Table of Contents
Advertisement
The side a irbags are located in the sides of the
fro nt seat backrests ¢ fig. 125 facing the
doors. They are identified by the word "AIR-
BAG".
The side airbag system basically consists of:
- the e lectronic control module and external
side impact senso rs
- the two side airbags located in the sides of
the front backrests
- the a irbag warning light in the instrument
cluster.
The airbag system is monitored electron ically
to make certain that it is functioning properly
at all times . Each time you turn on the igni-
tion, t he a irbag system indicator light will
come on for a few seconds (self diagnos t ics).
The s ide a irbag system supplements
the safe-
ty belts and can help to reduce the risk of in-
jury to the driver's and front passenge r's up-
per torso on the side of the vehicle that is
struck in a side collision. The airbag deploys in
side impacts and only when the vehicle acce l-
eration registered by the control unit is hig h
enough. If this rate is below the reference val -
ue programmed into the control un it, the s ide
airbags will not be triggered, even though the
car may be badly damaged as a result of the
coll is ion . It is not poss ible to define an airbag
triggering range that will cover every poss ible
angle of impact, since the circumstances will
vary considerably between one coll ision and
another. Important factors include, for exam-
ple, the nature (hard or soft) of the impacting
object, the angle of impact, vehicle speed,
etc.
c> page 134, Important safety instruc-
tions on the side airbag system.
Aside from the ir normal safety function, safe -
ty belts work to he lp keep the driver or front
passenger in posit ion in the event of a side
coll is ion so that the side a irbags can provide
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 veh icle. Al-
ways remember that the side airbag system
can only help to protect you if you are wear ing
Airbag
system
133
you r safety be lt and wearing it properly. This
is another reason why you should always wear
your safety be lts, not ju st because the law re-
quires you to do soc;, page 107, General
notes.
It is important to remember that wh ile 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 dep loy only once and only in
certain kinds of accidents - your safety belts
a re always there to offer protection.
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack
of veh icle damage are not necessarily an indi-
cation of ove r-sensitive or failed airbag activa-
tion. In some coll ision s, both front and side
airbags may inflate. 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 protection in those acc i-
dents in which airbags are not supposed to
deploy or when they have a lready deployed .
The side airbag system will not deploy:
- when the ignition is turned off
- in side collisions when t he acceleration
meas ured by the sensor is too low
- in rea r-end collis ions
- in rollove rs.
In some types of accidents the front airbags
and s ide a irbags may be tr iggered together .
A
WARNING
- Safety belts and the airbag system will
only provide protection when occupants
are in th e proper seating position
c;,page 134.
- If the airbag ind icator light comes on
when the vehicle is being used, have the
system inspected immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer. The airbag may
not work properly when the vehicle ac-
celeration in a side coll is ion is high
enough to activate the a irbag.
•
•
Advertisement
Table of Contents
