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]

Perhaps it's an alternator fault?

 

[Stealaway]

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

I've just discovered a device next to the seat belt switch. It's a metal tube with a connection at one end and on top.
For some reason I can't download photos with this new phone.
I'm guessing it sends a signal to the seat belt module fastened to the bulkhead. I always thought that was the crash sensor. Maybe the seat switchs are to sense occupant.

 

[Stealaway]

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

At least Fiat 500 and Dublo have a similar device and have problems with them

 

[Lenny HB]

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?

Yep, you have got it.

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[MikenPauline]

Our new Benimar had this fault when collected new in May this year. It only appears when the engine is running with nobody sitting on the drivers seat. Marquis apparently had 57 delivered from Spain the same week with the same problem. Now stuck in typical Marquis loop “it’s a Fiat problem, see them,” ”No it’s not, my contract is with you so you sort it”.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I've just discovered a device next to the seat belt switch. It's a metal tube with a connection at one end and on top.
For some reason I can't download photos with this new phone.
I'm guessing it sends a signal to the seat belt module fastened to the bulkhead. I always thought that was the crash sensor. Maybe the seat switchs are to sense occupant.

I get a warning bleep and a red symbol on the dash if I undo the seatbelt when reversing.

 

[Sapper520]

Yep, you have got it.

Great. It’s cross your fingers and hope it lasts a long time.

 

[Lenny HB]

Great. It’s cross your fingers and hope it lasts a long time.

My repair lastest two weeks, going to get a new one. Should have been somewhere warm weeks ago.

 

[donkey]

I've just discovered a device next to the seat belt switch. It's a metal tube with a connection at one end and on top.
For some reason I can't download photos with this new phone.
I'm guessing it sends a signal to the seat belt module fastened to the bulkhead. I always thought that was the crash sensor. Maybe the seat switchs are to sense occupant.

Is it like a cigar tube? If so it is probably the seat belt tensioner, a pyrotechnic device to rapidly pull the seat belt tight in the event of a crash.

Geoff

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[Bustup15]

Queried with my German dealer today. He says it is the main module at fault and they could send it for repair with turnaround of 2 weeks.

As I have extended Fiat warranty may wait till I get home and try and claim on that.

 

[Phill D]

Queried with my German dealer today. He says it is the main module at fault and they could send it for repair with turnaround of 2 weeks.

As I have extended Fiat warranty may wait till I get home and try and claim on that.

Does the extended warranty cover electrical repairs?
Sometimes they don’t.
Be interested to know for future reference.

 

[Stealaway]

Is it like a cigar tube? If so it is probably the seat belt tensioner, a pyrotechnic device to rapidly pull the seat belt tight in the event of a crash.

Geoff

I don't think so as I don't see how it can. Totally separate except for the wiring loom.
There is a switch on seat belt catch and this other

 

[Phill D]

There is a pressure pad in the seat which activates the seat belt warning and the seat belt clipped in Overide’s the warning.
The tube near the seat belt socket I believe is the tension activation .

 

[Andrew B]

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.

I have the same problem on my Fiat Carthago. It’s going into the garage on the 24th…….stand by….

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[huck999]

Are all these vans with failures RHD? Any with LHD - although I suspect yours is Lenny HB. Don’t see why it should make any difference though.
Is it anything to do with MH conversions having passenger airbags fitted whereas working vans may not?
Clutching at straws

Mine is lhd. Ecu has failed twice. Once on a failed battery and once on a fully charged, brand new one. All connections and earth's were as good as could be expected.
As I understand it, the way this ecu works out faults is via voltage/current changes which initiate the safety systems. If it detects an anomoly it will, if moving, deploy the safety systems. If stationary it will lock up the ecu.
An incredibly bad design which generates ££££ for the trade each year.

 

[trevor 87]

That’s the way I will go.Cannot go on like this.

Just buy your self a bidirectional scanner and you can turn off the airbag lights yourself and fault code check the vehicle and remove the codes and even reprogram some of the modules back to factory settings

 

[Andy-B]

Hi,
My van was moving at over 60mph when it went into fault so not just caused when starting or stationary.


Andy

 

[Alan Atkin]

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.

This has happend to me two years ago and got stung by a peugot garage total £545 including remap.? Engineer said new modual required so i retrieved the old modual they were not too happy about it. Went on the internet and found the original bosh one for £75
Chance remark by a fitter that the makers state that an additional earth wire should be attached to the new modual no trouble since.
Still have the old to send for repair. Hope this helps

 

[Riverbankannie]

This has happend to me two years ago and got stung by a peugot garage total £545 including remap.? Engineer said new modual required so i retrieved the old modual they were not too happy about it. Went on the internet and found the original bosh one for £75
Chance remark by a fitter that the makers state that an additional earth wire should be attached to the new modual no trouble since.
Still have the old to send for repair. Hope this helps

Would appreciate description/photo please of where to fit additional earth strap.

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[Phill D]

Would appreciate description/photo please of where to fit additional earth strap.

Exactly what I was going to ask, particularly as the unit is bolted directly to the chassis and mine last fault was an earth fault.

 

[TheBig1]

Our new Benimar had this fault when collected new in May this year. It only appears when the engine is running with nobody sitting on the drivers seat. Marquis apparently had 57 delivered from Spain the same week with the same problem. Now stuck in typical Marquis loop “it’s a Fiat problem, see them,” ”No it’s not, my contract is with you so you sort it”.

Not saying they will, but based on usual practice the dealership may just connect the 2 wires under the seat that go to the occupant switch, so the ecu thinks you are sat there

 

[Bustup15]

Does the extended warranty cover electrical repairs?
Sometimes they don’t.
Be interested to know for future reference.

Maximum Care Camper Warranty, just like your 2 years Factory Warranty, guarantees complete cover for the mechanical and electrical components of your Fiat Motorhome and provides you all its linked services.
It’s available for both Ducato and Talento and extends your Fiat Camper Assistance and dedicated Roadside Assistance to the same year and mileage term.

 

[Bustup15]

Hi,
My van was moving at over 60mph when it went into fault so not just caused when starting or stationary.


Andy

Same for mine

 

[sandiesdad]

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.

Bye your own code reader £50 from Halfords reset it yourself, my new Fiat warning light on 4 times in the first year the garage checked nothing wrong every time the mechanic told me to reset it my self it takes about 5min there is nothing recorded so no problem with the warrant, Fiat are looking into the problem, so not much hope

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[Camper634]

I did try a code reader but had no joy.Has anyone actually reset the air bag warning light with one of these devices?If so would you mind sharing exactly how you managed it and with what make and model code reader please ?

 

[Phill D]

I did try a code reader but had no joy.Has anyone actually reset the air bag warning light with one of these devices?If so would you mind sharing exactly how you managed it and with what make and model code reader please ?

I have full multiecuscan (FIAT) software and can reset and adjust most parameters on the van. Including proxies alignment which most cheaper readers cannot.
However , I have only once been able to reset the airbag warning light without either replacing or having the unit repaired.

 

[Camper634]

I have full multiecuscan (FIAT) software and can reset and adjust most parameters on the van. Including proxies alignment which most cheaper readers cannot.
However , I have only once been able to reset the airbag warning light without either replacing or having the unit repaired.

That is what i suspected.Thank you for confirming my worst fears

 

[BobJayne]

I can't reset my B0100 code either, although I can reset other codes.

 

[Stealaway]

Is it like a cigar tube? If so it is probably the seat belt tensioner, a pyrotechnic device to rapidly pull the seat belt tight in the event of a crash.

Geoff

Maybe it does send a signal to the seat belt in the door pillars.
The module could have its own crash sensor

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[HighlandBus]

I spent lockdown rebuilding our Ducato with serious underside fabrication work and welding (replacement of rot no plating), after reconnecting the batteries after 6 months cold, the airbag light was on. I took the unit from between the passenger and drivers' feet and sent to Crash Data, they advised it was dead and couldn't communicate to reset - no further help available as they were going on 2 weeks holiday. I then went online and bought three of them! Two secondhand (one from Lithuania, one from Germany) and a NOS (New old stock in the fiat box) from Ireland. I took the used ones first, the first gave the same Air Bag light and the second worked perfectly and has done since. I still have the new old stock one bought for 100 euro with post. That said, I was also going on holiday and in desperation I had worked out that a relay switching to earth powered to operate in parallel with the diesel heater plug relay would cause the light to go out after a delay, this was by the application of an earth to the warning LED wire from the Air Bag module socket - whilst this was not utilized but was considered in desperation, clearly not recommended as no operation of drivers airbag or seatbelt pretensioners.