1987 PORSCHE 944 instrument cluster

Safety belt warning system

An audio-visual warning system is
interconnected with the driver's safety belt.
Every time the ignition is turned on, the seat
belt warning light in the left instrument cluster
comes on for about 6 seconds to remind driver and passenger to buckle up. If the driver does
not fasten the safety belt, the buzzer will
continue for the duration of this six second
period. The buzzer will go off as soon as the
driver has buckled up.
Inertia reel retractor


The combination lap/shoulder belt with inertia
reel locking mechanism adjusts automatically
to your size and movements as long as the
pull on the belt is slow.
Rapid deceleration during hard braking or a
collision locks the belt. The belt will also lock
when you drive up or down a steep hill or in a sharp curve. Otherwise the shoulder belt will
not inhibit your upper body movement.

To fasten, grasp belt and pull belt in
continuous slow motion across your chest
and lap.
Insert belt tongue into buckle on inboard side of seat. Push down until it securely locks with an audible click. Pull belt to check. Pull shoulder section to make sure belt fits
snugly across the hips.
Belts should fit snugly across the pelvis and
chest. Make sure any slack is wound on the
retractor.

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To unfasten belt, push in release button on
buckle. Belt tongue will spring out of buckle.
To release a locked belt, lean back to take
the body pressure off the belt.
To store lap/shoulder belt, allow belt to wind
up on retractor as you guide belt to its
stowed position on doorpost.

Lap belts for rear seats


The lap belt with inertia reel locking
mechanism adjusts automatically to your size
and movements as long as the pull on the belt is slow.
Rapid deceleration during hard braking or a
collision locks the belt. The belt will also lock
when you drive up or down a steep hill or in a
sharp curve.
To fasten lap belt, grasp belt on outboard
side of seat and slowly pull across the pelvis.
Insert belt tongue into buckle on inboard side
of seat and push down until it securely locks
with an audible click. Pull belt to check.

To unfasten belt, push in release button on
the buckle.
To store belt, allow belt to wind up as you
guide belt to retractor.
19

Air Bag System

The "Air Bag" in combination with the safety
belt makes up a passive safety system which
offers the driver and front seat passenger the
greatest known protection from injuries in
case of accident.
The air bag system is composed of the
following 3 major groups:
Air bag with gas generator and ignition unit Control electronics Collision sensors
In case of frontal collision greater than a
certain severity, the collision sensors send a
signal via the control electronics to the igni- tion mechanism. In the ignition process, a
solid propellant in the gas generator is
combusted in a fraction of a second. This
combustion generates the gas quantity and
pressure necessary to fill the air bag.
The air bag is located behind the steering
wheel center pad on the driver's side, and on the passenger side behind the padding above
the glove compartment. Due to the rapid
deflation of the air bag after use, there is little
danger of obstructed vision. Likewise, the
noise of the inflation of the air bag generally
goes unnoticed because of the collision noise. The air bag protects the face and upper body,
and at the same time dampens the forward
motion of the driver and passenger.

Range of Effectiveness Even if your vehicle is equipped with an air bag, the safety belt must be worn, since the air bag system is only actuated by frontal collisions and at speeds of more than 13 to 19 mph (depending on collision angle). See
figure for range of effectiveness.
Below the actuation threshold of the air bag
system, and during types of collisions which
do not cause the actuation of the system, the
seat belts provide the primary protection to the occupants when correctly worn. Therefore, all persons within the vehicle should always
wear safety belts (in many states, state law
requires the use of safety belts). See also the
chapter "Safety Belts".
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Maintenance / Monitor Lights
The air bag system monitors the operational
readiness of the igniter, sensors, warning
lamp, and control electronics itself.
Any malfunctions which may arise are announced by the monitor lights in the right
instrument cluster. Upon activation of the
vehicle ignition circuit, the "Air Bag" notation in
the instrument cluster lights up for
approximately 5 seconds and then goes out
again, indicating system readiness.
In the following cases you should immediately
consult an authorized Porsche dealer in order
to assure the air bag system is functioning
properly:
Illumination of the "Air Bag" light during travel
or repeated illumination longer than 5
seconds after the ignition circuit is turned on.
Illumination fails to light up during ignition
circuit activation.
In order to ensure long-
term functioning, the air bag system must be inspected by an
authorized Porsche dealer after 4, 8 and 10
years from the date of manufacture shown on
the safety compliance sticker, and then every 2 years.
WARNING
No changes must be made to the wiring or components of the air bag system. Do not
add any additional coverings or stickers to the steering wheel or in the area of the
passenger side air bag. Doing so may
adversely affect the functioning of the air
bag system.

Do not undertake any wiring for electrical accessory equipment in the vicinity of the air bag wiring harness. Doing so may
disable the air bag system.
The actuation of the air bag requires the immediate inspection of the system and
replacement of some parts of the system.
See your authorized Porsche dealer.
Defects should be repaired immediately. See your authorized Porsche dealer. When disposing of a used air bag unit, our safety instructions must be followed. These instructions can be obtained at any authorized Porsche dealer.

Important:
If you sell your Porsche, notify the
purchaser that the vehicle is equipped
with an air bag, and refer him or her to the
chapter, "Air Bag System", in the owner's
manual (safety and disposal rules).
Further information on the air bag system can
be found on stickers in the glove
compartment, at the interior light, as well as
on all air bag components.

Horn Button


In vehicles equipped with an AIR BAG, the
horn buttons are mounted in the two upper
spokes of the steering wheel (arrow).
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Rear View Mirrors

Do not put decals or other signs on the
windows that may interfere with the driver's
vision.
Adjust the outside and inside mirrors before driving. It is important for safe driving that you have good vision to the rear.
Inside day-night mirror

You can adjust the day-
night mirror from clear daylight visibility to non-glare visibility at night by moving the lever at the bottom of the
mirror forward or rearward.
Heated outside mirrors with remote
control


When you turn on the rear window defogger,
the outside rear view mirror is also heated.
The outside mirrors are ad
justable from inside of the vehicle by a four direction switch
located on the left door and a rocker switch
located on the center console ahead of the
gear selection lever. The rocker switch (A)
selects either the left or right mirror for
adjustment. Push
the rocker switch forward to select the left mirror, and rearward to select
the right mirror. Then the four direction switch
will adjust the selected mirror in any of the four directions.
The mirror housing is hinged and can be
folded flat against the c
ar in either direction to prevent damage in tight parking spots.
If necessary, the outside mirrors can also be
adjusted manually.
22

1 Side-window vents 2 Fog light switch
3 Instrument illumination dimmer control
4 Turn signal / headlight dimmer and flasher
switch
5
Left instrument cluster / coolant temperature gauge and fuel gauge
6 Speedometer
7 Central warning light
8 Tachometer
9 Right instrument cluster / oil pressure gauge and voltmeter

10 Intermittent wiper control
11 Rear window defogger switch
12 Fresh air vents
13 Center dashboard vent cut -
off slide14 Temperature rotary switch
15 Emergency flasher switch
16 Glove compartment lock
17 Hatchback release switch
18 Front hood release
19 Light switch
20 Horn
21 Turn signal indicator


22 Ignition / steering lock
23 Wiper / washer lever
24 Trip odometer reset
25
Air volume control knob / defroster switch
26 Fan switch
27 Heating and ventilation control levers -
dashboard / floor
28
Air conditioning switch
29 Clock
30 Cigarette lighter
31 Temperature sensor

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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.
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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.

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Lane changer
To indicate your intention when changing
lanes on the highway, slightly push the turn
signal switch lever up or down to the point of
resistance. The lever will return to the OFF
position when released.
Headlight dimmer
With the light switch at stage 2, high beam is
switched on by pressing the lever towards the
instrument panel, and low beam is switched
on by pulling the lever towards the steering
wheel. When high beams are on, the blue indicator light between the tachometer and the right instrument cluster will light up.
You can flash signal other motorists by
repeatedly pulling and releasing the lever just
up to the point of resistance.
Light Switch
Parking light - 1st position
Headlights -2nd position (with ignition key in
switch position "1").
Tail lights, side marker lights, license plate
and instrument lights are on in both switch
positions.
The retractable headlights open when turning
the switch to the second position.
When you open the door while the lights are
on, the buzzer will sound. It is your reminder
to switch off the lights.
Instrument illumination
The instrument illumination goes on when the
vehicle lights are turned on. Turn the
knob to the left of the light switch for infinitely
variable brightness control.
Turn Signal/Headlight
Dimmer Switch Lever
(ignition on)
Lever up - right turn signal
Lever down - left turn signal
The turn signal lever turns off automatically
when the steering wheel is straightened out after completing a turn.
If a turn signal fails, the indicator light flashes
about twice as fast. The light bulb may have
to be replaced.
Headlight flasher
During daylight, you can flash signal with your
foglights (in lieu of horn) by repeatedly pulling
and releasing the lever just up to the point of
resistance.
Fog lights
- with ignition on
Turn on the fog lights by depressing the rocker switch on the dashboard. A green light in the
switch glows when the fog lights are turned
on.
Parking lights - with ignition off . ... Lever up -
right side parking lights on Lever down - left
side parking lights on
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Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
(with intermittent wiper operation)
The windshield wiper/washer switch has se-
ven positions:
1 - Low speed
2 - Normal speed
3 - High speed
4 - Intermittent wiper operation
5 - Windshield washers
6 - Windshield washers and wipers
7 - Headlight washers
The time intervals can be set at the control
element to the right of the ignition lock.
Pulling the lever from its basic position
towards the steering wheel activates the
windshield washer pump in the first stage
(switch position 5) and the windshield wipers
in the second stage (switch position 6).
The electric windshield washer system can be operated by pulling the lever toward the
steering wheel from any wiper position.
When the ignition is switched on, the washer
nozzles are heated, depending on the outdoor temperature. Nevertheless, a commercial windshield anti-freeze solution should be
added to the windshield washer water during
cold weather conditions.
Avoid running the wiper blades over a dry
windshield to p
revent scratching the glass. Spray on washer fluid first. A scratched
windshield will reduce visibility.
Always loosen blades frozen to glass
before operating wipers to prevent damage to wiper motor.
WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades will reduce
visibility, making driving hazardous. Clean
blades regularly to remove road film and
carwash wax buildup. Use an alcohol base
cleaning solution, a lint free cloth and wipe lengthwise.
Clean all inside and outside window glass
regularly. In vehicles without Securiflex
windshields use an alcohol base cleaning
solution and wipe dry with a lint free or a
chamois cloth.

In vehicles with Sekuriflex windshields, the plastic coating on the inside of the
windshield must not have gummed labels
put on it or be cleaned using aggressive
agents or dry methods. If very dirty, it can
be cleaned with benzine. Make certain that
the plastic coating is not damaged in
cleaning by hard objects such as jewelry
or wristwatches.

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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.

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

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