2016 AUDI A3 ECU

Sea ts and stor age
- Do not use coat hangers to hang garments,
because th is could reduce the effect iveness
of the side curtain airbags.
- Do not hang any heavy objects on the gar­
ment hooks, because they could cause injury
during heavy braking.
- Beca use of their load capac ity, the hooks
should only be used to secure objects that
weigh a maximum of 10 lbs (5 kg). Heavy
objects w ill not be secured suff ic iently, and
this increases the risk of injury.
Luggage compartment
Loading luggage compartment
Luggage items must be stowed securely.
F ig. 59 Place heavy objects as far forward as poss ible (ex­
amp le).
Note the following to preserve the vehicle's good
handling character istics .
• Distribute t he load as evenly as possible.
• Place heavy objects as far forward as possib le
¢ fig. 59.
• Secure luggage i tems with the cargo net* or
with non-elastic retai ning straps to the tie­
down rings *
¢page 66.
A WARNING
-
-Loose objects in the luggage compartment
can slide about suddenly and alter the vehi­
cle's handling characterist ics.
- Loose objects in the passenger compart­
ment can fly forward during abrupt maneu­
vers or acc idents and injure occupants.
64
- Always store objects in the luggage com­
partment and use su itab le straps, particu­
larly w ith heavy objects.
- When you transport heavy objects, always
remember that a change in the center of
gravity may result in a change in the vehi­
cle's handling characteristics.
- Follow all warnings¢
page 166, Driving
safety.
@ Tips
The tire pressure must be adjusted to the load
- see the tire pressure sticker located on the
driver's side 8-pillar.
General information
_&. WARNING
Refer to the chapter Dr iv ing Safely
¢
page 166, Driving safety for important in­
formation, tips, suggestions and warnings that you should read and follow for your own
safety and the safety of your passengers.
Luggage compartment cover
Applies to vehicles: With luggage co mpa rtment cover
(A3 Spo rtback)
The luggage compartment cover prevents the
view into the luggage compartment.
Fig . 60 Open luggage compartme nt lid wit h luggage com ­
pa rtment cove r
Removin g
• Unhinge the straps (D and pull the cover @in
the direction of the arrow out of the holder @. .,..

Installing
• Slide the cover@ hor izontally into the desig­
nated ho lder @in the side bracket until the
cover is lined up.
• Hook the straps into the l uggage compartment
lid @ ¢
A.
A WARNING
-To prevent accidents, never install the lug­
gage compartment cove r unsec ured.
- The luggage compartment cover is not a
surface for storing objects. Objects placed
on the cover increase the r isk of injury to all
vehicle occupa nts dur ing sudden bra king
mane uvers o r when i nvo lved in an accident .
Increasing the size of the luggage
compartment
-
The rear seat backre sts can be folded forward ei ­
ther separately or together.
F ig. 61 Backrest: re lease lever (le ft s ide, examp le)
Folding the backr est forward
• Push the corresponding head restraint down­
ward
¢ page 60.
• Press the release lever @ in the direct ion of the
arrow .
• Fold the backrest forward .
Folding the backrest back into the upright
position
• Fold the backrest down until it latches secure ly
¢ ,& .When you can no longer see the red mark
;::: on the pin @, the seat is la tched .
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Seats and storag e
A WARNING
-~
-The backrest must be latched securely to
e nsu re that the safety belt is p rotecti ng the
center seating position .
- The bac krest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide fo rward out of the lug­
gage compartment during sudde n braking .
- Always make su re the backrest is latched
completely by pull ing fo rwa rd on it .
- Make sure the safety belt is not caught in
the door hinges or the seat fittings and
damaged.
- To rn or frayed safety be lts can break, and
be lt anchors can b reak dur ing a col lision .
C heck the safety be lts regu la rly. Safety
be lts wi th noticeable damage to the we b­
b in g, b indings, bu ckles or ret ra cto rs m ust
be repla ced.
(D Note
- If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is fo lded fo rwa rd, yo u
c o ul d d am age the head restra in ts on t he
rear sea t. If necessary, remove the rear sea t
head restraint be fore mov ing the front seat
back
- Make sure the sa fe ty belt is not pinche d in
the back rest lock a nd damage d when the
rear seat backrest if folded back . Othe r ob­
jects should be removed from the rear
bench seat to protect the rear backrest from
damage .
65

Sea ts and stor age
Lowering the cargo floor
Applies to veh icles: w ith adj ustable cargo f loor
The cargo floor can lower to expand the storage
area in the luggage compartment.
F ig. 62 L uggage compartment: lowered cargo floor
The cargo floor can also be inse rted at a lower
point depending on vehicle eq uipment .
., Lift the cargo floor in order to lower it.
., Pull the cargo floor back slightly a nd insert it in
the lowe r pos it ion
@ .
To make loading and un load ing eas ier, br inging
the cargo floo r back into position @ afte r trans­
port ing b ulky i tems is recommended.
Tie-downs and cargo net
The cargo net* prevents small objects from slid­
ing.
F ig . 63 Luggage compartment: location of the tie -downs
66
F ig. 6 4 Luggage compartment: luggage compartment net•
spread out
., Secure the cargo to the tie-downs c::> fig. 63
-arrows- .
., To secure the cargo net, first hang the front
hooks in the tie-downs then hang the rear
hooks -arrows-
c::> fig. 64.
., Obse rve
the safety precaut ions c::> page 172,
Storing cargo correctly .
.&_ WARNING
Weak, damaged or fau lty straps used to se­
cure objects to the tie-downs can fail during
heavy braking or a co llision and lead to seri­
ous injur ies .
- Always use s uitable straps and secure ob­
jects to the tie-downs in the luggage com­
partment to prevent objects from shifting
and sliding forward.
- Never secure a child seat restraint to a tie­
down.
- Because of their load capacity, the hooks
should only be used to secure objects that
weigh a maximum of 10 lbs (5 kg). Heavy
objects will not be secured sufficiently, and
this increases the risk of inju ry.
-

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Bag hooks
Applies to vehicles: with bag hooks
Fig. 65 A3 Sportba ck luggage com part men t: bag hook s
( r igh t sid e, e xampl e)
Fig. 66 A3 Sed an luggag e compartmen t: bag hoo ks (exa m­
p le )
You can also use the hooks to hang light purses ,
bags , etc.
_&. WARNING
The hooks can hold a maximum weight of 6
lbs. (3 kg). Heavier objects are not adequately
secured. There is risk of personal injury.
Seats and storage
Reversible mat
Applies to vehicles: with cargo mat
The reversible mat protects the luggage com­
partment and bumper from dirt and scratches.
Fig. 67 Lugg ag e compar tment: re ve rs ib le ma t w it h back­
rest folded forward (example)
You can use the reversible mat with the dirt-re­
sistant side or the decorative side. After loading
or unloading, fold up the reversible mat and
close the luggage compartment lid. Only store
the reversible mat if it is dry.
Pass-through
Appl ies to vehicles: with pass-through
Fig. 68 Backrest: pass -thro ugh cover
.,. Fold the rear seat center armrest down .
.,. Fold the pass-through cover down¢
fig. 68.
_&. WARNING
- Make sure that all objects that you are
transporting in the pass-through are secure.
They could slide around during sudden brak­ ing maneuvers and cause injuries .
- Sharp edges on objects that are loaded must be covered for protection.
67

Sea ts and stor age
Roof rack
Description and mounting locations
Additional cargo can be carried with a roof lug­
gage rack.
Fig. 69 Roof rack attachment points (w it h out roof rails)
Fig. 70 A3 Sportback w ith roof rail: Roof rack attac hment
points
" Always read and follow the instructions prov id­
ed by the roof rack manufacturer when instal­
ling the roof rack system .
If luggage or cargo is to be carried on the roof,
you must observe the followi ng:
- Only use roof racks approved for your vehicle.
These approved roof racks are the basis for a
complete roof rack system. Additional attach­
ments o r carrier systems are needed to trans­
po rt luggage and sports equ ipment. We recom­
mend using roof racks from the Aud i orig inal
accessor ies program.
- When ins tall ing the roof rack, make sure it is
o nly mounted on the designated locations on
the roof
r=;, fig. 69.
- We recommend that you keep the installation
inst ruct ions for your roof rac k system togethe r
with yo ur Ow ner's li teratu re in the vehicle.
68
When should th e roof rack be removed?
- Before goi ng through an automatic car wash (it
is best to ask the car wash operator for advice).
- When not in use, to reduce fuel consumpt ion,
w ind no ise and to g uard aga inst theft.
_& WARNING
- Use of an unapproved roof rack or incorrect
mounting of an approved roof rack can
cause the roof rack or the items attached to
it to fall off the roof onto the road.
- Objects falling from the roof of a vehicle can
cause a crash and personal injury.
- On ly mount the roof rack on the designated
locations on the roof
r=;, fig. 69.
- The roof rack system must be insta lled ex­
actly according to the i nstr uctions provided.
- When drivi ng with a roof rack system,
changes to the center of gravity and wind
resistance can change the vehicle handling
and lead to a co llision. Always adapt yo ur
driving and your speed to the current condi­
tions.
(D Note
- Your vehicle warranty does not cove r any
damages to the vehicle caused by using roof
racks or mounting structures not approved
by Audi for yo ur vehicle . The same applies to
damage resulting from incorrect roof rack
ins tallation.
- Always check the roof rack mountings and hardwa re before each trip and du ring a t rip
to ma ke sure eve ry t hing is securely tight­
ened. If necessa ry, retighte n the mountings
and che ck the entire sys tem from time to
t ime.
- After mou nting a roof rac k system, o r when
yo u transport ob jects on the roof o f your
ve­
hicle, the he ight of the vehicle is natura lly
increased. Be careful when driving under
low bridges or in parking garages for exam­
ple. This could cause damage to the load
and
even the vehicle itself.
- Make sure the open rear lid and the sun­
roof" do not come into contact w it h the roof
rack.

,....,
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0 > co ,...., Loading the roof rack
Always distribute loads evenly. Make sure any­
thing on the roof rack is securely tied down .
11-Always distribute the loads on the roof rack
evenly .
11-Always attach items to the roof rack securely
before you drive off.
The maximum permiss ible roof weight is
165 lb
( 7 5 kg ). The roof weight is the total of the
weight of the roof rack, the attachments and the
cargo you are carrying. You must also not exceed
the maximum load weight fo r th e roof rac k you
are using.
When us ing a roof rack system wh ich has a lower
l oad carry ing capacity, you must not use up the
to ta l maximum permissible load car rying capaci­
ty specified above. Instead, you s hou ld load the
r oof rack system only to the maximum capac ity
specified by the manufacturer of the roof rack
system .
A WARNING
Weak, damaged or improper straps used to
secure items to the roof rack can fa il during
hard braking or in a collision and cause seri­
ous personal injury.
- Make sure the roof rack is installed exactly
as spec ified above
c> page 68.
- Always use su itab le mounting straps for se­
curing items to the roof rack to help prevent
items from shifting or fly ing forward .
- Items on the roof rack must always be se­
curely mounted.
- The use of a roof rack can negatively affect
the way a vehicle handles. Cargo that is
large, heavy, bulky, long or flat will have a
greate r negative influence on the vehicle's
aerodynamics, cente r of g ravity and ove rall
hand lin g. A lways d rive slowly, avoid sudden
bra king and mane uvers when transpo rting
cargo on the roof of you r vehicle .
- Never exceed the maxim um permissible
load carrying cap aci ty of the roof of you r ve­
hicle, the permissib le ax le weigh ts and the
permissible total weight of your vehicle
c> page 301, Weights.
-
Seat s and sto rage
{® For the sake of the environment
As a result of the increased wind resistance
created by a roof rack, your vehicle is using
fuel unnecessarily. So remove the roof rack
after using it.
69

Warm and cold
outlet, regardless of whether it is protected
against a short circuit or not.
- Always disconnect the connector cable and
close the cover
(D before starting the engine.
.&_ WARNING
Using the engine preheater incorrectly can
cause short circuits, electric shocks, fire, seri­
ous injuries and death.
- The connector cable must always be con­
nected to a grounded 120 Volt socket that
is equipped with a GFI circuit breaker . Al­
ways protect the sockets from water, mois ­
ture and other fluids .
- Never plug the engine preheater into a con­
ventional outlet, regardless of whether it is protected against a short circuit or not .
.&_ WARNING
-
Short circuiting, fire, serious injuries and life­
threatening or lethal electric shock can result
from using unsuitable or damaged sockets and connector cables/extension cords, using
electrical equipment incorrectly, and/or disre­
garding general safety precautions.
- Always plug the extension cord into a 120 V
socket that is properly functioning, ground­
ed, equipped with a GFI circuit breaker and
is protected against water, moisture and
other fluids.
- Never connect the engine preheater to a
conventional socket, even if the socket is
protected by a fuse.
- Always check the fuse on the 120 Volt GFI
socket before connecting the connector ca­
ble to the engine preheater on the vehicle.
- Only use highly durable extension cords that
are class 12 or better and can be properly grounded to a three-prong wall socket with
a GFI circuit breaker . The extension cord
must not be longer than 100 feet (30 me­
ters).
- Never use damaged connector cables, ex­
tension cords or sockets . Always check the
connector cable, extension cord and sockets
for damage before using them. Damaged
parts must be replaced. If damaged, replace
76
the engine preheater connector cable at an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
service facility .
- Only use the connector cable provided to
connect the vehicle socket to a suitable
power source. Use a suitable extension cord
if necessary .
- Always disconnect the connector cable from
the vehicle socket before starting the en­
gine. Switch off the power supply to the
connector cable and to the extension cord if necessary, or disconnect the cable or exten­
sion cord from the 120 Volt socket equip­
ped with a GFI circuit breaker. Never leave
the connector cable or extension cord con­
nected to a live power source.
- Never make alterations or repairs to the
connector cables or extension cords that
supply power to the engine preheater or to
any components that affect the engine pre­
heater.
- Always protect the connections from water,
moisture and other fluids. Always store the
connector cable and extension cord securely
and in a dry place when they are not being
used, and disconnect them from the power
source before storing .
(D Tips
Test the GFI circuit breaker once a month if
you use the engine preheater occasionally, and test it weekly if you use it regularly.

Driving
brake provides various convenience and safety
functions.
When starting from a stop
- The integral hill start assist helps you when
driving by automatically releasing the parking
brake
c:;, page 87, Starting from a stop.
- When starting on inclines, the hill start assist
prevents the vehicle from unintentionally roll­
ing back. The braking force of the parking brake
is not released until the wheels build up
enough driving force.
Emergency brake function
The emergency braking function ensures that the
vehicle can be slowed down even if the
standard
brakes fail c:;, page 87, Emergency braking
function.
A WARNING
- Do not press the accelerator pedal inadver­
tently when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running and a gear is selected.
Otherwise the vehicle will start to move im­
mediately and could result in a crash.
- If the power supply fails, the released park­
ing brake can no longer engage. In this
case, park the vehicle on level ground and
secure it by placing the selector lever in the
P position . See an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for assis­
tance.
(D Note
If the . or .. (USA models) /. (Canada
models) indicator light in the instrument
cluster blinks, there is a malfunction in the
brake system. Refer to the detailed descrip­
tion of the indicator lights
c:;, page 18.
-If the - (USA models) /. (Cana-
da models) or
Ill indicator light turns on,
there is a malfunction in the parking brake
c;, page 19.
@ Tips
-If the parking brake is set while the ignition
is switched off, the
¢~jj indicator light in the
button and in the instrument cluster dis-
86
play - (USA models) /. (Canada mod­
els) will turn off after a certain amount of
time.
- If driver's door is opened while the ignition
is switched on, the parking brake sets auto­
matically. This prevents unintended rolling
of the vehicle.
- Occasional noises when the parking brake is
set and released are normal and are not a
cause for concern.
- When the vehicle is parked, the parking
brake goes through a self-test cycle at regu­
lar intervals. Any noises associated with this
are normal.
- If there is a power failure, the parking brake
will not set if it is released, and it will not release if it is set
c:;, I!:::,. . See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa­ cility for assistance.
· Parking
.,. Press the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
.,. Pull the switch @
c:;, page 85, fig. 80 to set the
parking brake.
.,. Place the selector lever in the P position.
.,. Turn the engine off
c:;, & -
.,. Turn the steering wheel when parking on in­
clines so that the wheels will roll into the curb
if the vehicle starts moving.
A WARNING
- Always take the vehicle key with you when
leaving the vehicle, even for a short period
of time . This applies particularly when chil­
dren remain in the vehicle. Otherwise chil­
dren could start the engine, release the
parking brake or operate electrical equip­
ment such as power windows, which in­
creases the risk of an accident.
- When the vehicle is locked, no one -particu­
larly not children -should remain in the ve­
hicle. Locked doors make it more difficult
for emergency workers to get into the vehi­
cle, which puts lives at risk.