airbag fault light

When I went to top up my fuel for winter storage, I first noticed that my frunk wouldn't open with my key (to disconnect the battery charger). So I opened it with the sill latch to disconnect the charger The car started right up, but the airbag light in the instrument cluster was triggered (why then?). I called my local Porsche shop & he said it's probably something under the seat, like a connector, & to leave the car with him. After a little research, it seems that this is a relatively common occurrence since so many reviews on Amazon for the icarsoft diagnostic scanner mentioned using it to clear the airbag fault light. I figured that if I drove across town & left it with my mechanic, I'd be on the hook for ~$100, so I bought myself a V1.0 diagnostic scanner for $94 off Amazon . I'm sure I'll need it to reset for oil changes, detect MAF & O2 sensors , etc. I'll wait for Spring to tinker, but would appreciate hearing anyone's airbag light experiences.

No insight on the airbag light, but regarding the frunk -- if the key fob hasn't been used in a week, it gets disabled (presumably by shutting down the receiver module in the car to reduce the draw on the battery ) until the physical key is used to unlock or start the car. I

Thanks Joliver3! I wasn't aware of that or had ever heard of such a thing but I believe you are right because the fob resumed working once I started the car.

If the battery is disconnected and or goes flat for even a short amount of time the airbag light will need to be reset using a diagnostic tool like Durametric or similar.

Regarding the key fob, it will be disabled but only if you lock the car. If the car stays unlocked the fob will continue to work.

hmmmm. I don't believe the car was locked unless unintentionally. It's kept in my locked garage. I'll go out now to see if the fob unlocks the frunk. The car has been on a trickle charger (not started) for the last 2 weeks.

What year 987 is it that you're talking about. Mine has sat for over a week several times and I never had to wake it up physically using the key No... Mine was stone cold dead (after leaving the key in overnight) a week ago, and I didn't have to use any of my diagnostic tools to clear any faults. The usual cause of an airbag light going on is someone messing around with the passive restraint system (like taking the steering wheel off, which involves disconnecting that airbag) and then turning the ignition on. Airbag faults can only be cleared with a diagnostics tool of some sorts (Durametric, Foxwell, IcarScan, etc..) but they aren't set by disconnecting the battery (which is actully suggested to do if you're doing work involving the airbag system.)

I’m only speaking from my own experience but anytime I have disconnected the battery and or its gone dead the airbag light will stay on until cleared. That’s happened about 4 times in the past 11 years now, this being a MY11.

There must be something odd about your car. Porsche instructs the mechanics to disconnect the negative battery terminal when working on the SRS system.. and I've done it many times and never had an airbag fault register or the light stay on, and that's on multiple Porsche models (including my 987.2 ). Big snippage of instructions on removing airbag from steering wheel..

Does your light every stay on if the battery goes completely flat and you don’t immediately catch it? Technically I’ve only disconnected the battery when its gone flat so perhaps that is the difference?

Replaced batteries, disconnected battery , never seen an airbag light.

Then it has to be related to dead battery . I’m confident that the airbag light will come on and stay on if the battery goes flat for any extended period. My shop cleared the code for me the first time and confirmed it was normal. I eventually bought a durametric and cleared it the next few times it happened. For reference the car has never had any electrical work done to it and I’m the original owner so I know it entire history, pretty confident its behaving normally.

Make a mental note to check this when you next disconnect the battery for some reason. Try disconnecting the ground, wait for 5 minutes and reconnect it. Any SRS warning lights?

My car is 2006 ( 987.1 ). I just got my icarsoft diagnostic scanner this pm. I'll try using it tomorrow if it's warm enough.

I've only disconnected the battery once in my 2 years of ownership - soon after purchasing, when I hard secured my trickle charger to the battery . The air bag light didn't come on then, only this incident when the key fob (remote) failed to open the frunk. Still, the car started right up, as what one sees with a fully charged battery . Of note: the previous time the car was driven, I had a passenger, also someone else acted as driver, adjusting the seat. I've read on a past forum post that full seat back extension could trigger the air bag warning light. If this is the case, why wouldn't the light come on immediately??? I just received my iCarsoft diagnostic scanner. It's too cold today to try the various suggestions posted on this blog & to also engage the scanner in an attempt to clear the triggered airbag fault. I'll try in a couple days when the temp is supposed to be above freezing. I'm anxious to resolve this.

I had to think about this one a bit more as its been a few years since the last time my battery went flat. In every instance when the airbag light lit up the battery was flat enough to allow the dash to light but not enough to allow the car to start. It must be a combination of mostly flat battery and attempting to start a car that caused the light to come on. I also remember the PSM would flash and show inoperable but that cleared itself once the car was fired up and moving. Having read tons of threads about how a weak battery can lead to all sorts of odd electrical glitches I have to believe its tied together. I was wrong earlier about the disconnected battery part of the car, I only removed the battery when it was already flat so I associated battery removal with airbag light.

I have an '07 987.1 that I have owned for 12 years. I have run the battery down to dead, disconnected the battery and multiple other scenarios with the battery over the years. Never did my air bag light come on, ever. So now I'm worried about the light. It does light up when the key is first turned but it's never been tested otherwise. So I disconnected the battery and disconnected the seatbelt electronics. When I connected the battery again, I got the air bag light. I was able to reset the light after reconnecting the seatbelt electronics using my Foxwell scanner. The first time I left the car sitting for over a week I discovered the neat, power down trick it does. But wait, there is more. If after it goes into the low power mode so the key fob doesn't do anything there is an alternative to using the key to unlock and then putting the key into the ignition. Lifting the drivers door handle once re-wakes the system ant the key fob works again. Your mileage may vary...

I think I had a combination of the car sitting too long, an old battery & a trickle charger that may not be the best (gets confused by the Porsche algorithms). The iCarsoft scanner did the trick. Thanks for everyone's feedback!

My ' 06 Cayman S has been temperamental ever since I installed an aftermarket audio system. I think it just draws more amps to maintain itself than the stock radio did because I don't drive it often and it goes to sleep after 7 days. but if I let it sit for that long it struggles to turn the starter. I was going to just replace the battery but I took it out and looked at it carefully and it has a 2021 date code. I just bought the car less than a year ago. so pretty sure the battery is fine. and on an related note, I also have an airbag light that I believe came on after someone adjusted the passenger seat so I'll have to check for a code.

I wasn't impressed with the Caymans I test drove with aftermarket audio & I've heard too many interface complaints so I bought an Enfig bluetooth adapter for Spring installation. Keeps the stock appearance, completely compatible with my BOSE system & provides all the updates I want (OK it appears a little cumbersome, but it's just a matter of getting used to it).

The Axxess adapter i got from Crutchfield works perfectly with the Kenwood deck I installed, including the steering wheel controls. I had to return the POS Rennkit adapter.