2020 AUDI A3 towing

Table of contents

About this Owner's Manual......
SUMIMALY: ; « ss6% : osen ss sean cs poe s
QC CCeS Skis: si esis a 6 ores os ewe
Controls ataglance..................
Indicator lights overview...........0.
Display and operation............
Instrument cluster...............
Instrument cluster overview...........
Coolant temperature display...........
Tachometer.......... 0.0 eee eee eee
Power iiet@l ss « + wes + s wees 2 x ews 2 ae
Odometer icc oo sisiecs a wrens eo ooarae eo were
Outside temperature display...........
Multifunction steering wheel plus......
Multifunction steering wheel..........
Vehicle functions. ............000 000s
Starting and driving.............
Opening and closing.............
Central locking 2.2% ieee seven a eevee
Luggage compartment lid.............
Child safety lock... 0... 0... cece eee ee
Power windows..............2000005
Panoramic glass TOOf sis s « sayoe « x eoven xs
Power top........... 0. cece eee eee
Automatic power top.................
Wind deflector sicavi x 0 snare a 0 wesc a 0 acaven
Power top emergency operation........
Lights and Vision.................
Exterior lighting...................4.
Interior Ughtingcs « ¢ cean a cas cs ews 5
VISIONS « & comes oo man a 8 eee a a oa 3 oe
Windshield wipers...................
Digital compass.............0.-00 00
PrOntsS@ats = wise s x esven = ¢ eee + & ete os
Head restraimtst. +. coms + 0 anseans 4 2 omamm © # »
Steering wheel............00 2. eee ee
Stowing and using...............
Power sources ......... 00-00 e eee eaee
StOrinG’: « e meme =e sees + Sees Gy ee & Ee
10
14 14 14
15
15
16 17 17 17
20
21
25
25
25 31 33 33 35
36 36 39 39
43
43
46
47
49
52
54
54
54
56 58 59 59 59
Luggage compartment ...............
Roof rack... eee eee
MV APEC OUE 05 3 3 aise ¥ & maseen @ owe
Climate control system...............
Steering wheel heating.............-.
Auxiliary climate control.............-
Fluids in the A/C system. ...........-.
DFIVIFIG:: « yeas os « wow o ¢ Rome se RED oc ow
Starting the vehicle..................
Electromechanical parking brake.......
Releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release............2..000.
Special driving situations..............
Driving dynamic..................
Audi drive'select:, .c.icisiseicascnaene
SUSPONSIOM ac « 2 covsces so cmswsm oo soso oo cee
SEOORIIAG » sinsoes ue vanes a» wisenge ou upnenie & ¥ ote
All wheel drive (quattro)..............
Electronic Stabilization Control.........
High-voltage system.............
General information.................
Charging the high-voltage battery......
Charging at public charging stations....
Charging the battery with the Audi
ChargingsySteM « wsccuc x x sewers a w anaes vv oe
Audi e-tron compact charging system...
Indicator lights and messages.........
Emergency releases. & iseiis 6 + wae w 6 wos
Trailer towing....................
Driving with atrailer.................
Driver assistance.................
Assist systems...................
Speed warning system..............--
Cruise control system............0005
Lap timer eens so cong s pees ss ees oo eee
Audi adaptive cruise control...........
Audi presense............-.002-000-
60
63
65
65
68 68 69
FE 71 73
78
83 85
87
88 89
SI 91
92.
92
93 93
96 96 97
100

Table of contents


Audi smartphone interface...... 228
Setup... eee eee ee eee 228
OPeratintg’s + ease s x mows « woeE se ow ee 229
Troubleshooting wwii «s wwine ev eee ae eae 229
System settings.................. 230
Setting the date andtime............. 230
MMI SOMOS: » sunses 0 » anexeiae o anseane » 0 exons 230
Connection manager................. 231
System update isis ss wows x ¢ seows a eaves 234
Sound settingS............0 ee eee eee 234
Volume settings ..............000000. 234
Restarting the MMI.................. 235
Software license information.......... 235
237 237 237
Correct passenger seating positions..... 238
Driver's and front passenger's footwell.. 241
Pedal area.......... eee eee eee eee 241
Active rollover protection system....... 242
Safety belts...................0.. 245
General notes.................00005. 245
Why use safety belts?................ 246
Safety belts. ............... 00000005 248
Belt tensioners... 0.02... cece eee eee 252
Airbag system.................00. 253
Important information............... 253
Front:airbags’: = seis s = canes + = esis + oer 257
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag System. 265
Knee airbags...............-0 ee eee 269
Side@:airbags x: < sews se eewes te eee ee oe 271
Sidercurtain airbags « swe ss wei sv woes 274
GAUGES AATEC iss 5 « nee a 5 Baa GE EE Be 278
Important information............... 278
Child safety seats................000. 284
Securing child safety seats............ 289
LATCH system (lower anchorages and
tethers forichildren) sic. o = essere x 3 awmin « 5 aoe 292
Additional information............... 297
Maintenance and Care........... 298
Checking and Filling............. 298
FUGlaves: «2 wows s 2 seems © a meee 4 S oweme a 2 a 298
Reftieling crass « sccswes e neness xe aeiceme x acer 299
Refueling ......... 0... cee ee eee eee 302
Emissions control system............. 303
Engine compartment...........0.500% 304
Engineoil........ 0... eee eee eee 307
Cooling SYSteM . <= sees ic sees be tees we 311
Brake Pluidhise «2 ascii 2 2 soos 2 x comes © x sree 313
Electrical system. ...........002-000 314
Battenysa « 5 news so ASS & ROS TE BaF 315
Windshield washer system............ 317
Service interval display............... 318
Whe6US: « ses ss sess os ees ss eee 2 a 319
Wheelsiand Tiresis « scsinin + « sore © a eneron » 319
Tire Pressure Monitoring System indicator . 337
Tire pressure monitoring system....... 339
Care and cleaning................ 342
General information................. 342
Gar washesi: « sosus so ime a 0 mana + omen 6 342
Cleaning and care information......... 343
Taking your vehicle out of service....... 347
Troubleshooting................. 348
Emergency assistance........... 348
Trunk escape latch............-.0000- 348
General
information................. 348
Equipment............. 00. cece eee 348
Tire Mobility kit’: goss « 2 sewn 2 y eweE a eos 349
Replacing wheels...........00ee eens 352
Sparetire........ 2... eee eee eee 357
Fuses and bulbs.................. 360
FUSES 2... eee ete eee 360
BULDS- Emergency situations............ 364
General...............0. 0000 cece 364
Starting by pushing or towing.......... 364
JUIMPESTAREIIG . « suerns 6 & sasnnes » « sanree wo samme 364
Towing with atowtruck............... 367
Raising the vehicle.................-. 369

8V2012721BK
Opening and closing

Interior/towing protection monitor
The alarm will be triggered if there are move-
ments detected in the vehicle interior or if there
is a change in the vehicle angle.
If you leave persons/animals in the vehicle or
have the vehicle transported, switch off the inte-
rior/towing protection monitoring alarm to pre-
vent the alarm from being triggered:
> Press the & button on the remote control key a
second time within 2 seconds. Or
> Applies to: vehicles with convenience key:
Touch the sensor on the door handle a second
time within two seconds. Or
> Turn the vehicle key in the door lock to the close
position a second time within two seconds.
> If you lock the vehicle, then the interior/towing
protection monitor will stay off until the next
time the vehicle is unlocked.
@ Tips
The interior/towing protection monitor only
functions correctly when the windows, the
roof*, and the power top* are closed.
Luggage compartment
lid
Opening and closing the luggage
compartment lid
B8V-0014

Fig. 25 Luggage compartment lid: opening (handle)

Fig. 26 Driver's door: opening the luggage compartment
lid
Opening the luggage compartment lid
>» Press and hold the <5 button on the remote
control key for at least one second, or
> Move the selector lever to the "P" position and
pull the <* switch in the driver's door
> fig. 26, or
> Press the handle in the luggage compartment
lid > fig. 25.
Closing the luggage compartment lid
> Use the inside grip to pull the luggage com-
partment lid down and allow it to close using a
gentle push > A\.

Z\ WARNING
— After closing the luggage compartment lid,
make sure that it is latched. Otherwise the
luggage compartment lid could open sud-
denly when driving, which increases the risk
of an accident.
— Never drive with the luggage compartment
lid ajar or open, because poisonous gases
from the surrounding area can enter the ve-
hicle interior and increase the risk of asphyx-
iation.
— Never leave your vehicle unattended when
the luggage compartment lid is open. A
child could climb into the vehicle through
the luggage compartment. If the luggage
compartment lid was then closed, the child
would be trapped in the vehicle and unable
to escape. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
allow children to play in or around the vehi-
cle. Always keep the luggage compartment
lid and the doors closed when the vehicle is
not in use.

31

Power top

Power top
Automatic power top
ere eleurl lela)
Applies to: vehicles with power top
The power top opens and closes automatically.
When open, the power top is stored completely
in the power top compartment. The power top
can be opened or closed at speeds up to 30 mph
(50 km/h). The power top will not open when the
temperature is below -5 °F (-15 °C).
Under normal conditions, the power top is wind-
and waterproof. In rare cases, small droplets of
water may form under extreme weather condi-
tions such as torrential or prolonged rain. That is
normal and no cause for concern.
Follow the care instructions to keep the power
top free of leaks and to maintain its appearance
= page 342, Care and cleaning. Also observe the
following:
— Open and stow the power top only when it is
clean and dry. Stowing the power top when it is
damp can create imprints in it, and if it is left
that way for long periods of time, mildew and
other damage can form. To prevent scratching
or damaging the power top, do not use any
sharp-edged objects to remove ice and snow.
The rear window may be cleared of ice with a
standard ice scraper.
— Do not leave the power top open for several
weeks or the creases in it may become discol-
ored.
— Do not open the power top when the tempera-
ture is below 32 °F (0 °C). The fabric in the
power top loses elasticity in sub-zero tempera-
tures.
36

Opening and closing the power top
Applies to: vehicles with power top
B8V-0595

Fig. 34 Center console: power top switch
Requirement: the power top storage compart-
ment must be lowered > page 38 and the lug-
gage compartment lid must be closed.
> Switch the ignition on.
> To open or close the power top, pull or press
and hold the switch @) until it is completely
opened or closed.
The status of the power top is shown in the in-
strument cluster display when operating the
power top switch.
You can close the power top when the wind de-
flector is installed > page 39.
A message will appear in the instrument cluster
if the power top cannot be opened or closed
=> page 38.

ZA WARNING
— When operating the power top, make sure
the function is not affected by wind or other
factors and that it does not interfere with
other drivers.
— Never drive when the power top is not
locked correctly. The wind from driving
could cause the power top to open. This can
result in injuries and damage to the vehicle.
— Make sure no one will be injured by the pow-
er top supports and other moving compo-
nents when opening and closing the top.
— The headroom in the rear is reduced when
opening and closing the power top. Make >

8V2012721BK
Stowing and using

Stowing and using
Power sources
When the ignition is switched on, you may be
able to use the electric power sources for exter-
nal devices, depending on the vehicle equipment.
12 volt sockets
You can connect electrical accessories to the 12
volt sockets. The power usage must not exceed
120 watts.
The 12 volt sockets are labeled with the 12V
symbol. They are located in the front center con-
sole, in the rear* and on the side trim panel in the
luggage compartment*.
USB ports
Applies to: vehicles with USB input
You can charge mobile devices using the USB
ports. The USB ports are labeled with the «<> or
(4 symbol or CHARGE ONLY.


ZX WARNING
— To reduce the risk of fatal injury, store all
connected devices securely when driving so
that they do not move around inside the ve-
hicle when braking or in the event of an acci-
dent.
— Incorrect usage can lead to serious injuries
or burns. To reduce the risk of injuries, never
leave children unattended in the vehicle
with the vehicle key.

© Note
— Read the operating manuals for the con-
nected devices.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle
electrical system, never attempt to charge
the vehicle battery by connecting accesso-
ries that provide power to the power sour-
ces.
— Do not connect any device whose network
class (voltage) does not match the network
class designed for the socket.
— Disconnect the connectors from the power
sources carefully to reduce the risk of dam-
aging them.
Storing
Cup holders
z z
S
g| = & ()

Fig. 72 Rear center armrest: cup holders*
Your vehicle has cup holders in the front center
console, in the door pockets, in the rear bench
seat* and/or in the rear center console”.
Rear cup holders*
> Fold the center armrest* downward.
> To open the cup holders, press inward on the
trim @.
> To place the beverage container in the cup hold-
er, push the arm (8) outward.
> Then push the arm against the beverage con-
tainer so that the arm lies closely against it.
> To close the cup holders, push them back into
the slot.

ZA\ WARNING
— Do not put any hot beverages in the cup
holder while the vehicle is moving. Hot bev-
erages could spill, which increases the risk
of injury.
— Do not use any breakable beverage contain-
ers (for example, made out of glass or por-
celain). You could be injured by them in the
event of an accident.
CG) Note
Beverage containers in the cup holders should
always have a lid. Otherwise, the liquid inside
could spill and cause damage to vehicle
equipment.

s9

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