Technical Air bag light

[baconbap]

I have a 61 plate Qubo my life, and had an issue with the steering wheel buttons. I traced the problem to a broken clock spring. After much googling, I found a replacement clock spring from a supplier in Lithuania. I received the new spring and proceeded to fit it following the instructions from the seller. I disconnected the battery and left it disconnected for 20 minutes, then removed the air bag and steering wheel, replaced the clock spring, re-fitted the steering wheel and air bag, and re-connected the battery. All the buttons on the steering wheel now work, but I now have the airbag warning light on the dashboard, and the odometer is continuously flashing. I have tried, as suggested by a local garage, disconnecting the battery for an hour, then reconnecting it, but the airbag light and flashing odometer are still present.
I have asked a couple of local garages if they can reset the airbag light, but they are unable to.
Is this something that can only be done at Fiat, or does anyone know how it can be done, or someone in the Essex area who can do it?

 

[Mike1alike]

Your airbag has 2 wires/2 plugs, correct? And they are color coded. Did you plug them correctly or to the other plug?
Connecting to airbag module is not done by Fiat only. You can connect to it using MES.
But before that, is the airbag in your car menu turned "On"? It could have set itself to "Off" while you disconnected it and that could be the reason light is on. So get into the menu and check it out.
Is the clock spring you bought new? It could be faulty, too.

 

[baconbap]

Your airbag has 2 wires/2 plugs, correct? And they are color coded. Did you plug them correctly or to the other plug?
Connecting to airbag module is not done by Fiat only. You can connect to it using MES.
But before that, is the airbag in your car menu turned "On"? It could have set itself to "Off" while you disconnected it and that could be the reason light is on. So get into the menu and check it out.
Is the clock spring you bought new? It could be faulty, too.

Thanks for your reply,
My airbag has one yellow connector, so unfortunately, it's not just a simple mix-up with plugs.
I've not checked the on-board menu for airbag settings, but I think it only allows the passenger air bag to be switched off but still worth checking.
The clock spring was new, not OEM but patent equivalent, and I assume it's OK, as all the buttons on the steering wheel now work as well as the horn.

I have ordered a diagnostic machine that will find the fault, if any, and allow me to reset the warning light

iCarsoft FR V2.0 Multi System Diagnostic Tool - Citroen, Peugeot, Renault, Dacia, Fiat & Alfa Romeo

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www.diagnostic-world.com

 

[Mike1alike]

My airbag has one yellow connector, so unfortunately, it's not just a simple mix-up with plugs.

Okay... To begin with... you did remember to connect it, right?
Could it be improper connected or oxidized contacts?
That is the right way to go, have a tester first and read what it says it's wrong there. Maybe that will hlp you fix it, with a reset or some command.

 

[The Panda Nut]

It probably needs codes clearedcand a proxi alignment. This ought to be a few minutes job with luck.

 

[baconbap]

Okay... To begin with... you did remember to connect it, right?
Could it be improper connected or oxidized contacts?
That is the right way to go, have a tester first and read what it says it's wrong there. Maybe that will hlp you fix it, with a reset or some command.

LOL, Yep, checked and double checked that the airbag was connected correctly, checked the plug, socket and cable for damage, all OK.
Hopefully the diag tool will pin point whats wrong, if anything and allow me to reset the light

 

[baconbap]

It probably needs codes clearedcand a proxi alignment. This ought to be a few minutes job with luck.

hopefully, yes

 

[baconbap]

**UPDATE**
Finally got round to doing a bit of investigation into my airbag issue.
Run diags and found fault "airbag resistance low" so disconnected the airbag and bridged the connector with a 2.2 ohm resistor but the fault was still there. Traced the wires back past the clock spring and again bridged the wires with the resistor.....still showed the fault. Next stop was the ECU, traced the wires back to the ECU then proceeded to test continuity, all passed up to the air bag plug.........well, bugger me, the plug was faulty !!!!....... soldered on the old plug from the old broken clock spring and no fault, no dash light.
Just goes to show that even new components can be the problem.

 

[Mike1alike]

Great that you've fixed it and thank you for sharing the fix!

 

[The Panda Nut]

**UPDATE**
Finally got round to doing a bit of investigation into my airbag issue.
Run diags and found fault "airbag resistance low" so disconnected the airbag and bridged the connector with a 2.2 ohm resistor but the fault was still there. Traced the wires back past the clock spring and again bridged the wires with the resistor.....still showed the fault. Next stop was the ECU, traced the wires back to the ECU then proceeded to test continuity, all passed up to the air bag plug.........well, bugger me, the plug was faulty !!!!....... soldered on the old plug from the old broken clock spring and no fault, no dash light.
Just goes to show that even new components can be the problem.

Great job