Technical Airbag ECU

[apinnard]

Hi guys and girls, it's me again!!

Sadly I am going to be a bearer of bad news again. A few weeks ago I was fiddling around under the passenger seat when I unplugged the yellow airbag wire and turned the ignition on, causing the airbag light to stay on permanently. I plugged the wire back in, and it still stays on all the time

I read up on these forums and subsequently took her into the local Fiat dealer (Motorvogue Northampton) to run a diagnostic check on it. After waiting half hour for the man to fiddle around with a load of wires and hook a computer up the result was that my airbag ECU has an "internal fault."

Aparantely I need a new ECU, but I am not convinced. Being a computer technician I know that you can reprogram eeprom chips quite easily. So I was just wondering if this can be done, if I will probably need a new ECU, how easy it is to fit and the cost of ths things!!!

They reckoned £160 for the ECU, and an hours labour plus VAT. Is that alright?

Thanks.
Alex

 

[polecat]

The passenger airbag wiring is always causing problems
I'm surprised that they cannot just reset the alarm. I wouldn't have though that just disconnecting the wire could damage the ECU. Double check the wiring and take it somewhere else for a second opinion.
The costs seem about right but check how much an hours labour is and see if you can get a second quote. The best way to confirm the unit cost is to ring up a dealers spares department and ask for the unit cost.

 

[fiat tech]

yes that is correct as open circuit can damage the e.c.u

 

[apinnard]

Ok thanks guys, Im taking it to Fiat Corby on Saturday for second opinion.

My father in law can get hold of an ECU from a salvaged Marea for half the price I have been quoted, do you know where it is located within the car and if it's easy to get to?

 

[tgb]

Vaguely related... My airbag light came on one day. Fiat garage plugged the car in and reset it. They said sometimes some jolts or bumps are enough to cause this to happen. Luckily the car was still under warranty so I didn't have to pay the crazy amount for ten minutes work, and the light hasn't come back on again..touch wood.