airbag indicator...

[Linus Toy]

A couple things could have caused this one...
*  dead battery that you had to jump?
*  bad (out of tolerance) spiral spring
*  fault in other airbag system component.  You mention reserve power pack--I'm
not sure if it is in fact a battery or simply a pyrotechnic device that can
fire off the airbag.  If any of this is bad, though, it probably means $$$.
*  finally, did you replace any instrument lights recently, and test them while
the steering wheel was off?  This is one that trips many. (airbag controller,
when powered up, expects airbag in the loop--if its not, it sets an error.)

Yes, the recorded faults cannot be erased by disconnecting the computer or
battery.  At least not for a reasonable length of time.  You do need a VAG 1551
or 1552 or equivalent (i.e. VAG-COM) to erase the codes.

HTH


--------------------------------------------------------
Linus Toy               Insanity is doing the same thing
Mercer Island, WA       you've always done and expecting
linust at mindspring.com   different results
                        - Roger Milliken, Milliken & Co
--------------------------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: 200q20v-admin at audifans.com
> [mailto:200q20v-admin at audifans.com] On Behalf Of DAK
> Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:40 PM
> To: 200q20v at audifans.com; quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: airbag indicator...
>
>
> In my '91 200q20v, the airbag indicator light has started
> going on for the first minute or two after the car has been
> started. One dealer told me it can stay on for up to 10
> minutes before being considered a problem. Not totally happy
> with that answer, I called another dealer who said that isn't
> normal and it should be checked out. Bentley says I need a VW
> 1619 tool to test the air bag system. Before I go spending
> money for a dealer to diagnose, I'd like some other BTDT...
>
> I suspect the "energy reserve" unit... I think that's just a
> rechargeable battery pack that reached the end of its life...
>
> I also heard that this behavoir can be triggered by a low
> battery voltage (or when the battery has been disconnected)
> and can be reset by a VAG-COM, or VW 1619 tool.
>
> David
>
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