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The side airbag syste m 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
- two rear side airbags (as an ordered
option)
- the a irbag warning light in the instrument
cluster .
The airbag system is monitored electron ically
t o make certain that it is functioning properly
at all times . Each time you turn on the igni-
tion, the airbag system indicator light will
come on for a few seconds (self diagnostics) .
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, front and rear* passeng-
er's upper torso on the side of the veh icle that
is struck in a side collision. The a irbag dep loys
only in side impacts and on ly when the veh icle
acceleration registered by the control unit is
high enough. If this rate is below the refer -
ence value programmed into the control unit,
the side airbags will not be triggered, even
though the car may be badly damaged as a re-
sult of the collision. It is not possible to de-
fine an airbag trigger ing range that will cover
every possible angle of impact, since the cir-
cumstances will vary considerably between
one collision and another. Important factors
include, for examp le, the natu re (hard o r soft)
of the impacting object, the ang le of impact ,
vehicle speed, etc.
¢
page 200, Important
safety instructions 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 position in the event of a side
coll ision so that the side airbags 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 vehicle . Al-
ways remember that the side airbag system
can only help to protect you if you are wear ing
your safety belt and wear ing it properly . This
is another reason why you should always wear
your safety belts, not just because the law re-
A irbag sys tem
199
quires you to do so c;>
page 174, General
notes .
It is important to remembe r that while the
supplementa l side airbag system is designed
to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries,
other injuries, for example, swelling, bruising,
and minor abrasions can also be associated
with deployed side airbags. Remember too,
s ide airbags will deploy only once and only in
certain kinds of accidents - your safety belts
are always there to offer protection .
Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack
of veh icle damage are not necessarily an indi-
cation of over -sensitive or failed airbag activa -
t ion. In some collis ions, both front and side
airbags may inflate. Remember too, that air-
bags will deploy only once and only in certain
kinds of col lis ions - 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 s ide airbag system will not deploy:
- when t he ignit io n is tu rned off
- in side collisions when the acceleration
meas ured by the sensor is too low
- in front-end collisions
- in rear-end collisions
- in rollovers.
In some types of accidents the front airbags,
side curtain airbags and side airbags may be
triggered together.
A
WARNING
- Safety belts and the airbag system will
only provide protection when occupants
are in the proper seating position
¢page 200 .
- If the airbag ind icator light
¢ page 16
comes when the veh icle is being used,
have the system inspected immediately
by your authori zed Audi dealer. It is pos-
sible tha t the airbag will inflate when it
is not supposed t o, or will not infla t e
when it should.
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