Technical Help!!!! Airbag sensor????

[multiplani]

PS - Untill I post to say its fixed...I am still open to all advice!!!!

Had to pospone MOT!!!

 

[slobo]

Do you have a switch to disconnect the airbag? (for baby seat etc) in the cubby on dash.

I'm sure you have already tried this.

 

[multiplani]

Yes to put the key in and turn off.

When off here a yellow light comes on, but the red light just stays.

Mechanic said definitely a fault and red light wont switch off until fault fixed.

Its a real pain as have wheeled, dealed etc & managed to get so much done...

wipers replaced
tow electrics resolved (my first electrical triumph!!!)
tow socket fixed
2 new tyres
tracking done
new wishbones
new drop links
new anti roll bar bushes
new radius arms
new oil & air filter
new to notch oil (sale)
dented steel rim fixed
new pads all round
rear callipers refurbished
all brakes balanced, bled, checked
all fluids topped up
new front handbrake cable
rear wiper washer fixed
new rear light unit fitted
boot light fixed
new boot switch

Some done by friend for reasonable fee with my help (used his scissor lift) and some done by me (was at car all day yesterday). Its a real learning curve for me.

Can't believe I'm stumped at last hurdle (airbag light)...its insane!!! The car is driving like it never has, even when bought. Its quiet, rattle and knock free, brakes lovely, handling nice and tight....and 1 stupid little light is causing all this hassle!!!

If I was flush and wanted to give my money away I would go to Fiat...but Northern Ireland is lacking competition and dealers charge way way more than many other places (talking from experience as have dealt with a few mechanics and dealers on mainland who were way more reasonably priced).

Anyway...breaks over...heading out for another go at it....

Keep posting people...remember - complete novice on learning steep curve here!!!

Its pickling my brain!

 

[multiplani]

All so far hasnt worked but...Im a moron....just realised the mechanic said it was the airbag squib!!!

research tells me this is the electronic firing pin.

Now the little hatch on lower glovebox isnt hiding a connector as mentioned elsewhere, so where else should I look???

Are the 2 connectors on airbag that I mentioned anything to do with it???

 

[widemouthfrog]

If you haven't pulled them apart yet, I'd definitely have a look. I hope you've disconnected the battery and left it for a few miuntes before touching it?!

The other thing that may cause you a problem is the fault light 'lingering' - even after you fix the problem, the OBD may need to be reset to clear the fault log.

It looks as though you've done well with all the other stuff though!

 

[multiplani]

Oh yeah...ignition off, battery disconnected and left for 15 mins beforehand.

Right going to disconnect them and see if it works...

Gosh if it lingers then its a pain as will have to have somebody plug it in again at cost & if not fixed will still be back to square one.

Heading out for another go now.

 

[widemouthfrog]

If you've got a laptop to hand, get a cheap OBD cable from ebay and a copy of FiatEcuScan. You can use that to reset.

And it will cost less than a single visit to a garage to have the fault code read.....

 

[multiplani]

No dont have a lap top or access to one. Tried a few of those wee handheld jobs but they were useless.

Ok so disconnected every connector I could find and blew them, gave a squirt of wd40, left to dry & reconnected.

Light still on but as you say...might need reset now but who knows.

So before everything goes back together...anything else to try???

 

[essexmultipla]

i have the same problem with mine i havnt looked at it yet and i dont meen to sound thick but why do you need to disconect battery and leave for a while??

 

[multiplani]

I was told def ignition off but a few also mentioned disconnecting battery. Although others said not needed...but to be honest I just feel better having all power cut off.

 

[widemouthfrog]

i have the same problem with mine i havnt looked at it yet and i dont meen to sound thick but why do you need to disconect battery and leave for a while??

In their normal way of operating, the airbags are triggered by a decelerometer that senses extremely fast 'stopping' - it sends an electrical pulse to do this.

The explosive charges used to inflate the airbags (and pre-tension the seatbelts as well) can be quite dangerous. It's possible (theoretically) that making/breaking an electrical connection in the airbag or seatbelt circuits could have the same effect as the decelerometer signal, so it's good practice to disconnect the battery and leave things to discharge for a few minutes before messing around.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

i have the same problem with mine i havnt looked at it yet and i dont meen to sound thick but why do you need to disconect battery and leave for a while??

Please for your own sake don't attempt this yourself and get a professional to do it!

Although others said not needed...

If professionals need to do it then it is needed! Not sure what muppet says it isn't needed.

 

[multiplani]

Ok, well now that its clear to everyone that its best to disconnect everything...getting back to topic...

Have stripped dash. Checked passenger airbag connectors (the 2 on the actual airbag as there are none elsewhere). Checked all other connections.

So, new airbag then??? I'm told the squib cant be fixed etc that a new airbag is req.

Cant believe how simple the airbag system actually is!!! Not the internal wizardy...just the actual physical installation. Was expecting a much more complicated set up...removing the plastic trim is more complicated!!!!

Started a new thread regards doing my own diagnostic checks and resets with multiecuscan...would appreciate further advice from users.

 

[multiplani]

Thank God sorted!!!

You were right, I had fixed it but the light was just lingering...mechanic put it out for a tenner.

So basically...if your Multipla's (mines 2003 1.9 JTD 115) front passenger airbag is playing up (mine was reading passenger squib fault)...and you cant locate any wiring under passenger seat or under carpet in that area...

With ignition off...disconnect battery

Remove dash on passenger side (you need to undo drivers side dash first as the passenger side is secured by 2 bolts just behind speedo module - drivers side sits on top of them. Its just a few screws and allen head bolts.

Clean & re-connect the 2 small yellow connector blocks on the front of the passenger dash airbag & see if that does it.

If anybody is looking for the front airbag sensor its hidden under the plastic trim on the centre floor. Its a silver box. Once the trim is removed, its to be found hiding under some sound insulation. Just pull this out and you will see the sensor with 2 connector blocks fitted. There is a little lever (green on mine) on each connector...they press to the side & 'unlock' the connector blocks. So don't jus start pulling at them. The plastic trim is held by a few screws and allen head bolts. The sensor is secured with 10mm nuts.

All the airbag wiring on mine is yellow so quite easy to follow it. Therer is also an airbag earthing point in same location as the sensor.

Thanks to everyone that helped me through this!!!

 

[slobo]

Let's hope it goes through the MOT now.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Well done! Glad to hear it's sorted

All set for the MOT now?

 

[weejim]

Well done multiplani It is good to see that you kept everyone up to speed with your progress, and most importantly let the forum know how you got there in the end, and that it is now fixed. Far too often on a lot of forums when looking for advice, you see people getting advice, but they never follow up to say thanks and what x y or z said fixed my problem. Then when one has the same problem themselves, you are no wiser on. Anyway I live in Belfast and I know about fiat dealers wanting to stick the arm in to reset the air bag light. A couple of years back I was testing the voltage of a connector, with the ignition on, which results in the air bag warning light coming and staying on. So called fiat and then wanted £60 to just read. I got a cable of ebay £10 and downloaded fiatecuscan, and was able to do a check and reset it. It is only from this year that the MOT in NI includes that all instrument warning lights must light and then extinguish. Whereas before people would take the bulbs out. Once again thanks for the updates.

 

[slobo]

I popped over to see my mate last week, I went with him when he took his car for an MOT.
The tester said he would have to fail in because the airbag light was up.
He said get it switched off and he'd pass it.
I said "does it have to come on, then go off"
The tester said "no" as long as there is no warning light he would pass it.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I popped over to see my mate last week, I went with him when he took his car for an MOT.
The tester said he would have to fail in because the airbag light was up.
He said get it switched off and he'd pass it.
I said "does it have to come on, then go off"
The tester said "no" as long as there is no warning light he would pass it.

But you're in Serbia?

UK is different.

 

[slobo]

Sorry, I meant to say.... I popped over to my mate in the UK (Essex)

Be serious....in Serbia you don't have to have the car present for an MOT. :slayer: