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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: AcidicDavey on 25 June 2012, 21:51

Title: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 25 June 2012, 21:51
The bugger I got the car off a week ago had disconnected the lights to the right of the light switch so I found today. So I connected it up and it turns out the airbag light is on! Are there any other wheels out there I could swap it with and would that turn the light off or would it need to be reset?

The bloody handbrake warning light keeps coming on when it's down now too, which barely works! It's amazing the car got through an MOT a month ago, mind the Tester had the same surname as the chap who sold it! Sounds dodgy... :undecided:
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: itavaltalainen on 25 June 2012, 23:18
Outsh... sounds like you got yourself a lemon... :(
let me guess, private seller? if local go there and ask how it passed the MOT with the airbag not working... although sounds outright dogy

if you want to go about fixing it, read the fault codes, that may tell you something more about what is wrong... best case it's only a wiring issue

your golf does not have a stand-alone "handbrake" warning light - it's a brake  warning first and foremost, hence indicates something wrong with braking system, my guess fluid is low (by how this car was done up probably a leak.... :( )
handbrake can be adjusted but if the shoes need replacing that won't be much help for long.

If you can return it!!! If not think if you want to put a lot of money in it or not - if body is in GREAT condition for the age it may be worth if, if it suffers rust then pull the emergency brake and scap it... I got nearly 200£ from scrappy for my Variant in Worcs.
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 25 June 2012, 23:37
Hey, thanks for the reply. I bought the car from someone on here infact.

The car's in really good nick overall and it would be stupid as f**k to scrap due to 2 warning lights!

So the light (exclamation mark in a circle with brackets) is for more than just the handbrake? I pulled the handbrake up hard today at about 30 and it barely slowed :(

Does anyone know if I could fit a mark 4 steering wheel without probs?
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: Stewy12 on 26 June 2012, 08:23
The hand brake warning light is also connected to the abs if you got it acts as a second warning light but can be quite serious if it's on
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 26 June 2012, 15:56
Well the abs light to the right of the light switch isn't on, just the handbrake light. I park on a slope and the light isn't on until I'm on level ground which is weird, I've checked the brake fluid level and it's at the max marker. The handbrake can be heard clicking when the car is pushed with it off so maybe a pin is missing in the drum or something?
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: andy-gti84 on 26 June 2012, 18:35
hello mate sorry to see ya got that car as the bloke u got it from is a nob an sell f**ked cars. i got a astra off him early this year an was a lemon  :angry: . couple of lad from round worc, malvern  area have said the same about him. lovely car but been in the wrong hands. hope u get it sorted an wont cost ya. my abs light is on after got back brakes done but still work fine.

for hand brake it might just be a sencer so is cheap to do. for mot bloke works at a garage an must have give it a dog one. we take our van from work there an they all ways come back worse then they went in  :angry:. all i can say mate he is a cow boy an should stay away from him.

hope ya get it all sorted fella.  :smiley: 
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: Screech16v on 26 June 2012, 22:37
Does the ABS light do the self check with ignition on? light should come on then go off,handbrake light is linked to abs system ,you could have a faulty brake fluid cap if your lucky,ive had the same problem and have narrowed it down to the abs ecu being at fault,its been off for repair ,just waiting for it to come back now,will let you know what happens.
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 27 June 2012, 18:37
hello mate sorry to see ya got that car as the bloke u got it from is a nob an sell f**ked cars. i got a astra off him early this year an was a lemon  :angry: . couple of lad from round worc, malvern  area have said the same about him. lovely car but been in the wrong hands. hope u get it sorted an wont cost ya. my abs light is on after got back brakes done but still work fine.

for hand brake it might just be a sencer so is cheap to do. for mot bloke works at a garage an must have give it a dog one. we take our van from work there an they all ways come back worse then they went in  :angry:. all i can say mate he is a cow boy an should stay away from him.

hope ya get it all sorted fella.  :smiley: 

So a dodgy bastard then. When I was bidding for the car on ebay a newly registered user was bidding against me until my max bid was reached! What a complete @#!£

The car drives absolutely perfectly however which is probably a surprise to you by the sound of it.

Does the ABS light do the self check with ignition on? light should come on then go off,handbrake light is linked to abs system ,you could have a faulty brake fluid cap if your lucky,ive had the same problem and have narrowed it down to the abs ecu being at fault,its been off for repair ,just waiting for it to come back now,will let you know what happens.

I don't think it does, no. Maybe the bulb has blown as it's still there, I put the airbag one in and see what happens!
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: brett on 27 June 2012, 19:44
i take it a code reader would show these faults up?,if so shall be purchasing one asap as my handbrake warning light has a mind of its own lol,will go off then decide to come on again 20 mins down the road grrrr
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: Screech16v on 27 June 2012, 20:25
Aup brett ,your hand brake light just popin on out the blue on a journey is a good sign that abs module has problems ,also code for rear right sensor  is another telltale,i had this replaced sensors checked pick up rings ,tryed all sorts ,cleared codes lots of times,abs rarley ever worked ,mil on 99% of the time,handbrake light would just come on and then stay on,just waiting for my repaired module to come back. :smiley:
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: brett on 28 June 2012, 00:05
alrite bud ,cheers ,never used to do it till i changed my rear discs a while back.feckin thing lol
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 28 June 2012, 17:06
Does the ABS light do the self check with ignition on? light should come on then go off,handbrake light is linked to abs system ,you could have a faulty brake fluid cap if your lucky,ive had the same problem and have narrowed it down to the abs ecu being at fault,its been off for repair ,just waiting for it to come back now,will let you know what happens.

Checked today and it seems the bulb for the ABS is blown so my guess is that it's been on in the past!
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: Stewy12 on 28 June 2012, 22:54
If needed i have 2 abs ECUs if the hand brake light is a abs fault i did this cut the wires on the back of plug and left them abs still works fine...
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: mike1606 on 28 June 2012, 23:30
iv'e got a mk3 Anniversary model, abs light and air bag light on , replaced sensor for abs and that is sorted, any other idea's how to resolve problem with Air Bag light staying on?  :smiley:. Any help much appreciated :smiley:
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: itavaltalainen on 28 June 2012, 23:39
how about reading fault codes? did you replace the sensors without reading them?   :huh:
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: Stewy12 on 29 June 2012, 09:31
Use Vagcom or similar to turn off airbag light
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 29 June 2012, 16:40
Use Vagcom or similar to turn off airbag light

If I was to replace the steering wheel and airbag off say a lupo (as it's a straight swap so I've read), would the light still need to be reset?
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 30 June 2012, 00:48
I swapped mine to a Polo / Lupo type wheel last week and I had no issues with needing to reset the airbag ecu. That's not to say you wont though if fault codes have been raised for some reason.
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: AcidicDavey on 30 June 2012, 00:52
I swapped mine to a Polo / Lupo type wheel last week and I had no issues with needing to reset the airbag ecu. That's not to say you wont though if fault codes have been raised for some reason.

Did you have the light on before the swap though bud?

Any chance of a cheeky pic?
Title: Re: Airbag Warning Light!
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 30 June 2012, 00:57
No lights on to start with. Sorry no pics mate.