2003 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA service

DearOwner,
Wewouldliketothankyouforyourpurchaseof
aPorscheSportscar.
Judgingbythecaryouhavechosen,youarea
motoristofaspecialbreed,andyouareprob-
ablynonovicewhenitcomestoautomobiles.
Rememberhowever,aswithanyvehicle,you
shouldtaketimetofamiliarizeyourselfwithyour
Porscheanditsperformancecharacteristics.Al-
waysdrivewithinyourownuniquecapabilitiesas
adriverandyourlevelofexperiencewithyour
Porsche.Ensurethatanyoneelsedrivingyour
Porschedoesthesame.Topreventorminimize
injury,alwaysuseyoursafetybelts.Nevercon-
sumealcoholordrugsbeforeorduringthe
operationofyourvehicle.
ThisOwner'sManualcontainsahostofuseful
information.Pleasetakethetimetoreadthis
manualbeforeyoudriveyournewPorsche.
Becomefamiliarwiththeoperationofyour
Porschecarformaximumsafetyandoperating
pleasure.ThebetteryouknowyourPorsche,the
morepleasureyouwillexperiencedrivingyour
newcar.
AlwayskeepyourOwner'sManualinthecar,
andgiveittothenewownerifyoueversell
yourPorsche.

2
AseparateMaintenanceBooklet
explains
howyoucankeepyourPorscheintopdriving
conditionbyhavingitservicedregularly.

AseparateWarrantyandCustomerInfor-
mationBooklet
containsdetailedinformation
aboutthewarrantiescoveringyourPorsche.
ForU.S.only:
Ifyoubelievethatyourvehiclehasafaultwhich
couldcauseacrash,injuryordeath,youshould
immediatelyinformtheNationalHighwayTraffic
SafetyAdministration(NHTSA)inadditionto
notifyingPorscheCarsNorthAmerica,Inc.
(PorscheCarsN.A.J.
IfNHTSAreceivessimilarcomplaints,itmay
openaninvestigation,andifitfindsthatasafety
problemexistsinagroupofvehicles,itmay
orderarecallandremedycampaign.However,
NHTSAcannotbecomeinvolvedinindividual
problemsbetweenyouandyourdealer,or
PorscheCarsN.A..
TocontactNHTSA,youmayeithercalltheAuto
SafetyHotlinetolHreeat1~800)-424-9393
(or366-0123inWashington,D.C.area)orwrite
to:NHTSA,U.S.DepartmentofTransportation,
Washington,D.C.20590.Youcanalsoobtain
otherinformationaboutmotorvehiclesafety
fromtheHotline.
Yourcarhasthousandsofpartsandcompo-
nentswhichhavebeendesignedandmanufac-
turedinaccordancewithPorsche'shighstand-
ardsofengineeringqualityandsafety.
Anyalterationofthevehiclemaynegateor
interferewith
thosesafetyfeaturesbuilt
into
thevehicle.
YourPorscheisintendedtobeusedinasafe
mannerobeyingthelocallawsandinthelightof
drivingconditionsfacedbyyou,andinaccord-
ancewiththeinstructionsprovidedinthis
Owner'sManual.

DonotmisuseyourPorschebyignoring
thoselawsanddrivingconditions,orby
ignoringtheinstructionsinthismanual.
Anyalterationormisuseofthevehiclecan
leadtoaccidentsandsevereorfatalper-
sonalinjuries.

Thefittingofracingtires(e.g.slicks)forsport-
ingeventsisnotapprovedbyPorsche.Very
highcorneringspeedscanbeachievedwith
racingtires.However,theresultingtransverse
accelerationvalueswouldjeopardizetheadequ-
atesupplyofoiltotheengine.
Porschethereforewillnotacceptanywarranty
oracceptanyliabilityfordamageoccurringasa
resultofnon-compliancewiththisprovision.

Regularlycheck
yourvehicleforsignsof
damage.
Damagedormissingaerodynamiccompo-
nentssuchasspoilersorundersidepanels
affectthedrivingbehaviorandtherefore
mustbereplacedimmediately.
Yourcarmayhaveallorsomeofthecompo-
nentsdescribedinthismanual.
Shouldyouhavedifficultyunderstandinganyof
theexplanationsoffeaturesorequipment
installedinyourvehicle,contactyourauthorized
Porschedealer.He/Shewillbegladtoassist
you.Alsocheckwithyourdealeronotheravail-
ableoptionsorequipment.
Throughoutthisbooklet,leftisdesignatedas
thedriver'ssideofthevehicle,andrightasthe
passenger'ssideofthevehicle.
Text,illustrationsandspecificationsinthisma-
nualarebasedontheinformationavailableat
thetimeofprinting.
IthasalwaysbeenPorsche'spolicytocontinu-
ouslyimproveitsproducts.Porsche,therefore,
reservestherighttomakechangesindesign
andspecification,andtomakeadditionsor
improvementsinitsproductwithoutincurring
anyobligationtoinstallthemonproducts
previouslymanufactured.
Wewishyoumanymilesofsafeandpleasurable
drivinginyourPorsche.
Important
Foryourownprotectionandlongerservicelife
ofyourcar,pleaseheedalloperating
instructionsandspecialwarnings.Thesespecial
warningsusethesafetyalertsymbol,followed
bythewordsDanger,WarningandCaution.
Thesespecialwarningscontainimportantmes-
sagesregardingyoursafetyand/orthepotential
fordamagetoyourPorsche.Ignoringthem
couldresultinseriousmechanicalfailureoreven
physicalinjury.
DonotalteryourPorsche.Anyalterationcould
createdangerousconditionsordefeatsafety
engineeringfeaturesbuiltintoyourcar.
DonotmisuseyourPorsche.Useitsafely,and
consistentlywiththelaw,accordingtothedriv-
ingconditions,andtheinstructionsinthisma-
nual.
AlterationormisuseofyourPorschecould
causeaccidentsandsevereorfatalpersonal
injuries.
Notetoowners
InCanada,thismanualisalsoavailablein
French.Toobtainacopycontactyourdealeror
writeto:
Noteauxproprietaires
AuCanadaonpeutseprocurerunexemplaire
deceManuelenfranc;aisaupresduconcessio-
naireoudu:
PorscheCarsCanada,Ltd.
AutomobilesPorscheCanada,LTEE

5045
OrbitorDrive
Building#11,Suite302
Mississauga,Ontario
CanadaL4W4Y4
Telephonenumberforcustomerassistance:
1-800-PORSCHE/Option
3
3

Controls,Instruments11-126
ShiftingGear127-134
MobileRoofs135-166
Maintenance,CarCare167-193
PracticalTips,EmergencyService195-239
VehicleIdentification,TechnicalData241-258
Index259-263
9

RolloverProtectionSystem
TheRolloverProtectionSystemonthe
Cabrioletconsistsoftwosupplementalsafety
barsthattogetherwiththefrontwindshield
framehelptocreateoccupantsurvivalspacein
caseofrollover.Becauseoftheextremeand
unpredictableforceswhichcanbeencountered
inarollover,itisnotpossibletoguaranteethat
occupantswillbeprotectedfromallcontactwith
exteriorobjectsortheground.However,the
RolloverProtectionSystemisdesignedtomain-
taintheoccupantsurvivalspace.
TheRolloverProtectionSystemisactivated
automaticallyintheeventofanaccidentorex-
tremedrivingsituation.
Theprotectivedevicesarelocatedbehindeach
rearseatandrapidlydeploywithinafractionof
asecond.
Theycandeployunder:
-Extremetiltingofthevehicle.
-Lossofgroundcontact(e.g.Goingoverthe
crestofahillathighspeed).
46Controls,Instruments
/!\Danger!
Riskofdeathorseriousinjury.
I>Donotblockareaofsupplementalsafety
barswithobjects.
Intheeventofadeploymentevent,suchob-
jectscouldpotentiallypreventsuchdeploy-
mentfromoccuring,orsuchobjectscould
impactthecaroccupantsathighspeed.
I>Donottamperwithorworkonwiringandor
componentsofRolloverProtectionSystem.
I>Allworkregardingthissystemmustbecar-
riedoutbyyourauthorizedPorschedealer.
I>Checkfunctionsandperiodicserviceintervals
accordingtomaintenanceschedule(seeyour
authorizedPorschedealer).
Toavoiddamagetotheconvertibletop:
I>Ifthesupplementalsafetybarsareextended
foranyreason,donotopenorcloseconvert-
ibletop.
@
Warninglight
Thewarninglightilluminateswhenignitionis
switchedonandgoesoffwhenengineisrun-
ning.
Shouldthewarninglightsintheinstrumentpanel
andon-boardcomputerilluminatewiththeen-
ginerunningorwhiledriving,itmeansthata
faulthasbeendetectedinthesystem.Theoper-
ationofthesystemmaybecompromised.
SeeyourauthorizedPorschedealerimmediately
andhavethefaultremedied.

@
CheckEngine
WarningLight
Thewarninglightintheinstrumentpanelcomes
onwhentheignitionisfirstturnedonandre-
mainsonbrieflyasabulbcheck.Ifthelight
doesnotcomeon,havethebulbreplaced
promptly.
Ifthewarninglightsintheinstrumentpaneland
on-boardcomputercomeonandremainon
whiledriving,itsuggests:
-apotentialenginecontrolproblemandthe
needforsystemserviceor
-animproperlyfastenedtankcapor
-refuellingwithenginerunning.
Althoughthevehicleisusuallydriveableandwill
notrequiretowing,seeyourdealerforservice
assoonaspossible.

/!\Caution!
Ifthe
Check
enginelightintheinstrument
panelisflashing,severecatalyticconverter
damageandpowerlosswillsoonoccur.
ProlongeddrivingwiththeCheckengine
lightoncouldcausedamagetothe
emissioncontrolsystem.Italsocouldaf-
fectfueleconomyanddriveability.

I>Havethefaultremediedatthenearestauth-
orizedPorschedealerimmediately.
Controls,Instruments
81

InstrumentOn-board
panelcomputer
USA
"
IIJ'
Canada
@
~USA
418II
Canada
0
~USA
418
~Canada
0
~USA
8II
Canada
-
Textdisplayin
on-boardcomputer

Service
wearon
brakepads
Warning
brake
fluidlevel
Warning
brake
distribution
ASSfailure

Meaning/measure

Havethebrakepadsreplacedatan
authorizedPorschedealerwithoutdelay.
Stopimmediatelyinasuitableplace.
Donotcontinuedriving.Havethefault
remediedatanauthorizedPorschedealer.
Stopimmediatelyinasuitableplace.
Donotcontinuedriving.Havethefault
remediedatanauthorizedPorschedealer.
Havethefaultremediedatanauthorized
Porschedealer.
Controls,Instruments
95

Cassette
tapeplayer

ACaution!
Toavoiddamagetocassettetapeplayer
andtapes.
I>Useonlycassettetapesofgoodquality,hav-
ingnodamage.
I>Avoidusingtapeswithatotalplayingtime
longerthan90minutes.
Longertapesarenotrecommendedbecause
ofthethinnercrosssectionofthetape.
I>Besurethatthetapeisnotslackandthatthe
labelisfirmlysecuredontheshellbeforein-
sertingthecassetteintotheplayer.
I>Havethetapefirmlywoundaroundthetape
byturningthehubwithapencilorsimilar
items.Becarefulnottotouchtheexposed
tapesurface.
I>Whennotinuse,takethecassetteoutofthe
player,putitbackintoitscaseandstoreit
awayfromdust,magnetsanddirectsunlight.
Leavingthecassettetapeonthedashboard
inthesuncandamagethetape.
I>Keeptheplaybackhead,capstanandpinch
rollerclean.
I>Removetapecoatingresidueaccumulatedon
thehead,capstanandpinchrolleronceor
twiceamonth.
Acleaningtape,whichcandothis,shouldbe
availableinaudiostores.
I>Donotoilanypartofthetapeplayeranddo
notinsertanyobjectotherthanacassette
tapeintotheslot.
rnJDD~~
DIGITALAUDID
Compactdiscplayer
ACaution!
Toavoiddamagetocompactdiscplayer
anddiscs.
I>Useonlycompactdiscslabeledasshown,
havingnodirt,damageorwarpage.
I>Neverattempttodisassembleoroilanypart
oftheplayerunit.
Donotinsertanyobjectotherthanadiscinto
theslot.
Remembertherearenouser-serviceable
partsinsidethecompactdiscplayer.
I>Donotallowthedisctosustainanyfinger-
prints,scrapesorstickersonthesurfaces.
Thismaycausepoorsoundquality.
Holdthedisconlyontheedgeorcenterhole.
I>Whennotinuse,takethediscoutofthe
player,putthediscbackintoitscaseand
storeitawayfromdust,heat,dampanddi-
rectsunlight.
Leavingthedisconthedashboardinthesun
candamagethedisc.
I>Ifthediscgetsdirty,cleanthediscbywiping
thesurfacesfromthecentertotheoutsidein
aradialdirectionwithasoftcloth.
Donotuseaconventionalrecordcleaneror
anti-staticrecordpreservative.
Disccleanersareavailableinaudiostores.
Controls,Instruments
125

FuelEconomy
Fueleconomywillvarydependingon
where,whenandhowyoudrive,optional
equipmentinstalled,andthegeneralcondi-
tionofyourcar.
Acartunedtospecificationsandcorrectly
maintained,willhelpyoutoachieveoptimal
fueleconomy.
I>Haveyourvehicletunedtospecifications.
Aircleanershouldbedirtfreetoallowproper
engine"breathing".
Batteryshouldbefullycharged.
Wheelsshouldbeproperlyaligned.
Tiresshouldbeinflatedatcorrectpressure.
I>Alwaysmonitoryourfuelconsumption.
I>Drivesmoothly,avoidabruptchangesin
speedasmuchaspossible.
I>Avoidjackrabbitstartsandsuddenstops.
I>Donotdrivelongerthannecessaryinthe
lowergears.Shiftingintoahighergearearly
withoutluggingtheenginewillhelpsavefuel.
I>Prolonged"warmup"idlingwastesgas.Start
thevehiclejustbeforeyouarereadytodrive.
Accelerateslowlyandsmoothly.
I>Switchofftheengineifstationaryforlonger
periods.
I>Anyadditionalweightcarriedinthevehiclere-
ducesfueleconomy.Alwayskeepcargotoa
minimumandremoveallunnecessaryitems.
I>Organizeyourtripstotakeinseveralerrands
inonetrip.
I>Allelectricalaccessoriescontributetoin-
creasedfuelconsumption.
I>Onlyswitchontheairconditioningwhen
necessary.
I>DonotdrivewiththeRoofTransportSystem
mountedunlessyouneedit.
TheEPAestimatedm.p.g.istobeusedfor
comparisonpurposes,actualmileagemay
bedifferentfromtheestimatedm.p.g.,de-
pendingonyourdrivingspeed,weather
conditionsandtriplength.Youractual
highwaymileagewillprobablybelessthan
theestimatedm.p.g.
I>Pleaseobservealllocalandnationalspeed
limits.
OperatingYourPorscheinother
Countries
GovernmentregulationsintheUnitedStatesand
Canadarequirethatautomobilesmeetspecific
emissionregulationsandsafetystandards.
Therefore,carsbuiltfortheU.S.andCanada
differfromvehiclessoldinothercountries.
IfyouplantotakeyourPorscheoutsidethecon-
tinentallimitsoftheUnitedStatesorCanada,
thereisthepossibilitythat
-unleadedfuelmaynotbeavailable;
-unleadedfuelmayhaveaconsiderablylower
octanerating.Excessiveengineknockand
seriousdamagetobothengineandcatalytic
converterscouldresult;
-servicemaybeinadequateduetolackof
properservicefacilities,toolsordiagnostic
equipment;
-replacementpartsmaynotbeavailableor
verydifficulttoget.
Porsche
cannot
beresponsibleforthe
mechanicaldamagethatcouldresultbe-
causeofinadequatefuel,serviceorparts
availability.
IfyoupurchasedyourPorscheabroadandwant
tobringitbackhome,besuretofindoutabout
shippingandforwardingrequirements,aswell
ascurrentimportandcustomsregulations.
Maintenance,CarCare
175