AUDI A3 2011 Owner´s Manual

Adjusting the head restraints
-To move the head restraint up, hold it at the sides with
both hands and slide it upward until you feel it click into
place.
- To move the head restraint down, press the button@
=>
page 78, fig . 75 and slide the head restraint downward.
Removing the head restraints2>
- Fold the backrest forward=> page 81.
-Move the head restraint upward as far as it can go.
- Press the release@=>
page 78, fig. 76 with the screw-
driver=>
page 2 70 and the button@=> page 78, fig. 75.
Pull the head restraint out of the backrest at the same
time=> &.
Installing the head restraints
Slide the posts on the head restraint down into the guides
until you feel the posts click into place.
- Press the button@=>
page 78, fig. 75 and slide the head
restraint all the way down. You should not be able to pull
the head restraint out of the backrest.
So that the driver can have a better view to the rear, the head
restraints should be pushed down completely when the rear seats are
not occupied.
& WARNING
• Only remove the rear seat head restraints when necessary in
order to install a child seat. Install the head restraint again imme-
2 l The head restraints cannot be removed from rear seats with fixed backrests.
Control s and equ ip­
m ent Vehicle
OP-eration
Seats and storage
& WARNING (continued)
diately once the child seat is removed. Driving without head
restraints or with head restraints that are not properly adjusted
increases the risk of serious or fatal neck injury dramatically.
• Read and heed all WARNINGS~
page 128.
[I) Tips
Correctly adjusted head restraints and safety belts are an extremely
effective combination of safety features. •
Center armrest
The front center armrest can be adjusted to several posi­
tions and contains a storage bin.
Adjusting the armrest
- Push the armrest down .
Fig. 77 Between the
front seats: armrest
folded down
-Lift the armrest slowly until it is in a comfortable position.
Opening the storage bin
- Pull the release button =>fig. 77 upward.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Seats and storage
& WARNING
When folded down, the armrest can restrict the driver 's move­
ment. When driving in c onditions that may call for quick maneu­
vers, fold up the armrest . This will allow you to react more quickly
to avoid an accident. •
Rear seats
General information
Safe tra nsporta tion of passe ngers on the rear s eats
requires proper safet y precaut ions .
All passenge rs o n the rear seats must be seated in compliance with
the safety gu ide lines expla ined in=>
page 135 and=> pag e 145. The
co rrect seat ing pos ition is safety cr itical for front
and rear seat
p assenge rs alike=>
page 128 .
& WARNING
• Vehicle occupant s in the front and rear seat s must always be
properly restrained.
• Do not let anyone ride
in the vehicle without the head
restraints provided. Head restraints help reduce injur ies.
• Loose items inside the passenger compartment , can fly
forward in a cra sh or sudden maneuver and injure o ccupants.
Always store articles in the luggage compartment and us e the
fa stening eye s, especially when the rear seatbacks have been
folded down.
• Read and heed and all WARNINGS=>
page 128, "Proper
seating positions for passengers in rear seats ".•
Rear armrest
Th e arm rest con tains a st orage c ompartment a nd a
cupholder for 2 dri nks.
Folding down the armrest
Fig. 7 8 Center of the
r e ar seatbenc h: r ear
ar mre st fol ded do wn
- P ull the armrest down on the fron t~ fi g. 78 .
Opening the storage bin
- Pull the han dle in fron t.•

Luggage compartment
Increasing the size of the luggage
compartment
To increase the size of the luggage compartment, both
parts of the seatback can be folded forward, individually
or together.
Folding the seatback forward
U')
"'
"' 0 a. ., CD
Fig. 79 Release lever
for the seatback (left
side)
Fig. 80 Rear seatback
folded forward (with
pass-through*)
- Let the backrest latch into the lowest position.
- Swing the outer rear head restraints forward=:>
page 78,
fig. 75.
Con tro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Seats and storage
-Push the release lever=:> fig. 79 @in the direction of the
arrow.
- Tilt the seatback forward.
Raising the seatback
- Raise the seatback until it is securely latched=:>& . When
you can no longer see the red mark on the pin@, the seat
is latched.
Stowing luggage
- For safe loading and securing of items read and follow the
guidelines on=:>
page 131, "Loading the luggage
compartment" .
The rear seatback is divided into two segments-one third/two thirds.
You can fold down either or both parts of the seatback.
& WARNING
• The backrest must always be securely latched so that the safety
belt of the center seating position can work properly to help
protect the occupant.
• The backrest must be securely latched in position so that no
items contained in the luggage compartment can slide forward
upon sudden braking.
• Never allow safety belts to become damaged by being caught
in door or seat hardware.
• Torn or frayed safety belts can tear and damaged belt hardware
can break in a crash. Inspect the belts periodically. Belts showing
damage to webbing, bindings, buckles, or retractors must be
replaced.
~
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Seats and storage
& WARNING
Always read and heed WARNINGS=> & in "Loading the luggage
compartment " on
page 131.
0 Note
• If you move the front seat back when the rea r seat backrest is
folded forward, you co uld damage the head restraints o n the rear
seat.
• When fo ld in g th e backrest back into place, make s ure the safety
belt does not get c aug ht, because it can be dama ged . A damaged belt
can fail to provide safe restraint. •
Fastening eyes
The lugga ge compa rtme nt is eq uipped with four tie- down
eyele ts to secu re l ug gage and o ther it em s.
Fig. 81 L uggage
compartm ent:
fastening eyes
- Use the fas ten ing eye s to se cu re your ca rgo pro pe rly
=:> fig . 81 -arrows- .
- Adhere to a ll safety instru ctions =:>
page 131, "Stowing
lugg age".
In a co llision, the laws of phys ics mean that even sma ller items that
a re loose in the vehicle will be come he avy missile s th at ca n caus e
ser ious injury. It ems in th e vehicle possess energy which va ry with
vehicle and t he weight of the item. The veh icle s peed i s the most
significant factor .
For example, in a frontal col lision at a speed of 30 mp h (4 8 km/h),
t he forc es a ct in g on a 10 lb s (4,5 kg) obje ct are about 20 time s th e
normal weight of t he item. This means that the weig ht of t he item
wou ld su dde nly be about 200 l bs (90 kg). Yo u can ima gine the inju­
r ies that a 200 lbs (90 kg) item flying freely through the passenger
compar tment cou ld ca use in a colli sion like this .
& WARNING
Weak, damaged or improper straps used to secure items to
fastening eyes can fail during hard braking or in a collision and
cause serious personal injury.
• Always use suitable mounting straps and properly secure items
to the fastening eyes in the luggage compartment to help prevent
items from shift ing or flying forward .
• When the rear seat backrest is folded down, always use suit­
able mounting straps and properly secure items to the fastening
eyes in the luggage compartment to help prevent items from
flying forward into the passenger compartment .
• Never atta ch a child safety seat tether strap to a fa stening
eye. •

Applies to veh icles : w ith cargo net
Elastic cargo net
The cargo net prevents light objects from sliding around
in the luggage compartment.
Fig. 82 Luggage
compartme nt: cargo
ne t
Fig. 83 Luggag e
compartme nt: cargo
n et at tached to h ooks
Securing objects to the luggage
compartment floor with the net
- Lay out the cargo net in the luggage compartment .
- Engage all four hooks into the fastening eyes=> fig. 82 .
- Place objects to be secured
under the net .
Contro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Seats and storage
Configuring the net to contain small objects
- Lay out the cargo net in the luggage compartment .
- Engage two hooks into the fastening eyes®=> fig. 83 .
- Pull the net up and secure the eyes © on the hooks.
Put items
into the net .
The bottom of the cargo net can also be hooked to the 0 -rings in the
floor of the rear compartment and th e top to th e ey es on the left and
right side trim.
& WARNING
For strength-related reasons, the mounting hooks can only be
used to secure objects weighing 10 lb (5 kg) or less. Heavier
objects will not be adequately secured -risk of injury! •
Applies to vehicles : w ith mount in g hook s
Mounting hooks
Fig. 84 Mounting
h ooks under the rear
parcel shelf
The hook preven ts lightly loaded bags from tipping over .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Seats and storage
& WARNING
For strength-related reasons , heavy objects must not be hung on
the hook s. Heavy objects are not adequately secured -thi s
increase s the risk of injury. •
Retractable luggage compartment cover
The luggage compa rtment cover keeps lugga ge or o ther
objects out o f view.
Fig. 85 Rea r lid ope n
w ith luggag e com part ­
me nt co ver
Removing the luggage compartment cover
- Detach the retaining stra ps => fig. 85 a t the rear hatch (D .
- Pull the cover ® hor izonta lly out of the mount @ in the
d irection of t he arrow.
Installing the luggage compartment cover
- Push t he cover hori zontally into t he m ounts pr ovid ed
=> fig. 85 @ on t he sid e panel u ntil t he cover seats.
- Ins tall t he re ta ining st ra ps in the rea r hatc h=> fig. 85
©
=> & .
& WARNING
• The luggag e compartment cover must never be insta lled
without being secured -this creates an accident hazard.
• Whenever dri ving , neve r place any hard or heavy objects on the
luggage compartment or allow pet s to sit on the luggage
compartment cover . They could become a hazard to vehicle occu­
pants in the event of sudden braking or in an accident.
0 Note
M ake s ure that the heating wi res in the rear lid do not get damaged
by objects scrap ing aga inst them.
(I) Tips
• You can use the luggage compa rtment cov er to sto re light we igh t
cloth ing but do not leave any heavy or sharp objects i n the pockets of
the clothing.
• Remembe r th at plac ing clothing on t he luggage compa rtment
cove r can block the dr iver's vision in the rear view m irro r. This also
app lies especially when yo u have to trans po rt large objects.
• So that state air can escape from the vehicle be sure not to cover
the vent ilatio n slot between the rear lid and the luggage compart­
m en t cover insta lled .•

Applies to veh icles : w ith ski sac k
Ski sack
The ski sack allows a maximum of 4 pairs of skis or 2
snowboards to be carried inside the vehicle.
L oading
Open the rear hatch.
Fig. 86 Sect ion of the
rear sea t from the rear:
ski sack hatch cove r
Fig. 87 Sec uring th e
ski sack at the center
r ear seat belt buc kle
- Slide the releas e button for the pass-through down (with
the center armrest)=> fig . 86 -Arrow -and tilt the pass ­
through forward .
- Remove the sack from the luggage compartment and
unfold it.
Con tro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Seats and storage
-Place the empty sack in the hatch so that the end with the
zip fastener is in the luggage compartment.
- Load objects from the luggage compartment into the ski
sack.
Securing
- Insert the ski sack strap=> fig. 87 © into the center seat
belt buckle ®·
- With ski ing items, place the strap in the middle between
the bindings =>
&-
- Pull the loose end of the strap tight in the direction of the
arrow .
Opening the safety strap buckle
-Take the long sides of safety strap buckle between thumb
and forefinger => fig . 87
@ .
- Squeeze the buckle and pull it away from the cargo.
Stowing
- Raise the pass-through until it is securely latched. It is
secure when you can no longer see the red mark on the
latch in the luggage compartment.
- Carefully fold up the empty (dry) ski sack .
- Stow the ski sack in the luggage compartment so that it
cannot slide around .
& WARNING
• Aft er loa din g, th e sk i sac k m ust be se cu red wit h th e strap .
• The saf ety s trap must fi t tig htly a rou nd the c argo .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service Technical data

Seats and storage
& WARNING (continued)
• Make certain that the safety strap lies in the middle between
the bindings of the ski equipment (refer also to printed message
on the ski sack).
[ i J Tips
• Place skis with the tips pointing forward , snowboards and ski
poles with tip to the
rear in the ski sac k.
• If there are several pairs of skis in the ski sack, make certain that
the bindings are at the same level.
• Be sure not to fo ld up o r store the sack when it is still damp. •
Roof rack* installation
First things first
A roof rack can be used to carry additional luggage on the
roof There are two different roof rack systems.
Separate roof racks are needed for vehicles without roof rails.
Vehicles with standard roof rails* need additional cross bars
to carry cargo. Both types of additional equipment are avail­
able at your authorized Audi dealer.
- Always read and follow th e instructions provided by the
roof rack manufacturer when the roof rack system must
be installed.
If a roof rack or similar luggage carrying equipment is to be installed,
please note the following:
Vehicles without roof rails
• Your vehicle has aerodynamic rain gutters molded into the roof.
Th at is why only roof racks specially designed for the roof can be used. We recommend using roof racks from the Audi orig
inal accessories
program.
• These roof racks are the basis for a complete roof rack system. For
safety reasons, some additional attachments are necessary to trans­
port luggage, bicycles, surf boards, skis and small boats safely. All
these components are available at your author ized Audi dealer.
Vehicle with roof rails
• The vehicle is equ ipped with integrated roof railings, which can be
covered into roof rack by installing cross bars. Only install cross bars
specifically designed for this vehicle.
• These bars are the basis for a complete roof rack system. Addi­
tional attachments are necessary to safely transport luggage, bicy­
cles, surf boards, skis or small boats.
• All necessary hardware for these systems is available from your
authorized Audi dealer.
When should the roof rack be removed?
• Before going through an automatic car wash (it is best to ask the
car wash operator)
• When not in use (reduce fuel consumption, reduce wind noise and
guard against theft)
& WARNING
• Use of an unapproved roof rack or incorrect mounting of an
approved roof rack can cause the roof rack or the items carried on
it to fall off the roof onto the road .
• Objects falling from the roof of a vehicle can cause a crash and
personal injury.
• Only mount the system between the markings shown in
=> page 87, fig . 88 or=> page 88, fig . 89.
• The roof rack system must be installed exactly according to the
in structions provided . .,_

0 Note
• Any damage to the vehicle caused by using roof racks or other
types of cross bars that have not been approved by Audi for your
vehicle , or incorrect roof rack installation, is not covered by the
Warranty.
• Always check the roof rack mountings and hardware before each
trip and during a trip to make sure everything is securely tightened. If
necessary, retighten the mountings and check the entire system from
time to time.
• After mounting a roof rack system, or when you transport objects
on the roof of your vehicle, the height of the vehicle is naturally
increased. Be careful when driving under low bridges o r in park
garages for example . This could cause damage to the vehicle and even
the load. •
Applies to veh icles: without roof rails
Attachment points without roof rails
The roof rack must be attached only at the locations
marked.
F ig. 88 Attach men t
poin ts for roof rack
The attachment points~ fig. 88@ can only be seen with the
door open .
Contro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Seats and storage
Introduction
- Clean the roof at the contact points for the roof rack in
order to avoid paint scratches.
- Observe the identifying marks on the roof rack for front
and rear, left and right.
Roof rack front
-Open the front doors ~& .
- Center the front of the roof rack in the two stamped marks
at the front of the roof~ fig. 88 @,
~ & .
- Hand tighten the mounting screws for the feet alternately
on the
left and right sides of the vehicle.
- Using the enclosed torque wrench, tighten the
front
mounting screws securely => & .
Roof rack rear
-Open the rear doors ~ & .
- Place the rear o f the roof rack in the two stamped marks
at the rear of the roof~ fig. 88@,
~ & .
- Hand tighten the mounting screws for the feet alternately
on the
left and right sides of the vehicle.
- Using the enclosed torque wrench, tighten the
rear
mounting screws s ecurely ~& .
& WARNING
• Alwa ys follow the inst ruct ion s prov ided by the ro of rac k m anu­
f ac turer.
• When in stall ing the roof rac k with th e ve h icle doors open,
w atch out f or ot her tr affic -ther e is the ri sk of a n ac cid ent .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Seats and storage
& WARNING (continued )
• Make certain that the feet of the roof rack are sitting exactly in
the four stamped marks -otherwise you risk an accident!
• After you have dri ven a few miles , and particularly during long
tr ips, inspect the attaching screws to make certain they a re tight .
• Do not make any modification to the roof rack -you increase
the risk of an accident. •
Applie s to v ehicl es : wi th roof r ails
Roof rack mounting locations
Roof rac ks must be install ed only at the locations mar ked
on th e roo f rails.
Mounting
Fig. 89 Ro of rai ls:
front and rear
mounting lo cat ions
The roof rack sy stem mu st be in stalled exa ctly according to the
instructions provided.
Mount t he front and rear cross bars between the punched mark ings
on the inside of the roof railin gs~ fig. 89 - arrows -.
0 Note
• T he conventional roof rac k de sign illustrated above will not fit o n
vehicles without roof rails . For safe mo unting, these req uire a
differen t desig n of roof ra ck.•
Loading the roof rack
Always distribute the loads evenly . M ake sure anything
on the r oof rack is tied do wn securely.
- Always dis tribute t he loads on the ro of rack e venly .
- Alwa ys se cu re i te ms to the roof rac k.
The maxim um permiss ible roof weight is 165 lb (75 kg ). The roof
we ight is made up o f the weig ht of the roof rack system and the
we igh t of the object be ing transported ~
page 295 .
When usi ng a roof rack system which has a lower load carrying
cap aci ty, you mus t not use the tota l maximum pe rmissible load
carrying capacity. If t his is the case , you may load the roof rack
system on ly to the maximum capacity speci fied by the man ufact urer
of the roof rack system .
L1}. WARNING
Weak, damaged or improper straps used to secure items to the
roof rack can fail during hard braking or in a collision and cause
ser ious personal injury.
• Always use suitable mounting straps and properly secure items
to the properly installed roof rack to help prevent items from
shifting or flying forward .
• Items on the roof rack must always be securely mounted .
• The use of a roof rack can negatively affect the way a vehicle
handles. Cargo that is large , heavy , bulky, long or flat will have a
greater negati ve influence on the veh icle's aerodynamics, center ..