Airbag light with Scuderia seats in standard F430

I absolutely hate those kinds of meters. You never know what you're looking at. Normally, if the resistance being measured is greater than the selected scale, you will get an undefined indication as shown in your last photo. i.e. greater than 200 ohms. In the second to last photo, I see a "1" . This might suggest that the resistance is 1000 ohms (as it is greater than 200 ohms), but then you look at the other readings, and it makes no sense at all. Having a multi-setting ohmmeter is supposed to improve the accuracy of the readings. i.e. the closest you can set the meter to the resistance being measured, the more accurate the reading. Unfortunately, it leads to ambiguous readings.
I have a relatively expensive Fluke multimeter, but the handbook says it won't read above 4,000 ohms, so for resistances higher than that, I have to use a different multimeter. Fortunately, all of my meters are auto-ranging to avoid the ambiguity. i.e. there is only one resistance setting.

I'm assuming that you're measuring the resistance of the COPD and that there is no power on the COPD (plug disconnected)?

(EDIT: Of course, there might be a bunch of electronics inside the COPD, not just a variable resistance. That's why you might be getting such odd results)

 

yes I'm measuring the seat side COPD, and unplugged

 

maybe John has a better meter

 

We need John to carry out tests with someone (or something) in the seat. e.g. something around the weight of a baby capsule + baby ... and with an adult sitting in the seat.

 

Yes, that's correct. We can cater for always on or always off, but not switched.

 

Been away for a while. Next test is with your hand pressed on the seat as Ian has said. I believe that the the sensor is designed to give a voltage output based on weight. Something like under 4kg is ignored.

 

My OEM seat is no longer installed

Does the reading still work if it's out of the car?

 

John,
Yes, it can be, but it's important we match up the wire colours because the factory colours run as far as the CPOD connector and then they become something else.

The sensor has three wires:

• Positive feed (pin 2 of airbag ECU) - brown/red
• Sensor Output (pin 6 of airbag ECU) - yellow
• Ground - black

The colours above are on the car side of the wiring - not the seat.

If the module isn't working for Lorenzo I'm trying to figure out if we can emulate the sensor easily or not, in order to save him from buying another module.

If the sensor is a simple one then there will be a varying resistance between the sensor output wire and either positive or ground wires i.e. it works like a potential divider.

I'm hoping that it's a simple sensor because the F430 SRS system is relatively basic.

 

That would depend on the internals of the COPD. If it's pure resistance and the ECU provides the voltage, then you should see a change with weight. If the ECU is providing voltage to complex electronics, then you may not see any change.

Yeah... Looking at the photos, the colours are something like this:

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Did anyone take measurements across the other pins? 1~2 and 2~3. If there is no continuity/resistance, then perhaps there are complex electronics inside the COPD

 

I can't thank you guys enough for all of the information

Unfortunately, I now have to address the mundane , prepping my house for Thanksgiving including moving my seats out of he dining room!

Hopefully I can get back on this over the weekend

Thank you again!

 

Gobble Gobble John....Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Thank you Seong, you too!

 

Just thinking about 216005

So if the passenger airbag switch is disconnected and 216005 is installed, is the airbag permanently on?

@LorenzoR if this is the case, and it doesn't throw a flashing or solid light, this will get you functional, you just won't be able to turn the airbag off, which isn't so bad?

I mean I assume most people don't turn it on and off anyway, I know I haven't ever turned mine off.

Then you could use the module you have

 

That's correct, John. You may fit a 216005 even if you have the disable switch, but the airbag will remain active irrespective of switch position.

 

Thank you Mark, this is what Lorenzo did (install the 216005), but it gives a flashing AIRBAG light, so if the switch is disconnected, possibly this would put the light out (since I guess it's confused since the switch is inline), and the airbag remains on?

you wouldn't happen to have any insight as to how to disconnect it? does it mean dash disassembly? looks like it may just pry out with a simple disconnect of the connector?

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It doesn't make sense me that the presence of the switch would cause an airbag light with a module that isn't coded to recognise one. Was the module new or used? If possible it would be good to read the stored codes with an SD3.

FYI the Australian market cars come fitted with the disable switch, loom, and 216005, but the disable switch is blanked with a plastic cover. Presumably it was more cost effective to produce a plastic blank than cater for different permutations of RHD market cars.

 

The module 216005 is new.

 

Mark, I certainly get your logic, Post #53 on this thread, Ian makes a point about resistance (which I will kt even being to attempt to explain) if the switch is connected, perhaps this is what is causing the blinking AIRBAG indicator?

 

John, it doesn't make sense but it's worth eliminating it. The switch is likely a press-fit with some locking barbs/tangs on the rear. If you use a plastic trim lever tool (or two) then it should be possible to gently prise it out of the dashboard.

Update: see here for the metal locking tabs: https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/part/maserati/46480451?id=181122

 

Thank you Mark, appreciate the continued support and expertise!

 

Thanks Mark, access to that switch is easy getting to by removing the vent. The problem is the plug is facing opposite of you so it's very difficult to disconnect. I'm trying at it now

 

Try to gently lever it from the dashboard. I think that it'll be easier to do once the switch is out. There is hopefully sufficient slack in the loom to enable better access from the side of the dash, rather than via the vent.

 

ok got it out. Give me some time to hook up the other ECU 216005

 

ok it's hooked up. with key on the airbag light stayed steady on, no flashing. Note: I did not start car.