Lotus Exige airbag control unit repair⁽²⁾

What should be noted about Lotus Exige airbag control units?

The airbag control unit of the Lotus Exige evaluates the crash sensors, triggers the airbags and belt tensioners, and reports faults via the airbag warning light. After an accident, it stores crash data and locks itself. If the warning light stays on permanently, the system should be checked by a specialist workshop.

A defective control unit can impair the function of the entire airbag system. Which modules and sensors are connected depends on the specific version of the vehicle. The airbag is safety-relevant, so any work on the airbag system belongs in the hands of a specialist workshop.

Airbag24 repairs the control unit that is sent in, in its own workshop in Berlin. The check shows which repair is possible for the individual unit. The crash data is erased in the process, and faults found are rectified as far as technically possible.

Which Lotus Exige generations are there?

The Lotus Exige was built in two series: the Series 2 from 2004 to 2011 and the Series 3 from 2012 to 2021. Which series a vehicle belongs to determines which control unit variant is relevant.

The Series 2 is the older series of the Exige and was built from 2004 to 2011. The Series 3 is the younger series, with production ending in 2021.

• Series 2 (2004–2011): older series of the Exige
• Series 3 (2012–2021): younger series and final production phase of the Exige

The series of a vehicle can be narrowed down by its year of manufacture and chassis number. If in doubt, the chassis number clearly establishes the series.

How do I identify my Lotus Exige airbag control unit?

The part number on the label of the control unit determines the exact version. Together with the year of manufacture and equipment of the vehicle, it narrows down the suitable unit.

The part number is the most important reference point, and it appears on the label of the control unit. For the Series 2, Siemens VDO is listed as supplier. Known part numbers for the Exige, without claim to completeness:

• A121B0060F
• A138M0195F

Fault codes provide a first indication of the source of the fault. Examples are B0001 (driver front airbag stage 1, firing circuit faulty), B0010 (front passenger airbag stage 1, firing circuit faulty) and U0151 (communication with the airbag control unit lost). A single code, however, does not prove a defect in the control unit and must be checked in the workshop.

What airbag equipment does the Lotus Exige have?

The airbag equipment of the Lotus Exige was not the same in every vehicle. Airbags were not always standard on older Lotus cars, and lightweight and race variants sometimes went without an airbag in the steering wheel.

On the Exige, driver and front passenger airbags were available in some early versions only at extra cost. Vehicles for individual export markets were also equipped differently. Lightweight versions of the Series 3, such as the Cup variant, had no airbag in the steering wheel. The chassis number, the equipment list or the owner's manual will clarify the equipment of a specific vehicle.

If the airbag warning light is on or there has been an accident, first have the fault memory read out. The specialist workshop disconnects the battery and removes the control unit. You then create a repair order online and send the control unit to Airbag24 by parcel. Processing usually takes 3 to 4 working days for checking, repairing and 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 required.