Technical Fiat Bravo 2008 Airbag U1726 Fault

[Drei]

In short, my airbag light came on the day before took it for MOT. I've had the car since new as I used to work for Fiat/CNH in Basildon, as some may know it as the Tractor Plant, or Ford's. I had a nice employee discount on it. The car has been solid and never felt the need to change it, plus I only done 37000 miles on it, this means on average 2300 per year. I had to get a solar panel in the window just to keep the battery healthy.

The garage said that the car had a bunch of error that they reset, but the airbag communication module is still there. The code is the U1726, which states Communication with the component <Airbag control unit>. They stated that they didn't know if and where the fuse for the airbag was, just in case it was a fuse issue.
I was quoted £1000 to have the airbag controller replaced... which is great since the car is probably worth £3000 at most. Could get more if I break it and sell it in pieces.

I want to keep the car, even though ULEZ is going to be an issue soon in Romford, but we are moving outside of London, and will be kept as a run around, it's still in great shape, interior as new and drives just as great as the first day I had it. It also has sentimental value, the first car that I purchased after getting my first graduate job, has many memories and had some amazing road trips with it.

A serious challenge I have is actually finding a local Fiat Dealer, the one in Romford is now a KIA, the one in Chigwell has a waiting list of October and Chelmsford... well hang up on me after waiting for a few minutes to see if they had any slots.
Already paid the local garage to do the diagnosis and pre-MOT checks (which it passed, besides the airbag light which is a fail) £100.

What are my options?

 

[bugsymike]

I have just posted this for another issue but may be of use related to an Airbag issue with same code.
"
I used a Snap On Zeus Diagnostic tool from a friends garage when repairing my daughters 2012 Punto Evo due to a poor previous repair on a passenger seat occupancy sensor damaging the BCM (body computer) I fitted a new BCM and was able to use the Snap On tool delete old error codes then locate all the units fitted to the car and do the "Proxi Alignment" so the BCM could talk to the rest of the car, I then deleted any further error codes and car has been clear ever since with no flashing speedo, stop/start and other faults that that throws up.
Apart from that on previous Fiats I have had issues with non original stereos, incidentally other Forum members have had issues with non stop/start type batteries fitted and bad earthing etc.
Finally many here use the MES diagnostic program designed for Fiats with much success and will be able to advise you better than me."

Another thought, if as you say very low usage/mileage and relying on a solar panel to charge the battery, modern cars are very susceptible to low battery voltage throwing up errors due to the ECUs using very precise voltages to operate sensors etc. so maybe look in that area also.
It is possible that someone "switched on" using the Snap On tool or MES can read what is actually causing the problem and it might just be a poor sensor connection if nothing has been shorted etc. which was in my daughters car resulting in the need to buy the new BCM, I had sorted the seat sensor fault and tried the "proxi alignment" but as I said it needed the BCM to fix.
I am sure there are many members here who can advise fuse location etc.

 

[Drei]

Thanks for the reply, I spoke with someone else on here and gave me some good advice about the airbag controller. In my case the garage has reset all errors etc, and the error that there is no communication with airbag module keeps coming on. I think it is definitely the dreaded airbag module and I need to open up the central unit in order to see what model I need... then troll eBay in search for one, and hope it works.

I would love to know if anyone that had this issue, which apparently is common on Fiats including the caravans, has contacted trading standards. It is unbelievable that they charge you over £1k to get this repaired, what is the justification in it? Is the module made out of solid platinum? Does it need a coder to write it manually for every car and it takes days?

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks for the reply, I spoke with someone else on here and gave me some good advice about the airbag controller. In my case the garage has reset all errors etc, and the error that there is no communication with airbag module keeps coming on. I think it is definitely the dreaded airbag module and I need to open up the central unit in order to see what model I need... then troll eBay in search for one, and hope it works.

I would love to know if anyone that had this issue, which apparently is common on Fiats including the caravans, has contacted trading standards. It is unbelievable that they charge you over £1k to get this repaired, what is the justification in it? Is the module made out of solid platinum? Does it need a coder to write it manually for every car and it takes days?

This is the old faulty BCM unit I replaced on my daughters Punto Evo, it was situated below the centre consol.
I would say check check for power to it before replacing and you will need a new/clean BCM, not one from a scrapyard that "just needs reprogramming".
Perhaps a specialist can test your existing BCM before condemning it.

 

[Drei]

This is the old faulty BCM unit I replaced on my daughters Punto Evo, it was situated below the centre consol.
I would say check check for power to it before replacing and you will need a new/clean BCM, not one from a scrapyard that "just needs reprogramming".
Perhaps a specialist can test your existing BCM before condemning it.

Yep that's the airbag controller, didn't know it was called BCM) Is there a difference between the BCM and the Airbag Controller? The controller is situated under the central unit too, so I assume we are talking about the same part.

This is my issue, there is no specialist that can test it. The garage I took it for MOT did the basic scans and pre-MOT checks and charged me £100 and quoted me £1000+VAT to replace it with a new one that needs the old data copied to.

Might be worth running me through what you did. From what I read on your reply you:
Got a new BCM not eBay one, where from?
The tool you used is a very expensive garage specific tool, I could go back or try another garage for another £100+. I can also try the Fiat Multiecuscansee if I can sort it using that.
Now when you say "locate all the units fitted to the car" what do you mean? As in copy the old controller data to the new one?
Finally doing the Proxi Alignment?

From what I have seen these controllers are all made in Romania, maybe I should try reaching out to someone over there, see if there is one that has fallen off the back of a truck and get it new at a discount rate.

 

[Drei]

If anyone reads this, it is worth noting that I have contacted trading standard and told them about it, basically that Fiat is known for these failures across their vehicles including motorhomes etc, that the charge is £1000+ and that the warranty is only 1 year.

The reply was that this sounds like unfair practices, but they need more people reporting it. It sounds like Fiat has gotten away with it only because consumers have not complained about it. Might be worth wasting 15 minutes and getting enough complaints in, so that Fiat justifies the costs. I personally cannot see how this compares to a new engine or gear box, where the complexity and costs associated with manufacturing the part is so much more.

P.S. Been told that the closes Fiat approved garage is in Colchester.

 

[bugsymike]

Yep that's the airbag controller, didn't know it was called BCM) Is there a difference between the BCM and the Airbag Controller? The controller is situated under the central unit too, so I assume we are talking about the same part.

This is my issue, there is no specialist that can test it. The garage I took it for MOT did the basic scans and pre-MOT checks and charged me £100 and quoted me £1000+VAT to replace it with a new one that needs the old data copied to.

Might be worth running me through what you did. From what I read on your reply you:
Got a new BCM not eBay one, where from?
The tool you used is a very expensive garage specific tool, I could go back or try another garage for another £100+. I can also try the Fiat Multiecuscansee if I can sort it using that.
Now when you say "locate all the units fitted to the car" what do you mean? As in copy the old controller data to the new one?
Finally doing the Proxi Alignment?

From what I have seen these controllers are all made in Romania, maybe I should try reaching out to someone over there, see if there is one that has fallen off the back of a truck and get it new at a discount rate.

I agree I was fortunate to have access to the Snap On tool, but if you have a word on the MES section of this Forum they will advise you what version and leads required to deal with your vehicle including the "proxi alignment" side. Given the prices for testing it would be a good investment if keeping Fiats for long term.
Once I had confirmed the original BCM was duff using my friends Diagnostics, I removed it and did a search on eBay using that part number and found this one advertised as brand new for £149, to be honest I didn't even check the new Fiat price, it arrived and I inspected it with a magnifying glass to confirm no terminals had been plugged in. Once fitted I went back to my mates and I used the tool to first delete any errors on the engine ECU, then got the tool to recognise the new BCM and identify all the things connected to it, multiple airbags, seat occupancy sensors, seat belts etc. and then ran the "proxi alignment" program which all went well (though I have heard cases of people having to run it twice) I then did a final check and delete of any stored error codes again and my daughter has been using it to go to work every day for many months now.
Finally if you can find someone on MES Register near you, it may be possible for them to pinpoint what is actually the fault, as it could be quite possible the BCM is being condemned unfairly, in my case the original fault was the passenger seat occupancy sensor, however due to the "repair the previous owner did it caused the BCM to fail. Basically the repair to the plastic film covered printed circuit ended up as a straight short instead of going through a resister. The part from Fiat which he had tried to repair was around £137 I think, I had to strip the seat to fit the replacement which I got from China £6. as a bare pressure sensor and then fitted the resister from the old sensor into the circuit as original design.
The reason I say unfairly is many years ago I took a customer Renault Clio to the dealer to test at great expense, they then said it needed the BCM at £***, I said so that will cure it? Oh no was the reply it could still be something else! I removed the car from them at that point!!! Correct diagnosis is everything.

 

[Drei]

I reached out to D Salmon in Colchester, as informed by Glyn Hopkin, told me £85 to run full diagnosis on the car. I might bite the bullet and do that, at which point I already lost almost £200 without much to show for, but they should be able to provide a proper fault finding.
I am debating if it is something like you said, the passenger seat causing a problem or short. Could be us putting our knees on the seat too hard, I did that a few times. Last thing I want is replace the unit then it happening again.

By the way, I ended buying a new car, so the Fiat will be a run around car, if fixed. Besides I received a TFL letter two weeks back, informing me that the Fiat wasn't ULEZ compliant, and from the end of this month (August) it would cost me every time I took it out. Funny enough the car is in Colchester now as we will be moving there shortly.
I will see if any forum members are around that area and if they have the scanning tool to check for the codes, otherwise at least I am close to D Salmon.

Thanks and I will follow what you did, see if I can get to the bottom of it myself before throwing more money at it.
I don't suppose you are any closer? Would be happy to pay for your time and your friend's professional tool using, at least I know it is done right

 

[bugsymike]

If you get a good code read, get a copy of all the error/fault codes that it reports.
I can't remember did you check the power and earth feeds + fuses etc. that supply the BCM, other may be able to guide you on that better than me.
I am in sunny Devon so a long way away and even what ever little I know hasn't stopped me having to get a good diagnosis on another vehicle I own.