check engine AUDI S3 2009 User Guide

Driver information display
low oil level warning . By then , your engine may alre ady have
suffered seriou s damage. •
Applies to vehic les: w ith eng in e spee d lim itat ion
Engine speed limitation 1<
Engine speed ma ximum XX.XX RPM
The J symbo l illuminate s when there is an engine cont rol malfunc ­
tion . T he indicator l ight
..J., in the instrument cluster also illum i­
nates. The engine speed is limited to the speed displayed in the
d river in for mation system. Keep in mind tha t the engine speed w ill
not exceed the va lue displayed in the driver information system, for
example when downshifting.
Please go to an authorized Audi dealer or other qua lified workshop
to have the ma lf u nct ion re paired. •
Fuel supply too low
When th e L symbol illuminates, this mea ns th ere are about 2 .6
gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the fuel tank . Time to refuel!
~ p age 220 .
If the symbol l ights up, eve n when there is ample fuel in the tank,
and the text
Tank system malfunction! Please contact workshop
appears i n the d is pl ay, ther e is a fau lt in the syste m. C ontac t a qual ­
ified workshop to have the fault rectified. •
Checking the engine oil level .2'..
~ Please add max. 1 qt of engine oil!
If th e sy mbol co mes o n, a dd 1 q uart (1 lit er) of oil a t the next
opportunity~
page 230 . •
Checking the engine oil level ~
When the symbol illuminates, c heck the engine oil level as soon
as po ssi ble~
page 22 9. Top off t he o il at your ear liest o pp o rt un ity
~ page 230 . •
Engine oil sensor defective ...
If the -symbol illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dea ler
an d h ave the oil se nso r ins pected. •
Worn brake pads
-Brake pads!
If the warn ing light illuminates, immediate ly contact your autho ­
riz ed Aud i dea ler o r qua lifi ed worksh op to have all bra ke pads
inspected. On USA models the warning light comes on together
with the wa rning ligh t
BRAKE . Both sets of brake pads on an ax le m ust
a lways be replaced at the same time .
& WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal
injury.
• If the warning light
C. and the warning l ight BRAKE1l with the
message Brake pads! comes on in the in strument cluster display ,
immediately conta ct your authorized Audi dealer or qualified
workshop to have all brake pads checked or replaced if necessary .•
1 1 BRAK£ : USA mod els only

Driver inf ormati on displ ay
trical components should be checked, repaired or replaced, as
necessary:
• Brake light bulbs
• All wiring connections
• Brake light switch
Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if necessary.
[ i ] Tip s
The brake light switch is only inspected as part of the functional
check after the engine is started .•
A pplies to v ehicles : with automat ic headlights
Light /rain sensor defective .,
The indicator light indicates a defect in the automatic
headlights/automatic wiper system.
If the symbol illuminates, the light sensor has failed . For safety
reasons , the low beams are turned on permanently with the switch
in
AUTO . However, you can continue to turn the lights on and off
using the light switch . In the case of a defect in the rain sensor, the
windshield wiper lever functions are still availab le . H ave the
light/ra in sensor checked as soon as possib le at an authorized Audi
dea ler. •
Ap plies to vehicles: with Adapt ive Light
Adaptive Light defective -)
D Adaptiv e lig ht de fectiv e
When this symbol illuminates, it means that Adaptive Light is
defective. Go to a qua lified workshop to have the headligh ts or the
control unit for the Adaptive Light repaired. •
Applies to vehic les: wit h tire pressure monito ring sy stem
Tire pressure monitoring system J.)
Tire pressure that is too low must be corrected as soon as
possible .
If the I symbol flashes for about one min ute after the igni­
tion is switched on and then remains on, t here is a malfunc ­
tion in the system. Consu lt the nearest authorized Audi
dealer as soon as possible .
Additional information about the tir e p ress ure m onit or in g sy stem
can be found:=> page 264. •

Opening and closing
Keys
Key set
®
The key set for your vehicle includes:
Fig. 22 Key s et
@ two master keys (press the release button ~ page 36,
fig . 23 to fo ld and unfold the master key)
@ one va let key
@ M as ter key with rem ote control
You can centrally lock and unlock your vehicle and start the engine
with the master key with remote control. The rear lid can be
unlocked with the remote control un lock button
o;:::::::5 on the master
key.
@ Valet key
The va let key fits only the driver's door and the ignition lock. If you
have to leave the key with somebody else, you are well -advised to
turn over the valet key only .
Be aware that the rear lid can be opened from inside the vehic le with
the remote rear lid release
o;:::::::5 located in the driver's door.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Opening and clo sing
K ey repla cement
If you lose a key, contact your authorized Audi dea ler immediately
t o have the /ostkey disab led . Be sure to bring all your keys wi th you.
Registered keys
You can check to find out how many remote keys have been regis­
tered to your vehic le. Therefore, when buying a used vehicle, make
su re to get a ll of the remote keys that belong to it .
Calling up the registered remote keys~
page 23.
An example of a possib le display: 3/2. The first digit indicates how
many keys have been coded for your vehicle . The second digit indi ­
cates the current number of remote keys that are registered . For our
exa mple, this wou ld mean that
2 keys have been enab led for your
vehicle, and that, for examp le, one key has been lost.
I f one key has been lost, co ntact an authorized Aud i dea lership to
have the function locked for
this key. Also inform your insurance
company that this key is lost .
& WARNING
• Do not leave your vehicle unattended with the key in the igni ­
tion lock . Ent ry b y unauth oriz ed persons could endanger you or
re sult in theft or damage the vehi cle . Always lock all door s and
t ak e the k ey.
• Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle , especially with
acce ss to veh icle key s. Unguarded a ccess to the key s pro vide s
c hildren the opportunity to sta rt the engine and /or a ctivate vehicle
sy stem s suc h a s the po wer window s. Un supervised operation of
any vehicle system by children can result in serious injury . ..,.
I • •

Anti-theft alarm system
The anti-theft alarm triggers an alarm if anyone attempts
to break into the vehicle.
F ig . 3 6 D iod e posi tion
in th e instrum ent p an el
T he anti-theft alarm system triggers an audible alarm and turns on
the emergency flasher if an unau thorized interference with the
vehicle is sensed by the system .
How is the anti -theft alarm sy ste m switched on ?
The anti -theft alarm system is switched on when you lock the
driver's door manually using the fold -out key, or when you use the
remote control. The system is activated approximate ly 30 seconds
after the vehicle is locked. The indicator light~ fig. 36 starts
flashing rapid ly for 30 seconds and then b links slowly .
How i s the anti -theft alarm s yste m switch ed off?
The anti-theft alarm system is switched off when you use the remote
co ntrol to un lock your vehicle. I f you do not open a d oor within 30
seconds after you have unlocked with the remote control, the
vehicle will lock itself again automatically.
I f you lock just the driver's door using your key, the front
passenger's door and the rear lid remain locked.
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
Op ening and clo sing
When will th e anti th eft alarm sy ste m b e trigg ere d ?
When the vehic le is locked, the a larm system monitors a nd protects
the following parts of the vehic le:
• engine compartment
• luggage compartment
• doors
• ignition
When the system is ac tivated, the alarm will be trigge red if one of
the doors, the engine hood or the rear lid are opened, or if the igni ­
t ion is turned on or the radio removed.
The anti-theft alarm sys tem will also go off when the battery is
disconnected .
You can also trigger the alarm by pressing the PA NIC button on your
remote-contro l key. This will alert other people in case of emer­
gency. Press the
PANIC button again to turn off the alarm.
How is th e anti-th eft alarm sw itched off when
triggered ?
The alarm system is switched off when you unlock the vehic le using
the remote -cont rol key or when the ignition is switched on . The
alarm wi ll also switch itself off when it comes to the end of its cycle .
Emergency flasher
The emergency flasher will blink briefly when the doors, engine
h o od and rear lid are properly closed.
If the emergency flashers do not blink, check the doors, engine hood
and rear lid to make sure they are properly closed. If you close a
door, the hood or the rear lid with the anti -theft alarm switched on,
the emergency flashers will blink only after you have closed the
door or lid.
[ i ] Tips
For the anti -theft a larm sys tem to func tion properly, make su re all
vehicle doors and windows are closed before leaving the vehicle . •
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Opening and closing
Power windows
Controls
Fig. 37 Driver's door :
power window
switches
The switches are located in the driver's door . The front passenger's
door has a own power window switch of its own.
To open/close If the respective switch is pushed or pulled, the
window will , respectively.
Switches for front door windows
© operates the window in the driver's door.
@ operates the window in the front passenger's door.
Switches for rear windows
© operates the left rear window.
@ operates the right rear window.
Safety switch
© Safety switch for rear window operation.
LJ}. WARNING
• Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, especially with
access to vehicle keys. Unsupervised use of the keys can result in
& WARNING (continued)
starting of the engine and use of vehicle systems such as power
windows, etc. which could result in serious injury.
• Remember -you can still open or close the power windows for
about ten minutes after the ignition is switched off. Only when
either of the front doors are opened are the power windows
switched off.
• Be careful when closing the windows. Check to see that no one
is in the way, or serious injury could result!
• Always remove the ignition key whenever you leave your
vehicle.
• If you lock your vehicle from the outside, no one, especially chil­
dren, should remain in the vehicle.
• Do not stick anything on the windows or the windshield that
may interfere with the driver's field of vision.•
Switches in the driver's door
The driver can operate all windows.
In addition to the switches in the driver's door, there is a
separate switch in each door for the power window in that
door=> fig. 37. If the respective switch is pushed or pulled,
the window will open or close. The power window switches have a
two-position function:
Opening the windows
Push the switch to the first stop and hold it there until the
window has lowered to the desired position.
- Push the switch briefly to the
second stop: the window
w ill automatically open all the way. _.

Clear vision
Igniti on ON , light swit ch at ::oo: or fD .
With the lights switched on, the brightness of instrument cluster
!i.e . needles, gauges and displays) and center console il lumination
can be adjusted.
0 Note
The instrument cluster and cent er console illumina tion (gauges and
needles) comes on when you swi tch on the igni tion and the
vehi cle
h eadlights are off .
Be aware of the following difference between
models built to US or Cana dian speci fica tions :
• USA model s: illumination of the in strument clu ster (gauges and
needle s), dash and center con sole around the gear shift lever i s
c o ntrolled by a light sensor lo cated in the instrument panel. The
i n strument panel ill umination will automatically become dimmer
a s th e daylight fades awa y and eventu ally w ill go out completel y
when outside l ight i s very low . Thi s is to remind you , the driver , to
swi tch on the headlight s befo re it get s to o dar k.
• Canada models: in strument panel illumination will stay bright
re gardle ss of the i ntens ity of ambient light . Al wa ys be aware of
change s in out sid e light conditi ons while you are d riving. Re spond
i n time t o fading daylight by turn ing the light swit ch to posit ion
fD
(or "AUTO" if your car is equipped with this feature) to turn on your
headlights . •
Ap plies to vehi cles: with b i-xeno n headli ghts
Bi-Xenon headlights*
After starting the engine, the bi -xenon headlights are automatica lly
adjus ted to the load and angle of the vehic le (for example , during
acce lerat ion and brak ing) . This prevents oncoming traffic fro m
experiencing unnecessary headlight g lare from your bi-xenon head ­
lights .
If the system is not operating properly, a warning symbol in the
Auto -Check Control is displayed ::::;,
page 33. •
Emergency flasher ~
The emergency flasher mak es othe r moto rists aware that
you or your vehicle are in an emergency situation.
1 1 Q
-
II D ll1
[ Ii J
a
l 'l
"' " "'
J
Fi g. 5 4 Cen ter
co nso le : em erge ncy
fl as her swi tc h
Press the sw itch ~==>fig. 54, to sw itch the emergency
flas her on or off.
When the emergency flasher is on, al l four turn signal blink at the
same time. The turn signal indicator lights¢ Q in the inst rument
cluster, as we ll as the light in the emergency flasher switch~ blink
l ikew ise.
The emergency flasher will automatically switch on if you are in an accident where the airbag has deployed .
[ i ] Tips
You should switch on the emergency flasher when :
• you are the last vehicle standing in a traffic jam so that any other
veh ic les coming can see you, or when
• your vehic le has broken down or you are in an emergency situa ­
tion, or when
• your vehicle is being towed by a tow truck or if you are towing
another vehicle behind you. •

• Before you take your vehicle to an automatic car wash , make sure
you have the windshield wiper system switched off !lever in position
Ol, otherwise the windshield wiper system could get damaged in the
car wash if it should suddenly come on.
[ i] Tips
• The rain sensor is part of the interval wiping system. Turning off
the ignition will also deactivate the rain sensor . To reactivate the
sensor, switch off the interval wiping function, then switch it back
on again.
• Worn or dirty windshield wiper blades cause smearing, which
can affect the operation of the light/rain sensor*. Check the condi­
tion of your windshield wiper blades regularly .
• Applies to vehicles with light/rain sensor : When the wipers are
switched on manually and in rain conditions, the automatic head ­
lights* turn on~
page 53, "Sensor activated head- and tail light
control" or off during the day when the wipers are no longer oper ­
ating . The automatic headlights* function is available in this case
only when the light switch is in the "AUTO" position~
page 53,
fig. 48.
• Make sure the washer fluid reservoir in the engine compartment
is topped off before going on a long trip. Look up~
page 241 for
checking and filling the washer container .
• The wipers only operate with the hood complete ly c losed .•
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
Clear vision
Rear window wiper
(Q
The wiper lever is also used to operate the rear window
wiper and the automatic wiper/washer function.
Fig. 65 Wiper leve r:
activating the rear
wi ndo w wipe r and
washer
The rear window wiper and the automatic wiper/washer
functions are activated as follows:
Intermittent wiping
Push the wiper lever forward towards the dashboard and
to the
first position ©=> fig. 65. The rear window wiper
will wipe the window approx. every four seconds.
Automatic wiper/washer function
Push the wiper lever forward to the second stop, position
0, and hold it there for as long as you want the rear
wiper/washer to operate.
Re lease the lever again. The wiper will keep running for
approx . four seconds.
Switching intermittent wiper action off
-Pull the lever all the way back to the original position.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Clear vision
& WARNING
Wiper blades are crucial for safe driving! Only in good condition
are they able to clear the windows properly to provide unre­
stricted visibility. Worn or frayed wiper blades are a safety hazard!
=> page 67, "Replacing front wiper blades"
(D Note
In freezing or near freezing conditions:
• Always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the glass
before you turn the wiper on. Loosen a wiper blade which is frozen
in place before operating the wiper to prevent damage to the wiper
blade or the wiper motor.
• Do not use the wiper to clear a frosted window . Using the wipers
as a convenient ice scraper will destroy the wiper blades.
[ i J Tips
For better rearward vision when parking, the rear window wiper is
automatically activated one time when the windshield wipers are
switched on and reverse gear is engaged. •
Applies to vehic les: w ith head light washer system
Headlight washer system
The headlight washer system cleans the headlights.
-Operate the windshield wiper/washer system=> page 63,
fig. 64 © with the headlights turned on by holding the
lever for longer than one second.
The washer jets extend forward out of the front bumper driven by
water pressure to spray the front headlights with water.
You should inspect the headlights regularly (for example when refu­
eling) and clean off any solid dirt or insects from the lenses. To
ensure the system works properly in winter, keep the washer jets
free of snow and remove any ice using a de -icing spray. •
Service position
Replacing the windshield wiper blades is only possible
when you move the wiper arms into the service position. In
order to use the windshield wipers, the hood must be
completely closed. When there is a risk of frost, make sure
that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield.
Switch the ignition on.
Act ivate the service position by way of the driver infor­
mation system =>
page 23.
(D Note
Never drive your vehicle when the windshield wiper arms are in the
service position and pulled away from the windshield. When you
drive faster than 4 mph (6 km/h), the wiper arms automatically
return back to the park position and could cause paint damage to
the engine hood!
[ i] Tips
• You can also turn on the service position, for example, if you
want to protect the windshield from icing by using a cover.
• Th e service position moves to
off automatically when you
operate the windshield wiper lever, or speed exceeds 4 mph
(6 km/h). •

•
the ESP check light comes on, see~ page 13. The message ASR off
appears in the display as well.
The ASR should normally be activated all the time . Only in certain
exceptional situations when some slip is desirable does it make
sense to deactivate the ASR. Examples:
• when driving with tire chains
• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground and
• when rocking the vehicle loose after it has become stuck.
When the abnormal situation is over, you should activate the ASR
again.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also ~
page 255, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels". •
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending largely on operating conditions and driving habits~& .
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your autho-
Intelligent technology
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the Warranty & Main­
tenance booklet.
Failure to have your brake pads inspected can
result in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking effect of the engine.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Moisture or road salt
If you are driving faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads will briefly touch the brake discs in
regular intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, will not notice anything.
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few cautious brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
driven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used . Likewise,
you clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads
with a few cautious applications of the brake~&.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips with little use of the brakes .
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high speed~& .
Faults in the brake system
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed~&. ..,
I t •

___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
Low brake fluid level
Ma lfu ncti ons can occ ur in th e brake system if the bra ke flu id leve l is
too low. The brake fluid leve l is monitored e lectronically.
Brake lining wear status Bra ke lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi ­
t ion of the brake pa ds through the o pen in g s in t he wheel. If neces ­
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection=>
page 272 ,
"Whee l change".
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuver s for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road cond itions permit . Other
road u sers must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident !
• Before des cending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans ­
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range. Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
c ause the brakes to get hot and diminish braking efficiency.
• Do not "ride the brakes " by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat, p rem ature wear and in creased stopping distance .
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water , driv ing in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced. In winter ,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums.
Carefully apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off afte r a few careful b rake appli cations .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -covered roads
without using your brakes can also affe ct braking effic ien cy. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
careful brake applications .
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
spoiler , be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstru cted .
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effe ctive­
ness of the entire brake system .
& WARNING (continued )
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance . Avoid driv ing the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qu alified workshop. •
Brake booster
The bra ke boos ter adds e xtra bra king pow er.
Th e brake boost er wo rks wit h vacuum p ressu re wh ich is created
only when the engine is running=>& .
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working , for e xample when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake booster has somehow been damaged , the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS}
A BS p revents t he wheels from lockin g up unde r braking.
The ABS co ntrib utes effectively to ve hic le c ont ro l since it preven ts
the whee ls from
locking when the bra kes are app lied. Th is means
that the vehicle remains stee rable and is less l ikely to skid .
With ABS you do not need to
pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down .
Ho wever , do not e xpect that t he ABS shor tens brak ing distance
under
all circumstances . When driv ing on gravel or on newly fa llen
snow on top of icy surfaces, b raki ng d istance may be even longer,
th ere for e, u nder these circumstances, it is esp ecially important t hat
you drive s lowly and w ith g reat ca re . ._