166 Airbag syst em
Other things that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Changing the vehicle's suspension system can
change the way that the Advanced Airbag Sys-
tem performs in a crash. For example, using
tire-r im combinations not approved by Audi,
lowering the vehicle, changing the stiffness of
the suspension, including the sp rings, suspen-
sion struts, shock absorbe rs etc. can change
the forces that are measured by the airbag
sensors a nd sent to the electron ic control
un it. Some suspension changes ca n, for exam-
ple, increase the force levels measured by the
sensors and make the airbag system deploy in
crashes in which it would not dep loy if the
changes had not been made. Other kinds of
changes may reduce the force levels meas-
ured by the sensors and prevent the airbag
from deploying when it should .
A WARNING
Changing the vehicle 's s uspension includ-
ing use of unapproved tire-rim combina-
tions can change Advanced Airbag per-
formance and increase t he risk of serio us
personal injury in a crash.
- Never install suspens ion components
t hat do not have t he same performance
characteristics as the components origi-
nally installed on your vehicle .
- Never use tire-rim combinat ions that
have not been approved by Audi.
A WARNING
-
Items stored between the safety belt
buckle and the center console can cause
the sensors in the buckle to send the
wrong informat ion to the electronic con-
trol modu le and prevent the Advanced Air-
bag System from work ing properly.
- Always make sure that nothing can inter-
fere with the safety belt buckles and that
they are not obstructed .
Knee airbags
Description of knee airbags
The knee airbag system can provide supple-
mental protection to properly restrained
front seat occupants.
Fig. 169 Driver's knee airbag
The driver knee airbag is in t he ins t rument
pane l underneath the steering wheel
¢ fig. 169, the airbag for the passenger is at
about the same height in the instrument pan-
el underneath the glove compartment.
The knee airbag offers addi t ional protection
to the driver 's and passenger's knees and up-
per and lower thigh areas and supplements
the protection provided by the safety belts.
If the front airbags dep loy, the knee a irbags
also dep loy in frontal collisions when the de-
ployment threshold stored in the control unit
is met
¢ page 160, More important things to
know about front airbags .
In addition to their normal safety function,
safety belts help keep the driver or front pas-
senger in position in a fronta l collision so that
the a irbags can provide supplemental protec-
t ion .
The airbag system is not a substitute for your
safety belt . Rather, it is part of the overa ll oc-
cupant restra int system in your vehicle. Al-
ways remember that the a irbag system can
only he lp to protect you if you are wearing
you r safety belt and wearing it properly. This
is why you should always wear your safety
belt, not jus t because the law requires you to
do so
¢page 143, General notes. .,.
To Next Page
Loading...
