So, I unknowingly switched off my battery by the toggle switch when removing the spare wheel. The ignition was on to the point where the radio would work while I was working on the car.

Tried to start the car - oops, no battery. Switched battery back on - started the car, bit of a cough, didn't start as instantly as it normally does, but still started fine.

Then the airbag light refused to go off.

Got the local independent Porsche garage to try and reset the light - they used a Durametric lead to the OBD1 connector. Wouldn't reset the light - they didn't charge me and suggested I try the dealership.

The local Porsche dealership couldn't reset the light with their equipment - said it was showing as a permanent fault (and of course they did charge me...).

So, now I'm faced with paying for a fault-tracing procedure - does anybody know if there's anything I could look at or try before I go down that route?

Bump - anybody?

What is this toggle switch you speak of?

It's one of these.

I am having a similar problem. My battery needed recharging and now the airbag light is on.
Any thoughts on what might be causing the problem?

Sticky, where in NZ are you?

thanks,
--Joe

when I had that issue it turned oiut to be the air bag controller, which neede to be replaced.


The 993 part is no longer available you need to buy a 996 part and have a dealer w/ PST2 to program it to work in a 993, A Hammer won't work for that.

I have a new unused 996 controller available for sale, $400 including shipping to lower 48

Is the round spring thing with the airbag connection the "controller"? If so, not trying to butt in on Bill, but if that is the controller then I have one just pulled from a 993.

No the controller is in the box, the stock one is up under the dash board and has a large orange connector, can't miss it if you do a little looking.

the spring is used to connect to the horn on a stock airbag steering wheel, most just call it a clock spring

^^^^ That's what I was thinking. As I didn't remember anything besides a rotary contact being in the clock spring.

Thanks Bill!
So it sounds like it has to go to the man for repair. Do you think a used part of another 993 would work?
thanks,
--Joe

it definitely needs someone w/ a PST2 or Piwis

used parts are always a cr** shoot

I couldn't reset my 993 airbag light using the durametric tool, until I restarted the durametric on my computer, then connected it to the car & when it asked which car I selected 964 instead of 993, selected airbag and reset the airbag, airbag light went out first time
Don't know why it worked under 964 and not 993 but it did, even more strange when you considered my 993 uses a 996 part number airbag ecu as i think a lot of later 993s do

Just had the exact same problem start two weeks ago while replacing my fan hub bearing & alternator. Had the battery disconnected for about 6 hrs. When I reconnected the battery with the key in the off position the airbag warning light in the clock & master caution came on for a second and went out, when I started the car it binked on & off for a while and then stayed on whenever the car was running.

I saw this thread while researching the problem. At first I was thinking of using a durametric tool/software to attempt to reset the fault code, but do to a ripple in the fabric of space I was fortunate enough to be contacted by a Porsche "Jedi Master" mechanic who suggested I try disconnecting both positive & negative battery terminals from the battery and tie them together for at least 10 minutes!!! WTF I thought???? Can it be this easy to correct????

Last Saturday after trying everything else, I did just that and much to my joy the airbag & master caution lights went out, and the OBD codes reset to zero defaults!. After 2 more days of driving they are still out except during the normal start up.

Now there is a chance the force is only with my car and this won't work for anyone else, but it really did work for me so if you have this problem give it a try and you too may be blessed by the force.

Cheers,
Joel Bowman
95' 993 on our website

PS: I was told this is why it worked;
(caused a dead short in the car that drained all electrical energy from every circut that has slow discharge capacitors (ie; OBD 1 board) resetting the fault codes)

Disconnect the battery and then connect the Pos and Neg cables together..? Why does that sound scary to me. No cautions or warnings when doing this?

Two disconnected cables doesn't scare me?