VAG-COM
VW Issues &
Problems
2000-2001
Golf/GTI/Jetta/Beetle Airbag System (important!)
We have had a
number of reports of Air Bag Warning Lights staying on permanently
after scanning with VAG-COM. The Air Bag Controller
shows DTC number 65535, indicating an internal error which cannot be
cleared.
This problem seems to be limited to airbag controllers with the part number 6Q0-909-605-A. There are a number of different "Index" or "color-code" variations of this controller and not all of them are affected, but we haven't got a definitive list of which ones are which. If you have a 2000-2001 Golf, Jetta/Bora, Beetle, or a similar SEAT or Skoda model, you should physically inspect the airbag controller and look at the part number. If it is not 6Q0-909-605-A, then it should be safe to scan. If it is 6Q0-909-605-A, then it is at risk of this problem -- please avoid scanning the airbag controller in these cars, unless you are prepared to buy a new one!
So, can you unintentionally connect to the Airbag controller? When you try to access the Airbag controller, you need to click on Airbags in the Select Control Module screen. Then, you are confronted with a disclaimer screen asking if you really want to proceed, the default answer is "No". We have no reports of people scanning their airbags by mistake with these safeguards in place. Also, please note the disclaimer on the Download Page. If you have a vehicle with the affected part number and are concerned, simply do not scan the airbag controller. Accessing the other control modules in the car should not affect the airbag controller in any way.
Comment: There is no way that scanning a controller should cause it to become dysfunctional in this manner, even if the scan-tool fouls up in some way. We believe there is a bug in the firmware in these controllers. We also believe VW knows this, but isn't admitting it. The affected controllers are no longer available as replacement parts, they have been superceded by a new part number -- 1C0-909-605-A which appears not to have this problem.
Here is the location of the airbag Controller in the Golf/GTI/Jetta:
(Thanks to Drew Weirshousky for the excellent photos!)
1997 Passat B5
Central Convenience System
These controllers
seem to have a bug that causes them to drop the communications session
when VAG-COM requests the door-slave controller "Extra"
info. A work-around is available in Version
0.70e which simply does not request any "Extra"
info. If you have a 1997 B5 Passat (non-US models only), use
0.70e on the Central Convenience system. 1998 and newer Passats
do not have this problem.
1990-1992 2.0L
16V Engines
Set the Start Baud
on the Options Screen to 4800
to get these to work. If you have anything else in Starting Baud
Rate, the ECU will "choke" and you'll need to turn the ignition
OFF and back ON again before you can communicate.
1990-1993 Cabrio/Cabriolet Airbags
These controllers do
not communicate with VAG-COM. In fact, they do not communicate with
Volkswagen's VAG-1552 scan tool either, unless the 1552 has an old,
outdated program card installed. If the owner of one of these vehicles
would like to visit Ross-Tech with their vehicle, we'd be happy to see
what it it would take to make VAG-COM compatible with these controllers.