In short, my airbag light came on the day before took it for MOT. I've had the car since new as I used to work for Fiat/CNH in Basildon, as some may know it as the Tractor Plant, or Ford's. I had a nice employee discount on it. The car has been solid and never felt the need to change it, plus I only done 37000 miles on it, this means on average 2300 per year. I had to get a solar panel in the window just to keep the battery healthy.
The garage said that the car had a bunch of error that they reset, but the airbag communication module is still there. The code is the U1726, which states Communication with the component <Airbag control unit>. They stated that they didn't know if and where the fuse for the airbag was, just in case it was a fuse issue.
I was quoted £1000 to have the airbag controller replaced... which is great since the car is probably worth £3000 at most. Could get more if I break it and sell it in pieces.
I want to keep the car, even though ULEZ is going to be an issue soon in Romford, but we are moving outside of London, and will be kept as a run around, it's still in great shape, interior as new and drives just as great as the first day I had it. It also has sentimental value, the first car that I purchased after getting my first graduate job, has many memories and had some amazing road trips with it.
A serious challenge I have is actually finding a local Fiat Dealer, the one in Romford is now a KIA, the one in Chigwell has a waiting list of October and Chelmsford... well hang up on me after waiting for a few minutes to see if they had any slots.
Already paid the local garage to do the diagnosis and pre-MOT checks (which it passed, besides the airbag light which is a fail) £100.
What are my options?
The garage said that the car had a bunch of error that they reset, but the airbag communication module is still there. The code is the U1726, which states Communication with the component <Airbag control unit>. They stated that they didn't know if and where the fuse for the airbag was, just in case it was a fuse issue.
I was quoted £1000 to have the airbag controller replaced... which is great since the car is probably worth £3000 at most. Could get more if I break it and sell it in pieces.
I want to keep the car, even though ULEZ is going to be an issue soon in Romford, but we are moving outside of London, and will be kept as a run around, it's still in great shape, interior as new and drives just as great as the first day I had it. It also has sentimental value, the first car that I purchased after getting my first graduate job, has many memories and had some amazing road trips with it.
A serious challenge I have is actually finding a local Fiat Dealer, the one in Romford is now a KIA, the one in Chigwell has a waiting list of October and Chelmsford... well hang up on me after waiting for a few minutes to see if they had any slots.
Already paid the local garage to do the diagnosis and pre-MOT checks (which it passed, besides the airbag light which is a fail) £100.
What are my options?
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