AUDI A3 2011 Owner´s Manual

____________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ i n--= g,___ a_n_ d----' p,___ r_o _t_ e_ c_ t_ i _o_ n __ _
0 Note
To avo id damaging your vehicle, a lways make sure that there i s suffi­
cient distance between the spray head and soft materia ls like r ubber
hoses, plastic part s and sound-de adening mate ria ls. Never aim the
spray head at the same point for a long time . This a lso applies to
cleaning headl ights and painted bumpers. Remembe r: the closer t he
nozzle is to the surface of the mater ia l, the greater the stress on the
mate rial. •
Wa xing
Wax protects the vehicle's paint.
- U se a manua lly applied car wax occas ionally to pro tect t he
pa int.
A good wax coat ing protects the vehicle paint to a la rge extent
agai nst the env ironmen ta l fa ctors liste d un der~
page 20 6,
"Washing" and even against slight scratches.
You can use a liquid car wax to protect yo ur paint as soon as one wee k
after your ve hicle has been delivered .
Even if you regula rly use a
wa xing process in automatic car washes,
we recomme nd that you m anually apply a co at of wax to give the
paint extra protection, part icularly if water no longer beads on t he
cl ean pa int .
Protec t plast ic body parts with car wax in t he same way as the vehicle
body .
Dur ing warm wea ther de ad insec ts te nd t o collec t on t he fron t
bumper and on the forward area of the hood. They a re much easier to
remove from p aint th at is waxed
often.
Safety first
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
:=> page 206 .
0 Note
Do not use car wax on
• matte o r anodized metal trim
• rub ber or rubbe r-like trim .•
Polishing
P olishing restores the gloss to the paint.
P olis h your ve hicl e only if t he pa int has lost its shine and the gloss
cannot be brought back with wax.
If the polish used does not contain preservative compounds, the
paint must be waxed afterwards=> page 209, "Wax ing".
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
:=> page 206 .
0 Note
Do no t trea t matte a nodize d meta l trim, p lastic o r ru bber p arts wi th
polish or wax . •
Trim strips
fv1 etal tri m needs s pec ial care .
For env ironmental reasons, Aud i fabr icates the brig ht trim strips and
trim p ieces from pure chrom ium -free a lum inum. ._
Vehicle care Technical data

lffl!l,.___C_ le_ a_n_ i _n_ g=- a_ n_d__, p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_ o _ n ___________________________________________ _
Dirt and marks on the trim str ips should be removed with a pH­
balanced
cl eani ng agen t (d o no t use a chr ome cleaner). Au thori ze d
Audi dealers carry cleaning products w hich have bee n tested fo r use
on yo ur vehicle an d are not harmful to the environment.
T o avoid co rrosion on the exte rio r trim s trips, o nly a pH-b alanced
so lution should be used for the windshield washer.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 206 . •
Plastic and vinyl
P lastic nee ds special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or s ponge to remove d ust and light surface
dirt . For other soil, use a lukewarm all-purpose cleaning solution or a
m ild saddle soap fo r viny l tr im . Remove water spots and traces o f
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub
dry.
Grease , tar or oi l stains can be removed with a clean cloth o r sponge
soa ke d wi th all- pur pose cleaner or wi th a so lvent des igned especially
to clean v inyl.
Occas ionally app ly a colorless v inyl or leather p reservative to retain
t he m ateria l's luster and p liabili ty.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •
Aluminum trim
Use on ly neutral-pH products to remove spots and depos its from
alum inum su rfaces. Chro m e care produ cts an d alka line cle aners will
attack aluminum surfaces and ca n damage them over t ime .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •
Touch-up paint
M inor paint damages should be touched up immedia tely.
- Use e ither a touch-up paint st ick o r spray p ain t to cover
minor scratches a nd nicks.
Your author ized A udi d ea le r has touch- up paint fo r minor scratches
and stone ch ips. Sc ra t ch es should be touched up soon afte r they
occur to preve nt corros ion .
If a s pot start s to ru st, however, a sim ple touch-up job will not be
enoug h. T he affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
w it h an an ti- rus t pr ime r before the pai nte d finish can be restore d.
Th e number fo r the o rigina l veh icle pain t can be found o n the vehicle
ide ntificat io n label ~
page 294.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •

Cleaning and protection -
---------------=---------=----
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and carwash
wax buildup.
- Remove snow from windows using a brush.
- Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
- Remove other residue on the w indows with a spray-on
glass cleaner .
- Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.
T he best way to remove snow from w indows and mirrors is to use a
brush. Use a non-abrasive plastic ice s craper - be tter st ill, a spray
deicer -to remove ice from windows and mirrors.
Th e w indows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can interfere with the function of the w indshield wiper blades
(chatte r) .
Oil, grease or s ilicone residue can be removed with glass cleane r or
s ili cone remover. Howeve r, wax residue requires the use of a specially
formulated solvent . Please contact your author ized Aud i dealer for
advice on safe products for wax remova l.
W indows shou ld also be cleaned on the inside at regu lar i nte rvals.
Never dry windows w ith the same chamo is that you use to dry painted
surfaces. Wax res idue on the chamois ca n impa ir v is ion t hrough the
windows .
& WARNING
• The w ind shi eld must not be tr eated with water -rep ellent
m aterial s. They can in cre a se glare und er poor vi sibilit y co ndition s
Safety first
& WA RNING (continu ed)
such as wetne ss , dar kne ss, or when the sun is low on the ho rizon .
In addition , th ey can cau se the wind shield wip ers to c hatt er.
• Always r ea d and heed all WARNING S and othe r in fo rm ation
~ pag e 206 .
0 Note
• Never use warm o r hot wate r to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors . This could cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the w ires of the rear defogger, do not place
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the wires.
• T o help prevent dirt from scratching the w indow, always scrape in
a forward direction - pushing the scraper away from you -never back
and forth .•
Weatherstrips
Complete car care includes the weatherstrips as well .
-Apply a suitable rubber conditioner to the weatherstrips
from time to t ime .
To be able sea l properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear l id, etc. must remain pliable . Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
cone or coat t hem with talc um powder or g lycerine to retain the flex­
ibility of the rubber and to p ro tect them agai nst free zing in the
winter .
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other inform ation
~ page 206 .
Vehicle care Technical data

-Cleaning and protection pn,,._____ _ __,____ ____________ _
(I] Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in rain.•
Applies to vehicles: with steel whee ls (e.g. if refitted with winte r tir es)
Steel wheels
The wheels also have to be cleaned.
-Always include the hub caps and wheel rims when washing
your vehicle to remove road dirt, salt sprays and brake
dust.
If necessary, use a commercial wheel cleaner to remove accumulated
brake dust.
The wheel rims are easier to keep clean if they are regularly coated
with liquid wax.
Paint scratches should be touched up as soon as possible to prevent
corrosion~ page 210, "Touch-up paint".
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on brakes may affect braking efficiency -
~ page 191, "General information". Test the brakes carefully
after each vehicle wash.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~page206. •
Applies to veh icles: w ith Cas t alloy whee ls
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
-Wash the wheels with a sponge or hose brush every other
week. -
For deep cleaning afterwards, use only a dedicated
acid­
free cast alloy wheel cleaner.
- Rub a coat of
liquid wax onto the rims every three 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 only special
acid-free cleaners formulated for alloy 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 the
threads on the wheel bolts.
Never use abrasive or metal polishing cleaning agents.
If the protec­
tive coating has been chipped, e.g. by kicked up road dirt, touch it up
as soon as possible.
& WARNING
• Moisture and ice on brakes may affect braking efficiency
~ page 191, "General information". Test the brakes carefully
each time you wash the vehicle.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206. •
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not need to be checked.
All body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been thor­
oughly protected at the factory.
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treatment.
If any wax should seep out of the cavity when the ambient tempera­
ture is high, it can be removed with a plastic scraper and a suitable
solvent. ..,

Cleaning and protection -
---------------=---------=----
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerous.
• Be nzine is flammabl e and toxic. If you u se benzine for
remo ving the wa x, keep sparks , flame and l ighted cigarettes
away . Never dump benzine on the ground , into open stream s or
down sewage drains .
• Be sure to ob serve all safety and environmental regulation s.
Follow all instruct ions on the container.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 206 . •
Chassis
Have the undercoating chec ked for damage from time to
time.
Th e lower body she ll of your Audi is a lso thoro ugh ly protected against
co rrosion.
Any damage to the unde rcoating caused by road hazards shou ld be
repa ire d pro mptly.
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong places can cause a fire .
• Do not apply additional undercoating or ru stproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. While driving , the sub stance us ed for undercoating
could overheat and cause a fire .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
:::>page 206 . •
Safety first
Exhaust tail pipes
Road sa lt and other corrosive mater ials will damage the material in
t he exh aust tail pipes if they a re not cleaned reg ula rly. Do not clean
the ta il pipes with wheel cleaner, pai nt polis h, chrome po lish or other
abras ive clean ers . Cle an the t ail pipes wit h car ca re product s that are
suitable for sta inless steel.
You r authorized Audi dealer can provide cleaning products that have
been tested a nd app roved for your veh icle. •
Care of interior
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH produc ts to remove s pots an d de pos its from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alka line cleaners w ill
attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 206. •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabr ic coverings (e.g. seats, door trim pane ls, etc.) shou ld
be cleaned at regula r in terva ls with a vacuu m cleaner. T his removes
surface di rt part icles which co uld become embedded in the fabr ic
t hrough use . S te am cleaner s sho uld n ot be use d, bec ause t he s te a m
tends to push the dirt deeper into the fab ric and lock it there.
Normal cleaning
Genera lly, we recommend using a soft sponge or a lint-free
microfiber cl oth to t he clean fab ric. Brushes should o nly be used for ..,.
Vehicle care Technical data

IJIII Cleaning and protection
-----=---=------------------------------
carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
by brushes.
Normal surface sta ins can be cleaned using a commercially available
foam cleaner. Spread the foam on the surface of the fabric with a soft
sponge and work it in gently. Do not saturate the fabr ic. Then pat the
foam dry using absorbent, dry cloths (e.g. microfiber cloth) and
vacuum it after it has dried comp lete ly.
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e .g. coffee, fruit juice, etc.) can be
treated with a mild detergent solut ion. Apply the detergent solution
w ith a sponge. In the case of stubbo rn stains, a detergent paste can
be applied directly to the stain and worked into the fabric. After­
wa rds, use copious amounts of clean water to remove the remaining
detergent. Apply the water with a damp cloth or sponge and pat the
fabric dry with an absorbent, dry cloth .
Sta ins from chocolate or makeup should have detergent paste (e .g.
ox-gall soap) rubbed into them . Afterwards, remove the soap with
water (damp sponge).
Alcohol can be used to treat stains from grease, oil, lipstick or a ball­ point pen. Melted grease or dye must be patted off using absorbent
material. It may be necessary to retreat the areas with detergent
paste and water.
In the case of genera l soiling of t he upholstery and cover mater ia l, we
recommend hiring a specialist that has the equipment to clean the
seat covers and other fab ric surfaces by shampooing and spray
extraction.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 206.
W Tips
Open Velcro fasteners on your clothing can damage the seat cover.
Please make sure that Velcro fasteners are closed .•
Plastic parts and instrument panel
- Always use a clean cloth moistened in clear water.
Always use a clean cloth moistened in clear water to clean these
areas. For persistent dirt use an A udi approved
solvent-free plastic
cleaner/protectant .
& WARNING
Solvents can change the properties of some plastics and make it
harder for the airbag to deploy.
• Never clean the instrument panel or the surface of Airbag
modules with cleaning products that contain solvents.
• Products containing solvents will make the surface of this part
porous.
• Serious injuries can result if plastic parts come loose when the
airbag is deployed.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=>page 206 .
0 Note
Cleaning agents contain ing solvents will attack the material and can
change the way it behaves. •

Cleaning and protection -
---------------=---------=----
Appli es to veh icles : with n atural leathe r
Natural leather
Audi makes great efforts to maintain the properties,
na tural look and feel of interior leather .
General
We offer many different types of leather on our vehicles . Most are
different types of nappa leather, which has a smooth s urface and
comes in various colors.
Th e intensity of the color determines the visual cha racter istics and
appearance .
If the surface of the leat her has a typical natural look,
then the leather is a nappa leather that has been left in a relatively
natura l condition. This leathe r offers pa rticu la rly good comfo rt and
breathes wel l. Fine veins, closed gra ins, insect b ites, sk in fo lds, and
s u btl e var iations in co lor remai n visible . These c harac ter istics demon ­
strate that the mater ial is natural.
N atural nappa leather is not covered by a color fin ish . It is the refore
more sensitive to soiling and wea r, which is something you need to
consider if children, animals or other factors might prove to be partic ­
ular ly hard on the leather .
By contrast, leather types that are covered by a colored fin ish layer
are more dur able. This h as a pos it ive e ffect on t he leather 's resist ance
to wear and so iling in daily use . On the other hand, the typical charac­
t eris tics of na tura l leather are ba rely o r not app aren t. H oweve r, this
does not mean that the leather itself is of inferior quality.
Care and handling
Because of the exclusive nature of the types of leather that Audi uses
and the ir un ique properties (such as sensitivi ty to oils, gre ase, soiling,
etc.), you will need to be somewhat careful with these leathe rs, a nd
a ce rtain type of care is req uired. For example, dark clo thing mate ­
r ials can discolor leather seats (especially if such clothing is damp and
was not dyed cor rect ly). Dust and dirt particles in pores, folds, and
seams can have a n ab rasive effect and ca n damage the leathe r
surface as well as weaken seams.
Safety first
The leather should be cleaned regularly as needed . After having been
used for a rela tively long time, yo ur leat her seats w ill acq uire a rich
aged fi nish. This is a characteristic of natural leather and a s ign of
true quality .
I n orde r to maintain the va lue of this nat ural p rodu ct over t he life of
your vehicle, you should fo llow the recommendations be low:
0 Note
• To keep your leather from b leach ing out, do not allow it to be
exposed to b right s unl igh t fo r long pe riod s of time. If yo u have to
leave t he veh icle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather to
protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.
• Sharp objects on cloth ing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can le ave pe rm an ent sc ratches o r scrape mar ks on the
surface of the leather.
[I] Tips
• After each t ime you clean the leather and at regular intervals, use
a leathe r preservat ive creme that con tains UV -bloc ke rs and that
works into the leather. This creme will nourish and mo istur ize the
leather, helping it to b reathe and s tay supp le . It also he lps to build up
a p rotect ive coa ting on the surface .
• C lean the leather every 2 -3 months, a nd clean any areas that get
soiled .
• Remove fresh marks made by ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc . as soon as poss ible.
• P reserve t he colo r of t he lea ther as needed by us ing a specia l
co lored leather care creme to touch up areas of uneven color. •
Vehicle care Technical data

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Applies to vehicles : w ith natural leather
Cleaning and caring for leather upholstery
and trim
Natural leather requires special care and attention.
Normal cleaning
-Clean so iled areas with a slightly moistened cotton or
woolen cloth .
More stubborn dirt
- More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth satu­
rated with a mild soap solution (2 tablespoons mild liquid
soap).
- Never allow the soap solution to saturate the leather, and
make certain that no water soaks into the seams.
-Wipe off the soap solution with a soft, dry cloth.
Cleaning spots
- Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
- Remove fresh
grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the
leather.
- Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if
oil/grease spots
have dried on .
-Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt marker,
fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish, etc .)
with a spot remover specifically formulated for leather.
Leather care
- Every half year use an approved leather care product
(available from your authorized Audi dealer) to care for
the leather.
- Apply the product very sparingly .
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth .
If you have any questions about cleaning and caring for the leather in
your vehicle, it is best to contact your author ized Audi dealer, who will
be glad to help you and tell you about our fu ll range of leather care
products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care kit
• Creams to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ba llpoint pens, shoe polish, etc.
• Oil/grease dissolving spray
• New and upcoming products .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206.
0 Note
• Never use chemical so lvents (e.g. lighterfluid, turpentine), waxes,
shoe po lish or simi lar products on the leather surfaces in your Aud i.
• To avoid damage, hav e stubborn stains removed by a commercial
cleaning specialist .•

-----------------------------------------~C~le~a~n~i~n~g~a!..!n..!:d~pEr~o~t~e~c~t:.!i~o~n:!...__nn
App lies to vehicles : with Alcantara up hols tery
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Mois t en a c loth, squee ze out excess water a nd wip e down
the seat su rfaces .
Removing stains
- Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or wi th diluted ethyl
(rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at t he s tai n. Start a t the ou tside and work inwards.
- O nce the stain is no longer v isibl e, use a soft dry clot h or
tissue to soak up the moist ure .
Do not use leathe r clean ing p roduc ts on Alcanta ra.
You may us e a suitable shampoo for r emoving dus t and d irt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can sc ratch and damage the
s u rface . If the car is left s tanding in the su n fo r long pe riods, the
Alcantara should be protected against direc t su nlight to prevent it
from fading . Slight co lor var iat ions will develop in norma l use and are
not a n indic a tion of mater ial deter io ration .
0 Note
• Never use chem ical solven ts (e .g . lighte r fluid, turpen tine), waxes ,
shoe po lish or simi lar p roducts on A lcantara ® sur faces .
• T o avo id damage , have st ubbor n sta ins removed by a commerc ia l
cl eaning s pecialist .
• Do no t use brushes, s tiff sponges o r sim ilarly abrasive clea ning
aids .•
Safety first
Safety belts
On ly well -m aintai ned saf ety belts wor k relia bly when
n ee ded.
K ee p be lts cl ean .
- F or cleani ng, use a mi ld soap a nd water sol ution. Let bel ts
dry t ho ro ug hly a nd away fro m direct s unligh t.
- Do not a llow i nertia ree l safety belts to retract befo re th ey
a re co mpletely dry.
- Check t he cond it io n of yo ur safety belts
regularly.
Heav ily so iled s afety be lts may not retra ct 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 di scover damage , see your authorized Audi dealer .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •
Vehicle care Technical data

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d___. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compa rt­
men t.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine=:>& .
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the win dshi eld
unde r th e eng ine hood . T hi s prevents the water d rain holes from
becoming b locked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
inter io r th rough the heat ing and vent ilation ducts .
Corrosion protection
The eng ine compartment and transmission have been cor rosion­
protected at the factory.
Good ant i-cor rosion treatment is very impo rtant , pa rtic ular ly in the
w inter . If the vehicle is frequently driven on sa lt treated roads, the
en tire eng ine compar tment and plenum p anel sho uld be thoroug hly
cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt damage. At
t he same t ime, the underside of the vehi cle should be washed as well.
If the e ng ine compartment is clea ned at any t ime with grease
removing so lutions
5>, or i f you have the engine washed , the anti ­
co rros io n treatment is a lmost a lways removed as w ell.
It is t herefore
essential to have a long-last ing corrosion p rotect ion reapplied to all
surfa ces, seams, jo ints and compo nents in the engi ne co mpa rt ment .
& WARNING
Be aware: The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area .
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sur e to read the
information =:>
page 218.
S) Use on ly th e co rr ect clean ing so lut ions. Never use gaso line or diese l fuel.
& WARNING (c on tinued )
• Before reaching into the front plenum panel , alway s remove
the ignition key. Otherwise, the windshield wiper system could unintentionally be switched on , possibly causing personal injury
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
· ev en when the ignition is off.
• Do not wash, wax or dry the engine with th e engine running.
Moving or hot pa rts could injure you.
• Do not clean the underside of the chass is, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach part s without protecting your hands
and arm s. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=:> page 206. •