2013 AUDI A8 warning light

Monitoring the
Advanced Airbag
System
I ( USA models) /!{ (Canada models )
Airbag monitoring indicator light
Two separate indicators monitor the function
of the Advanced Airbag System: the airbag
monitoring indicator light and the
PASSEN­
GER AIR BAG OFF
light.
The Advanced Airbag System (including the
electronic control un it, sensor circuits and sys­
tem wiring) is monitored continuously to
make sure that it is functioning properly
whenever the ignit ion is on. Each time you
switch on the ignition, the airbag monitoring
indicator light
I (USA models)/ m (Canada
models) will come on for a few seconds (self
diagnost ics).
The system must be inspected when the
indicator light
I (USA models)/fll
(Canada models):
-does not come on when the ignition is
switched on ,
- does not go out a few seconds after you
have switched on the ignition, or
- comes on while driving.
If an airbag system malfun ction is detected,
the indicator light will first start flashing to
catch the driver's attention and then stay on
continuously to serve as a constant reminder
to have the system inspected immediately.
If a malfunction occurs that turns the front
airbag on the passenger side
off, the PASSEN­
GER AIR BAG OFF
light will come on and stay
on whenever the ignition is on.
A WARNING
An airbag system that is not funct ioning
properly cannot provide supplemental pro­
tection in a frontal crash.
- If the airbag indicator light
c:> page 18
comes when the vehicle is be ing used,
have the system inspected imm ediately
by your autho rized Audi dealer.
It is pos-
Airbag system 163
sible that the airbag will inflate when it
is not supposed to, or will not inflate
when it should.
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
Fig. 168 Sect io n from the instrument pane l: PASSEN·
GER AIR BAG OFF light
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light is located
in the center of the instrument panel
c:>fig . 168.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will come
on and stay on to tell you when the front Ad­
vanced Airbag on the passenger s ide has been
turned
off by the electron ic control unit. Each
time you switch on the ignition, the
PASSEN­
GER AIR BAG OFF
light will flash for a few
seconds and:
- will stay on if the front passenger seat is not
occupied,
- will stay on if there is a small ch ild or child
restraint on the front passenger seat,
- w ill go out if the front passenger seat is oc·
cupied by an adult as registered by the
weight-sensing mat.
The
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF l ight must
come on and stay on
if the ignition is on and
- a car bed has been installed on the front seat, or
- a rearward-facing child restraint has been
installed on the front passenger seat, or
- a forward-facing child restraint has been in·
stalled on the front passenger seat, or

-a safety be lt extender has not been left in
the safety belt latch for the front passenger
seat .
I n addition to the
P ASS ENGER AIR B AG OFF
light in the center of the instrument panel,
the message
PA SSENGE R AIR BAG OFF or
PASSENGER AI R BAG ON will briefly appear
in the instrument cluster display . Th is is to in­
form the driver of the current front passenger
airbag status .
Important safety instructions on
monitoring the Advanced Airbag System
A WARNING
An airbag system that is not functioning
properly cannot provide supplemental pro­
tection in a frontal crash.
- If the airbag indicator light
c:> page 18
comes when the vehicle is be ing used,
have the system inspected immediately
by your authorized Aud i deale r. It is pos­
sible that the a irbag will inf late when it
is not supposed to, or w ill not inflate
when it sho uld.
A WARNING
If the front airbag inflates, a ch ild without
a child restraint, or in a rearward-facing
child safety seat, or in a forward-facing
child restraint that has not been properly
installed will be serio usly injured and can
be killed.
- Even though your vehicle is equipped
with an Advanced Airbag System, make certain that all children, especially 12
years and younger, always ride on the
back seat properly restrained fo r their
age and size .
- Always install forward or rear-facing
child seats on the rea r seat -even w ith
an Advanced Airbag System.
- If you must install a rearward-facing
child seat on the front passenge r seat
because of exceptiona l circumstances
and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF l igh t
does not appea r and s tay on, immediate-
A irbag system 165
ly insta ll the rear-facing child seat in a
rear seat ing pos ition and have the airbag
system inspected by your Audi dealer.
- A tight tether or other strap on a rear­
ward-facing child restraint attached to
the front passenger seat can put too
much pressure on the weight-sensing
mat in the seat and reg ister more weight
than is actually on the seat. The heavier
weight registered can make the system
work as tho ugh an adult were on the seat
and deploy the Advanced Airbag when it
m ust be suppressed causing serious or
even fata l injury to the chi ld .
- If, in exceptiona l circumstances, you
m ust install a forward-facing child re­
straint on the front passenger seat, al ­
ways move the seat into its rearmost po­ sition in the seat's fore and aft adjust­
ment range, as fa r away from the a irbag
as poss ible . The backrest must be ad just­
ed to an upright pos ition. Make sure that
the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
comes on and stays on a ll t he time when­
ever the ignit ion is switched on .
A WARNING
=
-If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
does not go out when an ad ult is sitting
on the front passenger seat after taking
the steps described above, make sure the
adu lt is properly seated and restra ined at
one of the rear seat ing pos itions.
- Have the airbag system inspected by
your Aud i dea ler before transporting
anyone on the front passenger seat.
(D Tips
If the weight-sensing mat in the front pas­
senger seat detects an empty seat, the
front airbag on the passenger side will be
turned off, and the
PASS ENGER AIR BAG
OFF
light will stay on .
Repair, care and disposal of the airbags
Parts of the airbag system are i nstalled at
many diffe rent p laces o n your Aud i. Insta lling, .,.
•
•

and safety belts with pretensioners are
scrapped, all applicable laws and regula­
tions must be observed. Your authorized
Audi dealer is familiar with these require­
ments and we recommend that you have
your dealer perform this service for you .
Other things that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Changing the vehicle's suspension system can
change the way that the Advanced Airbag Sys­
tem performs in a crash. For example, using
tire-rim combinations not approved by Audi,
lowering the vehicle, changing the stiffness of
the suspension, including the springs, suspen­
sion struts, shock absorbers etc. can change
the forces that are measured by the airbag
sensors and sent to the electronic control
unit. Some suspension changes can, for exam­ ple, increase the force levels measured by the
sensors and make the airbag system deploy in
crashes in which it would not deploy if the
changes had not been made. Other kinds of
changes may reduce the force levels meas­
ured by the sensors and prevent the airbag
from deploying when it should.
The sensors in the safety belt buckle for the
driver and front passenger seat tell the elec­
tronic control module if the safety belt is
latched or not. If the safety belt is being used,
the front airbag will deploy at a slightly high­
er rate of vehicle deceleration than if the safe­
ty belt is not being used. Therefore, in a par­
ticular collision, it is possible that an airbag
will not deploy at a seating position where the safety belt is being used but will inflate at the
position where the safety belt is not being
used . It is important that nothing interfere
with the safety belt buckles so that the sen­
sors can send the correct information about
safety belt use to the electronic control unit.
A WARNING
Changing the vehicle's suspension includ­
ing use of unapproved tire-rim combina­
tions can change Advanced Airbag per-
Airbag system 167
formance and increase the risk of serious
personal injury in a crash.
- Never install suspension components
that do not have the same performance characteristics as the components origi­nally installed on your vehicle.
- Never use tire-rim combinations that have not been approved by Audi.
A WARNING
Items stored between the safety belt buckle and the center console can cause
the sensors in the buckle to send the
wrong information to the e lectronic con­
trol module and prevent the Advanced Air­
bag System from working properly.
- Always make sure that nothing can inter­
fere with the safety belt buckles and that
they are not obstructed.
Knee airbags
Description of knee airbags
The knee airbag system can provide supple­
mental protection to properly restrained
front seat occupants.
Fig . 169 Driver 's knee airbag
The driver knee airbag is in the instrument
panel underneath the steering wheel
¢ fig . 169, the airbag for the passenger is at
about the same height in the instrument pan­
el underneath the glove compartment.
The knee airbag offers additional protection
to the driver 's and passenger's knees and up­
per and lower thigh areas and supplements
the protection provided by the safety belts.
Ill-

168 Airbag sys tem
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbags
a lso deploy in frontal co llisions when the de ­
p loyment threshold stored in the contro l unit
is met c:>
page 161, More important things to
know about front airbags.
In addition to their normal safety function,
safety belts he lp keep the driver or front pas­
senger in posit ion in a frontal collis ion so that
the airbags can prov ide supplemental protec­
tion .
The airbag system is not a subst itute for your
safety belt. Rather, it is part of the overall oc­
cupant restraint system in your veh icle. Al­
ways remember that the airbag system can
only help to protect you if you are wearing
your safety be lt and wear ing it properly . Th is
is w hy you shou ld always wear your safety
be lt, not just because the law requires yo u to
do soc:>
page 144, General notes.
The safety belt buck le for the dr iver and front
seat passenge r have switches that te ll t he a ir­
bag control mod ule if the safe ty belt is being
used or no t. If the safety be lt is being used,
the knee airbag will deploy at a slightly higher rate of deceleration than if the belt is not be­
ing used. Therefore, in a partic ular collision, it
is possible that an airbag will not deploy at a
seating position where the safety belt is being used but will inflate at the position where the
safety belt is not be ing used .
Remember too, airbags will deploy only once
and only in certain kinds of accidents -your
safety be lts are always there to offer protec ­
tion in those acc idents in which a irbags a re
not supposed to deploy or when they have a l­
ready deployed, fo r example whe n your veh i­
cle st rikes or is str uck by another after the
first coll is ion .
This is just one of the reasons why an a irbag is
n ot a substitute for the safety belt. The airbag
sys tem works mos t effective ly when used wi th
the safety belts. Therefore, always wear your
safety be lts correctly.
It is impor tan t to remember that whi le the
supp lemental knee a irb ag sys tem is designed
to reduce the like lihood of serious injur ies, othe
r injur ies, for example, swelling, bru is ing
and minor abrasions and friction b urns can a l­
so occur when an airbag inflates .
The knee airbag system basically consists
of:
-The e lectronic control module
- Two in flatable a irbags (a irbag an d gas gen-
erator), one for the driver and o ne for the
front passenger
- The a irbag indicator light in the instr ument
pane l
The knee airbag system will not deploy:
-when t he ignit ion is switched off
- in frontal collisions when the deceleration
measured by the control un it is too low
- in side co llisions
- in rear-end collisions
- in rollovers
- in the event of a system malfunction (war n-
ing/ind icator light is on)
¢ page 18.
A WARNING
-
-Safety belts and the airbag system can
only provide protection when occupants
are in the proper seating position
<:>page 161.
-If the airbag ind icator light <:> page 18
comes when the ve hicle is being used,
have the system inspected immediately
by you r authori zed A udi dealer. It is pos­
sible tha t the airbag will inflate when it
is not supposed to, or will not infl ate
when it should.
-

1 7 0 Airbag system
of the passenger seat. If the airbag de­
ploys, this can resu lt in serious or fata l
injuries.
- Never carry objects of any kind in the
footwell area in front of the driver's or
passenger's seat. Bulky objects (shop­
p ing bags, for examp le) can interfere
with or p revent proper dep loyment of
the airbag . Small objects can be
thrown through the vehicle i f the a ir­
bag deploys and injure you or yo ur pas­
sengers.
- Make sure there are no cra ck s, deep
scratches or ot her damage in the area of
the instrument pane l where the knee air­
bags are located .
- If children are incorrect ly sea ted, their
risk of inj ury i ncreases in a collision
¢ page 176, Child Safety .
Side airbags
Description of side airbags
The airbag system can provide supplemental
protection to properly restrained occupants.
----
Fi g. 1 71 Side a irbag loca tion in the driver's seat
The side airbags are lo cated i n the sides of the
front seat ba ckrests
¢fig. 171 and the rear
backrest facing the doors. They are identified
by the word "AIRBAG" .
The s ide airbag system ba sically consis ts of :
-the electronic control module and external
s ide impact sensors
- the two side airbags located in the sides of
the front backrests
- two rear side airbags -
the airbag warning light in the ins trument
cluster .
T he airbag system is mon itored elec tronically
to make certain tha t it is f unctioning p roperly
at all times. Each time you switch on the igni ­
tion, the airbag system indicator light will
come on for a few seconds (se lf diagnostics) .
T he side airbag system supplements the safe­
ty belts and can help to reduce the risk of in ­
jury to the driver's, front and rear passenger's
u pper torso on the side of the vehicle that is
struck in a side collision. The airbag dep loys
only in side impacts and only when the vehicle
acce lerat ion reg istered by the contro l unit is
high enough. If this rate is be low the refe r­
ence value p rog rammed into the control unit,
the side ai rbags will not be triggered, even
t h ough the car may be bad ly damaged as a re­
s ul t of the co llision. It is not possib le to de­
fine an airbag triggering range that will cover every possib le ang le of impact, since the cir­
cumstances will vary cons iderably between
one collis ion and another. Important factors
include, for example, the nature (hard or soft)
of the impacting object, the angle of impact,
vehicle speed, etc. ¢
page 172, Important
safety instructions on the side airbag system .
Aside from their normal safety function, safe­
ty be lts work to help keep the driver or front
passenge r in position in t he event of a s ide
co llision 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 overa ll oc­
c u pant restraint system in you r vehicle . A l­
ways remember that t he side ai rbag system
c a n only help to protect you if you are wea ring
your sa fety be lt and wearing it p roperly. This
is another reason why you should always wear
your safety belts, not j ust because the law re­
quires yo u to do so¢
page 144, General
notes.
It is important to remembe r that w hile the
supplementa l side airbag system is designed
to reduce the likelihood of ser ious injuries,
other injur ies, for example, swelling, bru is ing, ..,..

and minor abrasions can also be associated
with deployed side airbags. Remember too,
side airbags will deploy only once and on ly in
certain k inds of accidents -your safety belts
are always there to offer protect ion.
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack
of vehicle damage are not necessar ily an indi ­
cation of over-sensitive or failed airbag activa­
tion . In some collisions, both front and s ide
a irbags may inf late . Remember too, that air ­
bags will deploy only once and only in certain
kinds of collisions -your safety belts are al­
ways there to offer protect ion in those acci­
dents in wh ic h airbags are not supposed to
deploy or w hen they have already deployed .
The side airbag system will not depl oy :
- when the ignition is switched off
- in s ide collisions when the acceleration
measured by the sensor is too low
- in front-end collisions
- in rear-end collisions
- in ro llovers.
I n some types of a ccidents the front a irbags,
side curta in a irbags and side airbags may be
triggered together.
A WARNING
- Safety belts and the airbag system will
only provide protection when occupants
are in the proper seating posit ion
<=)page 172.
- If the airbag indicator light Q page 18
comes when the vehicle is be ing used,
have the system inspected immediately
by you r aut ho rized Aud i dealer. It is pos­
sible that the a irbag will inflate when it
is not supposed to, or w ill not inflate
when it should.
-
A irba g sy stem 1 71
How supplemental side airbags work
Side airbags deploy instantly and can help re­
duce the risk of upper torso injuries for occu­
pants who are properly restrained.
Fig . 1 72 Inflated side a irbags on left side of vehicle ,
rear side airbag
When the system is triggered, the a irbag is
filled with propellant gas and breaks through
a seam in the seat surface area ma rked ''AIR­
BAG".
It expands between the side trim panel
and the passenger. In orde r to help provide
th is add it ional protect ion, the side airbag
must inflate within a fraction o f a second at
very high speed and with great force. The sup­
plementa l side airbag could injure you if your
seat ing position is not proper or upright or if
items are located in the area where the sup­
plementa l side airbag expands . This applies
especially to child ren
Q page 176, Child Safe­
ty. Supplemental side airbags inflate between
the occupant and the door panel on the side
of the vehicle that is struck in certa in side co l­
lis ion
Q fig. 172.
Although they are not a soft pi llow, they can
"cushion" the impa ct and in this way they can
help to reduce t he risk of injury to the upper
part o f th e body.
A fine dust may deve lop when the airbag de­
ploys . This is normal and does not mean there
is a fire in the vehicle.

172 Airbag system
Important safety instructions on the
side airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. Al­
ways properly wear safety belts and ride in a
proper seating position.
There is a lot that you and your passengers
must know and act accordingly to help the
safety belts and airbags do their job to pro­
vide supplemental protection.
& WARNING
An inflating side airbag can cause serious
or fatal injury. Improperly wearing safety
belts and improper seating positions in­
crease 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:
- Always sit in an upright position and
never lean against the area where the
supplemental side airbag is located.
- 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 replace­
ment 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 air­
bag module must always be repaired
immediately 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 cup holders, tel­
ephone 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 be­ come dangerous projectiles and cause
injury when the supplemental side air­
bag 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
pockets that may interfere with side air­
bag deployment and can cause personal
injury in an accident.
- Always prevent the side airbags from be­
ing damaged by heavy objects knocking
against or hitting the sides of the seat­
backs.
- The airbag system can only be triggered
once. If the airbag has been triggered,
the system must be replaced by an au­
thorized 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 au­
thorized Audi dealer.
- If children are seated improperly, their
risk of injury increases in the case of an
accident
~ page 176, Child Safety.
- Never attempt to modify any compo­
nents of the airbag system in any way .
- In a side collision, side airbags will not
function properly if sensors cannot cor­ rectly measure increasing air pressure in-
side the doors when air escapes through ..,.

17 4 Airbag system
-The airbag indicator light in the instrument
panel
The airbag sys tem is monitored electro nica lly
to make certa in it is funct ion ing properly a t all
times. Each time you switch on the ignition,
the a irbag system ind icator light wi ll come on
for a few seconds (self diagnost ics).
The side curtain airb ag i s not activated :
-if the ignit ion is switched off,
- in s ide collisions when the acceleration
measured by the sensor is too low ,
- in rear-end collisions,
- in rollovers .
A WARNING
-
-Safety belts and the a irbag system will
only p rov ide protection when occ upants
are in t he p roper sea ting posit ion
c>page 57, General recommendations.
- If the airbag indicato r ligh t¢ page 18
comes whe n the vehicle is be ing used,
have the system inspected immediate ly
by your aut horized Aud i dea ler . It is pos­
sible that the airbag will inflate when it is not s upposed to, or w ill not inflate
when it should.
How side curtain airbags work
Side curtain airbags can work tog ether with
sid e airbags to h elp reduc e the risk of head
and upper torso i njurie s for occupants who
are properly res trained.
F ig . 17 4 Illust rat ion of p rin cipl e: In fl ate d side cu rt a in
airba gs on th e left sid e
The side curtain airbags inflate between the
occupant and the windows on the side of the
"' N ;g
:i: .. m
vehicle that is struck in a side collis ion
¢ fig . 174 .
When the system is triggered, the side curta in
airbag is filled w ith prope llant gas and breaks
through a seam above the front and rear side
windows identified by th e AIRBAG label. In or·
der to he lp provide this add itiona l protection,
the side curta in a irbag must inflate within the
blink of an eye at very high speed and with
great force . The side curta in a irbag could in ·
jure you if your seating pos it io n is not proper
o r upright or if items are located in the area
whe re the supplemental side curta in a irbag
infla tes. This applies especially to ch ild ren
¢ page 176.
Although they are not a soft pi llow, side cur·
ta in a irbags can "cushion" the impact and i n
th is way they can help to reduce the risk of in­
j u ry to the head and the uppe r part o f the
body.
A fine dust may deve lop w hen the airbag de·
ploys. Th is is qui te no rma l and does not mean
there is a fire in the vehicle .
Important safety instructions on the
side curtain airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints . Al·
ways properly wear safety belts and rid e in a
proper seating position .
The re is a lot that you and your passengers
must know and do to he lp the safety belts and
airbags do th eir job to provide supp lemental
protection .
A WARNING
-Improperly wearing safety belts and im-
p roper seating posit ions increase the risk
of ser ious personal inju ry and death when·
ever a vehicle is being used.
- Never let occupants place any parts of
their bod ies in the area from which the
side curta in a irbags inflate.
- Always make sure that the s ide curtain
airbags can inflate without interference .
Unsui table ac cessories fitted inside the
-