Airbag Fault Light

[Dave63]

Hi Folks, Having a problem with my airbag warning light. I pulled away without my seatbelt on airbag warning light came on. Its not flashing nor any sound just on permanently , had it read but came up as no fault in the system any ideas please its a 2002 FORD GALAXY GHIA 2295CC 5DR ESTATE.

[Mirez]

The seatbelts aren't monitored so I think that's purely a coincidence. Who read the codes and how? Unless they used a proper VAG compatible reader they'll only have scanned the engine.

[Dave63]

Seems they mustn't have read the system and scanned
the engine as you say oh well back to the drawing board thanx for the reply have to book it in for a proper read by the sounds of it.

[brianh]

If you've got a laptop the free version of VCDS lite and a suitable cable (which can be found off ebay for less than a tenner) will speak to the airbag ecu and give you the actual reason for the fault.

The usual reason is that the clock spring in the steering wheel has failed, As thats the bit thats moving all the time. You need the cable at any rate to reset the light once its come on. Its possible that one of the other bags is at fault, but not very likely unless you've been removing bits or unplugged connectors to them and switched the ignition on in that state.

[brianh]

This cable being one example > https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Cable-KKL-VAG-COM-409-1-OBD2-OBD-Diagnostic-Scanner-VCDS-VW-Audi-Seat-A/332629737094

[Dave63]

Thanx for that brianh , from what ive seen the free download doesn't cover the galaxy does it or have i missed something and will it allow me a full reset. I m looking now at the cables and will have one asp

[brianh]

Doesn't cover the petrol engines, but does the rest of the cars compatible systems (the airbag system definitely is covered). You can use a standard obd reader for the engine. At any rate its far cheaper than a scan done in the garage would be. And you have the cable if you need it again later (which will also work on most VW cars as well)

I used the free one to reset my MK1 when I had the same issue. You should be fine with it. I think the main things you can't do are some of the more advanced programming (swapping instrument clusters etc) and automatic scans of all units. It may bug you in a few places with buying the full version, but should definitely allow what you need to be done.

Suggest you use the vcds download from ross-tech as it will be upto date, some of the cables ship with older versions of VAG-Com instead, just use the drivers supplied with the cable.

[Dave63]

Thanx for all the advice Brianh i ll le u know how i get on m8

[Dave63]

I have ran a check on my airbag and its coming up fault code J285 Control module  instrument panel cluster no communication anyone know what it means please, i cant find the fault code or what it means ie loose wire or such thanx

[Mirez]

That means the airbag controller can't talk to the instrument cluster which means it wouldn't be able to notify you of a fault (which is ironic when you think about it!)

Have you had the cluster out at all with the ignition On? Reset it and see if it comes back would be first on the list.

[Dave63]

Hi Mirez, its reset and the lights out and all's good so thank for all the help to you and BrianH, and i haven had the cluster out since i got the car over 5 yrs ago which seems odd tbh but i ll have my m8 take it out and check for loose wires.

[brianh]

Thats really quite daft - I'd have a check of your battery whilst your there, just in case its getting a bit low and causing stuff to play up. Since none of the wires in that link move I wouldn't expect it to be a connection issue. (the usual wiring issues are the door wiring and clock spring which can and do fail with age). Could understand it if you'd switched the ignition on without the cluster or something to cause it, but nothing at all makes no sense!

Still - you'd have got nowhere without the cable (as you can't reset the light without it), and now you have the cable if you need it again so should be a lot easier if you still have problems.

[Dave63]

Brianh i think you may have a point with what you've said, last night i noticed a door open warning light was on but all my doors were locked so it might be that which is causing the problem so i ll check the door loom to see if there are any loose wires and see if that cures that problem. thanks for that  pointer. As long as i can get the car through the mot then im happy as i can then do most other things after that.  Great bit of kit that cable Ã,£5.00 best fiver ive ever spent thats for sure saved me a few quid for sure.

[brianh]

Don't know offhand which bit does the door sensing, but the boot as well as the doors do give random problems with broken wires, worth a check of them at least as its not difficult.