Airbag current too high

[ian falls]

Hi all,just enabled p/s airbag and auto locking but now vag-com is telling me the current is to high to the front passenger side airbag,is there something else needs to be removed that someone might know of...thankyou

[ian falls]

would there have been a resistor put in at the dealers that needs removed

[smithysmudger]

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...disable+airbag


Looks like they do fit a resistor in some models. Don't think I'd like to tamper with anything to do with airbags myself though as the consequences if you get it wrong could be fatal.

[bearthebruce]

would there have been a resistor put in at the dealers that needs removed

Let's review Ohm's law: E=I*R where E is the voltage, I is the current, R is resistance.

So, the available voltage in the system is battery voltage - let's call it 12 volts. If the current is out of spec - high, then the resistance must be out of spec low because as the current goes up, resistance must go down for the same voltage.

You do not have extra resistance in the airbag. You have too little resistance. Possible there is a short somewhere in the wiring? A wrong air bag installed? A failed airbag igniter?

[smithysmudger]

You do not have extra resistance in the airbag. You have too little resistance. Possible there is a short somewhere in the wiring? A wrong air bag installed? A failed airbag igniter?

Not strictly true if the additional resistor was fitted in parallel with the resistance of the airbag due to parallel paths the current would indeed increase

[bearthebruce]

You are correct. If they put a resistor in parallel with the igniter, it would draw more current. Why would they shunt current around the igniter? Are you aware of a precedent for doing this?

[smithysmudger]

What I know about airbags and their associated components could be written on the back of a postage stamp.
I was simply pointing out that sometimes more equals less if you get my drift.
Have a nice day

[bearthebruce]

I'm no expert on airbags either. But having worked with electric heating devices, I can't think of a reason I would ever shunt the current around the igniter. Ah well, Ian will have to figure it out from here. We're not sitting by the car! (and I'm a bit far away to trouble shoot it!)

[ian falls]

Thanks for the imput guys in the meantime will have a look to see if i can find a resistor