Airbag ECU Failure etc

[Lenny HB]

what Actually is the problem ?????

Read the thread all will become clear.

 

[zedman]

I'm following the thread Lenny but there's no clear indication to what the actual fault is........high battery voltage........low battery voltage....fit another earth wire, etc...........mine came on a couple of weeks ago and it was none thats mentioned on the thread

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm following the thread Lenny but there's no clear indication to what the actual fault is........high battery voltage........low battery voltage....fit another earth wire, etc...........mine came on a couple of weeks ago and it was none thats mentioned on the thread

I was just referring to the ECU's failing, I thought they had got over the problem by 2018, but a 2019 van could have built in 2018 or eairler.

 

[zedman]

The thing is my last van was a 2011 auto trail chieftain that for twelve months I had no end of problems with the battery going flat until one day the alternator cooked the battery, Christ knows how many volts were in the battery when it was bubbling .....never had the air bag light come on though.
My van now is a 2016 carthago with no problems what so ever and the bloody air bag light comes on for no reason so I don't really get what crash data are saying ?

 

[Lenny HB]

The thing is my last van was a 2011 auto trail chieftain that for twelve months I had no end of problems with the battery going flat until one day the alternator cooked the battery, Christ knows how many volts were in the battery when it was bubbling .....never had the air bag light come on though.
My van now is a 2016 carthago with no problems what so ever and the bloody air bag light comes on for no reason so I don't really get what crash data are saying ?

I don't think it was ever a problem on the X250's only on the X290's.
Talking to a friend yesterday he said his airbag light kept coming on, I asked have you let the battery get low he said yes had to jump start it twice. Its a 2016 3lt.

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[dunnah01]

Trying to unpick this but it seems the pre 2018 German TRW ECU is not the only one having problems. The latest Vietnamese ones are now also showing problems unless the 2019 Wildax was built on an early base

 

[zedman]

I don't think it was ever a problem on the X250's only on the X290's.
Talking to a friend yesterday he said his airbag light kept coming on, I asked have you let the battery get low he said yes had to jump start it twice. Its a 2016 3lt.

that makes things a bit clearer pal

 

[Diabalo]

I don't think it was ever a problem on the X250's only on the X290's.
Talking to a friend yesterday he said his airbag light kept coming on, I asked have you let the battery get low he said yes had to jump start it twice. Its a 2016 3lt.

I had mine replaced in under warranty and that was on a 2013 AT Mohawk so an X250

 

[Phill D]

My 2008 x250 had no issues with the airbag ecu, the 2012 failed after around 5 years.
I hesitate to write no issues since replacing it.,

 

[jezport]

My 2016 x290 had a new one at 4 years old. The fiat professional mechanic said it's rare on the x290!!!

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[zedman]

I rest my case !!!!!!!

 

[huck999]

I personally cannot believe that with modern electronics, Fiat cannot purchase and install a more robust ecu.

I have just had the srs ecu reprogrammed by CrashData. Probable cause of failure - low voltage.
I installed new battery and fully charged it before installing the repaired ecu. All was good for a few days but then the airbag warnings came on again. (I had waited for all dashboard lights to stabilise before starting the engine)

MultiECUscan says low voltage, again, and internal fault - B0100-49 . A check of the engine battery shows 12.8v. Terminals to ecu all clean.

Question: is there a definitive method of installing and protecting these devices or do I have to keep paying £90 to CrashData for a reset that may come back again in near future?

Van is a 2018 Fiat X290

Thanks

 

[SOS]

I personally cannot believe that with modern electronics, Fiat cannot purchase and install a more robust ecu.

I have just had the srs ecu reprogrammed by CrashData. Probable cause of failure - low voltage.
I installed new battery and fully charged it before installing the repaired ecu. All was good for a few days but then the airbag warnings came on again. (I had waited for all dashboard lights to stabilise before starting the engine)

MultiECUscan says low voltage, again, and internal fault - B0100-49 . A check of the engine battery shows 12.8v. Terminals to ecu all clean.

Question: is there a definitive method of installing and protecting these devices or do I have to keep paying £90 to CrashData for a reset that may come back again in near future?

Van is a 2018 Fiat X290

Thanks

We sent ours off to crash data and it came back with more errors than when it went to them. Not wholly impressed with them tbh

 

[jezport]

The other rumour of why they fail is moisture caused by condensation. This generally doesnt happen in Ducatos sold as vans but does happen in motorhomes due to the extra moisture created by cooking and overnight breathing etc.

I have heard of people opening the unit up drying and then the unit is ok. So if you have the terminal code that says the unit is knackered it may be worth carefully opening it and drying it out. Look for signs of moisture on the PCB etc and dry out thoroughly then reseal.

It may answer the reason why repaired units from crashdata fail again, as they only reset them.

 

[SpeedyDux]

The other rumour of why they fail is moisture caused by condensation. This generally doesnt happen in Ducatos sold as vans but does happen in motorhomes due to the extra moisture created by cooking and overnight breathing etc.

I have heard of people opening the unit up drying and then the unit is ok. So if you have the terminal code that says the unit is knackered it may be worth carefully opening it and drying it out. Look for signs of moisture on the PCB etc and dry out thoroughly then reseal.

It may answer the reason why repaired units from crashdata fail again, as they only reset them.

I think Crashdata reinstalls the firmware in the ECU, that has been corrupted by the high or low voltage at start-up.

I don't have an explanation for the ECUs that are not repairable. Maybe there could be condensation inside as you suggest.

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[the1andonly]

Ive just added a poll here to try and asses when the problem years are and ratio of reprograms to replacements.

Airbag ECU problems

How big a problem is it? Do you know how it happened? add an answer More than one failure, same or different vehicles add them all. I hope we will be able to answer some questions in recent threads also hope it doesnt look too confusing

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[almichie]

Hi all, we are buying a 2012 x250. We test drove yesterday and the airbag light came on and a message stating airbag failure. having read a few threads on x250 we knew of this issue. The ignition switch on this van has a battery disconnect position, could this assist with keeping a repeat failure at bay?

i also have a battery master, which I intended to fit. But having read the reports of both high and low voltage failures I am thinking this might not be the best idea.

I welcome comments on the battery master.
thanks

 

[Diabalo]

The battery master is used to keep the starter battery topped up from the leisure battery, so a good idea.

You need to leave the van battery connected for alarms, radio code and immobilisor

 

[Lenny HB]

I hope you are getting the seller to fix the Airbag problem before you buy as they can sometimes be problematical to fix.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I hope you are getting the seller to fix the Airbag problem before you buy as they can sometimes be problematical to fix.

Also a new starter battery. For peace of mind.

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[TCG]

Mine has been to crash data twice @£80 each time... spoke to crash data to enquire regarding warranty as it failed again within a month of them resetting it... answer was no chance
decided to forget them and purchase a new one which is being fitted by main fiat dealer Monday 24th

 

[Larby]

Mine has been to crash data twice @£80 each time... spoke to crash data to enquire regarding warranty as it failed again within a month of them resetting it... answer was no chance
decided to forget them and purchase a new one which is being fitted by main fiat dealer Monday 24th

Mine failed soon after repair for getting through MOT. Crash data said it worked when it left them and the component failed not their workmanship. Have to agree. Due to send off again for this coming MOT.

Will a new one suffer from whatever ?? causes problems?

 

[TCG]

Mine failed soon after repair for getting through MOT. Crash data said it worked when it left them and the component failed not their workmanship. Have to agree. Due to send off again for this coming MOT.

Will a new one suffer from whatever ?? causes problems?

So if you only fix it for MOT... does that mean you are driving around with defective air bags. as i was told by fiat professional that the airbags would not engage. with the red dash light on

 

[Riverbankannie]

So if you only fix it for MOT... does that mean you are driving around with defective air bags. as i was told by fiat professional that the airbags would not engage. with the red dash light on

The light is orange, Reading the manual orange lights are warning not stop driving immediately.
I really don’t know if the airbags would not deploy. If your Fiat service agent correct, surely they should make the light red?

 

[TCG]

The light is orange, Reading the manual orange lights are warning not stop driving immediately.
I really don’t know if the airbags would not deploy. If your Fiat service agent correct, surely they should make the light red?

My lights were red not orange

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[almichie]

Yes the seller is fixing the fault. The van started first time on the forecourt . The airbag light is red. The van comes with a long warranty as well.

My concern with the battery master is voltage regulation; ie will it control voltage or just feed solar feed straight through at a controlled current. The van has a large solar panel, which is great - can you get a split charger solar controller? Might be better than the battery master

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Phill D]

I guess the first point is what solar controller is currently fitted?
Depending on what it is will depend whether or not it is currently trickle charging the cab battery.

 

[almichie]

I guess the first point is what solar controller is currently fitted?
Depending on what it is will depend whether or not it is currently trickle charging the cab battery.

I will find out!

 

[almichie]

Ok, I am pretty sure this is the controller. I am calling them today anyway so will ask if they can take a look. It does have two leisure batteries so I am hoping it’s not just wired back to those on a one to one basis.