Audi A3/A4 Airbag fix. Error 01221

In this video Driveway Dudes Paul shows you how to fix an airbag fault on an Audi A3.
The airbag warning is sometimes an automatic failure when being tested by vehicle test centres and some may deem the car unsafe to drive.
The car in this video is a 2008 Audi A3 1.9tdi 8P model.
This fault appears not to be uncommon on different Audi models and which can include some Volkswagen models also.
It may also apply to other makes and models of cars, vans, trucks, etc.
The most difficult part of this was to pinpoint the location of the fault.
Having the best OBD tools money can buy won't join wires together.
Paul used a flathead/blade type screwdriver, a budget battery powered solder pen, some solder and some heatshrink. DIY job done.
Feel free to comment, like, share and subscribe for more videos from Driveway Dudes.
This video is for guide purposes.
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Don’t pay someone else when you can Do It Yourself!

[@TheQuexex]

Absolute star - Airbag warning light = MOT fail. My door wiring loom was the culprit also the drivers side electric window lines had snapped. It's a faff to fix but ultimately is works!

[@benjaminjones4228]

Thank you buddy,this helped me out a lot.

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad it helped

[@TheDolkNess]

Fantastic...was exactly my issue along with the driver door bass speaker...no more codes 😊 1 tip - I unplugged the harness from the frame...made repairing the wires much easier.

[@golfman1987]

Thank you so much. Saved a lot of head scratching trying to diagnose the fault. 🙂.

[@nikolaimendoza9568]

Thanks for this. Have this exact same issue/code with my audi a3. I hope i can muster the courage to the same fix you did and fix it.

[@bigzkiller123]

Wow! One wire was completely split in half who would have ever known thank you!

[@keymad4]

you are awesome thank you

[@airz10000000]

63000 views it has to be a common fault, mines also on on my 2008 tdi quattro, going to have a look later and get mine fixed too, thanks for the video

[@aarons1655]

Fixed my car audi a3 2010 saved a lot of money at garage..... 👦 👏

[@uk_jay5411]

THank you👍

[@campbell19872710]

Good man, Exact same problem here on 2007 A3,

[@kelvinwilliams3837]

Thanks for your contribution and the mechanics have me when they take the hill to scam me.

[@zzhughesd]

Thanks video, I have nearside side air bag code; thinking on my trade-in Audi A3 Sportback be the wiring into door boot. Why does this seam to happen to VAG group cars and not say Fords/Vauxs? What causes wires to break too? thanks Dan

[@aidank2]

Many thanks I have the same problem will give it a try

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad it helped

[@ollieoldrey5042]

if I fix the wires will the airbag light go off straight away or do I need a fault code machine to clear them?

[@bankowi9]

Very helpful video Thanks

[@3kkk514]

My 2006 audi a4 b7 fault code 01217 side airbag igniter airbag driverside, i bypass the yellow wire under drivers chair airbag light still ON.

[@DrivewayDudes]

VAG error code 01217. This indicates that the Igniter resistance measured by the Airbag controller exceeded the maximum allowable spec. With our error 01221 we located broken wiring and when fixed the error light went out. There are other videos on YT showing error code 01217 and a possible fix. Hope this helps

[@cbrown7]

Where on earth do Audi buy their wire? I've never had this sort of issue before, but I had exactly the same on my A4, pretty much had to repair every wire in the loom to the door and now my A3 has the ABWL on, suspect it could be the same thing.

[@akramsayjr591]

Nice one

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thanks for watching

[@mkcraghead]

Do you know if it is possible to just replace the wiring harness, as opposed to trying to solder the wires together? My soldering skill suck. I tried looking online, but I didn't see anything for wiring related to airbags. Maybe I'm not good at parts searches either. 😁

[@DrivewayDudes]

I believe the wiring harness you’d need comes in a short section with plugs. You may be able to source it at a dealership or maybe at a car breakers yard. Personally buying a soldering iron, solder, flux paste and heat shrink would probably cost a lot less. Then watch a few how to videos on YT and do a few test solders on sample wiring

[@larrynavarro8389]

What happens if you the airbags deploy. On a A4 2017 will the engine run. Or does the airbags need to be fixed first. Or is that completely two separate things.?

[@DrivewayDudes]

We wouldn't recommend you try to drive a car with deployed airbags

[@martina.154]

Thanks a lot, I has exact the same Issue.

[@andrewsalton7670]

Good work

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thanks

[@clonSanG]

I had yo add a bit of wire to make the cables meet would that be ok

[@DrivewayDudes]

If it clears the error then yes and well done

[@mark-andrecrossley593]

Sweet. Where can I get one of those Del-Phi diagnostic machine? How much does it cost? Thank you

[@vagmaster2202]

Never solder an wiring 🤦🏽‍♂️ especially anything related to air bag 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@stevenshort1220]

Do you need to remove battery terminals before attempting? I don’t have a code for the radio unless I take it out to read serial number.

[@DrivewayDudes]

No, we did not disconnect the battery and it worked out just fine. You would not be causing a short circuit as you are rejoining original wiring

[@stevenshort1220]

@@DrivewayDudes Thankyou for the reply I’ll have a go at it tomorrow 👍

[@ervisademi3889]

Thanks man

[@DrivewayDudes]

Any time

[@jerrysiner6854]

Hi. I had same problem with my Audi. The light is still on. Will this need resetting with a VAG

[@TheDolkNess]

Yes it will...cannot just unplug the battery either.

[@user-qy4kv9yu7t]

How to turn light off from the air bag

[@SimonDingley]

What were you using to run the diagnostics? What hardware/software combination do we need?

[@DrivewayDudes]

We used a generic Chinese scanner tcs ds150/e kit (scanner, cables and software) and a laptop running Win7

[@BastiOWL]

Und immer schön mit dem Schraubendreher auf dem Lack rumkratzen. Lol

[@DrivewayDudes]

Kleinere Kratzer, aber das Problem wurde behoben

[@kahlidaume9162]

Gracias 👍💪

[@richardwilliamson795]

I was replacing the window switch and airbag light came on. And some how this was the problem

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad we could help

[@johnnysnoww7330]

so now i can tell my mechanic what is wrong with the air bag lighting not going off.

[@kahlidaume9162]

Es verdad lo mire estaba roto

[@user-ry6fm4bp6g]

Plug under drivers seat problems for airbag