1987 PORSCHE 944 lights

944 / 944 S

944 Turbo

Headlight Washer

To operate the headlight washer, push the
washer lever in the direction of the dash-board (switch position 7). The system only operates when the headlights are switched on. A separate pump supplies high-pressure water to the spray nozzles located in front of the headlights on the bumper. The high
pressure stream soaks the dirt on the lenses
and washes it off. Repeat the wash cycle as
necessary to remove heavy dirt accumulation.
Since the system uses a lot of water, a
reservoir holding approx. 1,6 U.S. gals, or 6
liters has been installed in the engine
compartment. This reservoir also supplies the
windshield washer with water. Use windshield washer solvent with anti-freeze all year round,
so that both washer systems also function at
freezing temperatures.
Do not use engine coolant anti-freeze or
any other solution that may damage the
car paint.

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Instruments: Gauges
Warning Lights
Indicator Lights


944 / 944 S 944 Turbo
Speedometer

The speedometer indicates driving speed per
hour.
In USA : Miles per hour and Kilometers per
hour
In Canada : Kilometers per hour
The upper odometer records total distance
driven and cannot be turned back.
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944 / 944 S

944 Turbo The trip odometer
in the lower part of the
speedometer can be turned back to zero by
pressing the reset-button, located in the left
section of the center dashboard vent. The
ignition must be on. Tachometer

The transistorized tachometer operates on the pulse count principle and shows engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
The mark at the end of the scale indicates the
maximum permissible engine rpm. Before
reaching this area, the next higher gear
should be selected. Earlier shifting saves fuel.
Shift to the next lower gear when the engine
rpm drops below 1500 rpm.
The speed limiting governor prevents the
engine from being overrevved under load.
Boost Pressure Gauge

On the 944 Turbo there is a boost pressure
gauge in the lower part of the tachometer.
This instrument indicates the pressure in the
intake manifold.
With the ignition on and the engine stopped,
the indicated pressure corresponds to the
ambient air pressure (atmospheric pressure)
of approx. 1 bar.
Should an excessively high boost pressure
occur as a result of a defect, the fuel supply or the ignition is cut off automatically.

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944 / 944 S
CASIS
Computer Assisted Shift Indicator System (Manual Transmission only) A computer continually evaluates vehicle data, such as driving speed, engine rpm, engine
load and engine temperature.
When the CASIS arrow in the tachometer
lights up, it means the engine could operate
more economically. The light indicates that
you can increase fuel efficiency by shifting into a higher gear. The CASIS light will go out when a higher gear has been engaged, when taking your foot off the accelerator pedal or when accelerating at a higher rate. In fifth gear the CASIS light is inoperative.
During maximum acceleration, the CASIS
arrow light will only light up at a point where
engine rpm is such that improved acceleration
can be obtained by shifting into the next higher gear. This means the CASIS arrow does not
indicate any set shift point, but that the
computer calculated shift points will depend on the way you drive. The arrow will light up at
the lowest speed range when cruising, and at
the highest speed range when accelerating
with wide open throttle.

How to use CASIS


Drive your Porsche shifting as you normally
would. As soon as the engine reaches uneconomical load range, the CASIS light will remind you to
shift into the next higher gear to keep the
engine at the same performance level but with lower fuel consumption.
You will get used to CASIS quickly and there
fore operate your Porsche with the CASIS
arrow light coming on only now and then.
WARNING
Use CASIS to your best advantage but
remember that traffic, road and weather
conditions must always have priority when shifting gears or changing speeds.
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Left Instrument Cluster
The left instrument cluster includes the
coolant temperature and fuel gauges as well
as warning lights for coolant temperature, fuel
reserve, brake-
lining wear, safety belt, parking light and parking brake. The two arrows at the
top are turn signal indicators for vehicles with
trailer coupling.
Coolant temperature

Indicator
Needle in lower field - engine is cold
Avoid high speeds and high engine rpm. During cold engine operation, engine
response and power levels will vary from that
of a warm engine. Due caution and notice of
these engine characteristics will ensure safe
operation of the vehicle.
Needle in center field - normal

Under normal driving conditions, needle
should remain in center field. The needle may
reach the upper field, especially at high
engine loads, but should return to "normal"
when engine load is reduced.

Needle in upper field - warning
If needle enters the upper field the engine is
overheating the warning light comes on.
Reduce speed and engine rpm. The needle
should return to the center field and the
indicator light goes out.
If the needle does not return to the center
field, and the indicator light does not go out,
the radiator fan may not be working to
provide sufficient engine cooling. Pull off the
road and turn off the engine. The fan should
still be running for a while. Failure to do so
may result in severe damage to the engine.
WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, let the engine cool down.
Hot components can burn skin on
contact. The radiator fan switches on automatically when the coolant reaches a
certain temperature and continues to run
(even with ignition off), until the coolant
temperature drops. Therefore, never

touch the fan blades as they will rotate spontaneously when the termoswitch
turns the fan on.
Be careful if you have to remove the cap from a hot coolant fluid reservoir. Protect
your hands, arms and face against
scalding. Use a thick rag and open the
cap carefully one turn to allow excess
pressure to escape before removing the
cap.

If the fan is not working, the fuse for the fan
may be burned out, or the relay may be
defective. See "Fuses and Relays".
After the engine has cooled down, check the coolant level (see "Cooling System"). If the
coolant level is low, top it up with water.
Check for possible leaks.
If the coolant level is normal, proceed to the
nearest workshop. Avoid idle speed and stop-
and-go driving. But with an inoperative fan,
the coolant will heat up again. When the
needle enters the upper field, stop again and
let the engine cool down before you continue
driving.
Coolant system malfunctions should be
remedied by the nearest Porsche dealer, as
severe engine damage may occur.

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Fuel Gauge and FuelReserve Indicator
When the ignition is turned on, the amount of
fuel in the tank is indicated by the fuel gauge
in the right part of the dial.
If the needle enters the area in the bottom and the fuel reserve indicator lights up, there is
only a reserve of about. 2.1 U.S. gal/8 liters
left in the tank. Time to refuel at the next gas
station.
Brake Pad
Warning Light
The brake pad warning light comes on when the ignition is turned on and goes out after the engine has started.
If the light stays on when the engine is
running or comes on while driving, the brake
pads are worn, excessively.
Do not continue to operate the vehicle but
have your Porsche dealer check and
replace the brake pads.

Safety Belt
Warning Light
When the ignition is turned on the light will
come on for about 6 seconds to remind driver
and passenger to buckle up. See "Safety
Belts" for more details.


Parking Brake Light
The parking brake light will light up when the
ignition is turned on and the parking brake is
set.
The light goes out when the parking brake is fully released.
Parking Light
The parking light indicator at the bottom in the
left instrument cluster lights up when the
parking lights are switched on.

Turn Signal
Indicator Light
The turn signal indicator light, which is located below the central warning light, will flash at the same frequency as the turn signals. If a turn
signal fails, the control light flashes at about
twice the normal frequency. Have your dealer
check and repair it for you.
High Beam Indicator
Light

The high-beam indicator light, which is located at the top between the tachometer and the
right instrument cluster, will light up when you
switch on the high beams or when you flash
signal. The indicator goes out when you
switch to low beam.

Central Warning Light
The central warning light comes on after
turning on the ignition. This light monitors all
functions displayed by the instruments. If one
of these functions fails, the central warning
light and the pertinent indicator light come on
until the malfunction has been corrected. The
vehicle should immediately be taken to the
nearest authorized workshop.

37

Right Instrument Cluster
The right instrument cluster combines the oil
pressure gauge with the oil pressure warning
light, the voltmeter with the alternator warning
light as well as the brake fluid warning light.

Oil Pressure Gauge
Engine oil pressure is shown in bars. At 5.000 rpm, with the engine at normal operating temperature (approx. 90°C / 194°F), the pressure should be approx. 4 bar. A slight
drop in oil pressure is normal under certain
operating conditions such as prolonged
highway driving in hot weather.
At idle speed, with the engine oil hot, the oil pressure can sink to 0.5 bar - this does not
indicate any loss of engine performance.
However, if the oil pressure drops suddenly
while you are driving, or if the warning light comes on, pull off the road,
stop the engine
and wait for it to cool down. Check the
engine oil level. If the oil level is normal,
contact the nearest dealer.

Oil Pressure
Warning Light
The oil pressure warning light comes on when the ignition is turned on. It should go out when the engine is started and has reached the
correct oil pressure.
If the oil pressure warning light
does not light up when turning the ignition on, or if it does
not go out after starting the engine, contact
your Porsche dealer immediately.
If the oil pressure warning light comes on
while you are driving, pull off the road and stop the engine .
Check the oil level to make sure you have
enough oil. If oil level is correct and the oil pressure warning light is still on, do not driv
e
the vehicle as severe engine damage may
result. Contact your nearest Porsche dealer
for assistance.
An occasional brief flickering of the oil pressure warning light at idle speed and
normal engine temperature is no cause for
concern if the light goes out upon
acceleration.
The oil pressure warning light is not an
indicator for low engine oil level. To check the
oil level, always use the dipstick.
Make it a habit to have the oil level checked
with every fuel filling.
Voltmeter
The voltmeter shows the overall condition of
the charging system. The needle should
normally stay in the 12-
14 volt range when the engine is running. A temporary drop below 12
volts when starting the engine is normal.
38

Alternator Warning Light
The alternator warning light comes on when
the ignition is turned on. It should go out after
the engine is started.
If the alternator warning light does not light
up when turning the ignition on, or if it does
not go out
after starting the engine, there is a malfunction in the electrical system. If this is
the case, contact your Porsche dealer.
WARNING
If the alternator warning light comes on
while you are driving, pull off the road and
stop the engine.
Check whether the Polyrib-belt is slipping or
broken. The Polyrib-belt not only drives the
alternator for battery charging, but also the air
conditioner compressor.
If the light just flickers lightly, the Polyrib bel t
may be loose and is slipping.
The belt should be tightened or replaced
before you continue driving.


Brake Fluid Warning
Light
The brake warning light monitors the hydraulic dual-circuit brake system. It lights up when the ignition is turned on and should go out after
the engine has been started.
If the brake warning light fails to light up when
the ignition is turned on, or if it fails to go out
after the engine is started, there may be a
malfunction in the electrical system. Let your
Porsche dealer locate and correct the
condition promptly.
Should the light come on while driving, the
brake fluid level in the reservoir could be too
low, or one of the dual brake circuits may
have failed. In either case, the brakes will
function but a much longer distance and a far
greater pedal pressure are required to bring
the car to a halt. See "Brakes" for more
details.
Carefully pull off the road and stop. Have
your car towed to the nearest dealer for
repair. Continued operation of a car with
defective brakes is dangerous.
Antilock
The warning light goes on in the event of a
malfunction in the ABS system. The system is
switched off; the normal brake system
remains fully operational. If the light comes
on, take your vehicle to your authorized dealer for service immediately.
Air Bag
See "Air Bag System" for details.

39

Rear Window Wiper
To operate the wiper, depress the rocker
switch (A) on the center console. The rear
window must be sufficiently wet to prevent the glass surface from being scratched.
Ashtray
The ashtray is in the center console. To empty the tray, pull it out of its well.
Reinsert it so that the light "window" points
toward the bulb on the back inside the well.
WARNING
Never use ashtray as waste paper
disposal. Fire hazard!
Glove Compartment
Press locking button to open glove
compartment. With the car lights turned on,
the glove compartment light is automatically
switched on when the glove compartment is
opened.
The compartment is lockable with the ignition
key to help prevent theft.
WARNING
Keep glove compartment door closed
while driving to prevent injury during a
collision.

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Overhead Interior Light
Located between the two sun visors the
interior light has a three position switch.
Switch Positions
Rearward (a) - on continuously
Center (b) - off
Foreward (c) - on, only with doors open Sun Visors

To protect driver and passenger from side
glare, the sun visors can be moved to the
sides after lifting them out of their center
mounting.
The make-up mirror on the rear of the visor is
fitted with a protective sliding shutter.
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WARNING
Never carry additional fuel in portable containers in your car. Such containers,
full or partially empty, may leak, cause an
explosion, or result in fire in case of a
collision.
Porsche does not recommend the use of
fuel additives.
Do not use any fuel with octane ratings
lower than 91 RON or 87 CLC or AKI,
944S/944 Turbo 95 RON or 90 CLC or AKI.
Gasolines containing alcohol
Gasoline containing alcohol is available at gas
stations in some areas. The gas pump may not
be labeled to identify that alcohol is present in
the gasoline. If it is labeled, it may not identify
what amount and type(s) of alcohol
are used. We recommend you DO NOT use
fuels where the alcohol content cannot be
identified.
Gasolines containing methanol
DO NOT
use fuels containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). The use of fuel
containing this type of alcohol can result in
vehicle drivability and performance problems
and may damage critical parts of your vehicle's
fuel and emission control systems.
Gasolines containing ethanol
A mixture of unleaded gasoline and ethanol (ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol) is sold in some
areas. This mixture is sometimes called
"Gasohol".
You may use gasohol in your

Porsche, provided it contains no more than
10% ethanol, and the octane requirements for
your vehicle are met. However, we strongly
recommend to switch back to gasoline without
ethanol, if you experience any of the following
problems with your vehicle:
Deterioration of drivability and performance.
Substantially reduced fuel economy. Vapor lock and non-start problems, especially
at high altitude or at high temperatures.
Engine malfunction or stalling.
Continued use of gasohol under these
conditions may cause costly damage to the fuel system and the emission control system of your vehicle.

51

Gearshifting Manual Transmission


Maximum downshift points
5th to 4th gear
944 115 mph/1 80 km/h or 4300 rpm
944 S 123 mph/1 98 km/h or 5400 rpm
Turbo 130 mph/210 km/h or 5000 rpm
4th to 3rd gear
944 85 mph/1 36 km/h or 4750 rpm
944 S 91 mph/1 46 km/h or 5000 rpm
Turbo 96 mph/1 55 km/h or 4500 rpm
3rd to 2nd gear
944 58 mph/ 94 km/h or 4500 rpm
944 S 61 mph/ 98 km/h or 4600 rpm
Turbo 65 mph/1 05 km/h or 4250 rpm
2nd to 1st gear
944 34 mph/ 55 km/h or 3850 rpm
944 S 36 mph/ 58 km/h or 4000 rpm
Turbo 38 mph/ 62 km/h or 3700 rpm
Minimum upshifting points
1st to 2nd gear at 15 mph/24 km/h or
944 2850 rpm
944 S 2800 rpm
Turbo 2850 rpm
2nd to 3rd gear at 25 mph/40 km/h or
944 2800 rpm
944 S 2750 rpm
Turbo 2400 rpm
3rd to 4th gear at 40 mph/64 km/h or
944 3050 rpm
944 S 3000 rpm
Turbo 2750 rpm
4th to 5th gear at 48 mph/77 km/h or
944 2700 rpm
944 S 2650 rpm
Turbo 2300 rpm
The Porsche transmission with servo-lock
synchronization permits rapid and precise
shifting of gears. But be sure when changing
gears that the clutch pedal is fully depressed
to the floor, and that the gearshift lever is
completely engaged. The engine speeds for
the individual gears are listed on this page.
Reverse
Only shift into reverse when the car has
come to a complete stop.

The clutch pedal must be depressed and the
vehicle must be stationary before shifting into
reverse; only then move the gearshift lever to
the right (overcoming the spring resistance)
and then to the rear. Both back-up lights come on when the
transmission is put into reverse (with ignition
on).
For smooth shifting, observe the following shift points:
The specified maximum rpm figures should
not be exceeded when shifting down, as
otherwise the engine speed would be too
high. This applies to standard gear ratios only.

Please observe all local and national speed limits!
52

Controls for Automatic Transmission
The selector lever has 6 positions:

Park
Rev erse

Neutral
Driv e
Low
Low




... If the selector lever is unintentionally mo ved
into Neutral (N) while driving, take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and wait until the engine
speed has dropped to idle before selecting a driving position.
Never shift into Reverse (R) or Park (P) when
the car is in motion.
... Never get out of the driver's seat when the
engine is running and the selector lever is not in the "P" position. Move the selector lever to
"P" and apply parking brake.
... Always make sure the selector lever is in the
"P" position when checking under the hood.
Otherwise, any increase in engine speed may
set the vehicle in motion, even with the
parking brake applied.
... A driving position must never be used for
holding the vehicle at rest uphill. Always use
your foot brakes when stopped on inclines.
Driving the Automatic Transmission
The Automatic Transmission has 3 forward
gears and one reverse. In driving positions D
and 2 the Automatic Transmission changes
gears automatically while driving.
Position D
is the driving position normally used for city and highway driving. It ranges from zero to top
speed, and all three gears shift automatically
depending on driving speed.

Start in Park
The selector lever has a push button in the
handle. The push button must be
depressed when selecting the following
positions:
From P to R
R to P depress push button
N to R in handle
2 to 1
The selector lever can be moved freely
between the other positions.
The respective position is illuminated in the tachometer as long as the ignition key is in
the ignition lock.
Remember the following basic rules:

... Apply the parking brake or foot brake before
selecting a driving position. When the selector
lever is in a driving position, the car may creep
even at idle speed. Therefore, do not release
the parking brake or foot brake until you are
ready to move.
... Do not accelerate while selecting a driving
position. Wait for positive engagement. At this
time the engine must run at idle speed so that
no undue stress will be placed on the automatic
clutches in the transmission.
53

Position 2
is to be used for mountain driving or slow
driving, when towing a trailer and also when
you want to make use of the engine's braking
effect. In "2", only the first and second gears
will engage automatically. Therefore, only shift down into position "2" when the speed is below 63 mph or 100 km/h. It is not necessary to let up on the accelerator.
Position 1
is needed on rare occasions. It should only be
used up to 25 mph or 40 km/h. In "1" the
transmission will stay in first gear and not shift
into the second or third gear.
Only shift down into "1" when driving speed is below 25
mph or 40 km/h.
The reverse position R
Reverse should be selected only when the car has come to a full stop and the engine is
running at idle speed.
The back-up lights come on automatically
when you engage Reverse (with ignition on). Starting the engine
is only possible when the selector lever is in
Neutral or Park (N or P) . As long as one of
the driving positions is engaged a safety
switch prevents the engine from being started.

Emergency starting
Your Porsche with Automatic Transmission
cannot be started by pushing or towing.
Should the engine fail to start see "Emergency starting with jumper cables" or consult your
nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
DO NOT START OR TOW the car without
ATF in the transmission, as this will result
in serious damage to transmission and
torque converter.
Putting the car in gear
With the parking brake or foot brake set, shift
into the position you wish to use, usually
position D. To accelerate, release the brake
and depress the gas pedal.
WARNING
Do not release the brake before you are
prepared to move, because power is
transmitted to the wheels as soon as a
driving position is engaged.
Selecting a driving position while driving
is easy. Simply release the accelerator pedal
and move the selector lever from the position
you are in into the position you want. Then
step on the accelerator again.
WARNING
Do not shift to a lower driving position
until vehicle speed has dropped below the
specified limits. Engine speed will sudden-

ly increase and may cause engine damage and loss of vehicle control.
Stopping
When stopping temporarily, at traffic lights for
example, it is not necessary to move the
selector lever to Neutral. Simply apply the
brakes. To start again release the brake and
accelerate.
Parking
When parking your car, apply the parking
brake first, and then move the selector lever to position P. To do this, depress the button and
push the lever through R to P. The
transmission is then mechanically locked.
Park may only be engaged when the car is
stationary.
Do not remove the key from the ignition
steering lock until you have parked the car, because removal of the key locks the
steering wheel.
Shift out of the Park position, before releasing
the parking brake.
When the car is parked on a steep hill, shifting
out of Park may be a little harder. This is due
to the weight the car exerts on the
transmission.

54

Luggage Compartment
Luggage and other belongings should be
protected from the sun and "inquisitive eyes"
by pulling the rolled-up luggage cover from
behind the rear seat back and hooking it into
the eyelets on the rear cross wall. When
unhooked, the cover rolls itself up
automatically.
To prevent luggage and other objects from
sliding around while the car is in motion, you
can secure them with spider straps available
through your dealer or other supply firms. The
eyelets for this purpose can be found behind
the rear seat back and on the luggage
compartment floor. Luggage space
To provide for additional luggage space, press the knob on the left or right side to release the rear seat back. Then tilt forward.
Luggage compartment light
The light is located on the left side of the
luggage compartment. The light can be
switched on or off, regardless of ignition or
vehicle light switch positions.
Roofracks
The installation of commercially available
roofracks is not compatible with the roof
design of your Porsche.
When installing the Genuine Porsche Roof-
rack available up till now, the maximum
permissible weight load of 75 Ibs or 35 kg
must not be exceeded.
The "New Genuine Porsche Roofload
Transport System" provides for maximum
permissible weight loads of up to 165 Ibs or
75kg.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to advise you about which type of roofrack can best serve
your individual needs and load carrying
requirements.
WARNING
Make sure that the load is carefully
mounted. Secure it additionally by locking
the roof transport system.
57





Engine Hood
To unlatch the engine hood, pull the release
lever on the left underneath the instrument
panel. Opening the hood
Lift hood slightly and pull up on handle (arrow) to disengage safety catch. Then lift up the
hood.
Make sure the windshield wipers are not tilted
forward.
The engine compartment light on the hood will come on when the vehicle lights are turned
on.
Closing the hood
Lower the hood and press it down on the hood latch until you hear an audible click.
WARNING
Should you notice at any time while driving that the hood is not secured properly,
please stop at once and close it.

58