Audi Q5: How side curtain airbags work
Side curtain airbags can work together with side airbags to help reduce the risk of head and upper torso injuries for occupants who are properly restrained.
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Fig. 172 Illustration of principle: Inflated side curtain airbags
on the left side
The side curtain airbags inflate between the occupant and the windows on the side of the vehicle that is struck in a side collision > fig. 172.
When the system is triggered, the side curtain airbag is filled with propellant gas and breaks through a seam above the front and rear side windows identified by the AIRBAG label. In order to help provide this additional protection, the side curtain airbag must inflate within the blink of an eye at very high speed and with great force.
The side curtain airbag could injure you if your seating position is not proper or upright or if items are located in the area where the supplemental side curtain airbag inflates. This applies especially to children.
Although they are not a soft pillow, side curtain airbags can "cushion" the impact and in this way they can help to reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the body.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag deploys, This is quite normal and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
Important safety instructions on the side curtain airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints. Always properly wear safety belts and ride in a proper seating position.
There is a lot that you and your passengers must know and do to help the safety belts and airbags do their job to provide supplemental protection.
WARNING
Improperly wearing safety belts and improper seating positions increase the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.
- Never let occupants place any parts of their bodies in the area from which the side curtain airbags inflate.
- Always make sure that the side curtain airbags can inflate without interference. Unsuitable accessories fitted inside the expansion range of a head airbag can dangerously interfere with its function. A deploying head airbag develops enough force to catapult any piece of add-on component out of its path of inflation and into the passenger compartment. An occupant hit by such a projectile can suffer serious injury or death.
- Do not swivel the sun visors to the side if you have any objects clipped onto them (for example pens). If the airbag should deploy, you could be injured by these objects.
- Use the built-in coat hooks only for lightweight clothing. Never leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets that may interfere with airbag deployment and can cause personal injury in an accident.
- Never use hangers to hang clothing from the hooks.
- Only use factory-installed sun shades or, in the case of shades installed after the vehicle leaves the factory, only Audi roll-up sunscreens may be used.
- Always sit in proper seating position and wear safety belts while traveling so that the side curtain airbags can help provide protection.
- The airbag system can only be triggered once. If the airbag has been triggered, the system must be replaced by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
- Always have work involving the side curtain airbag system, removal and installation of the airbag components, or other repairs performed by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop. Otherwise the airbag system may not work correctly.
- Never attempt to modify any components of the airbag system in any way.
