2016 AUDI A3 safety

The "GVWR" includes the weight
of the basic vehicle, all factory in­stalled 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 limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehi­
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
Tires and wheels
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
¢ page 263,
fig. 204.
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.
-Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail sud­
denly, including a blowout and
sudden deflation, causing loss
of control and a crash.
-Always make sure that the to- tal load being transported -,..
267

traction under those conditions. We suggest you
use the recommended snow or all-season tires
specified for your vehicle, or their equivalent.
Refer to
q page 269 for more detai led info rma ­
tion regarding winter tires.
Uniform tire quality grading
- Tr ead wear
- Traction AA A B C
- Temperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wa ll between tread shoulder and
maximum sect ion w idth
q page 253, fig. 202.
For exampl e: T read wear 2 00 , Traction AA , Tem ­
perature
A .
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.
Trea d we ar
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under contro lled conditions on a specified gov­
ernment test course.
For examp le, a tire graded
150 would wear one
and one ha lf
(11/2) times as well on the govern­
ment course as a tire graded
100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however, and may d epart significant ly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and d ifferences in road characteris tics and climate.
Tracti on
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and
C. T hose grades represent the tire's
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured un­
der controlled conditions on specified govern­
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete . A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance
q .&. .
,...., Temp eratur e N
0
ii; The temperature grades are A (the h ighest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to diss ipate
Tir es and wheel s
heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained h igh temperatu re can cause the mate­
ria l of the t ire to degenerate and reduce ti re life ,
and excessive temperature can lead to s udden
tire failure
q .& .
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfo rm­
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un­
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standa rd
No.
109. Grades Band A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minim um requ ired by law.
A WARNING
-
The tract ion grade assigned to this t ire is
based on straight -ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor­ nering, hyd roplaning or pea k traction cha rac­
terist ics.
A WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab­
lished for a tire that is properly infl,;1ted and
not overloaded . Excessive speed, underinfla­
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or i n combination, can cause heat bui ldup and
possib le tire fai lure .
A WARNING
-
-Temperature grades apply to tires that are
p roperly inf lated and not over or under inflat­
ed.
Tire pressure monitoring system
(l) General notes
App lies to vehicles: wi th tir e pressure mo nito rin g syste m
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
shou ld be checked monthly when cold and inflat-
ed to the inflat io n pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the veh icle placard or
t ir e inflation pressure label. (If your ve hicle has
t ir es of a different size than the si ze ind icated on .,..
271

Tires and wheels
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure la­
bel, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure tell­
tale when one or more of your tires is significant­ ly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure . Driving on a signifi­
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over­
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle's handling and stop­
ping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's re­
sponsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pres­
sure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the sys­
tem is not operating properly. The TPMS mal­
function indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi­
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal­
function exists .
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure
that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly .
272
· If the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
indicator appears
Applies to vehicles: with tire pressure monitoring system
The tire pressure indicator in the instrument
cluster informs you if the tire pressure is too low
or if there is a system malfunction.
Fig. 206 Instrument cl uster: i ndic ator lig ht with message
Using the ABS sensors, the tire pressure monitor­
ing system compares the tire tread circumfer­
ence and vibration characteristics of the individu ­
al tires . If the pressure changes in one or more
tires , this is indicated in the instrument cluster
display with an indicator light
Rt] and a message
¢fig. 206. If only one tire is affected, the loca­
tion of that tire will be indicated. The message
turns off after a few minutes. You can display the
message again¢
page 30.
The tire pressures must be stored in the menu
display again each time the pressures change
(switching between partial and full load pres­
sure) or after changing or replacing a tire on your
vehicle
¢ page 273. The tire pressure monitor­
ing system only monitors the tire pressure you
have stored . You can find the recommended tire
pressures for your vehicle on the label on the
driver's door pillar¢
page 263.
Tire tread circumference and vibration character­
istics can change and cause a tire pressure warn­
ing if:
- If the tire pressure in one or more tires is too
low,
- the tire has structural damage,
- The tire was replaced or the tire pressure
changed and it was not stored again
¢page 273.
-the spare tire is installed.

Care and cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Paint
Paint damage Refer to the paint number on the vehicle data label, repair
with touch up paint¢
page 301
Spilled fuel Rinse with water immediately
Surface rust Rust remover, then protect with hard wax; for questions,
consult an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-
ice Facility.
Corrosion Have
it removed by an authorized Audi dea ler or a uthor-
ized A udi Service Facility.
Water no longer Protect with hard wax (at least twice per year)
beads on the surface
of clean paint
No shine even though Treat with suitable polish; then apply paint protectant if
paint has been pro- the polish that was used does not contain any protectant
tected/paint looks
poor
Deposits such as in- Dampen w ith water immediately and remove with a micro-
sects, bird dropp ings, f iber cloth
tree sap and road salt
Grease-based con- Remove immediately wi th a mild soap solution al and a
taminants such as
soft cloth
cosmetics or sunblock
Carbon parts Deposits clean the same way as painted parts¢ page 2 74
Decorative decals Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solutional
Audi e-tron Deposits Dry towe l
charging system *
Charging dock*
Deposits Soft towel with alcoho l-free cleaning so lution
a} Mild soa p sol ution: maxim um two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 quart (I liter) of water
Internal cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Windows
Deposits Glass cleaner, then wipe dry
Decorative parts/ Deposits Mild soap solutional
Trim
Plastic parts
Deposits Damp cloth
Heavier deposits Mild soap so lution al, detergent-free p lastic clean ing solu-
tion, if necessary
Displays Deposits Soft cloth with LCD cleaner
Controls Deposits Soft brush, then a soft cloth with a mild soap solutional
Safety belts Deposi ts Mild soap solution al, allow to dry before letting them re-
tract
276

Care and cleaning
- Never use warm or hot water to remove snow or ice from the camera lens. This
cou ld cause the lens to crack.
- Never use abrasive clean ing mater ia ls or
alcoho l to clean the camera lens. This
cou ld cause scratches and cracks.
- Door windo ws
- Remove snow and ice on windows and ex -
terior mirrors with a p lastic scraper. To
avoid sc ratches, move the scrape r on ly in
one direction and not back and forth .
- Never remove snow o r ice from doo r win­
dows and m irrors using warm or hot water
because this could cause cracks to form.
- To avoid damage to the rear w indow de­
fogge r, do not apply any sticke rs on the
heating w ires on the inside of the window.
- Decorative parts /trim
- Never use chrome care or cleaning prod-
ucts.
-Paint
-To reduce the risk of scratches, the vehicle
must be free of dirt and dust before pol ­
ishing or waxing .
- To prevent pa int damage, do not polish or
wax the veh icle in direct sunlight .
- To reduce the risk of pa int damage, do not
polish away rust spots .
- Remove cosmetics and sunscreen immedi­
ately- these could damage the paint.
-Di splays
- To avoid scratches, do not use dry cleaning
methods on displays.
- Controls
- Make sure that no fluids enter the con -
trols, because this could cause damage .
-Safet y belt s
-Do not remove the safety belts to clean
them.
- Never clean safety belts or their compo­ nents chemically or with corrosive flu ids
or so lvents and never allow sharp objects
to come into contact w ith the safety belts .
Th is could cause damage to the belt web­
bing.
- If there is damage to the webbing, the
connect ions, the retractors or the b uck les,
278
have them replaced by an authorized Aud i
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
- Te xtile s/artificial l eath er/ Alcantara
- Never treat art ificial leather/ A lcantara
with leather care products , solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remove or s imilar
p roducts .
- Have a spec ialist remove stubborn stains
to prevent damage .
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc . when cleaning .
- Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry the
seat .
- Ob jects w ith sharp edges such as zippers,
rivets on clothing or be lts can cause dam­
age to the surface .
- Open hook and loop fasteners, for exam­
p le on clothing, can damage seat covers .
Make sure hook and loop fasteners are
closed .
-Natural l eather
-Neve r treat leather wi th solvents , floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remover or sim i­
lar products .
- Obje cts w ith sharp edges such as zippers ,
rivets on clothing or be lts can cause dam ­
age to the surface .
- Neve r use s team cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc . when cleaning .
- D o not turn on the seat heating* to dry the
seat.
- To he lp prevent the leather from fad ing,
do not leave the vehicle in d irect sunlight
for long periods of time . If leaving the ve ­
hicle parked for long periods of time, you
should cover the leather to protect it from
d irect sunlight.
{D Tips
- Insects are easier to remove from paint that
has been freshly waxed.
- Regular waxing can prevent rust spots from
forming.

Emerg ency assis ta nce
Emergency assistance
Trunk escape latch
Applies to veh icles: with trunk escape latch
In case of an emergency, the rear lid can be
opened from the inside using the trunk escape
latch.
Fig. 207 luggage compartment: Trunk escape latch
.,. Push the latch in the direction of the arrow un­
ti l the lock releases.
The trunk escape latch inside the rear lid is made
of fluo rescent mater ial to g low in the dark.
_& WARNING
The trunk escape latch is to be used only in an
emergency .
General information
.,. Park the vehicle as far as poss ible from moving
t raff ic in the event of a flat tire. In the event of
a f lat t ire, park the vehicle on a level surface. It
you are on a steep incline, be especia lly careful.
.,. Set the parking brake.
.,. Place the selector lever in the P pos ition .
.,. Switch the emergency flashers on.
.,. Put on a reflective vest, if available .
.,. Set up the warn ing triangle, if available .
.,. Have the passengers exit the vehicle. They
should move to a safe place, for example be­
hind a guard rail.
_& WARNING
Pay attention to the steps above. They a re for
your protection and the for the safety of other
drivers.
280
Equipment
Vehicle tool kit
Applies to vehicles: with vehicle tool kit
Fig. 208 luggage compartment (example): vehicle tool kit,
t ire mobility kit and vehicle jack* placement
Fig. 209 luggage compartment: cargo floor fo lded up (A3
Spo rtback top, A3 sedan bottom)
Plug-in hybrid drive*: the placement var ies
<>page 107 .
The vehicle tool kit, tire mobility kit* and the
compressor* are located in the luggage compart­
ment. Part of it is sto red in the s ide tr im pan­
el @ * or @ and another part is under the cargo
floor cover ©¢
fig. 208.
C argo floor cove r
.,. A3 Sportback: lift up the cargo floor with the
plastic handle © until it is clamped behind

Emergency assistance
-If an allergic reaction occurs, seek immedi­
ate medical attention .
- Keep the tire sealant away from children .
- In vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring
system*, using tire sealant can results in an
incorrect display or a system malfunct ion.
Drive carefully to the nearest author ized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili­
ty.
@ Tips
- If sealant leaks, allow it to dry in place. You
can then pee l it off like a sticker.
- Note the expiration date on the sealant bot­
tle . Replace the tire sealant at an author­
i zed Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
- Radio reception can be interrupted when operating the compressor*.
- Obey all laws.
Repairing tires
App lies to veh icles: W it h tir e re p air set
F ig . 211 Compo nents of the tire mobili ty k it
F ig. 212 Tire mob ilit y kit co nn ectio n
Requirement: the tire mobility kit must be laid
out and ready for use
9 page 280, Vehicle tool
kit.
282
Plug-in hybrid drive*: the placement of the vehi­
cle tool kit varies
9 page 107.
Installing the tire mobility kit
.,. Open the cover @on the compressor
<=)fig. 211 .
.,. Remove the connector@and press ure hose ®
with press ure gauge from the housing .
.,. Insta ll the compressor pressure hose ® onto
the flange ® of tire sealant bottle ©-
.,. Insert the sealant bottle with the flange at the
bottom into the opening ® on the compressor
cover .
.,. Remove the valve cap from the faulty tire.
.,. Insta ll the filler hose@onto the valve (!)
<=)fig. 212 .
.,. Connect the plug @~ fig. 211 to a socket in
the vehicle.
.,. Switch on the ignition.
Inflating a tire
.,. Move the switch@ 9 fig. 212 on the compres­
sor into position
I.
.,. Inflate the tire to between 29 psi (200 kPA)
and 36 psi (250 kPA) and read the pressure on
the gauge .
.,. If this tire pressure is not reached, drive your
veh icle approximately 33
ft (10 meters) for­
ward or backward so that the sealant can be re­
distr ibuted inside the tire.
_& WARNING
-Read and follow the manufacturer's safety
precaut ions on the compressor and in the
instructions on the bottle of sealant.
- If a tire pressure of 29 psi (200 kPA) cannot
reached after inflating for 6 minutes, then
the tire is too severely damaged. Do not
continue driving.
- If the tire cannot be repaired with the tire
sealant, see an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
(D Tips
Do not operate the compressor for more than
6 minutes continuously, or it can over heat.
Once the compressor has cooled, you can con­
tinue to use it.

,....,
N
0 > co ,...., Completing
Appl ies to vehicles: W ith t ire repa ir set
.,. Adhe re the sticke r that says "max. SO mph
(max. 80 km/h)" that is p rovided w ith the t ire
mobility k it within the driver's fie ld of vision .
.,. Stop the vehicle after driving for about 10 mi ­
nutes and check the tire pressure .
.,. lfthe tire pressure is lower than 19 psi (130
kPA), then the tire is too severely damaged. Do
not cont inue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facil ity for as­
s istance .
.,. If the t ire pressure is at least 19 psi (130 kPA),
adjus t the tire pressu re to the spec ified value
~ page 263, Tire pressure . Store the tire pres ­
sures
~page 273, Storing tire pressures . Drive
to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Serv ice Facility to have the tire re­
placed.
A WARNING
If the tire pressure is less than 19 psi
(130 kPA) after 10 minutes of d riving, then
the tire is too severely damaged. Do not con­
tinue dr iv ing . See an authorized Audi dealer
or autho rized Audi Service Fac ility for assis­
t ance.
A WARNING
Pay a ttent ion to the following after repair ing
the tire:
- Do not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).
- Avoid hard acceleration, brak ing sharp ly,
and fast corner ing.
- The veh icle may become mo re difficu lt to
co ntro l.
-If the t ire is too severely damaged, see an
authorized Audi dealer o r autho rized Aud i
Service Facility for assistance .
@ For the sake of the environment
You can give the used t ire sealant bottle to an
author ized Audi dealer or authorized A udi
Serv ice Facility fo r disposal.
Em ergenc y ass is tanc e
{!) Tips
Remember to obtain a new bott le of sealant
from an authorized A udi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Fac ility after repairing a tire.
Replacing wheels
Before changing a wheel
Observe the following precautions for your own
and your passenger's safety when changing a wheel.
.,. After you experience a t ire failure, pull the car
well away from moving traffic and try to reach
le vel grou nd before you stop~,& .
.,. All passengers should
leave the car and move
t o a safe location (for ins tance, behind the
gua rdrail) ~,& .
.,. Engage the
pa rking brake to prevent your vehi ­
cle from rolling unintentionally ~ .,& .
.,. Move
sele ctor le ver to po sition P ~ .,& .
.,. If you are tow ing a trai ler, unhitch the trailer
from yo ur vehicle .
.,. Take the jack Q page 280 and the spare tire
~ page 289 out of the luggage compartment.
A WARNING
You o r you r passengers could be injured while
changing a whee l if yo u do not follow these
safety precaut ions :
- If you have a fla t tire, move a safe dis tance
off the road. Turn off the eng ine, turn the
emergency f lashers on and use other warn ­
ing devices to alert other motorists.
- Make sure that passenge rs wai t in a safe
p lace away from the vehicle and well away
from the road and t raffic.
- To help prevent the vehicle from moving suddenly and possib ly slipping off the jack,
always fu lly set the park ing brake and block
the wheel d iagonally opposite the wheel be­
ing changed . When one front whee l is lifted
off the ground, placing the Automatic
Transmission i n P (Park) w ill
not prevent the
veh icle from moving.
~
283