wheel AUDI S3 2010 Owner's Guide

• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground and
• when rocking the vehicle loose after it has become stuck.
When the abnormal situation is over, you should activate the ASR again.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i J Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also~
page 254, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels". •
Braking
Generat information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending largely on operating conditions and driving habits~& .
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your autho­
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Warranty & Main­
tenance booklet.
Failure to have your brake pads inspected can
result in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking effect of the engine.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously.
Pump the
brakes at intervals.
Moisture or road salt
If you are driving faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads will briefly touch the brake discs in
regular intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, will not notice anything .
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few cautious brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings .
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
driven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used . Likewise,
you clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads
with a few cautious applications of the brake~&.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high speed~& .
Faults in the brake system
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed~ &.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
too low. The brake fluid level is monitored electronically.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Intelligent technology
---""'------------ ....::....:...:~---------------------------
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi­
tion of the brake pads through the openings in the wheel. If neces­ sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection=> page
270,
"Wheel change" .
L1}. WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit. Other
road users must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident!
• Before descending a steep grade, reduce speed and shift trans­
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range. Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often. This could
cause the brakes to get hot and diminish braking efficiency.
• Do not "ride the brakes" by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat,
premature wear and increased stopping distance.
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle, the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced. In winter,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads, linings, discs and drums.
Carefully apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few careful brake applications.
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-covered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking efficiency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
careful brake applications.
• If you damage the front spoiler, or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective ­
ness of the entire brake system.
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driving the
& WARNING (continued)
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qualified workshop. •
Brake booster
The brake booster adds extra braking power.
The brake booster works with vacuum pressure which is created
only when the engine is running=>& .
L1}. 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 booster has somehow been
damaged, the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance. •
Func ... ion=ng of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under braking.
The ABS contributes effectively to vehicle control since it prevents
the wheels from locking when the brakes are applied. This means
that the vehicle remains steerable and is less likely to skid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down.
However, do not expect that the ABS shortens braking distance
under
all circumstances . When driving on gravel or on newly fallen
snow on top of icy surfaces, braking distance may be even longer,
therefore, under these circumstances, it is especially important that
you drive slowly and with great care. .,_

How the ABS system works
An aut omatic check is made whe n a speed of ab out 4 mph (6 km/h)
is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be heard.
I f an individua l wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to
ve hicle speed and ten ds to lock, the A BS automatical ly reduces
brake pressure to prevent that wheel from locking.
T his auto matic adjust ment p rocess wil l cause a
slight vibration o f
the brake peda l and some noises to alert you that veh ic le speed
must be ada pted to e xisting roa d and traff ic c onditions.
& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective , always remember that braking
c apability is limited by tire tra ction . Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking e xtra risks .
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics.
[ i ) Tips
• I f ABS is not functioning properly, a warning light wil l come on.
See
=> page 16.
• I f a fau lt occurs in the ABS, the E DL is als o not fu ncti onin g. This
is indicated by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake a ssi st ant is de sig ned to a chieve th e opti mum
b ra kin g eff ec t.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power
and thus to ac hieve a s horte r stop ping dis tance. If the drive r
presses the brake pedal very quick ly, the brake assistant automati ­
ca lly b oosts the braki ng force to the maximu m level, up to th e point
where the anti -loc k brake function (A BS) intervenes to stop the
whee ls from loc king. You should then keep the brake pedal pressed
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
until
the vehicle has braked to the required speed . The brake assis ­
t an t swi tc h es itse lf o ff as s oon as you r eleas e the b rake pe dal.
The brake assistant wi ll not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS .
& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast , espe cially in corners or on a slippery road , or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely . An increased accident
risk cannot be compensated even by the brake assistant , so
always maintain a safe speed. •
ciectro-mechanical power assist
Th e e le ctr o-me ch anic al pow er assis t helps the driv e r
w hen steerin g.
The degree of powe r ass ist is electronically matched to veh icle
speed .
The power steering system assists the driver so that he can steer the
ve hicle with re d uced p hysi ca l eff ort.
Power steering w ill not work if the eng ine is off . As a result, the
stee ring whee l wi ll be ha rd to turn .
& WARNING
If the system develops a problem , you must seek qualified profe s­
sional assistance .
0 Note
If there is an electronic ma lfunction, servotronic will still function
like a conventi onal power s teer ing sy stem , pr ovi din g a constant
steerin g support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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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

[ i] Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte ­
nance due to the extra load=> page 299 . •
Parking on a slope
-----------------
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the vehicle and the trailer wheels .
- With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes until
wheel blocks absorb the load.
- Turn the wheels towards the curb.
- Apply the parking brake.
- Place an automatic transmission in
P, respectively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
When restarting after parking:
- Start the engine.
- Shift transmission into gear.
- Release the parking brake and slowly pull out and away from the wheel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the wheel blocks.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Trailer towing
[
i] Tips
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care p rese rves vehicle value .
Any automobile is exposed to industrial fumes, corrosive road salt ,
muddy dog feet, e tc. A wel l cared fo r Audi can look l ike new many
years after purchase . Regu lar and correct care will contribute to
maintaining the beauty and va lue of your Audi .
Furthermo re , g ood care ma y be a conditi on for sub sta ntiating a
warr anty cla im should corro sion damage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dealer has a var iety of dedi cat ed vehicle -care
product s
and can advise which ones to use for cleaning the exterior
and interio r of your vehicle.
Whether you use products recommended by Audi or other commer ­
cially availab le cleaning agen ts, please make su re you apply them
correctly .
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents m ay be poi sonou s. Keep them out of the re ach
of childr en.
• Heed all cau tion label s.
• Alway s read direction s on the container before u sing any
produ ct. Follo w the dire ction s carefull y.
• Most chemi cal cle aner s are concentr ated and h ave to be
d iluted .
• Use spot remo ving fl uid s onl y
in well ventila ted are as.
• Do not use gasoline , kero sene , diesel fuel , nail poli sh remover
or other vol atil e fluid s. They may be to xic , fl ammab le or h azardou s
in other wa ys. Do not wa sh , wax or dry the vehicle w ith the igni ­
tion on or the engine ru nning .
& WARNING (continu ed )
• Do not clean the unders ide s of cha ssi s, fenders , wheel cover s,
et c. without pr ote cting y our hands and arm s. You may cut your self
on sh arp-edged metal part s.
• Moisture and i ce on brakes may impair br aking eff icien cy
~ page 191 , "General information ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wash the vehicle .
'£> For the sake of the environment
Select only environmenta lly friend ly c leaning products. Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste .•
Care of exterior
Washing
F requent washing protects the vehicle.
The best protection against environmental influences is frequent
washing a nd waxing.
How often this is required depends on :
• How much the vehicle is used
• Where the vehicle is parked (garage, in the open under trees ,
etc.)
• The seasonal and weather conditions
• Environmenta l influences
The longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, tar, soot, road salt and other materials remain on the vehicle
body , the more lasting their destructive effects will be. .,_

_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _a_ n_ in_ g_a _ n_d_ p_ r_ o_ t _e_ c_t _io _ n __ _
•
High temperatures, as from exposure to intense sunlight, intens ify
the corrosive effect particularly when humidity is high as well.
Under ce rtain circumstances ,
weekly washing may be necessary .
Under other conditions, a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate.
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed, preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>
page 204 . •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash . However , the
effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care
material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper­
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau ­
tions such as closing the windows and panoramic sliding sunroof *.
Remove antenna if applicable.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle -such as
spoilers, roof rack , etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 204. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
-Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS=:>
& in "General informa ­
tion" on
page 204.
- First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom , using a sponge, a sponge
glove or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed to road dirt. In this way , you will not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts . .,
Vehicle care
I t •

____________________________________________ _:C ::,: l~ e :,: a~ n:....:..:..: in~ g~ a~n .:.:d:!...! p~ r ~o~ te~ c~t ~io ~ n'....__lfll
•
T he best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush . Use a non -abrasive
pla stic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from w indows and mirrors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can inter fere with the function of the w inds hie ld w iper blades
(chatter).
Oil, grease o r sil icone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
s ilicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
spec ially fo rmulated so lvent . Please contac t your authorized Audi
dea ler for advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be c leaned on the inside at regular interva ls .
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces . Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
t hrough the windows .
& WARNING
• The windshield mu st not be treated with water -repellent mate ­
rials. T hey c an incre ase gl are under poor v isibility conditions such
a s wetne ss, darkne ss, or when the sun i s low on the hori zon. In
addition , they can cause the wind shield wipers to chatter .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 204.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows a nd mirrors . This cou ld cause the glass to crack.
• T o prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not p lace
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires .
• T o he lp prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete car car e includes the we atherst rip s as well .
App ly a suitable rubbe r con ditioner to the weatherstr ips
f ro m time to time.
To be able sea l properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliabl e. Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
co ne or coat them w ith ta lcum powder or glycer ine to retain the
f lexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winte r.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 204.
[ i ] Tip s
Keep si licone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
ra in .•
Ap plies to veh icles : with s tee l w hee ls (e .g . if ref itt e d w ith w inter tires )
Steel wheels
The wheels also h ave to be cleaned.
- Alw ays in clu de the hu b caps and whee l rims when
washing yo ur vehi cle to remove road dir t, sal t sprays an d
b rake dust.
If necessary, use a commercial whee l cleaner to remove accumu ­
lated brake dust.
The wheel rims are eas ier to keep clean if they are reg ula rly coa ted
with l iquid wax . ..
Vehicle care I t •

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Paint scratches should be touched up as soon as possible to prevent
corrosion =>
page 208, "Touch -up pain t" .
& WARNING
• Moi sture and i ce on brak es may affect b raking efficiency -
=> page 191 , "Gene ral inform ation ". Te st the brakes caref ully a fter
e ac h veh icle was h.
• Alway s read and heed all WARNING S and t he infor mation
=> page 204 . •
A pp lies to vehi cles : w ith Cast a lloy whee ls
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
- Wash the wheels with a spo nge or hose brush every
o ther week .
- For deep cleaning afte rwards, use only a dedicated
a cid ­
free
cast alloy whee l cleaner.
- Rub a coat of
liquid wa x onto the rims every t hree month .
Be sure to reach and treat all parts of the rim.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy wheels,
some special care is necessary. In addition to road dirt and salt, brake dust is also corrosive . If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly specia l
acid-free cleaners formu lated for a lloy rims . Safe
products are available at your authorized Audi dealer. Never leave
the cleaner on the rims longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off promptly, the acid contained in some cleaners can attack
t he threads on the wheel bolts. Never use abrasive or metal polishing cleaning agents
. If the protec ­
t ive coating has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possib le.
& WARNING
• Moisture a nd ice on br akes m ay affect braking efficien cy
=> page 191, " Gen eral inf or mation ". Te st the brake s carefully each
ti m e you w ash th e vehi cle .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informa tion
=> page 204 . •
Body cavity sealing
T he body cavity se aling does not need to be checked.
All body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
thorough ly protected a t the factory .
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treat ­
ment . If any wax should seep out of the cavi ty when the amb ient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a p lastic scraper and a
suitable solvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerou s.
• Ben zin e is flamm able and to xic. If you use b en zi ne for re moving
the wax, keep spark s, flame and lighted cigarette s away . Never
dump ben zine on the ground , into open st ream s or do wn sewage
dr ain s.
• Be sure to ob serve all safet y and env ironment al regul atio ns .
Follow all in stru ction s on the c ont ainer .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and ot her info rm ation
=> page 204 . •

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& WARNING (continued )
• Before reaching into the front plenum panel, always remove the
ignition key . Otherwise, the windshield wiper system could unin ­
tentionally be switched on , possibly causing personal in jury from
the moving wiper linkage .
• Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan . The
auxiliary fan is temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly
- even when the ignition is off.
• Do not wash, wax or dry the engine with the engine running .
Moving or hot parts could injure you .
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis , fenders , wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ poge204. •