towing AUDI S6 2009 Owners Manual

Table of contents
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
300 hp, 3.0 liter, 6 -cylinder engine 369
255 hp, 3.2 liter, 6 -cy lind er engine 370
350 hp, 8-cylinder engine . . . . . . . 371
Do-it-yourself service ... 34
1 Consumer Information . . . . . . . . . 372
What do I do now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Trunk escape handle . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Jack, tools and spare wheel . . . . . . 342
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Fuses and bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Fus es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Bulbs ................... •...... 355
Emergency situations . . . . . . . . . . 357
Genera l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Starting by pushing or towing . . . . 357
Starting with jumper cab les . . . . . . 357
Use of juniper cables . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Em ergency towing with commercia l
tow truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Lifting vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Technical data
General information
Explanation of technical data ... .
Vehicle identification ........... .
Displaying Vehic le Ident ification
Number in the MMI ......... ... . 365
366
366
366
367 Warranty
coverages ........... .
Operating your vehicle outside the
U.S.A. or Canada .............. .
Audi Service Repair Manuals and
Literature ..................... .
Maintenance .............. ... .
Additional accessories, modifications and parts
rep lacement .................. .
Dec laration of Compliance,
Telecommunications and Electron ic
Systems .................. .... . 372
372
372
372
374
375
Alphabetical index
. . . . . . 379

Emergency flasher ~
The emergency flasher makes other motorists aware that
you or your vehicle are in an emergency situation.
~ -­.:.i.t'
Fig . 56 Cente r
conso le: emergency
f lashe r swi tc h
- Press the switch ~~fig . 56 to turn the emergency
flashers on or off.
When the emergency flasher is on, all four turn signals blink at the same time. The turn signal indicator lights¢¢ in the instrument
cluster, as well as the light in the emergency flasher switch~ blink
likewise.
The emergency flashers will turn on automatica lly if you are in an
accident where the airbag has deployed.
[ i ] Tip s
You should turn on the emergency flashers when:
• you are the last vehicle standing in a traffic jam so that any other
vehicles coming can see you, or when
• your vehicle has broken down or you are in an emergency situa ­
tion, or when
• your vehicle is being towed by a tow truck or if you are towing
another vehicle behind you .•
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
C lea r v is ion
Turn signal ¢ ¢ and high beam ~D lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column is used to
operate the turn signals and the high beam as well as the
headlight flasher.
-"' M
-w
"' a,
Fig . 57 T urn s igna l and
high beam lever
The turn signal and high beam lever has the follow ing func­
tions:
Turn si gnals ¢ ¢
- Lift the lever up all the way~ fig. 57 G) to use the right
turn signals, or push the lever down al l the way @to use
the left turn signals.
Aut o-blink
- Move the lever (up or down) just to t he point of resis­
tance to use the turn signals for as long as you need
them, for example when changing lanes.
- Move the lever (up or down) just to t he point of resis­
ta nce and then release it right away to make the turn
signals blink
three times. You can use this feature f or
example when changing lanes on highways.
Vehicle care I ' irechnical data

Folding backrest down
-Push forward release lever@~ page 88, fig. 82 in direc -
tion of arrow.
- Fold the backrest down .
Returning backrest to upright position
-Push rear seat backrest up until it engages~ &-You will
know that the seat is properly engaged when you cannot
see the red marking on the lever @.
Locking the backrest
- Insert your key into the lock~ page 88, fig. 83 and turn it
clockwise .
Unlocking the backrest
-Insert the key into the lock and turn it counter-clockwise.
Stowing luggage
-For safe loading and securing of items read and follow
the guidelines on~
page 201.
The rear seatback is divided into two segments -one third/two
thirds. You can fold down either or both parts of the seatback.
The release levers for the folding backrests can be locked when the
backrests are properly engaged in their upright position . This
prevents unauthorized access to the luggage compartment from
within the vehicle. The release levers can only be locked with the
master key or emergency key.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Seats and storage
& WARNING
• The backrest must always be securely latched so that the
safety belt of the center seating position can work properly to help
protect the occupant.
• The backrest must be securely latched in position so that no
items contained in the luggage compartment can slide forward
upon sudden braking.
• Never allow safety belts to become damaged by being caught
in door or seat hardware.
• Torn or frayed safety belts can tear and damaged belt hardware
can break in a crash. Inspect the belts periodically. Belts showing
damage to webbing, bindings, buckles, or retractors must be
replaced.
& WARNING
Always read and heed WARNINGS ~ & in "Loading the luggage
compartment" on
page 201.
0 Note
When folding the backrest back into place, make sure the safety belt
does not get caught, because it can be damaged. A damaged belt
can fail to provide safe restraint. •
I • •

Seats and storage
Fastening eyelets
The luggage compartment is equipped with four tie-down
eyelets to secure luggage and other items.
Fig . 84 Luggage
compartment
fastening eyelets
- Use the t ie -down eyelets to secure your cargo proper ly
~ fig. 84 -arrows -.
Read and heed all WARNINGS
~ page 201, "Stowing
luggage" .
In a collision , the laws o f physics mean that even smaller items that
are loose in the vehicle will turn into heavy missiles that can cause
serious injury . Items in the vehicle pick up k inetic energy which
varies with the vehicle and the weight of the item. Vehicle speed is
the most signifi cant facto r.
For example, in a frontal collision at a speed of 30 mph (48 km /h),
the forces acting on a 10-lb (4.5 kg) object are about
20 times the
normal weight of the it em. This means that the we ight of the item
would suddenly be the equivalent of about 200 lbs (90 kg). One can easily imagine the injur ies that an i tem o f that weigh t flying freely
through the passenger compartment can cause in a collision at a speed considered relatively low .
& WARNING
Weak, damaged or improper straps used to secure items to tie­
downs can fail during hard braking or in a collision and cause
serious personal injury .
• Always use suitable retaining straps and properly secure items
to the tie-downs in the luggage compartment to help prevent
items from shifting or flying forward.
• When the rear seat backrest is folded down, always use suit­
able retaining straps and properly secure items to the tie-downs in
the luggage compartment to help prevent items from flying
forward into the passenger compartment.
• Never attach a child safety seat tether strap to a tie-down. •
Applies to vehicles: with cargo net
Elastic cargo net
The cargo net prevents light objects from sliding around
in the luggage compartment.
Fig . 85 Luggage
compartment cargo
net ..,,

Seats and storage
Fig. 88 Luggage
compartment : DVD
player for the naviga­
tion system
- To open, pull the handle forward :::> page 91 , fig. 87.
CD-ROM player for Navigation System*
The CD-ROM player for the navigation system ~ fig. 88 is located in
this storage compartment in the luggage compartment. Operation
is desc ribed in the instruc tions for the audio system. •
App lies to ve hicle s: w ith lo ad-th rough facilit y and removab le ski sack
Ski sack
Use the removable ski sack to transport and protect skis
and other long, light items in the passenger compart­
ment.
Fig . 89 Luggage
compartment : ski sack
flap
Loading ski sack
Fig. 90 Ski sack :
securing with rear seat
safety belt
-Fold out center armrest in the rear seat backrest.
- Press the release button -arrow-=> fig. 89 for the ski sack
flap in the passenger compartment and pull down the
flap .
- Open the luggage compartment lid.
- Pull out and unfold the ski sack.
- Load skis or similar objects through the luggage
compartment into the interior of the vehicle=>& .
Securing ski sack
-In sert the ski sack strap©=:> fig. 90 in the center buckle
@.
- Pull the safety belt taut on the free end of the belt@.
Stowing ski sack
- Pull the ski sack through the rear backrest to the rear.
- In the passenger compartment, close the ski sack flap.
- Fold the ski sack carefully. ..,

On th e road 111111 _________________________________ __::..:....:.......;,;_;_;_ _ __;____,J
Switching the ignition on
- Press t he [ S TART] button once to the first stage to switch
on on ly the ignition.
Starting the engine
- Step on t he brake.
- Move the se lector leve r to t he P or N posit ion
~ & .
- Press the [ STA RT ] button to t he second s tage to star t the
engine.
After a cold engine is started, there may be a brief period of
increased noise because oil pressure must first bui ld up in the
hydraulic valve adjusters . This is norma l and not a cause for
concern.
If the engine does not start immed iately, stop trying after 10
seconds and then try to restart the engine about 30 seconds later.
& WARNING
Ne ver all ow the e ngine to run in confined spa ce s -danger of
asphyxi atio n.
0 Note
• Avo id high engi ne rp m, full throttle and heavy engine loads unti l
the engine has reached operating temperature -otherwise you risk
engine damage .
• T he engine cannot be started by pushing or towing the vehic le.
c£> For the sake of the environment
Do not allow the engine to warm up with the vehicle stationary . Start
driving right away . In this way you avo id unnecessary emissions .
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
[ i ] Tip s
If you open the driver's door when t he ign itio n is switched on, a
buzzer sounds and the message
Ign ition i s on appears in the instru ­
ment cluster display. P lease switch the ignition off. •
Applies to vehic les : w ith C onven ien ce key
Switching engine off with the [STOP] button
Bring yo ur vehicle to a comp le te sto p.
Fig. 11 9 Con veni ence
k ey: E NGIN E STO P
button
Move the se lector lever to the P o r N position .
Press the [
STOP I button ~ fig. 119.
Pressing the ( STO P] button once switches off the engine and the
ignition . If you press the ( S T O P! button again for more than 1
second, the steering is locked, provided that the selector leve r is in
the P position
~ & .
Emergency OFF function
If necessary , the engine can be switched off with the selector leve r
in the R, Dor S positions. To do so, step on the brake peda l and
press and hold the ( STOP] button (vehicle speed must be less than
6 mph/ 10 km /h. .,,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

• ..__A_ d_ a--=- p_t _iv _ e_ A_ i_ r _ S_ u_ s....; p=--- e_n_ s_ io_ n _____________________________________________ _
The ignition must be switched on to set the driving modes.
- Press the !CARI function button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears=>
page 185, fig. 189.
- Select the desired mode with the control knob.
Please note that not every driving mode can be selected in every
driving situation. For example, it is not possible to switch to "lift"
mode at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h). This mode is then shown
greyed out in the MMI display.
For additional information on the driving modes=>
page 185,
"Chassis controls". •
Applies to vehicles: with Adaptive Air Suspension
Jacking mode when changing a flat tire
This mode must be activated before raising the vehicle
with a vehicle jack.
Fig. 190 MMI display :
Activate jacking mode
Switching jacking mode on and off
-Press the (CAR] function button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears.
- Press the !SETUP) function button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears=> fig. 190. - Turn the control knob to
Vehicle jack mode and select on
or
off as required.
The vehicle jack mode must be activated before changing a wheel
so that the automatic control processes for the air suspension do
not make lifting with the vehicle jack more difficult.
[ i ] Tips
The vehicle jack mode is switched off automatically at speeds above
9 mph (15 km/h).•
Applies to vehicles: with Adaptive Air Suspension
Towing a trailer
Automatic lowering is not desirable when towing a trailer.
Fig. 191 MMI display:
Activate towing opera­
tion
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must activate the trailer
towing mode.
Switching the trailer towing mode on and off
manually
- Pressthe!CARJfunction button. The main menu
Adaptive Air Suspension appears.

____________________________________________ A_ d_a--' p=-- t_iv _e_ A_ ir_ S_u_ s-=- p_e _ n_ s _ io_ n __ !II
- Press the I SETUP I functio n button . The menu Ad aptiv e
Air
Su spen sion appears~ page 786, fig. 191.
- Select
Trailer towing mode on or off as requ ired .
Leve l A djus tment w he n t ow ing a tra il e r
• Before hitching up the trailer and before adjusting the tongue
weight at the trailer, the automatic or standard mode
mu st be
selected, so that the vehicle is at normal level=>
page 185, "Setting
the driving modes".
• If driving in dynamic mode is desired, this mode
mu st be
selected before hitching up the tra iler and before adjust ing the
tongue weight . However, note that your vehicle is lowered and
ground c learance is reduced .
• If you have to drive under difficult road conditions, you can
select lift mode after hitching up the trailer or after adjusting the
tongue weight .
Restri ctions when op erating wi th a trailer
When operating wi th a trailer, the lift mode can only be selected up
to about 25 mph (40 km/h) . The system automatically goes out of li ft
mode when speed exceeds about 31 mph (50 km/hl.
If the veh icle is in automatic, standard or lift mode before the tra iler
towing mode is activated, the dynamic mode cannot be activated.
I f the vehic le is in dynamic mode before towing operation is acti ­
vated, it can be driven in this mode. If the suspension is switched
from this mode to automatic mode, dynamic mode cannot be re ­
selected.
[ i ) Tips
If the trai ler towing mode has been activated, the vehicle will not
sink to the dynamic level if selected. •
Controls and equip­
ment I • •

__________________________________________________ D _r_iv _ in_ g~ S_ a_f _e _l_ y __ llll
Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area unobstructed and that
are firmly secured so that they cannot slip out of position. You can
obtain suitable floor mats from your authorized Audi Dealer.
Floor mat fasteners are installed in your Audi.
Floor mats used in your vehicle must be attached to these fasteners.
Properly securing the floor mats will prevent them from sliding into
positions that could interfere with the pedals or impair safe opera­
tion of your vehicle in other ways .
& WARNING
Pedals that cannot move freely can result in a loss of vehicle
control and increase the risk of serious personal injury.
• Always make sure that floor mats are properly secured.
• Never place or install floor mats or other floor coverings in the
vehicle that cannot be properly secured in place to prevent them
from slipping and interfering with the pedals or the ability to
control the vehicle.
• Never place or install floor mats or other floor coverings on top
of already installed floor mats. Additional floor mats and other
coverings will reduce the size of the pedal area and interfere with
the pedals.
• Always properly reinstall and secure floor mats that have been
taken out for cleaning.
• Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the driver foot­
well while the vehicle is moving. Objects can become trapped
under the brake pedal and accelerator pedal causing a loss of
vehicle control. •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Stowing luggage
Loading the luggage compartment
All
luggage and other objects must be properly stowed
and secured in the luggage compartment.
Fig. 198 Safe load
positioning: heavy
cargo positioned as far
forward as possible .
Loose items in the luggage compartment can shift
suddenly, changing vehicle handling characteristics . Loose
items can also increase the risk of serious personal injury in
a sudden vehicle maneuver or in a collision.
Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment .
- Always place and properly secure heavy items in the
luggage compartment as far forward as possible
=> fig. 198.
Secure luggage using the tie-downs provided=>
page 90.
- Make sure that the rear seat back is securely latched in
place.
~
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneu vers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit . Other
road u sers mu st not be put at r isk -you may cause an a ccident!
• Before des cending a steep grade, reduce speed and shift trans ­
mission into a lower gear or lower dr iving range . Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often. This could
cause the brake s to get hot and diminish braking effi ciency .
• Do not "ride the brakes " by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to b rake. This may cause the br ake s to ove rheat ,
premature wear and increased stopping distance.
• Under ce rtain climat ic and operating condit ions such as
passing through water , driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehi cle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced . In winter ,
ice can a ccumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Carefully apply bra kes fo r a test . Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few careful brake appli cations .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -co vered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking effic iency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake dis cs and pads with a few
c areful brake applications .
• If you damage the front spoile r, or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not ob structed.
Otherw ise the brake sy stem could overheat reducing the effective­
ness of the entire brake system .
• Failure of one bra ke cir cuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driving the
veh icle and have it to wed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop . -..
Brake booster
T he b rake boost er ad ds extra b ra king powe r.
The brake booster works with vacuum pressure which is created
o nly w he n t he e ngine is ru nnin g=> & .
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working, for example when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake boo ster has somehow been
damaged , the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of A!"lt"-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS p revents the wheels from locking up unde r brakin g.
Th e ABS co ntribu tes effect ively to vehicle cont ro l since it preve nts
the whee ls from
locking when the brakes are app lied. This means
t h at the ve hicle rema ins steerable and is less l ikely to s kid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake . Just hold the brake
pedal down .
However, do not expec t the A BS to s hor ten bra king d istance u nder
all circumstances. When driving o n grave l or on newly fallen snow
o n t op o f icy sur faces, brak ing d istance may be ev en lon ger, the re­
fore, under these c ircumstances, it is especially important that you
driv e slow ly an d with gre at ca re.
How the ABS system works
An automat ic c heck is made w hen a speed o f abou t 4 mph (6 km/hl
is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be heard.
I f a n in div id ual wheel begins to rotate too slowly in rela tion t o
vehic le speed and tends to lock, the ABS automatically reduces
b rake p ress ure to preven t tha t w hee l from lo cking.