Passenger Air bag on 1999 Golf Mk4
Discussion
I'm about to purchase a car for my son, it's a 1999 Mark IV, 1.6SE with 88,000 miles on the clock. When I checked the car over the cover on the passenger air bag was warped and does not sit flush, I asked the seller if it had been involved in an accident and he replied as far as he was aware no. The rest of the car is in very good condition and also comes with a set of winter wheels and tyres so It seems like a very good buy at £1300.
So my questions are: what could of caused the warping and can it be repaired? Also is there a way to check if the airbag has gone off? and finally is the price good value?
So my questions are: what could of caused the warping and can it be repaired? Also is there a way to check if the airbag has gone off? and finally is the price good value?
Really need some assistance as I don't want to buy a car for my son that may have been in an accident or is going to cost a fortune to put right cosmetically.Does the airbag light go on and off correctly when the ignition is turned on?
I think the vag diagnostics will show if the airbags have been deployed (either take it to a dealer or find someone local with vag com - hell buy vag com anyway it will save you money over the life of the car)
Its possible that the passenger side of the dash has been dismantled at some point, the heating fan motor bushes failed and also at the back of my mind is that there was an issue with some passenger airbag connectors in the A4 (so probalbly the golf as well). To get at the connector you had to remove the glove compartment and reach up behind the passenger airbag.
I think either of those problems could be an issue.
If worried about it being in a smash, how do the inner wings look? any sign of repair/ripple etc?
I think the vag diagnostics will show if the airbags have been deployed (either take it to a dealer or find someone local with vag com - hell buy vag com anyway it will save you money over the life of the car)
Its possible that the passenger side of the dash has been dismantled at some point, the heating fan motor bushes failed and also at the back of my mind is that there was an issue with some passenger airbag connectors in the A4 (so probalbly the golf as well). To get at the connector you had to remove the glove compartment and reach up behind the passenger airbag.
I think either of those problems could be an issue.
If worried about it being in a smash, how do the inner wings look? any sign of repair/ripple etc?
I have seen the warping on other VAG cars that have not been involved in accidents, I think it can be caused by heat where cars have been sat in the sun and the airbag cover has warped a bit.
You dont say how bad the warping is, the one I have seen are fairly minor and the covers can be be pushed back to the correct shape (Although they dont remain that way)
You dont say how bad the warping is, the one I have seen are fairly minor and the covers can be be pushed back to the correct shape (Although they dont remain that way)
Thanks guys,
I went to a German authorised VW dealer (I live in Germany and car is also here)and told him about the problem as the car is still with the current owner (only paid a €200 deposit). Dealer said it would not be repairable as the car is over 10 years old
so I took this to mean it would not be finacially viable. I did mention the current owner stated that the airbag had not gone off and he seemed to readily accept this.
I'm going back to see the car on Fri so will try to push it back into place if possible, if not, son will just have to live with it cosmetically.
I went to a German authorised VW dealer (I live in Germany and car is also here)and told him about the problem as the car is still with the current owner (only paid a €200 deposit). Dealer said it would not be repairable as the car is over 10 years old
so I took this to mean it would not be finacially viable. I did mention the current owner stated that the airbag had not gone off and he seemed to readily accept this.I'm going back to see the car on Fri so will try to push it back into place if possible, if not, son will just have to live with it cosmetically.
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