airbag AUDI S6 2008 User Guide

________________________________________________ S_e_ a_ ts_ a_ n_d _ s_t _o _r_ a ....; g::;. e _ __._
0 Note
To avoid damaging the socket, only use plugs that fit properly.
[ i] Tips
When the engine is off and accessories are still plugged in and are
on, the vehicle battery can still be drained. •
Storage
General overview
There are numerous places to store items in your vehicle.
Glove compartment
Storage compartment in roof
Coat hooks
Storage compartment in the trunk
& WARNING
~ page 107
~ page 108
~ page 109
~ page99
• Always remove objects from the instrument panel. Any items
not stored could slide around inside the vehicle while driving or
when accelerating or when applying the brakes or when driving
around a corner.
• When you are driving make sure that anything you may have
placed in the center console or other storage locations cannot fall
out into the footwells. In case of sudden braking you would not be
able to brake or accelerate.
• Any articles of clothing that you have hung up must not inter­
fere with the driver's view. The coat hooks are designed only for
lightweight clothing. Never hang any clothing with hard, pointed
or heavy objects in the pockets on the coat hooks. During sudden
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
& WARNING !continued)
braking or in an accident -especially if the airbag is deployed -
these objects could injure any passengers inside the vehicle. •
Glove compartment
The media player is in the glove compartment.
To open glove compartment
Fig. 104 Unlocking
button for glove
compartment
Press the button ::!}...--==> fig. 104 (arrow) - the lid opens
automatically.
To close glove compartment
Push the glove compartment lid up until the lock
engages.
In the glove compartment lid you will find a place to store a pen and
a pad of paper.
CD changer*
The CD changer for the radio system and the Navigation drive* is located in the glove compartment . How to change CDs is described
in the pertinent Owner's Manual.
tJ,,,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

________________________________________________ S_e_ a_ ts_ a_ n_d _ s_t _o _r_ a ....; g::;. e _ __.ffllll
& WARNING
Always keep the lid closed while driving to reduce the risk of injury
during a sudden braking maneuver or in the event of an accident. •
Coat hooks
(0
~ 1--,, ' ,/,
~
& WARNING
c; ~
, I
~ N ti. ...
"'
Fig . 108 Coat hook s at
rear doors
• Hang clothes in such a way that they do not impair the driver's
vision .
• The coat hooks must only be used for lightweight clothing. Do
not leave any heavy or sharp edged objects in the pockets which
may interfere with the side curtain airbag deployment and can
cause personal injury in a crash .
• Do not use coat hangers for hanging clothing on the coat hooks
as this can interfere with proper deployment of the SIDEGUARD
head-protection airbags in an accident .
• Do not hang heavy objects on the coat hooks , as they could
c ause personal injury in a sudden stop . •
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment Vehicle care
I I irechnical data

-On the road
..___ ______________
_
On the road
Steering
Applies to vehicl es : w ith m anua lly a dju stab le steer in g wh ee l
Manually adjusted steering wheel
The height and reach of the steering wheel can be
adjusted.
First, adjust the driver 's seat correctly.
Fig . 120 Lever under
the steering column
Pull the lever~ fig. 120 -Arrow -~&.
Move the steering wheel to the desired posit ion.
Push the lever against the steering column until it locks.
There must be at least 10 inches (25 cm) between your chest and the
c en ter of th e steering wh eel. If you cannot sit more than 10 inches
( 25 cm) from the steering wheel, se e if adaptive equipment is avail ­
able to hel p you reach the pedals and inc rease the dis tance fro m the
steering whe el.
For detailed information on how to adjust the driver 's seat, see
=> pag e 88.
& WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjustment and improper seating
position can cause serious personal injury.
• Adjust the steering wheel column only when the vehicle is not
moving to prevent loss of vehicle control.
• Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so that there is a
minimum of 10 inches
(25 cm) between your chest and the
steering wheel=>
page 194, fig. 188 . If you cannot maintain this
minimum distance, the airbag system cannot protect you prop­
erly.
• If physical limitations prevent you from sitting 10 inches
125
cm) or more from the steering wheel, check with your authorized
Audi dealer to see if adaptive equipment is available .
• If the steering wheel is aligned with your face, the supple­
mental driver's airbag cannot provide as much protection in an
accident. Always make sure that the steering wheel is aligned with
your chest.
• Always hold the steering wheel with your hands at the 9 o'clock
and 3 o'clock positions to reduce the risk of personal injury if the
driver's airbag deploys.
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with
your hands inside the steering wheel rim or on the steering wheel
hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong way can cause serious
injuries to the hands, arms and head if the driver's airbag
deploys. •

On the road ---------------~:.:..--J
Applies to v ehi cles : wi th ele ctr ic ally a djuste d steer in g wh eel
Electrically adjusted steering vvheel
The he ight and re ach of the stee ring whe el can b e electr i­
cally adj uste d to s uit t he d river .
First, adjust the d river's seat co rrect ly.
Height adjustment
Fig . 121 Switch for
steering wheel adjust ·
ment
- Push the switch@ up or dow n=> fig. 1 21. T he steer ing
w heel he ight cha nges for a s long as you pre ss th e swi tc h.
Reach adjustment
- Push the s witch @ forw ard o r backwar d => fig . 121. Th e
s teer ing whe el reach ch an ges for as lon g as you pr ess
t h e s witch.
Ther e must b e at least 1 O in ches ( 25 cml betw een your chest and the
cen te r of th e st eer ing w hee l. If you cannot sit mo re than 1 0 in che s
(2 5 cm) from the stee rin g wh eel, se e if adaptive equ ipm ent is ava il­
able to help you reach the pedals and increase the distance from the
st eeri ng whe el.
F or detailed info rmation on how to ad just the drive r's seat, see
~ pa ge 88 .
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
T he steering whe el can be adj ust ed even when the ignition is turn ed
O ff . F or vehi cle s with seat memory , the i ndividu al p osi tions fo r the
st eer in g w he el can be sto red a lon g w ith th e seat position.
& WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjustment and improper seating
position can cause serious personal injury.
• Adjust the steering wheel column only when the vehicle is not
moving to prevent loss of vehicle control .
• Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so that there is a
minimum of 10 inches (25 cm ) between your chest and the
steering wheel~
page 194 , fig. 188 . If you cannot maintain this
minimum distance , the airbag system cannot protect you prop ­
erly .
• If physical limitations prevent you from sitting 1 O inches (25
cml or more from the steering wheel , check with your authorized
Audi dealer to see if adaptive equipment is available.
• If the steering wheel is aligned with your face, the supple­
mental driver's airbag cannot provide as much protection in an
accident . Always make sure that the steering wheel is aligned with
your chest .
• Always hold the steering wheel with your hands at the 9 o'clock
and 3 o'clock positions to reduce the risk of personal injury if the
driver's airbag deploys .
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with
your hands inside the steering wheel rim or on the steer ing wheel
hub . Holding the steering wheel the wrong way can cause serious
injuries to the hands, arms and head if the driver's airbag
deploys. •
Vehicle care I I Technical data

........ _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, suggestions 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 restraints 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 au thorized Audi dealer .
& WARNING
• Always make sure that you follow the suggestions 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 (SIDEGUARD),
• 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! •

___ D_ ri_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. 188 The correct
distance between
driver and steering
wheel
Fig. 189 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. 188. 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 . 189.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly=:>
page 206.
- 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 88 .
& 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
125 cm) between your breastbone and
the steering wheel.
• Always hold the steering wheel on the outside of the steering
wheel rim with your hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions ..

________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n_ g~ S_ a_ fe_ ly __ lffllll
& WARNING (continued)
to help reduce the risk of personal injury if the driver's airbag
inflates.
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with
your hands at other positions inside the steering wheel rim or on
the steering wheel hub . Holding the steering wheel the wrong way
can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms and head if the
driver's airbag deploys .
• Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the
ability of the supplemental driver's airbag to protect you in a colli­
sion.
• Always sit in an upright position and never lean against or
place any part of your body too close to the area where the airbags
are located .
• Before driving, always adjust the front seats and head
restraints properly and make sure that all passengers are properly
restrained.
• Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is moving. Your seat
may move unexpectedly and you could lose control of the vehicle. • Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury
due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats => page
234.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat=> page
212 . •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
Proper seating position for the front
passenger
The proper front passenger seating position is important
for safe, relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend that you adjust the
seat for the front passenger to the following pos ition:
- Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible.
There must be a minimum of 10 inches (25 cm) between
the breastbone and the instrument panel =>
&.
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
position and your back comes in full contact with it
whenever the vehicle is moving.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge is as
even with the top of your head as possible but not lower
than eye level and so that it is as close to the back of your
head as possible =>
page 197.
-Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the front
passenger seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly=:>
page 206.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's
seat, see =>
page 87.
& WARNING
Front seat passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too
close to the airbag can be seriously injured or killed by the airbag
as it unfolds. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury : .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

........ _o_ r_iv _i_ n""' g::;._ S_ a_f _e _ly =---------------------------------------------------
& WARNING (continued)
• Passengers must always sit in an upright position and never
lean against or place any part of their body too close to the area
where the airbags are located.
• Passengers who are unbelted, out of position or too close to the
airbag can be seriously injured by an airbag as it unfolds with
great force in the blink of an eye .
• Always make sure that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the front passenger's breastbone and the instrument
panel.
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Before driving, always adjust the front passenger seat and
head restraint properly.
• Always keep your feet on the floor in front of the seat . Never
rest them on the seat, instrument panel, out of the window, etc.
The airbag system and safety belt will not be able to protect you properly and can even increase the risk of injury in a crash.
• Never drive with the backrest reclined or tilted far back! The
farther the backrests are tilted back, the greater the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning of the safety belt and improper
seating position.
• Children must always ride in child safety seats
~ page 234.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat~
page 212. •
Proper seating positions for passengers in
rear seats
Rear seat passengers must sit upright with both feet on
the floor consistent with their physical size and be prop­
erly restrained whenever the vehicle is in use.
To reduce the risk of injury caused by an incorrect seating
position in the event of a sudden braking maneuver or an
accident, your passengers on the rear bench seat must
always observe the following:
- Make sure that the seatback is securely latched in the
upright position~
page 96.
- 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~
page 197.
- Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts properly~
page 206.
-Make sure that children are always properly restrained in
a child restraint that is appropriate for their size and age
~ page 234.
L1}. WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the rear seat can be
seriously injured in a crash.
• Each passenger must always sit on a seat of their own and
properly fasten and wear the safety belt belonging to that seat.
• Safety belts only offer maximum protection when the seatback
is securely latched in the upright position and the safety belts are
properly positioned on the body. By not sitting upright, a rear seat
passenger increases the risk of personal injury from improperly
positioned safety belts! .,_

________________________________________________ D_r_iv _ i _n""' g=--- S_ a_ fe~ ly __ !II
& WARNING (continued )
• Always adjust the head restraint properly so that it can give
maximum protection . •
Proper adjustment of head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraints are an important part
of your vehicle's occupant restraint system and can help
to reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations.
Fig . 190 Correctly
adjusted head restraint
viewed from the side
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to achieve
the best protection.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge of the
restraint is level with the top of your head, but no lower
than eye level and so it is as close to the back of your
head as possible :::::,
page 197, fig. 190.
Adjusting head restraints => page 93.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
Driving
without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head
restraints increases the risk of serious injuries in a collision. To
help reduce the risk of injury:
• Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly
adjusted .
• Every person in the vehicle must have a properly adjusted head
restraint .
• Always make sure each person in the vehicle properly adjusts
their head restraint. Each head restraint must be adjusted
according to occupants' size so that the upper edge is as even
with the top of the person's head, but no lower than eye level and
so it is as close to the back of to the head as possible .
• Never attempt to adjust head restraint while driving . If you
have driven off and must adjust the driver headrest for any reason ,
first stop the vehicle safely before attempting to adjust the head
restraint.
• Children must always be properly restrained in a child restraint
that is appropriate for their age and size =>
page 234. •
Examples of improper seating positions
The occupant restraint system can only reduce the risk of
injury if vehicle occupants are properly seated.
Improper seating positions can cause serious injury or
death. Safety belts can only work when they are properly
positioned on the body. Improper seating positions reduce
the effectiveness of safety belts and w ill even increase the
risk of injury and death by moving the safety belt to critical
areas of the body. Improper seating positions als o inc rease
the risk of serious injury and death when an airbag deploys and strikes an occupant who is not in the proper seating ..,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

__ .....::S-=a ::..;f _:e :..:t :.!..y _ b::.....:: e..:..lt :.:s::..._ _____________________________________________ _
Because the passengers of this vehicle are not using safety belts
~ page 203, fig. 193, they will keep moving at the same speed the
vehicle was moving just before the crash, until something stops
them -here, the wall~
page 203, fig. 194.
The same principles apply to people sitting in a vehicle that is involved in a frontal collision. Even at city speeds of 20 to 30 mph
(30 to 50 km/h), the forces acting on the body can reach one ton
(2,000 lbs. or 1,000 kg) or more. At greater speeds, these forces are
even higher.
People who do not use safety belts are also not attached to their
vehicle. In a frontal collision they will also keep moving forward at
the speed their vehicle was travelling just before the crash. Of course, the laws of physics don't just apply to frontal collisions, they
determine what happens in all kinds of accidents and collisions. •
What happens to occupants not wearing
safety be lts?
In crashes unbelted occupants cannot stop themselves
from flying forward and being injured or killed. Always
wear your safety belts!
Fig . 195 A driver not
wearing a safe ty belt is
violently thrown
forward Fig. 196
A rear
passenger not wearing
a safety belt will fly
forward and strike the
driver
Unbelted occupants are not able to resist the tremendous forces of
impact by holding tight or bracing themselves. Without the benefit
of safety restraint systems, the unrestrained occupant will slam
violently into the steering wheel, instrument panel, windshield, or
whatever else is in the way~ fig. 195. This impact with the vehicle
interior has all the energy they had just before the crash.
Never rely on airbags alone for protection. Even when they dep loy,
airbags provide only additional protection. Airbags are not
supposed to deploy in all kinds of accidents . Although your Audi is
equipped with airbags, all vehicle occupants, including the driver,
must wear safety belts correctly in order to minimize the risk of
severe injury or death in a crash .
Remember too, that airbags will deploy only once and that your
safety belts are always there to offer protection in those accidents
in which airbags are not supposed to deploy or when they have
a lready deployed. Unbelted occupants can also be thrown out of the
vehicle where even more severe or fatal injuries can occur.
It is also important for the rear passengers to wear safety belts
correctly . Unbelted passengers in the rear seats endanger not only
themselves but also the driver and other passengers~ fig. 196. In a
frontal collision they will be thrown forward violently, where they
can hit and injure the driver and/or front seat passenger. •