service AUDI A3 SEDAN 2018 Owners Manual

Wheels
front and rear axles are the same
size¢&.
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 accord­
ing to the running direction indi­
cated on the tire sidewall
¢page 368.
Hidden damage
Damage to tires and rims can of­
ten occur in locations that are hidden . Unusual vibrations in the
vehicle 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 .
340
.&_ WARNING
-Tread that has worn too low or
different tread depths on the
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 .

Wheels
Wheel bolts and rims
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be clean and loosen/tighten
easi ly.
Rims
Rims with a bolted rim ring* or with bolted wheel
covers* consist of multiple pieces . These compo­
nents were bolted together using special bolts
and a special procedure . You must not repair or
d isassemble
them ¢_&. .
_& WARNING
Wheel bolts that are tig htened or repaired in­
correctly can become loose and result in loss
of vehicle control, which increases the risk of
an accident. For the correct tightening specifi­
cation, see
q page 364, After changing a
wheel.
- Always keep the wheel bolts and the
threads in the wheel hub clean and free of
grease.
- Only use wheel bolts that fit the rim.
- Always have damaged rims repaired by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility. Never repair or disassemble
rims yourself, because this increases the risk
of an accident.
Winter tires
Winter tires significantly improve the vehicle 's
handling when driving in winter conditions . Be­
cause of their construction (width, compound,
tread pattern), summer tires provide less trac­
tion on ice and snow.
.,. Use winter tires on all four wheels .
.,. Only use winter tires that are approved for your
vehicle.
.,. Please note that the maximum permitted
speed may be lower with winter tires
¢ A in
General information on page 330.
An author­
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa­
cility can inform you about the maximum per­
mitted speed for your tires .
.. Check the tire pressure after installing wheels
¢page 341 .
346
The effectiveness of winter tires is reduced great­
ly when the tread is worn down to a depth of
0.157 inch (4 mm). The characteristics of winter
tires also decrease greatly as the tire ages, re­
gardless of the remaining tread.
@) For the sake of the environment
Reinstall summer tires at the appropriate
time, because they provide better handling
when roads are free of snow and ice. Summer
tires cause less road noise, tire wear and fuel
consumption .
(D Tips
You can also use all season tires instead of
winter tires. Please note that in some coun­
tries where winter tires are required, only
winter tires with the
& symbol may be per­
mitted.
Snow chains
Snow cha ins not only improve the driving in win­
ter road conditions, but also the braking.
.,. Only install snow chains on the front wheels.
This applies also to vehicles with all wheel
drive*.
.. Check and correct the seating of the snow
chains after driving a few feet, if necessary. Fol­
low the instructions from the manufacturer .
.. Note the maximum speed of 30 mph (SO km/
h). Note the local regulations.
Use of snow chains is only permitted with certain
rim/tire combinations due to technical reasons.
Check with an authori zed Audi dealer or author­
ized Audi Service Facility to see if you may use
snow chains .
Use
fine-mesh snow chains. They must not add
more than 0.53 inch (13.5 mm) in height, includ­
ing the chain lock .
You must remove the snow chains on roads with­
out snow . Otherwise, you cou ld impair driving
ability and damage the tires .

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A WARNING
Using incorrect snow chains or installing snow
chains incorrectly can result in loss of vehicle
control, which increases the risk of an acci­
dent.
@ Note
Snow chains can damage the rims/wheel cov­
ers* if the chains come into direct contact
with them. Remove the wheel covers* first .
Use coated snow chains.
(D Tips
When using snow chains, it may be useful to
switch on sport mode
¢page 149.
Low-profile tires
App lies to: ve hicles with low -profi le tires
Compared to other tire/rim combinations, low­
profile tires offer a wider tread surface and a
la rger r im diameter with shorter tire sidewalls.
This results in an agile driving style. However, it
may reduce the level of comfort and increase
road noise when driving on roads in poor condi­
tion.
L ow -profile tires can become damaged more
quickly than standard tires when driving over
large bumps, potholes, manhole
covers, and
curbs. Therefore, it is particularly important to
maintain the correct tire
pressure¢ page 341.
To reduce the risk of damage to the tires and rims, drive very carefully on poor roads.
Check your wheels regularly
every 2,000 mi
(3,000 km) for damage. For example, check for
bulges/cracks on the tires or deformations/
cracks on the rims.
After a heavy impact or damage, have the tires
and rims inspected or replaced immediately by
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility .
L ow -profile tires can wear out faster than stand­
ard tires.
Wheels
Uniform tire quality grading
- Tread wear
- Traction AA ABC
- Temperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width
¢ page 331, fig. 275.
For example: Tread wear 200 , Traction AA, Tem­
perature
A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled cond it ion s on a specified
gov­
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the govern­
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driv ing habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA , A, Band
C. Those grades represent the tire's
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured un­
der controlled conditions on specified govern­
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance
¢,& .
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the mate­
rial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire
failure ¢,& .
347

Wheels
~ Select in the Infotainment system: IMENUI but ­
ton
> Vehicle > left control button > Service &
checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Store tire
pressure> Yes, store now.
(D Tips
Do not store the tire pressures if snow chains
are installed.
Tire pressure monitoring
system
(.L) General notes
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and inflat ­
ed to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or t ire inflation pressure la­
bel, you should determine the proper tire infla­
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equ ipped w ith a t ire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure tell­
tale when one or more of your tires is significant­
ly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi­
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over­ heat and can lead to tire failure . Under -inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle's handling and stop­
p in g ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's re­
sponsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the leve l
to trigger illuminat ion of the TPMS low tire pres­
sure telltale .
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunct ion indicator to indicate when the sys­
tem is not operating properly. The TPMS mal ­
function indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
350
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi ­
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal­
function exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction tel ltale after replac ing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure
that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
Description
Applies to: vehicles with tire pressure monitoring system
The tire pressure monitoring system monitors
the pressure in the four tires when driving.
The system uses sensors that measure the tema
perature and pressure in the tires. The data is
sent from these sensors to the control module by
radio frequency .
The tire pressure monitoring system shows the
current pressures and temperatures of the tires
in the Infotainment system while driving
¢ page 351. It also compares the current tire
pressures with the stored tire pressures and
gives a warning if the tire pressure is different
from what is stored
¢ page 351.
The system does not detect if the stored tire
pressures match the recommended tire pres ­
sures . You must store the tire pressures again
¢ page 352:
- every time the tire pressures change, for exam ­
ple when the load in the vehicle changes,
- after replacing a tire, or
- if wheels with new wheel sensors are used.

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A WARNING
-The tire pressure monitoring system assists
the driver in monitoring tire pressures . The
driver is responsible for having the tires in­
flated to the correct pressure.
- Do not change the tire pressure when the
temperature of the tire is extremely high.
This could result in serious damage to the
tire and even cause the tire to burst, in­
creasing the risk of an accident.
- A tire with low pressure flexes more. This
heats the tire up too much. This could cause
the tread to separate and even cause the
tire to burst, increasing the risk of an acci­
dent.
- The tire pressure monitoring system does
not warn about damage or defects in the
tire construction that could cause the tire to burst, for example . Inspect your tires regu­
larly .
(D Tips
-If tires are replaced, the sensors/valves do
not need to be removed or replaced. Just re­
placed the valve stem and, if necessary, the
valve and the wheel electronics. If you have
questions, see an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility .
- An incorrect display or a malfunction in the
tire pressure monitoring system can occur
after using the tire mobility kit . Have the
sensors replaced by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
- For an explanation on conformity with the
FCC regulations in the United States and the
Industry Canada regulations, see
r=;,page 386.
Displaying tire pressures/temperatures
Applies to: vehicles with tire pressure mo nito ring system
Requirement: you must be driving the vehicle.
"'Select in the Infotainment system: the I MENU I
button > Vehicle > left control button > Service
& checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Display
tire pressures.
Wheels
The current tire pressures are shown in green,
yellow or red numbers in the Infotainment sys­
tem:
- Green: the current tire pressure and the speci­
fied tire pressure are approximately the same.
- Yellow: the current tire pressure is too low
compared to the specified tire pressure.
-Red: the current tire pressure is extremely low
compared to the specified tire pressure .
The specified tire pressure is the last tire pres­
sure that was stored
r=;, page 352.
Note that the tire pressure also depends on the
temperature of the tire. The tire pressure in ­
creases as the engine becomes warmer while
driving.
A WARNING
Read and follow the important information
and notes
"*page 350.
(D Tips
The tire pressure or temperature is not dis­
played while the vehicle is stationary and in
adaptation mode. Dashes--.-- are shown in
place of the pressure and temperature.
ill Tire pressure loss
Applies to: vehicles with tire press ure mo nito ring system
-
If the [tE indicator light turns on, the pressure in
at least one tire is too low or new sensors were
not adapted:
RE Indicator light turns on after turning the
ignition on
The tire pressure is too low compared to the
specified pressure .
.,. Check and store the tire pressure(s) the next
time it is possible
"*page 352.
RE Indicator light turns on while driving
Wheels with new sensors were not adapted or
the tire pressure has reached a critical level com­
pared to the specified pressure.
"'Avoid unnecessary steering and braking maneu-
vers.
..,_
351

Wheels
~ Adapt your driving style to the situation.
~ Stop as soon as possible and check the tire(s) .
~ If it is possible to continue driving, see an au-
thorized Audi dea ler or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately and have your tire(s) re­
paired or replaced.
A WARNING
Read and follow the important information
and
notes ~ page 350.
Storing new tire pressures
App lies to: ve hicles w ith tire press ure m on itoring system
Correctly stored tire pressure specifications are
necessary for reliable tire pressure monitoring.
-
It is always necessary to store the tire pressures
when the tire pressures are modified, for exam­ ple due to a change in load. or when new sensors
are installed .
~ Before storing the tire pressures, make sure the
tire pressures of all four tires meet the speci­
fied values and are adapted to the load
~ page 341, fig . 2 78 . Only correct and store
the pressure in tires whose temperature is ap­
prox imat ely the same as the ambient tempera­
ture .
If the temperature of the tire is higher
than the ambient air temperature, the tire
pressure must be increased approximate ly
3 .0 PSI (0 .2 bar) above the va lue on the sticker .
~ Switch the ignition on.
~ Select in the Infotainment system: IMENUI but­
ton
> Vehicle > left control button > Service &
checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Store tire
pressure > Yes, store now .
After storing the
tire pressu res, the t ire pressu re monitoring sys­
tem measures the current pressures wh ile driv­
in g and stores them as the new specified pres­
sures.
~ If the changed tire pressures are not displayed
in the Infotainment system, drive the vehicle
for approximate ly 10 minutes so that the sen­
sor signal from the wheels is received again.
During this adaptation phase, --.-- is displayed
for the pressure and temperature and the tire
pressure mon itor ing system is only partially
ava ilable. It only provides a warning if one or
352 more
tire pressures is below the minimum per­
mitted specified pressure.
If the
[I] ind icator light turns on and the mes­
sage
Tire pressure : wheel change detected .
Please check all tires and store pressures in
MMI also appears, the system has detected that
the position of the sensors has changed because
of a tire rotation, or that new sensors were in­
stalled. Store the new tire pressures.
A WARNING
Read and follow the important information
and notes
~pag e 350.
Malfunctions
Applies to: vehicles with t ire pressure mo nitori ng syste m
If the tire pressure monitoring system is not
available, t he
mm in dicator light appears in the
instr umen t cluste r display along with the mes­
sage
Tire pressure : malfun ction! See owner's
manual.
-
If the ffim ind icator light appears after switch­
in g the ignitio n on or wh ile dr iving and the
[IJ in­
dicator light also blinks for approximately one
minute and then stays on, there is a system ma l­
function . The fo llowing are examples of situa­
tions that could cause a malfunction:
- If the message appears at the end of the adap ­
tation phase, the system may not detect one or
several of the whee l sensors necessary for pres­
sure monitoring. This may res ult from one or
more whee ls being installed without wheel sen­
sors or with incompatible wheel sensors.
- A wheel sensor or another component has
fa iled.
- Using snow chains can affect the function of
the system because of the shielding effect of
the chains.
- The tire pressure monitoring system is not
avai lab le due to a ma lfunction.
- Transmitters with the same frequency, such as
headphones or remote-controlled devices, may
cause a temporary system malfunct ion due to
the strong electromagnetic field.
.,.

u. 00 .-< N l'­ N .-< 0 N > 00
The @m indicator light and t he message tu rn o ff
once the tire pressure monitoring system is ava il­
ab le aga in . If yo u can not cor rect the ma lf u nct io n
and the
mm indicator lig ht stays on, dr ive imme­
d iate ly to an author ized A udi dealer or autho r­
i zed A udi Service Fac ility to have the ma lfunction
repaired .
Wheels
353

Care and cl eaning
Care and cleaning
General information
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: for
additiona l cleaning and care information, see
¢ page 117.
Reg ula r, prope r ca re helps to maintai n your veh i­
cle's value. It can a lso be a requirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The ne cessary care prod ucts c an be ob tained
from an authorized Aud i dea ler o r authorized
Audi Service Facility. Read and follow the instruc ­
tions fo r use on the packaging.
A WARNING
- Us ing clean ing and ca re products incorrectly
can be dangero us to your hea lth.
- Always store clean ing and ca re products out
of reach of children to reduce the r is k of po i­
so ning.
@ For the sake of the environment
- Prefe rab ly purchase environmenta lly-friend ­
l y cleaning products.
- Do not dispose of leftove r cleaning and ca re
p roducts wit h house hold trash.
Car washes
The longer that deposits s uch as insects, bird
droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the ve ­
h icle, the more the surface can be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight increase the damaging effect .
Before washing, rinse
off heavy deposits with
p lenty of water.
S tu bborn deposits s uch as bird d roppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water and a
microfiber cloth.
A lso, wash t he u nderside of yo ur vehicle once
road sa lt stops being used for the season .
354
Pressure washers
When was hing yo ur vehicle wi th a press ure was h­
er, always follow the operat ing instruct ions pro ­
vided with the pressure washer . This is especia lly
important in regard to the pressure and spraying
distance. Do not aim the spray direct ly at sea ls on
s ide windows, doors, the hood, the luggage com­
partment lid or the panorama g lass roof * or at
tires, rubbe r hoses, insula ting material, the pow­
e r top*, senso rs* o r camera lenses* . Keep a d is­
tance of at least 16 in (40 cm).
Do not remove snow and ice with a p ressure
washer.
Never use cone nozzles o r high press ure nozzles.
The wate r temperatu re must not be above 140 °F
(60 °C).
Automatic car washes
Sp ray off the ve hicle befo re wash ing.
Make su re t hat the wi ndows, the pa norama g lass
roof* and the power top* are closed and the
winds hield wipers a re
off. Fo llow instructions
from the ca r was h operator, espec ia lly if there
a re acc esso ries attached to your ve hicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes.
Applies to: RS models
Only use car washes where the veh icle remains
stationary and the washing equipment moves around the vehicle when wash ing and dry ing . Car
washes that move the veh icle t hrough the ca r
wash using a c ha in a re not re commended .
Washing by hand
Clean the ve hicle starting from t he top and work­
i ng down using a soft sponge or cleaning brus h.
U se solvent-free cleaning prod ucts .
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To avo id damaging the paint when washing, fi rs t
r emove d ust and la rge pa rt icles from your vehi­
cl e. Insects, grease spots a nd fingerpr ints are
best re moved w ith a spe cial cleane r fo r m atte
finish pai nt.

u. 00 .-< N l'­ N .-< 0 N > 00
Apply the product using a mic rofiber cloth. To
avoid damaging the paint surface, do not use too
much pressure .
R inse the veh icle t horo u ghly wi th wa ter. Then
clean using a neutra l shampoo and a soft micro ­
fiber cloth.
R inse the veh icle t horo u ghly again and let it a ir
d ry . Remove any water res idue using a ch amois.
A WARNING
-Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is
off and follow the instructions from the car
wash operator to reduce the risk of acci­ dents.
-T o reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself
from sharp metal components when wash­ ing the underbody or the inside of the wheel
hous ings .
-After wash ing the vehicle, the brak ing effect
may be de layed due to mo isture on the
brake rotors or ice in the w inter . This in­
c reases the risk of an acc ident. The brakes
must be d ried fi rst w it h a few careful b rake
app lications.
@ Note
-If you wash t he veh icle in an automatic car
wash, you m ust fold the exterior m irrors in
-
Care and cleaning
to reduce the r isk o f damage to the m irro rs .
Power fo lding exterior mirrors* m ust only
be folded in and o ut using the power fold ing
function.
-T o red uce the risk of paint damage, do not
was h the vehicle in direct s unlight.
-T o red uce the risk of damage, do not was h
the power top * w ith a pressu re washe r.
-T o red uce the risk of damage to the s urface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitche n
sponges or s imilar items.
-Matte finish painted vehicle components:
-To reduce t he risk of damage to t he sur-
face, do not use pol ish ing agents or hard
wax.
-Neve r use protective wax. It can destroy
the matte finish effect .
-Do not place any st ickers or magnetic
s igns on vehicle parts painted with matte
finish paint. The paint cou ld be damaged
when the stickers or magnets a re re ­
moved.
@ For the sake of the environment
Only wash the veh icle in facilities spec ia lly de­
s igned for that pu rpose. This will reduce the
r isk of di rty wate r contam ina ted with o il from
en te ring the sewe r sys tem.
Cleaning and care information
When clea ning and caring for individua l vehicle
components, refer to the follow ing tables . The
in fo rmat ion conta ined there is s imp ly recom­
mendations . Fo r qu est io ns or for components t
h at are not listed, consult an authorized Aud i
dealer or authorized Audi Service Fac il ity. Also
fo llow the information found
in c:> ,& .
Exterior cleaning
Component Situation
Solution
Wind shield wip er
Deposits soft cloth wi th glass cleane r, ~ page 56
blade s
Headlights /
Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solutiona)
Tail light s
Sensors /
Deposits Sensors: soft cloth wit
h solvent -free cleaning solution
camera lenses Camera lenses: soft cloth with a lcohol-free cleaning so lu-
tion
Snow/ice Hand br ush/solven t-free de-icing spray
355

Care and cl eaning
Component Situation Solution
W hee ls
Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution
Ex haust t ail p ipe s Road salt Water, cleaning solution suitab le for stainless steel, if nee-
essary
P ow er t op Deposits Clea n water, power top clean ing prod uct, if necessa ry.
C lean with the grain of the fabric using a soft brush and al -
l ow to air dry .
Wind deflect o r Deposits Water, mild soap solut ion, if necessaryal
Dec orat ive part s/ Deposits Mild soap so
lution al, a cleaning so lution suitable for stain-
trim less stee l, if necessary
Paint Paint damage Refer to the paint numbe r on the veh icle data label, repair
with touch up pa int¢
page 381
Spilled fuel Rinse with water immediately
S urface r ust Rust remover, then protect w ith hard wax; for questions,
consult an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv -
ice Facility .
Corros ion Have it removed by an authorized Aud i dealer or author-
i zed Audi Service Fac ility.
Water no longer Protect with hard wax (at least twice per year)
beads on the surface
of clean paint
No sh ine even though Treat with s uitable polish; then apply paint protectant if
paint has been pro- the polish that was used does not contain any protectant
tected/paint looks poor
Deposits such as in- Dampen w ith wate r immediately and remove w it h a m icro-
sects, bird dropp ings, fiber cloth
tree sap and road salt
Grease-based con-Remove immediately with a mild soap solution al and a
tam inants such as soft cloth
cosmetics or sunblock
Ca rbon part s Deposits clean the
same way as painted parts ¢ page 354
Decorat ive decal s Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap so lutional
a ) Mild soap so lution: maxim um two tablespoo ns of neut ra l soap i n 1 quart (1 liter) of water
Int erior cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Wind ows
Deposits Glass cleaner, then
wipe dry
Deco ra tive part s/ Deposits Mild soap solutional
trim
Pla stic part s
Deposits Damp cloth
Heavier deposits M ild soap so lution al, detergent-free p lastic clean ing solu-
tion, if necessa ry
356