Stupid Airbag light
10-30-2002, 09:36 AM
#1
Racer
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Stupid Airbag light
Ok my airbag light came on.
I remember reading somewhere how you can reset it. Does anyone know where? you help is apreciated
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
I remember reading somewhere how you can reset it. Does anyone know where? you help is apreciated
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
10-30-2002, 10:33 AM
#2
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Samething happen to me... There is a service bulletin that goes over the procedure... let me look for it and I will post the information here.
In my case I am tired of this... I will go ahead and disable the frigging light...
In my case I am tired of this... I will go ahead and disable the frigging light...
10-30-2002, 10:40 AM
#3
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Here you go... the special locally made tool they mention here is nothing more than a switch with two wires, one for ground and the other for the pin in question.
Fault Repairs and Fault Erasing Information
3. Fault Repairs
Attention: Before beginning repairs on faults found in the airbag system, first disconnect the battery negative post and insulate, then wait for 20 minutes.
A. Correct the fault by either correcting faulty connections or replacing defective parts.
B. Reconnect battery.
4. Erasing Fault Memory
A. Switch off ignition.
B. Connect locally made tool between pin 2 of airbag control unit test plug and chassis ground.
C. Press micro-switch to apply chassis ground to pin 2 of airbag control unit test plug.
D. Switch on ignition. Keep micro-switch pressed (giving ground) for 5 seconds.
E. Release micro-switch for 5 seconds: (no ground)
F. Apply micro-switch again for 5 seconds (giving ground) and then release.
G. Switch off ignition.
Note: It is extremely important to be precise to the second. The clock on the vehicle dash panel works well for this purpose.
5. Checking Fault Erasing
A. Switch on ignition:Airbag light should go out after approximately 5 seconds and stay out. If not, repeat diagnostic procedure starting at 1.
Note: If the airbag light comes on again immediately after the 5 second lamp test, the fault has not been erased. In this case, repeat erasing procedure in Step 4.
A time of approximately 10 seconds is needed for the airbag control unit to acknowledge a fault from the time the fault occurs. Because of this, watch the airbag light for approximately 30 seconds to be certain no other faults have occurred.
Fault Repairs and Fault Erasing Information
3. Fault Repairs
Attention: Before beginning repairs on faults found in the airbag system, first disconnect the battery negative post and insulate, then wait for 20 minutes.
A. Correct the fault by either correcting faulty connections or replacing defective parts.
B. Reconnect battery.
4. Erasing Fault Memory
A. Switch off ignition.
B. Connect locally made tool between pin 2 of airbag control unit test plug and chassis ground.
C. Press micro-switch to apply chassis ground to pin 2 of airbag control unit test plug.
D. Switch on ignition. Keep micro-switch pressed (giving ground) for 5 seconds.
E. Release micro-switch for 5 seconds: (no ground)
F. Apply micro-switch again for 5 seconds (giving ground) and then release.
G. Switch off ignition.
Note: It is extremely important to be precise to the second. The clock on the vehicle dash panel works well for this purpose.
5. Checking Fault Erasing
A. Switch on ignition:Airbag light should go out after approximately 5 seconds and stay out. If not, repeat diagnostic procedure starting at 1.
Note: If the airbag light comes on again immediately after the 5 second lamp test, the fault has not been erased. In this case, repeat erasing procedure in Step 4.
A time of approximately 10 seconds is needed for the airbag control unit to acknowledge a fault from the time the fault occurs. Because of this, watch the airbag light for approximately 30 seconds to be certain no other faults have occurred.
10-30-2002, 11:34 AM
#4
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I just did mine and got the wife to sit in the drivers seat to do ignition and stopwatch. You do HAVE to be precise, it took us three times. I just used a 14 guage wire, stuck into pin 2. I used the bolt in the front of the passenger seat rail as my ground.
I had the ground wire/pin #2 on, she turned on ignition and called out 5 second intervals.
<a href="http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq12.html" target="_blank">http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq12.html</a>
13.7 How do I reset the air bag indicator in my dashboard?
The following applies to 1988-forward 944-series cars equipped with air bags. It does not apply to the 968. The 968 air bag light can only be reset using the Bosch "Hammer" diagnostic tool.
On the passenger side foot well, at the top under the dash, is a white "Molex" connector that goes nowhere. It has three pins in it, and the center one is the test pin. If you look at the end it will look like the following figure, with three holes in it. Inside each hole is a metal contact:
Pin # 2 is where you must connect a wire. A second person work well or you can have a switch wired to a ground connection. You will do a series of connections and disconnection to the two ends of the wires to perform the Air Bag reset procedure, so go ahead and take a seat in the drivers seat and have your keys ready. Oh, you will need a watch with a second hand to count time. Remember that this is a German car so be punctual about your timing.
Procedure:
Engine off - key in off position.
Connect both wires - grounding the test pin.
Ignition switch on (run position) do not start car.
After 5 seconds disconnect wires.
Wait 5 more seconds,
Reconnect wires, grounding test pin again.
After 5 seconds disconnect wires again.
Wait another 5 seconds!
Turn off ignition.
Remove the test wire and try starting the car. If all went well you should see that air bag warning lamp extinguish in about 10 seconds (the longest 10 seconds in you life!). If that fails, try again. If it fails after the third attempt you will need to use a different procedure to "READ" the fault code to find out why the unit is faulted. That procedure is similar, but the fault codes are encoded and you will have to get them from the air bag service manual (WKD.493.621).
I had the ground wire/pin #2 on, she turned on ignition and called out 5 second intervals.
<a href="http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq12.html" target="_blank">http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq12.html</a>
13.7 How do I reset the air bag indicator in my dashboard?
The following applies to 1988-forward 944-series cars equipped with air bags. It does not apply to the 968. The 968 air bag light can only be reset using the Bosch "Hammer" diagnostic tool.
On the passenger side foot well, at the top under the dash, is a white "Molex" connector that goes nowhere. It has three pins in it, and the center one is the test pin. If you look at the end it will look like the following figure, with three holes in it. Inside each hole is a metal contact:
Pin # 2 is where you must connect a wire. A second person work well or you can have a switch wired to a ground connection. You will do a series of connections and disconnection to the two ends of the wires to perform the Air Bag reset procedure, so go ahead and take a seat in the drivers seat and have your keys ready. Oh, you will need a watch with a second hand to count time. Remember that this is a German car so be punctual about your timing.
Procedure:
Engine off - key in off position.
Connect both wires - grounding the test pin.
Ignition switch on (run position) do not start car.
After 5 seconds disconnect wires.
Wait 5 more seconds,
Reconnect wires, grounding test pin again.
After 5 seconds disconnect wires again.
Wait another 5 seconds!
Turn off ignition.
Remove the test wire and try starting the car. If all went well you should see that air bag warning lamp extinguish in about 10 seconds (the longest 10 seconds in you life!). If that fails, try again. If it fails after the third attempt you will need to use a different procedure to "READ" the fault code to find out why the unit is faulted. That procedure is similar, but the fault codes are encoded and you will have to get them from the air bag service manual (WKD.493.621).
10-30-2002, 05:08 PM
#5
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Or, take out the airbags completely. Check out Tom Pultz's site, <a href="http://www.944s2.com" target="_blank">www.944s2.com</a> for the complete procedure.
I'm glad I did...I don't trust 13-year-old airbags!!
I'm glad I did...I don't trust 13-year-old airbags!!
11-09-2002, 08:41 PM
#6
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Ok I tried it a bunch of times and it didn't work.
I grounded the middle wire(#2?) of the 3 wire connector.
I turned the key to the second click where all the dash lights come on.(ignition right?)
waited five seconds unground wire
five seconds ground wire again
five more seconds ignition off and unground wire. Then start car and hope for the best.
Light comes back on <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
Am I doing it right? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
I grounded the middle wire(#2?) of the 3 wire connector.
I turned the key to the second click where all the dash lights come on.(ignition right?)
waited five seconds unground wire
five seconds ground wire again
five more seconds ignition off and unground wire. Then start car and hope for the best.
Light comes back on <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
Am I doing it right? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
11-09-2002, 09:32 PM
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I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to piggy-back on this topic.
I had to replace my dash lights, thus removing the airbag. I got the excclamation point, reset it, and it was gone for 4-5 days. Then came back.
I was recently in the dash again and noticed I had some lights missing from the back of the instrument cluster. When I shine a flash light in one of the holes, I can see the words "air bag" on the front of the cluster.
My question, when people say air bag warning light, do they mean the exclamation mark or the "air bag" words on the cluster?
I'm guessing the "air bag" should light up when the car is first fired up to show the system is being "checked" and then it goes out. The exclamation mark is similar to a check engine (or air bag) light, correct?
-Matt
-Matt
I had to replace my dash lights, thus removing the airbag. I got the excclamation point, reset it, and it was gone for 4-5 days. Then came back.
I was recently in the dash again and noticed I had some lights missing from the back of the instrument cluster. When I shine a flash light in one of the holes, I can see the words "air bag" on the front of the cluster.
My question, when people say air bag warning light, do they mean the exclamation mark or the "air bag" words on the cluster?
I'm guessing the "air bag" should light up when the car is first fired up to show the system is being "checked" and then it goes out. The exclamation mark is similar to a check engine (or air bag) light, correct?
-Matt
-Matt
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11-09-2002, 10:19 PM
#9
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Florida951,,you missed one, it is a 20 second procedure.
Ignition switch on, with test pin grounded (run position) do not start car.
After 5 seconds disconnect wires.
Wait 5 more seconds, reconnect wires to ground
After 5 seconds disconnect wires again.
Another 5 seconds; turn ignition off.
Try it a few more times, it took us three times to get it right.
Ignition switch on, with test pin grounded (run position) do not start car.
After 5 seconds disconnect wires.
Wait 5 more seconds, reconnect wires to ground
After 5 seconds disconnect wires again.
Another 5 seconds; turn ignition off.
Try it a few more times, it took us three times to get it right.
11-11-2002, 09:13 PM
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[quote]Originally posted by Florida951:
<strong>I believe when the airbag light comes on, The exclamation and the seatbelt light also comes on.</strong><hr></blockquote>
So is the exclamation sign just for the airbag or is it a generic check-engine light?
I tripped the light while replacing bulbs in the cluster. Reset it and it stays off for about 2 days then comes back up. The previous owner removed the "air bag" light, so I don't even know if that is lit.
I'm one more dash removal away from just removing the exclamation point light, but I want to verify it is only used for the airbag warning.
Anyone know?
In addition, I'm fighting with a left dimming instrument cluster light as well. I've replaced the relective material and it was fine for months, now it starts to dim after 4-5 days. If I remove the instrument cluster and reinstall it, its fine for another 4 or 5 days. I'm thinking loose connection or bad ground maybe...
sigh...
-Matt
<strong>I believe when the airbag light comes on, The exclamation and the seatbelt light also comes on.</strong><hr></blockquote>
So is the exclamation sign just for the airbag or is it a generic check-engine light?
I tripped the light while replacing bulbs in the cluster. Reset it and it stays off for about 2 days then comes back up. The previous owner removed the "air bag" light, so I don't even know if that is lit.
I'm one more dash removal away from just removing the exclamation point light, but I want to verify it is only used for the airbag warning.
Anyone know?
In addition, I'm fighting with a left dimming instrument cluster light as well. I've replaced the relective material and it was fine for months, now it starts to dim after 4-5 days. If I remove the instrument cluster and reinstall it, its fine for another 4 or 5 days. I'm thinking loose connection or bad ground maybe...
sigh...
-Matt
11-11-2002, 11:04 PM
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No its used for everything. Comes on to warn you whenever another important light comes on. From handbrake on, to oil pressure low. It not a check engine light. Just a main warning light.
11-12-2002, 01:34 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by Florida951:
<strong>No its used for everything. Comes on to warn you whenever another important light comes on. From handbrake on, to oil pressure low. It not a check engine light. Just a main warning light.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Gotcha... thanks...
-Matt
<strong>No its used for everything. Comes on to warn you whenever another important light comes on. From handbrake on, to oil pressure low. It not a check engine light. Just a main warning light.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Gotcha... thanks...
-Matt
11-12-2002, 08:57 AM
#14
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NO 
I don't think im getting a good ground. how can I make sure im doing it right.
ground wire key on
5sec
ground off
5sec
ground on
5sec
ground off
5sec
key off
Im really close to cuting my airbag wires
I don't think im getting a good ground. how can I make sure im doing it right.ground wire key on
5sec
ground off
5sec
ground on
5sec
ground off
5sec
key off
Im really close to cuting my airbag wires
11-12-2002, 09:50 AM
#15
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If you can't get it to stay reset, it may be because there's an actual fault in the system. The airbag controller checks a number of things on start-up (while the light is on), then extinguishes it when everything checks as OK.
Also, even something as minor as low voltage at start will cause the light to stay on. If you've had the car parked for a while while working on this, and just been starting the engine to check the light, you might want to charge the battery.
If all elese fails, the dealer can plug in the scan tool & read the fault codes, and reset the light if there's nothing wrong. The local dealer reset mine for free, to my surprise.
Jim, more fine German engineering!!! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
Also, even something as minor as low voltage at start will cause the light to stay on. If you've had the car parked for a while while working on this, and just been starting the engine to check the light, you might want to charge the battery.
If all elese fails, the dealer can plug in the scan tool & read the fault codes, and reset the light if there's nothing wrong. The local dealer reset mine for free, to my surprise.
Jim, more fine German engineering!!! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
