Technical solution
Transaction No.: 2000987/6
Deactivating airbag units
Release date: 07-Mar-2005
Problem description
A customer would like to deactivate one or several airbags.
Cause
Production solution
Service solution
Airbag and belt tensioner are important parts of the safety concept of a vehicle. These systems should therefore only be disabled in exceptional cases.
When can an airbag be switched off?
Passenger airbag: The customer would like to use a child seat on the passenger seat, on which the child's back points forward. Please point out to the customer that Volkswagen does not recommend transporting children on the front seat. Please follow the instructions below.Side airbag: The customer would like to fit other seats, e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags. Please follow the instructions below.Driver airbag: For disabled people and drivers for whom the minimum distance of 25 cm between steering wheel centre and breastbone cannot be achieved despite correct driver seat adjustment it may be necessary to disable the driver airbag.
Important! With the new airbag technology on the Golf/Bora lV and Passat B5 a deactivation is only necessary with a minimum distance to the airbag module of 15 cm. Check the part number of the driver airbag module, whether the vehicle is equipped with the new module. From part number 3B0 880 201 AL, AM, AN and higher index the minimum distance between chest and airbag module is 15 cm. If necessary, fit the new module.
If you want to disable the driver airbag, send a enquiry in writing to Product Technical. Only use the form "Deactivation of the driver airbag". You will then get the approval for the deactivation. Only customers with a serious disability, for whom the airbag could become a source of danger, will get approval.
An airbag deactivation to fit a sports steering wheel without airbag will be rejected.
Head airbag: The head airbag must not be disabled. Exception: If a vehicle is converted to the "system franz" or the "EDAG loading aid" which are suitable for disabled people, the head airbag on the driver side must be disabled. Make sure you observe the procedure described below.Belt tensioner: The belt tensioner must not be disabled. Exception: If a vehicle is converted to the "system franz" or the "EDAG loading aid" which are suitable for disabled people, the seat belt must be replaced with a special version without belt tensioner. Disable the software of the driver belt tensioner, so that the airbag warning doesn't come on and that the system doesn't show a fault in the belt tensioner. Make sure you observe the procedure described below.
How to perform the deactivation
You must observe the procedure below, otherwise you are fully responsible for all consequential damage as well as the costs.
Every safety-relevant change to the vehicle must be entered in the vehicle documents. Please ask the customer for the vehicle documents before a deactivation so that this work can be officially recorded.
Observe the relevant safety regulations every time you work on the airbag system.
1.Disable the airbag by changing the software. The procedure is described in the workshop manual. Please note the following channel numbers:
03 - side airbag passenger side
04 - side airbag driver side
06 - belt tensioner driver side. Only permitted with "system franz"!
08 - head airbag driver side. Only permitted with "EDAG loading aid" or "system franz"!
2.IMPORTANT: ALWAYS DETACH THE CONNECTOR TO THE AIRBAG. Attach the disconnected cable so that is doesn't rattle.
On vehicles with the following airbag control units version, use an additional resistor plug:
VW3 1J0 909 603 ...
VW3 1J0 909 604 ...
VW3 1J0 909 605 ...
VW3 1J0 909 607 ...
VW3 1J0 909 608 ...
With the following airbag control units a resistor plug is not permitted:
VW3 1J0 909 609 ...
VW5 6Q0 909 601 ...
VW5 6Q0 909 605 ...
VW6 6Q0 909 605 ...
3.IMPORTANT: ATTACH THE DEACTIVATION STICKER VISIBLY IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. Also fasten the information sign in the diagnosis plug.4.IMPORTANT: Check your work with the Volkswagen tester.5.Complete the registration sheets for every airbag deactivation or repair.
How do I register a deactivation/sale of airbag units?
Please complete the registration sheets for every airbag deactivation or repair or sale in triplicate for customer, dealer and importer by using one of the following three registration sheets (see attachments):
Registration sheet 1 - Complete this sheet when deactivating or activating airbags or belt tensioners.
Registration sheet 2 - Use this sheet to register which airbag parts were sold for which vehicle. Also fill in this sheet when replacing an airbag.
Registration sheet 3 - This ensures that the legal requirements for the sale or handover of pyrotechnical objects have been met.
Which parts kit is needed for a deactivation?
Use the following parts for the deactivation of the passenger airbag for all vehicles from control unit version VW-5: Sticker "Passenger airbag disabled"
Part No. 1H0 010 076 E
Cable binder
Part No. N 020 902.2
Foam grommet
Part No. 811 971 791
Use the following parts kits for the deactivation of the passenger airbag before the control unit version VW5: Lupo to Chassis No. 6X XW 006 422
Part No. 6X0 998 521 A
Lupo from Chassis No. 6X XW 006 423
Part No. 6X0 998 521 B
Golf lll/Vento/Golf lll Estate, Golf lll/lV Cabriolet, Polo A03 Polo A03 to Chassis No. XY 279 648,
Polo Classic, Polo Estate, Passat B4, Sharan, Corrado
Part No. 1HO 998 521 B
Polo A03 from Chassis No. XY 279 649
Part No. 6N0 998 521
Golf lV/Golf lV Estate, Bora/Bora Estate, New Beetle
Part No. 1J0 998 521
Passat B5, Transporter T4
Part No. 3B0 998 521 B
Use the following parts for the deactivation of the passenger side airbag from control unit version VW5: Sticker "Passenger side airbag disabled"
Part No. 4D0 010 146 M
Cable binder
Part No. N 020 902.2
Foam grommet
Part No. 811 971 791
Use the following parts for the deactivation of the driver side airbag from control unit version VW5: Sticker "Passenger side airbag disabled"
Part No. 4D0 010 146 R
Cable binder
Part No. N 020 902.2
Foam grommet
Part No. 811 971 791
Use the following parts for the deactivation of the side airbag before control units version VW5: GOLF /
VENTO 3
PASSAT 5
Model year 97
Left:
Part No. 4B0 998 521
Right :
Part No. 4B0 998 521 A
Model year 98/99
Left:
Part No. 3B0 998 521
Right:
Part No. 3B0 998 521 A
GOLF 4 / BORA
Left:
Part No. 3B0 998 521
Right:
Part No. 3B0 998 521 A
SHARAN
Left:
Part No. 3B0 998 521
Right:
Part No. 3B0 998 521 A