Aston Martin DB11 VH2 airbag control unit repair

What is an Aston Martin DB11 VH2 airbag control unit?

In the Aston Martin DB11 VH2, the airbag control unit is the central control unit of the restraint system (SRS). It evaluates the signals from the crash sensors, decides within milliseconds in an accident which airbags and seatbelt pretensioners fire, and continuously checks itself while driving. It reports faults via the airbag warning light.

This unit is installed in the Aston Martin DB11 VH2 (2016 to 2023). The sensor signals converge there, and only after evaluation in the control unit do the squib circuits receive their command.

If it has stored crash data in an accident, the control unit locks itself. After that the warning light stays on, because the system is no longer ready for operation.

Why is the Aston Martin DB11 VH2 airbag control unit defective?

The airbag warning light is usually the first thing you notice, and the most common cause behind it is crash data from an accident, even if no airbag deployed. Other causes are aged electronic components, cold solder joints, moisture and corrosion on connectors, and voltage spikes.

What you notice as a driver can usually be narrowed down to a few observations: the warning light no longer goes out after starting, a diagnostic tool cannot connect to the control unit, or the fault memory reports the same entry again immediately after it has been cleared. Clearing in particular fails when crash data is stored, because an ordinary diagnostic tool does not remove it.

If the symptoms appear without a previous accident, the other causes come into consideration. Over time, components on the circuit board deteriorate, solder joints lose their contact, and moisture attacks connectors. A weak battery or jump-starting can also produce voltage spikes that damage the electronics.

Common error codes for Aston Martin DB11 VH2 airbag control unit repair

The stored codes relate to internal faults of the control unit, communication with other vehicle modules, the power supply, the squib circuits of the airbags and stored crash data. They narrow down in which area of the restraint system the fault lies.

This selection lists error codes that are known for the Aston Martin DB11 VH2. It is not complete.

• 0131 → Internal component fault during initialisation
• CFFF → Internal fault of the restraint system control unit
• 013B → Several crash events in the crash memory
• 0128 → Failure of a CAN signal of the vehicle configuration
• 0005 → Battery voltage too low
• 0006 → Battery voltage too high
• 0156 → Supply voltage deviates
• 0013 → Driver airbag squib circuit: resistance too high

The codes are read out with a diagnostic tool. However, a single code does not prove a defect in the control unit, because connectors, wiring or an airbag module may equally be behind it. Only testing the unit brings clarity.

What part numbers are available for the Aston Martin DB11 VH2 airbag control unit repair?

The label on the control unit shows the part number, which defines its exact version. Depending on equipment and year of manufacture, the numbers differ even within one model series, and this applies equally to the Aston Martin DB11 VH2.

You can find known part numbers for the Aston Martin DB11 VH2 here, although the list does not cover all variants.

• 97128002
• 97128004
• HY53-14C246-AC
• HY53-14C246-AD

Compare the number on your unit with this list. This only ensures that you are holding the right unit. Whether there is a defect is only clarified by reading out the fault memory or by testing.

Here is what to do: have the fault memory read out, disconnect the battery and remove the control unit. Then create a repair order online and send in the unit. At Airbag24, checking, repairing and testing usually take 3–4 working days. 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.