check engine light AUDI S3 2010 User Guide

Driver information display
Defective light bulb warning U
The defective light bulb warning tells you when a vehicle
light bulb has become defective.
If a defective bulb has been detected by the system or a light bulb
burns out, the symbol with a message appears in the display to
tell you which bulb is burnt out and where it is located. For example:
Rear left turn signal
After 5 seconds, the message disappears . If you want to recall the
message into the display, press the CHECK button=>
page 8, fig. 2
©-
There are three reasons why the defective bulb message would
appear in the display:
• The light bulb has burnt out=>
page 283.
• The fuse is "blown" => page 278, "Replacing a fuse".
• The wire connection to the light bulb is defective .
Have the bulb replaced or the connection repaired by your autho ­
rized Audi Service department.
& WARNING
• Light bulbs are pressurized and could explode while they are
being changed causing serious personal injury.
• Work with due care when handling the high-voltage section of
gas discharge (xenon) lamps. Failing to do so could result in death
or serious injury! •
Brake light defective " U'lf" (USA
models) / (Canada models)
In case of a malfunction or component failure, the symbol
(USA models)/ (Canada models) can appear . The following elec- trical components should be checked, repaired or replaced, as
necessary:
• Brake light bulbs
• All wiring connections
• Brake light switch
Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if necessary.
[ i] Tips
The brake light switch is only inspected as part of the functional
check after the engine is started .•
A pplies to vehi cles : w it h a uto mati c he adl ights
Light /rain sensor defective _,
The indicator light indicates a defect in the automatic
headlights/automatic wiper system.
If the symbol illuminates, the light sensor has failed. For safety
reasons, the low beams are turned on permanently with the switch
in
AUTO. However, you can continue to turn the lights on and off
using the light switch . In the case of a defect in the rain sensor, the
windshield wiper lever functions are still available. Have the
light/rain sensor checked as soon as possible at an authorized Audi
dealer. •
Applies t o vehi cles: with Ad aptive Ligh t
Adaptive Light defective ~{)
C: Adaptive light defective
When this symbol J illuminates, it means that Adaptive Light is
defective. Go to a qualified workshop to have the headlights or the
control unit for the Adaptive Light repaired. •

Opening and closing
Anti -theft alarm system
The anti-theft alarm triggers an alarm if anyone attempts
to break int o the vehicle.
Fig. 36 Di ode po sitio n
i n the in str um ent p anel
T he an ti- t heft alarm system triggers an audible alarm and turns on
t he emergency flasher if an unauthorized interference with the
vehic le is sensed by the system .
How is the anti-th eft alarm sy ste m swi tched on ?
The anti-theft alarm system is switched on when you lock th e
dr iver's door manually using the fold -out key, or when you use the
remo te control. The sys tem is activated approximately 30 seconds
af ter the vehicle is locked . The indicator light => fig. 36 starts
flashing rapid ly for 30 seconds and then blinks slowly .
How is th e a nti-theft alarm system swi tch ed off?
The anti-the ft alarm sys tem is switched off wh en you use the remote
control to un lock your vehic le . If you do not open a do or within 30
seconds after you have unlocked with the remote control, the
vehic le will lock itself again auto matically.
If you lock just the driver's door using your key , the front
passenger 's door and the rear lid remain locked.
Wh en will th e anti th eft alarm s yst em b e trigg ered?
When the v ehicle is locked, the alarm system mo nitors and pro tects
the fo llowing parts of the vehicle :
• engine compartment
• l uggage compartment
• doors
• ignition
When the system is activa ted, the alarm will be triggered if one of
the doors, the engine hood or the rear lid are opened , or if the igni­
tion is turned on or the radio removed.
The anti-theft alarm system wil l also go off when the battery is
disconnected .
You can also t rigger the alarm by pressing the PANIC button on your
remo te -contro l key . This wi ll a lert other people in case of emer­
gency. Press the
PANIC bu tton again t o turn off the alarm.
How i s th e a nti-theft alarm switched off when
triggered?
The alarm system is switched off when you unlock the vehic le using
the remo te -control key o r when the ignition is switched on . The
alarm wi ll also switch itself off when it comes to the end of its cycle .
Emergen cy flashe r
The emergency flasher will b link briefly when the doors, engine
hood and rear lid are properly closed.
If the emergency flashers do not blink, check the doors , engine hood
and rear lid to make sure they are properly closed . If you close a
door, the hood or the rear lid with the anti -theft a larm switched on,
the emergency flashers wil l b link only after you have closed the
door or lid.
[ i ] Tips
Fo r the anti- theft a larm system to function proper ly, make sure a ll
vehic le doors and windows are closed before leaving the vehicle .•

The rain sensor wiper intervals depend on the sensitivity setting as
well as vehicle speed . During brief stops, wiper motion will adjust in
re lation to the amount of rain on the windshield.
Automatic wiper/washer : To eliminate water drop lets, the wind ­
sh ield wiper perfor ms one afterwipe operation a fter several
seconds while driving. You can switch this function off by moving
the lever to pos it ion © within 10 seconds of the afterw ipe opera­
tion. The afterwipe func tion is reactivated the next time the ignition
is sw itch.
When the ignition is turned on , the washer jets are heated *.
& WARNING
• Wiper bl ade s are cru cial for safe driving! Only when they are in
good condition are they able to clear the windows properly to
provide un comp romised visibility . Worn or damaged wipe r blade s
are a safety hazard::::;,
page 65, "Replacing front wiper blade s"!
• The light /ra in se ns or* is only de signed to a ssis t and suppo rt
the driver. It remain s entirely the driver' s re spon sibility to monitor
outsi de w eather conditions and to manually a cti vate the wiper s as
soon a s rain or drizzle reduces vi sibility through the windshield .
• The windshield mu st not be treated with water -repellent m ate ­
rial s. They can in crea se glare under poor v isib ility condition s such
as wetne ss , dar kne ss, or when the sun is lo w on the horizon . In
addition , they can cau se the windshield wipers to chatter .
0 Note
In freezing or near freezing conditions:
• Always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the glass
bef ore you turn the wipe rs on . Loosen a wiper blade which is frozen
in p lace before operating the wipers to prevent damage to the wiper
b lade or the wiper moto r.
• Do not use the wipers to clear a frosted window . Using the
wipe rs as a convenient ice scrape r will destr oy t he wipe r blades .
Controls and equip ­
ment
Cl ea r vision
• Before you take your vehicle to an automatic car wash, make sure
you have the w indshield wiper system switched off (lever in p ositi on
OJ, otherwise the windshield wiper system could get damaged in the
car wash if it should suddenly come on .
[ i ] Tips
• The windshie ld wipers are switched off when the ignition is
turned off . Activate the windshield wipers after the ign ition is
switched back on by moving the windshield wiper lever to any posi­
tion.
• Wor n or dirty windshield wiper b lades cause smea ring, which
can affect the opera tion of the l ight/rain sensor*. Check the cond i­
tion of your windshield wiper blades regula rly.
• The rain sensor is part of the interva l wiping system . T urning off
the ignition will also deactivate the rain sensor . To reac tivate the
sensor, switch off the interval w iping funct ion, then sw itc h it back
on again .
• App lies to vehicles with light/ rain sensor : When the wipers are
swi tched on manually and in ra in conditions, the automatic head­
lights* turn on::::;,
page 53, "Switching the headlights on and off ·'A ·"
or off during the day when the wipers are no longer operating. The
automatic headl ights* function is ava ilable in this case only whe n
the light switch is in the "AUTO" position::::;,
page 53, fig. 46 .
• Make sure the washer fluid reservo ir in the engine compart ment
is topped off before going on a long trip . Look up::::;,
page 240 for
check ing and filling the washer conta iner.
• The wipers only o perate with the hood comp lete ly closed .•
I • •

-Intelligent technology
----'""------- ~---------------------------------------
to the other drive wheel or wheels (all-whee l drivel. This is done up
to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/h). Noises from the brake
system signal that wheel spin is being controlled.
Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, gradually increase the pressure on the accelerator
pedal until the car starts to move. The wheel less able to transfer
power spins .
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads, the EDL cuts out temporarily. The
vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way as a
vehicle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto­
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your
ability to control your car. -Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=>
page 16. •
Anti-Slip Regulat ion System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP) . When the vehicle starts up and acceler­
ates, the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the
engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatically, i.e. without the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS sensors=>
page 192, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, the engine
torque is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to
lock onto the road surface. The system is active across the entire
speed range.
Th e ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of action.
Activating
The ESP is automatically activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self -test. You can activate a deactivated ASR if required
by pressing the=>
page 188, fig. 158 button. When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display.
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds)=>
page 188, fig . 158. With the ASR deactivated,
the ESP check light comes on, see=>
page 13. The message ASR off
appears in the display as well.
The ASR should normally be activated all the time . Only in certain
exceptional situations when some slip is desirable does it make
sense to deactivate the ASR. Examples:
• when driving with tire chains

__ _:_:ln..:..t::.: e::.: l~ li :.;:g t:e::..: n..:.. t:...::. te::::..:: c~h :.:.n .:..: o:::.: l:.: o :.;g~ yL- ________________________________________ _
speed. This is most noticeable when turning the steering wheel at
low speeds (for example when parking), -more effort will be
required than usual.
• Be aware of the different than usual steering response and
adjust your steering force accordingly.
• Have the problem checked and set right by an authorized Audi
dealer as soon as possible.
• If a steering malfunction occurs, this is signaled with the or.
@ indicator lights and a warning tone, see.
[ i) Tips
• If the power steering system should fail, or if the engine is not
running (for example, while being towed), you will still be able to
steer the vehicle. However, more effort will be required to do so.
• If the power steering system is not functioning properly, contact
your authorized Audi dealer immediately.
Applies to vehicles: with All Wheel Drive
Driving with your quattro®
With All Wheel Drive, all four wheels are driven.
General information
With All Wheel Drive, power is distributed to all four wheels. This
happens automatically depending on your driving style and the
road conditions at the time. See also::::,
page 189, "Electronic differ­
ential lock (EDU".
Winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle with All Wheel Drive has an
advantage, even with regular tires. In winter road conditions it may
be advisable to mount winter tires (or all -season tires) for improved
driveability and braking: these tires must be mounted on
all four
wheels.
See also ::::, page 259, "Winter ti res".
Snow chains
Where snow chains are mandatory on certain roads, this normally
also applies to vehicles with all-wheel drive:::::,
page 260, "Snow
chains".
Replacing wheels/tires
Vehicles with All Wheel Drive must always have tires of the same
size. Also avoid tires with different tread depths. For details see
page ::::,
page 254, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels".
Off-Road driving?
Your Audi does not have enough ground clearance to be used as an
off-road vehicle. It is therefore best to avoid rough tracks and
uneven terrain as much as possible. Also refer to::::,
page 198.
& WARNING
Always adjust your driving to road and traffic conditions. Do not
let the extra safety afforded by the all-wheel drive tempt you into
taking extra risks.
• Although the quattro ®all-wheel drive is very effective, always
remember that braking capacity is limited by tire traction. You
should therefore not drive at excessive speeds on icy or slippery
road surfaces.
• On wet road surfaces, be careful not to drive too fast because
the front wheels could begin to slide on top of the water (hydro­ planing). If this should occur, you will have no warning from a
sudden increase in engine speed as with a front-wheel drive
vehicle. Always drive at speeds which are adjusted to the road
conditions -risk of crash!
n

___ T_ r _a_ il_e _r_ t_ o_ vv_ in__... g,_ __________________________________________________ _
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the additional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Trai ler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reasons, always fo llow the operating and driving instruc ­
tions provided and use common sense. •
Technical requirements
Traile r hit ch
Use a weight -carrying hitch conforming to the gross trailer weight.
The hitch must be suitab le for your vehicle and tra iler and must be
mounted secure ly on the vehicle's chassis at a
technically sound
location . Use only a trailer hitch w ith removable ball mount. A lways
check with the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch .
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it does not interfere
w ith the impact-absorbing bumper system . No modifications
should be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems. From
time to time, check that all hitch mount ing bolts remain securely
fastened.
When you are not towing a trailer, remove the trailer hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage should your
vehic le be struck from behind
=:> & .
Tire pre ssure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehic le to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load"on the sticker on the right door­
jamb. Inflate trai ler tires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' specifica ­
tions.
Lights
The head ligh t settings should be checked wit h the trai ler attached
before driving off. Have the head lights adjusted as necessary so
t hat you can see the road ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check to make sure both vehicle and trailer lights are working prop ­
erly.
Engin e cool ing sy stem
Towing a t rai ler makes the engine wo rk ha rder . It is important that
the cooling system's performance stands up to the additiona l
strain. Make sure that the coo ling syste m has enoug h fluid.
Traile r br akes
If your traile r is equipped wi th a braking system, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations.
T he trailer hydraulic brake system must not be directly connected to
the vehic le's hydrau lic brake sys tem.
Safety chai ns
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the h itch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you install safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch. _.

Cleaning and protection -
----------------=-----=------
•
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
-Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash .
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them .
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your authorized Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:, page 204. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine =:> &.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts .
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor ­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
3l, or if you have the engine washed , the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well . It is therefore
essential to have a long-lasting corrosion protection reapplied to all
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the engine compart ­
ment.
& WARNING
Be aware: The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to read the
information
=:> page 215 . .,_
31 Use only the correct cleaning solutions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care I t •

Checking and filling -
------------- --------=----" =---------
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
- Open the driver's door .
Fig. 162 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
- Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel => fig. 162 in direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 163 Engine hood
release lever
Before opening the engine hood , make sure that the wind­
shield wipers are folded flat against the windshield. Other­
wise, they could damage the paint on the hood.
Pull the release lever=> fig. 163 in the direction indicated
by the arrow. This release the hook under the hood.
- 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. •
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop ­
and -go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for long periods .
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short time. This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended .
Damage or malfunctions due to lack of maintenance
It is essential that you change your oi l at the recommended intervals
using only engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00 (vehicles with gasoline engine) or VW 507 00 (vehicles
with diesel engine). Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not
cover damage or malfunctions due to failure to follow recom­
mended maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi
Owner's Manual and Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Your dealer
will have to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled
maintenance was performed in a timely manner .•
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of interna l
engine components, all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significant ly over the life of the engine. Typically,
engines with a specified break -in period (see=>
page 195) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabilized.
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water condensation or fuel residue and the oxidation level of the oil. As
any
engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consump­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oi l
consumption can be established or specified. There is no alternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note.
If the yellow engine oil level warning symbol in the instrument
cluster lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick=> page 229. Top off the oi l at your
earliest convenience =>
page 230.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
=> &. in "Work ing in the engine
compartment" on
page 224.
0 Note
Driving with an insufficient oil level is likely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i ] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display~ is not an indicator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your engine at
regular intervals , preferably each time you refuel, and always before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oil, we recommend that you consu lt your authorized
Audi dealer to have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed .
Keep in mind that the accurate measurement of oil consumption
requires great care and may take some time. Your authorized Audi
dealer has instructions about how to measure oil consumption
accurately. •

Checking and filling -
---------------------=----"=---------
0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especially important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold. If necessary, increase the proportion of
coolant additive to 60%.
• When adding coolant additive to your cooling system,
remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive G12+ + (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is available at autho­
rized Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can significantly
reduce corrosion protection . The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage .
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and cou ld result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty .•
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
Fig . 169 Engine
compartment : coolant
expansion tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS==> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 224.
Turn off the ignition .
Read the engine coolant level from the coolant expan­
sion tank==> fig. 169. With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" markings. When
the engine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
" max" marking .
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment illustration=>
page 225.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off .
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant level is too low, the warning light in the Auto­
Check System =>
page 30will blink until you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coolant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant level
from time to time.
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system. In the event
of coolant loss, the cooling system should be inspected immedi­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer. It is not enough merely to add
coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating.
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sea lant to your vehicle's engine
coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the tune- _..
Vehicle care I I Technical data