2020 AUDI A3 Owner´s Manual

8V2012721BK
Driving safety

> Always keep both feet in the footwell so that
you are in control of the vehicle at all times.
For detailed information on how to adjust the
driver's seat, see > page 54.

ZA WARNING
Drivers who are unbelted, out of position or
too close to the airbag can be seriously injured
by an airbag as it unfolds. To help reduce the
risk of serious personal injury:
— Always adjust the driver's seat and the
steering wheel so that there are at least
10 inches (25 cm) between your breastbone
and the steering wheel.
— Always adjust the driver's seat and the
steering wheel so that there are at least
4 inches (10 cm) between the knees and the
lower part of the instrument panel.
— Always hold the steering wheel on the out-
side of the steering wheel rim with your
hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi-
tions to help reduce the risk of personal in-
jury if the driver's airbag inflates.
— Never hold the steering wheel at the
12 o'clock position or with your hands at
other positions inside the steering wheel
rim or on the steering wheel hub. Holding
the steering wheel the wrong way can cause
serious injuries to the hands, arms and head
if the driver's airbag inflates.
— Pointing the steering wheel toward your
face decreases the ability of the supplemen-
tal driver's airbag to protect you in a colli-
sion.
— Always sit in an upright position and never
lean against or place any part of your body
too close to the area where the airbags are
located.
— Before driving, always adjust the front seats
properly and make sure that all passengers
are properly restrained.
— For adjustable head restraints: before driv-
ing, always also adjust the head restraints
properly.
— Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is
moving. Your seat may move unexpectedly

and you could lose control of the vehicle.

— Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilt-
ed far back! The farther the backrests are
tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due
to incorrect positioning of the safety belt
and improper seating position.
— Children must always ride in child seats
=> page 278. Special precautions apply when
installing a child seat on the front passenger
seat > page 253.
Proper seating position for the front
passenger
The proper front passenger seating position is
important for safe, relaxed driving.

For your own safety and to reduce the risk of in-
jury in the event of an accident, we recommend
that you adjust the seat for the front passenger
to the following position:
> Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in
an upright position and your back comes in full
contact with it whenever the vehicle is moving.
> For adjustable head restraints: adjust the head
restraint so the upper edge is as even as possi-
ble with the top of your head. If that is not pos-
sible, try to adjust the head restraint so that it
is as close to this position as possible
=> page 57. Move the head restraint so that it is
as close to the back of the head as possible.
> Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the
front passenger seat.
> Fasten and wear safety belts correctly
=> page 248.
For detailed information on how to adjust the
front passenger's seat, see > page 54.

ZA\ WARNING
Front seat passengers who are unbelted, out
of position or too close to the airbag can be
seriously injured or killed by the airbag as it
unfolds. To help reduce the risk of serious per-
sonal injury:
— Passengers must always sit in an upright po-
sition and never lean against or place any
part of their body too close to the area
where the airbags are located. >

239

Driving safety


— Passengers who are unbelted, out of posi-
tion or too close to the airbag can be seri-
ously injured by an airbag as it unfolds with
great force in the blink of an eye.
— Always make sure that there are at least
10 inches (25 cm) between the front pas-
senger‘s breastbone and the instrument
panel.
— Always make sure that there are at least
4 inches (10 cm) between the front passen-
ger‘s knees and the lower part of the instru-
ment panel.
— Each passenger must always sit on a seat of
their own and properly fasten and wear the
safety belt belonging to that seat.
— Before driving, always adjust the front pas-
senger seat properly.
— For adjustable head restraints: before driv-
ing, always also adjust the head restraints
properly.
— Always keep your feet on the floor in front of
the seat. Never rest them on the seat, in-
strument panel, out of the window, etc. The
airbag system and safety belt will not be
able to protect you properly and can even in-
crease the risk of injury in a crash.
— Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilt-
ed far back! The farther the backrests are
tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due
to incorrect positioning of the safety belt
and improper seating position.
— Children must always ride in child seats
= page 278. Special precautions apply when
installing a child seat on the front passenger
seat > page 253.

Proper seating positions for passengers in
israel -r- 1}
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both
feet on the floor consistent with their physical
size and be properly restrained whenever the ve-
hicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect
seating position in the event of a sudden braking
maneuver or an accident, your passengers on the
rear bench seat must always observe the follow-
ing:
240
> For adjustable head restraints: adjust the head
restraint so the upper edge is as even as possi-
ble with the top of your head. If that is not pos-
sible, try to adjust the head restraint so that it
is as close to this position as possible
=> page 57.
> Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of
the rear seat.
> Fasten and wear safety belts properly
=> page 248.
> Make sure that children are always properly re-
strained in a child restraint that is appropriate
for their size and age > page 278.

ZA WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the
rear seat can be seriously injured in a crash.
— Each passenger must always sit on a seat of
their own and properly fasten and wear the
safety belt belonging to that seat.
— Safety belts only offer maximum protection
when the safety belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body and securely latched. By
not sitting upright, a rear seat passenger in-
creases the risk of personal injury from im-
properly positioned safety belts!
— For adjustable head restraints: always adjust
the head restraint properly so that it can

give maximum protection.
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant restraint system can only reduce
the risk of injury if vehicle occupants are properly
seated.

Improper seating positions can cause serious in-
jury or death. Safety belts can only work when
they are properly positioned on the body. Im-
proper seating positions reduce the effectiveness
of safety belts and will even increase the risk of
injury and death by moving the safety belt to crit-
ical areas of the body. Improper seating positions
also increase the risk of serious injury and death
when an airbag deploys and strikes an occupant
who is not in the proper seating position. A driver
is responsible for the safety of all vehicle occu-
pants and especially for children. Therefore: >

8V2012721BK
Driving safety

> Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect
seating position when the vehicle is being used
>.
The following bulletins list only some sample po-
sitions that will increase the risk of serious injury
and death. Our hope is that these examples will
make you more aware of seating positions that
are dangerous.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:
— never stand up in the vehicle
— never stand on the seats
— never kneel on the seats
— never ride with the seatback reclined
— never lie down on the seats
— never lean up against the instrument panel
— never sit on the edge of the seat
— never sit sideways
— never lean out the window
— never put your feet out the window
— never put your feet on the instrument panel
— never rest your feet on the seat cushion or back
of the seat
— never ride in the footwell
— never ride in the cargo area

ZA WARNING
Improper seating positions increase the risk
of serious personal injury and death whenever
a vehicle is being used.
— Always make sure that all vehicle occupants
stay in a proper seating position and are
properly restrained whenever the vehicle is
being used.

Driver's and front
passenger's footwell
eae mesa
Applies to: vehicles with knee airbags

ZA WARNING
Always make sure that the knee airbag can in-
flate without interference. Objects between
yourself and the airbag can increase the risk
of injury in an accident by interfering with the

way the airbag deploys or by being pushed in-
to you as the airbag deploys.
— No persons or animals should ride in the
footwell in front of the passenger seat. If
the airbag deploys, this can result in serious
or fatal injuries.
— No objects of any kind should be carried in
the footwell area in front of the driver's or
passenger's seat. Bulky objects (shopping
bags, for example) can hamper or prevent
proper deployment of the airbag. Small ob-
jects can be thrown through the vehicle if
the airbag deploys and injure you or your
passengers.


Pedal area
The pedals must always be free to move and
must never be interfered with by a floor mat or
any other object.
Make sure that all pedals move freely without in-
terference and that nothing prevents them from
returning to their original positions.
Only use floor mats that leave the pedal area free
and can be secured with floor mat fasteners.
If a brake circuit fails, increased brake pedal trav-
el is required to bring the vehicle to a full stop.

ZA WARNING
Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss
of vehicle control and increase the risk of seri-
ous injury.
— Never place any objects in the driver's foot-
well. An object could get into the pedal area
and interfere with pedal function. In case of
sudden braking or an accident, you would
not be able to brake or accelerate!
— Always make sure that nothing can fall or
move into the driver's footwell.

241

Driving safety

1 Coley maar Mela Mealy -aed (el)
Always use floor mats that can be securely at-
tached to the floor mat fasteners and do not in-
terfere with the free movement of the pedals.
> Make sure that the floor mats are properly se-
cured and cannot move and interfere with the
pedals > A\.
Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area un-
obstructed and that are firmly secured so that
they cannot slip out of position. You can obtain
suitable floor mats from your authorized Audi
Dealer.
Floor mat fasteners are installed in your Audi.
Floor mats used in your vehicle must be attached
to these fasteners. Properly securing the floor
mats will prevent them from sliding into posi-
tions that could interfere with the pedals or im-
pair safe operation of your vehicle in other ways.

ZA\ WARNING
Pedals that cannot move freely can result ina
loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of
serious personal injury.
— Always make sure that floor mats are prop-
erly secured.
— Never place or install floor mats or other
floor coverings in the vehicle that cannot be
properly secured in place to prevent them
from slipping and interfering with the ped-
als or the ability to control the vehicle.
— Never place or install floor mats or other
floor coverings on top of already installed
floor mats. Additional floor mats and other
coverings will reduce the size of the pedal
area and interfere with the pedals.
— Always properly reinstall and secure floor
mats that have been taken out for cleaning.
— Always make sure that objects cannot fall in-
to the driver footwell while the vehicle is
moving. Objects can become trapped under
the brake pedal and accelerator pedal caus-
ing a loss of vehicle control.



242
Active rollover
protection system
Applies to: vehicles with power top
The rollover protection system protects vehicle
occupants in the event of a rollover.

B8V-0333

Fig. 199 Rear seats: rollbar deployment range

B8V-0334


Fig. 200 Rear seats: deployed rollbar
The active rollover protection system consists of:
— two rollbars
— the safety belts with belt tensioners
— the windshield frame
—the rollover sensors
The active rollover protection system provides
additional safety in the event of a rollover. Within
milliseconds, sensors deploy two rollbars located
behind the head restraints in the rear seats
© fig. 200.
The rollbars, reinforced windshield frame and
belt tensioners help protect front and rear pas-
sengers in the event of a rollover.
The rollover protection system functions when
the power top is both open and closed.

8V2012721BK
Driving safety


AN WARNING
Do not use the area behind the rear seat head
restraints > fig. 199 as a seat or storage area.
This is the area where the rollbars deploy. If
the rollover protection system is triggered,
objects placed there can be propelled through
the vehicle and make it more difficult for the
rollbars to deploy. This increases the risk for
serious or life-threatening injuries.
When is rollover protection deployed?
Applies to: vehicles with power top

Rollover protection deploys in a collision or roll-
over.
Depending on the collision, sensors throughout
the vehicle and the control module trigger the
rollover system to deploy.
For safety reasons, rollover protection also de-
ploys during front, side and rear collisions above
a certain level of severity.
Retracting rollover protection
Applies to: vehicles with power top

B8V-0335


B8V-0336

Fig. 202 Deployed rollbar with power top frame facing up-
ward.
If the rollover protection has triggered but the
vehicle was not involved in an accident, you can
retract the rollover protection yourself in an
emergency. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.
With the power top open
> Pull the loop upward in the direction of the ar-
row and hold it in place > fig. 201.
> Slide the rollbar down.
> Release the loop just before the rollbar reaches
its end position (1-2 in. / 3-5 cm).
> Press the rollbar down until it stops.
> Make sure the rollbar is secure before releasing
its
> Close the cover (@) > fig. 202.
> Repeat the procedure on the other rollbar.
With the power top closed
> Switch the ignition on.
> Press the power top switch to adjust the power
top frame until it is vertical > fig. 202.
> Pull the loop upward in the direction of the ar-
row and hold it in place > fig. 201.
> Slide the rollbar down.
> Release the loop just before the rollbar reaches
its end position (1-2 in. / 3-5 cm).
> Press the rollbar down until it stops.
> Make sure the rollbar is secure before releasing
it.
> Close the cover (@) > fig. 202.
> Repeat the procedure on the other rollbar.
> You can now close the power top again.

Z\ WARNING
— Make sure your head or other parts of your
body are not located in the area above the
rollbar
when pressing the rollbar down. If
the rollbar is not secured correctly, it could
deploy again as soon as you release it and
cause injuries.
— Have the rollover protection system checked
by and authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility if it malfunctions. Oth-
erwise the system may not deploy correctly
in a collision.

243

Driving safety

— Modifying the rollover protection system or
individual components is not permitted.
— Work on the rollover protection system
should only be performed by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili
ty. Otherwise the system may not function
correctly in a collision or it could deploy un-
expectedly.
— Have the system inspected at service inter-
vals. This ensures the system will always be
ready for use. Have an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility check
the rollover protection system every two
years at the latest.

244

8V2012721BK
Safety belts

Safety belts
General notes
OCEANS Lae 15 aes
Wearing safety belts correctly saves lives!
This chapter explains why safety belts are neces-
sary, how they work and how to adjust and wear
them correctly.
> Read all the information that follows and heed
all of the instructions and WARNINGS.

ZA WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them im-
properly increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death.
— Safety belts are the single most effective
means available to reduce the risk of serious
injury and death in automobile accidents.
For your protection and that of your passen-
gers, always correctly wear safety belts
when the vehicle is moving.
— Pregnant women, injured, or physically im-
paired persons must also use safety belts.
Like all vehicle occupants, they are more
likely to be seriously injured if they do not
wear Safety belts. The best way to protect a
fetus is to protect the mother - throughout
the entire pregnancy.
NT Tae met)
Applies to: vehicles without power top: Your Audi
has a total of five seating positions: two in the
front and three in the rear. Each seating position
has a safety belt.


Applies to: vehicles with power top: Your Audi
has a total of four seating positions: two in the
front and two in the rear. Each seating position
has a safety belt.

ZA WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them im-
properly increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death.


— Never strap more than one person, including
small children, into any belt. It is especially
dangerous to place a safety belt over a child
sitting on your lap.
— Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are safety belts available.
— Be sure everyone riding in the vehicle is
properly restrained with a separate safety
belt or child restraint.
Safety belt warning light
Your vehicle has a warning system for the driver
and front seat passenger to remind you about
the importance of buckling-up.



B42-0526


Fig. 203 Safety belt warning light in the instrument clus-
ter - enlarged
Before driving off, always:
> Fasten your safety belt and make sure you are
wearing it properly.
> Make sure that your passengers also buckle up
and properly wear their safety belts.
> Protect children with a child restraint system
appropriate for the size and age.
The warning light in the instrument cluster
lights up when the ignition is on as a reminder to
fasten the safety belts. In addition, you will hear
a warning tone for a certain period of time.
Fasten your safety belt and make sure that your
passengers also properly put on their safety
belts.

Z\ WARNING
— Safety belts are the single most effective
means available to reduce the risk of serious
injury and death in automobile accidents. >


245

Safety belts


For your protection and that of your passen-
gers, always correctly wear safety belts
when the vehicle is moving.
— Failure to pay attention to the warning light
that come on, could lead to personal injury.


Why use safety belts?
ee meee Lem ee mele iN ley
Frontal crashes create very strong forces for peo-
ple riding in vehicles.

B4H-0465 4 §






B4H-0466


Fig. 205 The vehicle crashes into the wall
The physical principles are simple. Both the vehi-
cle and the passengers possess energy which var-
ies with vehicle speed and body weight. Engi-
neers call this energy “kinetic energy.”
The higher the speed of the vehicle and the
greater the vehicle's weight, the more energy
that has to be “absorbed” in the crash.
Vehicle speed is the most significant factor. If the
speed doubles from 15 to 30 mph (25 to
50 km/h), the energy increases 4 times!
Because the passengers of this vehicle are not us-
ing
safety belts > fig. 204, they will keep moving
at the same speed the vehicle was moving just
246
before the crash, until something stops them -
here, the wall > fig. 205.
The same principles apply to people sitting ina
vehicle that is involved in a frontal collision. Even
at city speeds of 20 to 30 mph (30 to 50 km/h),
the forces acting on the body can reach one ton
(2,000 lbs, or 1,000 kg) or more. At greater
speeds, these forces are even higher.
People who do not use safety belts are also not
attached to their vehicle. In a frontal collision
they will also keep moving forward at the speed
their vehicle was travelling just before the crash.
Of course, the laws of physics don't just apply to
frontal collisions, they determine what happens
in all kinds of accidents and collisions.
What happens to occupants not wearing
ical lieya
In crashes unbelted occupants cannot stop
themselves from flying forward and being in-
jured or killed. Always wear your safety belts!


Fig. 207 A rear passenger not wearing a safety belt will fly
forward and strike the driver
Unbelted occupants are not able to resist the tre-
mendous forces of impact by holding tight or >