Airbag system
- the e lectronic control modu le and externa l side
impact sensors
- t he two side airbags located in the sides of the
front backrests
- two rear side airbags*
- the a irbag wa rning light in the instrument clus-
te r.
The a irbag system is monitored electronically to
make certa in that it is functioning properly at all
times. Each time you turn on the ign ition, the air-
bag system ind icator light will come on for a few
seconds (self diagnostics).
The side a irbag system supplements the safety
be lts and can help to reduce the risk of injury to
the dr iver's, front and rear* passenger's upper
torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a
side collision . The airbag dep loys on ly in side im-
pacts and on ly when the vehicle acceleration reg -
istered by the control unit is high enough. If this
rate is below the reference value programmed in-
to the control un it, the side airbags will not be
tr iggered, even though the car may be badly
damaged as a result of the collision. It is not pos-
sib le to define an airbag tr igger ing range that
will cover every possible ang le of im pact, s ince
t he circumstances will vary considerably between
one collision and another. Important factors in-
clude, for example, the nature (hard or soft) of
the impacting object, the angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc.
c> page 287, Important safety in-
structions on the side airbag system.
Aside from their normal safety function, safety
be lts work to help keep the driver or front pas -
senger in position in the event of a side collision
so that the side a irbags can provide protection.
The airbag system is
not a substitute for your
safety belt . Rather, it is part of the overa ll occu -
pant restraint system in your vehicle. Always re-
member that the s ide airbag system can only
help to protect you if you are wearing your safety
belt and wearing it properly. This is another rea-
son why you should always wear you r safety
be lts, not just because the law requ ires you to do
soc>
page 261, General information.
It is important to remember that while the sup-
plemental s ide a irbag system is designed to re-
286
duce the likelihood of serious injuries, other inju-
ries, for example, swelling, bruising, friction
burns and m inor abras ions can also be assoc iated
with deployed side airbags. Remember too, side
airbags will dep loy only once and only in certa in
kinds of accidents - your safety belts are always
there to offer protection .
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of
vehicle damage are not necessar ily an ind ication
of over-sens itive or fa iled airbag activat ion . In
some collis ions, both front and side airbags may
inflate. Remember too, that a irbags w ill dep loy
only once and only in certain kinds of collisions -
your safety belts a re always there to offer protec-
tion in those accidents in which airbags are not
supposed to deploy or when they have already
deployed.
The side airbag system will not deploy:
- when the ignition is turned off
- in side collisions whe n the accele ration meas-
ured by the sensor is too low
- in fro nt-end coll is ions
- in rear-end collisions
- in rollovers.
In some types of accidents t he front airbags, side
curtain airbags and side airbags may be triggered
together.
A WARNING
- Safety belts and the airbag system will only
provide protection when occupants are in
the proper seat ing position
c> page 287.
- If the airbag ind icator light c> page 25
comes when the vehicle is being used, have
the system inspected immed iately by your
author ized Audi dealer . It is possible that
the airbag will inflate when it is not sup-
posed to , or will not infl at e when it should.
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