Airbag warning light Audi A4 '00

Lenstroni

Had my NCT last week on an Audi A4 '00 1.8. It failed as the airbag light WONT come on during ignition cycle. So I dropped into my mechanic today and it turns out the Airbag control unit needs to be replaced, which showed up on the computer.
But why no light on the dash? The very considerate people (I have other names to describe them too) who owned the car before me ripped out the LED's in the dash so it would pass the NCT but now the NCT testers are wise to this and want to see that light come on when the car ignition is cycled. So. I'm left with a car with a damaged dashboard and the original faulty airbag unit which incidentally hasn't worked for 4 years when I purchased the car!! (glad we weren't in an accident). A new/fitted airbag control unit is €670(main dealer only) and I can get the dash repaired for €150 by a chap my mechanic knows. My question is, does anyone know of any other options? Could I get a second hand control unit and still have Audi fit it? My mechanic and Fosters in Sandyford wont touch it as they said it needs to be programmed by Audi but maybe someone out there can? Its hardly worth spending the guts of a grand on at this stage but there again changing cars is expensive and you dont know what you're buying at the end of the day. Better the devil you know perhaps.

Also, my after-market alarm which controls and central locking too is knackered. It should only be a matter of replacing the unit and getting a new fob? Anyone know anybody good with this type of thing that doesn't charge an arm and leg? I think it will be a relatively easy fix in comparison to the airbag mess.

Cheers!

George Dalton

This is a very common problem with the 99-01 A4. Just get a secondhand airbag controller and fit it. It doesn't need to be programmed by Audi. Any decent independent should be able to fit it.

Lenstroni

George Dalton wrote: »

This is a very common problem with the 99-01 A4. Just get a secondhand airbag controller and fit it. It doesn't need to be programmed by Audi. Any decent independent should be able to fit it.

George, something weird just happened. I was telling my wife about your stolen s4 when I saw your reply to my thread. I'm also in Bray so was concerned when I saw your car was nicked. Glad its been returned. Hopefully in one piece. Thanks for the reply. Will keep it in mind!

George Dalton

I actually had to replace the airbag ECU in the S4 after I bought it a couple of years ago. I got a secondhand ECU for €40

Lenstroni

You know what my next question is going to be, where did you get it and who mapped the new control unit for you? I'm getting the dash repaired this week so want to get it done before the month is up.

George Dalton

I got it in a scrapyard (from a car that the airbags were not deployed on) and I fitted and coded it myself.