streckfu's

I recently repaired my instrument lights, however, once I had them reistalled, my airbag and master cautions light stays on. I tried to reset the control unit by grounding it but that didn't work. Can anyone tell me how to find out what's wrong?
The mechanic I use says to check the manual about obtaining a code that isolates the fault. I can't seem to find it on the CD I have. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Daniel

IceShark

You are going through the on/off grounding every 5 seconds of the molex plug behind the glove box, right?

What are you grounding to? I ended up running a wire off the battery to be sure there was a good ground that was immediate. Screw up the timing intervals by as little as a full second and it doesn't reset.

Another piece of crazy engineering, thank you Porsche! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

streckfu's

[quote]Originally posted by IceShark:
<strong>You are going through the on/off grounding every 5 seconds of the molex plug behind the glove box, right?

What are you grounding to? I ended up running a wire off the battery to be sure there was a good ground that was immediate. Screw up the timing intervals by as little as a full second and it doesn't reset.

Another piece of crazy engineering, thank you Porsche! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>


I ran it to the battery as well. I couldn't have been off by more than 1/4 second. Still wouldn't reset. Where do I go from here?

Thanks for the reply,
Daniel

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

IceShark

I don't know as the reset procedure always worked for me and I have managed to turn that light on about 5 times over the last 12 years.

There is always the dealer. And there may actually be something wrong with the airbag system. There are at least 2 sensors which could have a wiring problem .... and I don't believe the system was designed to last much over 10 years anyway, at least that is what I was told.

I'd try the reset a couple more times. What procedure are you using and have you ever done this before and had it work? Some of the web page instructions I've seen are written poorly and I could see how a first timer could screw things up.

streckfu's

I used the connector in the passenger under dash area. I used one wire plugged to the connector and another line to the battery ground. I would turn on the ignition switch (not start the car) and ground the wires for 5 sec. Break the connection for 5 secs and then regound for 5 more secs. Turn the switch off then start the car. The airbag and warning lights would flash once then stay on.

Thanx,
Daniel


<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

MadMax

I know this doesn't help you right now but for future incidents...Disconnect your battery BEFORE you disconnect the airbag. If you disconnect your battery and then wait at least 20 minutes (this allows the capacitor in the airbag system to discharge) you will not activate that airbag warning light.

Regards,
Max

streckfu's

If i disconnect the battery now, will that help?
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

IceShark

No, disconnecting battery now will do nothing to help.

I believe you have the sequence wrong from your description. Let me see if I can find my Rennlist writeup, though it might be back on the old Rennlist and I will never be able to find it.

In the meantime my note to myself in the owner's manual was:

o connect center pin of the white molex 3 prong female connector to ground.

o key ignition on

o 5 seconds

o disconnect

o 5 seconds

o reconnect 5 seconds

o disconnect 5 seconds

o ignition key off

Then wait for one of the longer 10 seconds of your life to see if it worked on startup.

streckfu's

I just tried that sequence and still no joy! When I turn the ignition on after these reset procedures, the airbag flashes once immediately then flashes once more about 7 secs later before staying on.


I never removed the steering wheel before but am guilty of turning the ignition switch with the insruments removed to turn the steering wheel. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />


I'm about to get <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

However it's time for a <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> for the help. Any ideas where I can go from here?

Thanks again for all the help.

Daniel

jim968

Probably not the problem here, but I know from experience that the 968's airbag system will light the light when you start it on a low battery (more f*&Kin' great engineering! Thanks, Ferry! <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" /> Dang, wrong finger _again_!).

If the car's been sitting for a while, you may want to slap a charger on the battery for a few hours before trying again. You might be clearing the code, but setting a new one on start-up.

Jim, "Owning a Porsche is a tough sport. Wear a cup!"

IceShark

As I read through my short hand description I can see where you would screw that up, also.

I think the odds are that it is probably a sequence and timing issue. You really need to memorize the steps or you will screw it up.