__________________________________________________ A_ i_ r _b _a...; g::- s_ y=--- s_t _e _m ___ lffllll
& WARNING (continued )
• Always make sure that the side airbag can inflate without inter
ference :
- Never install seat covers or replacement upholstery over the
front seatbacks 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 nece ssary.
• The airbag system can be deployed only once . After an airbag
has been deployed , it must be replaced with new replacement
part s designed and approved especially for your Audi model
version. Replacement of complete a irbag systems or airbag
components must be performed by qualified workshops only .
Make sure that any airbag service action is entered in your Audi
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet under AIRBAG REPLACEMENT
RECORD .
• In accidents when an airbag is deployed , the vehicle battery
s eparates the alternator and the starter from the vehicle electrical
system for safety reasons with a pyrotechnic circuit interrupter.
-Work on the pyrotechnic circuit interrupter must only be
performed by a qualified dealer -risk of an accident !
- If the vehi cle or the circuit interrupter is scrapped , all appli
cable safety precautions must be followed . •
Controls and equip ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
Other things that can affect Advanced Airbag
performance
Changing the vehicle 's suspension system can cha nge the way that
the Advanc ed Ai rbag Syste m perfor ms in a cras h. Fo r ex amp le,
u sing tire -rim combinations not a pproved by Audi, lowering the
ve hicle , c hang ing the st iffness o f the suspe nsion, inclu din g the
spr ings, s uspension struts, shock absorbers etc. can change the
fo rc es that ar e meas ured by th e a irbag sens ors and sent to the e lec
tronic control un it. Some suspens ion changes can, for example,
in crea se th e fo rc e leve ls meas ured by th e se nsors and ma ke t he
airbag system dep loy in crash es in wh ich it wou ld not dep loy if the
c h anges had no t been m ade . Ot her k in ds of cha nge s m ay red uce
the fo rce levels measured by the sensors and p revent t he airba g
fr om depl oyin g whe n it should.
T he sensors in the safe ty b elt b uckle fo r the driver a nd front
passenger seat te ll the electronic control module if the safety belt is
l a tc h e d or not. If the s afe ty be lt is bei ng use d, t he fr ont ai rbag w ill
dep loy at a s lightly higher rate of vehic le dece leration than if the
sa fe ty belt is not be ing used . T here for e, in a partic ular co lli sion , it is
possible t hat an airbag will not dep loy at a seating position w here
the safe ty belt is b ein g us ed b ut will infl ate a t th e po siti on w here the
safety belt is not being used. It is important that nothi ng interfere
with the safety belt b uck les so that the sensors can send the correct
i nformat ion about safety b elt use to the electronic control un it.
& WARNING
Changing the vehicle's suspension including use of unapproved
tire -rim combinations can change Advanced Airbag performance
and increase the risk of serious personal injury in a crash.
• Never install suspension components that do not have the
same performance characteristics as the components originally
installed on your vehicle .
• Never use tire-r im combinations that have not been approved
by Audi. .,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
