Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 airbag control unit repair

What is a Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 airbag control unit?

The airbag control unit in the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 continuously monitors the restraint system (SRS) in everyday use: at start-up it runs a self-test and reports faults via the airbag warning light. In an accident it evaluates the signals from the crash sensors and decides within milliseconds which airbags and seatbelt pretensioners deploy. After an accident it stores crash data and locks itself.

The control unit is installed in the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 (2010 to 2011). It continuously monitors the entire system and reports every detected fault via the airbag warning light. If a fault is detected, the system usually switches the airbag function off so that you notice the defect.

In everyday use the control unit goes unnoticed. It only becomes an issue once the warning light comes on or a fault is stored. Airbag24 in Berlin has been repairing airbag control units for a long time using the send-in procedure: you send in your own unit, it is repaired and comes back to you.

Why is the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 airbag control unit defective?

The most common cause is crash data stored after an accident, even if no airbag deployed. Other causes are aged electronic components, cold solder joints, moisture and corrosion at connectors, and voltage spikes, for example from a weak battery or jump-starting.

Stored crash data cannot be deleted with an ordinary diagnostic tool. That is why the control unit stays locked after an accident, even if the airbags did not deploy and the vehicle looks undamaged from the outside.

Typical signs are a permanently lit airbag warning light, a fault memory that cannot be cleared, or a diagnostic tool that cannot connect to the control unit. With electronic causes such as cold solder joints or corrosion, the fault sometimes occurs only intermittently before it becomes permanent.

Common error codes for Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 airbag control unit repair

In the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141, the error codes mainly indicate internal faults of the control unit and problems with the power supply. They are read from the fault memory with a diagnostic tool.

The following list shows the known error codes with their meaning. It is intended as a guide and makes no claim to completeness.

• 01 → Internal fault in the control unit
• 06 → Battery voltage too low

A code alone does not reliably show that the control unit is defective. Connectors, wiring or an airbag module can also be the cause. Only testing the unit clarifies where the fault lies.

What part numbers are available for the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta F141 airbag control unit repair?

The part number is printed on the label of the control unit and determines the exact version. Within a model series there are different numbers depending on equipment and year of manufacture, so please state the number of your unit in the repair order.

Read the part number from the label of your control unit and enter it in the repair order. This ensures that Airbag24 assigns your unit to the correct version. Whether the unit is defective is only shown by reading out the fault memory or by testing it.

Here is how to proceed: have the fault memory read out, disconnect the battery and remove the control unit. Create a repair order online and send in the unit. Processing at Airbag24, with checking, repairing and testing, usually takes 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.