2020 AUDI A3 Owner´s Manual

8V2012721BK
Care and cleaning


ZA\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of accidents, only wash
the vehicle when the ignition is off and fol-
low the instructions from the car wash oper-
ator.
—To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself
from sharp metal components when wash-
ing the underbody or the inside of the wheel
housings.
— After washing the vehicle, the braking effect
may be delayed due to moisture on the
brake rotors or ice in the winter. This in-
creases the risk of an accident. The brakes
must be dried with a few careful brake appli-
cations.

() Note
— If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Power folding exterior mirrors* must only
be folded in and out using the power folding
function.
—To reduce the risk of paint damage, do not
wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not wash
decorative decals* with a pressure washer.
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not wash
the power top* with a pressure washer.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the surface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitchen
sponges, or similar items.
— When washing matte finish painted vehicle
components:
— To reduce the risk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use polishing agents or hard
wax.
— Never use protective wax. It can destroy
the matte finish effect.
— Do not place any stickers or magnetic
signs on vehicle components painted with
matte finish paint. The paint could be
damaged when the stickers or magnets
are removed.
(@) For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle in facilities specially de-
signed for that purpose. This will reduce the
risk of dirty water contaminated with oil from
entering the sewer system.
Cleaning and care information
When cleaning and caring for individual vehicle
components, refer to the following tables. The
information contained there is simply recommen-
dations. For questions or for components that
Exterior cleaning
are not listed, consult an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility. Also follow
the information found in > A.





Component Situation Solution
Windshield wiper | Deposits Soft cloth with glass cleaner > page 50
blades
Headlights/ Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution®
Tail lights
Sensors/ Deposits Sensors: soft cloth with solvent-free cleaning solution
Camera lenses Camera lenses: soft cloth with alcohol-free cleaning solu-
tion
Snow/ice Hand brush/solvent-free de-icing spray
Wheels Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution >

343

Care and cleaning



Trim
Component Situation Solution
Exhaust tail pipes | Road salt Water, cleaning solution suitable for stainless steel, if nec-
essary
Power top Deposits Clean water, power top cleaning product, if necessary.
Clean with the grain of the fabric using a soft brush and al-
low to air dry.
Wind deflector Deposits Water, mild soap solution, if necessary®
Decorative parts/ | Deposits Mild soap solution @), a cleaning solution suitable for stain-
less steel, if necessary

Paint Paint damage Repair with touch-up paint

Spilled fuel Rinse with water immediately

Surface rust Rust remover, then treat with hard wax; for questions, con-
sult an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.

Corrosion Have it removed by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility.

Water no longer
beads on the surface
of clean paint Treat
with hard wax (at least twice per year)

No shine even though
paint has been pro-
tected/paint looks
poor
Treat with suitable polish; then apply paint protectant if
the polish that was used does not contain any protectant

Deposits such as in-
sects, bird droppings,
tree sap, and road
salt
Dampen with water immediately and remove with a micro-
fiber cloth

Grease-based con-
taminants such as
cosmetics or sunblock
Remove immediately with a mild soap solution ® and a
soft cloth




Carbon compo- Deposits Clean the same way as painted components > page 342
nents
Decorative decals | Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution®
Audi e-tron Deposits Soft, dry towel
charging system
Wall mount clip | Deposits Soft towel with alcohol-free cleaning solution

a) Mild soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 quart (1 liter) of water
Interior cleaning


Component Situation Solution
Windows Deposits Glass cleaner, then wipe dry
Decorative parts/ | Deposits Mild soap solution®)
Trim

344

8V2012721BK
Care and cleaning


Component Situation Solution

Plastic parts Deposits Damp cloth

Heavier deposits Mild soap solution 2), detergent-free plastic cleaning solu-
tion, if necessary


Water-based deposits
such as coffee, tea,
blood, etc.
Displays/instru- | Deposits Soft cloth with LCD cleaner
ment cluster
Controls Deposits Soft brush, then a soft cloth with a mild soap solution®)
Safety belts Deposits Mild soap solution ®), allow to dry before letting them re-
tract
Textiles Deposits adhering to | Vacuum cleaner
artificial leather, |the surface
Alcantara Absorbent cloth and mild soap solution®

Oil-based deposits
such as oil, make-up,
etc.
Apply a mild soap solution ®), blot away the dissolved oil or
dye, treat afterward with water, if necessary

Certain types of de-
posits such as ink,
nail polish, latex
paint, shoe polish,
etc.
Special stain remover, blot with absorbent material, treat
afterward with mild soap solution, if necessary ®

Natural leather Fresh stains Cotton cloth with a mild soap solution®

Water-based deposits
such as coffee, tea,
blood, etc.
Fresh stains: absorbent cloth
Dried stains: stain remover suitable for leather

Oil-based deposits
such as oil, make-up,
etc.
Fresh stains: absorbent cloth and stain remover suitable
for leather
Dried stains: grease dissolving spray

Certain types of de-
posits such as ink,
nail polish, latex
paint, shoe polish,
etc.
Spot remover suitable for leather


nents

Care Regularly apply conditioning cream that protects from
light and penetrates into the material. Use special colored
conditioning cream, if necessary.
Carbon compo- Deposits Clean the same way as plastic components

a) Mild soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 quart (1 liter) of water

ZA WARNING

The windshield must not be treated with wa-
ter-repelling windshield coating agents. Un-
favorable conditions such as wetness, dark-
ness, or low sun can result in increased glare.
Wiper blade chatter is also possible.


345

Care and cleaning


ZA WARNING
— Never immerse the Audi e-tron charging sys-
tem and connectors in water.
— The Audi e-tron charging system must only
be cleaned when the control unit is com-
pletely disconnected from the power supply
and from the vehicle.

@) Note
— Headlights and tail lights
— Never clean headlights or tail lights with a
dry cloth or sponge.
— Do not use any cleaning products that con-
tain alcohol, because they could cause
cracks to form.
— Wheels
— Never use any paint polish or other abra-
sive materials.
— Damage to the protective layer on the
rims, such as stone chips or scratches,
must be repaired immediately.
— Camera lenses
— Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens. This
could cause the lens to crack.
— Never use abrasive cleaning materials or
alcohol to clean the camera lens. This
could cause scratches and cracks.
— Power top
— Remove bird droppings immediately.
— Never use gasoline, spot remover, ben-
zene, paint thinner or other solvents to re-
move.
— Door windows
— Remove snow and ice on windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plastic scraper. To re-
duce the risk of scratches, move the scra-
per only in one direction and not back and
forth.
— Never remove snow or ice from door win-
dows and mirrors using warm or hot water
because this could cause cracks to form.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the rear
window defogger, do not apply any stick-
ers on the heating wires on the inside of
the window.
346
— Decorative parts and trim
— Never use chrome care or cleaning prod-
ucts.
— Paint
— To reduce the risk of scratches, the vehicle
must be free of dirt and dust before pol-
ishing or waxing.
—To prevent paint damage, do not polish or
wax the vehicle in direct sunlight.
—To reduce the risk of paint damage, do not
polish away rust spots.
— Remove cosmetics and sunscreen immedi-
ately because they could damage the
paint.
— Decorative decals
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not use
any rough powder or abrasive cleaning
products.
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not pol-
ish decorative decals that have a matte or
printed finish.
— Due to the risk of damage, do not use an
ice scraper to remove snow and ice on win-
dows with decorative decals on them.
— Displays and instrument cluster
— The displays/instrument cluster and the
trim surrounding them must not be
cleaned with dry cleaning methods be-
cause they could be scratched.
— Make sure that the instrument cluster is
switched off and has cooled off before
cleaning it.
— Make sure no fluids enter the spaces be-
tween the instrument cluster and the
trim, because that could cause damage.
— Controls
— Make sure that no fluids enter the con-
trols, because this could cause damage.
— Safety belts
— Do not remove the safety belts to clean
them.
— Never clean safety belts or their compo-
nents with chemicals or with corrosive flu-
ids or solvents and never allow sharp ob-
jects to come into contact with the safety
belts. This could cause damage to the belt
webbing.

8V2012721BK
Care and cleaning

—If there is damage to the webbing, the
connections, the retractors, or the buck-
les, have them replaced by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility.
— Textiles, artificial leather, and Alcantara
— Never treat artificial leather or Alcantara
with leather care products, solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remover, or simi-
lar products.
— Have a cleaning specialist remove stub-
born stains to reduce the risk of damage.
— Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
— Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry
the seat.
— Objects with sharp edges, such as zippers
or rivets on clothing or belts, can cause
damage to the surface.
— Open hook and loop fasteners, for exam-
ple on clothing, can damage seat covers.
Make sure hook and loop fasteners are
closed.
— Natural leather
— Never treat leather with solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remover or simi-
lar products.
— Objects with sharp edges, such as zippers
or rivets on clothing or belts, can cause
damage to the surface.
— Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
— Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry
the seat.
—To help prevent the leather from fading,
do not leave the vehicle in direct sunlight
for long periods of time. If leaving the ve-
hicle parked for long periods of time, you
should cover the leather to protect it from
direct sunlight.
— Wall mount clip
— Do not us any abrasive cleaning products
or any that contain alcohol, because these
increase the risk of discoloration.
@) Tips
— Insects are easier to remove from paint that
has been freshly waxed.
— Regular waxing can prevent rust spots from
forming.
— Decorative decals can age due to environ-
mental conditions, which can result in dam-
age such as brittleness. The color may fade
if exposed to excessive sunlight.
Taking your vehicle out
of service
If you would like to take your vehicle out of serv-
ice for a long period of time, contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty. They will advise you of important measures,
such as corrosion protection, service, and storage
procedures. Also follow the information about
the vehicle battery > page 315.
347

Emergency assistance

sistance Equipment

Trunk escape latch
Applies to: vehicles with trunk escape latch (Sedan and Cab-
riolet)
In case of an emergency, the rear lid can be
opened from the inside using the trunk escape
latch.
2 3 S
ne = & yo
B8V-0379


Fig. 262 Luggage compartment: vehicle tool kit, tire mobi-
lity kit and vehicle jack* placement


Fig. 261 Luggage compartment: Trunk escape latch
B8V-0609

> Push the latch in the direction of the arrow un-
til the lock releases.
The trunk escape latch inside the rear lid is made
of fluorescent material to glow in the dark.

Z\ WARNING
The trunk escape latch is to be used only in an
emergency.
General information
> Park the vehicle as far as possible from moving
traffic in the event of a breakdown. In the event
of a flat tire, park the vehicle on a level surface.
If you are ona steep hill, be especially careful.

» Set the parking brake. Fig. 263 Luggage compartment: cargo floor folded up
> Place the selector lever in the “P” position. (versions 1 and 2)
> Switch the emergency flashers on.
> Have the passengers exit the vehicle. They
should move to a safe place, for example be-
hind a guard rail.
Vehicle tool kit, cargo floor cover and side
panel
Applies to: vehicles with version 1
_ The vehicle tool kit, tire mobility kit* and the
A WARNING compressor® are located in the luggage compart-
ment, separated in the side panels @)
) > fig. 262.

Pay attention to the steps above. They are for
your protection and the for the safety of other
drivers. > To open the side panel, turn the lock and re-
move the cover @)* / (

der the cargo floor cover (


348

8V2012721BK
Emergency assistance

> Lift the cargo floor using the plastic handle @)
until the cargo floor engages behind the tabs
@ in both side panels > fig. 263 (upper image).
> Fold the cargo floor back before closing the
luggage compartment lid.
Vehicle tool kit and cargo floor cover
Applies to: vehicles with version 2
The vehicle tool kit, tire mobility kit* and com-
pressor* are stored in the luggage compartment
under the cargo floor cover @) > fig. 262.
> Engage the plastic hook () in the luggage com-
partment seal > fig. 263.
> Fold the cargo floor back before closing the
luggage compartment lid.


Z\ WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with jack
Improper use of the vehicle jack can cause se-
rious personal injuries.
— Never use the screw driver hex head to tight-
en wheel bolts, since the bolts cannot attain
the necessary tightening torque if you use
the
hex head, potentially causing an acci-
dent.
— The factory-supplied jack is intended only
for your vehicle model. Under no circum-
stances
should it be used to lift heavy
vehicles or other loads; you risk injuring
yourself.
— Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised, which could cause an accident.
— Support the vehicle securely with appropri-
ate stands if work is to be performed under-
neath the vehicle; otherwise, there is a po-
tential risk for injury.
— Never use the jack supplied with your Audi
on another vehicle, particularly on a heavier
one. The jack is only suitable for use on the
vehicle it came with.

G) Tips
The vehicle jack* does not require any mainte-
nance.
Vehicle tool kit/tire mobility kit/
eyes
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive
0) Bb + 3
> i a

Fig. 264 Luggage compartment: side trim panel
The vehicle tool kit, tire mobility kit and the com-
pressor are located in the side trim panel @) and
in the luggage compartment.
G) Tips
The vehicle must not be operated without the
tire repair set.
Tire mobility kit
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit
> Read and follow the important safety precau-
tions in > page 348.
> Set the parking brake.
> Move the selector lever into the "P" position.
> Check if a repair with the tire mobility kit is pos-
sible > page 349.
Using the tire mobility kit
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit

B8K-1475



Fig. 265 Tire: tire damage that cannot be repaired
349

Emergency assistance

The tire repair is only meant for temporary use.
Change the damaged tire as soon as possible
oA.
If the tire is pierced by an object such as a nail,
do not remove the object from the tire.
The tire repair set is able to be used at tempera-
tures as low as - 4 °F (- 20 °C).
The tire mobility kit must not be used:
— if the tire has cuts or punctures that are larger
than 0.16 in (4 mm) @ © fig. 265
— if the rim is damaged 2)
— if you drove with very low tire pressure or with-
out air in the tire @)
In this case, see an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.

ZA\ WARNING
— Please note that the tire mobility kit cannot
be used in all situations, and that it may on-
ly be used temporarily.
— The tire sealant must not come in contact
with skin, eyes, or clothing.
— If tire sealant comes into contact with your
eyes or your skin, thoroughly rinse the af-
fected area immediately with clean water.
— Do not inhale the fumes.
— If you swallow any of the tire sealant, thor-
oughly rinse your mouth immediately and
drink a lot of water. Do not induce vomiting.
Seek medical attention immediately.
— Change your clothing immediately if it
comes into contact with tire sealant.
— If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately.
— Keep the tire sealant away from children.
— In vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring
system*, using tire sealant can result in an
incorrect display or a system malfunction.
Drive carefully to the nearest authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty.

350
G) Tips
— If sealant leaks, allow it to dry in place. You
can then peel it off like a sticker.
— Note the expiration date on the sealant bot-
tle. Replace the tire sealant at an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility.
— Radio reception can be interrupted when
operating the compressor*.
— Follow the legal regulations that are appli-
cable in the country where you are operating
the vehicle.
Repairing tires
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit






Fig. 267 Tire mobility kit connection
Requirement: the tire mobility kit must be laid
out and ready for use > page 348, Vehicle tool
kit/tire mobility kit/compressor.
Plug-in hybrid drive*: the placement of the vehi-
cle tool kit varies > page 349.