Code 46 Throwing Airbag Light
 

Apparently my 986 thinks my belt buckle (Code 46 Driver Belt Buckle) is unsatisfactory. I know I gained a lot of weight over Christmas but throwing an airbag light because my belt buckle is loosened a couple of notches is just plain uncalled for.

Yes, the light stays on when the seat belt is on.

Thoughts? I personally think I should take out the airbag warning light ;)

https://www.porscherepair.us/porsche-986/fault-code.html calls for disconnecting the plug connection XI6 and testing. Not sure where X16 is but I assume there is a plug on the base of the buckle.

Oh, found my own answer: https://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/41177-airbag-fault-code-45/ and https://www.renntech.org/forums/tutorials/article/236-seatbelt-airbag-light/

BUT, I do have a follow-up someone might be able to answer: If the airbag light is on because of the driver's or passenger's side buckle error will the respective airbags still deploy? In other words, until I do the fix (see links above) am I driving around with no driver's airbag? I don't understand why the airbag would care if the seat belt is being detected as buckled or not. It would seem to me that the airbag should deploy regardless.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Airbags are disabled when the fault light is on. There is a TSB covering fixing this which you have already found in the link above.

Airbag can hurt you without you restrained with seatbelt during crash. Later moder cars have belt pretensioner for this reason.

Thanks!

Seems like a possible solution / work around for people who want to put little children in the front passenger seat. Simply install a switch that interupts the ground on the passenger seat belt buckle and presto the passenger air bag is disabled.

Right. Early car air bags do scare me. Are ALL the airbags disabled or just the driver's steering wheel air bag I wonder? The car does have airbags in the doors as well.

Thanks!

Just closing this off as I finally did figure out what was causing it - an upplugged cable under the driver’s seat! Plugged it back in and all was good.

I noticed it finally because my power tilt on my seat stopped working. So, if you get and airbag light check to see if your seat still moves :)