Have an airbag light on and code reader says:

Depressurisation at front too long

Crash sensor side airbag. Driver side (G179)

Have done an internet search but there are only articles on Golf’s, Octavia and Superbs.

Anyone got any idea where the crash sensor is on a Mk1 Fabia VRS?

(It does have retro fitted Leather seats with airbags.)

Any help or ideas welcome! 

The sensor is inside the airbag ECU which is attached to the transmission tunnel in front of the ashtray.

Thanks, I saw a post on that earlier with pictures of what it looks like and where it is. If the sensor is inside it then looks like it needs a replacement ecu. Thats annoying! 
Appreciate the help. 

Wiring diagrams show G179 as external to the airbag ECU, but unhelpfully don't give any clue about location.

Has a two-pin connector.

Hmm, no that’s not overly helpful if there isn’t a location. The other cars seem to have breaks in the door wires but there aren’t any similar looking clips in the Fabia. You’d think a crash sensor would be close to the exterior of the car (like in a door) 

Wiring isn't shown as going through the door connectors, so definitely in the main bit of cabin somewhere. @varooom would be my goto guy for this type of research.

What year is the car?

First registered sept 2004. So on a 54 plate (just) 

Yellow wire on pin 1 from pin 70 of airbag ECU conn, black wire on pin 2 merges with various other earths behind dashboard allegedly.

 

The Entrance Plate, is the plastic trim over the door sill area 

 

* Torque is 9Nm

Edited 23 October, 20223 yr by nige8021

53 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

The sensor is inside the airbag ECU which is attached to the transmission tunnel in front of the ashtray.

 

That is the main inertial one, there are seperate side impact ones I believe, I would be looking at the B post around the seat belt mounting.

 

That said what is the "side airbag"? If it means the ones in the A pillars they are deployed on a roll over and I think that is triggered by an angle sensor in the main controller.

Most airbag sensor faults are due to condensation corrosion in the multiway ECU connector, everything is routed to that little box.

@nige8021 the B cross member, is that under the seat? From the diagram it looks like it. That would make sense I suppose. 
 

@J.R. I was thinking the side airbag would be the seat airbag. My first two VRs didn’t have them but this one seems to. 

Makes sense.

Really appreciate all the help. I think I need to have a look in the light when it’s not raining. Take the seats out and the centre console to see if I can locate any sensors or the ecu to get the exact part number. 

1 minute ago, Sam745 said:

@nige8021 the B cross member, is that under the seat? From the diagram it looks like it. That would make sense I suppose. 
 

 

I can't find anything definite but I would go with the floor crossmember from the B pillar ?

Odds are this it the location as you can see in image from @nige8021

 

I did find it @Breezy_Pete just late to post 😁

Video is v. helpful. 🙂

Footwell wetness and corrosion/shorting local to the sensor seems much more probable than condensation getting to airbag ECU area, I think.

Legends!

Will keep you updated as to what I find.

Thanks again. 

Found this in the structural repair manual, the area I've ringed in red is the gearlever opening for reference and the red hatched is the B X member 

Update: Found the crash sensor which was as described on the cross member under the drivers seat. (thanks)
My thought was to try and change it to see if it’s the sensor that has the issue rather than wiring. 
I don’t really want to buy a new one so was looking on eBay. From the part number it appears to be quite a generic vw sensor but I don’t know how these things work. 
I know the airbag ecu has to be correct with the correct part number and index (which I presume is software). Any idea about the sensor? Should one with the correct part number (5WK 42895 - 6QO  909 606) work or are they indexed to the ecu software (and if they are how do you tell?)

Match the 6q0909606 and fit. Job done.

I was curious to see if the part mentioned and picture has had replacements, so I looked on the parts catalog as was surprised to see that in theory this was never fitted to Skoda's

That part number seen for your crash sensor was fitted to several VW models, and a few SEAT's.

 

I suspect dear old VAG raided the parts bin to build these cars back in the day.

The sensors should be colour coded, and I would stick with the part number printed on your existing (and colour)

 

FYI only: The part did change from 6Q0 909 606 to 6Q0 909 606 K on 01/02/2007

 

For now please follow @Breezy_Pete advice on using the same part number to be sure.

Thanks both, very helpful again.