Airbag light, 03 Skoda Octavia 1.4

sandydan

Suggestions appreciated, trying to locate cause of airbag light coming on in 03 Skoda Octavia 1.4.
could it be a relay in dash? Thanks in advance for all suggestions

biko

I clarified the title to reflect the issue.

You need to get the codes read to find where in the system the error springs from.
Any recent work done on car?

From memory it can be the wiring under the seat.

sandydan

Thank you.Had wiring problem in 05 Avensis under seat alright once.
No reset or servicing of any sort done, after doing about 50 miles it failed to start about a month ago but no problem whatever since. Been told that electrical problems in dash area ,due to relays is fairly common in skoda. Hope to get it sorted Tuesday as nct is due shortly

vectra

Had a faulty wire connection in the steering wheel on one which gave a light as well.
Under the seat is more common though.

sandydan

Thanks will have a go at it tomorrow, will let you know how it's going

tossy

There is no point going messing at random wiring until you know what is causing the fault, first thing is to get the car scanned with VCDS, most common ones are seat and steerting wheel airbags and most likely a clean of the plugs with contact cleaner will fix it.

Even if you do fix it though the light won't go off without being resest with VCDS.

Where are you based?

sandydan

based in w cork ,I think there is no airbag in seats in that model will check later ,dash and steering airbags I can see,will check it out later, but some things tells me its relay or connection in dash gives problems in skoda rather than wiring or airbag faults

YouThere

The codes suggestion makes most sense - but in case of value, then here's another anecdote:

My 09 Smax airbag light came on over last weekend. Usual thing, light goes off briefly after ignition and then comes back on permanent within couple of seconds once engine is running.

Took a look under seats - and the kids must've knocked off the box of tricks under the passenger front seat - I slid the box back onto the proper bracket - started the car again, and the airbag light behaves fine now (hopefully I'm not speaking too soon!).

btw - no airbag in my poverty-spec seats either. The box of tricks under each seat has various wires emerging - eg. one to the seatbelt fastener. I guess there is a horizontal/vertical sensor in that box - and seems like it was unhappy while laying upside-down on the carpet!

jimgoose

The wiring loom under the seat is for linking the seatbelt pre-tensioner with the rest of the SRS system. There isn't necessarily an actual airbag in the seat.

tossy

sandydan wrote: »

based in w cork ,I think there is no airbag in seats in that model will check later ,dash and steering airbags I can see,will check it out later, but some things tells me its relay or connection in dash gives problems in skoda rather than wiring or airbag faults

I doubt it, and even if it is how are you going to know you rectified it when the light will remain on ? you are kind of shooting in the dark without getting the fault code read.

sandydan

Checking codes makes sense and you are right about not knowing if its rectified in anything vw related as opposed to some other makes, but when dealing with 05 avensis airbag light went off as soon as connection was sorted,cost nothing, to read codes with dealer incurred a cost of €80 for a friend who went down that road first ,with a diagnosis of it's sorted now bring it back if it gives trouble and we will replace X,Y,& Z in xyz, a week later light came on while taking kids to a match, rooted round under seat and squeezed all connections he found and problem sorted until next time some legs rooted under seat.
anyway I found a mechanic who has the equipment to diagnose problem and sort it , will let you know how it goes

bbbaldy

Vw Polo 6n2, Airbag light, turned out to be clock-spring behind steering wheel. Common fault with VW. Would not reset after I fixed it, had to use VAG.Com to reset. I think VW airbag faults latch and always need to be reset. Could very well be the same parts in Skoda.

sandydan

Thanks for that info. I think problem in mine relates to contacts in seat belt anchor, didn't have time to check it fully , but after cleaning warning bell for seat belt is sounding until clicked on .must check airbags yet before turning off light just in case! A faulty airbag is lethal if it blows.He said a it's common enough for light to come on even if moving seat back or forward,forgotten the code .Had another once off problem starting again as well so chasing that as well and left car in his care,

sandydan

It's a problem caused by car failing to start,at same-time as clock mileage and trip resetting, same as if battery flat, only you hear a noise similar to chain being put into plastic cup. Seen it in another skoda as well but not confined to cars its probably an ecu fault.Seen it in trucks,all warning lights on, get diagnostics to switch them off and drive into flood and all lights switch on again.Case of electronic's failure and effecting all ,depends on systems used, all latch or just one and needs diagnostics to switch off,in some cars its triggered by a tap to bumper or driving into pothole. similiar problem in tractors, drive off and select reverse and tractor at standstill until forward selected or vice versa, or drive under pylon cable and tractor comes to standstill. So now airbags , seat belt anchor all ok what causes starting failure? in meantime Im taking key out of ignition.