Audi A3 Quiz
Owner's Manual

Audi A3/S3 Vehicles

In this manual: Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual — 42Routine Care and Maintenance — 32Engine — 22Engine Cooling System — 9Ventilation, Heating and Air Conditioning Systems — 11Fuel System — 9Fuel Injection System — 4Diesel engine injection system — 5Exhaust System — 9Electronic Ignition and Fuel Injection Control System — 6Charging and Starting Systems — 12Manual transmission — 12Clutch and Drive Shafts — 6Brake System — 13Front Suspension — 5Rear Suspension — 6Steering — 7Body — 70Body Electrical Equipment — 37Wiring Diagrams — 35
~2min read

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Audi A3 compact class was introduced to the market in June 1996.

With a length of 4.15 m and a track width of 2.51 m, the 3-door A3 offers the required comfort. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 350 L; with the rear seat backrest folded down, the capacity increases to 1100 L.

The vehicle is equipped with a variety of safety features. These include driver and front passenger airbags, as well as a side airbag (from 1997 production) and front seat belt tensioners. The side reinforcement beams in the doors further improve passive safety.

The body is fully galvanized. A ten-year anti-corrosion warranty is provided. To optimize vehicle weight, some components are made of aluminum, for example the door reinforcements and the bumper crossmembers.

Ride comfort is enhanced by the subframe, to which the front suspension is attached. The subframe is isolated from the body by rubber mounts, which dampen vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted to the passenger compartment. Models with front-wheel drive use a rear suspension with control arms and a torsion beam, in which the coil springs and shock absorbers are mounted separately from each other for more efficient use of space (the previous model used strut assemblies). This allows the width of the luggage compartment opening to be increased. The all-wheel-drive model has a rear suspension with double transverse links.

The vehicle may be fitted with either gasoline or diesel engines of various output, allowing the owner to choose according to economical or sporty driving style. This manual describes all powertrains.

This manual covers models with in-line four-cylinder gasoline engines 1.6 L, 1.8 L and diesel engines 1.9 L, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, produced from 1997 onward.

The engines are mounted transversely in the engine compartment and supported by a so-called pendulum mount, which reduces vehicle vibration when the engine is running at idle.

The 4-link independent front suspension with installed struts practically eliminates the influence of engine operation on steering control. On front-wheel-drive vehicles, a compound crank-type rear axle is used, which allows the coil springs and shock absorbers to be optimally positioned independently of each other. The all-wheel-drive model has a rear suspension with double links.

The vehicle may be equipped with a five-speed manual transmission or a four- or five-speed automatic transmission.

Test yourself

A quick Audi A3 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.