warning lights AUDI A6 2020 User Guide

Lights and Vision


ZA WARNING
Curved mirror surfaces (for example convex)
enlarge the field of vision. However, they
make objects in the mirror appear smaller and
farther away. When using these mirrors to es-
timate your distance to vehicles behind you
when changing lanes, you could estimate in-
correctly, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.
@) Note
— Applies to: vehicles with power folding exte-
rior mirrors: If the mirror housing was
moved by outside forces (such as an impact
when maneuvering), you must use the pow-
er folding function to fold the mirror all the
way out. The mirrors will make a loud noise
when they latch into place. The mirror hous-
ing must not be moved back into place by
hand because this could impair the function
of the mirror mechanism.


— Applies to: vehicles without power folding
exterior mirrors: If the mirror housing was
moved by outside forces (such as an impact
when maneuvering), you must move it back
in place by hand.
— If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Never fold power folding exterior mirrors*
by hand. Only fold them in and out using
the power controls.
G) Tips
— Certain settings are stored automatically in
the active personal profile.
— If the power adjusting function malfunc-
tions, the glass in both mirrors can be ad-
justed by pressing on the edge of it by hand.
Dimming the mirrors
Manual dimming rearview mirror
> Pull the lever on the bottom of the mirror back.
54
Automatic dimming rearview mirror*
> The interior and exterior mirrors dim automati-
cally when light shines on them, for example
from headlights on a vehicle behind you.

Z\ WARNING
— If the glass on an automatic dimming mir-
ror* breaks, electrolyte can leak out. This
liquid can irritate the skin, eyes and respira-
tory system. If there is contact with the flu-
id, flush immediately with plenty of water.
Consult a physician if necessary.
— Repeated or long-term exposure to electro-
lyte fluid can lead to irritation of the air-
ways, especially in people with asthma or
other respiratory conditions. Take deep
breaths immediately after leaving the vehi-
cle or, if this is not possible, open all of the
doors and windows as wide as possible.
— If electrolyte fluid comes into contact with
the eyes, flush them thoroughly with plenty
of clean water for at least 15 minutes and
then seek medical attention.
— If electrolyte fluid comes into contact with
the skin, flush the affected area with clean
water for at least 15 minutes, and then
clean with soap and water and seek medical
attention. Clean affected clothing and shoes
thoroughly before wearing again.
— If the fluid was swallowed and the person is
conscious, flush the mouth with water for at
least 15 minutes. Do not induce vomiting
unless this is recommended by medical pro-
fessionals. Seek medical attention immedi-
ately.

() Note
If the glass on an automatic dimming mirror*
breaks, electrolyte can leak out. This liquid
damages plastic surfaces and paint. Clean
this liquid as quickly as possible, for example
with a wet sponge.
@ Tips
—If the light reaching the rearview mirror is
obstructed, the automatic dimming mirror*
will not function correctly.

Lights and Vision

@ Single wipe. If you hold the lever in this posi-
tion longer, the wipers switch from slow wiping
to fast wiping.
© Clean the windshield “9. The wipers wipe one
time after several seconds of driving to remove
water droplets. You can switch this function off
by moving the lever to position G) within ten sec-
onds of the afterwipe. The afterwipe function is
reactivated the next time you switch the ignition
on.
Clean the headlights*. The headlight washer sys-
tem* operates only when the low beam head-
lights are on. If you move the lever to position
©, the headlights and the night vision assist
camera* are cleaned at intervals.
Applies to: vehicles with rear window wiper: @ -
Wiping the rear window (J. The number of wipes
depends on the windshield wiper movement.
The rear wiper automatically switches on when
the reverse gear is selected and the front wind-
shield wipers are on and running.
Applies to: vehicles with rear window wiper: @) -
Cleaning the rear window @. The number of
wipes depends on how long the lever is held in
position (8). This may also clean the rearview
camera, depending on the vehicle equipment.

Z\ WARNING
— The rain sensor is only intended to assist the
driver. The driver may still be responsible for
manually switching the wipers on based on
visibility
conditions.
— The windshield must not be treated with
water-repelling windshield coating agents.
Under unfavorable conditions, such as wet-
ness, darkness, and when the sun is low,
these coatings can cause increased glare,
which increases the risk of an accident. They
can also cause wiper blade chatter.
— Properly functioning windshield wiper
blades are required for a clear view and safe
driving > page 56, Cleaning/changing wip-
er blades.

56

@) Note
— If there is frost, make sure the windshield
wiper blades are not frozen to the wind-
shield. Switching on the windshield wipers
when the blades are frozen to the wind-
shield can damage the wiper blades.
— Prior to using a car wash, the windshield
wiper system must be switched off (lever in
position @). This prevents the wipers from
switching on unintentionally and causing
damage to the windshield wiper system.
@) Tips
— The windshield wipers switch off when the
ignition is switched off. You can activate the
windshield wipers after the ignition is
switched on again by moving the windshield
wiper lever to any position. The single wipe
function (lever in position @) also functions
when the ignition is switched off.
— Worn or dirty windshield wiper blades result
in streaking. This can affect the rain sensor
function. Check your windshield wiper
blades regularly.
— The washer fluid nozzles for the windshield
washer system are heated when the ignition
is on if the outside temperature is low.
— When stopping temporarily, such as at a
traffic light, the speed of the windshield
wipers automatically reduces by one level.
Cleaning/changing wiper blades


oO a S
g| >
J 3
O—
Fig. 47 Windshield wipers: changing the wiper blades >

4K0012721BD
Lights and Vision

Windshield wiper service position/blade
replacement position
> Switch off the ignition and hold the windshield
wiper lever in position @) > page 55, fig. 45 un-
til the windshield wiper moves into the service
Position.
> To bring the windshield wipers back to the nor-
mal position, switch the ignition on and hold
the windshield wiper lever in position @) until
the windshield wipers go back to the original
position, or drive faster than 8 mph (12 km/h).
You can also turn the service position on or off in
the MMI:
> Switch the windshield wipers off (position @
=> page 55, fig. 45).
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Settings & Service > Wiper posi-
tion.
Cleaning the wiper blades
Requirement: the windshield wipers must be in
the service position.
> Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
> For information on cleaning, see > table on
page 267.
Replacing the wiper blades
Requirement: the windshield wipers must be in
the service position.
> Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
> Press the locking knob (@) on the wiper blade.
Hold the wiper blade firmly.
> Remove the wiper blade from the windshield
wiper arm mount Q).
> Insert the new wiper blade into the mount on
the wiper arm until it clicks into place.
> Place the wiper arm back on the windshield.
> Exit the service position.

ZA WARNING
— For safety reasons, the windshield wiper
blades should be replaced once or twice

each year.


— Dirty windshield wiper blades can impair vi-
sion, which increases the risk of an accident.

() Note
— The windshield wipers must only be folded
up when in the service position! Otherwise,
you risk damaging the paint on the hood or
the windshield wiper motor.
— You should not move your vehicle or press
the windshield wiper lever when the wiper
arms are folded up from the windshield. The
windshield wipers would move back into
their original position and could damage the
hood and windshield.
G) Tips
— You can also use the service position, for ex-
ample, if you want to protect the windshield
from icing by using a cover.
— You cannot activate the service position
when the hood is open.
Cleaning/changing the rear wiper blade
Applies to: vehicles with rear window wiper


[RAZ-0637



Fig. 48 Rear window wiper: installing the wiper blade
Cleaning the wiper blades
>» Fold the wiper arm away from the rear window.
> For information on cleaning, see > table on
page 267.
Removing the wiper blade
> Fold the wiper arm away from the rear window.
> Remove the wiper blade from its holder.
Installing the wiper blade
> Press the wiper blade mount into the retainer.
57
>

Lights and Vision

> Fold the window wiper arm back onto the rear
window.

Z\ WARNING
For safety reasons, the windshield wiper
blades should be replaced once or twice each
year.
Messages
If the & indicator light turns on, then there is a
windshield wiper malfunction. The displayed
message indicates the cause and possible solu-
tions. If one of the messages does not turn off,
drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility to have the mal-
function repaired.

gS Automatic wipers: malfunction! See owner's
manual
The light/rain sensor is malfunctioning. You can
still control all functions that are independent of
the rain sensor through the windshield wiper lev-
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
Digital compass
Switching the compass on and off
Applies to: vehicles with digital compass

BFV-0288

BE
Fig. 49 Rearview mirror: digital compass is switched on

538
> To turn the compass on or off, press the button
@ until the compass display in the mirror turns
on or off.
The digital compass only works when the ignition
is turned on. The directions are indicated with ab-
breviations: N (north), NE (northeast), E (east),
SE (southeast), S (south), SW (southwest), W
(west), NW (northwest).
G) Tips
To prevent inaccurate compass readings, do
not bring any remote controls, electrical devi-
ces or metallic objects near the mirror.

4K0012721BD
Sitting correctly and safely

— The distance between your upper body and the
steering wheel or instrument panel is at least
10 inches (25 cm)
— The distance between your knees and the in-
strument panel is at least 4 inches (10 cm)
— Your thighs are lightly supported by the front
surface of the seat
— The backrest is in an upright position and your
back
is resting against it
— You have a sufficient view of the area around
the vehicle
— You have a clear view of the instrument cluster,
indicator lights, and the head-up display*
Seat settings menu: quick access
Applies to: vehicles with seat settings in the MMI
If you press on the image of the driver's or front
passenger's seat in the climate control system
menu © page 88, fig. 84 @, you will go directly
to the seat settings for that seat.

to use the pedals if sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers were needed, which increas-
es the risk of an accident.
— Make sure that the floor mats are always se-
curely attached.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, never place
additional floor mats or other floor covers
over the installed floor mats, because this
reduces the pedal's range of motion and can
impair pedal operation.
—To reduce the risk of injury, never place your
feet on the instrument panel, out of the
window, or on the seat surfaces. This also
applies to passengers in the rear seats.


Z\ WARNING
— If you are too close to the steering wheel or
instrument panel, the airbag system cannot
provide the optimal protection, which in-
creases the risk of injury and death.
—To reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking maneuvers or accidents,
never drive with the backrest reclined very
far. The airbag system and seat belts can on-
ly provide optimal protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the driver
is wearing the seat belt correctly. If the
backrest is angled back too far, the safety
belt can shift to soft areas of the body, such
as the stomach, which increases the risk of
injury.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, only adjust
the seats when the vehicle is stationary.
— Be careful when adjusting the seat. Lack of
control or attention when adjusting can re-
sult in injuries due to pinching to vehicle oc-
cupants both in the front seats and rear
seats.
— Never place objects in the driver's footwell.
Objects could shift and enter the area
around the pedals, which could prevent you
from using them. You would then be unable

@) Note
To reduce the risk of damage, be very careful
when adjusting the seat to make sure the
head restraints do not come into contact with
the headliner or the sunroof*.
G@) Tips
At the same time, only move the respective
seat using the controls.


Adjusting the front power seats
You can adjust the basic settings using the but-

RAZ.0172
tons.
CO.
oS



Fig. 51 Front seat: seat adjustment buttons
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Adjusting the seat position
> To move the seat forward or backward, push
the button @) forward or backward.
61

4K0012721BD
Sitting correctly and safely



— Do not position the safety belt over hard or
breakable objects (such as glasses, pens,
GiKe)),
— The lap belt portion of the safety belt must
sit as low as possible on the lap of pregnant
women and lie flat under the belly.

@) Note
Make sure that there are no hook-and-loop
fasteners or sharp objects such as zippers or
rivets on clothing in the area where the safety
belt is worn. Otherwise, the safety belt could
be damaged.
Fastening and unfastening safety belts


,
|
B4H-0462
aS


\
B4H-0270


Fig. 60 Releasing the belt buckle from the belt latch
Follow the safety precautions > page 65.
Fastening the safety belt
> Pull the safety belt by the belt buckle evenly
across your chest and lap.
> Insert the belt buckle in the belt latch belong-
ing to the seat until it audibly engages
> fig. 59.
> Pull on the belt to make sure that the belt is se-
curely locked in the latch.
Unfastening the safety belt
> Press the red button on the belt latch > fig. 60.
The belt buckle will pop out.
> Guide the belt back by hand so that the safety
belt can roll up more easily.
SEA leet RS etna
B- If the indicator light turns on or flashes, a
safety belt is not fastened or it has been unfas-
tened while the vehicle is in motion. Above cer-
tain speeds, additional warning tones will sound.
Depending on the equipment, the safety belts in
the rear may also be monitored using the follow-
ing indicator lights:
aI - If this indicator light turns on, the safety
belt for the corresponding rear seat is not fas-
tened.
Ba - If this indicator light turns on, the safety
belt for the rear seat has been fastened.
g- If this indicator light turns on with a white
light, the safety belt for the rear seat has been
fastened. If the indicator light flashes or turns
gray, a safety belt in the rear is not fastened or
has been unfastened while the vehicle is in mo-
tion.
Adjusting the height of the safety belt

B4G-0004



Fig. 61 Belt height adjustment for the front seats - safety
belt relay
> To move the belt higher, slide the safety belt re-
lay @ upward.
> To move the belt lower, press the release but-
ton @ and slide the safety belt relay @) down-
ward.
67
>

Driving

Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle from rolling by setting the parking
brake and select the “P” gear.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the indicator
light EG Zz @ turns on briefly to check the
function. If the indicator light does not turn on,
there is a system malfunction.
If Bile / B® stays on, there is a malfunction in
the brake system.
If is displayed when there is a malfunction,
the brakes were under heavy load. Follow the in-
structions in the message to utilize the engine
braking effect and to relieve the brakes.

ZA\ WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.

Electromechanical
parking brake
Operating the parking brake
The electromechanical parking brake is used to
secure the vehicle from rolling away unintention-
ally.
The ©) switch is located under the selector lever
in the center console. It turns on when the park-
ing brake is set. You can release the parking brake
manually or automatically when you start to
drive.
Setting and releasing the parking brake
> Setting: pull the ©) switch.
> 1¢ a / o appears, the parking brake is hold-
ing the vehicle. You can remove your foot from
the brake pedal.
104
> Releasing: when the ignition is switched on,
press and hold the brake pedal and press the ©)
button.
If the red indicator light flashes, the braking
force has not built up enough or it has decreased.
You can also secure the vehicle by selecting the
“P” gear or pressing the brake pedal. Make sure
the indicator light is off before you start driving.
Automatically releasing the parking brake
when starting to drive
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed
and the driver’s safety belt must be fastened.
> Press the accelerator pedal to start to drive.

ZA\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of an accident, always
make sure the vehicle is situated safely
while stationary.
— If the parking brake is set, it can release au-
tomatically when the accelerator pedal is
pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,
do not inadvertently press the accelerator
pedal and always shift into “P” when the ve-
hicle is stopped.
— If the power supply fails, you cannot set the
parking brake once it is released, or release
it if it is set. In this case, park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it by engaging the
"P” gear. Contact an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility for assis-
tance.

G) Tips
— On steep inclines, especially when in trailer
mode, the vehicle may roll backwards unin-
tentionally when starting to drive. To re-
duces the risk of this happening, pull and
hold the ©) switch while pressing the accel-
erator pedal. If enough drive power has
built up at the wheels and the vehicle does
not roll backwards, then release the switch
to start to drive.
— If you leave the vehicle when “D” or “R” are
engaged, the parking brake will be set auto-
matically.

4K0012721BD
Driving

there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the

full braking effect will be restored.

@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system, can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
Lele
G) Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
Hill descent assist
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist
The “& button is located in the function bar on
the lower display. It lights up when the system is
turned on.
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “2 again.
Active regulation
Regulation begins shortly after you start driving
and is possible at speeds up to approximately 19
mph (30 km/h) and on hills that have an approxi-
mately 6-60% grade. If these conditions are met,
regulation will be activated and the Ba indicator
light will turn on.
Ready mode
If one of the requirements for active regulation is
not met, the system will be in ready mode. The
indicator
light will turn on. Once the require-
ments are met again, the system will be able to
provide active regulation again.

ZA WARNING
— Be ready to apply the brakes at all times
when using the hill hold assist.
— Always adjust the speed to the visibility,
weather, road, and traffic conditions. The
system cannot replace the driver's atten-
tion.
— The system cannot maintain a constant vehi-
cle speed in all situations, for example when
on smooth or slippery ground. This can in-
crease the risk of an accident.
@) Tips
If you select the Audi drive select* offroad
mode, hill descent assist will switch on.

107

Driving dynamic

— Applies to: allroad: driving downhill while brak-
ing on loose ground
— Applies to: allroad: Driving with axle articula-
tion
Limiting ESC (Sport/Offroad mode)
—To limit the ESC, press the So button briefly.
The B indicator light turns on.
— To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
light turns off.
When ESC is limited, allroad models switch to
Offroad mode. All other model versions switch to
Sport mode. Sport mode is particularly suited for
driving on an even road surface. Offroad mode is
designed for uneven terrain or loose ground.
Switching off ESC
—To switch off the ESC, press and hold the or
button for more than three seconds. The B
and IESC OFF| indicator lights turn on.
— To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
lights turn off.

Z\ WARNING
— When the ESC is switched off or limited,
there will be no vehicle stabilization or it will
be limited. The driving wheels could spin
and the vehicle could swerve, especially on
slick or slippery road surfaces, which in-
creases the risk of an accident.
— Because of the increased risk of an accident,
only drive with the ESC switched off or Limit-
ed when it is necessary. Reactivate the ESC
as soon as possible.

@ Tips
— If the ESC is limited, switched off, or mal-
functioning, systems with an automatic
braking intervention function may not be
fully available.
— If malfunctions occur in other systems or
certain driver assist systems are active, the
ESC must be switched on by the system. The
ESC
may switch on automatically and can-
not be operated with the button.
114
B fs / B © Stabilization control (ESC/
ABS): malfunction! See owner's manual
There is a malfunction in the ABS or EDL. This al-
so causes the ESC to malfunction. The brakes still
function with their normal power, but ABS is not
active.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.

Trailer towing

you are operating the vehicle. Contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty for more information.
Before you start driving, check all lighting equip-
ment on the trailer while it is hitched to the vehi-
cle.
The headlight range control automatically ad-
justs the light range of the headlights.
Safety chains
Make sure the safety chains are correctly applied
when pulling a trailer. The chains should hang
enough so that the trailer can drive around
curves. However, they must not touch the
ground.
Air suspension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The Audi drive select* comfort mode > page 108
must be selected before you adjust the tongue
weight on the trailer and hitch the trailer >@,
=> page 109.
Likewise, the vehicle cannot be raised manually
using the Raise function > page 109.
For vehicles with a retrofitted trailer hitch, you
must switch on the air suspension trailer mode
manually.
Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Air suspension:
trailer.
Switch it off again when you are no longer towing
a trailer.
When using carrier systems that are mounted di-
rectly on the trailer hitch ball head, you can also
switch trailer mode off manually.
If you must drive on roads that are in poor condi-
tion, you can raise the vehicle again after hitching
the trailer or after adjusting the tongue weight
=> page 109.
Applies to: allroad: You can also increase ground
clearance by selecting the Audi drive select* off-
road or allroad modes > page 108.
116
Vehicle levels below the values set in the Com-
fort level will no longer be available, even if you
are lowering the vehicle manually.

Z\ WARNING
— Never turn off trailer mode while driving
when a trailer is hitched, because then the
restrictions for controlling the vehicle level
will be turned off.
— Driving with a trailer on unpaved roads when
the vehicle is raised may change the vehicle
handling. Adapt your speed.
— Note that the vehicle will lower automatical-
ly at certain speeds if you have lifted the ve-
hicle manually.
@) Note
— Applies to: vehicles with air suspension: Se-
lect the Audi drive select* comfort mode.
Otherwise, the tongue load specified for
your vehicle will no longer be applicable.
— Attachments retrofitted on the vehicle may
cause damage, especially on the trailer
hitch ball head. In cases of damage, have
the function checked by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
@) Tips
— Block the wheels with chocks when parking
on inclines if the trailer is loaded.
— Having the vehicle inspected between the
inspection intervals is recommended if you
tow a trailer frequently.
— Avoid driving with a trailer during the vehi-
cle break-in period.
Driving with a trailer
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.

Speed
Adhere to the legal speed limits. Follow the legal
regulations that are applicable in the country
where you are operating the vehicle.
As the speed increases, the driving stability of
the trailer decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the maximum legal speed limit when >