01221 - Crash Sensor Side Airbag; Driver Side (G179) 010 - Open or Short

   #1  

Geoffzie

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OK, this is the final thing I've got to fix on my 2005 Mk5 Jetta 2.5 ... Driver's side air bag sensor error. Also, for some reason, the fault says "MIL ON" when in fact the Check engine light is NOT on. Not sure why that is.

A little history ..

I've had this fault from the beginning, just figured it was a bad crash sensor in the driver's door. I also had an issue with the interior light not coming on when the driver's door was opened ... which meant the fuel pump was not being energized either ... which gave me long cranking times when starting.

I replaced the door latch (a known problem with these cars) with a used good one from a 2009 Jetta ... but when I had the door apart, I noticed the red marker light on the bottom of the door would flicker when I moved the wiring harness in the door (I guess wiring harnesses were another known problem with 2005 Jetta's) ... so I replaced the wiring harness too. I also replaced the Airbag Crash Sensor (G179) while I was in there with another used one from the same 2009 Jetta.

Now everything works as it should ... the interior lights come on, and the fuel pump runs when you open the door. But I'm STILL getting the Airbag Crash Sensor fault!

Any ideas? ... are there any known issues with these that I don't know about?

Code:
Monday,08,January,2018,18:11:43:23114
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator Running on Windows 7 x64
VCDS Version: 17.8.1.0 (x64)  HEX-V2 CB: 0.4401.4
Data version: 20171130 DS276.6
www.Ross-Tech.com

VIN: 3VWPG71K55M620606   License Plate: 
Mileage: 278790km-173232mi   Repair Order: 

Chassis Type: 1K (1K0)
Scan: 01 02 03 08 09 15 16 17 19 25 42 44 46 52 56 62 72

VIN: 3VWPG71K55M620606   Mileage: 278790km-173232miles

00-Steering Angle Sensor -- Status: OK 0000
01-Engine -- Status: OK 0000
02-Auto Trans -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: OK 0000
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
15-Airbags -- Status: Malfunction 0010
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: OK 0000
25-Immobilizer -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
56-Radio -- Status: OK 0000
62-Door, Rear Left -- Status: OK 0000
72-Door, Rear Right -- Status: OK 0000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine        Labels: 06A-906-032-BGQ.lbl
   Part No SW: 06A 906 032 QC    HW: Hardware No 
   Component: 2.5l R5/4V      G   6605  
   Revision: 00000000    Serial number: VWZ7Z0E1483365
   Coding: 0000003
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 6FB8DBBF6B98A8DFB3B-803A

No fault code found.
Readiness: 0000 1100

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans        Labels: 09G-927-750.clb
   Part No: 09G 927 750 AS
   Component: AQ 250 6F           0649  
   Coding: 0000584
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 025E820B480AB5B74C5-8056

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes        Labels: 1K0-907-379-MK70.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 907 379 P
   Component: ASR FRONT MK70      0105  
   Coding: 0017025
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 3FD84BFF7B78185F63B-806A

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC        Labels: 1K0-820-047.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 820 047 EM
   Component: Climatic PQ35   084 0404  
   Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
   VCID: 73B0D7CF07B08C3F573-8026

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 09: Cent. Elect.        Labels:. 3C0-937-049-23-M.lbl
   Part No SW: 1K0 937 049 M    HW: 1K0 937 049 M*
   Component: Bordnetz-SG     H34 0803  
   Revision: 00H34000    Serial number: 00000000024936
   Coding: 00050E00000418000014000000140000000073035C
   Shop #: WSC 12345 123 12345
   VCID: 392C25E7655C366F5DF-806C

   Subsystem 1 - Part No: 1K1 955 119 B  Labels: 1KX-955-119.CLB
   Component: Wischer VW350  012  0401  
   Coding: 00065493
   Shop #: WSC 12345  

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags        Labels: 1K0-909-605.lbl
   Part No SW: 1K0 909 605 E    HW: 1K0 909 605 E
   Component: 1S AIRBAG VW8R  024 6300  
   Revision: 03024000    Serial number: 0037KD011YYR  
   Coding: 0012627
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 2E0606BBAC12E1D7F8D-807A

   Subsystem 1 - Part No: 1K0 959 339 B
   Component: BF-Gewichtsens. 006 0003

   Subsystem 2 - Serial number: 633  SME         

   Subsystem 3 - Serial number: 6342MSME08474E5AO

   Subsystem 4 - Serial number: 6351HSME05714A40+

   Subsystem 5 - Serial number: 6361HSME060944191

   Subsystem 6 - Serial number: 63727SME05394844/

   Subsystem 7 - Serial number: 63827SME054A5338%

1 Fault Found:
01221 - Crash Sensor Side Airbag; Driver Side (G179) 
            010 - Open or Short to Plus - MIL ON

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 16: Steering wheel        Labels: 1K0-953-549-MY8.lbl
   Part No SW: 1K0 953 549 AB    HW: 1K0 953 549 AB
   Component: J0527           010 0045  
   Coding: 0010021
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 72BED2CB78AA85375C5-8026

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments        Labels: 1K0-920-xxx-17.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 920 951 C
   Component: KOMBIINSTRUMENT 3HL 0720  
   Coding: 0022203
   Shop #: WSC 08305 993 56004
   VCID: 290CF5A795FC86EF2DF-807C

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 19: CAN Gateway        Labels:. 1K0-907-530-V1.clb
   Part No SW: 1K0 907 530 E    HW: 1K0 907 951 
   Component: Gateway         H09 0110  
   Revision: 09          Serial number: 2700104C2807B7
   Coding: 3F3F0340071002
   Shop #: WSC 08083 444 59261
   VCID: 290CF5A795FC86EF2DF-807C

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 25: Immobilizer        Labels: 1K0-920-xxx-25.clb
   Part No: 1K0 920 951 C
   Component: IMMO            3HL 0720  
   Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
   VCID: 290CF5A795FC86EF2DF-807C

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 42: Door Elect, Driver        Labels: 1K0-959-701-MIN2.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 959 701 K
   Component: Tuer-SG         024 2339  
   Coding: 0001269
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 36362EDB5442D917B0D-8062

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 44: Steering Assist        Labels: 1Kx-909-144-G2V2.clb
   Part No: 1K1 909 144 H
   Component: EPS_ZFLS Kl.2       1502  
   Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
   VCID: 303A18C3B626F727EA1-8064

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 46: Central Conv.        Labels:. 1K0-959-433-MIN.clb
   Part No: 1K0 959 433 AM
   Component:    KSG              0401  
   Coding: 137803285B09050F880F040011A0
   Shop #: WSC 08083 444 59261
   VCID: 7BA0FFEF2FE0C47F0F3-802E

   Subsystem 1 - Component:   Sounder n.mounted     

   Subsystem 2 - Component:       NGS n.mounted     

   Subsystem 3 - Component:      IRUE n.mounted     

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 52: Door Elect, Pass.        Labels: 1K0-959-702-MIN2.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 959 702 K
   Component: Tuer-SG         024 2339  
   Coding: 0001269
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 372823DF5348201FABB-8062

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio        Labels: 1K0-035-161.lbl
   Part No SW: 1K0 035 161 A    HW: 1K0 035 161 A
   Component: Radio DE2       012 0015  
   Revision: 00012000    Serial number: VWZ4Z7F6117447
   Coding: 0010400
   Shop #: WSC 05311 000 08193
   VCID: 1D64D177D1B46A4F517-8048

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 62: Door, Rear Left        Labels: 1K0-959-703-GEN2.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 959 703 D
   Component: Tuer-SG         021 2416  
   Coding: 0000144
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 313C1DC7BD2CFE2FE5F-8064

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 72: Door, Rear Right        Labels: 1K0-959-704-GEN2.lbl
   Part No: 1K0 959 704 D
   Component: Tuer-SG         021 2416  
   Coding: 0000144
   Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
   VCID: 323E12CBB82AC5379C5-8066

No fault code found.

End----------(Elapsed Time: 00:59, VBatt start/end: 14.0V/13.9V)-----------
 
   #2  

Jef

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Used airbag system parts... It’s a bold strategy Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for him.

Unplug the door harness from the A pillar. Unplug the G179 sensor. Short the 2 terminals for the G179 sensor together. Now at the T28 connector at the A pillar, ohm test /12 and /13. What do you get?
 
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Geoffzie

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By the way ... the door wiring harness is NOT used ... it's new. So there should be no problem there. I would have purchased the one from the 2009 Jetta at Pull-a-Part ... but VW completely changed the door wiring for the 2009 from the 2005 Jetta ... I was FORCED to purchase NEW!

I also checked the T28 connector at the A-Pillar for corrosion ... it looked good. I even pulled the connector out from inside the car to check the wiring BEHIND the T28 connector ... it looked good too.

It's going to be a while until I can take the door back apart ... I assume your test would be looking for shorts in the door wiring itself?
 
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Jef

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In short, yes. Oh... bad pun. :facepalm: But also, do the wire have continuity? When I had to do testing of wires, I would often unplug both ends of the harness in question, short wires together at one end and then ohm test at the other. If both wires are good, then I'd have a dead short when ohm testing. If a wire was broken, then even though I had them shorted together, my ohm testing would show open circuit. In a door harness, it wouldn't be difficult to just ohm test individual wires since everything is maybe 3ft apart.
 
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   #5  

Geoffzie

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I was really hoping there was some other known issue with these ... bad crash sensors, etc ... since the door harness is new. I suppose I COULD have two bad crash sensors.

When I can get back into it, I'll check the two T28/12 and T28/13 wires just to verify they're good.
 
   #6  

Jack@European_Parts

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Hey Geo

Very likely air bag module has corrosion from water ingress, especially when short to B+ on a crash sensor is exhibited in DTC & when harness is allegedly new............

Are there any blown fuses in the car?
 
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Geoffzie

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OK, I checked the continuity of the two G179 Crash Sensor wires, between the A-Pillar connector and the G179 Crash Sensor connector.

I took the door harness completely out of the door, connected my probes to both ends of each wire (not simultaneously!) ... then I flexed the harness extensively from one end to the other end ... no problems ... good continuity on both wires.

So the problem is elsewhere.

Jack I had checked all the fuses a while back (and I've had the crash sensor fault from the beginning) ... no blown fuses. And are you talking about the Airbag Control Module located in the center console? ... possible corrosion in the connector?
 
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Jack@European_Parts

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Yes and the module........check fuses again and be sure the crash sensor is the correct part number to verify all FOD.
 
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Geoffzie

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Well, for one thing, I noticed that both crash sensors I've tried are Part number: 1K0 955 557 A (for both the 2005 Jetta and 2009 Jetta) ... but when I check on-line VW OEM parts, they list a 1K0 955 557 B as the current Part Number. I might call the VW Dealership tomorrow and give them my VIN and see what they tell my is the current part number.

I've still got to check the fuses and the module.
 
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Geoffzie

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No "Airbag" light on dash?

The car is at the shop getting the A/C serviced right now ... so I haven't had a chance to check the fuses or the Airbag Control Module. I'm going to replace the driver's door crash sensor with the updated "B" sensor (1K0 955 557 B) when I get the car back.

But ... the other day when I started the car ... I noticed there was NO Airbag light on the dash when the key is on! Is there a way someone could have "disabled" it in the cluster or elsewhere, other than placing a piece of tape over the light within the cluster?

That's why the scan was saying that the Airbag MIL was "on" ... when in fact I saw nothing on the dash.

I know when I purchased the car that someone had disconnected the seat belt connectors on the floor under the driver's and passenger's seats ... apparently, they didn't wear seat-belts and didn't like the constant "dinging"! I've reconnected all those and seat belt warning light and chime in the cluster works now.
 
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PetrolDave

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I know when I purchased the car that someone had disconnected the seat belt connectors on the floor under the driver's and passenger's seats ... apparently, they didn't wear seat-belts and didn't like the constant "dinging"! I've reconnected all those and seat belt warning light and chime in the cluster works now.
In the light of that comment, they may well have removed or disabled the SRS warning light, or cut a wire to it? Time to check the WD methinks.
 
   #12  

Geoffzie

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I had already briefly looked at Bentley's wiring diagrams for the Instrument Cluster and Airbags ... didn't see any obvious wires connecting the two ... apparently, the signal for the MIL comes through the CANbus?

Maybe they just got in there and started cutting wires ... until the light went out! Might explain why the driver's door crash sensor doesn't work!

I'll have to check into it further when I get the car back.
 
   #13  

Uwe

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apparently, the signal for the MIL comes through the CANbus?
I believe that's correct, but it's a signal to turn the Airbag MIL OFF.

The Airbag MIL should be ON by default, e.g. if the Airbag module is missing or off-line entirely, it should still be on, whereas a happy Airbag module turns it OFF..

-Uwe-
 
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Geoffzie

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That makes sense Uwe ... but since the "Address 15: Airbags" shows up on the VCDS scan (my first post here) with only one fault ... the G179 Crash Sensor ... that leads me to believe they've covered over the MIL light some how in the cluster.

If they had cut CAN wires ... or Airbag wires ... I would think I'd have other faults showing.

I probably won't get back to this until next week.
 
   #15  

Geoffzie

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Ok, I checked all the airbag fuses ... all OK. I also pulled the Airbag Control Module out of the center console ... and found at least part of the problem. Lots of electrical tape, soldered and cut wires!

Turns out they had cut the brown and lilac wires going to the driver's door crash sensor. But it also looks like they initially tried to jumper the drivers door sensor G179 ... to the passenger's door sensor G180! The two wires for the Passenger's sensor had been cut and re-soldered, with the remnants showing of the brown and lilac wires from the driver's sensor!

When that didn't work, they just cut them back apart ... and left the driver's door sensor wires unconnected.

I also pulled the instrument cluster ... took it apart, and found friction tape over the airbag light, underneath the speedometer face! (probably was a last resort when all other plans failed)

So, I replaced and re-soldered the two G179 crash sensor wires ... removed the friction tape in the cluster ... reassembled everything and ... STILL getting the same fault for the G179 crash sensor!

Address 15: Airbags Labels: 1K0-909-605.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 1K0 909 605 E HW: 1K0 909 605 E
Component and/or Version: 1S AIRBAG VW8R 024 6300
Software Coding: 0012627
Work Shop Code: WSC 00066 000 00000
Additional Info: 1K0959339B BF-Gewichtsens. 006 0003
Additional Info: Geraet 00000
VCID: 2E0606BBAC12E1D7D04-807A
1 Fault Found:

01221 - Crash Sensor Side Airbag; Driver Side (G179)
010 - Open or Short to Plus - MIL ON

I turn the key on ... the airbag light comes on ... I start the car, the airbag light first goes out ... but then comes back on within seconds! (I assume when the system can't find the G179).

I'm going to do a continuity test from the crash sensor connector in the door ... all the way to the airbag control module plug. They may have cut the wires elsewhere too! If that fails I could replace the airbag module ... they may have fried something inside when they jumpered the wires. I might also try the driver's sensor in the passengers door ... that would at least tell me if the sensor was good.

I found no corrosion or bent pins in the Airbag Control Module connector by the way.

Any other ideas?
 
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Jack@European_Parts

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Oh man that is serious FOD butcher shop block .......... :p

You have to fix and tone out all tracks for FOD and maybe even overlay or change the harness.
 
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Geoffzie

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OK, this is getting strange!

Today I checked the ENTIRE wire run from the Airbag Control Module to the drivers door crash sensor ... both wires checked out good. Then I rechecked the door harness from the crash sensor connector to the A-Pillar connector ... good. Then I checked from the A-Pillar plug to the Airbag Control Module plug ... also good.

There's absolutely no corrosion in the Airbag Control Module plug ... all the pins and sockets look good.

Ok, so maybe it's a fried Airbag Control Module ... so I purchased another used Airbag Control Module from Pull-a-Part (same year Jetta - same part number; 1K0 909 605 E). I installed it, started the car, reset the passenger's seat sensor, cleared the codes ... the G179 fault code comes back AGAIN!

So, as a last resort ... I had another "1k0 955 557 b" crash sensor, and another connector ... so I decided to try and connect it directly to the Airbag Control Module plug ... and bypass the rest of the harness, including the door harness completely ... but I'm STILL getting a G179 fault code!!!

How can that be? 3 different crash sensors ... 2 different Airbag Control Modules ... 2 different door wiring harnesses (current one new) ... and bypassing the Airbag harness all together! I'm beginning to see why they taped off the Airbag light!

I'm out of ideas!

By the way ... should the airbags still work, if there's a fault within the system? (I know, only one way to find out!)
 
   #18  

Uwe

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"1K0 909 605 E" is not a complete part number for an airbag module. You also need to take the index/color-code/suffix into account on these.

The complete part number of the one in your scan in the first post is: "1K0 909 605 E /01S"

Have you checked whether that's actually correct for your particular car?

-Uwe-
 
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Geoffzie

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Uwe, I called the VW Dealer today, they said the current Part number for my VIN is; 1K0 909 605 AC - 084 ... they said the previous part number they show was 1K0 909 605 AB (didn't give me a suffix for that one).

So I looked up 1K0 909 605 AC up on eBay ...there were used ones out of Jettas from 2007 to 2013. So I guess VW is selling these later airbag modules as a retrofit for earlier VW Jetta's? But just because that's what the dealership is currently selling doesn't mean that's what the car came with ... does it? The 2005 Jetta at Pull-a-Part had the same part number as mine; 1K0 909 605 E (I don't know where (or if) the suffix is shown on the module).

I checked Bentley's Airbag WD through 2008 ... and the pin-outs for the door crash sensors are the same on all 2005-2008 and later Jettas. Also, the replacement crash sensors are the same part number from 2005 - 2009.

I guess the bottom line is ... a wrong airbag module might cause functionality faults or problems ... but since the pin-outs and sensors haven't changed for the door sensors, it shouldn't cause an electrical short ... should it? Especially if I had the sensor wired directly to the module, bypassing the wiring harness completely.

01221 - Crash Sensor Side Airbag; Driver Side (G179)
010 - Open or Short to Plus - MIL ON

Also, I took the driver's seat out yesterday, since it looks like they taped some wires up under there too. But I can't see from the WD that the door crash sensors are wired to anything under the driver's seat.

I might take another trip to Pull-a-Part to take a good look at the wiring under the driver's seat ... to see what it's SUPPOSED to look like!
 
   #20  

Uwe

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Again, the base part number is not sufficient. You need the correct index/color-code/suffix. Even if the wiring to the crash sensors is generally the same, there are also different flavors of crash sensors and the index/color-code/suffix determines which ones are compatible and which ones aren't.

I'm going to leave it at that. Due to liability concerns, Ross-Tech will not support installing any used airbag components.

-Uwe-
 
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