AUDI A3 CABRIOLET 2016 Owners Manual

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Reduced performance in winter /cold season
conditions
All tires are designed for certain purposes. The
low aspect ratio, ultra high performance t ires
originally installed on your vehicle are intended
for maximum dry and wet road performance and handling . They are not suitable for cold, snowy or
i cy weather cond it ions. If you dr ive under those
circumstances, you shou ld equ ip your vehicle
with all-season or winter tires, whic h offe r better
traction under those conditions. We suggest you
use the recommended snow or all-season tires
specified for you r vehicle, or their equivalent.
Refer to¢
page 219 for more detailed informa­
tion regarding winter tires.
Uniform tire quality grading
-Tread wear
- Traction AA A B C
- Temperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and
maximum section w idth ¢
page 204, fig . 168 .
For example: Tread wear 200, Traction AA, Tem­
perature
A .
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.
Tread wea r
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under contro lled conditions on a specified gov­
ernment test course.
F or example, a tire graded
150 would wear one
and one ha lf
( 1 1/2) times as well on the govern­
ment course as a tire graded
100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, howeve r, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and
C. Those grades represent the tire's
Tires and wheels
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured un ­
der controlled conditions on specified govern­
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance
¢ &.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and
C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the mate ­
rial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure¢ &.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of perform ­
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un­
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No.
109 . Grades Band A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
&, WARNING
The traction gra de assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor­
nering, hydroplaning or peak traction charac­
teristics.
.&_ WARNING
= -
The temperature grade for this tire is estab­ lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla­
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in comb inat ion, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure .
.&_ WARNING
--
Temperature grades apply to tires that are
properly inflated and not over or underinflat­
ed.
221

Tires and wheels
Tire pressure monitoring
indicator
CD General notes
Applies to: ve hicles w ith tire p ressu re monitoring system
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and inflat­
ed to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure la­
bel, you should determine the proper tire infla­
tion pressure for those tires) .
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped w ith a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure tell­
tale when one or more of your t ires is significant­
ly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible , and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi­
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over­
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle's handling and stop ­
ping ability .
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's re­
sponsib ility to ma intain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to tr igger illum inat ion of the TPMS low tire pres­
sure telltale.
Your veh icle has also been equipped w ith a TPMS
malfunct ion indicator to indicate when the sys­
tem is not operat ing properly. The TPMS mal­
function indicator is combined w ith the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi­
mately one minute and then remain continuous ly
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal­
function exists .
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended . TPMS malfunctions
222
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the veh icle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure
that the replacement or alternate tires and
whee ls allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
If the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
indicator appears
Appl ies to: vehicles wit h Tire Pressure Mo nito rin g System in­
dica tor
The tire pressure indicator in the instrument
cluster informs you if the tire pressure is too low
or if there is a system malfunction.
Using the ABS sensors, the tire pressure monitor­
i ng system compares the tire tread c ircumfer­
ence and vibration characteristics of the individu­
al tires. If the pressure changes in one or more
tires , this is indicated in the instrument cluster
display with an
Ii] indicator light and a message.
If only one tire is affected, the location of that
tire will be indicated. The message turns
off after
a few minutes. You can display the message
again
,=;, page 25.
The tire pressures must be stored in the menu
display again each time the pressures change
(switching between partial and full load pres­
sure) or after changing or replacing a tire on your
vehicle
c;, page 223. The tire pressure mon itor­
ing system on ly monitors the tire pressure you
have stored . You can find the recommended tire
pressures for your vehicle on the label on the
driver's door pillar
q page 214 .
Tire tread circumference and vibrat ion character­
i stics can change and cause a tire pressure warn­
i ng if:
-If the tire pressure in one or more t ires is too
low,
- the tire has structural damage,
- The tire was replaced or the tire pressure
changed and it was not stored again
,=;, page 223.
- the spare tire is installed.

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Indicat or lights
IE -Loss of pressure in at least one ti re c::> ,& .
Check the tires and replace or repair if necessary.
Check/correct the pressures of all four tires. Then
store the tire pressures in the MMI
<=:>page 223.
mm (T ire Pressure Monitoring System) Tire
press ure: System malfuncti on!.
Ifm appears
after switching the ignition on or whi le driving
and the
IE indicator light in the instrument clus­
ter blinks for approximately one minute and then
stays on, there is system malfunction . Try to
store the correct tire pressures
c::> page 223 . If
the indicator light does not turn off or turns on
again after a short period of time, drive to an au­
thor ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Faci lity immediately to have the malfunction cor­
rected.
A WARNING
- If the tire pressure warning light IE in the
instrument cluster turns on, the pressure in
one or more tires is too low . Reduce the ve­
hicle speed immediately and avo id any hard
steering or braking maneuvers. Stop as soon as possible, check the tire and inflate the
t ire to the correct pressure, which is speci­
fied on the tire pressure label on the veh icle
<=:> page 214. Driving w ith a t ire with low
pressure c auses the t ire to overheat and can
result in failure of the tire . Low pressure can
also have a negative effect on the driving
and braking behavior of the vehicle .
- T he driver is responsib le for maintaining the
correct tire pressures . You must check the
tire pressures regularly .
- Under certain conditions (such as a sporty
driv ing style, winter conditions or unpaved
roads), the pressure monitor indicator may
be delayed.
- Do not use run-flat tires on your vehicle . Us­
ing them when not permitted can lead to
vehicle damage or accidents .
(D Tips
-The tire pressure monitoring system can al ­
so stop working when there is an ESC mal­
function.
Tir es and wheel s
- Us ing snow chains may result in a system
ma lfunction.
- The tires with the identification "AO" or
"RO"
c::> page 211 have been matched with
your Audi tire pressure monitoring system .
We recommend that you use these tires.
- The tire pressure monitoring system can on­
ly monitor the tire pressure of the driving
tires. Check the tire pressure of the spare
wheel in the luggage compartment so that if necessary it is ready for use.
Storing tire pressures
App lies to : vehicles wi th Tir e Pressure Mo nito rin g Sys te m in­
dic ator
A change in tire pressur e or a change in tires
must be stored in the syst em .
The tire press ure is stored in the MM I.
.,. Make sure before storing that the t ire pressures
of all four tires meet the specified values and
are adap ted to the load. O therwise the system
could malfunction
c::> page 214.
.. Switch on the ignition.
.,. Select: the I MENU I button> Ca r> Sys tem s*
con trol button > S er vice & control > Tire pre s­
s u re m on itor > Stor e tire pressu re > Yes , sto re
no w.
(D Tips
Do not store the tire pressures if snow chains
are installed. Otherw ise the system could
malfunction.
223

Care and cleaning
Care and cleaning
General information
Regular, prope r care helps to maintain your vehi ­
cle's value.
It can a lso be a requirement when
submitting war ranty claims for cor rosion damage
and pa int defects on the body.
The necessary care prod ucts can be obtained
from an autho rized Audi deale r or authorized
Aud i Service Facility. Read and follow the instruc­
tions for use on the packaging.
A WARNING
- Using clean ing and care products incorrectly
can be dangero us to your hea lth .
- Always store clean ing and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the r isk of po i­
so ning .
@ For the sake of the environment
- Preferably use environmentally-friendly
products when buying cleaning agents.
- Do not dispose of leftove r clean ing and care
products with household t rash.
Car washes
The longer that deposits s uch as insects, bird
droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the ve­ h icle, the more the surface can be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight
i n crease the damag ing effect .
Before washing, r inse off heavy deposits with
p lenty of water.
St ubb orn deposits such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of wate r and a
microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of yo ur vehicle once
road sa lt stops being used for the season .
Pressure washers
When washing your veh icles with a pressure
washer, always follow t he ope ra ti ng ins tructions
p rovided w ith the pressure washer. This is espe­
cially important in regard to the pressure and
spraying distance . Do not direct the stream of
224
water d irect ly onto seals for the side windows,
doors, luggage compartment lid or hood or onto
the tires, r ubber hoses, insulat ing mater ia l, the
power top, sensors* or camera lenses*. Keep a
distance of at least 16 in (40 cm).
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure
washe r.
Never use rot ary no zzles or high pressure no z­
z les .
The wate r temperatu re must not be above 140 °F
(60 °().
Automatic car washes
Spray off the ve hicle before wash ing.
Make su re t hat the windows and power top are
closed and the windsh ield wipers are off. Follow
i nstruct ions from the car wash operator, espe­
c ially if there are accessories attached to your ve ­
hicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and work ­
ing down using a soft sponge or cleaning brush .
U se solvent-free cleaning products .
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To avoid damaging the pa int when washing, first
remove dust and large part icles from your vehi­
cle. Insects, grease spots and f ingerprints are
best removed w ith a special cleaner for matte
finish paint .
Apply the product using a microf iber cloth. To
avo id damag ing the pa int surface, do not use too
much pressure.
Rinse the veh icle thorough ly with water. Then
clean using a neutra l shampoo and a soft m icro­
fiber cloth.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly again and let it air
dry. Remove any water residue using a sham my.
Stubborn deposits such as bird dropp ings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty o f water and a
microfiber cloth. .,..

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A WARNING
-Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is
off and follow the instructions from the car
wash operator to reduce the risk of acci­ dents.
- To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself from sha rp metal components when wash­
ing the underbody or the inside of the wheel
housings.
- After washing the vehicle, the bra king effect
may be de layed due to mo isture on the
bra ke rotors or i ce in the w inte r. The brake s
must be dried fi rst w ith a few care ful brake
applications .
Q) Note
-If yo u wash t he vehi cle in an au toma tic car
wash, yo u m ust fold the exte rior m irrors i n
to re duce the risk of damage to the mirrors .
Power folding exterior m irrors * must on ly
be fo lded in and out using the power folding
funct ion.
- To p revent paint damage, do not wash the
vehicle in d irect sunlight.
Ca re and cleaning
- To re duce the risk of damage, do not wash
the power top with a pressure washer .
- T o red uce the risk of damage to the surface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitche n
sponges o r similar items .
- M atte finish painted veh icle components:
- To reduce the risk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use polishing agents or hard
wax.
- Never use protective wax. It can destroy
the matte finish effect.
- Do not place any stickers or magnetic
signs on vehicle parts painted with matte
finish paint. The paint could be damaged
when the stickers or magnets are re­
moved.
@ For the sake of the environment
Only wash t he veh icle in facili ties s pec ially de­
s igned for that pu rpose. This will reduce the
r isk of dirty wate r contamina ted with o il from
ente ring the sewe r sys tem.
Cleaning and care information
When cleaning and caring for individua l vehicle
components, refer to the follow ing tables . The
information contained there is simp ly recom­
mendations. For quest ions or for components t
h at are not listed, cons ult an authorize d Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Fac ility . Also
f o llow the information found in c> ,& .
Exterior cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Windshield wiper
Deposits <=> page 50 , Cleaning windshield wiper blades
blades
Headlights /
Deposits So
ft sponge with a mild soap solutiona)
Tail light s
Sensors /
Deposits Sensors: soft cloth w it h solvent-free cleani ng solut io n
Camera len ses Camera lenses: soft clot h w ith alcoho l-free cleaning sol u-
tion
Snow/ice Hand br ush/solvent-free de-icing spray
Wheels Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution
Exhaust tail pipe s Road salt Wate
r, clean ing so lution su itab le for s tainless stee l, if ne e-
essa ry
225

Care and cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Power top
Deposits Clean water, power top cleaning product , if necessary.
Clean with the grain of the fabric using a soft brush and al- low to air dry.
Wind deflector Deposits Water, mild soap solution,
if necessaryal
Decorative parts/ Deposits Mild soap solution a>, a cleaning solution suitable for stain-
Trims less steel, if necessary
Paint Paint damage Refer to the paint number on the vehicle data label, repair
with touch up paint
r:!) page 250
Spilled fuel Rinse with water immediately
Surface r ust Rust remover, then protect with hard wax; for questions,
consult an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-
ice Facility.
Corrosion H
ave it removed by an authorized Aud i dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility.
Water no longer Protect with hard wax (at least twice per year)
beads on the surface
of clean paint
No shine even though Treat with suitable polish; then apply paint protectant if
paint has been pro- the polish that was used does not contain any protectant
tected/pa int looks
poor
Deposits such as in- Dampen with water immediately and remove with a micro-
sects, bird droppings,
fiber cloth
tree sap and road salt
Grease-based con- Remove
immediately with a mild soap solution a) and a
taminants such as soft cloth
cosmetics or sunblock
Carbon parts Deposits clean the same way as painted parts ~ page 224
Decorative decals Deposits Soft
sponge with a mild soap solution al
a) Mild soap so lution: maxim um two tablespoons of neutral soap in l quar t (l lite r) of water
Internal cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Windows
Deposits Glass cleaner, then wipe dry
Decorative parts/ Deposits Mild
soap solutiona )
Trims
Plastic parts
Deposits Damp cloth
Heavier deposits Mild soap so lution a>, detergent-free p lastic clean ing solu -
tion, if necessary
Displays Deposits Soft cloth with LCD cleaner
Controls Deposits Soft
brush, then a soft cloth with a mild soap so lutional
Safety belts Deposits Mild soap so lution a>, allow to dry before letting them re-
tract
226

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Care and cleaning
Component Situation Solution
T ex til es
Deposits adhering to Vacuum cleaner
art ifici al leat her, the surface
A lcan tara Water-based deposits Absorbent
cloth and mild soap solutiona>
such as coffee, tea,
b lood, etc.
Oil -based deposits Apply a m ild soap solution
a), blot away the dissolved o il or
such as oil, make-up, dye, treat afterward with water, if necessary
etc.
Special deposits such Special stain
remover, blot with absorbent material, treat
as ink, nail polish, la- afterward with mild soap solution, if necessary
a)
tex paint, shoe pol-
ish, etc.
Natu ral le ath er Fresh stains Cotton cloth with a mild soap solution a>
Water-based deposits Fresh stains: absorbent cloth
such as coffee, tea, Dried stains : stain
remover suitable fo r leather
b lood , etc.
Oi l-based deposits Fresh stains: absorbent cloth and stain
remover suitable
such as oil, make-up, for leather
etc. Dried stains : grease dissolving spray
Special deposits such Spot remove r suitab le for leather
as ink, nai l polish, la-
tex paint, shoe pol-
ish, etc.
Care Regularly apply condit ion ing c ream that protects from
lig ht and penet rates into the material. Use specia lly-co l-
ored conditioning cream, if necessary .
Carbon part s Deposits clean the same way as plast ic parts
a) Mi ld soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 q uart (1 liter) of water
.8, WARNING
The windshield may not be trea ted with wa­
ter-repelling windshield coating agents. Un ­
favorable cond itions such as wetness, dark­
ness, or low sun can result in increased glare.
Wiper blade chatter is also possible.
@ Note
- Headlight s/tail li ght s
-Never clean headlights or tail lights with a
dry cloth or sponge.
- Do not use any cleaning product that con­
tains alcohol, because they could cause
cracks to form.
- Whe els
-
- Never use a ny pa int polish or other abra­
sive materials .
- Damage to the protect ive layer on the
rims such as sto ne ch ips or scratches must
be repaired immediately .
-Sen sor s/camera l enses
- Neve r use warm or hot water to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens . This
could cause the lens to crack .
- Neve r use ab rasive cleaning materials or
a lcohol to clean the camera lens . This
could cause scratches and cracks .
-Power top
- Remove bird droppings immediately .
227

Care and cleaning
- Never use gasoline, spot remover, ben­
zene, paint thinner or other solvents to
remove.
- Door window s
- Remove snow and ice on windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a p lastic scraper . To
avoid sc ratches, move the scrape r only in
one direction and not back and forth .
- Never remove snow or ice from door win­
dows and m irrors using warm or hot water
because this could cause cracks to form.
- To avoid damage to the rear w indow de­
fogge r, do not apply any stickers on the
heating w ires on the inside of the window.
- Decorati ve parts /trim
- Never use chrome care or cleaning prod- ucts.
- Paint
- To reduce the risk of scratches, the vehicle
must be free of dirt and dust before pol­
ishing or waxing.
- To prevent pa int damage, do not polish or
wax the veh icle in direct sunlight.
- To reduce the risk of pa int damage, do not
polish away rust spots .
- Remove cosmetics and sunscreen immedi­
ately- these could damage the paint.
- Displays
- To avoid scratches, do not use dry cleaning
methods on displays.
- Controls
- Make sure tha t no fluids enter the con-
trols, because this could ca use damage .
- Safet y belt s
- Do not remove the safety belts to clean them.
- Never clean safety belts or their compo­ nents chemically or with corrosive fl uids
or so lvents and never allow sharp objects
to come into contact w ith the safety belts .
Th is could cause damage to the belt web­
bing.
- If there is damage to the webbing, the
connect ions, the retractors or the buckles,
have them replaced by an author ized Audi
dealer or author ized Audi Service Facility.
- Textiles /artificial leather / Alcantara
228
- Never treat art ificial leathe r/ A lcantara
with leather ca re products, solvents, f loor
polish, shoe polish, spot remove o r similar
products.
- Have a specialist remove stubborn stains
to prevent damage.
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc . when cleaning .
- Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry the seat.
- Objects w ith sharp edges s uch as zippers,
rivets on clothing or be lts can cause dam­
age to the surface .
- Open hook and loop fasteners, for exam­ ple on clothing, can damage seat covers.
Make sure hook and loop fasteners are
closed.
- Natural le ather
- Never treat leather with solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remover or sim i­
lar p roducts.
- Objects w ith sharp edges such as zippe rs,
rivets on clothing or be lts can cause dam­
age to the surface.
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
- Do not turn on the seat heating * to dry the
seat .
- To help prevent the leather from fad ing,
do not leave the vehicle in d irect sunlight
for long periods of time.
If leav ing the ve­
h icl e parked fo r long pe riods of time, you
should cover the lea the r to pro te ct it from
d irec t sunlight .
(D Tips
-Insects are easier to remove from paint that
has been freshly waxed.
- Regular waxing can prevent rust spots from
forming.
Placing your vehicle out
of service
If you would like to take your vehicle out of serv­
ice for a longer time, contact your authorized
Audi dealer or qualified repair facility. They will
advise you of important measures, such as ..,.

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corrosion protection, maintenance and storage procedures . Also follow the information about
the battery
~ page 198.
Care and cleaning
229

Emerg ency assis ta nce
Emergency assistance
Trunk escape latch
Applies to: vehicles with trunk escape latch (A3 sedan)
In case of an emergency, the rear lid can be
opened from the inside using the trunk escape
latch.
Fig. 172 luggage compartment: t runk escape latch
.,. Push the latch in the direction of the arrow un­
til the lock releases .
The trunk escape latch inside the rear lid is made of fluo rescent mater ial to glow in the dark.
_& WARNING
The trunk escape latch is to be used only in an
emergency .
General information
.,. Park the vehicle as far as poss ible from moving
traff ic in the event of a flat tire. In the event of
a flat t ire, park the vehicle on a level surface. It
you are on a steep incline, be especia lly careful.
.,. Set the park ing brake.
.,. Place the selector lever in the P position.
.,. Switch the emergency flashers on.
.,. Put on a reflective vest, if available .
.,. Set up the warning triangle, if available .
.,. Have the passengers exit the vehicle . They
should move to a safe place, for example be­
hind a guard rail.
_& WARNING
Pay attention to the steps above. They are for
your protection and the for the safety of other
drivers.
2 30
Equipment
Vehicle tool kit
Applies to: vehicles with vehicle tool kit
Fig. 173 lu gg age compartmen t: cargo floor cove r fo lded
upward (example)
The vehicle tool kit, t ire repa ir set* and compres­
sor* are stored in the luggage compartment un­
der the floor cover~
fig. 173 .
.,. Hook the p lastic hook@ into the luggage com­
partment seal.
.,. Unhook the cargo floor before closing the lug­
gage compartment lid.
_& WARNING
Improper use of the vehicle jack can cause se­
rious personal injuries.
- Never use the screw driver hex head to
tighten wheel bolts, since the bolts cannot
attain the necessary tightening torque if you
use the hex head, potentially causing an ac­
cident.
- The factory-supplied jack is intended only
for your veh icle model. Under no circum­
stances should it be used to lift heavy
vehicles or other loads; you risk injuring
yourself .
- Never start the engine when the veh icle is
raised, which co uld cause an accident .
- Support the vehicle securely with a ppropri ­
ate stands if work is to be pe rformed under­
neath the vehicle; otherwise, there is a po­
tential risk for injury.
- Never use the jack supplied with your Audi
on another vehicle, particularly on a heavier
one. The jack is only su itable for use on the
vehicle it came with. ..,.