[burlistic]

Hi Guys and Girls..

I have just bought myself a GTV V6 and thought I would join the community. Loving the car.. so happy I finally have such an enjoyable toy.

Car details in my Intro post - http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/introduce-yourself/298587-hello-all.html#post4360639

Have a few questions I was hoping you knowledgeable enthusiasts could help me with these niggles.

The brake wearing (the circle surrounded by dashed lines) and key code lights do not come on when the key is half turned. Is this normal? The rest of the lights come on (ABS, Airbag, etc)

The colour of my bumpers is a slightly darker shade of red and does not match the metal work. I expect this is a common issue on red GTVs and that a re-spray is required?

The Airbag light is stuck on. Seems to have been a common issue with this GTV, as the history says the connectors have been cleaned and the codes reset often. From the looks of things I need to take it to an Alfa specialist to get the codes cleared. Is there any easy ways to clear the code myself without the need for software or special kit?

Many thanks

Will W

 

[Klaudiusz]

Hi,

Conrgatulations but it is sad that she suffers.

You need a laptop and KKL VAG USB cable (e.g. from ebay). You can download some software for free (Unidiag or FiatECUScan) or pay for Alfadiag. If code stays on it means you have problem with an immobilizer aerial around the ignition barrel. I would suggest, ask someone with a laptop and software to read all error's codes. BTW whereabout are you in Herts? I could help you but not earlier then Thursday.

Cheers

 

[burlistic]

Many thanks Klaudiusz's.. The cable sounds good. Thanks for the info, I will have a look. I am in Hitchin.. Grew up in Berkamstead.

Any ideas about the break warning light? This issue is concerning me the most. Although the breaks work brilliantly. I am hoping the light only comes on when the pads are low.

 

[Klaudiusz]

Check the brake fluid level. If you need to top-up it, use any DOT4.

If you need a hand with error's codes or software, which I mentioned above, send me PM.

 

[burlistic]

Will do.. Many thanks. Very kind of you.

Cable on order. Hopefully I will be able to suss out the software.

BTW, the break light is not on at all. Wondering if that is normal? Perhaps the bulb has gone???

 

[Alfafamily]

You could check the connectors for the seat belt pre tensioners under your seats. I've not seen black seats with red dash before so they could be replacements that have no relation to the service history.

 

[burlistic]

Hi Gents,

Thanks for the info. After much reading of posts on this forum and others I tried to clear the codes today.

I got myself a KKL VAG USB cable from Amazon and joined the unidaig yahoo group in the week. Today I downloaded the unidiag software and configured the comm ports and connected successfully via the connector under the drivers side dash board.

Next up I followed the instructions and downloaded KWP7.1 software for Airbag resets and put a paper clip across from pin 7 to 3.

But, when running this software (both in auto and in KWP81 mode) I get the following messages

Init started
Init Ready
No KeyBytes; Init not OK

It doesnt seem to be working. Any suggestions?

I might try and thinner paper clip as the one I am using might be a bit to thick.

Or I might try and re-wire the actual cable from 7 to 3.

Any more suggestions welcome. Feel so close to getting this nailed.

ALl the best

 

[burlistic]

No joy

No joy.. tried a thinner wire from 7 - 3 pin. Cannot easily re-write my cable as it is soilder to a chip board.

Tried some different settings.. Including ECU 0X20. Ignition off and on.

Note: I can connection find to Unidaig using COM4.

Screen shot attached.

Any ideas?
Settings to change?
Am I using the right connection (under steering wheel -Phase 2 V6 24v)?
Should I buy a pre-wired cable instead of trying the paper clip?

Any help much appreciated.. I would love to get the airbag light off myself. Seems to be a common issue with my Afla. So should save me some pennies if I can crack this. Thanks for all the great info on this forum.

BTW.. If you need KWP71 software.. I found a link to it from the Alfa 156forum from the creater of Unidaig and KWP71.

http://rapidshare.com/files/136206854/kwp71diag_N.rar.html

 

[radicalmachine]

Have you tried setting the USB serial port emulator driver to a different COM port? I believe you do this under the driver setting in device manager but I'm mostly on OSX these days and it was 4-5 months since my last unidiag encounter.

AFAIK you're using the correct port. The airbag ECU lives under the rear seat squabs (very easy to take those out - 10mm nut in each rear footwell, then slide forward and up), although I'm not sure you can interface with it directly with the diagnostic cable.

Great share by the way :thumbs:

 

[burlistic]

Thanks radicalmachine.

I have tried using COM port 4 and 1. Set up via device manager using the settings from the Unidiag group.

Found some instructions for using ECU 0x00 for airbag resets. http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/147074-unidiag-download.html

Tried this, but still no joy.

This thread has the same settings screen shots for the COM ports.. Useful http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa...w-to-use-to-connect-to-airbag-abs-ecus-6.html

I am running Windows 7.. and a few people mention issues with Vista, and getting the software working when using an XP install

I cannot seem to amend the settings as per the first screen shot, Use FIFO, recieve buffer etc. Not sure if there is a Windows 7 equivelent?

 

[radicalmachine]

Unidiag is an ancient (by comparison) bit of kit, but that's fine, it only needs to communicate with 'old' ECUs - just think what your '99 PC was like :lol:

The trouble is its pretty fussy about what it's running on and how it's told to run. Took me a while fiddling to get it to play nice with my P2 GTV, but hey it's free and saved me spending 80 notes at a dealer for a reset or 50 notes for (the excellent) AlfaDiag.

I couldn't get it working in Vista or 7 (have a triple boot system for various reasons), but did in XP. Also make sure you give it administrative permissions to run.

Might be worth getting hold of a 'mates' volume license copy of XP and making a small 2 or 3GB partition?

Other than that, it was a case of fiddling with the USB serial port emulator driver's com port assignment until it found a port it liked. Not an expert on UniDiag by any stretch of the imagination so that probably all the help I'm going to be :thumbs:

 

[burlistic]

Kool.. might try and find a copy of xp or just buy AlfaDiag - which everyone seems to rate.

No doubt I'll save money in the long run after splashing out the 50.

 

[Klaudiusz]

It seems that you have a problem with COM configuration. So, try the settings as shown here: http://home.wanadoo.nl/sanderqv/diag/FTDI_COMsettings.jpg

Or download FiatECUScan and forget about Unidiag.

 

[burlistic]

SUCESS - well kind of

SUCESS - well kind of.

Finally managed to get connected to the Airbag ECU using FiatECUScan and Windows 7. Klaudiusz you were right!

I have been trying all manor of things, including installing a virtual image of XP and virtual USB COM drivers!! Which also worked with FiatECUScan, but wasnt required. Have now given up on KWP71

Here is the XP Virtual COM port drivers if anyone needs them (you will need to assign it to COM1 before to use with FiatECUScan) Virtual COM Port Drivers

Using my paper clip between 7 - 3 pins I used Ctrl + F10 to connect via FiatECUScan. Surprisingly the free version is able to clear the codes.

Unfortunatly clearing the codes alone did not help. Seems I have got an outstanding issue with an open drivers side circuit.

It was getting dark, but I quickly disconneted the yellow connector under the drivers seat. All seems okay to me. A previous service note mentioned this needed to be cleaned and the codes reset. Any ideas what to clean with? WD40? I couldnt see any corrosion.

I will have another look next weekend, then I will take it to a specalist. Circuitry is not really my area.

 

[burlistic]

Found a great thread on this issue.. Amazing info in this forum. Thanks all.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-spider/45021-gtv-airbag-warning-light-4.html

Will try and disconnect the battery for 15 mins next weekend. Not sure if it will help, or if this is meant to just stop the bag going off in the my face.

 

[alfapash]

I had the same fault as you burlistic, would not clear to start, so disconnected the cable from the laptop, wiggled the wires on both connection blocks under both seats, tried again (fiatecuscan) and success, light off and code clear. This is the third time the light has come on, but the two previous times the faults was pre-tensioners. Unfortuantly it is a common problem, it clearly is a bad design fault. One thread suggested dis-connecting the battery and un-doing the connections, opening up the the ends of the male connector gently and re-connecting, no problem reported after that.

 

[LAVERDA1]

Hi there and welcome! Sorry if I've missed anything in the posts Burlistic, just thought I would mention that one of the reasons the airbag light comes on in the first place, save for a failure is the connector under the drivers seat....if you solder this and put it out of harms way from underseat mechanicals it should save alot of warning light incidents!

 

[colin2296fs]

when i first got my alfadiag working to clear my airbag light it was the same driver airbag problem that i could not solve, untill someone told me alfadiag thinks your car is left hand drive so the drivers side is actually the passenger side, a quick unplug and reconnect later and bingo, no more air bag light.
also when you get it sorted don't fold the seat forward with the ignition on or the light just comes back on.

 

[raffaella]

Hi everybody!

I'm gettin' crazy to connect our Spider 3.0 V6 P2 with one of those software, to eventually reset the airbag light and discover other faults.

See here in case you can help me: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-spider/406569-help-needed-find-obd-port-inside-spider-3-0-v6.html#post5674561

Thanks