The Alfa156 airbag warning light is such an infamous problem in the 156 owner circle. It seems no 156 is free from the problem. I remember I had had this problem from the day 1 I got it. Various mechanics helped resolve it for MOT each time but it just kept coming back within weeks.
The most common root cause of the issue is the failure of the pressure sensor in the seat that helps the airbag ECU decide if it should deploy the airbag. To get it fixed, there are 3 challenges:
- Find the new parts
- Disassemble the seat to replace the sensor
- I don’t know how long it will last
All these considerations stopped me following this path. I wanted to deal with this problem myself instead of relying on my mechanics. The 1st thing I did was to get the diagnostic software.
The one I use is Multiecuscan. A very powerful ECU software for Fiat group’s vehicles.
Two major benefits of having the software are:
- I can tell the root causes of the airbag warning light (that helped me a lot)
- I can reset the airbag ECU myself to get rid of the error
One day, I encountered an airbag warning that cannot be reset by the software. And it told me that it is the problem of the seat belt pretensioner short circuited. So I met the 2nd main root cause of the Alfa156 airbag warning and my usual trick is no longer work.
Another root cause of the Alfa 156 airbag warning light
By looking at the pretensioner, I knew what has been going on
The wrapping layer of the wire decomposed, so it short circuited. And the solution is simple.
Solution
Clearing the wrapping plastic, replacing it with a heat-shrinking tube and resetting the airbag ECU, Done.
At the time I thought I got it fixed. Very soon, I really mean soon, a week or 2, the warning light came back. I think damn, my work was not working. However, the software told me that another pretensioner has the same problem. I tried fixing it following the same approach. This time it really didn’t work no matter how many times I clean and rewrap the wire. Eventually, I ordered an used pretensioner to replace it. The tricky thing is that there is no way to know if the used parts are working or not. It is a kind of gambling.
Mar 2018
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