new to the vag game

could someone give me a quick run through on the best way to do this please

doing it on a mates mk4 golf gti if that helps

many thanks

Chris 

 anyone

Get the steering wheel so the spokes are at 12 and 6 o'clock,take a small jewellers type of screwdriver and push it into the hole in the back of the spoke right next to the hub,when you feel it catch on something lever it outwards and that side of the airbag should pop out,repeat with the other side.
The big nut in the middle is either a Torx T50 or XZN M12,do not try to use any other type of tool otherwsie it'll end in tears.Unplug everything,make a note of any punch marks near the splines to get the wheel lined up again,and when the wheel is off don't turn the black plastic housing with the ribbon cable coming out of it.This is the clock spring housing that has to be in the same position when the wheel goes back on again,it may be a good idea to put some tape on it to hold it in that position.

Chris.

 Chris, I'm pretty sure it#s a T55 rather than the T50 that you need?

faisal_16:

 Chris, I'm pretty sure it#s a T55 rather than the T50 that you need?

You're probably right as I did it from memory,it's the largest one in my set which is almost certainly a #55.

Chris.

 right ok thanks

what about the battery, how long should i leave it before and after removing / re-fitting?

 they say 1/2 hour so the capacitor has a chance to discharge

 Yeah half an hour before you remove the steering wheel but you can re-connect it immediately after fitting the new airbag

bouncerMk4:

 they say 1/2 hour so the capacitor has a chance to discharge

Eh,what capacitor? I always unplug airbags immediately after disconnecting the battery and have never had any problems.

Chris.

zaine:

 right ok thanks

what about the battery, how long should i leave it before and after removing / re-fitting?

 

 I thought you disconnected the battery to prevent an airbag warning light from appearing on the dash?

Having said that though, I was warned that removing the airbag from it's clips without actually disconnecting the wires, with the battery still connected was dangerous..

faisal_16:

 I thought you disconnected the battery to prevent an airbag warning light from appearing on the dash?

Having said that though, I was warned that removing the airbag from it's clips without actually disconnecting the wires, with the battery still connected was dangerous..

Can we get something straight here? Has anyone ever had an airbag go off when you disconected it? Didn't think so

Done this job many time with the battery conected and guess what? They haven't gone off.

Patch:

faisal_16:

 I thought you disconnected the battery to prevent an airbag warning light from appearing on the dash?

Having said that though, I was warned that removing the airbag from it's clips without actually disconnecting the wires, with the battery still connected was dangerous..

Can we get something straight here? Has anyone ever had an airbag go off when you disconected it? Didn't think so

Done this job many time with the battery conected and guess what? They haven't gone off.

 

It's one of those classic urban myths handed down from father to son.You can quite safely disconnect the airbag(s) with the battery still connected and nothing will happen unless you turn the ignition on,when it will record a fault condition of "airbag not detected" or similar that is only a warning light and nothing more,and can be switched off by plugging in a diagnostic tool.

An airbag can't be set off from the airbag itself unless we put the required voltage down the almost microscopically small female connectors in its plug,but it's always a good idea if using any sort of power probe in a car to avoid yellow or orange taped looms that are normally associated with safety restraint systems.

Chris.

 still not risk a mouthful of airbag thankyou - myths sometimes have a habit of biting you in the arse!

 http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/137463/1188937.aspx#1188937

Disconnecting the battery also makes sure you don't cause a fault code by turning the ignition inadvertently... i did it just as a precautionary measure!

 i've never heard of an airbag going off either, was more thinking of fault codes

some good info on this site, i like it alot