25% off the price for an air bag sensor light being on?

[Grindle]

I just looked this morning at an unusually cheap VW Golf GTI from 2007. Nearly full MOT. FSH with documented 79,000 miles. Air bag sensor light on. Car reduced in price by £800 for this fault. £3,300 seems a steal for one of those, a DSG model as well. How expensive can this fault be to put right? Or could this be something much bigger than i'm thinking? (It needs two tyres as well, but hey ho).

[Integroo]

I always think that if it was an easy fix, the seller would fix it and sell it for the normal price.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Quite often it's a loose wire at the base of the drivers seat belt, the bit that the seat belt plugs into. I've seen this fault on 2 cars and both times that's been the cause.

[Grindle]

I will take the chance i think, it's not like it's got a massive oil leak or gearbox rattle! Let's go for it! :-)

[Krikkit]

If it's a dealer they won't want to just bodge it, and a proper fix could mean taking the seat out and having it repaired etc.

As a private owner you might just put one of those resistors in that fools the seat sensor into saying it's always occupied - perfectly safe, just not something a professional outfit would stand by.

[SonicShadow]

Seller has probably weighed up the cost of diagnosing the fault + potential repair costs vs a discount on asking price and decided the latter is the better option. SRS repairs can get very expensive depending on what the fault is, so the discount is fair / expected.

[Grindle]

Ok thanks for that.

[SonicShadow]

Also, check carefully for signs of accident damage. Possible its been in a smash and has not had the system repaired properly.

[InitialDave]

Grindle said:

How expensive can this fault be to put right?

From the information provided, somewhere between £5 and £5k.

[catso]

I had a 2004 Audi A3 on which the airbag warning light came on after someone slid the passenger seat backwards/forwards 'firmly' (2 door so moves for access to rear seats).

Presumably something to do with the connector/plug being disturbed and simply resetting the fault in the diagnostics cured it.

[thecremeegg]

My gf has a 2007 GTI and it had the airbag light on.
Like people have said, it's the wiring under the seat most likely - I just wiggled the connector and reset the light and it's been fine ever since!

[strath44]

Make sure you get an Hpi check done and if you haven't already have a look at the mot history on the dvla website!

I'm using this site a just now as it seems to pull up prev sale info if there is any or there is hpi.co.uk

https://cazana.com/uk

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

It could even be missing some vital components if it's been accident repaired. Tread carefully.