How To: Airbag Control Module Replacement
02-11-2008, 08:33 AM
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How To: Airbag Control Module Replacement
This is long!
<font color="blue"><B>** Last Updated March 11, 2008 - Added Details on Airbag Control Module Recoding using VAG-COM **</b></font>
So here's the write-up of my experience in replacing the airbag control module. My airbag control module experienced a 65535 - "Internal Control Module Memory Error". VAG-COM couldn't erase it. So it was time to get another one. Called around and prices ranged from $185 (from salvage yard) to $600 (new from dealer shop). I got mine for $260 from a fellow Audi enthusiast.
This job was relatively easy, just time consuming.
As always... the disclaimer to start. You attempt this at your own risks and accept full liability for anything that may happen.
This was done on an 2001 Audi A6 2.7 Quattro Automatic Tiptronic with Navigation.
Obtain your radio security code.
Connect VAG-COM to your vehicle. Open Airbag Controller Module. Click "Recode - 07" under Advanced Functions. Write down on a piece of paper the 5 digit number shown under "Software Coding". You'll need this to recode your new airbag control module at the end of this procedure.
Disconnect the battery.
Okay... here's a picture of the replacement module:
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/1.jpg">
Remove the center rear vent by pulling from the top. Disconnect all the connecting wires.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/2.jpg">
Remove the intermediate section of the rear center vent (black thing). It pulls straight out.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/3.jpg">
Unplug the telephone cord by pressing the release clip and pull out.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/4.jpg">
Unplug the brake sensor (I think that's what it is) using a flathead to assist.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/5.jpg">
Unscrew the nut that holds the arm rest <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 19 lb/ft or 26 Nm)</b></font>. Lift the arm rest and set it aside.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/6.jpg">
Lift the mat upward in the center console.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/7.jpg">
Unscrew the bolt underneath <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/8.jpg">
Remove the nut holding down rear of the rear center console <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 7.4 lb/ft or 10 Nm)</b></font>.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/9.jpg">
Remove the cap for the brake trim using a flathead screwdriver.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/10.jpg">
Unscrew the torx screw. Remove parking brake trim. Unhook the parking brake carriage (black thing underneath the lever) from the parking brake lever.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/11.jpg">
Remove the navigation control using a flathead (skinnier the better to avoid breaking things) screwdriver and disconnect. You can see here where the hooks are for point of reference. There are 3 in all.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/12.jpg">
Using a flathead screwdriver, lift up the center wood trim at the front and pull out (1 then 2).
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/13.jpg">
Remove the last two bolt holding down the rear console <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>. After you do this, the rear console is ready to come out. Pull the rear part of the console upward, then pull rearward. Disconnect the cord to the side mirror adjustments (This can be hard to reach for those with big hands). Once that's disconnected, lift the console higher and pull forward and over the parking brake lever.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/14.jpg">
Remove cap on driver side panel.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/15.jpg">
Remove nut.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/16.jpg">
Remove and disconnect radio. Then remove top trim (I was able to just pry it out using my fingers)
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/17.jpg">
Remove the two bolt holding down the climate control. Remove and disconnect climate control (1 then 2) <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/18.jpg">
Fully engage parking hand brake. Place the gear in neutral and remove ashtray by pressing down on the two clips. It slides forward.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/19.jpg">
Remove the last four bolts holding down front center console <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/20.jpg">
Remove the front center console by pulling on the driver side panel (to get clearance over the driver side screw) and pulling rearward.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/21.jpg">
Remove the retaining clip on the vent and remove vent (1 then 2). Repeat on passenger side.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/22.jpg">
Remove the elbow vents (driver and passenger) by lifting on 1 then pulling on 2.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/23.jpg">
Remove the three nuts holding down the control module <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 4.4 lb/ft or 6 Nm)</b></font>. There's not a lot of space so small pliers help to take out the nut once you have it completely loose. Once the nuts are taken out, the module can be lifted out, unhooked, and unplugged.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/24.jpg">
This is what your car will look like when you're done removing everything.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/25.jpg">
Plug in your new airbag control module. Then installation is in reverse order.
Reconnect the battery.
Hook the car up to VAG-COM and open the airbag controller. Click the recode button, and key in the 5 digit number that you wrote down earlier under "Software Coding" (if it is different than what you wrote down). Click "Do It!". Exit the controller. Key in your radio security code and you are done.
For those of you who bought a "used" controller (meaning one that was in a crash previously), before you exit the airbag controller (but after you recode the replacement module, you'll need to clear any fault codes that may exist in the module. Click on "Fault Codes" and click "Clear Codes". Exit and you are done. From what I understand, airbag control modules can be reset up to three times before it's rendered useless unless of course you got the fatal "65535" DTC.
Sorry I didn't keep track of the nut size, etc. Enjoy an airbag light free instrument console.
<font color="blue"><B>** Last Updated March 11, 2008 - Added Details on Airbag Control Module Recoding using VAG-COM **</b></font>
So here's the write-up of my experience in replacing the airbag control module. My airbag control module experienced a 65535 - "Internal Control Module Memory Error". VAG-COM couldn't erase it. So it was time to get another one. Called around and prices ranged from $185 (from salvage yard) to $600 (new from dealer shop). I got mine for $260 from a fellow Audi enthusiast.
This job was relatively easy, just time consuming.
As always... the disclaimer to start. You attempt this at your own risks and accept full liability for anything that may happen.
This was done on an 2001 Audi A6 2.7 Quattro Automatic Tiptronic with Navigation.
Obtain your radio security code.
Connect VAG-COM to your vehicle. Open Airbag Controller Module. Click "Recode - 07" under Advanced Functions. Write down on a piece of paper the 5 digit number shown under "Software Coding". You'll need this to recode your new airbag control module at the end of this procedure.
Disconnect the battery.
Okay... here's a picture of the replacement module:
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/1.jpg">
Remove the center rear vent by pulling from the top. Disconnect all the connecting wires.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/2.jpg">
Remove the intermediate section of the rear center vent (black thing). It pulls straight out.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/3.jpg">
Unplug the telephone cord by pressing the release clip and pull out.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/4.jpg">
Unplug the brake sensor (I think that's what it is) using a flathead to assist.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/5.jpg">
Unscrew the nut that holds the arm rest <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 19 lb/ft or 26 Nm)</b></font>. Lift the arm rest and set it aside.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/6.jpg">
Lift the mat upward in the center console.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/7.jpg">
Unscrew the bolt underneath <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/8.jpg">
Remove the nut holding down rear of the rear center console <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 7.4 lb/ft or 10 Nm)</b></font>.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/9.jpg">
Remove the cap for the brake trim using a flathead screwdriver.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/10.jpg">
Unscrew the torx screw. Remove parking brake trim. Unhook the parking brake carriage (black thing underneath the lever) from the parking brake lever.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/11.jpg">
Remove the navigation control using a flathead (skinnier the better to avoid breaking things) screwdriver and disconnect. You can see here where the hooks are for point of reference. There are 3 in all.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/12.jpg">
Using a flathead screwdriver, lift up the center wood trim at the front and pull out (1 then 2).
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/13.jpg">
Remove the last two bolt holding down the rear console <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>. After you do this, the rear console is ready to come out. Pull the rear part of the console upward, then pull rearward. Disconnect the cord to the side mirror adjustments (This can be hard to reach for those with big hands). Once that's disconnected, lift the console higher and pull forward and over the parking brake lever.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/14.jpg">
Remove cap on driver side panel.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/15.jpg">
Remove nut.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/16.jpg">
Remove and disconnect radio. Then remove top trim (I was able to just pry it out using my fingers)
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/17.jpg">
Remove the two bolt holding down the climate control. Remove and disconnect climate control (1 then 2) <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/18.jpg">
Fully engage parking hand brake. Place the gear in neutral and remove ashtray by pressing down on the two clips. It slides forward.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/19.jpg">
Remove the last four bolts holding down front center console <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 3.7 lb/ft or 5 Nm)</b></font>.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/20.jpg">
Remove the front center console by pulling on the driver side panel (to get clearance over the driver side screw) and pulling rearward.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/21.jpg">
Remove the retaining clip on the vent and remove vent (1 then 2). Repeat on passenger side.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/22.jpg">
Remove the elbow vents (driver and passenger) by lifting on 1 then pulling on 2.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/23.jpg">
Remove the three nuts holding down the control module <font color="red"><b>(Torque to 4.4 lb/ft or 6 Nm)</b></font>. There's not a lot of space so small pliers help to take out the nut once you have it completely loose. Once the nuts are taken out, the module can be lifted out, unhooked, and unplugged.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/24.jpg">
This is what your car will look like when you're done removing everything.
<img src="http://www.estatephotography.com/audi/airbag/25.jpg">
Plug in your new airbag control module. Then installation is in reverse order.
Reconnect the battery.
Hook the car up to VAG-COM and open the airbag controller. Click the recode button, and key in the 5 digit number that you wrote down earlier under "Software Coding" (if it is different than what you wrote down). Click "Do It!". Exit the controller. Key in your radio security code and you are done.
For those of you who bought a "used" controller (meaning one that was in a crash previously), before you exit the airbag controller (but after you recode the replacement module, you'll need to clear any fault codes that may exist in the module. Click on "Fault Codes" and click "Clear Codes". Exit and you are done. From what I understand, airbag control modules can be reset up to three times before it's rendered useless unless of course you got the fatal "65535" DTC.
Sorry I didn't keep track of the nut size, etc. Enjoy an airbag light free instrument console.
02-11-2008, 08:46 AM
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chowdaah and Red Sox!
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very nice writeup!
its like you took pieces of other easy DIY's such as arm rest/phone, radio, hand brake, nav etc etc and made this writeup. cool! good for stoneys!
good to know if my airbags ever throw a cel. pricey little unit eh?
...thanks!
good to know if my airbags ever throw a cel. pricey little unit eh?
...thanks!
02-11-2008, 08:51 AM
#5
AudiWorld Expert
Nice pics of the process...one suggestion...
...the climate control (for same folks) is sometimes hard to remove without knowing that the clips on the top edge of the ashtray must be pressed downward (small screwdriver or soemthing) before it will slide forward. Of course, I never needed to do that in my car, but I've been stumped by that one in someone else's car previously. The clips are the small silver ones towards the outside edge of the ashtray.
