Get Airbag system -> Description of airbag system Guide for Audi A5 4 Door First Generation (2007-2013)

Airbag system176

Airbag system

Description of airbag system

General notes on airbag system

The airbag is an integral part of the car's passive safety

system.

In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the airbag system

gives the front occupants additional protection for the head and

chest in the event of a severe frontal collision.

In a severe side collision the side airbags and the head-protection

airbags reduce the risk of injury to the occupants in the areas of the

body facing the impact ⇒ .

In addition to their normal function of protecting the occupants in a

collision, the seat belts also hold them in a position where the

airbags can inflate properly and provide maximum protection.

The airbag system will only work with the ignition on. The airbag

system is monitored electronically; the airbag warning lamp indi-

cates whether the system is functioning properly.

The main parts of the airbag system are:

• the electronic monitoring system (control unit and sensors),

• the two front airbags,

• the front side airbags and head-protection airbags,

• The airbag warning lamp in the instrument cluster.

There is a fault in the airbag system if the warning

lamp

• does not come on when the ignition is switched on,

• does not go out about 4 seconds after the ignition is switched

on,

• goes out and then comes on again after the ignition is switched

on,

• comes on or flickers while the car is moving.

WARNING

• The airbags are not a substitute for the seat belts; they are an

integral part of the car's overall passive safety system. The airbags

can only offer effective protection if the occupants are wearing

their seat belts. For this reason it is very important to wear the

seat belts at all times ⇒ page 170, “Why is it so important to use

seat belts?”.

• The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protec-

tion if the occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 70, “Seats and

storage”.

• If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not

seated correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at greater

risk of injury should the airbag system be triggered in an accident.

• Components of the airbag system are located in various parts

of the vehicle. If repairs to other vehicle components make it

necessary to perform work on the airbag system or to remove or

install parts of the airbag system, this may cause damage to the

airbag system. As a result, the airbags may not inflate correctly or

may not be triggered at all in an accident situation. For this reason,

you should always have the work carried out by a qualified work-

shop.

• If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system

checked immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise the

system may fail to trigger in an accident.

• Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in

any way.

• Never make any alterations to the front bumper or the body.

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Airbag system 177

Controls Safety Driving tips General maintenance Self-help Technical data

• The airbag system can only be activated once; if the airbag has

been triggered, the system must be replaced. Should the airbag

system or airbag modules have to be replaced, the qualified work-

shop carrying out the replacement will document all details in the

appropriate section of the Service Schedule.

• If you sell the vehicle, please remember to pass on the

complete Service Wallet to the new owner. If any of the airbags

have been deactivated, it is important that the new owner is also

given the relevant documents.

• The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the

vehicle or components of the airbag or belt tensioner systems are

scrapped.

• In an accident in which one or more airbags are triggered the

alternator and the starter are - for safety reasons - both discon-

nected from the battery via a pyrotechnic circuit breaker.

− Any repairs to the pyrotechnic circuit breaker must always

be performed by a qualified workshop (accident risk).

− The relevant safety requirements must be observed when

the vehicle or the circuit breaker are scrapped.

When are the airbags triggered?

The airbag system is triggered in collisions with a severe

impact.

The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and

front passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.

In severe side collisions the side airbags on the impact side of the

vehicle are triggered together with the head-protection airbag.

The front airbags, side airbags and one of the head-protection

airbags may be triggered together in certain types of accident.

The airbag system is not triggered in minor frontal or side collisions,

or in rear collisions or if the car overturns. In these situations the

occupants are protected by wearing the seat belts.

Factors determining the triggering response

It is not possible to define the exact triggering response of the

airbag system in all possible situations, since the circumstances in

different types of accident will vary considerably. Important factors

include, for example, the nature (hard or soft) of the object which

the car hits, the angle of impact, vehicle speed and so on.

Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle

deceleration rate resulting from the collision. By processing the

signals from the sensors located in the vehicle, the electronic

control unit is immediately able to evaluate the severity of the colli-

sion and activate the restraint systems accordingly. If the decelera-

tion rate is below the predefined reference value in the control unit

the airbags will not be triggered, even though the accident may

cause extensive damage to the car.

Note

The airbag releases a fine dust when it inflates. This is quite normal

and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.

WARNING (continued)

document_0900452a8179700c.book Seite 177 Donnerstag, 22. März 2007 10:19 10

Airbag system -> Description of airbag system for Your Audi A5 4 Door First Generation (2007-2013)

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