I wouldn’t even bother with INPA, leave installed on laptop and download ista instead. Get a k-dcan usb lead and use ista instead just have to do some tweaking of files in edibas bin to get it working.
I have ista now that works spot on with e91 and e90 but still cannot get INPA to work.

 

It's quite possible even though your new part did solve the airbag issue - the code still needs to be cleared and won't turn itself off. Did you set your cable settings correctly in device manager and in the ini file? In device manager you need to srt the cable to COM 1 and latency to 1ms.

 

Thanks both for your replies.
My though is that the fault has likely been fixed and the code needs clearing.

I'm currently copying ista to a USB drive to install on the laptop. Last time I tried it didn't really seem to work, I did set cable to com9 and latency to 1ms but it still had issues. I am going to try again and get it working properly.

I may be back begging for help as I wasn't hugely successful last time I tried ista. I've got version 4.36.12 if that makes any difference?

 

You need to make sure it's a version that doesn't need special licencing info from the people who are able to provide it. I'll confirm tomorrow up to what version will work. But until you get INPA working, ISTA will not connect as it uses the same method to communicate (inpa ediabas protocol thingy).

COM 9 or 1? Should be 1.

 

My ISTA version is v4.32.15 so I think it's an earlier version. When I installed it I had to move some files around to get it to work properly and then had to set up the COM port.

This video helped me in getting everything up and running

 

Thanks everyone for your input, I really feel that I may end up fixing this issue at some point!

I really need a proper download of ISTA, I'm guessing this version is also wrong?

Judging by the licenserequest image, this is not going to work for me?

How about this one....

it has a Rheingold directory that looks like this...

I've got two versions downloaded but I'm not averse to getting another one if it'll work!

Thanks again for all your help, it's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment!

 

That's the same version I have. I received it as zipped files and had to unzip everything then followed the instructions in the you tube video.

 

well, I've managed to install ISTA, I realized where my mistakes were before.

However, \i still cant read the codes from the car, I get the following screen when trying to test the car to grab the vin

Nothing appears here at all, Any ideas anybody??

I do get a warning about my processor not being fast enough but I can't imagine that this is whats stopping me now???

 

What laptop spec are you running with?
I'm using a 2.2GHz AMD A8-7410 with 8GB RAM running Win 10 and it runs slowly on that. I think they recommend minimum 2GHz Dual or Quad Core with 4 GB RAM and 500GB.
Did you rename the COM Port and set the latency to 1ms?

And have you set the vehicle interface to ediabas (click the spanner and then vehicle interface tab)?

Is your K-DCAN cable set to the right setting (I'm assuming you can switch settings on your cable)?

 

Assume you have the instructions for setting up a connection, if not have a read of this.
Other than that I can’t offer much help as I am clueless with IT stuff,deepcdiver assisted me when I was having issues setting mine up for e series vehicles.

 

well, problem solved, kinda!
I can now connect my car to ISTA and read fault codes which is awesome. I checked the edibas.ini files with some instructions I read online and then changed the settings in ISTA and bingo!

However, I can't clear the airbag light with it, and it would appear that ISTA will not do this for me. This brings me back to INPA, I have it installed and talking to the car (ignition on indicator) but the menu for car models is blank?

any ideas? It really is quite a ballache

 

You're gonna need a different download of INPA that has the model files all setup for you.

 

If ista connects ok then it should clear the air bag fault, what happens when you try to clear it?

 

I select clear codes and it goes through a process but the airbag light never goes away. I've read further that ISTA cannot reset a triggered airbag module (I don't think mine ever triggered as it just came about 6 months or so ago) and you need to send it away for resetting or use INPA.
ISTA now recommend replacing the airbag module which will need to be coded to the car and ISTA can't do that unless I get ISTA-P

I managed to get the menus to reappear in INPA but it still throws out random german errors if try to do anything??!

I literally watched a 2 min video with a guy resetting the airbag light with inpa, I just want to do that!

Can somebody help me find a version of INPA that I can install please?

Or help me with the process on actually resetting it through ISTA as I can't find any guides for that anywhere which makes me think I won't be able to do it without INPA?

 

Very odd as ista reset airbag fault on my 2010 e91 no problem, it was a self induced fault though as I unplugged some wiring. Are you sure the airbag fault is fixed and it’s not just immediately returning after codes cleared?

 

Post a screenshot of the actual error in ISTA.

Are you sure the airbag fault is fixed and it’s not just immediately returning after codes cleared?

This is also my first thought since you're saying you can't clear the error.

 

Ah, in order for that clear all errors procedure to run, you need to setup Node Ediabas voltage control: http://blog.obdii365.com/2019/12/04...ed=2ahUKEwjSs--e2fb7AhVNFcAKHaL4ARkQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0SZjOik3CgQ9Sgx73xQguh

This is because on these cheap KDCan cables, ISTA won't recognise the voltage change when you switch ignition off. You have to set that little program up, run it, then when ISTA asks you to switch ignition off and remove key, do that, then untick the Ignition box on the voltage control app. When ISTA asks you to put key in and ignition back on, do that, then re-tick the ignition voltage checkbox in the app.

 

Alternatively, go to control tree, click on the module with the errors, click call up functions, click the trigger tab and there should be a clear fault code option there. Run that. As that one doesn't require ignition cycling. You can then back out of that, click start vehicle test again and see if the error is gone.

 

Thank you so much for the help, unfortunately the link you posted doesn't work but I tried the other way and the error still persists, screenshot below.

There's a couple of other issues there but nothing else would stop me from getting to MOT!

The code refers to the o/s curtain airbag right?
I have replaced this bag with a used bag from ebay. I don't think airbags go bad on their own that often, so hopefully this bag is good. I have since measured the resistance of the old bag and it was 2.2 Ohm, so Im not sure if the bag was ever faulty?!

ISTA then suggests to replace the MRS module (this would need to be coded to the car to work right?) would you suggest that may be the route to go down?
I can seemingly get the module easily enough, can anybody here likely help me with coding?

 

I do as it says then click the cancel button, ista then goes through the motions and clears code

 

That's what I do too - seems to work fine

 

Have you checked the wiring for the airbag?

 

I haven't, it all seems to be in good condition and in a pretty hard to disturb location, I didn't really expect to find any issues that end. I changed my attentions towards the wiring under the driver's seat as thats a common place for failures. Should I go back to the wiring in the headlining and check it close?
I'm hoping the battery hasn't had it right now, too much ISTA time has flattened it, it's been on charge all night now!

 

I'm not talking about the airbag itself. The control unit. Looks like this:

Pardon our interruption...

It's at the rear of the centre armrest console. I think you need to remove the console to access it but I think the grounding point is at the rear so you might be able to gain access from there.

I follow the instruction to shut the car down and remove the key. Then I press cancel. First time i did it i waited about 5 minutes and nothing changed on ISTA but when I cancelled and restarted the engine all codes were cleared. So I just do it now. The key issue you have from what I can see of your screenshots is that the fault code is still there (existent column = yes).

With ISTA you can get a full list of processes to follow to isolate the fault by drilling down or adding things to a test plan and running through then. It should give you pictures and wiring diagrams to trace faults. I'm still finding my way around it but it's a great tool when you get it running and understand it.

 

Thanks! Ah the airbag module, I can certainly have a look at that tomorrow. I've had the whole interior apart in the last few days replacing the seats so another trip into the trim wouldn't hurt!
If this is good and the issue is still existent, is replacing the module and coding it to the car the next likely step?

 

I think you want to check grounding issues first. It might not need a module replacement. I've also heard some nightmare stories related to Airbag module replacements and people saying you can only reset 3 times before having to replace modules - i don't know if that's true or not.

Anyway.... Seated in the back looking forward I think there should be a ground wire secured to the left mounting bolt. It clips top and bottom (like a U on it's side). Buzz it out first to check it to the ground points on the car and also to the curtain bag. Then as a double check. Remove the bolt so you can check to make sure there's a proper uninterrupted ground (ie metal to metal....no rubber or painted metal in the way.

 

So I've lifted the centre console today, didn't have too long as my daughter was only doing a half day in preschool!
I've used a multimeter to check if the module itself is grounded, the case seems to be perfectly grounded so I'm assuming that has ruled out an earth fault at the module end?

ISTA does say to measure the resistance at the head airbag terminals at the module, I didn't do this as I'd need a full day to get the console right out and get right at the module, then its just a case of finding the wires and measuring the resistance? If within spec module is likely bad, if not, wiring is likely bad right?

Does anybody know how to code an airbag module as ISTA confirms it needs coding when replaced?

 

I checked the service instructions for replacing an airbag after a crash and this is the procedure

 

Thank you, I'll definitely give this a try, then if that doesn't work, time to rip the centre console out and start looking at wires and the module itself! I'll try this first as I'm working the next 2 days and won't be able to go further until Sunday

There was definitely no deployment of airbag, just a random coming on of a light, its got to be able to be reset right?

 

Well,

I'm back after a short delay, I've managed to remove the airbag module and get to the wiring. All earths look good, I have in fact refitted the airbag to ensure the bracket is making firm contact with the firing module as this is apparently a possible issue?

ISTA asks for a resistance value of between 2.6 and 5.2 I think, which after replacing my crap multimeter, I indeed have.

This then points to the module (old airbag has resistance of 2.6 to 3.1 which adds to the suspicion of the module) being duff.

So, I need to replace the module and reprogram the new module to my VIN and options right??

I'm looking at a module that's very nearly all the same number as my own, in the (vain) hope that it might be plug and play, however failing this, is NCSexpert the software to use to reprogram the module?

Thanks