No Airbag light

Hello, Forgive me if this has already been covered. I searched the forums but haven't found anything that specifically addresses my situation. The previous owner of my 996 C4S apparently wasn't a fan of seatbelts or airbags, so I'm slowly working through a punch list of issues. I've now reached the airbag system. Here's what's happening: During the normal key-on instrument cluster bulb check, the airbag warning light never illuminates�not even briefly. I also have no airbag warning displayed, and I'm not seeing any OBD fault codes related to the airbag system. My question is: Is it possible to disable the airbag module using a Durametric scanner? My assumption is that if the airbag control module were unplugged, failed, or otherwise offline, I should be getting a fault code. The complete lack of codes makes me wonder if the previous owner somehow coded the system out or disabled it another way. I don't currently own either PIWIS or Durametric. I'm leaning toward buying Durametric because it seems more user-friendly than a PIWIS clone. Can Durametric perform an instrument cluster output test to command individual warning lights on and off? Is it capable of enabling or disabling modules or changing coding related to the airbag system? I realize the simplest explanation could be that the airbag LED has failed, but that seems unlikely. If the airbag system actually had a fault, wouldn't it still store a code even if the warning light wasn't functioning? Has anyone run into this before, or know if Durametric is capable of confirming whether the airbag system has been coded out versus simply having a burned-out cluster bulb? I'd like to add that I emailed durametric about the capabilities of their system, but I haven't received a reply yet. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Durametric will not disable a safety feature like an airbag or light. A first guess is someone (previous owner) pulled the instrument cluster and removed the airbag light bulb. Just my two cents...

Thanks for the durametric info. If it was a ,1, I'd agree with you. it's a surface mount LED on the .2. I may ultimately have to pull the cluster to see if the light was broken on the board, but I'd like to scan the system as well.

Durametric is excellent for the engine, mediocre for ABS and auto trans, and useless for everything else. If you are getting into airbag or instrument cluster coding you need a PIWIS.

Do you know if there was ever an aftermarket wheel being used, such as a Momo? It's possible that a resistor was used to defeat the Airbag light. It's a typical mod that is done to the plug, at the clock spring, when installing a different steering wheel. You could pull your steering wheels and inspect the wiring there.

I'd be surprised if the airbag system had actually been coded out. On these cars it's much more common to find someone removed the bulb/LED or tampered with the cluster to hide an SRS fault. If the airbag module were unplugged or dead, I'd expect to see faults when scanning the airbag module directly. A generic OBD scanner won't see SRS codes, so I'd wait until you can get a Durametric or PIWIS on it before assuming anything. I'd also verify the airbag light actually comes on during the cluster self test before chasing the module itself.

During self test, all lights come on, except for the airbag light.

Quotes source post: 20682672

Someone put a piece of tape over it inside the cluster?

Negative. It looks a-ok visually. I wish there was tape over it.

I do have an aftermarket wheel, so most likely a component to this issue. Thanks for the suggestion.

There’s a 996 poll question…my perpetual airbag light is covered with black electrical tape. What do you use to cover your airbag light?

Quotes source post: 20683495

That might be your issue. When I installed my Momo Mod07 a while back I did a bunch of reading on the right size resistor to use and the answer is 2.2Ohm +/- 5% resistor to be installed in the airbag wiring (orange plug). You can get about 100 of them on amazon for peanuts.

Can you turn off the airbag system? You might actually be able to using PIWIS. You can certainly turn on & off features such as beltbuckle/tensioner/seat occupancy. But there is also an option to enable/disable "USA" in the airbag module. I suspect you might be able to disable the whole airbag system with that. I'd get ahold of a PIWIS and see how your airbag system is coded. You probably know this but if this system is indeed disabled, you very likely don't have any functioning airbags.... Here is the coding menu in airbag module in PIWIS: (my car is a 2000 so no tensioners.)

This is the answer! Thanks for the info! I guess I'm going to track down a PIWIS II. It seems like PIWIS III is more readily available, but I'd prefer a Series II. Thanks so much for this info.