7 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHairbag warning light/control unit
Reported or suspected cause
second time
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause · Original poster
It turns out the first owner had replaced the sensors, so when I had it done it was the second time.
Leading evidence: 'second time' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'second time' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check fault codes and service history they advise me' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
The dealer replaced the seatbelt sensors on the driver and passanger sides.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
It turns out the first owner had replaced the sensors, so when I had it done it was the second time.
Check fault codes and service history they advise me
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
In Sept 06 I go back to the dealer and after checking the fault codes and service history they advise me that I need an airbag control unit.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
on a 99 you need the new terminals the new ground wies clean the ground new buckles and you need to secure the wiring with zipties
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Suggestion · Original poster
Here is the pisser- the TSB says (roughly) that the airbag warning fix is as follows: replace the seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes on again, replace the seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes on again replace the airbag control unit.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
(Be sure to ask if there is discount for PCA members, mine was 15%) Oddly enough, the new part # 996-618-219-02 is made in Mexico and replaced the orginal made in Germany- Viva Porsche!
Replace seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
Here is the pisser- the TSB says (roughly) that the airbag warning fix is as follows: replace the seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes on again, replace the seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes on again replace the airbag control unit.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
7 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T074343Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
This is my story but may be good reference when the time comes- I have '99 C4, 2nd owner, 75K miles, last year (9/05) the airbag warning light came on, a trip the the dealer and $529 later it's fixed. The dealer replaced the seatbelt sensors on the driver and passanger sides. In July 06 the airbag warning light comes back on. I try the 'ol black tape over the light trick which works OK but kind of grinds on me since it's a reminder that I do not have active airbags, at least not for sure.
In Sept 06 I go back to the dealer and after checking the fault codes and service history they advise me that I need an airbag control unit. Here is the pisser- the TSB says (roughly) that the airbag warning fix is as follows: replace the seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes on again, replace the seatbelt sensors, if the airbag light comes on again replace the airbag control unit. It turns out the first owner had replaced the sensors, so when I had it done it was the second time.
The airbag control unit was about $450 and $120 for labor and now the problem should be solved. (Be sure to ask if there is discount for PCA members, mine was 15%) Oddly enough, the new part # 996-618-219-02 is made in Mexico and replaced the orginal made in Germany- Viva Porsche!
It just kind of frosts me that I ended up paying an extra $500 to solve this. The fix it twice and move on method may be great for the dealer but not for me.
There, I feel better now.
It seems to me Porsche NA policy to fix problems is to just replace parts (in some specified order) without really knowing why. My guess is they do not want Porsche dealers to spend "labor time" figuring it out or even fixing it. They did the same thing for my car under warranty (Replaced my NAV, Front Diff, Power Steering Res., fuel pump, alarm sensor module).
I had the same problem and when I took it in, they were able to get the light to stay off by "grounding the circuit," or something to that effect, which costed be $93. They said it might stay off for a week or a year. So far, it's been about a month.
It is not the sensors it is the buckle contacts. The newer buckles have gold contacts and the grounds should be re-made per the TSB. A dealer with a PST2 or PIWIS tester should know exactly where the open contact is (becuase it tells them on the display). The second time they should replace only the faulty part -- and if it was replaced before it should be free.
I would ask for a printout (from the tester) of the fault code and the location page.
well it doesnt really give a location, the fault is usally belt buckle leak/resitance but it doesnt ell you where. on a 99 you need the new terminals the new ground wies clean the ground new buckles and you need to secure the wiring with zipties
