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.

 

[Phill D]

Solar panel regulator max voltage output is near enough the same as the vehicle alternator. "High voltage" is likely to be triggered by a spike a lot higher than those mentioned so far. By the time the fault code is triggered only system voltage will be available to read. I think I'd consider finding the point at which the SRS ECU connects to earth and checking whether the connection is sound and not shared with a high current device.

There is an earth connection not more than 6” away from the airbag ecu, as I posted earlier mine failed for an earth fault. I cleaned and replaced the connection, also removed all the paint from the ecu mounting points prior to refitting the ecu.

To be honest I think all this high voltage, low voltage, earth etc are just indicators that the ecu is far too sensitive as none of the readings appear to be anything like out of normal vehicle running voltages.

 

[tonyidle]

There is an earth connection not more than 6” away from the airbag ecu, as I posted earlier mine failed for an earth fault. I cleaned and replaced the connection, also removed all the paint from the ecu mounting points prior to refitting the ecu.

To be honest I think all this high voltage, low voltage, earth etc are just indicators that the ecu is far too sensitive as none of the readings appear to be anything like out of normal vehicle running voltages.

Agree completely.

 

[BobJayne]

What you could do is get legal help as a group, if a lot of people sign up for it then fiat will jump into action!

It's not just a Fiat issue though.
It's a common ecu unit fitted in Citroen and Peugeot mohos.

 

[Stealaway]

What you could do is get legal help as a group, if a lot of people sign up for it then fiat will jump into action!

I was just thinking the same.
Surely as a group and along with the Fiat Forum we could apply some pressure on Fiat or the DVLA as it been a recurring safety issues for over twelve years to my knowledge

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[steve69]

I stuck (neatly) a piece of black insulation tape over the offending light. Passed 3 MOT's since then.....Just saying.

 

[Stealaway]

I stuck (neatly) a piece of black insulation tape over the offending light. Passed 3 MOT's since then.....Just saying.

I filled my one with plastacine for a good while

 

[gus-lopez]

If this warning light is on does it fail the MOT?

yes

Does it mean the airbag won’t work?

yes

Can you drive the vehicle with the light on?

yes

Coukd you just disconnect it?

yes

If mine goes I'd fit a 16v Zener diode on the power supply.

If mine went i'd do the same &/or a timed relay to bring light on & then extinguish.& if I repaired the unit it would only ever be connected again for an mot.

Crash data sent me mine back saying 14.4v was too high -

My transit runs at that permanently when engine is running .Throw in 2 x solar panels at up top 14.6v .

 

[BobJayne]

I was just thinking the same.
Surely as a group and along with the Fiat Forum we could apply some pressure on Fiat or the DVLA as it been a recurring safety issues for over twelve years to my knowledge

Totally agree.
Maybe Jim could coordinate something as a powerful motorhome forum on our behalf?

 

[cyberyacht]

I had this issue on previous 2016 Maquis Majestic(Peugeot). Cost over £300 for a new unit fitted. The ECU's are not fit for purpose.

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[Bustup15]

Mines just gone while in Germany.
Came on for 10 minutes then cleared.
Later came on for 20 minutes then cleared.
Now dash light is on continuous but Amber light on centre console with accompanying warning message display to refer to handbook is intermittent.

 

[Lenny HB]

Mines just gone while in Germany.
Came on for 10 minutes then cleared.
Later came on for 20 minutes then cleared.
Now dash light is on continuous but Amber light on centre console with accompanying warning message display to refer to handbook is intermittent.

For a full house you need the odometer flashing.

 

[Phill D]

For a full house you need the odometer flashing.

Been there, it took me a few weeks to sort even after fitting a new ecu and having full access to multiecuscan to get it sorted.
I resorted to taking it to a so called independent FIAT electronics specialist who could not sort it either.
Persistence payed off in the end, I changed the sequence of proxi alignment and it just all went away
That was until this last episode.
At least the specialist garage did not charge me.

 

[Stealaway]

Has everybody had this module fail at least once?

 

[Lenny HB]

Has everybody had this module fail at least once?

On our 3rd Ducato since 2008, this the first time we have had one go, van is 5 years old.

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[Stealaway]

On our 3rd Ducato since 2008, this the first time we have had one go, van is 5 years old.

Could you have a guess as to why it failed? Are they getting worse or are the new power alternaters causing the problem?
In twelve years I have had three failures about every three years.
Normally I would just take it on the chin and accept that I've simply been unlucky.
But not when there has been so many others

 

[Lenny HB]

Could you have a guess as to why it failed? Are they getting worse or are the new power alternaters causing the problem?
In twelve years I have had three failures about every three years.
Normally I would just take it on the chin and accept that I've simply been unlucky.
But not when there has been so many others

Nope no idea, battery good, Crash Data report didn't highlight anything.
It's a pile of poo not fit for purpose.

 

[Camper634]

Has everybody had this module fail at least once?

3 times in less than 8 months.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Twice in the last two months!

 

[VXman]

Has everybody had this module fail at least once?

Nope - not me. But mines only 18 months old. Is this older vans only?

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[BobJayne]

Nope - not me. But mines only 18 months old. Is this older vans only?

No, mine's a '68 plate Elddis / Peugeot.

 

[Phill D]

My 2008 did not have the problem in the 3 years we had it.
The current 2012 1st fail after 6 years, new unit needed, 2 nd fail jan this year reset with my multiecuscan. 3rd fail ( internal earth fault ) April this year.

 

[ontheroadagain]

Has everybody had this module fail at least once?

Yes. Mine failed at the dealers a few days before I was due to collect it.
(It was a new motorhome).
Replaced by Fiat under warranty, but I had to wait for four weeks for stock to arrive.

 

[chaser]

What does this thing actually do apart from putting lights on?

 

[SpeedyDux]

On our 3rd Ducato since 2008, this the first time we have had one go, van is 5 years old.

There seems to be a correlation between airbag ECU module failure and older or weaker starter batteries (that you might think are still OK).

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[SpeedyDux]

What does this thing actually do apart from putting lights on?

It decides whether your crash is big enough to set off the airbags and seat belt tensioners.

You can still drive with this warning light on as has been pointed out. Try not to crash!

 

[Teedubyaa]

One failure on 2014 just before MOT due last October - off the road as then failed MOT - at dealership until January waiting for new ECU!

 

[chaser]

It decides whether your crash is big enough to set off the airbags and seat belt tensioners.

You cans still drive with this warning light on as has been pointed out. Try not to crash!

So do other vehicles have similar things, say fiat cars ,are they interchangeable?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our van is 2014, garaged and has an optimate on the starter battery 24/7.
Never had a problem

Might be because it's an Elddis though

Edit: Original battery

 

[Lenny HB]

There seems to be a correlation between airbag ECU module failure and older or weaker starter batteries (that you might think are still OK).

My first X250 battery was original 6 years old when I sold the van, no problems, 2nd one sold at 3 years no problem. The current van replaced the battery 18 months ago with a larger good quality one & this is the first time I have had the problem.

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[Sapper520]

Are we saying that there is not a guaranteed fix then?

Even if you replace the failed unit with a new one, that may fail in the same way?