How to read/reset ECU and airbag errors on Mk2 for a tenner and a laptop

A few folk seem to be interested in arming themselves with a cheap ECU code reader for Mk2 Punto so here’s the “tenner and a laptop” solution.

First,the software. Go to www.fiatecuscan.net and check whether your model is covered. If so, download and install the free version of the software on the laptop. Credit to Yani for writing this programme.

Second, the tenner buys you a USB VAG-COM KKL lead from eBay. As at April2010, prices started from £8.59 (free P&P).

For airbag control reading/resetting you are going to need to open up the big blue plug so it will need to be one that is screwed together (mine was but I can’t vouch for all variants - you can probably see the screw holes in the pics).

Install the FTDI virtual port driver. You can check the port properties through Device Manager. Yani’s website gives some pointers in his “how to use” section but essentially this is just to set the driver latency to minimum (1mS) and to note which COM port the software has assigned to the device (you can change it but shouldn’t need to). My lead came with drivers on a mini-CD but a suitable (newer) driver is available from www.ftdichip.com. This assumes that the lead employs an FTDI chip to create the USB virtual serial port. If it's some other chipset, a different driver may be needed.

Now connect the lead to the EOBD socket. This is on the driver’s side, under the dash, behind the panel to access the fuses (2 screws, quarter turn with a coin). The socket is below the fuses. My lead has a blue LED in the plug that comes on when plugged in (other leads may not have this). Connect the other end to your USB port and launch the program. Click settings and select the COM port (if unknown, you'll need to try each one until it works). Select your car and engine type, select the ECU, switch the ignition on and press F2 to connect. If you get an ISO code error you’ve probably not selected the right model. All being well, it should say "connected". Now play away!

Air bags – If your air bags are supported and you want to clear the fault lamps, you’ll need to modify the lead first. Open up the big blue plug and solder a wire between pins 3 and 7. Note that Yani recommends that the connection from the circuit board to pin 7 should be cut and a switch wired in so that the signal goes either to pin 7 or pin 3. I couldn’t find anything to suggest that any damage would be caused by simply connecting the two pins so that is what I did. It worked OK for me. As before, select your car and this time select your airbag controller type (if unsure just work through the variants). Obviously, if there is a persistant or intermittent fault, the warning lamp will stay on or come back on later but at least you can see the logged error to help decide a course of action.

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