Has anyone ever replaced their Airbag control unit?

[paul-home]

My 99 996 has the airbag light on, and my Durametric gives the following codes:

3- Supply voltage

131 - internal module fault

From a little research here, I suspect that the module really is faulty.

I have located it (under radio).

Apparently it contains a battery, and I can see that it has special nuts to prevent removal.

I would appreciate any help.

Paul

[Loren]

"Fault codes greater than or equal to 100 -- Fault memory/ warning light. The fault cannot be erased and the airbag triggering unit is faulty."

Looks like you need a new triggering unit and a reset.

[amcleod1]

Regarding the special nuts you refer to - they are shear-off nuts. The Porsche service manuals says you need a special tool 9259. Refer to Group 69 53 19.

[ldrhoades]

I pulled my box when stripping interior. You can get the nuts off with a pair of pliers if you are careful. I used a small set of vice grips and lots of patience. Nuts came off intact, I suppose if I was so inclined I could put them back on (although I'd use a regular nut for convenience if I were to do it). Good luck.

[paul-home]

Thank you for the info.

Is it correct to say that disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes is enough to make the system safe?

p.s. This forum is invaluable. Making my contribution now.

Edited May 1, 2012 by paul-home

[Loren]

Thank you for the info.

Is it correct to say that disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes is enough to make the system safe?

p.s. This forum is invaluable. Making my contribution now.

Per the service manual...

"Danger of injury and damage to property as a result of incorrect handling of airbag units!

Please observe the following points:

• The airbag triggering unit must not be removed with the plug plugged in!

• Waiting time following ignition off (battery disconnection) and detachment of the plug connection during work on the airbag system: at least 1 minute!"

[Richard Hamilton]

If you change the airbag control module for a new one, you will need to have it "locked" with a Porsche tester. They come "unlocked" and you need the tester to activate it.

[paul-home]

OK. I have bought a used one. Do you think it will work if I just plug it in?

[Richard Hamilton]

Probably, assuming it was from the same car. MY2002-on had the pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners, and early cars didn't have POSIP, so it might need re-coding to match the equipment in your car.

[paul-home]

Just to update this for anyone that comes looking for details.

I turned the ignition on

Disconnected the battery

Waited 15 minutes

Unplugged the control unit

Removed the special nuts easily using a pair of water pump pliers

Fitted the new unit (from a similar car of the same age)

Reconnected connector and battery.

Everything worked perfectly.

[Odd Arne Klinge]

I am having the same issue and have two questions.

1. is the airbag control unit the same as the mentioned triggering unit?

2. I have 2002 996 Carrera, will this item do Porsche 996 airbag control unit ecu 99661821902

3. Where is the control unit located? cannot find any information about that

[JFP in PA]

The controller and triggering unit are the same thing.

Yes, that controller will work with your car.

The controller is underneath the forward section of your center console, ahead of the shifter and under the dash.

[Odd Arne Klinge]

Going forward with this fix tonight, crossing all my fingers and toes that I do not trigger any of the air bags.

Planned procedure:

1. Remove lower centre console
2. Locate the Trigering unit
3. Turn of iginition, remove key
4. Disconnect battery, wait for 15 minutes.
5. Disconnect triggering unit
6. Replace unit and connect in order, trigger unit then battery
7. Hope the finger and toe crossing worked and hopefully no aibag release
8. Connect Durametric and read fault codes
9. Erase any fault codes

Anybody got any recommendations to my plan? Anything I should do different?

Thanks for impeccable help.

[Odd Arne Klinge]

I did this fix the other day, just as mentioned in my previous post. It worked, nothing went wrong and the car now has no air-bag warning light or any faults.

Experiences and hints to others doing the same fix:

1. Have water pipe pliers handy to get off those pesky nuts to release the trigger unit. They came surprisingly easy off by the way.
2. You do not have to remove the centre lower dash unit, but I did, easier to get to the unit. Use torx screw driver.
3. To remove the centre lower dash unit, there are four screws, two at the back of the unit and one on each side behind the side panels of the unit. Easy to pry off panels from the back of lower centre dash unit.
4. Also pry out lower centre panel with seat heater buttons, disconnect the connected wires. Those were quite difficult to disconnect and reconnect actually, short wires on my car maybe.
5. Be very careful when disconnecting the triggering unit, and especially when reconnecting. The connectors are very very small and would be very easy to break
6. Have a Durametric to check your fault codes, I was left with four fault codes, 3, 4, 26 and 28 (if I recall correctly). Erased those ones, shut of the ignition, started the car. And whahey no air-bag warning. The small light comes on when starting, but disappears after a few seconds, and no large warning shown in main display. Love it, absolutely love it, and very proud.
7. My unit fitted my car perfectly, and came pre-locked to a 996 2002 model, same make and model as my car. So no locking issues.

Got the part of ebay, a reseller with the peculiar name of stevestrange007 in England, cost me a total of about $100 including shipping, fees and VAT. The reseller had tested the unit prior [he mentioned] and the unit had some text on it indicating this was true. A small price to pay compared to the quote I got from my local Porsche workshop, they quoted me about $2500 for the job. Where the price of the unit was $1300. A total save of $2400 :cheers:

:drive:

[Richard Hamilton]

I believe stevestrange007 is from Douglas Valley Breakers in the UK. The price of a new unit in the UK is currently around GBP 420.00, so you made a good saving. How the dealer came up with $2500 is beyond me.

[genyosai]

Hello.

 

I'm new to the forum due to having found information on this very topic.

 

On my 987, I can't clear the SRS warning indicator using my Durametric Pro tool. When checking the faults, I have an error code 81, triggering unit fault. I'm assuming (based on this thread) that the triggering unit is the same as the airbag ecu/control module.... and I'm hoping the issue is as simple as replacing this unit and running a reset.

 

My concern, however, is that you all talk about the odd/special nuts which mounts the unit to the chassis. Mine doesn't have the odd nuts (see photos). I'm concerned that perhaps this means it's been tampered with/replaced before in effort to clear this issue, but obviously to no avail (I bought this car used five weeks ago).

 

What do you all think of my unit having "normal" nuts mounting it in place? The nuts are very clean and do not have signs of being wrenched.

 

 

[Richard Hamilton]

They are the original dome nuts which were used on the 987/997.  It was the 986/996 which had the security nuts.

The new airbag control unit will need coding and locking with a Porsche specific tester.  I note you have a Durametric Pro, but check that it has the function to lock the unit after fitting.