VAG-COM: Airbag Check & Diagnosis

Hello everyone,

Can I actually find out, using VAG-COM, how many airbags my car has and where they are located?
What condition are they in? I bought my car (a used Passat 3B estate/wagon).
and the cover for the front passenger airbag isn't properly aligned, so I'm wondering if it's already...
"Has the airbag been deployed before, and if so, is there now a functional airbag in place?"

Best regards,
Matthias.

Hi Matthias,

If someone removes an airbag and replaces it with a dummy resistor, the control unit cannot distinguish between the two.

Unfortunately, there are also enough unscrupulous individuals who tamper with airbag control units that have already been triggered, and which often need to be replaced with new parts. They manipulate them in such a way that at least the airbag warning light doesn't come on. But that's all they do.
You only have some assurance if you check to see if the airbag is still present and that the airbag control unit shows no signs of being opened.

Best regards, Rainer.

Rainer K. wrote:

Unfortunately, there are also enough unscrupulous individuals who tamper with airbag control units that have already been triggered, and which often need to be replaced with new parts (!), in such a way that at least the airbag warning light doesn't come on.

The airbag warning light should illuminate briefly after turning the ignition on and then turn off again after 2 seconds. In case of a fault, it will flash on, off, on repeatedly.

Rainer K. wrote:

You only have some certainty if you check whether the airbag is still present and that the airbag control unit shows no signs of being opened.

Even that's not a guarantee; it's similar to how diagnoses work.

The airbag light should illuminate briefly after turning the ignition to the 'ON' position and then turn off again after 2 seconds. In case of a fault, it will turn ON, OFF, ON.


Okay - and how can you achieve that with a defective airbag control unit (ACU)? You interrupt the circuit board trace in the ACU, and solder a bridge to another lead that turns off after 2 seconds. Anyone who manipulates airbag systems to avoid having to install new parts is capable of doing something like that .

If you do that, you will most likely have error messages stored in the instrument cluster, which will indicate that something is not right.

Hello!

If an airbag has been deployed due to an accident, there will be other clear indications of this on the vehicle. The severity of the accident usually necessitates more extensive repair work.

BYE
TDI mechanics.

Hi,


...required severity of the accident...
I wouldn't rely on that alone.
Some time ago, we had an Astra in the workshop with two deployed airbags. At first glance, there were no visible signs of damage on the exterior.
The Astra had been driven directly into a concrete block with its tow hook (which protrudes from the bumper). The tow hook was bent, but otherwise there were hardly any visible damages. Apparently, the short but forceful impact had just achieved the necessary deceleration.


Frank.