Airbag warning light (solved)

[villet]

Hi all,

 

It seems there are some cases going around regarding 996's airbag warning lights and all possible causes. I thought I'd share my story in a new post, since I could not find a similar thread to post this on to as a reply. My car is a 996 Carrera 2 (model year 2000, EU model).

 

My episode started during other maintenance work. I had left the key in the ignition while I had a battery booster on (Note: do not leave the key in the ignition when using a booster!). Apparently this caused a voltage spike, which broke my airbag control module (part # 996-618-219-00). After having my car hooked up to a PIWIS 2, I got the following fault codes:

 

• 3, voltage
• 195, control module internal fault
• 46, belt buckle driver
• 49, belt buckle passenger
• 23, belt tensioner driver
• 25, belt tensioner passenger
• 64, seat occupancy detection passenger
• 72 child seat detection

 

I ended up ordering a pre-owned control module from a 2004 Boxster S (part # 996-618-219-02), as the parts were interchangeable between Boxster and Carrera according to a local specialist. (Note that there are two separate part numbers, depending on whether you have side airbags or not.) After swapping in the pre-owned module, I still got the following fault codes:

 

• 53, side airbag sensor, driver
• 56, side airbag sensor, passenger

 

It turns out that both of the sidebag sensors (part # 996-618-221-00) had also perished due to the voltage spike. After swapping the original modules for a pair of pre-owned sidebag sensors (part # 996-618-221-01, again Boxster parts), my local mechanic was finally able to clear all fault codes. Note that the warning light will not go away by itself even after the problem has been resolved, you’ll have to clear the fault codes with a diagnostics tool first.

 

I’ve read from elsewhere that a new control module needs to be locked in to the car, and that once the module is locked it cannot be unlocked. While the module indeed cannot be be unlocked, in my experience it is still possible to swap the module from another car.

[Loren]