2011 AUDI A3 warning

1111..__T_ r _a_ n_s_ m_ i_ s _s_ i_ o _ n _________________________________________________ _
Applies to veh icles : with S tro nic® and with Tiptron ic controls on the stee ring whee l
Steering wheel with Tiptronic ® controls
The selector paddles allow the driver to keep both hands
on the steering wheel when shifting gears.
Shifting up
Fig. 119 Sport
steering wheel with
selector paddles
-Pull the right paddle, marked G) => fig. 119 briefly
towards you .
Shifting down
-Pull the left paddle, marked O=> fig. 119 briefly towards
you.
The selector paddles on the steering wheel are activated when the
selector lever on the center console is in
D, S, or in the manual posi­
tion (Tiptron ic mode).
You can also shift gears in the Tiptronic mode using the selector lever
on the center console.
[ i ] Tips
With the gear selector lever in either "D" or "S" the transmission will
switch back to the automatic mode if you do not use the paddles
within approx. 30 seconds .•
Applies to veh icles : with S tro nic®
Kick-down feature
The kick -down feature allows maximum acceleration.
If you depress the accelerator pedal fully beyond the full-thrott le
position, the transmission automatically downshifts one gear,
depending on vehicle speed and engine rpm. The upsh ift in to the next
higher gear takes place as soon as the maximum specified engine
speed is reached.
& WARNING
Please note that the drive wheel s can spin if the kick-down is u sed
on a smooth slippery road -risk of skidding! •
Applies to veh icles: w ith Lau nch Control an d S tron ic® and Gasoline engine only
Launch Control Program
The Launch Control Program permits maximum accelera­
tion.
In order to use Launch Control, the ASR (Anti-Slip Regula­
tion) must be disabled. When ASR is disabled, the ESP
warning/indicator light in the instrument cluster illumi­
nates. So that Launch Control can be used, the engine must
be at operating temperature and the steering wheel must
not be turned.
- With the engine running, briefly press the ESP button. The
message "ASR off' appears in the instrument cluster
display.
- Shift the gear lever to "S" or the tiptronic ® posit ion.
- Step on the brake peda l with your left foot and keep the
brake pedal fully depressed for at least one second . _,,,

Transmission -_____________ _.;..____;_~~
-With your ri ght foot, step on the accelerator to the wi de­
open t hrottle positio n or Kickdown . The engine speed
settles at about
3,200 rpm.
- Take your left foot o ff the brake.
& WARNING
• Always adapt your driving to the traffic flow.
• Only use Launch Control when road and traffic condition s allow
it and other dri ver s will n ot be endangered or annoyed by your
driving and the acceleration of the vehicle.
• Make sure that ESP remains enabled . With the ESP disabled,
the vehicle could brake awa y, particula rly on a slick and slippery
road -risk of skidding!
• Once a cceleration i s fin ished , switch ASR on again by briefl y
pushing the ESP button. •
Applie s to v ehic le s: wit h S tron ic ®
Back-up program
In the event of a system malfunction, there is an back -up
program.
I n the even t of system ma lfunct ion, the automati c transmis sion
switches to the fail-safe mode. All of the se lector lever posit ion
displays fo r the automat ic transmiss ion are hi ghligh ted with a ligh t
background in the instrument cluster display . In some cases you
canno t drive in the reverse gear a ny mo re.
If the transmiss ion sw itc hes to fa il-safe mode, you should take the
vehicle to an authorized Aud i dealership as soon as possible to have
the cond itio n corrected. •
Contro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Applies to veh icles : w ith S t ron ic ®
Emergency release for selector lever
If the vehicle's power supply fails, the selector lever can
be released in an emergency .
Fig. 120 Selector
le ve r: R em ov e se le ct or
l e ve r sleev e
Fig. 12 1 Selector
l e ve r: em ergen cy
relea se fro m the P ark
p os iti on
The em ergency release m echanism is loca ted on th e right
front u nder the se lector lev er shift gate . The re lease p roc e­
dure requ ires profess ional dext eri ty. We recommend t hat
you seek assis tance.
Removing the selector Lever boot
- Engage the par king bra ke.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

-Transmission •m ___________________ _
- Remove the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit. Use the
flat side of the reversible screwdriver blade=:>
page 2 70.
- Carefully pry the cover out with the screwdriver and pull it
=:>
page 121, fig. 120 toward the shifter knob in the direc­
tion of the arrow. The screwdriver must grip at the lower
edge of the cover to loosen it.
Emergency release for selector Lever
- Press the yellow release lever in the direction of the arrow
=:>
page 121, fig. 121 and hold it in that position.
- Press the release button in the selector lever@ and move
the lever into the N position .
- Clip the shift boot back into the shift gate.
If the vehicle has to be pushed or towed if the power supply fails (e.g.
battery is discharged), the selector lever must be moved to the N
position using the emergency locking device.
& WARNING
The selector must only be shifted from the P position if the hand­
brake is firmly applied. Otherwise the vehicle would start moving
unexpectedly on a grade when the selector lever is shifted from
the P position -increasing the risk of an accident. •

1111 ....... _D_ r_iv _i_ n .... g=-- S_ a_f _e _Ly :,.._ ______________________________________________ _
Driving Safely
General notes
Safe driving habits
Please remember -safety first!
Th is chapter contains important information, t ips, instructions and
warnings that you need to read an d observe fo r you r own safe ty, the
safety of you r passengers and others . We have summarized here
w hat you need to know about sa fety belts, airbags, child restra ints as
we ll as child safety . You r safety is for us
priority number 1. Always
observe the information and warnings in this section -for your own
safety as well as t hat of your passengers.
The informat ion in this section applies to all mode l versions of yo ur
veh icle . Some of the fe atures des cribed in this se ctions m ay be st an­
dard equ ipment on some models, or may be optional eq uipment on
others. If you a re not sure, ask your a uth o rized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
• Always make sure that you follow the instructions and heed
the WARNINGS in th is Manual. It is in your interest and in the
intere st of your passengers.
• Always keep the complete Owner's Literatu re in your Audi
when you lend or sell your vehicle so that this important informa ­
tion will always be available to the driver and passengers .
• Always keep the Owner's literature handy so that you can find
it easily if you have questions . •
Safety equipment
The safety features are part of the occupant restraint
s y stem and wor k together to he lp reduce the ris k of injury
in a wide variety of accident situations.
Your sa fety and t he safety o f yo ur passenge rs shou ld no t be left to
chance . Adva nces in technology have made a variety of features avai l­
a b le to help re duce the risk of injury in an a cc ident . The fo llow ing is a
list of jus t a few of the safety features in your Audi:
• sophisticated safety belts for driver and a ll passenger seating
p osi tion s,
• safety belt pretensioners,
• safety belt fo rce lim iters for the fro nt sea ts,
• safety belt he igh t adju stmen t sys tems for the fro nt sea ts,
• automatic safety be lt height adjustment for the rear seats,
• head restraints fo r eac h seating position,
• front airbags,
• side airbags in the fro nt seats a nd outer rear seats*,
• side curtain air bags,
• special LATCH anchorages for child restraints,
• head restraints fo r eac h seating position,
• adjus table stee ring co lumn.
Th ese ind ividual safety features, can work together as a system to
he lp protec t you and yo ur passengers in a wide range of accidents.
Th ese featu res ca nnot work as a syst em if they are not always
correct ly adjusted and cor rect ly used.
Safety is everybody' s re sponsibility! •

Driving Safely ---------------------"~'---
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 operating
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good visi-
bility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully::::>
page 91.
-Make sure that nothing can interfere with 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 child restraint correctly to
protect children ::::,
page 167, "Child Safety".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen­ gers do the same::::,
page 73, "General recommenda­
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it properly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten their safety belts properly
=:> page 135. •
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 _ f_e _,Ly _ ______________________________________________ _
Proper occupant seating positions
Proper seating position for the driver
The proper driver seating position is important for safe,
relaxed driving.
Fig. 122 Correct
seating position
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the
driver's seat to the following position:
- Adjust the driver's seat so that you can easily push the
pedals all the way to the floor while keeping your knee(s)
slightly bent~& .
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
pos ition so that your back comes in full contact with it
when you drive.
- Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a distance of at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the steering wheel and
your breast bone~ fig . 122. If not possible, see your
authorized Audi dealership about adaptive equipment.
- Adjust the steering wheel so that the steering wheel and airbag cover points at your chest and not at your face. -
Grasp the top of the steering wheel with your elbow(s)
slightly bent.
- Adjust the head restraint so the upper edge is as even as
possible with the top of your head. If that is not possible,
try to adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to this
position as possible.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly~
page 139.
-Always keep both feet in the footwell so that you are in
control of the vehicle at all t imes.
F o r deta iled informat ion on how to adjust the d river 's seat, see
=>
page 74 , "Adjusting front seats manually " or => pag e 75,
"Adjus ting the power sea t".
& WARNING
Drivers who are unbelted, out of position or too close to the airbag
can be seriously injured by an airbag as it unfolds. To help reduce
the risk of serious personal injury:
• Always adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel so that
there are at least 10 inches (25 cm) between your breastbone and
the steering wheel.
• 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. .,

______________________________________________ D_ ri_v _ i_n _,,g ,c.._ S_a_ f_ e_ l..:: y __ lR
& WARNING (continued)
• 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 167.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat~
page 145. •
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 risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the seat
for the front passenger to the following position:
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
position and your back comes in full contact with it when­
ever the vehicle is moving.
- Adjust the head restraint so the upper edge is as even as
possible with the top of your head. If that is not possible,
try to adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to this
position as possible=>
page 128.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
-
Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the front
passenger seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly::::>
page 139.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's seat,
see ~
page 73.
& 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.
• Always make sure that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the front passenger's breastbone and the instrument
panel.
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Before driving, always adjust the front passenger seat and
head restraint properly.
• Always keep your feet on the floor in front of the seat. Never rest them on the seat, instrument panel, out of the window, etc.
The airbag system and safety belt will not be able to protect you properly and can even increase the risk of injury in a crash.
• 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.
II>
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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& WARNING (continued)
• Children must always ride in child safety seats=> page 167.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat=>
page 145. •
Proper seating positions for passengers in
rear seats
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both feet on
the floor consistent with their physical size and be prop­
erly restrained whenever the vehicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect seating
position in the event of a sudden braking maneuver or an
accident, your passengers on the rear bench seat must
always observe the following :
- If there are passengers in the rear seat, slide the head
restraints upward at least to the next notch on the occu­
pied seats =>
page 78.
-Make sure that the seatback is securely latched in the
upright position =>
page 81.
-Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts properly=>
page 139.
-Make sure that children are always properly restrained in a
child restraint that is appropriate for their size and age
=>
page 167.
& WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the rear seat can be seri­
ously injured in a crash.
& WARNING (continued)
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Safety belts only offer maximum protection when the seatback
is securely latched in the upright position and the safety belts are
properly positioned on the body. By not sitting upright, a rear seat
passenger increases the risk of personal injury from improperly
positioned safety belts!
• Always adjust the head restraint properly so that it can give
maximum protection. •
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints ore an important part
of your vehicle 's occupant restraint system and can help
to reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations .
Fig. 123 Head
restraint: viewed from
the front
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to achieve the
best protection.
- Adjust the head restraints so the upper edge is as even as
possible with the top of your head. If that is not possible,
try to adjust the head restraint so that it is as close to this
position as possible=> fig . 123. .,