Air Bag ECU Failure Fiat/PSA Vans
There seem to be an increasing number of motorhome owners reporting faults with their Air Bag ECU. Some are of the view that it can be caused by a low battery. However it does seem to an increasing problem and to put it right can be between around £80 if re-programmed or £700 if a new OEM replacement is required. MMM Magazine and Out and About Live have set up a short survey for any motorhomers impacted by this problem to try and establish how widespread it is.
https://mail.outandaboutlive.co.uk/p/73DI-CX1/airbagsurvey
David
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Coincidentally I took our motorhome to the local Fiat garage this morning to have a new Airbag module paired with the engine ECU. The module failed a couple of weeks ago. I don’t believe it was due to low battery voltage. I sent the failed module away for repair but it wasn’t repairable. I purchased a new module (not Fiat) but had to have it paired at a Fiat garage. I’m told by the module supplier and the Fiat garage that it’s a common problem.
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Dave
I didn't realise they weren't "Plug and Plan" so to speak? It would be good for people to do the survey, its only about half a dozen questions, just to try and establish how common a problem it is.
My van is currently at the dealers having been serviced and MOT. Days before I took it in my unit went so had to have a replacement but didn't have the luxury time so had to have an OEM part in order for it to pass the MOT. Not sure I wanted to fiddle around sending it back and forth trying to get it re-programmed. It doesn't always work, apparently, it depends on the fault.
David
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Dashboard warning lights lighting up are a common discussion point across many car forums. When battery levels are low, something that seems to be more common with stop/start technology, a wide range of warning lights come on, but not specifically just air bag lights. That to me says the problem is not low voltage but a problem directly related to just that specific component.
Colin
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David, thanks for the link to the article. I'm going to pass this on to the FB group for our make of MH. It's been a very lively topic on there as many of the members have had this issue including ourselves. We have a Fiat based vehicle. Thankfully we did have the time to remove the module and send it away for repair. The information we got back was that it was a low battery that caused it. The van had been at the dealers for awhile and parked under trees. We suspect that it had not been started correctly ( I've allow glow plugs to warm up) and this coupled with a low battery caused it to fail.
This is the second time we have had to deal with this failure. The first time was in a Peugeot based vehicle age 3 years. Our current MH was 6 years old when it happened.
The first was in 2016 and recently in 2022, however I believe the problem goes back even further than 2016.
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TG
I think the survey will be useful to try and establish how widespread the problem is. Whether it brings changes is another matter!
Picked up our motorhome from service and new ECU from the dealers yesterday. I did ask them if I could have the old ECU which they did. I asked them after the event rather than as it was being fitted and I noticed the one they left in the van had Fiat on it. So I don't know if they are all made by Fiat or whether I got the one nearest to hand? I understand, even if it can be reprogrammed that it is not a simple plug and play solution as you have to have it set up again with the engine ECU? So whilst a big saving on a new ECU there is still some cost to correcting the problem?
David
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David, OH removed ours and sent it to Crash Data having spoken to them on the phone first.
They check it and if it can be repaired they will do so and send it back usually within 24 hrs.
As it has come off your own vehicle they do not need to do anything with the codes (reprogramme them) that only has to be done if it's a new module. Our repair was less than £100 including postage. Our friends new one cost around 400€ but I know some in the UK have paid considerably more.
Not sure if they are all made by Fiat or not, I know many of the parts are interchangeable with Peugeot.
OH has filled in the survey.
Edit. Our friends van is a Hobby on a Fiat cab. Ours is an Auto trail on a Fiat.
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TG
Useful to know that if the original ECU is reprogrammed it should go straight but in the van with no issues, thanks
David
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Our warning light came on. First and usual garage couldn't reset it. Second garage said they could and did .. shame it was an hour or so away and I had to leave it with them for 36 hrs.. Traced to an earth wiring fault requiring some of the dashboard to be removed. Fault located , unit reset and now works.. no parts needed but labour was £390..
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It’s a very common problem and needs a fix by Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen. Ours has just failed for the third time! First two times were clearly low voltage issues (11.5-12.0v) but latest is a mystery at the moment. MH started, no warning lights. Stopped to open farm gate, on restarting - airbag warning light! Another £90 heading to Crashdata. Does anyone know if retrofitting a battery voltmeter in the cab would help to show there’s a potential low voltage before starting?
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