Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Seat belts163
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts, as
they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.
Rear passengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only them-
selves but also the other occupants ⇒page 162, fig. 170.
How to wear seat belts properlyPutting on the three-point seat belts
Always fasten your seat belts before driving off.– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before
putting on the seat belt ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it
slowly across your chest and lap ⇒.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate
seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an
audible click ⇒fig. 172.
– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.
The three-point inertia reel belts are tensioned automatically. The
retractor system gives complete freedom of movement, as long as
the pull on the belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt. The belt will
also lock when you accelerate, drive up or down a steep hill or in a
sharp curve.
WARNING
•
Always make certain that the belt is positioned properly
⇒fig. 171 – risk of injury ⇒page 163, “Adjusting the seat belts”.
•
The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat. Otherwise the belt will not be fully
effective and the danger of injury increases.
Adjusting the seat belts
Always position seat belts properly for maximum safety.
Fig. 171 Positioning of
head restraints and
seat beltsFig. 172 Driver's seat:
Belt buckle and latch
plate
Fig. 173 Adjusting
shoulder and lap belt
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Seat belts 164The height of the front seat on your vehicle can be adjusted in order
to match the position of the seat belt to your height.
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 163, fig. 173. 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 70, “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. 174, ⇒.
– 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 163, fig. 172.
– 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.
Fig. 174 Positioning
seat belts during preg-
nancy
Fig. 175 The latch
plate of the belt
springs out of the
buckle
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Airbag system 166Airbag 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 severe side collision the side airbags and the head-protection
airbags reduce the risk of injury to the occupants in 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 front side airbags and head-protection 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 4 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 160, “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 70, “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. For this reason,
you should always have the work carried out by a qualified work-
shop.
•
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Child safety 176•
If children lean forward or are otherwise out of position when
the car is moving, 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.
There is then a risk of serious or potentially fatal injury.
•
To ensure proper protection, it is important to wear the seat
belts in the correct position ⇒page 163, “How to wear seat belts
properly”. Always check that the belt is properly positioned
according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
child safety seat. Incorrectly worn seat belts can give rise to inju-
ries even in a minor collision.
•
Never install a rearward-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat if the front passenger's airbag has not been deac-
tivated ⇒page 176.
•
Extra caution is advised if you are installing a child safety seat
using the same mounting bolts as the existing car seat belts. The
bolts must be screwed in all the way to the full depth of the
mounting holes and tightened to a torque of 50 Nm. Failure to
observe this precaution could result in potentially fatal injury. We
recommend having the installation performed by a qualified
workshop.
Using a child safety seat on the front passenger's seat
Whenever possible, child safety seats should always be
installed on the rear seat.For safety reasons, we recommend that child safety seats should be
installed on the rear seats whenever possible. However, if you have
to use a child seat on the front passenger's seat when there is no
other alternative, it is most important to note the following warn-
ings:
WARNING
•
Do not use a rearward-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat unless the front passenger's airbag has been
deactivated. The child seat would be directly in the path of the
airbag as it inflates, and the child could sustain serious or fatal
injuries if the airbag were to be deployed.
•
However, if you have no alternative but to use a rearward-
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 173. Failure to observe this
precaution could result in serious or potentially fatal injury.
•
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.
•
When using a child safety seat of the type which faces in the
direction of travel, the front passenger's seat must be moved back
to the rearmost position.
Child safety seatsChild seat categories
Only use child restraint systems that are officially
approved and suitable for the child.Child restraint systems are covered by the European standard
ECE R 44 (issued by the Economic Commission of Europe).
The child seats are divided into 5 categories:
WARNING (continued)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Child safety 182
– Fit the protective sleeves onto the retainers
between the backrest and the seat cushion ⇒page 181,
fig. 191.
– Push the mountings on the child safety seat into the
protective sleeves until they engage audibly (2x)
⇒page 181, fig. 191.
– Pull on the child safety seat to check whether both
catches have engaged properly.Child safety seats with the “ISOFIX” system can be secured quickly
and safely on the rear seat* or on the front passenger's seat*.
Detailed fitting instructions are supplied with the child safety seat.
Child seats with “ISOFIX” mountings are available from Audi dealers
and specialist retailers.
If required, the “ISOFIX” mounting system can be retrofitted.
WARNING
The retainers used here are specially designed for child safety
seats with “ISOFIX” mountings. Do not attempt to secure other
types of child safety seat, seat belts or other objects with these
retainers – this could result in serious or possibly fatal injury.
AA
AB
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Intelligent technology187
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data Switching off
The ESP should normally be left switched on at all times. If required,
you can press the ESP OFF button to switch off the traction control
system (ASR) or the electronic stabilisation program (ESP).
•
Switching off the traction control system (ASR): Press the ESP
button briefly. The traction control system (ASR) can be switched off
in special driving conditions, e.g. if you are driving with snow chains
⇒page 188. The message ASR off will appear in the display.
•
Switching off the ESP/traction control system (ASR): Press the
ESP button for longer than 3 seconds. The ESP/ASR warning lamp
lights up when the system is switched off, see ⇒page 16. The
message ESP switched off will appear in the display.
WARNING
•
The ESP is not able to overcome the physical limits of adhesion.
Even with ESP, you should always adjust your speed to suit the
conditions. Please bear this in mind, especially on wet or slippery
road surfaces. Do not let the extra safety provided tempt you into
taking any risks when driving – this can cause accidents.
•
Please note that, when the ESP or ESP/traction control system
(ASR) is switched off, the driven wheels may start to spin, causing
the vehicle to lose grip, in particular on slippery or wet roads -
danger of skidding!
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under braking.The anti-lock brake system (ABS) is an important part of the car's
active safety system. However, the ABS will not necessarily guar-
antee shorter stopping distances in all conditions. For instance, on
loose gravel or fresh snow on top of an icy surface (conditions which
anyway require extreme care and reduced speed), the stopping
distance with ABS may even be slightly longer.How the ABS works
The system runs an automatic self-check when the car reaches a
road speed of about 6 km/h. This may be accompanied by a noise
from the ABS pump.
If one of the wheels is turning too slowly in relation to the road
speed, and is close to locking up, the system will reduce the pres-
sure in the brake line to this wheel. The driver is made aware of this
control process by a pulsating of the brake pedal and accompa-
nying noise. This is a deliberate warning to the driver that one or
more of the wheels is tending to lock up and the ABS control func-
tion has intervened. In this situation it is important to keep the brake
pedal fully depressed so the ABS can regulate the brake application
- do not “pump” the brake pedal.
WARNING
The grip provided by ABS is still subject to the physical limits of
adhesion. Always bear this in mind, especially on wet or slippery
roads. If you notice that the ABS is working (to counteract locked
wheels under braking), you should reduce speed immediately to
suit the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the extra safety
provided tempt you into taking any risks when driving – this can
cause accidents.
Note
If a malfunction should occur in the ABS, this is indicated by a
warning lamp ⇒page 17.Brake assist system
The brake assist system helps the driver to achieve
optimum braking effect.The brake assist system helps to increase braking power and thus to
achieve a shorter stopping distance. If the driver presses the brake
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Intelligent technology191
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data If a fault should occur in the servotronic system the power steering
will still operate. The degree of power assistance will, however, no
longer adapt to different speeds. If the electronic regulating system
is not working properly, this is most noticeable when turning the
steering wheel at low speeds (for instance when parking) – more
effort will be required than usual. The fault should be corrected by
a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
The power steering does not function when the engine is switched
off. In this case the steering wheel is very hard to turn.
If the steering is held at its turning limit when the car is stationary,
this will place an excessive load on the power steering system. In
this case, the power steering system will make noises. It will also
reduce the idling speed of the engine.
Caution
Do not keep the steering in the full-lock position for longer than
15 seconds when the engine is running – this could cause damage
to the power steering system.
Note
•
If the power steering should fail at any time or the engine is
switched off (for instance when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort will be required to turn the steering
wheel.
•
If the system is leaking or malfunctioning, please take the car to
a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
•
The power steering requires a special hydraulic fluid. The fluid
reservoir is located at the front of the engine compartment on the
left ⇒page 222. The correct fluid level in the reservoir is important
for the power steering to function properly. The hydraulic fluid level
is checked at the Inspection Service.
Four-wheel drive (quattro
®)
On quattro models the engine power is distributed to all
four wheelsGeneral notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine power is distributed to all
four wheels. The distribution of power is controlled automatically
according to your driving style and the road conditions. Also refer
to ⇒page 189, “Electronic differential lock (EDL)”.
The four-wheel drive is specially designed to complement the supe-
rior engine power of your Audi. This combination gives the car
exceptional handling and performance capabilities – both on
normal roads and in more difficult conditions, such as snow and ice.
Even so (or perhaps especially for this reason), it is important to
observe certain safety points ⇒.
Winter tyres
Thanks to its four-wheel drive, your car will have plenty of traction
in winter conditions, even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless, we
still recommend that winter tyres or all-season tyres should be fitted
on all four wheels when winter road conditions are expected, mainly
because this will give a better braking response.
Snow chains
On roads where snow chains are mandatory, this also applies to cars
with four-wheel drive ⇒page 237, “Snow chains”.
Replacing tyres
On vehicles with four-wheel drive, all four tyres must have the same
rolling circumference. Also avoid using tyres with varying tread
depths ⇒page 234, “Replacing wheels and tyres”.
Off-roader?
Your Audi does not have enough ground clearance to be used as an
off-road vehicle. It is therefore best to avoid rough tracks and
uneven terrain as much as possible.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Intelligent technology 194battery has been charged up again sufficiently while the vehicle was
being driven.
Message comes on and does not go out
If the message appears in the display after the ignition is switched
on or while driving, and does not go out again, the battery is not
being maintained at the proper power level. Starting reliability may
be impaired. You should have the battery checked by a qualified
workshop as soon as possible.
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