warning AUDI S6 2009 Owners Manual

-Checking
and filling
---=---------------
checked by a service facility . The electrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged
~ page 314.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With certain types of airbag deployment, the battery is discon­ nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons~
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 229.
Disconnecting the battery terminals
Some vehicle functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected . These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again . To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
vehicle electrical system when absolutely necessary for repairs.
Vehicles not driven for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
~ page 269.
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions , such as the master key remote function or
power seat adjustment, may not be available. The convenience
functions will be available again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
Winter operation
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop . This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when traveling only short distances. Let your authorized Audi dealer
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 314. A well charged battery will not only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold , but will also last longer .
[ i] Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several weeks at extremely low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. This will prevent it from being damaged and
having to be replaced. •
Working on the battery
Be especially careful when working on or near the battery.
Fig. 244 Luggage
compartment : Battery
The battery is located in the luggage compartment under
the floor. Before you check anything in the luggage
compartment,
read and heed all WARNINGS=>& .
Lift the floor by the plastic handle.
Hook the handle into the luggage compartment weather
strip.
Always heed the safety warnings, when working on the vehicle
battery or the vehicle electrical system to prevent injury.

__________________________________________ C_ h _ e_c _k _in _ g =- a_ n __ df _i_ lli _n ___ g __ fflllll
•
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 •

llffl __ 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 .
• 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. 245 Engine
compartment : Connec­
tors for charger and
jumper cables
Always read and heed all WARNINGS below=> & and=> &
in "Working on the battery" on page 312.
- Turn off the ignition and all electrical consumers.
- Make sure the area is well ventilated when you charge
the battery.
- Open the hood => page
300.
-Open the red cover on the positive pole=> fig. 245.
- Connect the charger connectors according to the instruc-
tions to the
jump start bolts. (Bolts under the red cover=
" posit ive", 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. .,_

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
-Now remove the clamps fo r the charging eq uipment.
- Close t he red cover on the positive pole.
- Close the hood~
page 301.
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures of only O °C. A llow
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.
Batt ery c harg ing (Ma ximum ch arging rate of 30
a mps /14 .8 Volt )
When charging at /ow voltages (e.g. with a trickle charg er), the
ba ttery 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 .
Fa st cha rging the batt ery (chargi ng ra te ab ove 14 .8
Volt s)
For technical reasons do not use a battery charger that uses vo ltage
greater than 14.8 Volts to charge your vehic le's battery.
& WARNING
C harging a battery can be d angerou s.
• Alwa ys follo w the oper ating instruct ions pro vided b y the
battery charger manuf acturer when charging your b attery .
• Neve r charge a frozen battery. It m ay explode be cau se of gas
tr apped in the i ce. Allow a frozen battery to thaw out fir st.
• Do not reuse batteries wh ich were fro zen. The battery housing
m ay hav e crac ked and wea kened when the b atte ry fro ze .
• Charge the battery in a well ventilated area. Keep away from
open fla me or ele ctri cal s par k. Do not smok e. Hydrogen ga s gener ­
ated by the battery is explo sive.
&_ W ARN ING (c ontinued )
• To redu ce the danger of explo sion, never connect or d isconnect
c h ar ger cable s while the charger is ope rat ing .
• Batte ry acid that may spill durin g charging should be w ashed
off with a sol ution of warm water and b aking soda to neutralize
the acid .
0 Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to start the engine . This wi ll
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, re lays, 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 responsib le for
distributing the e lectrica l energy throughout your vehicle
~ page 269 . 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 availab le once again
after you have changed the battery, we recommend that you insta ll
batteries of the same type and manufacture only (the same as those
insta lled at the t ime your vehicle was de livered). Specif ications are
listed on the battery housing . Your authorized Audi dealer wi ll then
code the battery management con trol unit.
I f it is not possib le to use a battery of this type, the new battery must
have the same capacity, voltage (12 volts), amperage, construction
and p lug sealing .
When installing the battery, make sure the ignition and all electrical consumers are tur ned off.
~
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --=:: g;__ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:g:a.- ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
Make sure the ventilation hose on the side of the battery is
connected, otherwise fumes or battery acid can leak out.
Because of the problem of proper disposal of a battery, we recom ­
mend your authorized Audi dea ler change the battery for you.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid and lead and must always be
disposed of properly in compliance with all environmental regula ­
tions . Disposing of vehicle batteries improperly is very dangerous to
t he environment. •
Windshield/headlight washer
container
Fig . 246 Engine
compartment: Wind ­
s hie ld and headlight*
washer fluid container
The washer fluid container is marked with the symbol O on
its cap.
- Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS :::> & in "Working
in the engine compartment" on page
301 .
-Lift the fille r cap tongue to add washer fluid. You can fill
the container to the top.
- Press the cap back onto the filler neck after filling the
container.
You can find the reservoir capacity in the table in=> page 369.
To prevent lime residue from building up on the spray jets, use
distilled water when refilling. Always add a gla ss cleaner solution
(with frost protection in the winter).
0 Note
Do not mix engine coolant antifreeze or any other additives to fill up
the windshield washer reservoir.•

________________________________________________ T_ i _r_e _s_ a_n_ d_ w_ h_ e_e _ l_s __ lllll
•
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 349.
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 •

-~_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.

-~_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 means the speed at which a tire is designed to be driven for
extended periods of time. The ratings range from 93 mph (150 km/h)
to 186 mph (298 km/h)=>
page 330. 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 333.
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 327, "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 ... 2208 ...
means that the tire was produced in the 22nd week of 2008. 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 on the driver's side 8-pillar.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib ­
uting to each ax le 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 distrib ­
uting to each axle its share of the curb weight, accessory we ight,
and normal occupant weight (distributed in accordance with table
below =>
page 327) and divid ing by two. ~

Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
The correct tire pressure for the spare wheel is located on a label on
the driver's side 8 -pillar.
Because technical 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 vehicle.
Make sure that the tire size information on the vehicle label is the
same as the size of the tires on the vehicle. This is especially impor­
tant if the vehicle belongs to someone else or you bought the
vehic le with different rims/tires or you bought the vehicle as a previ ­
ously owned vehicle.
Remember, your safety and that of your passengers also depends
on making sure that load l imits are not exceeded. Vehicle load
includes everybody and everything in and on the vehicle . These load
limits are techn ically referred to as the vehicle's Gross Veh icle
Weight Rating ("GVWR"l. The Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR"l is
the maximum load that can be applied at each of the vehicle's two
axles. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating are listed on the safety compliance sticker label located on
the driver's side 8-pillar. The tire pressure label on your Audi lists
the maximum comb ined weight of all of the occupants and luggage
or other cargo that the vehicle can carry. For the location of the tire
pressure label =>
page 327, fig. 247.
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause loss of vehicle control, a crash or
other accident , serious personal injury, and even death .
• Carrying more weight than your vehicle was designed to carry
will prevent the vehicle from handling properly and increase the
risk of a loss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance.
• Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly
causing loss of control and a crash.
& WARNING (continued)
• Always make sure that the total load being transported -
including the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer -does not make the vehicle heavier than the
vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating .
& WARNING
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can lead to a
serious or fatal accident.
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation cause increased
tire wear and can affect the handling of the vehicle.
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehicle control. •
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the tires originally installed
on your vehicle is listed on the tire pressure label located
on driver's side 8-pillar.
The recommended tire pressures are on the tire pressure label and
in the table=>
page 327, "Cold tire inflation pressure". This means
that the pressure must be checked and adjusted when the tire has
not been driven for more than a couple of mi les (kilometers) at low
speeds during the previous three hours. Air in the tires expands
when the tire heats up as a result of internal friction as it flexes in
use. The tire pressure is higher when the tire has warmed up than
when it is "cold ."
It is the inflation pressure in a "cold" tire that counts. Therefore, you
should never let air out of a warm tire to match "Cold tire inf lation
pressure" recommendations=>
page 327. The tires wou ld then be
underinflated and could fail suddenly. .,_
Vehicle care I t •

--~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
The tire pressure label on your Audi lists the recommended cold tire
in flatio n press ures f or the new, original equipment tires that were
on your vehic le at the time it was manufactured. For the location of
the label =>
page 321, fig. 247.
Most tires lose air natural ly over time. They can a lso lose some air if
you drive over a pothole or hit a curb while parking. It is usually not
possible to see whether the radial t ires used today are underinflated
just by looking at them.
Therefore, be sure to check tire pressures at least once a month and always before going on a long trip. Make sure to take the number of
people and the amount of luggage into account when adjusting tire
pressure for a trip - even one that you would not consider to be
"long." See =>
page 325, "Tires and vehicle load limits" for more
important information .
Always use an accurate tire pressure gauge when checking and adjusting inflation pressures. Check a ll of the tires and be sure not
to forget the spare tire . If the pressure in any tire is too high when
the tire is "cold," let air out of the tire s lowly with the edge of the tire
gauge and keep checking the pressure until you reach the pressure
that is correct for the load (passengers and luggage) and kind of
driving you p lan to do.
If the pressure in any tire is too low, note the difference between the
press ure in the cold t ire and the pressure you need and add the air
that you need to reach the correct pressure for the vehicle load
(passengers and luggage) for the tires on your vehicle as listed on
the on your vehicle and in this manual and the kind of driving you p lan to do .
Nev er e xce ed the m aximum i nflation pr essure listed on the tir e
s ide wall for any rea so n .
Remember that the veh ic le manufacturer, not the tire manufacturer,
determines the correct tire pressure for the tires on your vehicle .
It is important to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold.
• Read the required tire pressure from the tire pressure label. The
tire pressure label is located on the driver's side B -pillar. • T
urn the valve stem cap counter -clockwise to remove it from the
t ire valve .
• Place the air pressure gauge on the valve.
• T he tire pressures should only be checked and adjus ted when
the tires are cold. The s lightly raised pressures of warm tires must
not be reduced.
• Adjust the tire pressure to the load you are carrying.
• Reinstall the valve stem cap on the valve .
When should I check the tir e pre ssure?
The correct tire pressure is especially important at high speeds . T he
p ressure should therefore be checked at least once a month and
always before starting a journey. Do not forget to check the tire pres ­
sure for the spare whee l =>
page 343.
Wh en shoul d I adj us t th e tir e pre ssu res?
Adjust the tire pressure to the load you are ca rrying . Af ter changing
a wheel
o r replacing wheels you have to adjust the tire pressures on
a ll whee ls . In add ition, you must then store the new tire pressures
in the tire pressure monitoring system=>
page 338 .
& WARNING
Incor re ct t ire pre ssure s and /or und erinf latio n can le ad sudden t ire
failure , los s of control , collision , seriou s per son al injury or even
death .
• When the warning symbol
t appe ars in the in strumen t
c luste r, sto p a nd in spe ct the tire s.
• Incor rect tire pre ssure and /or underi nflati on can cause
i ncrea sed tire wear and can affe ct the h andl ing of the veh icle an d
s topping abil ity .
• Incorre ct t ire pres sur es a nd/or und erinflat ion c an a lso lead to
s udden tir e failure , including a blowout and sudden deflat ion ,
ca usin g lo ss of vehicle control . .,_