Over the weekend I decided to do some upgrades to my 2000 boxster 5 speed. I installed the rear speaker with prety much no hitches. Then, I pulled the passenger seat so I could test fit a different sport seat. I am 99% certain I did not have an airbag light after doing the rear speaker install. In the speaker install instructions is warns of the side impact sensor, but I do not remember the airbag light being on after the speakers. But, I removed the passenger seat and drove to a local parts place to look at the seat and the airbag light stays on. When I got home, I reconnected the passenger seat plug and still have the airbag light.. Is there a tie betwen the factor seats and the airbags ?

Any ideas ?

I want to avoid going to the local p deal if possible, they are ****** !

BTE, I got desparate and connected my code scanner to see if anything would show and nothing did. Any way to reset the airbag light or read the fault code for it ?

thanks,
Tom

 

I've read about this. There is no way to reset the code without going to your p-car dealer.

 

I found some info on babblers about this. Apparently since I removed the seat and turned the ingnition on, I screwed myself ! Now I'm stuch going to a P Dealer to have the code reset.

Anyone using aftermarket seats in their boxster ? What did you do, rig up a wiring harness ?

Tom

 

I put in the GT3 seat in my 2000 model boxster with no problems - did your original seat have a side airbag? (mine did not)

If so you have the basic problem that the safety system looks for the side airbag and can't find it. The new caymen (caymans?) have the same problem and I've heard of it being solved by black tape over the light !! (do not try this at home children)

 

The trick is to either not turn the key in the ignition or disconnect the battery before disconnecting the seat wire harness.

Bro

 

Same thing happens if the ignition key is turned while the console is disconnected :-(

 

On all airbag equiped cars the computer looks for the bags it is programmed for and if not there you get the dash light. This can only be reset by the dealer with a special instrument. This is not just a Porsche issue.

 

My 2000 boxster has the side air bags but they are in the door, not the seats. My seats are the standard seats with the power recline but manual forward/rear and heigth adjustment.

One other trick I see is that I will need to move the seat belt harness from the stock seat to the new seat.

But my biggest concern is the light, I don't think I can live with it on : ) I may just need to pull the bulb out : 0

Tom

 

Then pull the bulb out.

 

Durametric Software has a tool that will turn it off and read P-codes for $197. Might be a good investment...

 

THat ool looks pretty interesting, just might have to get one ! I've already got a nice OBD2/CAN scanner but it does not do the airbag or additional details as mentioned in the Durametric. My thinking is that a trip to the P dealer for the light reset is equal to half the price of that tool.

Tom

 

Beware, not just any tool can reset the airbag lights on newer p-cars. My Porsche Indy shop could not reset my light even with a factory computer. Hence a trip to the dealership where they have the latest and greatest computer for the only cure available.

 

Not disconnecting the battery before pulling electrical connections can short things out (including the DME) so be careful with that.

If you are removing your seat, you need to disconnect the battery and let the car sit for at least 30 minutes before disconnecting the seat harness. There is residual electricity still in the system that causes the warning to trip if you don't wait to disconnect everything. This is similar to the warning in the workshop manuals to disconnect the battery for awhile before you mess with the airbag so it doesn't go off in your face.

I had to go to the dealer the first time to get the light turned off. Like type987s said, my independent Porsche specialist's PST2 tool could not turn off the airbag light. That function is disabled if you're not a dealer.

Hey Loren, have you tried the software you mentioned? It would be fantastic if we could get something like that!

 

the airbag light was set because the computer did not see the seat belt harness in the loop.the female end of the seatbelt is looped into the airbag system,if not there it will set a light.also,to my knowledge,the pst2 should reset all lights on these car,with the right software(996,and 986).

 

Aaahhh, so the mechanic just didn't have the latest software and didn't want to tell me, eh?