Airbag Re-install

Hello, I purchased an 04' Targa a few months back and the previous owner had removed all of the airbags as he'd originally intended to track it. I found a seller on Rennlist that sold me all of his airbags with the exception of the driver's steering wheel. I recently found a driver's airbag replacement. My question is can I simply disconnect the battery and re-install the new to me airbags? I have 2-3 sensors coming and Ill have to figure out where those go. Will re-installing the airbags give me a bunch of warning lights? and if so, can they just be cleared? Thanks in advance.

If you get a code it can be cleared with a Durametric or even a Foxwell scan tool. I have replaced airbags (steering wheel and dash). The dash one requires some contortion to remove the mounting bolts from below.

Install everything all at once if you can, otherwise it will turn on the airbag light

I�ve received all of the airbags and have these three sensors. I assume that the big one goes somewhere in the dash and the two small ones go somewhere in the doors? Anybody know exactly where they go?

The big one bolts to the center tunnel under the center console in front of the shifter. No idea about the others. Wait, I think I've seen something like this under the door sill trim... maybe.

Yes, those little ones go on the body, below each door, about where your butt is when seated.

A Snap-on scan tool can also clear the airbag warning light if you have access to one of those.

Here is a random pic of my car when I had the interior stripped that shows where the small ones mount. At least so think it is the same thing. It has been a couple of years since I did this.

I believe you want to have them grounded during install.

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Thanks for the info. I was assuming it went in the door but the frame actually makes more sense. I�ll be installing a short shifter here in the next few weeks so I�ll install the main sensor when I have the console apart for that project.

As a side note: Airbag connectors are always yellow and this makes them easy to find.

No matter if you install all, or just one, or a group, or separately, the airbag light is going to come on and stay on. It will need to be reset. Leave the battery off for 15 min before putting the actual bags in the car. Do not sit or stand near any of the airbags when you first power the car back up and turn the key on. If by some very remote chance the sensors have been actuated, it MAY cause the ignition pills to fire. Quite unlikely, but unless they've been tested just prior to installation, being knocked around during shipping may have damaged them internally. If you want to be certain, replace the sensors with factory guaranteed parts from Porsche.

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If the control unit below the dash is unplugged when the key is off and out of the ignition, the airbag light will not go on permanently if you undo various airbags or seat belts. You just need to have all of the airbags and seatbelt plugs plugged in before the control unit is plugged back in, AND the ignition turned on - that's when it does it "check" to see that everything is hooked up right. If all is hooked up, and the control unit is plugged in and there was no prior airbag errors, then there will be no airbag warning light when you power things back up with the ignition key. There will be an airbag light on with the control unit unplugged, but no airbag light will be on if you remember to keep the control unit unplugged before everything is hooked up.

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Sorry, but that depends entirely on how the sensors, airbags, seatbelts, and controller were deactivated(removed). There is some very small probability that it was done perfectly when removed. And there is some conditional probability that it was all done perfectly right when re-installed. I give it maybe a 1% chance that it went that way, but - Trump got elected, so we know that anything can happen on this planet.

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Gotcha. So obviously there are no airbags currently in the vehicle but the airbag light is not illuminated. When turning the car on all of the lights on the dash are lit and I see the airbag light come on with the rest of the lights. Does that mean that the previous owner had some sort of airbag delete done? If so, could that also be cleared by the tool suggested in the thread? I'm planning on getting in there this weekend. I want to install the main sensor under the center console, the drivers airbag, and the passenger airbag. I'm going to leave the side airbags for later as I will have to get into the driver's side door to replace the window regulator as the window doesnt lower upon opening/closing the door. Also, are there any special steps I need to take when disconnecting/reconnecting the battery? Thanks in advance.

I will guess that there is an airbag controller, and that the sensors, and the wiring to the ignition pills have been jumpered with the proper resistance connector. The POST test indicates that the airbag controller is detecting sensors and airbags. You may indeed be able to remove the various jumpers and install the sensors and airbags and if they are done correctly, the airbag light will not stay on. During the POST test with the key on, all those circuits are tested several times for continuity, and specific resistance. As long as the new stuff is within spec, and is installed correctly, it should pass POST on start up.