2020 AUDI A3 tow

Media

(CO) 6/VDE 0837. The optical readers that are in-
stalled conform to safety class 1. Lasers in this
class are very weak and well-shielded, so there is
no danger if used correctly.
Media drives
SD card reader
The SD card reader is located in the glove com-
partment.
— Inserting the SD card: the angled corner of the
SD card must face toward the right front when
inserting. Slide the SD card into the card reader
slot until the SD card clicks into place.
— Automatic playback: playback will start auto-
matically if the inserted SD card contains sup-
ported audio/video files* > page 224.
— Removing the SD card: press briefly on the SD
card.
The SD card reader is accessed and operated
through the MMI @) > page 219, fig. 191.
@) Note
Only use one-piece SD cards. If adapter cards
(SD cards with more than one piece) are used,
the card could fall out of the adapter when
driving because of vibrations. Individual
pieces could then become stuck in the drive
and impair the functionality.
@ Tips
The SIM card reader then does not function.
DVD drive
Applies to: vehicles with a DVD drive
.——

RAH-8826|


Fig. 187 Glove compartment: DVD drive
212
— Loading a CD/DVD: the CD/DVD is pulled in au-
tomatically. Slide the CD/DVD straight into the
DVD slot @) with the label facing up.
— Automatic playback: playback will start auto-
matically if the inserted CD/DVD contains sup-
ported audio/video* files > page 224.
— Ejecting a CD/DVD: press the button @.
The CD/DVD is pulled in again automatically if it
is not removed from the DVD slot within approxi-
mately ten seconds after ejecting it.
The DVD drive is accessed and operated through
the MMI Q) & page 219, fig. 191.
C) Note
— Never force a CD/DVD into the drive. The
CD/DVD is pulled in automatically.
— Do not insert CDs/DVDs with labels into the
drive. Labels can come loose from the
CD/DVD and damage the drive.
G) Tips
— CDs/DVDs that contain audio files with a
high data rate may not play.
—The SIM card reader then does not function.
Applies to: vehicles with a CD drive
‘———

RAH-8826|


Fig. 188 Glove compartment: CD drive
— Loading a CD: the CD is pulled in automatically.
Slide the CD straight into the slot @ with the
label facing up.
— Automatic playback: playback will start auto-
matically if the inserted CD contains supported
audio files > page 226.
— Ejecting a CD: press the button @.

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

Safety belts


snugly > fig. 210. Pull on the belt to tighten
if necessary.
— The lap belt portion of the safety belt must
be positioned as low as possible across pel-
vis and never over the abdomen. Make sure
the belt lies flat and snug > fig. 210. Pull on
the belt to tighten if necessary.
—A loose-fitting safety belt can cause serious
injuries by shifting its position on your body
from the strong bones to more vulnerable,
soft tissue and cause serious injury.
— Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other important information > page 248.
Pregnant women must also be correctly
restrained
The best way to protect the fetus is to make sure
that expectant mothers always wear safety belts
correctly - throughout the pregnancy.




To provide maximum protection, safety belts
must always be positioned correctly on the wear-
er's body > page 249.
> Adjust the front seat and adjustable head re-
straint®* correctly > page 54, Front seats.
> Pull the safety belt evenly across the chest so
that it sits as low as possible on the pelvis and
there is no pressure on the abdomen
> fig. 211, > /\.
> Insert the tongue into the correct buckle of
your seat until you hear it latch securely.
> Pull on the belt to make sure that it is securely
latched in the buckle.
250
ZA WARNING
Improperly positioned safety belts can cause
serious personal injury in an accident.
— Expectant mothers must always wear the
lap portion of the safety belt as low as pos-
sible across the pelvis and below the round-
ing of the abdomen.
— Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other important information > A\ in Fasten-
ing safety belts on page 249.
eRe mei lley
Unbuckle the safety belt with the red release
button only after the vehicle has stopped.


B4H-0270



Fig. 212 Releasing the tongue from the buckle
» Push the red release button on the buckle
> fig. 212. The belt tongue will spring out of
the buckle > A\.
> Let the belt wind up on the retractor as you
guide the belt tongue to its stowed position.

ZA WARNING
Never unfasten safety belt while the vehicle is
moving. Doing so will increase your risk of be-
ing injured or killed.

Airbag system


passenger detection system from accurately
measuring the capacitance of the child safe-
ty seat and/or the person on the seat and
thus keep the Advanced Airbag System from
working properly.
— Never place or use any electrical device
(such as a laptop, CD player, electronic
games device, power inverter or seat heater
for child seats) on the front passenger seat
if the device is connected to the 12-volt
socket or the cigarette lighter socket. Such
devices can influence the capacitance regis-
tered by the capacitive passenger detection
system, so that incorrect information is pro-
vided to the airbag control unit.
— If you must use a child restraint on the front
passenger seat and the child restraint man-
ufacturer's instructions require the use of a
towel, foam cushion or something else to
properly position the child restraint, make
certain that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
light comes on and stays on whenever the
child restraint is installed on the front pas-
senger seat.
— If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light does
not come on and stay on, immediately in-
stall child restraint in a rear seating position
and have the airbag system inspected by
your Audi dealer.


Z\ WARNING
If the front passenger seat gets wet, dry it im-
mediately.
— If liquid soaks into the front passenger seat,
this can keep the airbag system from work-
ing properly and may, for instance, deacti-
vate the passenger frontal airbag. If this
happens, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
light will come on and stay on together with
the airbag indicator light Ea in the instru-
ment cluster.
— If liquid is pooled on the seat, but has not
soaked in, this may also keep the airbag sys-
tem from working properly and cause the
passenger frontal airbag to be enabled
(turned on), even though there is a properly
installed child restraint system on the seat.
Wet towels or other wet things on the seat

cushion can have the same effect. If the
front passenger frontal airbag is turned on,
the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will turn
off.

How the Advanced Airbag System
components work together
The front Advanced Airbag System and the side
airbags supplement the protection offered by the
front three-point safety belts and the adjustable
head restraints* to help reduce the risk of injury
in a wide range of accident and crash situations.
Be sure to read the important information about
safety and heed the WARNINGS in this chapter.
Deployment of the Advanced Airbag System and
the activation of the safety belt pretensioners de-
pend on the deceleration measured by the crash
sensors and registered by the electronic control
unit. Crash severity depends on speed and decel-
eration as well as the mass and stiffness of the
vehicle or object involved in the crash.
On the passenger side, regardless of safety belt
use, the front passenger frontal airbag will be
turned off if the electrical capacitance measured
by the capacitive passenger detection system on
the front passenger seat is less than the amount
programmed in the electronic control unit. The
front passenger frontal airbag will also be turned
off if the capacitance measured by the system for
the front passenger seat equals that of an infant
of about one year of age in one of the child seats
that was used to certify the Advanced Airbag Sys-
tem under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
208. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light comes
on and stays on to tell you when the front Ad-
vanced Airbag System on the passenger side has
been turned off > page 265.

ZA WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury when an airbag in-
flates, always wear safety belts properly.
— If you are unrestrained, leaning forward, sit-
ting sideways or out of position in any way,
your risk of injury is much higher.
— You will also receive serious injuries and

could even be killed if you are up against the


262

Airbag system

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will show
the status of the front seat passenger's frontal
Advanced Airbag a few seconds after the igni-
tion is switched on and the airbag indicator
light goes off. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
light:
— will stay on if the front passenger seat is not
occupied;
—will stay on if the electrical capacitance meas-
ured by the capacitive passenger detection sys-
tem for the front passenger seat equals the
combined capacitance of an infant up to about
one year of age and one of the rearward-facing
or forward-facing child restraints listed in Fed-
eral Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 with
which the Advanced Airbag System in your vehi-
cle was certified; For a listing of the child re-
straints that were used to certify your vehicle's
compliance with the U.S. Safety Standard
=> page 280.
— will go out if the front passenger seat is occu-
pied by an adult as registered by the capacitive
passenger detection system.
— The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light must come
on and stay on if the ignition is on and...
—a car bed has been installed on the front pas-
senger seat, or
—arearward-facing child restraint has been in-
stalled on the front passenger seat, or
—a forward-facing child restraint has been instal-
led on the front passenger seat,
—and if the electrical capacitance registered on
the front passenger seat is equal to or less than
the combined capacitance of a typical 1 year-
old infant and one of the rearward-facing or
forward-facing child restraints listed in Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 with which
the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle was
certified.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the
front airbag will not deploy, and the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF light will stay on. Never installa
rearward-facing child restraint on the front pas-
senger seat, the safest place for a child in any
kind of child restraint is at one of the seating po-
sitions on the rear seat > page 254, Child re-
266
straints on the front seat - some important
things to know and > page 278, Child safety.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG light comes
on...
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light comes on
when one of the conditions listed above is met,
be sure to check the light regularly to make cer-
tain that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
stays on continuously whenever the ignition is
on. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light does
not appear on and does not stay on all the time,
stop as soon as it is safe to do so and
— reactivate the system by turning the ignition off
for more than 4 seconds and then turning it on
again;
— remove and reinstall the child restraint. Make
sure that the child restraint is properly installed
and that the safety belt for the front passenger
seat has been correctly routed through the
child restraint as described in the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions;
— make sure that the convertible locking retractor
on the safety belt for the front passenger seat
has been activated and that the safety belt has
been pulled tight.
— make sure that no electrical device (such as a
laptop, CD player, electronic games device,
power inverter or seat heater for child seats) is
placed or used on the front passenger seat if
the device is connected to the 12-volt socket or
the cigarette lighter socket;
— make sure that no seat heater has been retrofit-
ted or otherwise added to the front passenger
seat;
— make sure that nothing can interfere with the
safety belt buckles and that they are not ob-
structed;
— make sure that there are no wet objects (such
as a wet towel) and no water or other liquids on
the front passenger seat cushion.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG light still does
not come on...
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light still does
not come on and does not stay on continuously
(when the ignition is switched on),

8V2012721BK
Child safety


ZA\ WARNING
Children on the front seat of any car even with
Advanced Airbags can be seriously injured or
even killed when an airbag inflates. A child in
a rearward-facing child safety seat installed
on the front passenger seat will be seriously
injured and can be killed if the front airbag in-
flates.
— The inflating airbag will hit the child safety
seat or infant carrier with great force and
will smash the child safety seat and child
against the backrest, center armrest, or
door.
— Always install rear-facing child safety seats
on the rear seat.
— If you must install a rearward facing child
safety seat on the front passenger seat in
exceptional circumstances and the PASSEN-
GER AIR BAG OFF light does not come on
and stay on, immediately install the rear-
facing child safety seat in a rear seating po-
sition and have the airbag system inspected
immediately by your Audi dealer.



ZA WARNING
— Forward-facing child seats installed on the
front passenger seat may interfere with the
deployment of the airbag and cause serious
personal injury to the child.
— If exceptional circumstances require the use
of a forward-facing child restraint on the
front passenger's seat, the child's safety and
well-being require the following special pre-
cautions to be taken:
— Always make sure that the forward-facing
seat has been designed and certified by its
manufacturer for use on a front passenger
seat with a front and side airbag.
— Always carefully follow the manufacturer's
instructions provided with the child seat or
infant carrier.
— Never install a child restraint without a
properly attached top tether strap if the
child restraint manufacturer's instructions
require the top tether strap to be used.


— Never put the forward-facing child re-
straint up against or very near the instru-
ment panel.
— Applies to: vehicles with safety belt height
adjustment: Always set the safety belt up-
per anchorage to the adjustment position
that permits proper installation in accord-
ance with the child restraint manufactur-
er's instructions.
— Always move the front passenger seat to
the highest position in the up and down
adjustment range and move it back to the
rearmost position in the seat's fore and aft
adjustment range, as far away from the
airbag as possible, before installing the
forward-facing child restraint.
— Always make sure that the safety belt up-
per anchorage is behind the child restraint
and not next to or in front of the child re-
straint so that the safety belt will be prop-
erly positioned.
— Always make sure that nothing prevents
the front passenger's seat from being
moved to the rearmost position in its fore
and aft adjustment range.
— Never place objects on the seat (such as a
laptop, CD player, electronic games device,
power inverter or seat heater for child
seats). These may influence the electrical
capacitance measured by the capacitive
passenger detection system and can also
fly around in an accident and cause serious
personal injury.
— Never place or use any electrical device
(such as a laptop, CD player, electronic
games device, power inverter or seat heat-
er for child seats) on the front passenger
seat if the device is connected to the 12-
volt socket or the cigarette lighter socket.
— Ifa seat heater has been retrofitted or
otherwise added to the front passenger
seat, never install any child restraint sys-
tem on this seat.
— Make sure that there are no wet objects
(such as a wet towel) and no water or oth-
er liquids on the front passenger seat
cushion.

279

8V2012721BK
Child safety



— The child and the passenger can also injure
each other in an accident.
Never install rear-facing child safety seats or
infant carriers on the front passenger seat.
A child will be seriously injured and can be
killed when the passenger airbag inflates -
even with an Advanced Airbag System.
The inflating airbag will hit the child safety
seat or infant carrier with great force and
will smash the child safety seat and child
against the backrest, center armrest, door
or roof.
Always install rear-facing child safety seats
or infant carriers on the rear seat.
Make sure there is enough space in front of
the child in the child seat. If necessary, ad-
just the angle and position of the seat in
front of the child seat.
Forward-facing child safety seats installed
on the front passenger's seat can interfere
with the airbag when it inflates and cause
serious injury to the child. Always install for-
ward-facing child safety seats on the rear
seat.
If exceptional circumstances require the use
of a forward-facing child restraint on the
front passenger's seat, the child's safety and
well-being require that the following special
precautions be taken:
— Make sure the forward-facing seat has
been designed and certified by its manu-
facturer for use on a front seat with a pas-
senger front and side airbag.
— Always carefully follow the manufacturer's
instructions provided with the child safety
seat or carrier.
— Always move the front passenger seat to
the highest position in the up and down
adjustment range and move it back to the
rearmost position in the seat's fore and aft
adjustment range, as far away from the
airbag as possible, before installing the
forward-facing child restraint.
— Always make sure that the safety belt up-
per
anchorage is behind the child restraint
and not next to or in front of the child re-
straint so that the safety belt will be prop-
erly positioned.
— Always make sure that nothing prevents
the front passenger's seat from being
moved to the rearmost position in its fore
and aft adjustment range.
— Always make sure that the backrest is in
the upright position.
— Never place or use any electrical device
(such as a laptop, CD player, electronic
games device, power inverter or seat heat-
er for child seats) on the front passenger
seat if the device is connected to the 12-
volt socket or the cigarette lighter socket.
— If a seat heater has been retrofitted or
otherwise added to the front passenger
seat, never install any child restraint sys-
tem on this seat.
— Make sure that there are no wet objects
(such as a wet towel) and no water or oth-
er liquids on the front passenger seat
cushion.
— Never place objects on the seat (such as a
laptop, CD player, electronic games device,
power inverter or seat heater for child
seats). These may influence the electrical
capacitance measured by the capacitive
passenger detection system and can also
fly around in an accident and cause serious
personal injury.
— Always buckle the child safety seat firmly in
place even if a child is not sitting in it. A
loose child safety seat can fly around during
a sudden stop or ina collision.
— Always read and heed all WARNINGS when-
ever using a child restrained in a vehicle is
being used > page 245, Safety belts,
=> page 253, Airbag system and > page 278,
Child safety.


ZA WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury, make sure
that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
comes on and stays on whenever a child re-
straint is installed on the front passenger seat
and the ignition is switched on.
— Take the child restraint off the front passen-
ger seat and install it properly at one of the
rear seat positions if the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF light does not stay on.

283

8V2012721BK
Child safety

ride. The front seat is not the safest place for a
child in a forward-facing child seat. It is a very
dangerous place for an infant or a larger child in
a rearward-facing seat.


ZA WARNING
Not using a child safety seat, using the wrong
child safety seat or improperly installing a
child restraint increases the risk of serious
personal injury and death in a crash.
— Never install rear-facing child safety seats or
infant carriers on the front passenger seat -
even with an Advanced Airbag System. A
child will be seriously injured and can be kil-
led when the inflating airbag hits the child
safety seat or infant carrier with great force
and smashes the child safety seat and child
against the backrest, center armrest, door
or roof > page 254, Child restraints on the
front seat - some important things to
know.
— Always install rear-facing child safety seats
or infant carriers on the rear seat.
— Never install a rear-facing child restraint in
the forward-facing direction. Such restraints
are designed for the special needs of infants
and
very small children and cannot protect
them properly if the seat is forward-facing.
— If you must install a rearward facing child
safety seat on the front passenger seat be-
cause of exceptional circumstances and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light does not
come on and stay on, immediately install
the rear-facing child safety seat in a rear
seating position and have the airbag system
inspected by your Audi dealer.
— Never place or use any electrical device
(such as a laptop, CD player, electronic
games device, power inverter or seat heater
for child seats) on the front passenger seat
if the device is connected to the 12-volt
socket or the cigarette lighter socket.
— If a seat heater has been retrofitted or oth-
erwise added to the front passenger seat,
never install any child restraint system on
this seat.

— Make sure that there are no wet objects
(such as a wet towel) and no water or other
liquids on the front passenger seat cushion.
— Never place objects on the seat (such as a
laptop, CD player, electronic games device,
power inverter or seat heater for child
seats). These may influence the electrical
capacitance measured by the capacitive pas-
senger detection system and can also fly
around in an accident and cause serious per-
sonal injury.
— Always read and heed all WARNINGS when-
ever using a child restrained in a vehicle is
being used > page 245, Safety belts,
=> page 253, Airbag system and > page 278,
Important information.


Convertible child safety seats
Properly used convertible child safety seats can
help protect toddlers and children over age one
who weigh between 20 and 40 lbs. (9 and 18 kg)
in acrash.

B4L-1425


Fig. 228 Schematic overview: installation of the attach-
ments applicable to a LATCH seat


B4L-1426





Fig. 229 Schematic overview: installation of the seat using
the vehicle's safety belt system
» When using the vehicle safety belt to install a
child safety seat, you must first activate the
285
>