2011 AUDI A3 technical specifications

Trailer towing
"---------------------------------------------------
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor ­
tation .
If you p lan to tow a t railer, p lease remember that the additional load
w ill affect durability, economy and performance.
Tr ailer towing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it also calls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reasons, a lways fo llow the operating and driv ing instr uctions
prov ided and use common sense .•
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we ight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trai ler weight .
Th e h itch mus t be suit able for your veh icle and t railer and mus t be
mounted securely on the vehicle's chassis at a
technically sound l oca­
t ion. Use on ly a tra ile r hi tch w ith removable b all moun t. Alw ays check
w ith the trailer hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are using
t he correc t hitch.
Do not use a bumper hitch .
The hitch must be installed in such a way t hat it does not interfere
w ith the impact -ab sorb ing bumper system. No mod ifi cations s houl d
be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems . From t ime to
t ime, che ck t hat all hitch mou nting bolts rema in securely faste ned.
W hen you are no t tow ing a trai ler, remove the trailer hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from ca using damage should your
veh icle be s truck from behind=>&.
Tire pressure
When towing a tra iler, inflate the tires of you r vehicle to the cold tire
pressu re listed under "Full lo ad"on t he st ick er o n the r ight doo rjamb.
I n flate trailer t ires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' specifications .
Lights
The headlight settings should be checked with the tra iler attached
befo re d riving o ff. Have the headlights adjusted as necess ary s o that
you can see the road ahead but not b lind oncoming t raffic.
Check to make s ure bo th vehicle and t railer lights a re wor king prop­
er ly.
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer ma kes t he engin e work harder. It is important t hat
t he cooling sys tem' s per formance stands up to the add ition al stra in.
M ake sure that the coo ling sys tem has eno ugh fluid .
Trailer brakes
If your trai ler is equipped with a braking system, check to be su re that
it confo rms to all regula tions .
Th e tra ile r hydrau lic brake system must not be directly con nected to
the vehicle's hydraulic b rake system.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety cha ins are p roper ly connected from the t rai ler
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough s lac k in t he chai ns to permit
t u rni ng corners. When you insta ll safety chains, ma ke s ure t hey will
not d rag on t he road when yo u are d riving .
The chai ns should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
drop ping in ca se of separat io n from t he hitch.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulat ions. Be su re to chec k w ith your
author ized A udi dealer for correct wiring, switches and relays. _.

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

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Some states in the USA require permits to purchase diesel fuel. Check
with your State Motor Vehicle Department.
Diesel fuel may not be available outs ide the USA and Canada. Be sure
to check before traveling to other countries .
Winter operation
At temperatures below 20° F (- 7° C), Diesel fue l No. 2 loses its fluidity
due to wax separation, which may clog the fuel filter or tank filter and
keep the engine from running.
T o help the filter from being clogged by wax, the fuel fi lter in your
vehicle is automatically preheated. Preheating the fuel filter makes
operat ion of your vehicle possib le with Diesel fuel No. 2 down to -
10° F (-24° C).
If you expect temperatures below 5° F (-15° C) ask your fuel dealer
whether their Diesel fuel No. 2 is suffic iently w interized for the
prevailing and expected temperatures.
If not winte rized or insuffic iently winterized diesel fuel has already
thickened to the extent that the engine will not start, warm the
vehicle up by leaving it in a heated garage.
It is normal that the engine noise level (dieseling) is louder during the
warm-up period in winter.
It is also normal when whitish -blue smoke
comes out of the tailpipe after start ing and during warm-up. The
amount of smoke depends on the outside temperature.
Do not let your diese l engine id le unnecessari ly after a cold start.
Driving off slowly will shorten the warm-up period.
& WARNING
• Never use "starting assist fluids." They may be potentially
explosive or cause a "run-away" engine condition. This could
result in serious engine damage and personal injury.
• Never use fuel line anti-freeze offered for gasoline engines.
Safety first
0 Note
• Your diesel engine has been specifically designed to operate only
on Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fue l. Therefore, never use home heating oil
or regu lar gaso line. The properties of these fuels may cause serious
damage to the fuel injection system and to the engine. Using these
fue ls can cause expens ive eng ine repairs and will also adversely affect
your New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• If diesel fuel should get on any rubber hose, it must be wiped off
immediately. Then wash the contaminated hose portion with soap
and warm water. Do not allow diesel fuel to rema in on connecting
hoses. They may deve lop leaks and cause serious damage. •
Fuel tank
Fuel filler neck
The fuel filler neck is located on the right rear side panel behind the
fue l filler flap.
If the power locking system should fa il, you can still open the flap
manually - for detai led instructions see=>
page 224.
You ca n find the fuel tank capacity of your vehicle in Technical Data
=> page 296 .
The label on the inside of the fue l filler flap tells you the correct fuel
for your veh icle. For more information about fuel specifications, see
=> page 219.
Your vehicle fuel tank has an on-board refuelling vapor recovery
system . This feature helps to prevent fuel vapors from escaping from
the tank and polluting the environment while you refuel your vehicle.
In order to fill the tank properly while protect ing the environment,
please follow this refueling procedure carefully. .,,
Vehicle care Technical data

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prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"sludge," that
over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine o ils available in the U .S. and Canada
that meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
(vehicles with gasoline eng ine) and VW 507 00 (vehicles w ith diesel
engine) are synthetic engine oils. This does not mean, however, that
every synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00
(gasoline engines) and VW 507 00 (diesel engines). So always be sure
that you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the following specifications printed on the oil container:
• Gasoline engines: Audi oil standard VW 502 00
• Diesel engines: Audi oil standard VW 507 00
Oil containe r labels may carry the specification singly or in comb ina­
tion with other des ignations and oi l quality standards.
Viscosity
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity. The proper
viscosity grade oil for your engine depends on climactic or seasonal
conditions where you drive. You can use oil with a v iscosity grade of
SAE SW-40 across all temperature ranges for norma l dr iv in g cond i­
tions.
However, if eng ine o il viscosity grade SAE SW-40 is not available, you
can also use viscosity grade SAE SW-30 or SAE OW-40 as long as it
meets Audi o il quality standard VW 502 00 (vehicles w ith gasoline
engine) or VW 507 00 (vehicles with diesel engine) specifications.
Because engine o il that meets the Audi oil standard may not be avail­
able everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend that you
always ca rry with you an extra quart (liter) of oil that express ly
conforms to the VW 502 00 (vehicles with gasoline eng ine) or VW
507 00 (vehicles with diesel engine) specification, in case you have to
top off the oil while on the road .
Applies to vehicles with gasoline engine only: Only if the leve l of the
oil is at or below the minimum mark on the oil dipstick - and no oil
Safety first
that expressly conforms to Aud i oil standard VW 502 00 specifica­
tions is available -may you top off with a high quali ty engine oil, pref­
erably synthetic-based, that meets ACEA A3, ACEA AS, ACEA BS or
API SL specifications, but even then, only in viscosity grades SAE SW-
40, SAE SW-30, or SAE OW-40. However, during the ent ire time
between oil change interva ls, never top off with more than a total of
0.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not conform to Audi oil specification
vw 502 00.
Applies to vehicles with diesel engine only : Only if the level of the
oil is at or below the minimum mark on the oil dipstick -and no oil
that expressly conforms to Audi oil standard VW 507 00 specifica­
tions is ava ilable -may you top off with a high qua lity engine oil, that
meets ACEA C3 or API CF specifications, but even then, on ly in
viscos ity grades SAE SW-40, SAE SW-30, or SAE OW-40 . However,
during the entire time between oil change intervals, never top off
with more than a tota l of 0.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not
conform to Audi o il specification VW 507 00.
For more information about engine oil that has been approved fo r
your vehicle, please contact either your author ized Audi dealer or
Audi Customer Relations at 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www .aud icanada.ca. Here you w ill also find a
current list of oils (manufact urers, brand names etc.) that conform to
Audi oil standard VW 502 00 (vehicles with gasoline eng ine) or VW
507 00 (vehicles with diesel engine).
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed accord ing to the mileage
(kilometers) and time interva ls specified in your vehicle's Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -harmful
deposits from o ld engine oil can reduce engine performance and can
lead to expens ive engine repairs.
Chang ing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating p roperties of oil decrease g radua lly during
normal veh icle use. If you are not sure when you have your o il
changed, ask your authorized A udi Service Adv isor. ..,.
Vehicle care Technical data

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left door jamb . It shows the month and year of production and the
vehicle iden tifica tion n umber of your veh icle ( perfo ration) as well as
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
The high voltage warning label
is loca ted on the loc k carr ier .
The spark ignition system complies with the
Canadian standard ICES-002. •
Weights
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and the Gross Axle Weight
Ra ting (GAWR) for fron t and rear are listed on a st icker on the left
door jamb.
Th e Gross Vehicle Weight Rating includes the weight of the basic
vehicle plus f ull fue l tank, oil and coo la nt, plus max im um load, which
includes passenger we ight (150 lbs/68 kg per des ignated seating
position) a nd luggage weight .
Gross Axle Weight Rating
The Gross Axle Weight Rating is the maximum load that can be
applie d at each axle of the vehicle~& .
Vehicle capacity weight
The vehicle capacity weight (max. load) is liste d either o n the driver's
side B -pillar or inside the fuel f iller flap .
Roof weight
The maximum permiss ible roof weight is 165 lb (75 kg ). The roof
we igh t is ma de up o f the weig ht of the roof rack sys tem and the
we ight of the object being transported~
page 88, "Load ing the roof
rack" .
Safety first
& WARNING
• The actual Gross Axle Weight Rating at the front and rear axles
s hould not exceed the permis sible weights, and their combination
must not exceed the Gross Vehicle We ight Rating.
• Exceeding permi ssible weight rating s can result in vehicle
damage, accidents and personal injury .
0 Note
• The vehicle capac ity we ight figu res apply when the load is distrib­
uted evenly i n the vehicle (passengers and luggage). When trans ­
porti ng a heavy load i n the l uggage compartment, ca rry the load as
near to the rear axle as possible so that the veh icle's handling is not
impa ired.
• Do not exceed the maximum permiss ible axle loads or the
maximum gross vehicle weig ht. Always remember that the vehicle's
hand ling will be affecte d by the extra load. Therefore, adjust your
speed a ccording ly .
• Always observe loca l reg ulations. •
Dimensions
The specifications refer to the basic mo de l. Differences may occur
depend ing on the model ty pe a nd options ordered, for exam ple, tir e
sizes .
0 Note
When d riving up steep ramps, on rough roads, over c urbs, etc . it is
impo rtan t to remember that some parts of yo ur vehicl e, s uch as
spoilers or ex haust system components, may be close to the ground.
B e careful not to d amage them .•
Do-it,yourself service Technical data

_____________________________________________ A_ L .... p_ h _ a_b_ e_ t_ ic_a_ l_ in_ d_e _ x __ _
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature
299
AUTO
Climate controls ..... .. .. ....... ..
98
Switching on ........... .. .. .. .. .. 98
When should I use AUTO? . .. .... .. .. 98
Auto Safety Hotline .... .. .. .. .. ..... 133
Automatic air recirculation ......... .... 99
Automatic belt retractor .......... .. . 139
Automatic car wash
See Washing ....... .. .. .. .. .... . 207
Automatic headlights
defective .............. ..........
36
Automatic Transmiss ion
Automatic Transmiss ion .. .. .. .... .
118
Automatic transmission ........... .. . 115
Driving Notes . ...... .. .. .. .. ..... 117
Emergency program .... ..........
121
Emergency release ............ ... . 121
Ignition key safety lock ....... ... .. 106
Kick-down ..... ......... ... .. .. . 120
Launch Control Program .. .. .. .. .. . 120
Selector lever lock ... .... .. .. .. .. . 116
Selector lever positions ..... .... .. . 115
Tiptronic .................... ... . 119
T iptronic controls on the steering wheel .
120
Average fuel mileage ........ ... .. .. .. 21
Average speed ......... ...... .. .. .. .. 21
Avoid damaging the vehicle .. .. .. .. .. . 199
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
B
Battery
... .. ... ... ................. 238
charging . .. .. .. .... .... .. .. ..... 241
Disconnecting and connecting ...... 238
Important warnings when work ing on the
battery ..... ........... ...... ..
239
Low . .. .. .. .. .... .... .. ......... 194
Replacing the battery .. .. .. .... ... 242
State of charge ..... .. ... ...... .. 194
Winter operation ..... ..... ....... 239
Working on the battery .... .... .... 239
Battery voltage .. ........... ...... .. . 35
Before driving .. ... .... .. .. .. .. .....
125
Bioethanol
Engine preheater .... ....... ......
103
Blended gasoline ................. .. 219
Body cavity seal ing . ...... .. .........
212
Booster seats . .. .. ...... ........... 17 5
Brake assistant . ................. ...
193
Brake booster ... .. .... .. .. .. ... ... . 192
Brake fluid
Changing the brake fluid ......... ..
238
Checking the brake fluid level ..... .. 237
Reservoir .. .. .. ... ..... ......... 237
What is the correct brake fluid level? . 23 7
What should I do if the brake fluid warning light comes on? . ... ... ..........
237
Brake pads .. .. .. .... ....... ...... .. 197
Brake system .. .. .. ........ ......... 237
Anti-lock brake system . .. .. ..... ... 16
Brake fluid . ................ ..... 23 7 Brake fluid specifications for
refill and
rep lacement .................. .
238
Brake light defective ....... .... .. .. 36
General information ............ .. 191
How does moisture or road salt affect the
brakes? ... .... .. ..............
191
Malfunction ........ ...... .... .. .. 32
Warning/indicator lights ... .... .. .. 15
Worn brake pads symbol ........... 35
Break-in period ... .. .. .... ... ..... ..
197
Brake pads .. .............. ...... 197
Tires ... ...................... .. 197
Bulbs ................ .. .. .. .... .. . 285
C
California Proposition 65 Warning .. .. . 227
Battery specific .. ................ 241
Capacities ............ ...... .... ... 296
Car care ... ..... ........... ........ 206
Interior ........... .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 213
Plastic and vinyl .. .. ............. . 210
Weatherstrips ........ .... .... .. . 211
Care of exterior . ...... .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 206
Cargo area
See Loading the luggage compartment ..
131
Cargo net ............. ...... .. .. .. .. 83
Catalytic converter .. .. .... .......... 198
Center armrest . .. ... ................ 79
Centigrade
Switching between Centigrade and Fahrenheit . .............. ...... .
99
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Alphabetical index -________________ fWI
Tire specifications ........ .. .. ... . 258 Transmission Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ... . 294
Tread depth ....... .............. 256 6-speed . .. ................ ... .. 114
Vehicle jack .. ............... .. 270,276
Uniform t ire quality grading ....... . 260 Manual transmission .............. 114
Vehicle literature ... .......... ...... .. 4
Winter tires ..................... 261 S tronic transmission . ............. 115
Vehicle-care products .. .. ..... .... .. . 206
Tires and vehicle load limits ........... 253 Transport Canada ................... 133
Tir es and wheels Tread Wea r Indicator (T WI) .. .. ....... 256
w
Checking tire pressure ............. 252
Trip computer ......... .............. 21
Cold tire inflation pressure ......... 249
Trip odometer ... .... .. .............. 10 Warning light
Dimensions .... .... .. .. ......... 257
What does it mean when dEF appears in Tire pressure monitoring
system ... .. 36
General notes ........... .... .. .. . 245
the trip odometer disp lay? .. .. .. .. . 10 Wa
rning lights . ...... ............. 8 , 11
Glossary of tire and loading terminology .
246
New tir es and wheels .......... .. . 257 Turn
sign als ... .. ... ........ ...... ... 59
Warning/indicator lights ........ .. . 14 Red symbols in the center display
.. .. 30
Yellow symbols in the center display . . 30
Warning/indicator l ights
Replacing .............. ...... .. . 258
Snow chains .............. .. .. ... 262
Tires and vehicle load limits .. .. .... 253
Wheel bolts ................ .. ... 263
Winter tires ..................... 261
u
Undercoating ... .... .... ........... 213
Unfastening safety belts ............. 142
Unidirect iona l tires ...... ... ......... 245 Airbag system ......
.......... .. .. 15
Anti -lock brake system (ABS) ........ 16
Brake system ..................... 15
Cruise control .................... 14
Electronic power control ... ......... 13
Tires/Wheels
Low aspect ratio tires ............. 264
Tir e pressure mon itoring system 13, 264
Torn or frayed safety belts ......... .. . 138 Uniform tire quality grading
.... ...... 260
Unlocking Power locking switch ............ .. . 44
Rear lid ................. .. .... ... 45 E
lectronic stabilization program (ESP) 14
Engine malfunction (diesel engine) ... 13
Generator . .. .... .. .... ........... 15
Glow plug system .. ............... 13
Touch-up paint ................ .. .. . 210
Remote control .. ... .... .......... 42 High beam
.. ..................... 14
T owing
Front eyelet ..................... 290 Using the fo
ld-out key .. .. .......... 43 Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) .... 14
Parking brake .. ...... .... ... . ... .. 15
Rear eyelet ...................... 290
T ow truck procedures ... .......... 289
V
Safety belt ................ ....... 15
Tire pressure monitoring system . .. .. 13
TPMS Vanity mirror ................
.... ... . 63 T
urn s ignals .............. ...... .. 14
Tire pressure monitoring system .... 265 Vehicle battery Warranty coverages
................. 299
Trailer towing ............. ...... .. . 202 Stationary .
.. .. ...... ........... 239 Washer
reservo ir ............ ... .. .. . 243
Operating instructions ......... .. . 203 Vehicle electrical system .. ............ 15 Wash
ing .................... ... ... 206
Tech nical requirements ....... 202, 203
Vehicle identification ........ .. .... .. 294 Automatic car wash
.......... ..... 207
Trailer towing tips .... ... .. .. ... .. 204
Vehicle identification label ............ 294 by hand .........
.. .. ...... .. .. . 207
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data