General Safety Precautions
General Safety Precautions
• Pyrotechnic components include:
• Airbag units
• Belt tensioner
• Belt force limiter (depending on equipment)
• Battery cut-off components (depending on equipment)
General
• Testing, removing, installing and repair work may only be performed by qualified personnel.
• There is no change interval for airbag units.
• Never test with a test light, volt meter or ohm meter.
• The pyrotechnic components may be check only when they are installed and with a Audi approved vehicle diagnosis, testing and information system.
• When working on pyrotechnic components and on the Airbag Control Module (J234), the battery ground cable must be disconnected WITH THE IGNITION SWITCHED ON. Then cover the negative pole.
• Wait for 10 seconds after disconnecting the battery.
• Connect the battery WITH THE IGNITION SWITCHED ON. No one should be sitting inside the vehicle when doing this. Exception: vehicles with the battery inside the passenger compartment. In this case, stay away from the airbags and the safety belts.
• Follow procedures after connecting the battery.
• Before handling pyrotechnic components and restraint systems, for example, before connecting the connector, the person handling them must discharge static electricity. Touching grounded metal parts, for example, touching the door striker, will discharge the static electricity.
• Wash hands after touching ignited restraint system pyrotechnic components.
• Pyrotechnic components may not be opened nor repaired; always use new parts (risk of injury).
• Pyrotechnic components that have fallen onto a hard surface or show signs of damage must not be installed in vehicle.
• Pyrotechnic components should be installed immediately upon removal from shipping package.
• If the work must be stopped for awhile, put the pyrotechnic component back into its shipping package.
• Do not leave the pyrotechnic component out unattended.
• When connecting restraint system pyrotechnic components, only the person performing the work should be in the vehicle.
• Do not use any grease or cleaning solutions on pyrotechnic components.
• Replace the airbag unit if any contaminants such as oil, grease, paint, dye or cleaning solution have penetrated the fabric.
• Pyrotechnic components must not be exposed to temperatures over 212° F (100 °C), even for a short time.
Special information regarding the driver and front passenger airbags
• Store driver and passenger airbag units in their uninstalled condition so that the cushioned side faces upward.
When replacing airbag units, following sequence must be followed exactly:
1. Remove old airbag unit and store with padding side facing up.
2. Remove new airbag unit from transport container and store with padding side facing up.
3. Place old airbag unit in shipping container immediately.
4. Install new airbag unit in vehicle.
Special information for belt tensioner
• Use extreme care when removing and installing a belt tensioner unit. Handling belt tensioner units improperly is very dangerous and could result in serious personal injury.
• Belt tensioners that are mechanically damaged (dents, cracks) must always be replaced.
• The open end of the belt tensioner should never be pointed at anyone.
• When connecting belt tensioner, all mechanical parts including those in three-point seat belt, must be secured correctly. If it is not possible to connect the belt tensioner unit because there is not enough space, then roll the seat belt all the up. In this case there is no increase safety risk, if all other safety instructions are followed. This applies especially to the notes regarding disconnecting the battery and the static discharging of the technician before connecting the belt tensioner unit.
• Even after a crash it is possible that the belt tensioner did ignite, but the belt force limiter did NOT ignite. Treat these components as if they were not ignited!