RS3 - Seat Belt Tensioner Fault or Potential Crash?

Jem Needham

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• Oct 12, 2020

• #1

Finally got my hands on an RS3 (late 2017 - FL), love it mint condition but picking up a fault on Carista (03084 - Ignition Limitation Belt-Tensioning Passenger Side - G552).

Concerned the previous owner may have had a shunt or crash, local Audi dealers not aware of any accidents but its just out of warranty so hoping its a fault they've chosen not to correct which is less of a concern.

If i reset it, it just comes back. Any thoughts?

No signs of any damage at all, paintworks perfect, panels all line up e.t.c. its just this fault playing on my mind.

 

Jem Needham

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• Oct 12, 2020

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Thought as much, it’s panther black so I assume it would be difficult to match as a respray or touch up? Driver side tensioner hasn’t gone so just seems a bit odd.

I wasn’t sure if they are known to go off in an emergency stop type situation or if they are only triggered by an actual collision?

Don’t particularly like the Audi dealer, might get it looked at elsewhere but guessing this isn’t a cheap fix! Doesn’t bother me too much if it’s had a light knock just don’t want other problems surfacing down the line.

 

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steve111b

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• Oct 13, 2020

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When the Airbag Control Module determines the criteria
for an accident severe enough to deploy the pyrotechnic
safety belts has been exceeded, the shoulder portion of the
safety belt is tensioned from the clamping point of the
locking buckle in the direction of the belt tensioner by the
pyrotechnic devices in the automatic safety belt retractor.
At the same time, the retractors are triggered and the lap
portion of the safety belt is tensioned by the movement of
a steel cable attached to the safety belt.

The pyrotechnic device is used once and goes off in a crash. The word ignition makes me think that your fault involves the pyrotechnic tensioner because the device explodes like an airbag.

There is another tensioner that uses an electric motor and can be used over and over again.

 

Jem Needham

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• Oct 13, 2020

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Cheers Gents, local auto-shop wont touch it, said to bring it up with the dealer but they did say its not uncommon to have faults with airbag controllers and or tensioners.

Also said it would be odd if in an accident the drivers side didn't go off so hopefully its just a fault and shouldn't be more than £300 to replace, warranty with dealer is 12 months so ill take it up with them.

Coincidentally, a friend of a friend was the previous owner from new, so I've asked if he had a knock as well.

 

Jem Needham

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• Oct 13, 2020

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royalsteve68

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• Oct 14, 2020

• #6

******** said:

Once the tensioner goes the belt has to be rebuilt/replaced, it won't just reset unfortunately. I'd suggest taking it to a good body shop and see if they would be so kind as to look the car over. Painters see things that most humans cannot, you'd be amazed what they can pick up on that you'd never notice. A repair is almost always detectable.

An audi dealer would be obligated to replace it I'm fairly sure. Not something they can really turn the cheek at.

At the end of the day, as long as the car tracks straight and you are happy with the finish, just get the tensioner replaced and enjoy your sweet new ride.

Click to expand...

Paint shop or detailer. Detailer defo will be able to tell using visual check and aides like lamps and paint depth tools (decent depth tools are crazily expensive)

 

Jem Needham

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• Oct 15, 2020

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Getting a call back tomorrow, requested a full Audi Health check report



Done some digging though, G552 is the

part number on the fault code and found an Audi A8 schematic. Assuming Audi use common part numbers and Carista hasn't got it wrong, t's not actually the tensioner igniter its the belt force limiter.

 

Jem Needham

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• Oct 27, 2020

• #8

Been into the Audi dealer today, they ran their diagnostics and there is no fault code coming up on their end. Gave me the "3rd party devices are not always correct" seems odd, codes still there on a Carista scan.