check engine AUDI A3 2016 Owner´s Manual

Warm and cold
outlet, regardless of whether it is protected
against a short circuit or not.
- Always disconnect the connector cable and
close the cover
(D before starting the engine.
.&_ WARNING
Using the engine preheater incorrectly can
cause short circuits, electric shocks, fire, seri­
ous injuries and death.
- The connector cable must always be con­
nected to a grounded 120 Volt socket that
is equipped with a GFI circuit breaker . Al­
ways protect the sockets from water, mois ­
ture and other fluids .
- Never plug the engine preheater into a con­
ventional outlet, regardless of whether it is protected against a short circuit or not .
.&_ WARNING
-
Short circuiting, fire, serious injuries and life­
threatening or lethal electric shock can result
from using unsuitable or damaged sockets and connector cables/extension cords, using
electrical equipment incorrectly, and/or disre­
garding general safety precautions.
- Always plug the extension cord into a 120 V
socket that is properly functioning, ground­
ed, equipped with a GFI circuit breaker and
is protected against water, moisture and
other fluids.
- Never connect the engine preheater to a
conventional socket, even if the socket is
protected by a fuse.
- Always check the fuse on the 120 Volt GFI
socket before connecting the connector ca­
ble to the engine preheater on the vehicle.
- Only use highly durable extension cords that
are class 12 or better and can be properly grounded to a three-prong wall socket with
a GFI circuit breaker . The extension cord
must not be longer than 100 feet (30 me­
ters).
- Never use damaged connector cables, ex­
tension cords or sockets . Always check the
connector cable, extension cord and sockets
for damage before using them. Damaged
parts must be replaced. If damaged, replace
76
the engine preheater connector cable at an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
service facility .
- Only use the connector cable provided to
connect the vehicle socket to a suitable
power source. Use a suitable extension cord
if necessary .
- Always disconnect the connector cable from
the vehicle socket before starting the en­
gine. Switch off the power supply to the
connector cable and to the extension cord if necessary, or disconnect the cable or exten­
sion cord from the 120 Volt socket equip­
ped with a GFI circuit breaker. Never leave
the connector cable or extension cord con­
nected to a live power source.
- Never make alterations or repairs to the
connector cables or extension cords that
supply power to the engine preheater or to
any components that affect the engine pre­
heater.
- Always protect the connections from water,
moisture and other fluids. Always store the
connector cable and extension cord securely
and in a dry place when they are not being
used, and disconnect them from the power
source before storing .
(D Tips
Test the GFI circuit breaker once a month if
you use the engine preheater occasionally, and test it weekly if you use it regularly.

Driving
If you anticipate what you need to do next and
drive economically, you can easily cut your fuel
consumption by 10-15 percent. This section will
give you some tips on how you can help the envi­ ronment and your pocketbook.
(D Tips
The consumption estimates as published by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre­
spond to your actual consumption on the
road, which will vary depending upon vehicle
load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc.
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are acceler­
ating.
.. Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking .
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are acceler­
ating. If you anticipate what is going to happen next, you will need to brake less and, thus, accel­
erate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possi ­
ble -for example when you see that the next traf­
fic light is red.
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and im­
proves your mileage.
.. Try and keep well below your car's maximum
speed .
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consumption,
engine wear, and does not disturb the environ­ ment.
Fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and engine
noise increase disproportionately at high speeds.
If you drive at approximately three quarters of
top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by
one half . Never drive faster than the posted
speed limit and weather conditions permit.
78
· Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel .
.. Shut the engine off when you are not driving
the vehicle .
.,. Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the en-
gine run at idle .
It is efficient to switch off the engine when stop­
ped at railroad crossings and long red lights.
Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fuel than is burned by starting the
engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up
fully when it is running at idle . However, wear
and noxious emissions are especially high when
the engine is warming up . So you should drive
away as soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while the engine is still
warming up .
@ Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after
starting. If warning lights should come on to
indicate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces
heat, which could result in overheating or
other damage to the vehicle or other proper­
ty.
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot
of fuel.
.. Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals.
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an
Audi dealer helps to ensure that it runs properly
and economically. The condition of your vehicle
not only affects its safety and ability to hold its
value, it also affects
fuel consumption.
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load
and speed.
It is normal for the oil consumption of a new en­
gine to reach its lowest value after a certain mile -
age has been driven . ..,.

Driving
- Hill Hold cannot hold the vehicle in all h ill
start situations (for example, if the ground
is slippery or icy).
- If you do not begin moving immediate ly af­
ter releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle
could beg in to roll backward under certain
c ir cumstances . Press the brake pedal or set
the parking brake immediately.
- If the engine "sta lls", press the brake pedal
o r set the parking brake immediately.
- Stop-and-go traff ic on incl ines: to help pre­
vent the veh icle from rolling back when con ­
t inuing to drive, p ress and hold the brake
pedal for several seconds when the vehicle
is stationary.
(0 Tips
You can find out if your vehicle is equipped
w ith Hill Hold by check ing at an authorized
Audi dea le r or authorized Audi Service Facili­
ty.
88

.... N
0 > CX)
.... I.Cl U"I
.... I.Cl ....
The selector lever is not locked when shifting
quickly through N, for examp le from R to D . This
makes it poss ible to free the vehicle when it is
stuck by "rocking" it . The selecto r lever lock en­
gages if the lever stays in the N position longer
than approximately 2 seconds when the brake
pedal is not pressed .
Interlock button
The interlock button in the selector lever handle
prevents you from moving the selector lever in­
adverten tly while in some sele ctor lever posi­
tions . The posit ions that require the lock button
to be pressed are marked in color in the illustra­
tion
¢ fig . 82 .
Ignition key safety interlock*
You can only remove the key from the ignition af­
ter switching the ignition off if the selec tor lever
is in the P position . The selector lever will be
l ocked in the P pos ition as long as the key is not
in the ignition .
.&, WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS.¢ & in Selec­
tor lever positions on page 89.
{O) Tips
-If the select or lever does not engage, there
i s a malfunction. The eng ine is disabled to
prevent the vehicle from driving off unin­
tentionally. Press the brake pedal briefly to
allow the selector lever lock to engage
again.
- If the vehicle does not move forward or in
reverse even though a drive position is se­
l ected, proceed as follows:
->If the veh icle does not move in t he desired
direction, the system may not have engaged
the drive position correctly. Press the brake
pedal and select the drive position again .
-> If the vehicle still does not move in the de­
sired direction, there is a system malfunc­
tion. See an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance
to have the system checked.
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Applies to vehicles : wit h S t ronic transmiss ion
T he transmission shifts up and down automati­
cally when in the driving gears .
Fig. 83 Section of t he center conso le: sel ector leve r wit h
inte rlock butto n
The engine will only be able start when the selec­
tor lever is in the P or N pos itions . At low temper ­
atures (below 14 °F (-10 °()), the eng ine can only
be started when the selector lever is in the P po­
sition.
Starting from a stop
.,. Press and hold the brake pedal.
.,. Press and hold the interlock butto n in these­
lector lever handle, select the desired selector
lever position such as D ¢
page 89 and release
t he lock button.
.,. Wait a moment until the transmission shifts.
You w ill not ice a slight movement when the
gear engages .
.,. Release the brake pedal and press the accelera­
tor pedal ¢&, .
Stopping temporarily
.,. Keep the vehicle stationary using the braking
pedal, for examp le at traffic lights.
.,. Do not press the accelerator pedal when doing
this .
.,. To prevent the vehicle from rolling when you
start driving, set the parking brake when stop­
ping on steep incl ines ¢&, .
.,. The parking brake will release automat ically
and the vehicle will start moving once yo u press
the acce le rator pedal. Requirement: the driv­
er 's doo r must be closed and the driver's safety
be lt must be fastened . ..,.
91

e-tron
overhangs, carports or similar structures . Switch
the ignition
off. Have the problem corrected by
an author ized Audi dealer or authorized A udi
Serv ice Facility .
• Elec tric s ystem: o verheated. Safel y park ve­
hicle and check coo lant
The coolan t leve l is too low or the coolant tem ­
pera ture is too high .
S top the vehicle in the outdoo rs as soon as it is
safe ly possible . Switch the ignition off.
Read the important safety precautions ¢.&.
in
Coolant on page 109 and check the coolant level
¢page 108.
If the coolant level is OK, the malfunction may be
caused by the system overheating . Let the vehi­
cle's electric drive system cool down for some
time .
If the message turns
off after cooling down and
sw itching the ign ition back on, you ca n continue
driving. Contact an author ized Audi dealer or au­
thor ized A udi Se rvice Facility immed iate ly to have
the ma lf u nction co rrected.
If the indicator lig ht stays on, contact an author­
ized A ud i dealer or authorized Aud i Serv ice Faci li­
ty .
Bil Drive system : sys tem fault! Pleas e contact
work shop
There is a malfunction in the plug-in hybrid sys ­
tem. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thor ized Audi Service Facility immediate ly to have
the ma lfunction corrected .
II Drive sy stem: system fault! Restart not po s·
sible. Ple ase contact wo rkshop
There is a mal func tion in the plug -in hybrid sys­
tem . Do not open the engine compartment lid .
Drive to an a uth orized Aud i dea le r or authorized
Aud i Serv ice Facility immediately to have the
malfunct io n corrected.
II Batter y temperature too low . Engine start
not possible . See owner's manual
The outside temperature is too low. The vehicle
can no longer start at temperat ures below -18 °F
102
(- 28 °C) . Contact your author ized Audi dealer or
autho rized Audi Service Facility.
POWER LIMIT Warning! Limited power
If the indicator l ight turns on and this message
appears , there may be an engine cont rol mal­
funct ion. The
(m ind icator light in t he instr u­
ment clus ter a lso turns on. The e ng ine o utput is
reduced. Dr ive to an a utho rized Audi dea ler or
autho rized Audi Service Facility immedia tely to
have the malfunction corrected.
II e -tron mode : EV curr ently unavailable
This message appears w hen the 1-,$ 1 button is
pressed and the conditions for e lectric drive
mode are no t me t.
IIJ Vehicle sound: malfunction! Pedestrians
cannot h ear vehicle. P lease contact Service
if the indicator light t urns on and this message
appears, pedestrians and bicyclists can no longer
hear the vehicle when it is driving in electric
mode. Turn off the veh icle and switch to dr iv ing
with the gasoline e ngine . To activate the gasoli ne
engine, select the
Charge batt ery mode
¢page 103 with the kl"I button. Drive to a n au­
tho rized Audi dea le r or a uthorized Audi Service
Facility immediate ly to have the malfunction cor ­
rected.
Range display
Applies to vehicles: wit h pl ug-in hy brid drive
Fig. 89 Ins trument cluster example image: range disp lay
The range can be d isplayed in the on -board com­
p uter ¢
page 29.
Depend ing o n the selected p lug-in hybrid mode,
the d isp lay disp lays the follow ing informa tion:
Ill>

e-tron
Additional information about the vehicle tool kit may be found under
c::, page 280 and informa­
tion about the tire mobility kit under
c:> poge281 .
(D Tips
The vehicle must not be operated without the
tire repair set.
Vehicle transport
Applies to veh icles: w ith plug- in hybrid drive
The following contains information you should
know about transporting your vehicle.
The MQB-A lithium-ion battery system equipped
in your vehicle is composed of SANYO 12 U F 261
591 type batteries and has it passed test 38.3 in
accordance with the UN Tests and Criteria hand­ book. The vehicle may be transported with the
battery installed as conventional class 9 hazard­
ous materials without additional offic ial consent
for air and sea transportation (current law ICAO­
TI and IMDG-Code 01.01.2012) .
Jump starting and 12 volt battery
Applies to veh icles: with plug -in hybrid drive
Fig. 96 Engine compartment: connectors for a charger and
j ump start cables
The vehicle is equipped with one 12 vo lt battery
and one high-voltage battery.
If the 12 volt battery is drained, it can be charged
with a charger or you can jump start the vehicle
using another vehicle battery in the same way as
a conventional vehicle .
Note the information on charging the battery
¢
page 249 and for jump starting the vehicle
c:>poge297 .
108
.,. Open the hood¢ page 23 7.
.,. Remove the fuse box cover @ to access the
positive terminal
0 c::> page 239.
.,. Clamp the terminal clamps from the charging
device or jump start cable to the positive termi­
nal
0 and to the body ground point 0-
(D Note
You must not give a jump start with your vehi­
cle. This could cause s ignificant damage to
the electrical system in your veh icle.
Coolant
App lies to vehicles: with plug-in hybrid drive
Fig. 97 Engine compartme nt: coolant expa nsion tank
Your vehicle has two coolant expansion tanks
that are separate from each other:
@ : expansion tank for gasoline engine and elec­
tric motor.
@ : expansion tank for the high-voltage area .
The expansion tank@ must not be opened
c:>&_ .
.,. Switch the ignition off .
.,. Open the hood
c:> poge 237.
...
.,. Always check the coolant level in both coolant
expansion tanks @ and @ using the outer
markings.
.,. When you fill coolant in the expansion tank@,
please refer to
c::> page 244, Cooling system.
.,. Do not drive any farther if the expansion tank
@ is missing coolant. Contact an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately ¢&_ . ..,.

,....,
N
0 > CX) ,....,
I.Cl U"I ,....,
I.Cl ,....,
,&_ WARNING
-Read and follow t he warn ings in
¢ page 236, Working in the engine com­
partment
before open ing the hood and
check ing t he coolant level.
- The expansion tank @ may only be opened
and filled by an a uthorized Aud i dea ler or
authorized Aud i Service Fac ility.
- Coo la nt can enter the inside of the battery
when f illing the expansion tank @ and
cause a short c ircuit, which inc reases the
risk of fi re .
Refueling
Opening the fuel filler flap
Appl ies to vehicles: with plug- in hybrid drive
Fig. 9 8 Driver 's doo r: button il
The ta nk sys tem must be ve nted be for e refueling
.. Pull on the
Iii switch.
.. The fue l filler door automatically opens w ith in
a few seconds afte r vent ing .
Read and fo llow the directions for inserting the
f u el pump noz zle
¢ page 109.
Read and fo llow the inst ruct io ns for refueling
¢ page 230.
e-tron
Inserting the fuel pump nozzle
Applies to vehicles: with plug- in hybrid
Fig . 99 Fue ling proce du re : in ser t the fuel pump nozzle co r­
r ect ly
M ake s ure w hen inse rting the f uel pu mp noz zle
t h at you do no t press o n the fuel filler door open ­
er (!) with the fue l pum p nozzle . See the labe l in
the f ue l fi ller door @. Otherwise, a va lve wi ll lock
in the fue l filler neck and stop the fueling , even if
t h e tank is not full. You must vent the tank sys­
tem again if yo u press on the fuel fille r doo r
opener. The f uel p ump nozzle can stay in the fue l
filler neck when doing this.
Vent the tank system by pulling the
Iii switch in
the d river's door
¢ page 109.
Driver messages
Applies to vehicles: with plug-in hybrid drive
ti Tank flap open . Please press button again
for fueling
Fueling is possib le for a certain amou nt of time
after press ing the
Iii button . Yo u m ust press the
Iii button again if th is time is exceeded .
ti Tank flap malfunction! Unlock tank flap
manually . See owner's manual
T he re is a ma lfunction. Yo u must man ually un­
lock the fue l fi ller door
¢ page 110.
ti Warning! Limited power
The fue l ta nk is almos t emp ty . You must ant ici­
p at e a sign ifi can t power loss. Drive i mmed iate ly
t o a ga s st at ion .
POWER LIMIT Warning! Limited power
109

e-tron
The gasoline engine is no longer available be­
cause there is not enough fuel. Drive immediately
to a gas station.
Fuel filler door emergency release
A pp lies to ve hicles: w ith plug- in hy brid drive
You must use the emergency release to open the
fuel filler door when there is a malfunction
c::> page232 .
The tank is not vented. You can only fill a small
amount of fuel in the tank.
~ Fill only until the automatic fuel pump nozzle
turns off for the first time when it is operated
correctly.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
(D Tips
Pressure can escape if you open the tank cap
after using the emergency release. This can
create noises.
Charging
General information
A pp lies to veh icles: w ith plug -in hybrid drive
Two options are available for charging the vehi­
cle:
- Charge at a public charging station with a spe­
cial charging cable*
c::>page 112.
- Charge with household and industrial power
sockets using the Audi e-tron charging system
c::> page 112.
Environmental conditions when using the
charging system
-Operating temperature : -13 °F (-25 °C) to 95 °F
(+35 °C)
- Humidity:
5% to 95%, non-condensing
- 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) maximum above
sea level
110
Warnings when using the charging system
£
Surfaces can become very hot when
in direct sunlight.
&~
Incorrect use increases the risk of
electric shock.
~"-
Do not use any extensions cords or
cable reels.
~
Do not use any travel adapters.
~~
Do not use any power strips.
~~~
Do not use any charging cables with
damage to the electronics or the
connecting wires.
.&_ WARNING
-
Sockets that are installed incorrectly can
cause electric shock or fire when charging the
high-voltage battery using the vehicle charg ­
ing connection.
- Installation and setup of the household con­
nection for the Audi e-tron charging system
may only be performed by a qualified elec­
trician. The qualified electrician is thereby
fully responsible for adhering to applicable
standards and regulations.
- Make sure that the selected charging con­ nection is suitable for drawing 16 amps .
- Make sure that the
110 volt socket is
grounded and shielded from water.
- Always check the fuse for the GFI outlet be­
fore connecting the charge cable.
- Never use a damaged GFI outlet.
- Read and follow the safety precautions in
the Audi charging dock* assembly instruc­
tions.
.&_ WARNING
If you are not familiar with the socket or the
e lectrical installation or it has not been
checked by qualified experts, never use it for
charging. Even very low charging currents can
cause ser ious damage and in particular fires if
the socket or electrical installation is in bad
condition. If necessary, get expert assistance
~

,....,
N
0 > co ,...., Trailer mode Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger
transportation .
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that
the additional load will affect durability, econo­
my and performance.
T railer towing not only places more stress on the
vehicle, it also calls for more concentration from
the driver.
For this reason, always follow the operating and
driving instructions provided and use common
sense.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable
for your vehicle and trailer and must be mounted
securely on the vehicle's chassis at a technically
sound
location . Use only a trailer hitch with a re­
movable ball mount . Always check with the trail­
er hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch.
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it
does not interfere with the impact -absorbing
bumper system . No modifications should be
made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems .
From time to time, check that all hitch mounting
bo lts remain securely fastened.
When you are not towing a trailer,
remove the
tra iler hitch ball mount . This prevents the hitch
from causing damage should your vehicle be
struck from beh ind
~ ,&. .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
check to be sure that it conforms to all regula­
tions .
Trailer mode
The trailer hydraulic brake system must not be
directly connected to the vehicle's hydraulic
brake system.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle
and the trailer.
Trailer lights
T ra iler lights must meet all regulations . Be sure
to check with your Aud i dea ler for correct wiring,
switches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you us­
ing the regular outside mirrors, then you
must in­
stall extended mirrors . It is important that you
always have clear vision to the rear.
,8. WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store
it in your vehicle. In case of sudden braking,
the hitch could fly forward and injure you or
your passengers.
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical
class 1 or class 2 trailer.
Trailer load distribution Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in
place to prevent it from shifting forward, back­
ward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer~.&.
in Driving instructions on page 128.
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It
is important that the cooling system's perform ­
ance is up to the additional load. Make sure that
the cooling system has enough fluid.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your
vehicle to the cold tire pressure listed under "Full ..,.
127

Trailer mod e
load" on the la bel located on the driver's side B ­
pillar (visib le when the door is open) . Inflate
tra iler tires to trailer and tire manufacturers'
specif ications.
Lights
Check to make sure both vehicle and t railer lights
are working p roper ly.
Safety chains
Be sure t railer safety chains are properly connect­
ed from the trai le r to the hi tch on the veh icle.
L eave enough sla ck in the cha ins to permi t turn­
ing corners. When yo u install safety chains, ma ke
sure they wi ll not drag on the road when yo u are
driving .
The cha ins s hou ld cross under the trailer tongue
t o prevent it from dropping in case of separation
from the h itch .
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care
and consideration .
To obtain t he best poss ible handling of vehicle
and traile r, please note the fo llow ing :
.,. Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself
is not loaded.
.. Be especi ally ca ref ul when pass ing othe r
vehicles.
.. Observe speed limi ts .
.. Do not d rive at the maximum permissible
speed.
.. Always apply brakes early.
.. Monitor the temperature gauge .
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded t railer w ith an empty car res ults
in a high ly unstable distribution of weight . If this
cannot be avoided, drive at very low speeds on ly
to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easie r to operate and cont rol.
This means that the tow vehi cle should be loaded
to the extent possible and permissible, while
keep ing the tra iler as light as possib le under the
circumstances. Whenever possible, transfer
some cargo to the l uggage compartment of the
128
tow veh icle wh ile observing tong ue load require ­
ments and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the mo re diff icu lt i t be­
comes for the driver to con trol the r ig. Do not
drive at t he maxim um permissible speed. Reduce
you r speed even more if load, weather or wind
con dit ions are unfavorab le - partic ularly when
go ing downh ill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the trailer
shows the slightest sign of swaying.
Do not try
to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limi ts. In some areas, s peeds fo r
vehicles towing trailers are lower than for regular
vehicles .
A lways apply bra kes early. Whe n driving down­
hill, shift in to a lower gea r to use the engine
b raki ng effect to slow the vehi cle. Use of the
brakes alone ca n cause them to over heat and fai l.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge 9 page 12 must
be obse rved caref ully. The coolant temperature
c a n incre ase if yo u drive o n long incl ines in a low
gear a t high engine speeds . Red uce your speed
immediately if the LE Ds in the top part of the dis­
play turn on .
Fo r more info rm ation abou t indicator lights, re­
fer to . ¢
page 20 .
A WARNING
-
Anyone not prope rly restrai ned in a moving
vehicle is at a much greate r risk in an acci ­
dent. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wear ing the restraints provided
by Aud i.
Trailer mode notes
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differen tly when towing a
trailer because o f the additiona l weight and di f­
ferent weight distribution. Safety, performance
and economy will g reatly depend on how caref ul-
l y you load your trai ler and operate you r rig. ..,_