engine coolant AUDI S6 2008 Owners Manual

Instruments and warning /indicator lights
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Instruments
Instrument cluster and controls
The instrument cluster is your central source of informa­
tion .
Fig . 2 Overview of the instrument clu ster
G) Coolant temperature gauge ................... .. .
@ Tachometer with tim e and dat e display . ... .... ... .
® Warning/indicator lights .. ...... ...... .......... .
© Driver information system .... .... .... ... .. ..... .
© Speedometer with odometer .... ... ... ... .... ... .
© Fuel gauge . ..... ..... ........ ........ ... .... . .
0 Instrument cluster illumination ... ...... ....... .. .
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
13
14, 14
17
25
15
15
16
© I CH ECK] button . ........... .... ... .... .. ...... .
© Reset bu tton for trip odome ter ...... ....... ..... .
[ i ] Tips
16
15
The illumination for the instrument cluster lights up whenever you
switch on the ignition with the
vehicle headlights off. As the
day light fades , the instrument c luster illumination likewise dims
automatically and will go out completely when the outsid e light is
very low. This feature is meant to remind you to switch on the head ­
lights when outside light conditions become poor. •
Engine coolant temperature gauge
The engine coolant gauge => fig. 2 G) only works when the ignition
is on. To prevent damage to your engine, please note the following
important points:
Engine cold
As long as th e needle remains at or close to the bottom of the
gauge, the engine still has not reached its operating temperature .
Avoid high engine speeds , heavy engine loads and heavy throttle
applications.
Normal temperature
When the engine has reached its operating temperature, the needle
wi ll move into the middle of the gauge and rema in there. If the
eng ine is working hard at high outside temperatures, the needle
may ris e up . This is no ne ed to worry as long as the
_f_ warning light
in the ins trument cluster does not illuminate . .,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Warning light in the instrument cluster -t
When the _L warning light in the instrument cluster starts to flash,
this can mean one of two things: either the coolant
temperature is
too high, or the coolant
level is too low~ page 33.
If the needle is well in the upper area of the gauge, the coolant
temperature is too high.
Stop the vehicle, switch the engine off and
allow the engine to cool.
If the warning light comes on again after
driving a short distance, contact an authorized dealer.
& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in ~ page 289, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the engine coolant
level.
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment . You
could burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant.
0 Note
• Mounting additional lights or accessories in front of the air inlets
reduces the cooling effect of the radiator. At high outside tempera­
tures or high engine load, the engine could overheat.
• The front spoiler has been designed to properly distribute the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving. If the spoiler is damaged,
this could reduce the cooling effect and the engine could then
over­
heat. Ask your authorized Audi dealer for assistance. •
Tachometer (engine rev counter)
The tachometer indicates the engine RPM (revolutions per
minutes).
The tachometer 0 ~ page 13, fig. 2 is the left of the two large clock ­
type displays. The
engine turns at a speed
1,000 times the single digit in the
display, e.g. if the needle is pointing at the "2" the engine is turning
at 2,000 RPM.
If engine RPM drops below 1,500, you should downshift to the next
lower gear. The red area at the end of the scale indicates maximum
permissible engine RPM after the break -in period. Before reaching
this area, move the selector lever to position "D (Drive)" or ease your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
0 Note
The tachometer needle should not move into the red range. If it
does, then only for a
very short period of time. You could damage
your engine by driving at high RPM .
'£> For the sake of the environment
Upshifting early saves fuel and reduces engine noise.•
Digital clock with date display
Date and time of day can be set in the MM/.
Fig . 3 Instrument
cluster with digital
clock
The date, time of day, and time and date format can be set in the
MMI. You can find out more in the MMI manual. .,_

For example, if the transmission selector lever is not in the P posi­
tion when the engine is turned off, the following message appears:
Please move selector lever to position P
The ignition key can only be removed with the selector in this posi­
tion. This and other messages are brought up if a function cannot
be carried out.
Driver messages and red symbols
If a red symbol appears in the display, a driver message can be
shown by pressing the [
CHECK I button.
For example, the symbol for a problem with engine oil pressure~
appears in the display. If you then press the
I CHECK I button, the
following driver message appears in the display:
Switch off engine and check oil level
The driver message in the display goes out after about 5 seconds.
The driver message can be displayed again by briefly pressing the
I CHECK] button.
Driver messages and yellow symbols
If a yellow symbol appears in the display, a driver message is also
displayed automatically.
For example, the symbol appears in the display, indicating low
windshield washer fluid level. The following message also appears:
Please top up washer fluid
The driver message disappears after a few seconds. The driver
message can be displayed again by briefly pressing the [
CHECK I
button. •
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER.
Pull off the road.
Stop the vehicle.
Turn off the engine.
Fig. 18 Display : engine
coolant level warning
(priority 1)
-Check the malfunctioning system. Contact your autho-
rized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop for assistance.
Red symbols indicate a priority 1 malfunction -Danger!
With a priority 1 malfunction, a large symbol appears in the center
area of the display=> fig. 18. When the symbol appears,
three
warning tones sound in succession. The symbol continues to blink
un til the malfunction has been repaired.
If there are
more than one priority 1 malfunctions, the symbols
appear one after the other for about 2 seconds.
An additional driver message can also be displayed by briefly
pressing the
IC HECK J button.
The red symbols mean:
I • •

Driver information display
BRAKE
USA models: => page32
Brake system malfunction

Canada models: II => page32
Brake system malfunction
-~-
Engine coolant level too => page 33
low/engine coolant temperature
-too high
-
~ Engine oil pressure too low => page 34
i
Faulty steering => page 34
© Faulty ignition switch => page35
-4
[ i] Tips
• If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ ((j)) (Canada
models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a brake system
malfunction. By pressing the [
CHECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Please note=> page 32 .
• Speed warnings threshold 1
0 (USA modelsl/ 8 (Canada
models) and threshold 2
e , (USA models)/ 0, (Canada models) are
also shown as red symbols. The warning is always shown as a small
symbol in the upper area of the display=> page 38. •
Brake system malfunction
A malfunction in the broke system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (©)
(Canada models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is
a brake system malfunction. By pressing the [CHECK] button, you can bring up a driver message which explains
the malfunction in more detail.
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid level
-Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check the brake fluid level
~ page 306.
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility if neces-
sary.
Warning! Fault in ABS brake system. Contact
workshop
- Drive carefully to the nearest authorized repair facility
and have the malfunction corrected
~ & .
Parking brake! Please contact workshop
-If the warning/indicator light flashes when the vehicle is
stationary or after the ignition is turned on, check to see
if the parking brake can be released. Drive to an autho­
rized repair facility as soon as possible and have the
malfunction corrected. If the parking brake cannot be
released, contact your nearest authorized repair facility.
- If the warning/indicator light flashes while you are
driving, it is possible that the traction control or the
emergency brake has malfunctioned. It is possible that
the parking brake cannot be applied. It is also possible
that the parking brake cannot be released after it has
been applied. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer to have
the malfunction corrected. .,.

If the ABS system malfunctions, the ABS warning/indicator light illu­
minates together with the brake system malfunction warning/indi ­
cator light~
&-
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in ~ page 289, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the brake fluid.
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard . Stop the car and
get professional assistance.
• USA models: If the
BRAKE warning light and the c~ warning
light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up first under
hard braking . Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control
and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop. Drive slowly and
avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• Canada models : If the brake warning light
«D> and the ABS
warning light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up
first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme­
diately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop .
Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applications. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -L
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the -t symbol in the display blinks, then either the
engine coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant level
is too low. An additional driver message can also be
displayed by pressing the [ CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check coolant level
-Pull off the road .
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
Check coolant level
=> page 304 .
Add coolant if necessary=> page 305.
Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/ind icator light goes out.
Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be
the cause of the malfunction.
If the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
~ page 79, then the fan belt may be damaged.
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights
~ page 73, "Emer­
gency flasher
A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
~ page 289, "Engine compartment" . .,_
I • •

• .___w_ a_ rm __ a_ n_ d_ c_o _l_d ________________________________________________ _
Warm and cold
Climate control
Description
The air conditioner is fully automatic and is designed to
maintain a comfortable and uniform climate inside the
vehicle.
We recommend the follow ing settings:
- Set the temperature to 75 °F (+23 °C).
- Press the !AUTO
I button.
With this setting, you attain maximum comfort in the least amount
of time. Change this setting, as desired, to meet your personal needs.
The climate controls are a combination of heating, ventilation and cooling systems, which automatically reduce humidity and cool the
air inside your vehicle.
The air temperature, air flow and air distribution are automatically
regulated to achieve and maintain the desired passenger compart­
ment temperature as quickly as possible.
The system automatically compensates for changes in outside
temperature and for the intensity of the sunlight entering the
vehicle. We recommend you use the
Automatic mode=> page 113
for year-round comfort.
Please note the following:
Turn on the air conditioner to reduce humidity in the vehicle. This also prevents the windows from fogging up.
When the outside temperature is high and the air is very humid,
condensation from the evaporator may drip under the vehicle. This
is normal and does not indicate a leak. If the outside temperature is low,
the fan normally only switches to
a higher speed once the engine coolant has warmed up sufficiently.
The air conditioner temporarily switches off when you drive off from
a standstill using full throttle to save engine power.
The compressor also switches off if the coolant temperature is too
high, so that the engine can be adequately cooled under extreme
loads.
Air pollutants filter
The air pollutants filter (a combined particle filter and activated
charcoal filter) reduces or prevents outside air pollution (dust, or
pollen) from entering the vehicle.
The air pollutants filter must be changed at the intervals specified
in your Maintenance
& Warranty booklet, so that the air conditioner
can properly work.
If you drive your vehicle in an area with high air pollution, the filter
may need to be changed more frequently than specified in your
Audi Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. If in doubt, ask your autho­
rized Audi Service Advisor for advice.
Key coded settings
The air conditioner settings selected are automatically stored and
assigned to the key being used. When the vehicle is started, the air
conditioner automatically selects the settings assigned to that key.
This way every driver will maintain his/her own personal settings
and does not have to reset them manually.
If a different driver uses your key and changes the air conditioner
settings, the latest adjustments will erase and replace the settings
you have stored.
Energy management
To prevent the battery from being discharged and to restore the
balance of energy, components which require large amounts of

• ..__O_ n_ t_h _e _ r_o _a _ d __________________________________________________ _
& WARNING
Never start or let the engine run in a confined or enc losed area .
Exhaust fumes from the engine contain carbon monoxide , a color ­
le ss and odorless gas . Carbon monoxide can be fatal if inhaled .
• Never leave the engine idling unattended . An unattended
vehi cle with a runn ing engine poses a danger of personal injury or
theft.
0 Note
• Avoi d high engine speed s, fa st a ccele rati on or heavy eng ine
loads while the engi ne is sti ll cold. This cou ld damage the engine.
• The e ngi ne canno t be sta rt e d by pushing o r to w ing the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
To avoid unnecessary engine wear and to re duce ex hau st emis ­
sions, do not let your vehicle stand and warm up. Be ready to drive
off immed iate ly afte r start ing y our veh icle. Maintain modera te
sp eed unt il the engine is completely warm. Remembe r, th e engine
performs best a t operati ng tempe ra ture .•
Stopping the engine
- Turn t he ignit ion key to position ©~ page 125 , fig. 123 .
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotroni c only work when the engine
is running . With the ignition turned off , you have to apply more
force when steering or braking . Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries .
& WARNING (continued )
• The radiator fan can continue to run for up to 10 minutes even
after you have turned off the engine and removed the ignition key .
The radiator fan can also turn on again if the engine coolant heats
up because of inten se sunlight or heat build -up in the engine
compartment .
0 Note
Do not stop the engine immediatel y after hard or extended driving.
Keep the eng ine runn ing f or ap proximate ly t wo minu tes to preven t
excessive heat build -up. •
Starting and stopping the engine
with Advanced Key
Ap plies to veh ic les : w ith Advan ce d Key
Starting the engine with the [ START) button
This button switches on the i gnition and starts the en gine.
Fig. 124 Advanced
Key: ENG INE START
button
T he [ S TA RT ] b utto n is prov ided with two-stage operation
~ fig . 12 4. .,,_

• .___O_ n_ t_h _e _ r_o _a_ d __________________________________________________ _
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotronic only work when the engine
is running. With the ignition turned off, you have to apply more
force when steering or braking. Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
• For safety reasons, you should always park your vehicle with
the selector lever in P. Otherwise, the vehicle could inadvertently roll away.
• After the engine has been switched off, the radiator fan can
continue to run for up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition
switched off. It can also switch on again after some time if the
coolant temperature rises as the result of a heat buildup or if the
engine is hot and the engine compartment is additionally heated
by the sun's rays.
0 Note
If the engine has been under heavy load for an extended period,
heat builds up in the engine compartment after the engine is
switched off -there is a risk of damaging the engine. Allow the
engine to run at idle for about 2 minutes before switching it off. •
Applies to vehicles: w ith Advanced Key
Driver messages in the instrument cluster
display
If a function is not present, a driver message appears.
No key identified
This message appears when the [STAR T) button is pressed if there
is no master key inside the vehicle or if the system does not recog­
nize it. For example, the master key cannot be recognized if it is
covered by an object (e.g. aluminum brief case) which
screens the radio signal.
.Electronic devices such as cell phones can also inter­
fere with the radio signal.
Press brake pedal to start engine
This message appears if you press the [ START) button to start the
engine and do not depress the brake pedal. The engine can only be
started if the brake pedal is depressed.
Engage N or P to start engine
This message appears when the engine is started if the selector
lever for the automatic transmission is not in the P or N position.
The engine can only be started with the selector in these positions.
? Key not in vehicle
This message appears along with the symbol if the master key is
removed from the vehicle with the engine running. It is intended to
remind you (e.g. when changing drivers) not to continue the journey
without the master key.
If the master key is no longer in the vehicle, you cannot switch off
the ignition after stopping the engine and you also cannot start the engine again. Moreover, you cannot lock the vehicle from the
outside with the key.
Shift to P, otherwise vehicle can roll away. Doors do not lock if lever
is not in
P.
This message appears for safety reasons along with a warning
buzzer if the selector lever for the automatic transmission is not in
the P position when the ignition is switched off with the
[STOP)
button and the driver's door is opened. Move the selector lever to
the P position, otherwise the vehicle is not secured against rolling
away. You also cannot lock the vehicle using the locking button on
the door handle or using the remote key.
To engage steering lock, press and hold STOP button
This message appears for safety reasons if the engine and the igni ­
tion have been switched off by pressing the [
STOP) button once, .,,_

___ T_ r _a_ il_e _r_ t_ o_ vv_ in__... g,_ __________________________________________________ _
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable -particularly when going downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
im med ia tel y if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to s top the swayi ng by accelerating.
Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular vehicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving downhill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
C ool ant t emp era tur e
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 13 must be observed care­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately 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 minutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
A nyo ne n ot properly re str aine d in a moving vehi cle i s at a mu ch
g re ater ri sk in an accident . Never let any on e r ide in y our car who
is n ot pr operl y wea ring th e re stra ints pr ovided b y Audi . •
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you
l
oad your trailer and operate your r ig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely familiar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Back ing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trailer generally requires steering action opposite to that when backing up your vehic le without a tra iler.
Ma intain a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you nor mally wou ld because of the added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break -in period of your vehicle.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to the extra load=>
page 366. •
Parking on a slope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer. If it cann ot be
avoi ded, do so only after d oing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. ._

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
-Open the driver's door .
Fig. 229 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel
=> fig. 229 in the direct ion of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 230 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.
Lift the hood slightly =>&, .
Pull up on the release under the hood => fig. 230. This
releases the catch.
- Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by two gas struts.
& 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. •