Airbag warning light on 147!!!
Discussion
I've got the dreaded warning light on me dash now, and tried removing the drivers seat and checking the connections under there. All seems ok, but still got the error.
Anyone any other ideas what it could be? or does anyone know a Alfa specialist in central Scotland that could fix it? I don't really want to take it to a dealer after they bent me over for the last service!!!
Anyone any other ideas what it could be? or does anyone know a Alfa specialist in central Scotland that could fix it? I don't really want to take it to a dealer after they bent me over for the last service!!!
If the airbag system is anything like the one in the 146, then the light will remain on until the system is reset; the system "logs" the fault, and can only be cleared by someone with the right gear. I had mine reset by an indie (down in sunny Essex), so it's not an Alfa-only job.
Oh, and another fix (from AJ from AO.com or alfa145.com) is to solder a wire "bridge" across the connectors (which are dire). Strip back the insulation either side of said connector and solder a short length of wire across. Wrap-up, and away you go.
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Friday 14th October 15:22
Oh, and another fix (from AJ from AO.com or alfa145.com) is to solder a wire "bridge" across the connectors (which are dire). Strip back the insulation either side of said connector and solder a short length of wire across. Wrap-up, and away you go.
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Friday 14th October 15:22
Well, finally got round to taking the seats out today, and all the connectors seemed fine. they were all plugged in ok, and connections seemed good. Still got the warning light on though though. 
Anyone know of a decent indie garage that could reset the airbag system in central Scotland before I try soldering the wires?
Anyone know of a decent indie garage that could reset the airbag system in central Scotland before I try soldering the wires?
Has it got a passenger airbag switch?
These can be a pain in the arse on Punto's for intermittants which the airbag ecu wont ignore....stupid things...
Factory cure is removal of its connector, closure of the female spades/leafs inside with a suiatble tool and then refit, using a miniature zip tie to secure the connectors male/female side to its opposite cable......usually cures these kinds of niggling probs.
hth.
BTW the dealer tool is called "examiner" and does all fiats, alfas and Lancias afaik....now, where do i get one?
These can be a pain in the arse on Punto's for intermittants which the airbag ecu wont ignore....stupid things...
Factory cure is removal of its connector, closure of the female spades/leafs inside with a suiatble tool and then refit, using a miniature zip tie to secure the connectors male/female side to its opposite cable......usually cures these kinds of niggling probs.
hth.
BTW the dealer tool is called "examiner" and does all fiats, alfas and Lancias afaik....now, where do i get one?
Well managed to get time to get the seats out again at the weekend and have a look at the connectors. I tried removing the connectors, and used bullet connectors to make sure the conenctions were fine. but after doing both seats connectors, still having the same problem, so looks like it could be the Airbag thats feck'd. Anyone know of any Alfa specialists in the glasgow area that could have a look? Need to get it fixed soon, as I'm gonna have to sell it as I've bought another car that I'm picking up at the end of the month.
Just phones the stealer, and they only have one person qualified to work on the airbag systems, and he's on holiday this week. I said I didn't want him to work on the airbag system, just reset the fault condition and see if alls ok. But he's the only person allowed to do it. So its booked in next Monday for him to have a look. Least its only £34.66 for him to do it.
desyboy said:
Least its only £34.66 for him to do it.
...unless there really is a fault!
One thing to note - its worth getting the fault code reset and the light put out, as the system is (supposedly) "fail safe", i.e. if the airbag ECU thinks there's a fault, then the entire system is disabled, including all airbags plus the seatbelt pretensioners. As the car is designed to have all these in working order in case of an accident, not having them in place does leave you rather exposed if you were to have a big shunt in the meantime.
Dont they make it a mystery? 
I refer to the "only one qualified person" nonsense.
Heres the procedure (what they will do):
Locate the EOBD connector (dash right side underneath).
Plug in "Examiner".
Enter vehicle marque, ie, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Innocenti ,Lancia.
Enter Vehicle 8 digit chassis code eg, 00345765.
Enter vehicle Mileage.
Switch on Ignition and locate the correct airbag type from the menu; ie 2f-2p-2l-2tisc
Press continue on "Examiner" to connect to vehicle airbag system.
Upon connection the "parameters" screen is displayed.
At the bottom itll say "help, detail, errors, parameters, active diagnostics, "
Theyll enter the error menu to read the fault which will either be "present" or (most likely-"intermittant".)
Press erase, and its job done-unless its a "present" code which would need repair first.
There, no mystery at all. Not much work for 34 sovs huh?
Alternatives?......unfortunately theyve got you by the wotsits.
Hope this helps you in some way.
Ps, the light WILL stay on if an error is logged but intermittant.
I refer to the "only one qualified person" nonsense.
Heres the procedure (what they will do):
Locate the EOBD connector (dash right side underneath).
Plug in "Examiner".
Enter vehicle marque, ie, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Innocenti ,Lancia.
Enter Vehicle 8 digit chassis code eg, 00345765.
Enter vehicle Mileage.
Switch on Ignition and locate the correct airbag type from the menu; ie 2f-2p-2l-2tisc
Press continue on "Examiner" to connect to vehicle airbag system.
Upon connection the "parameters" screen is displayed.
At the bottom itll say "help, detail, errors, parameters, active diagnostics, "
Theyll enter the error menu to read the fault which will either be "present" or (most likely-"intermittant".)
Press erase, and its job done-unless its a "present" code which would need repair first.
There, no mystery at all. Not much work for 34 sovs huh?
Alternatives?......unfortunately theyve got you by the wotsits.
Hope this helps you in some way.
Ps, the light WILL stay on if an error is logged but intermittant.
ARGH!!!!
Looks like I'm gonna get shafted for even more money, they cleared the fault codes this morning, but there is still a persistent fault with the drivers curtain airbag. Didn't have time to leave car today to get it fixed, so got it booked in for next week to get them to look at it. Anyone else had problems with the curtain airbag before? know what could go wrong or how much? The stealer wouldn't quote a total price, as they would need to investigate it to see whats wrong.
Looks like I'm gonna get shafted for even more money, they cleared the fault codes this morning, but there is still a persistent fault with the drivers curtain airbag. Didn't have time to leave car today to get it fixed, so got it booked in for next week to get them to look at it. Anyone else had problems with the curtain airbag before? know what could go wrong or how much? The stealer wouldn't quote a total price, as they would need to investigate it to see whats wrong.
Blimey you are having fun!
Can you quote the model number and year of your car and ill have a look on the disc to find the airbag wiring diagrams (if theyre still on it) and ill try and email em to you.
Airbag connectors are a real ass-pain on these cars (as with all fiats and alfas) and can usually be cleared up simply by disassembly of the connector, spraying the contacts with conatct cleaner and reassembling with a zip tie to prevent them being jarred loose.
Right, ill go have a gander at my info....
Can you quote the model number and year of your car and ill have a look on the disc to find the airbag wiring diagrams (if theyre still on it) and ill try and email em to you.
Airbag connectors are a real ass-pain on these cars (as with all fiats and alfas) and can usually be cleared up simply by disassembly of the connector, spraying the contacts with conatct cleaner and reassembling with a zip tie to prevent them being jarred loose.
Right, ill go have a gander at my info....
Darn it! So sorry.
Have got the Alfa GT disc and not the 147, arggghh!!!
However, not to worry.
Heres what you can do.
If you look under the passenger seat, youll see a yellow cable with a yellow connector on it and cables covered in a yellow sheath.
These are always airbag system related connectors.
The one YOU want for the passenger curtain airbag will most likely be located on the left rear quarter of the car, most likely inside the boot area at the rear seat upright position and behind the boot trim panel by the suspension turret.
If you can locate it,(have look behind the trim) just unlock it and spray contact cleaner inside before reassembling it.
Lock the cables to each other, and the connector itself with a zip tie.
This will prevent the connector causing any more problems, and will turn the permanent fault you have into an intermittant one, which can then be erased.
You cant erase a permanent fault as its present at the time of erasure.
Hope this helps you, ill try and find a source for the other disc and send you the diagrams if i can get them.
Regards DF.
Ps, make sure the ignition is off before you dismantle any of the airbag wiring.
Have got the Alfa GT disc and not the 147, arggghh!!!
However, not to worry.
Heres what you can do.
If you look under the passenger seat, youll see a yellow cable with a yellow connector on it and cables covered in a yellow sheath.
These are always airbag system related connectors.
The one YOU want for the passenger curtain airbag will most likely be located on the left rear quarter of the car, most likely inside the boot area at the rear seat upright position and behind the boot trim panel by the suspension turret.
If you can locate it,(have look behind the trim) just unlock it and spray contact cleaner inside before reassembling it.
Lock the cables to each other, and the connector itself with a zip tie.
This will prevent the connector causing any more problems, and will turn the permanent fault you have into an intermittant one, which can then be erased.
You cant erase a permanent fault as its present at the time of erasure.
Hope this helps you, ill try and find a source for the other disc and send you the diagrams if i can get them.
Regards DF.
Ps, make sure the ignition is off before you dismantle any of the airbag wiring.
Hello, so how much was it in the end?
i have bought a 147 2002 lusson and has the lights on, guy said just needs a code after re wireing under the seat, but i dont trust this, and my garage said he cant do it.
so its off to get bent over, sorry booked in by Alfa.
just need to know what to find in the way of cash for it to be either reset, or worse, a fault found and fixed??
many thanks
mike
i have bought a 147 2002 lusson and has the lights on, guy said just needs a code after re wireing under the seat, but i dont trust this, and my garage said he cant do it.
so its off to get bent over, sorry booked in by Alfa.
just need to know what to find in the way of cash for it to be either reset, or worse, a fault found and fixed??
many thanks
mike
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