Air bag light won't reset after moving seat. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Jerry238 · 08-14-2023, 02:41 PM

Hi everyone, I'm new to Porsche ownership. I have a 2002 986 Base Manual. I changed the water pump. I slid the passenger seat forward to gain access. I did not remove it. The air bag light came on when I restarted it. I have a Porsche specific code reader by Icarsoft. It wouldn't reset the air bag light. Took it to a dealer, they couldn't reset it, they tried 2 or 3 different processes or machines to attempt reset. I don't know if the air bag will still work with light on, but I want it to work. Maybe a connector came undone under the seat. I have the seat out, and there is one lose connector not attached to anything. My car does not have heated seats. The loose connector has 2 wires going to it, brown and brown/orange. There is an empty socket on plastic housing mounted to seat, but I'm not sure that's where it goes. is that for the addition of heated seats? Can anyone help me please, either how to turn off the light, or find out if something is unplugged by moving the seat forward.

JDMsurprise · 08-14-2023, 05:26 PM

What does your diagnostic device indicate as a fault code?

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Starter986 · 08-15-2023, 03:17 AM

I'm assuming you had them only try to clear the codes... and not look at the loose wires. In any event, you'll still need to have the codes manually cleared. Hooking up wires isn't going to correct that. Good luck.

Jerry238 · 08-15-2023, 09:29 AM

Hi guys, Well I took my reader Icarsoft Porsche compatible back out this morning after watching some youtube videos. When I just read obd codes there are none. If I go into Diagnostics and manually choose AirBag system and then get codes it gives me a 0003 code and says below it power supply. Does that help to diagnose it. I live 3 hours from a dealer and 2 from a good indie shop. Do you know what the unconnected connector under seat is for? Brown and Brown/Red wire. I don't have a manual or wiring diagram. All i did was move the seat forward to gain access to change water pump. What a headache. Thanks, Jerry

Homeoboxter · 08-15-2023, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry238

Hi everyone, I'm new to Porsche ownership. I have a 2002 986 Base Manual. I changed the water pump. I slid the passenger seat forward to gain access. I did not remove it. The air bag light came on when I restarted it. I have a Porsche specific code reader by Icarsoft. It wouldn't reset the air bag light. Took it to a dealer, they couldn't reset it, they tried 2 or 3 different processes or machines to attempt reset. I don't know if the air bag will still work with light on, but I want it to work. Maybe a connector came undone under the seat. I have the seat out, and there is one lose connector not attached to anything. My car does not have heated seats. The loose connector has 2 wires going to it, brown and brown/orange. There is an empty socket on plastic housing mounted to seat, but I'm not sure that's where it goes. is that for the addition of heated seats? Can anyone help me please, either how to turn off the light, or find out if something is unplugged by moving the seat forward.

I think that connector is for the airbag deactivation bar. It's only used when you fit a Porsche specific child seat. Your problem lies elsewhere.

blue62 · 08-15-2023, 10:42 AM

Check the related fuses and ground points for the airbag system.

Jerry238 · 08-15-2023, 11:03 AM

Hi, not sure which fuses apply as I don't have an shop manual or fuse box diagram, so I check them all with key on. Those that are hot with key in on position, are all good. Other ideas? Thanks, Jerry

JFP in PA · 08-15-2023, 11:40 AM

Start by finding out what code(s) the car is throwing.

Jerry238 · 08-15-2023, 08:43 PM

Hi, Well I took my reader Icarsoft Porsche compatible back out this morning after watching some youtube videos. When I just read obd codes there are none. If I go into Diagnostics and manually choose AirBag system and then get codes it gives me a 0003 code and says below it power supply. Does that help to diagnose it. I live 3 hours from a dealer and 2 from a good indie shop. I don't have a manual or wiring diagram. All i did was move the seat forward to gain access to change water pump. What a headache. Thanks, Jerry

Jerry238 · 08-15-2023, 08:50 PM

Hi, I've been so fixated on and assuming that's the problem, I forgot another possible issue. After I moved the passenger seat forward to gain room, I ordered parts. I did not disconnect the battery as I didn''t remove a seat or do anything electrical. Battery went dead, I put a charger on it, installed water pump, started it and that's when the light came on. Maybe it's not the seat at all. Would the battery going dead and recharging it do this? Thanks guys, I'm 2 hours away from the nearest shop that will work on it. Cheers, Jerry

Jerry238 · 08-17-2023, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDMsurprise

What does your diagnostic device indicate as a fault code?

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

Hi guys, Well I took my reader Icarsoft Porsche compatible back out this morning after watching some youtube videos. When I just read obd codes there are none. If I go into Diagnostics and manually choose AirBag system and then get codes it gives me a 0003 code and says below it power supply. Does that help to diagnose it. I live 3 hours from a dealer and 2 from a good indie shop. Do you know what the unconnected connector under seat is for? Brown and Brown/Red wire. John Keller says it is for Child deactivation of airbag for passenger seat and I believe he's correct. I don't have a manual or wiring diagram. All i did was move the seat forward to gain access to change water pump. What a headache. One other thing that might be the problem. I did not disconnect the battery when replacing the water pump as I wasn't doing anything that affected electrical circuits and didn't take the seat out. I ordered parts, while waiting for parts the battery went very dead. I charged it, Wouldn't hold a charge so I replaced it. Maybe it's not a seat issue at all? Thanks, Jerry
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Jerry238 · 08-17-2023, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue62

Check the related fuses and ground points for the airbag system.

Hi, Thanks for your response. I don't have a manual or wiring diagram, so I checked them all (I think). Those that were hot with key on were all good. I took my reader Icarsoft Porsche compatible back out this morning after watching some youtube videos. When I just read obd codes there are none. If I go into Diagnostics and manually choose AirBag system and then get codes it gives me a 0003 code and says below it power supply. Does that help to diagnose it. I live 3 hours from a dealer and 2 from a good indie shop. Do you know what the unconnected connector under seat is for? Brown and Brown/Red wire. John Keller says it is for Child deactivation of airbag for passenger seat and I believe he's correct. I don't have a manual or wiring diagram. All i did was move the seat forward to gain access to change water pump. What a headache. Maybe it's not a seat issue at all, but something electrical. Thanks, Jerry
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JFP in PA · 08-17-2023, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry238

Hi, Well I took my reader Icarsoft Porsche compatible back out this morning after watching some youtube videos. When I just read obd codes there are none. If I go into Diagnostics and manually choose AirBag system and then get codes it gives me a 0003 code and says below it power supply. Does that help to diagnose it. I live 3 hours from a dealer and 2 from a good indie shop. I don't have a manual or wiring diagram. All i did was move the seat forward to gain access to change water pump. What a headache. Thanks, Jerry

That code, 0003, indicates a low signal from the fuel volume regulator. So unless you have a system wide electrical issue, it isn't related to your air bag issue.

That said, if the air bag light is on, there must be an attendant code, which your scanner is incapable of reading. You need access to a real Porsche specific tool like the Durametric system, a PST II, or a PIWIS to really see what is going on.

Jerry238 · 08-18-2023, 06:33 AM

Hi Everyone, Thank you all for your input and ideas. I believe it's time to go to the dealer. Jerry

Starter986 · 08-19-2023, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry238

Hi Everyone, Thank you all for your input and ideas. I believe it's time to go to the dealer. Jerry

Jesus.

You can find the wiring diagrams on the Internet. Try Google. It's a miracle.

Your dealer is three hours away, and likely two or three times more costly that the indie you said is two hours away. What am I missing here?

Good luck.