
_________________________________________________ A_ ir_ b_ a_,,g :;..__ s-=y '"- s_ t_ e_ m __ _
& WARNING (co ntinued )
airbag during braking or in a sudden maneuver. Objects near the
airbags can b ecome projectiles and cause injury , particularly when
the seat is reclined.
& WARNING
The fine dust created when airbags deploy can c ause breathing
problems
for people with a history of asthma or other breathing
conditions.
• To
reduce the risk of breathing probl ems, those with asthma or
other respiratory conditions should get fresh air right away by
getting out of the vehicle or opening windows or doors.
• If you are in a colli sion in which airbags deploy, wash your
hands and face with
mild soap and water before eating .
• Be careful
not to get the dust into your eyes, or into any cuts or
scratches.
• If the residue should get into your eyes, flush them with
water. •
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System
Airbag monitoring indicator Light~~
Two sep ara te i ndic a to rs mo nit o r the func tio n of the
A dvan ced Ai rb ag Sy stem: th e airbag mo nito ring i ndic ator
lig ht and th e
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light.
The A dvanced A irbag System ( includ ing the elect ronic contro l unit,
senso r circu it s and system wir ing) is mon it or ed co ntinuous ly to make
sure that it is function ing p roperly whenever the ignition is on. Eac h
tim e you turn on the igni tion, the airba g mo nitoring indicat or ligh t
t:.
will come o n for a few seconds (se lf diagnostics) .
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
The system must be inspected when the indicator
light ~:
• does not come o n when the ignit io n i s switched on,
• does not go o ut a few se conds a fter you h ave switche d on t he ig ni
tion, or
• co mes on whil e dr iving.
If a n airbag system malfunction is detected, the ind icator light will
fi rst start flashing to catc h the dr iver 's attention and t hen stay on
cont inuo usly to s erve as a constan t rem inder to have the system
inspected immediately .
If a ma lf u ncti on oc curs that tur ns th e fron t air bag on the passe nger
side off, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will come on and stay on
w henever the ignition is on.
& WARNING
An airbag system that is not functioning properly cannot provide
supplemental p rotect ion in a frontal crash .
• If the airbag indicator light comes on, it means that there may
be something wrong with the Advanced Airbag System. It is
possible that the airbag will inflate when it is not supposed to, or
will not inflate when it should .
• Have the airbag system inspected immediately by your autho
rized Audi dealer. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

______________________________________________ ___::A....:..:..: i r:...: b=.= a:.;g ~ s~y :.:s:.: t:.: e:.: m~ ---
& 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 use the built-in coat hooks only for lightweight
clothing. Never leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
(continued)
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 children are seated improperly, their risk of injury increases
in the case of an accident=>
page 215, "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

-Airbag system -
--=---=----------------
Side curtain airbags
Description of side curtain airbags
The side curtain airbag system can provide supplemental
protection to properly restrained occupants .
Fig . 18 5 Side c urta in
sys tem, drive r's side:
s ide cu rtain ai rba g
loc atio n
The side curtain airbags are located on both sides of the interio r
above the front and rear side windows=> fig. 185. They are identified
by t he word "AIRBAG" on the w indshield frame and t he center roof
pillar.
T he side curta in airbag system s upplements t he safety belts and can
help to reduce the risk of inju ry for occupa nts' heads a nd upper torso
on t he side of the vehicle th at is struck i n a sid e collision . The s ide
cu rtain airbag inflates i n side im pacts and o nly when the vehicle
acceleration reg istered by the contro l unit is high enoug h. If this rate
is below the reference va lue programmed into the cont rol unit, the
side airbags wi ll not be triggere d, even though t he car may be bad ly
damaged as a resul t of the co llis ion .
It is not possib le to define an
airbag triggering range that w ill cover every possible angle of impact,
s in ce the circumstance s will vary conside rably between one colli sion
and another. Important factors include, for example, the nature
(h ard o r soft) of t he impa cti ng obje ct, t he a ngle of impa ct, vehicle
speed, etc.=>
page 213, "H ow side curta in airbags work" . Aside from the
ir normal safety fu nction, safety belts work to he lp
keep the driver or fron t passen ger in posit io n in t he even t of a co lli
sion so that the s ide cu rta in a irbags can provide protection .
T he airbag system is not a substitute for your safety belt . Rathe r, it is
pa rt of the ove rall oc cupant rest ra int system in your veh icle. Alway s
remember that the airbag system can on ly help to protect you if yo u
a re wear ing you r safety be lt and we aring it p ro perly. Thi s is anothe r
reason why you s hou ld always wear your safety be lts, not just because
t he law requi res you to do so=>
page 181, "Gene ral no tes" .
It is important to remember that while the s ide curta in airbag system
is designed to he lp reduce the like lihood of ser io us injur ies, other
in ju ries, fo r example, swe lling, br uis ing, and minor abras ions can
also be assoc iate d with these airbags. Remember too, these a irbags
w ill deploy on ly on ce a nd on ly in ce rtain kinds of acci den ts -yo ur
safety belts are always there to offer p rotect ion .
The side curtain airbag system basically consists of:
• T he electron ic control mo dule and e xternal side impact sensors
• The sid e curtain airbags above the front and rea r side windows
• Th e air bag indic ator ligh t in the ins tru men t panel
T he a irbag system is mo nitored e lectro nica lly to make certain it is
functioning prope rly at a ll times . Each time you turn on t he ignitio n,
t he a irbag system indica to r light w ill come on for a few secon ds (self
diagnostics) .
The side curtain airbag is not activated:
• if the ignition is turned of f,
• in side co llisions when the accelerat io n measured by the sensor is
t oo low,
• in rear-end co llisions ,
• in rollovers. _,.

Airbag system Ill
----------------=--=---
& WARNING
• Safety belts and the airbag system will only prov ide protection
when oc cupants are in the proper seating position =>
page 73,
"General recommendations ".
• If the airbag indicator light comes on when the vehicle i s being
used , have the system inspected immediately by your authorized
Audi dealer. The side curtain airbag may not work properly even
when the vehicle a cceleration in a side collision is high enough to
activate the airbag. •
How side curtain airbags work
Side curtain ai rbags can work together with side airbags
to h elp reduce the risk of head and upper torso injuri es for
occupants who are properly restrained.
..
Fig . 1 8 6 Illu st ra tion
o f princi ple: Inflated
side curtain airb ag s on
the left s ide
Th e side curtai n airbags inflate between the occup an t and t he
windows on the side of t he veh icle tha t is struck in a side coll is ion
=> fig . 18 6.
When the system is tr iggered, the side curta in a irbag is filled with
prope llant gas and breaks t hrough a seam above the front an d rear
side w indows identifie d by t he A IRBA G labe l. In o rder to he lp p rov ide
this additional protection, t he s ide c urtain airbag must inflate within
t he blink of an eye at ve ry high speed and with gre at f orce. The side
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
curtain a
irbag co uld in jure you if your seating posit io n is not proper or
upr ight or if items are lo cated in the area where the s uppleme ntal
side cu rtain airbag i nflates. T his app lies especially to c hildren
=> page 215.
Alt hough they a re not a sof t pill ow, side curta in airbags c an "cushion"
the impact and in this way they can help to reduce the risk of injury to
t he head and t he uppe r part o f th e bo dy.
A fine d ust may develop when the airbag deploys . Th is is quite norma l
and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle .•
Important safety instructions on the side
curtain airbag system
A irbags ar e only supp lemental r estraints. Always prop
e rly wear s afe ty b elts and ride in a proper seating posi
tio n.
T he re is a lot that yo u and your passenge rs must k now and do to help
the safety belts and airba gs do their job to provide supplemental
protection .
& WARNING
Improperly wearing safety belts and improper seating pos itions
increa se the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever a
vehicle is being used.
• Never let oc cupants place any parts of their bodie s 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
expansion range of a head airbag can dangerously interfere with
its function. A deploying head airbag develops enough force to
catapult any piece of add-on component out of its path of inflation
and into the passenger compartment. An occupant hit by such a .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Intelligent technology
'-------------------------------------------------
vi dual components. It regulates consumption, so that more electrical
energy is not being used than is being generated and ensures an
optimal state of charge for the battery .
[I] Tips
• But even energy management cannot negate the limits of physics.
Consider that the power and life of a battery are limited.
• If starting ability is threatened, you are informed by a warning
~ page 245, "Driver notification in the instrument cluster display" .•
What you should know
The highest priority is given to maintaining starting capa
bility.
Th e battery is severe ly taxed in short-distance driving, in city traffic
and during the cold time of year. Abundant electrical energy is
required, but only a little is generated.
It is also critical if the engine
is not running and electrical components are turned on. In this
instance energy is being consumed but none is being generated.
It is in prec ise ly these sit uations that you will notice energy manage
ment actively regulating the distribution of energy.
Vehicle stands for an extended period
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or weeks,
electrical components are gradually cut back or sw itched off. This
reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capability over a
longer period.
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions, such as the remo te key or power seat adjust
ment, may not be available. The convenience functions will be avail
able again when you turn on the ignition and start the engine.
W ith the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with the engine turned off or
use other MMI functions, the battery is being discharged .
If starting capability is jeopardized due to energy consumption, the
following warning appears in the MMI display:
Please start engine, otherwise system will switch off in
3 minutes.
Th e warn ing indicates that the system will be turned off automati
cally after 3 m inutes. If you wish to continue using the functions, you
have to start the engine.
With the engine running
Although electrica l energy is generated when the vehicle is being
driven, the battery can become discharged. This happens most ly
when little energy is being generated and a great deal consumed and
the battery's state of charge is not optimal.
T o br ing the ene rgy balance back into equilibrium, consumers which
require especially large amounts of energy are temporarily cut back
or switched off. Heating systems in particular require a great deal of
energy .
If you notice, for example, that the heated seats* or the
heated rear window are not heating, they have been temporarily cut
back or switched off. These systems will be ava ilable again as soon as
the energy ba lance has been restored.
You will also notice that engine idle speed has been increased
slightly. This is normal and not a cause for concern. By increasing
eng ine id le speed the additional energy required is generated and the
battery is charged. •

____________________________________________ C_l_e _a_ n_ i n--= g=--- a_n_ d----' p,__ r_o _t_ e_ c_ t_ i _o_ n __ lffll
Under certain 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 shou ld be thoroughly
washed, p referably in a profess ional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 256. •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto
matic car wash.
Th e 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 lar ge exten t 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 thro ugh a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau
tions such as closing the windows and the roof. Factory installed
antennas must not be removed.
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 256. •
Safety first
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
-Before you star t washing, make sure you have read and
understood the WARNINGS~
& in "General informa
tion" on
page 256.
- 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, flush ing 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 coa rse 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.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~page 256. _..
Vehicle care Technical data

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d__. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this could scratch your
vehicle's paint or windows.
• Never wash your car in bright sunlight. Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint.
• When you wash your car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle with
a hose, be careful not to aim the stream of water directly at locks, or
at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
finish.
• You should remove debris (such as insects) from the headlight
lenses on a regular basis, for example when refueling your vehicle .
Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean the headlights. Only use wet
cloths or sponges to prevent scratches .
It is best to use soapy water.
<£> For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the vehicle should only be washed
in special wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high-pressure
power washer is safe as long as you observe a few simple
rules.
- Before using the power washer, make sure you have read
and understood the WARNINGS=>
& in "General infor
mation" on
page 256 .
- Always follow the operating instructions for the power
washer. -
Make sure that the jet on the spray hose produces a "fan
shaped spray".
- Do
not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle with a power washer always follow the
operating instructions. This applies particularly to the
operating
pressure
and the spraying distance . Maintain a sufficient distance to
soft materials such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration deadening
materials (particularly on the underside of the engine hood). Do not
use a jet which sprays water in a
direct stream or one that has a
rotating jet.
Water temperature should not exceed 140
°F (60 °() .
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream.
This could cause invisible damage to the tires and weaken them,
even if the spray is from a relatively long distance and for a short
time. Damaged and weakened tires can fail and cause accidents
and personal injury.
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is sufficient distance between the spray head and soft materials like rubber
hoses , plastic parts and sound-deadening materials. Never aim the
spray head at the same point for a long time. This also applies to
cleaning headlights and painted bumpers. Remember: the closer the
nozzle is to the surface of the material, the greater the stress on the
material. •

-~_C_ le_ a_n_ i_ n_ g=- a_ n_d__. p_ ro_ t_e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
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 especially
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
:::> page 256. •
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
=>page 256. •
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 336.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=>page 256. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and car wash
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.