service AUDI S3 2009 User Guide

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). •

Replacing front wiper blades
Wiper blades in good condition help keep the windshield
clear.
Removing the wiper blade
Fig . 66 Unlatching
wiper blades
Fig . 67 Removing
wiper blades
- Move the wipers to the service position ~ page 66.
- Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the glass.
- On the upper end of the wiper arm at the corrugation, squeeze the plastic retainer together on both sides in the
direction of the arrow~ fig. 66.
- Rotate the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow@
~ fig. 67 away from the wiper arm.
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
Clear vision
- Lift the wiper blade off in the direction of the arrow @.
Attaching the wiper blade
- Place the rounded end of the wiper onto the end of the
wiper arm in the opposite direction to the arrow @
~ fig. 67.
- Swing the wiper in the opposite direction to the arrow@
onto the wiper arm .
- Squeeze the corrugation on the wiper until you hear it
click in the wiper arm.
- Fold the wiper arm back onto the windshield.
- Switch the ignition on and move the wiper lever down
briefly. The wiper will move back to the park position.
The front wiper blades measure left side 23.20 in. (590 mm) and
right side 18.50 in. (470 mm) in length,
Clean your wiper blades regularly with a windshield washer solution
to prevent streaking. If the blades are very dirty, for example with
insects, carefully clean the blades with a sponge or a soft brush.
If the wiper blades begin to streak the windshield, this cou ld be
caused by residue left on the windshield by automatic car washes.
Fill the windshield washer container with a special solution avail­
able at your authorized Audi dealer to remove the residue.
Be sure to inspect the condition of your wiper blades regularly. For
safety reasons, rep lace your wiper blades once or twice a year if
necessary. See your authorized Audi dealer for replacement blades.
& WARNING
• Clean your wiper blades regularly with a windshield washer
solution to prevent streaking.
If the wiper blades are very dirty, for .,,_
Vehicle care I I Technical data

Clear vision
& W ARNIN G (con tinued )
example with in se cts , ca refully cle an the w iper bl ades w ith a
s ponge or a soft bru sh.
• For your sa fety , you should repla ce the wiper blades once or
twi ce a ye ar. S ee your authorized Audi d ealer for replacement
blades .
0 Note
• The wiper blades may only be changed=> page 66 in the service
position! Otherwise, you risk damaging the paint on the hood or the
windshield wiper motor .
• To prevent damage to the wiper system:
-Always loosen blades which are frozen to the windshield
before operating wipe rs.
- Do n ot use gasoline, kerosene , paint thinner, or other solvents
on or near the wiper blades.
- Do not attempt to move the wipers by hand.
[ i ] Tips
Commercial ho t waxes app lied by automatic car washes affect the
cleanability of the g lass surface.
• The front wiper b lades are differen t leng ths; the blade on the
driver's side is longer. •
Changing the rear wiper blade
Removing the wiper bl ade
Fi g. 6 8 In st a lling /rem
o ving wip er b lad e
- Fold the windshield wiper arm away from the glass .
- Pull the metal surround of the wiper blade o ut of the
retainer in the direct ion o f the arrow => fig. 68 . Ho ld the
wiper arm f irmly by the upper end as you do t his.
Attaching the wiper blade
- Adjus t th e posi tion of t he wiper blade in th e retainer
=> fig . 68 (see close up) .
- Press the wiper blade into t he re tainer. Hold t he wiper
arm firmly by t he upper end as you do th is .
- Fold the wiper arm bac k on to the glass.
& WARNING
• To a void streak s, you sh o uld clean the wind sh ield wiper blade s
regularly with w indow cleaner . For heavy soiling, for example,
in se cts, the wiper blade s can a lso be cleaned w ith a sponge or a
cloth.
~

Warm and cold
Warm and cold
Climate controls
Description
The air conditioner is fully automatic and is designed to
maintain a comfortable and uniform climate inside the
vehicle.
We recomme nd the following s ettings:
- Select and set a temperature between 64
°F (+22 °C) and
84 °F (+28 °C).
- Press the !AUTO
I button.
With this setting, you attain maximum comfort in the least amount
of time . Change this set ting, as desired, to mee t your pe rsonal
needs.
The climate controls are a combination of heating, venti lation and
cooling systems, which automatica lly reduce humidity and coo l the
air inside your vehic le .
The air temperature, air flow and air distribution are automatically
regu lated to achieve and maintain the desired passenger compart ­
ment temperature as quick ly as possible.
The system automatically compensates for changes in the outside
temperature and for the intensity of the sun light entering the
veh ic le. We recommend you use the
Automat ic mode=> page 101
for year -round comfort.
P lease note the following :
Turn on the air conditioner to reduce humidity in the vehic le. This
a lso prevent the window s from fogging up. When the outside temperature is high and the air is very humid,
c
ondensat ion from the evaporator may drip under the vehicle . T his
is normal and does not indicate a leak.
I f the outside temperature is low, the fan normally only switches to
a higher speed once the engine coola nt has war med u p sufficiently .
T he air conditioner temporarily sw itches off when you drive off from
a standstill using fu ll throttle to save engine power.
The comp ressor also swi tches off if the coolant temperatu re is to o
high so that the engine can be adequate ly cooled under extreme
lo ads .
Air pollutants filt er
The air po llutants fi lter (a combined partic le filter and activated
charcoal fi lter) reduces or eliminates outside air pollution (dust, or
p ollen) from en ter ing the vehic le .
The air po llutants fi lter must be changed at the intervals specified
in your Warranty
& Maintenance bo oklet, so that the ai r conditioner
can proper ly work.
I f you drive your vehicle in an area with high air pol lution, the filter
may need to be changed m ore freque ntly tha n specified in your
Audi Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. If in doubt, ask your autho­
r iz ed Aud i Service Adviso r fo r a dvice .
& WARNING
Redu ced vi sibility i s dangerou s and can cause accidents .
• For saf e driving it is very important that all window s be free of
ice , sno w and conden sation.
• Fully familiarize yourself with the proper use and fun ction of
the heating and ventil ation sy stem and especially how to defog
and defrost the windows. ...

________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n_ g~ S_ a_ fe_ ly __ !II
Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
-Make sure that all lights and signals are operat ing
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good
visibility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully =>
page 94.
-Make sure that noth ing can interfere w ith the pedals.
- Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for your height .
- Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints
according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right ch ild restraint correctly to
protect children =>
page 169, "Child Safety ".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen ­
gers do the same=>
page 74, "General recommenda ­
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it p roperly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten the ir safety belts properly
=>
page 137. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen­
trate on the road without being distracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road =>& .There ­
fore:
Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a cellular telephone .
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
- Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n_ g~ S_ a_ fe_ ly __ lllll
& WARNING (continued)
• Always hold the steering wheel on the outside of the steering
wheel rim with your hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions
to help reduce the risk of personal injury if the driver's airbag
inflates.
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with
your hands at other positions inside the steering wheel rim or on
the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong way
can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms and head if the
driver's airbag deploys .
• Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the
ability of the supplemental driver's airbag to protect you in a colli­
sion.
• Always sit in an upright position and never lean against or
place any part of your body too close to the area where the airbags
are located.
• Before driving, always adjust the front seats and head
restraints properly and make sure that all passengers are properly
restrained .
• Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is moving. Your seat
may move unexpectedly and you could lose control of the vehicle .
• Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury
due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats~
page 169.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat~
page 147. •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
Proper seating position for the front
passenger
The proper front passenger seating position is important
for safe, relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the ris k of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the
seat for the front passenger to the following pos ition:
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
position and your back comes in full contact with it
whenever the vehicle is mov ing.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge is as
even with the top of your head as possible but not lower
than eye level and so that it is as close to the back of your
head as possible::::;,
page 131.
Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the front
passenger seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly::::;,
page 141.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's
seat, see~ page
74.
& WARNING
Front seat passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too
close to the airbag can be seriously injured or killed by the airbag
as it unfolds. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury :
• Passengers must always sit in an upright position and never
lean against or place any part of their body too close to the area
where the airbags are located.
• Passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too close to the
airbag can be seriously injured by an airbag as it unfolds with
great force in the blink of an eye. ..
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving Safely ---------------=------------'-
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an important part
of your vehicle's occupant restraint system and can help
to reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations.
Fig. 130 Correctly
adjusted head restraint
viewed from the side
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to achieve
the best protection.
-Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge of the
restraint is level with the top of your head, but no lower
than eye level and so it is as close to the back of your
head as possible ~ fig. 130.
Adjusting head restraints=> page 79.
& WARNING
Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head
restraints increases the risk of serious injuries in a collision . To
help reduce the risk of injury :
• Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly
adjusted.
• Every person in the vehicle must have a properly adjusted head
restraint.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING (continued)
•
Always make sure each person in the vehicle properly adjusts
their head restraint. Each head restraint must be adjusted
according to occupants' size so that the upper edge is as even
with the top of the person's head, but no lower than eye level and
so it is as close to the back of to the head as possible .
• Never attempt to adjust head restraint while driving. If you
have driven off and must adjust the driver headrest for any reason,
first stop the vehicle safely before attempting to adjust the head
restraint.
• Children must always be properly restrained in a child restraint
that is appropriate for their age and size=>
page 169 . •
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant restraint system can only reduce the risk of
injury if vehicle occupants ore properly seated.
Improper seating positions can cause serious injury or
death . Safety belts can only work when they are properly
positioned on the body. Improper seating positions reduce
the effectiveness of safety belts and will even increase the
risk of injury and death by moving the safety belt to critical
areas of the body. Improper seating positions also increase
the risk of serious injury and death when an airbag deploys
and strikes an occupant who is not in the proper seating
position. A driver is responsible for the safety of all vehicle
occupants and especially for children. Therefore:
- Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect seating posi­
tion when the vehicle is being used~& .
The following bulletins list only some sample positions that will
increase the risk of serious injury and death. Our hope is that these .,_
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving Safely -
----------------
Tie-downs
The luggage compartment is equipped with four tie­
downs to secure luggage and other items.
Use the tie -downs to secure your cargo properly~ page 133,
"Loading the luggage compartment".
In a collision, the laws of physics mean that even smaller items that
are loose in the vehicle will become heavy missiles that can cause
serious injury. Items in the vehicle possess energy which vary with
vehicle speed and the weight of the item. Vehicle speed is the most
significant factor.
For example, in a frontal collision at a speed of 30 mph (48 km/h),
the forces acting on a 10-lb (4.5 kg) object are about 20 times the
normal weight of the item. This means that the weight of the item
would suddenly be about 200 lbs. (90 kg). You can imagine the inju­
ries that a 200 lbs. (90 kg) item flying freely through the passenger
compartment could cause in a collision like this.
& WARNING
Weak, damaged or improper straps used to secure items to tie ­
downs can fail during hard braking or in a collision and cause
serious personal injury.
• Always use suitable mounting straps and properly secure
items to the tie-downs in the luggage compartment to help
prevent items from shifting or flying forward as dangerous
missiles.
• When the rear seat backrest is folded down, always use suit­
able mounting straps and properly secure items to the tie-downs
in the luggage compartment to help prevent items from flying
forward as dangerous missiles into the passenger compartment.
• Never attach a child safety seat tether strap to a tie-down. •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Reporting Safety Defects
Applicable to U.S.A. If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis­
tration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Audi of
America, Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defects exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer,
or Audi of America, Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hot
Ii ne to I I-free at:
Tel.: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or write to:
Administrator NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Safety belts -----------------=-------
Safety belts
General notes
Always wear safety belts!
Wearing safety belts correctly saves lives!
This chapter explains why safety belts are necessary, how
they work and how to adjust and wear them correctly.
- Read all the information that follows and heed all of the
instruct ions and WARNINGS.
& WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them improperly increases
the risk of serious personal injury and death.
• Safety belts are the single most effective means available to
reduce the risk of serious injury and death in automobile acci­
dents . For your protection and that of your passengers , always
correctly wear safety belts when the vehicle is moving.
• Pregnant women, injured, or physically impaired persons must
also use safety belts . Like all vehicle occupants, they are more
likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts . The
best way to protect a fetus is to protect the mother -throughout
the entire pregnancy. •
Number of seats
Your Audi has a total of five seating positions: two in the front and
three in the rear. Each seating position has a safety belt.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
& WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them improperly increases
the risk of serious personal injury and death .
• Never strap more than one person, including small children,
into any belt. It is especially dangerous to place a safety belt over
a child sitting on your lap.
• Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are safety
belts available.
• Be sure everyone riding in the vehicle is properly restrained
with a separate safety belt or child restraint. •
Safety belt warning light ~
Your vehicle has a warning system for the driver and front
seat passenger (on USA models only) to remind you about
t he importance of buckling-up.
Before driving off, always:
Fig. 132 Safety belt
warning light in the
instrument cluster -
enlarged
- Fasten your safety belt and make sure you are wearing it
properly.
1J,,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

_________________________________________________ S_ a_f _e _t .:..y _ b_ e_lt_ s __ llll
• With the front seats, the height adjustment of the seat can also
be used to adjust the position of the safety belts. •
Improperly worn safety belts
Incorrectly positioned safety belts can cause severe inju­
ries.
Wearing safety belts improperly can cause serious injury or
death. Safety belts can only work when they are correctly positioned on the body. Improper seating posit ions reduce
the effectiveness of safety belts and w ill even increase the
risk of injury and death by moving the safety belt to critical
areas of the body . Improper seating positions also increase
the r isk of serious injury and death when an airbag deploys
and strikes an occupant who is not in the correct seating position. A driver is responsible for the safety of all vehicle
occupants and especially for children. Therefore:
-Never permit anyone to assume an incorrect sitting posi -
tion in the vehicle while traveling~& .
The following lists only some examples of improperly worn safety
bel ts that will increase the risk of serious injury and death. Our hope
is that these examples will make you more aware of seating posi­
tions that are dangerous.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:
• never wear the shoulder belt under your arm
• never let the shoulder belt pass over your neck
• never wear the safety belt loosely
• never place the lap belt portion of the safety belt across your
abdomen ~& -
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
Improperly worn
safety belts increase the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.
• Always make sure that all vehicle occupants are correctly
restrained and stay in a correct seating position whenever the
vehicle is being used.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other important infor­
mation ~
page 140. •
Safety belt pretensioners
How safety belt pretensioners work
In front, side and rear end collisions above a particular
severity, safety belts are tensioned automatically.
The safety belts are equipped with safety belt pretensioners . The
system is activated by sensors in front, side and rear -end collisions
of great severity . This tightens the belt and takes up belt slack~ &
in "Service and disposal of safety belt pretensioner " on
page 146.
Taking up the slack helps to reduce forward occupant movement
during a collision.
0 Note
Never let the belt remain over a rear seat back that has been folded
forward.
[ i] Tips
The safety belt pretensioners can only be activated once.
• In minor frontal and side collisions, in rear -end collisions, in a
rollover and in accidents involving very little impact force , the safety
belt pretensioner are not activated . .,_
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data