Technical Grande Punto Airbag Warning Light Staying on Problem

[ripitup]

My wife has just bought a 57 Grande Punto 1.2 active 3dr.
We have had it for just over 2 weeks.
When she starts it up first thing in the morning the airbag warning light stays on for 8 mins.
It then goes out. Seems to be ok for the rest of the day.

We took it to the dealer and he claimed there was an error in the system software. He then updated the software. That was on Friday. This morning the same thing happened again.

Is this a common fault?
Is there a known cure for the fault?
I am worried it may leave the airbag disarmed.
I have scanned the forum but dont see any posts with this warning light staying on for a period of time and then going out.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. :worship:

 

[Aircooledbug]

My wife has just bought a 57 Grande Punto 1.2 active 3dr.
We have had it for just over 2 weeks.
When she starts it up first thing in the morning the airbag warning light stays on for 8 mins.
It then goes out. Seems to be ok for the rest of the day.

We took it to the dealer and he claimed there was an error in the system software. He then updated the software. That was on Friday. This morning the same thing happened again.

Is this a common fault?
Is there a known cure for the fault?
I am worried it may leave the airbag disarmed.
I have scanned the forum but dont see any posts with this warning light staying on for a period of time and then going out.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. :worship:

Wow, this is a new one one me, have you checked if the air bag is on, by looking the menu (to the right of the steering wheel) Well thats if its the passanger air bag anyway...

 

[punto_matt]

When the air bag light comes on it has usually picked up a fault in the system. They should hook it up to the examiner and that will tell them what has caused the light to come on.

 

[Aircooledbug]

If its deactivated it will keep glowing until its reactivated, but im quite shocked that the guys at fiat havent picked it up?!

 

[T14086]

Ask to see examiner printout for proof airbag update was done & system proxy-aligned afterwards.

 

[ripitup]

Thanks for all your responses so far.
Just to confirm for anyone reading this post it is the drivers side airbag.
I am intrigued by your post T14086. Can you tell me what the system proxy is and why it needs to be aligned after the airbag system software update? What does the aligning do?
I suspect that if it is a software glitch that there is a sequence of events which has to be followed and they may be doing this incorrectly.
Does anyone know what the sequence to be followed would be?

 

[T14086]

after the airbag ECU has been software updated it needs proxy-aligned to bring it back onto the CAN system (same as fuel ecu's etc)

the software update (as mentioned in 'known faults' sticky) should cure this fault.

 

[ripitup]

A further update. I tried an experiment. :idea:
I started the car without sitting on the drivers seat.
Hey Presto the airbag warning light went out with the others.
It would seem to me to indicate that there is a loose connection or a sensor which is faulty in or around the seat.
Can anyone comment if this is likely and where the sensors are located.
Are there any photos on this site of where the sensors are positioned?

 

[Andy Monty]

A further update. I tried an experiment. :idea:
I started the car without sitting on the drivers seat.
Hey Presto the airbag warning light went out with the others.
It would seem to me to indicate that there is a loose connection or a sensor which is faulty in or around the seat.
Can anyone comment if this is likely and where the sensors are located.
Are there any photos on this site of where the sensors are positioned?

under the seat

Then again the only wire on the drivers side on the active is the seat belt reminder wires as the Active doesn't have any seat/side impact bags (unless optional extra? )

 

[Liquid Knight II]

Forgive the thread resurrection.

I recently bought a 2007 Punto. It was advertised as an Abarth when it's a boggo 77 Grande with some cheap badges and Stilo wheels. When I pointed this out I got it cheaper as the seller genuinely had no idea and she was told it was an Abarth when she bought it.

Anyway the drivers side seat has had the airbag cover knocked off...

...and as a result the airbag warning (ultimate MOT failure light) is on and can not be reset without replacing the seat.

Trouble is so far every single seat I have seen has either got the same problem or it's urine stained, torn to shreds, damp, moldy; eBay special.

Is there a way of bypassing the airbag warning long enough to get through the MOT?

It's not like my Alfa 145 where I took the dash out and covered the bulb with tape this stupid thing as it written across the screen whenever the engine is started.

My MOT guy has said even if I strip the interior out and fit buckets if the warning comes up it's a fail.

Short of scrapping it any ideas?

 

[Phil wood]

Hi there is there a reset key hole on the passenger side inbitween the door and glove compartment, like my punto Active, my regards Phil wood.

 

[Moimo]

Personally I would buy the cheapest same seat, and swop the covers, it is achievable in your garage/ living room, patients and anyone could do it. I would want someone with MES or similar to confirm the fault, and if you buy it yourself it will interrogate and reset the srs / airbag system. Having the seat with the intention of changing the cover also takes the pressure of time off your MOT if there is any.

 

[Moimo]

Oh and if you have a spare wheel centre cap for those wheels I would love to be first in the queue.

 

[Liquid Knight II]

Oh and if you have a spare wheel centre cap for those wheels I would love to be first in the queue.

Their in the classifieds.

Right I'll try the master reset but from another forum it has been suggested that I unplug the seat and bridge the terminals with a 2.2 Ohm resistor to trick the computer into thinking it's working.

Re-upholstering a donor seat could work but finding one that hasn't had the side airbag pod broken is a mission. What a stupid design for a three door car. :bang:

 

[Liquid Knight II]

The whole thing is in the classifieds now. The Stilo wheels are 4x98mm and had been crammed on.

Good news - what I thought was rear suspension or tyre balance was the wheels not fitting vibration instead.

Bad news - The wheels I have look crap on the car and I can't afford another set right now.

If the resistors arrive before the car goes I'll see if the self-healing airbag reset works.

 

[Moimo]

I have a set of 5 grand punto wheels, currently listed on eBay 182883676091 would you be interested in a straight swop? Where are you in the country. The wheels need specially made spigot rings and only bolts to fit correctly from stilo to Punto

 

[Moimo]

Wobble not only

 

[Liquid Knight II]

I have a set of 5 grand punto wheels, currently listed on eBay 182883676091 would you be interested in a straight swop? Where are you in the country. The wheels need specially made spigot rings and only bolts to fit correctly from stilo to Punto

Sorry I missed this. Got some Dotz instead.

Steel or alloy?