Technical Airbag fault code 173?

[Skyperr]

Just scanned a Stilo 1.2 with (surprise surprise!) an airbag fault and the attached screen shot from MutiEcuScan shows

0E Side Airbag (driver) value too high Intermittent / Present 173

I presume the fault code is 173.

Any ideas on a cause before I go to deep into this?

 

[RainMan1]

Clean the contacts from the orange conector situated under driver seat. A poor conection is the cause for this fault.

Remember to disconnect the battery and wait at least 20 mins before touching airbag connectors

 

[richydraper]

you have code '0E'... all the airbag codes are in Hexadecimal. 173 is the frequency counter (its happened 173 times. the counter runs from 1 to 255)

you had my interest because i hadn't ever seen code 173

+1 for RainMan1s reply check connectors

 

[Skyperr]

you have code '0E'... all the airbag codes are in Hexadecimal. 173 is the frequency counter (its happened 173 times. the counter runs from 1 to 255)

you had my interest because i hadn't ever seen code 173

+1 for RainMan1s reply check connectors

Many thanks - that makes some sense! I won't have a chance to work on the car till the weekend, so can I ask if the seats need to be physically removed to work on the connections or is there sufficient space to work on them with the seats in situ?

 

[richydraper]

under the seat there is a little hinged cradle with the connectors clipped in. slide the block connector (bright orange one with a thick yellow cable leading to it) out of the cradle disconnect it check the conditions of the pins in both connectors if all is ok then clip back together and retest whenever you disturb the connectors make sure the ignition is off and if you're really cared pull the negative battery terminal off for 30mins or so prior to work.

 

[Skyperr]

under the seat there is a little hinged cradle with the connectors clipped in. slide the block connector (bright orange one with a thick yellow cable leading to it) out of the cradle disconnect it check the conditions of the pins in both connectors if all is ok then clip back together and retest whenever you disturb the connectors make sure the ignition is off and if you're really cared pull the negative battery terminal off for 30mins or so prior to work.

Update: cleaned the contacts in the orange plug and remade the connection. So far, so good. Airbag light is out

 

[DCK]

Exactly the same problem, was just about to post until I found this. Thanks again to the forum

 

[Davren]

Exactly the same problem, was just about to post until I found this. Thanks again to the forum

When MES says "Driver" it sometimes means for a LHD car, so the problem could be the orange connector under the passenger's seat if yours is a RHD car.
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[Aj80]

Davren on the picture whats the black connector as I only have the other three on my active stilo

 

[Davren]

on the picture whats the black connector as I only have the other three on my active stilo

It's for electric heated seats (if fitted). If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see the labels for each connector.
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