Volkswagen Golf / Golf GTI / Golf Variant. Manual - part 339

General

Caution

♦ Testing, assembly, and repair work may only be per‐

formed by qualified personnel.

♦ There is no change interval for airbag units.
♦ Never test with a test light, volt meter or ohm meter.
♦ The pyrotechnic components may be checked only when

they are installed and with a Volkswagen approved vehicle

diagnostic tester.

♦ When working on pyrotechnic components and on the Air‐

bag Control Module - J234- , the battery ground cable

must be disconnected when the ignition is switched on.

Then cover the negative terminal.

♦ Wait for 10 seconds after disconnecting the battery.
♦ The ignition must be SWITCHED ON when connecting the

battery. Nobody should be inside the vehicle with doing

this.

♦ If the ignition is not switched on after the battery is recon‐

nected - “indicator lamps in the instrument cluster do not

light up” - the ignition (key/button) may only be switched

on when the driver seat is positioned all the way back.

♦ Follow all steps after connecting the battery. Refer to ⇒ 

Electrical Equipment; Rep. Gr.  27 ; Battery; Battery, Dis‐

connecting and Connecting .

♦ Before handling pyrotechnic components of the restraint

system, for example, before disconnecting the electrical

harness connector, the technician must discharge static

electricity. Touching grounded metal parts, for example,

touching the door striker, will discharge the static electric‐

ity.

♦ Wash hands after touching ignited restraint system pyro‐

technic components.

♦ Pyrotechnic components may not be opened nor repaired;

always use new parts (risk of injury).

♦ Pyrotechnic components that have fallen onto a hard sur‐

face or show signs of damage must not be installed in

vehicle.

♦ Pyrotechnic components should be installed immediately

upon removal from shipping package.

♦ If the work must be stopped for awhile, put the pyrotechnic

component back into its shipping package.

♦ Do not leave the pyrotechnic component out unattended.
♦ When connecting the passenger safety system pyrotech‐

nic components, only the person performing the work

should be in the vehicle.

♦ Do not use any grease, cleaning solutions or similar on

pyrotechnic components.

♦ Replace the airbag unit if any contaminants such as oil,

grease, paint, dye or solvents have penetrated the fabric.

♦ Pyrotechnic components must not be exposed to temper‐

atures over 100 °C (212 °F), even for a short time.

Special Information Regarding Driver and Front Passenger Air‐

bags
♦ Store the driver and front passenger airbag units in the unin‐

stalled state so that the cushioned side faces upward.

When replacing airbag units, the following sequence must be fol‐

lowed exactly:
1 - Remove the old airbag unit and store with the upholstered

side facing up.

2 - Remove the new airbag unit from the transport container

and store it with the upholstered side facing up.

3 - Place the old airbag unit in the transport container immedi‐

ately.

4 - Install the new airbag unit in the vehicle.
Belt Tensioner Special Instructions
♦ Use extreme care when removing and installing belt tensioner

units. Handling belt tensioners improperly is very dangerous

and could result in serious personal injury.

♦ Belt tensioner units that are mechanically damaged (dents,

cracks) must always be replaced.

♦ The open end of the belt tensioner should never be pointed at

anyone.

♦ When connecting a belt tensioner, all mechanical parts, in‐

cluding those in the three-point seat belt, must be secured

correctly. If it is not possible to connect the belt tensioner be‐

cause of insufficient space, the seat belt webbing must be

rolled up completely prior to connection. In this case there is

no increased safety risk, if all other safety instructions are fol‐

lowed. In particular, this includes the notes regarding the

disconnection of the battery and the static discharging of the

technician prior to connection of the belt tensioner.

♦ Even after a crash, it is possible that the belt tensioner ignited,

but the belt force limiter did NOT. Treat these components as

if they had not ignited!

1.3

Airbag, Belt Tensioner and Battery Cut-

Out Units, Storing, Transporting and

Disposing (Pyrotechnic Components)

♦ Storage must conform to national legislation.
♦ Transport must conform to national and international guide‐

lines, whereby packaging, identification and shipping docu‐

ments are controlled to the greatest detail.

♦ Undeployed pyrotechnic components must be disposed of in

an orderly manner, conforming to national legislation, in their

original packaging! Direct questions to your importer.

♦ Only pyrotechnic components, which have been ignited com‐

pletely, may be disposed in industrial waste.

WARNING

♦ This does not apply to belt tensioners that function ac‐

cording to the Wankel pretensioner principle. These are to

be treated like undeployed pyrotechnic components (such

as airbags, seat belts, pyrotechnic battery cut-out ele‐

ments).

♦ Workshop equipment cannot determine if Wankel belt ten‐

sioners have deployed all pyrotechnic materials.

1.4

Additional Side Airbag Safety Precau‐

tions

Caution

♦ Seat covers or protective covers that are not approved

specially for use on Volkswagen seats with side airbags

must not be used.

♦ Do not cut the backrest cushion in side airbag area.
♦ When installing, the seam in side airbag region must run

straight.

♦ All upholstery clips must be replaced (metal and plastic

clips).

♦ During installation, all upholstery clips must be placed in

the same place they were when they were removed.

♦ If the cover is damaged (with rips, burned holes, etc.) in

side airbag region, it must be replaced for safety reasons

so that airbag deploys correctly.

♦ Do not repair the backrest cover in the side airbag area

(because of special materials and strictly defined seams).

♦ Always replace the backrest padding if the side airbag de‐

ploys.

♦ After an accident, all damaged parts must be replaced. If

no airbag unit damage is detected, the airbag unit can still

be used.

♦ If side airbag units are replaced, the new side airbag num‐

ber sticker should be removed and placed over the old

sticker on the seat pan.

♦ Do not poke the cover with an upholstery needle or other

sharp objects near the airbag, the Front Passenger Seat

Occupant Sensor - G128- or the passenger occupant de‐

tection system mat.

1.5

Additional Head Curtain Airbag Safety

Precautions

Caution

♦ Visually inspect the trim panels for damage every time

before installing.

♦ Always replace damaged pillar trim panels, never repair.
♦ Ensure secure trim panel seating when installing.
♦ Always replace the entire module when making repairs

behind the head curtain airbag.

♦ Handle head curtain airbag modules with great care when

removing and installing them to prevent causing any dam‐

age.

♦ Place any removed head curtain airbag modules back in

their transport containers or on a clean and even surface

with a cloth underneath.

♦ After servicing the body in the vicinity of the head curtain

airbag, check the body for welding beads, deformation

and chafe marks (compare with opposite side of vehicle if

necessary).

♦ As long as the gas generator is NOT attached, hold it se‐

curely when transporting, removing, installing, etc.

♦ Never rotate, coil, knot, throw, slide, push, hang, squeeze,

press, pinch or clamp head curtain airbag module.

♦ They may be folded as long as this does not damage

them, especially the protective sleeve.

1.6

Front Side Airbag Crash Sensors (Pres‐

sure Sensors) Safety Precautions

The side airbag crash sensors react to changes in pressure and

therefore must be handled very carefully. Note the following

points: