bobbyp

Recently had a low battery voltage condition in the car which according to previous threads sometimes causes the airbag light to go on. It goes on and stays on for at least the duration of the 15 minute drives that I have been on.
I have the T-ODB tool which I want to use tomorrow to try to turn off the airbag light. The tool has a sliding switch for "airbag" and "other".

I'm not sure why there needs to be a switch but am I correct in assuming that the switch needs to be in the "airbag" position to reset the warning light?
I'll probably check out some of the other systems while I'm poking around anyway. Any other hints or tricks?

Note: This is for my 1995 993 with build date 09/94. No immobilizer. OBD1 with the trapezoid shaped connector.

Jon 'Bama

Tore posts here often and is great at responding to email. I would reach out directly to him

bobbyp

Tore got back to me and confirmed that the airbag position was correct.
Airbag fault clears but comes right back after hitting the refresh button instrument panel warning stays on and never goes off, even after a 15 minute drive.

Screen showing faults

Can clear it but only for a second, once you hit the refresh button the faults return.

71-3.0-911

May be a silly question but have you recently swapped steering wheels?

bobbyp

Did not change the steering wheel.
I changed the alternator and had the battery unhooked for about a month. After getting everything back together and hooking up the battery the battery was dead so car would not start. I put the battery on the maintainer overnight and started immediately next day. That is also when I started to get the permanent airbag warning light.

Tore asked that I check the resting and running battery voltages due to the low voltage condition still showing in the scantool.

pp000830

Hi Bobby,
I seem to recall an airbag light if illuminated and then goes out after a period indicates a non-deployment fault that can be cleared.
In your case, it seems the constant-on light is very odd.
First I would use a commercial product like Durametric or have the dealer try to clear the light as the freeware product you are using is unsupported and may simply not be able to clear the code.
Before taking it in I would disconnect the battery reach under the dash and disconnect the airbag controller, clean its pins with electronic spray cleaner and reinstall it. The plug/socket is very delicate and uses a sort of hold-down mechanism to keep the plug in place. Use care when releasing and reinstalling the plug.
Your 993 may have one of possibly 3 airbag variations in it so when using Durametric if it doesn't clear by selecting the 993, try the 964 and the 996 selections and attempt to clear the fault again.
If Durametric or a dealer can't clear the fault then there is probably something internal to the controller that has failed, the controller is a bit expensive.
Please keep us posted of your outcome so others can learn how you resolved this issue.
Hope this helps,
Andy

bobbyp

Thanks Andy. Battery voltages look OK. 12.8v at rest and 13.1v with engine idling so not sure where the low voltage warning is coming from other than within the airbag module's own diagnostics.
Tore also suggested checking out the connection pins which will be the next step.

bobbyp

I only had a couple minutes today and took a peek under the dashboard to find the air bag module. It's supposed to be orange? Left or right foot well?
I will look again tomorrow or Monday but was kind of hoping would jump out at me.