458 Door panel removal & reinstall question

The WSM says to disconnect the battery before starting this (which I will do, especially since it requires disconnecting the door airbag). But it also states that the airbag ECU must be reset with the DEIS tool that only dealers have.

If I disconnected the battery before doing all this, and reconnect it after the door is put back together, how would the airbag ECU know that it was ever disconnected? And is it OK not to perform this “airbag ECU Cycle” when I am done?

 

While I'm not 100% certain, the computer probably has a small battery in it to preserve certain settings in case the main battery fails. So it probably will recognize that the unit has been unplugged because the computer itself is not fully powered off. It may not have the capacity to fire the airbag, but enough to recognize that something was unplugged.

 

hmm. I was considering using this as an excuse to get a Launch CRP919e, but not until I can be certain it can cycle a door airbag on a 458.

 

I’ve had the door cards off mine and have had no issue with the airbag system once powered back up.

 

I've had the door cards off of several 458/488/F8/Speciale/etc. and have never had a problem. I've sold over 150 sets of door speakers to individuals and high-end car audio shops around the world for these cars and have never received a call about an airbag issue.