........ _A_ i_rb _ a_,g,:;._ s_, y'- s_ t_e _m ________________________________________________ _
& WARNING (conti nued)
seating position and have the airbag system inspected by your
authorized Audi dealer .
• A tight tether or othe r strap on a rearward-facing child
restraint attached to the front passenger seat can put too much
pressure on the weight-sensing mat in the seat and register more
weight than i s actually on the seat. The heav ier weight registered
can make the system work as though an adult were on the seat
and deploy the Advanced Airbag when it must be suppressed
causing serious or even fatal injury to the child .
• If, in ex ceptional circumstances, you must install a forward·
facing child restraint on the front passenger seat, always move
the seat into i ts rearmo st po sition in the seat's fore and aft adjust ·
ment range, as far away from the airbag as possible . The backrest
must be adjusted to an upright position. Make sure that the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light comes on and stays on all the time
whenever the ignition is switched on.
& WARNING
• If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light do es not go out when an
adult is sitting on the front passenger seat after taking the steps
de scribed above, make sure the adult i s properly seated and
restrained at one of the rear seating positions.
• Have the airbag system inspected by your authorized Audi
dealer before transporting anyone on the front passenger seat.
[ i ] Tips
If the we ight-sens ing mat in the front passenger seat detects an
empty seat, the front a irbag on the passenger side w ill be t urne d off,
and PASS ENGER AIR BAG OFF will stay on.•
Repair, care and disposal of the airbags
Parts of the a irbag system a re installed at many different p laces on
your Audi. Inst all in g, remov ing, servic ing or repa iring a part in an
area of the ve hicle can damage a part of an airbag system and preve nt
t ha t system from working pro perl y in a coll is ion.
T here are some important thi ngs you have to know to make sure that
the effectiveness of the system will not be impa ired an d that
discarded components do no t cause injury or poll ute the enviro n
ment .
& WARNING
Improper care , servicing and repair procedures can increase the
risk of personal injury and death by preventing an airbag from
deploying when needed or deploying an airbag unexpectedly:
• Never cover, obstruct , or change the steering wheel horn pad or
airbag cover or the instrument panel or modify them in any way.
• Never attach any objects such as cupholders or telephone
mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag unit s.
• For cleaning the horn pad or instrument panel, use only a soft,
dry cloth or one moistened with plain water. Solvent s or cleaners
could damage the airbag cover or change the stiffness or strength
of the material so that the airbag cannot deploy and protect prop·
erly .
• Never repair, adjust, or change any part s of the airbag system .
• All work on the steering wheel, instrument panel , front seats
or electrical sy stem (including the installation of audio equip·
ment , cellular telephones and CB radios, etc .) must be performed
by a qualified technician who ha s the training and special equip ·
ment necessary .
• For any work on the airbag system, we strongly re commend
that you see your autho rized Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
• Never modify the front bumper or parts of the vehicle body.
liJ,,
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". •
Child Safety Ill
------------------=------
& WARNING (continued)
will strike parts of the vehicle interior. The child can be seriously injured or killed.
• Never install rearward-facing child safety seats or infant
carriers on the front passenger seat. A child will be seriously
injured and can be killed when the passenger airbag inflates .
• The inflating airbag will hit the child safety seat or infant
carrier with great force and will smash the child safety seat and
child against the backrest, center arm rest, door or roof. • Always install rearward-facing child safety seats or infant
carriers on the rear seat.
• Forward-facing child safety seats or infant carriers installed on
the front passenger's seat may interfere with the deployment of
the airbag and cause serious injury to the child.
• It is safer to install a forward-facing child safety seat on the
rear seat.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS whenever using a child
restrained in a vehicle is being used:::::>
page 222. Special precau
tions apply when installing a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat:::::>
page 202, "Child restraints on the front seat -
some important things to know ".
& WARNING
Always take special precautions if you must install a forward or
rearward-facing child restraint on the front passenger's seat in
exceptional situations:
• Whenever a forward or rearward-facing child restraint is
installed on the front passenger seat, the PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF light must come on and stay on whenever the ignition is
switched on.
• If the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF light does not come on and
stay on, perform the checks described:::::>
page 211, "Monitoring
the Advanced Airbag System".
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
(continued)
• Take the child restraint off the front passenger seat and install
it properly at one of the rear seat positions if the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF light does not stay on whenever the ignition is switched
on.
• Improper installation of child restraints can reduce their effec
tiveness or even prevent them from providing any protection.
• An improperly installed child restraint can interfere with the
airbag as it deploys and seriously injure or even kill the child.
• Always carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions
provided with the child safety seat or carrier.
• Never place additional items on the seat that can increase the
total weight registered by the weight-sensing mat and can cause
injury in a crash.
& WARNING
Forward-facing child restraints:
• Always make sure the forward-facing seat has been designed
and certified by its manufacturer for use on a front seat with a
passenger front and side airbag. • Never put the forward-facing child restraint up, against or very
near the instrument panel.
• Always move the passenger seat into its rearmost position in
the seat's fore and aft adjustment range, as far away from the
airbag as possible before installing the forward-facing child
restraint. The backrest must be adjusted to an upright position.
• Make sure that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light comes on
and stays on all the time whenever the ignition is switched on.
& WARNING
Rearward-facing child restraints:
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
____________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ i n--= g=--- a_n_ d----' p,__ r_o _t_ e_ c_ t_ i _o_ n __ _
detergent . Apply the water with a damp cloth or sponge and pat the
fabric dry with an absorbent, dry cloth.
Stains from chocolate or makeup should have detergent paste
rubbed into them. Afterwards, remove the soap with water (damp
sponge).
Alcohol can be used to treat stains from grease, oil, lipstick or a ball
point pen . Melted grease or dye must be patted off using absorbent
material. It may be necessary to retreat the areas with detergent
paste and water.
I n the case of general soiling of the upholstery and cover mater ial, we
recommend hiring a specialist that has the equipment to clean the
seat covers and other fabric surfaces by shampooing and spray
extraction.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=>page 260.
[ i ] Tips
Open Velcro fasteners on your clothing can damage the seat cover.
Please make sure that Velcro fasteners are closed. •
Plastic parts and instrument panel
Always use a clean cloth moistened in clear water to clean these
areas. For persistent dirt use an Aud i approved
solvent-free plastic
cleaner/protectant.
& WARNING
Solvents can change the properties of some plastics and make it
harder for the airbag to deploy .
Safety first
& WARNING (continued)
• Never clean the instrument panel or the surface of airbag
modules with cleaning products that contain solvents.
• Products containing solvents will make the surface of this part
porous.
• Serious injuries can result if plastic parts come loose when the
a irba g is deployed.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 260.
0 Note
Cleaning agents containing solvents will attack the material and can
change the way it behaves .•
Applies to vehicles: w ith na tur al leather
Natural leather
Audi makes great efforts to maintain the properties,
natural look and feel of interior leather.
General
We offe r many different types of leathe r on our veh icles. Most are
different types of nappa leather, which has a smooth surface and
comes in various colors.
Th e intensity of the colo r determines the visual cha racteristics and
appearance. If the surface of the leather has a typica l natural look,
then the leather is a nap pa leather that has been left in a relatively
natural condition. This leather offers particularly good comfort and
breathes well. Fine veins, closed grains, insect bites, skin folds, and
subtle variations in color remain visible. These characteristics demon
strate that the mater ial is natu ral.
Natural nappa leather is not covered by a color finish. It is therefore
more sensitive to soiling and wear, which is something you need to ..,_
Vehicle care Technical data
___________________________________________ C_ h _ e_c _k _ i_n -=g .._ a_n _ d_ f_i _ll _i _ n -=g '-- ........
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
- Open the driver's door.
Fig. 218 Driver's side
footwell : engine hood
release lever
- Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel ::::, fig . 218 in the direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Vehicle OP-eration
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 219 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise, they
could damage the paint on the hood.
Pull up on the release under the hood::::, fig. 219 . This
releases the catch.
- Open the hood all the way::::,& .
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data
______________________________________________ F _u_s _e_ s_ a_ n_ d _ b _u_l_b _ s _ ___.9I
Fuses and bulbs
Fuses
Replacing a fuse
A problem in the electrical system may be caused by a
blown fuse.
Fig. 244 Instrument
panel left: Face cover
- Locate the fuse which belongs to the component which
failed.
- Switch off the ignition and the electrical component affected.
- Carefully pry the face cover
off the instrument panel using
a screwdriver => fig. 244 .
- Remove the plastic clip from its retainer in the face cover,
place it over the questionable fuse and remove the fuse.
- Replace a blown fuse (recognizable by the melted metal
strip inside) with a fuse of the
same amperage.
The individual circuits are protected by fuses. The fuse panels with
the fuses are located on the left and right front faces of the instru-
Vehicle OP-eration
ment panel behind a cover and in the right storage area in the
luggage compartment.
There is a plastic clip in the cover on the left side of the instrument
panel, which can be used to remove the fuses. You will also find a
label on both covers in the instrument panel with the fuse layout for
the corresponding fuse panel.
& WARNING
Never replace a fuse with one that has a higher amperage rating.
• A fuse with a too high amperage could damage the electrical
part and cause a fire.
0 Note
• On no account should fuses be repaired (e.g. patched up with tin
foil or wire) as this may cause serious damage elsewhere in the elec
trical circuit or cause fire .
• If a fuse blows repeatedly, do not keep replacing it. Instead, have
the cause of the repeated short circuit or overload located and fixed.
Ii] Tips
You are well advised to keep a supply of spare fuses in your vehicle .
Fuses with the proper ampere ratings are available at your authorized
Audi dealer. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service iTechnical data