jenskleis

This morning, I removed my accelerometers and cleaned them using compressed air (normally used to clean computers).

I never had any problem neither with the PDAS nor the ABS, but cleaned them purely as a precaution.

Now, after driving exactly 5 minutes, the PDAS and ABS warning lights come on, along with the warning buzzer. They go away if I re-start the engine, but come back again after exactly 5 minutes driving.

While they are on, the differential lock will not engage. But, when they are off it works perfectly. The ABS system works fine.

Did I kill my one or both of my accalarometers?

garrett376

Sounds like you blew it with the compressed air and made it stick by either damaging the pendulum arm itself, or blowing some foreign object into it and now it's stuck!

I'd bet it is your longitudinal sensor that is now stuck.

garrett376

...not to be a pest, but that reinforces my motto of not fixing it until it's broken!

HSB

Iwould inspect both units and make sure the pendulums are undamaged and also make sure that the correct unit is in the correct position. Lastly, make sure you have a good connection to each unit. I used brake cleaner and Q-tips when I serviced mine. Good Luck. HSB

jenskleis

Guys,

Many thanks for the ideas. I know that they are in the right place because I marked them to avoid any confusion. Tonight, I'll take them out for inspection.

Garrett, I agree completely. Preventive Maintenance can sometimes have the opposite effect...

I'll keep you posted.

jenskleis

Latest development:

Tonight I took out the longditudial accelerometer and cleaned it carefully again. It now seems that the PDAS and ABS warning lights come on even earlier then before. I suppose the longditudial meter is dead... I'll see if I can get a garage to connect a hammer to my car.

darth

Hi All

Where are the accelerometers located? I'm assuming these are the sensors which make the seatbelts lock when I brake or corner harder than normal?

Bill
90C2

garrett376

No, the seatbelt has its own pendulum to lock the roller - neat idea, though! The accelerometers are in the tunnel below the switches for the rear spoiler and PDAS - they're accessed through the panel on the passenger side where there's a small 3x5 panel - do a search, I am sure someone has posted a pic before!

jenskleis

This morning, I got the price of a new accelerometer... I'm stunned!

1130 Swiss Francs!!! ($890).

Let this be a lesson. As Garrett rightly pointed out: If it isn't broken, don't fix it!

I think a second hand part is called for. Where can I buy used parts???

garrett376

http://www.partsheaven.com/

Try these guys - they may ship out to you...

I am sorry to hear how expensive that is! Wow!!!!

jenskleis

Latest news,

I passed by my local Porsche dealer last week and had them hook a Hammer to my car. The longitudinal accelerometer is dead (as I feared).

A new unit was been installed yesterday and everything works fine. I will get the bill later, pay it and curse myself for getting myself into this pickle. Including installation, I guess this adventure will run me about $1000... A costly lesson about fixing things that are not broken.

DaveK

I sympathise - I think you've been really unlucky. It's not like there was anything wrong with the way you cleaned it out - that's how people do it when they do have problems with them.

I hope the dealer doesn't charge you too much for installation. It's not like it's a terribly long job!