Bedienungsanleitung < Service & Zubehör < Volkswagen Deutschland
http://www.vw-manual.co.uk/browse?7&token=deniol2172xjKhhhjJ3Pby9gS&lang=en-GB&doc=5NA012720AB&link=3&preventShowIndivisualManualMessage=true[27/10/2016 22:58:22]
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamp in the upper section of the centre console does not light up continuously when the front
passenger front airbag is deactivated, or lights up with the
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster, a fault in the airbag system may have
occurred
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Description and function of the airbags
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings
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Introduction
 
The airbags can protect vehicle occupants during frontal and side collisions by reducing their movement in the direction of the collision.
When an airbag is triggered, it is inflated by a gas generator. This causes the airbag covers to break, and the airbags inflate forcefully to cover
their deployment zones within milliseconds. Once a vehicle occupant wearing a seat belt starts to sink into the inflated airbag, the gas inside the
airbag starts to escape to cushion the occupant and slow down their movement. This can reduce the risk of severe and fatal injuries. A triggered
airbag will not always prevent other injuries from occurring, such as swelling, bruising, burning and grazing. The deployment of the airbag can
also produce frictional heat.
Airbags provide no protection for the arms or lower body. Exception: in vehicles with a knee airbag, the knee area of the driver will be protected.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident, the angle of impact, the vehicle speed and the type of object with
which the vehicle collides. Therefore, visible damage to the vehicle does not always mean that the airbag should have been triggered.
Whether or not the airbag triggers is determined by the vehicle deceleration rate caused by the collision and registered by the electronic control
unit. If this rate is below the reference value programmed into the control unit, the airbags will not be triggered, even though the vehicle may be
badly damaged as a result of the collision. Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle damage in an accident do not necessarily
give an indication of whether an airbag should inflate or not. It is not possible to define a range of vehicle speeds and reference values, since the
circumstances will vary considerably between one collision and another. It is therefore impossible to cover every possible kind and angle of
impact that would trigger the airbags. Important factors in the triggering of the airbag include the nature (hard or soft) of the object that the
vehicle hits, the angle of impact, and the vehicle speed.
Airbags only serve as a supplement to the three-point seat belt in some accident situations when the vehicle braking is sufficient to trigger the
airbags. Airbags can only be triggered once and only in certain situations. The seat belts are always there to provide protection in situations in
which the airbags are not triggered or have already been triggered. For example, if the vehicle collides with a further vehicle following the initial
collision, or is hit by another vehicle.
The airbag system is part of the vehicle's overall passive safety concept. The airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have assumed a proper sitting position
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Sitting position
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Components of the vehicle safety concept
The following vehicle safety equipment makes up the vehicle's safety concept to reduce the risk of severe and fatal injuries. Some of this
equipment may not be fitted in your particular vehicle. It may not be available at all in some countries.
Optimised seat belts for all seats.
Belt tensioners for the driver and front passenger and also on the rear outer seats if in conjunction with side airbags.
Belt tension limiter for the driver, front passenger and, if applicable, for the rear outer seats.
If there is a fault in the airbag system, the airbag may not trigger correctly, may not trigger at all or may trigger unexpectedly. This can cause
severe or fatal injuries.
The airbag system should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Never fit a child seat to the front passenger seat or remove a child seat that is already fitted. The front passenger front airbag may trigger
during an accident in spite of the fault.
WARNING
To avoid damage to your vehicle, always observe the indicator lamps and associated warning texts.
NOTICE