2020 AUDI Q3 warning light

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Sitting correctly and safely

release point @) > fig. 56 on the inside or out-
side of the base.
> Press the button @) and pull the head restraint
out of the backrest > /\ in General informa-
tion on page 58.
Installing the headrests
Applies to: vehicles with removable head restraints
> Fold the backrest forward slightly > page 76.
> Slide the posts on the head restraint down into
the guides until the posts click into place.
> Press the button (2) and slide the head restraint
all the way down. It should not be possible to
remove the head restraint from the backrest
without pressing the button.
Safety belts
Each seat is equipped with a three-point safety
belt. Safety belts that are worn correctly are the
most effective way to reduce the risk of serious or
fatal injuries in a collision. Therefore, wear your
safety belt correctly and make sure that all vehi-
cle passengers are also wearing their safety belts
correctly when the vehicle is moving.
Even though your vehicle is equipped with an air-
bag system, every vehicle passenger must still al-
ways wear the appropriate safety belt. In addi-
tion to their normal protective function, safety
belts also hold vehicle occupants in the correct
seating position in the event of a collision so that
the airbags can deploy correctly and provide addi-
tional protection. Safety belts provide protection
during collisions when the airbags do not deploy
or if they have already deployed.

ZA WARNING
The risk of serious or fatal injury increases if
the safety belt is not fastened, if it is worn in-
correctly, or if it is damaged.
— All vehicle occupants, including the driver,
must fasten their safety belts correctly be-
fore every trip and must always keep their
safety belts fastened during the trip, regard-
less of whether the seat is equipped with an
airbag or not. This also applies to children



that are seated in a child safety seat that is
appropriate for their weight and age and
that is secured with a safety belt.
In the event of a collision, vehicle occupants
that are not wearing safety belts could be
propelled through the vehicle interior and
collide with vehicle components, such as the
steering wheel, instrument panel, wind-
shield, or doors. In some situations, vehicle
occupants could also be ejected from the ve-
hicle. Vehicle occupants in the rear seats
who do not wear safety belts not only en-
danger themselves, but also other people in
the vehicle.
Only one person may be fastened with a
safety belt at a time. Never secure more
than one person, including children, with a
single safety belt.
Never allow children or infants to ride on an-
other person's lap and be belted into the
safety belt with them.
Insert the belt buckle only in the belt latch
belonging to the corresponding seat, so that
the protective function is not impaired.
To ensure the maximum protective function
of the safety belts, all vehicle passengers
must sit in the correct seating position
=> page 54.
Check the condition of your vehicle’s safety
belts regularly > page 235. If you find dam-
age to the belt webbing, the belt connec-
tions, the retractor, or the buckle, have the
damaged safety belt replaced by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
The safety belts must not be removed or
modified in any way. Do not attempt to re-
pair the safety belts yourself.
Safety belts that are strained during an acci-
dent, and thus stretched, must be replaced
by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

s9

83A012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

rivets on clothing in the area where the safety
belt is worn. Otherwise, the safety belt could
be damaged.
Fastening and unfastening safety belts

B4H-0462

Fig. 59 Belt buckle and belt latch
B4H-0270



Fig. 60 Releasing the belt buckle from the belt latch
Follow the safety precautions > page 59.
Fastening the safety belt
> Pull the safety belt by the belt buckle evenly
across your chest and lap.
> Insert the belt buckle in the belt latch belong-
ing to the seat until it audibly engages
> fig. 59.
> Pull on the belt to make sure that the belt is se-
curely locked in the latch.
Unfastening the safety belt
> Press the red button on the belt latch > fig. 60.
The belt buckle will pop out.
> Guide the belt back by hand so that the safety
belt can roll up more easily.
Safety belt monitoring system
we - If the indicator light turns on or flashes, a
safety belt is not fastened or it has been unfas-
tened while the vehicle is in motion. Above cer-
tain speeds, additional warning tones will sound.
Ned em amt om aia el n

B4G-0004]
1, \


Fig. 61 Belt height adjustment for the front seats - safety
belt relay
> To move the belt higher, slide the safety belt re-
lay @ upward.
> To move the belt lower, press the release but-
ton @ and slide the safety belt relay @) down-
ward.
> To check if the safety belt relay is securely
locked in place, pull firmly on the belt.
® Tips
You can also adjust the height of the front
seats to change the position of the safety
belts.
Additional safety belt functions
Belt retractor lock
The safety belts on the rear seats and on the
front passenger seat are equipped with a belt re-
tractor lock.
— Ifyou secure a child safety seat with a safety
belt, the belt retractor lock on the safety belt
may need to be activated. Follow the instruc-
tions from the child safety seat manufacturer.
— When a vehicle passenger has fastened a safety
belt, the belt retractor lock should not be acti-
vated. If the belt retractor lock has been acti-
vated unexpectedly, deactivate it.
Deactivating or activating the belt retractor lock
=> page 70. >
61

Sitting correctly and safely

Safety belt retractor
The safety belts are equipped with an automatic
belt retractor. This automatic retractor allows the
safety belt to be pulled all the way out when the
belt is pulled slowly. However, the automatic re-
tractor locks during sudden braking maneuvers.
It also locks the belts when accelerating, driving
uphill, and driving around curves.
Belt force limiter
Safety belts with belt force limiters reduce the
force placed on the body by the safety belts dur-
ing a collision.
Safety belt pretensioners
In certain driving situations, safety belts may be
tightened with reversible belt tensioners when
you start driving. If the safety belt is too loose, it
will be tightened so that the belt will rest closer
to the body.
In some collisions, pyrotechnic belt tensioners
may secure the safety belts so that they cannot
loosen. This reduces forward movement by the
vehicle passengers.

ZA WARNING
The pyrotechnic system can only provide pro-
tection during one collision. If the pyrotechnic
belt tensioners deploy, the pretensioning sys-
tem must be replaced by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
@) Tips
Smoke may be released when pyrotechnic belt
tensioners deploy. This is not a sign of a vehi-
cle fire.


Airbag system
Z\ WARNING
— If you have not fastened your safety belt,
you are in an incorrect seating position, or
you are too close to the airbag system, the
airbag system will not be able to protect
you. This increases the risk of serious or fa-





tal injuries. Make sure that every vehicle
passenger has their safety belt correctly fas-
tened and is sitting in a correct seating posi-
tion > page 54. This is necessary regardless
of whether the seat is equipped with an air-
bag or not.
Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, out of the window, or on the seat sur-
faces. To help ensure that the airbag system
can deploy correctly, never bend forward or
lean on the door or the side window. Other-
wise, serious and possibly fatal injuries can
occur if the airbags deploy.
People, animals, or objects between the
passengers and the airbag system can inter-
fere with the correct deployment of the air-
bag or can be thrown through the vehicle in-
terior, increasing the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Make sure that nothing is located
between the vehicle occupants and the air-
bag system. Do not secure or transport any
objects within the deployment zone of the
airbag systems, especially on the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, on the
doors, on the windows, or in the footwell.
Never put stickers on the airbag system cov-
ers or cover them with any objects.
Only lightweight clothing should be hung
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do
not use clothes hangers to hang clothing.
The pockets of the clothing must not con-
tain any heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged
objects. This could impair the effectiveness
of the side curtain airbags.
You must not use seat or protective covers
that are not specifically approved for use on
Audi seats with side airbags. Since the side
airbags deploy from the seat backrest, such
covers could impair the protective function
of the side airbags.
Damage to the original seat covers in the
side airbag deployment area must always be
repaired by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
Airbag system components are installed at
various locations in your vehicle. Incorrect
work or repairs on the vehicle could damage
the airbag system components or impair

62

83A012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely



their functionality. This may prevent the air-
bags from deploying or cause them to de-
ploy incorrectly in the event of an accident,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Only have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility make re-
pairs or modifications to a vehicle.
— The airbag system can only provide protec-
tion during one collision. If there is another
collision, the airbag system will not deploy
again. If the airbag system has deployed,
have it replaced immediately by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
— Fine dust may appear if the airbags deploy.
This is completely normal and does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The fine dust can ir-
ritate the skin and mucous membranes in
the eyes and can cause difficulty breathing,
particularly for individuals who have or have
had asthma or other health issues that af-
fect breathing. Exit the vehicle or open the
windows or doors to get access to fresh air.

G) Tips
If you are transporting children in the vehicle,
read the information and follow the safety
precautions > page 67.
Safety systems monitoring
The Ba indicator light in the instrument cluster
monitors the safety systems such as the airbags
(including the control modules, sensors, and wir-
ing) and the belt tensioners. It turns on when you
switch the ignition on and turns off after several
seconds.
If the ka indicator light does not turn on when
the ignition is switched on, does not turn off af-
ter several seconds, or turns on or flashes while
driving, there may be a malfunction in one of the
safety systems. Drive to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately
to have the malfunction corrected.

ZA\ WARNING
Have the malfunction in the safety systems in-
spected immediately. Otherwise, there is a
risk that the systems may not activate during
an accident, which increases the risk of seri-
ous or fatal injury.

63

Sitting correctly and safely

— The electrical capacity is the same as or greater
than the electrical capacity of a typical adult
The passenger's airbag is deactivated if:
— The electrical capacity is lower than the thresh-
old stored in the control module
— The electrical capacity is the same as or less
than the electrical capacity of a typical one-
year-old child in a child safety seat that has
been used for certification in accordance with
FMVSS 208
If the front passenger's airbag is activated, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ indicator light
will turn on. If the front passenger's airbag is de-
activated, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #;
indicator light will turn on.
The deployment force of the front airbags adapts
based on whether or not the safety belt is used
and the distance between the seat and the steer-
ing wheel/instrument panel. For example, if a
person is too close to the front airbag, the front
airbag will deploy with less force to help reduce
the risk of injury.
Meaning of PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 3; ON
® indicator light
When the ignition is switched on, the system de-
tects whether the front passenger's seat is occu-
pied. PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON @
will turn on for several seconds during this proc-
ess. Then it will indicate whether the front pas-
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated.
— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #%;: the front
passenger's airbag is deactivated and will not
deploy in the event of an accident.
— PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®:: the front pas-
senger's airbag is activated and could deploy in
the event of an accident.
If a change to the occupancy status of the front
passenger's seat is detected
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON ®@ will
flash for several seconds and will then display the
status of the front passenger's airbag.
Always make sure the indicator light corresponds
to the occupancy of the front passenger's seat.
66
— An adult or individual of similar size in the
front passenger's seat: the front passenger's
airbag must be activated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must remain
on.
— An individual of smaller size (for example, an
adolescent or small adult) in the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be activated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ® must remain
on.
— Child in a child safety seat on the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; must remain
on.
— Front passenger's seat not occupied: the front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; must remain
on.

ZA\ WARNING
— An adult or a person with a small stature
(such as a young person or small adult) seat-
ed on the front passenger's seat will not be
protected by the passenger's airbag in the
event of a collision if the passenger's airbag
is deactivated. This increases the risk of in-
jury and death. Always make sure that
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®@ remains on
while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ does not
turn on, make sure the front passenger is
sitting correctly in the seat > page 54 and
that there are no objects covering the front
passenger's seat (such as blankets or pil-
lows). If PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®
still does not turn on, the front passenger's
seat must not be used. Drive to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility and have the airbag system inspect-
ed.
—Achild ina child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat - especially in a rear-facing
child safety seat - can receive a severe im-
pact if the front passenger's airbag deploys,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injury. Always secure child safety seats on

Stowing and using

could spill and cause damage to vehicle
equipment.
Additional storage
Depending on the vehicle equipment, there may
be a variety of storage areas, compartments, and
retainers at various locations in the vehicle.
— Glove compartment: the glove compartment
can be locked using the vehicle key > page 32.
— Holders for a notepad and a pen in the glove
compartment
— Storage compartment in the cockpit on the
driver's side
— Storage compartments in the door trim panel
— Storage compartment under the left front seat
— Storage compartment under the front center
armrest
— Storage compartment under the right front
seat
— Net behind the front seats
— Storage compartment at the end of the rear
center console
— Garment hooks in the rear
— Storage compartments next to the rear bench
seat
— Bag hooks in the luggage compartment

Z\ 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.
— Only lightweight clothing should be hung
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. The
pockets of the clothing must not contain any
heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged objects.
Such objects endanger vehicle occupants
and increase the risk of injury during sudden


driving or braking maneuvers or in an acci-
dent, especially if the airbags deploy.
— Make sure your view toward the rear is not
blocked, for example by hanging clothing or
objects in the vehicle.
G) Tips
Applies to: vehicles with Wi-Fi:Do not place
any metal objects in the storage compart-
ment* on the end of the rear center console,
because they could impair the Wi-Fi antenna
function.

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
— The luggage compartment cover must al-
ways be securely fastened when in use to re-
duce the risk of an accident.
— The storage compartment must not be used
to transport heavy objects, hard objects, or
animals. Such objects endanger vehicle oc-
cupants and increase the risk of injury dur-
ing sudden driving or braking maneuvers or
in an accident.
— 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


74

83A012721BB
Driving

> 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.
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.
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.
Switching the ignition on or off
If you would like to switch the ignition on or off
without starting the engine, follow these steps:
> Switching on: turn the key to position @.
> Switching off: turn the key to position ©.

Z\ WARNING
Never remove the ignition key from the igni-
tion lock while the vehicle is moving. Other-
wise, the steering lock could engage and you
would not be able to steer the vehicle, which
increases the risk of an accident.
General information
Z\ 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

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.
— If you leave the vehicle, switch the ignition
off and take the key with you. This applies
particularly when children remain in the ve-
hicle. Otherwise, children could start the ve-
hicle or operate electrical equipment (such
as power windows), which increases the risk
of an accident.
— Always select the “P” selector lever position
when parking the vehicle; otherwise, the ve-


hicle could roll away.



power steering. You would then need to use

@) 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.
— Power will be fully available once the engine
is at operating temperature.
Messages
E Engine start system: malfunction! Please
contact Service
There is a malfunction in the engine start system.
Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer
83
>

83A012721BB
Driving

several seconds. At that time, you can start driv-
ing without the vehicle rolling backward.
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed,
the engine must be on, and the vehicle must be
traveling uphill.
> To activate hill hold assist, press and hold the
brake pedal for several seconds while the vehi-
cle is stationary.

ZA WARNING
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal
or set the parking brake immediately.
— The hill hold assist cannot hold the vehicle
on inclines in every scenario (for example,
on slippery or icy ground).
Messages
B Hill hold assist: unavailable

The hill hold assist is temporarily unavailable.
Press the brake pedal to secure the vehicle from
rolling away unintentionally.
Take over!
The vehicle cannot be held in place automatically.
If necessary, press the brake pedal to secure the
vehicle so that it does not roll, or press the accel-
erator pedal to begin driving.
Gears and driving programs

RAZ-0405,


SEeEer
. D/S
a
Fig. 80 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)
— R (Reverse)
—N (Neutral)
— D (Drive)
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 (4) 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 87.
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.
8s
>