Technical Airbag Issue

[Adam1984]

So over the last few weeks, I have been having intermittent airbag failure notice come up on the dashboard with the occasional car stall.

Now the light and warning message is on permanently. I heard it could be the battery, but my battery is healthy.

Any other suggestions what could be causing this?

 

[Greasytrucker]

So over the last few weeks, I have been having intermittent airbag failure notice come up on the dashboard with the occasional car stall.

Now the light and warning message is on permanently. I heard it could be the battery, but my battery is healthy.

Any other suggestions what could be causing this?

Start by checking all of your earth straps, a quick search on here will show you where to check

 

[Adam1984]

Start by checking all of your earth straps, a quick search on here will show you where to check

Is the earth strap easy to find if I look under the car?

 

[The Panda Nut]

Connections under the front seats. ENSURE BATTERY DISCONNECTED before doing airbag work, and all time fot total discharge before starting. I would cut the connectors out and solder the wires as a start point.

 

[Greasytrucker]

Is the earth strap easy to find if I look under the car?

Check what @The Panda Nut suggests first as he’s the expert as he’s name suggests! Earth straps are in the engine bay in various places

 

[The Panda Nut]

Check what @The Panda Nut suggests first as he’s the expert as he’s name suggests! Earth straps are in the engine bay in various places

No more expert than many others. I have had airbag issues and was told to do thisby a dealer. It was Renauilt though. Having said that under sear connectors are celarly a known possible issue with many makes and it worked for me. The earth strap runs from teh chassis under the battery to the gearbox again under the battery. I have not seen a bad one on a Panda yet but have seen a crumbling one on a 500. The main thing you must do is disconnect adn give dischagre time before touching and electrics near seat belt tensioners or air bags.

Has the car been bumped in the front recently? Even a no damage bump could upset airbag trigger sensors or upset them.

 

[Adam1984]

No more expert than many others. I have had airbag issues and was told to do thisby a dealer. It was Renauilt though. Having said that under sear connectors are celarly a known possible issue with many makes and it worked for me. The earth strap runs from teh chassis under the battery to the gearbox again under the battery. I have not seen a bad one on a Panda yet but have seen a crumbling one on a 500. The main thing you must do is disconnect adn give dischagre time before touching and electrics near seat belt tensioners or air bags.

Has the car been bumped in the front recently? Even a no damage bump could upset airbag trigger sensors or upset them.

No not since I have had the car since October. And this has only come up in the last 2 weeks

 

[The Panda Nut]

No not since I have had the car since October. And this has only come up in the last 2 weeks

Well I would seek out a MES user on here and see if there are fualts, and consider removing the under seat jpoin and soldering the wires, USe heat shrink and insulate properly after. There are some recent posts pointing at the battery so make sure your connections are clean and good. THat battery looks almost new and indicating green is a good sign. It could still have a dead cell. Try a doner if you have a car you can borrow rom temporarily..

 

[Panda IIs]

No not since I have had the car since October. And this has only come up in the last 2 weeks

Do you find it clears if you turn the wheel lock to lock? But then the fault returns randomly? If so then my experience and Fiat Workshop correct diagnosis was the clock spring. This requires replacement of the indicator/light stalks and switch assembly. I did this myself the hardest bit was releasing the airbag assembly from the steering wheel (spring clips). Let us know if these symptoms match your problem.

 

[Adam1984]

Do you find it clears if you turn the wheel lock to lock? But then the fault returns randomly? If so then my experience and Fiat Workshop correct diagnosis was the clock spring. This requires replacement of the indicator/light stalks and switch assembly. I did this myself the hardest bit was releasing the airbag assembly from the steering wheel (spring clips). Let us know if these symptoms match your problem.

So you mean if I turn my wheel from one side to the other it should turn itself off? My car has only done 59,000 miles so think the clockspring would have gone so early

 

[Panda IIs]

So you mean if I turn my wheel from one side to the other it should turn itself off? My car has only done 59,000 miles so think the clockspring would have gone so early

That was what cleared the fault (temporarily) with mine. It would return quite quickly - diagnosis was high resistance on the contacts (clockspring). Mine mileage was in that order of magnitude. I'm not sure the miles total is that relevant, it will depend on the type of driving it has seen.

 

[Adam1984]

That was what cleared the fault (temporarily) with mine. It would return quite quickly - diagnosis was high resistance on the contacts (clockspring). Mine mileage was in that order of magnitude. I'm not sure the miles total is that relevant, it will depend on the type of driving it has seen.

I have just tried turning the wheel both ways to full lock and it hasn't changed anything. Just the airbag fault still on dashboard

 

[Panda IIs]

I have just tried turning the wheel both ways to full lock and it hasn't changed anything. Just the airbag fault still on dashboard

OK, was engine running when you did this? I would get a diagnosis if so. Note that generic OBDII readers do not give full access to FIAT hardware/software. Always worth double checking battery volts as the Panda seems (the electronics) very twitchy regarding voltage levels.

 

[Adam1984]

OK, was engine running when you did this? I would get a diagnosis if so. Note that generic OBDII readers do not give full access to FIAT hardware/software. Always worth double checking battery volts as the Panda seems (the electronics) very twitchy regarding voltage levels.

Yes the engine was running. It's going the garage on Tuesday morning so hopefully it can be diagnosed at an independent garage. My battery it's at about 12.4V and the green light is viewable in the battery so not too sure really.

 

[Panda IIs]

Yes the engine was running. It's going the garage on Tuesday morning so hopefully it can be diagnosed at an independent garage. My battery it's at about 12.4V and the green light is viewable in the battery so not too sure really.

Ah, ok, yours is the other thread? If over 5 years old I would be suspicious. Good luck with the garage and do keep us informed as outcomes really help inform on this forum.

 

[Adam1984]

Ah, ok, yours is the other thread? If over 5 years old I would be suspicious. Good luck with the garage and do keep us informed as outcomes really help inform on this forum.

No problem, am sure I will keep you updated. It says on my battery recharge date 2019, and not sure how long was in before. But for some reason it's a Start Stop Battery. Why? So think it's worth changing the battery too? If it's that's old?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I would say ‘change the battery’. 12.4v shows it’s not great.

 

[AB100]

No problem, am sure I will keep you updated. It says on my battery recharge date 2019, and not sure how long was in before. But for some reason it's a Start Stop Battery. Why? So think it's worth changing the battery too? If it's that's old?

Just changed mine. It was a March 2019 Exide and had done very few miles. Replaced with a Yuasa 7027 for £95 from Amazon.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Which airbag light is on (there are two), and what does the message actually say on the dash?

You’ve already told us (different thread) you have a child seat in the front seat, so the passenger airbag must be disabled. That will show a yellow airbag light to remind you the airbag is turned off. (Ideally, child seats should only be used in the back seats)

Only a red airbag light shows a fault, and yes, that is an MOT fail.

Note: the suggestion above to visit a Mercedes specialist probably won’t help - only the Fiat (or the alternative MES) diagnostic tool can help here.

 

[Panda IIs]

Airbag warnings + stalling after a healthy battery check? Likely culprits:

1. Clock spring (steering wheel wiring).
2. Seat sensor/connectors (check under seats).
3. Grounding/electrical faults (test alternator/ground straps).
4. ECU/SRS module glitch (needs STAR/Xentry scan).

Airbag light = automatic MOT failure. For diagnostics/repairs, visit a trusted Mercedes specialist in Blackburn – they’ll pinpoint issues fast. Avoid DIY (safety risk!). Let us know the fix!

@SammyJhon I think maybe you have muddled your brands here?