seats AUDI A5 2008 8T / 1.G Owner's Guide

Safe driving163
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Make sure that all lights and turn signals are working
properly.
– Check the tyre pressures.
– Make sure that all windows are clean and give good visi-
bility to the outside.
– Secure all luggage and other items carefully ⇒page 77.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere with the pedals.
– Adjust the front seat, head restraint and mirrors
correctly.
– Make sure that the head restraints for all passengers are
adjusted to the correct position.
– Make sure that children are protected with suitable
safety seats and properly worn seat belts ⇒page 185.
– Sit in the correct position in your seat and make sure that
your passengers do the same. ⇒page 70.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly. Make sure that your
passengers do the same ⇒page 170.What affects driving safety?
Safety on the road is directly related to how you drive, and
can also be affected by the passengers in the vehicle.The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired in any way,
you endanger yourself and other road users ⇒. There-
fore:
– Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a mobile phone, etc.– Never drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medication, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
– Obey all traffic regulations and speed limits and always
maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front.
– Always adjust your speed to suit the road, traffic and
weather conditions.
– Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours without a stop.
– If possible, avoid driving when you are tired or stressed.
WARNING
•
Distractions while driving or any kind of impairment to your
driving ability increase the risk of accident and injury.
•
Do not store loose objects on the dashboard. These objects
could fly around the interior when the vehicle is moving (under
acceleration or whilst cornering) and distract the driver – this
could lead to an accident.
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Safe driving 164Correct sitting positionsCorrect sitting position for driver
The correct driving position is important for safe and
fatigue-free driving.For your own safety, and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend the following driving
position.
– Adjust the steering wheel so there is a distance of at least
25 cm between the steering wheel and your breastbone
⇒fig. 173.– Move the driver's seat forwards or backwards so that you
can press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals all the
way to the floor with your knees slightly bent ⇒.
– Make sure that you can comfortably reach the top of the
steering wheel.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head
restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒fig. 174.
– Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your
back remains in contact with the upholstery.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 170.
– Keep both feet in the footwell so that you are in full
control of the vehicle at all times.
For detailed information on how to adjust the driver's seat, see
⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.
WARNING
•
A driver who is not sitting in the correct position or who is not
wearing a seat belt can be fatally injured if the airbag is triggered.
•
Adjust the driver's seat so there is a distance of at least 25 cm
between your breastbone and the centre of the steering wheel
⇒fig. 173.
•
While driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands
on the outside of the rim at about the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi-
tion. This reduces the risk of injury if the driver's airbag inflates.
•
Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or
with your hands inside the rim or on the steering wheel hub. This
could result in serious injuries to the arms, hands and head if the
driver's airbag inflates.
•
To reduce any risk of injury to the driver during a sudden brake
application or in an accident, never drive with the backrest tilted
Fig. 173 Minimum
distance between
driver and steering
wheelFig. 174 Correct head
restraint position for
the driver
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Safe driving165
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data too far back. The airbag system and seat belts can only provide
proper protection when the backrest is in an upright position and
the driver is wearing the seat belt in the correct position. The
further the backrest is tilted back, the greater the risk of injury due
to incorrect positioning of the belt webbing or an incorrect sitting
position.
•
Adjust the head restraint properly so that it can give maximum
protection.
Correct sitting position for front passenger
The front seat passenger must sit at least 25 cm away
from the dash panel so that the airbag has enough room
to inflate and give maximum protection in an accident.For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend adjusting the front
passenger's seat as follows:
– Move the front passenger's seat as far back as possible
⇒.
– Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your
back remains in contact with the upholstery.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head
restraint is level with the top of your head ⇒page 166.
– Keep both feet in the footwell in front of the seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒page 173.In exceptional cases you can disable the front passenger's airbag
via the key-operated switch* ⇒page 183.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's
seat, see ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.
WARNING
A passenger who is not sitting in the correct position or who is not
wearing a seat belt can be fatally injured if the airbag is triggered.•
Adjust the front passenger's seat so there is a distance of at
least 25 cm between your breastbone and the dash panel.
•
Always keep your feet on the floor when the vehicle is moving;
never rest them on the instrument panel, out of the window or on
the seat. If you sit in an incorrect position, you increase your risk
of injury in the event of sudden braking or an accident. If the airbag
is triggered, you could sustain potentially fatal injuries by sitting
out of position.
•
To reduce the risk of injury to the front passenger in the case of
sudden braking or an accident, the passenger should never travel
in a moving vehicle with the backrest reclined. The airbag system
and seat belt can only provide proper protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the passenger is wearing the seat
belt in the correct position. The further the backrest is tilted back,
the greater the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning of the belt
webbing or an incorrect sitting position.
•
Always adjust the head restraints properly for maximum
protection.
Correct sitting position for passengers in the rear
Rear seat passengers should sit upright with both feet on
the floor and wear their seat belts properly whenever the
vehicle is moving.To reduce any risk of injury in the event of sudden braking
or an accident, passengers in the rear seats must observe
the following:
WARNING (continued)
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Safe driving167
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Examples of incorrect sitting positions
Occupants can suffer severe or fatal injuries injuries if
they sit in an incorrect position while the vehicle is
moving.Seat belts can only provide maximum protection if the belt
webbing is positioned correctly. Sitting out of position
greatly reduces the effectiveness of the seat belts and
increases the risk of injury since the belt webbing is not
worn in the position for which it is designed. The driver is
responsible for the safety of all vehicle occupants, espe-
cially for children.
– Never allow anyone to sit out of position while the
vehicle is moving ⇒.The following list shows just some examples of incorrect sitting
positions which can be dangerous to all occupants. The list is not
complete, but will help to make you aware of possible dangers
which can be avoided.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:•
never stand up in the vehicle,
•
never stand on the seats,
•
never kneel on the seats,
•
never travel with the backrest reclined too far,
•
never lean against the dash panel,
•
never lie down on the rear seat,
•
never sit on the front edge of a seat,
•
never sit sideways,
•
never lean out of the window,
•
never put your feet out of the window,
•
never put your feet on the dash panel,
•
never put your feet on the seat cushion,
•
never ride in the footwell,
•
never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt,
•
never climb into the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Sitting out of position increases the risk of severe injuries.•
Sitting out of position exposes the occupants to potentially
fatal injuries: if the airbags inflate they can strike any occupant
who is not in one of the designed seat positions.
•
Before starting a trip, sit in the correct position and stay in this
position as long as the vehicle is moving. Before every trip, make
sure all passengers are sitting in the correct positions and remain
correctly seated at all times ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.
Pedal are aPedal s
The pedals must always be free to move and must never
be obstructed by floor mats or any objects in the footwell.– Make sure that the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals
are not obstructed and can be pressed all the way down
to the floor.
– Make sure that all pedals are able to return freely to their
original positions.Only use floor mats which leave the pedal area free and can be
securely fastened in the footwell.
If one of the brake circuits should fail, increased brake pedal travel
will be required to bring the vehicle safely to a stop.
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Seat belts171
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Important safety instructions for using seat belts
There are a number of safety points concerning the seat
belts which you should remember. This will help to reduce
the risk of injury in an accident.
WARNING
•
The seat belts can only provide maximum protection if the
seats are adjusted properly ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.
•
To ensure proper protection, it is important to wear the seat
belts in the correct position ⇒page 173, “How to wear seat belts
properly”. Ensure that the seat belts are worn exactly as recom-
mended in this chapter. Belts which are not worn properly can
increase the risk of injury in accidents considerably.
•
Do not allow the seat belt to become twisted or jammed, or to
rub on any sharp edges.
•
Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same
seat belt. It is especially dangerous to place a seat belt over a child
sitting on your lap.
•
Do not wear the belt over hard or fragile objects (such as
glasses or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.
•
Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket)
impairs the proper fit and function of the belts.
•
The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not
work properly ⇒page 226, “Seat belts”.
•
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper
or other objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging
properly.
•
The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat, otherwise the belt will not be fully
effective.
•
Check the condition of the seat belts at regular intervals. If you
notice that the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the belts is damaged, the belt must be replaced
by a qualified workshop.
•
The seat belts must not be removed or modified in any way. Do
not attempt to repair a damaged belt yourself.
•
Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched
must be replaced by a qualified workshop. The belt anchorages
should also be checked.
Forces acting in a collisionThe physical principles involved in a frontal impact
Very large forces are generated during a collision; these
forces have to be absorbed.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 178 Passengers of
a vehicle which is
headed for a brick wall.
They are not using seat
belts.
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Seat belts173
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts, as
they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.
Rear passengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only them-
selves but also the other occupants ⇒page 172, fig. 181.
How to wear seat belts properlyPutting on the three-point seat belts
Always fasten your seat belts before driving off.– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before
putting on the seat belt ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it
slowly across your chest and lap ⇒.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate
seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an
audible click ⇒fig. 183.
– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.
The three-point inertia reel belts are tensioned automatically. The
retractor system gives complete freedom of movement, as long as
the pull on the belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt. The belt will
also lock when you accelerate, drive up or down a steep hill or in a
sharp curve.
WARNING
•
Always make certain that the belt is positioned properly
⇒fig. 182 – risk of injury ⇒page 173, “Adjusting the seat belts”.
•
The latch plate of the belt must always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat. Otherwise the belt will not be fully
effective and the danger of injury increases.
Adjusting the seat belts
Always position seat belts properly for maximum safety.
Fig. 182 Positioning of
head restraints and
seat beltsFig. 183 Driver's seat:
Belt buckle and latch
plate
Fig. 184 Adjusting
shoulder and lap belt
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Seat belts 174The height of the front seat on your vehicle can be adjusted in order
to match the position of the seat belt to your height.
WARNING
•
The diagonal part of the belt should never be positioned across
the neck, but roughly over the centre of the shoulder; it should fit
closely against the upper part of the body. The lap part of the belt
must be worn tightly across the hips, and not over the abdomen
⇒page 173, fig. 184. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any
slack.
•
Always make sure that belt is positioned properly. Incorrectly
worn seat belts can give rise to injuries even in a minor collision.
•
Seat belts worn too loose can result in injuries because they
allow excessive forward movement in a crash; the occupant will
be brought to a sudden stop by the belt webbing.
Wearing and adjusting the seat belts during pregnancy
To afford the best protection for the unborn child it is
important for the mother to wear the seat belt properly at
all times.
Women should always ensure they adjust the seat belt
correctly during pregnancy.
– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly before
putting on the seat belt ⇒page 70, “Seats and storage”.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it
slowly down across your chest. Wear the lap portion of
the seat belt as low as possible over the hips so that there
is no pressure on the stomach ⇒fig. 185, ⇒.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate
seat and push it down until it is securely locked with an
audible click ⇒page 173, fig. 183.
– Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fastened.
WARNING
During pregnancy, women should especially make sure to wear
the lap portion of the seat belt as low as possible across the hips
so that there is no pressure on the stomach.Taking off the seat belts
The red button releases the belt from the buckle.
Fig. 185 Positioning
seat belts during preg-
nancy
Fig. 186 The latch
plate of the belt
springs out of the
buckle
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Seat belts175
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Press the red button in the seat belt buckle ⇒page 174,
fig. 186. The latch plate will spring out of the buckle.
– Guide the belt back by hand so that it is taken up by the
retractor.Belt tensionersHow the belt tensioners work
The seat belts for the driver and front passenger are
equipped with belt tensioners.The seat belts on the front seats are tensioned automatically in
frontal, side and rear-end impacts above a certain degree of
severity. This helps to reduce the forward motion of the occupants.
In a less severe accident, or in the event of a roll-over, the belt
tensioners are not activated.
WARNING
•
Any work on the tensioner system or removal and installation
of system components for other repairs must be performed by a
qualified workshop.
•
The belt tensioners can only be activated once. If they have
been activated at any time, the system must be replaced.Note
•
Some smoke may be released when the belt tensioners are acti-
vated. This does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
•
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the
vehicle or components of the system are scrapped. Your authorised
Audi dealer is familiar with these regulations and will be pleased to
pass on the information to you.
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Airbag system 176Airbag systemDescription of airbag systemGeneral 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 system179
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Important safety notes on the front airbag system
There are a number of safety points concerning the airbag
system which you should remember. This will help to
reduce the risk of injury in an accident.
WARNING
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a
distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dashboard
⇒page 179, fig. 190. The airbag system will not be able to give the
required protection if you sit too close to the steering wheel or
dashboard. There is also a risk of injury if the airbags are inflated.
The front seats and head restraints must always be positioned
correctly for the height of the occupant.
•
If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side,
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 there is an even greater risk of injury.
•
Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate
restraint system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, the child
could sustain serious or fatal injuries ⇒page 185, “Child safety”.
•
Never install a rearward-facing child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat unless the front passenger's airbag has been deactivated. However, if you have no alternative but to use a rear-
ward-facing child seat on the front passenger's seat, the front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated beforehand by means of
the key-operated switch* ⇒page 183. Failure to observe this
precaution could result in serious or potentially fatal injury.
•
Occupants sitting in the front of the car must never carry any
objects or pets in the space between them and the airbags, or
allow children or other passengers to travel in this position.
•
Do not cover or stick anything on the steering wheel hub or the
soft plastic surface of the airbag unit on the passenger's side of
the dashboard, and do not obstruct or modify them in any way.
These parts should only be cleaned with a dry cloth (or with a
cloth moistened with plain water). It is also important not to
attach any objects such as cup holders or telephone mountings to
the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
Any work on the airbag system or removal and installation of
the airbag components for other repairs (such as repairs to the
steering wheel) must be performed by a qualified workshop.Note
If necessary, you can deactivate the front passenger's airbag by
means of the key-operated switch* ⇒page 183.
Fig. 190 Minimum
distance from steering
wheel
WARNING (continued)
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