Table of Contents
Advertisement
Airbag
syste m
since the circumstances will vary considerab ly be -
tween one collision and another. Important fac-
tors include, for example , the nature (hard or
soft) of the impacting object, the ang le of im-
pact, vehicle speed, etc .<=>
page 166, How side
curtain airbags work .
Aside from their normal safety function, safety
belts work to help keep the driver or front pas-
senger in position in the event of a collision so
that the side curtain airbags can provide protec -
tion .
The airbag system is not a substitute for your
safety belt. Rather, it is part of the overall occu-
pant restraint system in your vehicle . Always re-
member that the airbag system can only help to
protect you if you a re wearing your safety belt
and wearing it properly . This is another reason
why you should always wear your safety belts ,
not just because the law requires you to do so
<=>
page 140, General information.
It is important to remember that whi le the s ide
curtain airbag system is designed to help reduce
the likelihood of serious injuries, other injuries,
for example, swelling, bruising, and minor abra -
sions can a lso be associated with these airbags .
Remember too, these a irbags w ill deploy only
once and only in certa in 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 side
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 monitored electronically to
make certain it is fu nctioning properly at all
times. Each time you turn on the ignition, the air-
bag system ind icator light will come on for a few
seconds (self d iagnost ics) .
The side curtain airbag is not activated:
- if the ignition is turned off,
- in s ide collisions when th e acceleration meas-
ured by the sensor is too low,
166
- in rear -end collisions.
./1.
WARNING
- Safety belts and the airbag system will only
provide protect ion when occupants are in
the proper seat ing position
<=>
page 60, Gen-
eral information .
- If the airbag indicator light <=>
page 13
comes when the veh icle is being used, have
the system inspected immediately by your
author ized Audi dealer. It is possible that
the airbag will inflate when it is not sup-
posed 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 ore properly re-
strained.
Fig. 171
Illus tratio n of principle: Inflated s ide curta in air-
bags on the left side
The side curtain airbags inflate between the oc-
cupant and the windows on the side of the vehi -
cle that is struck in a side collision
<=>
fig. 171 .
When the system is triggered, the s ide curtain
airbag is filled with propellant gas and breaks
through a seam
above
the front and rear side
windows identified by the AIRBAG label. In order
to help provide this additional protect ion, the
s ide curtain a irbag must inflate withi n the blink
of an eye at very high speed and with great force .
The side curtain airbag could injure you if your
seating position is not proper or up right or if
items are located in the area where the supple-
mental side curtain airbag inflates. This applies
especially to ch ildren r=>
page 168 .
.,..
Advertisement
Table of Contents
