Help - Mk4 Ibiza 1.9Tdi FR '04 plate Passengers seat airbag deployed

[Tracser]

I wonder if anyone could help me?
I had a slight bump on the drivers side wheel which deployed the passengers seat airbag and seat belt pretensioner. The alloy is more scuffed than anything and i was surprised the airbag deployed and the damage to the wheel is seemingly minor. (Wheel bead is fine, no cracks etc). The car drives straight and a garage has inspected the drive train and all seems ok.

I have removed the airbag from the seat and the seat belt assembly but Im not sure where to find the airbag ECU? The power steering is disabled and I'm told that until the airbag ECU is either replaced or reset of all crash data, the power steering will remain inoperative. Can anyone verify this?
Im guessing that my next task is: 1.) Fit a new airbag. 2.) Fit a new seatbelt 3.) send the airbag ECU away for reset of crash data (cheapest option) and finally zero all error codes via Vag Com. Any help on where the airbag ECU is located and where is best to get these parts other than a SEAT dealer would be great. Cash is limited so obviously Im looking at the cheapest option without compromising safety!

I will worry about a new seat cover in due course but if I would gratefully appreciate any help with info and where to get spares.
Many Thanks

 

[beezanick]

Can you not reset the ECU via VagCom? I'd have thought you'd have been able to.

If you arnt going to carry passengers for a while, you could just unplug the airbag and seatbelt, then reset the ECU. It will give you a fault code, but the other airbags will still deploy. As for the other bits, the best place would be a breakers as long as they havent got wet ect.

May I sugest that you get the wheel checked to see if it is buckled or not?

 

[Blanco92]

You can clear the codes within the airbag ECU with VAG-COM/VCDS, if you have access to VCDS I don't know why you'd want to send it away.

Interestingly, why did your passenger airbag go off if you hit the driver's side wheel? Did you have a fault code or something before to do with your driver's airbag that made it inoperative? Or do you have an aftermarket steering wheel or something?

I don't know where the airbag ECU is located I'm afraid, but really, you don't need to go anywhere near it!

 

[Tracser]

Many thanks for the reply. Apparently, the airbag has its own ECU/module that requires replacing after a crash is sensed. Later airbag ECU's can be reset by a specialist and all crash data removed and can then be reused although the manufacturers never quote this and apparently this can?Im not sure how true all of this is....its just what I've managed to find browsing around. Its the crash data that apparently you cant get rid of with Vagcom. Ive read other posts about the passenger seat airbag going off on the same incident (r/h wheel hitting a kerb). The garage who initially looked at it said there is nothing to report on the remaining airbags. I thought it starnge myself but apparently is quite common??

Ive had the wheel checked and its good to go which is the only bit of good news about it all so far.
Cheers ;-)

 

[Guinness]

Yep the airbag controler will need replacing as they are one fire systems or so I believe.

 

[Tracser]

Many thanks for the info.

I've now removed the airbag ecu and ordered the airbag and pretensioner. One quick question........I would like to know if the crash sensor are self resetting or whether it would be wise to replace the activated one at the same time.

Does anyone know the location of the crash sensors that activate the seat airbags?

Many Thanks

 

[Tracser]

Hi All,

Many thanks for all of your suggestions and help. The airbag system is now repaired and working again. I thought I should explain what has been done along with things I have sussed out along the way.

Passengers seat airbag replaced . (£60)
Passengers seat belt/pretensioner replaced (£50)
Airbag ECU sent away to have crash data removed. (£50) For info: This cannot be done with Vagcom as the EEPROM chip data must be removed.

Manufacturers will tell you the airbag ECU has to be replaced - NOT TRUE! The airbag ECU also retains its 'coding to vehicle' data after the crash data is removed so no messing around on Vagcom after the reset.

The location of the airbag ECU sits under the centre console, fwd of the gearstick on the transmission tunnel, held in with qty 3 10mm nuts.

The lateral crash sensors are beneath the seat, under the carpet and bolted with qty 2 allen key bolts to the lateral hump of the floor structure.
These sensors do not store crash data and are basically an accelerometer (piezo electric) and do not latch after a bump - they simply send a deceleration signal out to the airbag ECU which deals with it how it sees fit based on its internal algorithms set by its design.

When the airbag ECU figures a crash, it will store the data as a latched fault in memory - this cannot be erased by Vagcom. With a lateral/side impact it will send a fault message to the power steering controller to disable the power steering (Im guessing to prevent over compensation and stop you going off the road!?) The hazard lights will automatically come on too. You can erase the steering fault through Vagcom in the 'steering assist' tab to restore your power steering but only after you have erased the crash data from the airbag ecu or disconnected the airbag ecu.

Should your forward crash sensors be activated in an accident - the engine will be automatically turned off or so Im told. This wasn't relevant to me as it was simply a massive pot hole that set my passengers airbag off and not the kerb as originally thought. Council have since repaired the hole and have given me the finger in response to my claim. A counter claim is now in progress and Im gonna fight them over it......IT WAS A MASSIVE HOLE! Fortunately my tracking was fine and the wheel has only a slight dent in it - no cracks and has been refurbished for 60 quid, as good as new.

A local coachwork upholsterer is repairing the seat stitching with the special seam thread to allow the airbag to deploy correctly for next to nothing.

All in all fixed for 200 odd quid - significantly less than the 3 garage quotes I got.....two of which were for over a grand!!! I didnt even bother to contact SEAT main dealer.

I hope this info may help people in the future.......many thanks once again.

 

[Guinness]

Well done very good write up Im sure that will be of use to someone.

 

[WhatTheHell...]

You can clear the codes within the airbag ECU with VAG-COM/VCDS, if you have access to VCDS I don't know why you'd want to send it away.

Interestingly, why did your passenger airbag go off if you hit the driver's side wheel? Did you have a fault code or something before to do with your driver's airbag that made it inoperative? Or do you have an aftermarket steering wheel or something?

I don't know where the airbag ECU is located I'm afraid, but really, you don't need to go anywhere near it!

if the airbag control unit has crash data stored it either needs replacing, over 400 quid new or 20-50 from an auction site we all know about. or some companies claim to be able to reset the controllers (sending unit away) for around 50 quid, google it.
i have Vagcom fault:
Control Module Part Number: 6Q0 909 605 S
Component and/or Version: 06 AIRBAG VW5 02 0007
Software Coding: 22838
Work Shop Code: WSC 06441
1 Fault Found:
65535 - Internal Control Module Memory Error

65535: Ross tech says check wiring. but i can't find the bloody control unit!

 

[Badger]

Airbag Control Unit Location

- Remove Center Control (Hand Brake and Gearstick bit)
- The unit is located under the dash, under the heater controls. It's screwed in with three bolts.

 

[krussel]

What happens to the seat fabric

Does it rip when the bag goes off.