Altea airbag light

FR85

Folks,

Light has been on for a while now, my own fault due to a lack of time getting it sorted!

I've been told that it's the connection under the passenger seat and to cut off the connector, join the wires without solder as this puts resistance in the circuit and just heat shrink them when completed.

Just wondering, is there any fear of setting off the bags, should I disconnect the battery......what steps should be taken??

Thanks!!

tossy

FR85 wrote: »

Folks,

Light has been on for a while now, my own fault due to a lack of time getting it sorted!

I've been told that it's the connection under the passenger seat and to cut off the connector, join the wires without solder as this puts resistance in the circuit and just heat shrink them when completed.

Just wondering, is there any fear of setting off the bags, should I disconnect the battery......what steps should be taken??

Thanks!!

Have you had the car scanned to determine that it's the passenger side airbag?

Usually disconnecting the plug and cleaning the contacts will have the same effect.

I wouldn't do what was advised to you at all. I'd rather cut off the connector blocks and splice them together. Air bags work off resistance and the solder might impede that, but cleaning the plug is a better option

Either way you will still need to have the light cleared with some diagnostic software to make it go off.

Where are you based?

FR85

I work in Dublin but am living in Sallins.

The car was scanned and codes cleared, light stayed out for a year or so then the seat was moved to fit a lanky chap in the back and on the light came again. The same guy who looked at it the first time said the connections were prone to going and that eliminating the connection and joining the wires was the cleanest way to go.

Seat Ireland have been no help as per usual and it was a well known and helpful northern dealer who also pointed me in this direction....

I have been looking out for two front seats anyway as the drivers seat has a rip in it but FR seats are hard to come by!!!

Special Circumstances

FR85 wrote: »

join the wires without solder as this puts resistance in the circuit and just heat shrink them when completed.

the boss of me

I had the same problem with my old Octavia. Any time I stuck a rag or anything in under the driver seat the light came on. I bought a diagnostic tool for about 20 euro from Amazon and switched the light off. It seems to be a common problem on the VAG cars.

tossy

FR85 wrote: »

I work in Dublin but am living in Sallins.

The car was scanned and codes cleared, light stayed out for a year or so then the seat was moved to fit a lanky chap in the back and on the light came again. The same guy who looked at it the first time said the connections were prone to going and that eliminating the connection and joining the wires was the cleanest way to go.

Seat Ireland have been no help as per usual and it was a well known and helpful northern dealer who also pointed me in this direction....

I have been looking out for two front seats anyway as the drivers seat has a rip in it but FR seats are hard to come by!!!

I live just outside Newbridge, i travel through Sallins a fair bit. If you want me to show you how to clean the connectors and clear the fault for you some evening give me a shout.

biko

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Image

Instead of being funny and not helping OP, how about you explain why this is not a good idea instead? That would actually help OP.

FR85

biko wrote: »

Instead of being funny and not helping OP, how about you explain why this is not a good idea instead? That would actually help OP.

I had been wondering that myself! Cheers!

Tossy, that would be super cool!! Will pop you a pm at some stage, hectic in work and my evening don't seem to be my own anymore but that would be cool!!

Special Circumstances

biko wrote: »

Instead of being funny and not helping OP, how about you explain why this is not a good idea instead? That would actually help OP.

It's personal preference I suppose - personally I don't like ("no me gusta") the "twisht em up an tape em lad" approach.

FR85

Special Circumstances wrote: »

It's personal preference I suppose - personally I don't like ("no me gusta") the "twisht em up an tape em lad" approach.

That is what a reliable source told me to do, the connectors are prone to dying and solder adds to the problem........uhhh I dunno!

biko

Yeah I've no particular problem with that approach either.

I usually go for number 5 in this image but all can be used

tossy

biko wrote: »

Yeah I've no particular problem with that approach either.

I usually go for number 5 in this image but all can be used

Which would probably be the worst way to splice an airbag connector. 1 or 2 with a heat shrink is what i've used when splicing on a new connector block in the past.

Special Circumstances

I totally did not foresee the age old "best way to join two wires" debate opening up here again. Ay ay ay, no es bueno.

biko

Hah, can of worms is open

FR85

And it's all my fault....mods, lifetime ban!!!

Bazzy

number 5 is the best twisting the copper together can affect resistance

biko

The reason I use 5 is that it is strongest, and less like to come apart ever if there is pulling at the ends for whatever reason.
If someone can convince me otherwise I'm happy to change my ways.