Air bag warning light on all the time

[pinetreeporsche]

The light is permanently on, and the passenger side bag cover-plate portion of the dashboard is a little loose. Don't know if it's one of the two bags, or the computer. (I bought it, a '97 Winnebago, with the warning light on.) Anyone know how to trouble-shoot- incl what meters or instruments, etc will be needed? Apparently, Virginia inspection does not require the air bags to pass-- I failed due to a non-functioning horn, but no other failures! However, it's definitely time to get them regularized.

[GMByers]

Have you tried having the OBD read for any codes?
May likely be the airbag clock spring in the steering wheel.
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And then there were two...downsized to 83 Doka &
74 Thing.

[pinetreeporsche]

I had the codes run and both bags and the computer are faulty. I did get inspected all right because VA doesn't require them, but I need to get them sorted out. Can a VW dealership help out- or are there bag specialists. And I understand that used air bags are illegal to buy/sell/install. (Seems a shame that dying non-camper and non-weekender EVs go to their rest -or rust- with functional bags that I could use.) SO HELP - someone else must have been faced with this; what's the solution?

[Zeitgeist 13]

This sounds like a clockspring issue. It's highly unlikely that the bags themselves went bad
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[CdnVWJunkie]

[TDCTDI]

If the computer was faulty, then you wouldn't be able to tell if the air bags were, unless the system has been deployed.

As said by others, get another opinion, have them clear the codes & see what comes back. A low voltage situation could have triggered the codes & if they're not cleared, then the system will retain them & show the light.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[pinetreeporsche]

My bad-- I omitted to tell you in my first Q posting that the E Van had suffered an accident at the drivers front fender and door, which set off at least the driver's bag. But the shop that sorted out the non-functioning horn for me so I could get inspected said codes indicate both bags and the computer need repair or replacement. I did talk to the only Eurovan speciality service and parts guy, Shane Penninger of Eurovan Life in Asheville NC, and he had no leads of those parts. Anyone know any other non-dealer Eurovan specialists I can at least phone and get advice from?

[TDCTDI]

I have them.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Ah, the accident was a key detail. I would replace the clockspring, control unit and both bags.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[pinetreeporsche]

[gakali]

Being an OBD2 vehicle anyone with a full function scanner should be able to read the Airbag codes. Any shop should be able to do this.


It is possible that the van was repaired properly after airbag deployment and that the light is on now for something simple such as a clock spring failure.


If the module and both airbags were properly diagnosed as needing replacement so be it, but another opinion might be a good idea before doing anything. Seems unlikely to need all 3 parts at this point without taking a closer look.
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Why do it? Because you can.

1999 Eurovan
2003 A4 Avant 1.8T Quattro
1992 W201 190e 2.3 Mercedes
2006 W220 S600 V12 Twin Turbo 5.5 Mercedes

[pinetreeporsche]

Major progress: Chris Dale, a real Eurovan specialist, the guy who runs import AutoWerks, just east of Raleigh NC, got everything worked out. [How many E-van experts are there in whole eastern US?! I'd say anyone within a reasonable distance of Zebulon NC should consider a trip there to deal with those problems the local guys can't help you with.]
BUT: The previous guy who said it was both bags and the module was wrong-- the bags were OK once a new-used module was transplanted in. Since the set of bags and module he had acquired for me cost a bundle as a set, I need to find a working module to fill out the two-bag-set he still has w/o module. [I can get a good portion of my cost rebated if I can make the bag-set whole.] OR BETTER- IF anyone knows a place that rebuilds/re-works these bag modules, let me know- let us all know. And: save a module, save a van!

[Kombinut]

I have a airbag light that stays on. VAG COM does not connect to the airbag module. I've read post of people suggesting a bad clock spring. Removed mine check with continuity tester all was good. Review wiring diagram, found one wire that connect to the module from the OBD2 diagnostic port. Which lead me to inspect the module directly, located under the plastic center piece in the foot well in front of the shifter. There I found radiator coolant had leak onto the module and corroded the connection. The number 9 pin was completely gone which is the wire that comes from the OBD2 diagnostic port. The drain for the HVAC system is located right above this module, So if you have a bad heat core then coolant fluid will find it's was down onto the module.

[gakali]

[Kombinut]

I received my new used airbag control module today from ebay, plugged it in and no more airbag light! All is well again.

[almond]

Thanks this helped me find mine and I have the same problem