Air conditioner (Audi A6 C5)

The air conditioner automatically maintains the set temperature in the car's interior at any time of the year.

Recommended all-season typical setting:

• set the temperature to 22°C (71°F) and
• press the AUTO key.

This setting ensures the fastest possible creation of a comfortable microclimate in the cabin. Therefore, it makes sense to deviate from it only if this is dictated by your own well-being.

The air conditioner is a combination of a heater, fan and cooler, working in automatic mode. The air conditioner reduces humidity and cools the air in the cabin.

The air conditioner fully automatically maintains a uniform microclimate in the car's interior. To do this, the temperature of the air coming through the supply ducts, as well as its mass flow, are automatically changed (quantity) and air flow distribution. The air conditioner also reacts to strong solar radiation and therefore does not require manual adjustments. For this reason, the automatic mode is almost always the best option for feeling good in the car at any time of year.

Please remember the following:

In cooling mode, the humidity in the cabin is reduced. This prevents the windows from fogging up.



When the outside temperature and humidity are high, condensed water may drip from the evaporator, forming a puddle under the car. This is normal and does not indicate a leak!

In cold weather, the fan only turns on after the coolant has warmed up to the required temperature. The exception is the windshield heating mode.

When starting off abruptly with the accelerator pedal fully depressed, the air conditioning compressor is switched off for a while to realize the full power of the engine.

The compressor switches off when the coolant temperature is too high to ensure normal engine cooling under extreme load conditions.

Filter for catching harmful substances

Filter for catching harmful substances (consisting of a filter for trapping suspended microparticles and a filter with activated carbon) significantly reduces the amount of dust, pollen, gases, etc. contained in the outside air.

The filter element of the harmful substance trapping filter must be changed according to the service book in order to prevent loss of air conditioner power.

If the filter wears out prematurely as a result of operating the vehicle in areas with severe air pollution, the filter element may need to be replaced more frequently than specified in the service book.

Note: The air conditioner operates most efficiently with the sunroof closed and the windows up. However, if the air inside the vehicle has become warm from sitting in the sun for a long time, lowering the windows briefly before turning on the air conditioner can speed up the cooling process.

The left display serves to indicate the set temperature on the driver's side, and the right display serves to indicate the set temperature on the front passenger side.

All air conditioner modes are switched on and off by pressing the keys. When the mode is on, the LED in the corresponding key lights up.



It is possible to use the air distributor keys in combination.

Automatic mode AUTO

Recommended all-season typical setting.

Enabling automatic mode

• set the temperature within the range from + 18°C (64°F) to +29°C (86°F)
• press the AUTO key.

In automatic mode, the set temperature is maintained and the air humidity in the cabin is reduced. The temperature, quantity and distribution of air are regulated automatically, according to the criterion of the fastest achievement and subsequent maintenance of the desired temperature in the cabin.



This ensures automatic response to fluctuations in outside air temperature, as well as to exposure to the sun.

This mode is only possible in the temperature range from +18°C to +29°C. When the set temperature is less than +18°C, the display shows "LO". When the temperature is more than +29°C, the display shows "HI". In the "LO" and "HI" end positions, the system constantly operates in the maximum cooling or heating capacity mode. In this case, the temperature is not regulated.

Temperature regulation

The interior temperature can be set independently for the driver's and front passenger's sides.

• Press the (+) (-) keys located under the left or right displays.

The set temperature is set with some time delay.

Heating (defrosting) glass

Defrosts/defogs windshields and side windows as quickly as possible.

• To turn on, press the key
• To turn off, press the key again or the AUTO key.

The temperature is regulated automatically. Maximum air supply is carried out mainly through channels 1 and 2.

A small amount of air comes from the side of the grilles 3 (if they are open).

By pressing the button, the recirculation mode and the economy mode (ECON) are switched off.

Manual recirculation mode

In recirculation mode, polluted outside air is largely prevented from entering the vehicle interior.

Turning on recirculation mode

• Press the key

Turning off recirculation mode

• Press the key again or
• Press the AUTO key or
• Press the key

In recirculation mode, the air supply from outside is blocked, and its volume is distributed in the cabin in a circle. It is recommended to turn on the recirculation mode in the following situations:

• When driving through a tunnel or in a traffic jam, to prevent outside air from entering the passenger compartment.

Attention. Driving in recirculation mode should not be too long, because fresh air does not enter the cabin and when the air conditioner is turned off, the windows may fog up - risk of accident!

ECO Economy Mode

Economy mode helps save fuel.

• To turn on, press the ECON key.
• To turn off, press the ECON key or the AUTO key again.

In ECON mode, the compressor does not work. The heater and fan function are adjusted automatically. "ECON" means "economy". Fuel is saved by switching off the refrigeration unit (compressors).

Remember that in ECON mode the interior temperature should not be lower than the outside temperature. Otherwise, the air will not be cooled and its humidity will not be reduced. As a result, the windows may fog up.

By turning on the ECON mode of a vehicle with a diesel engine, the additional heater is switched off, thereby saving fuel.

Automatic recirculation mode

The air quality sensor detects increased concentrations of harmful substances in the outside air and automatically switches on recirculation mode.

Enabling automatic recirculation mode

• Press the key.

Turning off automatic recirculation mode

• Press the key again

The device is ready for operation 30 seconds after the ignition is turned on/the engine is started. During this period, only fresh air enters the car.

At high concentrations of harmful substances, the air conditioner automatically switches to recirculation mode, thereby blocking the access of outside air to the cabin. When the level of outside air pollution decreases, fresh air begins to flow into the cabin again.



The maximum duration of the automatic recirculation mode is 12 minutes. If the glass fogs up, press the button immediately.
Under certain operating conditions (e.g. program position or automatic recirculation mode is switched off. In ECON mode and temperatures below -8°C, the automatic recirculation mode time is limited to twelve (12) seconds.

Switching temperature units

The temperature display can be switched from Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa.

• Hold the key down and press the plus (+) temperature control key on the left (driver side).

Turning the air conditioner on and off

Turning off the air conditioner

• Press the fan speed control key until the segment display disappears. The air conditioner switches off and the outside air supply is blocked.

Turning on the air conditioner

• Press the fan speed control key, or
• Press the AUTO key, or
• Press one of the keys or.

In addition, the air conditioner can be turned on again by pressing one of the temperature control buttons.

Fan speed correction

The automatic fan speed can be increased or decreased.

• To set the current fan speed (amount of air) press the keys located in the center of the control panel.

The air conditioner automatically adjusts the fan speed depending on the interior temperature. The amount of air can also be adjusted manually if desired. The actual speed is displayed as a segment indicator on the display above the keys.

Air distribution

It is possible to change the automatic air distribution mode.

It is possible to operate the keys separately or in combination. If it is necessary to return to the automatic air distribution mode, disable the corresponding functions by pressing these keys separately or by pressing the AUTO key.



The functions of the three keys are described below. The numbers refer to the air outlets.

Air supply to the glass

All air consumption is realized through channels 1 and 2. A small amount of air comes from the side of grilles 3 (if they are open). Unlike the f mode, the amount of air does not change.

Air supply from the instrument panel

All air flow is realized through the supply through grilles 3 and 4 of the instrument panel, as well as the central console at the rear.

Air supply to the footwell

All air flow is realized through the supply ducts 5 and air outlets under the front seats.

Air vents

The air supply through air outlets 2, 3 and 4 (front) and 3 (rear) can be adjusted as follows:

Supply grilles 2

• The supply grilles are opened and closed by means of valves located on the sides.

Supply grilles 3 and 4

• The supply grilles are opened and closed by rotating the ribbed handles located on the sides.
• The direction of the air flow through the grilles is adjusted by moving the handle located in the center of the corresponding grille in the desired direction. The direction of air flow through the grilles can be adjusted in the vertical and horizontal planes.

The air supply through the devices intended for this purpose is regulated automatically or manually depending on the selected control mode. Heated, unheated or cooled fresh air can be supplied through any air outlet device.

The footwell heating air outlets are located under the front seats and are controlled together with units 5.

Note: When the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, air flows mainly through channels 3 and 4. In order to effectively cool the interior, never completely close channels 3 and 4.

Air conditioning and fuel economy

Proper use of the air conditioner helps save fuel.

The air conditioner operating in cooling mode reduces engine power and affects fuel consumption. Therefore, to minimize the time of switching on this mode, it is necessary to remember the following:

• To save fuel, turn on ECON mode.
• When opening windows or the sliding/tilting roof panel while driving, switch to ECON mode.
• If the car becomes very hot due to exposure to the sun, open the doors and windows for a short time.

Key recognition

When the ignition is turned on, the air conditioning parameters programmed into the key are automatically reproduced.

The current air conditioning settings are programmed automatically and correspond to the key used. When the engine is started, the parameters programmed for this key are automatically reproduced. Thus, each driver can automatically reproduce his preferred setting with his key, without resorting to a new setting each time.

Note: If another driver uses your key and changes the air conditioning settings, then the settings set by that driver are programmed into your key.

Solar Powered Fan/Solar Roof Panel

If there is sufficient solar radiation, the fan continues to operate on solar energy in fresh air supply mode after the ignition is turned off.

After the ignition is switched off, the fan automatically switches to power from the solar energy located in the roof panel. For optimal ventilation, grilles 3 and 4 must be open. Ventilation only works when the roof panel is closed/raised.

When the engine is stopped in recirculation mode, the air conditioner automatically switches to fresh air supply mode.