Damn! Airbag light on

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

The light is staying on after start up and MFD saying 'air bag fault'.

I've searched a few topics on this on here and I suspect it's a connection under the front seat that's loose or something. If I manage to identify the dodgy connection and connect it properly, will the light go off or does this need clearing via the dealer before it will go out?

There has been no work done on the car and it sits on a battery conditioner as it only occasionally gets used so I can only think it must be a dodgy sensor. Has anyone any pics of the likely offending wiring / sensor under the seat. I'm not due a service until early May and would rather not make a booking to the dealer if I can help it before then. I'm hoping it is something simple and not an expensive fix!

Cheers for any advice 

[Hedge]

Is your car getting on a bit?

I had this on my old Octavia and it was just the wiring under the seat which was fixed under warranty.
I don't think it took too much either. 

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

Mine's a MY06 but it's only done 7,800 miles! Definitely out of warranty though.

[Hedge]

If you can get it scanned by VCDS that would help 

[RedRobin]

.
Hi Phil  

You might want to see your dealer anyway because of the free coilpack replacements:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,25506.45.html

This is the official VW reference code: 28F5-W-Ignition Coil. Best to make sure your dealer has 4 coilpacks in stock before visiting.

[SeanyK]

Take the battery connections out then check underneath the driver and passenger seats.

The airbag connectors are yellow, 3 wires in each plug (driver & passenger), check one of the wires hasn't come out or perished.

Even if it's a loose connection and is fixed, the light needs clearing with VCDS, someone on here is bound to be near you and have VCDS and will scan it for you.

It may be other airbag sensors but VCDS will tell you straight away.

Post your location, someone will help :)

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

Hi SeanyK - That's useful information! I'll try and have a look at it lunchtime ans see if there ara any dodgy connections. Bring back the good old days ehan you fixed the fault and the light went out without having to clear alerts!
I'm in Basingstoke - only about 4-5 miles from the regular Berkshire meet at the Jeckyl & Hyde but haven't been able to make recent meets due to ferrying daughter to Brownies etc / work commitments. 

Cheers Robin - i'm aware of the tech bulletin re the coil packs, thanks to one of your previous posts. I'll get those sorted when the car goes in for it's service & mot in early May.   

[RedRobin]

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As long as it's not on your birthday you'd be very welcome at the J&H meet. We'd need to make sure DomT or someone with VCDS brought it along.

Btw, senior Girl Guides are always very welcome too  

Does anyone recognise who this one is?:



If your airbag light is staying on constantly rather than only during startup checks, it would be wise to check it out sooner rather than later from the point of view of airbag functionality. J&H meet is usually the third Thursday of the month (not strictly so) and an alternative is to post a new thread here asking for help from any VCDS guys in the Basingstoke area. However, now that Thor has informed us of the thriving swingers community in Basingstoke we're all somewhat wary.

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

Cheers Robin, I'll have to get to another meet soon - I'll see what I can do this month's. It's daft as i'm so local yet have rarely been able to get!

Not come across a swinging community in Basingstoke?!  Ooooooh Maaaatron 

[RedRobin]

Not come across a swinging community in Basingstoke?!  Ooooooh Maaaatron  

....Thor can give you all the details:

Don't joke well Basingstoke is well known for it   http://www.swingingheaven.co.uk/swingers-forum/viewtopic/74294.html  

[SeanyK]

If you fancy a long-ish drive to Essex I can help you out if needed.

I can't promise any Essex girls though... Im saving them all for myself 

[jmspear]

let me know how you get on, same thing happened to me about three / four weeks ago, driving along one day and ping on came the airbag warning light, I think it must be the seat conectors (as I swapped cloth for leather seats about 10 / 11 months ago), so I disconnect the passenger seat airbag connector and reconnect it and pop down to my mate who runs a light commercial garage, he has a multi marque diagnostic tester, not as good as VCDS but it did tell me that the fault was passenger side airbag igniter, didn't say if dash, curtain or seat, so I clear the fault using his tester and happy days it stays out - for a week - and then  ping back on again :( been on since as I've been too busy to do anything about it.

Basically the car starts,  then it does its self diagnosis and ping (with audible warning sound) on it comes without fail :(

What do you reckon, airbag in passenger seat needs replacing?

Car is a 55 plate and long out of warranty, anyone any idea if it is a DIY, indie or a main dealer and will it be lots........£££

John

[Poppa Dom]

I work in Basingstoke PM me if you want a scan, am happy to help 

[SeanyK]

let me know how you get on, same thing happened to me about three / four weeks ago, driving along one day and ping on came the airbag warning light, I think it must be the seat conectors (as I swapped cloth for leather seats about 10 / 11 months ago), so I disconnect the passenger seat airbag connector and reconnect it and pop down to my mate who runs a light commercial garage, he has a multi marque diagnostic tester, not as good as VCDS but it did tell me that the fault was passenger side airbag igniter, didn't say if dash, curtain or seat, so I clear the fault using his tester and happy days it stays out - for a week - and then  ping back on again :( been on since as I've been too busy to do anything about it.

Basically the car starts,  then it does its self diagnosis and ping (with audible warning sound) on it comes without fail :(

What do you reckon, airbag in passenger seat needs replacing?

Car is a 55 plate and long out of warranty, anyone any idea if it is a DIY, indie or a main dealer and will it be lots........£££

John

When I swapped cloth for leather seats, I had to change over the airbag plugs as well.

They pop out of the yellow connectors, and each of the 3 wires per connector have a long metal connector, this can easily break off, or the wire might have snapped inside.

Your best bet, would be to disconnect the battery, leave it 30 mins, then unplug the passenger side airbag connector (big yellow plug) then using a small flathead screwdriver, unhook the purple connector bit, and pull each of the wires out gently.

(At the bottom of the yellow connector it says 1 2 3) so make sure you make a note which colour wire goes to what number

[jmspear]

Hi SeanyK,

Good plan, will give that a go before I do anything else, get the light put out again and see if that solves the problem, fingers crossed.

Thanks

John