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Airbag Light
#1

HI Guys,

I looked at a 92' 968 over the weekend for sale and the airbag light was on. I asked the owner why it was on and he said that this was common on the 92's that if you disconnect the battery the Airbag light comes on and you need the Bosch Hammer to reset it it.
Is this true?????
Also the A/C was not working, when I hit the A/C button, the light lite up and no A/C. I then checked to see if the compressor was engaged but it was not. Question I have is if I were to replace the condenser can I fill the system with new Freon or do I have to have all the oils installed???

Thanks
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#2

<!--quoteo(post=78174:date=Aug 18 2009, 09:31 PM:name=blue968)-->QUOTE (blue968 @ Aug 18 2009, 09:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->HI Guys,

I looked at a 92' 968 over the weekend for sale and the airbag light was on. I asked the owner why it was on and he said that this was common on the 92's that if you disconnect the battery the Airbag light comes on and you need the Bosch Hammer to reset it it.
Is this true?????
Also the A/C was not working, when I hit the A/C button, the light lite up and no A/C. I then checked to see if the compressor was engaged but it was not. Question I have is if I were to replace the condenser can I fill the system with new Freon or do I have to have all the oils installed???

Thanks<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I can't think of a reason the airbag light would come on due to a battery disconnect. I wouldn't think it would be any more "common" on 92 or any other year. You either need the Hammer or the little circuit board that was floating around with software to reset it. The Durametric software should reset it as well.

As for the A/C, do a search on here...I've had good success on other older cars with Freeze 12. I haven't used it on the 968 specifically yet, but probably will next season.

- Darryl
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#3

I had thought it sounded strange that the airbag light would come on from disconnecting the battery but I wanted to confirm.

I will update if I end up buying the car


Thanks
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#4

Over the years, there have been numerous reported incidents of a battery disconnect triggering the airbag light. As noted above, the Bosch hammer, the "circuit board", and the Durametric are the known "cures". Oh, yes, lest I forget, there's also the "substitute a resistor for the airbag" approach.
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#5

many things can trigger the airbag light, including jump starting the car - very odd, but very true idiosyncrasy of this car

there is a small amount of oil also added to the refrigerant - unless converted, R12 was standard in a 92 (R134 in later cars) - EnviroSafe can be used in either, and seems to work better (i think Freeze 12 is the same stuff)
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94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
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#6

I would, as part of a pre-purchase inspection, get the car checked with the factory Bosch Hammer tool. I would want to know why the airbag light is on and the Hammer should be able to tell you if there are any faults. Small price to pay to ensure there is nothing truly wrong with the system. The side benefit being that the Hammer can reset the light, especially if there is nothing wrong...
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#7

Yes, you have to be carefull with the airbag light. my 964's light came on one day and it ended up being the Airbag Module/computer that failed. This is a very expensive part to replace. I ended up being a used one for 1500 Euro [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]
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#8

<!--quoteo(post=78186:date=Aug 19 2009, 05:46 AM:name=Anchorman)-->QUOTE (Anchorman @ Aug 19 2009, 05:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Oh, yes, lest I forget, there's also the "substitute a resistor for the airbag" approach.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That is what you might do if the airbag is missing or the clockspring is bad or something, to get the system to pass it's test. Splicing in a resistor in place of the airbag will not remove the stored trouble code that causes the airbag warning light to persist. You'd still have to reset the airbag controller with the Hammer.

The issue with the 968 airbag system is that a fault detected by the airbag system will set a trouble code. Even if the fault is corrected the code remains and the warning stays lit until the code is cleared using the Hammer. Common causes of an airbag system fault are a low battery and cluster removal (for lamp replacement or odometer gear replacement.) The clockspring might also get worn or dirty or the airbag controller might fail too.

It is possible to disconnect the airbag controller from the cluster to get rid of the warning, but then you will never know if the airbag system is working right or not. The lack of an airbag test indication at startup will also cause you to fail roadworthiness inspection in some areas.

-Joel.
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#9

HI Guys,

Thanks for all the advice and info.
Does anybody have a Hammer for sale?? I went to Pelican Parts and did a search for the hammer and nothing came up, so I was wondering do they still make them???
I called the Snap-On dealer to see if they have a computer that will reset the Airbag light. I have not heard back from him yet, does anybody know for sure if they do or don't????

thanks
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#10

I was told the same thing when I bought mine. The guy said that he disconnected the battery to mess with the stereo and it came on.

I took it to a shop and it was fixed with the Hammer in less then 5 minutes. Obviously, it could be different with the car you're looking at, but it's definitely possible that it was a battery disconnected.

I don't know if you want to by one though, I think they're really expensive. Good luck!

~Jason

(p.s. hope this doesn't double post, the first one disappeared on me)
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#11

Bosch Hammers are rare - some dealers still have them, and some Porsche independent specialists. They rarely come up for sale, and when they do they're expensive - approaching $1k. The choices noted earlier - a Hammer, a Durametric, and the no-longer-available circuit board, are the only known ways to reset the infamous, and much hated, airbag light. While I believe in "never saying never", I'd say that your Snap-On dealer is not going to bring you joy.
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#12

last hammer i saw for sale was $1500

i've used the durametric 6 times this week, tracking down a fault code source, and will be using it again on friday when i do the repair
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94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
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#13

HI Guys,

I will keep looking on E-bay for a hammer, I'm sure one will show up someday.
I hate to depend on a dealer if I can help it.
I still have not heard from the Snap On dealer but I will post the results if he does or does not have anything that will reset the airbag light.

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#14

I pulled my dash apart to wire up my avic, mic, gps antenna. I then took out my gauge cluster to try an clean it from a little glue disaster while installing my gauge rings. Put it all back together and now my airbag light is on. But also the red "!" light is on.

Is the "!" light triggered with the airbag light?
Is this hammer common among local repair shops?
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#15

bummer - it's odd how sometimes it goes off, and sometimes it doesn't - i usually disconnect the battery for a day, and make sure to ground out the positive cable against the body before doing anything

hammer NOT common in local shops - very expensive tool - dealers have them though - so does pete

i'm getting almost nowhere making a deal with durametric either
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94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
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#16

flash
bummer - it's odd how sometimes it goes off, and sometimes it doesn't


True

I had my cluster out at least 5 times since I had the car and my radio out several times as well. For some odd reason this time, I get the lights. So is the "!" light triggered with the airbag light?
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#17

The "!" will come on in combination with any other light...it's your warning light to check the dash and see what else is lit. "!" also illuminates when the parking brake is on. I think the only time "!" doesn't come on is with the seat belt indicator, but will with all other warning bulbs. If you can't find someone to turn it off, I have the little circuit card that will clear the code. So long as there isn't a real problem, it'll stay off.

- Darryl
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#18


Thanx Darryl. Perhaps in the coming week I can make it down to VA. I've been wanting to show you my sound system anyway.
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#19

Hi, i´ve built this obd interface from the 964 and is working fine in my 92 porsche 968.Can read and fix errors in Motronic,ABS,SRS and Climatronic system.I begin the project from a rennlist post.
obd

There is too much info but if you need help, i can send you the diagrams,software and some pics for built the interface.Is not like a Piwis but you can check all error code in the systems above.


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#20

Is the same one I've been too lazy to build so far? Scantool4? If not do you have a link to the schematic/software. Then I will have a choice of 2 to build when I'm not so lazy. I would like the light out by spring, the black tape over the ! is quite embarassing [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]
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