Technical Airbag Warning and OBDII

[stevieste23]

Hi all

Can anyone help where to go from here. I have read most of the posts on here regarding airbag warning lights. My 500 popped up an airbag warning light. I have played with the wires under the seats and got no luck. I then read to plug into diagnostics, so I purchased an OBDII reader with Dashcommand software. Unfortunately this doesnt seem to pick up the error code.

Is there any better diagnostic setup that I can use with OBDII or should I have gone for something else??

I have also unplugged the battery for 20mins.

Still got nowhere. Has anyone got any ideas rather than going to the dealer?

Thanks all.

Ste:bang:

 

[jrkitching]

Can anyone help where to go from here.

Assuming you have a windows laptop, buy a licenced copy of multiecuscan & the necessary cables.

It will give you a comprehensive diagnostic toolkit for all the electronic components on the 500 (and other Fiat/Alfa cars).

 

[typecastboy]

and allows you to reset the airbag lights. Great bit of kit. Don't know where you are Steve, but if you're anywhere Kent, South London area, I'll do it for you.

 

[stevieste23]

Hey thanks for the information. is a full licence for the year or for ever??

Im up in the north west typecastboy, but really appreciate the offer.

Are these the leads that would do everything?

cant post url's????

MultiECUScan-FiatECUScan-Adaptors-Steering-Diagnostic/dp/B005E8RTSO/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435693906&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=multieuscan+leads

this address with amazon in front if it

 

[stevieste23]

Hi everyone.

An update on the Airbag light :bang:. It is still there and its starting to get costly. I have had it in an independent garage and they plugged it in for diagnostics and couldn't find the fault as they said its saying it cant read the airbags (as if it doesn't have any).

After that I thought I am best going to FIAT. So I paid for diagnostics at Fiat and low and behold they told me the same thing!!!!! They told me that it could be a faulty Airbag ECU unit and that is why it is giving the impression that it has no airbags.

So I have now purchased a new Airbag ECU and it hasn't made a bit of difference.

Can anybody please help? I am now getting an intermittent warning from the power steering also (not sure if they are related). When the power steering warning comes on the power steering is still working, but this happens once or twice a week.

Thanks in advance

 

[jrkitching]

Hi everyone.

An update on the Airbag light :bang:. It is still there and its starting to get costly. I have had it in an independent garage and they plugged it in for diagnostics and couldn't find the fault as they said its saying it cant read the airbags (as if it doesn't have any).

After that I thought I am best going to FIAT. So I paid for diagnostics at Fiat and low and behold they told me the same thing!!!!! They told me that it could be a faulty Airbag ECU unit and that is why it is giving the impression that it has no airbags.

So I have now purchased a new Airbag ECU and it hasn't made a bit of difference.

Can anybody please help? I am now getting an intermittent warning from the power steering also (not sure if they are related). When the power steering warning comes on the power steering is still working, but this happens once or twice a week.

Thanks in advance

Have you checked the hatch wiring cables at the point where the loom enters the hatchback? If there is a physical fault in the wiring loom, diagnostics may give false results.

For safety and to avoid making a bad situation worse, I'd suggest you disconnect the battery negative quick release first. You need to peel back the grommet, and possibly some of the outer loom insulation, as the grommet itself often appears perfect even though the cables underneath are frayed or broken. It's an extremely common 500 problem.

I have personal experience of a hatch wiring fault triggering an airbag warning light on a 500.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi,
it may well be good to change to a new battery - if yours is more than 2 years old..,

the electronics need a stable supply to work properly..,

Charlie - Oxford

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I'd have a look at the steering fault codes as it may give a clue to what's going on with the airbags.

 

[typecastboy]

Steering fault flashing is always the battery. Duff battery can also affect the airbag sensors. Can't believe Fiat didn't pick that up.

Invest in a new battery and everything will be hunky dory!

 

[Mick F]

Invest in a new battery and everything will be hunky dory!

Although I agree with this statement, there could be much in what JR is saying too.
Maybe do both. Battery and hatch wiring?

When I replaced our 500TA battery, the SS worked perfectly immediately. Luckily, the only fault was the SS system.

Our 14 year old Clio needed a new battery, so I fitted the old SS battery from the 500TA, and it works perfectly, reliably, and completely and utterly wonderfully. Like a brand new battery would do.

So ................. a battery may not be good enough for a 500, but still perfect for a "normal" car. This therefore means that there's no way to test a battery to guarantee that it's a good one. All you can do is buy an new one and cross your fingers.

Regards,
Mick.

 

[liav24]

The airbag lights popped up at mine too last year after i installled a new HU and speakers - we found that the installer accidentaly broke the knee airbag sensor under the steering wheel and didn't tell me about it (how nice) so the dealership replaced it for about 60$.
Who knows, might be worth to check it out.