Audi A3: Most Important Tips in the Owner's Manual

This article applies to the Audi A3 (2003-present).

The Audi A3 owner's manual is your car's guide. You can use the manual to learn about different options in your car and the recommended maintenance intervals, or you can use it as a midnight read. This guide will go over the most important things included in your owner's manual. You can use this guide as an owner's manual for your owner's manual! If you're interested in making sure your Audi A3 lives a long, healthy life, read on to learn how to accomplish that.

Click HERE to download a PDF of the original owner's manual.

Important Sections

Checking Fluids

One of the most important things you may want to read in your owner's manual is in regards to checking the fluids. Your average maintenance intervals is every 5,000 miles. However, it's important to know what to check for, and when to check for it. Depending on your driving style, you may need to do some maintenance before the normal recommendation. If you're rough with your gas pedal, it's good to always check your oil dipstick to make sure you didn't burn off too much oil, and if you're rough on the brake pedal, you may want to check your brake pads more often. Same goes with your coolant, transmission fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. Learning how and when to check your fluids can ensure your car and its parts live a lot longer.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

We all know what to do when a tire goes flat, but some drivers don't know what to do if they turn their key and nothing happens. The owner's manual has a section dedicated to roadside emergencies, which includes changing your tires, jumping your car, and even what to do when your electric window stops working. You will also find some information about Bluetooth and all the things that can go wrong. This section is very convenient to browse through; it's always a good idea to know the basics of what common issues occur.

Tire PSI

One of the most underrated pieces of maintenance involves proper tire pressure levels. Uneven tire pressure can cause a variety of issues, varying from your car pulling in one direction, to your tires wearing unevenly and quickly. This section in your owner's manual will go over how often you should check your tires, how to check your tires, the proper PSI, and what various weather conditions do to your tires. If you want to save thousands of dollars on tires over the years, this section is as good as a best seller.

Cleaning

It may sound funny, but cleaning your car's expensive paint is a much more involved process than just using water and soap. This section will go over the things you can do and the things you can't do. It will also go over the recommended types of wax, and what not to do when waxing your vehicle. If you want your car's paint to remain shiny over the years, give this part of the manual a quick read to learn how to properly clean and protect your car.

Warning Lights

Your car doesn't speak English, but it does have its own language. The warning lights in your Audi are your best friend. Most of the components on your car have little sensors attached to them; when something goes bad, a warning light comes on to warn you that something isn't quite right. Some lights are much more important than others. For instance, you should treat your brake warning light a lot differently than you treat your windshield wiper light. Learn about the warning lights you are unfamiliar with so you never have to be left stranded or in the dark.

Warranty

The warranty is the trickiest part of your owner's manual. Understanding what your warranty covers can literally save you thousands of dollars. There are some parts that aren't covered and some that are, so it's wise to check if your faulty component is covered before spending all your money on labor. You should also read this section carefully, because installing certain aftermarket parts can completely void your warranty. Some things as simple as cold air intakes can waste all the money you spent on your warranty.

Related Discussion

• Owner's Manual - Audiworld.com