AUDI S6 2008 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: AUDI, Model Year: 2008, Model line: S6, Model: AUDI S6 2008Pages: 390, PDF Size: 88.42 MB
Page 311 of 390

Checking and filling 111111
---------------------------=----
•
The following WARNINGS are very important when
working on the battery:
Always heed the following WARNING SYMBOLS and safety pre
cautions when working on the battery .
Always wear eye protection.
Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Always wear
gloves and eye protection.
No
- sparks
- flames
- smoking.
When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen
gas which is explosive and could cause personal
injury.
Always keep the battery well out of reach of chil
dren.
& WARNING
Whenever working on the battery or on the electrical system,
there is the risk of injury, accident and even fire. Read and heed the
following WARNINGS:
• Always wear eye protection. Do not let battery acid or any lead
particles get on your skin or clothing. Shield your eyes. Explosive
gases can cause blindness or other injury.
• Battery acid contains sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid can cause
blindness and severe burns.
- Always wear gloves and eye protection. Do not tilt the
battery because acid could leak out of the ventilation openings.
- If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immedi
ately rinse with cold water for several minutes and get medical
attention.
& WARNING (continued)
-If you should ingest any battery acid, seek medical attention
immediately.
• Do not expose the battery to an open flame, electric sparks or
an open light.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not interchange the positive and negative cables .
• When working on the battery, be sure not to short -circuit the
terminals with tools or other metal objects. This would cause the battery to heat up very quickly, which could lead to damage or
explosion and personal injury.
• When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen gas which is
explosive and could cause personal injury.
• Always keep the battery well out of the reach of children.
• Before work is done on the electrical system, disconnect the
negative ground cable.
• Before performing any work on the electrical system, switch off
the engine and ignition as well as any electrical equipment. The
negative cable on the battery must be disconnected.
If you are just
going to replace a light bulb, then it is enough to switch off the
lights.
• Before disconnecting the battery, switch off the anti-theft
alarm system! Otherwise you will set off the alarm.
• When disconnecting the battery, first disconnect the negative
cable and then the positive cable.
• Before reconnecting the battery, make sure all electrical
consumers are switched off. Reconnect the positive cable first and
then the negative cable . Never interchange the cables - this could
start a fire!
• Never charge a frozen or a thawed-out battery. It could
explode! If a battery has frozen, then it must be replaced. A
discharged battery can freeze over at 32 °F (0 °CI. .,,_
Vehicle care
I t •
Page 312 of 390

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
• Make sure the vent hose is always attached to the opening on
the side of the battery.
• Never use batteries which are damaged. There is the danger of
an explosion! Always replace a damaged battery.
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
• Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive problems. Wash hands after handling.
0 Note
• Do not disconnect the vehicle battery when the ignition is
switched on or when the engine is running, otherwise, you will
damage electronic components in the electrical system .
• When working on the engine, protect the battery housing from
ultraviolet (UV) rays by not parking the vehicle in direct sunlight .
• If your vehicle is going to stand for a long period of time without
being driven , protect the battery from "freezing", otherwise it will
be damaged and will then have to be replaced. •
Battery charging
Starting the engine requires a well charged battery.
Fig. 238 Engine
compartment : Connec
tors for charger and
jumper cables
Always read and heed all WARNINGS below=> & and=> &
in "Working on the battery" on page 308.
-Turn off the ignition and all electrical consumers.
- Make sure the area is well ventilated when you charge
the battery.
- Open the hood =>
page 296.
-Open the red cover on the positive pole=> fig. 238.
- Connect the charger connectors according to the instruc-
tions to the
jump start bolts. (Bolts under the red cover=
"positive", Bolts with hex head= "negative").
- Only now plug the mains lead for the charging equip
ment into the wall outlet and turn it on =>
&-
- Make sure the charging rate is not over 30 amps/14.8
Volt.
- When the battery is fully charged: Turn the charging
equipment off and remove the mains lead from the wall
outlet. .,_
Page 313 of 390

Checking and filling Ill
--------------~-
•
-Now remove the clamps for the charging equipment.
- Close the red cover on the positive pole.
- Close the hood
~ page 297.
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures of only O °C. Allow
a frozen battery to thaw completely before attempting to charge it
~ & .However, we recommend not using a thawed battery again
because the battery casing can be cracked due to ice formation and
can leak battery acid.
Battery charging (Maximum charging rate of 30
amps/14.8 Volt)
When charging at /ow voltages (e.g. with a trickle charger), the
battery cables do not have to be disconnected first. The battery caps
should
not be opened when charging a battery.
I t is not necessary to remove the battery from the luggage compart
ment.
Fast charging the battery (charging rate above 14.8
Volts)
For technical reasons do not use a battery charger that uses voltage
greater than 14.8 Volts to charge your vehicle's battery.
& WARNING
Charging a battery can be dangerous.
• Always follow the operating instructions provided by the
battery charger manufacturer when charging your battery.
• Never charge a frozen battery. It may explode because of gas
trapped in the ice. Allow a frozen battery to thaw out first.
• Do not reuse batteries which were frozen. The battery housing
may have cracked and weakened when the battery froze .
• Charge the battery in a well ventilated area. Keep away from
open flame or electrical spark. Do not smoke. Hydrogen gas gener
ated by the battery is explosive.
&_ WARNING (continued)
• To reduce the danger of explosion, never connect or disconnect
charger cables while the charger is operating.
• Battery acid that may spill during charging should be washed
off with a solution of warm water and baking soda to neutralize
the acid.
0 Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to start the engine. This will
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, relays, radio, etc., as well as the battery charger. •
Battery replacement
The new battery must have the same specifications and
dimensions as the original equipment battery.
Intelligent energy management in your vehicle is responsible for
distributing the electrical energy throughout your vehicle
~ page 265. The intelligent energy management system will keep
the engine battery charged better then vehicles without this system.
To make sure the additional electrical energy is available once again
after you have changed the battery, we recommend that you install
batteries of the same type and manufacture only (the same as those
installed at the time your vehicle was delivered). Specifications are
listed on the battery housing. Your authorized Audi dealer will then
code the battery management control unit.
If it is not possible to use a battery of this type, the new battery must
have the same capacity, voltage (12 volts), amperage, construction
and plug sealing .
When installing the battery, make sure the ignition and all electrical
consumers are turned off.
~
Vehicle care I t •
Page 314 of 390

-Ch
ecking and filling
---=---------------
0 Not e
Make sure the ventilation hose on the side of the battery is
connected, otherwise fumes or battery acid can leak out.
Because o f the problem o f prop er disposal of a battery , we recom
mend your authorized Audi dea ler change the battery for you .
Batteri es contain sulfuric acid and lead and must always be
disposed of properly in compliance with all environmental regula
tions . Disposing of v ehicle batteries improperly is very dang erous to
t he environment. •
Windshield/headlight washer
container
Using plain water is not adequate for filling the wind
shield washer system and the headlight washer system .
Fig. 239 E ngine
c omp artm ent : Wi nd
s h iel d and he adlight*
was her fluid c ont ain er
The washer fluid container is marked with the symbol O on
i ts cap. -
Before y ou c heck anything in the engine compartment,
a lway s read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working
in t he eng ine compartment" on
page 297.
- Lift the filler cap tongue to add washer fluid . You can fill
the cont ainer to the top.
- Press the cap bac k on to the f iller neck after filling t he
container .
You can find the reservoir capacity in the tab le in~ page 363.
Use winterized windshield washer solvent during the co ld season
even though the vehic le is equ ipped with
he ated wa sher jets . It
helps to keep your windshield clean and prevents the fluid from
freezing in the winter .
Follow the directions on the container for the correct amount to be
used .
0 Note
Do not mix engine coo lant antifreeze or any other additives to fill up
the windshield washer reservoir. •
Page 315 of 390

Tires a nd wh eels -
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•
Tires and wheels
Tires
General notes
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts
of a motor vehicle.
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts of a
motor vehicle. Tires are, however, one of the most important parts
of a vehicle, particularly considering the comparative ly sma ll patch
of rubber on each tire that assures that all- important contact
between you, your vehicle and the road .
Maintaining the correct tire pressure, making sure that your vehicle
and its tires do not have to carry more weight than they can safely
handle, avoiding damage from road hazards and regu lar ly
inspecting tires for damage inc luding cuts , slashes irregular wear
and overa ll condition are the most important things that you can do
to help avoid sudden tire failure including tread separation and
b lowouts .
Avoiding dama ge
If you have to drive over a curb or similar obstacle, drive very slow ly
and as close as possible at a right angle to the curb.
A lways keep chemica ls includ ing grease, oil, gasoline and brake
f luid off the tires.
I nspec t the tires regularly for damage (cuts, cracks or blis ters, etc.l.
Remove any foreign bodies embedded in the treads.
Storing tires
Mark tires when you remove them to indicate the direction of rota
tion . This ensu res you to be ab le to mount them correctly when you
reinstal l them. When removed, the wheels or tires shou
ld be stored in a coo l, dry
and preferably dark place.
St ore t ires in a vertical posit ion if they a re not mounted on rims, in
a horizontal position if they are mounted on rims.
New tire s
New tires have to be broken in~&.
The tread dep th of new tires may va ry, according to the type and
make of tire and the tread pattern.
Hidden d ama ge
Damage to tires and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice
unusua l vibration or the vehicle pul ls to one side, this may indicate
that one of the tires has been damaged . The tires must be checked
immed iately by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop .
Unidire ction al tir es
A unidirectio nal tire can be iden tif ied by arrows on the s idewa ll, that
point in the direction the tire is designed to rotate. You must follow
the specified direction of ro tation . This is necessary so that these
tires can deve lop their optimum characteristics regarding grip, road
noise, wear and hydroplaning resistance . For more information
~ page 344.
in. WARNING
Ne w tire s or tire s that are old , worn or damaged cann ot pro vide
m aximum cont rol and braking ability.
• New tire s tend to be slippe ry and m ust be broken in . To redu ce
the risk of losing control, a colli sion and seriou s per sonal injurie s,
drive with speci al care for t he fi rst 350 m ile s ( 560 km l.
• Driving with worn or damaged t ire s can lead to lo ss of co ntrol ,
s udd en tire failure , in clu ding a blowout a nd sudden deflation , .,,_
Vehicle care
I t •
Page 316 of 390

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
crashes and serious personal injuries . Have worn or damaged tires
replaced immediately.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
especially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
low speed.
Glossary of tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
means the combined weight (in excess of those standard items
which may be replaced) of automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, and heater, to
the extent that these items are available as factory-installed equip
ment (whether installed or not).
Aspect ratio means the ratio of the height to the width of the tire in percent.
Numb ers of 55 or lower indicate a low sidewall for improved
steering response and better overall handling on dry pavement.
Bead
means the part of the tire that is made of steel wires, wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to fit the rim.
Bead separation means a breakdown of the bond between components in the bead.
Cord
means the strands forming the plies in the tire.
& WARNING (continued)
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history." Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
• If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side
when driving, always stop as soon as it is safe to do so and check
the wheels and tires for damage . •
Cold tire inflation pressure
means the tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
for a tire of a designated size that has not been driven for more than
a couple of miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the three hour period
before the tire pressure is measured or adjusted .
Curb weight means the weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment
including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, air condi
tioning and additional weight of optional equipment.
Extra load tire
means a tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher infla
tion pressures than the corresponding standard tire . Extra load tires
my be identified as "XL",
"xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the side
wall.
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR")
means the load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured
at the tire -ground interfaces .
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ("GVWR"l
means the maximum total loaded weight of the vehicle.
Page 317 of 390

Tires a nd wh eels -
----------------
•
Groove
means the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
Load ra ting (code)
means the maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure. You may not find this information on all tires
because it is not required by law.
M ax im um l oad ra tin g
means the load rating for a tire at the maximum permissib le infla
tion pressure for that tire.
Ma ximum l oaded v ehi cle weigh t
means the sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehic le capacity weight, and
(ct) Production options weight
M ax im um (p er mi ssibl e) infl ati on pr essur e
means the maximum cold inflation pressure to wh ich a tire may be
inflated. Also ca lled "maximum inflation pressure."
Normal occ upa nt wei ght
means 150 lbs. (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants
seated in the vehicle up to the to tal seating capacity of your vehicle.
O ccupant di stributi on
means distribution of occupants in a vehicle .
Outer di am eter
means the overall diameter of an inflated new tire.
O ve rall wi dth
means the linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewa lls of
an inflated tire, includ ing elevations due to labeling, decorations, or
protective bands or ribs.
Pl y
means a layer of rubber -coated para lle l cords.
P rodu ction opt io ns wei ght
means the combined weight of those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs . (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard
i t ems wh ich they replace, not previously considered in curb weigh t
or accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof
rack, heavy duty battery, and specia l trim .
Radi al p ly tire
means a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the
tread .
Reco mm ended infl ati on pr essu re
see => page 314, "Cold tire inflation pressure".
Rein force d tir e
means a tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher infla
tion pressures than the corresponding standard tire. Reinforced
t ires my be identified as "XL", "xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the
sidewall.
R im
means a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon
wh ich the t ire beads are seated.
Rim di amet er
means nominal diameter of the bead seat. If you change your whee l
size, you wi ll have to purchase new tires to match the new rim diam
eter .
Rim siz e de sig nation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim wid th
means nominal distance between rim flanges.
Vehicle care I t •
Page 318 of 390

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Sidewall
means that portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Speed rating
extended periods of time. The ratings range from 93 mph (150 km/h)
to 186 mph (298 km/h)=>
page 326. You may not find this informa
tion on a ll tires because it is not required by law.
The speed rating letter code, where applicable, is molded on the tire sidewa ll and indicates the maximum perm issible road speeds =>
&
in "Winter tires" on page 329.
Tire pressure monitoring system
means a system that detects when one or more of a vehicle 's tires
are under inflated and illuminates a low tire pressure warning te ll
tale.
Tread
means that portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road.
Tread separation
means pu lling away of the tread from the tire carcass.
Treadwear indicators (TWI)
means the projections within the principa l grooves designed to give
a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread . See
=>
page 323, "Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)" for more information on
measuring tire wear .
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
is a tire information system developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Adm inistration (NHTSA) that is designed to
help buyers make relative comparisons among tires. The UTQG is
not a safety rati ng and not a guarantee that a tire will last for a
prescribed number of miles or perform in a certain way . It simply
gives tire buyers additiona l information to comb ine with other
considerations, such as price, brand loyalty and dealer recommen- dations
. Under UTQG, tires are graded by the tire manufacturers in
t hree areas : treadwear, traction and temperature resistance. The
UTQG information on the tires, molded into the sidewalls.
U .S . DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN )
This is the tire's "seria l number" It begins with the letters "DOT" and
indicates that the tire meets a ll federal standards. The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufactured,
and the last four numbers represent the week and year of manufac
ture. For example,
DOT ... 2207 ...
means that the tire was produced in the 22th week of 2007. The
other numbers are marketing codes that may or may not be used by
the tire manufacturer. This information is used to contac t
consumers if a tire defect requires a reca ll.
Vehicle capacity weight
means the rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lbs . (68 kilograms)
t imes the vehicle's tota l seating capacity as listed on the label
located either on the driver's side 8-pillar or on the inside of the fuel
filler flap.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib
uting to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight
and dividing by two.
Vehicle normal load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by d istrib
uting to each axle its share of the curb weight, accessory weight,
and normal occupant weight (distributed in accordance with table
below=>
page 317) and dividing by two. .,_
Page 319 of 390

Tires and wheels -_______________ _____.
Occ up ant loading and di stribution fo r vehicle no rmal load for various d esignated seating capa cities
Designated seating capacity, num
ber of occupants Vehicle normal load
, numb er of
occupants Occupant distribution in a normally
load
ed vehicle
5 3 2 in front,
1 in bac k seat •
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire pressure affects the overall handling, performa nce and safe ty of a vehicle .
Fig. 2 40 Tire pre ssure
label: located either on
driver' s side B -pill ar or
in sid e the fuel filler flap
Ti re pressure ge nerally refe rs to the am ount of air in a tire tha t it
needs it to do its job and safely carry the combined load of the entire
veh icle and i ts contents. Tire pressu re is measured in kilopascals
(kPa ), the internationa l measuring uni t and in pounds per square
i nc h (PSI) . Tir e p ressu re is based in par t on the vehic le's design and
load l im it - the g reatest amoun t of wei ght that the vehic le ca n carry
safe ly and the tire size . The proper tire pressure is frequently
re ferr ed to as the "recommended cold t ire i nflation pressu re ." Air i n
the tires expands when the tire heats up because of internal friction
whe n it flexes i n use . The tire pres sure is h ig her whe n the tire has
wa rmed up than when it is "co ld." It is the inflation pressure in a
"c old" tire t hat co unts. The ref ore, y ou sho uld neve r let air out of a
warm tire to match "co ld tire inflation pressure" recommendations .
T he tires wo uld then be under inflated a nd cou ld fa il s ud den ly .
i
,,-, ~ ---------------- ixl
• (SEATING CAPAC ITY :roTAL I :FRO NT I :cENTER I :REAR I ) al
Thecombh,d""'91wclo«U,,..,.andco,-goshoulcl.......,""""' •1cg., -b.
TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION
TIRE SIZE COLO TIRE PRESSURE
F RONT -KPa, -PSI
REAR -KPa, -PSI
SPARE -KPa, - PSI
MANUAL FOR
INFORMATION SEE OWNER'S I
ADDITIONAL
Fig . 241 Tire pr essure
label
M ain tain ing pr op er tire pressure i s one of th e m ost im portant
things you can do to help avoid sudden tire failure. Underinflated
t ires are a major cause of s udden tir e fail ure . K eeping tires at the
ri ght press ure is also impor tant for sa fe and r esponsive v ehicle
han dling, trac tion, b raki ng a nd l oad carryi ng .
Tire pressures are
particularly important when the vehicle is being driven at higher
speeds , and then especially when heavily loaded even within the
permissible load -carrying capacities approved for your vehicle.
T he recommended tire pressures for your Audi depend on the kind
of tires on your vehicle a nd the n umber of passengers an d/o r
amount of luggage you w ill be transporting.
On USA vehic les, the tire pressure label is located on the driver's
s id e B- pilla r. On Cana da v ehic les, the tire pressu re labe l is loca ted
either on the driver's side 8 -pillar or inside the fuel filler flap. The tire
pre ssure label lists the rec omm ended cold tire i nflatio n pre ssures _,,,
Vehic le care I I irechnical data
Page 320 of 390

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
for the vehicle at its maximum capacity weight and tires that were
on your vehic le at the time it was manufactured.
If you w is h t o improve co mfort w hen opera ting the vehicle a t
n ormal lo ad (up t o 3 o ccupant s), you can a djust ti re pre ss ure s to
tho se s pecified for norm al v ehi cle load . B efore operating the vehi cle
at m aximum lo ad , y ou must i ncreas e the t ire p re ss ure s to tho se
s pe cifi ed for m axim um vehicle lo ad
=> & .
Bear in mind that the tire pressure monitoring system can only
monitor the tire pressures you have stored. The system does not
recognize the load condition of your vehic le.
The effectiveness of the tire pressure monitoring system will be impaired if you store normal load pressures but then operate the
vehic le at its maximum load=>&. See the
illustration=>
page 317, fig. 240 for the location of the label
either on driver's side B -p illar or inside the fuel fi ller flap (color of
the actual label and exact location on the vehicle will vary slight ly).
Note that the fol lowing tab le is accurate at the time of going to
press and is subject to change . In the event of discrepanc ies, the tire
pressure label (on USA vehicles, the tire pressure label is located on
the dr iver's side B-pi llar; on Canada vehicles, the tire pressure labe l
is located either on the driver's side B-pillar or inside the fue l fi ller
fl ap) always takes precedence.
T he table below lists the recommended cold tire inflation pressures
for the Audi model covered by your Owner's Literature at the
vehic le's capacity weight and the tire sizes installed on the respec
tive models as origina l equipment, or as a factory option.
En gin e Tire des ig nation Tir e pr essur e fro nt Tir e p re ssur e rea r
( di spl ac e-
no rm al l oa d no rm al l oa d
m ent in
conditi on (up t o full lo
ad
condition (u p full lo
ad
lit er)
condition condition 3 occupants ) to 3 occ upant s)
PSI kPA kPA kPA
6-cylinder 225/5 5 R16 99H XL All Sea son 33 230 35 240
30 210
39 270
3.2
245 /45 R17 99H XL All Season 33 230 35 240 30 2 10 39 270
2 45 /40 R1 8 97 H XL All Season 36 250
38 260 33 230 42 290
245
/40 R18 97V XL Hi gh Performan ce 33 230 33 230 30 210
39 270
8
-c ylind er 245 /45 R17 99H XL All Sea son 36 250 36 250 32 220 41 280
4.2
245/40 R18 97 H XL All S eason 39 270 39 270 35 240 42 290
2
45 /40 R18 97V XL High Perf orma nce 35 240
36 250 32 220 39 270
X
L = reinforced or extra load t ire . It may also appea r as xi, EX TRA LOAD , or RF on the tire sidewall.
The correct t ire pressure for the
spare wheel is located on a label
either on the driver's side B-pillar or inside the fuel fil ler flap. Because technica
l changes may be made to vehicle equipment
during the mode l year, always compare the tire size designation on
the tire pressure label on your vehicle with the tires on your vehic le .
Make sure that the tire size information on the vehic le label is the _.,