Audi R8 2017 Owner's Manual page 198

Airb a g syste m
- Never install seat covers or replacement
upholstery over the front seatbacks that
have not been specifically approved by
Audi.
- Never use add itiona l seat cushions that
cover the areas where the side airbags in-
f late.
- Damage to the origina l seat covers or to
the seam in the area of the side airbag
module must always be repaired immed i-
ately by an authorized Audi dealer.
- The airbag system can deploy only once. Af-
ter an airbag has been deployed, it must be
rep laced with new rep lacement parts de-
signed and app roved especially fo r you r
Audi model version. Replacement of com-
plet e airbag systems or airbag components
must be performed by qualified workshops
only. Make sure that any airbag service ac-
t ion is entered in your Audi Warranty &
Maintenance booklet under AIRBAG RE-
PLACEMENT RECORD.
- For safety reasons in severe accidents, the
alternator and starter are separated from
the vehicle battery with a pyrotechn ic circuit
interrupter.
- Work on the pyrotec hnic circuit interrupt-
er must only be performed by a qualified
technicians who have the experience, in-
formation and special tools necessary to
perform the work safely.
- If the vehicle or the circuit interrupter is
scrapped, all applicab le safety precautions
must be followed.
@
For the sake of the environment
Undep loyed airbag modu les and pretension-
ers might be classified as Perch lorate Materi-
al - special handling may apply, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlo-
rate. When the vehicle or parts of the re-
straint system including airbag modules and
safety belts with pretensioners are scrapped,
all applicable laws and regulations must be
observed. Your authorized Audi dealer is fa-
m iliar with these requirements and we recom-
mend that you have your dealer per form this
service for you.
196
Other th ings that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Chang ing the vehicle's suspens ion system can
change the way that the Advanced Airbag System
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, suspension struts, shock
absorbers etc . can change the forces that are
measured by the airbag sensors and sent to the
electronic cont rol unit. Some suspension changes
can, for example, increase the force levels meas-
ured by the senso rs and make the airbag system
deploy in crashes in which it wou ld not dep loy if
the changes had not been made. Other kinds of
changes may reduce the force levels measured by
the sensors and prevent the airbag from deploy-
ing when it shou ld.
A
WARNING
Changing the vehicle's suspension including
use of unapproved tire-rim comb inations can
change Advanced Airbag perfo rmance and in-
crease the risk of serious personal injury in a
crash.
- Never install suspension components that
do not have t he same performance charac-
ter istics as the components origin al ly inst al-
led on your vehicle .
- Never use t ire-r im combinations t hat have
not been approved by Audi.