warning AUDI A3 2015 Service Manual

-Always store objects in the luggage com­
partment and use suitable straps, partic­
ularly with heavy objects.
- When you transport heavy objects, al­
ways remember that a change in the cen­
ter of gravity may result in a change in
the vehicle's handling characteristics .
- Follow all warnings
q page 121, Driving
safety.
(D Tips
The tire pressure must be adjusted to the
load -see the tire pressure sticker located
on the driver's side B-pillar.
General information
_& WARNING
Refer to the chapter Driving Safely
qpage 121, Driving safety for important
information, tips, s uggestions and warn­
ings that you should read and fo llow for
your own safety and the safety of your pas­ sengers.
Increasing the size of the luggage
compartment
The rear seat backrests can be folded forward
either separately or together .
Fig. 55 Backrest: release lever (left sid e, e)(ample)
Folding the backrest forward
.,. Push the corresponding head restraint
downward
¢ page 55 .
.,. Press the release lever @in the d irection of
the arrow .
.,. Fold the backrest forward.
Seats and storage 61
Folding the backrest back into the upright
position
.,. Fold the backrest down until it latches se­
curely
q _&. . When you can no longer see
the red mark on the pin @, the seat is latch­
ed.
A WARNING
-- The backrest must be securely latched
for the safety belt in the center seat to
function correctly. -
-The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the
luggage compartment during sudden
braking .
- Always check whether the latch is fully
engaged by pulling the seatback for­
ward .
- Never allow safety belts to become dam­
aged by being caught in door or seat
hardware .
- Torn or frayed safety belts can tear and
damaged be lt hardware can break in a
crash. Inspect the belts periodically.
Belts showing damage to webbing, bind­
ings, buck les, or retractors must be re­
placed.
(D Note
- If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is folded forward, you
cou ld damage the head restraints on the
rear seat. If necessary, remove the rear
seat head restraint before moving the
front seat back
- Make sure the safety belt is not pinched
in the backrest lock and damaged when
the rear seat backrest if folded back.
Other objects should be removed from
the rear bench seat to protect the back­
rest from damage.

62 Seats and storage
Tie-downs and cargo net
The cargo net* prevents small objects from
sliding.
Fi g. 56 Luggage compartment: locatio n of the tie ­
downs
Fig . 57 Luggage compartment: cargo net* unhooked
.. Secure the cargo to the tie-downs¢ fig. 56
-arrows-.
.. To secure the cargo net, first hang the front
hooks in the tie-downs then hang the rear
hooks -arrows-~
fig. 57 .
"' Observe the safety notes ¢
page 128, Tie­
downs.
In a collis ion, the laws of phys ics mean that
even smaller items that are loose in the vehi­
cle will turn into heavy missiles that can ca use
serio us inj ury. Items in the vehicle pick up ki­
netic energy which varies with the vehicle and
the weight of the item. Vehicle speed is the
most signif icant factor.
F or example, in a fron tal coll is io n at a speed
of 30 mph (48 km/h), the forces acting on a
10 -lb (S kg) object are about
20 times the
normal weight of the item. This means that
the weight of the item would suddenly be the
eq uivalent of about 200 lbs (90 kg). One can
eas ily imagine the injuries that an item of that
weight flying freely through the passenger compartment can cause in a collision at a
speed considered relatively
low.
_&, WARNING
-
Weak, damaged or improper straps used
to secure items to tie-downs can fail dur­
i ng hard braking or in a collision and cause
se rious personal injury.
- Always use s uitable retaining straps and
properly secure items to the tie-downs in
the luggage compartment to he lp pre­
vent items from shift ing or fly ing for­
ward.
- Never attach a chi ld seat tether strap to
a tie-down.
- For strength-related reasons, the mount­ ing hooks can only be used to secure ob­
jects w eigh ing up to 10 lb. (S kg). Heavi­
e r objects will not be adequate ly se cu red
- there is a ris k of injury.
Reversible mat
Applies to veh icles: w ith cargo mat
The reversible mat protects the luggage com­
partment and bumper from dirt and scratch­ es.
F ig . 58 Luggage compartment: revers ible mat with
back rest folded forward (examp le)
You can use the reversible mat with the d irt­
resistant side or the deco rat ive side. After
load ing or unload ing, fold up the revers ible
m at and close t he luggage compartment lid.
Only store the reversib le mat if it is dry .

Pass-through
Applies to vehicles: wit h pass -thro ug h
•
Fig. 59 Backrest : pass -t h roug h cove r
• Fold the rear seat center armrest down .
• Fold the pass-through cover down
<=> fig . 59.
A WARNING
-Make sure that all objects that you are
transporting in the pass-through are se­
cure. They could slide around during sud­
den braking maneuvers and cause inju­
ries .
- Sharp edges on the load must be covered
for protection.
-
Seats and storage 63

64 Warm and cold
Warm and cold
Climate control system
Description
Different systems cou ld be installed.
- manual climate control system* or
- automatic climate control system*
The
clim ate co ntrol system * cools and re­
moves humidity from the air in the vehicle in­
terior. It is the most effective when the win­
dows and panorama sunroof* are closed. If
there is a build-up of heat inside the vehicle,
ventilation can help to speed up the cooling process . For this reason, the windows and
panorama sunroof can be opened from the
outside
r::} page 3 9, Convenience opening/
closing.
The pollutant filter removes pollutants such
as dust and pollen from the air .
A WARNING
Reduced visibility is dangerous and can
cause accidents.
-
- For safe dr iv ing it is very important that
all windows be free of ice, snow and con­
densation.
- Completely fami liarize yourself with the
proper use and function of the heating
and ventilation system and especia lly
how to defog and defrost the windows .
- Never use the windshie ld w iper/w asher
system in freezing weather until you
have warmed the windshield first, using
the heat ing and ventilation system . The washer sol
ution may freeze on the wind­
shie ld and reduce visib ility.
@ Note
- If you suspect that the air conditioner
has been damaged, switch the system
off to avoid further damage and have it
inspected by a q ualified dealership.
- Repairs to the Audi air conditioner re­
quire specia l technical know ledge and
special tools. Contact an authorized Aud i
dealer for ass istance.
@ For the sake of the environment
By reducing the amount of f uel you use,
you also reduce the amount of pollutants
emitted into the air.
(1) Tips
- To prevent interference with the heat ing
and cooling output and to prevent the
w indows from fogging over, the air in­
take in front of the windshield must be
free of ice, snow or leaves.
- Condensation from the cooling system*
can drip a nd form a puddle of wa ter un­
der the vehicle . This is normal and does
not mean t here is a leak.
- The energy ma nagement system may
switch the seat h eating* or rear window
defroster off temporar ily. These systems
are available again as soon as the energy
balance has been resto red.
- Air escapes through vents under the rear
w indow. When plac ing items of cloth ing
on the luggage compartmen t cover, en ­
sure t hat the openings are not covered .

66 Warm and cold
Foot vents are located under the front seats
to heat the rear of the vehicle.
l= I Switching recirculation mode on and
off
I n recirculation mode, the air inside the vehi­
cle is circu lated and filtered. This prevents the
unfiltered air outside the vehicle from enter­
ing the vehicle interior. We recommend
switching recirculation mode on when driving
through a tunnel or when sitt ing in traffic
~ & .
Automatic climate control system controls
Ap plies to vehicles: with a uto mat ic climate contro l system
Fig. 61 Au toma tic climate contro l system : cont rols
The dial adjusts the temperature and the
blower speed. Press the buttons to turn the
functions on or off. The LED in a button will
light up when the function is switched on .
The rear window defogger~~
page 68 and
the seat heating
[ii~ page 68 are described
separately.
Automatic climate control system
We recommend pressing the IAU TO I button
and setting the temperature to 72 °F (22 °C).
The automatic climate control system auto­
matically maintains a temperature once it has
been set. The temperature of the air from the
vents, the blower speed, and air distr ibution
are also automatically adjusted . In all heat ing
mode funct ions except
defrost, the blower
only switches to a higher speed once the en- Recirculation
mode is switched off in the de­
frost setting ~-
.&_ WARNING
-
You shou ld not use the recirculation mode
for an extended period s ince no fresh air is
drawn in. With the air-conditioning*
switched off, the w indows can fog up,
which increases the risk of an acc ident.
gine coolant has reached a certain tempera­
ture.
Key recognition: Var ious settings are stored
and assigned to the remote control key being
used.
IA/CI Switching the cooling mode on and
off
T he cooling system is turned on and off with
the
IA/Cl button . The air is not coo led and hu­
midity is not removed when cooling mode is
switched off . This can cause fog on the win­
dows. Cooling mode switches off automatical­
ly when the outside temperature is below
zero .

68 Warm and cold
through a t unnel or when sitting in traffic
c:;> &. .
The 1- 1 button, IAUTO I or the~ button
sw itches recircu lation mode off.
The system switches to recircu lat ion mode
when dr iving in reverse when the engine is
cold .
.8, WARNING
You should not use the rec irculat ion mode
for an extended period since no fresh air is drawn in. With the air -conditioning sw itch ­
ed off, the windows can fog up, which in­
creases the risk of an accident.
Adjusting the air vents
Fi g. 62 Cockp it: adjust ing the air vents
Fig. 6 3 (Ca nada ve hicles on ly) A ir ve nts: ad justing the
a irflow sett ing A) D iffused B) Direct
The follow ing settings are possibler=> fig. 62:
- @ Air flow amount
- @ Air flow d irect io n
- @
(Canada vehicles only) Air flow settings
(diffused or direct)
To adjust the
air flow amount , turn the ridged
outer adjusting r ing (D r=>
fig. 62. To stop the air flow, turn the adjusting ring a
ll the way to
the right.
T o adj ust the
air flow direction , turn the air
ven t grill insert @.
(Canada vehicles only) To adjust the air flow
se tting s,
pull o r press the m iddle adjustment
ring @
c::> fig. 62:
-Diffu sed air flow (indirect @): Press the
m iddle adjustment ring in lightly
c::> fig . 63.
- Dir ect
air flow (straight @): Pull the center
adjustment ring out lightly
c::> fig . 63 .
Rear window defogger
When a funct ion is switched on, the L ED in
the~ button for ma nual climate co ntrol
c::> page 65, fig. 60 and au toma tic climate con­
tro l
c::>page 66, fig. 61 tu rns on . If the rear
window defogger is act ivated when the igni­
tion is switched on, the battery management
determines based on the battery charge if it is
poss ible to turn on. Otherw ise, the rear win­
dow defogger funct ions with the eng ine run­
ning and switches off automatically after ap­
proximate ly 10 -20 minutes, depending on
the outside temperatu re.
To p revent the rear window defogger from
switching off automatically, press and hold
the~ (word REAR*) button for more than two
seconds. This remains s to red up to approxi­
mately 15 minutes after turning off the igni ­
tio n.
Seat heating
Applies to veh icles : w it h sea t heat ing
The seat heating has three leve ls. T he select­
ed heating level is indicated by the LEDs in the
button (manua l climate control)
c::> page 65,
fig. 60,
(automatic climate control)
c::> page 66, fig . 61 .
.,. To switch the seat heating on, press the [li
button once .
.,. To switch to a lower level , press the
[li but­
ton again .
.,. To switch the seat heating off, press the
lll
button repeatedly unt il the LED turns off . ..,.

The seat heating switches automatically from
setting 3 to setting 2 after 10 minutes.
When seat heat ing should not be
sw it ch ed on
Do not turn the seat heating on under the fol­
l owing circumstances:
- T he seat is unocc upied.
- The seat is covered w ith a seat cover .
- The seat is covered w ith a child seat.
- The seat is damp or wet.
A WARNING
Individua ls with reduced sensitivity to pain
or temperature could develop burns when
using the seat heating function. To reduce
the risk of injury, these individuals should
no t use sea t heat ing.
{[) Note
To avo id damage to the heating elements
in the seats, do not kneel on the seats o r
place heavy loads on a small area of the
seat.
{D) Tips
- The setting for the seat heating on the
drive r's side is assigned to the key that is
i n use.
- If the front passenger's seat heating is
turned on, it will not turn on again au to­
ma tically if more than 10 m inutes have
passed between sw itching the ign ition
off and switching it on again.
Warm and c old 69
•

70 Driving
Driving
Steering
Adjusting the steering wheel position
The steering wheel position is fully adjustable
up and down and forward and bock .
Fig. 64 Steering column: steering column adjustment
lever
.. Tilt the lever¢ fig. 64 downward ¢ &_.
.. Bring the steering wheel into the desired
position .
.. Push the lever against the steering column
until it latches .
_& WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjust­
ment and improper seating position can
cause serious personal injury.
- Adjust the steering wheel column only
when the veh icle is not moving to pre­
vent loss of vehicle control.
- Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel
so that there is a min imum of 10 inches
(25 cm) between your chest and the
steering wheel¢
page 122, fig. 109 . If
you cannot maintain this minimum dis­
tance, the airbag system cannot protect
you properly.
- If phys ica l limitations prevent you from
sitting 10 inches (25 cm) or more from
the steering wheel, check w ith your au­
thorized Aud i dealer to see if adaptive
equipment is availab le .
- If the steering wheel is alig ned with your
face, the supplemental driver's airbag cannot p rovid e as much protectio n in an
accident. Always make sure that the steer
ing whee l is aligned with your
chest.
- Always hold the steering wheel with your
hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi­
tions to reduce the risk of personal injury
if the driver's airbag deploys.
- Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock position or with your hands inside
the steering wheel rim or on the steering
wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel
the wrong way can cause serious injuries
to the hands, arms and head if the driv­
er's airbag deploys.
Ignition lock
Depending on the model, your vehicle has the
follow ing equipment:
- Mechanical ignition key
c::> page 70 or
- Convenience key
c::> page 73
Starting and stopping
the engine (vehicles
with an ignition lock)
Starting the engine with the key
App lies to vehicles: wit h mechanica l igni tio n loc k
The ignition is switched on and the engine
started with the key in the ignition.
Fig. 65 Ignit ion key positio ns
Steering wheel lock
If the steering wheel will not turn, the steer­
ing lock is engaged .
To engage the steering wheel lock: The selec­
tor lever must be in the P position (automatic
transmission*). ..,.

~ To engage the steering wheel lock, turn the
whee l until it locks when the ignition key is
removed .
~ To release the steering wheel lock, insert
the key in the ignition lock and turn the key
in the -direction of the arrow- while turning
the steering wheel.
Switching the ignition on and off
~ To switch the ignition on, turn the ignition
key to position
(D .
~ To switch the ignition off, turn the ignition
key to position @.
Starting the engine
Your vehicle is equipped with launch contro l.
As soon as you have turned the ign ition key to
position @, the engine will start automatical­
ly.
~ Press the brake peda l and move the se lector
l ever to the P or N pos ition.
~ Turn the key briefly to position @. The igni­
t ion key automatically returns to position
@. Do not press the accelerator pedal when
doing this.
Major electrical equ ipment switches off tem­
porarily when starting the engine.
If the engine does not start immediately, stop
the starting procedure by turning the ignit ion
key to position @and repeat after 30 sec­
onds .
Automatic start malfunction
If the Ila indicator light turns on (gasoline en­
gine) and the message
Engine start system
malfunction. Please contact Service
appears,
there is an automatic start malfunction.
To start the engine, hold the ignition key in position @until the engine runs.
D rive to an autho rized Audi dea ler or qualified
repair facility immediately to have the ma l­
function corrected.
A WARNING
- Never allow the engine to run in confined
spaces -there is a r isk of asphyxiation.
Driving 71
- Never remove the ignition key from the
ignit ion lock while the vehicle is mov ing.
Otherwise the steering lock will engage
and you will not be able to steer the vehi­
cle.
- The brake booster and power steering
only work when the eng ine is running. If
the engine is off, you have to use more
force when stee ring or braking. Because
you cannot steer and bra ke as you usual­
ly would, this could lead to crashes and
serious inju ries .
- Always take the vehicle key with you
when leaving the vehicle, even for a
short period of time . This applies partic­
ular ly when c hildren remain in the vehi­
cle. Otherwise the children could start
the engine or operate electrical equip­
ment such as power windows.
(D Note
- Avoid high engine speed, full th rottle,
and heavy engine load as long as the en­
gine has not reached operating tempera­
ture yet. You could damage the engine.
- The engine cannot be started by pushing or towing the vehicle.
@ For the sake of the environment
Do not let the engine run while parked to
warm up. Begin driving immediately. This
reduces unnecessary emissions.
(D Tips
-If it is difficult to turn the key to position
(D, turn the steering wheel back and
forth slightly to release the steer ing
wheel lock.
-After starting a cold engine, there may be a brief period of increased no ise be­
cause the oil pressure must first build up
in the hydraulic valve adjusters. This is
normal and not a cause for concern.
- If the battery is disconnected and recon­
nected, you have to hold t he ignition key
in posit ion
(D for five seconds fo r the en-
gine to start.
Ill>
•

72 Driving
-Vehicles with an automatic transmission:
After switching the ignition off, you can
only remove the key when the selector
lever is in the "P" (Park) position. After
that, the selector lever is locked.
Stopping the engine with the key
Applies to vehicles: with mechanical ignition lock
Stopping the engine
... Bring the vehicle to a full stop .
... Turn the key to position @.
Engaging the steering wheel lock
Requirement: The selector lever must be in
the P position (automatic transmission*).
... Remove the ignition key in position @
¢page 73, fig. 66 ¢,& .
... Turn the steering wheel until you hear the
steering wheel lock.
The locked steering helps prevent vehicle
theft.
A WARNING
- Never turn off the engine before the ve­
hicle has come to a complete stop. The
full function of the brake booster and the
power steering is not guaranteed. You
must use more force to turn or brake, if
necessary . Because you cannot steer and
brake as you usually would, this could
lead to accidents and serious injuries.
- Never remove the ignition key from the
ignition lock while the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, the steering lock could sud­
denly engage and you would not be able
to steer the vehicle.
- The brake booster and power steering
only work when the engine is running. If
the engine is off, you have to use more
force when steering or braking. Because
you cannot steer and brake as you usual­ ly would, this could lead to crashes and
serious injuries.
- Always take the vehicle key with you
when leaving the vehicle, even for a
short period of time . This applies partic- ularly when children remain
in the vehi­
cle. Otherwise the children could start
the engine or operate electrical equip­ ment such as power windows.
- For safety reasons, you should always
park your vehicle with the selector lever
in P. Otherwise, the vehicle could inad­
vertently roll away.
- After the engine has been switched off,
the radiator fan can continue to run for
up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition
switched off.
It can also switch on again
after some time if the coolant tempera­
ture rises as the result of a heat buildup
or if the engine is hot and the engine
compartment is additionally heated by
the sun's rays .
(D Note
-If the engine has been under heavy load
for an extended period of time, heat builds up in the engine compartment af­
ter the engine is switched off -there is a
risk of damaging the @ngin@ . For this
reason, let the engine run for at idle for
approximately two minutes before shut ­
ting it off.
(D Tips
-After the engine has been switched off,
the radiator fan can continue to run for
up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition
switched off. It can also switch on again
after some time if the coolant tempera­
ture rises as a result of heat buildup or if
the engine compartment is heated by
sunlight and the engine is hot.