2015 Fiat Ducato Airbag ECU Issue and DIY Replacement - any advice please?

[Bella's Dad]

I have a 2015 Fiat Ducato MH that has just got the dreaded B0100-49 fault code on the airbag ECU. As this cannot be cleared I have decided to purchase a new unit rather than get the broken one repaired. I'm going to fit the new one myself (hopefully). The vehicle battery is relatively new and holding its charge OK. The alternator is working fine. So I don't suspect that "low voltage" was the issue - just that my MH had one of the dodgy ECUs.

I have sourced a new ECU and got multiecuscan. My plan is to remove the old ECU, replace it with the new one, add an additional earthing cable from one of the ECU bolts to the nearby earthing point and then do a proxy alignment so the system will recognise the new ECU.

My question is - does this approach sound OK? Has anyone who has replaced their airbag ECU got any tips and tricks I should be aware of that they can share please? Have I forgotten anything important?

Any and all advice very welcome - many thanks in advance!

PS I'll let you know how I got on with the job in due course

 

[tonka]

Did mine a few weeks ago. Had it swopped out before the wife made the tea
Negative off battery, undo 3 bolts and the two electrical connections. Reverse the operation to fit new unit. I didn't buy ECUMULTISCAN as no laptop to run it off. Local garage did the proxi and all sorted.
MOT passed last week

 

[Bella's Dad]

Did mine a few weeks ago. Had it swopped out before the wife made the tea
Negative off battery, undo 3 bolts and the two electrical connections. Reverse the operation to fit new unit. I didn't buy ECUMULTISCAN as no laptop to run it off. Local garage did the proxi and all sorted.
MOT passed last week

Many thanks Tonka - the proxy alignment is the bit that worries me the most - glad to hear it went well for you at your local garage

 

[Geoff185]

When mine defaulted bought new one through crash data in Liverpool and came already coded so just plugged in with no issues

 

[pj650]

When mine defaulted bought new one through crash data in Liverpool and came already coded so just plugged in with no issues

Same with ours from Crashdata. No issues at all.

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[RobPeel]

This is a timely post. I also have the same fault code. But where the heck is the Airbag ecu module. Sorry, not technical like a lot of folks on here.

 

[DT]

Crash Data Liverpool. Needed replacement which arrived and was manufactured in the UK.

 

[Lenny HB]

This is a timely post. I also have the same fault code. But where the heck is the Airbag ecu module. Sorry, not technical like a lot of folks on here.

Under the battery cover top right corner looking towards the front just under the centre drinks holders.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Some photos and explanations in this thread

Passenger Airbag Fault

Its a 2015 FIAT 2.3 truck base and the dash is showing a passenger airbag fault, it comes up about five seconds after starting and stays. The display also recommends looking at the handbook but that is next to useless. I have checked all fuses and all are well. Can anyone throw any light on...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Bella's Dad]

Many thanks to everyone for the advice and help.
FYI I got my new airbag ECU from Shop4Parts - a very helpful Fiat parts distributor in Sheffield I think. It was about £30 cheaper than a new one from Crashdata.

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[h8ten]

Just a wee note that I was told when I was removing an airbag, that once you have disconnected the battery terminal, is to turn the ignition on to allow any residual current in the electrics to disperse, i hope it all went/goes well with the swap.

 

[kevin boast]

I have a 2015 Fiat Ducato MH that has just got the dreaded B0100-49 fault code on the airbag ECU. As this cannot be cleared I have decided to purchase a new unit rather than get the broken one repaired. I'm going to fit the new one myself (hopefully). The vehicle battery is relatively new and holding its charge OK. The alternator is working fine. So I don't suspect that "low voltage" was the issue - just that my MH had one of the dodgy ECUs.

I have sourced a new ECU and got multiecuscan. My plan is to remove the old ECU, replace it with the new one, add an additional earthing cable from one of the ECU bolts to the nearby earthing point and then do a proxy alignment so the system will recognise the new ECU.

My question is - does this approach sound OK? Has anyone who has replaced their airbag ECU got any tips and tricks I should be aware of that they can share please? Have I forgotten anything important?

Any and all advice very welcome - many thanks in advance!

PS I'll let you know how I got on with the job in due course

Sent mine to crash data said on return engine battery was low so replaced as it was 7 years old but had not let me down only done about 30 miles air bag light on again

Same with ours from Crashdata. No issues at all.

Mine came back from crash data ticket on it saying engine battery low so replaced battery as it was 7 years old but no problem 30 miles later air bag light on again

 

[Folkranger]

This is a timely post. I also have the same fault code. But where the heck is the Airbag ecu module. Sorry, not technical like a lot of folks on here.

Under the cover in the floorwell (nearside) beside the battery.

 

[pj650]

Sent mine to crash data said on return engine battery was low so replaced as it was 7 years old but had not let me down only done about 30 miles air bag light on again

Mine came back from crash data ticket on it saying engine battery low so replaced battery as it was 7 years old but no problem 30 miles later air bag light on again

Our airbag ecu was manufactured in 2014. It had multiple fault codes, one of which was low battery. The battery is only 2 years old and has never been a problem.
Our local auto electrician plugged the obd reader in and because of the fault codes he warned me that the ecu might need to be replaced.
Sent it to Crashdata who confirmed that this was the case. I decided (my wife told me)
to buy a new ecu coded to our vehicle. Manufactured 2023 original equipment. £368.
Quite a bit less than Fiat/Iveco dealer so well pleased.
600 miles later and no issues.

 

[Kegill]

£650. Diagnostic plus new ECU Fiat main dealer.

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[daveandsan]

After having a problem with my ecu I had the faults cleared and the garage said it was probably low voltage that had caused the problem (definitely not).
The ecu lasted another two months before the same problem arose.
I bit the bullet and had a brand new one fitted the beginning of July, no problems yet.
ECU £226.32
Labour £72.00

 

[Bernie n Anna]

This is a timely post. I also have the same fault code. But where the heck is the Airbag ecu module. Sorry, not technical like a lot of folks on here.

You may have to remove the cup holders,2 small screws.

 

[The Rum Runners]

The proxi alignment isn’t a problem using Multiecuscan, just follow the instructions. I am a complete novice and did it without problem.

 

[Bella's Dad]

The proxi alignment isn’t a problem using Multiecuscan, just follow the instructions. I am a complete novice and did it without problem.

Many thanks - the instructions seem pretty striaght forward - I'll give it a try this weekend!

 

[Newfie]

Replaced ours free under extended 5 year Fiat warranty, 2nd failure 1st failure for earthing issue code 80102-00. Newer model number as well

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[The POPs]

I have a 2015 Fiat Ducato MH that has just got the dreaded B0100-49 fault code on the airbag ECU. As this cannot be cleared I have decided to purchase a new unit rather than get the broken one repaired. I'm going to fit the new one myself (hopefully). The vehicle battery is relatively new and holding its charge OK. The alternator is working fine. So I don't suspect that "low voltage" was the issue - just that my MH had one of the dodgy ECUs.

I have sourced a new ECU and got multiecuscan. My plan is to remove the old ECU, replace it with the new one, add an additional earthing cable from one of the ECU bolts to the nearby earthing point and then do a proxy alignment so the system will recognise the new ECU.

My question is - does this approach sound OK? Has anyone who has replaced their airbag ECU got any tips and tricks I should be aware of that they can share please? Have I forgotten anything important?

Any and all advice very welcome - many thanks in advance!

PS I'll let you know how I got on with the job in due course

Took mine to a Local Garage in Portugal. They plugged in their device linked to Engine Management. This said nothing wrong air Bag, Warning light came on as Habitation Batteries low in Charge. Reset and job done.

 

[Bella's Dad]

I have a 2015 Fiat Ducato MH that has just got the dreaded B0100-49 fault code on the airbag ECU. As this cannot be cleared I have decided to purchase a new unit rather than get the broken one repaired. I'm going to fit the new one myself (hopefully). The vehicle battery is relatively new and holding its charge OK. The alternator is working fine. So I don't suspect that "low voltage" was the issue - just that my MH had one of the dodgy ECUs.

I have sourced a new ECU and got multiecuscan. My plan is to remove the old ECU, replace it with the new one, add an additional earthing cable from one of the ECU bolts to the nearby earthing point and then do a proxy alignment so the system will recognise the new ECU.

My question is - does this approach sound OK? Has anyone who has replaced their airbag ECU got any tips and tricks I should be aware of that they can share please? Have I forgotten anything important?

Any and all advice very welcome - many thanks in advance!

PS I'll let you know how I got on with the job in due course

An update on my Airbag ECU - new one fitted, new earthing strap fitted from ECU to bulkhead. Proxi Alignment run with MultiECUScan - warning light has gone out!!!

Was a bit worried when I first switch the ignition on after fitting the new ECU as the warning light was still on. I was expecting the odometer to flash as the proxi alignment hadn't been done yet - but it wasn't - just the airbag warning light still on. So I ran a scan on DTCs which showed a code for the Airbag ECU - "module not recognized". This disappeared after I did the proxi alignment and the warning light went out.

From start to finish took me about 2 hours which included removing and refitting the battery cover and piece of dashboard to get at the old ECU - plus the cab carpets! I practiced the proxi aligmment a few times to make sure I knew what I was doing. Made a copy of the existing proxi aligment file just in case.

With the help of this fourm and all the advice it was a pretty straight forward job.
Many thanks all!!

 

[The Rum Runners]

An update on my Airbag ECU - new one fitted, new earthing strap fitted from ECU to bulkhead. Proxi Alignment run with MultiECUScan - warning light has gone out!!!

Was a bit worried when I first switch the ignition on after fitting the new ECU as the warning light was still on. I was expecting the odometer to flash as the proxi alignment hadn't been done yet - but it wasn't - just the airbag warning light still on. So I ran a scan on DTCs which showed a code for the Airbag ECU - "module not recognized". This disappeared after I did the proxi alignment and the warning light went out.

From start to finish took me about 2 hours which included removing and refitting the battery cover and piece of dashboard to get at the old ECU - plus the cab carpets! I practiced the proxi aligmment a few times to make sure I knew what I was doing. Made a copy of the existing proxi aligment file just in case.

With the help of this fourm and all the advice it was a pretty straight forward job.
Many thanks all!!

Pleased all went well.

 

[OutTheOffice]

We have also got the airbag ECU issue, wondered if those who have also had this apparently common issue take the van to a garage to have a diagnostic ( assuming you dont have your own kit ) before sending the unit off to Crash Data? or are Crash Data able to tell you what caused the problem? Im assuming if you dont fix the underlying problem it will simply re-occur? Thank you

 

[Newfie]

I had to get it checked by a Fiat professional garage as I was claiming under the 5 year extended warranty.
They initially reset the code (B0102-00) in April but light back on in July so they then replaced the ecu

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[daveandsan]

We have also got the airbag ECU issue, wondered if those who have also had this apparently common issue take the van to a garage to have a diagnostic ( assuming you dont have your own kit ) before sending the unit off to Crash Data? or are Crash Data able to tell you what caused the problem? Im assuming if you dont fix the underlying problem it will simply re-occur? Thank you

I wouldn’t bother with crash data, no guarantee. Just bite the bullet and have a new ECU fitted.

 

[tonka]

We have also got the airbag ECU issue, wondered if those who have also had this apparently common issue take the van to a garage to have a diagnostic ( assuming you dont have your own kit ) before sending the unit off to Crash Data? or are Crash Data able to tell you what caused the problem? Im assuming if you dont fix the underlying problem it will simply re-occur? Thank you

Garage diagnostic will just give you a fault code and most common is that the airbag ECU has a fault, it won't specify what caused it.
Even a cheap £10 OBD reader should give the code.
I read up a lot ref this problem, the repair route is really 50/50. Many do seem to fail again. All that places like crash data do is open it up and reprogram an eprom chip from what i can see. Most of their so called "reports" say low voltage.
My own fault happened after a flat battery and me trying to start the engine. The airbag light did not come on straight away but within a week.

I also went with a new unit, self fitted and local garage did the "proxi alignment" to match it to the vehicle.

It may be worth disconnecting the earth off the cab battery for a short while. Reconnect and see if the system re-sets. A Funster at Lincoln last week had the fault light on the dash, did this and his seemed to clear. Only time will tell if it does happen again.

 

[OutTheOffice]

Thank you all, Im certainly not wanting to have a cheap fix, only for it to go again in a few months time; especially as we use the van mainly in europe. I was surprised to see the light come on, we are just home from 3 months touring in Norway van has sat on the drive for 10 days, moved it and off it went. I think I will just try disconnecting the battery for a while and see if Im lucky, otherwise get a new unit fitted by our local indy garage who look after the van very well for me.

 

[Dr Auto-Sleeper]

The proxi alignment isn’t a problem using Multiecuscan, just follow the instructions. I am a complete novice and did it without problem.

I know MultiEcuScan is software which will need an adapter to connect to the OBD port.
Can I ask which adapter you used?

 

[Bella's Dad]

There is a guide on the MultiECUScan website which tells you which cable and adaptor is required for different Fiat versions. For X290 fiat you need a suitable cable (you can get this from MultiECUScans distributor in the UK - see the website) which has been modified for Italian vehicles and the yellow adaptor to get into the CANBUS of the X290