-Airbag system ---=--.:..,.._ _________________________________ _
&, WARNING (continued )
cellular telephones and CB radios, etc .) must be performed by a
qualified technician who has the training and special equipment
necessary .
• For any work on the airbag system , we strongly recommend
that you see your authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop .
• Never modify the front bumper or parts of the vehicle body .
• Always make sure that the side airbag can inflate without inter
ference :
- Never install seat covers or replacement upholstery over the
front seatba cks that have not been specifically approved by
Audi.
- Never use additional seat cushions that cover the areas
where the side airbags inflate.
- Damage to the original seat covers or to the seam in the area
of the side airbag module must always be repaired immedi
ately by an authorized Audi dealer .
• The airbag system can be activated only once. After an airbag
has inflated , it must be replaced by an authorized Audi dealer or
qualified technician who has the technical information , training
and special equipment necessary.
• The airbag system can be deployed only once. After an airbag
has been deployed, it must be replaced with new replacement
parts designed and approved especially for your Audi model
version. Replacement of complete airbag systems or airbag
components must be performed by qualified workshops only .
Make sure that any a irbag service action is entered in your Audi
Maintenance
& Warranty booklet under AIRBAG REPLACEMENT
RECORD .
• In accidents when an airbag is deployed, the vehicle battery
separates the alternator and the starter from the vehi cle electrical
system for safety reasons with a pyrotechnic circuit interrupter.
-Work on the pyrotechni c circuit interrupter must only be
performed by a qualified dealer -risk of an accident !
&, WARNING (continued )
-If the vehicle or the circuit interrupter is scrapped, all appli
cable safety precautions must be followed.
•
Other things that can affect Advanced Airbag performance
Changing the vehic le 's suspension system can change the way that
t he A dvance d Ai rbag S ystem p erf o rm s in a c rash. F or example,
using tire -rim combinations not approved by Audi, lowerin g the
ve hicle , ch ang ing the stiff ness of the suspe nsion, includ ing the
springs, suspension struts, shock absorbers etc. can chang e the
fo rces that a re measured by the airbag senso rs and se nt to the elec
tronic control u nit. Some suspension chan ges can, for exampl e,
i n crease the fo rce level s measured by the sen so rs and ma ke the
a irbag s yste m de plo y in cras he s in w hi ch it wou ld not de ploy if th e
changes had not been made. Other kinds of changes may reduce
t h e fo rce lev els measu red by the senso rs a nd p reven t the airb ag
from dep loying when it should.
T he sens ors i n the safe ty belt buckle f or the dri ve r and front
passeng er seat tell t he electronic contro l modu le if the safety belt is
la tched o r not. If t he sa fe ty bel t i s being used, the fro nt ai rbag wi ll
deploy at a s ligh tly high er rate o f veh icle dece lerat io n th an if th e
safety be lt is not being u sed . Th erefo re , in a particula r co llision, it is
poss ib le th at a n airbag will not deplo y at a seat ing po sit io n wh ere
the safety be lt is being used but wi ll inflate at the pos ition where the
safety be lt is not bei ng used . It is im po rta nt tha t noth ing i nte rfere
with the safety belt buc kles so that the sensors can send the correct
i nf orm atio n abou t s afe ty belt use to th e electr onic co ntrol uni t.
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