Ok tonight is my first night with the little beast (Punto 1.2 2001), and I haven't an owner's manual yet-it's being mailed to me.

The previous owner had the passenger airbag turned off. How can I turn it back on? I found the switch, but does it use the ignition key or another, only that won't turn. Help!

ignition key is supposed to turn it

Ah pooh, I was hoping that wasn't the case. The key won't turn at all in the switch-is this likely to be a major fault, or could it simply be stuff from being off for so long?

Thanks for answering btw.

it could be previous owner has fitted a new lock set and forgot to do the airbag one. try other keys if he gave you more than 1

Just the one key, she was a clueless 19 year old who had the car for under a year to learn to drive in. She knows nothing-said she took it to a garage to have the bag turned off.

Again thank you. Our local Fiat garage is just awful-are other garages likely to be able to help if that is the case, or will it have to be a dealer?

who is your local fiat garage?

the lock bit does come out of the rest of the switch, but its been a while since i had one in bits, but it might be possible to pop the lock out turn switch then pop lock back in,
battery should be disconected and wait a few hours before you start to play with it though

Norris Bros. Tamworth. I'll look at the lock tomorrow in the light.

So long as the ignition key physically fits in the switch it should turn it (i.e. I think any Punto key should do it - it is not a security switch after all). If the switch can turn but the warning lamp stays on, check that it's not actually the airbag fault lamp that is on (although when that comes on it usually puts the "passenger bag disabled" lamp on as well.

red

It's definitely the passenger bag disabled light.

Dave, just wanted to thank you-they have indeed fitted new locks to the door. The boot and airbag lock don't fit the key. Somewhat annoying that I wasn't told this.... I'll talk to the garage and see if they can do anything, she's in for service on Thursday. If not, I'll see if I can pop the lock out.

red said:

So long as the ignition key physically fits in the switch it should turn it (i.e. I think any Punto key should do it - it is not a security switch after all).

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part of the lock set ,ate so only original key will fit or new key if locks changed.

LittleRed said:

Somewhat annoying that I wasn't told this.... I'll talk to the garage and see if they can do anything, she's in for service on Thursday. If not, I'll see if I can pop the lock out.

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There are ways of getting aopund this, the dealership should be aware of these options.

S'funny, I've only ever had really good service from Norris of Tamworth.

T14086 said:

part of the lock set mate so only original key will fit or new key if locks changed.

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Ah... so the "any key fits" one I had must have been "modified" by someone then!

red

red said:

Ah... so the "any key fits" one I had must have been "modified" by someone then!

red

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Appears to be so, easy to do.