Topic: Airbag light - Faulty Ecu or airbags deployed? (Read 2084 times)

horsecow · « **on:** 22 March 2013, 17:44:05 »

Car is due for Mot on Tuesday and only thing left to do is get airbag light turned off. Took it to a local garage today who plugged it in and told me that he cannot reset it as his machine tells him that either the airbags have been deployed or the ecu is faulty. The light has been on since I bought the car last may and it was an advisory on the last mot as well. Now as far as I know the car has never been damaged or airbags deployed as I did a vehicle history check before I purchased and everything checked out plus I have the service history and all previous MOT's although its possible that it was damaged and not recorded. Now How likely is the faulty ecu scenario and how much trouble/cost is it to fix one of these? I know there are millions of questions on here with various airbag light questions, I just thought it would be quicker to ask. Many thanks guys.

Elite Pete · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 March 2013, 17:51:28 »

I've got a couple of late airbag ECU's here should you require one but as far as I know the ECUs are quite reliable

horsecow · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 March 2013, 17:55:40 »

Is it possible then that its just because the guy was using a cheapy code reader? I dont know anything about code readers but he was able to reset the other engine codes and i think it was called an autoboss or something along those lines. Is there much involved in swapping the ecu, something else I've absolutely no experience in?

Entwood · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 March 2013, 18:07:40 »

If memory serves airbag lights can only be reset by a genuine Tech2 .. not a cheapy chinese copy, or an OBDII one....

Andy B · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 March 2013, 18:11:37 »

Quote from: Entwood on 22 March 2013, 18:07:40

If memory serves airbag lights can only be reset by a genuine Tech2 .. not a cheapy chinese copy, or an OBDII one....

My 'Cheapo Tech II' with its Hungarian software has reset a couple of them

and diagnosed a failed seatbelt tensioner on my Astra

horsecow · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 March 2013, 18:16:41 »

That seems to be the gist of what is said on the other threads entwood but there are conflicting opinions so I'm unsure. I'm trying to find someone with tech2 in this neck of the woods to see if they can solve the problem.

I've got niggling doubts in the back of my mind now that the car has been damaged and repaired even though all checked out at the time and if it was repaired they certainly done an excellent job. Would someone really go to the bother of fixing a car up and then selling it again for £800, surely the cost of fixing it if the airbags were deployed would have been at least half that

horsecow · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 March 2013, 18:17:51 »

Should have said this as the start but it showed fault code 55 if thats any help

RobG · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 March 2013, 19:16:17 »

Factory seats or "Elite upgrade"

horsecow · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 March 2013, 19:21:54 »

factory seats

horsecow · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 March 2013, 19:28:39 »

There's a guy near me who has an "My Naff Code Reader" reader, does anyone now if they are any good for this problem?

horsecow · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 March 2013, 19:51:49 »

I'll take that as a no then lol. Sorry guys but I genuinely dont know anything about these readers and I'm only trying to get this sorted before tuesday. I'm guessing by the lack of response that we're somehow not allowed to discuss the various makes or brands. Can someone let me know if I'm right here or can someone let me know what brands I should be looking for??

CaptainZok · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 March 2013, 19:55:19 »

I seem to remember resetting an airbag light with my "My Naff Code Reader".
Probably worth getting him to plug in and see if it will clear or if there's still a fault.

albitz · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 March 2013, 19:55:47 »

cheap chinese code readers will turn off the airbag light.Ive done several with my ebay cheapy with the unmentionable name.

TheBoy · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 March 2013, 22:11:21 »

Check the plastic covers around side airbags, to see if they have deployed.

horsecow · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 March 2013, 22:12:19 »

Ok so have had 3 different code readers on now and all showing same: 55 faulty ecu and none will reset this. I haven't been able to get a tech2 on because I havent found anyone near me with one. So next question is where does the airbag ecu live and what does it look like, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get one tomorrow theres a guy near me who breaks omegas.

We're all confident that the airbags have never been deployed as everything looks perfect all round them, is there anything else I should be checking. Why do I always leave these things to the last minute???

TheBoy · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 March 2013, 22:22:53 »

Centre console out, under armrest

Check again around airbags. The side ones ESP can be missed

horsecow · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 March 2013, 22:27:33 »

If its a loose connector on the airbags does it show this code or something else?

Broomies Mate · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 March 2013, 22:41:03 »

In my experience (limited) a different code will be produced for each part of the SRS system.

You have not been able to get codes read properly so it would be advantageous to do so before replacing parts willy-nilly. It may well be that the ECU is faulty, but they are not units which tend to fail.

Also, the SRS is not a part of the vehicle I would want to upset if not absolutely necessary, so please, get the codes read with a genuine (or non) bit of kit which CAN tell you exactly what is wrong.

horsecow · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 March 2013, 22:48:54 »

The problem is I cant find anyone who has tech2 thats anywhere near me. There is a dealer near me but are they gonna charge me a small fortune??

Broomies Mate · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 March 2013, 22:58:27 »

Quote from: horsecow on 24 March 2013, 22:48:54

The problem is I cant find anyone who has tech2 thats anywhere near me. There is a dealer near me but are they gonna charge me a small fortune??

Have you asked them the cost? You might be surprised.... especially *IF* it comes back that a particular AirBag is at fault.

Would be a shame to replace the ECU and be in the same boat.

Of course, I (like many others) hope that the ECU is faulty, as it is easy to change, and if you have breakers near you, easy to obtain!!!!

horsecow · « **Reply #20 on:** 25 March 2013, 12:35:14 »

So been to vauxhall and on tech 2. Brought up fault code 55 ecu not recognised but it says that the fault is not present so it cant be reset. They've advised me to get a new ecu at £350 +vat. Think I'll try second hand one at £10 first. The guy did say hes never seen this before and checked everything else but says it can only be an ecu fault

car5car · « **Reply #21 on:** 25 March 2013, 13:32:10 »

I have bought airbag module from junk yard a few months ago and problem went away. It was for another car.
If code says bad module, replace it.

horsecow · « **Reply #22 on:** 25 March 2013, 15:01:41 »

Have ecu here so will be fitting that this evening. The good thing about the tech2 visit is that it proved for definite that there was no previous crash damage recorded. Been to the MOT centre there and the car sailed through on everything else but failed because of the airbag light. Hopefully changing the ecu unit will sort this. More to follow later!

TheBoy · « **Reply #23 on:** 25 March 2013, 19:40:07 »

If a fault is NOT PRESENT then it can be reset.

If you get scrolling 55's on code reader, that's a sure sign of deployment.

Change ECU and hope all 4 airbags are OK

horsecow · « **Reply #24 on:** 25 March 2013, 19:54:14 »

Well ecu swapped just waiting on mate to get home so he can have a shot at resetting it with his code reader. The vauxhall guy said that the airbags hadn't been deployed that there would have been a record that the tech2 would pick up and that all the data/signals coming from them were 100% so the only place the fault could be was the ecu. I'm totally lost here but hopefully this ecu change will work, dont fancy going back to vauxhall again, charged me £40 to tell me he couldn't fix it

. They did try a battery reset and then a tech2 reset after that as well but neither worked. Fingers crossed

horsecow · « **Reply #25 on:** 25 March 2013, 21:54:11 »

Well thank f@@k for that. Problem sorted, plugged in el naffo code reader cleared codes that were in the swapped ecu and airbag light went off. What a relief! Was really starting to do my head in.

The guy in vauxhall thought that the problem had come from either my car getting jump started or jump starting someone elses and a surge of current coming through when the leads where being disconnected thus shorting the ecu, any thoughts on this?

I saw a thread on here where someone was looking into these ecu's and taking data off them, anyone know that was??

TheBoy · « **Reply #26 on:** 25 March 2013, 22:53:48 »

I still reckon its deployed, and previous owner has fixed some parts.

If the ECU is reporting enough about sensors and airbags, and talking to diagnostics, the ECU probably hasn't gone faulty of its own accord.

But it's sorted

Broomies Mate · « **Reply #27 on:** 25 March 2013, 22:55:51 »

I am really pleased you got the problem sorted and can only apologise that you paid £40 on my recommendation that you get the car properly read. I have to say though that I stand by my recommendation and personally wouldn't have gone about swapping parts without absolute proof that the ECU was at fault.

Either way, congrats on the MOT and peace of mind that the SRS system is in (now) full working order.

horsecow · « **Reply #28 on:** 25 March 2013, 23:10:28 »

No need to apologise Bm it wasnt you who charged me £40 and I got a quote before I went in so I was happy enough go ahead it even though I thought it very steep. TBH it was the next step anyway.

Alas no MOT yet as the test was at 1.40 and the airbag light wasn't sorted til around 10pm. Have to book a re-test now but at least I know it'll fly through and there are no other issues. The tester did say it was in very good condition and wished me luck with the second hand ecu.

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Author Topic: Airbag light - Faulty Ecu or airbags deployed? (Read 2084 times)

albitz