Bugger! Think I just fried my airbag ECU...

[Hellraiser]

Grrr! Bravo 1.8 HLX mk1 with airbag light on - decide to have a go at reading the error codes to see what I can find. Tried it last week using a VAGCOM cable and a few pieces of wire, couldn't get any kind of response from it, so left it till my 3 pin adapter arrived.

Today, armed with cable and 3 pin adapter, had another go - hooked it all up ok, got two leads off the adapter, +12v and ground. Hook the ground up to a bit of the bodywork, and noticed a nice cable labelled +12v hanging from the dash (I'd previously removed the stereo) and though "great, I'll use that".

Battery on, ignition on, no light on my cable. Weird, fire up the software, can't connect and... what's that smell? why can I see smoke wisping up from the centre console?

Hurriedly disconnected everything (nervous enough as it is working on the airbag system, even more so when smoke appears) and find out the +12v connection I hooked into doesn't go to +12v at all, but goes out to the CD changer I still have in the boot and is presumably meant to go to +12v to provide the power. Changer isn't connected to anything, so any ideas as to how I've still managed to get smoke out of my ECU?

Next question, is it safe to fire her up with the airbag ECU disconnected?

Hellraiser...........>

 

[Anonymous]

Should be fine unless you run into a wall

 

[Hellraiser]

Lol, it gets better....

Think I found out why the module went bang - it appears it was full of coolant! I took it out and as I turned it round to look at it, a boatload of liquid ran out of the bottom of it. Took the lid off, and everything in it was corroded along with a nice big burn mark on the edge of the board I guess I'm lucky it didn't trigger the airbag, but now I have to find the source of the leak which, I presume, is going to be the heater matrix....

Anyone got an Bravo 1.8 airbag ECU going cheap?

Hellraiser............>

 

[Insomnia]

I remember my heater matrix leaked all over my airbag ecu on my 1.8. Had to replace it. Bit of a pain!

Longest Serving BOO Member

1997 Naturally Aspirated HGT in disguise!

 

[Hellraiser]

Ah, whereabouts was it leaking from? The actual matrix itself or the pipework?

Just wondering if I need to buy a new matrix, or if it's just a bad seal on the pipe... Have set myself a challenge to fix and MOT the Bravo for under £100, so every penny counts at the mo!

Hellraiser.........>

 

[Insomnia]

Was the matrix itself.

Now a lot of people will tell you the dash needs to come out... this isn't true. Mine was done with the dash in - how? No idea, a Fiat mechanic at the local dealership reckoned he knew how to get round it.

Longest Serving BOO Member

1997 Naturally Aspirated HGT in disguise!

 

[mick]

this is true mate there is 2 hard to reach bolts but you ca use rachet spanners to undo them.