928 at last

Hi all,

Got the console open, and trying to resolve what I believe is a connector problem with the "high resistance" "right front" error code. Looking in there, there's a bright orange box and a wiring harness that's got an orange tag attched. Are these the harness and control unit for the air bags????????

Checked the manual, and "Test Point #7" dosen't give a lot of detail on this.....

Mrmerlin

orange box is airbag module
IIRC there should also be a box behind the glove box insert, possibly the airbag

928 at last

Thanks!
That helps identify what I'm supposed to be looking at.
I'm assuming the connectors to check with the ohmmeter are the ones with the orange tag?

Mrmerlin

yes be careful and disconnect the battery follow all of the precautions in the WSM so you dont eat an airbag

928 at last

Thanks Mrmerlin!
Appreciate the help!
and Yes, I've seen what those things can do when deployed.......a friend looked like she's gone a couple of rounds with a pro boxer after a (necessary) deployment.
I'll handle with extreme caution.

928 at last

OK.
I've been under the console for a while now........only one connector, The one with the orange tag attached (passenger side) has identifieable color coding from the WSM 1990 wiring diagram. And, this isn't the connector that I'm apparently looking for. It relates to other stuff. The one I need to find is the (3 0.5 RE/BL / 1 0.5 YE/ 2 0.5 WT/RE) through WH 84. None of the connectors I've dug out have this color combination or anything close. Does anyone know what the wiring color coding might be for the passenger side crash sensor? I'm lost here.

Ed Scherer

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. Now that I know that you're trying to fix the oft-reported crash sensor resistance problem, just review the threads I mentioned in your more recent Help! 1990 Wiring Diagram - Right front crash sensor thread.

You'll just need to unplug the connector near the crash sensor with the problem (after disconnecting your battery ground strap for at least 15 minutes!), apply DeoxIT or some other similar deoxidizer/cleaner to the contacts in the connector, and button it back up.

Getting to the passenger side crash sensor and connector requires removal of the LH and EZK units and getting the "control unit holding plate" out of the way. Andrew Olson posted some pages out of the WSM that cover this procedure in the thread "Airbag sensor (pass. side)...where is it?" (post #2 in that thread).

JPTL

FWIW, I used Radio Shack contact cleaner. Not that I'm recommending that over DeoxIT, just my experience. I also gave the chassis mount a shot as well (later I was told that the sensor carries its own ground and doesn't get it's ground from the chassis...but a shot of contact cleaner didn't hurt).
1 1/2 years later, and no airbag faults.

928 at last

Thanks for all the help guys!
Found the sensor, checked the connector, discovered the multimeter I borrowed was crap. However, gathering by the threads you were nice enough to direct me to, the readings are probably fine. Cleaned the connections as best I could and put it all back together. Nice part was I didn't have to unbolt the LZ and EZK units to get the connector of it's mount. Still showing the warning lights on the dash....I'll update the post when I get it all reset. Just in case, where can I find DeoxIT??.

Ed Scherer

Yeah, you'll need to use a Bosch Hammer or JDSPorsche Spanner to reset the fault.

Regarding DeoxIT, the first time I got some, I got it at a computer shop (Micro Center) locally.

A much bigger selection of related Caig products is available via Caig's on-line shopping site.

Last time, I got the 100%, undiluted solution D100L-25C; it lives on my workbench now and tends to be used pretty often.



You can get it at Amazon.com, too (search for "DeoxIT D100L" if you want the good undiluted stuff). (direct link)

Ed Scherer

BTW, I use DeoxIT on a lot of outdoor electrical contacts, especially in the cars. Replacing a bulb in your car somewhere? Apply a little DeoxIT to the contacts. Have trouble with the pin switches on your car doors that control the interior lights (I just did this one on the 928 a few months ago)? Apply a little DeoxIT to the contacts.

Etc.

Ed Scherer

Just decided to come back and update this thread, because I just realized that one of my old photos actually does show the right-side (passenger-side here in the U.S.) crash sensor (arrow on the left side of the photo) and connector (arrow on the right side of the photo).

(Click the photo for a larger version)

928 at last

Success!!!
Thanks again for all the help!
Just to make sure (and to avoid any "I Told You So"s), I tracked down the local distributor of Deoxit and picked up both the Deoxit and Deoxit Gold. Opened it back up, followed the instructions, wash/rinse/repeat and then finish with the Gold to seal and preserve.
Had my friendly local wrench reset the error code and check the diagnostics this morning and there are no issues with the system. It's weird that these connectors can look new and still trip the warning. Mine had no visual evidence of any oxidation or contamination.
Even better, I got the Christmas Tree off of my dash! (Recently re&re'd the PSD system too)!

Ed Scherer

Glad to hear that it worked out for you.

And thanks for posting your results. Always good to know how things turned out. We also have yet another data point for what's most likely to cause this problem.

JPTL

Congrats! It's a nice feeling to not see Times Square on your dash and have the peace of mind that your bags will deploy if you ever need them (God forbid).
I had exactly the same feeling: those contacts looked like new. No sign of even the tiniest bit of corrosion, oxidization, etc. I figured no way will a cleaning cure the problem, but it did.