Aston Martin DBS VH airbag control unit repair

What is an Aston Martin DBS VH airbag control unit?

In the Aston Martin DBS VH, the airbag control unit is the central control unit of the restraint system (SRS): it evaluates the signals from the crash sensors and, in an accident, decides within milliseconds which airbags and seatbelt pretensioners deploy. Once it has registered an accident, it stores crash data and locks itself.

Because the safety of the occupants depends on this evaluation, the electronics do not wait for an emergency but check the entire system continuously in the background for as long as the vehicle is in operation. If they detect an inconsistency, they draw attention to it via the airbag warning light in the instrument cluster.

The Aston Martin DBS VH (2007 to 2012) uses a control unit made by Continental. The warning light is usually the first and often the only sign you get that something is wrong in the restraint system.

Why is the Aston Martin DBS VH airbag control unit defective?

The most common cause is crash data stored in the control unit after an accident, even if no airbag deployed. Ageing electronic components, cold solder joints, moisture and corrosion on connectors, or voltage spikes can also lead to failure.

An ordinary diagnostic tool cannot remove such stored crash data, so the control unit stays locked even when the vehicle looks perfectly fine again after the accident. Voltage spikes arise, for example, with a weak battery or when jump-starting, and can put additional strain on the sensitive electronics.

Over the years, components on the circuit board also change, solder joints become brittle or cold, and penetrating moisture makes the contacts of the connectors corrode. Typical signs are an airbag warning light that stays on permanently, a fault memory that you cannot clear, or a diagnostic tool that cannot establish a connection at all.

Common error codes for Aston Martin DBS VH airbag control unit repair

The error codes show in which part of the restraint system a fault is present: internal faults of the unit, communication with other control units, the power supply, or stored crash events.

These codes appear in the fault memory of a Aston Martin DBS VH, among others:

• 0132 → Internal component fault, initialisation failed
• 0131 → Internal component fault, initialisation failed
• CFFF → Internal fault of the restraint system control unit
• 013B → Several crash events stored in crash memory
• 0128 → CAN signal from central module lost (timeout)
• 0005 → Battery voltage too low
• 0006 → Battery voltage too high
• 0156 → Supply voltage between modules deviates

The codes are read out with a diagnostic tool. However, a single code does not allow you to conclude with certainty that the control unit itself is defective, because connectors, wiring or an airbag module can just as well be the cause. Only an inspection shows where the fault really lies.

What part numbers are available for the Aston Martin DBS VH airbag control unit repair?

You will find the part number on the label of your unit; it defines its exact version. Depending on equipment and year of manufacture, the numbers also differ within the same model series.

We have compiled known numbers for the Aston Martin DBS VH here, although the list need not be complete:

• CG43-37-11330
• DD33-14C246-AA (Continental)

Compare the number on your control unit with this list. This only confirms that you have the right unit in front of you; whether it is defective only becomes clear from reading out the fault memory or from the inspection.

The route to repair starts with having the fault memory read out. After that, you disconnect the battery, remove the control unit, create a repair order online and send the unit in. At Airbag24, inspecting, repairing and testing is usually done in 3–4 working days, and your own unit is sent back to you.

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.