Audi A6 Typ 4G: PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light

Fig. 156 Section from the instrument panel: PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light is located in the center of the instrument panel fig. 156.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will come on and stay on to tell you when the front Advanced Airbag on the passenger side has been turned off by the electronic control unit. If the bulb for the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light burns out, the airbag indicator light (USA models) (Canada models) will come on to signal a malfunction in the Advanced Airbag System. Although the burned-out bulb will not change the way the front passenger's frontal airbag works, it will no longer be possible to use the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light to make sure that the airbag on/ off status is correct for the occupant on the front passenger seat. Have the airbag system inspected immediately by your authorized Audi dealer.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will blink for about 5 seconds when:

• the ignition is switched on and
• the capacitive passenger detection system, which switches the front seat passenger's frontal Advanced Airbag on and off, detects a change in the status of the front passenger seat.

As soon as the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light stops blinking, always make sure that the airbag status (on or off) as shown by the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light is proper for the age, size and electrical capacitance of the person occupying the front passenger seat. Always make sure that the safety belt for the front passenger seat is properly fastened.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will show the status of the front seat passenger's frontal Advanced Airbag a few seconds after the ignition is switched on and the airbag indicator light goes off. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light:

• will stay on if the front passenger seat is not occupied;
• will stay on if the electrical capacitance measured by the capacitive passenger detection system for the front passenger seat equals the combined capacitance of an infant up to about one year of age and one of the rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraints listed in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 with which the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle was certified; For a listing of the child restraints that were used to certify your vehicle's compliance with the U.S. Safety Standard.
• will go out if the front passenger seat is occupied by an adult as registered by the capacitive passenger detection system.
• The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light must come on and stay on if the ignition is on and...
• a car bed has been installed on the front passenger seat, or
• a rearward-facing child restraint has been installed on the front passenger seat, or
• a forward-facing child restraint has been installed on the front passenger seat,
• and if the electrical capacitance registered on the front passenger seat is equal to or less than the combined capacitance of a typical 1 year-old infant and one of the rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraints listed in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 with which the Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle was certified.

If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the front airbag will not deploy, and the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light will stay on. Never install a rearward-facing child restraint on the front passenger seat, the safest place for a child in any kind of child restraint is at one of the seating positions on the rear seat.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG light comes on ...

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light comes on when one of the conditions listed above is met, be sure to check the light regularly to make certain that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light stays on continuously whenever the ignition is on. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light does not appear on and does not stay on all the time, stop as soon as it is safe to do so and

• reactivate the system by turning the ignition off for more than 4 seconds and then turning it on again;
• remove and reinstall the child restraint. Make sure that the child restraint is properly installed and that the safety belt for the front passenger seat has been correctly routed through the child restraint as described in the child restraint manufacturer's instructions;
• make sure that the convertible locking retractor on the safety belt for the front passenger seat has been activated and that the safety belt has been pulled tight.
• make sure that no electrical device (such as a laptop, CD player, electronic games device, power inverter or seat heater for child seats) is placed or used on the front passenger seat if the device is connected to the 12-volt socket;
• make sure that no seat heater has been retrofitted or otherwise added to the front passenger seat;
• make sure that nothing can interfere with the safety belt buckles and that they are not obstructed;
• make sure that there are no wet objects (such as a wet towel) and no water or other liquids on the front passenger seat cushion.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG light still does not come on ...

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light still does not come on and does not stay on continuously (when the ignition is switched on),

• take the child restraint off the front passenger seat and install it properly at one of the rear seat positions. Have the airbag system inspected by your Audi dealer immediately.
• move the child to a rear seat position and make sure that the child is properly restrained in a child restraint that is appropriate for its size and age.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG light should NOT come on ...

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light should NOT come on when the ignition is on and an adult is sitting in a proper seating position on the front passenger seat. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light comes on and stays on or flashes for about 5 seconds while driving, under these circumstances, make sure that:

• the adult on the front passenger seat is properly seated on the center of the seat cushion with his or her back up against the backrest and the backrest is not reclined,
• the adult is not taking weight off the seat by holding on to the passenger assist handle above the front passenger door or supporting their weight on the armrest,
• the safety belt is being properly worn and that there is not a lot of slack in the safety belt webbing,
• there are no aftermarket seat covers or cushions or other things (such as blankets) on the front passenger seat that might cause the capacitive passenger detection system to miscalculate electrical capacitance.

READ NEXT: