Fiat ducato air bag warning light is on…..AGAIN.

[Camper634]

For the 3rd time in less than 12 months the air bag warning light is back on the dash.The last time was 6 weeks ago when it cost me £88 with crashdata to have the module reprogrammed.I did ask the question then why has it gone again.One of the replies it could be high voltage when starting the engine.So every time since the last replacement i have turned the ignition to on and waited until the various lights went off before cranking the engine.This morning i only tuned the ignition on to check mu LPG levels and almost immediately the air bag light came on.
I am at a loss what to do next.I cant keep paying £88 God knows how many times.Has anyone please got/had this problem and found out a reliable fix?Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I can only go on my experience Lenny.My previous van was on a Ford and i did not have any problems in 5 years.Maybe I was lucky.Unfortunately the Ford option was not there when we changed vans.

We've had our Peugeot 8.5 years and no trouble whatsoever

Oh just remembered instrument panel replaced under warranty.

 

[Stealaway]

if it's not a legal requirement in vans, can you explain why it is a MOT failure if the airbag warning light is illuminated on the dashboard please??

Any red light lit on the dash is an instant failure of the MOT.
We would all have been better of if Fiat had not bothered with airbags

We've had our Peugeot 8.5 years and no trouble whatsoever

Why is that --- Are airbags fitted to Peugeot?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Why is that --- Are airbags fitted to Peugeot?

Maybe luck? Yes 2 airbags. But I've always connected the optimate at home (so 13.4v usually) and the Votronic maintains on site.

 

[Stealaway]

Maybe luck? Yes 2 airbags. But I've always connected the optimate at home (so 13.4v usually) and the Votronic maintains on site.

Is it the same crap ECU?
I'm super careful with my batteries (and start up) and yet it still failed last year touring France. It righted it self again after a week

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[Richard n Ann]

Is it the same crap ECU?
I'm super careful with my batteries (and start up) and yet it still failed last year touring France. It righted it self again after a week

Yes same one as far as I know. I'm going to fit an extra earth strap as mentioned earlier when I get round to it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Just been out for a look.

Bit better than the fiat photo. Pull the floor foam stuff up and link the 2 blue circled bolts.

 

[Richard n Ann]

That's done then. Maybe fiat think the paint on the module bolt is the issue

 

[Driventemple]

Finally! Vospers (Exeter) have just rung up to say the Air Bag Module is in stock so, Van booked in 4th January. Expect heavy bill however, Lenny HB tells us I get a two year warranty....

Just back from Vospers, Exeter. New Airbag ECU fitted £219.66 plus VAT. 1hr labour at £115 plus VAT. Total bill £401.59
We wait to see what happens in the future....

 

[Lenny HB]

That's done then. Maybe fiat think the paint on the module bolt is the issue

View attachment 701977

I fitted a 16 mm sq cable straight to the battery negative.

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[Minxy]

Here we are at Cabo de Palos and who parks up but the OP ... What's the chance of that!

 

[Lenny HB]

My mate Jon who has big problems with his CBE electrics (I did a thread about it) his Airbag light came on today.

 

[gus-lopez]

Here we are at Cabo de Palos and who parks up but the OP ... What's the chance of that!

His luck is still out then?

 

[Jasz]

Another 2016 van joined the unhappy club today . Started with no problems, but seat belt and air bag lights stayed on. The seat belt light went off a few minutes later and briefly came on again a few minutes after that. Could the seat belt issue have caused the air bag light to have gone on or would they both be the fault of the ECU - which comes first?
Edit - The van's in storage so I'll check the connections under the seat next time I go.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Another 2016 van joined the unhappy club today . Started with no problems, but seat belt and air bag lights stayed on. The seat belt light went off a few minutes later and briefly came on again a few minutes after that. Could the seat belt issue have caused the air bag light to have gone on or would they both be the fault of the ECU - which comes first?
Edit - The van's in storage so I'll check the connections under the seat next time I go.

The seat belt tensioner wiring are under the seats ,I would check all the connections under them first before you give up on the airbag ecu as the underseat wiring can cause issues.

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[Drexl]

Got my airbag ECU body earthed direct to the battery neg post too. Since this photo have added a 15 amp in line fuse to make it idiot proof (in the event anyone tried to start the engine with the battery negative disconnected). I noticed the lower left hand ECU bolt on Richard n Anne's is painted - and mine isn't.

 

[Stealaway]

Another 2016 van joined the unhappy club today . Started with no problems, but seat belt and air bag lights stayed on. The seat belt light went off a few minutes later and briefly came on again a few minutes after that. Could the seat belt issue have caused the air bag light to have gone on or would they both be the fault of the ECU - which comes first?
Edit - The van's in storage so I'll check the connections under the seat next time I go.

Would you say the starter battery was low or fully charged by the solar?
I think that checking the seat connections is wishful thinking. I not yet heard of one that was loose. I heard recently that the seat belt tensioner has caused a problem

 

[Lenny HB]

My mates one has just come on, he is taking it into the same Fiat dealer that did mine. They had one in stock when they did mine in October when he rang them last week they had 3 in stock. That tells you something, dealers don't hold stocks of parts they are unlikely to shift.

 

[Jasz]

Would you say the starter battery was low or fully charged by the solar?
I think that checking the seat connections is wishful thinking. I not yet heard of one that was loose. I heard recently that the seat belt tensioner has caused a problem

As far as I know, the battery was fully charged by solar along with a battery master. As it started quickly it suggests that the battery was ok.

 

[Stealaway]

As far as I know, the battery was fully charged by solar along with a battery master. As it started quickly it suggests that the battery was ok.

Crash Data either blame the failure on a low voltage on the starter battery OR a high voltage ----- but which was yours

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[Antique]

Got my airbag ECU body earthed direct to the battery neg post too. Since this photo have added a 15 amp in line fuse to make it idiot proof (in the event anyone tried to start the engine with the battery negative disconnected). I noticed the lower left hand ECU bolt on Richard n Anne's is painted - and mine isn't.

I don't think that lower left hand bolt is painted @drex.I believe it is a white plastic bolt for some reason.

All the best
Antique

 

[Lenny HB]

Crash Data either blame the failure on a low voltage on the starter battery OR a high voltage ----- but which was yours

They will say anything to get your money crooks.

 

[Sapper520]

They will say anything to get your money crooks.

If anyone would like to send me their unit, I’ll take a look for £25…..no guarantee of course…..and I’ll send it back to you (at your cost) with a report……either too high or too low voltage, Unrepairable.

PM me for my address and where to pay.

Forgot to ask…….which would you prefer for my report, too high or too low?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Would you say the starter battery was low or fully charged by the solar?
I think that checking the seat connections is wishful thinking. I not yet heard of one that was loose. I heard recently that the seat belt tensioner has caused a problem

At least checking the underneathseat connections doesn't cost anything apart from time.its not usually to have seat belt warning lights as well as airbag lights.

 

[Landy Andy]

I found if the under seat wiring has been disturbed that even when reconnected, it takes a few cycles of the key to clear the warning light.

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[SpeedyDux]

Another 2016 van joined the unhappy club today . Started with no problems, but seat belt and air bag lights stayed on. The seat belt light went off a few minutes later and briefly came on again a few minutes after that. Could the seat belt issue have caused the air bag light to have gone on or would they both be the fault of the ECU - which comes first?
Edit - The van's in storage so I'll check the connections under the seat next time I go.

I had the passenger seat belt warning light come on intermittently as well. I think it was due to the ECU going haywire.

I did check the underseat wiring and connectors. Discovered nothing obviously damaged. Waste of my time - the problem was the ECU all along.

 

[bellabee]

When our airbag light came on, after 4 nights parked up at the Malvern show in August, it was diagnosed as being related to the under-seat seat belt wiring. An auto electrician replaced the wires and the fault was cured - temporarily - but at least for long enough to pass the imminent MOT.
It was OK after that, but the light came on again when we started the van up 2 weeks ago, after it had been standing cold for a few weeks - battery kept topped-up by ehu.
We have now booked to have the ecu replaced next week.

 

[Jasz]

Cars with flat batteries don't get this problem, so I don't see that low voltage can have anything to do with it!

 

[SpeedyDux]

When our airbag light came on, after 4 nights parked up at the Malvern show in August, it was diagnosed as being related to the under-seat seat belt wiring. An auto electrician replaced the wires and the fault was cured - temporarily - but at least for long enough to pass the imminent MOT.
It was OK after that, but the light came on again when we started the van up 2 weeks ago, after it had been standing cold for a few weeks - battery kept topped-up by ehu.
We have now booked to have the ecu replaced next week.

If your starter battery has reached 4 years old I would replace it anyway.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

When our airbag light came on, after 4 nights parked up at the Malvern show in August, it was diagnosed as being related to the under-seat seat belt wiring. An auto electrician replaced the wires and the fault was cured - temporarily - but at least for long enough to pass the imminent MOT.
It was OK after that, but the light came on again when we started the van up 2 weeks ago, after it had been standing cold for a few weeks - battery kept topped-up by ehu.
We have now booked to have the ecu replaced next week.

What year is your van please.?

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[Mike123]

If your starter battery has reached 4 years old I would replace it anyway.

My went and the battery was only 2 years old from memory.