[unknown4u]

No the unit triggers both airbags. That is a closed loom system. The signalcable is from the unit to the instrumentcluster. That is probably the problem. If there is a problem with the airbags and you will have a permanent failure you have to access the airbagunit to reset/delete the faultcode. You do not access the instrument cluster. I your case the airbagunit works fine but the output to the instrumentcluster is interrupted. The cluster checks this signal and shows you a airbaglight and when that is properly answered the light goes off. But when there is no response from the airbagunit the airbaglight will trigger the !light as well as a permanent failure. In your case there is from time to time a good signal and a bad one. That gives this strange behavior of the !light. So check and clean the contacts from oxide as wel from the cluster and the connectors between the cluster and the unit. If possible check the wireloom if there is no crack or a resistance due to oxide in the copper thinny lines.

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[ds968]

No the unit triggers both airbags. That is a closed loom system. The signalcable is from the unit to the instrumentcluster. That is probably the problem. If there is a problem with the airbags and you will have a permanent failure you have to access the airbagunit to reset/delete the faultcode. You do not access the instrument cluster. I your case the airbagunit works fine but the output to the instrumentcluster is interrupted. The cluster checks this signal and shows you a airbaglight and when that is properly answered the light goes off. But when there is no response from the airbagunit the airbaglight will trigger the !light as well as a permanent failure. In your case there is from time to time a good signal and a bad one. That gives this strange behavior of the !light. So check and clean the contacts from oxide as wel from the cluster and the connectors between the cluster and the unit. If possible check the wireloom if there is no crack or a resistance due to oxide in the copper thinny lines.

 

Thank you !!  This is very helpful .   I’ll print it out and take it to the shop I ultimately select to dig in there to examine all those things and hopefully fix the problem.    

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[vliegwielolaf1234]

To rule out the cluster , maybe you can change the cluster with another unit to see if that is the  problem , some one near you with a 968 ? is easy to do and quick .

 

I have seen clusters for sale in the past for not a lot .

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[ds968]

No one near me with a 968 anymore .  But I’ll look online for a cluster ( since it’s not expensive , it’s a reasonable process of elimination step )   What is that  “cluster” which I need to search for called  ? 

Also when you say quick and east, what does that entail ?


 

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[vliegwielolaf1234]

Easy te remove and replace , it is a bit fiddely getting it out and them removing  the electrical plugs off at the rear of the cluster , just a few screws that keeps it in place ,  if i remmeber correct it can be done with the steering wheel  in place  , leave the power off at all times , or you will trigger the airbaglight !

Best to dissconnect the battery , wait 15 min , than you will be 100% good to go , you can even turn the key so you can turn the steering wheel a bit if needed .

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[ds968]

I replaced the DME because of a stalling / starting problem , and now the air bag alert is gone !   There is suspicion that since the DME communicates with the ECU, if there was a faulty DME or even a bad contact there between the pins and the ports they go into,  it’s possible for the ECU to throw fault codes , even the air bag one..  I cleaned everything with CRC electrical spray, so we’ll  see what happens tomorrow, and the next day, etc on the first starts.   Not holding my breath but keeping my fingers crossed.  

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[ds968]

No suck luck..the airbag light came back on again today .   Back to  troubleshooting . 

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Frustrating.

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[ds968]

So..I called the DMV ( and amazing that I was able to talk to a real person, after just about 10 minutes on hold ) and they said that the air bag alert being on shouldn’t prevent the smog test to be done, but they were not sure about the “I” light being on, since that is also triggered by the CEL.  However, they think if the specific CEL alert ( the icon ) is not on, the computer won’t read it as an emissions fault and may accept the test .   So fingers crossed , I’ll try that .   At $ 250 / hr. typical labor charge around here , troubleshooting something like this can add up to a fortune .  And since the light disappears within 5-10 minutes after a morning start, and then very quickly after the second or third start of the day, I think I can live with it.. 

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[Inkedupfatboy]

What's a smog test? LoL...

Florida signing off...

 

(PS - Good Luck)

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I took the car out last night for the first time in quite a while.

It was just before dusk, and after the car warmed up and a few stops and starts, i jumped on a section of highway for a stretch.

After a few miles, I hit the exit, and driving normally through town i turned the headlights on...

Then it got weird for about 5 seconds and the ! light came on and went out.

After that the car acted normal, the lights were fine, the fog lights worked, and I stopped to chat with someone for about 45 minutes and the car started normally and performed as expected with no further occurrence of the dreaded !

 

Weird. First time that has ever happened. To be honest, I don't drive the car much and I have only ever driven it at night about 6 times since 2013.

I just thought maybe it's happened to someone else...

 

Thanks.

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[Cloud9...68]

My car used to occasionally do weird things like that too, and then magically "cure" itself.  I wonder if this type of behavior is largely caused by grounding issues, which unfortunately will only get worse as these cars age.

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[ds968]

Had the smog test today, and the air bag alert and the “!” lights were still  on when they started the car to take it in .  The technician pointed that out , but said the computer will detect that the “!” ( which  is usually a “ check engine “ fault in most cars ) does not have an emissions related issue  .  So it passed with no problems .    The lousy news : all cars older than the 2000 model year testing costs more than double of the cars newer than 2000.   It was $ 160, as opposed to $ 68 . 

The light is still acting up whenever it wants to and for how long it wants to ; sometimes it says on for 15 minutes, sometimes for only a couple of minutes , sometimes for just 30 seconds , and it goes away .  I can live with that . 

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Mine does the same. Comes on at start then after 10 to 15 mins of driving just goes out. Then usually doesn't reappear until the cars sits for a while again.

 know everything is good so I am not going to worry about it. Freaks the wife out though..

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[Waylander]

Thats not a bad idea ..not to mention that I like the look of the CS steering wheel better .   BUT,  its illegal to remove air bags or any other OE safety devices , here in California .  No shop is willing to perform the job.   I looked into that many years ago and was turned down by everyone I approached.  

Thats unfortunate, mine was factory ordered with the CS wheel and Cup 1 17

I would not change it for the world

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[Inkedupfatboy]

So do people have to put steering wheels with airbags into their model T's in California?

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[ds968]

So do people have to put steering wheels with airbags into their model T's in California?

hahaha,  no requirements to retrofit anything at all if it came from the factory the way it did . Not even seatbelts ( if the car was originally made without any ). Just can’t mess with safety features if they’re already there.    

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Ah, just curious. CA is so restrictive on so many things. 

You folks that live there put up with a lot....

No way I could do it...

 

Have fun...

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[tejon007]

Ha ha ha.   

 

Yes, we do have fun.

 

But, one thing we don't put up with is folks that live in Florida and are ignorant of what California is like (probably because they get their views from faux news). So, a simple request.  Please stop bashing California. You've done it before & you need to stop.  This isn't the forum for that.  Stay on subject...968s.

 

Also, it's strange that someone from Florida is going out of their way to say Californians put up with a lot. Those folks that live in Florida put up with a lot.

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[unknown4u]

Simple fix. ..... option. Banned.

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