Airbag Error 00588

[bbridgerb]

Hello everyone. Airbag light is on for a while in my 1996 Passat TDI. We scanned it with the Vag-Com today and it returned the following error code:

00588 – Airbag Igniter Driver Side
Resistance Too High (N95)

What could be causing this problem? Do I need to start thinking about a trip to the dealer?

Thanks.

 

[Curious Chris]

Well I had almost the same DTC on my 1999.5, though mine was the passenger side. The airbag is ignited by a fine hot wire system is a pyrotechnic blend. The DTC is telling you that the electric circuit resistance is higher than expected. This could be the hot wire (called bridge wire in the airbag mfg world), or more likely connector resistance is high.

In my 1999.5 I would clear the CEL and it stayed off until someone got into the back seat on the passenger side (it was a 2 door) and snapped the seat back into position. I totalled the car before I could fix it though.

For starters I would just unplug the connector for the side air bag and plug it back in, if you are lucky, born in the year of the Rabbit, that will fix the problem.

 

[gbillman]

Had any work done recently around the steering column? I had this code show up right after I had my ignition cylinder replaced. The mechanic simply forgot to reattach the connector for the airbag circuit when he was putting things back together. Your's may have worked itself loose.

Garry

 

[Andi TDI]

bbridgerb try this one. It may help even it's not for your model.