Help - does anyone understand diagnostics?

[caveenterprises]

Hi there,

 

Just looking for some advise really. I took my Peugeot 1007 into the garage as the Air bag light was on. The garage ran a diagnostic on the car and told me that there was a fault with the actual Air bag and it needed to be replaced which apparently is a big job. They told me the diagnostic said 'Permanent fault left side modules and left side curtain airbag'

 

When they looked at the wiring under the passenger seat they found a fault which they have fixed. They then replaced the airbag but the module is apparently still registering a fault. 'left side module'. They have now told me that I need a new module panel as they they can't reset it . The most recent diagnostic says 'permanent fault. left side module triggers and left side curtain airbag in production. open circuit.'

 

It just sound like the same problem we had the beginning and i can't help thinking that maybe the module was the problem all along and the airbag didn't need replacing. I don't want to make assumptions though because i really don't understand it enough. Can anyone advise me?

 

I have attached the garage paperwork which they emailed me if this helps!

Edited September 18, 2012 by caveenterprises

[renegadeimp]

Please edit your PDF as it contains personal info.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Attachment unapproved personal details showing please remove and post again.

[heliosuk]

Unfortunately it's not possible to read the jpg you have posted. Generally there are 4 layers of diagnostics.

Level one where a fault is registered a certain number of times.Level 2 where the number of times registerred triggers a warning light and is current, level 3 where the fault disapears so goes historic and level 4 where there is a permanent fault.

 

No manufactuer though works exactly alike.

 

What is common though is the code for high level faults often exhibited with a prefix.

 

It would help if you could post the actual codesand year of manufactuer.

 

What you need to be aware of though is the over reliance of dealers/garages to jump to conclusions because a computer gives a fault code. Often they think this is the root cause but fail to follow through to ask the question why has the code occured. It is this, that is frequently coming more apparent, that leads to mis diagnosis.

 

Reality is the car in this case has been mis diagnosed.

 

Most manufactuers have sub levels to check which are not detailed in the diagnostic systems on the computers. Non franchised garages might not have access to this info, be unwilling to pay for it or......................

 

At this point it's down to the quality of the technician.

 

Unfortunately this type of problem is not just limited to non franchised dealers. Franchises have access to more in depth help but fail to take advantage of it.

[caveenterprises]

Hi

 

thanks for the response, i have tried to re attach the documents from the garage but in case they still don't open I have typed out the Diagnostic report below. The car is a peugeot 1007 and its year is 2006. The car is at a franchised dealer but i am just really concerned that they may have changed the airbag when all along it is the module which is the problem.

 

13/09/2012

1007

Built in systems interface

1007 BSI

no fault found

Display / Telematics

1007 EMF

no fault found

Radio

1007 RD3

presence of faults

Switch module at the steering wheel

1007 COM2002

no fault found

Airbag ECU

1007 SAC_GONFLABLE

presence of faults

Instrument Panel

1007 COMBINE

no fault found

Sliding side door module

1007 MDPLC

presence of faults

ABS or ESP ECU

1007 ESP_MK60

no fault found

Power steering

1007 DAE

presence of faults

Engine ECU

1007 J34P KFV

no fault found

 

18/09/2012

History

1007

ECU configuration and services

Test by ECU

Active and passive safety

Airbag ECU

SAC_GONFLABLE

Fault reading

 

Airbag ECU

RECO_V4

 

Permanent fault. Left side modules triggers and left side curtain airbag in production. Open circuit.

[heliosuk]

The results and the history you have posted do indicate that there is an issue with the Air Bag ECU. This is to a certain extent what I was harping on about earlier.

 

Garage testing the car should have realised that a code saying control unit faulty can trigger a fault to be recorded in the part as well. Sensible techs would then test the part but it seems another over reliance on the system computer. I've come across this so many times before it is frankly very annoying.

 

Scaniaman had a very similar thing with his Picasso though engine related. Dealer and Citroen UK relied on computer read outs without confirming they were actually accurate.

 

Computer readouts only give an indication as to where th efault might lie, they do not determine if a part is actually faulty and that is left to the technicians to work out.

 

The fault could be as simple as a worn pin on that circuit but the puter says a fault so they change it. In this case they firstly go for the part. Clear down the codes then go for the ECU when it appears again. I reckon the issue is in the wiring and or connectors and most probably neither the air bag or the ECU is faulty.