Airbag woes

[ozzypole]

G'day out there,
Is there anyone out there, preferably on the Sunny Coast, that can clear an airbag fault light?
I've had the fault cleared once before. It was a faulty connection under the passenger seat. I intend to repair the connection as per TSB Number: 6906-05
Title: Air Bag System - Warning Lamp ON and or DTC's 01217 & 01218.
Thanks in advance. Eagerly waiting your replies and input.
Phil.

[vdubmotorworx]

I take it you have a golf 5? used to be a common issue...PM sent

[Johnnojack]

Ours has same problem, supposedly faulty connection under seat. After getting it fixed by VW three times and it simply coming back, the other day I took out the leads under the seats. Both tested OK. Could see nothing wrong with the connectors though the pins are very fine. Still have airbag fault light, but it is now more annoying not having an idea how to fix it.

[vdubmotorworx]

If its a MK 5 golf/EOS/PASSAT and the air bag faults are for one or both seat's air bag's then the first thing to do is check under the seat... How did VW "repair" your air bag light 3 times?? What were the fault codes, do you know it was the seats every time? It could have been a control unit, slip ring, passenger air bag, sensors etc?? first time the may be just erased the fault to see if it would come back.

If the fault code is for the seat air bag N200 or N199 the fault is 99% with the connector under the seat, the connector is cut out (yellow 3 pin plug) and the 3 wires are individually connected together with heat shrink crimps.., this gets rid of the "poor connection" issue.. When checking the plug and pins they look fine but like I said 99% of the time this is the cure, after this is done the air bag light is erased and the odd 1% come back on and the seat air bag needs to be changed for a unlucky few...VDUB...

(WORKING ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SHOULD BE DONE CORRECTLY AND CAREFULLY, DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH IT.. ALWAYS REMOVE THE BATTERY BEFORE AND RECONNECT WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR)

[ozzypole]

Just finished repairing (read:deleting connector) the passenger side wiring connector. Will do driver side at the weekend then get codes read and cleared. Here's hoping!
Phil.

[Johnnojack]

OK thanks for that VDUB. Its a Mk 5 Golf. I don't know the fault codes, have only what the warning light says, Airbag fault. When I said the pins were fine I meant very thin. While the leads themselves seem OK I have no way of knowing if the connectors make good contact. Do you recommend I delete the yellow connectors (one at a time) or find out the fault code numbers first? The only info I have from VW service is, 'It was a faulty connector under the seat'. The other times I had no feedback as it was done under warranty.

[Umai Naa!!]

The connector itself, causes a higher-than-tolerable resistance in the circuit.

Common fault across a lot of VWs. The usual fix is to remove the connector from the wiring, and re-join the wires using two small patch leads, which are high-quality crimp connectors with heatshrink coating on them. I have the part number somewhere. When I find it, I'll post it here for those playing at home.

As VDUB mentioned, if this doesn't cure it, you could be up for a seat airbag assembly.

[nsxadrenalin]

I believe I have the same problem atm.

I took the car to Austral, where I was royally raped for $660. Nothing was done to my car except I got it back, with a Power Steering light, and an airbag fault.

I am not impressed with this car. Back to Hondas for me once I sell this thing.

[Buckets]

I believe I have the same problem atm.

I took the car to Austral, where I was royally raped for $660. Nothing was done to my car except I got it back, with a Power Steering light, and an airbag fault.

I am not impressed with this car. Back to Hondas for me once I sell this thing.

So if nothing was rectified, did you ask them what you paid for when you picked it up? Obviously the warning lights alerted you to the fact prior to departing the "stealership" that the problem wasn't resolved.

[vdubmotorworx]

I believe I have the same problem atm.

I took the car to Austral, where I was royally raped for $660. Nothing was done to my car except I got it back, with a Power Steering light, and an airbag fault.

I am not impressed with this car. Back to Hondas for me once I sell this thing.

so you still have the warning lights on?? when you left the dealer? do you need it looking into still? VDUB......