Hi. 
 

Our seatbelt warning bell comes on intermittently. Sometimes the full 5 dings, other times only 2 dings. It isn’t every time I drive it, but most trips - of course when getting a recent MOT & Service, the mechanic didn’t hear anything or could find a fault! 🤦‍♂️

 

Any ideas as to the cause of the fault? I’m guessing a can’t deactivate it? It’s driving me barmy! 

Have you managed to identify which seat is causing it?

There is a micro switch in each seat belt stalk they can go faulty.

VCDS can switch  off the seat belt chimes.

On 12/05/2024 at 07:29, Stonekeeper said:

Have you managed to identify which seat is causing it?

I believe it is the driver’s seat, it goes off when no one else is in the car. 

14 hours ago, krisp1 said:

There is a micro switch in each seat belt stalk they can go faulty.

VCDS can switch  off the seat belt chimes.

Ok, so I need to take it to a dealer then - not sure if my local mechanic has a VCDS…

The alternative to switching it off in vcds is to just unplug the seatbelt connector under the seat.  It won't flag an error aytakes two minutes.

3 hours ago, Albie79 said:

I believe it is the driver’s seat, it goes off when no one else is in the car. 

Ok, so I need to take it to a dealer then - not sure if my local mechanic has a VCDS…

 

Not necessarily, if that is your only thought on it going off.

 

Plug all the seat belts in irrespective of someone sat in them. then see if it goes off.

 

If it doesn't, unplug the empty seats one at a time and see.

 

Final thought:  A handbag on a passenger seat without the seat belt plugged in can trigger the warning.

Edited 13 May, 20242 yr by Stonekeeper

I had this issue - "intermittent" eventually became "constant" and in the end I had the belt buckle unit replaced.

 

It will be the driver seat unit at fault as there are no sensors on the others, because who wants a beeping constantly if the driver is alone in the car?

3 hours ago, JamieH86 said:

 

It will be the driver seat unit at fault as there are no sensors on the others

 

I am not sure that is always true because the seatbelt warning comes up on my car if front passengers forget to belt up.

Edited 14 May, 20242 yr by pikpilot

On 13/05/2024 at 11:50, Stonekeeper said:

 

Not necessarily, if that is your only thought on it going off.

 

Plug all the seat belts in irrespective of someone sat in them. then see if it goes off.

 

If it doesn't, unplug the empty seats one at a time and see.

 

Final thought:  A handbag on a passenger seat without the seat belt plugged in can trigger the warning.

I’m aware that something sitting on the seat might trigger it, at least in the front passenger seat. I have plugged in various seat belts but possibly not all of them at the same time, so I’ll experiment with that. 
 

thanks for the advice!

On 13/05/2024 at 08:38, skomaz said:

The alternative to switching it off in vcds is to just unplug the seatbelt connector under the seat.  It won't flag an error aytakes two minutes.

I’ll have a look, that might be the best option although it seems like it is too easy and that the manufacturer wouldn’t design it that way?!

On 14/05/2024 at 09:00, JamieH86 said:

I had this issue - "intermittent" eventually became "constant" and in the end I had the belt buckle unit replaced.

 

It will be the driver seat unit at fault as there are no sensors on the others, because who wants a beeping constantly if the driver is alone in the car?

 

Wrong!

 

The passenger seat has a pressure pad which if working correctly will register the presence of a passenger and sound the bong if their seatbelt is not buckled, when functioning correctly it will trigger when a bag of shopping is placed on the seat but not a lighter half filled one, the silver foil inside can delaminate and cause false presence detection and hence the seatbelt alarm.

Our seat belt warning used to come on intermittently and I can confirm it can be turned off vcds I got our trusted independent to do it years ago I have never forgotten to wear the seat belt either.