTBE
(methyl tertiary butyl ether)
You may use unleaded gasoline blended with al ­
coho l or MTBE (commonly referred to as oxygen­
ates) if the blended mixture meets the following
criteria:
Blend of gasoline methanol (wood alcohol or
methyl alcohol)
-Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
- Blend must contain no more than
3% metha-
nol.
- Blend must contain more than
2% co-solvents.
Blend of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol or
ethyl alcohol)
-Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
- Blend must not conta in more than
15% etha-
nol.
Blend of gasoline and MTBE
- Anti -knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
- Blend must not contain more than
15% MTBE.
Seasonally adjusted gasoline
Many gasoline grades are blended to perform es­
pecially well for winter or summer dr iving . Dur­
ing seasonal change-over, we suggest that you
fill up at busy gas stat ions where the seasonal
adjustment is more likely to be made in time .
@ Note
-Methanol fuels which do not meet these re­
quirements may cause corrosion and dam­
age to plast ic and rubbe r components in the
fuel system.
- Do not u se fuels that fail to meet the speci-
fied criteria in this chapter.
.,.
185

Checking and Filling
-If you a re unable to determine whether or
not a particular fuel blend meets the speci­
fications, ask your service station or its fuel
supplier.
- Do not use fuel for which the contents can­
not be identified.
- Fuel system damage and performance prob­
lems resulting from the use of fuels differ­
ent from those specified a re not the respon­
sibility of Audi and are not covered under
the New Vehicle or the Emission Control System Warranties.
- If you experience a loss of fuel economy or
driveability and performance problems due
to the use of one of these fuel blends , we
recommend that you switch to unblended
fuel.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufactur­
ers is carbon deposit build-up caused by the type
of gasoline you use.
Although gasoline grades differ from one manu­
facturer to another, they have certain things in
common. All gasoline grades contain substances
that can cause deposits to collect on vital engin e
parts, such as fuel injectors and intake valves. Al­
though most gasoline brands include additives to keep engine and fuel systems clean, they are not
equally effective .
Audi recommends using TOP TI ER Dete rgent Gas­
oline. For more information on TOP TIER Deter­
gent Gasoline , please go to the official website
(www .toptiergas .com) .
After an extended per iod of us ing inadequate
fuels, carbon deposit build-ups can rob your
en­
gine of peak performance.
(D Note
Damage or malfunction due to poor fuel qual­
ity is not covered by the Audi New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
186
Refueling
Fueling procedure
Fig. 172 R ig ht re ar sid e o f th e ve hicle: o penin g th e fu el
filler door
Fig. 173 F uel fille r doo r with at tached fuel cap
The fuel filler door is unlocked or locked by the
central locking system.
.,. Press on the left side of the fuel filler door to
open
~ fig. 172.
.,. Unscrew the tank cap counterclockwise .
.,. Place the cap from above on the open fuel filler
door
~ fig.173.
.,. Insert the fuel pump nozzle all the way into the
fuel filler neck .
.,. Begin fueling. Once the fuel pump nozzle turns
off the first time, the fuel tank is full. Do not
continue fueling, or else the expansion space in
the tank will be filled with fuel.
.,. After the fuel pump has switched off, wait five
seconds before removing it to allow the rest of
the fuel to finish dripping into the fue l tank.
.,. Turn the fuel cap clockwise until you hear it
lock.
.,. Close the fuel filler door and then press on the
left side until it latches.
The correct fuel type for your vehicle can be
found on a label located on the inside of the fuel
.,.