The dreaded airbag light

Oh no! My airbag light came on last night. I thought I was immune, I move the seat pretty much every time I get in or out of the car, and have done for the last 18 months, so I don't know why it's suddenly chosen to be an issue.
I was under the impression that on the 156 the only answer is a dealer reset. Is this true? Only the light was on on the way to the cinema last night, but was not on on the way home. But now it's on again this morning.
What should I be looking for under the seat if I'm going to try to fix this?

Originally Posted by bazza

I move the seat pretty much every time I get in or out of the car

That replacement hip not come through yet Bazza?


If you look under the seat you will see a white multi plug connector.
Worth making sure those are tight.

Am I right though that it's the 147 which can auto-reset, the 156 requires a dealer visit? If so, why did my light go out.

My garage is tiny, so I can't get out of the car without the seat back all the way, because the door can only open about an inch

I'm not sure, as all airbag faults on 156s I've seen needed a reset. Suppose it depends on the software.

Like Rick says, check, clean and tighten the multi plug terminals as necessary.

BTW, I take it that the original cars like the GTA did not have the curtain airbags like the Guigiaro cars?

I can reset it for you, but un fortunately I live in The Netherlands so you beter check with the dealer to get it hooked up to Examiner (in some cases a reset will fail because the sensor is broken and only a new unit will cure , this is the worst case scenario) I wish you luck !!!

Originally Posted by rarebear

I can reset it for you, but un fortunately I live in The Netherlands

Bazza will probably be passing your door on his road trip!

Originally Posted by bazza

My garage is tiny, so I can't get out of the car without the seat back all the way, because the door can only open about an inch

You really haven't thought about this have you?

Drive in forwards. Lay the back seats flat and go out the boot. It will also look really cool when some foxy visitor drives past.

Originally Posted by RicksAlfas

It will also look really cool when some foxy visitor drives past.

I live at the end of a cul-de-sac

I think it does have the curtain airbags - there's definitely airbag signs on both A and B pillars.

Bazza, as a fellow bear your are more than welcome in my neck of the woods... Rijswijk ZH near The Hague ! Examiner will teach your airbag warning light a lesson or two... lol
my coordinates are lat 52.02277 lon 4.31366

Hi there.

Mine does this too occasionally and doesn't need the dealer to reset - although my car is a facelift so may be different.
If you look on the RHS of the boot you will see a little plastic panel. Behind this are 2 connector blocks for the airbag wiring. I cleaned and reconnected these and mine was cured and has been OK for the last week (touch wood)

Thanks rare - very kind - but my European route this year is very southerly, won't be in your neck of the woods at all.

Just a tip for the future I used to have this problem a lot and please excuse if this is teaching you to suck eggs, but never move your seat when the ignition is on, for some reason it is more sensitive. I haven't had this problem since I adopted this rule. Hope it helps.

Cheers DT - I have heard that before, and try to stick with it, but sometimes forget.
I didn't see the airbag light until it had been on for a few moments, so I can't actually remember whether I did it this time. There's a possibility that it was actually caused by back seat passengers getting in and kicking something.

Is it the wires coming from the floor which are wrapped in yellow? They have a yellow plug, which is going into a white plug connector.

Had a look at them, and they look perfectly secure. What's my next move? Disconnect, clean and reconnect? How do I clean them?

Updated update:
While I didn't see any problems last night looking at the wiring, obviously my wiggling did something, because my airbag light is back off again now.

I think this confirms that the self-reset isn't purely on the 147, it must be an age thing.

What's the betting that it's back on again for the drive home this afternoon?

it depends on the crash sensor type, there are numerous types in use by Alfa Romeo, some have a self resetting function and some need Examiner to reset. Its indeed a matter of age, up till 2001 you have a problem if the light comes on, later types may reset automatically.

Originally Posted by rarebear

Its indeed a matter of age, up till 2001 you have a problem if the light comes on, later types may reset automatically.

Not strictly true, the light came on in my old (1996) 145 and then reset itself after a few engine restarts.

you are lucky !!!


A common crash sensor is the "Rolamite" design by TRW. Inside is a small metal roller that rolls forward under sudden deceleration and trips a switch.

Some vehicles have "spring and mass" crash sensors in which a spring loaded weight is deflected by the impact to close a switch. Most newer vehicles now have solid state crash sensors that contain either a piezoelectric crystal or a "micromachined accelerometer" chip that produces an electronic signal when jolted.

Originally Posted by bobda

Not strictly true, the light came on in my old (1996) 145 and then reset itself after a few engine restarts.

That's just because the light broke too.

Originally Posted by bazza

That's just because the light broke too.

Nope, it came back on again after a few months!

At which point, I took the bulb out.