2020 AUDI Q3 check engine light

Checking and Filling

@) For the sake of the environment
— Do not overfill the fuel tank, or fuel could
leak out when the vehicle is warming up.
— Fuel should never enter the sewer system or
come into contact with the ground.
@ Tips
The fuel filler door on your vehicle does not
lock if you lock the vehicle from the inside us-
ing
the central locking switch.
Fuel filler door emergency release
If the central locking system malfunctions, the
fuel filler door can be unlocked manually.

Fig. 138 Luggage compartment: fuel filler door emergency
release
The emergency release mechanism is located un-
der the cargo floor in the luggage compartment.
> Lift up the cargo floor until it engages at the
top.
> Lift up the cloth cover.
> To unlock the fuel filler door, loosen the red
loop from the retainer and then pull on the
loop carefully > fig. 138 ©.
>» Press on the left side of the fuel filler door to
open it > page 198, fig. 136.
@) Note
Only pull on the loop until you feel resistance.
You
will not hear it release. If you continue to
pull, you could damage the emergency re-
lease mechanism.

D Depending on the engine and country
200
Emissions control
system
General information
A WARNING
The temperature of the exhaust system is
high, both when driving and after stopping
the engine.
— Never touch the exhaust tail pipes once they
have
become hot. This could result in burns.
— Do not park your vehicle over flammable
materials such as grass or leaves because
the high temperature of the emissions sys-
tem could start a fire.
— Do not apply underbody protectant in the
exhaust system area, because this increases
the risk of fire.
Catalytic converter
Follow the safety precautions > page 200, Gener-
al information.


The vehicle may only be driven with unleaded
gasoline, or the catalytic converter will be de-
stroyed.
Never drive until the tank is completely empty.
The irregular supply of fuel that results from that
can
cause engine misfires. Uncombusted fuel
could enter the exhaust system, which could
cause overheating and damage to the catalytic
converter.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
If the S indicator light blinks or turns on, there
is a malfunction that is causing poor emissions
quality and that could damage the catalytic con-
verter. Drive slowly to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction corrected.
The indicator light can also turn on if the fuel fill-
er cap is not closed correctly > page 198).

Checking and Filling


chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
— Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms.
Wash hands after handling.
® Note
When filling fluids, be sure not to add any flu-
ids to the wrong reservoirs. Otherwise severe
malfunctions and engine damage will occur.


@ For the sake of the environment
You should regularly check the ground under
your vehicle in order to detect leaks quickly. If
there are visible spots from oil or other fluids,
bring your vehicle to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to be
checked.
CO} Tema ma Coeiiare mater
compartment lid
The hood is released from inside the vehicle.


Fig. 139 Footwell: release lever

D) The &> symbol on the lever was still being designed at
the time this manual was printed.
202

Fig. 140 Unlocked hood: lever
Make sure the wiper arms are not raised up from
the windshield. Otherwise the paint could be
damaged.
Opening the hood
> With the door open, pull the lever >) below
the instrument panel in the direction of the ar-
row > fig. 139.
» Raise the hood slightly > /A\.
> Press the lever > fig. 140 in the direction of the
arrow. This releases the hooks.
> Open the hood.
Closing the hood
> Push the hood down until you override the
force of the strut.
> Let the hood fall lightly into the latch. Do not
press it in. > AX.
Message
8B Warning! Hood is not locked. Stop vehicle
and check the lock
The hood latch is not locked correctly. Stop im-
mediately and close the hood.
Z\ WARNING
— Never open the hood when there is steam or
coolant escaping from the engine compart-
ment, because there is a risk that you could
be burned. Wait until no steam or coolant is
escaping.
— For safety reasons, the hood must always be
latched securely while driving. Because of
this, always check the hood after closing it >

Checking and Filling

quart (1 liter) of ACEA C3 or API SN engine oil
one time until the next oil change.
For more information on the correct engine oil
for your vehicle, contact an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility. Have the oil
changed by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Service Facility.

Audi recommends
Sbastrol/ ZIDIBE Frorzssional
Audi recommends using the LongLife high-per-
formance engine oil from Audi Genuine Parts.
Engine oil pressure


2 Turn off engine. Oil pressure too low
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
engine oil level > page 204.
— If the engine oil level is too low, add engine oil
=> page 205. Only continue driving once the in-
dicator light turns off.
— If the engine oil level is correct and the indica-
tor light still turns on, turn the engine off and
do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
Engine oil level
Applies to: vehicles with oil level warning
= Please check oil level
— You may continue driving for the time being.
Check the engine oil level as soon as possible
=> page 204, Checking the engine oil level.
— If the engine oil level is correct and the indica-
tor light still turns on, drive at low engine
speed to an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility.
Engine oil sensor
=. Oil level sensor: oil change necessary. Please
contact Service
Fuel has entered the engine oil. This will cause
the engine oil level to rise slowly and the engine
oil quality to decrease. Do not extract engine oil
to reduce the level, because this will increase the
204
risk of engine damage. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately to have engine oil extracted.
& Oil level system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
The sensor that checks the engine oil level has
malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty to have the malfunction repaired.
& Oil pressure sensor: malfunction! Please
contact Service
The sensor that checks the engine oil pressure
has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility to have the malfunction repaired.
Engine warm-up request
i Please drive to warm up engine
Fuel has entered the engine oil, either due to low
outside temperatures or frequent short drives.
Drive until the engine is warm so that the fuel in
the engine oil will evaporate. Avoid high engine
speeds, full accelerating, and heavy engine loads
when doing this.
G) Tips
The oil pressure warning EE is not an oil level
indicator. Always check the oil level regularly.
Checking the engine oil level
The engine oil dipstick varies depending on the
engine type.

B8V-0588
&
Fig. 142 Oil dipstick (example): checking the engine oil lev-
el

83A012721BB
Checking and Filling


— Maintain enough distance when you are re-
moving the oil drain plug. While doing this,
keep your forearm parallel to the ground to
reduce the risk of hot oil dripping down your
arm.
— Drain the oil into a container designed for
this purpose that is large enough to hold the
full amount of oil in your engine.
— Engine oil is poisonous. Always store out of
reach of children.
— Prolonged contact of used engine oil with
the skin may cause skin damage. Always
wash oil off immediately with soap and wa-
ter to protect your skin.
@) Note
Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.
Additives may cause engine damage that is
not covered by your New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.

() For the sake of the environment
— Before changing the engine oil, make sure
you can dispose of the used engine oil cor-
rectly.
— Engine oil must always be disposed of cor-
rectly. Do not dump it in the yard, in the for-
est, or in open water, river channels, or sew-
ers.
— Have your used engine oil recycled by bring-
ing it to a used oil collection site or contact
a gas station.
Cooling system
The engine cooling system is filled with a mixture
of purified water and coolant additive at the fac-
tory. This coolant must not be not changed.
The coolant level is monitored using the B indi-
cator light. However, occasionally checking the
coolant level manually is recommended.
Messages
Ea Turn off engine and check coolant level. See
owner's manual
The coolant level is too low.
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
coolant level > page 208.
— If the coolant level is too low, add coolant
=> page 208. Only continue driving once the in-
dicator light turns off.
/_E| Coolant temperature: too high. Please let
engine run while vehicle is stationary
Let the engine run at idle for a few minutes to
cool off, until the indicator light turns off.
— If the indicator light does not turn off, do not
continue driving the vehicle. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.
|| Coolant system: malfunction! Please turn
off engine
Do not continue driving, shut the engine off, and
switch the ignition off.
— See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility for assistance.
Coolant additive
The coolant additive is made of anti-freezing and
corrosion protection agents. Only use the follow-
ing coolant additives. These additives may be
mixed with each other.


Coolant additive Specification
Gl2evo TL774L
G12++ TL774G
G13 TL774)


The amount of coolant additive that needs to be
mixed with water depends on the climate where
the vehicle will be operated. If the coolant addi-
tive percentage is too low, the coolant can freeze
and damage the engine.




Coolant Freeze protec-
additive tion
Warm min. 40% min. -13 °F
regions max. 45% (-25 °C)
Cold min. 50% max. -40 °F
regions max. 55% (-40 °C) >

207

Checking and Filling

@) Note
— Before the start of winter, have an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility check if the coolant additive in your
vehicle matches the percentage appropriate
for the climate. This is especially important
when driving in colder climates.
— If the appropriate coolant additive is not
available in an emergency, do not add any
other additive. You could damage the en-
gine. If this happens, only use water and re-
store the correct mixture ratio with the
specified coolant additive as soon as possi-
ble.
— Only refill with new coolant.
— Radiator sealant must not be mixed with
the coolant.
— Due to the risk of engine damage, the cool-
ing system should only be refilled by an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility. An authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility can also pro-
vide you with important information about
the recommended coolant additive.
Checking coolant

= % [RAz-0539]


MIN

Fig. 144 Engine compartment - coolant expansion tank
(diagram): @ cover; @) markings
Follow the safety precautions > page 201, Gener-
al information.
Checking the coolant level
> Park the vehicle on a level surface.
> Switch the ignition off.
> Open the hood = page 202.
> Check the coolant level in the coolant expan-
sion tank > page 203, fig. 141 using the outer
208
markings @) > fig. 144. The coolant level must
be between the markings (2) when the engine is
cold. When the engine is warm it can be slight-
ly above the upper marking.
Adding coolant
Requirement: there must be a residual amount of
coolant in the expansion tank >@).
If you must add coolant, use a mixture of water
and coolant additive. Mixing the coolant additive
with distilled water is recommended.
> Allow the engine to cool.
> Place a large, thick towel on the coolant expan-
sion tank cap.
>» Remove the cover (@) > fig. 144 carefully to the
left > A\.
» Add the correct mixture ratio of coolant
= page 207 up to the upper marking @)
> fig. 144.
> Make sure that the fluid level remains stable.
Add more coolant if necessary.
>» Screw on the cap securely to the right.
Coolant loss usually indicates that there is a leak.
Immediately drive your vehicle to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the cooling system inspected. If the
cooling system is not leaking, coolant loss can re-
sult from the coolant boiling due overheating
and then being forced out of the cooling system.

ZA\ WARNING
— The engine compartment in any vehicle can
be a dangerous area. Stop the engine and al-
low it to cool before working in the engine
compartment. Always follow the informa-
tion found in > page 201, General informa-
tion.
— Never open the hood if you can see or hear
steam or coolant escaping from the engine
compartment. This increases the risk of
burns. The cooling system is under pressure.
When you no longer see or hear steam or
coolant escaping, you may open the engine
compartment with caution.
—When working in the engine compartment,
remember that the radiator fan can switch

83A012721BB
Checking and Filling


on even if the ignition is switched off, which
increases the risk of injury.
— Coolant additive and coolant can be danger-
ous to your health. For this reason, store the
coolant in the original container and away
from children. There is a risk of poisoning.


@) Note
Do not add coolant if the expansion tank is
empty. Air could enter the cooling system and
damage the engine. If this is the case, do not
continue driving. See an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility for assis-
tance.
Brake fluid

BFV-0229|


Fig. 145 Engine compartment: cap on brake fluid reservoir
Follow the safety precautions > page 201, Gener-
al information.
Checking the brake fluid level
Read the brake fluid level on the brake fluid res-
ervoir > page 203, fig. 141. The brake fluid level
must be between the MIN and MAX markings
oA.
The brake fluid level is monitored automatically.
Message
GG / © Brakes: stop vehicle and check brake
fluid level
Stop the vehicle and check the brake fluid level.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
Changing the brake fluid
Brake fluid should be changed at regular inter-
vals. Have the brake fluid changed by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty. The authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will inform you of the replace-
ment intervals.

Z\ WARNING
— If the brake fluid level is below the MIN
marking, it can impair the braking effect and
driving safety, which increase the risk of an
accident. Do not continue driving. See an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
— If the brake fluid is old, bubbles may form in
the brake system during heavy braking. This
could impair braking performance and driv-
ing safety, which increases the risk of an ac-
cident.
—The brake fluid in your vehicle must meet
the standard VW 501 14 and is available at
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility. If this brake fluid is not
available, another high-grade brake fluid of
equivalent quality may be used, and it must
meet the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Stand-
ard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4, Class 6.
@) Note
— If the brake fluid level is above the MAX
marking, brake fluid may leak out over the
edge of the reservoir and result in damage
to the vehicle.
— Do not allow any brake fluid to come into
contact with the vehicle paint, because it
will corrode the paint.


Electrical system
If the = or fj indicator light turns on, there is a
malfunction in the generator, the battery, or the
vehicle electrical system.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop
vehicle >
209

Checking and Filling

Do not continue driving and switch the engine off
=> AX. See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility for assistance.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Restart not
possible. Please contact Service
It will not be possible to restart the engine once
you turn it off. Vehicle functions/driving stability
may be limited. Drive to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility immediate-
ly.
= Electrical system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
Switch off all electrical equipment that is not
needed. Vehicle functions/driving stability may
be limited. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility immediately.
= Electrical system: low battery charge. Bat-
tery will be charged while driving
The starting ability may be impaired.
If this message turns off after a little while, the
vehicle battery has charged enough while driving.
If this message does not turn off, drive immedi-
ately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

Z\ WARNING
When there is an electrical system malfunc-
tion, vehicle functions may not work and driv-
ing stability may be limited, which increases
the risk of an accident. Stop driving and
switch the engine off. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for
assistance.

Battery
Pelee mee eerste)
Because of the complex power supply, all work on
batteries such as disconnecting, replacing, etc.,
should only be performed by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility > A\.
Multiple batteries with different technologies
may be installed in your vehicle:
210
— Vehicle battery (for example, for starting the
engine, basic power supply) > page 211, Lead
battery or > page 211, Other battery types
— Auxiliary battery (for example, for recuperation
or optional equipment) > page 211, Other bat-
tery types
Not running the vehicle for long periods of
time
The battery will gradually drain if the vehicle
does not run for long periods of time. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the electrical
equipment will be reduced or switched off
=> page 89. Some convenience functions, such as
interior lighting or power seat adjustment, may
not be available under certain circumstances.
These convenience functions will be available
again once you switch the ignition on and start
the
engine.
Even when electrical equipment is switched off,
the equipment can still drain the battery if the
vehicle is not driven for long periods of time.
Deep draining results in a chemical reaction that
destroys the inside of the battery. The battery
must be charged every month to prevent this
= page 212. Contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for more infor-
mation.
Winter operation
Cold weather places higher demands on the bat-
tery. This results in reduced starting ability. Have
the battery checked by an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility before cold
weather begins.

Z\ WARNING
All work on the battery or electrical system in
your vehicle can result in injuries, chemical
burns, accidents, or burns. Because of this, all
work must be performed only by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility.

ZA\ WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning: >

Checking and Filling

Charging the battery


Fig. 146 Engine compartment with battery: connections
for charger and jump start cable
Note the safety precautions > page 201, General
information, > /\ in Battery general informa-
tion on page 210 and > /A\.
Requirement: only use chargers with a maximum
charging current of 14.8 volts. The battery ca-
bles remain connected.
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment. The ground point ©) is always located on
the vehicle body.
> Switch off the ignition and all electrical equip-
ment.
> Open the hood > page 202.
> Open the cover on the positive terminal
> fig. 146.
> Clamp the terminal clamps on the charger cor-
rectly onto the ground point ©) and the positive
terminal @).
> Insert the power cable for the charging device
into the socket and switch the device on.
> At the end of the charging process, switch the
charger off and pull the power cable out of the
socket.
> Remove the charging device terminal clamps.
> Close the cover on the positive terminal.
> Close the hood > page 202.

ZX. WARNING
— A highly explosive mixture of gases can form
when charging batteries. Only charge the
battery in well-ventilated areas.
— A drained battery can freeze at tempera-
tures around 32 °F (0 °C). Do not charge or
use a frozen or thawed battery. If ice forms,

212

the battery housing can crack and battery
electrolyte can leak out, which increases the
risk of an explosion and chemical burns.
Contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for more informa-
tion.
— Do not connect or disconnect the charging
cable while charging because this increases
the risk of an explosion.

@ Tips
Read all of the manufacturer's instructions
for the charger before charging the battery.
Windshield washer
system

RAZ-0362


Fig. 147 Engine compartment: washer fluid reservoir cap
Follow the safety precautions > page 201, Gener-
al information.
The windshield washer fluid reservoir < contains
the cleaning solution for the windshield and the
headlight washer system > fig. 147, > page 203.
The reservoir capacity can be found in
=> page 262.
To reduce the risk of lime scale deposits on the
spray nozzles, use clean water with low amounts
of calcium. Always add window cleaner to the wa-
ter. When the outside temperatures are cold, an
anti-freezing agent should be added to the water
so that it does not freeze.
Messages
3 Please add washer fluid
Fill the washer fluid for the windshield washer
system and the headlight washer system* when
the ignition is switched off.