Well maybe its just my noobish ness but I found out that if your engine dies on the A3 you don't loose powersteering/breaking until you come to a complete stop. On most cars when your engine dies your steering locks up and your screwed.

Just thought it was a cool thing that im sure most know but for the ones who don't

 

I doubt that the steering locks up on any car when the engine dies... when your key is in the "run" position, the steering wheel is never locked. If you turned your key off while driving, and moved it to the lowest position where it can be removed, then yes.

The power steering/brakes will die when the engine dies though... I guess that's not the case with our snazzy A3!

 

you learn something new everyday

 

I belive its specificly on the A3, its not on all cars and im sure of that

 

I guess since the power steering is electronic, I guess it can still work with the engine off, although when a car is moving, it's always easier to steer. As far as the brakes, they are hydraulic and should only work with the engine on. All power brakes give you a pump or two of power when the car is off.

 

How does this work and do you have a link? I'm not doubting you, I would just like to read up on it. I like to know how these things work.

 

Im sure theres a link to it somewhere out there but i was hanging around the dealership yesterday ordering a few parts for my car and the manager of the service department was telling me about it.

Someone said the brakes are hydrualic therefore they wont work if the engine dies and the answer to that is yes they will work if the engine dies on the A3.

If your A3's engine dies, you will have powersteering and brakes until you come to a complete stop.