VW front crash sensor connector problem.

[DarkMatter]

Because the airbag light is on on my 2004 Beetle cabriolet, and VCDS reports intermittent communication with both front crash sensors, I have removed the front end in order to check the connection and possibly change the crash sensor.

The problem is that I cannot remove the connector from the sensors. They are connected to the loom with a yellow connector which has a violet tab/locking mechanism. Can anyone reading this thread please explain how I release the connector in order to swap the crash sensor - believe me I've tried but I don't want to break it, there must be a special way to do it.

Thanks.

[DarkMatter]

I've worked out how it works. The violet coloured part is sprung and needs to be pushed away from the cable and towards the sensor itself, almost as though you are trying to push the connector on to the sensor. The violet part will slide a few mm and eventually it will release a latch and eject the yellow part of the connector. When refitting the yellow connector you can tell that it is fully home because it moves the violet coloured part away from the sensor and back to it's original position.

[DarkMatter]

Fateggs said:

I have exactly the same issue with my 2004 Beetle convertible. Same fault codes.
Please can you elaborate on what was required to do the job? How much did it cost, which parts, how long, how easy?
Many thanks.

My car had these fault codes...

2 Faults Found:
01738 - Crash Sensor for Front Airbag; Drivers Side (G283)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
01739 - Crash Sensor for Front Airbag; Pass. Side (G284)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

For me the fix was to replace both front crash sensors at a cost of approx. £280 for the parts only from [url"http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/" | http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/[/url].

To change these parts you need to disconnect battery, raise the front of the car, remove front wheels, remove wheel arch liners, remove headlights (clever release latch in engine bay), remove complete front bumper and wing assembly, then you can access the front crash sensors.

It probably took me the best part of a day to do this job but that included trying to interpret the various procedures I was following, and time spent trying to figure out how to release the connectors from fog lights, outside temperature sensor, indicators, headlights, crash sensors.

A search of the internet should help you find various descriptions, pictures, and videos of some of the above steps being performed.

[DarkMatter]

Adrian_hogben said:

Thanks for the help.

I've got a quote for £613 fitted inc VAT from a VW approved garage. Going to give that go...

That sounds pretty reasonble bearing in mind (if I remember correctly) that the sensors cost me about £250-300'ish for the pair and it took me a few hours to do as a diy'er (see description in my previous post). No reprogramming was necessary on my car, other than resetting the fault code. I'd read about faulty connectors under the seats being a potential cause of the problem, and went to some lengths to check them, but in the end it turned out that the sensors really were faulty - I hope that is the case for you too and that your £613 solves the problem.