2012 AUDI A3 airbag off

152 Child Safety
the child's body and the front of the passen­
ger compartment , the airbag can inflate com­
pletely and provide supplemental protection
in certain frontal collisions .
A WARNING
Not using a booster seat, using the boos­
ter seat improperly, incorrectly installing a
booster seat or using the vehicle safety
belt improperly increases the risk of seri­
ous personal injury and death in a collision
or other emergency situation. To help re­
duce the risk of serious personal injury
and/or death:
- Always make sure to position the should­
er portion of the three-point belt over
the middle of child's shoulder.
- Never let the shoulder portion of the belt
rest against or across the neck , face,
chin, or throat of the child.
- Always make sure the lap belt portion of
the three-point belt is worn snug and
passes as low as possible across the
child's pelvis. Never let the belt pass over
the soft abdomen.
- Failure to properly route safety belts
over a child's body will cause severe inju­
ries in an accident or other emergency
situation
c;,page 113.
-The rear side of the booster seat should
be positioned as close as possible to the
backrest on the vehicle seat . Adjust or re ­
move the rear seat head restraint if it is
difficult to install the child seat with the
head restraint in place
¢page 65. Install
the head restraint again immediately
once the child seat is removed. Driving
without head restraints or with head re­
straints that are not properly adjusted
increases the risk of serious or fatal neck
injury dramatically.
- Children on the front seat of any car,
even with Advanced Airbags, can be seri­
ously injured or even killed when an air­
bag inflates .
- Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat, for example the front seat.
-
- Never let a child ride in the cargo area of
your vehicle.
- Always remember that a child leaning
forward, sitting sideways or out of posi­
tion in any way during an accident can be
struck by a deploying airbag. This will re­
sult in serious personal injury or death .
- If you must install a booster seat on the
front passenger seat because of excep­
tional circumstances the
PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF
light must come on and
stay on, whenever the ignition is switch­
ed on.
- If the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
does not come on and stay on, perform
the checks described
c;, page 133, Moni­
toring the Advanced Airbag System.
- Take the child restraint off the front pas­
senger seat and install it properly at one
of the rear seat positions if the
PASSEN­
GER AIR BAG OFF
light does not stay on
whenever the ignition is switched on.
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS
whenever using a child restrained in ave­
hicle is being used
c;, page 113, Safety
belts,
c;, page 122, Airbag system and
c;, page 143, Important things to know.
Installing a child safety
seat
Securing a child safety seat using a
safety belt
Safety belts for the rear seats and the front
passenger can be locked wi th the convertible
locking retractor to properly secure child
safety seats.
The safety belts emergency locking retractors
for the rear seats safety belts and for the
front passenger's seat safety belt have a con­
vertible locking retractor for child restraints.
The safety belt must be locked so that belt
webbing cannot unreel. The retractor can be
activated to lock the safety belt and prevent
the safety belt webbing from loosening up
during normal driving. A child safety seat can
only be properly installed when the safety belt
IJll-

is locked so that the child and child safety
seat will stay in place.
Always remember: Even though your vehicle is
equipped with an Advanced Airbag system, all
children , especially those 12 years and young­
er, should always ride in the back seat proper­
ly restrained for their age and size.
A WARNING
Improperly installed child safety seats in­
crease the risk of serious personal injury
and death in a collision.
- Always make sure that the safety belt re­
tractor is locked when installing a child
safety seat. An unlocked safety belt re­
tractor cannot hold the child safety seat
in place during normal driving or in a
crash.
- Always buckle the child safety seat firmly
in place even if a child is not sitting in it.
A loose child safety seat can fly around
during a sudden stop or in a collision.
- Always make sure that the rear seat
backrest to which the center rear safety
belt is attached is securely latched when­
ever the rear center safety belt is being
used to secure a child restraint.
- If the backrest is not securely latched,
the child and the child restraint will be
thrown forward together with the back­
rest and will strike parts of the vehicle
interior. The child can be seriously in­
jured or killed.
- Never install rear-facing child safety
seats or infant carriers on the front pas­
senger seat . A child will be seriously in­
jured and can be killed when the passen­
ger airbag inflates.
- The inflating airbag will hit the child
safety seat or infant carrier with great
force and will smash the child safety seat and child against the backrest, center
armrest, door or roof.
- Always install rear-facing child safety
seats or infant carriers on the rear seat.
- Forward-facing child safety seats or in­
fant carriers installed on the front pas-
Child Safety 153
senger's seat may interfere with the de­
ployment of the airbag and cause serious
injury to the child.
- It is safer to install a forward-facing
child safety seat on the rear seat.
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS
whenever using a child restrained in ave­
hicle is being used
c=> page 143. Special
precautions apply when installing a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat
c=> page 12 3, Child restraints on the front
seat -some important things to know.
A WARNING
Always take special precautions if you
must install a forward or rearward-facing
child restraint on the front passenger's
seat in exceptional situations:
- Whenever a forward or rearward-facing
child restraint is installed on the front
passenger seat, the
PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF
light must come on and stay on
whenever the ignition is switched on.
- If
the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
does not come on and stay on, perform
the checks described
c=> page 133, Moni­
toring the Advanced Airbag System.
- Take the child restraint off the front pas­ senger seat and install it properly at one
of the rear seat positions if the
PASSEN­
GER AIR BAG OFF
light does not stay on
whenever the ignition is switched on .
- Improper installation of child restraints
can reduce their effectiveness or even
prevent them from providing any protec­
tion.
-An improperly installed child restraint
can interfere with the airbag as it de­ ploys and seriously injure or even kill the
child.
-Always carefully follow the manufactur­
er's instructions provided with the child
safety seat or carrier.
- Never place additional items on the seat
that can increase the total weight regis­
tered by the weight-sensing mat and can
cause injury in a crash.
~
•
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154 Child Safety
A WARNING
Forward-facing child restraints:
- Always make sure the forward-facing
seat has been designed and certified by
its manufacturer for use on a front seat
w ith a passenger front and side airbag.
- Never put the forward-facing child re­
straint up, against or
very near the in­
strument panel.
-Always
move the passenger seat into its
rearmost position in the seat's fore and
aft adjustment range, as far away from
the airbag as possible before installing
the forward-facing child restraint . The
backrest must be adjusted to an upright
position.
- Make sure that the
PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF
light comes on and stays on all the
time whenever the ignition is switched on.
A WARNING
Rearward-facing child restraints:
-A child in a rearward-facing child safety
seat installed on the front passenger
seat will be seriously injured and can be
killed if the front airbag inflates -
even
with an Advanced Airbag System.
- The inflating airbag will hit the child
safety seat or infant carrier with great
force and will smash the child safety seat
and child against the backrest, center
armrest, door or roof.
- Always be especially careful if you must
install a rearward facing child safety seat
on the front passenger seat in exception­
al circumstances.
- A tight tether strap on a rearward-facing
child restraint attached to the front pas­
senger seat can put too much pressure on the weight-mat in the seat and regis­
ter a heavier weight in the Advanced Air­
bag System . The heavier weight regis­
tered can make the system work as
though an adult were on the seat and de­
ploy the Advanced Airbag when it must be suppressed causing serious or even
fatal injury to the child.
- Make sure that the
PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF
light comes on and stays on all the
time whenever the ignition is switched
on .
- If the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
does not come on and stay on, immedi­
ately install the rear-facing child safety
seat in a rear seating position and have
the airbag system inspected by your Audi
dealer.
Activating the convertible locking
retractor
Use the convertible locking retractor to se­
cure a child restraint.
Always heed the child safety seat manufactur­
er's instructions when installing a child re­
straint in your vehicle . To activate the conver­
tible Lacking retractor:
.,. Place the child restraint on a seat , prefera­
bly on the rear seat.
.,. Slowly pull the belt
all the way out.
.,. Route it around or through the child re­
straint belt path
~ _&..
.,. Push the child safety seat down with your
full weight to get the safety belt really tight.
.,. Insert the belt tongue into the buckle for
that seating position .
.,. Guide the safety belt back into the retractor
until the belt lies flat and snug on the child
safety seat.
.,. You should hear a "clicking " noise as the
belt winds back into the inertia reel. Test the
convertible locking retractor by pulling on
the belt. You should no longer be able to
pull the belt out of the retractor. The con­
vertible locking retractor is now activat ed.
.,. Make sure that the red release button is fac­
ing away from the child restraint so th at i t
can be unbuckled quickly .
.,. Pull on the belt to make sure the safety belt
is properly tight and fastened so that the
seat cannot move forward or sideways more
than one inch (2.5 cm). .,.

-Never attach two child restraint systems
to one tether strap or tether anchorage.
- Never attach a tether strap to a tie-down
hook in the luggage compartment.
- Never use child restraint tether ancho­
rages to secure safety belts or other
kinds of occupant restraints.
- Never secure or attach any luggage or
other items to the LATCH lower ancho­
rages or to the tether anchors.
-If a tether or other strap is used to at­
tach a child restraint to the front passen­ ger seat, make sure that it is not so
t ight , that it causes the weight-sensi ng
mat to measure more weight than is ac ­
tually on the seat .
- The heav ier weight reg istered can make
the Advanced Airbag System work as
though an adult were on the seat and de­
ploy the Advanced Ai rbag when it must
be s uppressed causing serious o r even
f atal injury to the child.
- If you mus t install a rearward facing
child safe ty seat o n the fron t passenger
seat beca use of exceptional circ ums tan­
ces and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
light does not come on and stay on , im­
med iately install the rear -facing child
safety seat in a rear seating position and
have the a irbag system inspected by you r
Audi dealer.
Installing the upper tether strap on the
anchorage
F ig. 1 49 Tether strap : prope r ro utin g and mountin g
Child S afety 159
Fig. 1 50 Tet her st rap: prope r routing an d mounti ng
Installing the tether str ap
.. Release or deploy the te ther s trap on the
child restraint according to the child re ­
straint manufacture r's instructions .
.. Guide the upper tether st rap
und er the rear
head restra int and into the rea r cargo a rea
r=;, fig . 150 (ra ise the head restraint if neces ­
sary) .
.. Slide the tether strap hook over the anchor
bracket.
.. Pull on the tether st rap hook so th at the
spring cat ch of the hook engages .
.. Tighten the tether strap firmly follow ing
the child restra int manufacturer's inst ruc ­
tions.
Relea sing the tether strap
.. Loosen the tension following the ch ild re­
strain t manufac turer 's ins truc tions .
.. Depress the spring catch on the hook and
release it from the anchorage .
(D Note
If you leave the child restraint w ith the
tether strap firm ly installed for several
days, this could leave a ma rk on the up­
ho lstery on the seat cushion and backrest
i n the area where the tether strap was in­
stalled. The upholstery would also be per ­
mane ntly stretched a round the tether
strap. T his app lies especia lly to leather
seats.
Using tether straps on rearward-facing
child restraints
Cu rrently, few rear-facing child restraint sys-
tems come with a tether . Please read and ...,

160 Child Saf ety
heed the child restraint system manufactur­
er's instructions caref ully to determine how to
properly insta ll the tether .
.&_ WARNING
-
A child in a rearward-facing child safety
seat installed on the front passenger seat
w ill be seriously injured and can be k illed if
the front a irbag inflates - even with an Ad­
vanced Airbag System .
- The inflating a irbag will hit the child
safety seat or infant car rier with g reat
force and w ill smash the ch ild safety seat
and child agains t the backrest, ce nte r
armres t, or door.
- A tight tet her or ot her st rap o n a rear ­
w ar d-fa cing child restr aint at ta ch ed to
the front passenger sea t can put too
much pressure on the weight -ma t in the
seat and register a heavier weight in the
Advanced Airbag System . The heav ier
we ight registered can make the system
work as though a n adu lt were on the seat
and dep loy the Advanced Airbag when it
must be suppressed ca using se rious or
even fatal injury to the child .
- If you must install a rearward facing
child safety seat on the front passenger
seat because of exceptional circ ums tan­
c es and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
ligh t does no t come on and stay on, im­
me diately install the rea r-facing child
safety seat in a rear seating position and
have the a irbag system inspected by yo ur
Audi dealer.
Additional Information
Sources of information about child
restraints and their use
There are a number of sources o f additional
i n fo rmation about chi ld restrai nt selection, in ­
stallat ion and use:
N HTSA advises that the best child sa fety seat
is the one that fits your child and fits in your
ve hicle, and that you wi ll use cor rectly and
consistently. T
ry before yo u buy!
U.S Nat ional Highway Traffi c Safety Admin ­
istration
T el.: 1-888-3 27- 423 6 (TIY: 1-80 0-4 24 -9153)
www.nhtsa.gov
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
T el.: ( 202) 662- 0600
www.safe kids.org
Safety B eltSafe U .S.A
T el.: (800) 74S-SAF E (English)
T el.: (80 0) 747 -SANO (Span is h)
www. carseat .org
Transport Canada Information Centre
T el.: 1 (800) 333 -03 71 or call
1 (6 13) 9 98-8616 if you are in the Ottawa
area
www.tc.gc .ca/ roadsa fe ty
Audi Cu stomer CARE
T el.: (80 0) 822-2834

Intelligent technology Notice about data
recorded by vehicle
control modules
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Da­
ta Recorder (EDR), installed by some manu­
facturers for the express purpose of capturing
data for retrieval after an accident or crash
event. EDR's are sometimes called "crash re­
corders".
Some state laws restrict the retr ieval or down­
loading of data stored by EDR's that were in­
stalled 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 electron­
ic control modules for various vehicle systems
such as, for examp le, engine function, emis­
sion control, as well as for the airbags and
safety belts.
These electronic control modules also record
vehicle-related data during norma l vehicle op­
eration for diagnostic and repair purposes.
The recording capacity of the electronic con­
trol modules is limited to data (no sound is re­
corded) and only a small amount of data is ac­
tually 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 vehicle
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
ment.
Electronic Stabilization
Program (ESP)
Description
ESP helps to improve road holding and vehicle
dynamics to help reduce the probability of
skidding and loss of veh icle control. It works
only when the engine is running. ESP detects
Intelligent technology 161
certain difficult driving situations, including
when the vehicle is beginning to spin (yaw)
out of control and helps you to get the veh icle
back under control by se lectively braking the
wheels, and/or reducing engine power and
providing steering ass istance to help hold the
vehicle on the driver's intended course. The in­
dicator light
G] in the instrument cluster
blinks when ESP is taking action to help you
control the vehicle.
ESP has limitations. It is important to remem­
ber that ESP cannot overcome the laws of
physics.
It will not always be able to help out
under all conditions you may come up against.
For example, ESP may not always be able to
help you master situations where there is a
sudden change in the coefficient of friction of
the road surface. When there is a section of dry road that is suddenly covered with water,
slush or snow, ESP cannot perform the same
way it would on the dry surface . If the vehicle
hydroplanes (rides on a cushion of water in­
stead of the road surface), ESP will not be
able to help you steer the vehicle because con­
tact with the pavement has been interrupted
and the vehicle cannot be braked or steered .
During fast cornering, particularly on winding
roads, ESP cannot always deal as effectively
with difficult driving situations as at lower
speeds. When towing a trailer, ESP is not able
to help you regain control as it would if you
were not tow ing a trailer.
A lways adjust your speed and driving style to
road, traffic; and weather conditions. ESP can­
not override the vehicle's physical limits, in­
crease the available traction, or keep a vehicle
on the road if road departure is a result of
driver inattention. Instead, ESP improves the
poss ibility of keeping the vehicle under con­
trol and on the road dur ing extreme maneu­
vers by using the driver's steering inputs to
help keep the vehicle going in the intended di­
rection. If you are traveling at a speed that
causes you to run off the road before ESP can
provide any assistance, you may not experi­
ence the benefits of ESP .
•
•

264 Index .:..:..:..::....::..
...:..._ ___________________________ _
A
ABS
refer to Anti-lock brake system . ... .. . 164
Accessories .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 26 1
Acoust ic park assist ........ .. .. .... .. 93
AC (a ir cond itioner) ......... .. .. .. .. .. 81
Adapter for anti-theft wheel bolts . .. .. . 238
Adaptive light
defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Adding Engine coolant .......... .... ..... . 204
Engine oil . ...... ....... ... .. .... . 200
Windshield washer fluid ............ 211
Addit ional accessories .......... .... . 261
Additional heater Climate controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Additives Engine oil . ............... ... .. .. . 200
Adj ustab le steering wheel column .... .. 88
Adjusting Steer ing wheel column ........ .. .... 88
Adjusting front seats ........ ... .... .. 61
Advanced Airbag System
Components ... .......... .. .. .. .. . 129
Fr ont airbags ................ .... . 127
How the components work together .. 130
Monitoring ................. ..... . 133
PASS ENG ER A IR BAG OFF light .. .... . 133
A irbag
Warning/indicator lights ............. 16
A irbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122, 139
Advanced Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Care . .. .. ............... .. .. .... . 135
Ch ildren . .... ........... .. .. .. .. . 144
Ch ild r estra ints ........... .. .. .. .. . 145
Components (front airbags) . ... .... . 129
Danger of fitting a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Disposal . ................. .. .... . 135
Front airbags . ........... .. .. .... . 126
How do the front airbags work? . . . . . . 131
H ow many airbags does my vehicle
have? ..... .......... ...... ... .. . 129
I mportant things to know .... .. .... . 122
I ndicator light ........... .. .. .. .. . 133
Monitoring ................. ..... . 133 Repairs ...
.... .. ............. .... 135
Side airbags ..... ................ . 137
S ide curtain airbags ................ 140
When must the system be inspected? 133
Airbag System
Weight-sensing mat .............. . 144
Air conditioner .. .. ................ .. 81
also refer to Climate controls .. .. .. .. . 79
Air conditioning Switching on and off ........... .. .. . 81
Air distribution Climate controls . ................. .. 83
Air outlets Adjusting the outlets for rapid defrost -
ing/defogging ... ................ .. 84
Climate controls . .............. ..... 84
Air quality sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Air recirculation . .. ... .......... .... . 83
Climate controls .. ............. .... . 82
When should I use the air recirculation? 82
Air recirculation mode Climate controls . ................. .. 82
All-wheel drive Winter tires ... .. ... .......... .... 227
Alloy wheels ...... ................ . 182
All Wheel Drive .... ............. .... 166
Alternator
refer to Generator ............. .. .. . 16
Aluminum alloy wheels .... ...... .... 182
Ambient lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Anti-lock brake system How the ABS system works ........ .. 164
Warning/ind icator lights ........ .. .. . 18
Anti -theft systems
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Anti-theft wheel bolts ........... .... 238
Armrest Center armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Rear armrest .... ................ .. 67
Asterisk What does it mean when something is
marked with an aster isk? ........ .... .. 6
Audi magnetic ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 9S
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Indicator light ... ....... ...... .. .. . 22
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Litera-
ture 259

Fastening
Booster seats .... ..... ... .. .. .. ... 151
Convertible ch ild safety seats ... .. .. . 149
Infant seat s ............. .... .. ... 148
F astening eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Flat t ire
Changing .. ................ ... ... 236
F loor mats . .. ............. .... .. ... 108
F og lights, fro nt ........... .... .. .. .. 49
Folding master key w ith remote contro l . . 34
F oot pedals . ... .... .... ... .. .. .. ... 108
F or the sake of the environment
Gasoline fumes and the envi ronment . . 19 2
L e tting you r engine w arm up . .. .. .. .. 90
Reducing engine noise by upsh ifting ear -
ly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0, 11
Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Saving fue l by upshift ing early . . . . 10, 11
Using the rear w indow defogger . .. .. .. 85
Fr ont airbags
Descr ipt ion .... .. ..... ... .. .. .. ... 126
How they work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Fr onta l co llisions and t he laws of physics 1 14
Front seats .. ............. .... .. .... 61
Adjusting .. ................ ... ... 105
Adjust ing the manual seats . .. .. .. .. .. 62
C hi ld restra ints in the front seat . .. .. . 123
H eated seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Fue l
Current fuel mileage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
F uel gauge .... .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. 12
Fue l supp ly too low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1
Fue l economy messages (eff iciency pro-
gram) . .... .. .. ............. .. .. .... 29
F ue l filler f lap
Un lock ing the fue l filler f lap by hand .. 193
F ue l gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Fue l range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
F ue l supp ly
A dditives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Blended gasoline . ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 189
F ue l filler neck ........... .... .. .. . 191
Fue l gauge . ............. .... .. .... 12
Fue l tank capac ity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 191
Gasoline . ............ ...... .... .. 189
Gasoline additives . ....... .. .. .. .. . 190
Octane rating ............ .... .. .. . 189
Inde x 269
Recommendation ... . .. ..... ... .. .. 189
Ref uell ing ... .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 192
U nlocking the fuel f iller flap by hand 193
Fuel tank Capaci ty .. .. .. .. ................. 191
Capacity (gallons/liters) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Fuse a rra ngeme nt ................. . 244
Fuses Rep lacing . .. .. .. .. ............... 243
G
Gas discharge lamps . .. ... .... ... .. .. 246
Ga uges
E ngine cool ant tempe ratu re . . . . . . . . . . 11
F uel ga uge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Tr ip odometer . .. ................. . 12
Gear recommend ation .. ......... .. .. . 24
Gearshift indicator ................. .. 24
Gearshift leve r .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. . 96
General illustration
Instr uments and controls ....... .. .. .. 8
Generator Warning/ind icator lights ........... .. 16
G lossary of tire and loading terminology 213
G love compa rtme nt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
CD-ch anger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Li ght ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. . 51
G low plug system
Ind icator light .... ............... .. 20
Warning light .. .. ... ............ .. . 20
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) . .. 255
H
Head lights . .. .. .. ................. . 47
defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Front fog lights .. .. ........... .... . 49
Switch ing off .. .. .. . .. .... .... .. .. . 47
Switching on ..... .. ..... ........... 47
Xenon headlights . .. . .. ....... ... .. . 4 7
Head restrai nts .. .. ................. 107
Adjusting ... .. ...... ............. 107
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
•
•