Does anyone know the location of the airbag control unit and how to access it. Which screws and flimsy plastic clips do I have to navigate?

Car is 2014 Rapid (non spaceback).

This is on a mk1 Fabia, but you may well find it's in a very similar position.

To understand the picture, you have to know that down in the bottom right corner there's just a sliver of the footrest beside the clutch pedal on a manual transmission, RHD car.

Photo is taken from driver's footwell looking forward at about a 45 degree angle. Black housing immediately above the airbag ECU contains heater matrix.

Spanner is just holding back the carpet and sound insulation beneath it, for access and photo.

You can just see two red-painted dome nuts that hold that side of it to the transmission tunnel; probably a third (and maybe a fourth) on the left/other side.

Ignore the wiring to the front of it, that's added for another purpose, nothing to do with airbags and no connection to them.

Various trim panels may well need to come away before you can see even this much.

What's the problem you're trying to solve?

Edited 17 February17 Feb by Breezy_Pete

Thanks.

Crusie control and auto door locking has stopped working along with an airbag warning light. This is the offending fault code. I need to check if the module is receiving power or not.

Did you remove some trim before taking that picture?

I found a guide online and it looks like I have to remove the centre console. I hate plastic trim...

The module location is highlighted.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1879665/Skoda-Rapid-Nh-2014.html?page=211#manual

35 minutes ago, dan4280 said:

Crusie control and auto door locking has stopped working along with an airbag warning light

I'd be really surprised if there was any problem with power to that module.

I'll have a look at wiring diagrams in a sec.

Neither cruise control nor locking systems have anything to do with that module, as far as I know; although an airbag fault may have impacts on those functions for safety reasons I suppose.

Any work done recently anywhere near any airbags?

Door loom wiring in bellows checked?

Yes, I would say the centre console was already out, and maybe some trim from under steering wheel too, for my pic. Looks like location is identical, as expected.

Only power feed I can spot at a glance is directly from ignition switch, on a pair of black wires, pins 1 and 2 at airbag module, no fuses or relays.

Hard to imagine those having a problem without other more dramatic issues presenting themselves.

Earth connections are shown as one that's mechanical, through one or more of the mounting fasteners, IIRC, and a couple of others according to fitted equipment on brown wires from pins 46 and others.

Pin 15 of the diagnostic (OBDII) connector appears to be marked on the airbag control module wiring page (pin 3 of airbag module connector) as mirroring the ignition supply to the module, so would appear to be an easy way of checking that's getting there. Switch ignition on before hoping to see this!

Edited 20 February20 Feb by Breezy_Pete

On 20/02/2026 at 17:55, Breezy_Pete said:

Only power feed I can spot at a glance is directly from ignition switch, on a pair of black wires, pins 1 and 2 at airbag module, no fuses or relays.

Hard to imagine those having a problem without other more dramatic issues presenting themselves.

Earth connections are shown as one that's mechanical, through one or more of the mounting fasteners, IIRC, and a couple of others according to fitted equipment on brown wires from pins 46 and others.

Pin 15 of the diagnostic (OBDII) connector appears to be marked on the airbag control module wiring page (pin 3 of airbag module connector) as mirroring the ignition supply to the module, so would appear to be an easy way of checking that's getting there. Switch ignition on before hoping to see this!

So I took the centre trim out and got to the control unit. Unplugged the harness and I have a voltage on both the permanent and switched live. Neither of the earth pins seem to have continuity....

If crusie control, airbag and locks share the same earth maybe that explains it?

I need to try and find the earth point, maybe just corrosion? Any idea where the earth points are?

4 minutes ago, dan4280 said:

Neither of the earth pins seem to have continuity

Are you certain that your probe is getting in there properly, they're probably very thin pins that go into the loom socket? May need a thin stiff bit of wire to get in there, or pierce the insulation with a pin and measure to that?

Does your car have a key operated switch for disabling passenger airbag?

Does it have side airbags?

The brown earth to pin 46 joins a splice in the loom, described as "Connection 1 (airbag), in main wiring harness". That could be anywhere.

What pin number and wire colour are you measuring a permanent 12V on? I'm surprised you're finding such a thing.

Edited 22 February22 Feb by Breezy_Pete

On 22/02/2026 at 14:04, Breezy_Pete said:

Does your car have a key operated switch for disabling passenger airbag?

Does it have side airbags?

The brown earth to pin 46 joins a splice in the loom, described as "Connection 1 (airbag), in main wiring harness". That could be anywhere.

What pin number and wire colour are you measuring a permanent 12V on? I'm surprised you're finding such a thing.

Yes it has passenger airbag in on position (in glove box).

Pin 1 permanent live and pin 2 switched live.

Pin 25 and 26 I understand are earth.

I also replaced the battery as it was old and didnt have a great voltage hoping it would solve. It didn't so I am still suspicious of the earth. I used a pin on the lives and get a reading and used same technique to test earth continuity.

I cannot find the earth that is allegedly under carpet near the driver's seat....

Wiring diagram shows both pins 1 and 2 being ignition switched. Pins 36 and 46 should be brown earths on your version with switched passenger airbag. Can't see any connections at all to pins 25, 26.

Edited 27 February27 Feb by Breezy_Pete