2018 AUDI A6 brakes

Intelligent Technology
driving too close to objects ahead . The ESC
and its integrated systems cannot always prevent coll isions
-there is still a risk of ac­
cidents!
- Press the accelerator pedal carefully when
accelerating on even, slippery surfaces such as ice and snow . The drive wheels can spin
even when these control systems are instal-
Switching on /off
led and this can affect driving stability and
increase the risk of a collision.
(D Tips
-ABS and ASR only function correctly when
all four wheels are equipped with identical
tires. Different tire sizes can lead to a reduc­
tion in engine power.
- You may hear noises when the systems de­
scribed are working.
ESC turns on automatically when you start the engine .
Fig. 137 Ce nter con sole: OF F~ button
ESC levels
Sport mode on
The following examples are unusual situations
where it may make sense to switch sport mode
on in order to allow the wheels to spin:
- Rock ing the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
- Dr iving in deep snow or on loose ground
- Driving with snow chains
Sport mode off
Behavior
The ESC and ASR stabilization f unctions Th
e fu ll stabilization f unction of the ESC
are limited
~ &. . and ASR is avai lab le again.
Operating Press the I~ O FF I button . Press the I~ OF F! button again .
Indicator filturns on. . turns off.
lights
Messages Stabilization control (ESC): Sport Warn-Stabilization control (ESC): On
ing! Reduced stability
A WARNING
-Only switch sport mode on when your driv­
ing abilities and the traffic situation permit,
because there is a risk of sliding .
- The stabilization function is limited when
sport mode is switched on. The driving
wheels could spin and the vehicle could
swerve, espec ially on slick or slippery road
surfaces .
120
-
{l) Tips
Sport mode cannot be switched on if the
cruise control system* or adaptive cruise con­
tro l* is switched on .
Brakes
New brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braki ng
effec t during the first 2SO mi (400 km). They
must be "broken in" first.

a co .... N
" 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

Intellig ent T echn olo gy
- If the front spoiler is damaged or you insta ll
another spoiler, make sure the front wheel
brakes are venti lated properly. Otherwise,
the brake system could overheat, wh ich re­
duces the ir effectiveness .
- Failure of a brake circuit impairs braking
performance, which increases brak ing dis­
tance. Avoid driving the vehicle and have it
towed it to the nearest author ized Audi
dealer or author ized A udi Se rvice Fac il ity.
- If the brake booster is not working, you will
have to press muc h ha rde r on the bra ke
peda l to compe nsate for the lack of the
booste r.
0 Note
- Neve r let the brakes "rub" by press ing the
pedal light ly when bra kin g is not actually
ne cessa ry. Th is ca u ses the brakes to over ­
hea t an d increases bra king d istance and
causes wear.
- B efo re dr iv ing downh ill a long distance on a
steep hi ll, de crease your speed and se lec t a
l ower gear . This makes use of the engine
braking effect and relieves the brakes . If
you need to brake additionally, brake in in­
tervals and not continuously.
(D Tips
- If the brake booster is not working, you
must press the brake pedal with much more
force than normal.
- If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil ­
er, whee l covers or s imilar items, make sure
that the a ir flow to the front whee ls is not
i nterrupted. Otherw ise the brake system
can become too hot .
Electromechanical
steering, dynamic
steering
The electromechanical steering supports the
driver's steering movements.
Power steering adapts electronically based on
the vehicle speed.
122
Indicator lights and me ssag es
• Do n ot driv e vehi cle: Ste ering d efe ctiv e
If this indicator light turns on and stays on and
t hi s message appears, the power steering may
have failed.
Stop the veh icle in a safe location as soon as pos ­
s ible. Do
n o t continue driving . See an authorized
Audi dealer or author ized Audi Service Fac ility for
ass ista nce.
kr-D S te ering: System fault You can cont inu e
dri ving
If the indicator light turns on and the message
appears, the steering wheel may be more d iffi­
cult to move or more sensitive than usual. The
steering wheel may also be at an angle when
driv ing stra ight.
Drive slowly to an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Aud i Serv ice Facility to have the mal ­
funct ion corrected.
l;rfl D ynamic steer ing: Init ializing
If the indicator light is blinking and this message
appears, dynamic steering* is being initialized.
The steering wheel will be easy to move after
start ing the engine. Re-initialization might be
necessary if the steering wheel was moved hard
to the left and r ight while the veh icle was not
moving. T he d isplay turns off if the in it ial izat ion
was successful.
(D Tips
- If the . or ':r,y indicator l ight only stays on
for a sho rt time, you may cont inue d riv ing.
- The dynamic steering stability systems
~page 119 are not ava ilable in the event of
a system malfunct ion.
- For add itional information o n dynamic
steering,
see~ page 104 .

Wheel s
Glossary of tire and loading
terminology
Accessory weight
means the combined weight (in
excess of those standard items
which may be replaced) of auto­ matic transmission, power steer­
ing , power brakes , power win­
dows , power seats, radio, and
heater, to the extent that these
items are available as factory-in­
stalled equipment (whether in­
stalled or not).
Aspect ratio
means the ratio of the height to
the width of the tire in percent. Numbers of 55 or lower indicate a
low sidewall for improved steer­
ing response and better overall
handling on dry pavement .
Bead
means the part of the tire that is
made of steel wires, wrapped or
reinforced by ply cords and that is
shaped to fit the rim.
Bead separation
means a breakdown of the bond
between components in the bead.
20 4
Cord
means the strands forming the
plies in the tire.
Cold tire inflation pressure
means the t ire pressure recom­
mended by the vehicle manufac­
turer for a tire of a designated
size that has not been driven for
more than a couple of miles (kilo ­
meters) at low speeds in the
three hour period before the tire pressure is measured or adjusted.
Curb weight
means the weight of a motor ve­
hicle w ith standard equipment in­
cluding the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil, and coolant, ai r condi­
tioning and additional weight of
optional equipment.
E x tra load ti re
means a tire designed to operate
at higher loads and at higher in­
flation pressures than the corre­
sponding standard tire. Extra load
tires may be identified as "X L",
"
l" "EXTRA LOAD" or "RF" on X I I
the sidewall. .,.

Wheels
Production options we igh t
means the combined weight of
those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs.
(2.3 kg) in excess of those stand­
ard items which they replace, not previously considered in curb
weight or accessory weight, in­
cluding heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.
Radial pl y tir e
means a pneumatic tire in which
the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at substantially
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
R ecomm ended in flation
pressure
see ¢ page 204 , Cold tire infla­
tion pressure.
R einforced tire
means a tire designed to operate
at higher loads and at higher in­
flation pressures than the corre­
sponding standard tire . Rein ­
forced tires may be identified as
"XL" "xl" "EXTRA LOAD" or "RF" , , ,
on the sidewall.
206
Rim
means a metal support for a tire
or a tire and tube assembly upon
which the tire beads are seated.
Rim diam eter
means nominal diameter of the
bead seat . If you change your
wheel size, you will have to pur ­
chase new tires to match the new rim diameter .
Rim size designation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim width
means nomina l distance between
r im
flanges .
Sidewall
means that portion of a tire be­
tween the tread and bead .
Speed rating (letter code )
means the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extend­
ed periods of time. The ratings range from 93 mph (150 km/h)
to
186 mph (298 km/h) ¢ table
on page 202 .
You may not find
this information on all tires be­
cause it is not required by law .
The speed rating letter code,
where applicable, is molded on
the tire sidewall and indicates the
...

0 0)
A WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause
loss of vehicle control, a crash
or other accident, serious per­
sonal injury, and even death .
- Carrying more weight than
your vehicle was designed to
carry will prevent the vehicle
from handling properly and
increase the risk of the loss of
vehicle control.
- The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may not
be able to stop the vehicle
within a safe distance .
- Tires on a vehicle that has
been overloaded can fail sud­
denly, including a blowout and
sudden deflation, causing loss
of control and a crash .
- Always make su re that the to­
tal load being transported - inc lud ing the weight of a trail­
er hitch and the tongue
weight of a loaded trailer -
does not make the vehicle
heavier than the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle We ight Rating.
Determining correct load
limit
~ Use the example below to calcu-
"' 8 late the total weight of the pas­s ..
Wheels
sengers and luggage or other
things that you plan to transport so that you can make sure that
your vehicle will not be overload­
ed .
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1 . L ocate the statement "THE
COMB INED WEIGH T OF OCCU­
P ANTS AND CARGO S HOU LD
N EVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX
L BS " on your vehicle's placard
(tire inflation pressure label)
<=> page 211, fig. 187.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and pas ­
sengers that will be riding in
your vehicle .
3 . Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from
"XXX" kilograms or "XXX"
pounds shown on the sticker
<=> page 211, fig . 187 .
4. The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity . For ex ­
ample, if the "XXX" amount
equa ls 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lbs. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
.,.
2 15

Care and cl eaning
- To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself
from sharp metal components when wash­ ing the underbody or the inside of the wheel
housings .
- After washing the vehicle, the braking effect
may be delayed due to mo isture on the
brake rotors or ice in the winter . This in­
c reases the risk of an acc ident. The brakes
must be d ried first w ith a few careful b rake
applica tions.
@ Note
- If you wash the veh icle in an automatic car
wash, you m ust fold the exte rior m irrors i n
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Power folding exte rior m irro rs* must o nly
be fo lded in and out using the powe r folding
funct ion .
- To reduce t he risk of paint damage , do no t
wash the vehi cle i n direct sunlig ht. - T
o red uce the risk of damage to the s urface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitchen
sponges o r similar items .
- Matte finish painted vehicle components:
- To reduce the r isk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use pol ish ing agents or hard
wax.
- Never use protective wax. It can destroy
the matte finish effect .
- Do not place any stickers or magnetic
signs on vehicle parts painted with matte
f inish paint. The paint could be damaged
when the stickers or magnets a re re­
moved.
@ For the sake of the environment
Only wash the veh icle in facilities spec ially de­
s igned for that pu rpose. This will reduce the
r isk of dirty wate r contam inated with o il from
en te ring the sewe r system.
Cleaning and care information
W hen clea ning and ca ring for ind ividua l vehicle
components, refer to the fo llow ing tables. The
information contained there is simply recom­
mendations. For questions or for components t
h at are not listed, cons ult an autho rized Audi
dealer or author ized A udi Servi ce Fac ility. Also
fo llow the information found
in ¢,&. .
Exterior cl eanin g
Component Situation Solution
Wind shield wiper
Deposits soft cloth with glass cleaner,
¢ page 45
blades
Headli ght s/
Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap so lution3
)
Tail light s
S en sors /
Deposits Sensors: soft cloth with solvent-free cleaning solution
cam era l ens es Camera lenses: soft cloth w ith alcohol -free cleaning solu-
tion
Snow/ice Hand brush/solvent-free de -icing spray
Wheels Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution
E
xhaust tail pip es Road salt Water, clean ing solution su itab le for stainless stee l, if nee-
essary
D ecor ativ e part s/ Deposits Mild soap solution a), a cleaning solution suitable for stain-
trim less steel, if necessary
222

Index
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature 24 7
AUTO 4-zone deluxe automatic climate cont rol . . 61
Automatic headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
D eluxe automatic climate control . . . . . . . . 59
Auto Lock (central locking) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Automatic belt retractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 7
Automatic climate control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Key recogn ition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Automatic key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Automatic post-collision braking system . . 119
Autom atic transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Em ergency mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
H ill descent control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Kick-down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Selector lever emergency re lease . . . . . . . . 80
Selector lever pos itions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5
Shifting manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Steer ing whee l with shift paddles . . . . . . . . 78
tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Automatic wipe/wash system . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
Auto Safety Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Average consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B
Battery
Ju mp starting ...... .......... .. .. .. .
also refer to Vehicl e battery .......... .
Before driving
Belt tensioner 239
19 7
125
Drive select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Blended gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Blower (4-zone deluxe automatic climate con-
trol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Blower (deluxe automatic climate control) . . 59
Booster seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Brake assist .. .. ............. .... .. . 119
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Ceram ic brake rotors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
E lect romechan ical park ing brake . . . . . . . . 72
252
Emergency braking function . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 17
New brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Worn brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Braking guard ..... .. .. ............. ... 91
93
Messages
Settings ............................ 93
Break-in security featu re . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Breaking in New brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
N . ew engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
New tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Bu lbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
C
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . . . 190
Battery specific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Capacities Fuel tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Cargo area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Cata lytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
C . k onvernence ey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7
Luggage compartment lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Mechanically locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Panorama glass roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Remote control key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7
Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Su nroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
C entra l locking switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Ceramic brake rotors
New brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 20
Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Changing engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Child res tra ints
Danger of using child res traints in the front
seat............................... 143
Where can I get additiona l information
abo ut child restraints and their use? . . . . 184
Child res traint system anchors . . . . . . . . . . 180