Front Passenger Airbag Unit With Igniter: Installing

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, 2015 Volkswagen Beetle, 2014 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Volkswagen Beetle, and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

-- Install in reverse order of removal.

NOTE: If the housing for the front passenger airbag unit -4- is plastic, then use Locking Compound D 197 300 A2 when installing the screws -3-.

Fig 1: Identifying Bolts And Bracket

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Check whether an additional ground cable must be routed in the vehicle:

WARNING: If a passenger airbag is replaced, an additional ground cable must be routed in the vehicle in some cases.

NOTE: The example shows a single-stage airbag unit. For dual-stage airbag modules, the evaluation as to whether an additional ground cable must be routed in the vehicle is done similarly.

Fig 2: Identifying Passenger Airbag Ground Line And Wiring Harnesses

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-- Check whether a ground cable is routed on the passenger airbag housing:

With a passenger airbag with ground line -1-, the wiring harness -2- is a three-conductor harness. In addition, another cable -3- is secured on the threaded pins -4-.
With a passenger airbag with ground wire -5-, the wiring harness -6- is a three-conductor harness. There is not additional cable attached to the threaded pin -7-.

If the front passenger airbag does not have a ground wire, then route an additional ground wire inside the vehicle:

NOTE: For the following procedure, use a cable (cross section 1 mm, length 600 mm) from the Wiring Harness Repair Set VAS 1978 or Wiring Harness Repair Set VAS 1978A.

Fig 3: Identifying Passenger Airbag Ground Line And Ground Pin

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-- Secure end of ground line with bolt -1- on right side of passenger airbag.

-- Route ground line correctly to right side of passenger footwell.

NOTE: If necessary, lengthen the ground cable with suitable instruments from the Wiring Harness Repair Set VAS 1978 or Wiring Harness Repair Set VAS 1978A.

-- Attach the other end of the ground cable to the ground pin -2-.

-- Turn on the ignition.

WARNING: Make sure that no persons are in the vehicle.

-- Connect the battery. Refer to BATTERY, DISCONNECTING AND CONNECTING .