2020 AUDI A3 warning light

Be very careful when adjusting the seats to
avoid damaging the head restraints, headlin-
er, or sunroof*.
Front center armrest
Applies to: vehicles with a front center armrest
The front center armrest is located between the
front seats.
Adjusting the center armrest
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
> To adjust the armrest forward or backward,
move the armrest in the desired direction.
> To adjust the angle, raise the armrest in stages.
> To move the armrest back into the original posi-
tion, raise it slightly out of the top level and
fold it downward.

ZA\ WARNING
In certain positions, the front center armrest
can interfere with the driver’s arm movement,
which increases the risk of injury.

Head restraints
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Applies to: vehicles with adjustable head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an impor-
tant part of your vehicle's occupant restraint sys-
tem and can help to reduce the risk of injuries in
accident situations.

B4G-0454



Fig. 67 Head restraint: viewed from the front
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to
achieve the best protection.
56
> Adjust the head restraint so the upper edge is
as even as possible with the top of your head. If
that is not possible, try to adjust the head re-
straint so that it is as close to this position as
possible.
> Applies to: forward/back adjustable head re-
straints: Move the head restraint so that it is as
close to the back of the head as possible.
> If there is a passenger on the rear center seat-
ing position, slide the center head restraint up-
ward at least to the next notch.

ZA WARNING
All seats are equipped with head restraints.
Driving without head restraints or with head
restraints that are not properly adjusted in-
creases the risk of serious or fatal neck injury
dramatically. To help reduce the risk of injury:
— Always drive with the head restraints in
place and properly adjusted.
— Every person in the vehicle must have a
properly adjusted head restraint.
— Always make sure each person in the vehicle
properly adjusts their head restraint. Adjust
the head restraint so the upper edge is as
even as possible with the top of your head.
If that is not possible, try to adjust the head
restraint so that it is as close to this position
as possible.
— Applies to: forward/back adjustable head re-
straints: Move the head restraint so that it is
as close to the back of the head as possible.
— Never attempt to adjust head restraint while
driving. If you have driven off and must ad-
just the driver headrest for any reason, first
stop the vehicle safely before attempting to
adjust the head restraint.
— Children must always be properly restrained
in a child restraint that is appropriate for
their age and size > page 278.

Seats


Z\ WARNING
Only remove the rear seat head restraints
when necessary in order to install a child safe-
ty seat > page 278, Child safety. Install the
head restraint again immediately once the
child safety seat is removed. Driving with the
head restraints removed or not in the upright
position increases the risk of serious injury.


Steering wheel
General information
Make sure that:
— The distance between your upper body and the
steering wheel is at least 10 in (25 cm)
— Your arms are bent slightly at the elbows
— You have a sufficient view of the area around
the vehicle and you have a clear view of the in-
strument cluster
— You are always holding the steering wheel with
both hands on the outer edge at the sides (9:00
and 3:00 position) when driving

Z\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of an accident, make sure
the steering wheel is adjusted correctly and
cannot be moved out of position before you
start to drive.
— If you are too close to the steering wheel,
the driver's airbag cannot provide optimal
protection, which increases the risk of injury
or fatality.
— Never hold the steering wheel in the 12:00
position or in any other way, such as holding
the center of the steering wheel. Otherwise,
your arms, hands, and head could be injured
in the event that the driver's airbag deploys.
— If your physical characteristics prevent you
from sitting at least 10 inches (25 cm) or
more away from the steering wheel, see if
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility can provide adapters
that will help.


58
Adjusting the steering wheel position
The steering wheel position is adjustable up and
down and forward and back.



Fig. 71 Steering column: lever for adjusting the steering
wheel position
> Pull the lever in the direction of the arrow.
> Bring the steering wheel into the desired posi-
tion.
> Push the lever all the way up until it engages.

Stowing and using

Other storage

| BBV-0434

Applies to: sedan
Fig. 73 Luggage compartment: bag hooks*
There are additional storage compartments,
compartments and holders at other locations in
the vehicle:
— Glove compartment: the glove compartment
can be locked* using the key.
— Retainer* for the vehicle key and cell phone in
the front center console
— Storage compartment under the front center
armrest*
— Storage compartment on the rear side of the
front seat*
— Garment hooks* on the B-pillar
— Garment hooks* above the rear doors*
— Side bag hooks* in the luggage compartment
— Applies to: sedan: Bag hooks* under the rear
shelf > fig. 73

ZX WARNING
—To reduce the risk of injury, make sure all
storage compartments are always closed
while driving.
— Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Store objects securely while
driving.
— Only use the storage compartments in the
door trim panels to store small objects that
will not stick out of the compartment and
impair the function of the side airbags.
— Make sure your view toward the rear is not
blocked, for example by hanging clothing or
objects in the vehicle.

60


— No heavy or hard objects may be placed on
the storage compartment behind the rear
seat backrest. There is a risk of injuring the
vehicle passengers when braking suddenly.
— Applies to: vehicles with garment hooks: On-
ly lightweight clothing should be hung from
the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do not use
clothes hangers to hang clothing. The pock-
ets of the clothing must not contain any
heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged objects.
This could impair the effectiveness of the
side curtain airbags.
() Note
Objects on the rear shelf that rub against the
rear window can damage the rear window
heating wires.

Luggage compartment
General information
All pieces of luggage or objects must be securely
fastened in the luggage compartment. Note the
following to maintain good vehicle handling:
> Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com-
partment.
> Stow heavy luggage as far forward in the lug-
gage compartment as possible.
» Use non-elastic cords attached to the tie-downs
to secure objects.

ZA WARNING
— Applies to: sedan: The storage compartment
must not be used to transport heavy objects,
hard objects, or animals. Such objects en-
danger vehicle occupants and increase the
risk of injury during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers or in an accident.
— The luggage compartment cover must al-
ways be securely fastened when in use to re-
duce the risk of an accident.
— The luggage compartment cover is not a
surface for storing objects. Objects placed
on the cover increase the risk of injury to all
vehicle occupants during sudden driving or

8V2012721BK
Driving

Driving
Starting the vehicle
ead
Applies to: vehicles with convenience key



Fig. 84 Center console: starting the engine
Requirement: the key must be in the vehicle.
Starting the engine
> Press and hold the brake pedal.
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. The



engine will start.
Plug-in hybrid drive: the electric drive system is
switched on. The combustion engine only starts
when necessary. The power meter indicates if the
electric drive system is switched on > page 16.
Equipment that uses a lot of electricity is switch-
ed off temporarily when you start the engine. If
the engine does not start immediately, the start-
ing procedure stops automatically after a short
time. If this is the case, repeat the starting pro-
cedure after approximately 30 seconds.
When temperatures are low, the engine may only
start in “P”.
Stopping the engine
> Bring the vehicle to a full stop.
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. The



engine will switch off.
Plug-in-hybrid drive: the electric drive system and
the combustion engine are switched off.
Applies to: vehicles with steering lock: The steer-
ing is locked when you turn off the engine and
open the driver's door. The steering lock helps
prevent vehicle theft. “P” must be engaged on
vehicles with an automatic transmission.
Stopping the engine in an emergency
If necessary in an emergency, the engine can also
be stopped while driving using the emergency off
function*.

> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button twice in
a row or press and hold it one time.

Switching on and off
If you would like to switch the ignition on or off
without starting the engine, follow these steps:

> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button without
pressing the brake pedal.

Switching the ignition off automatically
To prevent the vehicle battery from draining, the
ignition and possibly the exterior lighting may
switch off automatically.
Requirements:
— Conventional drive system: the Start/Stop sys-
tem must have stopped the engine.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: you must have driven the
vehicle. If the gasoline engine is not running
— You must not be in the vehicle.
— The ignition must be switched on.
Among other indicators, the system detects that
you have left the vehicle based on the following
factors:
— The driver's door has been opened.
— The driver's safety belt has been unbuckled.
— The brake pedal is not being pressed.

A WARNING
—To reduce the risk of asphyxiation, never al-
low the engine to run in confined spaces.
— Never turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. Switching it
off before the vehicle has stopped may im-
pair the function of the brake booster and
power steering. You would then need to use
more force to steer and brake the vehicle.
The fact that you cannot steer and brake as
usual may increase the risk of accidents and


serious injuries. >

71

8V2012721BK
Driving

Gears and driving programs

RAZ-0405



HEeEes
D/S .
a
Fig. 86 Center console: selector lever


The automatic transmission shifts automatically
depending on the selected gear and the current
driving style. When driving with a moderate driv-
ing style, upshifting early and downshifting late
will help to improve fuel economy. When driving
with a sporty driving style, the transmission per-
mits higher RPMs.
The gears are displayed next to the selector lever.
— P (Park): parking lock
—R (Reverse): driving in reverse
—N (Neutral)
— D (Drive): driving forward
Selecting a gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the release button (@) on the selector lev-
er.
—To select a gear, move the selector lever into
the corresponding position.
— The label next to the selector lever for the se-
lected gear will light up.
“N” (Neutral) gear
In the “N” gear, power is not transmitted to the
driving wheels. Use the “N” gear in a car wash
(with conveyor belts), for example.
If you unintentionally select “N” while driving
(faster than 1 mph (2 km/h)), you can also shift
back to “D” without pressing the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked
when the transmission is in the "N” gear.
“Pp” (Park) gear
The vehicle is secured from rolling away by the
parking lock when in the “P” gear.
If you cannot shift out of “P”, for example be-
cause the vehicle has no power, you may need to
use the emergency release for the parking lock
=> page 88.
Selecting a driving program
Various driving programs can be selected when in
the “D” gear. The programs influence when the
transmission shifts and how the accelerator ped-
al responds.
The selected driving program is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
—D (Drive): normal driving mode
—S (Sport): sporty driving mode
If you select the Dynamic mode in Audi drive se-
lect*, the “S” driving program will be activated.
When the ignition is switched off, the driving pro-
gram may be reset to “D”.
To switch between the current driving program
and “S”, push the selector lever toward the rear.
Plug-in hybrid drive: if you press the while in “S”, the “D” driving program will be se-
lected.

Z\ WARNING
— Before starting to drive, check if the desired
gear is displayed next to the selector lever.
— Always secure your vehicle from rolling
away. Press the brake pedal or shift to “P”.
When leaving the vehicle, also set the park-
ing brake.
— Power is still transmitted to the wheels
when the engine is running at idle. To pre-
vent the vehicle from “creeping”, you must
keep your foot on the brake in all selector
lever positions (except "P" and "N") when
the engine is running.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, do not
press the accelerator pedal when changing
gears if the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is running.

75

8V2012721BK
Driving

the high-voltage battery and the temperature of
the drive system components, among other
things.

ZA WARNING
The driving wheels could spin and the vehicle
could swerve on slick or slippery road surfaces
when using kick-down, which increases the
risk of an accident.

ET een ace)
Applies to: vehicles with S tronic transmission and Launch
Control
Launch Control provides the best possible accel-
eration when starting from a stop.
Requirements
— The engine must be at operating temperature.
— The steering wheel must not be turned.
— Start/Stop system* must be deactivated
=> page 85.
— ESC must be limited > page 94.
— Driving program “S” > page 75 or the dynamic
Audi drive select* mode must be selected
=> page 91.
Using Launch Control
— Press the brake pedal with your left foot and
hold it all the way down for at least one second.
— With the brake pedal pressed, press the accel-
erator pedal all the way down with your right
foot at the same time.
— Once the engine reaches a constant speed, re-
move your foot from the brake pedal.
Once the vehicle has started moving, reactivate
the ESC so that it is fully functional.

Z\ WARNING
Only use Launch Control when road and traffic
conditions allow it and other road users will
not be endangered or impacted by your driv-
ing and the vehicle's acceleration. The driving
wheels could spin and the vehicle could
swerve, especially on slick or slippery road
surfaces, which increases the risk of an acci-
dent.


CG) Note
When accelerating using Launch Control, all
vehicle components are subject to heavy
loads. This can result in increased wear.
G@) Tips
After accelerating using the Launch Control,
the temperature of some vehicle components
may increase greatly. If that happens, the
function will not be available for a few mi-
nutes to reduce the risk of damage. After a
cool-down period, Launch Control will be
available again.
Messages
& Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle
Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible in a safe location and secure it so it
does not roll. See an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
& Transmission: too hot. Please stop vehicle
Do not continue driving. Select "P" and contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility for assistance.
fal Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving
style
The transmission temperature has increased sig-
nificantly. Drive very cautiously or take a break
from driving until the temperature returns to the
normal range and the indicator light turns off.
[Gj Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. See owner's manual
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected.
[8] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. Please contact
Service
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or >
77

8V2012721BK
Driving

B / BI Drive system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
There is a malfunction in the drive system. Drive
slowly to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
B / BI Drive system: malfunction! Restart not
possible. Please contact Service
There is a malfunction in the plug-in hybrid sys-
tem. Do not open the hood. Drive to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty immediately to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
B / B Battery temperature too low. Vehicle
cannot be started. See owner's manual
The outside temperature is too low. The vehicle
can no longer start at temperatures below -18 °F
(-28 °C). Contact an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
| - POWER LIMIT| Warning! Limited performance
If the indicator light turns on and this message
appears, there may be an engine control mal-
function. The engine output is reduced. Drive to
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility immediately to have the malfunc-
tion corrected.
Drive system: engine must be running.
Please exit EV e-tron mode
It may be necessary for the gasoline engine to
run longer for technical reasons, such as when
condensation accumulates in the engine. Driving
exclusively in electric mode is not possible in this
phase.
Other indicator lights
If the B i Ha indicator light turns on, there may
be an engine control malfunction. Drive slowly to
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility to have the engine checked.

D In certain countries.

ZA WARNING
If the engine stops while driving, you will
need to use more force to brake the vehicle.
This increases the risk of an accident. There
will still be power steering if the ignition is
switched on while the vehicle is rolling and
there is sufficient vehicle battery charge. Oth-
erwise, you must use greater force when
steering.

Start/Stop system
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
The Start/Stop system can help increase fuel
economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
In Start/Stop mode, the engine shuts off auto-
matically when the vehicle is stopped, such as at
a traffic light. The ignition remains switched on
during this Stop phase. The engine will restart
automatically when needed.
The Start/Stop system is automatically activated
once the ignition is switched on.
Basic requirements for Start/Stop mode
— The driver's door must be closed.
— The driver's seat belt much be fastened.
— The hood must be closed.
— The vehicle must have driven faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h) since the last time it stopped.
@) Note
Always switch the Start/Stop system off when
driving through water > page 85.
@ Tips
The engine stops shortly before the vehicle
comes to astop ). The full function of the
brake booster and the power steering is still
available.
83

Driving

Stopping/starting the engine
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
2 S
Ss S.
= & a
|
Fig. 92 Instrument cluster: engine switched off (Stop
phase)
> Brake the vehicle to a stop. The engine stops
shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop or if
the vehicle is stationary ». Keep your foot on
the brake pedal. The AY indicator light ap-
pears in the display. The needle in the tachome-
ter also moves into the READY position.
> The engine starts again when you remove your
foot from the brake pedal. The indicator light
turns off.
Additional information
The engine stops in the "P", "N" and "D" selector
lever positions.
If you select the "R" selector lever position during
a Stop phase, the engine will start again.
Shift to "P" quickly to prevent the engine from
starting unintentionally when shifting through
"RH
You can control if the engine will stop or not by
reducing or increasing the amount of force you
use to press the brake pedal. For example, if you
only lightly press on the brake pedal in stop-and-
go traffic or when turning, the engine will not
switch off when the vehicle is stationary. If you
press the brake pedal harder, the engine will
switch off.
@ Tips
— Press the brake pedal during a Stop phase
to keep the vehicle from rolling.

D_Incertain countries.
84

— The ignition will turn off if you press the
START ENGINE STOP] button* during a


Stop phase. The needle in the tachometer
moves into the OFF position.
General information
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
Starting and stopping the engine automat-
ically
The system checks if certain conditions are met
before and during the Stop phase, and deter-
mines if the engine stops and how long it re-
mains stopped. For example, if power usage is
high, the engine will not be stopped. Along with
other conditions, the following factors influence
the automatic engine start or stop:
— Environmental conditions (slopes, inclines, ele-
vation, temperature)
— Battery (charge status, temperature, power us-
age)
— Engine temperature
— Assist systems
— Driving behavior
Depending on the engine, the indicator light
may appear if the engine is not stopped.

Z\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of asphyxiation, never allow
the engine to run in confined spaces.
@) Tips
If you select the "D" or "N" selector lever posi-
tion in a vehicle with an automatic transmis-
sion after shifting into reverse, the vehicle
must be driven faster than 6 mph (10 km/h)
in order for the engine to switch off again.