[briang0]

The other day when I started my car the airbag light on my dash came on and didn't go off. When I ran VAG-COM here is what I got:

1 Fault Found:

01217 - Side Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N199)

32-10 - Resistance too High - Intermittent

I have a 2001 Passat Sedan 1.8t Standard It is fully loaded with options and has side curtain airbags.

I'm thinking that this is probably a connection issue. I looked under the drivers side seat but I did not see any connectors are they under the rug? Where is the connection located and and how do I get to it. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[nuclearseal]

There was a TSB for that igniter (http://nateronline.com/Technical_Bulletins/2008.02.11_Airbag_ignitor_side_DTC_01217_01218.pdf). I have a 2000 V6 which had the code but for the passenger side. The fix was simple, there is a connector underneath the seat (yellow connector IIRC) that just joins the wiring from the seat to the wiring of the car. For some reason that connector fails. Cut out the connector and splice the wires together; NOTE; take note of which wires and colors match up in the connector BEFORE you start cutting, the wires from each side may not necessarily match up, if I recall, white matched up to white but then it was something weird like blue matches to brown or something like that. Wrap it in electrical tape; clear the code and you should be good to go.

 

[scotts13]

Before following the above advice, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY and touch the two battery cables together. You absolutely do not want any stray voltage in the circuit. And when you reconnect the battery, make sure no-one is in the car.

 

[nuclearseal]

Before following the above advice, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY and touch the two battery cables together. You absolutely do not want any stray voltage in the circuit. And when you reconnect the battery, make sure no-one is in the car.

YES!!!!! Forgot to add that disclaimer, thanks scott!