Airbag Light

[Flakarter]

Recently, I took apart the steering wheel to try and fix weak horn bushings in the steering wheel that would beep whenever I hit a bump.

While doing so, my car was sideways in the garage, and I needed to move the car so my wife's suv could be parked in the garage. So, with the airbag disconnected, I reattached the negative battery cable, started the car and moved the car to its proper place in the garage. Now, once reassembled, with the airbag plugged in, the red airbag light is glaring at me! Argh! :cursing:

I presume from the above sequence that when I started the car without the airbag plugged in, it freaked out the computer and it is now reporting an airbag error.

So, do I need to go to my local dealer to simply turn off that light? Is there some other way to make it go away???? If I have to go to the dealer, do you think they are going to want to do an entire diagnostic and charge big $$$? Can I just buy an OBDII reader and reset that error code?

I know, I know, lots of questions......but I've traded the psycho horn for the glaring red light!

Thanks!

Dean

[Richard Hamilton]

Yes - you need a PST2 or PIWIS to reset the airbag light at the dealer, or the Durametric Diagnostics program will do it, but that is an expensive option for a one-off. If you plan to keep the car for a long time, or plan another Porsche next time, it might be worth considering. Standard OBD2 readers will not reset the airbag light.

http://www.durametric.com

[ronbonner]

Recently, I took apart the steering wheel to try and fix weak horn bushings in the steering wheel that would beep whenever I hit a bump.

While doing so, my car was sideways in the garage, and I needed to move the car so my wife's suv could be parked in the garage. So, with the airbag disconnected, I reattached the negative battery cable, started the car and moved the car to its proper place in the garage. Now, once reassembled, with the airbag plugged in, the red airbag light is glaring at me! Argh! :cursing:

I presume from the above sequence that when I started the car without the airbag plugged in, it freaked out the computer and it is now reporting an airbag error.

So, do I need to go to my local dealer to simply turn off that light? Is there some other way to make it go away???? If I have to go to the dealer, do you think they are going to want to do an entire diagnostic and charge big $$$? Can I just buy an OBDII reader and reset that error code?

I know, I know, lots of questions......but I've traded the psycho horn for the glaring red light!

Thanks!

Dean

I did a similar thing when I did a four spoke to a 3 spoke swap and ended up with the airbag light on. I went to the dealer to get the light reset and source my PCM codes because the PCM needed to be re-activated and they did it for absolutely nothing so unless you will need the OBDII on a regular basis I would just give your dealer a call and see if they are as unusually benevolent as there were that day with me. I must just say though this was a UK dealer and believe me when I tell you this is not a normal occurrence.

RB

[Flakarter]

I have a sneaking suspicion that my local dealer (Tampa Bay Area) will charge me out the ying yang for this service. But hey, they invested in the equipment and there ought to be some return on it. It just pains me that in my quest to perform a minor repair on my car, I have driven myself into the arms of the one I wanted to avoid for such a minor issue. Oh well.

Dean

[Loren]

A good dealer would reset the airbag light for free (as long as you don't come in for it every week). It is very simple to do and maybe takes 1 minute (if you are slow).

[Flakarter]

A good dealer would reset the airbag light for free (as long as you don't come in for it every week). It is very simple to do and maybe takes 1 minute (if you are slow).

Loren, I took the car to the dealer this morning. I needed a front headlight bulb replaced, and while I know I can do it, I said what the heck, I'll pay them to do that and they can turn off the air bag light. When I mentioned it to the service rep, and that I understood that it should be easy, he said no, it will take a while as they have to hook it up, and "go through menus in the computer program", and it is not quick and easy............. Oh come on. Instant loss of credibility.

So, they charged me 2/10ths of an hour to do it, which I happily paid just to get it over with. It just wasn't worth arguing about. But it is a good test of their truthfulness, which I will file away.

Dean