Oh the Airbag Light... 01217 Side Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N199)

Hello and good afternoon B5 drivers,

So I spent nearly £1000 to get timing belt, water pump, aux belts and tensioners and glow plugs. I don't really notice the difference in driving but there's definitely a placebo feel about it!

One gremlin came up: the dreaded airbag light. I scanned using VCDS Lite and this is what turned up:

VCDS-Lite Version: Release 1.2

Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5

Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,16,17,25,35,37,45,55,56,57,67,75,76 ,77

Address 15: Airbags Labels: 8D0-959-655-AI7.LBL
Controller: 8D0 959 655 L
Component: Airbag 7 Audi 0503
Coding: 00106
Shop #: WSC 06325
VCID: 3FF1231F2E65
1 Fault Found:
01217 - Side Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N199)
32-10 - Resistance too High - Intermittent

When I clear the fault code, the light goes off but it eventually comes back. I cleared it few times now with wide variability between the occasions (first time it came back after 20miles, the next time it was clear for 400miles). So I need to find a better solution as I can't carry on clearing the code every time the light comes on.

I can see that there are lots of advice on "(disconnect the battery) cut the yellow cluster under the seat and connect the wires with crimp or wire connector". I'm happy to have a go on this solution.

But is the cluster under the seat same for the side airbag igniter? or is this located somewhere else?

Any help on pointing me to the right direction is greatly appreciated, as always.

Thanks very much!

I've never done an Audi, but plenty of VWs. On the VWs there are two yellow connectors on the seat wiring. One under a plastic cover on the floor and one attached to the actual seat base. The problem causing the side airbag code is normally the connector on the seat base. You just cut the connector off the loom then join the 3 wires back together with crimp connectors or solder them. Just be careful because the wiring colours are different on either end of the connector, so plug the two connector halfs together and use it to make sure you connect the correct coloured wires together. And of course, disconnect the battery before working on airbag wiring...just in case.

Jim.