mmn

My 1998 A6 has the air bag light on. Audi service said "code 01212 rear belt tensioner igniter passenger side n197 open circuit sparodic. Found connector to seatbelt melted to seatbelt. Needs seatbelt and connector. 4B5-857-805-V04, 4B1-971-259-A, 111-971-940-A".
The first part seems to be the belt and the tensioner, the second is the harness and the third I believe is a connector (not sure which).
This does not make sense to me. If just the connector is bad, why not replace just it?
I then checked under the seat and I could not find anything wrong with the harness and connectors there.
Questions I was hoping someone could answer:
1- Is the seatbelt connector the yellow one, under the rear seat, on the passenger side?
2- Where does the harness connect to the seatbelt?
3- Where this connector could be melted to the seatbelt, as Audi service states?
4- How do I replace the harness and the belt, if really needed?
Thanks!

4Driver4

If the connector is melted, I'd want to know why.

mmn

When I got there, they had already reassembled everything. I asked why this happened. They said there is no way to tell, it just happens.
Of course, this is BS, and that is why I am trying to understand what is really going on, before spending about $500.
There is just one Audi service in this entire region, they are extremely arrogant and pricey. They told me their main customer is AoA, as most of the cars they service are under Audi's warranty. In a nutshell, they couldn't care less about me and my business.
If it is just a connector, I could even do it myself.

Egil A64.2s - S6

Maybe on a different planet!

No wonder resale prices suck. Who would want to deal with this 'after new' service issues?

phred

but go to any marque forum and you'll find similar stories of arrogant, butthead dealerships. It's not restricted just to Audi, unfortunately.

I would advise anyone considering any brand of expensive, highline car to rethink their decision if they have only one service opportunity in their area. Sales I wouldn't worry about, but service is an ongoing, continual relationship and it needs to be good (or you need to have other folks to date in the area!)

mmn

Want to know what the Assistant Service Manager at the local Audi service told me when I told him I was frustrated with the number of problems I was facing with my car? He told me: "If you wanted reliability, you should have bought a Japanese car"!!!!!
I love my Audi, but sometimes I wonder if I should have followed his "expert" advice...

Egil A64.2s - S6

Never looked back. At least with MB I have a choice as there ate more dealers in my area.