1987 PORSCHE 944 ESP

Dear Porsche Owner Before going on a trip...
A lot has gone into the manufacture of your Porsche, including advanced engineering
techniques, rigid quality control and
demanding inspections. These engineering
and safety features will be enhanced by
you... the safe driver...
who knows his car and all controls who maintains his vehicle properly who uses his driving skills wisely, and who always drives within his own capabilities and
his level of familiarity with his vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on
how to perform most of the checks listed on
these pages. If in doubt, have these checks
performed by your Porsche dealer.
First things first
Turn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs of the vehicle.
Be sure tires are inflated correctly. Check for
damage and tire wear.
See that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
Check engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked
with every fuel filling. Check coolant level to assure sufficient
engine cooling.
Be sure you have a well charged battery. Check brake fluid level. If too low, have
brake system checked.
Replenish windshield washer fluid. Check if engine hood is latched safely. Replace worn or cracked wiper blades. See that all windows are clear and
unobstructed.
Keep air intake slots and area between engine hood and windshield free of snow and ice, so that the heater and the windshield wipers work properly.
Check whether all light lenses are clean.
Be sure all lights are working and headlights
are aimed correctly.
Check under vehicle for leaks. Be sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment 3
It is good practice to carry emergency
equipment in your vehicle. Some of the things
you should have are: window scraper, snow
brush, container or bag of sand or salt,
emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.

8

In the driver's seat... On the road...
Check operation of horn.
Position seat for easy reach of controls. Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors. Attach your safety belts. Check operation of foot and parking brakes. Check all warning and indicator lights when
starting the engine.
NEVER leave car idling unattended. Lock doors from inside, especially with
children in the car.
To prevent inadvertent opening of doors
from inside or outside, drive with locked
doors.

Never drive after you have consumed
alcohol.
Always have your safety belt attached. Always drive defensively. Expect the unexpected. Use signals to indicate turns and lane
changes.
Turn on headlights at dusk. Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, depending on traffic, road and weather conditions. Reduce speed at night and during inclement weather.
Driving in wet weather requires caution and
reduced speeds, particularly on roads with
standing water, as the handling characteristics of the vehicle may be impaired due to tire
aquaplaning.
Also, when crossing stretches of deeper water there is a danger that too high of a speed can
cause water to enter the engine combustion
chambers through the intake air system
and/or water may strike the cooling fan
causing cooling system damage. In order to
avoid possible en- gine or cooling system damage when driving
through deep water, the vehicle should be
driven at a walking speed in first gear.
Observe speed limits and obey road signs.
When tired, get well off the road, stop and
take a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in
the vehicle with engine idling. See
WARNINGS on "Engine Exhaust".
When parked, always set the parking brake.
Move the selector lever to "P" (Automatic
transmission) or move the gearshift lever to
reverse or first gear (Manual transmission).
On hills also turn the wheels toward the curb.
When emergency repairs become necessary, move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on
emergency flasher and use other warning
devices to alert other motorists. Do not park
or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot
exhaust system may come in contact with dry grass, brush, fuel spill or other flammable
material.
Make it a habit to have the engine oil
checked with every fuel filling.
9

NEVER invite car theft! An unlocked car with the key in the ignition switch invites car theft. A steering wheel lock and a buzzer alarm are standard equipment in your Porsche. The
buzzer will sound if you open the driver's door
while the key is still in the ignition lock. It is your reminder to pull the key out of the ignition lock and to lock the doors.



Always remove the ignition key, especially
if children are left unattended in the
vehicle. Unsupervised use of any vehicle
key may cause serious personal injury.
NEVER leave your vehicle unattended with
the key in the ignition lock. Take the key
and lock the doors.

Keys
The vehicle is supplied with three keys fitting
all locks. All keys are symmetrical so that
there is no wrong way of inserting them in the
locks. Two keys (a) are fitted with a battery
light which is integrated in the plastic handle
and lights up upon pressing the contact
button. The third key (b) is flat and should be
kept as an "emergency key", for instance, in
your purse.
After pulling the plastic head off the flat key, you can snap on a luminous plastic handle
available from your Porsche dealer.
WARNING NEVER remove the key from the steering
lock while you are driving or as the car is
rolling to a stop. The steering column will
lock when you remove the key, and you
will not be able to steer the car.

When the key bulb becomes weak, you
should install a new battery of the same
voltage. Acid leaking from a discharged
battery might damage your clothing.
1.
Use your finger nail or a small screw driver
to carefully lift the key handle cover.
2.
Insert a new commercial battery (1.5 V) in
the contact button.
3.
Assemble key top as shown in the above figure.
10

Key number
The key number is impressed on a plastic tag
(d) which comes with the keys. Detach this tag and keep it in a safe place. The key numbers
of the other keys are embossed on the key
heads.
For your protection against theft:
Record the key number and keep it in a safe
place, such as your wallet. Do not keep it in
the vehicle.
If you should lose a key, provide your Porsche dealer with the key number to obtain a duplicate key.
For the lockable wheel nuts, three identical
keys (c), plus four wheel nuts with lock slee
ve, are included. When taking the vehicle to your
Porsche dealer or to a workshop for wheel or
tire service, remember to leave one key with
the service attendant.
In case of loss, duplicate keys cannot be
furnished by your Porsche dealer. Do not
leave these keys in the vehicle. Keep them in
a safe place.
See "Lockable wheel nuts" for details.




Anti-theft alarm
If your Porsche is equipped with an antitheft
alarm system, you will be given an additional
set of duplicate keys. Keep one of these keys
in a safe place but not in the car.
The alarm system can be activated or
deactivated with this key only.
The lock for the anti-theft alarm system is
located behind the door lock on the driver's
side.
To activate the alarm system, insert the key
and turn the lock slot 90° to the right.
To deactivate the alarm system, insert the
key and turn the lock slot 90° to the left.
When the alarm system is activated, and an
attempt is made to open either door, or to lift
the engine hood or the rear hatch, the alarm
will be triggered and will produce an intermittent high-pitched noise for about 30
seconds.
Should an attempt be made to start the
engine, the alarm will also be set off.
However, when the alarm system is activated, it is impossible to start the engine.
11

Doors To lock, unlock and open doors from the
outside
All doors can be locked with the ignition key.
The passenger door can be locked without a
key by first depressing the locking knob and
then closing the door.
The driver's door can only be locked from the outside with the key. This precaution was
taken to prevent locking the driver's door
while the key is still inside the car. Squeeze trigger in door handle to open door.
To lock, unlock and open doors from the inside
Lock or unlock door by depressing or raising
the locking knob.
Open door by pulling inside door handle
located above the armrest.

Power Windows
To open or close windows, depress the
rocker switches located in the door panels. The door window on the passenger's side can also be operated from the drivers side.
The power windows are operational when the
ignition switch is turned to positions 1 or 2.
Information regarding ignition switch posi- tions will be found in section titled,
"Ignition/starter switch with steering lock".
When the ignition is turned off or the ignition
key removed, the power windows can be
operated until one door is opened.
WARNING

Do not put anything on or near the windows that may interfere with the
driver's vision.
Remove the ignition key to shut off power to the window switches when the vehicle
is not attended by a responsible person.
Remember, power is still supplied to the
window switches until one door is opened. 12



Central Locking

By means of the central locking system both
doors are electrically locked or unlocked
(locking button lowered or raised) when a door lock is turned with the key. Before locking,
make sure that both doors are properly
closed.
When the doors are locked, the removable
roof is also locked at the same time.
If the roof is open, it is not affected by the
central locking system.
Both doors can be individually locked from
inside by pressing the locking button. If the
locking button is used to unlock one door, the
second door is also automatically unlocked.

To prevent you from locking yourself out of
the vehicle, it is not possible with the driver's
door open to lock the door lock with the
locking button.
Emergency operation


Should the central locking fail, both doors can
be opened and closed mechanically. Central Locking Switch


By pressing the central locking switch (A) in
the centre console it is possible with the
ignition key in position 2 to lock or unlock both doors electrically. As a check, if the doors are
locked, a red indicator lamp in the switch
lights up.
If one of the doors has been locked manually,
the red indicator lamp lights up. By pressing
the switch, the door is unlocked; when
pressed again, both doors are locked.
With the ignition key removed, locking is
possible by means of the central locking
switch. To unlock, the ignition must be
switched on or the locking button raised. 13

ABS Brake System (Antilock brake system)
The ABS system represents a major
contribution to the enhancement of active
safety in your vehicle. This system prevents
the wheels from locking in a panic stop on
almost all road surfaces.
With ABS system in your vehicle, the
following areas are enhanced:
Full steerability , vehicle remains steerable
under all braking forces.
Good directional control , no swerving
caused by locking of wheels under braking
conditions.
Excellent stopping distance , stopping
distances are usually reduced because
controlled braking is maximized.
Prevention of wheel lock up , no brake-
induced sliding and thus no localized tire wear from emergency braking.
The crucial advantage of ABS system over a
conventional brake system is in the area of
maintaining directional control and
maneuverability of the car in emergency
situations, including panic braking in turns.
WARNING:
In spite of the improved handling afforded
by the ABS system, it still remains the
responsibility of the driver to adapt the
driving style to the prevailing road and
weather conditions, as well as, obeying
traffic laws. In no case, should the higher
degree of safety offered by ABS be
regarded as a

justification for taking greater risks. Other vehicles not equipped with the ABS
system may not be able to maintain
control, especially on wet or poor road
surfaces and thus may be more likely to
impact you in the rear. To minimize that r
isk, use your ABS system to increase your ability to maneuver to avoid dangerous
situations and not merely to try to stop in
the shortest distance possible.
Driving with the ABS System
A wheel speed sensor is fitted to each of the four wheels. If wheel slippage of either of the
front wheels or the rear wheels is sensed
during braking, the brake pressure is adjusted
automatically until the wheel no longer slips.
The brake pressure is regulated for each front
wheel individually and for both rear wheels together.
On a road surface which is slippery on only
one side, the rear wheel which is braking on
the slippery surface determines the brake
pressure which will be applied equally to both
rear wheels. This ensures that directional
stability is maintained. However, if braking
force approaches the wheel locking-up point
for all wheels (panic braking) the ABS system
will intervene in a way comparable with rapid rhythmic braking. The proper operation of ABS is perceived by the driver as a pulsating brake pedal in conjunction with audible noise
and perhaps some vibration. The driver is
thereby warned to reduce vehicle speed
appropriate for the prevailing road conditions.

If your ABS system should ever malfunction,
the ABS system is automatically switched off,
but the normal brake system, without ABS,
would remain fully operational. Such a malfunction would be indicated by the illumination of the central warning light, as well as the "ANTILOCK" light on the right hand
side of the instrument cluster.
If the ABS system becomes inoperative,
take your vehicle to your authorized dealer immediately.
Note
The control unit of the ABS brake system is
set for standard tire sizes. If non-standard
tires are fitted, the control unit may
misinterpret the speed of the vehicle, because of the variant data it receives from the sensors on the axles.
If the difference in rolling radius exceeds
approx. 17%, the control unit deactivates the
ABS system and the ABS warning lamp lights up.
28


1 Set accelerate
2 Reset
3 Cancel

Automatic Speed Control
The automatic speed control allows you to
maintain a constant cruising speed of 25 mph
(40 km/h) or higher, without actuating the
accelerator pedal. Any manual operation,
such as accelerating, gearshifting or braking
can be done independent of the automatic
speed control. The spring loaded control lever
operating the automatic speed control is
located just below the wiper/ washer lever.
While driving with the automatic speed
control set at speeds above 25 mph (40
km/ h), do not bring shift lever into the
Neutral position as excessive engine rpm
will result.
To operate the automatic speed control Accelerate to the desired cruising speed, push lever toward instrument cluster (arrow 1) and
release. This sets the cruising speed and
stores it in a memory.
After a second or two, automatic speed control will take over and you can remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. The set
cruising speed will be maintained
automatically.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when it may
be unsafe to keep the car at a constant
speed. For example, a constant speed may not be safe in heavy traffic, or on winding
or slippery roads. With the cruise control
system engaged, the engine speed will not
return to idle when removing the foot from
the accelerator pedal.
Please observe all local and national speed limits.

Passing: If you want to drive faster for a brief
moment, for example when passing another
vehicle, actuate the accelerator. When you
take your foot off the accelerator pedal, the
preset speed will automatically be resumed.
Gearshifting: When shifting gears, the
automatic speed control is only disengag
ed as long as the clutch pedal is depressed. The
preset speed will be resumed as soon as you
take your foot off the clutch pedal.
Braking and stopping: Whenever you apply
the brake or come to a stop, the automatic
speed control is disengaged. Move the lever
down (arrow 2), and the preset speed will be
resumed.

Switching system off: To switch off the
automatic speed control, move the lever
toward you (arrow 3). To resume the preset
speed, move the lever down (arrow 2).
To change the preset cruising speed
Increase preset speed:
Accelerate by depressing the accelerator pedal. When the desired speed is reached push lever toward instrument cluster (arrow 1) and take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Now the new cruising speed is set and stored
in the memory. As an alternative, you can hold the lever in the front position (arrow 1), without depressing the accelerator pedal. The car will
accelerate on its own. When the desired
speed is reached, release the lever.
Decrease preset speed:
Apply the brake, which will disengage the automatic speed control. When the vehicle
has slowed down to the desired speed, push
lever toward instrument cluster (arrow 1) to
set the new cruising speed.
As an alternative, disengage the automatic
speed control by moving the lever toward you
(arrow 3). When the vehicle has slowed down
to the desired speed, push lever toward
instrument cluster (arrow 1) to register the
new cruising speed in the memory.
Note: When driving up a hill, if the engine
power is insufficient in a particular gear, the
speed control will be disengaged
automatically. Shift to a lower gear to avoid
stalling the engine.

29

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.

34

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.
35

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.

36


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

Break-in Hints for the first 1.000 miles /
1.600 kilometers
There are no specific break-in rules for your
Porsche. However, by observing a few
precautions you can help extend the service
life and performance of your engine.
During the first 1.000 miles / 1.600 km, all
working components of the engine adjust to
each other to a certain degree. Therefore:
Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops. Change speeds frequently. Vary the throttle
load.
Do not exceed maximum engine speed of
5.000 rpm (revolutions per minute).
Do not run a cold engine at high rpm or in
Neutral.
Do not let the engine labor, especially when
driving uphill. Shift to the next proper gear in
time (use the most favorable rpm range).
There may be a slight stiffness in the steering, gearshifting or other controls during the break-
in period, which will gradually disappear.
Never lug the engine in high gear at low
speeds. This rule applies all the time, not
just during the break-in period.

Breaking in brake pads
Brake pads do not possess maximum braking
efficiency when the car is new. Therefore
more pedal force is necessary during the first
100 to 150 miles (150 to 250 km). This also
applies to replacement brake pads.

New tires
New tires do not possess maximum traction.
They tend to
be slippery. Break in new tires by driving at moderate speeds during the first 60
to 120 miles (100 to 200 km), and longer
braking distances must be anticipated.
Engine Oil Consumption
During the break-in period oil consumption
may be higher than normal.
As always, the rate of oil consumption depends on the quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine is operated, the climate, road conditions as well as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the lubricant.
Check engine oil level, add if necessary. Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every fuel filling.


47

Engine Exhaust WARNING
Engine exhaust is dangerous if inhaled.
Never start or let the engine run in a closed garage. Never sit in your car for
prolonged periods with the engine on and
the car not moving.
Although exhaust fumes from the engine have many components which you can smell, they also contain carbon monoxide, which is a colorless and odorless gas.
Carbon monoxide can be fatal if inhaled.
If you smell gas fumes in the vehicle, drive with the windows open but keep the
hatchback closed. Have the cause
immediately located and corrected.
Because of inherent hazards, we do not recommend transporting objects larger
than those fitting safely into the luggage
compartment. Keep the hatchback closed
while driving to prevent poisonous
exhaust gas from being drawn into the
vehicle.
Never carry additional fuel containers in your vehicle. Such containers, full or
partially empty, may leak, cause an
explosion, or result in fire in case of a
collision.


Operating Your Porsche in other Countries Government regulations in the United States
and Canada require that automobiles meet
specific emission regulations and safety
standards.
Therefore cars built for the U.S. and Canada
differ from vehicles sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your Porsche outside the
continental limits of the United States or
Canada, there is the possibility that
unleaded fuel may not be available;
unleaded fuel may have a considerably lower octane rating. Excessive engine knock and
serious damage to both engine and catalytic
converter could result;
service may be inadequate due to lack of
proper service facilities, tools or diagnostic
equipment;
replacement parts may not be available or
very difficult to get.
Porsche cannot be responsible for the
mechanical damage that could result
because of inadequate fuel, service or
parts availability.
If you bought your car abroad and want to
bring it back home, be sure to find out about
shipping and forwarding requirements, as well as current import and customs regulations.

48

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!
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