The 355 Airbag ECU can be replaced by the Airbag ECU of the Alfa 155. Anyone know if the same is true for 550? So basically if someone has swapped a 355 ECU in place of a 550 ECU I would also have my answer. I am not sure if Alfa is popular in the US but we have plenty of 155 car wrecks in Europe.
Parts catalog shows the same airbag ECU for the 2.7 and 5.2 F355s, but a different one for the 550 and they are different depending on whether she was US or Euro.
There are early and late air bag ecus for 456 and 355. Becker and TRW were the suppliers and they are not interchangeable without replacing the wiring harness. Installing a used air bag ecu is not considered an industry acceptable repair and if one is installed you will be crucified in court if anyone is ever injured or killed in that car in perpetuity.
Thanks for the clarification. I pulled those part numbers from Ricambi's catalog, possibly erroneously.
Ok so that looks a dead end. In any case the 355 owners can be happy. The Alfa 155 is compatible....(at least for EURO). I will look into the 156. TRW is the brand in Euro delivery cars. Not sure of US spec cars?
Tom and/or Terry, Would an airbag ecu out of a 1999 non-US 550 (#164645) work in a 1998 US 550 (in lieu of #174153, which are impossible to find)? If not, any insight on resolving this issue (defective #174153) is much appreciated! Thanks guys!!
Jean-Luc- Sorry, no idea. Brian is probably the only one who knows, if anybody does. Did you try resetting with an SD2? The airbag lamp can usually be reset that way.
Thanks for the response Taz. Yes, I had Ferrari of Atlanta diagnose the problem with the airbag light. They confirmed that the airbag ECU is defective. I found an ECU out of a Euro 550 that may work. Looks like the airbag harness is the same for US and Euro cars. BTW, you may know my car! Until late 2014, it spent a number of years in Albuquerque! A 1998 red/tan, s/n 110676. Jean-Luc
You probably have a TRW unit in yours. I'd get it out and find their number on it then get in touch with TRW. They are a US based company, see what they say about a replacement.
Thanks Brian....that sounds like a good possible solution. I don't believe mine is the only one that is or will become defective...perhaps TRW may be interested in providing replacement units for the F550 or provide a "swap" repair service. I'll start a new thread about this when I find out. Thanks again guys!
Another idea there too. Get in touch with DOT and NHTSA and ask them what to do. I cannot believe it is legal to just stop supplying parts for a federally required primary crash safety system. It is very possible this is happening because no one has complained. I have been told in the past that many recalls never happen because no one complains, this may be a case like that.
I will do the same. TRW is now owned by ZF (from gearbox fame). HQ is Germany Occupant Safety Systems Industriestrasse 20 D-73553 Alfdorf Germany Phone 49.7172.302.0 Fax 49.7172.302.1233 This can be good or bad. I will try a two phased approach. First establish where this type of ECu was used, second see if they offer a repair service (most unlikely). Let us be glad it is not Takata ;o)
In your case I'd suggest getting in touch with TUV and ask about the legality of discontinuing replacements for air bag components.
i contacted brian a couple weeks ago on this very same subject... was looking at a 500 with a blown airbag ecu.... my brother in law (an attorney) brought up some interesting liabilities for buying/selling and having passengers in a car with inop federally mandatted safety equipement
That's a very real concern. I'm no lawyer but I suspect jury rigged repairs would not be good either. As I said then and now I would be very surprised if this is all legal and if it is, the operators of the cars need some legal shield.
I see they did sell the automotive division. They still have a big presence in the US and the US being what it is I am sure they are up to speed on their liabilities and legal responsibilities as it applies to automotive safety systems.
What generally causes airbag ECU failures? I have heard that trying to start a car with a low/dead battery can cause it but I have no idea if that's actually true.
That is true and that is usually what happens. Every time the key is turned to the on position it recharges the capacitor in the unit. If the starter is operated during that charging cycle and the battery is low it causes, as I am told by an automotive electrical engineer friend, a voltage spike that evidently the internal electronics are incapable of handling. I actually had it happen to me once and saw it first hand. Good thing the car was under warranty so I just went to the parts department and got another.
I just spoke with the plant manager at the automotive electronics division of ZF/TRW in Marshall, Illinois, USA and explained to him our dilemma with the failing airbag ECUs on the older Ferraris, that replacement units were no longer available either through Ferrari or through aftermarket sources. Because of the low production numbers that these represented to begin with and the even lower number that might now be required, he indicated that the tooling costs alone to re-manufacture these would be prohibitive, not to mention the liabilities, etc. He also felt, again due to liabilities, thatTRW would most likely not be willing to undertake any repairs of such older units. In a nut-shell, he felt that it would be for the engineers and technical folks at Ferrari to come up with a solution to this issue. I'll contact my local Ferrari dealer and put it in their hands to research though I have a feeling it will be a fruitless undertaking.
Put it in writing to FNA in New Jersey and copy DOT/NHTSA on the letter. May not help but should elicit a response and may address liability concerns. Thanks for reporting back on TRW's position.
Jean Luc, Any chance of asking that friendly plant manager in which cars that ecu was used? It seems it was used in alfa's of all sorts, if that is the case, we have almost unlimited supply.
