Dreaded Air bag warning, getting it fixed.

[peterc10]

Took the motorhome (Ducato based Hymer B678) out on Tuesday to take the Scooter for repairs, service and MOT in Canterbury. The Air bag warning light came on as soon as I started the engine and also warning lights for both seat belts. Drove there with them on, although the seat belt warnings occasionally went off. Drove back with the airbag warning light still on, but the seatbelt warning light was not on.

This has happened before in lockdown in 2020 and spares were impossible so I took it out sent it to CrashData in Liverpool and I installed it with no problems. Now I want to get a new unit, but I think I will not be able to fit it because, being a new unit, it needs Fiat's software to recognise it. So I am looking for Fiat dealer to supply and fit it so that they will warrant it.

In Kent we have no Fiat Pro dealers. Nearest is EMC Eastbourne. Phoned them up but they can't look it until late February. They will charge £120 just to look at it and they do not keep any spares so would not be able to fix it. My guess would be that I would have to wait another couple of months for them to fit it. And their hourly charge to fit is £200 including VAT!

Can anybody recommend anybody else please? Is Tates in Brighton any good? They do not have good reviews.

 

[Bounty Hunter]

Try Crash Data as my friend was the first customer they supplied with a new unit. They had never done it before and didn't know if it would work but no problems at all. Phone first and talk to them

John

 

[Kannon Fodda]

If you want a Fiat Pro garage in South East look at Adams Morey Portsmouth which has a dedicated motorhome facility.

 

[meanders]

Bit of a haul but if you can't find somewhere local try Salmon's of Weeley. They are a Subaru garage but part of the Colchester Salmon group that are Fiat Professional but Weeley do the servicing on the bigger vehicles as they can't get them into the Colchester workshop. Not had that job done, but they fixed an issue with the ECU that the Fiat Pro people at Bury St Edmunds had failed to fix after two attempts.

 

[meanders]

If you want a Fiat Pro garage in South East look at Adams Morey Portsmouth which has a dedicated motorhome facility.

Good call.

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[Two on Tour]

Northern Autotech seem to be the cheapest and stock the newer version, which are said to be more reliable Peter.
When mine failed the end of last year, I sent my old and new units off to ECU Connection in Norwich who cloned the data from my old unit to the new unit.
It's an easy enough job to remove and refit the unit yourself.

Northern Autotech

ECU Connection

 

[GeoffnDee]

www.reliancecms.uk at Funtington near Chichester can supply and fit a new replacement air bag modules.

 

[peterc10]

If you want a Fiat Pro garage in South East look at Adams Morey Portsmouth which has a dedicated motorhome facility.

Thanks for that and my fall back will be Adams Moray if I can't find someone nearer to me. I live in Tunbridge Wells.

 

[Lenny HB]

Tayes in Brighton are car dealers not a Fiat Professional I don't think they will touch Motorhomes.
You were lucky with you repair mine lasted 10 days, awful company to deal with.

Adams Morey is your best option they normally have them in stock and can normally fit you in at short notice & they won't rip you off with a diagnostic fee. There labour rate is £115 + vat = £138/hour.
2 year warranty on the module.
I think they still do the 10% Funster discount.

 

[peterc10]

It seems the nearest dealer is HTC which is on Beddington Lane in Croydon. The motorhome is ULEZ compliant, but I gave up driving in London with cars let alone a large motorhome! Think it would be easier to use Adams Morey and stay at Port Solent.

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[peterc10]

Tayes in Brighton are car dealers not a Fiat Professional I don't think they will touch Motorhomes.
You were lucky with you repair mine lasted 10 days, awful company to deal with.

Adams Morey is your best option they normally have them in stock and can normally fit you in at short notice & they won't rip you off with a diagnostic fee. There labour rat is £115 + vat = £138/hour.
2 year warranty on the module.
I think they still do the 10% Funster discount.

Lenny, the voice of reason. I am booked in on the 3rd February 8am. Will stop at Port Solent on 2nd.

Thank you all of you who replied.

 

[peterc10]

Northern Autotech seem to be the cheapest and stock the newer version, which are said to be more reliable Peter.
When mine failed the end of last year, I sent my old and new units off to ECU Connection in Norwich who cloned the data from my old unit to the new unit.
It's an easy enough job to remove and refit the unit yourself.

Northern Autotech

ECU Connection

Thanks Paul. The existing unit had already been repaired and I took it out and fitted it. Decided to get the professionals to do it for me and it then comes with a warranty. As I understand it the new units do not suffer the low battery problem.

 

[westhamman]

I sent mine off to crash data, not repairable, the new part came cloned so fitted it myself. Unlik3 most things I fit myself worked ok

 

[Badknee]

I had a very odd thing with the damn airbag warning light.
Tried to start the van and it didn’t catch so cranked it again immediately and off it went BUT the dash lit up like a Christmas tree on steroids oh bugger.
Got the multi meter on the starter battery and my darling carer on the key. 12.4v at rest and 9.2v at crank
New battery bla bla bla. But here it gets odd. I use Adams Morey on our way to the the Santander boat for the comformatic fluid change and rang them to report the lights and check they had the parts, no probs.
The day before our visit, started the van no lights
Called in and they checked it and reported there was no record at the obd of any faults whatsoever

 

[meanders]

We had the same symptoms outside Tesco's in Shepton Mallet on one trip down to the show. Rang Fiat Camper Assist who if my memory serves me correctly, told me to take the keys out. Lock the van, and then unlock it while pressing one of the dash buttons. That left just the airbag light on that they said it was safe to drive with except the airbags would not work. Drove on. Next time I started the van, no lights at all, and touch wood, have never seen it since.

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[TCG]

We had the same symptoms outside Tesco's in Shepton Mallet on one trip down to the show. Rang Fiat Camper Assist who if my memory serves me correctly, told me to take the keys out. Lock the van, and then unlock it while pressing one of the dash buttons. That left just the airbag light on that they said it was safe to drive with except the airbags would not work. Drove on. Next time I started the van, no lights at all, and touch wood, have never seen it since.

which button please

 

[meanders]

I wish I could remember. It was one of those in the middle part of the console but I do not remember which. To be honest, I couldnlt remember a week later when asked, let alone I guess 4 or 5 years.

That may not be what anyone wants to hear, but I was acting under instructions from Camper Assist who were very helpful. I probably should have written it down, but just performed the actions as requested.

 

[Diabalo]

peterc10 I have used these for over 15 years for all my servicing and found them to be very good. They fitted a new airbag ECU to my current van but that was back in 2014.

https://www.burgessfiat.co.uk/vehicle-services

 

[Jewellbags]

Took the motorhome (Ducato based Hymer B678) out on Tuesday to take the Scooter for repairs, service and MOT in Canterbury. The Air bag warning light came on as soon as I started the engine and also warning lights for both seat belts. Drove there with them on, although the seat belt warnings occasionally went off. Drove back with the airbag warning light still on, but the seatbelt warning light was not on.

This has happened before in lockdown in 2020 and spares were impossible so I took it out sent it to CrashData in Liverpool and I installed it with no problems. Now I want to get a new unit, but I think I will not be able to fit it because, being a new unit, it needs Fiat's software to recognise it. So I am looking for Fiat dealer to supply and fit it so that they will warrant it.

In Kent we have no Fiat Pro dealers. Nearest is EMC Eastbourne. Phoned them up but they can't look it until late February. They will charge £120 just to look at it and they do not keep any spares so would not be able to fix it. My guess would be that I would have to wait another couple of months for them to fit it. And their hourly charge to fit is £200 including VAT!

Can anybody recommend anybody else please? Is Tates in Brighton any good? They do not have good reviews.

Probably not much use to you but my local independent garage diagnosed , sent away and replaced the ECU for about £400 all in - still painful but better than many

 

[stevewagner]

I don't think you get the discount from AM anymore.

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[SexyThexy]

Bl00dy Air Bag warning light, it's a mare and the manufacturers should be ashamed IMHO
I bought a new unit and fitted it myself, its easy I bought the software to reset, called a proxi alignment, the system.
So I have the Gendan Super Plus Package of Multiecuscan software (V 5.2) on a laptop with all the cables and stuff to work on Fiat Ducato pre 2018 if you want to borrow it, just message me.

I am based near Aylesbury Buckinghamshire but can post it.

 

[BaileySteve]

I don't think you get the discount from AM anymore.

It’s still available although the initial period has expired, but only covers parts and labour on servicing.