Volkswagen New Beetle. Manual - part 11

SERVICE PRECAUTIONS 

Observe the following service precautions when working with air bag systems:  

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Disable air bag system before servicing any air bag system or steering column component. Failure to do 
this may result in accidental air bag deployment and possible personal injury. If vehicle is equipped with 
passenger-side air bag, both modules (driver and passenger) MUST be disabled. See DISABLING & 
ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .  

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After repairs, stay well away from air bag module(s) and turn ignition switch to RUN position. Ensure 
AIR BAG warning light is working properly and no system faults are indicated. See SYSTEM 
OPERATION CHECK .  

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Always wear safety glasses when servicing or handling an air bag.  

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Air bag module must be stored in its original special container until it is ready to be used for service. It 
must be stored in a clean, dry place, away from sources of extreme heat, sparks or high electrical energy.  

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When placing a live air bag module on a bench or other surface, always face air bag and trim cover up, 
away from surface. This will reduce motion of module if it is accidentally deployed.  

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After deployment, air bag surface may contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, which can irritate skin. 
Always wear safety glasses, rubber gloves and a long-sleeved shirt during clean-up. Wash hands using 
mild soap and water. Follow correct disposal procedures.  

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When carrying a live air bag module, point trim cover away from your body to minimize injury in case of 
accidental deployment.  

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DO NOT carry seat belt pretensioner by wiring harness or connector. Seat belt pretensioner can be carried 
by piston tube. When handling a live seat belt pretensioner, DO NOT touch seat belt pretensioner in cable 
area between buckle and mounting bolt hole. DO NOT cover pretensioner piston tube opening with hands 
or point open end at yourself or others.  

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Coil assembly must be replaced whenever air bag is deployed. Replace SDM, driver-side air bag module 
or passenger-side air bag module if it has been dropped from a height greater than 3 feet.  

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Electrical sources should never be allowed near inflator on back of air bag module.  

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If water enters the vehicle's interior and soaks the carpet, the SDM or SDM harness connector may need 
to be replaced. Inspect the affected area and remove all the water. Repair the water damage, replace the 
SDM harness connector, and replace the SDM. Failure to do this may result in accidental air bag 
deployment and possible personal injury.  

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If air bag system is not fully functional for any reason, vehicle should not be driven until system is 
repaired. DO NOT remove bulbs, modules, sensors or other components, or in any way disable system 
from operating normally. If air bag system is not functional, park vehicle until repairs can be made.  

DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM 

WARNING:

System reserve capacitor inside DERM or Sensing and Diagnostic Module 
(SDM) retains sufficient voltage to deploy air bag(s) for at least 10 
MINUTES after air bag system fuse is removed. Servicing air bag system 
before 10 minutes has elapsed may cause accidental air bag deployment 
and possible personal injury. 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Air Bag Deactivation Procedures

  

Disabling & Activating System (Corvette) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position, 

and remove key. Remove SDM fuse from instrument panel fuse block located on passenger-side floor 
board, behind carpet. Wait at least 10 MINUTES.  

2. Remove sound insulator from under steering column. Remove Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip, 

and disconnect driver-side air bag Yellow 2-pin connector located at base of steering column. Remove 
CPA clip, and disconnect passenger-side air bag Yellow 2-pin connector located near base of steering 
column.  

3. To activate air bag system, connect Yellow 2-pin connectors. Install CPA clips. Install sound insulators. 

Install SDM fuse.  

4. Staying well away from air bag module(s), turn ignition switch to RUN position. Ensure AIR BAG 

warning light flashes 7 times and stays off. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Catera) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place front wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK 

position, and remove key. Wait one MINUTE. Disconnect negative battery cable and isolate.  

2. To activate air bag system, ensure front wheels are in a straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to 

LOCK position and remove ignition key. Connect negative battery cable. Staying well away from air bag 
modules, turn ignition switch to ON position. Ensure AIR BAG warning light comes on for 3-4 seconds 
and then goes out. SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Concours, DeVille, Eldorado & Seville) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place front wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK 

position, and remove key. Remove SIR fuse from trunk compartment fuse block (behind carpet in left 
front corner of trunk). Wait at least 10 MINUTES.  

2. Remove sound insulator from under steering column. Remove Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip, 

and disconnect Yellow 2-pin connector located at base of steering column. Remove CPA clip, and 
disconnect Yellow 2-pin connector from passenger inflator module pigtail through trap door inside glove 
box.  

3. To activate air bag system, connect Yellow 2-pin connectors. Install CPA clips. Install sound insulator. 

Install SIR fuse. Staying well away from air bag modules, turn ignition switch to RUN position. Ensure 
AIR BAG warning light flashes 7 times and stays off. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Cutlass & Malibu) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position, 

and remove ignition key. Remove AIR BAG fuse from left instrument panel wiring harness junction 
block located at end of instrument panel. Wait at least 10 MINUTES. 

NOTE:

DeVille and Seville STS are equipped with side-impact air bags. Remove SIR 
fuse from trunk compartment fuse block. Remove front door trim panels and 
disconnect side impact air bag module Yellow 2-pin connectors to deactivate 
side-impact air bags. 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Air Bag Deactivation Procedures

  

2. Remove Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip from driver-side air bag module Yellow 2-pin 

connector located above left side instrument panel wiring harness junction block. Disconnect driver-side 
air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector.  

3. Remove CPA clip from passenger-side Yellow 2-pin connector located above right side instrument panel 

wiring harness junction block. Disconnect passenger-side Yellow 2-pin connector.  

4. To activate air bag system, ensure ignition switch is in LOCK position and ignition key is removed. 

Connect air bag module Yellow 2-pin connectors and install CPA clips. Install AIR BAG fuse in left side 
instrument panel wiring harness junction block.  

5. Staying well away from air bag modules, turn ignition switch to RUN position. Ensure AIR BAG 

warning light flashes 7 times and stays off. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Grand Prix) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position, 

and remove ignition key. Remove SIR fuse from fuse block located behind glove box door. Wait at least 
10 MINUTES.  

2. Remove left side instrument panel insulator. Remove Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip from 

driver-side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector located at base of steering column. Disconnect driver-
side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector.  

3. Remove CPA clip from passenger-side Yellow 2-pin connector located at right side of steering column. 

Disconnect passenger-side Yellow 2-pin connector.  

4. To activate air bag system, ensure ignition switch is in LOCK position and ignition key is removed. 

Connect air bag module Yellow 2-pin connectors and install CPA clips. Install SIR fuse in fuse block.  

5. Staying well away from air bag modules, turn ignition switch to RUN position. Ensure AIR BAG 

warning light flashes 7 times and stays off. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Lumina & Monte Carlo) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position, 

and remove ignition key. Remove fuse No. 21 from instrument panel fuse block, located on end of 
instrument panel. Wait at least 10 MINUTES.  

2. Remove sound insulator from under steering column. Remove Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip, 

and disconnect driver-side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector located at base of steering column.  

3. Remove right side sound insulator from under instrument panel. Remove CPA clip from passenger-side 

Yellow 2-pin connector and disconnect passenger-side Yellow 2-pin connector located behind glove box. 

4. To activate air bag system, ensure ignition switch is in LOCK position and ignition key is removed. 

NOTE:

When fuse is removed and ignition switch is in ON position, AIR BAG warning 
light will be on. This is a normal operation and does not indicate an SIR system 
malfunction. 

NOTE:

When fuse is removed and ignition switch is in ON position, AIR BAG warning 
light will be on. This is a normal operation and does not indicate an SIR system 
malfunction. 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Air Bag Deactivation Procedures

  

Connect air bag module Yellow 2-pin connectors and install CPA clips. Install left and right sound 
insulators. Install fuse No. 21 into instrument panel fuse block.  

5. Staying well away from air bag modules, turn ignition switch to RUN position. Ensure AIR BAG 

warning light flashes 7 times and stays off. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Metro & Tracker) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position, 

and remove key.  

2. On Metro, remove AIR BAG fuse from junction block located under instrument panel, near base of 

steering column. On Tracker, remove AIR BAG fuse from air bag fuse block located near base of steering 
column. On all models, wait at least 10 MINUTES. Remove steering wheel side cover. Remove 
Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip, release driver-side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector 
lock and disconnect connector.  

3. Open glove box, push right and left stoppers inward and lower glove box door. Remove Connector 

Position Assurance (CPA) clip, release passenger-side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector lock and 
disconnect connector.  

4. To activate air bag system, turn ignition switch to LOCK position and remove key. Connect and lock air 

bag module Yellow 2-pin connectors, and install CPA clips. To complete installation, reverse removal 
procedure. Install AIR BAG fuse. Staying well away from air bag modules, turn ignition switch to ON 
position. Ensure AIR BAG warning light flashes 7 times and stays off. If AIR BAG warning light does 
not operate as described, see SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .  

Disabling & Activating System (Prizm) 

1. Turn steering wheel to place wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position, 

and remove ignition key. Remove AIR BAG fuse from junction block located near base of steering 
column. Wait at least 10 MINUTES.  

2. Locate driver-side air bag module coil behind steering wheel, release 2-pin connector lock and disconnect 

Yellow 2-pin connector. Remove right side kick panel. Remove 2 lower bolts and 3 upper screws from 
glove box. Remove glove box. Release passenger-side air bag module 2-pin connector lock and 
disconnect Yellow 2-pin connector.  

3. Locate driver and front passenger side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connectors under front seats. Release 

side air bag 2-pin connector locks and disconnect Yellow 2-pin connectors.  

4. To activate air bag system, ensure ignition switch is in LOCK position and ignition key is removed. 

Connect and lock driver and front passenger side air bag Yellow 2-pin connectors located under front 
seats.  

5. Connect and lock passenger-side air bag module Yellow 2-pin connector. Install glove box and tighten 

NOTE:

When fuse is removed and ignition switch is in ON position, AIR BAG warning 
light will be on. This is a normal operation and does not indicate an SIR system 
malfunction. 

NOTE:

Prizm is equipped with driver-side and front passenger-side air bags and driver 
and front passenger side-impact air bags. 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Air Bag Deactivation Procedures