2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET brakes

Intelligent Technology
Intelligent Technology
Electronic stabilization
control (ESC)
Description
The Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) rein for­
ces driver safety . It reduces the risk of slipping
and improves driving stability. ESC detects crit i­
cal s ituations such as the vehicle oversteering
and understeering or the wheels are spinning.
The vehicle is stabilized by applying the brakes or reducing eng ine torq ue. When the ESC engages,
the
D1 ind icator light blinks in the instrument
cluste r.
The fo llow ing systems are integrated in the ESC :
Ant i-loc k braking system (ABS)
ABS p revents the whee ls from locking whe n brak­
ing. The vehicle can sti ll be steered even during
hard brak ing. Apply steady press ure to the brake
pedal. Do not pump the pedal. A puls ing in t he
b rake pedal indicates that the system is acting to
s tabilize the vehicle .
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can decrease brak ing dis­
tance . It increases braking power when the d river
presses the brake pedal quick ly in emergency sit­
uations . You must press and hold t he b rake pedal
until the dangerous situat io n is over . In veh icles
with adapt ive c ruise control*, the bra ke as sist
sy stem is more sensitive if t he di sta nce detec ted
t o the vehicle ahea d is too sm all.
Anti-slip regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces eng ine power when the drive wheels
beg in sp inning a nd adapts the force to the road
conditions . This makes it easie r to start, acceler­
a te and dr ive u p in clines.
Electronic differential lock (EDL )
The EDL brakes w heels that a re spinning and
transfers the drive power to the other drive
wheel or whee ls if t he ve hicle is equipped with a ll
wheel drive*) . T his funct ion is not av ailable at
h igher speeds.
116 I
n extreme cases, ED L automat ically swi tches off
to keep the brake on the braked whee l from over­
heating. The veh icle is still working correct ly. ED L
will switc h on again automatically when condi­
tions have returned to normal.
Steering recommendation
The ESC he lps to stabili ze the vehicle by cha nging
the steering torque.
Selective wheel torque control
Se lective w hee l to rque cont rol is used when d riv ­
i ng o n curves. The fron t whee l on the inside of
the curve or bo th whee ls on the inside of the
cu rve are braked se lective ly as needed. This al­
l ows mo re precise driving in cu rves.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The "A utomat ic pos t-coll is io n braking sy stem"
c a n hel p to reduce t he risk of sliding and o f othe r
collisions after an accident . If the a irbag cont rol
module detects a collision a bove a certain vehicle
speed, the vehicle is bra ked by the ESC.
The vehicle does not bra ke automatically if:
- the dr ive r presses the acce lerator pedal, or
- the braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is grea ter than the braking force
that wo uld be i nitiated by the system, or
- the ESC, the brake system o r the ve hicle elect ri­
cal system are not func tioning .
A WARNING
- The ESC and its integ rated syste ms can not
o vercome the lim its posed by natural physi ­
c a l la ws. Thi s is espe cial ly import ant on sli p­
pe ry o r we t roads. If the systems beg in act ­
ing to stabilize your ve hicle, yo u should im­
mediately a lter your speed to matc h the
road and traffic condit ions. Do not let the
increased safety pr ovided tempt you into
taking risks . This cou ld increase your risk of
a co llision .
- Please note the r isk of a collis ion increases
when dr iv ing fast, especia lly t hrough c urves
and on slippery or wet roads, and when dr iv­
ing too close to objects ahead. The ESC and
i t s in tegr ated systems cannot always .,..

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(D Tips
-ESC/ASR cannot be switched off or sport
mode cannot be switched on if the cruise
control system* or the adaptive cruise con­
trol* is switched on.
- Malfunctions in the Audi magnetic ride may make it impossible to switch the ESC/ASR
off or to switch sport mode on.
Brakes
New brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 mi (400 km). They must be "broken in" first. However, you can com­
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period .
Wear
Brake pad
wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions .
This is especially true if you are driving frequently
in the city and on curves or with a sporty driving
style .
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity .
Effect of water and road salt
In certain situations, for example after driving
through water, in heavy rain, after overnight con­ densation or after washing your car, the braking
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads. The brakes must be
"dried" first with a few careful brake applica­
tions.
At higher speeds and with the windshield wipers
turned on, the brake pads press against the brake
rotors for a short amount of time. This action
which is not felt by the driver happens at regular
intervals and facilitates a better reaction time for
the brakes in wet weather .
The braking effect can also be reduced if you are
driving on salted roads and you do not apply the
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brakes for long periods of time. The layer of salt
on the brake rotors and pads must be worn off
first when the brakes are applied.
Corrosion
Leaving the vehicle parked for long periods of
time , low mileage and avoiding heavy braking
can contribute to corrosion on the brake rotors
and dirty brake pads.
If you usually avoid heavy braking or if there is
corrosion present, occasional heavy braking at
high speeds is recommended to clean the brake
rotors and pads¢.&. .
Brake system malfunction
if you notice that the brake pedal travel has sud­
denly gotten larger, then a brake circuit may have
failed. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
the problem corrected. On the way there, drive
with reduced speed and keep in mind that a long
braking distance and increased pressure on the
brake pedal will be necessary.
Low brake fluid level
When the brake fluid level is low, malfunctions in
the brake system may occur. The brake fluid level
is electronically monitored.
Brake booster
The brake booster amplifies the pressure you ap­
ply to the brake pedal.
It only works when the en­
gine is running.
A WARNING
- New brake pads do not achieve their full
braking effect during the first 250 mi
(400 km). They must be "broken in" first.
However, you can compensate for the
slightly reduced braking force by pressing
firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy brak­
ing during the break-in period.
- Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en­
danger other road users. This increases the
risk of an accident.

<( co .... N r--­N .... 0 r--­> co
-On steep slopes, reduce the speed and se­
lect a lower gear or lower selector lever po­
sition. Dr ive as little as possible while press­
ing the brake pedal and avoid putt ing your
left foot on the brake pedal while driving.
Th is co uld cause the brakes to overheat and
impai r the efficiency of the brakes.
- Do not let the brakes "g rind " by a lways
keeping your foot on the brake pedal. This
can cause the br akes to overhea t, i ncrease
wea r and incre ase braking dis tance unneces­
sari ly.
- Certa in wea ther an d operat ing co ndi tio ns
s u ch as dr iving through wate r, d riving in
heavy ra in or d riving after washing your ve ­
hicle can impair the effectiveness of the
brakes . In the w inte r, ice may b uild up on
the brake pads, rotors and drums. Check
these components by braking ca refu lly . Ap­
plying the brakes carefu lly severa l times
dr ies the brakes and removes ice bu ild-up .
- The effic iency of the brakes can also be im­
paired by driving for long st retches on roads
cove red w ith salt without using the b rakes .
Yo u can remove sa lt deposits from the
bra ke rotors and pads by caref ully app lying
the brakes severa l t imes .
-If the front spoiler is damaged or you ins tall
ano ther spoiler, m ake sure the front wheel
bra kes are vent ilated p roper ly. O therwise,
the b rake system could overheat, whic h re ­
duces the ir effectiveness.
- Failure of a brake circuit impai rs b raking
performance, which increases braking dis­
tance . Avoid driving the vehicle . Have it tow ­
ed to the nearest authorized Aud i dealer or
authorized Audi Service Fac ility .
- Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
acc ident.
- If the brake booster is not working, you will
have to press m uch ha rder on the brake
peda l to compensate for the lack o f the
booster .
0 Note
-Never let the bra kes " rub" by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not really nee-
Intellig ent Technology
essary . This causes the b rakes to overheat
and increases braking distance and causes
wear .
- Before driving on a long st retch with steep
slopes, reduce your speed and shift to the
next lower gear Th is makes use of the en­
gine braking effect and relieves the brakes.
If you need to brake additionally, brake in
intervals and not continuously .
(D Tips
-If the brake booster is not work ing, you
must press the brake peda l with much more
force than normal.
- If you retrof it your vehicle with a front spo il­
er, wheel covers or sim ilar items, make sure
that the air flow to the fro nt wheels is not
inter rupted . Otherwise the b rake system
can become too hot.
Electromechanical
steering
The electromechanical steering supports the
driver's steering movement s.
Power steering adapts electronically based on
the ve hicle speed .
T he veh icle st ill has f ull s teer ing f unct iona lity if
t h e power steering fails or when the engine is
stopped (towing) . To steer, you must app ly m uch
more force than usual.
Indicator lights and messages
• Do not driv e vehicle : steering defective
If this indicator light turns on and stays on and
t hi s message appears , the power steering may
have failed .
Do
not continue dr iv ing . See an author ized Audi
dealer or authorized A udi Se rvice Fac ility for as ­
s istance .
• Do not dr ive vehicle: steering defecti ve
There is a ma lfunction in the e lectronic steering
l ock. You cannot turn the ignition on. ..,.
119

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Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
Fig. 165 Engine compartment : cover on t he brake fluid
reservoir (examp le)
"' N N
~ .,
Before you check anything in the engine compart­
ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS
¢page 188, Working in the engine compart­
ment.
.,. Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid
reservoir
~fig. 165, ¢page 191, fig. 161 . The
brake fluid level must be between the "MIN"
and "MAX" markings .
The location of the brake fluid reservoir can be
seen in the engine compartment illustration
¢page 191.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time
due to the automatic adjustment of the brake
pads . This is not cause for alarm.
I f the brake fluid level falls
considerably below
the "MIN" mark, the brake warning/indicator
light
1111 (U.S. mode ls)/ . (Canadian models)
will come on¢
page 15. Do not continue to oper­
ate the vehicle . The complete brake system
should be thoroughly checked by an authorized
Audi dealer or other qualified facility and the
cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too
low, the brake warning/indicator light will illumi­
nate. Contact an authorized Audi dealer
immedi­
ately.
Checking and Filling
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced
technician.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. If the
water content in the brake fluid is too high, cor­
rosion in the brake system may result after ape ­
riod 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 con­
forms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard "FMVSS
116 DO T 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.
A WARNING
- Brake fluid is poisonous. It must be stored
only in the closed original container out of
the reach of children!
- Brake failure can result from old or inappro­
priate brake fluid . Observe these precau­
tions:
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE speci­
fication
J 1703 and conforms to Federal
Motor Vehicle Standard 116. Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make
sure you are using the correct brake fluid .
The correct type of brake fluid is also indi­
cated on the brake fluid reservoir.
- The brake fluid must be new. Heavy use of
the brakes can cause a vapor lock if the
brake fluid is left in the system too long.
This can seriously affect the efficiency of
the brakes as well as your safety. This
could result in an accident.
(D Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehi-
cle. ..,.
197

Tires and wheels
be happy to provide more infor­
mation .
® Mud and snow capability
"M/S" or "M+S" indicates the tire
is suitable for driving on mud and
snow.
& indicates a winter tire.
@ Compos ition of the tire cord
and materials
The number of plies indicates the
number of rubberized fabric lay­
ers in the tire . In general: the
more layers, the more weight a
tire can carry. Tire manufacturers
must also specify the materia ls
used in the tire. These include
steel , nylon, polyester and other
materials.
@ Ma ximum permitted load
T his number indicates the maxi­
mum load in kilograms and
pounds that the tire can carry.
@ Uniform tire quality grade
standards for treadwear,
traction and temperature resistance
Tread wear, t raction and temper­
ature ranges
¢page 221 .
@ Running direction
The arrows indicate the running
direction of unidirectional t ires.
You must always follow the speci -
206
fied running direction
¢page 238 .
(8) Maximum permitted
inflation pressure
This number indicates the maxi­
mum pressure to which a t ire can
be inflated under normal operat­
ing condit ions.
Glossary of tire and loading
terminology
Accessory we ight
means the combined weigh t (in
excess of those standard items
which may be replaced) of auto­ matic transmission, power steer­
ing, power brakes, power win­
dows, power seats , radio, and
heater, to the extent that these
items are available as factory -in ­
stalled equipment (whether in­
stalled or not).
Aspect ratio
means the rat io of the height to
the width of the tire in pe rcent.
Numbers of 55 or lower indicate a
low s idewall for imp roved steer­
ing response and better overa ll
handling on dry pavement.

Tires and wheels
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight, and
(d) Production options weight
Ma ximum (permissible )
inflation pressur e
means the maximum cold infla­
tion pressure to which a tire may be inflated. Also called "maxi­
mum inflation pressure ."
Normal occupant weight
means 150 lbs . (68 kilograms)
times the number of occupants
seated in the vehicle up to the to­
ta l seating capacity of your vehi­
c le .
Occupant d istribution
means distribution of occupants
in a vehic le .
Outer diameter
means the overall diameter of an
inflated new tire.
Overall width
means the l inear distance be ­
tween the exteriors of the side­
walls of an inflated tire , including
elevations due to labeling , deco ­
rations, or protective bands or
ribs .
208
Ply
means a layer of rubber -coated
parallel cords.
Production options weight
means the comb ined weight of
those installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs . (2 .3
kg) in excess of those standard
items which they replace, not pre­
vio usly considered in c urb weight
or accessory weight, inc luding
heavy duty brakes, ride levelers,
roof rack, heavy duty ba ttery, and
special trim.
Radial ply tire
means a pneumatic tire in which
the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at subs tantially 90
degrees to the centerline of the
tread .
Recommended inflation
pressure
see~ page 207, Cold tire infla­
tion pressure.
Reinforced tire
means a tire designe d to operate
at higher loads and at higher in­
flat ion pressures than the corre­
spond ing standard tire . Rein­
forced tires may be identified as .,.

Your safety and that of your pas­sengers also depends on making
sure that load limits are not ex­
ceeded. Vehicle load includes ev­
erybody and everything in and on
the vehicle. These load limits are
technically referred to as the vehi­
cle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rat­
ing
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight
of the basic vehicle, all factory in­
stalled accessories, a full tank of
fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids
plus maximum load. The maxi­
mum load includes the number of
passengers that the vehicle is in­
tended to carry ("seating capaci­
ty") with an assumed weight of
150 lbs. (68 kg) for each passen­
ger at a designated seating posi­
tion and the total weight of any luggage in the vehicle. If you tow
a trailer, the weight of the trailer
hitch and the tongue weight of
the loaded trailer must be includ­
ed as part of the vehicle load.
The
Gross Axle Weight Rating
("GAWR") is the maximum load
that can be applied at each of the
vehicle's two axles .
; The fact that there is an upper
N
~ limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehi-
o
s: a:,
Tires and wheels
cle Weight Rating means that the
total weight of whatever is being
carried in the vehicle (including
the weight of a trailer hitch and
the tongue weight of the loaded
trailer) is limited. The more pas­
sengers in the vehicle or passen­
gers who are heavier than the
standard weights assumed mean
that less weight can be carried as
luggage.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compli­
ance sticker label located on the driver's side B-pillar
9page 214,
fig. 170.
A WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause
loss of vehicle control, a crash
or other accident, serious per­
sonal injury, and even death.
-Carrying more weight than your vehicle was designed to carry will prevent the vehicle
from handling properly and increase the risk of the loss of
vehicle control.
-The brakes on a vehicle that
has been overloaded may not
be able to stop the vehicle
within a safe distance.
217