
150 Airbag system
How the Advanced Airbag System
components work together
The front Advanced Airbag System and the
side airbags supplement the protection of
fered by the front three-point saf ety be lts
with pretensioners and load limiters and the
adjus table head restr aints* to help reduce the
risk of injury in a wide range of acc ident and
crash situat ions. Be sure to read the impor
tant information about safety and heed the
WARNINGS in this chapter .
Deployment of the Advanced Airbag System
and the activat ion of the safety belt preten
sioners depend on the decelerat ion measured
by the crash senso rs and regis tered by the
e lectronic control u nit. Crash sever ity depends
on speed and deceleration as well as the mass
and stiffness of the vehicle or object involved
in the crash.
On the passenger side, regard less of safety
be lt use, the front passenger fronta l airbag
will be turned off i f the e lectrical capac itance
measured by the capacitive passenger detec
tion system on the front passenge r seat is less
than the amount programmed in the electron ic control unit. The front passenger frontal air
bag will also be turned off if the capacitance
measured by the system for the front passen
ge r seat equa ls that of an infant of abo ut one
yea r of age i n one of the child sea ts that was
used to cer tify the Advanced Airbag System
under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
208 . The
PASSENGER AIR BAG OF F light
comes on and stays on to tell you when the
front Advanced A irbag System on the passen
ger s ide has been turned off¢
page 153.
A WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury when a n airbag
inflates, a lways wear safety belts properly .
- If you are unrestrained, leaning forward,
sitting sideways or out of position in any
way, your risk of inj ury is much higher.
- You wi ll also receive serious injuries and
could even be killed if you are up against
the a irbag or too close to it when it in- flates
-even w ith an Advanced A irbag
¢ page 140.
More important things to know about
front airbags
Fi g. 1 24 Inflated f ro nt a irba gs
-...
q :r:
iZ
Safety be lts are important to he lp keep front
seat occupants in the proper seated position
so that a irbags can unfold proper ly and pro
vide supplemental protect ion in a frontal col
lis ion .
The front airbags are designed to provide ad ditional protection for the chest and face of
the driver and the front seat passenger when :
- safety belts are worn proper ly,
- the seats have been positioned so that the
occupant is properly seated as far as poss i
b le from the airbag ,
- and for ad justab le head restraints : the head
restraints have been properly adj usted .
Bec ause airbags inflate in the bli nk of an eye
with great force, th ings you have on your lap
or have p laced on the seat co uld become dan
gerous pro jecti les, and be p ushed into you if
the a irbag inf lates .
When an airbag deploys, fine dust is re leased.
T his is no rma l and is not caused by a fi re in
the vehicle . This dust is made up mostly of a
powder used to lubricate the airbags as they
deploy . It could irr itate skin .
It is important to remembe r that while the
supplementa l airbag system is designed to re
duce the like lihood of serious injur ies, other
injur ies, for examp le swelling, bruising and
minor abrasions, can also happen when air-
bags inflate . A irbags do not protect the arms
IIJI,

or the lower parts of the body. Front airbags
supp lement the three-point safety belts only
in some frontal collisions in which the vehicle
dece leration is high enough to deploy the air
bags.
F ront airbag s will no t deplo y:
- if the ignition is switched off when a crash
occurs,
- in side collisions,
- in rear-end collisions,
- in rollovers,
- when the crash deceleration measured by
the a irbag system is less than the m inimum
threshold needed for airbag deployment as
registered by the electronic control unit.
The f ront pas seng er airbag al so will n ot
deploy:
- when the front passenger seat is not occu
pied,
- when the electrical capac itance measured by
the capacitive passenger detect io n system
for the front passenger seat indicates that
the passenger side frontal airbag must be switched off by the electronic control unit
(the
P AS SENGER A IR BA G OFF light
c:> page 153 and how they work comes on
and stays on).
A WARNING
Sitting in the wrong position can increase
the risk of serious injury in crashes.
- To reduce the r isk of injury when the air
bags inflate, the driver and passengers
must always sit in an upright posit ion,
must not lean against or place any part
of the ir body too close to the area where
the a irbags are located.
- Occupants who a re unbelted, out of posi
t ion or too close to the airbag can be se
riously injured by an airbag as it unfolds
with great force in the blink of an eye
c:> page
142 .
A WARNING
A child in a rearward-facing child seat in
stalled on the front passenger seat will be
-
A irbag system 15 1
seriously injured and can be killed if the
front airbag inflates -even w ith an Ad
vanced A irbag System.
- The inflating airbag will hit the ch ild seat
or infant carrier with great force and will
smash the child seat and child against
the backrest, center armrest, door or
roof.
- Always install rear-fac ing ch ild seats on
the rear seat.
- If you must install a rearward fac ing
child seat on the front passenger seat because of exceptional circumstances
and the
P A SSENGER AIR BAG OFF light
does not come on and stay on, immed i
ately insta ll the rear-fac ing child seat in a
rear seating position and have the airbag
system inspected by your A udi dealer.
A WARNING
r---------
O b j e cts between you and the airbag will
increase the risk of injury in a crash by in
terfering with the way the airbag unfolds
or by be ing pushed into you as the airbag
inflates.
- Never hold things in your hands or on
your lap when the veh icle is in use.
- Never transport items on or in the area
of the front passenger seat. Objects
could move into the area of the front air bags during braking or other sudden ma
neuvers and become dangerous projec
tiles that can cause ser ious personal in
jury if the a irbags inflate.
- Never p lace or attach accesso ries o r oth
er objects (such as cup holders, te le
phone b rac kets, large, heavy or bulky ob
jects) on the doors, over o r near the area
marked "AIRBAG" on the steering wheel,
instrument panel, seat backrests or be
tween those areas and yourself . These
objects could cause injury in a crash, es pecially when the airbags inflate.
- Never recline the front passenger's seat
to transport objects. Items can also
move into the area of the s ide a irbag or
the front a irbag during braking or in a
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274 Index
Centra l locking .... ..... ... .. .. .... .. 31
Ce ntra l locking sw itch ... .. .. ... ... .. 35
Conven ience key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Emergency locking ........ .. .. .... .. 37
Folding the exterior mirrors .. .. .... .. 36
Luggage compartment lid ...... .. .... 37
Panorama sunroof .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. 39
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Remote control key ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. 33
Safety cen tral lock ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7
Setting . ... .. . .. ..... ... .. .. .... .. 36
Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 1
Changing a wheel .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 248
C hanging e ng ine o il ...... .. .. .. .. .. . 216
Checking Tire pressure .............. ... .. ... 231
C hild restraints
Danger of using ch ild restraints in the
front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Where can I get addit ional information
about child restra ints and their use? .. 184
C hild restraint system anchors ....... . 180
C hil d safety ... ............ .. .. .. .. . 166
Conve rtible locking retrac to r .. .. .. .. . 177
I mpo rtan t safety ins tru ctions for using
chi ld safety seats . ..... ... .. .. .... . 170
Important things to know when driving
with chi ldren . ........... .. .. .... . 166
Tether anchors ........... .. .. .. .. . 183
Tether straps .............. .. .... . 183
Chil d safety lock
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
C hi ld safety loc k (mechanical)
Fr ont doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Ch ild safety sea ts . ...... ... .... .. .. . 172
Booster seats ............. ... .. ... 175
Conve rtible ch ild seats .. .. .. .. .. .. . 173
Conve rtible locking retracto r .. .. .. .. . 177
H ow do I proper ly in stall a child safety
seat in my vehicle? ...... .. .. .. .. .. . 170
I nfant seats . .. .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 17 2
I nstalling . .. .. .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 17 7
Instal ling a child restraint using the
LATCH system .............. .. .... . 182
LATC H system ............ .. .. .... . 182
Lower anchorages ......... ... .. .. . 181
Mount ing and releasing the anchorage
hook .. .. .. ... .... ...... .. .. .. .. . 182 Safety instr
uctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Un used safety be lts on the rear seat . . 172
Cleaning ... .... .. ............. .... 201
Cleaning/removing ice from windows ... 203
Cleaning carbon parts . . . . . . . . . . 203, 204
Cleaning r ims . .. .. ..... ........... . 202
Cleaning seat covers . .. .. ..... ... .. .. 204
Cl imate control system (automa tic)
Adjus ting air ven ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 68
Air dis trib ution, air vents ..... ... .. .. . 67
Audi drive select . .... .. ..... .... . .. 102
AUTO (climate control system) . . . . . . . . 67
B lower ... .... .. .. ........... .... . 67
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Defrost ing the windshie ld .... .... ... . 67
Key recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Rea r window defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Rec ircu lation mode ............ .... . 67
Setting the tempe rature ........ .. .. . 67
synchronizing . ... ... .. ..... ... .. .. . 67
Cl imate control system (manual)
Adjusting air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 68
Adjust ing the temperature . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Air distrib ution, air vents ........ .. .. . 65
B lower ... .... ................... . 65
Defrosting windows .... ..... ... .. .. . 65
Key recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Rear window defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Recirculation mode ............ .... . 66
Clock . ... .. .... .. .. ... ..... ... .. .. . 10
Closing Hood . .... .... .. ............. .... 211
Pano rama sunroof ............. .... . 40
Windows . .. .. .. .. ........... .... . 38
Clos ing/open ing
by remote control ... .. .. ... ..... .. . 33
with the centra l locking switch . .. .. .. . 35
with the conven ien ce key . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
wi th the door lo ck ... .......... .. .. . 35
Cockpit (Overvi ew illustration) . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Co ld tire inflation pressure ..... ... .. .. 229
Coming home . .. .. ... .......... .. .. . 44
Compartments .. .. ............. ..... 57
Compass in the m irror . ... .... ... .. .. . 50
Compliance ... .. .. .. ... .. ... ..... .. 271
Consumer Information . . . . . . . . . . 129, 268

Exterior mirrors
Adjusting .. .. ... ... .... ... .. .. .... 48
Dimming ... .. .. ........ ... .. .. .. .. 49
folding .. .. ................. .. .... 48
H eating .. .. ................. .. .... 48
F
Fasten ing
Booster seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 5
Convertible c hild safety sea ts . .. .. .. . 173
Infant seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Fl oor mats ... .. .... .... ... .. .. .. ... 126
F og lights/ rear fog light(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2
Folding the exterior mirrors Center locking ... .. ... ... .. .. .. .... 36
F oldi ng the rear seats .... ... .. .. .. .. .. 61
F oot pedals .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 126
Footwell light ing .......... .... .. .... 45
F or the sake of the environment
F ue ling .... .... ...... ... .. .. .. ... 208
L eaks . ..... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ... 211
Rear window defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Fr ont airbags
D escr ipt ion . ............. .. .. .. .. . 14 4
How they work . ... .... ... .. .. .. ... 150
F ronta l co llisions and the laws of physics 132
Front armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Fr ont passenger's door emergency locking 3 7
Front seats Ad just ing ..... ........... ... ... .. 123
C hi ld restra ints in the front seat . .... . 142
also refer to Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2, 6 1
Fue l
Addit ives ... ... .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 206
Blended gasoline ............ .... .. 206
Current consumpt ion ... ...... .... ... 27
F ue l tank capac ity ........ .. .. .. .. . 266
Gasoline . .. ............. .... .. .. . 206
Gasoline additives ..... ... .. .. .... . 207
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0, 11
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Octane rating ............ .... .. ... 206
Recommendation ......... .. .. .. .. . 206
Saving fue l .............. .... .. .. . 102
F ue l economy messages (eff iciency pro-
g ram) ..... .. .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .... 29
Inde x 277
Fueling
Fuel fi ller door emergency re lease 209
Fuel tan k capacity . .. .. ..... ... .. .. 266
Open ing the fue l filler door ........ .. 208
Fuses Ass ignment ... .... . ... ...... ... .. 256
Interior ... .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 255
replacing . ... .. .. .. .. .. ...... ... .. 255
G
Garment hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Gas d ischarge lamps .. .............. . 258
Gear recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
G lossary of tire and loading term inology 226
G love compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ... 265
H
Head light range control system ... .. ... 4 2
Indicator light ... .. . ... ...... ... .. . 25
Head lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42, 44
Head lights cleaning .. .. .. .. .. ............... 202
Head lights
Head light range control system . ... ... 42
Head restra ints .. ...... ......... .. .. 1 25
adjus ting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Adjus ting . .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. 125
removing and insta lling . ..... ... .. .. . 55
Heated exter io r mir ro rs .. .... .... ... .... .. . 48
Rea r window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Seats ..... .. .. .. ................. . 68
Washe r nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Heavy clothing and safety be lts ... .... . 134
Hex socket .. .. .. .. ................. 247
Hig h voltage warn ing label ....... .. .. 265
Highway light . .. .... .. ........ ...... 43
Hill descent contro l .. . ... ...... ... .. 109
Hill ho ld . .. .. .. .. .. . ....... ..... .. . 78
Hill ho ld assist
refer to H ill hold . .. ........... .... . 78
Hor n .. .. .. .. .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. 8
How are child rest raint system anc ho rs re-
l ated to ch ild safety .... ........... .. 180
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Index 281
-----------------------------------.......
Remote control
refer to Remote control key . . . . . . . . . . 31
Remote control key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1
L ED . .. .. .. .... ........... .. .. 3 1,33
Replacing the ba ttery ..... .. .. .. .. .. 33
Synchron izat ion ... .... ... .. .. .. .. .. 33
un locking/ locking ..... ... .. .. .. .. .. 33
Repa ir manua ls ............ .... .. .. . 268
Repairs Airbag system ........... .... .. .. . 156
Replacement key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Replacing Lig ht bulbs . ............. .. .. .. .. . 258
T ires and whee ls ......... .... .. .. . 23 7
Replacing w indshield wiper blades ...... 47
Report ing Safety Defects . ... .. .. .. .. . 129
Reset b utton (tr ip odomete r) . . . . . . . . . . 11
Resett ing trip odometer ..... .. .. .. .. .. 11
Re tract
New brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Retractor ...... .............. ... ... 134
Reverse (automat ic transmiss ion) . .. .. . 105
Revers ible ma t ............ .... .. .. .. 62
Roof rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
L oading .. ... ............. ... ... ... 60
Roof weight .... .. .... .... . .. .. .. .. 60
s
Sadd lebag ..... ................ .... . 62
Safe driving habits . ..... ... .. .. .. ... 121
Safety Airbag-System ........... .... .. ... 1 40
Belts . ..... .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. ... 131
Safety belt position ............ ... .. 135
Safety belt he ight ad justment .. . ... . 137
S afety belts worn by p regnant women . 136
Safety belt pretens ioner ..... .. .. .. .. . 13 7
Service and disposal ...... .. .. .. .. . 138
Safety belts . ... ... ..... ... .. .. 131,134
cleaning ... .. .... .. .... ... .. .. ... 203
Danger to passengers who do not wea r a
safety belt . .. ........... .. .. .. ... 132
Fastening .. ... .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 134
H eight adjustme nt ........... .. .... 137
Imp roperly worn .......... ... ... .. 137
I ndicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 In
dicator lig ht ( rear) . .. ..... ... .. .. . 25
Not worn ... .. .. .. . ... ...... ... .. 132
Safety be lt pos ition .. .. ..... ... .. .. 135
Safety instr uctions ................. 134
Securing child safety seats ........ .. 177
Spec ial considerations for pregnant
women ... .. .. .. .. . .. .... .... .... 136
Un fastening ...... ...... .......... 136
Wa rning/ind icator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Wor n pro perly . .. .... ........... .. 133
Safety be lt warning light ............. 131
Safety centra l locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7
Safety comp lia n ce sticke r ........ .. .. 265
Safety equ ipment ...... ............. 121
Safety featu res for occ upan t rest raint and
protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Safety gu idelines
Seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Safety instr uctions
for s ide cu rtain airbags .. ...... .... . 164
fo r us ing child safety seats ......... . 170
for us ing safe ty belts .............. . 134
Moni to ring the Advanced Ai rbag Sys-
tem .... .... .. .... ... .......... .. 155
Scheduled maintena nce i nterval
with dr iver information system . . . . . . . . 13
Screwdr iver ....... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 247
Seat adjustment Drive r's sea t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
F ron t passenger's seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Hea d restraints ..... .. .. ..... ... .. 125
Safety gu idelines ... . ... ...... ... .. . 52
Seat heating .. .. .. .... ............. . 68
Seating position Driver .. .. .. .. .... .. ........ ..... 122
Front passenger .. .. .. .. ...... ..... 123
How to ad just the front s eats ....... . 123
Incorre ct seat position .......... .. .. 1 2S
O ccu pan ts ... .. ...... ........... .. 1 22
Rear passengers . ... .. ... ..... ... .. 124
Seats adjust ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 54
Fold ing ... .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. . 61
Seats (number) .. ...... ............. 131
S ecurity sys tem (ind icator light) ... .. .. . 21
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