2020 AUDI A3 brake

Wheels


—Do not use run-flat tires on
your vehicle. Using them when
not permitted can lead to ve-
hicle damage or accidents.
—If you install wheel covers on
the vehicle, make sure they al-
low enough air circulation to
cool the brake system. If they
do not, this could increase the
risk of an accident.

Tire wear and damage

B4H-0415

Fig. 258 Tire profile: treadwear indica-
tor
Tire wear
Check the tires regularly for wear.
—Inflation pressure that is too low
or high can increase tire wear
considerably.
—Driving quickly through curves,
rapid acceleration, and heavy
braking increase tire wear.


) Obey any applicable regulations in the
country where the vehicle is being oper-
ated.
328
—Have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty check the wheel alignment if
there is unusual wear.
—Have the wheels rebalanced if an
imbalance is causing noticeable
vibration in the steering wheel.
If you do not, the tires and other
vehicle components could wear
more
quickly.
Treadwear indicator
Original equipment tires contain
treadwear indicators in the tread
pattern, which are bars that are
1/16 in (1.6 mm) high and are
spaced evenly around the tire per-
pendicular to the running direc-
tion > fig. 258. The letters “TWI”
or triangles on the tire sidewall
indicate the location of the tread-
wear indicators.
The tires have reached the mini-
mum tread depth )) when they
have worn down to the treadwear
indicators. Replace the tires with
new ones > A.

8V2012721BK
Wheels

installed accessories, a full tank
of fuel, oil, coolant and other flu-
ids plus maximum load. The max-
imum Load includes the number
of passengers that the vehicle is
intended to carry (“seating ca-
pacity”) with an assumed weight
of 150 lbs. (68 kg) for each pas-
senger at a designated seating
position and the total weight of
any luggage in the vehicle. If you
tow a trailer, the weight of the
trailer hitch and the tongue
weight of the loaded trailer must
be included as part of the vehicle
load.
The Gross Axle Weight Rating
(“GAWR”) is the maximum load
that can be applied at each of the
vehicle’s two axles.
The fact that there is an upper
limit to your vehicle’s Gross Vehi-
cle Weight Rating means that the
total weight of whatever is being
carried in the vehicle (including
the weight of a trailer hitch and
the tongue weight of the loaded
trailer) is limited. The more pas-
sengers in the vehicle or passen-
gers who are heavier than the
standard weights assumed mean
that less weight can be carried as
luggage.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compli-
ance sticker label located on the
driver’s side B-pillar.

Z\, WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause
loss of vehicle control, a crash
or other accident, serious per-
sonal injury, and even death.
—Carrying more weight than
your vehicle was designed to
carry will prevent the vehicle
from handling properly and in-
crease the risk of the loss of
vehicle control.
—The brakes on a vehicle that
has been overloaded may not
be able to stop the vehicle
within a safe distance.
—Tires ona vehicle that has
been overloaded can fail sud-
denly, including a blowout and
sudden deflation, causing loss
of control and a crash.
—Always make sure that the to-
tal load being transported -
including the weight of a trail-
er hitch and the tongue
weight of a loaded trailer -
does not make the vehicle


333

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

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

Replacing wheels
Before changing a wheel
Observe the following precautions for your own
and your passenger's safety when changing a
wheel.
>» After you experience a tire failure, pull the car
well away from moving traffic and try to reach
level ground before you stop > A\.
> All passengers should leave the car and move
toa safe location (for instance, behind the
guardrail) > A\.
> Engage the parking brake to prevent your vehi-
cle from rolling unintentionally > A\.
> Move selector lever to position P > /\.
> If you are towing a trailer, unhitch the trailer
from your vehicle.
> Take the jack* > page 348 and the spare tire*
=> page 357 out of the luggage compartment.

ZA\ WARNING
You or your passengers could be injured while
changing a wheel if you do not follow these
safety precautions:
— If you have a flat tire, move a safe distance
off the road. Turn off the engine, turn the
emergency flashers on and use other warn-
ing devices to alert other motorists.
— Make sure that passengers wait in a safe
place away from the vehicle and well away
from the road and traffic.
—To help prevent the vehicle from moving
suddenly and possibly slipping off the jack*,
always fully set the parking brake and block
the front and back of the wheel diagonally
opposite the wheel being changed. When
one front wheel is lifted off the ground,
placing the Automatic Transmission in P
(Park) will not prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing.
— Before you change a wheel, be sure the
ground is level and firm. If necessary, use a
sturdy board under the jack”.
— Always store the vehicle tool kit, the jack*
and the replaced tire in the luggage com-
partment > page 60.

352
G) Tips
Obey all laws.
Changing a wheel
When you change a wheel, follow the sequence
described below step-by-step and in exactly that
order.
1. Remove the decorative wheel cover*. For
more details see also > page 353, Decorative
wheel covers or > page 353, Wheels with
wheel bolt caps.
2. Loosen the wheel bolts > page 353.
3. Locate the proper mounting point for the
jack* and align the jack* below that point
=> page 354.
4. Raise the car with the jack* > page 354.
Remove the wheel with the flat tire and then
install the spare > page 355.
6. Tighten all wheel bolts lightly.
Lower the vehicle with the jack*.
8. Use the wheel bolt wrench and firmly tighten
all wheel bolts > page 353.
9. Replace the decorative wheel cover*.
wn
=

ZA WARNING
Always read and follow all WARNINGS and in-
formation > A\ in Raising the vehicle on
page 355 and > page 356.
After changing a wheel
A wheel change is not complete without the do-
ing the following.


> Always store the vehicle tool kit, the jack* and
the replaced tire in the luggage compartment
=> page 60.
> Check the tire pressure on the spare wheel im-
mediately after mounting it.
> As soon as possible, have the tightening tor-
ques on all wheel bolts checked with a torque
wrench. The correct tightening torque is
90 ft lb (120 Nm).
> Have the flat tire replaced as soon as possible.

Emergency assistance

Loosening
> Slide the wheel wrench onto the wheel bolt as
far as it will go.
> Take tight hold of the end of the wrench handle
and turn the wheel bolts counter-clockwise
about one single turn in the direction of arrow
> fig. 270.
Tightening
> Slide the wheel wrench onto the wheel bolt as
far as it will go.
> Take tight hold of the end of the wrench handle
and turn each wheel bolt clockwise until it is
seated.

Z\ WARNING
— Do not use force or hurry when changing a
wheel - you can cause the vehicle to slip off
the jack* and cause serious personal injuries.
— Do not loosen the wheel bolts more than
one turn before you raise the vehicle with
the jack*. - You risk an injury.

@® Tips
— Never use the hexagonal socket in the han-
dle of the screwdriver to loosen or tighten
the wheel bolts.
— If a wheel bolt is very tight, you may find it
easier to loosen by carefully pushing down
on the end of the wheel bolt wrench with
one foot only. As you do so, hold on to the
car to keep your balance and take care not
to slip.
354
Raising the vehicle
Applies to: vehicles with jack
The vehicle must be lifted with the jack first be-
fore the wheel can be removed.
Fe) D 8
<4 = @
oO


Fig. 272 Sill: positioning the vehicle jack
> Engage the parking brake to prevent your vehi-
cle from rolling unintentionally.
> Move the selector lever to position P.
>» Find the marking (imprint) on the sill that is
nearest the wheel that will be changed
=> fig. 271. Behind the marking, there is a lift-
ing point on the sill for the vehicle jack.
> Vehicles with a sill: Note the position of the sill
when positioning the vehicle jack > fig. 272.
>» Place the vehicle jack (vehicle tool kit) on a firm
surface. Use a flat, stable support if necessary.
On a slippery surface such as tile, you should
use a non-slip pad (such as a rubber mat) > A\.
> Turn the vehicle jack located under the lifting
point on the sill to raise the jack until its arm @)
> fig. 272 is located under the designated plas-
tic mount > A\, >@.
> Align the jack so that its arm @) ® fig. 272 en-
gages in the designated lifting point in the door
sill and the movable base (8) lies flat on the
ground. The base (8) must be vertical under the
lifting point @).

Emergency assistance

Removing the wheel
>» Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver
handle to completely remove the topmost
wheel bolt and set it aside on a clean surface
> fig. 273.
> Screw the threaded end of the alignment pin
from the tool kit hand-tight into the empty bolt
hole > fig. 274.
> Then remove the other wheel bolts as described
above.
> Take off the wheel leaving the alignment pin in
the bolt hole >@).
Putting on the compact spare wheel
> Lift the spare wheel and carefully slide it over
the alignment pin to guide it in place >@.
> Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver
handle to screw in and tighten all wheel bolts
slightly.
> Remove the alignment pin and insert and tight-
en the remaining wheel bolt slightly like the
rest.
> Turn the jack handle counter-clockwise to lower
the vehicle until the jack* is fully released.
> Use the wheel bolt wrench to tighten all wheel
bolts firmly > page 353. Tighten them cross-
wise, from one bolt to the (approximately) op-
posite one, to keep the wheel centered.
@) Note
When removing or installing the wheel, the
rim
could hit the brake rotor and damage the
rotor. Work carefully and have a second per-
son help you.
G) Tips
Never use the hexagonal socket in the handle
of the screwdriver to loosen or tighten the
wheel bolts.
— Pull the reversible blade from the screwdriv:
er before you use the hexagonal socket in
the handle to turn the wheel bolts.
— When mounting tires with unidirectional
tread design make sure the tread pattern is
pointed the right way > page 356.
— The wheel bolts should be clean and easy to
turn. Check for dirt and corrosion on the
356
mating surfaces of both the wheel and the
hub. Remove all dirt from these surfaces be-
fore remounting the wheel.
Tires with unidirectional tread design
Tires with unidirectional tread design must be
mounted with their tread pattern pointed in the
right direction.
Using a spare tire with a tread pattern
intended for use in a specific direction
When using a spare tire with a tread pattern in-
tended for use in a specific direction, please note
the following:
— The direction of rotation is marked by an arrow
on the side of the tire.
— If the spare tire has to be installed in the incor-
rect direction, use the spare tire only tempora-
rily since the tire will not be able to achieve its
optimum performance characteristics with re-
gard to aquaplaning, noise and wear.
— We recommend that you pay particular atten-
tion to this fact during wet weather and that
you
adjust your speed to match road condi-
tions.
— Replace the flat tire with a new one and have it
installed on your vehicle as soon as possible to
restore the handling advantages of a unidirec-
tional tire.
Notes on wheel changing
Please read the information > page 326 if you
are going to use a spare tire which is different
from the tires on your vehicle.
After you change a tire:
— Check the tire pressure on the spare immedi-
ately after installation.
— Have the wheel bolt tightening torque
checked with a torque wrench as soon as pos-
sible by your authorized Audi dealer ora
qualified service station.
— With steel and alloy wheel rims, the wheel
bolts are correctly tightened at a torque of
90 ft lbs (120 Nm).