Removing MK3/VR6 Steering wheel/Air Bag

[golfaki]

Hi all,

Couldn't find a DIY on this, is there one floating about? Or can anyone advise of the process, mainly precautions on the air bag I guess ??

Thanks....

[RFMC]

1. Disconnect battery
2. Undo bolts on back of steering whel holding airbag unit in place.
3. Remove air bag unit and unplug connector.
4. Undo nut that holds steering wheel on.
5. Mark wheel and spline so you can line it up when you put it back on!
6. Pull steering wheel off.
Reassembly is reverse of removal, but before you reconnect the battery, put the key in the ignition and turn it to on. This will prevent your airbag light from coming on.

[The_Hawk]

There is a couple of torx screws behind the wheel which then remove the airbag. The air bag has a little wire running into the wheel so be careful, then there is the big not to remove the wheel itself.

When I did mine I was careful to disconnect the battery first, then re-connect after it's all back in. If you don't and you turn the key the car will turn on the airbag light which then requires VAG-COM or similar to reset the error.

EDIT: Google pointed me to Vortex where I found this, which is largely the same.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable.

2. Center steering wheel in straight-ahead position.

3. Remove both socket head screws from rear of steering wheel.

4. Carefully remove airbag unit from steering wheel and disconnect harness connector from rear of unit.

5. Remove trim below steering column switch. Disconnect wiring harness connector (remove foam sleeve from connector if fitted).

6. Remove hex nut in center of steering wheel. Make matching marks on steering wheel and steering column. Pull steering wheel off steering column.

CAUTION-
-The airbag spiral spring on the rear of the steering wheel must be "locked" in its centered position. To do this, hold the wheel in the normally installed position. The with wire on the spiral spring facing downward, turn the connecting ring just until the spiral spring locks in position.

7. Reinstall steering wheel in reverse order of removal. Use new self-locking bolts to mount airbag to steering wheel. When installing trim, ensure that airbag harness connector sits in recess in trim.

8. After installing airbag unit and reconnecting airbag electrical connectors, switch ignition on, then reconnect negative battery cable.

WARNING-
-DO NOT reconnect the battery cable until airbag and steering wheel installation is complete, including reconnection of harness connectors.

-the ignition switch must be turned on BEFORE reconnectiing the battery cable.

[Golf Houso]

Can we have this in the MK3 DIY thread? It was definately very useful

[golfaki]

Thanks heap guys,

Yeah, I think it'll be good in the DIY link.......

[Mrk_Mickey]

Done and done

[whiteVR6]

There is a couple of torx screws behind the wheel which then remove the airbag. The air bag has a little wire running into the wheel so be careful, then there is the big not to remove the wheel itself.

They use 2 5mm allen keys . The A4 uses torx screws