Had an error 51 on multiecuscan and both airbag remain on.

Took the airbag isolation switch out of the glove box with an ice scraper. Just pops out.

Someone had been here before. The back of the switch bad been broken off and glued back. Did test the contacts. Didn't matter where the key was it was open circuit. Took it apart and it has two resistors. Should measure 100 ohms with the key one way and 400 ohms the other.

Breakers only had a 2003 Punto. Popped it out and its identical to my 2005 Panda.


Removed a little wire spring and swapped the barrel over so my key fits it

Put it back together and cleared the code with multiecuscan and its all good.

If the switch had not been broken it would have been repairable. The original fault was a dry joint on the resistor. Measured okay on top of the resistor (tiny surface mount) but not across the join. Just needed reflowing the solder. Probably gave intermittent fault over bumpy ground to start with.

Good to know the Punto one fits!
They often get physically broken when the glovebox is removed. I've swapped out quite a few for other people and I'm down to my last spare Panda one.

The Mk2 Punto airbag circuit also had problems with the seat contacts. Check here as well as the glove box switch.

my girlfriends panda plays up if you ever dare open and close the glovebox with the car on. i will have a go at popping it out and taking a look at it. if its as simple as that to fix, then that sounds spot on

dac69er said:

my girlfriends panda plays up if you ever dare open and close the glovebox with the car on. i will have a go at popping it out and taking a look at it. if its as simple as that to fix, then that sounds spot on

Click to expand...

Yes its that easy.

No screws need to be undone.

Just pop it out disconnect. Swap the barrels over reconnect and push back in.

clear any codes

Local breaker charged me £5 for the Punta one.

However

Battery should be disconnected and wait a hour before starting any work on the airbag system

Don't use a meter to probe the connections in the car.

This is cable I used to clear the code with the free muliecuscan.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/MultiECUScan-FIAT-ALFA-VAG-OBD-DIAGNOSTIC-LEAD-SWITCH-No-need-for-adapters/201386601637?hlpht=true&ops=true&viphx=1&_trksid=p5197.c100068.m2280&_trkparms=ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211125758%26meid%3Dba979f9cba924fdaab0ddbfbeade87e7%26pid%3D100068%26clkid%3D443440835088484926&_qi=RTM2108002

Don't know anything about the seller but my cable arrived next day.

koalar said:

Yes its that easy.

No screws need to be undone.

Just pop it out disconnect. Swap the barrels over reconnect and push back in.

clear any codes

Local breaker charged me £5 for the Punta one.

However

Battery should be disconnected and wait a hour before starting any work on the airbag system

Don't use a meter to probe the connections in the car.

This is cable I used to clear the code with the free muliecuscan.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/MultiECUScan-FIAT-ALFA-VAG-OBD-DIAGNOSTIC-LEAD-SWITCH-No-need-for-adapters/201386601637?hlpht=true&ops=true&viphx=1&_trksid=p5197.c100068.m2280&_trkparms=ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211125758%26meid%3Dba979f9cba924fdaab0ddbfbeade87e7%26pid%3D100068%26clkid%3D443440835088484926&_qi=RTM2108002

Don't know anything about the seller but my cable arrived next day.

Click to expand...

all been covered on here before - glad it worked the same for you.

i have never had to reset anything on her car!?!?

the light goes on, you wiggle the swithc a bit and the light goes out again!?

dac69er said:

i have never had to reset anything on her car!?!?

the light goes on, you wiggle the swithc a bit and the light goes out again!?

Click to expand...

Different fault then.
Mine was exactly the same. Broken plug connection. Same punto fix.

Needed MES to clear fault. Dec 2013

dac69er said:

i have never had to reset anything on her car!?!?

the light goes on, you wiggle the swithc a bit and the light goes out again!?

Click to expand...

Sounds like just the yellow warning light ??

Red one should need a reset


For a fiver I would swap it. Only two wires to the switch and nothing else would be moved by opening the glovebox

koalar said:

Sounds like just the yellow warning light ??

Red one should need a reset


For a fiver I would swap it. Only two wires to the switch and nothing else would be moved by opening the glovebox

Click to expand...

Remember to allow an hour though...!!
As power has to be disabled. Or you risk injury/ damage from deployed airbags