KA-13

[KA-13]

Hi,

 

I have a 2013 KA that reports an 'Airbag Failure' message in the text display.  The pain is that its intermittent and random as to when it happens - most of the time there is no problem.

I've checked the connections in the steering wheel and all look fine; there are no seat airbags that I can see.

I've searched t'internet and can't see this as a 'known problem'.

Has anyone else come across this and found a solution or does anyone have any useful pointers to resolve please?

[Tdci-Peter]

6 hours ago, KA-13 said:

'Airbag Failure' message in the text display

I recommend trying Forscan, a Ford specific diagnostic system. The in car display messages are often a bit general and imprecise. A proper diagnostic tool like Forscan could narrow it down. Airbag failure could mean any failure in the restraints module, which includes the seatbelt pretensioners, and sensors. The pretensioners often have wiring under the seats, which is prone to damage.

Forscan download is free for Windows, or modest charge for Apps. You would need an ELM327 adapter, under £20.

http://forscan.org/download.html

& one supplier of ELM327s: https://tunnelrat-electronics.fwscart.com/

[KA-13]

Many thanks.  Will give that a try

[KA-13]

So, I tried Forscan and could not get it to work with a VeePeak OBDCheck MS USB ELM327 (obtained from Amazon), no matter what I did.  Kept getting "unable to connect to vehicle".

However, reading various posts on the Forscan forum suggested that a 2013 KA is essentially a Fiat 500 at heart, therefore Forscan won't work and more generic software should be used.

So, I tried OBD Auto Doctor, which connected perfectly.  Bad news is that there were no error codes.

Don't you just hate intermittent problems!!! 🤬

[btmaldon]

Try the connections under the seats. As with two door cars the seats are slid back and forth a lot the connections may have been pulled about. I know that this was always an issue on Renaults due to the poor wiring.

[KA-13]

In the interests of trying to help some other poor sole searching to resolve the same problem, here's the answer...

After fruitless efforts of trying to catch the error on OBD, I did more searching on t'interweb, but this time looking for the same problem on a Fiat 500 because much of the KA is the same technology as the 500.  This revealed a 'feature' that the airbag control unit is sensitive to low voltage. Now, the Auto Start-Stop feature hadn't worked on this car since we bought it in July but I just put that down to infrequent use and the exact conditions never quite being right, so I ignored it.  However, put those two things together and they suggest a duff battery, faulty charging, or both.

Used the car on reasonable journey, i.e. gave it the opportunity to charge itself up, then parked up. Tested the voltage cold the next morning after sitting overnight and it read 12.3V (~70%) with lights, radio, etc. all turned off.  It then dropped below 10V on the starter motor....and the Airbag Failure warning appeared!!  Once started the engine voltage lifted to around 13.5V, which suggested that the alternator was fine, leaving me to conclude that the battery was not receiving/holding charge properly.

Change the original 027 EFB battery for a shiny new AGM jobby (couldn't get an EFB at short notice locally, and needed it fixed quick) and Bob's your Auntie: No Airbag Failure warning and Auto Start-Stop works.

Not an intuitive solution but hope that helps someone!!