Air bag ECU blown - wish I knew then what I know now!

[Alan Atkin]

Picked up motorhome from storage, battery low so boosted it and started the engine. Air bag warning light came on. Now sitting in Brownhills waiting to have a new ECU fitted tomorrow. They sold the last in stock yesterday. I spoke to the mechanic and he suggested I isolate the battery before charging it rather than boosting and blowing the ECU again. As I have no power at storage I intend to spend £190 on a second vehicle battery and simply swap them over every few weeks during the winter when I am not using the motorhome. Is this the best option?

I wrote about my experiance a couple of months ago on this subject, I was charged £580 for a replacement and set up.
I retrieved the old one from the firm and went on the internet to actually see the cost of replacement for my model it was £75 for a genuine bosch replacement I also found that peugoet ( make of my van) recommended to put on an extra earthing wire. to stop them blowing.These devices are simple to fit the connections can only go on one way. in my van marquise 175 it is located in the middle of the foot way at the front. I suspect that there is an internal fuse in the unit although not had the old unit repaired yet.
Good luck.

 

[Peregrinator]

Hi, just put this page from the service book here in case it might help someone, it's for the Fiat x250 2017:

 

[Littlewheels]

Just to say l use one of these little Solars fixed to the top of a Battery Box on my Car Trailer that has Movers fitted and it keeps the Battery charged,l have never had to Mains Charge it.They do work.

 

[RTDA]

Which connector?

Don't know how it should be referred to but it simply connects the wires coming up from below the floor - from the ECU I imagine - to those associated with the seat belt tensioner etc.

 

[Delboyarapaho]

I had the ecu light on for ages but after finding a " new " blank 2018 ecu i found a bloke who re programmed my original one and it's been ok ever since. i still have the other ecu but i've now got a 40 w solar panel and think it's doing a good job.i just connected to positive and negative and plugged it it. The red light on the panel lit up and i just unplug it when we take it out.

The reason my view is that extra solar will not overcome this problem is I have 290w on my roof. During the summer on a very sunny day in June we generated 1.05kwh in one day. Last week we averaged 75! That’s nowhere near enough to maintain the leisure batteries and vehicle so you need another plan. Naturally I am supportive of having maximum solar I’m just making the point that during the winter in U.K. they won’t overcome this issue alone

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[Tynesider]

Three years ago I had problem with low voltage during storage due to alarm drainage and resulted in a faulty air bag ECU. I had the ecu repaired at local auto electrics workshop for £180.. I bought an 80 watt solar panel and a dual mppt controller. and stood it on the dashboard. I Connected it directly to the starter battery and leisure battery with an Anderson plug and 10am fuse in positive line Problem solved. I check both battery voltages every two weeks.

 

[Conal]

headlight yes the Autotrail Delaware has a battery management system but I don’t think it is as good as a BtoB. If I leave it on the default setting it charges both the vehicle battery and the leisure batteries. I have one factory fitted solar panel but need more. I have always had a problem keeping a charge in the vehicle battery but, to be honest, I have left the motorhome in storage over winter for too long without charging the batteries.
I am collecting my additional Bosch S5013 100AH battery from euro car parts today and will swop them over every two weeks over winter - more frequently in freezing temperatures.

The ECU was £263 less 10% and the total bill was £294.09. They fixed my faulty hinge on the habitat door for nothing as they took two days get the part and to find a slot to fit it. I was just grateful they could do the job as I turned up without notice and was willing to wait as I didn’t feel safe driving with a faulty airbag sensor.