I bought a 2002 fiat stilo a couple of weeks ago and unfortunately I got screwed by the seller.

Test driving the car everything seemed ok, but now I've found out there's a whole lot of things wrong with the car and the seller and I are in kinda of a conflict.

Anyways I'm trying to fix a lot of the problems myself before the MOT expires, which is soon.

I got the passenger seat airbag failure warning, I bought an airbag sensor emulator and now the error is gone from the dashboard.

I had an asp/esp failure, after cleaning the abs sensors on the back wheels the errors are gone from the dashboard.

However, when I send the car to my local garage to do a checkup, they told me there are warnings registered in the computer regarding airbag and esp failures.

I'm not seeing the error messages on my dashboard, could it be the warnings just need to be purged from the computer?

If so, can I do this myself? And if I don't get the messages purged will it be a reason to fail the MOT?

By the way I'm from the Netherlands.

as you have fixed these faults they would no longer show on the dash but be stored codes in car computer , I would make a note of the codes and delete them and wait see if they return should they return then a fault is still present although if they no longer show on the dash would be old codes from the faults you fixed..supprised the garage did not take note of the codes then attempt to delete them as they had the equipment to read them.and you had already done work on car to fix the problems. some errors on the dash clear immediately when fixed, others clear from the dash after 3 fault free starts of the engine, but remain stored in car computer

With the right equipment to scan such as fiatecuscan which myself and others use is possible to clear the codes especially for the airbag codes as you would not be able to read airbag codes with a cheap reader http://www.multiecuscan.net/
That link above is popular but you would also need correct elm and vag cable as decribed on that site, also a garage can do it with correct equipment or fiat dealer
Though if your dash is not showing faults then could you just note these codes for future so not to confuse any future codes appearing, easiest way is as above make note of them,clear them, and see if they come back.
Provided there is no errors showing on dash then it is not an mot fail in the uk...they do not read codes at mot in the uk no idea how they test in netherlands

:yeahthat: get them deleted, what you paid a garage you could of downloaded the FREE software and bought the correct cables to sort your problem, and you also get to use it again and again! which cost nothing once its bought!

Aah thanks, you guys are giving me hope that I can resolve/reset the fault codes myself.

I was looking for a cable to connect to the ecu, but there are so many offerings.

Because I wanted something for the weekend, I came up with the following I ordered:

http://www.obd-partner.nl/auto-uitlezen-via-laptop/elmscan-elm327-compact

It's in dutch, but you can see the cable and the software they provide, I read that people are able to reset fault codes using this cable and software.

Would you give preference to using the multiecuscan above other diagnostic software?

I assume, the cable that I ordered is universal and not software locked and so I could also try out multiecuscan?

I would be very careful in buying anything like that for a fiat unless you are certain it will connect ok I doubt very much you will clear airbag codes with it or be able to read airbag codes ....it may clear and read your abs code but as said get real proof first but from my experience is only good for engine codes

which is why myself and others use multiscan software from the link I put above as some modification of the elm device is needed to read some of the ecu's and a vag cable for airbag codes. as the codes are old stored ones and not displayed on dash you are not in any rush well unless in netherlands old stored codes are read at mot which would seem unlikely so ....why not read through multiscan site and get cables for that software try the free version of the software then buy registerd version as paul said and I totally agree with him on that it is well worth the money.

I wasn't aware that you needed a certain configuration setup, I'm really hoping that the one I ordered does work on the Fiat, otherwise I'll have to send it back and will have to wait after the weekend to look for a different one.

As soon as I get the cable+software and try it out I'll let you guys know the results.

Thanks for all the usefull info

Just found some information about MOT requirement, apparently cars built after 31-12-2005 need to have the ECU read out.

I read the multiecuscan manual and it mentions the cable that I bought ELM5 to be compatible, fingers crossed will find out tomorrow.

from looking at the images on the link of software you bought it looks like it only supports the engine ecu which it may well work with as cheap obd devices will read engine codes ..but the fault codes you have are in the abs and airbag modules so would not be able to connect to those, I do not read or speak the language of the link so can only go by the images of the software.. is pity you can not cancel your order for it but you should be able to send it back and get refund as it was an online purchase..even with the free version of the multiscan software you can read and clear some fault codes but the airbag module needs a vag kl cable to connect to the airbag module tobe able to read and clear codes .good luck with it but I would certainly recommend the multiscan software.

Just beneath the line where it says it can read and remove engine error codes it says:

Lezen en wissen opgeslagen, pending codes, en permanente foutcodes (zowel generieke en fabrikant-specifieke)
>>
Read and remove of stored pending codes and permanent error codes (generic as well as vendor-specific)

Will see as soon as the part arrives, but still the ELM5 cable is also supported with multiecuscan, will still be able to use it, although as you say not for ABS and airbag issues, will look for an VAG KKL cable.

yes as you most probably know the stored code part most probably relates to the engine codes..
Still least yours is a 2002 and not need the read out for your country when test time.

Yes elm cables are used for multiscan although if you read through the forum on that site you will see it is how lucky you are with your elm I know I had to modify mine by removing a resistor on the circuit board for it to work and alter a few wires so could access the other modules is an earlier elm version though same for the bluetooth one for using the mobile version multiscan, but like yourself got there in the end.
You could download the free multiscan version so that when the cable you orderd arrived you be able to test and see if it connects using free multiscan, then least you know you have the elm cable sorted and you know if just connects to engine ecu it would need modifying or return to buyer and you can get cables specific for multiscan software ebay and other places, and you would need a vag cable anyway for airbag clearing.so not all bad.

Yeah, even if the ELM cable can only be used for engine faults, I think I'm going to keep it, always handy to have, maybe even to use on different types of cars from friends.

Unfortunately the cable didn't get here on time, so will have to wait till after the weekend and look for a VAG cable.

ASR/ESP and strangely aribag failure were back when I started the car 2 nights ago, eventhough I have the airbag sensor emulator.

Took the car for a drive today, no ASR/ESP error but intermittently the airbag failure would show up in dashboard, than while driving it would go away, any thoughts on this?

What I want to check today is the car battery, I hear a lot of mention of bad battery causing issues.