2010 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET Owners Manual

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& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Always make sure that the side airbag can inflate without
interference:
-Never install se at 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 sy stem 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 sy st e m can be deployed only onc e. After an airbag
has been deployed, it must be replaced w ith new replacement
parts de signed and approved es pecially for your Audi model
version . Replacement of complete airbag 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
separates the alternator and the starter from the vehicle electrical
system for safety reason s with a pyrotechnic circuit interrupter.
- Work on the pyrotechnic circu it interrupter must only be
performed by a qualified dealer -risk of an a ccident!
- If the vehicle or the circu it interrupter is scrapped, all appli­
cable safety precautions must be followed .
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
'£' For the sake of the environment
U
ndeployed airbag modules and pretens io ners mig ht be classified as
Perch lorate Material -special handling may app ly, see
www.d ts c. ca.gov/ha za rdouswaste/pe rchlorate . W he n t he vehicle or
parts of the restraint system includi ng a irbag modules safety belts
w ith pretens io ners are s crappe d, all ap plic abl e laws and reg ulat ion s
must be observed. Your author ized Aud i dealer is familiar with these
req uir ements and we recommen d that yo u have yo ur dea le r pe rform
this service for you .•
Other things that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Chang ing the ve hicle's suspension system can change the way that
t he Adv anced Airbag System pe rforms in a crash . For example, using
tire-r im combinations not approved by Aud i, lower ing the veh icle,
c hang ing the st iffness o f the suspe nsio n, incl uding the s prings,
s u spension str uts, shoc k absorbe rs etc. can change the forces that
are meas ured by the airb ag sensors and sen t to the ele ctron ic con trol
uni t. Some suspension changes ca n, for examp le, increase the force
levels measu red by t he sensors and ma ke the airbag system dep loy in
crashes in which it wou ld not deploy if the changes had not bee n
made . Other kin ds of changes may re duce the force levels meas ured
by the senso rs and p revent the airbag from dep loyi ng when it should .
The sensors in the safety belt buckle for the d river and front
p assenger se at tell the e le ct ro nic co ntro l mo dule if the sa fe ty belt is
latc hed or not . If the safety be lt is be ing used, the fron t airbag w ill
dep loy at a s ligh tly hig her ra te o f ve hicl e decelerat io n t han if the
safety belt is not be ing used. T he refo re, in a part icular collis io n, it is
poss ible that an a irbag wi ll not deploy at a seating posit ion where the
safety belt is being used but wi ll inflate at the posi tion whe re the
safety belt is not bei ng used. It is important that not hing interfere
w ith the s afe ty be lt bu ckles so t hat th e sensor s can sen d the correct
information about safety belt use to the electronic contro l unit. ..
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Ill Airbag system
---=---=----------------
& WARNING
Changing th e vehicle 's su sp en sion including use of unappro ved
tire -rim c ombination s can change Advan ced Airbag performan ce
and increas e the risk of serious personal injury in a cra sh .
• Never install suspension component s that do not have the
same performance characteristics as the components or iginally
installed on your veh icle.
• Never u se tir e-rim combinations that have not been approved
b y Audi.
& WARNING
Item s stored b etween the safety belt buckl e and the center
console can cause the sensors in the buckle to send the wrong
information to the ele ctroni c control module and prevent the
Advanced Airbag System from w orking properl y.
• Always make sure that nothing can interfere with the safety
belt buckles and that they a re not obstru cted .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Undeployed airbag modu les and pretensioners might be class ified as
Perch lorate Mate rial -special handling may app ly, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/pe rchlorate . When the vehicle or
p arts of t he rest raint sys tem including a irbag mod ules safe ty belts
w ith pretens ioners are scrapped, all applicable laws and regulat ions
must be observed. Your authorized Audi dealer is familiar with these
requ irements and we recommend that you have your dealer perform
this se rvice for yo u.•
Knee airbags
Applies to veh icles: w it h Knee a irbags
Description of knee airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental protection
to properly restrained front seat occupants.
....
! 00 m
Fig. 201 D riv er's kn ee
a ir ba g
The knee airbag for the driver is located in the instrume nt panel
unde rneath the steering whee l:::> fig. 201, the knee airbag for the
passenge r is at about the same he ight in the instrument panel under­
neath the g love compartment .
Th e knee airbag offers addit ional protec tion to the dr ive r's and
passenger's knees and upper and lower thigh areas as a supplement
t o the sa fety bel ts.
If the front a irbags dep loy, the knee airbags a lso deploy i n frontal
co llisions above a certain severity=>
page 209, "More importan t
things to know about front airbags" .
Besides the ir normal safety function, safety be lts work to help keep
t he drive r o r front passenger in po sit ion in c ase o f a frontal collision
so that the a irbags can provide protection .
Th e airbag system is not a substitute for your safety belt . Rather, it is
part of the overall occ upant restra int system in your veh icle . Always
remember t hat the airbag system can on ly help to protect you if you
~

are wearing your safety belt and wear ing it properly . This is why you
should always wear your safety belt, not just because the law requires
you to do so::::>
page 190, "General notes".
The safety belt buckle for the driver and front seat passenger have
switches that tell the airbag control module if the safety belt is being
used or not. If the safety belt is being used, the knee airbag will
dep loy at a slightly higher rate of deceleration than if the belt is not
being used. Therefore, in a particular collision, it is poss ible that an
airbag will not deploy at a seating position where the safety belt is
being used but will inflate at the position whe re the safety be lt is not
being used.
Remember too, airbags w ill deploy only once and only in certa in kinds
of accidents -your safety belts are always there to offer protection in
t hose accidents in which airbags are not supposed to deploy or when
they have already deployed, for example when your vehicle strikes or
is struck by another after the first collision.
This is just one of the reasons why an airbag is not a substitute for the
safety belt. The airbag system wo rks most effective ly when used with
the safety belts. Therefore, always wear your safety belts correctly .
It is important to remember that while the supplemental airbag
system is desig ned to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other
injuries, for example, swe lling, bruis ing, and minor abrasions can
also be associated with airbags.
The knee airbag system basically consists of:
• Th e electronic control module
• T wo inflatable airbags (airbag and gas generator), one for the
driver and one for the front passenger
• The airbag indicator light in the instrument panel
The knee airbag system will not deploy:
• when the ignition is turned off
• in front-end collis ions when the decelerat ion measured by the
control unit is too low
• in s ide collisions
Safety first Vehicle OP-eration
Airbag system
• in rear-end collisions
• in rollovers
• in the event of a system ma lfunction (warning/indicator light illu­
minated)
=> page 14 .
& WARNING
• Safety belts and the airbag system can only provide protection
when occupants are in the proper seating position =>
page 209.
• If the airbag indicator light comes when the vehicle is being
used, have the system inspected immediately by your authorized
Audi dealer. The airbag may not work properly when the vehicle
acceleration in a side collision is high enough to deploy the airbag.
See also =>
page 14. •
A pp lies to vehi cles: w ith K nee airb ags
How knee airbags work
The risk of injury to the leg area is reduced by fully
deployed knee airbags.
Fig . 202 Inflated
airbags protecting
in a
frontal collision
The knee air bag system has been designed so that the airbags for the
dr iver and front passenger are deployed in certa in but not all frontal
co llisions .
ti-
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

........ _A_ ir_ b_ a-=g ,__ s,,.,y _s _t _e_ m _______________________________________________ _
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbags also deploy in frontal
collisions above a certain severity.
When the system is deployed, the a irbags start to fill with a prope l­
lant gas , and inflate between the lower part of the instrument panel
and the driver and the lower part of the instrument panel and the
front passenger =>
page 209, fig. 199.
Altho ugh they are not a soft pillow, they can cushion the impact and
in this way they can help to reduce the risk of injury to the lower
extremities.
All this takes place instantaneously, so fast that many people don't
even realize that the airbags have deployed. The airbags also inflate
w ith a great deal of force and it is important fo r occupant safety that
nothing should be in their way when they deploy.
Fully inflated airbags in combination with properly worn safety belts
slow down and limit the occupant's forward movement and help to
red uce the risk.•
Applies to ve hicle s: wit h Knee ai rbag s
Important safety instructions on the knee
airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. Always wear
safety belts correctly and ride in a proper seating posi­
tion.
Th ere is a lot that yo u and your passengers must know and do to help
the safety belts and a irbags to prov ide supp lemental protection.
& WARNING
An inflating knee airbag can cause serious injury. Wearing safety
belts incorrectly and improper seating positions increase the risk
of serious personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is being
used.
& WARNING (continued)
• The airbag system cannot protect you properly if you are seated
too close to any of the airbag locations. When adjusting their seat
positions, it is important that both the driver and the front
passenger keep their upper bodies and knees at the following
minimum safe distances:
- 10 inches (25 cm) between the chest and the steering
wheel/instrument panel.
- 4 inches (10 cm) between the knees and the lower part of
the instrument panel.
• The risk of personal injury increases if you lean forward or to
the side, or if the seat is improperly positioned and you are not
wearing your safety belt. The risk increases even more should the
airbag deploy.
• Always make sure that the knee airbag can inflate without
interference. Objects between yourself and the airbag can increase
the risk of injury in an accident by interfering with the way the
airbag deploys or by being pushed into you as the airbag deploys.
- No persons (children) or animals should ride in the footwell
in front of the passenger seat. If the airbag deploys, this can
result in serious or fatal injuries.
- No objects of any kind should be carried in the footwell area
in front of the driver's or passenger's seat. Bulky objects (shop­
ping bags, for example) can hamper or prevent proper deploy­
ment of the airbag. Small objects can be thrown through the
vehicle if the airbag deploys and injure you or your passengers.
• Make sure there are no cracks, deep scratches or other damage
in the area of the instrument panel where the knee airbags are
located.
• If children are incorrectly seated, their risk of injury increases
in the case of an accident =>
page 222, "Child Safety". •

Side airbags
Description of side airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental protection
to properly restrained occupants.
Fig. 203 Side airbag
location in the driver's
seat
The side airbags are located in the sides of the front seat backrests
=>
page 219, fig. 203. They are identified by the word "AIRBAG" .
The side airbag system basically consists of:
• the electronic control module and external side impact sensors
• the two side airbags located in the sides of the front backrests
• the airbag warning light in the instrument cluster.
The airbag system is monitored electronically to make certain that it
is functioning properly at all times. Each time you turn on the igni­
tion, the airbag system indicator light will come on for a few seconds
(self diagnostics) .
The side airbag system supplements the safety belts and can help to reduce the risk of injury to the driver's and front passenger's upper
torso on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side collision. The
airbag deploys only in side impacts and only when the vehicle acceler­
ation 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
Safety first Vehicle OP-eration
Airbag system
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,
since the circumstances will vary considerably between one collision
and another. Important factors include, for example, the nature
(hard or soft) of the impacting object, the angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc.
=> page 220, "Important safety instructions on the side
airbag system" .
Aside from their normal safety function, safety belts work to help keep the driver or front passenger in position in the event of a side
collision so that the side airbags can provide protection.
The airbag system is
not a substitute for your safety belt. Rather, it is
part of the overall occupant restraint system in your vehicle. Always
remember that the side airbag system can only help to protect you if
you are wearing your safety belt and wearing it properly. This is
another reason why you should always wear your safety belts, not just
because the law requires you to do so=>
page 190, "General notes".
It is important to remember that while the supplemental side airbag
system is designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other
injuries, for example, swelling, bruising, and minor abrasions can
also be associated with deployed side airbags. Remember too, side
airbags will deploy only once and only in certain kinds of accidents -
your safety belts are always there to offer protection .
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle damage are
not necessarily an indication of over-sensitive or failed airbag activa­
tion. In some collisions, both front and side airbags may inflate.
Remember too, that airbags will deploy only once and only in certain
kinds of collisions -your safety belts are always there to offer protec­
tion in those accidents in which airbags are not supposed to deploy or
when they have already deployed.
The side airbag system will not deploy:
• when the ignition is turned off
• in side collisions when the acceleration measured by the sensor is
too low
• in front-end collisions
~
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

Ill Airbag system
----=------------------------------
• in rear-end collisions
• in rollovers.
In some types of accidents the front a irbags a nd side a irbags may be
t riggered together.
& WARNING
• Safety belt s and the airbag sy stem will only provide prote ction
when occupants are in the proper seating position=>
page 220.
• If the airbag indicator l ight comes on when the vehicle is being
used , have the system inspected immediately by your authorized
Audi dealer. The airbag may not work properly when the vehicl e
accele ration in a side collision is h igh enough to activate the
airbag .•
How supplemental side airbags work
Side airbags deploy instantly and con help reduce the risk
of upper torso injuries for occupants who ore properly
restrained.
F ig. 2 04 Inflated side
ai rbag s on left s ide o f
veh icle
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with p ropellant gas
and breaks through a seam in the seat surface area marked
"AIRBAG". I t expands between the side t rim panel and the passenger.
In order to he lp provide this additional protection, the side airbag must inflate within a fraction of a second at very hig
h speed and with
great force. The supp lemen tal side airbag cou ld inju re you if yo ur
seat ing position is not proper or upr ight or if items are located in the
area where the s upplemental s ide a irbag expands. This applies espe­
cially to children=>
page 222 , "Child Safety". Suppleme nta l s ide
airbags inflate between the occupant and the door panel on the side
of the vehicle that is s truck in certa in side collision=> fig. 204.
Although they are not a soft pi llow, they can "cush ion" the impact
and in t his way t hey can help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper
part of the body.
A fine dust may develop w hen the airbag dep loys. This is norma l and
does not mean the re is a fire i n the vehicle. •
Important safety instructions on the side
airbag system
Airba gs are only supplemental restraints. Always prop­
erly wear safety belts and ride in a proper sea ting posi­
tion .
There is a lot that you and your passengers m ust know and act acco rd­
ing ly to he lp the safety be lts and a irbags do the ir job to prov ide
supplementa l protection .
& WARNING
An inflating side airbag can caus e serious or fatal inju ry. Improp­
erly wearing safety belts and improper seating po sition s increa se
the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is
being used .
• In order to reduce the risk of injury when the supplemental
side airbag inflates:
-Alway s sit in an upright position and never lean against the
area where the supplement al side airbag is located . _,

Airbag system -----------------=--=---
& WARNING (continued)
-Never let a child or anyone else rest their head against the
side trim panel in the area where the supplemental side airbag
inflates.
- Always make sure that safety belts are worn correctly,
- Do not let anyone sitting in the front seat put their hand or
any other parts of their body out of the window.
• Always make sure that the side airbag can inflate without
interference .
- Never install seat covers or replacement upholstery over the front seat backs that have not been specifically approved by
Audi.
- Never use additional seat cushions that cover the areas
where the side airbags deploy.
- 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.
• Objects between you and the airbag can increase the risk of
injury in an accident by interfering with the way the airbag unfolds
or by being pushed into you as the airbag inflates. -Never place or attach accessories or other objects (such as
cupholders, telephone brackets, or even large, bulky objects)
on the doors, over or near the area marked "AIRBAG" on the
seat backrests.
- Such objects and accessories can become dangerous projec­
tiles and cause injury when the supplemental side airbag deploys.
- 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 prevent the side airbags from being damaged by heavy
objects knocking against or hitting the sides of the seatbacks.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING (cont
inued)
• 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 children are seated improperly, their risk of injury increases
in the case of an accident=>
page 222, "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.
- Always have work on the doors done by an authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop . •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Child Safety P:llf..,____ ______________ _
Child Safety
Important things to know
Introduction
The rear seat is generally the safest place in a collision.
The physi cal pr in ci ples of wha t happe ns when yo ur vehicl e is in a cras h
apply a lso to chi ldren=>
page 192, "What happens to occupants not
wearing safety belts?" . B ut unlike a dults and teenage rs, their
muscles and bones are not fully deve loped. In many respects c hildren
are at greater risk of ser io us injury in c rashes than adults.
Beca use child ren's bodies are not fu lly d ev el op ed, they requ ire
restra int systems especially designed fo r their size, weight, and body
st ruct ure. M any count ries a nd a ll states of t he Uni ted St ates and
prov inces of Canada have laws requ iring the use of approved c hild
restrain t sys tems for infants and sm all chi ldr en .
In a frontal crash at a speed o f 20-35 mph (30-56 km/ h) the forces
act ing on a 13-poun d (6 kg) infant w ill be more than 20 times t he
we ight of the c hild . This means t he weigh t of the child would
sudden ly be more than 260 po unds (120 kg). Under these conditions,
only a n app ropr iate child restra int properly use d can red uce t he risk
of serious in jury. Child restra ints must be used properly to be effec­
t ive. Use d im properly, they c an increase the risk of ser io u s injury in an
acc ident.
Consult the c hild safety sea t manufac ture r's ins truc tion s in order to
be sure the seat is right for your c hild's size=>
page 225, "Im por tan t
safety instructions fo r using chi ld safety seats". P lease be s ure to
read and heed all of t he impo rtant informa tion and WAR NINGS
about ch ild safety, Advanced Airba gs, and the installation of c hild
restrain ts i n t his chapte r.
The re is a lot you need to know about the Advanced Airbags in your
veh icle and how t hey wo rk when inf ants and childre n in child
restra in ts are o n the front passenger seat . Beca use of the la rge amount of importan
t informat ion, we can not rep eat i t all he re . We
urge you to read the detai led information in this owner's manual
abou t ai rb ags a nd th e Adva nced Airbag Syste m in your vehicle an d the
very important information abo ut transporting children on the front
pa ssen ger s eat. P lease be sure to heed the W ARN IN GS -th ey are
extremely important fo r your safety a nd the sa fety of your passe n­
g ers , especially infants and small childre n.
& WARNING
• Accident statistics have shown that children are generally safer
in the rear seat area than in the front seating position. Always
restrain any child age 12 and under in the rear.
• All vehicle occupants and especially children must be
restrained properly whenever riding in a vehicle. An unrestrained
or improperly restrained child could be inju red by striking the
interior or by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden
maneuver or impact. An unrestrained or improperly restrained
child is also at greater risk of injury or death through contact with
an inflating airbag.
• A suitable child re straint properly installed and used at one of
the rear seating posit ions provides the highest degree of protec­
tion for infants and small children in most accident situations .
& WARNING
Children on the front seat of any car even with Advanced Airbags
can be seriously injured or even killed when an airbag inflates. A
child in a rearward -facing child safety seat installed on the front
passenger seat will be seriously injured and can be killed if the
front airbag inflates .
• The inflating airbag will hit the child safety seat or infant
carrier with great for ce and will sma sh the child safety seat and
child against the backrest, or door.
IJll,