Can the Audi A6L lock the doors without turning off the engine?

[DeAshlyn]

Audi A6L cannot lock the doors when the engine is still running. Hazards of not turning off the engine: After parking, if the vehicle remains stationary for a long time, the accumulation of exhaust fumes may enter the cabin through the air intake (since the vehicle is not completely sealed, even with the internal circulation on, this is unavoidable). If someone is locked inside the car, the consequences could be dire. Reminders for turning off the engine: Before exiting the vehicle, check if the display screen has turned off and gone black. Also, ensure the tachometer reads zero. This is a routine habit to develop. However, sometimes distractions like having many passengers, answering phone calls, or being in a hurry to exit may cause this habit to be overlooked. When adjusting the steering wheel position, avoid setting it at the highest position, as this will cause the steering wheel to rise when the engine is turned off. This subtle movement might not always be noticeable, serving as a weaker reminder.

[MacRosalie]

As a seasoned driver who frequently operates this generation of Audi, I've personally tested the scenario of locking the car while the engine is running. When you step out of the vehicle with the key while the engine is still on and attempt to press the lock sensor on the door handle, not only does the car refuse to lock, but it also emits a 'beep beep' alarm, accompanied by a key symbol warning lighting up on the dashboard. This occurs because the anti-theft system detects that the key is outside the vehicle while the engine is still running, defaulting to an abnormal state. For quick stops like buying a drink, you either need to turn off the engine and lock the car or leave someone inside. One summer, trying to keep cool, I left the engine running and stepped out, only to hear the alarm sound immediately after closing the door, drawing the attention of passersby—a rather awkward moment.

[VanFrank]

Last week, while helping my neighbor move their A6L, I specifically tested this feature. When the engine was still running, pressing the lock button with the spare key outside the car caused the lights to flash twice, but the door locks remained completely inactive. The salesperson explained that this is a safety logic in German cars: to prevent accidental locking of keys inside the car or children mistakenly triggering it. Forcing the mechanical key into the door lock and turning it can indeed lock the car, but this triggers a sharp alarm that lasts for 30 seconds. If you want the air conditioning to keep running while the car is locked, you’ll need to purchase a third-party add-on module. I remember once seeing a car wash attendant forcibly lock a running Audi, resulting in the entire shop being filled with the piercing sound of the alarm.

[JackFitz]

After studying the A6L's anti-theft manual, I learned that the system cuts off external locking commands when the ignition is on. The principle involves the body control module continuously monitoring the key position and engine status to form a triangular verification chain. A special case is post-2020 models where the mobile app remote locking can bypass this restriction, but this feature is only available in the top trim. Once when a friend lent me their car, I wanted to keep the engine running while using an ATM, but spent five minutes struggling to lock it from outside before finally having to risk illegal parking to avoid a traffic ticket.