2007 AUDI R8 warning

Seat belts113
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
WARNING
•
The diagonal part of the belt should never be positioned across
the neck, but roughly over the centre of the shoulder; it should fit
closely against the upper part of the body. The lap part of the belt
must be worn tightly across the hips, and not over the abdomen
⇒page 112, fig. 92. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any
slack.
•
Always make sure that belt is positioned properly. Incorrectly
worn seat belts can give rise to injuries even in a minor collision.
•
Seat belts worn too loose can result in injuries because they
allow excessive forward movement in a crash; the occupant will
be brought to a sudden stop by the belt webbing.
Wearing and adjusting the seat belts during pregnancy
To afford the best protection for the unborn child it is
important for the mother to wear the seat belt properly at
all times.Women should always ensure they adjust the seat belt
correctly during pregnancy.– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before
putting on the seat belt ⇒page 67, “Seats and storage”.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it
slowly down across your chest. Wear the lap portion of
the seat belt as low as possible over the hips so that there
is no pressure on the stomach ⇒fig. 93, ⇒.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate
seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an
audible click ⇒page 112, fig. 91.
– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.
WARNING
During pregnancy, women should especially make sure to wear
the lap portion of the seat belt as low as possible across the hips
so that there is no pressure on the stomach.Taking off the seat belts
The red button releases the belt from the buckle.– Press the red button in the seat belt buckle ⇒fig. 94. The
latch plate will spring out of the buckle.
Fig. 93 Positioning
seat belts during preg-
nancy
Fig. 94 The latch plate
of the belt springs out
of the buckle
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Seat belts 114
– Guide the belt back by hand so that it is taken up by the
retractor.Belt tensionersHow the belt tensioners work
The seat belts for the driver and front passenger are
equipped with belt tensioners.The seat belts on the front seats are tensioned automatically in
frontal and side impacts above a certain degree of severity. This
helps to reduce the forward motion of the occupants.
In a less severe accident, or in the event of a roll-over, the belt
tensioners are not activated.
WARNING
•
Any work on the tensioner system or removal and installation
of system components for other repairs must be performed by a
qualified workshop.
•
The belt tensioners can only be activated once. If they have
been activated at any time, the system must be replaced.Note
•
Some smoke may be released when the belt tensioners are acti-
vated. This does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
•
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the
vehicle or components of the system are scrapped. Your authorised
Audi R8 dealer is familiar with these regulations and will be pleased
to pass on the information to you.
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Airbag system115
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Airbag systemDescription of airbag systemGeneral notes on airbag system
The airbag is an integral part of the car's passive safety
system.In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the airbag system
gives the front occupants additional protection for the head and
chest in the event of a severe frontal collision.
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to the
areas of the body facing the impact ⇒.
In addition to their normal function of protecting the occupants in a
collision, the seat belts also hold them in a position where the
airbags can inflate properly and provide maximum protection.
The airbag system will only work with the ignition on. The airbag
system is monitored electronically; the airbag warning lamp indi-
cates whether the system is functioning properly.
The main parts of the airbag system are:•
the electronic monitoring system (control unit and sensors),
•
the two front airbags,
•
The two side airbags,
•
The airbag warning lamp in the instrument cluster.
There is a fault in the airbag system if the warning
lamp
•
does not come on when the ignition is switched on,
•
does not go out about 3 seconds after the ignition is switched
on,
•
goes out and then comes on again after the ignition is switched
on,
•
comes on or flickers while the car is moving.
WARNING
•
The airbags are not a substitute for the seat belts; they are an
integral part of the car's overall passive safety system. The airbags
can only offer effective protection if the occupants are wearing
their seat belts. For this reason it is very important to wear the
seat belts at all times ⇒page 109, “Why is it so important to use
seat belts?”.
•
The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protec-
tion if the occupants are seated correctly ⇒page 67, “Seats and
storage”.
•
If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not
seated correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at greater
risk of injury should the airbag system be triggered in an accident.
•
Components of the airbag system are located in various parts
of the vehicle. If repairs to other vehicle components make it
necessary to perform work on the airbag system or to remove or
install parts of the airbag system, this may cause damage to the
airbag system. As a result, the airbags may not inflate correctly or
may not be triggered at all in an accident situation.
•
If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system
checked immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise the
system may fail to trigger in an accident.
•
Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in
any way.
•
Never make any alterations to the front bumper or the body.
•
The airbag system can only be activated once; if the airbag has
been triggered, the system must be replaced. Should the airbag
system or airbag modules have to be replaced, the qualified work-
shop carrying out the replacement will document all details in the
appropriate section of the Service Schedule.
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Airbag system 116•
If you sell the vehicle, please remember to pass on the
complete Service Wallet to the new owner. If the front passenger's
airbag has been deactivated, it is important that the new owner is
also given the relevant documents.
•
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the
vehicle or components of the airbag or belt tensioner systems are
scrapped.
•
In an accident in which one or more airbags are triggered the
alternator and the starter are - for safety reasons - both discon-
nected from the battery via a pyrotechnic circuit breaker.
−Any repairs to the pyrotechnic circuit breaker must always
be performed by a qualified workshop (accident risk).
−The relevant safety requirements must be observed when
the vehicle or the circuit breaker are scrapped.
When are the airbags triggered?
The airbag system is triggered in collisions with a severe
impact.The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and
front passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.
In severe side collisions the side airbags are triggered on the impact
side of the vehicle.
In certain types of accident the front airbags and the side airbags
may be triggered together.
The airbag system is not triggered in minor frontal or side collisions,
or in rear collisions or if the car overturns. In these situations the
occupants are protected by wearing the seat belts.
Factors determining the triggering response
It is not possible to define the exact triggering response of the
airbag system in all possible situations, since the circumstances in different types of accident will vary considerably. Important factors
include, for example, the nature (hard or soft) of the object which
the car hits, the angle of impact, vehicle speed and so on.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle
deceleration rate resulting from the collision. By processing the
signals from the sensors located in the vehicle, the electronic
control unit is immediately able to evaluate the severity of the colli-
sion and activate the restraint systems accordingly. If the decelera-
tion rate is below the predefined reference value in the control unit
the airbags will not be triggered, even though the accident may
cause extensive damage to the car.
Note
The airbag releases a fine dust when it inflates. This is quite normal
and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.Front airbagsDescription of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 95 Driver's airbag
in steering wheel
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Airbag system 118
WARNING
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a
distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dashboard
⇒page 117, fig. 98. The airbag system will not be able to give the
required protection if you sit too close to the steering wheel or
dashboard. There is also a risk of injury if the airbags are inflated.
The front seats and head restraints must always be positioned
correctly for the height of the occupant.
•
If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side,
or are not seated correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are
at greater risk of injury. Should the airbag system be triggered in
an accident there is an even greater risk of injury.
•
Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate
restraint system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, the child
could sustain serious or fatal injuries ⇒page 122, “Child safety”.
•
Never install a rearward-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat unless the front passenger's airbag has been
deactivated. However, if you have no alternative but to use a rear-
ward-facing child seat on the front passenger's seat, the front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated beforehand by means of
the key-operated switch ⇒page 120, “Deactivating the airbags”.
Failure to observe this precaution could result in serious or poten-
tially fatal injury.
•
Occupants sitting in the front of the car must never carry any
objects or pets in the space between them and the airbags, or
allow children or other passengers to travel in this position.
•
Do not cover or stick anything on the steering wheel hub or the
soft plastic surface of the airbag unit on the passenger's side of
the dashboard, and do not obstruct or modify them in any way.
These parts should only be cleaned with a dry cloth (or with a
cloth moistened with plain water). It is also important not to
attach any objects such as cup holders or telephone mountings to
the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
Any work on the airbag system or removal and installation of
the airbag components for other repairs (such as repairs to the
steering wheel) should be performed by a qualified workshop.Note
If necessary, you can deactivate the front passenger's airbag by
means of the key-operated switch ⇒page 120, “Deactivating the
airbags”.Side airbagsDescription of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The side airbags are located in the backrest padding of the front
seats ⇒fig. 99. The locations of the airbags are marked with the
word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the side airbags give
the occupants additional protection for the whole upper part of the
body (i.e. the chest, stomach and pelvis) in the event of a severe side
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 99 Location of
side airbag in driver's
seat
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Airbag system119
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data collision ⇒ in “Important safety notes on the side airbag system”
on page 119.
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to the
areas of the body facing the impact.
How the side airbags work
When fully inflated, the side airbags reduce the risk of
head or chest injury.In certain types of side collisions the side airbag is triggered on the
impact side of the vehicle ⇒fig. 100.
In certain types of accident the front airbags and the side airbags
may be triggered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant
gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
second). The airbag releases a fine dust when it inflates. This is quite
normal and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the impact of the occupants and
help to reduce the risk of injury to the head and upper part of the
body on the side facing the door.
Important safety notes on the side airbag system
There are a number of safety points concerning the airbag
system which you should remember. This will help to
reduce the risk of injury in an accident.
WARNING
•
If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not
seated correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at greater
risk of injury should the side airbag system be triggered in an acci-
dent.
•
If children are not seated correctly, they are at greater risk of
injury in an accident. This is particularly the case if the child is
travelling on the front passenger's seat and the airbag system is
triggered in an accident. This could result in serious or potentially
fatal injury ⇒page 122, “Child safety”.
•
It is also important not to attach any accessories (such as cup
holders) to the doors. This would impair the protection offered by
the side airbags.
•
The sensors for the airbags are located in the front doors. You
must therefore not make any modifications to the doors or door
trim (e.g. retrofitting loudspeakers), as this could impair the func-
tion of the side airbags. Any damage to the front doors could lead
to faults in the system. Repairs or any other work on the front
doors must therefore always be carried out by a qualified work-
shop.
•
Do not apply excessive force to the sides of the backrests (such
as hard knocks or kicks), as this could damage parts of the system.
The side airbags could then fail to operate when required.
•
If you intend to fit protective covers over the seats, these must
be of the specific type approved for use on Audi seats with side
airbags. Conventional seat covers would obstruct the side airbag
when it inflates out of the backrest, and seriously reduce the
airbag's effectiveness.
Fig. 100 Side airbag in
inflated condition
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Airbag system 120•
Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the
seams of the side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a
qualified workshop.
•
Any work involving the side airbag system or removal and
installation of the airbag components for other repairs (such as
repairs to the seats) should always be performed by a qualified
workshop. Otherwise the airbag system may fail to work
properly.
Deactivating the airbagsDeactivating airbags
If airbags have been deactivated, they should be reacti-
vated as soon as possible so that they can continue to
give the required protection.There are two ways of deactivating the airbags: you can deactivate
the front passenger's airbag yourself by means of the key-operated
switch ⇒page 120. The other airbags can be deactivated by your
Audi R8 dealer.
Deactivating front passenger's airbag when a child
safety seat is in use
If you have no alternative but to install a rearward-facing child safety
seat on the front passenger's seat you must deactivate the front
passenger's airbag beforehand.
Monitoring of airbag system
The airbag warning lamp will light up for a few seconds every time
the ignition is switched on.
WARNING
•
Never install a rearward-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat unless the front passenger's airbag has been
deactivated – this can result in potentially fatal injuries to the child
⇒page 123.
•
Make sure that the front passenger's airbag is reactivated by
means of the key-operated switch as soon as the child seat is no
longer needed on the front passenger's seat.
Applies to vehicles: with key-operated switch for front passenger's airbagKey-operated switch for front passenger's airbag
The front passenger's airbag can be deactivated with the
key-operated switch.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 101 Key-operated
switch for deactivating
front passenger's
airbag
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Airbag system121
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
The key-operated switch for deactivating the front
passenger's airbag is located in the glove box ⇒page 120,
fig. 101.
– To deactivate the front passenger's airbag, insert the
ignition key in the switch and turn it to position .
– The front passenger's airbag can be reactivated by
turning the key to position .If the front passenger's airbag has been deactivated via the key-
operated switch, the indicator lamp “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” will
light up constantly as a reminder ⇒page 121, fig. 102. Please refer
also to the description of the AIRBAG warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster ⇒page 17.
WARNING
•
If you have no alternative but to install a rearward-facing child
seat on the front passenger's seat, the front passenger's airbag
must be deactivated beforehand – otherwise this can result in
potentially fatal injuries to the child.
•
If you have deactivated the front passenger's airbag, reactivate
it as soon as the child seat is no longer needed so that the airbag
can continue to give the required protection.
•
It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the key-operated
switch is set to the correct position.
Fig. 102 Lamp indi-
cates that front
passenger's airbag has
been deactivated via
key-operated switch
A0
A1
WARNING (continued)
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