Fiat x290 (2015) Air Bag Light

[TeamBandS]

Hi all, Airbag light came on today a week before MOT! I have read previous threads and have checked wires/connectors under both seats and all seems OK. Others have suggested in past posts that the ECU could be the culprit. Has anyone tried the repair companies and if so how have they performed especially regarding turn around times?

 

[Phill D]

hi, have had both problems associated with airbag warning lightsss....

it could be either the dash cluster fault or the airbag ECU.

you need to get the cade read through the OBD 2 socket. thats the only sure way to tell.

both are relatively easy repairs.

to remove the dash cluster is literally a3 screws on an x250 so prob the same and A LECCY PLUg. Cartronix can fix the cluster if its that ( i am sure there are others ) they fixed mine 2 years ago. by return post. plug it back in and its all sorted.

the ECU, cheapest legit new ECU ( i just fitted ) is from Shop4parts £150 new original fiat part.
lift battery cover , passenger footwell disconnect battery Negative and put it safe.
wait at least 15 minutes for the electronics system to settle. remove the ecu.
put new ecu in place. reconnect battery.
Then you need to have it Proxi aligned. and all sorted.

wher are you in Wales?

i have the FIAT software, to do the checks and proxi align. did mine last week.

 

[Phill D]

PS; just noted they have Ducato airbag ECU, OEM NUMBER: 1370978080 / 1366119080 for £17.17

 

[SteveandSue]

Crash Data - take a look at their site. Found them OK to deal with

 

[TeamBandS]

Phil, Many thanks for the reply. I am in mid Wale close to Llanidloes on the A470.

Someone recommended /[Broken Link Removed] - they claim to do a one day turn around for ECUs and cost about £60.... Any thoughts?

I have been thinking about a code reader as I worry about a fault when I am abroad and would prefer not to rely on garages I know nothing about. Do you have any recommendations?

Apologies to all the dumb questions but what is a Proxi align ?

Thanks

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[Phill D]

crash data are ok i beleive if its a known fault in the ECU. mine read on the software as " INTERNAL FAULT " and could not be repaired so had to buy a new ECU.

proxi alignment is waht FIAT call marrying up the new ECU to the van system so they communicate with each other and the new part functions as it should.

 

[Phill D]

PS; i think crash data only do ECU's. is the odometer flashing?

 

[Phill D]

if they are able to sort your ECU it is probable that you wiull not need the proxi alignment as your system will already have it in line

its when u introduce new part the proixi needs doing.

 

[Phill D]

in terms of software this is really good stuff and can do more than most of us should even consider doing..

Multiecuscan - Diagnostics software for Italian cars

you can download the free version and play around with it without plugging into the van on a simulate program or you can buy a registerd copy but you will need the appropriate dongles to connect to your van and they arte different depending on your model.
but all the info is on their site.

with the registered copy you can reset and analyse code and faults, rest service intervals. etc etc.

 

[TeamBandS]

PS; just noted they have Ducato airbag ECU, OEM NUMBER: 1370978080 / 1366119080 for £17.17

Phil, Can you post a link please - I have had no joy on their site....

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[Stealaway]

I sent mine to Crash Data when the light and error message appeared on my 2012 Ducato
They returned the next day fixed for £68 as I remember
I had a chat to the owner and he told me its always a flat battery that causes the failure and that they do dozens of motorhome modules because owner let the battery go flat. They seldom do commercial vans because they are always on the move and charging the battery.

 

[Steve and Denise]

Our airbag light came on 2 weeks ago the day before a new instrument cluster was fitted warranty 2nd one, the dealers told me they don’t fit many and they are on back order.

Funny enough Stealaway our leisure batteries went totally flat that week but that should not have affected it as it would be powered from the engine battery, but still a coincidence.

 

[Phill D]

Parts for Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Fiat Commercial vehicles.

www.shop4parts.co.uk

TeamBandS

 

[Phill D]

I have ordered another at that price its a cheap spare... check the OE number on yours to this one
this one is OE, 1370978080 / 1366119080

parts stock number S4P26305

under the battery cover passenger floor should look like this; the number you need off yours to compare is the long one at the top.

 

[PeteH]

in terms of software this is really good stuff and can do more than most of us should even consider doing..

Multiecuscan - Diagnostics software for Italian cars

you can download the free version and play around with it without plugging into the van on a simulate program or you can buy a registerd copy but you will need the appropriate dongles to connect to your van and they arte different depending on your model.
but all the info is on their site.

with the registered copy you can reset and analyse code and faults, rest service intervals. etc etc.

I have it too, used it for the Fiat X250. I also use it on my Fiat Punto. I have a switched "dongle". which saves having all the cables. It has 7 positions on the body of the connector.

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[Deneb]

I have it too, used it for the Fiat X250. I also use it on my Fiat Punto. I have a switched "dongle". which saves having all the cables. It has 7 positions on the body of the connector.

I use it with the CanTieCar multiplexer. Switches automatically and licence is tied to the VCI so can be used with any computer

 

[TeamBandS]

Update....

Thanks to the help of Phil D in south Wales I have been able to confirm that the airbag light problem is down to the Airbag ECU.
- I have contacted Crashdata in Liverpool who where super helpful and will repair / turnaround ECU that are fixable the same day for £60. Due to the closeness of Xmas and NY and a departure date for Spain in 1st week of Jan I have decided to order a new unit and send the old one for repair for a spare.

Many different prices out there from £330 down to some sub £60 used on E-Bay.
- I went with coastalmotorhomes.co.uk (who do not sell motor homes but supply spares at discount prices) at £127 inc VAT and postage. These guys were very helpful and seem to have loads of spares for Fiats and a good search tool. Just need to get the diagnostic tool that Phil D showed me so I can sync all the ECUs + diagnose any future issues!!!!

 

[PeteH]

Update....

Thanks to the help of Phil D in south Wales I have been able to confirm that the airbag light problem is down to the Airbag ECU.
- I have contacted Crashdata in Liverpool who where super helpful and will repair / turnaround ECU that are fixable the same day for £60. Due to the closeness of Xmas and NY and a departure date for Spain in 1st week of Jan I have decided to order a new unit and send the old one for repair for a spare.

Many different prices out there from £330 down to some sub £60 used on E-Bay.
- I went with coastalmotorhomes.co.uk (who do not sell motor homes but supply spares at discount prices) at £127 inc VAT and postage. These guys were very helpful and seem to have loads of spares for Fiats and a good search tool. Just need to get the diagnostic tool that Phil D showed me so I can sync all the ECUs + diagnose any future issues!!!!

May I caution you to be absolutely sure that whatever you are getting is capable of of re-syncing the air bag ECU. Otherwise it will be an expensive visit to a Fiat Dealer.! Who may not want to sync something they have not supplied?.

 

[Phill D]

PeterH . You advise is spot on. Do nothing that you are not certain about. However the software I use is Fiat specific and licensed, it was able to proxi align my new replacement airbag ecu and clear the errors that a fiat specialist in Cardiff could not with their system.
The were not fiat dealership.

 

[PeteH]

PeterH . You advise is spot on. Do nothing that you are not certain about. However the software I use is Fiat specific and licensed, it was able to proxi align my new replacement airbag ecu and clear the errors that a fiat specialist in Cardiff could not with their system.
The were not fiat dealership.

Good to know Phill. I have similar. But having not had to do any work on the Airbag ECU. I would be cautious about it`s ability. I know some guys on the Fiat forums have had issues with different products. I have a Mercedes Specific Unit for the Rapido. It cleared the SRS system when I had to remove a seat and as result disconnect the Cables. It actually cost me a few pounds LESS that the local dealer wanted to reset it!. When I purchased it I told the seller that was what I wanted it for, and got his assurance that it would, before I bought!.

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[TeamBandS]

All great advice. The new ECU is OME fiat and the same part number so should be OK. Syncing will be done with the same system as used by Phil D so again, should be OK. From my own research the issues come from rip off/Chinese software and ECUs from uncertain stock.

 

[Deneb]

Scan the entire vehicle for any fault codes and clear them or if necessary fix the issues first, otherwise the proxi alignment can fail to complete and possibly leave you worse off than before you started.

 

[Phill D]

yep, full scan and all faults need to be cleared prior to proxi alignment is executed or it is most likely to fail.

 

[Deneb]

FWIW I always make a copy of the current proxi file before carrying out an alignment. That way, you can always write it back in the unlikely event of a serious problem, or compare it with the new file.

 

[Phill D]

good idea and excellent practice....

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[TeamBandS]

OK guys, silly question time - is it a simple option on the software to make a copy and can this be practised off line?

 

[Phill D]

I think Deneb is the one to answer this for you Brian, im getting past it now, i left this stuff years ago ...

 

[Deneb]

With Multiecuscan:

Connect to the body computer using the CAN setup/Proxi Alignment menu.

Go to the "Adjustments" tab.

Press Ctrl+Alt+C on your keyboard.

A window will open entitled "Custom Proxi" containing a string of hexadecimal characters. Be careful not to alter anything in the window, but select the entire contents by dragging your mouse cursor over them to highlight them. (They may already be highlighted when the box opens).

Copy the string of characters into a Hex editor. You can use a simple text editor such as Notepad in Windows, but if not using a Hex editor you need to be certain that the editor you use will not write additional line feeds or other "invisible" characters to the file either on saving it or copying it back.

Save the copied file in your editor of choice to your computer with a suitable name that will help you identify it later.

You can then close the MES "Custom Proxi" window and close MES, or carry on with a Proxi Alignment or whatever else you want to do.

If you've written a new Proxi file to the vehicle and want to revert to the original, repeat the procedure to the point where you have opened the Custom Proxi window in MES. This time, delete the contents. Open you saved file in the editor, copy the contents in a similar way and paste them into the Custom Proxi window in MES.

Close the window and complete a Proxi Alignment to write the file back to the body computer and the slave nodes on the vehicle.

Edit: Forgot to add, if you open MES in simulation mode without connecting to a vehicle, you can open a specimen "Custom Proxi" window as above and copy and save or paste back the contents as much as you like without changing anything.

 

[Phill D]

Deneb thank you. very informative..

 

[SandraL]

Thanks to all above who have posted.
Prices are somewhat higher now, just ordered same airbag ecu from shop4parts at £256 but at least they have stock, at least online. Crashdata and Coastal are waiting stock.

Question
Will airbag ecu need to be set up? We do not have side airbags as its an A class, or as fiat part number is identical it will be setup as original airbag ecu?

Have practised saving proxy file so feel timidly confident to proceed once new ecu arrives.

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