check engine AUDI S6 2009 Owner's Manual

• Always check that the wiper blades are not fro zen to the glass
before you turn the wipers on. Loosen a wiper blade which is frozen
in place before operating the wipers to prevent damage to the wiper
blade or the wiper motor.
• Do not use the wipers to clea r a frosted window . Using the
wipers as a convenient ice scraper will destroy the wiper blades.
• Before you take your v ehicl e to an automatic car wash, make sure
you have the windshield wiper system switched off (lever in position
Ol, otherwise the windshield wiper sys tem could get damaged in the
car wash if it should suddenly come on.
[ i] Tips
• The rain sensor is part of the interval wiping system . Turning off
the ignition will also deactivate the rain sensor . To reactivate the
sensor, switch off the interval wiping function, then switch it back
on again.
• Worn or dirty windshield wiper blades cause smearing which
can affect the operation of the rain sensor. Check the condition of
your windshield wiper blades regularly.
• Make sure the washer fluid reservoir in the engine compartment
is topped off before going on a long trip. Look up~
page 316for
checking and filling the washer container .•
A pplies to ve hicles: wit h hea dligh t wa sher sys tem
Headlight washer system
The headlight washer system cleans the headlights.
- Operate the windshield wiper/washer system~ page 71,
fig. 65 ® with the headlights turned on by holding the
lever for longer than one second.
The washer jets extend forward out of the front bumper driven by
water pressure to spray the front headlights with water.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Clear vision
You should inspect the headlights regularly (for example when refu­
eling) and clean off any solid dirt or insects from the lenses.
To ensure the system works properly in winter , keep the washer jets
free of snow and
remove any ice using a de -icing spray .•
Service position
The wiper blades can only be changed in the service posi­
tion.
Fig. 66 MMI display :
Windshield wipers
At below freezing outside temperatures, make sure first
that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield.
- Press the [CAR] function button.
- Select Windshield wipers . The Windshield wipers menu
appears ~ fig. 66.
- Select Service position on to turn the service position on
or
off to return the windshield w iper to its orig inal posi­
tion .
You must only attempt to change the wiper blades when the s ervice
position is activated. This way, when you are working on the wind ­
shield wipers , you can
avoid damaging the paint on the engine
hood.
~
I • •

On th e road -
-------------------'
and then the driver's door is opened. In this instance, the steering is
not locked . The steering is locked :
• If you press the
I STOP ] button aga in for more than 1 second.
• If you c lose the driver's door and lock your vehicle from the
outside .•
Electromechanical parking brake
Operation
The electromechanical parking brake replaces the hand
brake.
Fi g. 120 Center
co nso le: Parki ng bra ke
- Pull the switch to app ly the park ing brake => fig. 12 0. The
indicator light in the switch will come on .
- Step on the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal and
press the switch at the same time to rel ease the parking
brake. The indicator lig ht in the switch wi ll go out.
Your vehicle is equipped with an elect romechanical parking brake
which replaces the handbrake . T he parking brake is designed to
prevent the vehicle from rol ling unintentional ly.
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
I n add ition to the normal functions of a traditional hand brake, the
e lectromechanica l parking brake provides various convenience and
safety functions.
Emergen cy brake
An emergency brake ensur es that the vehicle can be slowed even if
t he
normal brakes fail=> page 123, "Emergency braking".
Ind icator lights
• If the parking brake is applied with the ignition tu rned on , the
indicator light in the instrument cluster (U.S models :
::i.:,, Canadian
models: ®)) and in the switch <®) will com e on .
• I f the parking brake is app lie d with the ignition
turn ed off , the
indicator light in the instrument cluster (U.S. models: ::.:\,, Canadian
models :(®) ) and in the switch(®) will come on for about 30 seconds
and then go out .
& WARNING
If the vehicle i s stationary and the tr ansmi ssion is engag ed with
the engine ru nning , the engine should not be speeded up (e .g .
manu ally from under the hood ). Otherwi se the vehicle will sta rt to
move -you run the risk of a n accident .
0 Note
If the warning/indica tor light (U.S . mode ls: BRAKE , Canadian mode ls :
(Ci)) ) flashes in the instrument clus ter, there is a brake system
malfunction . By pressing the
I CHECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message which explai ns the ma lfunc tion in more detail. If the
message
P a rki ng brake ! Please conta ct w ork shop appears, there is
a par king brake malfunction which you should have repaired imme -
d iate ly by an authorized dealership=>
page 30. ..
Vehicle care
I I irechnical data

....... __ A_u_ t_o _m_ a_ t_ ic_ t_ r_a _ n_ s_m _ i_s _s _i_o _n ________________________________________________ _
The selector lever must be in Nor P. If one of the driving positions
is engaged a safety switch will prevent the engine from being
started. See also
=:> page 117.
Before you move the selector lever from the
P position, you must
always apply the brake pedal before and while depressing the
button in the handle of the selector lever .
& WARNING
• Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious injury .
- When the selector lever is in a driving position, the vehicle
may creep, even at idle speed . Therefore do not release the
parking brake or foot brake until you are ready to move,
because power is transmitted to the wheels as soon as a
driving position is engaged.
- Do not accelerate while selecting a driving position. At this
time the engine must be at idle speed so that undue stress is
not placed on the clutches in the transmission.
- Remember: -even when stopped briefly with the automatic
transmission in "D", "S" or "R", engine power is being trans­
mitted to the wheels. Your vehicle could "creep" forward or
backward. When stopped, keep the brake pedal fully depressed
and use the parking brake if necessary to keep the vehicle from
rolling.
• If the selector lever is unintentionally moved into N while you
are driving, take your foot off the accelerator pedal and wait for
the engine to return to idle speed before selecting a driving posi­
tion .
• Never shift into "R" or "P" when the vehicle is in motion.
• Never get out of the driver's seat when the engine is running .
• If you must get out of the vehicle, move the selector lever
securely into the P position and apply the parking brake firmly.
• If the engine must remain running , never have any driving posi­
tion engaged when checking under the hood. Make sure the
selector lever has securely engaged and is locked in "P" with the
& WARNING (continued)
parking brake firmly set=> page 293, "Engine compartment".
Otherwise, any increase in engine speed may set the vehicle in
motion, even with the parking brake applied. •
App lies to vehicles: with 6-speed automatic t ransmission
Selector lever positions
This section describes the selector lever positions and
driving ranges.
Fig . 158 Display in the
instrument cluster:
selector lever in posi­
tion D
The selector lever position engaged appears next to the selector
lever as well as in the instrument cluster display .
P -Park
In this selector lever position the transmission is mechanically
locked. Engage
P only when the vehicle is completely stopped=> &
in "Driving the automatic transmission" on page 155.
To shift in or out of position
P, you must first press and hold the
brake pedal and then press the release button in the selector lever
handle while moving the selector lever to or from
P. You can shift
out of this position only with the ignition on.
~

Automatic transmission 11'11 __________________________ ___;__:..;____;_ ______ _
& WARNING (continued )
-When the selector lever is in a driving position , the vehi cle
may creep , even at idle speed . Therefore do not release the
parking brake or foot brake until you are ready to move ,
because power is transmitted to the wheels as soon as a
driving position is engaged.
- Do not accelerate while selecting a driving position. At this
time the engine must be at idle speed so that undue stress is
not placed on the clutches in the transmission.
- Remember : - even when stopped briefly with the automatic
transmission in "D", "S" or "R" , engine power is being trans ­
mitted to the wheels . Your vehicle could "creep " forward or
backward . When stopped , keep the brake pedal fully depressed
and use the parking brake if necessary to keep the vehicle from
rolling .
- If the sele ctor lever is unintentionally moved into N while you
are driving , take your foot off the accelerator pedal and wait for
the engine to return to idle speed before selecting a driving
position .
- Never shift into "R " or "P " when the vehicle is in motion .
- Never get out of the driver's seat when the engine is running.
- If you must get out of the vehicle , move the selector lever
securely into the P position and apply the parking brake firmly .
- If the engine must remain running, never have any driving
position engaged when checking under the hood. Make sure
the selector lever has securely engaged and is locked in "P "
with the parking brake firmly set :::::,
page 293, "Engine
compartment ". Otherwise , any increase in engine speed may
set the vehicle in motion , even with the parking brake
applied .•
Controls and equip ­
ment
Ap plies to vehic les : wit h m ultit ron ic® Conti nuous ly Va riable Transm ission (CVT)
Selector lever positions
This sec tion des cribes th e sele ctor lev er positi ons an d
dr iv ing ra ng es.
Fig . 166 Display in the
instrument clu ster:
se lector lever in posi ·
tion D
Th e se lecto r le ver p ositi on engag ed app ear s ne xt to th e selec tor
lev er as well as in the instrument cluste r disp lay .
P -Park
In this s electo r lever position the transmission is mechanica lly
lo cke d.
Eng age P on ly when t he veh ic le is
completely stopped=> 11::::. in
" Dr ivin g th e multitroni c®" on
page 162
To s hift int o or out o f pos ition P , you m ust firs t press a nd h old the
brake peda l
and then press the release button in th e se lector lever
h an dle whi le m oving the sele ctor l ev er to P .
R - Reverse
The tra nsm issio n w ill automat ica lly se lect the lowest gear ratio
when you sh ift into reverse .
S ele ct R only wh en th e ve hicle is at a
fu ll sto p and t he engine is
running at id le speed :::::, 11::::. in "Driving t he multitron ic®" on
page 162.
I • •

___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
with less grip, gradually increase the pressure on the accelerator
pedal until the car starts to move.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads on this wheel, the EDL cuts out tempo ­
rarily. The vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way
as a vehicle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto ­
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your
ability to control your car. Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=>
page 21. •
Ant"-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP). When the vehicle starts up and acceler ­
ates, the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR
performs automatically, i.e. without the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS sensors=>
page 266, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, the engine
torque is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to
lock onto the road surface. The system is active across the entire
speed range.
Th e ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of action.
Activating
The ESP is automatically activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self -test . You can activate a deactivated ASR if required
by pressing the =>
page 262, fig. 232 button . When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display. Vehicles
with front-wheel drive a deactivated ASR automatically re-activates
itself at a speed of 40 mph (70 km/h) .
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds)=>
page 262, fig. 232. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light comes on, see=>
page 18. The message ASR off
appears in the display as well. On vehicles with front-wheel drive:
deactivation is possible only up to 30 mph (50 km/h) for safety
reasons . Vehicles with all -wheel drive: the ASR can be deactivated
at any speed .
The ASR should normally be activated all the time. Only in certain
exceptional situations when some slip is desirable does it make
sense to deactivate the ASR. Examples:
• when driving with tire chains
• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground and
• when rocking the vehicle loose after it has become stuck .

When the abnormal situation is over, you should activate the ASR
again.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also~
page 329, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels". •
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending largely on operating conditions and driving habits~& .
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your autho ­
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Warranty & Main­
tenance booklet.
Failure to have your brake pads inspected can
result in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking effect of the engine .
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
Moisture or road salt
If
you are driving faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads will briefly touch the brake discs in regular intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, will not notice anything.
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few careful brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings .
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is driven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used. Here too,
you should clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and
pads with a few careful applications of the brake ~& .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high speed~&.
Faults in the brake system
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed~& .
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
too low . The brake fluid level is monitored electronically .
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi ­
tion of the brake pads through the openings in the wheel. If neces­
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection
~ page 344,
"Changing a wheel". ._.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

This automatic adjustment process will cause a slight vibration of
the brake pedal and some noises to alert you that vehicle speed
must be adapted to existing road and traffic conditions .
& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction. Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risks.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics .
[ i ] Tips
• If ABS is not functioning properly, a warning light will come on .
See ~
page 21.
• If a fau lt occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This
is indicated by the ABS warning light.
Brake assistant
The brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power
and thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance . If the driver
presses the brake pedal very quick ly, the brake assistant automati­
cally boosts the braking force to the maximum level, up to the point
where the anti-lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the
wheels from locking . You should then keep the brake pedal pressed
until the vehicle has braked to the required speed. The brake assis­
tant switches itself off as soon as you release the brake pedal.
T he brake assistant wil l not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
& WARNING
Please remember that the
accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast , especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely. Increased risk of an
accident cannot be compensated for even by the brake assistant ,
so always maintain a safe speed. •
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort.
The advanced Servotronic ® power steering system senses the road
speed and electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortab le and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed.
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result, the
steering wheel will be hard to turn.
The power steering fluid level is checked during the scheduled
maintenance services .
0 Note
If there is an electronic ma lfunction, servotronic wi ll still function
like a conventional power steering system, providing a constant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed . This is most noticeable when turning the steering whee l at
low speeds (for examp le when parking), -more effort will be
required than usual.
• Be aware of the different than usual steering response and
adjust your steering force accordingly.
• Have the problem checked and set right by an Aud i dealer as
soon as possible. ._
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

ll}J!I Intelligent technology
----'""------- ~---------------------------------------
With the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with the engine turned off or
use other MMI functions, the battery is being discharged.
If starting capability is jeopardized due to energy consumption , the
following warning appears in the MMI display:
Please start engine, otherwise system will switch off in
3 minutes.
The warning indicates that the system will be turned off automati­
cally after 3 minutes. If you wish to continue using the functions,
you have to start the engine.
With the engine running
Although electrical energy is generated when the vehicle is being
driven, the battery can become discharged. This happens mostly
when little energy is being generated and a great deal consumed
and the battery's state of charge is not optimal.
To bring the energy balance back into equilibrium , consumers
which require especially large amounts of energy are temporarily cut back or switched off. Heating systems in particular require a
great deal of energy. If you notice, for example, that the heated
seats* or the heated rear window are not heating, they have been
temporarily cut back or switched off. These systems will be available
again as soon as the energy balance has been restored.
You will also notice that engine idle speed has been increased
slightly . This is normal and not a cause for concern. By increasing
engine idle speed the additional energy required is generated and
the battery is charged. •
Driver notification in the instrument cluster
d isplay
If battery power drops into the range where it can limit the ability of
the engine to start, this is shown in the instrument cluster display
with the following driver message:
'-' Low battery charge: battery will be charged while driving
This notification reminds you that the starting capability of the
engine may be limited. As soon as you start driving again, the
battery will be recharged and the notification will go out.
Driver notification appears and goes out again
If this driver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
while driving and it goes out again after a while, the battery has
been adequately recharged.
Driver notification appears and does not go out again
If this driver notification appears after the ignition is turned on or
while driving and does not go out again, the battery's state of
charge is not in the optimal range. Starting ability is restricted . Have
the battery checked as soon as possible at a dealership. •

_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _a_ n_ in_ g_a _ n_d_ p_ r_ o_ t _e_ c_t _io _ n __ l'III
•
from fading. Slight color variations will develop in normal use and
are not an indication of material deterioration.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara ® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids .•
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution . Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight .
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash.
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them.
& WARNING (continued)
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page282. a
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine ~ &.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts.
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti -corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
2 l, or if you have the engine washed, the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore .,_
21 Use only th e correct cleaning solut ions. N ev er use gasolin e or di ese l fu el.
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_ h_ e_c _ k_ i_ n ...;: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. 236 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel
~ fig. 236 in the direct ion of the arrow.
The hood pops up sl ightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 237 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the w ind­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Pull up on the release under the hood
~ fig. 237. This
releases the catch
~ /n. .
- Open the hood all the way.
& 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. •