33 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAir Bag Light
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
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
I had my seat belt receptors replaced about 4x and the airbag light still goes on about 3k miles after the repair.
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
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
It turns out the first owner had replaced the sensors, so when I had it done it was the second time.
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.
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
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
(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
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.
33 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: 20261026T194705Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Air bag light was on and the dealer, Sonnen in the bay area, kindly turned it off for free. That lasted, oh 3 days, and back on it came. Back to the dealer to have them say, $1800 to fix the light.
Needs new wiring harness, meaning remove the seats (both), part of the dash apparently, run new harness, etc, etc. etc.
Anyone have PCNA step up and fix what is clearly their issue? Mine a 99 C2 with 58k miles. Well maintained. 2 previous buckle replacements for the air bag light issue.
Help, hints??
I copied this from my post in Jan. 05, no problems since the airbag control unit replaced
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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.
yea... I still vote for the little piece of tape for all that headache!! - relax, and have a glass of wine on the deck of some nice place with your wife with the money you saved
Thank you Missmy. I agree with your sentiments regarding covering up an issue. I will go back to my dealer with this solution and see what they wil do.
Find out EXACTLY what you need. I just totally gutted a car for racing and have probably everything you need. I'll make sure and get it too you VERY cheaply. No sense in paying the dealer $1800 when most of this stuff you can do yourself.
Hey Dell, I'm just getting my 60k service done and had the light checked out.
They're saying the sensor is about $75, but then almost 2 hours of labor to replace it, does that sound right?
Maybe I could take you up on the offer if you have a driver's side seatbelt sensor.....
I'd need a bit more info on which part exactly you would need. Do you have a pic and/or part number? I'm sure we could make this an easy DIY for you as well.
Black tape may work in a Mk 1 but in a Mk II if the Airbag light is on than EVERY time you start the car the computer tells you it's on and you have to clear the message. That would drive me even more insane than I already am.
Dealer told me my buckles and cables had been replaced, next step was the computer....quote was like $900 (or something like that). They cleared the codes though, and sure enough light came back after a week.
I used DeoxIT on the belt buckles, and bought a Durametric cable to clear the codes. It has at least been a year with no codes coming back.
PS: You can get DeoxIT from your local Radio Shack.
you cleaned the insides of the seatbelt receptical ? that's it????
wouldn't it be funny if this is all that has to be done after all this talk
(well, not hahahaha funny)
Mine is on, I know it's the seatbelt.. I have all the parts to fix it.. But I want to just try turning the light off but I have not had any time to get to my wrench so he can kill the light.
I won't take credit for the fix...thank you though
. I either read it here or on renntech...can't remember where :P.
Yeah...I essentially sprayed DeoxIT liberally in the belt buckles and the ground nut (under the seats), let it dry, cleared the codes, and haven't seen it since.
The pack came with 2 sprays...the DeoxIT cleaner, and a Gold cleaner. I just used the regular one (not the gold).
Even if I have to do this every year, it beats paying the stealer $1K.
I don't believe it will reset itself. Either the dealer has to reset it or use a Durametric.
I decided to buy a Durametric as I wasn't 100% sure the fix would work, so thought I may need to clear codes multiple times. Also, would come in handy for any future issues.
PS: I have no affiliation with Durametric.
Barn996: Yeah...let us know. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I have a '99 996 and my airbag light is now on for the 4th time since I have owned the car in 2003. I took it to the dealer and they read the fault codes and said that the FIX would require a $1,700 repair where they would now install an "updated" seat belt receptacles and wiring harnesses. My question is....if the airbag light is on due to the reason I described above, does the airbag still work?
Has anyone tried cutting the wires to the seatbelt and just tying them together (like with the brake pad sensors), making the ECU assume the seat belts are always buckled?
Good question, and I don't know the answer
I tried several methods including buying a new receptical and the lite is still on
. Very frustrating
Gotta find someone here local with a Durametric and try that
I had my seat belt receptors replaced about 4x and the airbag light still goes on about 3k miles after the repair. The dealer now wants to replace the air bag control unit as part of the fix.
I would like to avoid the repair if I know that the airbag will still function if the light is on.
The FAULT CODES ARE 45 and 46 which point to the seat belt receptors.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
