2020 AUDI A3 towing

8V2012721BK
Stowing and using

> Pull the release lever (@) in the direction of the
arrow and fold the backrest forward.
> Fold the backrest down until it latches securely.
When you can no longer see the red mark on
the pin Q,, the seat is latched.
Pee dalceltela)
Applies to: vehicles with pass-through
2 2 S
<. = & oO


Fig. 79 Version 1: left side: backrest: pass-through cover;
Version 2: right side: luggage compartment: release lever
Follow the safety precautions > page 60.
Opening/closing the pass-through from the
vehicle interior
> Applies to: version 1: To open the pass-through,
fold down the center armrest in the backrest
and fold down the pass-through cover in the di-
rection of the arrow > fig. 79.
> Applies to: version 1: To close the pass-
through, fold up the pass-through cover and
the center armrest > fig. 79.
Opening/closing the pass-through from the
luggage compartment
» Applies to: version 2: To fold the backrest for-
ward, pull the release lever on the respective
seat in the direction of the arrow. The backrest
will fold forward automatically after it has been
released.
> Applies to: version 1: To open the pass-through,
press the lever in the rear seat backrest down-
ward.
> To close the pass-through, fold the backrest
back until it latches securely.
Roof rack
Applies to: vehicles with roof rack

B8V-0386

||
_B8P-1962


Applies to: vehicles with roof rail
Fig. 81 Roof rail: mounting points
If luggage or cargo is to be carried on the roof,
you must observe the following:
— Only approved roof racks may be used on your
vehicle. These roof racks are the basis for a
complete roof rack system. Additional attach-
ments or carrier systems are needed to trans-
port luggage and sports equipment. Roof racks
and attachments from the Audi Genuine Acces-
sories program are recommended.
— When installing the roof rack, make sure that it
is mounted only at the designated points on
the roof > fig. 80 or > fig. 81.
— Note the permitted axle load, permitted total
weight, and permitted roof load of your vehicle
=> page 380. The roof load is the total of the
weight of the roof rack, the attachments and
the cargo you are carrying. However, you must
also note the permitted load of the carrier sys-
tem being used.
63
>

Stowing and using


— Follow the installation instructions provided
with the roof rack system. If you do not se-
cure the roof rack system and objects on the
roof correctly, they could come loose from
the vehicle and cause an accident.
— The risk of an accident increases when using
a roof rack system, because it changes the
driving characteristics by shifting the center
of gravity and/or the increasing the surface
area exposed to wind. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.
— If you use other roof luggage rack systems
or do not install the racks as intended, any
damage to the vehicle is not covered by the
warranty. Carefully follow the assembly and
installation instructions included with the
roof rack carrier system.
— Make sure that the luggage compartment
lid and the panoramic glass roof* do not
come into contact with objects on the roof
when they are open.
Your vehicle will use more energy due to the
increased wind resistance. Remove the roof
rack when you are no longer using it.

Driving


ZA WARNING
— 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 and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not

place your foot under the brake pedal.
@) Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 89. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
@) Tips
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.

— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 313.
Ga i © Brakes: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
EES / & and Ef also turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
86
sistance. Read and follow the other safety pre-
cautions > A\.
EG if @ Warning! Brake servo inoperative
If the brake booster is not working, you have to
use much more force when braking the vehicle.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
EG - @® Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality. You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle from rolling by selecting “P” and set-
ting the parking brake.

ZA\ WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.

8V2012721BK
Driving


Z\ WARNING
— The parking lock may only be released using
the emergency release if the parking brake
is set. If it is not working, secure the vehicle
from rolling using the brake pedal or other
suitable means, such as blocking a front and
a rear wheel. An unsecured vehicle may roll
away, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.
— Only activate the emergency release while
ona level surface or a slight slope.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you must
not drive when the emergency release is ac-
tivated.
Emergency release operation


®@
RAZ-0760


Fig. 95 Selector lever: release button
> Press and hold the yellow release button on the
side with a screwdriver.
> Now press the unlock button on the selector
lever and move the selector lever to the “N” po-
sition.
Special driving situations
Sy Toa AS ENA Las |
Applies to: RS models
When driving in a sporty style, for example ona
driving track, the wear on all vehicle components
is greatly increased, especially on the engine,
transmission, tires, brakes, and suspension. This
can result in increased wear. Also note the fol-
lowing points:
— Make sure the vehicle is in good condition.
Make sure to check the brake pads, tire tread,
and tire pressure (when tires are warm).
— Beforehand, warm up the engine by driving no
higher than two-thirds of the maximum permit-
ted engine RPM. The engine oil must be
brought to a minimum temperature of 158 °F
(70°C).
— Before stopping the vehicle, allow the engine
and brakes to cool back down to a regular oper-
ating temperature by driving normally.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* dynamic mode = page 91
— Launch Control > page 77
— Limit ESC > page 94
@® Tips
Wear caused by load does not constitute a ve-
hicle fault as defined by the terms of the war-
ranty.
Driving uphill and downhill
Please note the following when driving on in-
clines and hills:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
— Do not try to turn around if you cannot safely
drive on an incline or hill. Instead, drive in re-
verse.
— When driving down hills, you can activate the
hill descent control if you press the brake pedal
while driving in “D” gear. The automatic trans-
mission will select a gear suitable for driving
down the hill and will attempt to maintain the
speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the
time the brake pedal was pressed. Press the
brake pedal if necessary. The hill descent con-
trol will switch off once the hill levels out or
you press the accelerator pedal.
— Utilize the engine braking effect when driving
downhill by selecting the “S” driving program
=> page 75. This especially applies when towing
a trailer. This reduces the load on the brakes.
— Brake in intervals and do not press the brake
pedal continuously.

A WARNING
— Only drive on inclines that your vehicle is de-
signed to handle. Do not exceed the hill >

89

8V2012721BK
Trailer towing

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your vehicle is primarily intended for transport-
ing people and luggage. However, if you drive
with a trailer, follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg-
ulations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle's energy
usage, performance, and wear. It also requires
higher concentration from the driver.

Z\ WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch

Only use a trailer hitch with a removable ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be permitted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pulled. Above all, it must be securely and safely
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. Always follow the instructions given by
the trailer hitch manufacturer.
Trailer brakes
If the trailer has its own brake system, then fol-
low the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The cooling sys-
tem must be designed for additional load and
contain enough coolant > @.
CG) Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitable cooling system, especially if the out-
side temperatures are high. Otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
Operating instructions
Towing capacity
Your vehicle can only be operated with class 1 or
class 2 trailers.
Load distribution
Poor cargo load and distribution can negatively
impact vehicle handling. To have the lowest im-
pact as possible, load the trailer according to
these criteria:
— Store objects in the vehicle luggage compart-
ment, if possible. The vehicle should always
carry the heaviest possible load and the trailer
should have the lightest possible load.
— Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heavy objects are as close to the axle as possi-
ble.
— Secure objects so that they do not slide.
— Utilize the maximum permitted tongue weight
if possible.
Tires
Set the tire pressure on your vehicle for a “full
load”; see the tire pressure sticker > page 330. If
necessary, also adjust the tire pressure on the
trailer according to the manufacturer's specifica-
tions.
The trailer and the vehicle should be equipped
with winter tires when driving in winter tempera-
tures.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the traffic behind the trailer
with the standard exterior mirrors, then you
must attach additional exterior mirrors. Adjust
them so you have a sufficient visibility behind
you.
113

Trailer towing

Exterior lighting
Follow the legal regulations regarding the light-
ing equipment on your trailer. Contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty for more information.
Before you start driving, check all lighting equip-
ment on the trailer while it is hitched to the vehi-
cle.
The headlight range control automatically ad-
justs the light range of the headlights.
Safety chains
Make sure the safety chains are correctly applied
when pulling a trailer. The chains should hang
enough so that the trailer can drive around
curves. However, they must not touch the
ground.
G) Tips
— Block the wheels with chocks when parking
on inclines if the trailer is loaded.
— Having the vehicle inspected between the
inspection intervals is recommended if you
tow a trailer frequently.
— Avoid driving with a trailer during the vehi-
cle break-in period.
Driving with a trailer
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.
Speed
Adhere to the legal speed limits. Follow the legal
regulations specific to the country.
As the speed increases, the driving stability of
the trailer decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the maximum legal speed limit when
there are unfavorable road, weather, and/or wind
conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.
Hill
When you start driving uphill or downhill, trailers
may tilt or sway sooner than when driving ona
level surface. If small swaying movements have
already occurred, you can stabilize the trailer by
114
firmly braking immediately. Never attempt to
“straighten out” the trailer by accelerating.
Downshift before driving on hills to utilize the en-
gine braking effect > A\.
Brakes
When using a trailer with overrun brakes, first
brake gently then quickly. This reduces the risk of
jerking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up.
Engine coolant temperature
Pay attention specifically to the coolant tempera-
ture display when there are high outside temper-
atures, and when driving on long inclines
=> page 15. Shift to a higher gear in a timely man-
ner.

Z\ WARNING
Constant braking causes the brakes to over-
heat and can substantially reduce braking per-
formance, increase braking distance, or cause
complete failure of the brake system.

Wheels


heavier than the vehicle’s
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Determining correct load
Tani
Use the example below to calcu-
late the total weight of the pas-
sengers and luggage or other
things that you plan to transport
so that you can make sure that
your vehicle will not be overload-
ed.


Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1. Locate the statement “THE
COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCU-
PANTS AND CARGO SHOULD
NEVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX
LBS” on your vehicle’s placard
(tire inflation pressure label)
=> page 330, fig. 259.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and pas-
sengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from “XXX” kilograms or “XXX”
pounds shown on the sticker
=> page 330, fig. 259.
4. The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
334
luggage load capacity. For ex-
ample, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lbs. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely ex-
ceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculat-
ed in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your vehi-
cle. Consult this manual to de-
termine how this reduces the
available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
> Check the tire sidewall
(=> page 320, fig. 257) to deter-
mine the designated load rating
for a specific tire.
Wheel bolts and rims
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be clean and loosen/tighten
easily.

Wheels

system only monitors the tire pressure you have
stored. Refer to the tire pressure label for the
recommended tire pressure for your vehicle
=> page 330, fig. 260.
Tire tread circumference and vibration character-
istics can change and cause a tire pressure warn-
ing 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 was
changed and it was not stored > page 338
— One side of the vehicle is more heavily loaded
than the other
— The wheels on one axle are more heavily loaded
than the others (for example, when towing a
trailer or when driving up and down hills)
— Snow chains are installed
— The spare tire* is installed
— Only one tire was replaced on each axle
Indicator lights
@ - loss of pressure in at least one tire > A\.
Check the tires and replace or repair if necessary.
Check/correct the pressures of all four tires. Then
store the tire pressures in the menu > page 338.
is (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Tire pres-
sure: malfunction! See owner's manual. If
appears after switching the ignition on or while
driving and the @ indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster blinks for approximately one minute
and then stays on, there is system malfunction.
Check/correct the pressures on all four tires and
store the pressures > page 338. If the indicator
light does turn off or turns on again after a short
period of time, drive to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.

ZX WARNING
— If the tire pressure indicator appears in the
instrument cluster display, reduce your
speed immediately and avoid any hard steer-
ing or braking maneuvers. Stop as soon as
possible and check the tires and their pres-
sures.


338

— The driver is responsible for maintaining the
correct tire pressures. You must check the
tire pressures regularly.
— Under certain conditions (such as a sporty
driving style, winter conditions or unpaved
roads), the pressure monitor indicator may
be delayed.
— Do not use run-flat tires on your vehicle. Us-
ing them when not permitted can lead to ve-
hicle damage or accidents.
(i) Tips
—The tire pressure monitoring system can al-
so stop working when there is an ESC/ABS
malfunction.

— Using snow chains may result in a system
malfunction.
— The tire pressure monitoring system in your
Audi was calibrated with “Audi Original
Tires” > page 326. Using these tires is rec-
ommended.
—The tire pressure monitoring system can on-
ly monitor the tire pressure of the driving
tires. Check the tire pressure of the spare
wheel in the luggage compartment so that
if necessary it is ready for use.
Storing tire pressures
Applies to: vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitoring System in-
dicator
A change in tire pressure or a change in tires
must be stored in the system.
Before storing the tire pressures, make sure the
tire pressures in all four tires meet the specified
values and are adapted to the load > page 328.

> Select in the Infotainment system: [MENU] but-
ton > Vehicle > left control button > Service &
checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Store tire
pressure > Yes, store now.
(i) Tips
Do not store the tire pressures if snow chains
are installed.