2016 AUDI A3 brakes

,....,
N
0 > co ,...., and a message appears ¢ page 95 when
the clutch is over loaded.
- If the engine must run while you are work­
ing in the engine compartment with the
hood open, make sure a gear is not engag­
ed. The selector lever must be firmly in the
P position and locked in place and the park­
ing brake must be set¢
page 236. Other­
w ise, the vehicle could begin moving when
the engine speed is high, even w ith the
par king brake set.
(D Note
- When stopping on a n incline, do not t ry to
ho ld the vehicle in place by press ing the ac­
ce le ra to r pedal wh ile a driv ing gear is se­
l ected. This can ca u se the au toma tic trans­
mission to overheat and can damage it. Set
the pa rking brake or press the brake pedal
to prevent the vehicle from ro lling .
- Allow ing the vehicle to ro ll when the eng ine
is stopped and the se lector lever is in the N
pos ition w ill damage the automatic trans­
mission because it is not l ubricated under
those circumstances.
- The transmiss ion can overheat and be dam­
aged under certain driving and traffic condi­
tions such as frequent starts , creeping for a
l ong time, or stop-and-go traffic. When t he
mJ o r. indicator light tu rns o n, s top the
vehicle at the next oppo rt u nity and let the
transm issio n coo l
¢page 95 .
-Allow ing the ve hicle to ro ll when the eng ine
i s s topped w ill damage the S tro nic trans­
mission because it is not lubric ated
¢ page 297, Towing with a tow truck .
(D Tips
For safety reasons, the parking b rake releases
au tomatically on ly w hen the dr iver's door is
closed and driver's sa fe ty belt is fastened.
Autom atic tran sm iss ion
Hill descent control
Applies to vehicles: with S tronic transmission
The hill descent control system assists the driver
when driving down hills.
Hill descent control is act ivated when the se lec­
tor lever is in the D or S position and you press
the brake pedal. The transmission automatically
selects a gear that is su itable for the incline . H ill
descent con trol tr ies to maintain the speed ach­
i eved a t the time of braking, w it hi n physi cal a nd
technical lim itations . If may s till be necessary to
adjus t the speed w ith the bra kes . Because hill de­
scent control cannot shift down farthe r than 3rd
gear, it may be necessary to shift into tiptronic
mode in very steep areas. In this case, shift into 1st or 2nd gear in tiptronic mode to use the en­
gine's braking force to relieve the brakes .
Hill descent control switches off once the decline
levels out or you press the accelerator pedal.
On vehicles with a cru ise con trol system*
¢ page 130, hill descent control is a lso activated
when the speed is set.
A WARNING
-Hill descent control cannot overcome physical
limitat ions, so it may not be able to ma intain
a constant speed under all conditions. A lways
be ready to app ly the brakes.
93

e-tron
Setting plug-in hybrid drive modes
Applies to vehicles: w ith p lug -in hybrid drive
Fig. 90 Center console : but ton &
You can change modes when the vehicle is sta­
tionary or while driving. If the vehicle operating
conditions will not allow you to set the mode manually, the last active mode is se lected .
.,. Press the
laV I button repeatedly until the de­
sired mode is displayed in the instrument clus­
ter . Or :
.,. Select the mode in the MMI
n: press the
I MENU I function button> Car > Systems con­
trol button >
e-tron mode and select the de­
s ir ed mode .
The active mode is displayed the first time the
14 "1
button is pressed .
Plug-in hybrid functions
Applies to veh icles: with p lug -in hybrid drive
The functions described below activate automati­
cally depending on the driving style.
Full acceleration (boost)
The boost funct ion is act ivated by pressing the
accelerator pedal farther down (kick-down). The
l) Not availa ble in a ll Info ta inm en t sy ste m s.
104
vehicle is powered by both the gasoline eng ine
and the e lectric motor when in fu ll acce leration.
Boost is only ava ilable for a short time because it
uses a large amount of energy. Availability de ­
pends on the high-voltage battery charge level.
Coasting
The gasoline engine switches off and disengages
at speeds up to approximate ly 112 mph
(180 km/h) if the acce lerator pedal is not press­
ed and the D position is selected. Driving conser­
vatively like this can reduce fuel consumption .
Energy recovery (recuperation)
When braking, the electric motor will act as a
generator creating electric energy that is then
stored in the high-voltage battery . This also oc­
curs when the vehicle is coasting or driving down­
hill.
If the brakes are applied early and evenly, the electric motor w ill brake the vehicle @
¢page 101 , fig. 88. By doing this , a large
amount of the kinetic energy is recovered and
may be stored as e lectric energy in the high -volt ­
age battery . The conventional brakes are also ac­
tivated when the brakes are pressed very hard.
The strength of recuperation can depend on the
following factors:
- If you are in tiptronic mode
Q page 94 . Or
- If the sport driving mode 5 was selected.
The ene rgy recovery is shown in the energy flow
i ndica tor in the in str ument cluster display
¢page 106 .

,....,
N
0 > co ,...., Tips for an efficient drive mode
Applies to vehicles: with p lug-in hybrid drive
Driving situations
Conditions
-Cautious driving and reserved ac-
ce leration .
Constant driving and -Release the accelerator peda l
c oasting (glid ing)
early and entirely.
-Brake early and evenly with short
Energy recovery (re- pedal movements.
cu peration)
Driv ing in city traffic -
Accelerate moderately and brake
early and evenly
- Intentionally take your foot off of
the gas peda l to allow for Lengthy
coast ing .
Driv ing on highways
-Reduce the vehicle speed by re-
and expressways leasing the accelerator pedal and
not by braking.
- Use the S selector lever position
and tiptronic mode sparing ly.
- Do not run the gasoline engine
while the vehicle is parked to warm
the engine.
- Use the rear window/exterior
Driving in cold weath -mirror defroster and the seat heat-
ing sparingly.
er
-Park the vehicle in a garage over -
night.
e-tron
Vehicle behavior
The kinetic energy of the vehicle is used to
move the vehicle.
The gasoline engine turns
off automati -
cally and disengages when you release the
accelerator pedal comp letely. The veh icle
glides without being propelled .
The electric motor brakes the vehicle. By
doing this, a large amount of the kinetic
energy is recovered and may be stored in
the high-voltage battery in the form of
electric energy .
The kinetic ene rgy of the veh icle is used to
move the vehicle.
The gasoline engine turns
off automati-
cally and disengages when yo u release the
accelerator pedal comp lete ly . T he veh icle
g lid es without being p ropelled .
Fu el cons umption can be reduced by
coasting .
A sporty driv ing style increases fue l con-
sumpt ion.
The temperat ure of the gasoline eng ine
rises very s lowly and the fuel consump-
tion increases considerably .
This conserves the energy in the high-volt-
age battery so that it is availab le to run
the vehicle in electric mode.
This reduces exposure of the high-voltage
battery to cold temperatu res . The re-
quired temperature range for the high-
voltage battery will then be reached more
quickly after you start driving.
105

,....,
N
0 > co ,...., Trailer mode Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger
transportation .
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that
the additional load will affect durability, econo­
my and performance.
T railer towing not only places more stress on the
vehicle, it also calls for more concentration from
the driver.
For this reason, always follow the operating and
driving instructions provided and use common
sense.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable
for your vehicle and trailer and must be mounted
securely on the vehicle's chassis at a technically
sound
location . Use only a trailer hitch with a re­
movable ball mount . Always check with the trail­
er hitch manufacturer to make sure that you are
using the correct hitch.
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be installed in such a way that it
does not interfere with the impact -absorbing
bumper system . No modifications should be
made to the vehicle exhaust and brake systems .
From time to time, check that all hitch mounting
bo lts remain securely fastened.
When you are not towing a trailer,
remove the
tra iler hitch ball mount . This prevents the hitch
from causing damage should your vehicle be
struck from beh ind
~ ,&. .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
check to be sure that it conforms to all regula­
tions .
Trailer mode
The trailer hydraulic brake system must not be
directly connected to the vehicle's hydraulic
brake system.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle
and the trailer.
Trailer lights
T ra iler lights must meet all regulations . Be sure
to check with your Aud i dea ler for correct wiring,
switches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you us­
ing the regular outside mirrors, then you
must in­
stall extended mirrors . It is important that you
always have clear vision to the rear.
,8. WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store
it in your vehicle. In case of sudden braking,
the hitch could fly forward and injure you or
your passengers.
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical
class 1 or class 2 trailer.
Trailer load distribution Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in
place to prevent it from shifting forward, back­
ward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer~.&.
in Driving instructions on page 128.
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It
is important that the cooling system's perform ­
ance is up to the additional load. Make sure that
the cooling system has enough fluid.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your
vehicle to the cold tire pressure listed under "Full ..,.
127

Trailer mod e
load" on the la bel located on the driver's side B ­
pillar (visib le when the door is open) . Inflate
tra iler tires to trailer and tire manufacturers'
specif ications.
Lights
Check to make sure both vehicle and t railer lights
are working p roper ly.
Safety chains
Be sure t railer safety chains are properly connect­
ed from the trai le r to the hi tch on the veh icle.
L eave enough sla ck in the cha ins to permi t turn­
ing corners. When yo u install safety chains, ma ke
sure they wi ll not drag on the road when yo u are
driving .
The cha ins s hou ld cross under the trailer tongue
t o prevent it from dropping in case of separation
from the h itch .
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care
and consideration .
To obtain t he best poss ible handling of vehicle
and traile r, please note the fo llow ing :
.,. Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself
is not loaded.
.. Be especi ally ca ref ul when pass ing othe r
vehicles.
.. Observe speed limi ts .
.. Do not d rive at the maximum permissible
speed.
.. Always apply brakes early.
.. Monitor the temperature gauge .
Weight distribution
Towing a loaded t railer w ith an empty car res ults
in a high ly unstable distribution of weight . If this
cannot be avoided, drive at very low speeds on ly
to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easie r to operate and cont rol.
This means that the tow vehi cle should be loaded
to the extent possible and permissible, while
keep ing the tra iler as light as possib le under the
circumstances. Whenever possible, transfer
some cargo to the l uggage compartment of the
128
tow veh icle wh ile observing tong ue load require ­
ments and vehicle loading considerations.
Speed
The higher the speed, the mo re diff icu lt i t be­
comes for the driver to con trol the r ig. Do not
drive at t he maxim um permissible speed. Reduce
you r speed even more if load, weather or wind
con dit ions are unfavorab le - partic ularly when
go ing downh ill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the trailer
shows the slightest sign of swaying.
Do not try
to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limi ts. In some areas, s peeds fo r
vehicles towing trailers are lower than for regular
vehicles .
A lways apply bra kes early. Whe n driving down­
hill, shift in to a lower gea r to use the engine
b raki ng effect to slow the vehi cle. Use of the
brakes alone ca n cause them to over heat and fai l.
Coolant temperature
The coolant temperature gauge 9 page 12 must
be obse rved caref ully. The coolant temperature
c a n incre ase if yo u drive o n long incl ines in a low
gear a t high engine speeds . Red uce your speed
immediately if the LE Ds in the top part of the dis­
play turn on .
Fo r more info rm ation abou t indicator lights, re­
fer to . ¢
page 20 .
A WARNING
-
Anyone not prope rly restrai ned in a moving
vehicle is at a much greate r risk in an acci ­
dent. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wear ing the restraints provided
by Aud i.
Trailer mode notes
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differen tly when towing a
trailer because o f the additiona l weight and di f­
ferent weight distribution. Safety, performance
and economy will g reatly depend on how caref ul-
l y you load your trai ler and operate you r rig. ..,_

,....,
N
0 > co ,...., Before you actually tow your trailer, practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area away
from traff ic. Keep practicing until you have be­
come completely familiar with the way your vehi­
cle-trailer combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice.
Backing up with a trailer generally requires steer­
ing action opposite to that when backing up your
vehicle without a trailer.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle
and the one in front of you. You wi ll need more
room to stop. To compensate for the trailer, you
will need a larger than normal turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accel­
erate as fast as you norma lly would because of
the added load. Make sure you have enough room
to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for
your trailer before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky starts, sharp turns or rap id lane
changes.
@ Tips
- Do not tow a trailer during the break-in peri­
od of your vehicle.
- If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require
more frequent maintenance due to the ex­
tra load
¢ page 306.
Parking on a slope
Do not pork on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot
be avoided, do so only ofter doing the following:
When parking:
.. Apply the foot brake .
.. Have someone pla ce chocks under both the ve­
hicle and the trailer wheels .
.. With chocks in place, slowly release the brakes
until the wheel chocks absorb the load .
.. Turn the wheels towards the curb .
.. Apply the parking brake .
.. Select the P selector lever position.
When restarting after parking :
.. Apply the foot brake.
.. Start the engine.
.. Select the D/S selector lever position.
Trailer mode
.. Release the parking brake and slowly pull out
and away from the wheel chocks.
.. Stop and have someone retrieve the whee l
chocks.
{!) Tips
If you move the selector lever of the automat­
ic transmission to P before applying the park­
ing brake and before blocking the wheels, you
may have to use more force later to move the
lever out of the P posit ion.
129

.... N
0 > CX)
....
"' U"I
....
"' ....
-Please note that unconsciously "resting"
your foot on the accelerator pedal prevents the cruise control from braking. This is be­
cause pressing the accelerator pedal over­
rides the cruise control system .
-If there is a brake system malfunction such
as overheating when the speed warning sys­
tem is switched on, the braking function in
the system will be deactivated. The remain­
ing speed warning system functions will re­
ma in active, as long as the~ (USA mod­
els) /
fil (Canada models) indicator light is
on.
{i) Tips
- The cruise control system is ideal for
stretches w ith speed limits. The d river is re­
sponsible for adhering to the correct speed.
- The cruise control remains active when
shifting gears.
- The brake lights turn on when the brakes
are act ivated.
Switching on
Appl ies to vehicles: with c ru ise control system
0
f
®t
0
Fig. 114 Operat ing lever: cruise contro l system
.. To switch the cruise control on, pull the lever
into position @~
fig. 114.
.. Drive at the speed to be maintained .
.. To store the speed, press the button @. The
@;\1)~14 (USA models) / l'I (Canada models)
turns on in the instrument cluster.
Assist
Changing speed
App lies to vehicles: w ith cruise control system
., To increase or decrease the speed in incre­
ments,
tap the lever in the 010 direction
~ page 131, fig. 114.
.. To increase or decrease the speed quickly, hold
the lever in the 0 / 0 direction until the de­
sired speed is reached.
Overriding the speed
You can press the accelerator pedal down to in­
crease your speed, for example if you want to
pass someone. The speed you saved earlier will
resume as soon as you let off of the accelerator
pedal.
If, however, you exceed your saved speed by 5
mph (10 km/h) for longer than 6 minutes, the
cruise control turns off temporarily .
The@;\!)~14
(USA mode ls) ;fil (Canada models) indicator
light in the instrument cluster turns off and the
stored speed is maintained.
Preselecting the speed
Appl ies to vehicles: w it h cruise co ntrol system
You can pre-select your desired speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
., Switch on the ign ition .
.. Pull the lever into position
(D 9 page 131,
fig. 114 .
.. To increase or decrease the speed, tap the lever
in the
010 direction.
This function makes it possible, for example, to
save the speed you want before driving on the
highway. Once on the highway, activate the
cruise control system by pulling the lever toward
the position
(D .
Switching off
Applies to veh icles: w it h cru ise co ntrol system
Temporary deactivation
.. Press the brake pedal, or
.. Press the lever into position@ (not clicked into
place)
~ page 131, fig. 114, or ..,
131

Assist Switching off completely
.,. Press the leve r into position @(clicked into
place), or
.,. Switch the ignition off.
The speed you sto red w ill be retained if the cruise
control has been switched off tempora rily . To re­
sume the stored speed, re lease the brake pedal
and pu ll the lever into position
(D .
The stored speed is erased when the cruise con­
trol is sw itched off comp letely or the ignit ion is
switched off .
A WARNING
You should only resume the stored speed if it
is not too high for existing traffic conditions.
Otherwise you risk an accident .
@ Tips
-If the brakes become too heated whi le driv­
ing, the cruise control switches off. If this
happens while driving downhill, you can re­
lieve the brakes by shifting into a lower
gear.
- When the cruise control is activated, ESC
sport mode cannot be switched on.
Audi adaptive cruise control
Description
Applies to vehicles: w ith Audi adaptive cruise control
Fig. 115 Detect ion range
The adaptive cruise control system is a combina­
tion of speed and distance regulation .
It assists
the driver by both regulating the speed and
maintaining a distance to the object ahead, with-
132
in the abilities of the system. If the system de­
tects an object, adaptive cruise contro l can brake
and acce lerate your vehicle. This makes driving
more comfortable both on long stretches of
highway and in stop-and-go traffic.
What can adaptive cruise control do?
The adaptive cruise control system uses radar
and a video camera. The radar is subject to desig­
nated system limits
i=> page 133 .
On open roads with no traffic , it functions like a
cruise contro l system. The stored speed is main ­
tained. When approaching an object ahead and
the system detects it, the adapt ive cr uise control
system automatically brakes to match that ob­
ject's speed and then maintains the stored dis­
tance . As soon as the system does not detect an
object ahead, adapt ive cr uise control acce lerates
up to the stored speed.
Within the limits of the system, adaptive cruise control can brake in stop -and -go traffic until the
vehicle is stat ionary and then begin driving agai n
under certain cond itions
i=> page 136, Driving in
stop-and-go traffic.
Which functions can be controlled?
When you switch adapt ive cru ise control on, you
can set the current speed as the "control speed"
i=> page 134, Switching on/off.
When dr iving, you can stop cruise control
i=> page 136 or change the speed c> page 136 at
any time .
You can also adjust the following settings :
- Distance
i=> page 137
-Dr iv in g program i=> page 138
-Dr iving mode c> page 138