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202
Airbag
syst em
inflates in side impacts and only when the ve-
hicle acceleration registered by the control
unit is high enough. If this rate is below the
reference value programmed into the contro l
unit, the side airbags will not be triggered,
even though the car may be badly damaged as
a result of the collision . It is not possible to
define an airbag triggering range that will
cover every possible angle of impact, since the
circumstances will vary cons iderably between
one collision and another. Important factors
include, for examp le, the nat ure (hard or soft)
of the impacting object, the angle of impact,
vehicle speed, etc. c:>
page 202, How side cur-
tain airbags work.
Aside from their normal safety function, safe -
ty belts work to help keep the driver or front
passenger in position in the event of a colli-
sion so that the side curta in airbags can pro-
vide protection.
The airbag system is not a substitute for your
safety belt. Rather, it is part of the overall oc-
cupant restraint system in your vehicle. Al-
ways remember that the airbag system can
only help to protect you if you are wearing
your safety belt and wear ing it prope rly. This
is anot her reason why you shou ld always wear
your safety bel t s, not just beca use the law re-
qu ires you t o do soc:>
page 174, General
notes.
It is important to remember that while the
side curta in airbag system is des igned to help
redu ce the likelihood of serious injuries, othe r
injuries, fo r example, swell ing, bruising, and
minor abrasions can also be associated wit h
these airbags upon deployment. Remember
too, these airbags will deploy on ly once and
only in certain kinds of accidents - your safety
belts are always there to offer protection .
The side curtain airbag system basically
consists of :
- The electronic control module and external
s ide impact sensors
- The side curtain airbags above the front and
rear side windows
- The airbag indicator light in the instrument
panel
The airbag system is mon itore d elect ronically
to make certain it is func t ioning properly at all
times . Each t ime you turn on the ignition, the
airbag system indicator light will come on for
a few seconds (self diagnostics).
The side curtain airbag is not activated:
- if t he ignition is turned off
- in side collisions when the accele ration
meas ured by the sensor is too low
- in rear-end collisions .
A
WARNING
- Safety belts and the airbag system will
only provide prot ection when occupant s
are in t he proper seating posit ion
<=>page 72, General recommendations.
- If t he airbag ind icator light
<=>page 16
comes when the veh icle is being used,
have the system inspected immediately
by your authorized Audi dealer. It is pos-
sible that the airbag will inflate when it
is not supposed to, or will not inflate
when it should .
How side curtain airbags work
Side curtain airbags can work together with
side airbags to help reduce the risk of head
and upper torso injuries for occupants who
are properly restrained .
Fig. 2 14
Illust rat ion of principle : I nflated side curtai n
airbags on the left side
The side curtain airbags inflate between the
occupant and the windows on the s ide of the
IJ>
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