That's really bad luck, I'm sure someone who knows about these things will be along shortly.
Did you buy and have the servicing done by the garage you took it to?

91gina said:

I've had my Fiat 500 (1.2 lounge) for just over three years with no problems, but was driving it the other week when the airbag warning light came up on the dashboard. I took the car to the Fiat garage for a diagnostics test and the outcome is that the ECU on my little 500 needs re-programming (at a cost of £450 - the car's conveniently three months out of its warranty). The garage (Glyn Hopkin) could not have been less helpful and I'm a little ignorant of what ECU problems actually entail.

I was just wondering if anyone's had a similar problem or can help?
Thanks ​

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I got an airbag light on a Marea before an NCT text ( battery disconnected for 3 days) independent got it to go off.
I would try someone else.

Something has caused the light to come on. It's not a big deal for an independant to cancel the warning and see if it reoccurs.

If it does, then further investigation would be required. Unless the air bag has actually gone off, that is.

But I suspect you might have noticed if it did......

I suggest you got back to the garage and get it in writing exactly what they think is wrong.

To re-prog a ECU is 30mins-1hour labour, not £450! Are you sure they said it needed programmed and not renewed?

Hi, I had the exact same problem earlier this year my fiat was 3.5 years so not long out of warranty and the airbag light came on one day. I took it to a local garage for a diagnostics and they said the ECU was faulty but that a dealer would have to replace it. Phoned Arnold Clark etc and they all quoted aprox. £80 for another diagnostics and then if it was the ECU at fault it would be around £400-£500 for the repair. I tried my hardest to fix it at home, unplugged battery (make sure you have radio codes etc before you do this) and cleaned all the wee connectors that run from the ECU to the seats and it made no difference, the light was still on. I tried contacting Fiat but they were no use and just refered me back to the dealer.
The bills on my car were starting to mount as it had various other problems so in the end I traded it and got another car.
This will not be what you want to hear but good luck, I wish mine could of been saved easily.

T14086 said:

I suggest you got back to the garage and get it in writing exactly what they think is wrong.

To re-prog a ECU is 30mins-1hour labour, not £450! Are you sure they said it needed programmed and not renewed?

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Think we need a section here on which OBD2 / OBDII reader to buy, how to connect and do self diagnostics on your car and how to reset ECU without taking Batt Terminal(s) off and noting if issue comes back again.

worth reading my experiance of ECU issues here and how the ECU was fixed; https://www.fiatforum.com/non-fiat/308470-rav4-auto-gearbox.html

arorat said:

Think we need a section here on which OBD2 / OBDII reader to buy, how to connect and do self diagnostics on your car and how to reset ECU without taking Batt Terminal(s) off and noting if issue comes back again.

worth reading my experiance of ECU issues here and how the ECU was fixed; https://www.fiatforum.com/non-fiat/308470-rav4-auto-gearbox.html

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Does ECUTESTING do Fiats as well ?
Surprised that the 500 is getting updates of problems on the ECU.
On the Marea the airbag light was sorted with no problems.
Did get an 'update' that after 3 resets of the airbag light on a Marea that a new ECU is needed. I hope this has not being reduced to 1 on the 500.

Hi.
I have the same problem with my 500. I have had lights on my dash for around 6 months now. The car has been diagnosed a few times with no error code found but as it drives OK and the Fiat dealer said it 'probably needed a new ECU (I wasnt going to risk £800 on a probably!) I haven't had the ECU changed. However, I am now getting more error messages, 'Fuel cut-off unavailable' being the most recent so will be going fo further diagnostics.
It appears that this is a fairly common problem with Fiats. If you do manage to find a solution to your problem, I would be grateful if you could let me know and I will do the same if I finally manage to get mine resolved.
Sam

91gina said:

I've had my Fiat 500 (1.2 lounge) for just over three years with no problems, but was driving it the other week when the airbag warning light came up on the dashboard. I took the car to the Fiat garage for a diagnostics test and the outcome is that the ECU on my little 500 needs re-programming (at a cost of £450 - the car's conveniently three months out of its warranty). The garage (Glyn Hopkin) could not have been less helpful and I'm a little ignorant of what ECU problems actually entail.

I was just wondering if anyone's had a similar problem or can help?
Thanks ​

Click to expand...

I have a Fiat 500 Lounge 1.2 that I bought 2nd hand from a Fiat dealership in April this year and just been told I need a new ECU as I keep getting a gearbox fault on the dashboard (I have the automatic version). I am not happy as I got the car less than 6 months ago!!!

elbee81 said:

I have a Fiat 500 Lounge 1.2 that I bought 2nd hand from a Fiat dealership in April this year and just been told I need a new ECU as I keep getting a gearbox fault on the dashboard (I have the automatic version). I am not happy as I got the car less than 6 months ago!!!

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How old is it and didnt they sell you the car with a dealership warranty?

Might be worth you taking some of the steps referred to above, and if they do not work you could get an auto electrician to check it is not something else causing it (like a sensor).