Yesterday the airbag warning light came on in my 2006 Octy estate. Switch on the ignition, it lights with the other dash lights, then goes out as normal, but almost immediately comes on solidly again.

 

The only thing I've tried is switching the passenger airbag off and on again. That did nothing.

 

I'm in the middle of, hopefully, short but stressful health problems that mean I'm not driving anywhere that I don't absolutely have to, and the main agent is a moderate way away.

 

Is it likely that the dealer could do a quick test to see which airbag/circuit it is? Is it likely to be dangerous? If it's just one airbag, is it likely to be expensive?

 

I can't remember if we have any side airbags or just the front ones.

You need the dealer or someone with vcds to get the light turned off. This will also tell where the problem is.

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Almost certainly the passenger side airbag, the wires get stretched under the passenger seat, common fault on all VAG vehicles, i have been told by local VW specialist that although the light is on if needed the airbag SHOULD still ignite!?

 

Ive had this on 3 VAG vehicles, i believe there is a wire extension kit you can get from the stealers or you could try taking the seat out, giving the wires a wriggle, cleaning the connectors with contact cleaner and then getting someone with VCDS to reset the light for you, not a guarenteed fix though! 

On the mkII octy its more likely the plugs under the seats, the official fix is to cut the plugs off and solder the wires together. The drivers side was the problem on my car.

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Thanks everyone. That's all very heartening. I first noticed the light at 5am yesterday when my sone got in for his lift to the station carrying a rucksack and slammed the passenger seat back. That would imply the wiring under that seat.

 

I'll try to have a look, but it sounds as if I can just stick something in front of the light on the dash until I can get to the dealer.

May just be the way iring getting pulled then. See if there is anyone near you with VCDS.

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I first noticed the light at 5am yesterday when my sone got in for his lift to the station carrying a rucksack and slammed the passenger seat back. 

 

In that case, it's almost certainly the wiring under the seat. Get the airbag light reset and there is a good chance it will not happen again for a very long time. 

 

In these cases the airbag light comes on because the system detects a transient drop in voltage due to a slightly bad connection. The airbag remains connected and should still work even with the light on. 

If you are struck with an urge to fiddle withe wiring (rather than just looking at it) disconnect the battery first.

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As said above the seat is a common problem

 

If you haven't used the car much the batter could be weak which can also cause the light to come

 

If the Airbag light is on, the system is disabled and no airbags will deploy in a crash

Hmmm, interesting. We now seem to have a vote for the airbag working if the light is on, and one vote to say it doesn't.

 

My other car doesn't have airbags, so it may not be important to me.

 

I think the battery is OK. The car is used several times a day for tiny mileages looking after someone.

Short trips is normally a good way to kill the battery.

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As said above the seat is a common problem

 

If you haven't used the car much the batter could be weak which can also cause the light to come

 

If the Airbag light is on, the system is disabled and no airbags will deploy in a crash

That is my understanding as well - light on none of the airbag related safety systems will operate including I believe the seat belt pre-tensioners.

That is my understanding as well - light on none of the airbag related safety systems will operate including I believe the seat belt pre-tensioners.

 

Hmm.....I assumed with the seat wiring issue, as it is always logged as an intermittent fault the system would still work. I guess it won't if airbag light activation disables the whole system.    

i've just reset my airbag light with a canbus tool from amazon £13.99 iirc.

 

plug in, scan, clear = done!

 

Where are you in UK? a helpfull Briskodian should be able to help for some beer chits.

I'm in Wirral.

Somewhere I have the Chinese usb thing that plugged into my old Omega (maybe called Op-Com?) and displayed all sorts of stuff on a laptop. I might plug that in if I can find the unit, the socket and some VAG software.

The main agent I go to has always been fine and not too expensive, so I might just get this done when I get them to service and MOT in about 6 weeks.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EiioX-Diagnostic-Scanner-CAN-BUS-Memoscanner/dp/B00E4NYABE/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1382612741&sr=1-3&keywords=canbus+281

 

I got two of these, a 280 non canbu and a 281 canbus for the octavia.

 

they come in very handy for clearing airbag lights and EML on my mates Golf.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EiioX-Diagnostic-Scanner-CAN-BUS-Memoscanner/dp/B00E4NYABE/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1382612741&sr=1-3&keywords=canbus+281

 

I got two of these, a 280 non canbu and a 281 canbus for the octavia.

 

they come in very handy for clearing airbag lights and EML on my mates Golf.

The one and only review of that device on the Amazon site is not terribly positive!

I'm not sure if we are meant to be discussing this sort of thing on this forum (although I don't see why not).

I haven't found my old interface device, and don't really understand why some of this sort of thing is for VAG, some for Opel and so on. Is it right to assume that if it's Canbus, it will detect the codes, and that it's the translation that is what differs?

If I were buying one, I'd have thought a bluetooth one working to a laptop or tablet would have the most potential. In the Omega, the (usb) cable from the unit that I had meant that I couldn't drive with it in place and so I couldn't log faults on the fly, and neither could the useless main agent with his box of tricks.

The standalone one referred to does say it can reset the airbag light (Is it fair to assume that resetting the light resets the activation of the airbags or is it just the light turned off?), but the bluetooth ones seem not to mention anything but engine lights.

I can see having to read up about all this again. :-(

I'm on the Wirral and could call in to clear the code if it's of any use.

 

I use on of these to clear the light on a (about) 4 month cycle.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vag-Scanner-Code-Reader-For-Audi-Volkswagen-Seat-Skoda-COM-CAN-Airbag-SRS-Reset-/220840475960?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item336b1e3d38

 

PM to see if place and time would be doeable