MK4 Golf just failed MOT on Airbag Warning Light, help needed!!

[chrisyboy]

Hey Guys

I am in a bit of a pickle, my MK4 Golf GTI has just failed its MOT as the Airbag warning light is on an apparently from April this year the laws has changed and this is now an indefinite failure! The problem is I think there is something wrong with the diagnostic port on the car, 3 people have tried connecting to it and every time, the ECU can’t be found! The guy at the garage said between me and you ‘take the bulb out’. After some research this is not possible as the light is an LED soldered to the board, not a bulb! I have read online and I have seen various things, one was to solder a resistor to the connections under the seat and some people have said put a sticker over the warning light?? I have another option but not sure if it will work, there is a fuse, number 11 which if I pull out shuts down of all dashboard (binnacle), do you think it would fail on the retest if the dash/dials aren’t working?

Thanks for reading this

[dom]

First things first, have you checked under the seats to make sure that the airbags are plugged in?

Even if you fix the fault you will need to clear the airbag fault via vagcom to turn the light off. What year is your car?

[Bellend]

Even if you fix the fault you will need to clear the airbag fault via vagcom to turn the light off. What year is your car?

This.

A lot of cars will clear themselves but the MK4 won't.

I find quite a few scanners are hit and miss on the MK4. Get a VAG-COM on it.

[chrisyboy]

I lifted both front seats and checked connectors, everything looked fine, unplugged them both and reconnected them! I think there is something wrong with the feed to the diagnostic port on the car, one mechanic tried VAGCOM, and VCDS, I have also tried one of those cheap scanners from eBay and nothing, no system seems to read the ECU. The car is a 2000 VW Golf MK4 GTI 115 bhp, now I am stuck until I can somehow clear the fault or work around it!

[chrisyboy]

update - cant pull out fuse as indicator lights, hazard lights need to be illuminating on the instrument cluster! Last option, sticker over the warning light, sounds stupid but I have heard that a garage cant physically check Airbag system and is not permitted to interfere with the car, ie pulling off stickers, any ideas?

If I remove the cluster, does it need to be re-coded when I reconnect it back it or is that just if you upgrade to a different unit?

[mcgee9t2]

if it was me, i wouldnt be putting a sticker over it. ide be getting the problem fixed, how do you know the air bag light isnt on because there is something wrong with the system...

somethings you can afford to cheep out on, the safety features you cant.

just my 2pence worth. not able to help you on the problem, but if it was me and people have already had a look and cant sort it ide be taking it to the dealers and let them sort it. expensive, but surely worth more than your face...

[dom]

update - cant pull out fuse as indicator lights, hazard lights need to be illuminating on the instrument cluster! Last option, sticker over the warning light, sounds stupid but I have heard that a garage cant physically check Airbag system and is not permitted to interfere with the car, ie pulling off stickers, any ideas?

If I remove the cluster, does it need to be re-coded when I reconnect it back it or is that just if you upgrade to a different unit?

In order to pass the MOT the airbag light must illuminate when ignition is turned on then go off, covering up the light will still be a fail.

[Benny.banks]

take your clocks out, take your clocks apart put a sticker over the icon., reasamble. job done.

[dom]

take your clocks out, take your clocks apart put a sticker over the icon., reasamble. job done.

[chrisyboy]

"In order to pass the MOT the airbag light must illuminate when ignition is turned on then go off, covering up the light will still be a fail."

Can you please advise where you got this info from? Cheers