993 Airbag Warning Light

[cyberface]

Anyone had the airbag warning light fail to extinguish when starting off in a 993? The main warning ! light stays on as well, once the car's warmed up properly the light eventually goes out.

Is this more likely to mean the airbag sensors are shot or that there's an intermittent connection somewhere (as it goes out after the car's warm). With the airbag warning light on, I presume the airbags are non-functional?

If it means that the airbag may go off randomly then obviously I shouldn't be driving the car! Presumably there's some failsafe that stops the airbag from going off if anything doesn't check out properly?

[silver993tt]

The airbag should be checked as part of the service. I believe there is a seperate stamp in the back of the book for this. Do you know if has ever been checked at service time?

Sounds like you should let an indy check it out.

[Pickled Piper]

In most cases it is an intermittent connection. This means that the airbag may not deploy when it is needed. It does not mean that the airbag will deploy inadvertantly.

You need to go to a garage that has the correct diagnostic equipment. They will be able to read the fault code and iscolate the problem.

Don't panic.

pp

[cyberface]

It was fully serviced by my indie late last year, so I'll check the service book and give them a call.

If it's an intermittent connection then I'll get them to look at it and also get the steering brace fitted at the same time (as I'm after a set of 2002 Carrera light alloys for summer use).

Good news that there's no chance of random airbag deployment, I fancy going for a decent drive this weekend!!!

[yank]

If the battery has gone flat or very low it can trigger the light. But yes the aribags will not deploy in an accident if the light is on.

[cyberface]

Funnily enough I replaced the battery a month ago due to it failing after 2 weeks disuse in the cold snap in Jan (poor quality Halfords battery, now using a Bosch silverline). So yes, the car was stood for a couple of weeks with a completely dead battery.

If this is the direct cause, can it be reset without resorting to tools?

[Henry-F]

No. Get it to a specialist and let them plug the car into the computer. What ever you do don`t attempt to repair yourself. If you do fit new parts it stil needs to be re-set by the spanner man so changing bits won`t help.

Henry

[cyberface]

Henry-F said:

No. Get it to a specialist and let them plug the car into the computer. What ever you do don`t attempt to repair yourself. If you do fit new parts it stil needs to be re-set by the spanner man so changing bits won`t help. Henry

Fairy nuff, will get them to look at it.

To be honest I'd like to ditch the standard 993 airbag steering wheel anyway for an RS-style one... yes I know it's a 'bugger safety' attitude but the standard one isn't that nice to hold....

[phelix]

I fitted a wheel like this one:



in the 365 mm size so just a little bit smaller than stock. Cost was about €500 so £340.

The wheel's made by Raid whom I believe makes the wheels for Ruf, Tech Art et al. See www.raid-rdi.com

I bought it from www.duw.de

It's so much nicer than the factory wheel. The car now corners with at least another 0.1 g.

>> Edited by phelix on Saturday 18th February 13:58

[paultje]

Cyber, I can't remember where you are in the UK, but if you are anywhere near Slough/Windsor/Datchet area, Peter Tognola in Datchet fettled my 993 airbag when I first bought it. It needed parts plus re-setting with a code from Porsche...no probs since!

[cyberface]

I'm in Kent. Took it out for a thrash today (well as much of a thrash as possible in crappy congested Saturday afternoon Kent roads) - no warning light. It's intermittent so got to be a duff connection somewhere.

Diverting the thread somewhat, what are the rules regarding replacing an airbagged wheel with a non-airbagged wheel? If I go for an RS wheel, will it be an immediate MOT failure, and will insurers immediately run a mile?

The Ruf-type wheel may be an option, but I've not really seen any airbag wheels that actually excite me looks-wise - if I'm going to pay £££ to replace the steering wheel, I want to *really* like the new wheel.

What do the GT3 996s use? They presumably will be available from breakers (assuming they haven't gone off in the crash)...

And no, I won't consider doing the job myself Oh for the days when a big spanner, a mallet and a screwdriver was all you needed like my first car, mk3 Escort £400, small steering wheel transformed the handling

[Pickled Piper]

There are no insuance or MOT issues if you decide to remove the airbag. Just lots of pub talk and internet postings. Remember to disable the warning light if you decide to do away with the bag.

I presume you have a passenger airbag?

pp

[cyberface]

Pickled Piper said:

There are no insuance or MOT issues if you decide to remove the airbag. Just lots of pub talk and internet postings. Remember to disable the warning light if you decide to do away with the bag. I presume you have a passenger airbag? pp

Good to hear. Yes I have the passenger airbag, it's a standard-ish 1994 993. No idea if the two systems are linked though, presumably I could have a non-airbag steering wheel but still have the passenger airbag functionality? Then again, the bird's going on about kids so disabling the passenger bag may be essential in the near-ish future

[paultje]

cyberface said:

Pickled Piper said: There are no insuance or MOT issues if you decide to remove the airbag. Just lots of pub talk and internet postings. Remember to disable the warning light if you decide to do away with the bag. I presume you have a passenger airbag? pp Good to hear. Yes I have the passenger airbag, it's a standard-ish 1994 993. No idea if the two systems are linked though, presumably I could have a non-airbag steering wheel but still have the passenger airbag functionality? Then again, the bird's going on about kids so disabling the passenger bag may be essential in the near-ish future

You'd be better off disabling the 'bird'!!...