Things You Didn't Know Your A3 Did!

[Staz]

ok Boydie as you know these little tricks maybe you can help me out with my problem.

From the drivers position i can alter all of the windows. Now my window will go up an down with just one press of the button. HOWEVER the rest of the windows have a mind of their own.

The front passenger window is a shocker, sometimes it goes all the way down with on press, other times have to hold it down. but most annoying is when it is all the way down and press it back up it slides nicely back to the top in one movement, but then it drops down an inch or 2 again.

and i cant stop it, so i press it up again and it does the same. Eventually it stops doing it.

is this a stupid feature or do i have dodgy electric. worst thing is its unconsistent, does one thing on day and another the next.

You need to get your electric windows module software updated. Read this:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=57556

Don't know if it's been mentioned before.

But was fiddling about yesterday with a front wiper control.
Now if you switch on your ignition on and switch it straight back off... flick the front wiper control down once.. the front wipers go into service mode... (stay half way across the screen) handy for cleaning too.

If you enable the extra DIS features with VCDS you can also do this from the menu.

 

[MarcQuinlivan]

extra features? what extra features? what's the option to change in VCDS?

 

[Staz]

extra features? what extra features? what's the option to change in VCDS?

I think it's a MY07/08 thing mate.

It's nothing special, it allows you to:

• switch DRLs on and off
• switch indicator comfort function on and off (3 flashes)
• put wipers into service mode
• turn auto rear wiper on and off (when reverse is selected)
• select footwell light brightness
• change CH/LH delay (I think, I don't have auto-lights but someone mentioned this before)

 

[Jay.Ing]

In this thread http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=51431 it mentions something about a 12v charger in the glove box? anyony got this or am i just being blind????

 

[MarcQuinlivan]

I think it's a MY07/08 thing mate.

It's nothing special, it allows you to:

• switch DRLs on and off
• switch indicator comfort function on and off (3 flashes)
• put wipers into service mode
• turn auto rear wiper on and off (when reverse is selected)
• select footwell light brightness
• change CH/LH delay (I think, I don't have auto-lights but someone mentioned this before)

Mine's MY07. Do you know where the setting is in VCDS?

 

[Staz]

Mine's MY07. Do you know where the setting is in VCDS?

It may just be 08 then as I reckon you'd have noticed it when going through the options, just as I did.

It's either on Conv or Electronics and it's towards the end using the long coding helper. Don't know what byte/bit but can find out if you want.

Need to plug in today anyway.

 

[andykn]

In this thread http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=51431 it mentions something about a 12v charger in the glove box? anyony got this or am i just being blind????

"Underside of the glove box", not inside.

 

[MarcQuinlivan]

I've got a 12v charger in my glovebox. I have to take it out to plug it in though.

 

[p9lad]

I found a compartment under my drivers seat last week, after 8 months of motoring.

same here! except mine was just after a year! lol!!!!

 

[Boydie]

"Underside of the glove box", not inside.

I dont think I do but will have to check that one lol

 

[khalil]

I dont think I do but will have to check that one lol

i checked this as well but cant seem to find it lol, i got a flipping head rush tilting my head trying to finding it lol

 

[Staz]

Mine's MY07. Do you know where the setting is in VCDS?

Ok central electronics,

Byte 22 Bit 1 is DRLs switchable via menu
Byte 23 Bit 1 enable advanced comfort menu

 

[steve184]

how about how the steering wheel electric assistance caries on for a second or so after you turn the car off to make it easier to 'lock' the steering lock.... think thats a nice touch

 

[Jay.Ing]

While at a standstill Push the left little knob on the instrument cluster for 3 secs and your DIS does a self test!!! Only found out cos i was trying to change my clock!!!!

 

[Lukeyb]

tap the reset button twice on the bottom of the right stalk and DIS shows your speed digitally, tap reset again and you can find out your oil temp, when the car wants an oil chage and service and your chassis no

 

[BADDave]

How many of you know about the mini sun visor which hinges down from above the rear view mirror?
I was me ages before I accidentally discovered it!

 

[buckas]

holding the unlock button down on the keyfob opens all windows, holding the lock button down on the keyfob closes all windows

there was also a way to get loads of car readings etc on the climate control display but dont know where that thread is

tap the reset button twice on the bottom of the right stalk and DIS shows your speed digitally, tap reset again and you can find out your oil temp, when the car wants an oil chage and service and your chassis no

does that work on 8L aswell?

 

[PaulAr]

While at a standstill Push the left little knob on the instrument cluster for 3 secs and your DIS does a self test!!! Only found out cos i was trying to change my clock!!!!

Ha Ha, found that out yesterday too.
Thought I had broke something.

 

[Lukeyb]

you also access all the local preferences with the double tap thing like clock, miles, C or F etc

 

[Matt]

Thats just the DIS, nothing magical about that

 

[L60N]

Things i didnt know my S3 did.

Free cold shower in the morning when I drop the windows...

Sorry. couldnt resist

 

[h5djr]

The air-con settings are changed depending on which radio-key is used to un-lock the car.

 

[Amchlolor]

Dont think this has been mentioned - known about this for ages but the newbies might not

Hold and press your lock button on your key and your windows go up!

Have you tried this in other makes of cars?
I always have, just out of sheer curiosity.
I've yet to come across an electric window equipped car that doesn't do this.
Once I get past the 'I wonder if it does this' stage, I never use it again though.

If I leave my lights in the 'on' position, they (front and rear) stay on until you lock the car, at which point they fade out at the same rate as the interior lights.
I think that's pretty cool, I didn't pay extra for it.

 

[djmcronin]

While at a standstill Push the left little knob on the instrument cluster for 3 secs and your DIS does a self test!!! Only found out cos i was trying to change my clock!!!!

While moving push the left little knob on the instrument cluster and it sets the speed warning at the spped that you are currently at. It resets to your default speed when you turn off car. Only found out cos i was trying to change my clock!!!! (on the move oops)

 

[L60N]

Speaking of the air con settings, there is a way to switch between dual climate and operating both sides from one switch. I think its by pressing econ-auto-econ. Not sure tho, but it works! I'll have a play and post the 100% correct procedure..

 

[Amchlolor]

While moving push the left little knob on the instrument cluster and it sets the speed warning at the spped that you are currently at. It resets to your default speed when you turn off car. Only found out cos i was trying to change my clock!!!! (on the move oops)

I accidentally switched this on a few times when my A3 was new.
It drove me nuts, as (IIRC) it couldn't be switched off easily.
I was usually in slow moving traffic when I switched it on too, so for the rest of my journey it would trigger over 19mph....

 

[L60N]

Although im sure there is a button sequence that means you dont have to hold the button to do it..

 

[Amchlolor]

The only way you'd find out about these things is if you read your manual for fun.
To quote Alan Partridge;

"No way, you spastic, you're a mentalist"

 

[PaulAr]

Things i didnt know my S3 did.

Free cold shower in the morning when I drop the windows...

Sorry. couldnt resist

Probably the thing I hate most about my S3.

 

[L60N]

seconds.

Quicker to just hold Auto.

Agreed.

 

[Matt]

Your a man though (I'm assuming). Men dont read instruction manuals until after they've broken it by guessing at what to do Thats what happens with me anyway!

 

[h5djr]

I know this is a crazy theory, and likely to be thrown out by all those with any sense, but maybe you'd read a manual if you wanted to find out how something worked.

Like I said, crazy I know, but people have told me that sometimes it really does work!

I spent a good part of my working life reading manuals. Mostly for new computer operating systems and new software etc. I also spent a large amount of time sorting out the problems people got themselves into on computers by not bothering to read the manuals. It makes a pleasant change to read the Owner's Manual for my car. It amazing how many little things you can pick up on.

 

[jamiekip]

Deja Vu like a mo fo!

 

[Jay.Ing]

Things i didnt know my S3 did.

Free cold shower in the morning when I drop the windows...

Sorry. couldnt resist

A3's do that too!

 

[h5djr]

Probably the thing I hate most about my S3.

That's just the cars way of getting back at you for leaving it out in the rain all night!! Mine spends the night in a nice dry and cosy garage so it never does it to me in the morning.

 

[Amchlolor]

I spent a good part of my working life reading manuals. Mostly for new computer operating systems and new software etc. I also spent a large amount of time sorting out the problems people got themselves into on computers by not bothering to read the manuals. It makes a pleasant change to read the Owner's Manual for my car. It amazing how many little things you can pick up on.

I'm afraid I take the polar opposite view here, David.
IMO, anything that requires the use of a manual has been badly designed.
I expect the operation of anything I buy to be intuitive.
If I have to resort to a manual, I get mightily hacked off.
'Perusing' a manual for no particular reason never, ever, crosses my mind.
An Argos book would have more appeal.

 

[h5djr]

I'm afraid I take the polar opposite view here, David.
IMO, anything that requires the use of a manual has been badly designed.
I expect the operation of anything I buy to be intuitive.
If I have to resort to a manual, I get mightily hacked off.
'Perusing' a manual for no particular reason never, ever, crosses my mind.
An Argos book would have more appeal.

Each to his own - Perhaps that's why so many people know so little about their A3s or BMWs for that matter. The same applies to most things TVs, DVD recorders, PVRs, HiFi etc to name but a few. Personally I actually enjoy reading the manuals and learning all about whatever product I've purchased. I often go on the internet and download a manual to see how a particular items works to help me make a decision whether to buy it or not.

I agree that the basics should be intuitive but all the extra little things that are built into a modern car and many other things a lot of people will have never heard off let alone know how they work.

The same is true with computers. The basics should be intuitive but most software can do so much more than the basics. But, both as a network manager and a new software tester, I've always had to know a lot more than just the basics. In a lot of cases users do things a very hard and complicated way whereas there is often a much simpler way. The number of times a user has said to me 'That's much easier than the way I do it' when I've shown them the 'correct' way. Also if they screw things up I've been the one who has to sort out the mess they have created.

IMO, anything that requires the use of a manual has been badly designed.

Try telling that to the pilot of a Jumbo Jet!!

 

[dc240969]

I'm afraid I take the polar opposite view here, David.
IMO, anything that requires the use of a manual has been badly designed.
I expect the operation of anything I buy to be intuitive.
If I have to resort to a manual, I get mightily hacked off.
'Perusing' a manual for no particular reason never, ever, crosses my mind.
An Argos book would have more appeal.

Ive got to agree as well. But its nice to get that 'l never knew it did that' feeling when reading threads like these.
Now all lm waiting for is the one where someone says if you push this and that the output of the car drops to 100bhp so l can do it when l go back to work for a month and leave my S3 with the wife.

 

[Amchlolor]

Each to his own - Perhaps that's why so many people know so little about their A3s or BMWs for that matter.

Again, I would suggest that anything not easily worked out for oneself is automatically somewhat irrelevant.
No offence, but who gives a monkeys that each different key remembers the respective driver's climate settings?
You're the only person I know where you/your wife even use different keys!
Everyone I've ever known just uses the one key.
After all, if they're not driving the car, they don't need a key for it!
IMO, these are clever little things for cleverness's sake.
If 99% of people never know it's there, it isn't needed.

Indeed, as a side argument, dual zone climate, in itself, is largely irrelevant.
Can't agree on the same temperature in an 8' x 5' car?
Must cause arguments in one's mono-zone living room then...

 

[Staz]

Again, I would suggest that anything not easily worked out for oneself is automatically somewhat irrelevant.
No offence, but who gives a monkeys that each different key remembers the respective driver's climate settings?
You're the only person I know where you/your wife even use different keys!
Everyone I've ever known just uses the one key.
After all, if they're not driving the car, they don't need a key for it!
IMO, these are clever little things for cleverness's sake.
If 99% of people never know it's there, it isn't needed.

Indeed, as a side argument, dual zone climate, in itself, is largely irrelevant.
Can't agree on the same temperature in an 8' x 5' car?
Must cause arguments in one's mono-zone living room then...

Some people obviously give a monkeys otherwise threads like this wouldn't exist and be so popular.

People who don't read the manuals don't know all the features of their car, just because they don't know doesn't mean they're not going to use it when they do find out. It might not be needed but then electric windows aren't needed are they?

To have a car which doesn't need a manual means everything would either need to be controlled by a very comprehensive MMI type system, which would be very expensive to incorporate, or everything would need to have massive labels explaining what the button does!

I know from all the air con threads that a lot of people don't know that the ECON button turns off the air con. The button should be labelled 'Air Con Off' or 'Economy Mode'. And even then some people won't know that air con and climate control are different things. Why not just put ECON and explain what ECON means in the manual?!

You have to remember that not everyone is as smart or wise as you, and there are some lucky people who own Audis as their first car, they won't know how to do everything just by sitting in the car and playing.