warning lights AUDI S6 2008 Owner's Manual

• ..__A_ d_a...: p:,..._ ti_v _ e_ C_ ru_ is_ e_ C_ o_n_ t_ r_ o _ l ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
• Setting short distances to the traffic ahead reduces the time
and distance available to bring your vehicle to a safe stop and
makes it even more necessary to pay close attention to traffic.
• Always use good judgment and select a safe following distance
for the traffic, road and weather conditions.
[ i ] Tips
The distance setting is reset to the factory default DISTANCE 3 the
next time the ignition is turned on.•
Driver information
Applies to veh icles : with Ada ptive C ru is e Cont ro l
Displays in the instrument cluster
Depending on the driving situation, driver information is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Fig. 136 Overview instrument cluster
© Display in the speedometer
® Display in the instrument cluster
© Status indicator
© Display in the speedometer
Important information concerning vehicle operation with Adaptive
Cruise Control is shown in display area@. The desired speed you
set is indicated in the speedometer (LED lights around the edge)
and the indicator lights show whether the system has detected a
vehicle traveling ahead. -.,

Automatic transmission -
------------------'
R -Reverse
The transmission will automatically select the lowest gear ratio
when you shift into reverse .
Select
R only when the vehicle is at a full stop and the engine is
running at idle speed::::;,
& in "Driving the automat ic transmission"
on
page 153 .
Before you move the se lector lever to R , press both the button in the
handle of the selector leve r
and the brake pedal at the same time .
When the ignition is on , the backup lights i lluminate when the
selector lever is moved into
R.
N -Neutral
The transmission is in neutral in this position . Shift to this position
for standing with the brakes applied=>
page 155.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the footbrake befor e and while moving the
lever out of
N.
D -Normal position for driving forward
Position Dis for norma l city and highway driving. It ranges from zero
to top speed and all six gears shift au tomatically, depending on
engine load, driving speed and automatica lly selected shift
programs. The gear engaged is shown in the right of the display
::::;, page 154, fig. 151.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the
lever to
D out of N .
In certain circumstances i t may be advantageous to temporarily
switch to the manual shift program to manua lly se lect gear ratios to
match specific driving conditions::::;,
page 157.
S -Sport position
Se lect this position for spor tier performance . In this position, the
transmission will not upshift as soon, allowing the vehicle to use the
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
increased power available at higher engine speeds to achieve live­
lier acceleration.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the lever to
S out of N.
& WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS ::::;, & in "Driving the automatic
transmission" on
page 153 .
0 Note
Coasting downhill with the transmission in N and the engine not
running will result in damage to the automatic transmission and
possibly the catalytic converter. •
Applies to ve hic les: with 6-spee d autom atic trans mission
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
The Automatic Shift Lock safeguards you against acciden­
tally shifting into a forward or the reverse gear and
causing the vehicle to move unintentionally.
Fig. 152 Shift gate:
selec tor leve r loc k
positions and interlock
button highlight ed
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

• ..__A_ u_ t _o_ m_ a_ t_ i_ c _ t_r _a _n_ s_ m_ is_ s_i o _ n ________________________________________________ _
Before you move the selector lever to R, press both, the button in the
handle of the selector lever
and the brake pedal at the same time .
When the ignition is on, the backup lights illuminate when the
selector lever is moved into R.
N -N eutr al
Sh ift to this position for standing with brakes applied=> page 762.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the footbrake before and while moving the
lever out of
N .
Do not use N for coasting downhill.
D -Normal dr iving po sition f or forward
Depending on the load on the engine, vehicle speed and the
dynamic control program, the transm ission will select the
optimal
gear ratio.
In certain circumstances it may be advantageous to temporarily
switch to the manua l shift program to manually select gear ratios to
match specific driving conditions=>
page 164.
When the vehicle is s tationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the footbrake before and while moving the
lever to
D ou t of N.
S -Spor t p osition
Select this position for sportier performance. In this position, the
transmission wil l not upshift as soon, allowing the vehicle to use the
increased power avai lable at higher engine speeds to achieve live ­
lier acceleration.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and whi le moving the
lever to
S out of N .
& WARNING
Re ad a nd follo w all WARNIN GS=> & in "Dr iv ing th e multitr oni c®"
on
page 160 .
0 Note
Coasting downhill with the transm ission in N and the engine not
operating will result in damage to the automatic transmission and
possibly the catalytic converter. •
Applies to vehicles: with multitronic® Continuous ly Variable Transmission (CVT)
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
The Automatic Shift Lock safeguards you against acciden­
tally shifting in to a forward or the reverse gear and
causing the vehicle to move unintentionally.
F ig . 160 Shift gate:
se lect or l ever loc k
pos it ions a nd int erl ock
butt on high lighted
The selector lever l ock is rel eased as f ollows :
T u rn the ignition on .
Step on the brake peda l.
At the same time press and hold
the interlock button on the side of the gear selector knob
=> fig. 160 with your thumb until you have moved the
selector lever to t he desired position.
~

________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n_ g~ S_ a_ fe_ ly __ l!III
Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
-Make sure that all lights and signals are operat ing
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good
visibility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully~
page 107.
-Make sure that noth ing can interfere w ith the pedals.
- Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for your height .
- Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints
according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right ch ild restraint correctly to
protect children ~
page 234, "Child Safety ".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen ­
gers do the same~
page 87, "General recommenda ­
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it p roperly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten the ir safety belts properly
~ page 202. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen­
trate on the road without being distracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road ~& .There ­
fore:
Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a cellular telephone .
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
- Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

- Make sure that your passengers also buckle up and prop­
erly wear their safety belts.
- Protect children with a child restraint system appropriate
for the size and age.
The warning light 4,-in the instrument cluster lights up when the
ignition is switched on as a reminder to fasten the safety belts . In
addition , you will hear a warning tone .
After the ignition is switched on, the warning light in the instrument cluster will always come on for about 6 seconds and if the driver has
not fastened the safety belt , a warning tone will also sound for
about 6 seconds. As soon as the driver has fastened the safety belt,
the warning tone will stop and the warning ligh t will go out .
If the driver or front seat passenger have not buckled -up within
about 10 seconds after the warning tone has stopped and the
vehicle is moving faster than about 15 mph, the warning tone will
sound again for about 6 seconds and then stop for 24 seconds and
then repeat this reminder sequence for a maximum of 2 minutes . At
speeds below 5 mph, the warning tone will not sound.
Fasten your safety belt and make sure that your passengers also
properly put on their safety belts.
& WARNING
• Safety belts are the single most effective means available to
reduce the risk of serious injury and death in automobile acci­
dents. For your protection and that of your passengers, always
correctly wear safety belts when the vehicle is moving.
• Failure to pay attention to the warning light that come on,
could lead to personal injury. •
Safety first
Safety belts
Why safety belts?
Frontal collisions and the law of physics
Frontal crashes create very strong forces for people riding
in vehicles.
Fig . 193 Unbelted
occupants in a vehicle
heading for a wall
Fig. 194 The vehicle
crashes into the wall
The physical principles are simple. Both the vehicle and the passen­
gers possess energy which varies with vehicle speed and body
weight . Engineers call this energy "kinetic energy."
The higher the speed of the vehicle and the greater the vehicle's
weight, the more energy that has to be "absorbed" in the crash.
Vehicle speed is the most significant factor . If the speed doubles
from 15 to 30 mph (25 to 50 km/h) , the energy increases 4 times!
~
Vehicle care I I Technical data

___ D_ r_i v_ in_... g"'- a_ n_ d_ e_ n_ v_i_r _ o _n_ m __ e_n _ t _______________________________________________ _
one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary =citing
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings , or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fuel than is burned starting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fu lly when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious emissions are especially
high when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which could result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regu1ar ma1--.tenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
-Have your vehic le serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economically. The condition of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its value, it also
affects
fuel con sumpt ion.
C hec k your o il e ach time you fill your t ank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
It is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mileage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly assess oil consumption .
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Maintenance
& Warranty
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Control
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alter or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Em ission Control System and other important vehicle
components .•
Fewer short tr ips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short dista nces wi th a cold engine. _,

-Tr
aile r t ow ing ---=--------------
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the additional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Trai ler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always fol low the operating and driving instructions
provided and use common sense.
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera­
tion mode =>
page 184, "Towing a trailer".
Technical requirements
Tra iler hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trailer weight .
The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and trailer and must be
mounted secure ly on the ve hicle's chass is at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check with the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make sure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch.
The hitch must be installed in such a way tha t it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications should be made to the vehic le exhaust and brake systems. From time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain securely
fastened.
When you are no
t towing a trailer, remove the traile r hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from behind=>& .
Traile r br akes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations.
The trai ler hydraulic brake system must no t be direct ly connected to
the vehicle's hydraulic brake system.
Safet y chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer light s
Trailer lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
Audi dealer for correc t wiring, sw itches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traf fic behind you using the regu lar
outside mirrors, then you
must install extended mirrors. It is impor­
tant that you
always have c lear vision to the rear.
& WARNING
After rem oving the tr aile r hitch , do not store it in your vehi cle. In
ca se of sudde n braking , the hit ch co uld fl y for ward and injure you
or your p asseng ers. a

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
• Never try to remove d irt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle
is dry . Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this cou ld scratch your
vehic le's paint or w indows.
• Never wash your car in bright sunlight. Drops of water act as
magnify ing lenses and may damage your paint.
• When you wash your car in the winter : if you rinse your vehicle
with a hose, be careful not to aim the stream of water directly at
locks, or at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
finish .
• Never use a dry cloth or sponge to c lean the head ligh ts. 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 environment, the vehicle should on ly be
washed in specia l wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high -p ressure
power washer is safe as l ong as y ou observe a few simple
rules .
-Before using the power washer, make s ure you have read
and understood the WAR NINGS=::;,
& in "General infor­
mati on" o n
page 278.
-Always follow the operating instructions for the power
washer. - Make sure that the jet o
n the spray hose pro duces a "fan
sha ped sp ray".
D o
not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle with a power washer always follow the
operating instructions. This applies particula rly to the
operating
pre ssure
and the spraying di stance . Maintain a sufficient distance
to soft materia ls such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration dead ­
ening materia ls (part icularly on the underside of the engine hood).
Do not use a jet which sprays water in a
direct stream or one that
has a
rotating jet.
Water temperature should not exceed 140 °F (60 °Cl.
& WARNING
Never wash tire s with a jet that sp ra ys water in a dir e ct stream .
Thi s could cau se invisible damage to the tire s and we ake n them ,
eve n if th e spra y is from a re lativel y lo ng dis tanc e an d f or a sh o rt
time . Damaged and weakened tire s can f ail and cau se ac cident s
a nd per sona l injur y.
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is
suffic ient distance between the spray head and soft materia ls like
rubber hoses, plastic parts and sound -deadening materials . Never
aim the spray head at the same p oint for a long time . This also
applies to cleaning headlights and painted bumpers . Remember :
the c loser the nozzle is to the surface of the material, the greater the
stress on the mater ial. •