gas type AUDI S4 2008 Owners Manual

Airbag system203
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Front airbagsDescription of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The front airbag for the driver is located in the padded hub of the
steering wheel ⇒fig. 214. The front airbag for the front passenger
is in the dashboard above the glove box ⇒fig. 215. The locations of
the airbags are marked with the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the front airbags give
additional head and chest protection for the driver and front
passenger in the event of a severe frontal collision ⇒ in “Impor-
tant safety notes on the front airbag system” on page 204.
How the front airbags work
When fully inflated, the airbags reduce the risk of head or
chest injury.The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and
front passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.
In certain types of accident the front airbags, side airbags and one
of the head-protection airbags may be triggered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas
and open out in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒fig. 216.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
second). The fully deployed airbags cushion the forwards move-
ment of the front occupants and help to reduce the risk of injury to
the head and the upper part of the body.
Special openings in the airbag allow the gas to escape at a
controlled rate to restrain the fo rward movement of the occupant's
head and torso. Once the impact has been absorbed, the airbag
deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.
Fig. 214 Driver's
airbag in steering
wheelFig. 215 Front
passenger's airbag in
dashboard
Fig. 216 Front airbags
in inflated condition
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Airbag system205
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Side airbagsDescription of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The side airbags are located in the backrest padding of the front
seats ⇒fig. 218. The locations of the airbags are marked with the
word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the side airbags give
the occupants additional protection for the whole upper part of the
body (i.e. the chest, stomach and pelvis) in the event of a severe side
collision ⇒ in “Important safety notes on the side airbag system”
on page 206 .
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to the
areas of the body facing the impact.
If the side airbags are activated, the head-protection airbags (side-
guard system) are always triggered at the same time for additional
protection on the side of th e vehicle facing the impact
⇒ page 207 .
How the side airbags work
When fully inflated, the side airbags reduce the risk of
injuries to the upper part of the body.In certain types of side collisions the side airbags (front and rear*)
are triggered on the impact side of the vehicle ⇒fig. 219.
The front airbags, side airbags and the head-protection airbag may
be triggered together in certain types of accident.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant
gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
second). The airbag releases a fine dust when it inflates. This is quite
normal and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
When fully deployed, the airbags cushion the impact for the occu-
pants and help to reduce the risk of injury to the whole upper part
of the body (i.e. the chest, stomach and pelvis) on the side facing the
door.
Fig. 218 Location of
side airbag in driver's
seat
Fig. 219 Side airbags
in inflated condition
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Airbag system207
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Head-protection airbags (sideguard)Description of head-protection airbags
The head-protection airbags work together with the side
airbag system to give extra protection in a side impact.The head-protection airbags are loca ted above the doors on the left
and right sides of the vehicle ⇒page 207, fig. 220. The locations of
the airbags are marked with the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts and side airbags, the
head-protection airbags give the occupants additional protection
against head and neck injuries in a severe side collision ⇒ in
“Important safety notes on the head-protection airbags” on
page 208 .
Together with other design features (including cross-braces in the
seats and the overall strength of the body structure), the sideguard
system offers an effective further improvement to occupant protec-
tion in side impacts.
How the head-protection airbags work
When fully inflated, the airbags reduce the risk of head or
chest injury in a side collision.In certain types of side collisions the head-protection airbag is trig-
gered together with the side airbag on the impact side of the vehicle
⇒ fig. 221.
When the system is triggered, the airbag fills with a propellant gas
and covers the entire area in front of the side windows, including
the door pillars. In this way the system is able to protect both the
front and the rear occupants on the side of the vehicle where the
impact occurs. The head-protection airbag inflates to soften the
impact if an occupant strikes parts of the interior or objects outside
the vehicle with their head. By reducing the head impact and
restraining uncontrolled movement of the head, the airbag also
reduces the forces acting on the neck. In addition, since it covers the
front door pillar when fully inflat ed, the head-protection airbag also
gives extra protection if the car shou ld collide with an obstacle at an
oblique angle.
The front airbags, side airbags and head-protection airbags may be
triggered together in certain types of accident.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
Fig. 220 Location of
head-protection
airbags above the
doors
Fig. 221 Head-protec-
tion airbags in inflated
condition
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Checking and topping up fluids
266
– Now connect the battery charger to the mains and switch on.
– After charging the battery: switch off the battery charger and disconnect the mains cable.
– Now disconnect the charger cables.
– Refit the red cap onto the positive terminal.
– Close the bonnet ⇒page 256 .When it is discharged the battery can freeze at temperatures
around 0°C. A frozen battery must be thawed before charging ⇒.
However, it is advisable to replace the battery if it has frozen,
because the ice can crack the battery casing and allow the battery
acid to escape.
Charging the battery
Important: Before you charge the battery make sure you read the
manufacturer's instructions for using the battery charger.
When charging with a low current (for instance with a small battery
charger ) the battery does not have to be disconnected. The battery
must not be opened while you are charging it.
Fast-charging the battery
For technical reasons it is not permissible to fast-charge the battery
using charging devices with an ou tput voltage higher than 14.8 V.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen battery – it could explode.
Note
Use only the terminals in the engine compartment to charge the
battery.
Replacing the battery
A replacement battery must ha ve the same specifications
as the original equipment battery.Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent power management
system to control the distribution of electrical energy ⇒page 226 .
The power management function ensures that the battery is
charged much more efficiently than on vehicles without a power
management system. For this additional power to be available after
replacing the battery, we recommend that the replacement battery
used is of the same make and type as the original-equipment
battery. The battery must be encoded in the control unit for power
management. This has to be done by a qualified workshop.
A replacement battery must have the same capacity, voltage (12 V)
and current rating. It must also ha ve the same dimensions as the
original, factory-fitted battery and have sealed caps. The battery
must comply with the standards TL 825 06 (dated December 1997 or
later) and VW 7 50 73 (August 2001 or later).
Caution
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Make sure that the vent hose is always attached to the opening
on the side of the battery. Gases or battery acid can otherwise
escape and possibly cause damage.
•
The battery holder and clamps must always be correctly secured.
•
Before starting any work on the battery, always observe the
warnings listed under ⇒page 264, “Important safety warnings for
handling a car battery”.For the sake of the environment
 Batteries contain toxic substances including sulphuric acid and
lead. They must be disposed of appropriately and must not be put
together with ordinary househol d waste. Make sure the battery
removed from the vehicle cannot tip over. Otherwise, sulphuric acid
could escape.
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