
8V2012721BK
Warm and cold
Warm and cold
Climate control system
Your vehicle has a deluxe automatic climate con-
trol system with two zones where the tempera-
ture, air distribution, and amount of air can be
adjusted separately on the left and right front
sides.
The climate control system circulates, warms or
cools, and removes humidity from the air in the
vehicle interior. It is the most effective when the
windows and panoramic glass roof* or power
top* are closed. If there is a build-up of heat in-
side the vehicle, ventilation can help to speed up
the cooling process.
Pollutant filter
The pollutant filter removes pollutants such as
dust and pollen from the air.
Presets
Several functions can be preset in the Infotain-
ment system.
Select in the Infotainment system: [MENU] but-
ton > Vehicle > left control button > Air condi-
tioning
freeze on the windshield and impair visibili-
ty.
ZA WARNING
Poor visibility can lead to accidents.
— For safer driving, keep all windows free of
ice, snow and fog.
— Become familiar with the correct use and
function of the climate control system as
quickly as possible, especially with the de-
frosting and defogging functions.
— When the temperature is below freezing,
only use the windshield washer system after
the
windshield has been warmed by the cli-
mate control system. The washer fluid could
() Note
— If you suspect that the climate control sys-
tem is damaged, switch the system off to
prevent further damage and have it checked
by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.
— Repairs to the Audi climate control system
require special technical knowledge and
special
tools. See an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility.
@) For the sake of the environment
— Energy can be saved by switching off the A/C
mode.
— In vehicles with the efficiency program”, you
can find other consumption information and
more economy tips > page 23.
iG) Tips
—To prevent interference with the heating
and cooling output and to prevent the win-
dows from fogging over, the air intake in
front of the windshield must be free of ice,
snow, and leaves.
— Condensation from the cooling system can
drip and form a puddle of water under the
vehicle. This is normal and does not mean
there is a leak.
— The energy management system may tem-
porarily switch off certain functions, such as
the seat heating* or rear window defogger.
These systems are available again as soon as
the energy supply has been restored.
— The climate control settings are automati-
cally stored and assigned to the vehicle key
that is in use. These settings are different
when the power top* is open or closed.
65

Warm and cold
2-zone deluxe automatic climate control
Applies to: vehicles with 2-zone deluxe automatic climate control
B8V-0590
Fig. 82 2-zone deluxe automatic climate control: controls
The functions can be switched on and off by
pressing the buttons or adjusted by turning the
knob. The LED in a button will light up when the
function is switched on.
The deluxe climate control system automatically
maintains a temperature once it has been set. In
all heating mode functions except defrost, the
blower only switches to a higher speed once the
engine coolant has reached a certain tempera-
ture.
AUTO Automatic mode or eco mode*
Automatic mode maintains a constant tempera-
ture inside the vehicle. Air temperature, airflow
and air distribution are controlled automatically.
AUTO mode switches off once a button in the cli-
mate control system is pressed.
Applies to: vehicles with eco mode: Pressing the
AUTO button briefly when automatic mode is ac-
tive will activate the energy-saving mode of the
climate control system. eco will appear on the
control panel display. You can end eco mode by
pressing the AUTO button again.
A/C cooling mode
The cooling mode only functions with the blower
turned on. You can turn the cooling system on or
off by pressing the A/C button. The air is not
cooled and humidity is not removed when cooling
66
mode is switched off. This can cause fog on the
windows. The cooling mode switches off auto-
matically when there are cold outside tempera-
tures.
@ / @ Temperature
The temperature for the driver's and front pas-
senger's side can be adjusted separately with the
dials @/@). Temperatures between 60 °F
(+16 °C) and 84 °F (+28 °C) can be set. If outside
of this range, LO or HI will appear in the climate
control system display. In both settings, the cli-
mate control runs constantly at the maximum
cooling or heating level. The temperature is not
regulated.
Synchronization: Pressing and holding the AUTO
button for two seconds transfers the tempera-
ture setting for the driver to the front passeng-
er's side. This applies a temperature change to
the front passenger's side.
S8 Blower
Using the dial $8, you can manually adjust the
volume of air generated by the blower to your
preference. The blower should always run at a
low setting to prevent the windows from fogging
and to ensure a continuous exchange of air inside
the vehicle. To have the blower regulated auto-
matically, press the AUTO button.

8V2012721BK
Warm and cold
85/ 29/ @3 Air distribution and vents
The air distribution can adjusted with the but-
tons. To have the air distribution regulated auto-
matically, press the AUTO button.
The round air vents in the cockpit are adjustable
> page 68.
To keep the front side windows from fogging up
in damp weather, we recommend opening the
side air vents and tilting them to the side.
Foot vents are located under the front seats and
adjustable vents on the end of the center console
to heat the rear of the vehicle.
& Defrosting
The windshield and side windows are defrosted
or cleared of condensation as quickly as possible.
The maximum amount of air flows mainly from
the vents below the windshield. Recirculation
mode switches off. The temperature should be
set at +72°F (22°C) or higher. The temperature is
controlled automatically. In the & setting, the
A/C cooling mode switches on automatically, de-
pending on the outside air temperature.
The AUTO button switches the defroster off.
<> Recirculation mode
The recirculation mode can be turned on manual-
ly or automatically*.
— Switching manual recirculation mode on and
off: press the > button.
— Automatic* recirculation mode: auto recircula-
tion needs to be activated in the Infotainment
system. Select in the Infotainment system:
MENU] button > Vehicle > left control button >
Air conditioning > Auto recirculation. The air
quality sensor that is designed for diesel and
gasoline exhaust automatically switches the re-
circulation mode on or off depending on the
level of pollutants in the outside air.
In recirculation mode, the air inside the vehicle is
circulated and filtered. This prevents the unfil-
tered air outside the vehicle from entering the
vehicle interior. Switching recirculation mode on
when driving through a tunnel or when sitting in
traffic is recommended > A.
Pressing the <> button, AUTO or the ® button
switches recirculation mode off.
@ Rear window heating
If the rear window defogger is activated when
the ignition is switched on, the battery manage-
ment determines based on the battery charge if
it is possible to turn on. Otherwise, the rear win-
dow defogger functions with the engine running
and switches off automatically after approxi-
mately 10 - 20 minutes, depending on the out-
side temperature.
To prevent the rear window defogger from
switching off automatically, press and hold the
® button for more than two seconds.
#/ Seat heating*
Pressing the a button switches the seat heating
on at the highest setting (level 3). The LEDs indi-
cate the temperature level. To reduce the tem-
perature, press the button again. To switch the
seat heating off, press the button repeatedly un-
til the LED turns off.
After approximately 10 minutes, the seat heating
automatically switches from level 3 to level 2.
Z\ WARNING
— You should not use the recirculation mode
for an extended period of time, because no
fresh air is drawn in and the windows can
fog when cooling mode is switched off. This
increases the risk of an accident.
— Individuals with reduced sensitivity to pain
or temperature could develop burns when
using the seat heating function. To reduce
the risk of injury, these individuals should
not use seat heating.
@) Note
To reduce the risk of damage to the seat heat-
ing elements, do not kneel on the seats or
place heavy pressure on one area of the seat.
G) Tips
If the front passenger's seat heating is turned
on, it will not turn on again automatically if
more than 10 minutes have passed between
67
>

Warm and cold
switching the ignition off and switching it on
again.
Adjusting the vents
Fig. 83 Cockpit: adjusting the air vents
The following settings are possible:
-@ Air flow amount
-—@Air flow direction
To adjust the air flow amount, turn the ridged
outer adjusting ring @. To stop the air flow, turn
the adjusting ring all the way to the right.
To adjust the air flow direction, turn the air vent
grill insert 2).
Steering wheel heating
Scale Rie mola
Applies to: vehicles with steering wheel heating
> Press the @ button on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel to switch the steering wheel heating
on and off.
G@) Tips
The steering wheel heating settings are stor-
ed automatically and assigned to the vehicle
key that is in use.
Messages
Applies to: vehicles with steering wheel heating
@ Steering wheel heating: on / Steering wheel
heating: off
This message appears if you switched the steer-
ing wheel heating on or off by pressing the @
button on the multifunction steering wheel.
68
Steering wheel heating: malfunction! See own-
er's manual
If this message appears, there is a malfunction.
Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
Auxiliary climate control
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
The auxiliary climate control system warms or
cools the vehicle interior. The vehicle will turn on
the auxiliary climate control system if needed,
depending on the last temperature that was set
with the climate control system controls. This
function can be used when the drive system is
switched off.
You can turn the auxiliary climate control system
on and off immediately in the Infotainment sys-
tem or set a timer.
Requirement: the high-voltage battery must have
a sufficient charge level and there must be
enough fuel in the tank.
@) Tips
— The temperature that the climate control
system adjusts to depends on the last tem-
perature you set in the climate control unit.
— Using the auxiliary climate control while
charging can also reduce the charge level of
the high-voltage battery.
— The auxiliary climate control system will not
turn on automatically or will turn off earlier
if the high-voltage battery charge or fuel
supply are too low, even if the vehicle is be-
ing charged at the time.
— Starting or stopping the vehicle will not
switch off the auxiliary climate control auto-
matically.
![AUDI A3 2020 Owner´s Manual 8V2012721BK
Warm and cold
Switching on and off
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
Switching the auxiliary climate control on/
off:
> Select the [MENU] button > Vehicle > lef AUDI A3 2020 Owner´s Manual 8V2012721BK
Warm and cold
Switching on and off
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
Switching the auxiliary climate control on/
off:
> Select the [MENU] button > Vehicle > lef](/manual-img/6/40265/w960_40265-70.png)
8V2012721BK
Warm and cold
Switching on and off
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
Switching the auxiliary climate control on/
off:
> Select the [MENU] button > Vehicle > left con-
trol button > Auxiliary air conditioning > Turn
on auxiliary air conditioning or Turn off auxili-
ary air conditioning.
@) Tips
The auxiliary climate control can also be
switched on and off immediately when a tim-
er is set.
Setting the timer
Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control
By setting the departure time, you determine
when your vehicle should reach the desired tem-
perature. You can set the timer in the auxiliary air
conditioning menu in the Infotainment system.
Auxiliary climate control: setting the timer
> Select: [MENU] button > Vehicle > left control
button > Auxiliary A/C > right control button >
Program timer.
> Set the time and the date.
> Press the [BACK] button.
> Confirm the setting with the control knob to ac-
tivate the timer. A V appears in the box.
Error messages
(ZA - The high-voltage battery charge level is too
low to heat/air condition the vehicle using only
electric power. Vehicles with auxiliary heating/air
conditioning* can continue to be heated or
cooled using the fuel in the tank.
If one of the following symbols appears in the
display, then you cannot switch on the auxiliary
climate control system or auxiliary heating/air
conditioning*:
2— - There is a system malfunction.
A - The fuel level is too low.
@) Tips
— If you switch the ignition off, the timer set-
tings will appear in the Infotainment sys-
tem display. You can still adjust the settings
for several minutes. The climate control sys-
tem can be started immediately, which will
maintain the desired climate control condi-
tions while you are not in the vehicle.
— You can set the timer a maximum of seven
days in advance.
— You can operate the climate control in the
vehicle interior when the high-voltage bat-
tery is charging using the charging timer
= page 106. The target climate control out-
put depends on the power supply capacity.
— Make sure the time and date match in the
Infotainment system settings so that the
timer can function correctly > page 230.
— The auxiliary climate control can continue to
run after the departure time is reached.
Fluids in the A/C system
Refrigerant in the A/C system
The sticker in the engine compartment provides
information about the type and amount of refrig-
erant used in the vehicle’s A/C system. The stick-
er is located in the front section of the engine
compartment or at the front or back of the hood.
Symbol
A
Meaning
Warning: the A/C system must only
be serviced by qualified technicians.
Refrigerant type
Lubricant type
a
tt
Refer to the service information
(only available for authorized Audi
dealers or authorized Audi Service
Facilities)
The A/C system must only be serv-
e
Bi) iced by qualified technicians. >
69

Driving
— Turn off electrical equipment that is not need-
ed, for example seat heating*.
— Anticipate upcoming traffic situations while
driving to avoid unnecessary acceleration and
braking.
— Avoid driving at high speeds.
— Avoid adding extra weight to the vehicle if pos-
sible, for example by not leaving roof racks or
bike racks installed when they are not needed.
— Make sure the tire pressure is correct.
— Have maintenance performed regularly on the
vehicle.
— Do not drive with winter tires during the summ-
er.
— Do not let the engine run while the vehicle
parked.
— Use the Start/Stop system.
— Utilize the engine braking effect.
— Avoid driving short distances when possible.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: brake early and evenly to
use the recuperation function.
@) Tips
The amount of noise produced by the vehicle
can increase significantly when driving with a
sporty style. Show respect to others around
you and the environment with the way you op-
erate your vehicle, especially at night.
Energy management
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent ener-
gy management system for distributing electrici-
ty. This significantly improves the starting ability
and increases the vehicle battery life.
G) Tips
— If you drive short distances frequently, the
vehicle battery may not charge enough
while driving. As a result, convenience func-
tions for electrical equipment may be tem-
porarily unavailable.
— The vehicle battery will gradually drain if
the vehicle is not driven for long periods of
time, or if electrical equipment is used
when the engine is not running. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the
82
electrical equipment will be limited or
switched off.
S Engine stopped: power steering and brake
booster not possible
There is a malfunction in the engine or the fuel
supply. More force is needed to steer and brake
the moving vehicle when the engine is stopped.
If the vehicle is rolling, try to bring it to a stop off
to the side from moving traffic. See an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty for assistance.
EB EB Drive system: malfunction! Safely stop
vehicle
There is a malfunction in the plug-in hybrid sys-
tem. The brake booster and the power steering
may stop working. Stop the vehicle immediately
at a suitable location or as soon as possible. Park
the vehicle in a safe place outdoors that is not
near buildings, roof overhangs, carports or simi-
lar structures. Switch the ignition off. Have the
problem corrected by an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility.
B i B Electric drive: overheated! Safely stop
vehicle and check coolant
The coolant level is too Low or the coolant tem-
perature is too high. Stop the vehicle in the out-
doors as soon as it is safely possible. Switch the
ignition off.
Read the important safety precautions > A in
Coolant on page 312 and check the coolant level
= page 312. If the coolant level is OK, the mal-
function may be caused by the system overheat-
ing. Let the vehicle's electric drive system cool
down for some time.
— If the message turns off after cooling down and
switching the ignition back on, you can contin-
ue driving. Contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.
— If the indicator light stays on, contact an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.

Driving dynamic
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
The EDL applies the brakes to wheels that are
slipping and transfers the drive power to the oth-
er wheels. This function is not available at higher
speeds.
In extreme cases, EDL automatically switches off
to keep the brake on the braked wheel from over-
heating. The vehicle is still functioning correctly.
EDL will switch on again automatically when con-
ditions have returned to normal.
Power steering
The ESC can also support vehicle stability
through steering.
Selective wheel torque control
Selective wheel torque control is used when driv-
ing on curves. Braking is targeted toward the
wheels on the inside of the curve as needed. This
allows more precise driving in curves.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The automatic post-collision braking system can
help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addition-
al collisions after an accident. If the airbag con-
trol module detects a collision, the vehicle is
braked by the ESC.
The vehicle does not brake automatically if one of
the following occurs:
— The driver presses the accelerator pedal, or
— The braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that
would be initiated by the system
— The ESC, the brake system, or the vehicle elec-
trical system is not functioning
ing risks. This could increase your risk of a
collision.
— Please note the risk of a collision increases
when driving fast, especially through curves
and on slippery or wet roads, and when driv-
ing too close to objects ahead. There is still
a risk of accidents because the ESC and its
integrated systems cannot always prevent
collisions.
— Accelerate carefully when driving on
smooth, slippery surfaces such as ice and
snow. The drive wheels can spin even when
these control systems are installed and this
can affect driving stability and increase the
risk of a collision.
ZA\ WARNING
— The ESC and its integrated systems cannot
overcome the limits imposed by natural
physical laws. This is especially important on
slippery or wet roads. If the systems begin
acting to stabilize your vehicle, you should
immediately alter your speed to match the
road and traffic conditions. Do not let the in-
creased safety provided tempt you into tak-
94
G) Tips
— The ABS and ASR only function correctly
when all four wheels have a similar wear
condition. Different tire sizes can lead toa
reduction in engine power.
— You may hear noises when the systems de-
scribed are working.
The 0 button is located above the selector lev-
er in the center console.
The ESC is automatically switched on when the
ignition is switched on. It may make sense in
some situations to limit the ESC so that the
wheels can spin:
— Rocking the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
— Driving in deep snow, on unpaved ground, or
with snow chains
Limiting ESC (sport mode)
—To limit the ESD, press the 0 button briefly.
The B indicator light turns on.
— To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
light turns off.
Switching off ESC
—To switch off the ESC, press and hold the oF
button for more than three seconds. The B
and Ea indicator lights turn on.

8V2012721BK
High-voltage system
> Remove the cap from the charging cable.
> Connect the cable to the vehicle charging port.
> If a charging timer is not set, the charging proc-
ess will start automatically depending on the
charging station > page 106.
> The vehicle operating status is indicated by the
status LED > page 107.
> Also read the information found in > page 106,
After charging.
@) Tips
Only charge your vehicle at charging stations
that conform to the following standards, de-
pending on the country:
— GB/T 18487.1 and GB/T 20234 (China)
— IEC 61851 and IEC 62196 (Europe)
— SAE J1772 (North America, Japan)
G) Tips
— It is not possible to charge using the charg-
ing timer at some charging stations.
— You can use your Audi charging system if
there is a household or industrial* connec-
tion available at the charging station.
Charging the battery
with the Audi charging
system
CET Ute Ret LAC hi
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive
Fig. 96 Audi charging system overview (example)
@ Power cable
@ Power plug (for industrial sockets)*
@®) Power plug (for household sockets)
@ Control unit
© Vehicle charging connector (connector for the
vehicle)
© Vehicle cable
The power cable (@) is plugged into the upper end
of the control unit and the vehicle cable ©) is
plugged into the lower end of the control unit @).
@ Tips
— Using the control unit while operating the
charging dock* > page 102 or charging clip*
=> page 103 is recommended. When this is
not possible, always position Audi charging
systems on a secure surface during the
charging process.
—To reduce the risk of overheating during op-
eration, do not place the Audi charging sys-
tem in direct sunlight for long periods of
time. If the control unit is overheated, the
charging process is automatically paused
until the temperature has lowered back
within the normal range.
Changing and attaching the power/vehicle
cable
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive
PI @
B4G-0681
Fig. 97 Control unit: removing and attaching the cable
Depending on the vehicle equipment, you may
not be able to change the vehicle cable.
Requirements:
> The charging process for the high-voltage bat-
tery must be ended.
> The vehicle charging connector must be re-
moved from the vehicle charging port.
> The power cable must be removed from the
socket.
101