2011 AUDI A3 ESP

Intelligent technologyz..__~~-____________________________ __.
& WA RNING (c on tinued )
speed acco rding to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
e xtra safety afforded by th e ABS tempt you into taking extra risk s.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics .
[ i J Tips
• If ABS is not funct ioning properly, a warning light will come on .
See ~
page 16 .
• If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
ind ic at ed by t he A BS w arni ng light. •
Brake assistant
The broke assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
br oking effect.
Th e b rake ass istant he lps to inc rease t he effective brak ing powe r and
thus to ac hieve a shorter stopping distance.
If the driver presses the
bra ke ped al ve ry qu ickly, the b rake assistant au toma tically bo osts the
brak ing force to the max imum level, up to the point where the anti­
lo ck brak e function (ABS) in tervenes to stop the whee ls from l ocking.
You should then keep the brake pedal pressed unti l the vehicle has
bra ke d to t he require d spee d. T he bra ke ass istan t swi tches itse lf off
as soon as you re lease the b rake pedal.
Th e brake assistant will not be operative if there is a ma lfu nctio n in
t he A BS .
& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast , especially in corners or on a slippery road , or if you
follow th e vehicle ahead of you too closely. An increased accident
risk cannot be compensated even by the brake assistant, so always
maintain a safe speed .•
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Electro-mechanical power assist
---
T
he elec tro-m echa nic al po wer as sist hel ps the dri ver
w he n steering .
The degree of power assist is electronically matched to vehicle speed.
Th e powe r steering system ass ists the dr iver so t hat he ca n stee r the
vehicle with reduced physical effort.
Power steering will not wor k if the engine is off. As a result, the
stee rin g wheel will b e ha rd to tu rn .
& WARNING
If the system deve lops a problem, you must seek qualified profes­
sional as sistance.
0 Note
If the re is an elect ronic mal func tion, servotronic will s till f unction
li ke a conven tional power steering system, p rovid ing a constant
steering support fo rce that is no longer proportionate to the ve hicle
spee d. This is most noticeab le whe n tur ning the s teer ing whe el at low
speeds ( for example when park ing), -more effort will be required
t h a n usual.
• Be aware o f the d ifferent than usual steering response and adjust
your st eering force a ccordi ng ly.
• Have the prob lem checked and set r ight by an autho rize d Aud i
dealer as soo n as possib le.
• If a steering ma lf u nction occ urs, t his is signaled w ith the or. ~
indicator l igh ts a nd a wa rning tone, see .
[I] Tips
• If the powe r stee ring system shou ld fa il, or if the engine is not
run ning (for example, while being towed), you w ill still be ab le to
stee r the veh icle. However, more effort wi ll be required to do so . .,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

_________________________________________ I_ n_ t_ e_ ll_,igent technology ,__E~-
Battery diagnosis
Battery diagnosis continuously determines the state of the battery.
Sensors determine battery voltage, battery current and battery
temperature. This determines the current state of charge and the
power of the battery .
Idling current management
Idling current management reduces energy consumption while the
vehicle is standing. With the ignition switched off, it controls the
energy supply to the various electrical components. Data from
battery diagnosis is considered.
Depending on the battery's state of charge , individual consumers are
gradually turned off to prevent excessive discharge of the battery and
thus maintain starting capability.
Dynamic energy management
While the vehicle is being driven, dynamic energy management
distributes the energy generated according to the needs of the indi­
v idual components. It regulates consumption, so that more electrical
energy is not being used than is being generated and ensures an
optimal state of charge for the battery.
[ i] Tips
• But even energy management cannot negate the limits of physics.
Consider that the power and life of a battery are limited.
• If starting ability is threatened, you are informed by a warning
=> page 196, "Driver notification in the instrument cluster display". •
What you should know
The highest priority is given to maintaining starting capa­
bility.
The battery is severely taxed in short-distance driving, in city traffic
and during the cold time of year. Abundant electrical energy is
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
required, but only a little is generated. It is also critical if the engine
is
not running and electrical components are turned on. In this
instance energy is being consumed but none is being generated .
It is in precisely these situations that you will notice energy manage­
ment actively regulating the distribution of energy.
Vehicle stands for an extended period
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or weeks,
electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off. This
reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capability over a
longer period.
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions, such as the remote key or power seat adjust ­
ment, may not be available. The convenience functions will be avail­
able again when you turn on the ignition and start the engine .
With the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with the engine turned off, the
battery is being discharged.
If starting capability is jeopardized due to energy consumption, a
message appears in the driver information display.
You have to start the engine to charge the battery.
With the engine running
Although electrical energy is generated when the vehicle is being
driven, the battery can become discharged. This happens mostly
when little energy is being generated and a great deal consumed and
the battery's state of charge is not optimal.
To bring the energy balance back into equilibrium, consumers which
require especially large amounts of energy are temporarily cut back
or switched off. Heating systems in particular require a great deal of
energy . If you notice, for example , that the heated seats* or the
heated rear window are not heating, they have been temporarily cut
back or switched off. These systems will be available again as soon as
the energy balance has been restored. .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
This is especially true for vehicles with low-slung chassis (sports
chassis) and fully loaded vehicles. •
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Your personal style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, env ironmental impact, and wear on your eng ine,
brakes and tires largely depend on three factors:
• your personal driving style
• operat ing conditions
• technical lim itations
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economically,
you can easily cut your fuel consumpt ion by 10-15 percent. This
sect ion wi ll g ive you some tips on how you can help the environment
and your pocketbook.
[I) Tips
The consumption estimates as published by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not co rre­
spond to your actual consumption on the road, which will vary
depending upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothl} and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating.
Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking .
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating. If you antici­
pate what is go ing to happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, accelerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possible - for example when you see that the next traffic light is red.
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
- Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed.
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and does
not d isturb the env ironment.
Fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
disproportionately at high speeds. If you drive at approximately three
quarters of top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by one half.
Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather condi ­
tions perm it. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the engine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at idle .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting for
trains to pass at railroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have long
wa its on red. Turn ing the eng ine off for just 30-40 seconds saves
more fuel than is burned starting the engine again.
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is running
at idle. However, wear and noxious emissions are espec ially high
when the engine is warming up . So you shou ld drive away as soon as .,_

Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic beh ind you using the regular
outs ide mirrors, then you
must i nstall extended mirrors. It is impor­
tant that you
always have clear vision to the rear.
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure you
or your passengers. •
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is lim ited to a typ ical class 1 or class 2 tra iler.
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in place to guard aga inst
shifting, be it fo rwa rd, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer ~ & in "Driving instruc­
tions".
Tire pressure
When towing a tra iler, inflate the tires of yo ur veh icle to the co ld tire
pressure listed unde r "Full load" on the sticker on the right doorjamb.
Inflate trailer tires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' specifications.
Lights
T he headlight settings sho uld be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off . Adjust as necessary so that you can see the road
ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check p roper working of vehicle and tra iler lights.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Safety
chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough s lack in the chains to permit
turning corners . When you install safety chains, make sure they will
not drag on the road when you are driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hit ch. •
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle and trailer,
please note the following:
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded .
- Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
- Observe speed limits.
- Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed .
- Always apply brakes early.
- Monitor the temperature gauge.
Weight distribut ion
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly unstable
distribution of we ight. If th is cannot be avoided drive at very low
speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced " rig is easier to operate and control. This means that the
tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permiss ible
whi le keeping the trai ler as light as possible under the circumstances .
Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage compart-
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Trailer towingL _____________________________________________ _
ment of the tow vehicle while observing tongue load requirements
and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more under unfavorable load, weather or
wind conditions -particularly when going downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying .
Do not try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limits . In some areas speeds for vehicles towing
trailers are lower than for regular vehicles .
Always apply brakes early . When driving downhill, shift into lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow down the vehicle. Use of
the brakes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge~ page 9 must be observed care­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or switch off the air conditioner .
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing
-t-, pull off the road , stop and let the engine idle for
about two minutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving vehicle is at a much
greater risk in an accident. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wearing the restraints provided by Audi. •
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
-------------
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of the
additional weight and weight distribution. Safety, performance and
economy will greatly depend on how carefully you load your trailer
and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing until you have
completely become familiar with the way your vehicle-trailer combi­
nation behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a trailer
generally requires steering action opposite of that when backing up
your vehicle without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front
of you. You will need more room to stop.
To compensate for the trailer, you will need a larger than normal
turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you normally would because of the added load. Make sure you have
enough room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trailer before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[I] Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle .
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte­
nance due to the extra load~
page 299. •

Parking on a slope
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the vehicle and the
trailer wheels.
- With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes until wheel
blocks absorb the load.
- Turn the wheels towards the curb.
- Apply the parking brake.
- Place an automatic transmission in
P, respectively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
When restarting after parking:
- Start the engine .
- Shift transmission into gear .
- Release the parking brake and slowly pull out and away from the wheel blocks .
- Stop and have someone retrieve the wheel blocks.
[I] Tips
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmiss ion to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the leve r out of the
P
position. •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

lffl!l,.___C_ le_ a_n_ i _n_ g=- a_ n_d__, p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_ o _ n ___________________________________________ _
Dirt and marks on the trim str ips should be removed with a pH­
balanced
cl eani ng agen t (d o no t use a chr ome cleaner). Au thori ze d
Audi dealers carry cleaning products w hich have bee n tested fo r use
on yo ur vehicle an d are not harmful to the environment.
T o avoid co rrosion on the exte rio r trim s trips, o nly a pH-b alanced
so lution should be used for the windshield washer.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 206 . •
Plastic and vinyl
P lastic nee ds special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or s ponge to remove d ust and light surface
dirt . For other soil, use a lukewarm all-purpose cleaning solution or a
m ild saddle soap fo r viny l tr im . Remove water spots and traces o f
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub
dry.
Grease , tar or oi l stains can be removed with a clean cloth o r sponge
soa ke d wi th all- pur pose cleaner or wi th a so lvent des igned especially
to clean v inyl.
Occas ionally app ly a colorless v inyl or leather p reservative to retain
t he m ateria l's luster and p liabili ty.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •
Aluminum trim
Use on ly neutral-pH products to remove spots and depos its from
alum inum su rfaces. Chro m e care produ cts an d alka line cle aners will
attack aluminum surfaces and ca n damage them over t ime .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •
Touch-up paint
M inor paint damages should be touched up immedia tely.
- Use e ither a touch-up paint st ick o r spray p ain t to cover
minor scratches a nd nicks.
Your author ized A udi d ea le r has touch- up paint fo r minor scratches
and stone ch ips. Sc ra t ch es should be touched up soon afte r they
occur to preve nt corros ion .
If a s pot start s to ru st, however, a sim ple touch-up job will not be
enoug h. T he affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
w it h an an ti- rus t pr ime r before the pai nte d finish can be restore d.
Th e number fo r the o rigina l veh icle pain t can be found o n the vehicle
ide ntificat io n label ~
page 294.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 206 . •

Cleaning and protection -
---------------=---------=----
Appli es to veh icles : with n atural leathe r
Natural leather
Audi makes great efforts to maintain the properties,
na tural look and feel of interior leather .
General
We offer many different types of leather on our vehicles . Most are
different types of nappa leather, which has a smooth s urface and
comes in various colors.
Th e intensity of the color determines the visual cha racter istics and
appearance .
If the surface of the leat her has a typical natural look,
then the leather is a nappa leather that has been left in a relatively
natura l condition. This leathe r offers pa rticu la rly good comfo rt and
breathes wel l. Fine veins, closed gra ins, insect b ites, sk in fo lds, and
s u btl e var iations in co lor remai n visible . These c harac ter istics demon ­
strate that the mater ial is natural.
N atural nappa leather is not covered by a color fin ish . It is the refore
more sensitive to soiling and wea r, which is something you need to
consider if children, animals or other factors might prove to be partic ­
ular ly hard on the leather .
By contrast, leather types that are covered by a colored fin ish layer
are more dur able. This h as a pos it ive e ffect on t he leather 's resist ance
to wear and so iling in daily use . On the other hand, the typical charac­
t eris tics of na tura l leather are ba rely o r not app aren t. H oweve r, this
does not mean that the leather itself is of inferior quality.
Care and handling
Because of the exclusive nature of the types of leather that Audi uses
and the ir un ique properties (such as sensitivi ty to oils, gre ase, soiling,
etc.), you will need to be somewhat careful with these leathe rs, a nd
a ce rtain type of care is req uired. For example, dark clo thing mate ­
r ials can discolor leather seats (especially if such clothing is damp and
was not dyed cor rect ly). Dust and dirt particles in pores, folds, and
seams can have a n ab rasive effect and ca n damage the leathe r
surface as well as weaken seams.
Safety first
The leather should be cleaned regularly as needed . After having been
used for a rela tively long time, yo ur leat her seats w ill acq uire a rich
aged fi nish. This is a characteristic of natural leather and a s ign of
true quality .
I n orde r to maintain the va lue of this nat ural p rodu ct over t he life of
your vehicle, you should fo llow the recommendations be low:
0 Note
• To keep your leather from b leach ing out, do not allow it to be
exposed to b right s unl igh t fo r long pe riod s of time. If yo u have to
leave t he veh icle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather to
protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.
• Sharp objects on cloth ing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can le ave pe rm an ent sc ratches o r scrape mar ks on the
surface of the leather.
[I] Tips
• After each t ime you clean the leather and at regular intervals, use
a leathe r preservat ive creme that con tains UV -bloc ke rs and that
works into the leather. This creme will nourish and mo istur ize the
leather, helping it to b reathe and s tay supp le . It also he lps to build up
a p rotect ive coa ting on the surface .
• C lean the leather every 2 -3 months, a nd clean any areas that get
soiled .
• Remove fresh marks made by ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc . as soon as poss ible.
• P reserve t he colo r of t he lea ther as needed by us ing a specia l
co lored leather care creme to touch up areas of uneven color. •
Vehicle care Technical data