belt AUDI S3 2009 User Guide
Page 81 of 324
Head restraints
Adjusting head restraints, front seats
The head restraints must be properly adjusted to the
occupants's height to provide optimal restraint in combi
nation with the seat restraints.
Fig . 78 Driver's seat
head restraint:
adjusting the height
The head restraints on the front seats can be adjusted to
provide safe support to head and neck at the optimum
height. Optimally adjusted, the top of the restraint should
be level with the top of the head.==>
page 131, "Proper
adjustment of head restraints".
Raising head restraint
-Grab the sides of the head restraint.
- Lift the head restraint ==>
page 79, fig. 78 until the top of
the restraint is even with the top of your head
==>
page 131
Lowering head restraint
- With one hand push down on the middle of the head
restraint.
Con tro ls and eq uip
ment
Seats and storage
- With the other hand press the release knob@
==> page 79, fig. 78 and push the head restraint down. You
should
not lower the top of the restraint below the level
of your eyes.
Removing the head restraint
-Pull the head restraint all the way up.
- Press the release button -arrow- ==>
page 79, fig. 78 and
pull the restraint straight up and out of the seat.
Installing the head restraint
- Insert the rods into the guides and push the restraint
back in until you hear it click.
Refer to~ page 131, "Proper adjustment of head restraints" for
guidelines on how to adjust the height of the front head restraints
to fit the occupant's body size.
& WARNING
• Driving without head restraints or with head restraints that are
not properly adjusted increases the risk of serious or fatal neck
injury dramatically.
• Read and heed all WARNINGS ~
page 131.
[ i] Tips
Correctly adjusted head restraints and safety belts are an extremely
effective combination of safety features. •
Vehicle care
I I irechnical data
Page 82 of 324
Seats and stor ag e
Rear head restraints (outer seating positions)
Fi g. 79 Ou te r re ar
h ea d re stra ints:
a dju sting th e heigh t
When t he rear seats a re no t occupied, you can l ower the
head rest raints (park p osition) and obtain better rearward
v1s 1on.
Moving the h ead r estraints to the "in-us e
position "
Grasp the sides of the head restraint with both hands .
- Move the head restraint to the uppermost pos ition
=> fig. 79 G) until it latches (in -use posit ion).
Moving the head restraints to the "park
position "
Press the re lease butto n
=> page 80, fig. 79 @ .
- Grasp the s ides of the head restraint with both hands.
- Press the head restraint down until it lies against the seat
back @ (park position) .
Removing the head restraints
- Move t he head restraint upward as far as it can go . - Press the button
@ => page 80, fig. 79 and pu
ll the head
restraint out a t the same t ime .
Installing head r estraints
- Pus h the rods for the head restraint into the guides until
they latch with an audible click .
Refer to=> page 131, "Proper adjustment of head restraints" for
guide lines on how to adjust the height of the outer head restraints
to fit the occupant's body size .
& WARNING
• Drivi ng w ithout head re str ai nt s or with head re str aint s tha t are
no t properly adju sted incr ease s the ri sk of seriou s or fatal n eck
i nj ury dr amatic ally .
• Read and h eed all WARNING S=>
page 13 1
[ i ] Tips
Correctly adjusted head restraints and safety belts are an extremely
effective combination of safety features .•
Rear head restraint (center seating position )
---o:, --~ - en - 0 -<I. _., CD
Fig. 8 0 Center re ar
he ad restra int:
a dju sting t he height ..
Page 83 of 324
When the rear seats are not occupied, you can lower the
head restraints (park position) and obtain better rearward
vision.
Moving the head restraints to the "in-use
position"
- Grasp the sides of the head restraint with both hands.
- Move the head restraint to the uppermost position
=> fig. 80 G) until it latches (in-use position).
Moving the head restraints to the "park
position"
- Press the release button => fig. 80 @.
- Grasp the sides of the head restraint with both hands.
- Press the head restraint down until it lies against the seat
back @ (park position) .
Removing the head restraints
-Take the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit
=> page 270.
-Move the head restraint upward as far as it can go.
- Press the release button
@ => page 80, fig. 80 and pull
the head restraint upward as far as it can go at the same
time.
- Insert the screwdriver at position @ into the recess and
pull out the head restraint at the same time.
Installing head restraints
- Push the rods for the head restraint into the guides until
they latch with an audible click.
Con tro ls and eq uip
ment
Seats and storage
The height of the center head restraints is adjustable. They should
be adjusted to fit the occupant's body size. Correctly adjusted head
restraints and safety belts are an extremely effective safety feature
=> page 131.
& WARNING
Read and heed all WARNINGS=> page 131, "Proper adjustment of
head restraints". •
Center armrest
The front center armrest can be adjusted to several posi
tions and contains a storage bin.
Adjusting the armrest
-Push the armrest down.
Fig . 81 Between the
front seats: armrest
folded down
-Lift the armrest slowly until it is in a comfortable posi-
tion.
Opening the storage bin
- Pull the release button => fig. 81 upward.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data
Page 85 of 324
Luggage compartment
Increasing the size of the luggage
compartment
To increase the size of the luggage compartment, both
parts of the seat back can be folded forward, individually or together.
Folding the seatback forward
U')
"'
"' 0 a. ., CD
Fig . 83 Release lever
for the seatback (left
side)
Fig . 84 Rear seatback
folded forward {with
pass-through*)
- Swing the outer rear head restraints forward=> page 80,
fig. 79.
Con tro ls and eq uip
ment
Seats and storage
- Push the release lever=> fig. 83
@ in the direct ion of the
arrow.
- Tilt the seatback forward.
Raising the seatback
- Raise the seatback until it is securely latched=>& .
When you can no longer see the red mark on the pin@,
the seat is latched .
Stowing luggage
- For safe loading and securing of items read and follow the guidelines on=> page
133, "Loading the luggage
compartment".
The rear seatback is divided into two segments -one third/two
thirds. You can fold down either or both parts of the seatback .
& WARNING
• The backrest must always be securely latched so that the
safety belt of the center seating position can work properly to help
protect the occupant.
• The backrest must be securely latched
in position so that no
items contained in the luggage compartment can slide forward
upon sudden braking.
• Never allow safety belts to become damaged by being caught
in door or seat hardware.
• Torn or frayed safety belts can tear and damaged belt hardware
can break in a crash. Inspect the belts periodically. Belts showing
damage to webbing, bindings, buckles, or retractors must be
replaced.
~
Vehicle care I I Technical data
Page 86 of 324
Seats and storage
& WARNING
Always read and heed WARNINGS => & in uloading the luggage
c ompartment " on
page 133 .
0 Note
When folding the backre st back into place, make su re the safe ty belt
does not get caught, because it can be damaged . A damaged belt
can fail to p rov ide safe restraint. •
Fastening eyes
The luggage compartmen t is e qui pped with four tie -down
eyele ts to secure lug ga ge and o ther items .
Fig. 85 Lugg age
compartment :
fa stening eyes
Use t he fastening e yes to secu re you r ca rgo pr oper ly
=> fig. 85 -a rr ow s-.
- Ad here to all safet y instruc tions => page 133, "Stowing
lugg age".
In a collision, the laws of physics mean that even smalle r items that
a re loo se in t he vehi cle will bec ome he avy missiles that ca n ca use
se rious inju ry . I tems in the vehicle possess e nergy which vary with vehicle and the weight of the item
. T he vehicle speed is the most
significan t factor.
For exam ple, in a fronta l collision at a speed of 3 0 mph (48 km/h),
the forces acting on a 10 lbs ( 4,5 k g) object are about 20 times the
n ormal w eight of th e ite m. Th is mea ns that the weight of the it em
woul d suddenly be about 200 lbs (90 kg). You can imagine the inju
ri es th at a 20 0 lb s (90 kg) item fl ying fr ee ly t hroug h the passe nge r
compartment cou ld cause in a co llis ion li ke this.
& WARNING
Weak , damaged or improper straps used to secure items to
fastening eyes can fail during hard braking or in a collision and cause serious personal injury .
• Always use suitable mounting straps and properly secure
items to the fastening eyes in the luggage compartment to help
prevent items from shifting or flying forward.
• When the rear seat backrest is folded down , always use suit
able mounting straps and properly secure items to the fastening
eyes in the luggage compartment to help prevent item s from flying
forward into the passenger compartment .
• Never attach a child safety seat tether strap to a fastening
eye. a
Page 89 of 324
Applies to vehic les: w ith revers ible cargo area floor
Reversible cargo area floor (protective liner )
Use the protective liner when transporting dirty or wet
objects .
Reversing the cargo area floor
-Open the luggage compartment lid.
Fig. 90 Luggage
compartment : cargo
area floor
Fig . 91 Luggage
compartment : protec
tive liner
-Raise the cargo area floor at both handles=> fig. 90,
remove it
G) and rotate it 180 degrees @.
- In sert the reversed cargo area floor (protective liner)
again => fig. 91 . •
Con tro ls and eq uip
ment
Seats and storage
App lies to vehicles: w ith s ki sack
Ski sack
The ski sack allows a maximum of 4 pairs of skis or 2
snowboards to be carried inside the vehicle .
Loading
-Open t he rear hatch.
Fig . 92 Section of the
rear seat from the rear:
ski sack hatch cover
Fig. 93 Securing the
ski sack at the center
rear seat belt buckle
- Slide the release button for the pass -through down (with
the center arm rest)=> fig. 92 -Arrow- and tilt the pass
through forward.
- Remove the sack from the luggage compartment and
unfold it.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data
Page 90 of 324
Seats and storage
-Place the empty sack in the hatch so that the end with the
zip fastener is in the luggage compartment.
- Load objects from the luggage compartment into the ski
sack.
Securing
- Insert the ski sack strap ~ page 87, fig. 93 @ into the
center seat belt buckle
® ·
- With skiing items, place the strap in the middle between
the bindings ~& .
- Pull the loose end of the strap tight in the direction of the
arrow.
Opening the safety strap buckle
- Take the long sides of safety strap buckle between thumb
and forefinger ~
page 87, fig. 93 @.
- Squeeze the buckle and pull it away from the cargo.
Stowing
- Raise the pass-through until it is securely latched. It is
secure when you can no longer see the red mark on the
latch in the luggage compartment.
- Carefully fold up the empty (dry) ski sack.
- Stow the ski sack in the luggage compartment so that it
cannot slide around.
& WARNING
• After loading, the ski sack must be secured with the strap .
• The safety strap must fit tightly around the cargo.
& WARNING (continued)
• Make certain that the safety strap lies in the middle between
the bindings of the ski equipment (refer also to printed message on the ski sack).
[ i] Tips
• Place skis with the tips pointing forward, snowboards and ski
poles with tip to the
rear in the ski sack.
• If there are several pairs of skis in the ski sack, make certain that
the bindings are at the same level.
• Be sure not to fold up or store the sack when it is still damp. •
Roof rack* installation
First things first
A roof rack can be used to carry additional luggage on the
roof. There are two different roof rack systems.
Separate roof racks are needed for vehicles without roof
rails. Vehicles with standard roof rails* need additional
cross bars to carry cargo. Both types of additional equip
ment are available at your authorized Audi dealer.
- Always read and follow the instructions provided by the
roof rack manufacturer when the roof rack system must
be installed.
If a roof rack or similar luggage carrying equipment is to be
installed, please note the following:
Vehicles without roof rails
• Your vehicle has aerodynamic rain gutters molded into the roof.
That is why only roof racks specially designed for the roof can be .,,
Page 128 of 324
___ o_ r_iv _ i _n....; g::;_ S_ a_f _e _ly=-- -------------------------------------------------
Driving Safely
General notes
Safe driving habits
Please remember -safety first!
This chapter contains important information, tips, instructions and
warnings that you need to read and observe for your own safety, the
safety of your passengers and others. We have summarized here
what you need to know about safety belts, airbags, child rest raints
as well as child safety. Your safety is for us
priority number 1. Always
observe the information and warnings in this section -for your own
safety as well as that of your passengers.
The information in this section applies to all model versions of your
vehicle. Some of the features described in this sections may be
standard equipment on some models, or may be optional equip
ment on others. If you are not sure, ask your authorized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
• Always make sure that you follow the instructions and heed
the WARNINGS in this Manual. It is in your interest and in the
interest of your passengers.
• Always keep the complete Owner's Literature in your Audi
when you lend or sell your vehicle so that this important informa
tion will always be available to the driver and passengers.
• Always keep the Owner's literature handy so that you can find
it easily if you have questions .•
Safety equipment
The safety features are part of the occupant restraint
system and work together to help reduce the risk of injury
in a wide variety of accident situations.
Your safety and the safety of your passengers should not be left to
chance. Advances in technology have made a variety of features
available to help reduce the risk of injury in an accident. The
following is a list of just a few of the safety features in your Audi:
• sophisticated safety belts for driver and all passenger seating
positions,
• safety belt pretensioners,
• safety belt force limiters for the front seats,
• safety belt height adjustment systems for the front seats,
• automatic safety belt height adjustment for the rear seats,
• front airbags,
• side airbags in the front seats and outer rear seats *,
• side curtain airbags,
• special LATCH anchorages for child restraints,
• head restraints for each seating position,
• adjustable steering column.
These individual safety features, can work together as a system to
help protect you and your passengers in a wide range of accidents.
These features cannot work as a system if they are not always
correctly adjusted and correctly used.
Safety is everybody's responsibility! •
Page 129 of 324
________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n_ g~ S_ a_ fe_ ly __ !II
Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
-Make sure that all lights and signals are operat ing
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good
visibility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items carefully =>
page 94.
-Make sure that noth ing can interfere w ith the pedals.
- Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for your height .
- Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints
according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right ch ild restraint correctly to
protect children =>
page 169, "Child Safety ".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen
gers do the same=>
page 74, "General recommenda
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it p roperly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten the ir safety belts properly
=>
page 137. •
Controls and equip
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen
trate on the road without being distracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road =>& .There
fore:
Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a cellular telephone .
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
- Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
Page 130 of 324
___ D_ r _i_v _i_n -=g =--- S_ a_ f_ e____, ly'----------------------------------------------------
Proper occupant seating positi ·ons
Proper seating position for the driver
The proper driver seating position is important for safe,
relaxed driving.
Fig . 128 The correct
distance between
driver and steering
wheel
Fig . 129 Correct head
restraint position for
driver
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the
driver's seat to the following position:
- Adjust the driver's seat so that you can easily push the
pedals all the way to the floor while keeping your knee(s)
slightly bent=:>& . - Adjust the angle of the seatback so that
it is in an upright
position so that your back comes in full contact with it
when you drive.
- Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a distance of at
least 10 inches (25 cm) between the steering wheel and
your breast bone=:> fig. 128. If not possible, see your
authorized Audi dealership about adaptive equipment.
- Adjust the steering wheel so that the steering wheel and
airbag cover points at your chest and not at your face.
- Grasp the top of the steering wheel with your elbow(s)
slightly bent.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge is as
even with the top of your head as possible but no lower
than eye level and so that it is as close to the back of your
head as possible=:> fig. 129.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly=:>
page 141.
- Always keep both feet in the footwell so that you are in
control of the vehicle at all times.
For detailed information on how to adjust the driver's seat, see
=>
page 75, "Adjusting front seats manua lly" or=> page 76,
"Adjusting the power seat".
& WARNING
Drivers who are unbelted, out of position or too close to the airbag
can be seriously injured by an airbag as it unfolds. To help reduce
the risk of serious personal injury:
• Always adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel so that
there are at least 10 inches (25 cm} between your breastbone and
the steering wheel. .,_