Hi, Manuals say at 10-year mark, airbags modules should be replaced. What happens if you don't? (besides the Airbag Sensor Light just gently reminding you...) Thanks, Peter in CT
As usual the answer is easily found here if you try http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269812
Peter- Here is 5 more years of respite. There is no way most people will replace their airbags even at the new 15 year interval. They should work fine even after the 15 years have expired. There is no timer in the airbag ECU. Taz Terry Phillips Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great, thanks again Terry -- and what of The Light then -- no way am I replacing the Modules -- but how do we get the light to go out then?
Interesting thought about all this. Ferrari printed a recommendation that timing belts be replaced a 52,500 miles then from field experience reduced it to 30k and 3 years in a couple of steps yet people claim it is all a ruse to make more money. What are they going to say now that Ferrari has extended the life of air bag systems? Is it all a ruse to endanger the life of their customers? Is it a plot by the Greenies to bump off people who like big, fast, environmentally unsound cars, or is is it real life experience causing a change in service interval? Naw, that can't be. The follow up question is, are we going to have arguments about when you should really change air bag components because of the steadfast belief in a conspiracy by the aluminum foil hat crowd? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Take it to a shop equipped with an SD2 or 3 and have it diagnosed. The light only comes on when a malfunction is entered into memory. Until said error is rectified and the light reset, it will stay on.
Greetings Brian ... the issue with the SD2 or 3 being able to rectify warning lights is interesting. My 575 build # 45659, a mid year '02, I had the 'Cal' light come on permanently due to the TPMS sensor batteries going flat. I rang Ferrari Sydney who told me they could clear clear that message with an SD3 permanently so that I could display Clock/Temp etc. They hooked it up, and no go. As explained to me my car was too early for that. Similarly I would like to get (eventually) an upgraded shock ECU and steering ECU. However I am concerned there will be a permanent 'error' message in the display which ultimately would annoy the c**p out of me??? Consequently I await Terry 'pioneering' the way Philip C PS I appreciate a 'real' error message can be cleared by the SD2/3, however the 'advisory' messages are annoying.
Brilliant response, thanks, 1999 456M GT s/n 116665 @ 14.9k & w/15k dealer stamps; belt done @ 7k in 31Jan06.
Yup- One pro who knows everything and one amateur with a photographic memory with knowledge 1mm thick. Guess you know whose opinion counts. Taz Terry Phillips
Philip- The FHP steering ECU, which is nothing more than a glorified relay, can be used on 456/M, 550, and 575M cars with no fear of a light. Not even sure what light it could illuminate. As long as you get any pre-Assembly No. 52556 Shock Absorber ECU, you should have no problems with lights. First I would take the five minutes and check and see which shock ECU you have in the passenger's cheek carpet panel. If 197211, which now appears to have come out in Sep/Oct 2002, no need to updgrade. If you have 201673, 201674/205619 might be a reasonable upgrade after other FHP upgrades. Remember, I already have FHP, so the only upgrades I can do are the shock ECU and the HGTC F1 ECU. Have not even priced the F1 ECU yet. Not sure I want to know, and I need my ceramic brakes more. They are a lot prettier than an ECU beneath the rear carpeting. Plus I just wrote $25K worth of checks for taxes tonight. Better than last year, where it was $145K. Have to work on that. Taz Terry Phillips
Terry .. the warning light I had with TPMS was the 'Cal'(ibration) light in the multi-function display. I was thinking the warning light displayed may be the shock absorber error light for an 'incorrect' ecu would be the 'suspension light' (manual page 2.20) ie. car symbol with two triangles where wheels are. Will check my ecu serial # .. presently giving the young girl a full detail.
Philip- Usually the TPMS system will give a NO CAL warning, but your system seems to be an earlier generation, so not sure. All the technical data in the OM and WSM, however, was written in late 2001/early 2002. Mine gave a NO CAL indication before we softwared it out completely. It is not even in the 2Mb instrument panel chip any longer. The Shock Absorber ECU will give a suspension warning light if everything is not correct, but I would not expect to see one from a Shock Absorber ECU change. The Hydraulic Steering ECU is really low threat. Taz Terry Phillips
Gentlemen, I hope you do not mind if we go back on track, or to the air bags, that is. So, what is the best line of action for a couple of 15 yrs old air bags? 1- Service ? 2- Replacement? 3- None of the above? Does anyone know what kind of money we are talking about here?
Replacement is the only choice over and above Terrys. Ricambi does not have the price listed which is always a bad sign. It is a little like a menu that next to the lobster says "Market price". My guess is between $2 and $3k each. Installaton would be several hundred more.
Call me cynical (heck I have a ferrari and quickly learned how ferrari operates), but I think the extension of the recommended replacement to 15 years allows ferrari to sell more used cars without having the expense of replacing airbags before selling (still high volume in 355/360/550/575 sales even if prices are down) Just my .02
There you go Terry. I knew there would be a conspiracy along sooner or later. Sorry dude, that is a real reach. It's the tinfoil hat brigade for you. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Everyman is entitled to an opinion and that's mine. The only conspiracy is the way Ferrari operates- can you see a ferrari dealer taking a 360 it is trying to sell for $90K but have to prep the car by doing $7K of work just to update the airbags before even getting at timing belts that are scheduled to be changed evey 36 months? No? Neither can I.
What is the underlying reason for the replacement? Is it because the electronics stop working or is it because the explosive is no longer exploding? In the first case, a well designed electronic system has no time limit, and in the second case, 40 years-old bombs are still killing people in Laos. So, why 10 years and now 15 years?
They are worried about deterioration of the bag itself. It has been found, industry wide that they are lasting longer than expected.
