Seat Belt Tensioner switch.....where is it?

[Carguy]

Hello Everyone. I've been a lurker here for some time. A little over a year ago I bought my lovely girlfriend Karen a 2002 Beetle and joined this site to learn about these cars and their personalities. I just changed the precat O2 sensor on her car and the CEL is now off. But her airbag light is on, and the scanner says it's the left side seat belt tensioner switch. I was hoping it was just a bad connection and cleaned up all connectors I could find under the seat hoping it would fix it. I have two questions. 1. - Do you need a special tool to clear the codes for the restraint system? 2. - Just where is this tensioner switch? I'm not a mechanic but I do maintain my Audi A8L and I'm also lucky enough to own a Ferrari Testarossa - I do all of my own engine-out services and stuff. So I'm not shy about getting dirty. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You Everyone. Sincerely - Jeff

[btb]

1.Yes, it's called vagcom.
2.see picture below.
Disconnect the battery before doing ANYTHING with the airbag system.

[blue'99]

Originally Posted by btb

1.Yes, it's called vagcom.
2.see picture below.
Disconnect the battery before doing ANYTHING with the airbag system.

Thats a cute picture of all the parts, but no listing of what they are???
Earl

[btb]

Originally Posted by blue'99

Thats a cute picture of all the parts, but no listing of what they are???
Earl

I excerpted it from the Bentley manual. Just to point out where it is.

[Carguy]

btb - THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!!

[Carguy]

btb - THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!! I appreciate you taking the time to post that assembly drawing - I understand now. I have a cheapie Geni-scan tool that can scan and erase some codes. But I suspect it will not erase anything to do with the airbag or supplimental restraint system. I'll start looking at purchasing a vag-com tool - which will also help me on the Audi A8L.

My girlfriend installed some seat covers - and shortly there after the airbag light came on. We have tried to reseat all connectors and disconnet the battery - but the light persists. In the near future I'll pull off the interior panel and see what's up. I can't imagine what could have set off this dog-gone idiot light!!!!!

I hope others can chime in with their experiences in this area.

[btb]

carguy, my pleasure The airbag light is different from others in such a way that once it sets off, it's there. The only option is to use vagcom to reset it. I wish you were closer so I'll reset it for you. Search for people with vagcom that will offer help here:
http://www.steve-hall.com/cgi-bin/VAG-Locator.pl

[SilverSportNOLA]

I have a similar scan tool and it says the same thing. The tensioner is located in the pillar behind the door. I have not played with mine ... the tensioner is quite expensive for the drivers side ... guess that is the one that gets replaced the most in an accident. They are also not just electrical instead of mechanical ... they are ballistic. I will check mine with a VAG ... but don't expect any difference, when mine came on I had the passenger seat folded forward, that was like 2 years ago.

[Tiger1963]

Originally Posted by SilverSportNOLA

I have a similar scan tool and it says the same thing. The tensioner is located in the pillar behind the door. I have not played with mine ... the tensioner is quite expensive for the drivers side ... guess that is the one that gets replaced the most in an accident. They are also not just electrical instead of mechanical ... they are ballistic. I will check mine with a VAG ... but don't expect any difference, when mine came on I had the passenger seat folded forward, that was like 2 years ago.

Side airbags in the seats? Its not in the pillar but part of the seat belt clasp. Error code is 00591. I had to replace the clasp once already and looks like second time unless I can fix it myself. Some sort of short or broken wire I think and its a pig to get off of the seat itself to check