service indicator AUDI A3 2015 User Guide

214 Checking and Filling
you have your oil changed, ask your author­
ized Audi Service Advisor.
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 con­
ditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for
long periods .
Detergent additives in the o il wi ll make fresh
oil look dark after the engine has been run­
ning 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 oil at the
recommended interva ls using only engine oil
that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Lim ited New Vehicle War­
ranty does not cover damage or malfunctions
due to fa ilure to follow recommended mainte­
nance and use requ irements as set forth in
the Audi Owner's Manual and Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet . Your dea ler will have to
deny warranty coverage un less yo u present to
the dea ler proof in the form of Service or Re­
pair Orders that all schedu led maintenance
was performed in a timely manner.
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on on ade­
quate amount of oil to lubricate and cool all
of its moving ports.
In order to provide effective lubrication and
cooling of internal engine components , a ll in­
ternal combustion eng ines consume a certain
amount of o il. Oil consumption var ies from
engine to engine and may change significantly
over the life of the eng ine . Typically, engines
with a specif ied break-in period (see
¢
page 193) consume more oil during the
b reak-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabilized. Under
normal conditions, the rate o f oil con ­
s u mption depends on the quality and viscosity
of the oil, the RPM (revolut ions per minute) at
which the engine is operated, the ambient
temperature and road conditions. Further fac­
tors are the amount of oil dilut ion from water
co nd ensat ion or fuel residue and the oxida­
t ion level of the oil. As any engine is subject to
wea r as mileage builds up, the oil consump­
tion may increase over time until replacement
of worn components may become necessary.
With a ll these variab les coming into play, no
standard ra te of oil consumpt io n can be es­
tablished or specified. There is no alternative
to regu lar and frequent check ing of the oil lev­
el , see
Note.
If the yellow engine oil leve l warning symbo l
Ill in the instr ument cl uster light s up, you
shou ld check the oil leve l as soon as possible
¢
page 215. Top off the oil at your earliest
convenience
~ page 215.
A WARNING
-~
Before you check anything in the engine
compartment, always read and heed all
WARNINGS¢
page 210.
(D Note
Driving wit h an insufficient oil level is like­
l y to cause severe damage to the engine.
(D 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, pref­
erably 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 consult an author­
ized Aud i dea ler to have the cause of
your concern properly diagnosed. Keep in
mind that the accurate measurement of
oil consumption requ ires great care and
may take some time. An authorized Audi ..,.

220 Checking and Filling
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the bat­
tery in your Audi does not need any mainte­
nance. With
high outs ide temperatu res or
long daily drives we recommend that you have
the electro lyte level checked by a service fa­
cility. The e lectrolyte level shou ld also be
checked each time the battery is charged
c:>page222.
Have the battery checked when you take your
vehicle in for service. You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With certain types o f airbag deployment, the
battery is disconnected from the vehicle elec ­
trica l system for safety reasons
c;, .&. in Re­
pair , care and disposal of the airbags on
page 156.
Disconnecting the battery terminals
Some vehicle functions such as power win­
dows are unavai lable if the battery termina ls
are d isconnected. These functions have to be
relearned after the battery terminals are con­
nected again. To prevent this, the battery
should only be disconnected from the vehicle
electrical system when absolutely necessary
for repairs .
To reprogram the functions, proceed as fol­ lows:
Function Reprogramming
Power window one-c;, page 40, Correcting
touch up/down power window mal-
function functions
Remote control key If the vehicle does not
or react to the key, it
convenience key must be synchroni zed
c:>page 33
Digital clock c:>page 10
ESC indicator light The indicator light
goes out after driving
a few meters
Vehicles not driven for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period
of severa l days or weeks, e lectrica l compo­
nents are gradually sca led back or switched
off. This reduces energy consumption and
maintains starting capability over a longer pe­
riod
c;, page 190. Some of the conven ience
functions may not operate, such as the interi­
or lights or power seat adjustment. The con ­
venience functions will be availab le aga in
when you switch on the ignition and start the
engine.
Winter operation
During the winter months, battery capacity
tends to decrease as temperatures drop. This
is because more power is also consumed wh ile
sta rting, and the headlights, rear window de­
fogger, etc. , are used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumpt ion, par­
ticularly in city traffic or when traveling only
short distances. Let your authorized Aud i
dealer check the capacity of the vehicle bat­
tery before winter sets in ~ page 222. A well
charged battery will not on ly prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but will
also last longer.
A WARNING -
-Work on the battery requ ires expert
know ledge. Contact your authorized Audi
dealer qualified repair facility for infor­
mat ion regarding the vehicle battery.
There is a risk for chemical burns or ex­
p losions.
- Never open the vehicle batte ry . Do not
try to change the battery electrolyte lev­
el. Otherwise explosive gas will escape
from the battery and increase the risk of
an explosion .
(i) Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several
weeks at extremely low temperatures, the
vehicle battery should be removed and
stored where it w ill not freeze. This will ..,.

and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6 . If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your trail­
er will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual
to determine how this re­ duces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
~check the tire sidewall
(¢page 236, fig. 160) to de­
termine the designated load
rating for a specific tire.
Tire service life
The service life of tires depends on a lot of
different things including proper installation
and balan cing, correct tire pressure and driv­
ing style.
Fig. 158 T ir e tread: tread wea r ind icators (TWI)
Fig. 159 Rotat ing t ires for more even wea r
Tires and wheels 235
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)
The orig inal tires on your vehicle have
1/16 inch ( 1.6 mm) hig h "wear indicators"
r:::>fig. 158 run ning across the tread. Depend­
ing on the make, there will be six to eight of
them evenly placed around the tire. Marks on
the tire sidewall (for examp le "TWI" or other
symbols) indicate the positions of the tread
wear indicators . Worn tires must be replaced .
D ifferent figures may apply in other countr ies
¢ Lr:,. .
Tire pressure
Incorrect t ire pressure causes premature wear
and can cause sudde n tire blow-out. For this
reason, tire pressure must be checked at least
once a month
r::> page 231.
Driving style
Driving fast around curves , heavy acce lerat ion
and hard braking increase tire wear .
Rotating tires for more even wear
For all four tires on your vehicle to have the
same service life, we recommend that the
front and rear tires are rotated according to
the tire manufacturer's suggested tire rota­
tion intervals. Please remember the follow­
i ng:
- Tire rotation intervals may differ from the
veh icle service intervals outlined in your
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet.
- The longer one tire is used in one location
on the vehicle, the more it wears at certain
points; therefore, we recommend that you
follow the tire manufact urer's suggested
tire rotation intervals.
- Ve hicl es w ith front -wheel dr ive experience
more tread wear on the fro nt wheels com­
pared to a ll-wheel drive (quattro) .
- Please rotate tires as shown
r:::> fig . 159 .
-Extra care must be taken when rotating di-
rection-specific tires
r::> page 253 .
Wheel balancing
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced .
However, various s ituations during everyday
driv ing can cause them to become

Index 273
-----------------------------------.......
Audi drive select . ... .... ... .. .. .. .. . 102
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Aud i magnetic ride
refer to Adaptive dampers . .. .. .. .. . 102
Aud i Service Repa ir Manuals and Litera-
ture .. .. .. ... ............. ... ... .. 268
AUTO Automatic climate control system . .. .. 67
Automatic headlights . .... .. .. .. .. .. 42
Auto Lock (centra l locking system) . ... .. 32
Automatic belt retracto r .. .. .. .. .. .. . 134
Automatic climate control system
refer to Climate control system (auto-
mat ic) ... .. ................. .. .... 66
Automatic headlights .... ... .. .. .. .. .. 42
Automatic transmission ............ .. 105
Dr iving t ips . ............. .... .. .. . 107
E mergency mode ......... .... .. .. . 111
H ill descent co ntrol ....... .. .. .. .. . 10 9
I gnition key safety in terlock . . . . . . . . . . 70
K ick -down .. .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. ... 110
L aunch Contro l-Program ... .. .. .. .. . 1 11
malfunction ............. .... .. .. . 106
Selector lever emergen cy rele ase .. .. . 112
Selector lever lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Selecto r lever pos it io ns ....... .... .. 105
Shift ing ma nua lly ............ .... .. 110
St eer ing whee l w ith shift paddles .. .. . 110
S tron ic .. .. .... ............. .. .. . 105
tiptronic . .. .... ........... .. .. .. . 110
Automatic wipe/wash system .. .. . ... .. 46
Auto Safety Hotline ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 129
Average consumpt ion ....... .. .. .. .. .. 27
Average speed .. ........... .. .. .. .. .. 27
B
Battery ... .. .. .. ........... .. .. ... 220
C harge level ............. .... .. .. . 190
C ha rging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 222
Energy management .......... ... .. 190
Impor tant war nings ....... ... ... .. 22 1
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
J ump starti ng ............ .... .. .. . 259
L ocat ion . .. .. .. ........... .. .. ... 22 1
Replacing the ba ttery .. ... .. .. .. .. . 223
Wo rking on the battery . ... .. .. .. .. . 22 1
B efore dr iving ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 121 B
lended gaso line .... . .. .. ..... ... .. 206
B lowe r
automat ic Climate contro l system .. .. . 67
Manua l cli mate control system ... .. .. . 65
Booster seats . .. .. .. . ... ...... ... .. 175
B rake fluid
Changing the brake fluid ..... ... .. .. 219
Checking the brake fluid level ...... .. 219
Wha t is the correct brake fluid level? .. 219
Wha t should I do if the brake fluid warn-
. l' h ? mg 19 t comes on ................ . 219
Brakes ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 187
Brake assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Brake booster .. .. .... ............. 187
Ind icator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 24
New brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Pa rking brake .. .. .. .......... ...... 76
Brake system Brake fluid .. .. .. ................. 219
Brake fluid specifications for refill and re-
placeme nt ... .... ................ 219
B ra ke pads .. .. .. .. . .. .... .... .. .. 193
Fl uid reservo ir ..... ... .. ..... ..... 219
W orn brake pads symbo l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Brak ing
Emergency brak ing funct ion ........ .. 78
Starting on inclines .. .. .. .. ... ... .. . 78
Break -in per iod .. ...... ............. 193
Brake pads .. .. .. ............... .. 193
Tires ..... .. .. .. ................. 193
Bulb s .... .. .. .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 258
C
Cali forn ia Pr oposition 65 War ning . .. .. 211
B attery specific .... . .. ... .... ... .. 222
Capacities Fuel tank .. .. .. .... .......... ..... 266
Washe r fl uid reservo ir .......... .... 266
Care ....... .. .. .. ................. 201
also refer to Cleaning ......... .... . 201
Cargo area . ... .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 127
Cargo net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Catalytic converter . ................. 194
CD -RO M playe r (nav igat ion) . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Cent ral indicator light .............. .. 14
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Tether anchors ..................... 183
Tether strap . .................. .... 183
T extiles cleaning ........... .... .. .. . 204
The first 1,000 miles (1 ,500 km) and after-
wards ..... .. .. .............. ... ... 193
Tie-downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 128
Tips for the environment Saving fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
tiptronic (automatic transmission) .. .. . 110
Tire pressure ............... ... ... .. 231
Tire pressure monitoring system . ... .. . 243
Tires .. .... .. .. ............. .. .. ... 225
Service l ife . ............. .... .. .. . 235
Speed rating letter code ............ 23 7
Tire manufacturing date ............ 237
Tire pressure monitoring system . ... . 244
Tire specifications ........ .... .. .. . 23
7
Tread depth .. ........... .. .. .. .. . 235
Uniform tire quality grading .. .. .. .. . 239
Winter tires ................ .. .... 240
Tires and vehicle load limits ..... ... .. . 233
Tires and wheels Checking tire pressure ..... .. .. .. .. . 231
Cold tire inflation pressure .......... 229
Dimensions ................. ... .. . 236
General notes ..................... 225
Glossary of tire and loading terminolo-
gy .. .... .. ................. .. ... 226
Low aspect ratio tires ...... .. .. .. .. . 242
New tires and wheels ......... .... .. 236
Replacing .. .. ........ ... .. .. .. .. . 23 7
Snow chains ................ .. .... 241
Tires and vehicle load limits .. .. .. .. . 233
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Winter tires ................ ... .. . 240
Tire service life ......... .... ... ... .. 235
Tool kit ..... .. .............. ..... . 247
Torn or frayed safety belts ... .. .. .. .. . 134
Towing Tow truck procedures ........... .... 261
Towing loop . ... .............. ... ... 262
TPMS (tire pressure monitor ing system) . 244
Trailer towing ............. .... .. .. . 198
Operating instructions ..... .. .. .. .. . 198
Technical requirements . . . . . . . . 198, 199
Trailer towing tips ........... .... .. 200
Index 283
Transmission malfunction (indicator
light) ....... ... .... ............... 111
T ransport Canada .. ................. 129
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI) ....... .... 235
Trunk
refer to Luggage compartment ........ 60
Turn signals . .. .. .... .. ........ ...... 44
Ind icator light . .. ................. . 25
u
Unfastening safety belts 136
Unidirectional tires .............. .... 225
Uniform tire quality grading ...... .. .. 239
Unlocking/locking by remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
with the centra l locking switch ........ 35
with the conven ience key ........ .. .. . 34
with the door lock .... ............. . 35
V
Vanity mirror ...... .. ................ 46
Vehicle Dimensions .. .. .. .. ............... 266
out of service .. .. .. . .. .... ........ 195
Vehicle care ........................ 201
Vehicle identification label .......... .. 265
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .. .. 265
Vehicle jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247,251
Vehicle key ....... .. ..... ........... 31
Vehicle literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Vehicle tool kit .. .. ................. 247
w
Warning/indicator lights
Malfunction Ind icator Lamp (M IL) .. .. . 23
Warning/Indicator lights Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152, 153
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ........... 153
Warning lights
refer to Indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Warranty coverages .. ........... .... 268
Washer fluid level (indicator light) . .. .. . 24
Washer reservoir .................. . 224
Washing matte finish paint ....... .... 201
Wear indicator .. .. ............. .. .. 235
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