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Technical Side Airbag diagnosis

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Technical Side Airbag diagnosis

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hywyn

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Hi,
I apparantly have a failed drivers side, "side airbag", which appeared on the garage diagnostic.

There was mention (by our moderator no less) of a new repair method released by Fiat for repair of side airbag wiring. Any idea where I can get a hold of this?

Also, are the connectors for side airbags green? I'll try the electrical contact cleaner (as reccommended be Decks), if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Finally, do the airbags all fail if one is failing. The warning message seems a bit over the top (my reason for asking)!

Cheers,
Steve

(Excuse me asking this on a previous thread,...I've left a note to say this query has been moved)
 
Hi
Difficult to predict what your problem is as there haven't been any reports of problems with the side air bags as far as I can remember but yes it's a green connector, and contact cleaner on the connector won't do any harm.

Here it is
hpim1142.jpg

As you know, don't mess with resistance checks on these circuits unless you don't like the way you look now

There's no reason why any other air bag should have a problem just because of one playing up
 
Last edited:
Deckchair5 said:
Hi
Difficult to predict what your problem is as there haven't been any reports of problems with the side air bags as far as I can remember but yes it's a green connector, and contact cleaner on the connector won't do any harm.

Here it is
View attachment 38651

As you know, don't mess with resistance checks on these circuits unless you don't like the way you look now

There's no reason why any other air bag should have a problem just because of one playing up
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I'll stay safe, no worries! Where is that connector? Do you take the door panel off to get at it?
Cheers,
Steve
 
T14086 said:
errrr.....maybe better leave this one to a garage;) The new repair method released by Fiat for repair of side airbag wiring is dealer fit only i'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks!

Do you know where I can get the details for the repair method released by Fiat. Maybe the mechanic I use will have it to hand.
He is a Lancia specialist who has tured his hand to Fiat (and Alfa) to make ends meet. He's excellent but any pinters are really useful.

Steve
 
If you're not getting dashboard air bag warnings and it only appeared on a diagnostics check then it may have been a one off warning of a wrong resistance there
I would give the connector the same treatment as the underseat connectors (Stilo guides), check the underseat earth connection is good and see if that clears the fault after three clear starts

To gain access you need to remove the seat (See Stilo Guides OCS replacement). That's pretty straightforward
Side air bag module is bolted to the side of the seat with these two bolts
Here's some useful pics
hpim1140.jpg

hpim1143.jpg

side air bag connectors.JPG

side air bag connectors 3.JPG

side air bag connectors 2.JPG
 
Last edited:
hywyn said:
Ok, thanks!

Do you know where I can get the details for the repair method released by Fiat. Maybe the mechanic I use will have it to hand.
He is a Lancia specialist who has tured his hand to Fiat (and Alfa) to make ends meet. He's excellent but any pinters are really useful.

Steve
Click to expand...

ATA level 3 master technicians only are allowed to carry out this repair.
 
Only the front airbags usually have a green connector (as in Deck's pic).

All the others, Side/ rear Side/ Curtain airbags normally have an orange connector and the loom is sheathed in yellow. OCS mat is grey IIRC.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you really shouldn't mess about with airbags and their looms unless you know 100% what you're doing. ;)

(y)
 
D4nny8oy said:
Only the front airbags usually have a green connector (as in Deck's pic).

All the others, Side/ rear Side/ Curtain airbags normally have an orange connector and the loom is sheathed in yellow. OCS mat is grey IIRC.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you really shouldn't mess about with airbags and their looms unless you know 100% what you're doing. ;)

(y)
Click to expand...

I don't take it the wrong way and I don't know anywhere near 100% what I am doing. I just hope my mechanic does!

I don't get the colour scheme. I had believed (from previous posts) that the orange connectors were for everything and the green were for the side airbags. :confused:
 
Deckchair5 said:
If you're not getting dashboard air bag warnings and it only appeared on a diagnostics check then it may have been a one off warning of a wrong resistance there
I would give the connector the same treatment as the underseat connectors (Stilo guides), check the underseat earth connection is good and see if that clears the fault after three clear starts
Click to expand...

The dashboard airbag is on permanently. The car is going in on saturday and the seat will be taken out. I'll suggest checking the under-seat earth connection and the green connector. I have little doubt that his response will include the words "grandma" and "sucking eggs". He's a good guy, - he was off rallying in scandinavia last week with a vintage alfa.

Cheers,
Steve
 
I dont doubt your mechanic friends ability but would you get a non-corgi registered gas repairer to fix your gas system? Fiat (and others) only recommend master level 3 ATA techs work on airbags after proving their knowledge & ability on the subject...this is off course for a very good reason. £40-55 for a correct diagnosis/repair isn't really that much for piece of mind:)
 
After a weeks worth of Airbag disco lights on the dash (Red & Amber lights and numerous warnings) popped car into Fiat locally to find out what the score was. Shown the examiner print out and relieved of 106 quid for the passenger side ocs pad, which is now on order. Car back in next Wednesday to have it fitted. Total bill 230 quid odd :cry:

Told Airbags & Seat belt Pretensioners dont come out to play if your airbag warning light is on... so having it done, not worth the risk if you cover 24K a year here there and everywhere, all odd hours and in all sorts of weathers with the nutters that are out on the roads nowadays :eek:

Trick of disconnecting the battery for 10 mins that served me so well with the 1.6 no work this time :(
 
Last edited:
T14086 said:
I dont doubt your mechanic friends ability but would you get a non-corgi registered gas repairer to fix your gas system? Fiat (and others) only recommend master level 3 ATA techs work on airbags after proving their knowledge & ability on the subject...this is off course for a very good reason. £40-55 for a correct diagnosis/repair isn't really that much for piece of mind:)
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree! However, I would be surprised if he doesn't have the knowledge / ability, whether he has been assessed is another thing.
He isn't a friend by the way. Not sure anyone else has used Allitalia (Paxton Garage) near Wrexham, but they seem to get a lot of work from further afield.

Cheers,
Steve
 
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