Both the airbag warning lights are on in my 1.1 Active. I thought I would check first the easiest thing to get at which was the passenger airbag disable switch in the glove compartment. I tested it with a multi-meter and found that there was no connection between the two pins in either of the two positions. I took it apart but cleaning the connections didn't get it working again so I will need another one.

To see if that was the cause of the fault I directly soldered a link across the pads inside the switch so now it is permanently reading 100 Ohms between the pins. (It looks like it has a resistance of 400 Ohms when the passenger airbag is disabled). However when I plug the bodged connector in and turn on the ignition both airbag lights are still on. Can anyone tell me if the airbag warning fault will need resetting?

If it isn't the airbag disable switch does the fact both airbag warning lights are on tell you something about the nature of the fault? If I buy one of the Elm327 OBDII diagnostic interfaces from Ebay and use the free version of the Multiecuscan software will this be able to read the airbag diagnostics?

Thanks,

Andrew

Yes, it will need resetting.

However as a footnote this forum does not endorse such procedures and recommend diagnosis is carried out by dealership lever 3 master technicians.

common fault on punto, i didnt believe it when i found out what causes it. slamming the glove box shut causes the passenger airbag light to come on, fault is the connector under the airbag, on the punto its just to the right of the catch landing point , white connector 4 wires mounted on a slide on plate. i kept my sat nav in glove box in large case and everytime shut the glovebox the warning lights came on, usualt disableing via the key switch reset the passenger light but needed the laptop to get rid of the airbag light

With the MOT due shortly I finally got around to buying a KKL/VAG interface and the adapter and used the Multiecuscan software to connect to the airbag module. Four faults were logged against the airbag isolator switch, three of which cleared but the fourth won't. On my bodged switch I can probe across the resistor that is inside it with a multimeter and I can see that there is a voltage across it so I know it is connected.

Has anyone got any ideas why I can't clear the fault?

Andrew

replace the switch then you should be able to reset it. I assume you are using a red lead with the vag lead cos only that will reset the airbag fault

Don't replace the switch that is not the fault, there is a dealer fix using a new section of airbag wiring to the switch.

Well the answer is if you are going to bodge it, do a good bodge.

In the end I just had to go back and double check everything. I found out that when soldering on the link wire across the terminals of my broken switch I had cracked the solder joint of the 100 ohm resistor. When I tested it after soldering the link wire it was OK but probably in tightly wrapping the black PVC tape around the bodge I had obviously flexed it just enough for it to go open circuit. I resoldered the 100 ohm resistor and was then able to reset the error using Multiecuscan. I just hope it goes through the MOT OK.