engine coolant AUDI S6 2009 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 cluster
G) Coolant temperature gauge ....... ........ ...... .
@ Tachometer with time and date display .. .... .... . .
G) Warning/indicator lights .. ............. ...... .. .
© Driver information system ...................... .
© Speedometer with odometer . .... ........ .... .. .
© Fuel gauge .... .... ... ...... .... ...... .... ... . .
0 Instrument cluster illumination ................ . .
12
13, 13
16
23
14
14 16
© I CH ECK] button ............. ..... .... ... ..... •.
® Reset button for trip odometer .................. .
[ i ] Tips
15
14
The illumination for the instrument cluster lights up whenever you
switch on the ignition with the
vehicle headlights off. As the
daylight fades, the instrument cluster illumination likewise dims
automatically and wil l go out complete ly when the outside 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 fo llowing
important points:
Engine cold
As long as the 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
will move into the middle of the gauge and remain there. If the
engine is working hard at high outside temperatures, the needle
may rise up. This is no need to worry as long as the -~-warning light
in the instrument cluster does not illumina te. ..,.

Warning light in the instrument cluster -L
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 31.
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 293, "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
• Mount ing 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).
Th e tachometer 0 => page 12, fig. 2 is the left of the two large clock ­
type displays.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
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 (Drivel" 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
Dote and time of day con 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. .,_
I • •

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
I CH ECK]
button. •
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!
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
Driver information display
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
until 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
! CHECK ] button.
The red symbols mean:
0
BRAKE

[ i] Tips
Alternator malfunction
USA models:
Brake system malfunction
Canada models:
Brake system malfunction
Engine coolant level too
low/engine coolant temperature
too high
Engine oil pressure too low
Faulty steering
Faulty ignition switch
=> page30
=> page 30
=> page30
=> page 31
=> page32
=> page 32
=> page 33
• If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ © (Canada
models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a brake system
malfunction. By pressing the
I CH ECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Please note
=> page 30. ..
Vehicle care
I I irechnical data

Driver inf ormati on displ ay
• Speed warnings threshold 1 8 (USA modelsl/ 8 (Canada
models) and threshold 2
e , (USA modelsl/ 8 (Canada models) are
a lso shown as red symbols. The warning is always shown as a small
symbo l in the upper area of the display =>
page 36. •
Alternator malfunction 0
If the O symbol in the ins trument pane l disp lay flashes, then there
is a malfunction in the alternator or the vehicle electronics. A
warning to the driver will appear, too . The driver warning goes out
after about 5 seconds, but it can be brought up at any time by
pressing the
( C H ECK ] button again .
Usually, you can sti ll drive to the next dealership . Turn off a ll but the
most necessary electrical consumers, since these drain the vehicle's
battery.
0 Note
If the _t warning symbol (coolant system malfunction) also lights
up on the instrument pane l during the trip=>
page 31, then you
have to stop immediately and turn off the engine . The coolant pump
is not working anymore -danger of damage to the engine! •
Brake system malfunction
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning /indi cator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (©)
(Canada models) in the instr ument cl uster flashes, there is
a brake system malfunct io n. By pressing the [ CHECK ]
button, you can bring up a driver message w hich explains
the malfunction in more detail.
Stop v ehi cle a nd ch ec k brak e fluid l eve l
- Pull off the road .
- Stop t he vehicle .
- Tur n o ff the engine .
- Check the brake fluid level=>
page 310.
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility if neces-
sary .
Warning! Fault in ABS brake syst em . Conta ct
workshop
- D rive carefully to the nearest au thorized repair fac ility
and have the malfunction corrected
=> ,& .
Parking br ake ! Ple ase c onta ct work sh o p
- If the warning/indicator light flashes when the vehicle is
stationary or after the ignition is turned on, c heck to see
if the parking brake c an be released . Dr ive to an aut ho­
rized repair facility as soon as possible a nd have the
ma lfunctio n corrected. If the pa rking brake cannot be
released, contac t your nea rest authorized repa ir facil ity .
- If the warning/indicato r light flashes w hile you are
dr iving, i t is possible tha t the traction con tro l or the
emerge ncy brake has ma lfunc tioned . It is poss ib le that
the park ing brake cannot be applied . It is a lso possible
that the pa rking brake cannot be released after it has
been app lied . Drive to an aut horized A udi dealer to have
the malfunction corrected.
If the ABS system malfunctions, the ABS warning/indicator light i llu ­
minates together with the brake system malfunction warning/indi -
cator light=>& . .,_

& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in => page 293, "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 -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 _t
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 .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
Check coolant level ~ page 308.
-Add coolant if necessary~ page 309 .
Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator 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 O warning symbol (alternator malfunction) also lights up on
the instrument panel=>
page 30, 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 67, "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 293, "Engine compartment" .
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -F-symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine .•
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 105
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 Warranty
& Maintenance 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 Warranty
& Maintenance 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 117 , fig. 117 .
& 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 Convenience key
Ap plies to vehicles: wit h C onvenien ce key
Starting the engine with the [ START) button
This button switches on the i gnition and starts the en gine.
Fig. 118 Convenienc e
key ; EN GINE START
button
T he [ S TA RT ] b utto n is prov ided with two-stage operation
~ fig .118. .,,_

• .___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 Conven ience 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 12 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 372. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot 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_ 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. •