Removing and installing front passenger airbag unit — VW

🧭 Before you start

Fits: platform code 137

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• If the airbag housing is made of plastic, the bolts (1) and (2) (9 Nm) must be secured using the locking fluid D 197 300 A1.
• For the following work use a cable (wire cross section 1 mm, length 600 mm) from the Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978 or Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978A.
• If needed, extend the earth cable with the appropriate materials from Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978 or Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978A.

🔩 Torque settings

Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.

ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.

📋 Procedure

1. ⚠ Observe the general safety regulations when working on airbag, belt tensioner and battery isolator units (pyrotechnic components) Observe the special instructions for driver and front passenger airbags . — Switch ignition on.
2. Disconnect vehicle battery Electrical system27Disconnecting and reconnecting battery.
3. Remove dash panel end trim on front passenger side .
4. Remove centre A-pillar trim on front passenger side .
5. Remove lower A-pillar trim on front passenger side .

6. Remove centre cover .
7. Remove glove compartment .
8. ⚠ Electrostatic discharges may result in unintentional triggering of airbag. Therefore, the mechanic must electrostatically discharge him/herself before disconnecting the igniter and earth wires. This can be done by briefly touching the body or striker plate of the door. — Disconnect wiring harness from front passenger airbag.
9. Unscrew two bolts (1) and (2) (9 Nm) respectively. — 9 Nm (6.6 lb-ft)
10. Remove front passenger airbag (3) down out of mountings.
11. For greater clarity, brackets (4) and (5) are shown removed.
12. Install in reverse order of removal. [Note: If the airbag housing is made of plastic, the bolts (1) and (2) (9 Nm) must be secured using the locking fluid D 197 300 A1.] [Note: The concept is presented using the example of a one-level airbag module. For the two-level airbag module, the process of determining whether an additional earth cable must be fitted in the vehicle is carried out at the same time.]
13. ⚠ If a front passenger airbag is renewed, an additional earth cable may have to be fitted to the vehicle — Check whether an earth cable is attached to the front passenger airbag housing: [Note: For the following work use a cable (wire cross section 1 mm, length 600 mm) from the Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978 or Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978A.]
14. Secure one end of the earth cable with the bolt (1) on the right hand side of the front passenger airbag.
15. Fit the earth cable properly up to the right-hand side of the front passenger footwell. [Note: If needed, extend the earth cable with the appropriate materials from Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978 or Wiring harness repair setVAS 1978A.]
16. Connect the other end of the earth cable to the earth bolt (2).
17. Switch ignition on.
18. ⚠ Ensure that nobody is in vehicle. — Reconnect vehicle battery Electrical system27Disconnecting and reconnecting battery.

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