Technical Airbag warning light

[RS3100]

Yes, I am aware I'm flying blind. I was hoping it would be something simple like a loose connection. I'll wait for the Lexia/Diagbox dongle to get the right code.
I'm not from the UK but I already found some local companies that respond to this code, should a fried SRS ECU be the case. Would a second hand unit be another option?

Only if one of those companies are able to virginise it and write the data from your existing ECU. I think they are more likely to offer a new unit if they can't repair yours, and Crash Data give you the option of accepting the bare new unit and programming it into your vehicle yourself (proxi alignment) or cloning your old unit to it, which means you can just drop it straight in and it will work, since the van will think it's the same unit that was taken out.

 

[nigelvan]

So I take it you can't reprogram and match a second hand unit to the car without expert intervention. Well, we'll see if it is indeed this dreaded fault or something else.
About the OBD codes: I did see it happen when one code shows up two times, under OBDII and ECU, like injector or emission errors. Most of the time it is just the same one and clearing one will take care of both. I only have two vehicles so I didn't invest in an Autel or similar yet. It's cheaper to get the brand specific dongles if you don't have a lot of cars to diagnose... For instance for Volvo you can get a DICE compatible dongle for about €30 and use the original VIDA software or Vdash which is aftermarket. With this you can do 100% and more what the dealer can. I hope I have the same luck with the Citroen dongle I ordered...

 

[RS3100]

So I take it you can't reprogram and match a second hand unit to the car without expert intervention. Well, we'll see if it is indeed this dreaded fault or something else.
About the OBD codes: I did see it happen when one code shows up two times, under OBDII and ECU, like injector or emission errors. Most of the time it is just the same one and clearing one will take care of both. I only have two vehicles so I didn't invest in an Autel or similar yet. It's cheaper to get the brand specific dongles if you don't have a lot of cars to diagnose... For instance for Volvo you can get a DICE compatible dongle for about €30 and use the original VIDA software or Vdash which is aftermarket. With this you can do 100% and more what the dealer can. I hope I have the same luck with the Citroen dongle I ordered...

No, you can't just fit a secondhand unit unfortunately.

The code as you describe it wouldn't have been stored twice in the vehicle. As a drivetrain emissions related code, it would have been in the engine ECU. An OBDII only reader can only retrieve generic engine and drivetrain codes which are standardised across all vehicles, so as an engine related code you would see it reported using an OBD reader, which can only connect to the engine ECU (and a transmission ECU if the type of transmission in the vehicle has such a unit e.g. normally a robotised or auto box).

If you then connect to the same vehicle with a multi or all systems scanner without having cleared the code (or with the fault still present, in which case attempting to clear it will fail) it will show the same fault, again retrieved from the engine ECU during its scan of all the onboard systems. But the all systems scanner, if it is programmed for your make or model of vehicle, can also retrieve other non OBD compliant fault codes (manufacturer specific non-OBD compliant codes) from the engine ECU and any other ECUs on the vehicle that it has been designed to connect to, which an OBD only scan tool can't see.

VIDA and VDash are all-systems diagnostic software specifically for Volvos, as MES is specifically for FCA vehicles. You can use a Super J2534 (Mongoose Pro JLR) clone with both programs as well or instead of the DiCE. Unless you buy at enourmous expense from Volvo, all DiCE are Chinese clones. A few years ago, there used to be some good ones with the same circuit boards as the genuine DiCE, but they now mostly just have PCBs from cheap junk connectors shoehorned into them

 

[Zardo]

I've never come across a vehicle where the same fault code is stored in more than one control unit. To read faults in the SRS ECU on the Ducato, you need to connect directly to the SRS ECU, you won't find them stored anywhere else. Body system faults will be found in the BCM, engine faults in the ECM etc.

Actually I have, on a Punto and the same fault (break switch fault) was stored with two different codes in two different nodes, the ECU and the ABS unit. After changing the switch, with AlfaOBD I had to connect to each unit to clear the fault code, and changing the cable in-between as the connection is not the same.

 

[RS3100]

Actually I have, on a Punto and the same fault (break switch fault) was stored with two different codes in two different nodes, the ECU and the ABS unit. After changing the switch, with AlfaOBD, I had to connect to each unit to clear the fault code, and changing the cable in-between as the connection is not the same.

RS3100 said:
I've never come across a vehicle where the same fault code is stored in more than one control unit.

But that's not the same fault code. Both of those ECUs relied on a signal from the brake switch for a different reason, so both reported a fault relevant to their own operation. They weren't mirroring a single fault code. Two distinct codes for two separate issues related to a single component failure

 

[Zardo]

RS3100 said:
I've never come across a vehicle where the same fault code is stored in more than one control unit.

But that's not the same fault code. Both of those ECUs relied on a signal from the brake switch for a different reason, so both reported a fault relevant to their own operation. They weren't mirroring a single fault code. Two distinct codes for two separate issues related to a single component failure

Yes, thanks, I understand that. Incidentally, I never claimed that the same fault code was stored in more than one unit.

If investing in an OBD diagnostic system, get a decent tester which is actually able to read the codes, clear the codes and do the checks (ideally with the ability to connect to each Node on the CAN bus, not only the ECU). Sometimes faults can be stored in a CAN node and the ECU and both need to be cleared.

 

[nigelvan]

No, you can't just fit a secondhand unit unfortunately.

The code as you describe it wouldn't have been stored twice in the vehicle. As a drivetrain emissions related code, it would have been in the engine ECU. An OBDII only reader can only retrieve generic engine and drivetrain codes which are standardised across all vehicles, so as an engine related code you would see it reported using an OBD reader, which can only connect to the engine ECU (and a transmission ECU if the type of transmission in the vehicle has such a unit e.g. normally a robotised or auto box).

If you then connect to the same vehicle with a multi or all systems scanner without having cleared the code (or with the fault still present, in which case attempting to clear it will fail) it will show the same fault, again retrieved from the engine ECU during its scan of all the onboard systems. But the all systems scanner, if it is programmed for your make or model of vehicle, can also retrieve other non OBD compliant fault codes (manufacturer specific non-OBD compliant codes) from the engine ECU and any other ECUs on the vehicle that it has been designed to connect to, which an OBD only scan tool can't see.

VIDA and VDash are all-systems diagnostic software specifically for Volvos, as MES is specifically for FCA vehicles. You can use a Super J2534 (Mongoose Pro JLR) clone with both programs as well or instead of the DiCE. Unless you buy at enourmous expense from Volvo, all DiCE are Chinese clones. A few years ago, there used to be some good ones with the same circuit boards as the genuine DiCE, but they now mostly just have PCBs from cheap junk connectors shoehorned into them

Yes, it's a Super J2534 Mongoose Pro I have lying around for my Volvo. I guess it's junk, but so far it does what it needs to do. Maybe not the tool to use to remap the ECU but coding the injectors on my V50 was no issue.

 

[RS3100]

Yes, it's a Super J2534 Mongoose Pro I have lying around for my Volvo. I guess it's junk, but so far it does what it needs to do. Maybe not the tool to use to remap the ECU but coding the injectors on my V50 was no issue.

The Mongoose Pro is good, it's actually faster and more reliable than a DiCE. D5T5 and SVDNS both recommend the Mongoose over the DiCE for everything including bidirectional programming. It's the more recent Chinese DiCE clones that are often junk.

 

[RS3100]

Yes, thanks, I understand that. Incidentally, I never claimed that the same fault code was stored in more than one unit.

Lets just put it down to language issues and move on

 

[the green vanper]

All seatbelts in mine have the same pretensioner.

Unless something changed OR regulations are different in Belgium, pretensionners can be installed only on seats with front airbag protection. It is however possible that the buckle looks the same on the outside and the pretensionner is inside.

Can't have my van near me now, so can't check how do they look.

So I take it you can't reprogram and match a second hand unit to the car without expert intervention.

Yes, however an expert company might modify the data in the airbag module to adapt to your van's actual situation.

 

[nigelvan]

Unless something changed OR regulations are different in Belgium, pretensionners can be installed only on seats with front airbag protection. It is however possible that the buckle looks the same on the outside and the pretensionner is inside.

Can't have my van near me now, so can't check how do they look.


Yes, however an expert company might modify the data in the airbag module to adapt to your van's actual situation.

I'm quite positive they are all the same. If you're interested I can take some pictures next time I'm working on mine.

 

[Zardo]

Unless something changed OR regulations are different in Belgium, pretensionners can be installed only on seats with front airbag protection. It is however possible that the buckle looks the same on the outside and the pretensionner is inside.

Can't have my van near me now, so can't check how do they look.


Yes, however an expert company might modify the data in the airbag module to adapt to your van's actual situation.

I asked ChatGPT about this. As for commercially used vehicles, it was mandatory in 2007 to have pretensioners installed on all seats fitted with seatbelts (EU regulations), but passenger airbags were not mandatory and were therefore optional, depending on the vehicle trim chosen by the buyer. This might explain why there doesn't seem to be a passenger airbag present in the OP's vehicle.

 

[RS3100]

Yes, however an expert company might modify the data in the airbag module to adapt to your van's actual situation.

I don't think that is possible. The SRS ECUs have different part numbers and different hardware installed according to the airbag and seat belt configurations of the vans they are intended for.