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Any help is appreciated!
Thanks!
I didnt get an owners manual so I have no idea if I am missing a step, is there a lock for the top or something? :confuse:
If you have a manual top, I would believe you have to push the top down into the locked position, but I don't know for sure, as my car has the automatic top.
Hope this helps.
As far as the air-bag light is concerned, I'm just not going to worry about it right now, it's the trunks failure to open that has to be fixed. When I use the trunk open switch on driver side door, it "clicks" okay, and the trunk opens about 1/2 inch, but I cannot raise it up. Something is holding it in place. Using the key remote does nothing at all.
Very frustrating.
Thanks,
Don Schaaf
I have a low-mileage 2001 1.8 gas Turbo Beetle and I can offer this on the airbag light:
My airbag light came on and after researching it found that there is a wiring harness under the seat that controls the side airbags, which are in the sides of the seats. The wires plug in under the seats, and also plug in to the base of the seat belt connectors. The harnesses are micro-thin and also too short, so when you move the seats to gain access to the rear, the wires get pulled loose or break. You'll notice that the bucket seats also pop up when accessing the rear seat, which may be the source of the stress. These wires have very specific electrical resistance, so can't be spliced - or so I am told. I didn't risk it, because I didn't want a deployed airbag. The dealer charged me almost $400 to repair one side. After 8 months of no airbag light, I moved the seats for the first time to gain access to the rear seat, and immediately got an airbag light again. Look under the seat, and if you're lucky, the plug may just be pulled out. If it's on the seatbelt clip, there is a rubber boot on the harness where it plugs into the base of the seatbelt female end. Gently pull that back, and you may see the broken wires. Again, if you're lucky, check the wiring harness under the seats to see if the connectors on either end have slipped out of the sockets. I believe these wires are green and yellow. If you're a rational person, you will probably now start sputtering the following: "This is a safety issue and the government should force a recall!" They didn't.
If nothing else, if you have to take it to the dealer, mention that you're aware of this defect and they may be too embarrased to tell you you need an $800 airbag module or some similar nonsense.
On the trunk issue: Mine did that too. I found that if I clicked it and raced to the rear, it would open. If I walked back at a leisurely pace, it would stick when I pulled the handle. When I reprogrammed the remote after changing the battery, it stopped.
I don't exactly recall the details on how I did that, but it involved putting one key in the door while a second key was in the ignition. It may be in the manual or you can search the procedure on-line.
Good luck,
Mike
Another part that comes into play here is that quite a few of these vehicles are purchased used and no one can actually tell how the prior owner used the car. People get rid of cars for a reason, mostly because of issues that arise with it. It is definitely no fun to be the recipient of these problems.
After reading these forums I see a trend that I believe warrants a class action law suit. If anyone is interested or knows of one that is started please, please let me know.
These cars are not cheap, and VW should be held accountable for selling such a bad product at such a high price.
Thanks
What you do outside of the forums is your own business and if you want someone to be able to contact you outside of the forums you can always click on the Forum Preferences link and change your email setting to public. That way, other registered forums users, and ONLY registered forums users, can click on your username and find your email address.
On a side note, I also had to repair the sensor that indicates a faulty (or disengaged) airbag two times (luckily under warranty) before finally receiving a letter indicating the recall! When will VW issue a recall on these windows!?!?!?!!
Has anyone had any success in this issue?
My name is Mihai and I have exactly the same problem with the openning the trunk.
How did you solve it eventualy?
Thank you very much!
Mihai Coman
Is there a fix for this?
We have had the exact same problems. In addition, we had to get a new catalytic converter. Luckily this item was still under warranty, but really, I have never even heard of anyone needing a new CC on a car with only 45,000 mi on it.
BUT ITS GONE NOW!!!! We got rid of it, which is very exciting. (airbag light was still on when we traded it)
I ,too, had the trunk not opening--First by key--then by switch and key. And NO it was not in Valet mode...which is the option to take your key and lock the gas lock and trunk lock so that those things are inaccessible when the top is down or valet takes your amazing sweet Beetle ride to park!!
So in 2 years I have warranty work done:
Top flappy thing broke TWICE (47,000 miles and 58, 000 miles)
Had an entire NEW CONVERTIBLE top put on (47,000 miles)
Airbag sensor replaced (42,000 miles)
Check engine sensor...
Power Steering Rack replacement ...after having an oil change...and tires rotated...the problem started---started car the next day--grinding power steering pump. (67,000 miles)
Window switch replacement (67,000 miles) becasue the windows weren't rolling all the way up after dropping the 1" or so when opening and closing door...
Trunk release switch Replaced
PROBLEM STILL OCCURING NOW AND AGAIN...they said it's something with the timing of the locks, blah blah blah...
Center console lock needed replacing--THEY HAD TO BREAK IT TO GET IN UNLATCHED!
Seat adjuster at the shoulder (the ones that drop the seat forward) Broke...was apparently glued back on...
The driver side window squeaks terribly--it's embarassing and if anyone has a solution--I would appreciate it...They never fixed that problem.
The second huge (and embarassing) issue is the entire interior console is coated with a rubberish black material--probably looked pretty cool when it was new--but it has degraded so much--it is just scraping off....If you were to take your fingernail and even lightinly scratch it--it removes the surface and looks terrible.
I borrowed a loaner--a 2009 Beetle NON convertible...it was soo roomy. I could really pack things in and my 11 mos old daughter loved the big window.
Sooooo/...if anyone want's to buy my Beetle--please disregard the forementioned problems and contact me! LOL
It is still fun in the sun....but not a Mom car!
Besides the usual problems (airbag light, windows, headlights, front door falling off), we also had to replace the catalytic converter (at 40,000). Of course the garage first wanted to charge us a few hundred for the temperature sensor so they could be sure it was the catalytic converter. Then on top of it all, the shop didn't put the hoses back so one rubbed on the belt and leaked all the coolant out so it had to be towed back to the garage. Never so happy to be rid of something (the conv. top was about ready to completely break too!)
Thank you!
Thanks,
Try an auto upholstery shop first.
BelAirCarGuy