Airbag warning light on

Dec 23, 2016 5 Replies
G

This is a Skoda Octavia Elegance TDI PD - 2 litre diesel, first registered June 2008.



This summer I wanted to remove the passenger glovebox. So:


  1. Set airbag switch to OFF. Run engine: indicator AIRBAG OFF shows on left hand side of centre console.


  1. Remove glovebox and disconnect airbag switch. Run engine: indicator AIRBAG OFF flashes, and airbag fault light shows on dash (in speedo dial). Fair enough.

  2. Later - reconnect switch and replace glovebox. Run engine: indicator AIRBAG OFF does not show - good; but airbag fault light continues to show on dash. I assume it is a stored fault.

Question: is it in fact a stored fault which would require connection of a diagnostic computer to clear?


  1. Today: take car to local independent garage, ask them to reset the indicator. Their testgear indicates "Code 01221" and "Part G179". This apparently means a fault with the "Crash Sensor Side Airbag; Driver Side (G179)"

Is this just an unfortunate coincidence, or is the garage's testgear lying? I've not worked anywhere near the driver's seat, so it doesn't seem likely that there is a fault in that area. However, Googling does suggest that simply moving the seat can cause the connections to the sensor to fail.



Any ideas, please?



TIA


Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
C
[...]

Almost certainly.

Generic OBD equipment will not always show correct information,or allow resets of things that are manufacturer-specific. Do you know what the independent was using?

You may have to bit the bullet and pay dealer charges to get it reset.

For future reference, it is normally considered advisable to disconnect the battery before touching anything that might generate a fault code, and not reconnecting it until you are sure everything is put back as it should be.

Chris

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
B

In message , Graham J writes

One of the "children" leapt into the passenger seat of my last (2006) Octavia with a load of bags, slammed the seat back and the airbag light came on. I got a dealer to reset it, as I'm scared of airbags and my normal independent man's Snap-on tester didn't seem to work with it. I don't remember whether the dealer had to redo any connections under the seat.

About a year later the seat was again slammed back and the light came on again. It was still on when I traded in the car.

I think Google is right.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
C

With airbag related stuff the advice was even more cautious - battery disconnected, off for quite a while before touching things. I'm generally quite slack about disconnecting the battery before working on bits of car, but when I was playing with airbag connectors I was significantly more cautious.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
G

The logo on the device said "Snap-on Tools"

Even an obvious user-lever change such as turning off the passenger air-bag?

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Operating the designed-in switch is not the same as pulling connectors apart and would not generate a spike upon disablement (which is what is to be avoided at all costs), I believe that it would tell the ECU to NOT operate the airbag, rather than physically disconnect it.`

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required