Front Passenger Airbag Unit With Igniter, Removing And Installing

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

Special tools and workshop equipment required

Torque Wrench 1783 - 2-10Nm:VAG1783

Front Passenger Airbag Unit "Advanced Airbag System"

"Advanced Airbag System" refers to an airbag unit with two airbag stages which are deployed depending on the severity of the accident. For less severe crashes, the second stage is not deployed.

WARNING:

Airbag modules in which only the first stage has been deployed can cause severe injuries by deployment of the second stage.
Follow the General Safety Precautions when working with airbags, belt tensioners and battery cut-out units (pyrotechnic components). Refer to SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .
Read and follow the notes regarding driver and front passenger airbags. Refer to AIRBAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .

At this time, there is no possibility of checking whether the second stage has been deployed definitively. For this reason, such airbag units must be recycled/disposed of in an orderly manner, conforming to national regulations, in the original packaging! Direct questions to the importer!

WARNING:

Disposal of undeployed airbag units as industrial waste/garbage is not permissible!

WARNING:

Follow the General Safety Precautions when working with airbags, belt tensioners and battery cut-out units (pyrotechnic components). Refer to SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .

Read and follow the notes regarding driver and front passenger airbags. Refer to AIRBAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .

-- Disconnect the battery ground cable with the ignition turned on. Refer to BATTERY, DISCONNECTING AND CONNECTING .

-- Remove the glove compartment. Refer to GLOVE COMPARTMENT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING, BOTTOM .

WARNING:

Electrostatic discharges can lead to unintended deployment of the airbag. Therefore, mechanic must electrostatic discharge himself/herself before disconnecting harness connector. This is done, for example, by briefly touching the body or door striker.

Fig 1: Identifying Wiring Harnesses

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Disconnect the wiring harness -1- from the front passenger airbag unit.

Vehicles with Dual Stage Airbag Units

-- Disconnect the wiring harness -2- from the front passenger airbag unit.

Continuation for All Vehicles

-- Remove the clip -arrow- from the bracket -4-.

-- Remove the bolts -3- from the bracket -4-.

Fig 2: Identifying Bolts And Bracket

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Remove the bolts -3- and the front passenger airbag unit -4- from the frame -1-.

NOTE:

The front passenger airbag unit bracket -2- is clipped to the frame -1-.

-- Unclip the bracket -2- and remove it from the frame -1-.

Installing

-- 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 bolts -3-.

Fig 3: Identifying Bolts And Bracket

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

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 4: Identifying Passenger Airbag Ground Line And Wiring Harnesses

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- 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:

Use a cable (cable diameter 1 mm, length 600 mm) from the :VAS1978 or the : VAS1978A .

Fig 5: Identifying Passenger Airbag Ground Line And Ground Pin

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- 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:

Lengthen the ground cable if needed using materials from the : VAS1978 or the : VAS1978A .

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

-- Switch the ignition on.

WARNING:

Make sure that no persons are in the vehicle.

-- Connect the battery ground cable with the ignition switched on. Refer to BATTERY, DISCONNECTING AND CONNECTING .

Tightening Specifications

Component	Tightening Specification
Bolts for front passenger airbag unit bracket	9 Nm
Bolts for front passenger airbag unit bracket	9 Nm