airbag off AUDI A4 AVANT 2008 Owners Manual

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
& WARNING
• Failure to heed warning lights and other important vehicle
information may result in serious personal injury or vehicle
damage .
• Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe
distance off the road, stop the engine, and turn on the emergency
flasher
=> page 79.
• The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially
hazardous area. Before you check anything in the engine compart­
ment, stop the engine and let it cool down . Always exercise
extreme caution when working under the engine hood
=> page 265 , "Engine compartment"
[ i] Tips
Many functions are monitored by the Auto-Check system
=> page 28. Malfunctions or faults will be identified either with a red
symbol (priority 1 - Danger!) or with a yellow symbol (priority 2 -
Warning). •
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
~ (USA models)/ 0 (Canada models)
The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU is part of the On-Board Diag ­
nostic (OBD II) system. The
symbol ~ lights up when the ignition is
turned on and will turn off after the engine has started and has
settled at constant idle speed . This indicates that the MIL is working
properly.
The warning light illuminates when there is a malfunction in the
eng ine electronic system. Contact your authorized Audi dealer and
have the malfunction corrected.
For more information
=> page 27. •
Airbag system ~
This warning/indicator light monitors the airbag and the
tensioner systems.
The I warning light illuminates for a few seconds each time you
switch on the ignition.
If the
~i warning light does not go out, or if it illum inates while you
are driving, or if it starts to flash, then there is a malfunction some ­
where in the system. If the light does not illuminate when you
switch on the ignition, this also means there is a malfunction.
& WARNING
If you have a malfunction in the airbag system, contact your autho­
rized Audi dealer immediately. Otherwise the airbag or the belt
tensioner may not work properly in an accident. •
Tire pressure monitoring system -telltale
indicator lamp
U)
The warning/indicator light appears in the event of a
significant loss of air pressure.
The (1) warning/indicator light illuminates for a few seconds after
the ignition is turned on as function check and then goes out.
If the
(l) symbol appears, pressure is too low in at least one tire.
When the system detects a malfunction, the warning/indicator light
will flash for approximately one minute and then remain continu­
ously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle starts up as long as the malfunction exists. Contact your
authorized Audi dealer and have the malfunction corrected.
For more information
=> page 47. •

Opening and clo sing
& W ARNI NG (c onti nued )
• Do not le ave ch ildr en in side th e vehicle uns upervi sed. In an
em erge ncy it would be i mpos sible to open t he doors from the
out side w it h out the key .
[ i] Tips
• In the event of a crash with airbag deployment all locked doors
wi ll be automatically unlocked to give access to the vehicle occu­
pants from the outside .
• If the power locking system should fail, you can still open the
fue l tank flap in an emergency =>
page 271.
• You are well advised not to keep va luables inside an unattended
vehicle, visible or not. Even a properly locked vehicle cannot provide
the security of a safe!
•
Keyless entry remote control
General description
The remote controls allows you to :
• lock or unlock the vehicle
• selectively unlock the rear lid.
The turn signals will flash briefly whenever you lock or unlock the
veh ic le . Also, the interior light will come on or go off whenever you
open or close the driver's door.
T he transmitter and battery are located in the head of the remote
control. The receiver is located inside the vehicle. The maximum
effective range depends on several things. Remember, if the battery
is weak, the effective range decreases .
The remote-contro l key contains a fold-out key that you can use to
manually lock or unlock the vehicle and to start the engine . I
f you need to replace the remote control, or if you need to have it
repaired, you must see your authorized Audi dealer. Only then can
you use the key again .•
Unlocking and locking the vehicle with the
remote control
How the remote cont rol works.
To unlock the vehicle 0
- Press button @.
Fig. 4 9 Rem ote
co ntrol: fu nct ion
b utto ns
- Press bu tton @ two times within two seconds to unlock
all doors and th e rear lid .
To lock the v ehi cle 6
- Press button ® => & in "General description" on
page
55.
- Watch that a ll turn signal lights flash once .

• USA models: illumin ation of the in strument clu ste r (gauge s and
needle s), dash and center con sole around the gear shift lever i s
c ontrolled by a light sen sor l oca ted in the in strument panel . The
instrument panel illum ination will automatic ally become dimmer
a s the d aylight f ade s aw ay a nd e ventuall y will go out completel y
wh en out side light is very low . Thi s is to remind you , the driver , to
s witch on the he adlight s before it get s too dark.
• Canada model s: instrument panel illum ination will sta y br ight
rega rdle ss of the inten sity of ambient light . Al ways be aw are of
changes in outside light conditions while you are driving . Respond
in time to fading daylight by tu rning the light switch to position
1[D
(or "AUTO" if your car is equipped with this feature) to turn on your
he adlight s.
•
App lies to veh icle s: w it h xe non head lig hts
Xenon headlights
After sta rting the engine, the xenon head lights are automatica lly
adjusted to the load and angle of the veh ic le ( for example, during
accel eration and braking) . This prevents oncoming traffic from
experienc ing unnecessary headlight glare from your xenon head ­
lights.
I f the system is not operating properly, a warning symbol in the
Auto-Check Control is
displayed=> page 34. •
Controls and equip ­
ment
Cl ea r vision
Emergency flasher ~
The emergency flasher ma kes other motorists aware that
you or your vehicle are in an emergency situation .
Fig. 77 Ce nter
co nso le: e merg en cy
fl as he r sw it ch
- Press the switch &1. ~ fig. 77, to switch t he eme rgency
flasher on or off.
When the emergency flasher is on, all four turn signal blink at the
same time. The turn signal indicator lights ¢
9 in the instrument
c luster, as we ll as the light in the emergency flasher
switch ~ blink
likewise.
The emergency flasher wi ll automatically switch on if you are in an
accident where the airbag has deployed .
[ i] Tip s
You shou ld switch on the emergency flasher when :
• you are the las t vehicle standing in a traffic jam so that any other
vehicles coming can see you, or when
• your vehicle has broken down or you are in an emergency situa -
tion, o r when _.,

Seats and storage
General recommendations
Why is your seat adjustment so important? The safety belts and the airbag system can only provide
maximum protection if the front seats are correctly
adjusted.
There are several different ways you can adjust the driver's seat and
the front passenger's seat so that it conforms to your body size. It is
especially important that the seat be adjusted properly so that:
• you can easily and quickly reach all the switches and controls in
the instrument panel
• your body is properly supported thus reducing physical stress
and fatigue
• the safety belts and Airbag system can offer maximum protec­
tion=> page 187
In the following chapters, you will see exactly how you can best
adjust your seats.
There are special regulations and instructions for installing a child
safety seat on the front passenger's seat. Always heed the informa ­
tion regarding child safety provided
in => page 210, "Child Safety".
& WARNING
Incorrect seating position of the driver and all other passengers
can result in serious personal injury.
• Always keep your feet on the floor when the vehicle is in motion
- never put your feet on top of the instrument panel, out of the
window or on top of the seat cushion! This applies especially to
the passengers. If your seating position is incorrect you increase
the risk of injury in the case of sudden braking or an accident. If
Controls and equip ­
ment
Seats and storage
& WARNING (continued)
the airbag inflates and the seating position is incorrect this could
result in personal injury or even death.
• It is important for both the driver and front passenger to keep
a distance of at least 10 inches (25
cml between themselves and
the steering wheel and/or instrument panel. If you're sitting any closer than this, the airbag system can protect you properly. In
addition to this, the front seats and head restraints must be
adjusted to your body height so that they can give you maximum
protection.
• Always try to keep as much distance as possible between your­
self and the steering wheel or instrument panel.
• Do not adjust the driver's or front passenger's seat while the
vehicle is moving . Your seat may move unexpectedly, causing
sudden loss of vehicle control and personal injury.
If you adjust
your seat while the vehicle is moving, you are out of position. •
Driver's seat
The correct seat position is important for safe and relaxed
driving.
We recommend that you adjust the driver's seat in the
following manner:
-Adjust the seat in fore and aft direction so that you can
easily push the pedals to the floor while keeping your
knee slightly
bent:=> & in "Why is your seat adjustment
so important?".
-Adjust the seatback so that when you sit with your back
against the seatback, you can still grasp the top of the
steering wheel.
...,

Adjusting the lumbar support*
-Press the corresponding depression on the switch shell
© to adjust the height and curvature of the lumbar
support, see
~ page 99.
Adjusting the seatback angle
- Lean forward to take your weight off the seatback.
- Turn the hand wheel © in the direction you want the
seatback to tilt.
Various controls on the manual seats provide a wide range for indi ­
vidual
adjustments~ page 96, fig. 96 .
G) Moving the seat forward or backward
0 Adjusting the seat h eight
© Adjusting the lumbar support *~ page 99
© Adjusting the seatback angle
& WARNING
• Never adjust the driver's or front passenger seat while the
vehicle is moving. If you do this while the vehicle is moving, you
will be out of position. Always adjust the driver's or front
passenger seat when the vehicle is not moving.
• Be careful when adjusting the seat height. Check to see that no
one is in the way, or serious injury could result!
• To reduce the risk of injury in the case of sudden braking or
accident, front passengers must never ride in a moving vehicle
with the seatback reclined. Safety belts and the airbag system
only offer maximum protection when the seatback is upright and
the safety belts are properly positioned on the body. The more the
seatback is reclined, the greater the risk of personal injury from an
incorrect seating position and improperly positioned safety belts!
Controls and equip ­
ment
Seats and storage
[ i] Tips
Some of the controls are fitted on certain models only or they are
optional equipment. •
Adjusting the front power seats
Applies to veh ic les: w ith power se ats
Power seat adjustment
The power seats can be adjusted in various ways to
provide safe and comfortable seating .
Fig. 97 Adjustment
switches : locations on
driver 's seat
...
irechnical data

App lies to vehic les: wit h powe r seats
Adjusting the seatback
Fig . 99 Driver 's seat :
switch for seatback
adjustment
- Push or pull the top of the switch in the same direction
you like the seatback to
tilt~ fig. 99.
& WARNING
• Never adjust the seatback while the vehicle is moving. If you
adjust your seatback while the vehicle is moving, you will be out
of position. Always adjust the seatback when the vehicle is not
moving.
• To reduce the risk of injury in the case of sudden braking or
accident, front passengers must never ride in a moving vehicle
with the seatback reclined. Safety belts and the airbag system
only offer maximum protection when the seatback is upright and
the safety belts are properly positioned on the body. The more the
seatback is reclined, the greater the risk of personal injury from an
incorrect seating position and improperly positioned safety
belts! •
Controls and equip ­
ment
Seats and storage
Lumbar support
The lumbar support can be adjusted to fit the natural
curvature of the occupant's spine.
Adjusting the curvature
Fig . 100 Front seat:
switch for lumbar
adjustment
- Push the front of the switch plate ~ fig. 100 in order to
i nc rease the curvature.
- Push the rear of the switch plate in order to decrease the
curvature.
Adjusting the height
- Push on the top of th e sw itch plate in o rder to move the
support h igher.
- Push on the bottom of the sw itch plate in order to move
the support lower.
..,_
irechnical data

-
Seats and storage
----=---------------
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 vehicl e battery can still be drained .•
Storage
General overview
There are numerous places to store items in your vehicle.
Glove compartment
Center console
Owner's Literature
Compartments in the door trims
Coat hooks
Compartments in the door trims ::, page 122
=:> page 123
=:> page 123
------::, page 124
=:> page 124
=:> page 114
Some of the storage locations are only found on specific vehicle
models or are optional equipment.
& WARNING
• Always remove objects from the instrument panel. Any items
not put away 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
& WARNING (continued)
out into the footwells. In case of sudden braking you would not be
able to brake, depress the clutch or accelerate.
• Any pieces of clothing that you have hung up must not interfere
with the driver's view. The coat hooks are designed only for light­
weight clothing . Never hang any clothing with hard, pointed or
heavy objects in the pockets on the coat hooks. During sudden
braking or in an accident
-especially if the airbag is deployed -
these objects could injure any passengers inside the vehicle. •
Glove compartment
The glove compartment is illuminated and can be locked .
•
To open glove compartment
Fig. 132 Glove
compartment
- Pull the handle in the direction of the arrow ~ fig. 132
and swing the cover down to open.
_,,,

___ D_ r
_ i_v _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 210.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat
=> page 187. •
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 104.
- 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 171.
-Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts properly =>
page 181.
-Make sure that children are always properly restrained in
a child restraint that is appropriate for their size and age
=>
page 210.
& 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!
_,.

/b, 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 . 164 Correctly
adjusted head restraint
viewed from the side
The head restraints must be correc tly adjusted to ach ieve
the best protect ion .
- Adjust the head restraint so that the upper edge o f 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 poss ible
~ fig . 164.
Adjus ting head re straints ~ page 105.
Safety first
Driving Safely
LJ}. 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 210. •
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 will even increase the r isk of injury and death by moving the safety belt to critical
areas of the body . Improper seating positions also increase
the risk of ser ious injury and death when an airbag deploys
and strikes an occupant who is not in the proper seat ing
.,_
irechnical data

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 . 169. 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
e quipped wi th airbags, all vehicle occupan ts , 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
already 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~ page 178,
fig. 170. In a frontal collision they will be thrown forward violently,
where they can hit and injure the driver and/or front seat
passenger. •
Safety first
Safety belts
Safety belts protect
People think it's possible to use the hands to brace the
body in a minor collision. It's simply not true!
&l
9 w a, a,
Fig. 171 Driver is
correctly restrained in
a sudden braking
maneuver
Safety belts used properly can make a big difference. Safety belts
help to keep passengers in their seats, gradually reduce energy
levels applied to the body in an accident, and help prevent the
uncontrolled movement that can cause serious injuries. In addition ,
safety belts reduce the danger of being thrown out of the vehicle .
Safety belts attach passengers to the car and give them the benefit
of being slowed down more gently or "softly" through the "give" in
the safety belts, crush zones and other safety features engineered
into today's vehicles. By "absorbing" the kinetic energy over a
longer period of time, the safety belts make the forces on the body
more "tolerable" and less likely to cause injury .
Although these examples are based on a frontal collision, safety belts can also substantially reduce the risk of injury in other kinds
of crashes. So, whether you're on a long trip or just going to the
corner store, a lways buckle up and make sure others do, too . Acci­
dent statistics show that vehicle occupants properly wearing safety
belts have a lower risk of being injured and a much better chance of
surviving an accident . Properly using safety belts also greatly .,,_
irechnical data