I have read the archives and am still unclear on the factory airbag deactivation for child seats. Do you have to use the Porsche booster seat or is the deactivation kit available separately and will it work with anything that fits in the front seat? Thanks,

Greg

 

Greg:

Me too. I can shed light on a few things from my own recent experience.

1.) I purchased the Porsche "Confortable" seat with deactivation kit for the 993. I does not work on my '95. The '95 wiring does not have any provision for the deactivation under or around the passenger seat. I was about to go into the wiring diagram and work on "spoofing" the passenger side airbag when I found...

2.) There is several seats that do fit the back quite nicely. (I see that you are in Orinda; I am in Walnut Creek, so the next thing should make sense. pardon me to others) I looked at several local kid store at seats. I found one at "The Right Start" here in Walnut Creek that is an Eddie Bauer that fits well in the back. It was around $100. I also found an Evenflo that I liked better at the Vacaville Outlets that I got for $50. These two seats are forward facing only.

Finally. If you have a '96 or newer car, I am going to list my Porsche child seat for sale as I cannot use it in my '95. Considering how local you are, and if you have a '96 or newer, we might be able to strike a cool deal. I would be more than willing to let you ensure that it fits and hooks up to you Airbag system prior to completing the deal...

Let me know by E-Mail if interested, or with further questions....

Jim Morton
jmorton@morton-engr.com
'95 Carrera C2
'72 911 "S" targa

 

I called the dealer on this one and found out that they only have a kit available for 97-98 993's. I don't know if the 96 year was unavailble, or the parts manager just couldn't find the listing for it.

It was about $400 for the kit.

Jeff

 

Jim or Jeff 993TT
Question 1:
Do you know for certain that your child seat w/airbag deactivation works on a 96?

Jim in reponse to your post 03.03.02 richfitz replied
[quote] I have the factory Airbag disconnect in my 97 993TT. However 97 and 98 were the only years this option was availible.
<hr></blockquote>

I talked with my mechanic and he was talking about computer work /$$$$$$$$$$ I did not resolve / ask enough questions to figure out whether I have anything to plug into.

Question 2.
What does this receptacle look like? Jeff is the kit you mention a modification to the box under the front passenger seat?

Would it be possible just to use the child seat plug to make the computer think there is a seat? I have children ages 6 and 7 who do not need child seats but I am nervous allowing them to ride up front w/ an activated air bag.

Any help would be appreciated

 

I'm in the same boat as Cary. I have an 8 year old who doesn't really need a booster seat. However, I'm following the recommendation that kids under 12 stay away from airbags, so I'd like to be able to turn it off.

I'm just trying to avoid getting a Cayenne by increasing the kid seating capacity from two to three. My kids always need to invite a friend or two along wherever they go.

Greg

 

Isn't there a way to disconnect all the airbags? A fuse???

 

My dream solution is to have a switch activated passenger air bag with the switch located @ blank location second row center console (between sunroof and spoiler).
OR: Is there a way just to remove this bag and store it until my kids are teenagers and not have a big gapping hole. Could turn it into a laptop tray i.e. poormans combination DVD /GPS.
OR: Just pull the plug to the bag. Will some control unit find fault with this? Will I have a dash light constantly burning?
Just got the 911 workshop manual. Vol. 8 SEC. 68 describes the airbag system. Looks like I have some reading /studying to do. To bad Robin hasn't had this dilema because there would already be a DIY page at p-car.

 

Cary,

Let me know what you turn up - I have been looking for a way to deactivate both airbags while at the track.

E. J.

 

E.J.

I will keep you / board posted. Previous threads have indicated a potential difference in the way OBD I and OBDII cars handle the bags. Usual porsche mysteries. Anybody know a Harry Pellow equivalent in the 993 world?

Calling Greg Fishman!!!! what year 993 do you have? Is there any way that you could photo document how the porsche child seat works, what it plugs into, and what all this stuff looks like?

 

We have the factory passenger airbag disconnect kit installed in our 97 TT.

It uses the same child seats as the Boxster and the 996s and can only be installed in MY 97-98 993s.

The system has a seatbelt like receptacle that sticks out from under the passenger seat. The male end is on a strap connected to the middle of the base of the Porsche child seat. After installing the seat using the regular seat belt you just plug in the buckle under the seat and the airbag on the passenger side is disconnected.

When you turn on the ignition the Airbag light will blink ten times to visually confirm it is disabled.

Yes, the airbag disconnect can be used without a Porsche Child Seat installed. You just remove the buckle from the seat and plug it into receptacle under the passenger seat.

I will see if I can get some pictures tonight of the set up.

 

Richard

check plus!!!!!! Do you happen to know any reason why the deactivation option would not be backward compatible to us 95-96 guys? are conversely if we could buy whatever Control module operates this thing from a crunched (ooch!!!)97 or 98? Sounds like a question to Joel Reiser.

 

Wow, Sounds like you'll have to fire the airbag to deactivate it <img src="graemlins/icon107.gif" border="0" alt="[icon107]" />

 

E.J., Cary,
Regarding de-activating the airbags with a switch:

I'm not sure this is relevant to Porsches, and forgive me if I state the obvious, but I bought a de-activation switch off the web somewhere for our family hauler's front-seat airbag. I did a web search for airbags and deactivation...you'll get a few hits. The one I bought comes with instructions specific to my vehicle and a lighted keyed switch (big and ugly so I mounted it in the glovebox)...in all about $250.00 a couple of years ago, to my memory. Is this what we're talking about?

Edward

 

Update

Went to the dealer this morning. Deactivation for 993 was indeed for 97 & 98 only. They explained there was a redesign of the main wiring harness which coincided w/ the introduction of the Boxster.

Edward thanks for the google suggestion I use it all the time but...
For richfitz and others (97+) see:<a href="http://www.safetyalerts.com/rcls/nhtsa/pr98nhtsa/feb98/98e005.htm" target="_blank">Porsche recall / deactivator does not deactivate</a> and
<a href="http://www.industryfigure.com/berkeley/Porsche/Mags/ChristophorusMagMay97.htm#Children" target="_blank">Christophorus May 97</a>

Other airbag woes:
<a href="http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2282.htm#changes" target="_blank">993 NHTSA Recall History / airbags</a>
1996: airbag can deploy inadvertently.
1997-98: contact buckle supplied with child seating system airbag deactivation kit does not deactivate the airbag.

For more bag info see:
<a href="http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/" target="_blank">NHTSA airbag info</a> one interesting bit of info here is while most MFG''s provide a factory approved and dealer installed on-off switch for any bag our friends at Porsche do not.

I am in the process of contacting several on/off switch installers and will report back soon.

 

E.J. and others...
In order to install a deactivation switch you must get big brothers approval. For me I presume I will be granted relief on the passenger side air bag utilizing the children under 12 clause.
SEE: <a href="http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/brochure/SwitchRequest.PDF" target="_blank">BIG BROTHER</a>
Didn't see a racing exclusion. If you are really short or have a tiny relative who drives the car there is hope for the driver's bag