2020 AUDI A3 light

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
Stowing and using



braking maneuvers or in the event of an ac-
cident.
Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Always stow objects securely in
the luggage compartment and secure them
at the tie-downs. Use straps suitable for
heavy objects.
If pieces of luggage or objects are secured
to the tie-downs with unsuitable or dam-
aged straps, this can increase the risk of in-
jury during braking maneuvers or accidents.
When transporting heavy objects, the vehi-
cle characteristics will change due to the
shift in the center of gravity, which increases
the risk of an accident. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.
The cargo net is only strong enough to se-
cure light objects. Heavy objects are not ade-
quately secured. Attempting to secure heavy
objects increases the risk of injury.
Never exceed the permitted axle and load
and vehicle weight > page 380.
Never secure a child safety seat to the tie-
downs.
Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cially if the luggage compartment lid is
open. Children could enter the luggage com-
partment and close the luggage compart-
ment lid from the inside. This creates the
risk of fatal injury, since the children would
be locked in and may not be able to escape
by themselves.
Do not allow children to play in or on the ve-
hicle. Close and lock the luggage compart-
ment lid as well as all other doors when you
leave the vehicle.
Never transport passengers in the luggage
compartment. Every passenger must be cor-
rectly secured with the safety belts in the
vehicle > page 245.
Be careful when releasing the backrest and
folding
it forward. To reduce the risk of be-
ing pinched, pay attention and check when
folding backrests forward.

— The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the lug-
gage compartment during sudden braking.
— The backrest must be latched securely to en-
sure that the safety belt is protecting the
center seating position.
— Always pull forward on the backrest to make
sure it is check if it is correctly locked in
place.
@) Note
—To reduce the risk of damage, move the rear
head restraints down > page 57 before fold-
ing the rear backrests forward.
— When folding the backrest forward, make
sure the outer safety belts are in the belt
guide recess so that they do not get pinched
in the backrest lock and damaged. Other ob-
jects should be removed from the rear
bench seat to protect the backrest from
damage.
— If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is folded forward, you
could damage the head restraints on the
rear seat.

— Make sure that the heating grid strips for
the rear window defogger are not damaged
by abrasive objects.
@ Tips
— The tire pressure must be adapted to the
load > page 330.
— You can purchase straps at specialty stores.
Luggage compartment cover
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment cover
5 = S$
= = &
oO

Fig. 74 Luggage compartment: luggage compartment cov-
er >
61

Stowing and using

Follow the safety precautions > page 60.
> To remove the luggage compartment cover, un-
hook the straps (4).
> Pull the cover (3) out of the retainers @) in the
direction of the arrow.
> To install the luggage compartment cover, slide
the cover (8) horizontally into the designated
holder @) in the side bracket until the cover is
lined up.
> Hook the straps into the luggage compartment
lid @.

Fig. 77 Luggage compartment: cargo net stretched out
Follow the safety precautions > page 60.
Tie-downs


Applies to: vehicles with adjustable cargo floor There are tie-downs @) in the luggage compart-
ment to secure pieces of luggage and objects.
>» Use the tie-downs to secure the cargo.
Cargo net
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment net
Use the cargo net (2) to secure lighter objects in
the luggage compartment

> Fold the clip for the tie-downs upward.
>» Attach the hooks for the cargo net to the tie-
downs.

Fig. 75 Luggage compartment: lowered cargo floor
The cargo floor can lower to expand the storage
area in the luggage compartment.

a
A pplies to: vehicles with folding backrests
> Lift the cargo floor in order to lower it.
> Pull the cargo floor back slightly and insert it in
the lower position @).

g 3
S| = & Ea
To make loading and unloading easier, bringing


Fig. 78 Backrest: outer release lever
The rear seat backrests can be folded forward ei-
ther separately or together.
Follow
the safety precautions > page 60.
Folding the backrest forward/back
> Push the corresponding head restraint down-

Fig. 76 Luggage compartment: location of the tie-downs ward » page 57.
62

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
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

Driving


— Plug-in hybrid drive: never leave the vehicle
unattended in drive ready mode while a gear
is engaged. The vehicle can start moving
(“creeping”) even if the gasoline engine is
switched off, since the electric motor is still
operating. This may cause collisions and se-
vere or fatal injuries. When the vehicle en-
ters drive ready mode, the status message
e-tron READY appears briefly in the instru-
ment cluster display and the needle in the
power meter points to READY > page 16.

@) Note
— Avoid high engine speed, full throttle, and
heavy engine load if the engine has not
reached operating temperature yet. You
could damage the engine.
— If the engine has been under heavy load for
an extended period of time, heat builds up
in the engine compartment after the engine
is switched off and there is a risk of damag-
ing the engine. For this reason, let the en-
gine run at idle for approximately two mi-
nutes before shutting it off.
G) Tips
— Brief noises are normal when starting and
stopping the vehicle and are no cause for
concern.
— For up to 10 minutes after stopping the en-
gine, the radiator fan may turn on again au-
tomatically or it may continue to run, even if
the ignition is switched off.
— It may not be possible to start the vehicle in
extremely low temperatures.
72
Ignition key
Applies to: vehicles with ignition lock

Fig. 85 Steering column: ignition lock
Starting the engine
> Press the brake pedal.
> Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock.
> Turn the key briefly to position @). The ignition
key automatically returns to position @). Do not
press the accelerator pedal when doing this.
> The engine will start and the vehicle will then
be ready to drive.
Equipment that uses a lot of electricity is switch-
ed off temporarily when you start the engine. If
the engine does not start immediately, stop the
starting procedure by turning the ignition key to
position © and repeat after 30 seconds.
When temperatures are low, the engine may only
start in “P”.
If it is difficult to turn the key to position @, turn
the steering wheel back and forth slightly to re-
lease the steering lock.
Stopping the engine
> Bring the vehicle to a full stop.
> Turn the key to position ©. The engine will
switch off.
The key can only be removed when the vehicle is
in “P”.
Activating the steering lock
Applies to: vehicles with steering lock
The steering lock helps prevent vehicle theft.
> Remove the ignition key.
> Turn the steering wheel until the steering
wheel audibly locks.

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