VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Mon 18 Nov 2013 11:07

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - vectra_owner

I need some help and advice related to some ECU/Airbag/CIM issues I have been having with my VECTRA (2003 1.8i LS 5d).

Basically, a few months ago the 'check airbag' light on the dashboard came on. It is a steady light which stays ON all the time when the engine is running. All other diagnostics lights turn off after inginition but the 'check airbag' light stays on.

I have taken it to 2 garages (independent and dealer) and spent money on initial diagnostics and have got nowhere.

Garage 1 (independent) - Quoted £25 + VAT:

Connected diagnostic tool - and within 30 seconds told me that there is an 'ECU fault'. On a follow-up phone call, I was told that the fault was with the 'Airbag ECU' and not the 'Engine ECU'. Luckily, he didn't charge me for the 60 seconds spent on diagnostics.

Garage 2 (Vauxhall delaer) - Charged £48 (Inc. VAT):

This garage spent an hour on diagnosctics and finally said that the diagnostic tool can infact talk to the Airbag ECU(this was different for the independent garage, who straight away said that ECU is faulty), but unfortunately the fault present cannot be found at this point and this will require another 2 hours of investigation which is £168(Inc VAT).

I have been told that the technician now needs to spend 2 hours on diagnosing the communication between Airbag ECU and SIM and there is no gaurantee that my problem will be fixed after spending another £168.

Here is the report from the dealer:

CHECK AND REPORT ON AIR BAG LIGHT ON Install

tech dtc stored b1000 -c5- unknown dtc present

description on tis dtc memory full clear dtc

but will not clear re more inv

On asking the cost of the new ECU or CIM module, I have been told that it will be in the range of £400-£500.

I have searched on the internet for an independent garage who would do such type of work at a lower cost bout unfortunatley, all garages offer an initial diagnostic from £45 onwards and I think that is where they will stop - I feel they may not have the knowledge and tools to diagnose of fix this further.

I am in the Farnborough/Fleet area - I will be helpful if I can get suggestions on gargaes who would do such work in my area (Farnborough/Fleet/Frimley/Camberley/Aldershot).

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Mon 18 Nov 2013 11:18

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - vectra_owner

Also, the MOT is due now. A friend has adviced that light can be turned off for the MOT but not on a Vectra C.

I am not sure if mine is a Vectra C, all I know that it is: VAUXHALL VECTRA HATCHBACK (2002 - 2005) 1.8i LS 5dr

I don't prefer to go down this way but it seems as if the dealer is going to rip me off if I go back to them.

Edited by vectra_owner on 18/11/2013 at 11:24

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Mon 18 Nov 2013 13:01

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - Oli rag

Hi, are you sure the problem isn't being caused by the wiring under the front seats?

Lots of accounts on the internet of people disturbing this while adjusting their seat.

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Mon 18 Nov 2013 13:13

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - MrEckerslikefromRamsbottom

Have to agree with Oli Rag.. It's generally disturbed wiring or a plug-and-socket that's got oxidised and needs and neds a bit of twiddling to clean it. Try Googling 'Vectra airbag warning light'. There's a YouTube video.. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w74eLTfD0c

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Mon 18 Nov 2013 13:33

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - vectra_owner

Yes, I was also thinking (and hoping) for the fault related to set belt pre-tensioner and related wires under the seat.

The technician who looked at my car at the dealership did seem quite knowledgeable (and honest) and ruled out any issue with the wires under the seat and the seat-belt pretensioner.

BTW, is the SRS module the same thing as Airbag ECU?

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Mon 18 Nov 2013 18:00

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - vectra_owner

Have been to another place in the evening, and they think it's the engine(main) ECU which is having the problem (because the code coming up is b1000) and they don't suspect that it's the airbag ecu which is at Fault. I am completely confused now.

BTW, The vauxhall dealer's quotes are:

£168 - Further investigation
£549.60 Airbag ECU
£451.56 CIM module

Any advice on what should I do now?

Shall I scrap the car? The car has done 80,000 miles, regular services, drives well - but is due a cam belt change as it's 80,000 miles now (first cam belt change was already done at 40,000 miles)

Edited by vectra_owner on 18/11/2013 at 18:01

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Tue 19 Nov 2013 15:19

VAUXHALL VECTRA 2003 1.8i LS 5d - Is this the end of the road for my vectra - slkfanboy

Diagnostic kit comes in many differant forms from cheap generic to dealer diagnostics units. So IMHO the dealer is most likely correct.

Further investigation will not fix it ,just determine how much the next bill will be. I would check all the wires very carefully, check connectors for broken pins and water etc etc

If that all ok then puchase a second hand Aigbag ECU and see if that fixes it. You can always sell on ebay etc if it's not the solution.

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