Airbag light- module failure?
 

I have an airbag light on my 2001 S that has been on since it came back from the bodyshop this spring. Since I was working so hard to get all the mechanical bugs out of the car I neglected the airbag light until today.

I scanned the Airbag system and it has a code 195? I googled this and there were a few threads on this about the car being jump started with the ignition on (which I can almost GUARANTEE happened while at the body shop) and causing the airbag module to fail.

Is there some substance to that?

Can I get an airbag module from a wrecked 2001 S, or someone parting a car out, plug it in and it will work?

Does it need to be activated?

What are the proper steps here while simultaneously avoiding the dealer?

I don't know what system you used to scan the car with, but I would suggest first scanning the car with a Porsche specific system (Durametric, PST II, PIWIS) to verify the code(s) (Air bags are a "protected code area" in Porsche techno babble, so only certain system can read and reset the system). Once you have the codes, have the same system reset the airbag system and see if they come back.

Rarely do you need to replace the airbag control module in these cars, and they ain't cheap, so quality diagnostics prior to replacing anything should be in your future......

came back from the body shop says it all, chances are they removed a component like a seat or door panel, and triggered the light because they neglected to remove the negative terminal from the battery. the light will not reset itself, you need to hook it up to a durametric (or similar) program and have the light turned off.

always remember when removing anything which you could hallucinate is related to the airbag system to disconnect the battery. as a precaution, I also like to hit the brakes a couple of times to "purge" any additional current from the system.

So today I stopped into my local indy and had the airbag system scanned with a durametric. It has an airbag module internal failure code. He tried to reset the light and it comes right back. Has been counted over 100 times- hard fault.

My guess is the body shop jump started the car (since it had a weak battery when I dropped it off) and had the key on.

If I buy a module out of a wreck/parted out car is it plug and play? Is there a serial number specific to model/trim/year? Does this need to be initialized by a dealer, or can the durametric initialize it?