Air Bag Light on!?

If I replace the seat belt buckle will this correct the problem or is there something more high tech that needs to be done? Or can I simply clean whatever for a fix? If so, how is it done? Thanks-Roger B.

you need to read the fault, guessing at replacing parts wont fix anything and even if it was the buckle you would still have a fault until you cleared it

I've had the fault cleared a couple of times and the instant I buckle up the light goes on. I think it was a code 45 or 48-something like that. Talked to the dealer and they said it was a common problem and the seat belt mechanism needs to be replaced for $$$. I was just thinking I could do it myself by replacing the $50 buckle or cleaning the electrical portion of the buckle some way. Roger B.

you could change the buckle, you didnt say what year your car is, early cars you really want to install the updated gold contact wiring and the aditinal grounds ecu

Thanks for the reply and my car is a 2002 996 C2. Roger B.

should alrready have the gold terminals, i would recomend a new buckle and the new ground to the ecu

I hate that airbag light. Mine is still on from my new deck install. I put the brain under the seat and now...... Hey look at me Im a stupid airbag light.. eeeeeheehehehehheheheh Im red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Thanks for the advice 99firehawk. Roger B.

I just pulled the airbag light out of the dash cluster on mine, the airbags work like normal according to the Porsche techs even when the light is on, Its always the seat belt latch on mine, clean it out and 2 or three weeks later it comes back. I think you can only pull the bulbs on the pre 02 car because they went to a intergrated led after that.

I've just lived with this problem for the last 4 years and now for the first time the inspection station is failing my car for the light. How do i yank the light on my 99 ? Porsche will not own up to paying for the fix and the dealer wants 800 bucks.

A couple folks I know have had good luck using a spray contact cleaner on the seat belt buckles. You need the Durametric Software, a PST2 or a PIWIS tester to tell exactly which buckle is triggering the light and then clean buckle contacts. If that doesn't work then just replace the one buckle. It is a pretty easy DIY.

porsche changed the connectors due to these problems, on older cars -02 you should be installing the seat belt bukle and gold terminal harness kit.

Removing the airbag warning light will trigger fault code 1/2 and that will usually disable the whole system. Actually, I've never heard of an illuminated warning light not disabling an automotive safety related system either but my experience has been with older Porsches. Does anyone know of an official source that says the system is okay with the light activated? There was nothing written in the two airbag TSBs and I haven't found anything in the workshop manuals but my copies aren't exactly new.

there never has and never would be anythbing in writing saying that with anyfault the air bag system is ok. That would open up the biggest lawsuit ever. Seriously dont take this the wrong way. if you cant afford to maintain and repair a porsche perhaps the porsche is not the car for you. We are talking about airbags not your stereo or air conditining, the life of you or your family/friends could depend on it.

I live in a fairly remote area and they don't even know what a P-car is, but I did find an indy about 200 miles away that is a factory trained tech and he'll fx it for approx. $200 including the buckle and grounding. Thanks for the sanity check 99firehawk. Roger B.

the buckle kit and the grounds are more then 200$

and if any of you who pulled the lights sell the car and some one is injured or killed due to the airbags not deploying you could be in some serious trouble

I ignored the airbag light since I figured it wasn't worth the expense to fix it. After a year, it went off on its own. I am sure the fault is stored in the computer and one of these days, it might come back on again.

According to the tech he can get the kit for less than $100 each and labor is about an hour each side. Roger B.

I checked the dealer and the buckle is $52.44 and the harness kit is $37.50. Roger B.

After the fault is corrected, will the light go out right away on it's own? or does something have to be reset?

has to be reset with a pst2/piwis

Here's an update FYI-Just had an Indy replace the driver's side Seat Belt Buckle(996-803-183-09) and Harness(000-043-206-06). It took him 40 minutes and wahlah-no air bag warning light. Now we'll see how long it holds up. Roger B.