warning light AUDI A6 2011 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: AUDI, Model Year: 2011, Model line: A6, Model: AUDI A6 2011Pages: 370, PDF Size: 87.15 MB
Page 260 of 370

Trailer towing
"---------------------------------------------------
Speed
T he higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not dr ive at the max imum permiss ible speed.
Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions are
unfavorable -part icu larly when go ing downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the tra iler shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for veh icles towing
trailers are lower than for regu lar vehicles.
Always apply brakes early. When driv ing dow nhill, shift in to a lower
gear to use the eng ine braking effect to slow the veh icle. Use of the
bra kes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Coolant temperature
Th e coolant temperature gauge~ page 8 must be observed care
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing
_f_ , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving vehicle is at a much
greater risk in an accident. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wearing the restraints provided by Audi.•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
------------
Your vehicle handles differently when tow ing a trailer because of the
additiona l weight and different weight distribution. Safety, perfor- mance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you load
your trailer and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopp ing and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing until you have
become completely familiar with the way your vehicle-t railer comb i
nation behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a trailer
generally requires steering action oppos ite to that when backing up
your vehicle without a trai ler.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front
of you. You will need more room to stop. To compensate for the
trailer, you will need a larger than normal turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you normally would because of the added load . Make sure you have
enoug h room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky sta rts, sharp tur ns or rapid lane changes.
W Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in per iod of your veh icle.
• If you tow a trai ler, your Audi may require more frequent mainte
nance due to the extra load
~ page 346. •
Parking on a slope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
- Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and the
trailer wheels . ._
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Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicl e val ue.
Any automobile is exposed to industria l fumes, co rrosive road salt,
e tc. A well ca red for Audi c an look lik e new many ye ars after pur cha se.
Regu lar and correct care w ill contribute to mai nta in ing t he bea uty
a nd valu e of your Au di.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warranty claim should corrosion damage or paint defects occur.
Yo ur au thori zed Audi d eale r h as a var iety of dedicated vehicle-care
products
and can advise w hich ones to use for clea ning the exterior
a n d inter io r of your ve hicle.
W het her you use products recommended by Aud i or other comme r
cia lly availab le cleaning agents , please make sure yo u appl y them
co rrectly .
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous . Keep them out of the reach
of children.
• Heed all caution labels .
• Always read directions on the container before using any
product. Follow the directions carefully.
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
diluted .
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated areas.
• Do not use gasoline, kero sene , diesel fuel , nail polish remover
or other volatile fluids . They may be toxic, flammable or
hazardous in other ways. Do not wash, wax or dry the vehicle with
the ign ition on or the engine running .
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under sides of chassi s, fenders , wheel covers,
etc. without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut your
self on sharp-edged metal parts.
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking efficiency
~ page 245, "General information ". Test the brakes carefully
each time you wash the vehicle .
'£> For the sake of the environment
Select only envir onmenta lly fr iendly clea ning produc ts . Leftover
cleaning pro ducts sho uld not dis posed of i n the household waste .•
Care of exterior
Washing
F re quent w ashin g protec ts th e vehicle.
T he best protection aga inst env ironmental influences is frequent
w ashi ng and w ax ing. How oft en thi s is requ ired depen ds on :
• How m uch the vehicle is used
• Whe re the ve hicle is parke d (gar age, in the o pen un der tr ees, etc.)
• The seasona l and weather conditions
• Environ mental influences
T he longer bird droppings , insects , tree resin, road and industria l
gr ime, t ar, soo t, road sa lt and o ther ma ter ia ls remain on t he veh icle
body, the more lasti ng their destructive effects w ill be. H igh temper
atu res cause d by ex pos ure to intense s unlight int ensify the co rrosive
effect, part icu larly when humid ity is high as we ll.
~
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0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud o r d ust if the s urface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, s ince this could scratch your
veh icle's pai nt o r win dows.
• Never was h your car in bright sunlight . D rops of water act as
magnifyi ng lenses and may damage your p aint.
• When you was h yo ur car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle w ith
a hose , be careful not to a im the stream of wate r d irect ly at locks, or
at doo r or hatch openings -they can freeze s hut.
• N ever use sponges des igned to remove insects, o r any kitchen
sco uring sponges or s imilar pro ducts. They can damage yo ur paint
fi ni sh.
• N ever use a dry cl oth o r sp on ge to clean t he he adlig hts. Only use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent scratches . It is best to use soapy
water .
For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environme nt, the ve hicl e should on ly be washed
in special wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cle a ning the exterior o f y o ur car with a hi gh-pressure
po we r w ashe r is s afe as long as y ou observe a few simple
ru les.
- Bef ore using the power wa sher, make su re yo u hav e rea d
and unders tood the WAR NIN GS ~
& in "G ener al in for
matio n" o n
pag e 260 .
- Always follow t he o perat in g in struc tions fo r t he power
was her. -
Make sure t hat t he je t o n the spray hose pro duc es a "fan
sha ped spr ay ".
- Do
not ho ld t he spray no zzle too close to so ft mat eria ls.
When cleani ng the vehicle wi th a power washer al ways fo llow the
operat ing inst ruct ions . T his ap plies part icu lar ly to the
operating
pressure
a nd the spraying distance . Keep a distance from soft mate
r ia ls s uch as rubbe r hoses or insulating material as well as sensors
a nd came ra le n ses.
Do not use
a jet wh ich sprays water in a direct stream or one that has
a rotating je t.
W ate r temperature s houl d no t exceed 140
°F (60 °() .
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream.
This could cause invisible damage to the tires and weaken them ,
even if the spray is from a relatively long distance and for a short
time . Damaged and weakened tires can fail and cause accidents
and personal injury .
0 Note
To avo id damagi ng your vehicle , a lways ma ke s ure th at ther e is suffi
cient distance between the s pray head a nd soft mate rials like r ubber
hoses, p las tic pa rt s an d sound -dea den ing ma ter ials. Never ai m the
spray head at the same po int for
a long time. This a lso applies to
cleaning headligh ts a nd pai nte d bu mpe rs. Remember: the close r the
nozzle is to the surface of the material, the greater the stress on the
m at eria l. •
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Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all-purpose cleaning solution or a
mild saddle soap for vinyl trim . Remove water spots and traces of
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub
dry.
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed especially
to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material 's luster and pliability.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
:::> page 260. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners will
attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 260. •
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
- Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone
chips . Scratches should be touched up soon after they occur to
prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the vehicle identification label=>
page 340.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 260. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and carwash
wax buildup.
- Remove snow from windows using a brush.
- Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
- Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on glass cleaner.
- Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.
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The best way to remove snow from w indows and mirrors is to use a
br ush . Use a non- abra sive
plastic ice scraper -better st ill, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from w indows and mirro rs .
T he windows must not be cleaned with insect remover o r wax since
t hese ca n interfere w it h the func tion of the w indshie ld wipe r blades
(chatte r).
O il, g re ase o r silicone resi due c an be remove d with
glass cleaner or
silicone remover. However, wax residue requires the use of a specially
formulated solvent . Please contact your A udi dea ler for advice on safe
prod ucts for wax removal.
Wi ndows s hou ld also be cleaned on the inside at regu lar intervals .
N ever dry wi ndow s w ith t he same ch amo is tha t you use to dry pain ted
surfaces. Wax res idue o n the c hamois ca n impa ir vis ion t hrough t he
w indows.
& WARNING
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent
materials. They can increase glare under poor vis ibility conditions
such as wetness, darkness, or when the sun is low on the horizon .
In addit ion, they can cause the windshield wipe rs to chatter.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 260.
0 Note
• N ever use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
w indows and mir rors . This cou ld c au se the glass to c rac k.
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
a ny adhesive stick ers on the inside of the re ar window ove r the wires .
• T o help prevent dirt from scratching the window, a lways scra pe in
a fo rwa rd direction -pu shing t he s crape r away fro m you -neve r back
and fort h.•
Safety first
Weatherstrips
C om pl ete c ar c are inc ludes the weat her strips as well .
- Ap ply a sui tab le ru bb er co nditio ner to t he we athers tri ps
from time to time .
To be able sea l pro pe rly, the weat hers tr ips arou nd the hood, doo rs,
rear lid, etc. m ust remain pliable. Spray the weathe rst rips with sili
con e or coat them wit h talcu m p owder or glyce rine t o reta in the flex
ibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in t he
wi nter.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 260.
[I) Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the winds hie ld to avoid wiper smear in ra in. •
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) all oy wheels requir e sp ecial c are.
- Wash the whe els wi th a spo nge or h ose bru sh ev er y othe r
w ee k.
- Fo r deep cleaning afterwar ds, use on ly a dedi cated
acid
free cas t all oy whe el cleaner.
- R ub a coat of
liquid wax onto the r ims eve ry three month .
B e su re to reac h an d trea t all parts o f the rim.
To preserve the dec orative appearance of the cast alloy whee ls , some
s pecial care is necessa ry . In add ition to road dirt and s alt , bra ke du st
is a lso corrosive . If left on for too long, brake dust can cause pitt ing . ..,_
Vehicle care Technical data
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Use only special acid-free cleaners formulated for a lloy r ims . Sa fe
pro ducts are availabl e at your A udi de aler. Never leave t he cle aner on
the rims longe r tha n spec ified on the label. If not rinsed off promptly,
the ac id contained in some cleaners can attack the t hreads on the
w heel bolts.
Never use abrasive or metal po lish ing cleaning agents.
If the protec
t ive coa ting ha s been ch ipped, e.g. by k icked up road dirt, touch it up
as soon as possible.
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on brakes may affect braking efficiency
=> page 245, "General information ". Test the brakes carefully
each time you wash the vehicle.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:>page 260 . •
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not need to be checked .
All body cavit ies which cou ld be affected by corrosion have been thor
oughly p rotected at the factory .
Th is sea ling does not require any inspection or additiona l treatment.
If any wax sho uld seep ou t of the cavi ty when the ambien t tempera
ture is h igh, it can be removed w it h a plastic scraper and a suitable
so lvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Benzine is flammable and toxic. If you use benzine for
removing the wa x, keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes
away. Never dump benzine on the ground, into open st reams or
down sewag e drains.
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Be su re to observe all safety and environmental regulations.
Follow all instructions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:>page 260 . •
Chassis
Hav e the undercoa ting checked fo r damage f rom time to
ti me.
The lower body shell of your Audi is a lso thoroughly protected against
c orrosion .
Any damage to the u nde rcoat ing caused by road ha za rds sho uld be
repaire d promptly.
& WARNING
Too mu ch undercoating in the wrong places can caus e a fire.
• Do not apply additional undercoating or rustp roofing on or
near the exhau st manifold , exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. While dr iving, the substance used for undercoating
c ould overheat and cau se a fire.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other info rmation
=:>page 260 . •
E x haust tail pipes
Road s alt and ot her c orrosive mater ials w ill damage the m ate rial in
the exhaust ta il pipes if they a re not cleaned regularly. Do not clean
t he t ail pipes w ith w heel cleaner, p aint polish, chrome po lish or o ther
abrasive cleaners. C lean the tail pipes with car care products that are
sui table for sta inless s teel.
~
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Your authorized Audi dealer can provide cleaning products that have
bee n tested and approved for your veh icle. •
Care of interior
MMI display
- Clean the MMI display with a soft clean cloth and an LCD
cleaner .
The MMI display can be cleaned with a professionally available "LCD
cleaner". The cloth should be slightly dampened with the cleaning
fluid to clean the d isp lay .
0 Not e
To avoid scratching the MMI display, you should never clean it dry. •
MMI control console
- First clean the MMI control console with a brush to
remove dust from the housing.
- Then wipe the MMI control console with a clean, soft,
slightly damp cloth.
T he MM I control console sho uld be cleaned w ith a brush first so that
no dirt is trapped between the buttons and the housing. We recom
mend g iving the MMI contro l conso le a final w ipe with a cloth mois t
ened w ith water and dish washing detergent.
0 Note
To prevent damage, make sure that no fluid ever gets into the MMI
control console .•
Safety first
Aluminum trim
Use only neut ral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
al uminum surfaces. Ch rome care prod ucts and al kaline cleaners w ill
attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over t ime .
& WARNING
Alw ay s re ad and heed all WARNING S and other information
~ page 2 60. •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabr ic coverings (e .g . seats, door trim panels, etc.) should
be clean ed at regular interva ls with a vacuum cl eaner . T his removes
surfa ce di rt pa rt icl es which co uld become embedded in the fabr ic
through use . Steam cleaners should not be used, because the steam
tends to push the d irt deeper into the f abric and lock it there.
Norm al clean ing
Genera lly, we recommend using a soft sponge or a li nt-free
microfiber cloth to the clean fabric. Brushes should on ly be used for
ca rpets and floor mats , since other fab ric surfaces could be ha rmed
by brushes.
No rma l sur face sta ins can be cleaned us ing a commercially avai lab le
foam cleaner. Spread the foam on the surface of the fabr ic with a soft
sponge and work it in gently . Do not saturate the fabric. Then pat the
foam dry using absorbent , dry cloths (e .g. microfiber cloth) and
vacuum it after it has dried comp letely.
Clean ing stains
Sta ins caused by beverages (e .g. coffee, fruit juice, etc.) can be
treated with a mild detergent solut ion. Apply the detergent solut ion
with a sponge . In the case of stubborn stains, a detergent paste can
be applied directly to the stai n and worked into the fabric . After
wards, use copious amounts of clean water to remove the remaining .,.
Vehicle care Technical data
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Cleaning spots
- Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, b loo d) with a n absorben t cloth o r paper towel.
- R emove fresh
grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the clea ner from the leather care kit i f the
spot has not yet penetrated into t he s urface of the
leather.
- Use an oil/grease d isso lv ing spray, if
oil /grease spots
have dried on .
-Remove spec ific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt marker,
fingernai l polish , water-based paint, shoe polish, etc .)
with a spo t remover specifica lly formulated for leather.
Leather care
- Ever y hal f year us e an ap proved leat her car e prod uct
(avai lable fr om you r A udi dea ler) to care f or th e le ather.
- Ap ply t he produ ct very spari ngly .
- W ipe it off with a da mp cloth.
If yo u have any quest ions about cleaning and caring for the leathe r in
your ve hicl e, i t is best to con tact you r au thor ized Audi dealer, who w ill
be glad to help yo u and tell you about our fu ll range of leather care
prod ucts, such as:
• Leathe r cleaning and ca re k it
• Creams to ca re for colo red leather
• Spot removers for ba llpoint pens, shoe polish, etc .
• Oil/g rease disso lv in g sp ray
• New and upcoming pro ducts.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
:=> page 260 .
0 Note
• N ever use chemical so lvents (e.g. lighte r fluid, turpentine), waxes,
shoe po lish or simi lar p roducts on the leathe r surfaces in your Aud i.
• T o avo id d amage, have st ubbor n st ains remove d by a commerc ial
cleaning specialist. •
Applie s to v eh icl es: with Alca ntara up hols ter y
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Mois t en a clot h, squeez e out excess wat er a nd wipe down
the sea t surfaces .
Removing stains
-Mois te n a c loth wi th lukewarm water or wi th diluted ethyl
(rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at t he stai n. S tart at the outside a nd wor k inwar ds.
- Once the sta in is no longer v isib le, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up t he m oisture .
Do not use leather cleanin g products on Alcantara.
You may use a s uit able sha m poo fo r remov ing dust and d irt.
Dust and grit i n the pores and seams ca n scratch and damage the
s u rface . If th e car is lef t stan ding in the s un for long periods, the
Alcan ta ra should be p rotected aga inst direct su nlight to preve nt i t
from fading . Slig ht co lor var iat ions wi ll deve lop in no rma l use and are
not a n in dicat ion of material dete rioration. .,_
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Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
-Open the driver's door.
Fig. 205 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
- Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel => fig. 205 in the direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 206 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise, they
could damage the paint on the hood.
Pull up on the release under the hood=> fig. 206. This
releases the catch =>
&.
- Open the hood all the way.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood. •
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& WARNING (continued )
-Always use extreme caution to prevent clothing, jewelry, or
long hair from getting caught in the radiator fan, V-belts or
other moving parts, or from contacting hot parts. Tie back hair
before starting, and do not wear clothing that will hang or
droop into the engine.
• Minimize exposure to emission and chemical hazards=:>
/1::..
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
• Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle
components contain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and certain products
of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproduc
tive harm.
• Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hands after
handling.
0 Note
W hen a dding fluids, a lways make sure that t hey are poured into the
pro per conta in er or filler op ening, oth erwise serious damag e to
vehicle systems w ill occur.
ci> For the sake of the environment
To detect lea ks i n time, ins pect t he vehicle floor pan from un derneath
re gu lar ly. If yo u s ee spots from oil or o ther vehicle f luids, have your
vehicle inspected by an authorized Aud i dea ler. •
Engine compartment
These are th e most importa nt it ems that you can ch eck .
Fig. 207 Typic al layout for container s, engine oil dip st ic k an d eng ine o il fill er
cap
©
@
®
©
®
J u mp start co nnector( +) u nder a cover,(-) w ith hex head
screw . .... . .. .... .. .. .. . ...... ......... . .. .. 292, 332
B rake fluid reservoi r ( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
C oolant expa nsion tank
(J -) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 6
E ngin e oil fi ller cap
('1::r. ) . .... ....... ...... .... . .
Engine oil dipstick (o range) .................. ... .
© Powe r stee ring reservoir .................... ... . 284
2 83
2 4 7
294 ..
(j) Winds hiel d/head light washer conta iner ( O ) ....... .