Air Bag Alert turning on ignition

[Corgimajor]

Hi All, I've read several previous posts related to Air Bag warnings on earlier California models (T5, T6), however I've recently experienced similar alert on my T 6.1 ( delivered in late Oct 2022) and wondered whether the possible causes of earlier posts (related to passenger swivel seat and cable / connection strains) could still be the issue? I would have anticipated VW designing out any earlier problems with this particular wiring, but perhaps not? Any guidance gratefully received. I've got van booked in for investigation into this issue in Jan 2023.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi All, I've read several previous posts related to Air Bag warnings on earlier California models (T5, T6), however I've recently experienced similar alert on my T 6.1 ( delivered in late Oct 2022) and wondered whether the possible causes of earlier posts (related to passenger swivel seat and cable / connection strains) could still be the issue? I would have anticipated VW designing out any earlier problems with this particular wiring, but perhaps not? Any guidance gratefully received. I've got van booked in for investigation into this issue in Jan 2023.

You’re the first Post relating to an Air Bag alert I’ve seen regarding a T6.1.
I suppose a wiring loom could be mis-routed under a swivel seat but more likely a faulty component.
NB, if the air bag light is on then all air bags have been disabled
If you don’t plan on driving except to your garage appointment then fine.

If you are planning on using it, personally I would call out VW Assistance, run by the AA but insist on a VW Assistance technician. They are equipped to carry out a very significant number of road side repairs and also have priority access to the Dealership and Spares systems.

 

[Corgimajor]

Good advice, thank you.

You’re the first Post relating to an Air Bag alert I’ve seen regarding a T6.1.
I suppose a wiring loom could be mis-routed under a swivel seat but more likely a faulty component.
NB, if the air bag light is on then all air bags have been disabled
If you don’t plan on driving except to your garage appointment then fine.

If you are planning on using it, personally I would call out VW Assistance, run by the AA but insist on a VW Assistance technician. They are equipped to carry out a very significant number of road side repairs and also have priority access to the Dealership and Spares systems.

 

[Corgimajor]

Following call to VW AA breakdown assistance (I requested a VW Technician) I got a technician who ran a full diagnostic test and discovered the fault in the drivers seat seat belt latch (fault ref B101C29 if you're interested!) which meant the seat belt latch was not sending a connection signal to the Airbag/Seatbelt tensioner control system - thereby causing the system to become disabled and prompting the alert signal. The technician said he inspected the connection of the associated cabling and multi-plug to the wiring loom beneath the seat. A combination of ensuring the multi-plug was firmly connected and releasing what he could of the "spare" wiring connecting the seat belt latch to the multi-plug has resolved the problem and following multiple testing signed off the vehicle as repaired. We've swivelled the drivers seat probably about 6 times since taking ownership of the vehicle. The technician said if it faults again it will have to be resolved under warranty with a VWVC inspection - as access to the base of the seat belt latch and wiring for further inspection can only be done in a workshop given the more involved task of removing the driver seat trim and associated driver seat swivel mechanisms. I will update this thread if we get any further issues, but it would seem the VW swivel seat wiring gremlins haven't been removed from the T6.1. NB. 10/10 to VW's AA roadside assistance - very efficient service and very knowledgeable VW technicians.

 

[Jerry999]

hmm, I now have this on mine (July 2022).
It's already been to VW once and they cleaned the seat belt switch...
It seems to be a pretty rare fault as I don't find many hits for B101C29 on Google.
Hopefully, they can fix it properly on it's next visit.

 

[Roger Boeken]

hmm, I now have this on mine (July 2022).
It's already been to VW once and they cleaned the seat belt switch...
It seems to be a pretty rare fault as I don't find many hits for B101C29 on Google.
Hopefully, they can fix it properly on it's next visit.

I got it on mine now. July 2O22 ocean. VW dealer , replaced the seat belt switch driver seat (left seat, that I never turned) . Unfortunately this did not solve problem and now I have 3 errors instead of 1: no lane assistance, no airbag and no ACC !
Garage will investigate further on. June 12th, want the cali for 2 days..to be sure they can diagnose and repair. If I remember well cali’s delivered 2022 had a long delivery delay because there was a shortage of cable looms produced in Ukraine…

 

[Jerry999]

I got it on mine now. July 2O22 ocean. VW dealer , replaced the seat belt switch driver seat (left seat, that I never turned) . Unfortunately this did not solve problem and now I have 3 errors instead of 1: no lane assistance, no airbag and no ACC !
Garage will investigate further on. June 12th, want the cali for 2 days..to be sure they can diagnose and repair. If I remember well cali’s delivered 2022 had a long delivery delay because there was a shortage of cable looms produced in Ukraine…

Oh, that’s worrying. Mine’s going in on the 2nd June. Fingers crossed for me I guess.

 

[CampervanFlattie]

We have recently had the same (T6.1) 2022 but I cancelled the fault with Carista and it hasn't yet reappeared albeit we haven't been far since then. Looks like there may be a pattern developing!

 

[sbmcd]

This happened to me once in my 5.1, in Italy when turning the front seats with the ignition on, all it takes is a millisecond of poor connection on one of the under seat connectors.

It needed a reset but It never happened again provided I ensured the ignition was always off when turning the seats.

 

[Jerry999]

My right hand side seat belt buckle/switch assembly has now been replaced.
Hopefully, that's the end of this issue for me.

Interestingly, the new buckle assembly doesn't have felt on it like the old one.
Does anyone know why this is or know why the seat belt buckles originally had felt and now they don't?
I can only guess that it's cost saving...

With felt Without felt

 

[GreyPeanut]

My right hand side seat belt buckle/switch assembly has now been replaced.
Hopefully, that's the end of this issue for me.

Interestingly, the new buckle assembly doesn't have felt on it like the old one.
Does anyone know why this is or know why the seat belt buckles originally had felt and now they don't?
I can only guess that it's cost saving...
View attachment 136836View attachment 136837
With felt Without felt

Which dealer did your fix? I've had 2 resets on the airbag error since Christmas and it keeps coming back after 2-3 weeks (no seat gymnastics other than back and forward as my legs are longer than my wife's) and now looking for a proper fix before my 3 year warranty runs out in July.

 

[Jerry999]

Which dealer did your fix? I've had 2 resets on the airbag error since Christmas and it keeps coming back after 2-3 weeks (no seat gymnastics other than back and forward as my legs are longer than my wife's) and now looking for a proper fix before my 3 year warranty runs out in July.

Same here, as mine also ends in July. Breeze in Portsmouth.

 

[GreyPeanut]

Great, thanks. I'll give them a call and get booked in! Did they do it in a day or did they keep the van for longer?

 

[Jerry999]

Breeze always seem to want it for two days for any job. One day to diagnose and get agreement from VW and then the next day to fit the part.

 

[Roger Boeken]

My right hand side seat belt buckle/switch assembly has now been replaced.
Hopefully, that's the end of this issue for me.

Interestingly, the new buckle assembly doesn't have felt on it like the old one.
Does anyone know why this is or know why the seat belt buckles originally had felt and now they don't?
I can only guess that it's cost saving...
View attachment 136836View attachment 136837
With felt Without felt

Never seen with felt before, probably because you have leather seats ?

 

[vbk1975]

Never seen with felt before, probably because you have leather seats ?

The felt will have been applied during the seat manufacturing/assembly not at the buckle manufacturer (presumably because the felt only fitted to certain seat covers) and the replacement part will come directly from the buckle supplier in a VW box just as they supply it to the seat plant without felt. The felt may have a part number or a generic consumables ref, but the dealer should have applied felt as VW won’t have bothered to fit it if it didn’t fix something. But the dealer probably just ordered the buckle.

 

[Jerry999]

Great replies guys, the dealer now says that they have found a part number for the felt and will order it for next week.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Oh, that’s worrying. Mine’s going in on the 2nd June. Fingers crossed for me I guess.

Friday 13th dealer contacted me to tell the cali is not repaired after 2 days. I get ID buz for the weekend;
On monday 16th they need to order another part that will arrive on thursday 19th…this is starting to become a horror story.

 

[Jerry999]

Friday 13th dealer contacted me to tell the cali is not repaired after 2 days. I get ID buz for the weekend;
On monday 16th they need to order another part that will arrive on thursday 19th…this is starting to become a horror story.

Hmm, not good.
It's only been a week but mine seems ok since the seat belt buckle was replaced.

 

[Jerry999]

Regarding the felt.
It is a consumable and the part number is 533-867-910A.
You just get a strip as shown below not the pattern cut part.

​

 

[Roger Boeken]

Oh, that’s worrying. Mine’s going in on the 2nd June. Fingers crossed for me I guess.

After 7 working days the repair is finally successful. No details known about which parts were needed.