Lotus Elise airbag control unit repair⁽²⁾

What should I pay attention to with Lotus Elise airbag control units?

The Lotus Elise airbag control unit evaluates the crash sensors, triggers the airbags and belt pretensioners, and monitors the entire airbag system. If it detects a fault, the airbag warning light in the instrument cluster lights up. Airbag24 repairs the control unit you send in.

After an accident, the control unit stores crash data and locks itself. The airbag warning light can then stay on permanently, even if little visible damage can be seen on the vehicle. A fault in the control unit affects the entire restraint system and should therefore not be ignored.

During the repair in our workshop in Berlin, the crash data is erased, and the unit is inspected and tested. Whether a particular fault can be repaired only becomes clear during the inspection. Work on the airbag system belongs in the hands of a specialist workshop, not a do-it-yourself project.

Which Lotus Elise generations are there?

For the Lotus Elise we repair control units of the Series 2 (2001–2011) and the Series 3 (2011–2021). You can tell which series applies from the year of manufacture and the part number on the control unit.

The two series differ in their production period. The production periods are only a guide; whether a control unit matches your vehicle only becomes clear when the part number is compared.

• Series 2 (2001–2011): the older series, with control units bearing part number A121B0060F
• Series 3 (2011–2021): the newer series, with control units bearing part numbers A121B0060F and A138M0195F

Equipment can vary between model years and markets. Therefore, check the part number and year of manufacture together before you send in a control unit.

How do I identify my Lotus Elise airbag control unit?

The part number on the control unit's label determines the exact version. Together with the year of manufacture and the vehicle identification number (VIN), it allows the unit to be assigned reliably. A single fault code alone does not prove a defect.

The label is located on the control unit's housing. Read off the part number and compare it with the year of manufacture of your vehicle. The following part numbers are known for the Lotus Elise, without any claim to completeness:

• A121B0060F
• A138M0195F

Siemens VDO is listed as the supplier for the Series 2. Examples of fault codes from our data are B0001 (driver front airbag stage 1, firing circuit faulty), B0010 (passenger front airbag stage 1, firing circuit faulty) and U0151 (communication with the airbag control unit lost). A code shows which circuit was reported, not whether the control unit is defective.

Which airbag equipment does the Lotus Elise have?

The airbag equipment of the Lotus Elise depends on the year of manufacture, the market and the trim level. According to the available information, driver and passenger airbags are standard equipment in the Series 3, whereas older vehicles did not consistently have airbags.

Equipment in older Elise vehicles was not uniform. There were lightweight versions without airbags and vehicles on which airbags were only available as an option. According to the Lotus service manual, export versions for the US market were fitted with driver and passenger airbags from model year 2005.

Whether your vehicle has airbags can be seen in the vehicle documents or by a visual check of the steering wheel and dashboard. For the repair, what counts is the control unit you send to us.

The route to repair:

• Have the fault memory read out by a specialist workshop
• Have the battery disconnected at the workshop
• Have the control unit removed by a specialist workshop
• Create a repair order online
• Send the device by parcel to Airbag24, well packed

Processing usually takes 3–4 working days (inspection, repair, testing). The repaired control unit comes back with all vehicle data and is ready for use as soon as it is refitted — no coding or programming is necessary.