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

Camper634

Camper634

Joined
Dec 18, 2011
Posts
775
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Location
Hull
Funster No
19,200
MH
Autotrail 634
Exp
Since 2006
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.
 
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As already said, you cannot reset the internal ECU fault with any code reader. The unit needs to be re-flashed. You can see the marks on the board where contacts have been made, or at least I could on mine.

Incidentally, I added an earth strap to the case direct from the battery as others mentioned it was advisable.


Andy
 
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When our passenger airbag warning light came on about 18 months ago, after much research in which many companies who 'specialised' in repairing defective ECU's when I gave them the fault code said it couldn't be done! I contacted northernautotech.co.uk a company based in Lancashire.

Long story short: posted the unit to them on a Thursday afternoon; received a phone call the following afternoon to say they had it and the cost would be £55.00. Paid this via PayPal immediately and received the repaired unit the next Tuesday ready for my local garage to flash it and re-fit. No postal strikes then though!

We're off tomorrow for a few days so fingers crossed that writing this hasn't upset the system!
As usual, I'm just a very satisfied customer.
 
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I'm still waiting posted on Thursday Special Delivery to Crash Data u was told because if the strike it wouldn't get delivered until Monday. Its still not been delivered.
Was going to send it on a carrier but it was too late in the day so wouldn't have got there until Monday wish I had now.

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Greenie said:
When our passenger airbag warning light came on about 18 months ago, after much research in which many companies who 'specialised' in repairing defective ECU's when I gave them the fault code said it couldn't be done! I contacted northernautotech.co.uk a company based in Lancashire.

Long story short: posted the unit to them on a Thursday afternoon; received a phone call the following afternoon to say they had it and the cost would be £55.00. Paid this via PayPal immediately and received the repaired unit the next Tuesday ready for my local garage to flash it and re-fit. No postal strikes then though!

We're off tomorrow for a few days so fingers crossed that writing this hasn't upset the system!
As usual, I'm just a very satisfied customer.
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If it’s your original unit why does the garage need to “flash it” assume that’s proxi align,
When my unit was returned from northern auto tech it went straight in as they had checked it was aligned to the existing proxi.
 
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donkey said:
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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This is the item I found next to the seatbelt catch
IMG_20221002_114517.jpg
 
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Peeps, Google Carprog……..you’ll probably find it’s the programmer the likes of crash data are using to re-program the EEPROMs Inside the airbag ecu module.

Cost you about 100 quid to buy the hardware from flea-bay…..but it’s probably not for the feint hearted.

Theres youtube videos out there too 😉

A group buy and forum ran service could work for you tho……..👍🏼
 
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Phill D said:
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
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When I bought Multiecuscan I found Gendan very helpful in answering queries but if they couldn't help Multiecuscan also have technical support. Has anyone approached either of them regarding this issue or is a repaired unit the only answer?
Andy-B said:
Incidentally, I added an earth strap to the case direct from the battery as others mentioned it was advisable
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Is a second gearbox to body earth strap also worth looking into? A lot of us did this with the early X250 Ducatos. I don't recall the particular issues now but a weak earth was alleged to cause electrical problems when the starter motor use resulted in a high current drain. Something similar might be happening to affect the airbag ECU, particularly if a Fiat technician has suggested adding a dedicated earth?

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I have not spoken to either about the airbag ecu flashing.
When I sought the help of a FIAT specialist I would have though they would have know the limits of the software but they could not sort it without it going for a repair/renew.
 
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A friend here in NZ had the same problem recently. Fiat agent replaced the control module. What do you know, the carton that the new module came out of clearly states "Made in UK, 4/11/2021" Photo shows replaced unit sitting on carton from which the new unit was supplied. Various numbers don't match but we assume that this is the original carton.
I wonder why Fiat changed suppliers ? Perhaps better quality/technology out of the UK ? !!
P1050997.JPG
 
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Philip Hutchinson said:
A friend here in NZ had the same problem recently. Fiat agent replaced the control module. What do you know, the carton that the new module came out of clearly states "Made in UK, 4/11/2021" Photo shows replaced unit sitting on carton from which the new unit was supplied. Various numbers don't match but we assume that this is the original carton.
I wonder why Fiat changed suppliers ? Perhaps better quality/technology out of the UK ? !!View attachment 673673
Click to expand...

If you look carefully the box has a sticker placed over another one. Possibly the supply to NZ has come from the U.K, (or it’s more advantageous for tax/customs reasons to do so), but the manufacturer is elsewhere?

Many years ago we did something similar supplying Japanese motorcycle parts to Spain from the U.K. as the duty was extortionate if the country of origin was revealed.

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Andy-B said:
Incidentally, I added an earth strap to the case direct from the battery as others mentioned it was advisable
Click to expand...
Is a second gearbox to body earth strap also worth looking into? A lot of us did this with the early X250 Ducatos. I don't recall the particular issues now but a weak earth was alleged to cause electrical problems when the starter motor use resulted in a high current drain. Something similar might be happening to affect the airbag ECU, particularly if a Fiat technician has suggested adding a dedicated earth?

Extra earths can't do any harm so why not?

Andy
 
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Lenny HB said:
I shall have to have another but don't think there is anything like that on mine.
What seats do you have Alex?
Mine are Aguti.
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Mine are only standard Fiat van seat's with fancy covers :LOL:
I'm guessing that it must send a signal to the seatbelt tensioner inside the door pillars in the event of a crash. Are your belts designed to tighten in a front end crash?
The airbag module must have its own one built in .
I've not seen any other wire's under the seats that might have an effect on fireing the airbags.
You can switch off the passenger air bag in the menu settings
 
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Royal Mail appear to have lost my ECU, raised a complaint but wish I hadn't now as I hope they have really lost so I can claim the value of it.

Bitten the bullet just phoned Adams Morey at Portsmouth had a word with Simon the service manager, they have one in stock doing it tomorrow at 8am & the MOT .
Costing an arm & leg but I'm so stressed out I couldn't care less.
 
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Lenny HB said:
Royal Mail appear to have lost my ECU, raised a complaint but wish I hadn't now as I hope they have really lost so I can claim the value of it.

Bitten the bullet just phoned Adams Morey at Portsmouth had a word with Simon the service manager, they have one in stock doing it tomorrow at 8am & the MOT .
Costing an arm & leg but I'm so stressed out I couldn't care less.
Click to expand...

Yep. Been there done that…..paid a lot because I was fed up and just wanted it sorted (Not with a ECU…..yet). (y)

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Sapper520 said:
Yep. Been there done that…..paid a lot because I was fed up and just wanted it sorted (Not with a ECU…..yet). (y)
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Already lost 3 weeks off our holiday as we need to be back in the UK beginning of November, the November bit is part of the holiday but not looking forward to it being cold.
 
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Received my repaired/reset airbag controller back from CrashData today - only sent on Monday so not too bad considering the aftermath of the postal strike. :giggle:

New this time is a sticker affixed to the returned unit reading, “Car battery must be fully charged and holding a charge to within spec before refitting this module. Failure to do so may result in a B0100 returning.”

As I do own a fairly comprehensive battery tester, I will of course check it before re-connecting the power to the controller but panel is reading 12.6v, so not really expecting to have to charge/change it and - in any case - my error was caused by over voltage and not under….. :unsure:

Should be a task for tomorrow if the rain lets up for long enough.
 
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ericroy said:
Received my repaired/reset airbag controller back from CrashData today - only sent on Monday so not too bad considering the aftermath of the postal strike. :giggle:

New this time is a sticker affixed to the returned unit reading, “Car battery must be fully charged and holding a charge to within spec before refitting this module. Failure to do so may result in a B0100 returning.”

As I do own a fairly comprehensive battery tester, I will of course check it before re-connecting the power to the controller but panel is reading 12.6v, so not really expecting to have to charge/change it and - in any case - my error was caused by over voltage and not under….. :unsure:

Should be a task for tomorrow if the rain lets up for long enough.
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Just not true.
My battery is three year's old and consistently reads 12.7 volts. It has had at least a hundred miles run every day in France before the bloody module failed last Sunday.

The Fiat airbag module is an ongoing scandal of a crap component not fit for purpose.
 
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Philip Hutchinson said:
A friend here in NZ had the same problem recently. Fiat agent replaced the control module. What do you know, the carton that the new module came out of clearly states "Made in UK, 4/11/2021" Photo shows replaced unit sitting on carton from which the new unit was supplied. Various numbers don't match but we assume that this is the original carton.
I wonder why Fiat changed suppliers ? Perhaps better quality/technology out of the UK ? !!View attachment 673673
Click to expand...
looking at the picture, that is either the old unit or a reconditioned one. Tell tale marks where the screws go and scratches
 
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Stealaway said:
Just not true.
My battery is three year's old and consistently reads 12.7 volts. It has had at least a hundred miles run every day in France before the bloody module failed last Sunday.

The Fiat airbag module is an ongoing scandal of a crap component not fit for purpose.
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Not really sure what you are disputing - but guessing the battery voltage? As mine is a one year old heavy duty Yuasa and the van has not been moved for a month, I don’t think 12.6v is unreasonable. :giggle: Or don’t you like the message from Crash Data?

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ericroy said:
Not really sure what you are disputing - but guessing the battery voltage? As mine is a one year old heavy duty Yuasa and the van has not been moved for a month, I don’t think 12.6v is unreasonable. :giggle: Or don’t you like the message from Crash Data?
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Nope.
I used to believe that they were probably right because many motorhome batteries are badly neglected.
Not any more.
Crash Data are providing a great service but that cannot excuse Fiat crap
It's s been a faulty component for over twelve years and Fiat have done nothing about it.
The reports that Ducato ambulances are also often off the road waiting for a replacement module has confirmed it for me
 
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Dropped the van off at Adams Morey an hour ago. Talking to the service manager when I mention Crash Data he was none too impressed and said that has changed a lot ECU's that had failed after Crash Data had repaired them.
Also said new ECU's have a different part number so fingers crossed.
 
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Lenny HB said:
Dropped the van off at Adams Morey an hour ago. Talking to the service manager when I mention Crash Data he was none too impressed and said that has changed a lot ECU's that had failed after Crash Data had repaired them.
Also said new ECU's have a different part number so fingers crossed.
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Does he know if the new part number ones have had a modification to prevent this happening in the future?
Would be worth spending out a bit more if it's going to be reliable.

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After reading about all the ones that have been "fixed" failing I'm tempted to just buy a new one.

Are they all the same for Peugeot, fiat and Citroen? Are they specific to the year of van etc?
 
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