2015 AUDI S3 ignition

198 Driving and the environment
Driving through water
on roads
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage
when driving through water, for example on
flooded roads:
- The water must not be any higher than the
bottom of the vehicle body.
- Do not drive faster than wa lking speed.
A WARNING
After driving through water or mud, the
braking effect can be reduced due to mois­
ture on the brake discs and brake pads. A
few careful brake applications should dry off the brakes.
@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, transmiss ion, suspension or electrical sys­
tem can be severely damaged by driving
through water.
- Determ ine the depth before driving
through water.
- Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse
or switch the engine off when driving
through water .
- Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may create waves that raise the water
level and make it too deep for your vehi­
cle to drive through safely.
- Avoid dr iving through salt water (corro­
s ion).
Catalytic converter
App lies to vehicles: with gasoline engine
It is very important that your emission con­
trol system (catalytic converter) is function­
ing properly to ensure that your vehicle is run­
ning in an environmentally sound manner.
> Always use lead-free gaso line r=;, page 210,
Fuel supply .
> Never run the tank down all the way to emp-
ty.
> Never put too much motor o il in your engine
r=;, page 223, Adding engine oil > Never try to push- or tow -start your vehicle .
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean ­
up" device built into the exhaust system of
the vehicle . The cata lytic converter burns
many of the pollutants in the exhaust gas be­
fore they are released into the atmosphere.
The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critica lly
important for the life of the catalytic convert­
er and proper functioning of the engine.
A WARNING
-
The temperature of the exhaust system is high, both when driv ing and after stopping
the eng ine .
- Never touch the exhaust tail pipes once
they have become hot . This could result
in burns.
- Do not park or operate the vehicle in
areas where the hot exhaust system may
come in contact with dry grass, brush,
fue l spill or other material wh ich can
cause a fire.
- Do not app ly additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic con­
verter or heat shields . Dur ing driving, the
substance used for undercoating could
overheat and cause a fire.
(D Note
- Be aware that just one tank filling with
leaded fuel will already seriously de­
grade the performance of the catalytic
converter.
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil level
r=;, page 223.
-Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty. The engine could mis­
fire . Unburned fuel could also get into
the exhaust system and this cou ld cause
the catalytic converter to overheat.
- Do not switch off the ignition while the
vehicle is moving.
- Do not continue to operate your vehicle
under these conditions, as otherwise fuel
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-Do not alter or remove any component of
the Emission Contro l System unless ap­
proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not alter or remove any device, such
as heat shields, switches, ignition wires,
valves, wh ich are designed to protect
your vehicle's Emission Control System and other important veh icle compo­
nents.
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively
high on short trips .
~ Try to avoid driving short distances with a
cold eng ine.
The engine and catalytic converter have to
reach their optimal
operating temperature to
reduce fuel consumption and noxious emis­
sions effectively.
Just after starting, a cold engine in a mid -size
car only achieves a fuel economy of 6-8 miles
per gallon (30-40 l/100 km). After about a
half a mile, fuel economy climbs to 12 mpg
(20 l/100 km). After about
2 .5 m iles (4 km),
the engine is at its proper operating tempera­
ture and fue l economy has reached a normal
l eve l. So you can see that you should avoid
short trips wheneve r possible.
The
outside temperature is also critical in this
regard . Your car consumes more fuel in the
winter than in the summer.
Driving and the environment 201
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206 Care and cleaning
_& WARNING
- Only wash the vehicle when the ignition
is off and follow the instructions from
the car wash operator to reduce the risk
of accidents.
- To reduce the risk of cuts, protect your­
self from sharp meta l components when
wash ing the underbody or the inside of
the wheel housings.
- After washing the vehicle, the braking ef­
fect may be de layed due to mo isture on
the brake rotors or ice in the winter. The
brakes must be dried first with a few
careful brake applicat ions .
@ Note
- If you wash t he vehicle in an automatic
ca r wash, you must fold the exterior m ir­
r o rs in to reduce the r isk of damage to
t h e m irrors. Power foldi ng exterior m ir­
r o rs* must on ly be folded in and o ut us­
i ng the p ower folding function.
- To prevent pa int damage, do not wash
t h e ve hicle in direc t sunli ght. -
To reduce the ris k of damage to the sur ­
face, do not use insect removing spong­
es, kitchen sponges or similar items.
- Matte finish painted veh icle compo­
nents:
- To reduce the risk of damage to the
surface, do not use polishi ng agen ts or
h a rd wax.
- Never use protect ive wax. It can de­
stroy the matte fi nish effec t.
- Do not place any stickers o r mag net ic
s igns on vehicle parts painted w ith
matte fi nish pa int. The paint cou ld be
d amaged when the sticke rs o r mag nets
ar e removed. @ For the sake of the environment
Only wash the ve hicl e in facilities spec ia lly
de signed for that purpose. This will red uce
the r is k of dirty w ater contam ina ted with
oi l from entering the sewer sys tem.
Cleaning and care information
When clea ning and ca rin g for individua l vehi­
cle components, refer to the fo llow ing tab les.
The informa tion con taine d there is s imp ly rec­
ommendations. Fo r quest ions or for compo -nents that ar
e not listed, refer to an author­
i z ed Audi dea ler. Also follow the in format io n
f o und in¢ ,&..
Exterior cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Wind shield wip-
Deposi ts ¢ page 51, Cleaning windshield wiper blades
er blade s
H eadlights /
Deposits Soft sponge with a m ild soap solutiona>
Tail lights
Sensors /
Deposits Sensors: soft cloth with a so lvent-free cleaning product
camera lenses Camera lenses: soft cloth with an alcohol-free cleaning
so lution
Snow/ ice Hand brush/solvent -free de -icing spray
Wheels Road sa lt Water
Brake d ust Acid-free special cleaning so lution
E x haust ta il Road sa lt Water, cleaning solut ion sui table fo r sta inless steel, if
pipes necessary

214 Checking and Fill in g
the risk of damage to the catalytic con ­
verter .
- If the fuel tank runs comp letely empty in
a vehicle with a
die sel en gine , the igni­
tion must remain switched on for at l east 30 seconds after refueling before
starting the engine.
It may take longer
than usual for the engine to start, even up to a minute . Th is is because the air
must fi rst b leed out of the fuel system
when starting the eng ine.
@) For the s ake of the environment
- If the fuel nozzle is used correctly , it will
indicate that the tank is full the first
time it switches off automatically. Do
not t ry to add more fuel, because it can
spill over. Also , the expansion space in
the tank will fill, which can resu lt in fuel
spilling out when it becomes warm and po lluting the environment .
@ Tips
-If the engine is runn ing whi le fueling, va­
pors can escape or the fuel can spi ll over.
Because of this , the fuel nozz le switches
off before the tank is full.
- Do not fuel the vehicle when the ignition
is switched on. Otherwise, the fuel
gauge may not show the correct level af­
ter fueling the vehicle.
- Diesel vehicles are equipped with a diesel misfueling guard
ll. It allows the vehicle
to be fueled only with a diese l fuel pump
nozzle.
- A worn or damaged nozzle or a nozz le
that is too small may not be able to open
the d iesel m isfueling protector . If this is
the case, try t urni ng the nozzle before
i nserting it in the f uel filler neck, use a
different fuel p ump or see you r a uthor­
i zed Audi dealer or author ized repair fa­
cility for assistance .
- The m isf ueli ng guard does not open
when adding fuel from a fuel container .
ll Market-sp ec ifi c
You can bypass it by adding the diesel
fuel s lowly.
- The fuel fi ller door on your vehicle does
not lock when you lock the vehicle from
the inside.
· Fuel filler door emergency release
If the central locking system is faulty, the
fuel filler door can be unlocked manually.
Fig. 153 Right re ar lugg age compa rtm ent : eme rgency
re lease
T he emergency release mechanism is located
behind the right side trim panel in the lug­
gage compartment .
" Remove the cover i n the side pane l.
" Loosen the loop from the retaine r and then
pull on the loop carefu lly-arrow-
¢ (D . The
fue l filler door is released .
" To open the fue l filler door, press on the left
side
r=> page 212, fig. 151 .
(D Note
Only pull on the loop until yo u feel resist­
ance. You w ill not hear it re lease. Other­
wise you could damage the emergency re­
lease mechanism.

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~ If there was no Ad Blue left in the tank and a
range of
O mi (0 km) was displayed in the
instrument cluster, switch the ignition on
for about 15 seconds before starting the en­ gine.
_& WARNING
Ad Blue can irritate the skin, eyes and res­piratory system. If there is contact with
the fluid, flush immediately with plenty of
water. Consult a physician if necessary.
(D Note
- Only use Ad Blue that conforms to the standard ISO 22241-1. Do not mix any
additives with the Ad Blue and do not di­lute it with water .
- Do not add Ad Blue to the diesel tank or
add diesel fuel to the Ad Blue tank. Mix­
ing can lead to damage to the engine
and the Ad Blue tank system. Warranty
does not cover damage caused by this.
- AdBlue attacks surfaces such as painted
vehicle components, plastic and carpet.
Remove the fluid as quickly as possible
with a damp cloth and plenty of cold wa­
ter. If the Ad Blue has already crystal­ lized, use warm water and a sponge .
AdBlue residue that is not removed will
crystallize and can damage the affected
surface .
- Do not store the refill bottle in the vehi­ cle. If it leaks, the escaping Ad Blue could
damage the vehicle interior.
- Do not allow AdBlue to come into con­
tact with clothing . If there is contact
with the fluid, flush immediately with
plenty of water.
@ Tips
- You can obtain refill bottles from an au­
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility.
- Follow the AdBlue manufacturer's in­
structions for use and storage.
Checking and Filling 217
Hood
Working in the engine compartment
Special care is required if you are working in
the engine compartment
For work in the engine compartment such as
checking and filling fluids, there is a risk of
injury, scalding, accidents, and burns. For
this reason, follow all the following listed
warnings and general safety precautions.
The engine compartment is a dangerous
area.
c::> .&. .
_8 WARNING
To reduce the risk of injuries, complete the
following steps before opening the hood:
- Turn the engine off.
- Switch the ignition off.
- Set the parking brake.
- Place the selector lever in the P position.
- Let the engine cool down.
- Never open the hood when you see that
steam or coolant drips from the engine
compartment- there is a danger of burns! Wait until no steam or coolant
flows out .
- Keep children away from the engine com­
partment.
- Never spill fluids on a hot engine . These
fluids (such as the freeze protection con­
tained in the coolant) can catch fire .
- Avoid short circuits in the electrical sys­
tem, especially the battery .
- When working in the engine compart­
ment, remember that the radiator fan
can switch on even if the ignition is
switched off, which increases the risk of
personal injury.
- Never open the cap on the coolant ex­
pansion tank when the engine is warm.
The cooling system is under pressure.
- To protect your face, hands, and arms
from hot steam or coolant, cover the cap
with a large cloth when opening.
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218 Check ing and F illin g
- Do not remove the engine cover under
any circumstances. Th is increases the
risk of burns.
- If tests need to be performed with the
engine running, there is additional dan­
ger due to moving components (such as
the ribbed belt, generator and radiator
fan) and from the high voltage ign ition
system .
- Never reach into the rad iator fan . The
electric auxiliary fan is controlled by
tempe ratu re and can sw itch on suddenly.
- Pay attention to the following warn ings
listed wh en work on the fue l system or
on the electrical equipment is required.
- Always disconnect the vehicle battery
from the vehicle electrical system
- Do not smoke
- Never work near open flames
- Always have a working fire extinguisher
nearby
- To reduce the r isk of electric sho ck a nd
injury, never touch the following compo­
nents when the engine is running or is
being started:
- Ignition cable
- Other components in the electronic
h igh voltage ignition system
- If you must check or perform work on
the engine while it is running:
- Set the parking brake and place these­
lector lever in the P (park) posit ion
first.
- Always proceed with ext reme caut ion
so that clothing, jewelry or long hair do not become ca ugh t in the radiator fan,
fan belt o r other moving components
or do not come into contact with hot
components . Tie back long hair before
beginning work and do not wear cloth­
ing that can hang down into the en­
g ine.
- Limit your exposure to exhaust and
chemica ls to as short a time as poss ible
~ .&. -
A WARNING
Ca lifornia Proposition 6S Warning:
- Engine exhaust, some of its constituents,
and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth de­
fects and reproductive harm. In addition,
certa in flu ids contained i n veh icles and
certain products o f componen t wear con­
tain or emit chemic als known to t he
State of California to ca use cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive ha rm .
- Battery posts, terminals and related ac­
cessories contain lead and lead com­
pounds, chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and reproduc­
tive harms. Wash hands after handling.
(D Note
When filling fluids, be sure not to mix the
fl ui ds up . Otherwise severe ma lf u nctions
and engine damage w ill occur.
@ For the sake of the environment
You sho uld reg ularly chec k the ground un­
der your vehicle in order to detect leaks
quick ly. If there are visib le spots from oil
or other fluids, br ing your vehicle to an au­
thorized Audi dealer or qua lified repair fa­
cility to be checked .

226 Checking and Fill in g
- Do not add any type of radiator leak sea l­
ant to your ve hicle's engine coolant.
Adding rad iator repair fluid may adverse­
ly affect the function and performance of
your cooling system and could result in damage not covered by your New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
Adding coolant
Fig . 164 Engine co mpa rtment: mark in gs on the coo l­
ant expans ion tank
R ea d a nd f ollow ing th e W ARNING S before
checking anything in the eng ine compartment
¢ page 217.
Ch eck ing t he e ngi ne coolant level
"Park your vehicle on a level surface .
.. Switch the ign ition off .
" Read the coo lant level on the coolant expan­
s ion tank ¢
fig. 164. The coo lant level must
be between the markings when the eng ine
in cold. When the engine is warm it can be
sl ightly above the upper marking .
Adding coolan t
Requirement : There must be a residual
amount of coolant in the expansion tank ¢(D .
.. Let the engine cool down.
" Place a cloth over the coolant expansion
tank cap and unscrew the cap counterclock­
wise ¢&_ .
.. Add coolant mixed in the correct ratio
¢ page 225 up to the upper marking.
.. Make sure that the fluid level remains sta­
ble. Add more coolant if necessary.
" Clove the cap securely. A coolant loss suggests a
leak. Immediately
drive your vehicle to an authorized repair fa­
c ility and have the cooling system inspected.
If the cooling system is not leaking, a loss can
come from the coolant boiling through over­
heating and being pushed out of the cooling
system.
A WARNING
The cooling system is press urized and can
become very hot. To reduce the r isk of
b urns from hot coolant:
- Do not open the coolant expansion tank
cap with the engine ho t. T here is a risk of
burns.
- Stop the eng ine and a llow it to cool.
- Protect your face, hands and arms from
escaping coolant and steam by covering
the coolant tan k cap with a large, th ick
cloth.
- Turn the coolan t tank cap counterclock­
wise slowly and keep light pressure on
the cap .
- To reduce the risk of burns, do not allow
any antifreeze or coolant to drip onto the
exhaust system or hot engine compo ­
nents. The ethy lene g lycol in engine
coo lant can catch fire under certain cir­
cumstances.
- The coolant additive and the coolant can
be dangerous to your health . For this
reason, keep the coo lant in the origina l
container away from ch ildren . There is a
risk of poisoning.
- When working in the engine compart­
ment, remember that the rad iator fan
can switch on even if the ignition is
sw itched off, which increases the risk of
pe rsonal injury.
(D Note
Do not add coolant if the expansion tank is
empty . Air could enter the cooling system
and damage the eng ine .
If this is the case,
do no t continue dr iving. See a n author ized
A udi dealer or authori zed Aud i Service Fa­
cility for assist ance.

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Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on automatically by
itself
An auxiliary electric radiator fan switches on
and off depending on coolan t temperature
and other vehicle operating conditions .
After you switch the engine off, the auxiliary
fan can continue running for up to 10 minutes
- even with the ignition off. It can even switch
on again later by itself<=>.& , if
- the temperature of the engine coolant rises
due to the heat build-up from the engine in
the engine compartment, or
- the engine compartment heats up because
the vehicle is parked in intense sunlight.
A WARNING
-To reduce the risk of personal injury nev­
er touch the radiator fan.
- The auxiliary electric fan is temperature
controlled and can switch on suddenly
even when the engine is not running.
- The auxiliary radiator fan switches on au­
tomatically when the engine coolant
reaches a certain temperature and will
continue to run until the coolant temper­
ature drops.
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
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Fig. 165 Engine compa rtment: cove r on the brake fluid
rese rvoir
Before you check anything in the engine com­
partment,
always read and heed all WARN­
INGS r::;, page 217 .
Checking and Filling 22 7
.. Read the brake fluid level from the brake
fluid reservoir <=>
fig. 165, <=> page 220,
fig. 159.
T he brake fluid level must be be­
tween the "MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The location of the brake fluid reservoir can be seen in the engine compartment illustration
<=>page 220.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some
time due to the automatic adjustment of the
brake pads. This is not cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls considerably be­
low the "MIN" mark, the brake warning/indi­
cator light . (U.S. models)
I. (Canadian
models) will come on
c:> page 18 . Do not con­
tinue to operate the vehicle. The complete
brake system should be thoroughly checked
by an authorized Audi dealer or other quali­
fied facility and the cause corrected . If the
brake fluid level is too low, the brake warning/
indicator light will illuminate. Contact an au­
thorized Audi dealer
immediately.
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experi­
enced technician.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air . If
the water content in the brake fluid is too
high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the
brake fluid will also decrease considerably and
decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years . Always use new brake fluid
which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle
Standard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to
reach, therefore, we recommend that you
have the brake fluid changed by your author­
ized
Audi dealer. Your dealer has the correct
tools, the right brake fluid and the know-how
to do this for you.
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