Airbag light wont light at all (99 Golf TDI)

_toiletduck_

NCT crowd failed me there last week on my Golf, they said the airbag light didn't light when the ignition was turned.

It should light for 4 seconds and turn off then if all is ok im told, but my light is just off all the time...

now what I have checked so far...
1. the LED in the cluster housing, happy that its still there.
2. the wiring at the back of the housing, nothing has been hacked.
3. checked the wires as far as i can behind the dash, all ok there.
4. checked the wiring into the airbag control module, all wires are attached.

now I'm stumped...no idea what the problem is now...
anyone any ideas? (considering that i don't want to bring it to the stealers, it ain't worth that)

mickdw

Fuses?

Buford T Justice

Can you get someone to scan for fault codes?

_toiletduck_

mickdw, couldn't see an airbag fuse on the fuse panel beside the drivers wheel, unless it is another location?

Fingers McGee, I was thinking that myself, i may find someone local with a vagcom, or buy one myself, on second thoughts, having one would be handy, a load of people I know drive VAG.

Plug

Maybe the LED is fcuked? Put the led from the airbag one and put in the hand brake one. Pull the lever up and down if nothing happens you need a new bulb.

Plug

^^^^
In other words just swap them around and see. That should eliminate any potential bulb problem.

_toiletduck_

@Plug

I don't think LED's blow that easy, you need to limit the current through the LED with a resistor in series, as you probably already know, and inside the speedo is supposed to be sealed, and mine was sealed when I checked inside it (I made short work of that seal checking )

I don't think anyone had opened it before to fiddle with it, so I don't see how it would blow.

Nice suggestion though, I hadn't thought of it

_toiletduck_

Brainwave Plug,

I'll grab a battery and a large resistor (to be safe) tomorrow and slap them straight to the LED and see of it lights, if it lights even faintly, I'll know I'm in the clear and the LED works.

_toiletduck_

_toiletduck_ wrote: »

Brainwave Plug,

I'll grab a battery and a large resistor (to be safe) tomorrow and slap them straight to the LED and see of it lights, if it lights even faintly, I'll know I'm in the clear and the LED works.

Ideally it won't work
Then all that's needed is a new LED
Are you sure it is an LED and not a weird looking bulb though? Lots of those dash lights are bulbs and not LEDs.

If it does work when power is connected to it then it would appear it's been tampered with or there is a wiring fault.

crosshair1

The airbag controller on these isnt fused, the led is soldered onto the instrument pcb, get a scan done first.
Highly likely someone has removed dash and fitted tin foil/coke can/cigg pack foil/chewing gum over the led:D

tossy

So removing the cluster,taking it apart and swapping LEDs is the best way to diagnose this problem ? wowsers.

Get some with VCDS to scan it that way you can find the fault code and/or do an output test on the cluster to see if the air bag light is working.

_toiletduck_

Yeah I'm going to get a VCDS myself on tuesday, I'll give that a whirl

@ crosshair, I've already checked that and the LED is fine =]

@ tossy, it certainly isn't the best or fastest way I'll agree but I was bored one evening so I decided to go poking around seen some stuff worked on by some other people on other occasions (I'm ok with that, the car is getting on :P). Some work was even done by VW back in 2002, heater matrix I think... (they always use yellow tape to wrap their wires, and they include a reciept taped somewhere near the work done).

crosshair1

If the led for the airbag is present and the tracks to it on the pcb have not been cut, then you will require a replacement instrument.
The airbag light will illuminate in the case of no comms between ab ecu and the dash. So any tampering of wiring etc outside of the dash will bring the light on permanently.
A replacement insturment will need to have the Engine ecu and keys matched to it as the immo is within.

_toiletduck_

crosshair1 wrote: »

If the led for the airbag is present and the tracks to it on the pcb have not been cut, then you will require a replacement instrument.
The airbag light will illuminate in the case of no comms between ab ecu and the dash. So any tampering of wiring etc outside of the dash will bring the light on permanently.
A replacement insturment will need to have the Engine ecu and keys matched to it as the immo is within.

cock...
lets hope the scan on Tuesday does something along the lines of a miracle so...:p

tossy

Are you getting a full licensed copy of VCDS ? the cracked versions will only allow you scan for and reset basic faults you won't be able to use the measuring blocks to do an output test etc - at least that is the way by ebay lead was years ago.

tossy

crosshair1 wrote: »

If the led for the airbag is present and the tracks to it on the pcb have not been cut, then you will require a replacement instrument.
The airbag light will illuminate in the case of no comms between ab ecu and the dash. So any tampering of wiring etc outside of the dash will bring the light on permanently.
A replacement insturment will need to have the Engine ecu and keys matched to it as the immo is within.

It that was the case then it's not as an expensive job as most people would think,you would get an eBay cluster and have it coded by some one with VAG TACHO for easily under 120-150 euro,you could even use the opportunity to go to german ebay and pick up a KMH set of clocks for cheaper.

DublinDilbert

Check for cut tracks on the pcb for the led. It will probably have a low side drive circuit that will measure the led current, so will log an error if it goes open circuit. Check for dry joints too...

_toiletduck_

@ Tossy, 120 - 150 euro isn't happening for me I'm afraid. but i don't know ifs a full VCDS or not, I'll find out tomorrow =] for 70quid im not expecting much

tossy

_toiletduck_ wrote: »

@ Tossy, 120 - 150 euro isn't happening for me I'm afraid. but i don't know ifs a full VCDS or not, I'll find out tomorrow =] for 70quid im not expecting much

that 120-150 euro would be at least a quarter of the main dealer price - just to put that into context.

For 70 quid its going to be a shareware version,the real deal is around 300/400 euro.

What part of the country are you in?

_toiletduck_

hey guys, so I ran VCDS today, and got the following errors (in the .txt file)
I cleared the faults and the only one that came back was the drivers airbag.

(the other two faults were fixed as I got the timing belt done 5K ago, and I repaired the central locking myself a few months ago)

Also: I understand that the airbag light should illuminate whilst I'm accessing the controller...no such joy, still darkened.
I also ran an instrument test on the dash, all lights work but that stupid light.
I'll have to check my wiring again I presume...

Honestly I'm feeling a little lost, I do think that diagnostic is cool do did a whole test on the abs, you can feel it work on each wheel =]

Buford T Justice

IF the resistance is too low, then it sounds like a short closing the circuit. Resistance too high would indicate a broken circuit. imo.

_toiletduck_

@fingers, yes my thoughts exactly, I hadn't had the chance to check anything yet though.

Buford T Justice

Oddly enough, I've just noticed on my new to me caddy that the airbag light was unplugged from the van. Turns out that I have the same fault code as you, although the description is slightly different

00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95): Resistance too High

I think its the coil spring and slip ring that's giving trouble behind the steering wheel.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00588

tossy

Ive alwaytys found with this fault that removing the steering wheel air bag and cleaning both the plug/socket of of the air bag set up with electrical contract cleaner rectifies the problem.

Sounds like some idiots got this fault and disconnected the air bag light in the cluster to 'sell the car' some people shouldn't be let near at torx driver

Alternatively if someone discovered it was the actual slip ring and disconnected it then you have a problem,possibly new cluster depending on the butchering job carried out and new slip ring (circa 300 lids )

I would try cleaning with contact cleaner first,the reset the fault and see if it returns by re scanning after and ignition cycle and then if that works you can turn your thoughts to the actual airbag light.