What is a Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged airbag control unit?
The Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Airbag Control Unit is an aftermarket safety unit that controls the airbag systems in modernized classic cars like the Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged. It monitors sensors and deploys the safety restraint systems in the event of an accident to ensure occupant safety.
Since the historic Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged (built between 1927 and 1931) did not have airbags as standard, this is a special solution for restoration projects.
This control unit is central to the activation of front and potential side airbags in a modernized classic car.
Why is the Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged airbag control unit faulty?
A Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged airbag control unit can fail due to age-related failure of internal electronic components, the unit's ability to store crash data after an impact and thus become blocked, or voltage fluctuations in the vehicle's electrical system can corrupt the software. This causes the airbag warning light to illuminate and the system to no longer function.
Typical defects include internal malfunctions that prevent continuous testing of the system.
A faulty power supply or corrosion on the connections can also impair the functionality of the control unit.
Common error codes for Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged airbag control unit repair
No factory airbag control unit trouble codes exist for the historic Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged, as the model doesn't have airbags. However, when repairing a retrofitted or upgraded Bentley airbag control unit for similar applications, codes such as B1000 or 65535 typically occur, indicating internal problems.
- B1000 → Control unit communication error → Problems in data transmission or internal defect.
- FC1 → Control unit internal error → Electronic malfunction in the module itself.
- 65535 → Control unit defective / sporadic → Generalized hardware or software error, often after an accident.
- 93F5 → Sensor power supply faulty → Insufficient or unstable power supply for connected airbag sensors.
- 93F7 → Sensor power supply faulty → Specific error in the power supply chain of the sensors.
What part numbers are available for the Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged airbag control unit repair?
There is no verified OEM part number for an airbag control unit specifically designed for the original Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged, as it historically did not have airbags. However, for repairs to aftermarket systems or as a reference for modern Bentley airbag control units, numbers such as 3W3 959 655 or 3D0 909 601 E are relevant.
These part numbers are commonly used on modern Bentley models such as the Continental GT or Flying Spur.
They serve as an indication of the technology that could be used in a retrofitted Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged airbag control unit.
| Part number | Manufacturer | type |
|---|---|---|
| 3W3 959 655 | Bentley/VAG | Original |
| 3D0 909 601 E | Bentley/VAG | Original |
| 4M0 959 655 G | Bentley/VAG | Original |