Aside from the ir normal safety function, safety belts work to help
keep the driver or front passenger in posit ion in the event of a colli-
sion so that the side curtain airbags can provide protection.
The airbag system is not a substitute for your safety belt. Rather, it is
part of the overall occupan t restrai nt system in your vehicle . Always
remember that the airbag system can only help to protect you if you
are wearing your safety belt and wear ing it properly. This is another
reason why you should always wear your safety belts, not just because
the law requires you to do so =>
page 175, "General notes".
It is important to remember that while the side curtai n airbag system
is designed to help reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other
injuries, fo r example, swelling, br uising, and minor ab rasions can
also be associated with these airbags. Remember too, these airbags
will deploy on ly once and on ly in certain kinds of accidents - your
safety belts are always there to offer protection.
The side curtain airbag system basically consists of:
• The electronic control module and external side impact sensors
• The side curtain airbags above the front and rear s ide windows
• The airbag indica t or light in the instrument panel
The airbag system is monitored electron ically to make certain it is
functioning properly at all times . Each time you turn on the ignition,
the airbag system indicator light will come on for a few seconds (self
diagnostics).
The side curtain airbag is not activated:
• if the ignition is turned off,
• in side collisions when the acceleration measured by the sensor is
too low,
• in front-end collis ions,
• in rear-end collisions.
Safety first Vehicle OP-eration
Airbag system
& WARNING
• Safety belts and the airbag system will only provide protection
when occupants are in the proper seating position =>
page 68,
"General recommendations ".
• If the airbag indicator light comes on when the vehicle is being
used, have the system inspected immediately by your authorized
Audi dealer. The side curtain airbag may not work properly even
when the vehicle acceleration in a side collision is high enough to
activate the airbag. ~
How side curtain airbags work
Side curtain airbags can work together with side airbags
to help reduce the risk of head and upper torso injuries for
occupants who are properly restrained.
Fig. 180 Illustration
of principle: Inflated
side curtain airbags on
the left side
The side curtain airbags inflate between the occupant and the
windows on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side collision
=> fig. 180.
When the system is triggered, the side curta in airbag is filled with
propellant gas and breaks through a seam above the front and rear
side windows identified by the AIRBAG lab el. In order to help provide
this additional protection, the side curtain airbag must inflate within
the blink of an eye at ve ry high speed and wit h great force. The side ._
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data
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