Saturday, May 11, 2013

VW AIRBAGS


VW AIRBAGS CODING

Virtually all modern cars are fitted with airbags and VWs or VAG cars are no exception.  Airbags are specifically designed to protect the driver and  passengers in the unfortunate case of an accident.  Having airbags gives drivers and passengers a certain sense of safety and assurance should they be involved in an accident that injuries sustained could be kept at a minimum. Airbags are manufactured from a parachute-like material and they instantly inflates with a compressed gas,  when the automobile in which it is fitted to meets with a collision.


VW Polo Classic 2.0L highline facelift airbag controller
However it is becoming increasingly common for airbags to deploy unintentionally, sporadically and spontaneously, completely  without the help of an accident. Even though airbags are designed to make drivers and passengers feel safer, in several cars the presence of an airbag  has the complete opposite effect. Airbags dashboard lights are also commonly lighting-up for no reason and without explanation. If or when the airbag on the dash board  lights-up, the system detected a problem and as a consequence sets an error code or trouble code. This implies that the airbag circuit isn't working properly and will not deploy in the event of an accident. When the airbag light comes on  for no reason, you should have your VAG car checked and  diagnosed by a trained technician because the airbag system is certainly not a D.I.Y item. There is no "reset" for an airbag system so NEVER attempt to repair it yourself since serious injury can result  if not done correctly.


Every time the ignition is switch on the system does a self check and should  it detect a problem, the air bag light is will be illuminated or flash. Repeated flashing  is actually the fail code being spelled out in a two-digit code. The light will pulse the first digit,  pause, then pulse out the second digit, pause again but for longer, then start all over again. Once the problem if fixed and the error code cleared the light will stay off.

Normally car code readers, scan tools and auto diagnostic testers omit airbag testing and interrogation unless specifically selected for fear that the diagnostic equipment or user error could trigger the airbags and cause personal injury. Numerous airbag malfunctions has occur during impact, amongst which are delayed deployment, partially deployment and complete failure to deploy. Several vehicle owners including VW, Golf  and Polo owners have complained to The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration about airbag problems which could entitle them to a full or partial refunds for airbag problems experienced and in some cases even entitled to a new car replacement.

When a VW ends up in a crash, it stores the crash data which cannot be cleared with a VAG-COM. VW and the  airbag controller manufacturer intended it to be "unclearable" but rather replaced.  Normally the safety belts will have to be replaced along with the new airbags because the strain gauges and other electro-mechanical sensors inside them are unreliable once they have exceeded the G-forces limit at deployment.

VW POLO
Address 15:      Airbags
Controller ID No 6Q0 909 601 F
Component 05 AIRBAG VW5 0010
Coding         12341
Alternative:       12337 or 12338

00589               Airbag Igniter 1 - Passenger Side -N131
         Short to Ground  INTERMITTENT
00588        Airbag Igniter - Driver Side -N95
         Resistance to High  INTERMITTENT
00589               Airbag Igniter 1 - Passenger Side -N131
         Resistance to High  INTERMITTENT
00588           Airbag Igniter - Driver Side -N95
         Resistance to Low  INTERMITTENT
00588        Airbag Igniter - Driver Side -N95
         Short to Ground  INTERMITTENT
P1280        Passenger side Airbag Switched Off

Below is a list of airbag codings and some alternatives for those with airbag coding issues.

6Q0 909 601        -   12597 or 12622 or 12360 or 12358 or 12628 or 12344 or 12360
6Q0 909 601 A    -   12362
6Q0 909 601 C    -   12338
6Q0 909 601 E     -   12343 or 12359 or 12354 or 12338
6Q0 909 601 F     -   12341 or 12337 or 12338
6Q0 909 601 OM -   12365
6Q0 909 601 OB  -   12354
6Q0 909 601 0C   -   12355
6Q0 909 601 2A   -   12865

OTHER INTERESTING VOLKSWAGEN TOPICS
VW ABS diagnostics
VW Polo Diagnostics

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