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......

[nsxadrenalin]

The story of this car is a saga.

Bought it needing a DSG box.
Turns out a DSG box wasn't needed.
Needed new headlights. done.
Went to get a RWC for it to register it.
Cluster display stopped working day before.
Swapped in what I thought was another cluster with similiar miles from a fellow 2.0L TDI.
Car no start. Immobiliser inactive.
Swapped my cluster back in. PS fault light.
Drove 2 blocks unregistered late at night and parked outside Austral VW for service to connect up immobiliser to new cluster (8000KM more shrugs who cares its got 171K on it as it is)
*Nightmare begins*
Told them the issues.
Charged $330/hr. Did 2hrs. Speedo the issue.
Imported BNIB speedo out of VW Singapore $1100.
Doesn't work.
Car sits dormant at Austral for 3+wks.
Wanted to charge me $6K for a new identity kit. I lol'd. Hung up the phone and paid the $660 bill yesterday.
Car still doesn't start.
Car towed home yesterday arvo $80.
It came back with a dead battery.
It came back with a Airbag warning light.
It came back with a PS fault.
It came back with a blown bulb RH front parker.
Swapped original cluster back in.
Currently charging battery downstairs now for 3hrs @12amp charger.
Put in car twice.
Car now Completely dead.
Unregistered. Parked on a main road in New Farm. Now I'm worried it'll be towed away for being unregistered out front of my own place. I can't move it anywhere as it doesn't start.

I want to burn it to the ground.

So yes, it still needs looking into.. lol

[nsxadrenalin]

I just want to get it running, with no faults so I can register it and use it! Its supposed to be my new daily driver whilst the Magna goes in for its service, but for the past 2 months its been nothing but hassle and I just want to sell it.

Went to Austral Parts myself.

$1100 for a new speedo or $850 with a core trade in of my faulty one.
Then X amount of dollars to get the speedo calibrated to the right KM's rather than 00001km etc.

But the car is just dead now. Key in the ignition, nothing. Blank screen. Atleast yesterday the screen came on with the Airbag warning. Now nothing works. No CD, no navi maps, nothing.

[vdubmotorworx]

start with a new or know good battery.. should then get dash lights at least so you are back to the original issue...start from scratch...

[vdubmotorworx]

when your dash died did it crank over..start for 2 seconds and then stop? ..indicating a immobilizer fault?.. VDUB....

[nsxadrenalin]

Car hasn't cranked over since prior going to Austral.
Has been dead since coming back.

It cranked over for about 2 seconds with the immobiliser issue and replacement speedo yes, along with the PS light.

Thats when I swapped my original speedo back in, with the PS light still on, and drove it 2 blocks to Austral.

Now its just dead altogether with either speedo.