Synergie/806 Airbag Light on dashboard - how can I diagnose?

[kenbw2]

I've heard this is quite often just a loose wire under the seat, so I'm thinking that's my first port of call. Does anyone know where this cable is?

If not, what else can I do to figure out why the light's on?

Edit: It's a 1997 1.9TD model

[ken newbold]

They're not under the seat on these cars, they're actually built into the seat belt inertia mechanism located inside the bottom of the B pillar.

What year is your car?

[kenbw2]

1997, 1.9TD.

The B pillar assumedly is the one immediately behind the front seats?

[ken newbold]

it is, this is what you'll find in there when you've managed to remove all the plastic trim.




on later models the airbag ecu is under the floor between the front seats, but on earlier models think is under the dash behind the glove box somehwere.

[kenbw2]

That's great, thanks for that.

So assumedly it's probably one of these problems?

- The plug (the blue thing next to the red thing in your first picture) is unplugged/disconnected
- The wire is otherwise broken
- The airbag ECU is defective

[ekjdm14]

If there's been no other work on the car recently that could be a possible cause then yes, I'd say most likely a bad connection somewhere.

Work that could cause a problem would IMO be either welding or anything where the steering wheel has been removed/able to spin independently of the rack (this can break the connector "clock spring" behind the wheel) but assuming no other work/incident just before it came on then check fuses/connectors.

One more thing though, before disturbing any SRS related connections even just wiggling a plug, make sure the battery is disconnected for about 20-30mins beforehand to avoid any accidental triggering.

[kenbw2]

>If there's been no other work on the car recently that could be a possible cause then yes, I'd say most likely a bad connection somewhere.

I've bought it recently as a spares/repairs vehicle. Looks good, so I'm hoping to get it through the MOT. The previous owner told me it had an MOT weeks before he SORNd it, after which it's just been sat. So no work that could have triggered it. Obviously a pinch of salt required.

Your other suggestions are good. I never thought of a fuse, if it's that simple then great. I'll try the other stuff too if not.

>make sure the battery is disconnected for about 20-30mins beforehand to avoid any accidental triggering.

Very good point, thanks for that.

[ken newbold]

The blue thing in the first photo is the ball bearing inertia mechanism. The actual plug connector is more visable in the second pic, tiny little socket just above the seat belt coil.

If I were a stab a guess, I'd go for the steering wheel connections. The cables for all the airbag gear runs under the carpets and are orange colour from memory.

Whereabout are you?

[kenbw2]

>The blue thing in the first photo is the ball bearing inertia mechanism. The actual plug connector is more visable in the second pic, tiny little socket just above the seat belt coil.

I can't see a plug, but I can see where it might be under that piece of metal. I'll give things a check for the obvious.

>The cables for all the airbag gear runs under the carpets and are orange colour from memory.

Ah yea I think I saw that when taking the plastic kick board out on my Synergie daily driver (the one with the airbag light on is an 806).

>If I were a stab a guess, I'd go for the steering wheel connections.

I hope not. I've taken that panelling off before around there on my Synergie and it's a right arse. I could kill two birds with one stone though and fix the temperature sliders while I'm there.

>Whereabout are you?

I'm in Bradford myself, as is my main Synergie. The 806 in question is in Preston.

[ken newbold]

I'm in Wakefield, if you need to borrow these bits to test yours, you're most welcome.

[kenbw2]

Thanks, I might take you up on that if my playing around this weekend fails

I have to ask, why is the 807 a "never again"?

[ken newbold]

I have to ask, why is the 807 a "never again"?

If you'd had one, you'd understand

Has to be the worst car I've ever owned! pity because I liked the look of em.

[kenbw2]

Ah well, glad you're happy with the admittedly unique specimen that is your Fiat Synergie (in your signature).

May our 90s cars continue to live on

[kenbw2]

Spent a bit of time playing with this. Still got the airbag light solid during ignition, and flashing when running.

- Fuse 12 - the airbag one - was blown, so obviously I replaced that
- I've wiggled the plugs and made sure they're seated
- On the passenger side I found one of the wires was a bit squashed, but it doesn't look broken



It's all a bit rusty and obviously been wet in there, I wonder if that could be a factor.

I'm gonna take a look around the steering column like you suggest.

Is there anything I can do with a multimeter maybe?

[ken newbold]

Have you found the ecu yet? some cars have a joint in the carpet between the front seats and it's under there, I had one that was full of water, replaced the ecu and all was well. The last one I broke up didn't have it there and all the wiring seemed to go up behind the dash, never actually found the ecu