Airbag warning light on Punto MK-II

Feb 18, 2007 40 Replies

I was trying to source a rattle behind the dash on a Punto (2000 Reg). After removing and replacing the instrument panel a few times and 'gently' feeling a few of the cables near the passenger compartment fuse box, the Airbag warning light is now permanently on and the passenger side airbag warning light flashes.



About the only thing I did that was incorrect, was not disconnecting the battery negative before removing the instrument panel. But at the time it didn't strike me as a major issue.



I've subsequently removed most of the fascias that have both of the airbag cables behind and all appear to be connected correctly. Nothing too obvious.



Any suggestions? How much of the airbag system can be replaced without specialist tools or equipment? If I take it to a Fiat Dealer for testing and they say the ECU has gone, can I replace this with an ECU from a breakers yard or alternative supplier? Though I guess most ECU out of 2000 reg Punto's will have crash data in them.



I have an identical Punto (useful for troubleshooting), if I take the Airbag ECU out of this car to test, am I just going to end up with two duff Punto's?



Thanks for any advise,



Tim


Erm. You just need to get the ECU reset.

Once any of the airbags have triggered the warning, the light will stay on until you have it reset - it's not like a blown bulb warning where replacing the bulb causes the warning light to go out.

Generally any faults in the airbag system will cause the light to stay on, regardless of the fault still being present, until the control unit is reset.

I thought this might be the case as well. But I couldn't think of what I've done to trigger it. I guess the instrument panel also has the warning lights in for the airbag. Removing and replacing without disconnecting the battery negative may have sent a surge or signal of some sort to the airbag ECU?

Bugger, just trying to stop a rattle and I bet it'll cost me £60 min just to get the unit reset. What's more I couldn't find the bl**dy rattle either!

Regards,

Tim

Dunno - airbag circuitry is very sensetive to 'tampering' - I managed to trigger the airbag warning on my Passat just by vacuuming the car.

Did a little googling for a diy guide to resetting it. I found this

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which is not good news it looks like you need help doing it at the main dealer or fiat specialist.

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> which is not good news it looks like you need help doing it at the main > dealer or fiat specialist.

The dealer will not just reset the ECU warning; they will need to satisfy themselves that the airbag system is sound (if it wasn't the light would come back on but that isn't good eneough!). I have heard in a different Fiat forum that the dealer will also perform a cursory inspection of the airbag system, which of course, they will charge for.

Andy

It's a bloody Punto for Christ's sake it's supposed to rattle!!

Might be worth just disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes, it's a long shot but maybe worth it. & best of all costs you nothing.

Alan...

The only sure fire way of *hopefully* resetting it at home is to disconnect the -ve terminal and hold it against the +ve terminal for a few minutes. That's the only way you can ensure that all residual current is drained from the system.

It quite often works to clear immobiliser faults on Fiats and Alfas.

Tim wrote in news:z73Ch.8557$fa.1051@newsfe1- win.ntli.net:

It's a Punto. "They all do that, sir!"

Stu

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>> which is not good news it looks like you need help doing it at the main >> dealer or fiat specialist.>

Damn right; someone's pissed about with the system. It's not the item you want to take a risk with. Many people take risks with brakes, however if you take any risks with airbags, then it can involve you being unable to drive within a millisecond. Not nice.

Hang on did I read that right?

You were trying to source a rattle?? i.e. get one for the car? :-)

Chris

On Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:00:21 -0000, David R wrote= :

Meanwhile back in the real world life carrys on.

Carries on doing what exactly? I had an airbag go off in a BMW company car without warning. Turns out the garage had not re-fitted the unit correctly upon inspection. It's not nice braking to a dead halt on a busy motorway and not being able to see at all.

(That was a polite way of saying 'f*ck you' Duncy boy.)

Sue em then, that's an almost unheard of fault, latching the airbag light on by moving the seats a common occurence. Anyway according to your story the last people you should let near it are the dealers.

Earlier in this thread you said "Dunno - airbag circuitry is very sensetive to 'tampering' - I managed to trigger the airbag warning on my Passat just by vacuuming the car."

Why don't you shut up about things you know f*ck all about? You are simple and don't have a clue about mechanics. If you slag off my business I will ridicule your posts, you have less knowledge than a whitworth spanner and you are a Donkey.

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:13:38 -0000, Fred > current is drained from the system.

Triggering a seat belt pretensioner with a vacuum cleaners not difficult.

...or people who aren't quite aware of the severity of tampering with airbags. OP.

Your attempt to claim that airbags are so dangerous that they must be looked at by a dealer failed miserably. If you can't see why, consider that your experience was CAUSED by the garage.

On 2007-02-19, Fred > current is drained from the system.

And?

Perhaps because, in this instance at least, he's right?

You're doing quite well at slagging off your own business, to be honest.

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