What is an Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit?
The Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit is the central safety unit in the vehicle, activating all occupant restraint systems in the event of an accident. It continuously monitors crash sensors, stores relevant event and crash data, and ensures the immediate deployment of airbags and seatbelt pretensioners to maximize occupant safety.
This electronic module is crucial for the passive safety of the Alfa Romeo 146 (Type 930) built between 1994 and 2001.
It acts as the brain of the airbag system, processing incoming signals and reacting precisely in an emergency.
Why is the Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit defective?
An Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit is often defective because it permanently stores crash data after an accident, requiring a reset, or internal hardware errors occur that cause failure. This can also lead to communication problems with other vehicle systems, causing the airbag warning light to remain permanently illuminated.
A typical reason for a defect is an accident, as the control unit writes crash data and is thus locked.
Internal electronic errors or an aging process of the components can also lead to the failure of the module, which makes a repair of the Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit necessary.
These problems are often indicated by an illuminated airbag warning light on the dashboard.
Common error codes for Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit repair
When diagnosing a faulty Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit, two specific error codes primarily occur: B1000, which indicates communication problems, and the blink code "1," which signals an internal hardware defect. These codes typically require a special airbag control unit repair or a module reset.
- B1000 → Control unit communication error → Problems in data transmission between airbag ECU and other modules, often due to internal damage.
- 1 (blink code) → Control unit defective (internal error) → Indication of hardware damage to the control unit itself that requires repair.
Other general errors such as sensor problems cannot be directly attributed to the control unit and are therefore excluded from this type of troubleshooting.
The precise diagnosis of these errors requires specialized OBD diagnostic devices for airbag systems in the workshop.
What part numbers are available for the Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit repair?
Three precisely verified OEM part numbers are relevant for the Alfa Romeo 146 930 airbag control unit repair: 46538798 / P1261645 (TRW), 60631206 (TRW), and 46842421 (Siemens). These original control units are specifically designed for the Alfa Romeo 146 930 series and ensure the correct functioning of the safety systems.
Part number 46538798 / P1261645 was manufactured by TRW and is a widely used original airbag control unit for the Alfa Romeo 146 (Type 930).
Part number 60631206 , which is listed in professional spare parts catalogs for this model, also comes from TRW.
The part number 46842421 comes from Siemens and was also used in the closely related Alfa Romeo 145 (930) series, which confirms its compatibility with the 146.
Repairing these specific modules is a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new ones, especially if the failure is due to an accident.