NEW HAYNES MANUAL
Audi A3

Although it borrows much from the Volkswagen Golf Mk3, Audi's A3 is undoubtedly curvier and more stylish - with a classier interior. When it launched the A3 range in 1996, Audi claimed it had created a new market sector - for premium compact hatchbacks. UK sales of over 90,000 are testimony to the popularity of the A3 and there is now a wide choice of second-hand ones - at prices only slightly higher than a used Golf.

If there's a drawback with the Audi A3, it's the above average running costs in some areas. For instance, the replacement of a set of spark plugs can cost over £40 in labour alone - that's without the cost of the plugs themselves. Fortunately, the launch of the Haynes Service and Repair Manual for Audi A3 petrol and diesel models from 1996 to May 2003 (P to 03 registration), unleashes huge potential savings. Replace those spark plugs yourself and you'll pay £20 or less for them from a reputable motor accessory retailer. It's a task that the Haynes manual rates as 2 spanners out of 5 in terms of knowledge and experience needed.

If fuel at £1 per litre concerns you, the Haynes manual can again help you make savings. For instance, a dirty or clogged air filter will increase fuel consumption by between 5 and 10 per cent but to replace it following the instructions in the manual is a simple 5-minute task.

The latest addition to Haynes' 350+ manuals, this one will be invaluable to owners and prospective owners of an A3. As with all Haynes manuals, a wide range of DIY maintenance and servicing jobs are covered in detail and fully illustrated - from changing a wiper blade to replacing a gearbox. Each task has a spanner rating which grades it by the level of difficulty and the experience required.

The topics covered include basic maintenance, simple weekly checks, how to service your Audi A3 and a guide to fault finding. There are chapters on the braking system, the engine and transmission, the fuel and ignition systems and the electrical systems - complete with wiring diagrams. There are useful checks to do before the MOT test and information about how to deal with roadside emergencies.

The step-by-step instructions are compiled from hands-on experience - based on a strip-down and rebuild of Audi A3 vehicles using commonly available tools. Valuable tips and short cuts in the Haynes Hints boxes help to make the jobs easier and there is useful information about the tools you will require - including how to remove parts without special equipment.

As for reputation, Haynes is the world's leading publisher of automotive repair manuals and renowned for teaching millions of car owners how to carry out routine maintenance and repairs. Haynes publishes manuals for more than 500 models of cars and vans as well as useful glovebox guides such as Your Car and Driving Abroad. Haynes is truly a brand you can trust to help drive down the cost of motoring.

Notes to Editors:

The information on this page is supplied courtesy of Haynes Publishing, please credit accordingly if you intend to use it. For further information, please contact Rebecca Nicholls on Tel: 01452 260063 or email: pr@haynes.co.uk

Haynes Car Manuals retail at £17.99 (hardback) and are available from all good car accessory retailers and bookshops including: Halfords, Motor World and WH Smith. A comprehensive stockist locator can be found at the Haynes website.