Technical Discussion Thread: Airbag Seat Wiring
- Thread starter killyourmama
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Technical Discussion Thread: Airbag Seat Wiring
Re: Airbag Failure Warnings
Hey Deckchair, I see above that someones had a little accident with air bags. Was this done when carrying out checks on air bag system? If so, any ideas how it happened. I replaced my ocs last year and this year I have a warning light for airbags (seats hardly move as it's a 5 door). Any idea other than paying a (FLEECING) garage for a diagnostic how to determine which one is u/s? Would a small spill a week and a half before damage the ocs? Too many questions, the list is endless.
Hey Deckchair, I see above that someones had a little accident with air bags. Was this done when carrying out checks on air bag system? If so, any ideas how it happened. I replaced my ocs last year and this year I have a warning light for airbags (seats hardly move as it's a 5 door). Any idea other than paying a (FLEECING) garage for a diagnostic how to determine which one is u/s? Would a small spill a week and a half before damage the ocs? Too many questions, the list is endless.
who did?
Nah that's not even a Stilo RTA but the point was it doesn't take much to fire off airbags as they operate at such low voltages and low resistance so messing with a multimeter set on resistance can easily set them off and playing about with the wiring understandably makes techs say "Not going near that, go away"
That's what causes the problems so often, a little bit extra resistance through a poor contact at the connectors and the airbag ecu senses a problem and AIRBAG FAILURE- STOP ENGINE fun starts
Remedies are a bit restricted to cleaning contacts and changing components
So what have you done? Have you found all the orange connectors, front and rear, and used contact cleaner as per the Guide?
Can't remember the last time i had an AIRBAG FAILURE warning since applying the remedy
That's what causes the problems so often, a little bit extra resistance through a poor contact at the connectors and the airbag ecu senses a problem and AIRBAG FAILURE- STOP ENGINE fun starts
Remedies are a bit restricted to cleaning contacts and changing components
So what have you done? Have you found all the orange connectors, front and rear, and used contact cleaner as per the Guide?
Can't remember the last time i had an AIRBAG FAILURE warning since applying the remedy
not done anything yet after seeing picture. I am a tech in a factory but am wary when it comes to the dark art of working on a car. Can do ice within reason. Should be ok. Will try your guide when I have the time. It feels like car is slowly falling apart on me.
Just do as it says in the guides and you'll be fine. Don't mess about with multimeters on the airbag circuits though
Some of the better diagnostics gear can read off the airbag circuit fault codes but it's quicker to try the easy stuff first
Some of the better diagnostics gear can read off the airbag circuit fault codes but it's quicker to try the easy stuff first
I think the best way forward if you are plagued with airbag warnings is to get the new wiring harnesses from fiat fitted these have a new type of connector on them and will sort the problem for good
"what was the magic cure? Can't find it in the thread!"
Have a look in the Stilo Guides up above
Bear in mind the problem is not actually the connectors at all but how the wiring is connected to the connectors
So you takes your choice
a new loom with unproven reliability (just how did they connect the wires this time and is it going to go again 2 years down the road when wire surface corrosion sets in again) cost £200
Or a £4 tin of contact cleaner spray which will etch the surface up almost like new again, proven to last more than a year and always on hand for all the other jobs that need it too
Have a look in the Stilo Guides up above
Bear in mind the problem is not actually the connectors at all but how the wiring is connected to the connectors
So you takes your choice
a new loom with unproven reliability (just how did they connect the wires this time and is it going to go again 2 years down the road when wire surface corrosion sets in again) cost £200
Or a £4 tin of contact cleaner spray which will etch the surface up almost like new again, proven to last more than a year and always on hand for all the other jobs that need it too
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what loom is this
I dunno but there's someone called T14086 that quoted a loom as £32 per side here
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-technical/104728-help-airbag-light-stays.html
What is it, just new connectors and better fitting?
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-technical/104728-help-airbag-light-stays.html
What is it, just new connectors and better fitting?
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I dunno but there's someone called T14086 that quoted a loom as £32 per side here
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-technical/104728-help-airbag-light-stays.html
What is it, just new connectors and better fitting?
£200 for a loom? actually its just over £400......its connectors that are available (£26 each) and dealer (DET level 3) fit only.
That's alright then. Cheap as chips
Do you think the method of wires attachment is much improved?
Do you believe the problem is less likely to arise again 2 years down the line?
Do you think the method of wires attachment is much improved?
Do you believe the problem is less likely to arise again 2 years down the line?
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What did you do? Jolly spray can of contact cleaner or new connectors?
Contact cleaner did the trick. I always thought it was the passanger side that was causing the problems but turns out it was the drivers side. (Cleaned the passanger sensors anyway just to be on the safe side)
The clutch went last week on the M62 (the ball snapped off the end of the push rod in the slave cylinder) so that coupled with the airbag failure and 2 front headlight failures (now solved thanks to this forum) I was getting fairly hacked off at one stage. All is now sorted though and I am once again a happy motorist
The clutch went last week on the M62 (the ball snapped off the end of the push rod in the slave cylinder) so that coupled with the airbag failure and 2 front headlight failures (now solved thanks to this forum) I was getting fairly hacked off at one stage. All is now sorted though and I am once again a happy motorist
AMAZING!!!
Worked a treat, cost 3.99 for the electrical spray, and used a few sheets of kitchen roll... also turns out on the passenger side of my Stilo that the cables were a bit twisted which can't have helped. There was some nice black corrosion going on in the electrical parts, which I scraped away and then sprayed. So so happy, thanks a million to the guy who took the time and effort to post the solution to this what seems quite common problem.
I even found a draw compartment under my seat which I didn't know I had!
Oh and a torch is a must!
Worked a treat, cost 3.99 for the electrical spray, and used a few sheets of kitchen roll... also turns out on the passenger side of my Stilo that the cables were a bit twisted which can't have helped. There was some nice black corrosion going on in the electrical parts, which I scraped away and then sprayed. So so happy, thanks a million to the guy who took the time and effort to post the solution to this what seems quite common problem.
I even found a draw compartment under my seat which I didn't know I had!
Oh and a torch is a must!
Glad it worked for you
You've found somewhere to put your torch as well now then
You've found somewhere to put your torch as well now then
I have had this problem intermittently for a couple few months. It also twice happened soon after I bought the car two years ago and was 'fixed' by the local Fiat main dealer for £30 each time. They said that both occasions it was caused by a 'loose connection'. I did enquire as to why I needed to pay twice for the same fault within a few weeks and they said because it was a different connector each time! You'd have thought for 30 quid, and now knowing where and how easily accessible the connectors are, that they would have bothered to check them all on the first occasion, but I suppose it has become a nice earner for Fiat to not do that. I am assuming that there are only two orange connectors. One under the front driver's seat and one under the front passenger seat?
Anyway, as I say, the beep started again a couple of months ago, then disappeared for a week or so for no logical reason, and now has been constant for about a month. I can get rid of the bleep temporarily by fiddling with the menu button in the first few minutes after starting the engine, but the red light remains and the 'red mist' descends followed by clouds of depression, feelings of hopelessness and despair at having to repeat this tedious routine several times a day. I was going to go back to Fiat and spend another £30 or so soon, but seeing the cheap fix on this forum I thought this would solve my problem and save me some money. Unfortunately, despite all the connectors appearing to be solidly in place and despite following the spray technique to the letter, the red light and the beep have not gone away. I have gently twiddled and wiggled the wiring too, but all to no avail. I know that the problem is definitely not the passenger seat foam sensor thingy as the symptoms are not right for that. So, if its not a 'loose connection' in the orange whatsits and the spray hasn't fixed it either, is it worth carrying on with my life? I'm already depressed enough as it is, especially when I can't even get the same results from a can of contact cleaner as the rest of the world! I always seem to be the one for whom life does NOT do exactly as it says on the tin! The thought of paying £100's for a new wiring loom is deeply disturbing for a man in my condition. HELP!
Anyway, as I say, the beep started again a couple of months ago, then disappeared for a week or so for no logical reason, and now has been constant for about a month. I can get rid of the bleep temporarily by fiddling with the menu button in the first few minutes after starting the engine, but the red light remains and the 'red mist' descends followed by clouds of depression, feelings of hopelessness and despair at having to repeat this tedious routine several times a day. I was going to go back to Fiat and spend another £30 or so soon, but seeing the cheap fix on this forum I thought this would solve my problem and save me some money. Unfortunately, despite all the connectors appearing to be solidly in place and despite following the spray technique to the letter, the red light and the beep have not gone away.
I have gently twiddled and wiggled the wiring too, but all to no avail. I know that the problem is definitely not the passenger seat foam sensor thingy as the symptoms are not right for that. So, if its not a 'loose connection' in the orange whatsits and the spray hasn't fixed it either, is it worth carrying on with my life? I'm already depressed enough as it is, especially when I can't even get the same results from a can of contact cleaner as the rest of the world! I always seem to be the one for whom life does NOT do exactly as it says on the tin! The thought of paying £100's for a new wiring loom is deeply disturbing for a man in my condition. HELP!
