warning AUDI A3 2020 Owner´s Manual

Checking and Filling

Message
EG / @ Brakes: stop vehicle and check brake
fluid level
Stop the vehicle and check the brake fluid level.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
Changing the brake fluid
Brake fluid should be changed at regular inter-
vals. Have the brake fluid changed by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty. The authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will inform you of the replace-
ment intervals.

Z\ WARNING
— If the brake fluid level is below the MIN
marking, it can impair the braking effect and
driving safety, which increase the risk of an
accident. Do not continue driving. See an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
— If the brake fluid is old, bubbles may form in
the brake system during heavy braking. This
could impair braking performance and driv-
ing safety, which increases the risk of an ac-
cident.
— The brake fluid in your vehicle must meet
the standard VW 501 14 and is available at
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility. If this brake fluid is not
available, another high-grade brake fluid of
equivalent quality may be used, and it must
meet the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Stand-
ard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4, Class 6.

© Note
— If the brake fluid level is above the MAX
marking, brake fluid may leak out over the
edge of the reservoir and result in damage
to the vehicle.
— Do not allow any brake fluid to come into
contact with the vehicle paint, because it
will corrode the paint.
314
Electrical system
If the | or = indicator light turns on, there is a
malfunction in the generator, the battery, or the
vehicle electrical system.
z= Electrical system: malfunction! Battery is
not charging
Safely stop your vehicle, do not continue driving
and switch the ignition off > A\. See an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty for assistance.
=} Electrical system: malfunction! Restart not
possible. Please contact Service
It will not be possible to restart the engine once
you turn it off. Vehicle functions/driving stability
may be limited. Drive to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility immediate-
ly.
z= Electrical system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
Switch off all electrical equipment that is not
needed. Vehicle functions/driving stability may
be limited. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility immediately.
= Electrical system: low battery charge. Bat-
tery will be charged while driving
The starting ability may be impaired.
If this message turns off after a little while, the
vehicle battery has charged enough while driving.
If this message does not turn off, drive immedi-
ately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

ZA\ WARNING
When there is an electrical system malfunc-
tion, vehicle functions may not work and driv-
ing stability may be limited, which increases
the risk of an accident. Do not continue driv-
ing and switch the ignition off. See an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility for assistance.

8V2012721BK
Checking and Filling

Battery
eae mee eles)
Because of the complex power supply, all work on
batteries such as disconnecting, replacing, etc.,
should only be performed by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility > A\.
Multiple batteries with different technologies
may be installed in your vehicle:
— Vehicle battery (for example, for starting the
engine, basic power supply) > page 315, Lead
battery or > page 316, Other battery types
— Auxiliary battery (for example, for recuperation
or optional equipment) > page 316, Other bat-
tery types
— Applies to: plug-in hybrid drive: High-voltage
battery (for example, for electric driving)
=> page 96.
Not running the vehicle for long periods of
time
The battery will gradually drain if the vehicle
does not run for long periods of time. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the electrical
equipment will be reduced or switched off
=> page 82. Some convenience functions, such as
interior lighting or power seat adjustment, may
not be available under certain circumstances.
These convenience functions will be available
again once you switch the ignition on and start
the
engine.
Even when electrical equipment is switched off,
the equipment can still drain the battery if the
vehicle is not driven for long periods of time.
Deep draining results in a chemical reaction that
destroys the inside of the battery. The battery
must be charged every month to prevent this
= page 316. Contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for more infor-
mation.
Winter operation
Cold weather places higher demands on the bat-
tery. This results in reduced starting ability. Have
the battery checked by an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility before cold
weather begins.

ZA WARNING
— All work on the battery or electrical system
in your vehicle can result in injuries, chemi-
cal burns, accidents, or burns. Because of
this, all work must be performed only by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility.
— Never connect the charging cable or jump
start cable directly to your vehicle battery.
Only use the connections in the engine com-
partment > page 316.

Z\ WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning:
— Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive problems.
Wash hands after handling.


@) Note
If the vehicle will be parked for long periods
of time, protect the battery against the cold
so that it will not be destroyed by “freezing”
= page 316, Charging the battery.
Lead battery
Explanation of warnings:
© Always wear eye protection.
Battery acid is highly corrosive. Always
wear protective gloves and eye protection.
® Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are
@/
aa


forbidden.
A highly explosive mixture of gases can
VN form when charging batteries.

Always keep children away from battery
®) acid and the battery.

Always follow the instructions in the oper-
ating manual.


@) For the sake of the environment

¥ Lead-acid batteries must be disposed of
using methods that will not harm the
315

Checking and Filling

environment. Do not dispose of them in
household trash. They contain harmful sub-
stances, such as sulfuric acid and lead, and al-
so recyclable raw materials. Contact an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-
ice Facility for more information.
Other battery types
Explanation of warnings:

Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are
eS) forbidden.
Always keep children away from battery
@) acid and the battery.


@/ | Always follow the instructions in the oper-
fQ | ating manual.

ZA\ WARNING
All work on the batteries must only be per-
formed by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Gases that escape from these different bat-
tery types can be poisonous or flammable.
— The contents of these battery types can be
corrosive. If any battery contents come into
contact with the skin, flush the affected
area for at least 15 minutes with clean wa-
ter. Then wash the affected area with soap.
Have the affected area examined by a medi-
cal professional.

@ Note
Components must not be connected to the
battery terminals and wires on these battery
types because this increases the risk of dam-
age, for example due to overvoltage.
@ For the sake of the environment
<2 These types of batteries must be dis-
posed of using methods that will not harm
the environment. Do not dispose of them in
household trash. They contain harmful sub-
stances and recyclable raw materials. Contact
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for more information.

316
Charging the battery

Applies to: vehicles with vehicle battery in the engine com-
partment
Fig. 254 Engine compartment: connections for charger or
jump start cable
B8V-0529

Applies to: vehicles with jump start point (+)
Fig. 255 Engine compartment: connections for charger or
jump start cable
Note the safety precautions > page 304, General
information, > /\ in Battery general informa-
tion on page 315 and > /\.
Plug-in hybrid drive: > page 365.
Requirement: only use chargers with a maximum
charging current of 14.8 volts. The battery ca-
bles remain connected.
Depending on the engine, the battery is located
in the engine compartment or in the luggage
compartment. For vehicles with the battery in
the luggage compartment, a jump start point
that is also used for battery charging is located in
the engine compartment. The battery is always
charged in the engine compartment. The ground
point ©) is always located on the vehicle body.
> Switch off the ignition and all electrical equip-
ment.
> Open the hood > page 305.

8V2012721BK
Checking and Filling

» Applies to: vehicles with vehicle battery in the
engine compartment: Open the cover on the
positive terminal > fig. 254.
> Applies to: vehicles with jump start point (+):
Open the cover on the positive terminal
> fig. 255.
> Clamp the terminal clamps on the charger cor-
rectly onto the ground point ©) and the positive
terminal @).
> Insert the power cable for the charging device
into the socket and switch the device on.
> At the end of the charging process, switch the
charger off and pull the power cable out of the
socket.
> Remove the charging device terminal clamps.
> Applies to: vehicles with vehicle battery in the
engine compartment: Open the cover on the
positive terminal.
> Applies to: vehicles with jump start point (+):
Close the cover on the positive terminal.
> Close the hood > page 305.

ZA WARNING
— Applies to: vehicles with jump start connec-
tions in the engine compartment: The
charging cable must never be connected di-
rectly to the vehicle battery. Only use the
connections in the engine compartment
=> page 316.
— A highly explosive mixture of gases can form
when charging batteries. Only charge the
battery in well-ventilated areas.
— A drained battery can freeze at tempera-
tures around 32 °F (0 °C). Do not charge or
use a frozen or thawed battery. If ice forms,
the battery housing can crack and battery
electrolyte can leak out, which increases the
risk of an explosion and chemical burns.
Contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for more informa-
tion.
— Do not connect or disconnect the charging
cable while charging because this increases
the risk of an explosion.

@) Tips
Read all of the manufacturer's instructions
for the charger before charging the battery.
Windshield washer
system

B8K-2123


Fig. 256 Engine compartment: windshield washer fluid
cover (example)
Observe the safety precautions > page 304, Gen-
eral information.
The windshield washer fluid reservoir & contains
the cleaning solution for the windshield and the
headlight washer system* > page 307, fig. 248.
The reservoir capacity can be found in
=> page 380.
To reduce the risk of lime scale deposits on the
spray nozzles, use clean water with low amounts
of calcium. Always add window cleaner to the wa-
ter. When the outside temperatures are cold, an
anti-freezing agent should be added to the water
so that it does not freeze.
Messages
gS Please add washer fluid
Fill the washer fluid for the windshield washer
system and the headlight washer system* when
the ignition is switched off.
@) Note
— The concentration of anti-freezing agent
must be adjusted to the vehicle operating
conditions and the climate. A concentration
that is too high can lead to vehicle damage.
— Never add radiator anti-freeze or other addi-
tives to the washer fluid.
— Do not use a glass cleaner that contains
paint solvents, because this could damage
the paint.
317

8V2012721BK
Wheels

Wheels Wheels
and Tires
General information
> Check your tires regularly for
damage, such as punctures,
cuts, cracks, and bulges. Remove
foreign objects from the tire
tread.
>If driving over curbs or similar
obstacles, drive slowly and ap-
proach the curb at an angle.
>Have faulty tires or rims re-
placed immediately.
>Protect your tires from oil,
grease, and fuel.
>Mark tires before removing
them so that the same running
direction can be maintained if
they are reinstalled.
>Lay tires flat when storing and
store them ina cool, dry location
with as little exposure to light as
possible.

A WARNING
—Never drive faster than the
maximum permitted speed for
your tires. This could cause the
tires to heat up too much. This
increases the risk of an acci-
dent because it can cause the
tire to burst.


—Always adapt your driving to
the road and traffic condi-
tions. Drive carefully and re-
duce your speed on icy or slip-
pery roads. Even winter tires
can lose traction on black ice.

() Note
—Please note that summer and
winter tires are designed for
the conditions that are typical
in those seasons. Audi recom-
mends using winter tires dur-
ing the winter months. Low
temperatures significantly de-
crease the elasticity of summ-
er tires, which affects traction
and braking ability. If summer
tires are used in very cold tem-
peratures, cracks can form on
the tread bars, resulting in
permanent tire damage that
can cause loud driving noise
and unbalanced tires.
—Burnished, polished or
chromed rims must not be
used in winter driving condi-
tions. The surface of the rims
does not have sufficient corro-
sion protection for this and
could be permanently dam-
aged by road salt or similar
substances.
319

8V2012721BK
Wheels

maximum permissible road
speeds. See also > A in General
information on page 319.
Tire pressure monitoring
system*
means a system that detects
when one or more of a vehicle's
tires are underinflated and illumi-
nates a low tire pressure warning
telltale.
Tread
means that portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Tread separation
means pulling away of the tread
from the tire carcass.
Treadwear indicators (TWI)
means the projections within the
principal grooves designed to give
a visual indication of the degrees
of wear of the tread. See
=> page 328, Treadwear indicator
for more information on measur-
ing tire wear.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
is a tire information system devel-
oped by the United States Nation-
al Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration (NHTSA) that is designed
to help buyers make relative com-
parisons among tires. The UTQG is
not a safety rating and not a guar-
antee that a tire will last for a
prescribed number of miles (kilo-
meters) or perform in a certain
way. It simply gives tire buyers
additional information to com-
bine with other considerations,
such as price, brand loyalty and
dealer recommendations. Under
UTQG, tires are graded by the tire
manufacturers in three areas:
treadwear, traction, and tempera-
ture resistance. The UTQG infor-
mation on the tires, molded into
the sidewalls.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN)
This is the tire’s “serial number”.
It begins with the letters “DOT”
and indicates that the tire meets
all federal standards. The next
two numbers or letters indicate
the plant where it was manufac-
tured, and the last four numbers
represent the week and year of
manufacture. For example,
DOT... 2219...
means that the tire was produced
in the 22nd week of 2019. The
other
numbers are marketing co-
des that may or may not be used >
325

8V2012721BK
Wheels

> Audi recommends that you use
Audi Original Tires. If you would
like to use different tires, please
note that the tires may perform
differently even if they are the
same size > A.
>If you would like to equip your
vehicle with a tire and rim com-
bination that is different from
what was installed at the facto-
ry, consult with an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility before making a
purchase > A.
Because the spare tire® is differ-
ent from the regular tires instal-
led on the vehicle (such as winter
tires or wide tires), only use the
spare tire* temporarily in case of
emergency and drive carefully
while it is in use. It should be re-
placed with a regular tire as soon
as possible.
Applies to: vehicles with all wheel
drive: All four wheels must be
equipped with tires that are the
same brand and have the same
construction and tread pattern so
that the drive system is not dam-
aged by different wheel speeds.
For this reason, in case of emer-
gency, only use a spare tire* that
is the same circumference as the
regular tires.


AN WARNING
—Only use tire/rim combina-
tions and suitable wheel bolts
that have been approved by
Audi. Otherwise, damage to
the vehicle and an accident
could result.
—For technical reasons, it is not
possible to use tires from oth-
er vehicles. In some cases, you
cannot even use tires from the
same vehicle model.
—Make sure that the tires you
select have enough clearance
to the vehicle. Replacement
tires should not be chosen
simply based on the nominal
size, because tires with a dif-
ferent construction can differ
greatly even if they are the
same size. If there is not
enough clearance, the tires or
the vehicle can be damaged
and this can reduce driving
safety and increase the risk of
an accident.
—Only use tires that are more
than six years old when abso-
lutely necessary and drive
carefully when doing so.

327

8V2012721BK
Wheels

Tire rotation
Applies to: RS models: Tires may
only be rotated if the tires on the
front and rear axles are the same
size > A.
Rotating the tires regularly is rec-
ommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly. To rotate the tires,
install the tires from the rear axle
on the front axle and vice versa.
This will allow the tires to have
approximately the same length of
service life.
For unidirectional tires, make sure
the tires are installed according to
the running direction indicated on
the tire sidewall > page 356.
Hidden damage
Damage to tires and rims can of-
ten occur in locations that are hid-
den. Unusual vibrations in the ve-
hicle or pulling to one side may
indicate that there is tire damage.
Reduce your speed immediately.
Check the tires for damage. If no
damage is visible from the out-
side, drive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility to have the vehicle inspect-
ed.


Z\ WARNING
—Tread that has worn too low
uneven tread depths on the
or
tires can reduce driving safety.
This can increase the risk of an
accident because it has a neg-
ative effect on handling, driv-
ing through curves, and brak-
ing, and because it increases
the risk of hydroplaning when
driving through deep puddles.
—Applies to: RS models: De-
pending on the equipment,
the widths of the standard
summer tires may be different
on the front and rear axles.
The wider tires are mounted
on the front axle. The tires
must not be rotated.

329

Wheels

SU c=w yee)
oO oS
o 2
Pd e ]
Fig. 259 Driver's side B-pillar: tire pres-
sure label


B8K-1151


ARRIERE
‘SPARE

DE SECOURS


Fig. 260 Tire pressure label
The correct tire pressure for tires
mounted at the factory and for
the spare tire* is indicated on a la-
bel. The label is located on the B-
pillar > fig. 259, > fig. 260. The
location may vary depending on
the model.
Use the tire pressure specified for
a normal vehicle load when the
vehicle is partially loaded > table
on page 331. If driving the vehi-
cle when fully loaded, you must
increase the tire pressure to the
maximum specified pressure > A.
330

Checking and correcting tire
pressure
>Check the tire pressure at least
once per month and also check it
before every long drive.
> Always check the tire pressure
when the tires are cold. Do not
reduce the pressure if it increas-
es when the tires are warm.
>Refer to the sticker > fig. 260
for the correct tire pressure.
>Correct the tire pressure if nec-
essary.
> Store the new tire pressure in
the Infotainment system
> page 338 or > page 341.
> Check the pressure in the emer-
gency tire*/spare tire*. Always
maintain the maximum temper-
ature that is specified for the
tire.

Z\ WARNING
Always adapt the tire pressure
to your driving style and the ve-
hicle load.
—Overloading can lead to loss of
vehicle control and increase
the risk of an accident. Read
and follow the important safe-
ty precautions in > page 332,
Tires and vehicle load limits. |»

Wheels











Model/ Tire designation Tire pressure
Engine Normal load Maximum load
(up to 2/3* people)?
Front Rear Front Rear
PSI | kPA | PSI kPA | PSI | kPA | PSI | kPA
RS 3sedan: /|235/35R1991Y 39/ | 270/ | 35/ | 240/ | 44/ | 300/ | 39/ | 270/
2.5L 44>) | 300%) | 395) | 2705) | 46>) | 3205) | 445) | 3005)
5-cylinder 255/30 R19 91Y 39/ | 270/ | - - 44/ | 300/ - -
445) | 3005) 465) | 320»)
A3 Cabriolet: |225/40 R18 92Y 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 38 | 260 38 260
2.0L 225/45 R17 91H 33. | 230 | 30 | 210 | 39 | 270 | 39 | 270
4-cylinder 225/40 R18 92H 38 | 260 | 35 | 240 | 41 | 280 | 41 | 280
235/35 R19 91Y 42 | 290 | 39 | 270 | 45 | 310 | 45 310
A3 Sportback | 205/55 R16 91V 35 | 240 | 35 | 240 | 36 | 250 39 270
e-tron: 225/40 R18 92Y 33 | 230 | 33 | 230 | 36 | 250 39 270
ae 225/45R1791H | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260
4-cylinder
225/40 R18 92H 36 | 250 | 36 | 250 | 41 | 280 | 41 280

@) Vehicles with four seating positions: two people in the front, Vehicles with five seat-
ing positions: two people in the front, one person in the rear
5) The value before the forward slash applies to vehicles with a maximum speed up to
155 mph (250 km/h); the value after the slash is for up to 174 mph (280 km/h).

Z\ WARNING
Please note the important safe-
ty precautions regarding tire
pressure > page 330 and load
limits > page 332.
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of
load or weight that any vehicle
and any tire can carry. A vehicle
that is overloaded will not handle
well and is more difficult to stop.
Overloading can not only lead to
loss of vehicle control, but can al-
so damage important parts of the

332
vehicle and can lead to sudden
tire failure, including a blowout
and sudden deflation that can
cause the vehicle to crash.
Your safety and that of your pas-
sengers also depends on making
sure that load limits are not ex-
ceeded. Vehicle load includes ev-
erybody and everything in and on
the vehicle. These load limits are
technically referred to as the vehi-
cle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(“GVWR”).
The “GVWR” includes the weight
of the basic vehicle, all factory >