Audi Q5: Safety belts protect
People think it's possible to use the bonds to
brace the body in a minor collision. It's simply
not true!
Fig. 159 Driver is correctly rest rained 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, always buckle up and make sure
others do, too. Accident 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 increases the ability of
the supplemental airbags to do their job in a collision.
For this reason, wearing a safety belt is legally
required in most countries including much
of the United States and Canada.
Although your Audi is equipped with airbags, you
still have to wear the safety belts provided. Front
airbags, for example, are activated only in some
frontal collisions, The front airbags are not activated
in all frontal collisions, in side and rear collisions,
in roll overs or in cases where there is not
enough deceleration through impact to the front
of the vehicle. The same goes for the other airbag
systems in your Audi. So, always wear your safety
belt and make sure everybody in your vehicle is
properly restrained!
Important safety instructions about safety
belts
Safety belts must always be correctly positioned
across the strongest bones of your body.
- Always wear safety belts as illustrated and described
in this chapter.
- Make sure that your safety belts are always
ready for use and are not damaged.
WARNING
Not wearing safety belts or wearing them improperly
increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death. Safety belts can work only
when used correctly.
- Always fasten your safety belts correctly before
driving off and make sure all passengers
are correctly restrained.
- For maximum protection, safety belts must
always be positioned properly on the body.
- Never strap more than one person, including
small children, into any belt.
- Never place a safety belt over a child sitting
on your lap.
- Always keep feet in the footwell in front of
the seat while the vehicle is being driven.
- Never let any person ride with their feet on
the instrument panel or sticking out the
window or on the seat.
- Never remove a safety belt while the vehicle
is moving. Doing so will increase your risk of
being injured or killed.
- Never wear belts twisted.
- Never wear belts over rigid or breakable objects
in or on your clothing, such as eye
glasses, pens, keys, etc., as these may cause
injury.
- Never allow safety belts to become damaged
by being caught in door or seat hardware.
- Do not wear the shoulder part of the belt
under your arm or otherwise out of position.
- Several layers of heavy clothing may interfere
with correct positioning of belts and reduce
the overall effectiveness of the system.
- Always keep belt buckles free of anything
that may prevent the buckle from latching
securely.
- Never use comfort clips or devices that create
slack in the shoulder belt. However, special
clips may be required for the proper use
of some child restraint systems.
- Torn or frayed safety belts can tear, and
damaged belt hardware can break in an accident.
Inspect belts regularly. If webbing,
bindings, buckles, or retractors are damaged, have belts replaced by an
authorized
Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
- Safety belts that have been worn and loaded
in an accident must be replaced with the
correct replacement safety belt by an authorized
Audi dealer. Replacement may be
necessary even if damage cannot be clearly
seen. Anchorages that were loaded must also
be inspected.
- Never remove, modify, disassemble, or try
to repair the safety belts yourself.
- Always keep the belts clean. Dirty belts may
not work properly and can impair the function
of the inertia reel.
READ NEXT:
Fastening safety belts
Safety first - everybody buckle up!
Fig. 160 Belt buckle and tongue on the driver's seat
To provide maximum protection, safety belts
must always be positioned correctly on the
Correct belt position is the key to getting maximum
protection from safety belts.
Fig. 161 Safety belt position
Standard features on your vehicle help you adjust
the position of the safety belt to ma
Unbuckle the safety belt with the red release
button only after the vehicle has stopped.
Fig. 163 Releasing the tongue from the buckle
Push the red release button on the buckle
> fig. 163. The
SEE MORE:
Special tools and workshop equipment
required
Drive Axle Alignment Fixture - 3139-
Counterhold - Kit - Multiple Use -T10172- with Counterhold -
Kit - Adapter 5 - T10172/5-
Engine and Gearbox Jack -VAS6931- with Universal
Transmission Support -VAG1359/2-
High Temperature Grease. Refer to the
Applies to vehicles: with decorative wheel covers
The decorative wheel covers must be removed
first to access the wheel bolts.
Fig. 216 Changing a wheel: Removing the wheel cove
Removing
Insert the hook provided with the vehicle tool
kit in the hole in the hub.
Pull off the decorative wheel cov