997 seats installed in a 1998 Boxster

[kr1572]

In case anybody is interested in doing this himself: I recently installed 997 seats in my 1998 Boxster.
It took me a while, I searched all kinds of forums, and almost gave up on the wiring of the seat momory module.
In the end I threw out the memory module and rewired the whole seat switch unit, and got all key motors to work.

Let me know if you're interested in photos and description.

[Wayne 962]

Sure, that would be great! It would go nicely with my much simpler article here: Pelican Technical Article: Sport Seat Installation / Seat Removal - 986 Boxster (1997-04) - 987 Boxster (2005-08)

-Wayne

[2TrunkSteve]

This is what I'm looking for. Do you still have this information available??

[smshirk]

Originally Posted by kr1572

In case anybody is interested in doing this himself: I recently installed 997 seats in my 1998 Boxster.
It took me a while, I searched all kinds of forums, and almost gave up on the wiring of the seat momory module.
In the end I threw out the memory module and rewired the whole seat switch unit, and got all key motors to work.

Let me know if you're interested in photos and description.

I would like to get rid of the seat memory module. Did you document how you rewired the seats?

[Wayne 962]

Sounds like two good potential articles here...

-Wayne

[kr1572]

For instructions, look under Wayne's Tech Articles for the Boxster.

Link: Pelican Technical Article: Installing 997 Seats Into a 986 Boxster

Good luck!


Jan

[zech]

Are there any complications with the air bag in the seat?

The old seats don't have integrated bags, and I wasn't sure if powering the seat causes complications for the bags without the appropriate signal that all is well. I have a 1997 Boxster, and basic 987C (cayman) seats to put in it. I have no idea how the airbag system operates, and if this is a concern here or not.

To be clear, I'm not trying to get the new seats' bags to work, just concerned what happens when you power the seat without an expected airbag comm connection.

I installed them recently without any power connections, and the downside was that the recline feature does not work at all that way. They are manual only, so that's not huge to me, but I would like to power them properly anyway. Also, I now have an airbag light on the dash. Of course that may not be related - it may be just a coincidence.

I should also add that I have previously installed the Porsche child seat option with the associated airbag disable connection and programming, and recently had the battery out for a long period of time. I have reinstalled the original seats (for a track event), and the airbag light is still on.


Thanks!

[smshirk]

I removed the child seat airbag off bar that the PO had installed and wound up with an airbag light I can't turn off. I don't really know why but I didn't rewire the change that was made under the passenger seat to the wiring. I need to pull that seat back out and see if I can figure out how it goes back to stock or put the bar back in and see if I can clear the light. I'm using Durametric, which I believe should be capable of clearing airbag lights. My battery was disconnected when the seats were out. My driver seatback tilt doesn't work either ,on two different seats, both of which worked prior to removing the seats the first time. All other functions of fully electric seats on both sides work.

[zech]

Thanks smshirk!

I have mine back to the way it was prior - let me know if you need anything related to the stock connections. I did not remove the bar at all, but kept it installed with the new seat, but the seat connector itself had nothing in it for a day or two. Sounds like this may have caused the problem. Anyone with new seats having this?

Please let me know if you happen to figure this out. I don't have the durametric, so can't play with using it to solve this. I have read that it can clear airbag codes too, so I wish I had it.

Thanks!

[kr1572]

My new seats (from a 2007 997) came with integrated side airbags, which were powered by a yellow connector under the seat. I simply left this plug alone, never connected anything to it, and don't have any troubles with airbag warning lights.

J.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by smshirk

I removed the child seat airbag off bar that the PO had installed and wound up with an airbag light I can't turn off. I don't really know why but I didn't rewire the change that was made under the passenger seat to the wiring. I need to pull that seat back out and see if I can figure out how it goes back to stock or put the bar back in and see if I can clear the light. I'm using Durametric, which I believe should be capable of clearing airbag lights. My battery was disconnected when the seats were out. My driver seatback tilt doesn't work either ,on two different seats, both of which worked prior to removing the seats the first time. All other functions of fully electric seats on both sides work.

I had the same issue the other day when I removed my bar from my car - the light stayed on until I disabled the child seat bar in the programming options. I'm not sure why this would happen, as that's a simply switch under the seat, but I didn't question it at the time.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by kr1572

For instructions, look under Wayne's Tech Articles for the Boxster.

Oops, I forgot that we put that article up there!

-Wayne

[zech]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

the light stayed on until I disabled the child seat bar in the programming options.

Thanks Wayne. I want to keep using this device rather than removing it. Is there a way to find out more about how it (and the overall airbag system) works? I never really disconnected it, just the main seat connector. I assume that either disconnecting the main seat or removing the battery (or both) is what caused the airbag light. And I assume that once the light is on, I need to reset it somehow. Is there a reasonable cost tool for resetting the airbag code? What did you use to alter the programming options?

Thanks a lot!

[Wayne 962]

I use the factory PST-2 system. I believe the Durametric tool can reset the airbag lamp as well. If you removed the main seat and turned on the ignition while it was out, then that will cause the light to go on and stay on. It's probably not related to the child seat after all.

-Wayne

[zech]

Thanks Wayne.

One more question: will the airbag work when the lamp is on?

Thanks.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by zech

Thanks Wayne.

One more question: will the airbag work when the lamp is on?

Thanks.

This is a good question. While I don't have a definitive answer in a Porsche book I can point to, I do know that other customers have had accidents in their cars (BMWs) that had the airbag lamp on, and the airbag still went off. I think it really depends upon what the error message is. If it's a big error (like a sensor unplugged, or a control unit fault), then probably not. If it's a small error, like the seat was unplugged while working on the car, but now it's plugged in, then I reckon it would still work.

-Wayne