If anyone has experienced similar problems, I'd appreciate any advice!

To describe the situation in detail...

The airbag light was taped over when I bought the car, I only discovered this recently. It turns out it is on permanently while the car is running.

Anyway, I had it scanned for DTC's and 8 turned up with some info. As follows...

00595 - Crash Data Stored Static - No indication on display

00588 - Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95) sporadic - Value of resistance too great

00589 - Airbag Igniter Passenger Side (N131) sporadic - Value of resistance too great

00588 - Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95) sporadic - Short Circuit to Earth

00532 - Supply Voltage B+ sporadic - Signal too low

01299 - Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533) sporadic - No Communication

00588 - Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95) sporadic - Short Circuit to Positive

01312 - Powertrain Data Bus sporadic - Defective

Resetting the codes has no effect. Even if you know about some of the individual issues, it may help!

Car has most likely been involved in an accident, as there is crash data static stored. When that is triggered the air bag ECU must be replaced. Someone has pulled a fast one on you mate. This is worth reporting to trading standards and the Police. If they can trace who did it, they will get a good seeing to.

Agreed, your car has been in an accident large enough to trigger the airbags to be deployed. You can sort it but you'll need to get a new airbag ECU and get it coded correctly, thats assuming you have any airbags atill in the car at all, which the other codes suggests may not be the case.

IIRC, it takes a 6G impact to deploy the airbags, so check for damage to the chassis of the car

Thanks for the responses!

I bought the car with light crash damage (cracks on front bumper - right side). The driver's airbag had been replaced but having discovered the airbag light, I guess there was no effort made to replace the control unit. I have checked and both airbags are in the car. Chassis is fine. Previous owner had front wishbone replaced. Great little car, pity about this problem!

Does anyone know how costly replacing the airbag control unit generally is? I'm can only assume there are wiring issues from the fault codes I got. I'm going to spend today looking for loose connections on the wiring.

Could they have replaced the airbags without disconnecting the battery, or run it without the airbags?

I would be really concerned on this one, if it was an insurance job then air bags etc would have been replaced under insurance, but the guy has abviously cut corners to get the car back on the road so what else isn't right? are you sure those air bags are good? did he get them second hand?

I belive the law is now on your side about this even for private sales and he as obviously hidden some very dangerous facts about this car from you. i would want my money back if i was you.

please getthe car checked out by a proper garage, it's your life and safety here.

Edited 8 February, 201115 yr by paperclip69

My airbag light came on previously, the car hasn't been in a accident. Took it in to get look at, and they came back saying it was the airbag sensor. Skoda replaced it, and 1000 miles later the light came back on. Took it back and it was a wiring loom that need to be replaced. Has been fine ever since.

Not too sure this will help if it has been in an accident

Cheers to everyone for the feedback! I'll have to get this seen to professionally and get a quote for repairs. Too much wiring etc. for my liking!I'll base my next decision on the quote I get from the garage.

Thanks again!

Could they have replaced the airbags without disconnecting the battery, or run it without the airbags?

Not in this case because of the '00595 - Crash Data Stored Static' error.

You have to replace the airbag controller (IIRC, £400+VAT for the part). Only then can you see what else is required.