Bulletin #: 2116

Advanced Technical Information

Part ID: 6924

6

Red Warning in the Instrument Cluster: Occupant Seat Belt not Fastened
Vehicles Affected
Models

Model Year

Model Type

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

Panamera
Cayenne
911
Taycan

As of 2017
As of 2019
As of 2020
As of 2020

971
9YA, 9YB
992
Y1A, Y1B

N/A

N/A

Revision History
Revision

Release Date

Changes

0

July15, 2021

Original document

Condition
The customer complains of a red warning message in the instrument cluster that reads, “Occupant seat belt not
fastened. Fasten seat belt.” This message appears despite all seat belts being fastened.

Figure 1:
Red warning in the instrument cluster

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Bulletin #: 2116

Advanced Technical Information

Part ID: 6924

6

Technical Background
The red warning message may appear for one of three reasons:
1.
2.

3.

The belt buckle is faulty,
The vehicle is moving at a speed greater than 18 mph (30 km/h) and an occupant does not have their seat
belt fastened, or
The vehicle detects improper use of the seat belt by the driver (e.g., use of a dummy belt buckle).

The airbag control unit (CU) counts the number of drive cycles where the seat belt is not disconnected after the
cycle is complete (i.e., the vehicle is shut off). Once the threshold of 5 cycles is reached, the warning light shown in
Figure 1 appears in the instrument cluster.
Note: The count is decreased by 1 each time that the seat belt is disconnected after a drive cycle. Therefore, more
than 5 drive cycles may be required to set the red warning in the instrument cluster.
Service Information
1.

Document the presence of any “dummy” seat belt buckles in the vehicle with pictures.

Please present the following questions to the customer and document their answers:

a)
Is a “dummy” (fake) seat belt buckle ever used in the vehicle?

b)
i.
Is the seat belt ever handled in a unique way? (e.g., sitting on top of buckled seat belt,

placing seat belt behind seat, inserting passenger seat belt into driver belt buckle)

ii.
Does the seat belt remain permanently fastened while the vehicle is driven?

c)
Is the vehicle ever parked for a longer period (more than a couple minutes) with the door open?

d)
Do you ever remain in the vehicle with the belt buckled and engine off (e.g., during a phone call)?

e)
What is the typical seat belt buckle fastening procedure when the operator enters the vehicle?

f)
What is the typical seat belt buckle unfastening procedure when the operator exits the vehicle?

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Bulletin #: 2116

Advanced Technical Information

Part ID: 6924

6

2.
Before attempting any repairs to the vehicle, take a service VAL (Pre-VAL) to document any fault codes

present in the vehicle.

a.
Note: If the red warning (Figure 1) is present in the instrument cluster upon the vehicle’s arrival for

service, continue to Step 3. If no warnings are present at the time of arrival, begin with Step 4.
3.
Clear all relevant fault codes from the fault memory. If the relevant fault codes will not clear via the PIWIS
tester and the red warning message from Figure 1 is still present in the instrument cluster, follow the
procedure outlined in steps (a) through (g) below.

a.
Unlock and enter the vehicle with the seat belt buckled.

b.
With the seat belt unbuckled, start the vehicle.

c.
Buckle the seat belt.

d.
Safely accelerate to a speed of 18 mph/30 kmh, then find a

safe location and park the vehicle.

e.
Unbuckle the seat belt, exit the vehicle, and lock all doors.
Wait 30 seconds.

Figure 2:
Example of dummy seat belt buckles

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Bulletin #: 2116

Advanced Technical Information

Part ID: 6924

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f.
Repeat steps (a) through (c).

i.
If the warning message is no longer in the instrument cluster, the fault codes are passive

and can now be cleared.

ii.
If the warning message is still present in the instrument cluster, please repeat steps (a)

through (e) until the warning message is cleared from the instrument cluster.

g.
After the warning message is cleared from the instrument cluster, clear all relevant fault codes from
the fault memory.
Take a service VAL (During-VAL) to document the absence of any fault codes.
4.
Check the resistance of the wires at both sides of the belt lock electrical connector. Please refer to
WM 692419 – Removing and installing front belt lock, to determine the location of the driver’s belt lock
connector.

a.
The resistance from the connector to the belt lock should be between 320-480 Ohms (0.320-

0.480 kΩ). Take a photo of the resistance measurement and attach it to the PCSS job.

i.
The belt lock should be replaced if the resistance is outside of the specified range.

b.
The resistance from the connector to the airbag CU (female side) should be 0.2-0.4 Ohms. Take a

photo of the resistance measurement and attach it to the PCSS job.

i.
If the resistance is outside of the specified range, check for continuity in the wires from the

electrical connector to the airbag CU. If continuity is verified, replace the airbag CU. If no

continuity is verified, inspect the wires in the wire harness from the electrical connector to
the airbag CU.

c.
If all measurements are within specification, continue to Step 5. If any repairs were made during

Step 4, verify that all components are functioning as designed.

Figure 3:
Resistance check for (4a)

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Bulletin #: 2116

Advanced Technical Information

Part ID: 6924

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5.
Perform the drive cycle outlined below to set the red warning in Figure 1.

a.
Unlock and enter the vehicle with the seat belt unbuckled.

b.
Buckle the seat belt and start the vehicle. Let the engine run for 1 minute.

c.
Turn the vehicle off. Leaving the seat belt buckled, exit and lock the vehicle. Wait 30 seconds.

d.
Unlock and enter the vehicle. Start the engine and let it run for 1 minute. Ensure that the seat belt
remains buckled.

e.
Repeat steps (c) and (d) until the red warning in Figure 1 appears in the instrument cluster. The

warning typically appears within 5-8 cycles.
f.
Take a service VAL (During-VAL) to document the presence of the warning in the instrument
cluster.
6.
Perform the instruction in Steps (3a) through (3g) to clear the warning (Figure 1) from the instrument
cluster. Take a service VAL (Post-VAL).
7.
If the red warning (Figure 1) is manually set and subsequently cleared by performing the instructions in

Steps (5a) through (5f), the system operates as designed.
Warranty
As always, be sure to document the repair completely in PCSS.
For this repair, please code the “cause” as follows:
Cause location:
69240
Front belt lock
Cause symptom:
4045
Warning activated
Use the following troubleshooting labor operation:
03350000
On board diagnostic (Main work) Fault memory read out and battery charger connect
69241901
Front belt lock remove and reinstall (Main work)
03350053
On board diagnostic (Composite work) Create VAL
Search Items
Seat belt, belt lock, 911, Taycan, Panamera, Cayenne

Important Notice: Technical Bulletins issued by Porsche Cars North America, Inc. are intended only for use by professional automotive technicians who have attended Porsche service training courses. They are
written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some Porsche vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of a vehicle. Porsche special tools may be necessary in
order to perform certain operations identified in these bulletins. Use of tools and procedures other than those Porsche recommends in these bulletins may be detrimental to the safe operation of your vehicle, and
may endanger the people working on it. Properly trained Porsche technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do the job properly and safely. Part numbers listed in these bulletins
are for reference only. The work procedures updated electronically in the Porsche PIWIS diagnostic and testing device take precedence and, in the event of a discrepancy, the work procedures in the PIWIS Tester
are the ones that must be followed.

©2021 Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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