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Airb a g syste m
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. 138
Infla ted side airbags on lef t side of vehicle
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled
with propellant gas and breaks through a seam in
the seat surface area marked "AIRBAG". It ex-
pands between the side trim panel and the pas-
senger . In order to help provide this additional
protection, the side airbag must inflate within a
fract ion of a second at very high speed and with
great fo rce. The supplemental
side airbag could
injure yo u if your seating position is not proper or
upright or if items a re loca t ed in the area where
the supplemental side airbag expands. This ap-
plies especially to children ¢
page 150, Child
safety .
Supplemental
side a irbags inflate be-
tween the occupant and the door panel on the
side of the vehicle that is struck in certain side
collis ion ¢
fig . 138 .
Although they are not a soft p illow, they can
"cushion" the impact and in this way they can
he lp to reduce the risk of injury to the upper part
of the body .
A fine dust may develop when the airbag deploys.
This is normal and does not mean there is a fire
in the vehicle.
146
Important safety instructions on the side
airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints . Always
properly wear safety bel ts and ride in a proper
seating position .
There is a lot that you and your passengers must
know and act according ly to help t he safety belts
and airbags do t heir job to prov ide supplemental
protect ion .
_&
WARNING
An inflating side airbag can cause serious or
fatal injury. Improperly wearing safety be lts
and improper seating posit ions increase the
risk of serious persona l 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 upr ight position and never
lean agains t the area where the supple-
mental s ide airbag is located .
- Never let a child or anyo ne e lse rest t heir
head against t he side tr im panel in the
area where t he s upplementa l side airbag
inflates .
- Always make s ure t hat safety be lt s are
worn correctly,
- Do no t let anyone s itting in t he front seat
put t heir hand or any other par t s of t heir
body out of the window.
- Always make sure that the side a irbag can
inflate w ithout int erference.
- Never install seat covers or replacement
upholstery over the front seatbacks that
have not bee n specifical ly approved by
Audi.
- Never use additional seat cushions that
cover the areas where the side airbags de-
ploy.
- Damage to the orig inal seat cove rs or to
the seam in the area of the s ide airbag
module must a lways be repaired immedi-
ate ly by an autho rized Audi deale r.
-
- Objects between you and the a irbag can in-
crease the risk of injury in an acc iden t by in-
t erfering wit h the way the airbag unfolds or
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