2009 AUDI S3 window

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When the system is triggered , the airbag is f ill ed with propel lant gas
and br eaks t hroug h a seam in the seat surface area marked
" AIRBAG ". It expands between the side trim panel and the
passenger . In order to he lp provide this additional protection, the
side airbag must inflate within a frac tion of a second at very high
speed and w ith great force . The supplemental side airbag could
injure you i f your seating position is not proper or upright or i f items
are located in the area where the supplemental side airbag expands .
This app lies especia lly to children ~ page 169 , "Child Safety".
Suppl em ental sid e airbags inflate betw een the occupant and the
door panel on the s ide of the veh ic le that is struck in certain side
collision
~ fig . 148.
A lthough they are not a soft pi llow, they can "cus hion" the impact
and in this way they can he lp to reduce the risk of injury to the upper
part of the body.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and does not m ean there is a fire in the vehicle . •
Important safety instructions on the side
airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints . Always prop ­
erly wear safety belts and ride in a proper seating posi ­
tion .
There is a lo t t ha t you and you r passengers mus t know a nd act
according ly to he lp th e sa fety belts and airbags do th eir job to
prov ide supp lemental pro tec tion .
& WARNING
An inflating side airbag can cause seriou s or fatal injury. Improp ­
erly wearing safety belts and improper seating posit ions increa se
the ri sk of serious personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is
being u sed .
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
& WAR N ING (continued )
• In order to redu ce the risk of injury when the supplement al s ide
airbag infl ates :
- Alway s sit in an upright position and never lean against the
a rea where the supplement al s ide airbag is lo cated .
- Never let a child or anyone else rest their head against the
side t rim panel i n the area where the supplemental side airb ag
inflates.
- Always make sure that safety belts are worn corre ctly ,
- Do not let anyone sitting in the front seat put their hand or
any other parts of their bod y out of the window.
• Alway s m ake sure that the side airbag can inflate without inter ­
ference .
- Ne ver in stall se at cover s or repla cement upholste ry o ver the
front seat back s that have not been specifically approved by
Audi .
- Never use additional seat cushion s that cover the areas
where the side airbag s deploy .
- Dama ge to the original seat covers or to the seam in the a rea
of the side airb ag module must always be repaired immedi ­
ately by an authori zed Audi dealer .
• Obje cts bet ween you and the airbag can in crease the ri sk of
injury in an accident by interfering wi th the way the a irbag unfolds
or by be ing pu shed int o yo u as the airb ag inflat es.
- Never place or atta ch acce ssorie s or other object s (such as
c up holder s, telephone b rac ket s, or e ven l arge , bulky ob je cts)
on the doors , over or near the area marked "AIRBAG" on the
se at backre sts .
- Su ch ob ject s and acces sories can be come dangerou s projec ­
tile s and cau se injury when the supplemental side airbag
deploys. _.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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& WARNING (continued)
-Never carry any objects or pets in the deployment space
between them and the airbags or allow children or other
passengers to travel in this position .
• Always use the built-in coat hooks only for lightweight
clothing. Never leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the
pockets that may interfere with side airbag deployment and can
cause personal injury in an accident .
• Always prevent the side airbags from being damaged by heavy
objects knocking against or hitting the sides of the seatbacks.
• The airbag system can only be triggered once . If the airbag has
been triggered, the system must be replaced by an authorized
Audi dealership .
• Damage (cracks, deep scratches etc.) to the original seat covers
or to the seam in the area of the side airbag module must always
be repaired immediately by an authorized Audi dealer.
• If chi ldren are seated improperly, their risk of injury increases
in the case of an accident:::::,
page 169, "Child Safety".
• Never attempt to modify any components of the airbag system
in any way.
• In a side collision , side airbags will not function properly if
sensors cannot correctly measure increasing air pressure inside
the doors when air escapes through larger, unclosed openings in
the door panel.
-Never drive with interior door trim panels removed.
- Never drive when parts have been removed from the inside
door panel and the openings they leave have not been properly
closed.
- Never drive when loudspeakers in the doors have been
removed unless the speaker holes have been properly closed .
- Always make certain that openings are covered or filled if
additional speakers or other equipment is installed in the
inside door panels .
& WARNING (continued)
-Always have work on the doors done by an authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop . •
Side curtain airbags
Description of curtain airbags
The curtain airbags can provide supplemental protection
to properly restrained occupants.
Fig. 149 Curtain
airbag, driver's side :
side curtain airbag
location
The side curtain airbags are located on both sides of the interior
above the front and rear side windows:::::, fig. 149. They are identi­
fied by the word "AIRBAG" on the windshield frame and the center
roof pillar.
The side curtain airbag system supplements the safety belts and can help to reduce the risk of injury for occupants' heads and upper
torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side collision. The
side curtain airbag inflates only in side impacts and only when the
vehicle acceleration registered by the control unit is high enough. If
this rate is below the reference value programmed into the control
unit, the side airbags will not be triggered, even though the car may
be badly damaged as a result of the collision. It is not possible to
define an airbag triggering range that will cover every possible ..,

angle of impact, s inc e the ci rcumstanc es w ill vary considerably
bet ween one collisi on and another. Important factors include, for
example, the nature (hard or soft) of the impacting object, the ang le
of impact, vehicle speed, etc.=>
page 167.
Aside from the ir norma l safety func tion, sa fety be lts work to help
keep the driver or front passenger in position in the event of a colli ­
s ion so that the s ide curtain a irbags can provide protection.
T he airbag system is not a substitute for your safety belt. Rather, it
is part of the overall occupant restraint system in your veh icle .
A lways remember that the airbag system can only help to protect
you if you are wea ring your safety belt and wearing it proper ly . This
is another reason why you should a lways wear your safety belts, not
just because the law requires you to do so=>
page 137, "General
notes".
I t is important to remember that while the side curtain airbag
system is des igned to help reduce the likelihood of serious injuries,
other injuries, for examp le, swelling, bruising, and minor abrasions
can a lso be associated with these airbags upon de ployment .
Remember too, these airbags will dep loy only once and only in
certa in kinds of accidents -your safety be lts a re a lways there to
offer protection.
The side curtain airbag system basically consists of :
• The electronic control module and externa l side impact sensors
• The side curtain airbags above the fron t and rear s ide windows
• T he airbag indicator light in the instrument panel
The airbag system is moni tore d electronically to make c ertain it is
functioning properly at a ll times . Each time you turn on the ignition,
the ai rbag system indicator light w ill come on for a few seco nds
(self diagnostics).
The side curtain airbag is not activated :
• if the ignition is turned off,
• in side coll isions when the acce leration measured by the senso r
is too low,
Safety first
Airb ag sy ste m
• in front -end collisions,
• in rear-end co llisions,
• in ro llove rs.
& WARNING
• Safety belt s and the airbag sy stem will only prov ide protection
when oc cupant s are in the proper seating position
=> page 74 ,
"General recommendations".
• If the airbag indicator light comes on when the veh icle is being
u sed , have the system in spected immediately by your authori zed
Audi deale r. The side curt ain airbag may not work prope rly even
when the vehicle acceleration in a side coll ision is high enough to
act ivate the air b ag. •
How side curtain airbags work
S ide c urt ain air bags ca n work together with side air bags
to hel p redu ce the risk of he ad a nd up p er torso injuries for
occupants who are prope rly re stra ined.
Fig . 15 0 Ill ustra tio n of
pri nciple : In fl ated side
c u rt a in airb ag s on th e
left side
The side curtain airbags inflate between the occupant and the
wind ows on the side of the ve hicle that is struck in a side collis io n
=> fig . 150. jll-
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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When the system is triggered, the side curtain airbag is filled with
p ropel lan t gas and b rea ks th roug h a sea m above the fron t and rear
side windows identified by the A IR BAG labe l. In order to help
provide th is additi ona l protec tion, the side curtain ai rbag must
inflate within the b link of an eye at very high speed and with great
force . The side cu rtain ai rbag could inju re you if yo ur seating posi ­
t ion is not p roper or upright or if items are located i n the a rea w here
the supplementa l side curtain airbag inflates . This applies espe ­
cia lly to child re n :::::,
page 169.
Although they are not a soft pi llow, side curtain airbags can
"cus hion" the im pac t and in this way they can hel p to reduce the risk
of injury to the head and the upper part of the body .
A fine dust may develop when the airbag deploys . This is q uite
n orma l and does no t mean t he re is a fi re i n th e ve hicle .•
Important safety instructions on the side
curtain airbag system
A irb ags are only suppl emen ta l res tr a int s. A lways prop ­
erl y wear safety b elts and ride in a proper s ea ti ng posi ­
t io n.
T here is a lot that you and your passengers must know and do to
he lp th e sa fety belts and ai rbags do their j ob to prov ide su pple­
mental protection .
& WARNING
Improperly wearing safety belts and improper seating positions
increase the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever a
vehicle is being used .
• Never let occupants place any parts of their bodies in the area
from which the side curtain airbags inflate .
• Always make sure that the side curtain airbags can inflate
without interference . Unsuitable accessories fitted inside the
& WARNING (continued)
expansion range of a curtain airbag can dangerously interfere with
its function . A deploying head airbag develop s enough force to
catapult any piece of add-on component out of its path of inflation
and into the pa ssenger compartment. An occupant hit by such a
projectile can suffer serious injury or death=>
page 306, "Technical
Modifications" .
• Do not sw ivel the sun visors to the s ide if you have any objects
clipped onto them (for example pensl.
If the airbag should deploy ,
you could be injured by these objects .
• Use the built -in coat hooks only for lightweight clothing . Never
leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets that may
interfere with airbag deployment and can cause personal injury in
an accident .
• Never u se hangers to hang clothing from the hooks.
• Only use fa ctory-installed sun shades or , in the case of shades
installed after the vehicle leaves the factory , only Audi roll -up
suns creens m ay be used => page 305 , "Additional a ccessories and
parts replacement ".
• Always sit in proper seating position and wear safety belts
while traveling so that the side curtain airbags can help provide protect ion .
• The airbag system can only be triggered once.
If the airbag has
been triggered, the system must be replaced by an author ized
Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
• Always have work involving the side curtain airbag system ,
removal and installation of the airbag components, or other
repairs performed by a qualified workshop . Otherwise the airbag
system may not work correctly.
• Never attempt to modify any components of the airbag system
in anyway. •

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•
High temperatures, as from exposure to intense sunlight, intens ify
the corrosive effect particularly when humidity is high as well.
Under ce rtain circumstances ,
weekly washing may be necessary .
Under other conditions, a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate.
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed, preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>
page 206 . •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash . However , the
effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care
material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper­
ator immediately . If necessary, use a different car wash .
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau ­
tions such as closing the windows and panoramic sliding sunroof *.
Remove antenna if applicable.
If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle -such as
spoilers, roof rack , etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 206. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
-Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS=:>
& in "General informa ­
tion" on
page 206 .
-First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
- As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom , using a sponge, a sponge
glove or a clean brush.
- Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
- Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
- Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
- Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed to road dirt. In this way , you will not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car.
& WARNING
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts . .,
Vehicle care
I t •

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Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for vinyl trim. Remove water spots and traces of
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge . Use a clean, soft cloth to
rub dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe­
cially to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's luster and pliability.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page206. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page206 .•
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch -up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your authorized Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches
and stone chips. Scratches should be touched up soon after they
occur to prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification label~
page 298 .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page206.•
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup.
- Remove snow from windows using a brush.
- Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
- Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner.
- Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.

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•
The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush . Use a non -abrasive
pla stic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from w indows and mirrors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can inter fere with the function of the w inds hie ld w iper blades
(chatter).
Oil, grease o r sil icone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
s ilicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
spec ially fo rmulated so lvent . Please contac t your authorized Audi
dea ler for advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be c leaned on the inside at regular interva ls .
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces . Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
t hrough the windows .
& WARNING
• The windshield mu st not be treated with water -repellent mate ­
rials. T hey c an incre ase gl are under poor v isibility conditions such
a s wetne ss, darkne ss, or when the sun i s low on the hori zon. In
addition , they can cause the wind shield wipers to chatter .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 206.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows a nd mirrors . This cou ld cause the glass to crack.
• T o prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not p lace
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires .
• T o he lp prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete car car e includes the we atherst rip s as well .
App ly a suitable rubbe r con ditioner to the weatherstr ips
f ro m time to time.
To be able sea l properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliabl e. Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
co ne or coat them w ith ta lcum powder or glycer ine to retain the
f lexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winte r.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 206.
[ i ] Tip s
Keep si licone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
ra in .•
Ap plies to veh icles : with s tee l w hee ls (e .g . if ref itt e d w ith w inter tires )
Steel wheels
The wheels also h ave to be cleaned.
- Alw ays in clu de the hu b caps and whee l rims when
washing yo ur vehi cle to remove road dir t, sal t sprays an d
b rake dust.
If necessary, use a commercial whee l cleaner to remove accumu ­
lated brake dust.
The wheel rims are eas ier to keep clean if they are reg ula rly coa ted
with l iquid wax . ..
Vehicle care I t •

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N
~ a:. 00 m
F ig . 178 Battery in the
lugg ag e co mpartme nt
(6-c ylind er eng ine !:
Ba tter y cove r remo ved
T he condition of the battery is checked in the framework of the
inspection . We recommend rep lacing bat teries that are older than 5
years .
Disconnecting the battery
Some vehic le functions (power window regu lators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected . These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again. To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
veh icle electr ical system if absolutely necessary.
V ehicle with 4 -cylind er engin e
The battery is located in the engine compartment~ page 236,
fig. 177 and is nearly maintenance -free.
Vehi cle s with 6 -cylinder engine
The bat tery is loca ted in the luggage compartmen t=:> fig . 178,
under a bolted-down cover
4151 • The battery is maintenan ce -free .
Your ve hicle may be optionally equipped with a special battery,
41 Wor k on the battery of vehicles with 6-cy linder motor requires professional
dexterity and special tools! The bolts on the battery cover can only be re­
m oved w ith a s pecial tool. Because the batte ry is ma in tenance -free, it is
genera lly not necessary to access it.
51 The cover is used for safety reasons in an acc ident, the vehicle must not be
driven without the cover bolted in place correctly.
known as a. gel battery* . When this battery is replaced, it must be
replaced wi th a or iginal bat tery o f th e same type.
Vehicles not dri ven for long periods and short-distance
operation
The battery can a lso become discharged with the vehicle stationary
by id ling current consumers .
Valid for vehicles with 4 -cylinder
engine :
When the vehic le is stationary (planned event) during the
cold time of the year, you sh ould remove the battery an d store it in
a nonfreezing area. This way you prevent that the battery "freezes"
and thereby is destroyed . During the
warmer time of the year it is
suff icient to disconnect the negative terminal from the battery .
Occasiona lly charge even a disconnected battery .
Valid for veh icles
with 6 -cylinder engine:
All wor k on the ba ttery should be per formed
by an authorized dealership.
Winter op eration
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop. This is because more power is a lso consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc., are
use d more often .
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
wh en trave ling on ly shor t distances . Let you r au thor ize d Audi dea ler
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 240 . A well charged battery will not on ly prevent sta rting
problems when the weather is cold, but wi ll a lso last longer .
Replacing battery
The new battery must have the same capacity , vo ltage (12 volts),
a m perage, con struction and plug sea ling, as t he origina l battery.
Specifications are listed on the battery housing. Batteries specially
developed by Audi fulfill the maintenance, output, and safety
requirements.
When installing the battery , make sure the ignition and all electrical
co nsumers are switche d off ~
0. ..,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data