2009 AUDI S3 ABS

-Airbag system ----------------
& W
ARN ING (continued )
• Airbag work most effectively when used with properly worn
safety belt s.
• Therefore , always wear your safety belts and make sure that
everybody in your vehicle is properly restra ined .
& WARNING
A person on the front passenger seat , espe cially infants and small
c hildren, will receive serious injuries and can even be killed by
being too close to the airbag when it inflates .
• Although the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle is
designed to turn off the front passenger airbag if an infant or a
small child is on the front passenger seat , nobody can absolutely
guarantee that deployment unde r these spe cial conditions is
impossible in all conce ivable situations that may happen during
the useful life of your vehicle.
• The Advanced Airbag System can deploy in accordance with
the "low risk" option under the U .S . Federal Standa rd if a child that
is heavier than the typical one -year old child is on the front
pas senger seat and the other cond itions for airbag deployment
are met.
• Accident statistics have shown that children are generally safer
in the rear seat area than in the front seating position .
• For their own safety , all children , espec ially 12 years and
younger, should always ride in the back properly restrained for
their age and size . •
Advanced front airbag system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front Advanced Airbag System in
c ompl ia n ce wi th Un it ed Sta tes Federa l Motor Vehicle Safet y Sta n­
dard 208 as appl icab le at the time your vehicle was manufactured. T
he front Advanced Airbag System supplements the safety belts to
p rovide addit ional protecti on for the d river's a nd fro nt passenger's
heads and upper bodies in fronta l crashes . The ai rbags inflate only
in fron tal impac ts w hen the vehic le dece le ra tion is high en ough .
Th e fro nt Advanced A irbag System for t he fro nt seat occupa nts is
not a substitute for your safety belts . Rather, it is pa rt of the overall
occu pan t restra int system in your v ehicle. A lways remembe r that
the airbag system can only help to protect you, if you are sitting
uprigh t, weari ng you r sa fe ty bel t an d wea ring it proper ly . T hi s is w hy
you and your passengers must always be proper ly restrained, not
jus t beca use t he law requi res y ou t o be .
T he Advanced A irbag Syste m in your ve hicle has been cert ified to
meet the " lo w risk" requ irements fo r 3 an d 6 year -o ld chi ldren on the
passen ger side and ve ry small a dults on t he dr iver s ide. The low r isk
deployment criteria are intended to he lp reduce the risk of injury
th ro ugh in te ract io n with the front a irbag t hat ca n occur, fo r
example, by being too close to the steering wheel and instrument
p anel whe n the a irbag inflates.
I n addition, the syst em has been cert ified to comply with the
"su ppression" req uirem en ts of the Safe ty Standa rd, to turn off th e
fron t airbag for in fants 1 2 months o ld a nd youn ger who are
restrained on the front passenger seat in child restraints that are
li s ted in th e Stan dard=>
page 171 .
"Suppress ion" requires the front airbag on the passenger side to be
t urne d off if:
• a child up to about one year of a ge is restra in ed on the front
passenger seat in one of the rear -facing or forward -facing infant
re stra ints l is ted in Fed era l Motor V ehicle Safety Standard 208 w ith
whic h the Advanced Airbag System in your vehic le was ce rtified. For
a lis ting o f the child res traint s th at we re us ed to cer tify y our
vehic le 's compliance with the US Safety Standard =>
page 171,
• weight less t han a thr esho ld leve l sto red in th e contro l un it is
detected on the front passenger seat.
When a pers on is dete ct ed on th e fro nt pas senge r seat, weighi ng
more than the total weight of a ch ild that is about 1 year old ._

___ A_ ir_ b_ a-g _ s_y _s_ t_ e_ m _________________________________________________ _
& WARN ING (continued )
• Always make sure that the side airbag can inflate without inter­
fe rence :
- Never install seat covers or replacement upholstery over the
front seatback s that have not been spe cifically approved by
Audi.
- Never use additional seat cushions that cover the areas
where the side airbags inflate .
- Damage to the original seat covers or to the seam
in the area
of the side airbag module must always be repaired immedi ­
ately by an authorized Audi dealer .
• The airbag system can be activated only once. After an airbag
ha s inflated , it must be replaced by an authorized Audi de aler or
qualified technician who has the technical information , training
and special equipment necessary .
• The airbag system can be deployed only once. After an airbag
has been deployed , it must be repla ced with new repla cement
parts designed and approved especially for your Audi model
version . Replacement of complete airbag systems or airbag
components must be performed by qualified workshops only .
Make sure that any airbag service action is entered in your Audi
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet under AIRBAG REPLACEMENT
RECORD .
• Applies to vehicles with 6 -cylinder engine : For safety reasons in
severe accidents , the alternator and starter are separated from the
vehicle battery with a pyrotechnic circuit interrupter .
- Work on the pyrotechni c circuit interrupter must only be
performed by a qualified dealer -risk of an accident!
- If the vehi cle or the circuit inte rrupter is scrapped , all appli ­
cable safety precautions must be followed. •
Other things that can affect Advanced Airbag
performance
Changing the vehic le 's suspens ion system can change the way that
th e Adva nced Air bag Syste m performs in a c rash. Fo r example,
using tire -ri m co mbinations not approved by Audi, lowering the
veh ic le, c hang in g the st if f ness o f th e suspe nsio n, incl uding th e
spr ings, suspension struts, shock absorbers etc. can change the
f o rces t hat a re m easured by the a irba g se nsors and se nt to the elec ­
tronic control unit. Some suspension changes can, for example,
i ncrease the fo rce level s meas ure d by the senso rs and make the
a irbag system dep loy in crashes in which it wou ld not d ep loy if the
changes ha d no t been made . O th er ki nds of changes may red uce
th e force levels measured by the sensors and preve nt the airbag
fro m deploying w hen it sh ould.
Th e senso rs in th e sa fety belt buc kle fo r the dr iver a nd fro nt
passenger seat te ll the e lectronic control modu le if the safety belt is
l a tc h ed or not . If th e sa fe ty belt is being use d, th e front airbag wi ll
deploy at a slightly higher rate of vehic le dece leration than if the
sa fe ty be lt is n ot b ein g use d. Th ere fore, i n a partic ula r co llisi on, i t is
possible that an airbag wi ll not deploy at a seating position where
th e sa fe ty be lt is bei ng us ed bu t wi ll infl ate at the position w here the
safety be lt is not being used . It is important that nothing interfere
with the safety belt buc kles so that the sensors can send the co rrect
i nformation about safety be lt use to t he electronic contro l unit.
& WARNING
Changing the vehicle's suspension including use of unapproved
tire -rim combinations can change Advanced Airbag performance
and increase the risk of serious personal injury in a crash.
• Never install suspension components that do not have the
same pe rformance characteristics as the components originally
installed on your vehicle.
• Never use tire -rim combinations that have not been approved
by Audi. ..

_______________________________________________ C_h _ i_ld _ S_ a_ f_ e_ t..,:c y __ __
child is available. In these exceptional situations, the use of a lap
belt is bet ter than perm it t ing the chi ld to remain totally unre ­
strained . But remember: a lap be lt cannot provide the same level of
protection as a proper child restraint or a three -point lap and
shoulder belt if the child is big enough . Also, using a lap belt for
younger child ren, who should be using a chi ld restraint, may vio late
laws in your state o r Province .
Never use a lap belt a lone to res train a chi ld tha t weighs less than
about 80 lbs (36 kg) a nd who is less than 4'9" tall. A lways remember
that children do not have the pronounced pelvic structure required
for the pro per func tion of lap belts . If a lap bel t is only restrain t
system available, then the chi ld's safety absolutely requires that the
lap be lt be fas tened snugly a nd as low as possible arou nd the pe lvis
let a lap belt pass over the chi ld's stomach or abdomen .
& WARNING
Using wrong child rest raints or improperly installed child
restr aint s can cau se seriou s personal injury or death in a crash.
• Fa ilu re to properly ro ute safety belts over a child's body will
c au se severe injuries in a cra sh. The lap belt portion of the three
point belt a s well a s an y lap belt alone mu st always pas s as low a s
possible acros s the pelvi s, never over the stomach or abdomen .
• An improperly worn safet y belt will not pro vide the best protec ­
tion in a cra sh and may cause seriou s personal injury . Always
ma ke sure that children and other vehi cle occupants p rope rly
wear available restraint systems . C arefully follow the instructions
provided by the manufacturers of child re straints . •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
Installing a child safety seat
Securing a child safety seat using a safety
belt
Sa fety belts for the r ear seats an d the fr ont passenger con
be locked with the convertible locking retractor to prop­
erly secure child safety seats .
The safety belts eme rgency locking retractors for the rear seats
safety belts and for the front passenger's seat safety belt have a
convertible locking ret ractor for child rest raints . The safety belt
must be locked so that belt webbing cannot unreel. T he ret ractor
can be activated to lock the safety be lt and prevent the safety be lt
webbi ng fro m loosen ing up dur ing norma l driving . A child sa fety
seat can on ly be properly installed when the safety belt is locked so
that the child a nd ch ild safety seat will s tay i n place .
A lways remember: Even though your vehic le is equipped with an
Advanced A irbag system, all child ren, espec ially those 12 years and
younger , should a lways ride in the back seat properly restrained for
their age and size.
& WARNING
Improperly installed child safety seat s increase the risk of serious
pe rsonal injury and death i n a collision.
• Always make sure that the safety belt retractor i s locked when
in stalling a child safety seat. An unlocked safety b elt retracto r
cannot hold the child safety seat in pla ce during normal driving or
in a cr ash.
• Always buckle the child safety seat firmly in place even if a
c hild i s not sitting in it . A loo se ch ild safety seat can fly around
durin g a sudden stop or in a collision .
• Always make su re that the re ar se at ba ckrest to which the
center rear safety belt is atta ched is se curely latched wh enever
the re ar center safety belt is being u sed to se cur e a child re stra int .
9)1,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

_1--_l_ n _t _ e _ll _,ig ,_,_ e_n _t _ t_ e_ c_ h_n _o_ l_ o ~g""- y.e- __________________________________________ _
Intelligent technology
Notice about data recorded by
vehicle control modules
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Data Recorder (EDR),
installed by some manufacturers for the express purpose of
capturing data for retrieval after an accident or crash event . EDR's
are sometimes called "crash recorders".
Some state laws restrict the retrieval or downloading of data stored
by EDR's that were insta lled in a vehicle for the express purpose of
retrieving data after an accident or crash event without the owner's
consent .
Although your vehicle is not equipped with an EDR, it is equipped
with a number of electronic control modules for various vehicle systems such as, for example, eng ine function, emission control, as
well as for the airbags and safety belts.
These electronic control modules also record vehic le -related data
during norma l vehicle operation for diagnostic and repair purposes .
The recording capacity of the electronic cont rol modules is limited
to data (no sound is recorded) and only a small amount of data is
actually recorded over a very limited period of time and stored when
a system fault or other condition is sensed by a control unit . Some
of the data then stored may relate to vehic le speed, direction,
braking as we ll as restraint system use and performance in the
event of a crash or other condition. Stored data can only be read and
downloaded with special equip men t.
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP)
General
The Electronic Stabili ty Program increases driving
stability.
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F ig . 16 3 Ce nte r
cons ole with E SP
sw itch
With ESP, control over the veh ic le is increased in situations when
the vehicle is close to the limits of grip, such as during acce leration
and in curves. ESP reduces the risk of skidding a nd improves vehicle
stability under all road conditions . It operates at all speeds .
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), E lec tronic Differentia l Lock (EDS)
and Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) are integrated in the Elec­
tronic Stability Program .
How ESP work s
The ESP control unit processes the fo llowing data from high-sensi ­
tive sensors : the rotational speed of the vehicle about its vertica l
axis, fore -and -aft and lateral acceleration forces, brake pressure and
steering angle.
Using steering ang le and vehicle speed, the direction the driver
wishes to travel is determined and continuously compared with
t,.

actual vehicle behavior. If the two do not match, for example when
th e vehicle begins to skid, ESP brakes the appropriate wheel auto­
matical ly .
The vehicle is stabilized again by the forces acting on the wheel
during braking. With an oversteering vehicle (tendency for the rear
end to skid out of the curve), the brake application is mainly at the
front wheel on the outside of the curve, with an
understeering
vehicle (tendency to run wide in the curve) at the rear wheel on the
inside of the curve or additionally at the other wheels as needed.
This brake application is accompanied by noises.
ESP works in conjunction with ABS=>
page 194. If there is malfunc ­
tion in the ABS, ESP is also inoperative.
Activating
The ESP is automatica lly activated when the engine is started, and
it performs a self-test. As soon as the test is completed, the system
is in normal operating mode. With ASR deactivated, or with ESP/ASR
deactivated, pressing the button=>
page 190, fig. 163 returns the
system to normal operation.
Deactivating
ESP should normally be activated at all times because this ensures
optimum vehicle stability. Only in certain exceptional cases it does
make sense to deactivate Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) or the Elec­
tronic Stability Program (ESP) by pressing the button =>
page 190,
fig. 163. Both deactivation stages can only be activated from normal
mode .
Deactivating ASR
Tap the switch . Deactivation is indicated by slow flashing of the ESP
lamp in the instrument cluster. In certain situations (e .g. driving
with snow chains, in deep snow or on loose ground, or when
rocking the car free), it may be necessary to deactivate ASR.
Deactivating ESP/ASR
Press the button for more than 3 seconds. Deactivation is indicated
by the ESP lamp in the ins trument cluster staying on permanently .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
This
deactivates the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) in addition to
ASR. No Elec tronic Stability System operation and no Anti -Slip
Regulation is available across the entire speed range; ASR and ESP
are activated only when the brakes are used for the duration of the
braking action and remain active until a stable vehicle condition has
been reached. There is no driving situation which requires ESP to be
deactivated, so this should only be done if the driver's skill and the
traffic situation permit.
& WARNING
• The limits of physics cannot be suspended by ESP. Even in vehi­
cles with ESP. you should always adapt your driving to road and
traffic conditions. This is particularly true on a slippery and wet
road . Do not be tempted by the increased safety provided to take
risks -danger of an accident!
• Please note that when ASR or ESP /ASR is deactivated , the drive
wheels can spin on icy and slippery roads and the vehicle can
break away -danger of skidding!
[ i ] Tips
In the event of a defect in Audi magnetic ride, it can happen that
ASR and ASR/ESP cannot be deactivated, or they are activated auto ­
matically in the deactivated state.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The electronic differential lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
General notes
The electronic differential lock (EDU helps the car to start moving,
accelerate and c limb a gradient on surfaces providing poor or
a lmost no grip . Without EDL , this would be difficult, if not impos ­
sib le.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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How the system works
The EDL operates automatically. It monitors the rotational speed of
the drive wheels on an axle with the help of the ABS sensors
=:,
page 194. If a noticeable difference in rotational speed between
the drive wheels on one axle is detected (e.g. on slippery ground
on
one side),
the spinning wheel is braked, thereby transferring power
to the other drive wheel or wheels (all-wheel drivel. This is done up
to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/h). Noises from the brake
system signal that wheel spin is being controlled.
Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, gradually increase the pressure on the accelerator
pedal until the car starts to move. The wheel less able to transfer
power spins.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads, the EDL cuts out temporarily . The
vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way as a
vehicle without EDL.
As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto ­
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal. Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your ability to control your car. -Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning . This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=:,
page 16. •
Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP). When the vehicle starts up and acceler ­
ates, the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the
engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatically, i.e. without the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS sensors=:,
page 194, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, the engine
torque is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to
lock onto the road surface. The system is active across the entire
speed range.
The ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR will also be out of action .
Activating
The ESP is automatically activated when the engine is started and it
performs a self -test . You can activate a deactivated ASR if required
by pressing the =:,
page 190, fig. 163 button . When it is activated,
the message
ESP/ASR on appears briefly in the display.
Deactivating
You can deactivate the ASR if required by pressing the button (for
less than 3 seconds)=:,
page 190, fig . 163. With the ASR deactivated, .,

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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 . ._

How the ABS system works
An aut omatic check is made whe n a speed of ab out 4 mph (6 km/h)
is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be heard.
I f an individua l wheel begins to rotate too slowly in relation to
ve hicle speed and ten ds to lock, the A BS automatical ly reduces
brake pressure to prevent that wheel from locking.
T his auto matic adjust ment p rocess wil l cause a
slight vibration o f
the brake peda l and some noises to alert you that veh ic le speed
must be ada pted to e xisting roa d and traff ic c onditions.
& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective , always remember that braking
c apability is limited by tire tra ction . Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking e xtra risks .
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics.
[ i ) Tips
• I f ABS is not functioning properly, a warning light wil l come on.
See
=> page 16.
• I f a fau lt occurs in the ABS, the E DL is als o not fu ncti onin g. This
is indicated by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake a ssi st ant is de sig ned to a chieve th e opti mum
b ra kin g eff ec t.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power
and thus to ac hieve a s horte r stop ping dis tance. If the drive r
presses the brake pedal very quick ly, the brake assistant automati ­
ca lly b oosts the braki ng force to the maximu m level, up to th e point
where the anti -loc k brake function (A BS) intervenes to stop the
whee ls from loc king. You should then keep the brake pedal pressed
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
until
the vehicle has braked to the required speed . The brake assis ­
t an t swi tc h es itse lf o ff as s oon as you r eleas e the b rake pe dal.
The brake assistant wi ll not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS .
& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast , espe cially in corners or on a slippery road , or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely . An increased accident
risk cannot be compensated even by the brake assistant , so
always maintain a safe speed. •
ciectro-mechanical power assist
Th e e le ctr o-me ch anic al pow er assis t helps the driv e r
w hen steerin g.
The degree of powe r ass ist is electronically matched to veh icle
speed .
The power steering system assists the driver so that he can steer the
ve hicle with re d uced p hysi ca l eff ort.
Power steering w ill not work if the eng ine is off . As a result, the
stee ring whee l wi ll be ha rd to turn .
& WARNING
If the system develops a problem , you must seek qualified profe s­
sional assistance .
0 Note
If there is an electronic ma lfunction, servotronic will still function
like a conventi onal power s teer ing sy stem , pr ovi din g a constant
steerin g support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data