break AUDI A6 2021 Owner´s Manual

4K0012721BE
Foreword
Thank you for choosing an Audi - we value your trust in us.
Your new Audi will allow you to experience the best in groundbreaking technology and premium quality
equipment that a vehicle has to offer. Audi recommends that you read your Owner's Manual thoroughly
so that you quickly become acquainted with your Audi and make use of all of its features.
In addition to explaining how the different features work, there are many useful tips and information
concerning your safety, how to care for your vehicle, and how to maintain your vehicle's value. Audi also
gives you useful tips and information on how to drive your vehicle more efficiently and in an environ-
mentally-friendly manner.
Audi hopes you enjoy driving your vehicle and wishes you safe and pleasant motoring.

ZA\ warNiNc
Operating, servicing and maintaining a passenger vehicle or
off-highway motor vehicle can expose you to chemicals includ-
ing engine exhaust, carbon monoxide, phthalates, and lead,
which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm. To minimize expo-
sure, avoid breathing exhaust, do not idle the engine except as
necessary, service your vehicle in a well-ventilated area and
wear gloves or wash your hands frequently when servicing
your vehicle. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.

ca.gov/passenger-vehicle.

Opening and closing

Mechanically unlocking and locking the
doors
If the central locking fails, you must unlock or
lock the doors separately.

[RAz-0026|

5 a S 3
go a


Fig. 23 Door: mechanically locking
Unlocking or locking the driver's door with
the mechanical key
> Remove the mechanical key > page 39.
> Insert the mechanical key into the slot under
the door handle and pry the cap off > fig. 22.
> To unlock the driver's door, turn the mechanical
key to the unlock position in the direction of ar-
row (2) > fig. 22.
> Pull firmly on the door handle to open the driv-
er's door. The door handle swings out slightly
farther than normal.
> To lock the driver's door, select the "P" position
and turn the key once to the close position
@°A.
Locking the front passenger's door and rear
doors using the mechanical key
The mechanical lock is located on the edge of the
doors. It is only visible when the door is open.
> Remove the mechanical key > page 39.
> Remove the cap from the opening > fig. 23.
38
> Insert the mechanical key into the slot on the
inside and turn it all the way to the left (when
locking the right door), or to the right (when
locking the left door).
> Install the cap in the opening and close the
door.
Once the doors are closed, it is no longer possible
to open them from the outside. The front doors
can be opened from the inside by pulling the
door handle one time. The rear doors can be un-
locked from the inside by pulling the door handle
one time and then opened by pulling the door
handle again. If the vehicle is without power, the
doors can be unlocked from the inside by first
pulling the door handle beyond its noticeable re-
sistance. The doors can then can be opened by
pulling the handle again. If the child safety lock
in one of the rear doors is activated, you must
first pull the door handle from the inside. Then
you can open the door from the outside.

ZA WARNING
Observe the safety precautions > page 35.
A age eta)
Applies to: vehicles with anti-theft alarm system


If the anti-theft alarm system detects a vehicle
break-in, audio and visual warning signals are
triggered. The anti-theft alarm system is switch-
ed on or off when locking or unlocking your vehi-
cle. If the alarm is triggered, it will shut off auto-
matically after a certain amount of time.
Switching the alarm off manually
> To switch the alarm off, press the G button on
the vehicle key or switch the ignition on.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the anti-
theft alarm system may have the following fea-
tures:
Break-in security feature
The alarm will sound if there is a break-in at the
doors, hood, and/or luggage compartment lid. >

4K0012721BE
Lights and Vision

Front passenger's exterior mirror tilt
function*
Requirement: the knob must be in the position
for the front passenger’s exterior mirror.
The mirror surfaces tilt slightly when reverse
gear is selected to provide a better view, for ex-
ample of the edge of the curb.
You can adjust the mirror surface by turning the
knob in the desired direction.
The mirror moves from the reversing position
back to the original position:
— When you switch the ignition off
— When you drive forward at speeds faster than 9
mph (15 km/h).
— When the knob is no longer in the position for
the front passenger exterior mirror

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.
Gi) Tips
If the power adjusting function malfunctions,
the glass in both mirrors can be adjusted by
pressing on the edge of it by hand.
Dimming the mirrors
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.

ZA WARNING
—If the glass on an automatic dimming mirror
breaks, electrolyte can leak out. This liquid
can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory
system. If there is contact with the fluid,
flush immediately with plenty of water. Con-
sult 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.

59

Lights and Vision
Cee
Applies to: vehicles with manual sunshade
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,
— The automatic dimming mirrors do not dim
when the interior lighting is turned on or
the reverse gear is selected.



Fig. 44 Rear door: sunshade
Rear door sunshade
> Pull the sunshade out and attach it to the re-
Se tainer on the upper door frame.
Windshield wipers
Switching the windshield wipers on




Fig. 43 Roof headliner: sun visor
Sun visor

The sun visors can be moved out of their brackets
and turned toward the doors (4).
They can also be moved back and forth length-
wise in this position.
Vanity mirror
The mirror light switches on when the cover over
the
vanity mirror @) opens.



Fig. 46 Lever: rear window wiper (Avant/allroad)
> Move the windshield wiper lever S7 to the cor-
responding position:
© Windshield wipers off
@ Rain sensor/intermittent mode. The wind-
shield wipers switch on once the vehicle speed >
60

4K0012721BE
Sitting correctly and safely

Correct safety belt positioning

B4H-0751


RAZ-0696


Fastened safety belts only offer optimal protec-
tion during an accident and reduce the risk of se-
rious injury or death when they are positioned
correctly. Furthermore, the correct safety belt
position holds the vehicle occupant in place so
that a deployed airbag can provide maximum
protection. Therefore, always fasten the safety
belt and make sure it is positioned correctly
> fig. 57.
To ensure the safety belt is positioned correctly,
make sure of the following points:
— The lap portion of the safety belt must be locat-
ed across the lap.
—The shoulder portion of the safety belt must
rest over the center of the shoulder.
— The safety belt must always rest flat and se-
curely on the body.
For pregnant women, the safety belt must rest
evenly across the chest and as low and flat as
possible on the lap, so that no pressure is applied
to the lower abdomen. This should be done
throughout the entire pregnancy > fig. 58.


ZA\ WARNING
Incorrect safety belt positioning can cause se-
rious injury in the event of an accident or dur-
ing sudden braking or driving maneuvers.
— Never drive with the backrest reclined ex-
tremely far. The more the backrest is tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due to the
safety belt being routed incorrectly.
— The safety belt itself or a loose safety belt
can cause serious injuries if it shifts onto
soft areas of the body, such as the stomach.
— The shoulder portion of the safety belt must
lie over the center of the shoulder and
chest, and never under the arm, behind the
back, or across the neck or face.
— The lap portion of the safety belt must lie
across the lap and never over the stomach.
—The safety belt must lie flat and securely on
the upper part of the body and the lap.
— The belt webbing must not be pinched or
twisted, or rub against sharp edges.
— If the safety belt height is set incorrectly
and/or the safety belt is routed incorrectly,
then the safety belt's protective function
will be impaired in the event of an accident.
Make sure the safety belt is at the right
height and is routed correctly for the pas-
senger using it.
— A safety belt that is too loose may lead to in-
juries during an accident, because your body
will move farther forward due to kinetic en-
ergy and will be stopped abruptly by the
belt.
— Heavily bulky, loose clothing (for example, a
coat over a sports jacket) may prevent the
seat and safety belts from functioning cor-
rectly.
— Do not position the safety belt over hard or
breakable objects (such as glasses, pens,
etc.).
—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
71
>

Sitting correctly and safely


— In an emergency, the recall process can be
canceled by pressing the seat adjustment
button on that seat.

Airbag system
Z\ WARNING
— If you have not fastened your safety belt,
you are in an incorrect seating position, or
you are too close to the airbag system, the
airbag system will not be able to protect
you. This increases the risk of serious or fa-
tal
injuries. Make sure that every vehicle
passenger has their safety belt correctly fas-
tened and is sitting in a correct seating posi-
tion > page 65. This is necessary regardless
of whether the seat is equipped with an air-
bag or not.
— Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, out of the window, or on the seat sur-
faces. To help ensure that the airbag system
can deploy correctly, never bend forward or
lean on the door or the side window. Other-
wise, serious and possibly fatal injuries can
occur if the airbags deploy.

— People, animals, or objects between the
passengers and the airbag system can inter-
fere with the correct deployment of the air-
bag or can be thrown through the vehicle in-
terior, increasing the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Make sure that nothing is located
between the vehicle occupants and the air-
bag system. Do not secure or transport any
objects within the deployment zone of the
airbag systems, especially on the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, on the
doors, on the windows, or in the footwell.
— Never put stickers on the airbag system cov-
ers or cover them with any objects.
— Only lightweight clothing should be hung
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do
not use clothes hangers to hang clothing.
The pockets of the clothing must not con-
tain any heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged
objects. This could impair the effectiveness
of the side curtain airbags.

74
— You must not use seat or protective covers
that are not specifically approved for use on
Audi seats with side airbags. Since the side
airbags deploy from the seat backrest, such
covers could impair the protective function
of the side airbags.
— Damage to the original seat covers in the
side airbag deployment area must always be
repaired by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Airbag system components are installed at
various locations in your vehicle. Incorrect
work or repairs on the vehicle could damage
the airbag system components or impair
their functionality. This may prevent the air-
bags from deploying or cause them to de-
ploy incorrectly in the event of an accident,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Only have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility make re-
pairs or modifications to a vehicle.
— The airbag system can only provide protec-
tion during one collision. If there is another
collision, the airbag system will not deploy
again. If the airbag system has deployed,
have it replaced immediately by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
— Fine dust may appear if the airbags deploy.
This is completely normal and does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The fine dust can ir-
ritate the skin and mucous membranes in
the eyes and can cause difficulty breathing,
particularly for individuals who have or have
had asthma or other health issues that af-
fect breathing. Exit the vehicle or open the


windows or doors to get access to fresh air.
@ Tips
If you are transporting children in the vehicle,
read the information and follow the safety
precautions > page 78.
Safety systems monitoring
The Ea indicator light in the instrument cluster
monitors the safety systems such as the airbags
(including the control modules, sensor, and

>

4K0012721BE
Storage and convenience


ZA WARNING
— Do not put any hot beverages in the cup
holder while the vehicle is moving. Hot bev-
erages could spill, which increases the risk
of injury.
— Do not use any breakable beverage contain-
ers (for example, made out of glass or por-
celain). You could be injured by them in the

event of an accident.

@) Note
Beverage containers in the cup holders should
always
have a lid. Otherwise, the liquid inside
could spill and cause damage to vehicle
equipment.
Storage and
compartments
Storage area behind the rear head
rite Ta
Applies to: vehicles with storage area behind the rear head re-
straints
The storage area can be used to carry light pieces
of clothing.

ZA WARNING
The storage compartment must not be used
to transport heavy objects, hard objects, or
animals. Such objects endanger vehicle occu-
pants and increase the risk of injury during
sudden driving or braking maneuvers or in an
accident.

@) Note
Make sure that the heating grid strips for the
rear window defogger are not damaged by
abrasive objects.
@ Tips
To ensure the ventilation functions correctly,
the ventilation slots between the rear window
and the storage area must not be covered.
Additional storage
Depending on vehicle equipment, there are a va-
riety of storage areas, compartments, and retain-
ers, such as the glove compartment, for safely
storing and securing objects.

ZA WARNING
—To reduce the risk of injury, make sure all
storage compartments are always closed
while driving.
— Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Store objects securely while
driving.
— Only use the storage compartments in the
door trim panels to store small objects that
will not stick out of the compartment and
impair the function of the side airbags.
— Only lightweight clothing should be hung
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do
not use clothes hangers to hang clothing.
The pockets of the clothing must not con-
tain any heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged
objects. This could impair the effectiveness
of the side curtain airbags.
— Make sure your view toward the rear is not
blocked, for example by hanging clothing or
objects in the vehicle.

Luggage compartment
General information
All pieces of luggage or objects must be securely
fastened in the luggage compartment. Note the
following to maintain good vehicle handling:
> Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com-
partment.
> Stow heavy luggage as far forward in the lug-
gage compartment as possible.
> Use non-elastic cords attached to the tie-downs
to secure objects.

Z\ WARNING
— Applies to: vehicles with luggage compart-
ment cover: The luggage compartment >

8s

Driving

Resetting the parking lock
> Grasp the socket wrench with both hands, care-
fully pull it all the way up, and then turn it
back.
>» Now remove the socket wrench.
> Reinsert the cover and rubber mat.

Z\ WARNING
— The parking lock must be released using the
emergency release before towing the vehi-
cle.
— Only use the parking lock emergency release
if the vehicle is secured against rolling
= page 97. An unsecured vehicle may roll,
which increases the risk of an accident.
— Only activate the emergency release while
ona level surface or a slight slope.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you must
not drive when the emergency release is ac-
tivated.

Messages
i Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle
Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible in a safe location and secure it so it
does not roll > page 97. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
i Transmission: too hot. Please stop vehicle
Do not continue driving. Select "P" and contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility for assistance.
fs} Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving
style
The transmission temperature has increased sig-
nificantly. Drive very cautiously or take a break
from driving until the temperature returns to the
normal range and the indicator light turns off.
| Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. See owner's manual
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au-
102
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected.
[@] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. Please contact
Service
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
[&] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. No reverse
gear
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
You cannot engage the reverse gear. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
[8] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving in D until engine is off
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. If you turn the engine off, you will not be
able to select any other gears after restarting the
engine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
the malfunction corrected.
i Selector lever: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. Please contact Service
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev-
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
i Selector lever: malfunction! Gear change on-
ly possible if using both shift paddles.
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev-
er. You can continue driving with restricted func-
tion. The selector lever is not working. Gears can
only be selected by tapping both shift paddles at >

Driving

— Wet conditions
— Low temperatures, ice, and snow
— Roads covered in salt
— Dirty brake pads
Corrosion
Corrosion may form on the brake rotors if there is
no heavy braking, if the vehicle is not driven for
long periods of time, or if the vehicle is not driv-
en
frequently or for long distances. In this case,
braking heavily several times while driving at
high speeds can clean the brake rotors > A\.
Brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 km). They
must be “broken in” first. However, you can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period.
Brake pad wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
Brake pad wear increases when driving frequently
in the city or short distances or when using a very
sporty driving style.
Ceramic brakes
Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brakes
Ceramic brakes provide excellent deceleration
rates.
The break-in period for new ceramic brakes may
be significantly longer than for standard brake
rotors. Due to the properties of the material,
they may cause noises at lower speeds. Ceramic
brakes also absorb more moisture in wet condi-
tions. Therefore, there will temporarily be less
braking force than when the brakes are dry. You
can compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal harder.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The automatic post-collision braking system can
help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addition-
al collisions after an accident. If the airbag con-
trol module detects a collision, the vehicle is
braked by the ESC.
106
The vehicle does not brake automatically if one of
the following occurs:
— The driver presses the accelerator pedal, or
— The braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that would be initiated by the system
— The ESC, the brake system, or the vehicle elec-
trical system is not functioning

ZX WARNING
— Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-
danger other road users and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
place your foot under the brake pedal.

() Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 109. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
(i) Tips
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that
the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.
— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 251.

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 112
must be selected before you adjust the tongue
weight on the trailer and hitch the trailer >@,
=> page 114.
Likewise, the vehicle cannot be raised manually
using the Raise function > page 114.
The air suspension trailer mode must be switched
on.
Applies to MMI: select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Air suspension:
trailer.
Switch trailer mode off again when you are no
longer towing a trailer.
When using rear carrier systems that are mount-
ed directly 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 114.
Applies to: allroad: You can also increase ground
clearance by selecting the Audi drive select* off-
road or allroad modes > page 112.
Vehicle levels below the values set in the comfort
level will no longer be available, even if you are
lowering the vehicle manually.
120

ZA\ WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
— 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.
C) 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.
— Audi recommends having the vehicle in-
spected between the inspection intervals if
you tow a trailer frequently.
— Avoid driving with a trailer during the vehi-
cle break-in period.
Pie Rie Relig
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
there are unfavorable road, weather, and/or wind
conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.