airbag AUDI A6 2011 User Guide

Seats and storage
& WARNING (continued )
braking or in an accident· especially if the airbag is deployed -
the se object s could injure any passengers inside the vehicle. •
Glove compartment
The media p layer is in the glove compartment.
To open glove compartment
Fig. 89 Un lo cking
button fo r g love
c om partm ent
- Press the button~~ fig. 89 ( arrow) - the lid opens auto-
matica lly .
To close glove compartment
- Push the glove comp art ment lid up unt il th e lo ck en gag es.
In the g love compartment lid yo u w ill find a plac e to sto re a pen and
a pad of paper.
CD changer*
Th e C D ch an ger f or the radio sy stem and t he Nav igation drive* is
located in the g love compartment . How to change CDs is descr ibed in
the pertinent Owner's Manual.
& WARNING
To reduce the risk of personal injury in an accident or sudden stop,
always keep the glove compartment clo sed while driving.
[I) Tips
Sho uld you not be ab le to open the g love compa rtme nt as descr ibed,
make s ure the valet key f unction is not activated~
page 40. •
Emergency unlocking of glove
compartment
T h e glov e co mp artm ent can be unl ocke d in a n em er­
g ency.
Fig . 90 In strument
panel right: pry off
s ecu rit y cove r
~

Fig. 91 Lock ing pin
for glove compartment
-Remove with the cover with the aid of a screwdriver
==>
page 94, fig . 90.
- Now press the locking pin inward with the screwdriver
==> fig . 91. •
Storage compartment in roof
111111 \\\H
. '
Fig. 92 Storage
compartment in roof
-To open the lid you have to touch the bar==> fig . 92
(arrow) . The lid opens automatically.
- To close the lid, push it up until it engages.
Con tro ls a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
Seats and storage
& 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
& WARNING
Fig. 93 Coat hooks 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 side curtain
airbags in an accident.
• Do not hang heavy objects on the coat hooks, as they could
cause personal injury in a sudden stop. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

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On the road
Steering
Applies to vehicles : w ith manua lly ad justab le stee ring whee l
Manually adjustable steering wheel
The height and reach o f the steering wheel can be
adjusted.
First, adjust t he driv er's seat correctly.
- Pull the lever~ fig. 98 -arrow-~ &.
Fig. 98 L ever under
the stee ring colum n
-Move the steering w heel to t he desired position.
- Push t he leve r against the s teering colum n unti l it locks .
The re m ust be at leas t 10 inc hes (25 cm) be tween yo ur chest and the
center of the steering wheel. If you cannot sit more than 10 inches
(25 cm) from the steering wheel, see if adaptive equ ipment is avail ­
able to help you reach the pedals and increase the d istance from the
steering wheel.
For detailed info rmation on how to adjust the dr ive r's seat, see
=> page 76.
& WARNING
Improp er use of steering wh eel adjustment and improper seating
position can cause serious personal injury .
• Adjust th e steering wheel column only when the v ehicle i s not
moving to p revent loss of vehicle control.
• Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so that th ere is a
minimum of 10 inches (25 cm ) between your chest and the
steering wheel=>
page 178 , fig. 166 . If you cannot maintain this
minimum distance , the airbag sy stem cannot protect you prop­
erl y.
• If physical limitat ions p revent you from sitting 10 in ches (25
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 a s much p rote ction in an
accident . Always make sure that the steer ing wheel i s aligned with
your che st.
• Always hold the ste ering wheel with your hands at th e 9 o'clock
and 3 o 'clock positions to reduce the risk of per sonal injury if the
driver' s airbag deploy s.
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o 'clock position o r w ith
your hands inside the steering wh eel rim or on the steering wh eel
hub. Holding the stee ring wheel the wrong way can cause seriou s
injuries to the hands, arms and head if the driver' s airbag
deploy s. •

_________________________________________________ O_ n_ t_ h_ e_ r _o_ a_d _ __.fflll
App lies to veh icles : w ith electrically adju stab le steer ing wheel
Electrically adjustable steering wheel
The height and reach of the stee ring wheel ca n be ele ctri­
c ally adj usted to sui t th e d river.
Firs t, a djust t he dr iver's se at correct ly.
Height adjustment
Fig . 99 Switch for
s teering whee l ad ju st­
ment
- Push t he s witch © up or down=> fig. 99 . T he st ee rin g
w he el heig ht chang es f or as long as you press t he swi tch .
Reach adjustment
- Push t he switc h© forward or backward=> fig. 99 . T he
ste ering w hee l reac h changes for as long as yo u press the
swi tch .
The re m ust be at leas t 10 inches (25 cm) between you r chest and the
cen ter of the steering whee l. If you cannot sit more than 10 inches
(25 cm) from the steer ing wheel, see if adapt ive equ ipment is ava il­
able to h elp you reach the pedals and increase the distance from the
steeri ng wheel.
For detailed information on how to adjust the dr iver 's seat , see
~ page 76.
Cont rols a nd e quip ­
m en t Vehicle
OP-eration
The steering wheel ca n be adjusted even when the ign ition is turned
O ff. For veh icles with sea t memory, the individu al pos it io ns for the
steer ing wheel can be sto red along with t he seat pos it ion.
& WARNING
Improper use of steering wheel adjustment and imprope r seating
position can cau se seriou s per sonal injury.
• Adjust the steering wheel column only when the vehicle i s not
moving to prevent loss of vehicle control.
• Adjust the driver 's seat or steering wheel so that there is a
minimum of 10 in ches (25 cm) between your chest and the
steering wheel~
page 178, fig. 166. If you cannot maintain this
minimum distance , the airbag system cannot prote ct you prop­
erly.
• If phy sical limitations prevent you from sitting 10 inches (25
cm ) or more from the steering wheel, check with you r 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 che st.
• Always hold the steering wheel with your hands at the 9 o'clock
and 3 o'clock po sition s to reduce the risk of personal injury if the
drive r's airbag deploys.
• Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock po sition 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
deploy s.•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

• ....__D_ r_iv _i_ n_, g=-- S_ a _ f_e _,Ly _ ______________________________________________ _
Driving Safely
General notes
Safe driving habits
Please remember -safety first!
Th is chapter contains important information, t ips, instructions and
warnings that you need to read an d observe fo r you r own safe ty, the
safety of you r passengers and others . We have summarized here
w hat you need to know about sa fety belts, airbags, child restra ints as
we ll as child safety . You r safety is for us
priority number 1. Always
observe the information and warnings in this section -for your own
safety as well as t hat of your passengers.
The informat ion in this section applies to all mode l versions of yo ur
veh icle . Some of the fe atures des cribed in this se ctions m ay be st an­
dard equ ipment on some models, or may be optional eq uipment on
others. If you a re not sure, ask your a uth o rized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
• Always make sure that you follow the instructions and heed
the WARNINGS in th is Manual. It is in your interest and in the
intere st of your passengers.
• Always keep the complete Owner's Literatu re 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
s y stem and wor k together to he lp reduce the ris k of injury
in a wide variety of accident situations.
Your sa fety and t he safety o f yo ur passenge rs shou ld no t be left to
chance . Adva nces in technology have made a variety of features avai l­
a b le to help re duce the risk of injury in an a cc ident . The fo llow ing is a
list of jus t a few of the safety features in your Audi:
• sophisticated safety belts for driver and a ll passenger seating
p osi tion s,
• safety belt pretensioners,
• safety belt fo rce lim iters for the fro nt sea ts,
• safety belt he igh t adju stmen t sys tems for the fro nt sea ts,
• automatic safety be lt height adjustment for the rear seats,
• front ai rbags,
• side air bags in the front sea ts a nd ou ter rear seats*,
• side curtain airbags,
• special LATCH an chorages fo r ch ild restra in ts,
• head restraints fo r eac h seating position,
• adjustable steering co lumn .
These individual safety feat ures, can work together as a system to
he lp protect you and yo ur passengers in a wide range of accide nts .
T hese feat ures ca nnot work as a system if they are not a lways
c o rre ctly adjusted and co rre ct ly u sed .
Safety is everybody's responsibility! •

___ D_ r_ i_ v _i_n _.g"-- S_ a_ f_ e__. LY.__ _____________________________________________ _
Proper occupant seating positions
Proper seating position for the driver
The proper driver seating position is important for safe,
relaxed driving.
Fig. 166 The correct
distance between
driver and steering
wheel
Fig . 167 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. 166. 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. 167.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly=>
page 191.
-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 76 .
& 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.
• 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_ ri_v _ i_n _,,g ,c.._ S_a_ f_ e_ l..:: y __ _
& 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 219.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat =>
page 197. •
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 position:
- Adjust the angle of the seatback so that it is in an upright
position and your back comes in full contact with it when­
ever 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 181.
- Keep both feet flat on the floor in front of the front
passenger seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts correctly=>
page 191.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's seat,
see=>
page 75 .
& 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:
• 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. .,_
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Driving Safely 1---- ---:!....::..-=....:...'=.::,!.._ _______________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
• 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 219.
Special precautions apply when installing a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat=>
page 197. •
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 83.
-The rear head restraints must be raised fully upward when
passengers ride in the rear seats~
page 181.
- Keep both feet flat in the footwell in front of the rear seat.
- Fasten and wear safety belts properly~
page 191.
-Make sure that children are always properly restrained in a
child restraint that is appropriate for their size and age
~ page 219.
& WARNING
Passengers who are improperly seated on the rear seat can be seri­
ously 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!
• Always adjust the head restraint properly so that it can give
maximum protection. •

________________________________________________ D_ r_ i_ v _i_ n ""'g "-- S_a_ f_ e_ l _,,y'-- __
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 . 168 Correctly
adjusted head
restraint viewed from
the side
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted to achieve the
best protection.
- Adjust the front 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 181, fig. 168.
- The rear head restraints must be raised fully upward when
passengers ride in the rear seats.
Adjusting head restraints=> page 81.
& WARNING
Driving without head restraints or with head restraints that are
not properly adjusted increases the risk of serious or fatal neck
injury dramatically. To help reduce the risk of injury:
• Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly
adjusted.
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING (continued)
•
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 219. •
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 effective­
ness of safety belts and will even increase the risk of injury
and death by moving the safety belt to critical areas of the body. Improper seating positions also increase the risk of
serious injury and death when an airbag deploys and strikes
an occupant who is not in the proper seating position. A
driver is responsible for the safety of all vehicle occupants
and especially for children. Therefore:
- Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect seating posi-
tion when the vehicle is being used=>& . _,,,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Because the passengers of this vehicle are not using safety belts
=> page 188, fig. 171, they will keep moving at the same speed the
vehicle was moving just before the crash, until something stops them
- here, the wall =>
page 188, fig. 172.
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 SO 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 deter­
mine what happens in all kinds of accidents and collisions.•
What happens to occupants not wearing
safety belts?
In crashes unbelted occupants cannot stop themselves
from flying forward and being injured or killed. Always
wear your safety belts!
Safety first
Fig. 173 A driver not
wearing a safety belt is
violently thrown
forward
Vehicle OP-eration
Safety belts
Fig. 174 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. 173. 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 deploy,
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 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=> fig . 174. In a
frontal collision they will be thrown forward violently, where they can
hit and injure the driver and/or front seat passenger. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data