Technical Battery and Airbag/seatbelt fault

[Adam1984]

Hello,

So a few weeks ago, I noticed that on my Panda Pop 1.2 (2015) the dashboard with the seatbelt symbols started playing up. It is saying that the passenger seatbelt is always connected when no one is in the seat, but when an adult sits in seat it's normal.

Then a week ago, my car had a few problems starting up and intermittent airbag fault comes up, which is now on the screen permanently.

Did a voltage read test on the battery and it's coming up at 12.2V.

On the battery it says recharge date 2019, so think this is the original battery.

Think these faults are due to the battery now becoming on the way out and if so what battery would you recommend as I currently have a start/stop one in, which was never needed.

Thank you.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

If the car has a stop start system (a stop/start switch on the dash will confirm this), then it needs a stop/start battery to match the intelligent alternator output and control circuits connected to that... putting in a non stop/start battery can damage the alternator and the new battery. A stop start battery has a useful life of around 5 years... so it's done well! If you don't have the stop start switch, then a 'normal' battery will be fine.

 

[Adam1984]

If the car has a stop start system (a stop/start switch on the dash will confirm this), then it needs a stop/start battery to match the intelligent alternator output and control circuits connected to that... putting in a non stop/start battery can damage the alternator and the new battery. A stop start battery has a useful life of around 5 years... so it's done well! If you don't have the stop start switch, then a 'normal' battery will be fine.

I don't have start stop on my model. I just think the battery they put in was a start stop one.

So do you think it's a battery issue then

This is what's on the side of my battery.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

It may or may not be the cause of your problems... but either way that's the wrong battery for the car
The correct one (for a Panda 1.2 without stop/start) is type 002: for example, these: https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/002r/

Usually, a failing battery shows as a series of other warnings first -- but things your car doesn't necessarily have: Stop/Start not available, issues with Hillholder or ESC, and ABS errors (you will have ABS). To get warnings related to seat belts and airbags first might suggest the issue is elsewhere? On the other hand, the battery sitting at 12.2volts shows it's not happy and maybe worth changing as the least expensive part that might solve the problem.

 

[Adam1984]

It may or may not be the cause of your problems... but neither way that's the wrong battery for the car
The correct one (for a Panda 1.2 without stop/start) is type 002: for example, these: https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/002r/

Usually, a failing battery shows as a series of other warnings first -- but things your car doesn't necessarily have: Stop/Start not available, issues with Hillholder or ESC, and ABS errors (you will have ABS). To get warnings related to seat belts and airbags first might suggest the issue is elsewhere? On the other hand, the battery sitting at 12.2volts shows it's not happy and maybe worth changing as the least expensive part that might solve the problem.

No problem.

It's going into the garage on Tuesday to be looked at anyway.

I have seen 2 batteries am interested in, but would you know which brand is the best to get?

Any of these 2, or maybe another kind?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Just spotted: your battery has a built-in 'health check' window, circled in this copy of your photo. If you look into the clear plastic disc here you should see a floating green ball fully filling the clear tube. If it is not fully visible (there's a black area around it), or not visible at all, the battery is failing for has failed. The symbols, part covered by the battery hold-down strap, relate to this self-check window.

 

[Adam1984]

Just spotted: your battery has a built-in 'health check' window, circled in this copy of your photo. If you look into the clear plastic disc here you should see a floating green ball fully filling the clear tube. If it is not fully visible (there's a black area around it), or not visible at all, the battery is failing for has failed. The symbols, part covered by the battery hold-down strap, relate to this self-check window.

View attachment 462047

Battery looks fine I think...

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Battery looks fine I think...

Yup, that suggests it is....

 

[The Panda Nut]

I think you need to plug in with MES before spending starts!

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Note: the OP subsequently started two new threads for this… don’t reply here as now answered in those other threads