
258
Maintenance and Car Care
Changing the brake fluidBrake fluid absorbs moisture from the air over
time. This accumulation of water lowers the boi-
ling point and, under certain operating conditions,
can affect the braking performance.
fTherefore, have the brake fluid changed in
accordance with the change intervals stated in
the “Maintenance” booklet.
The warning light in the instrument panel and the
warning message on the multi-purpose display of
the instrument panel indicate
– indicate the brake level fluid is too low or,
– in conjunction with large pedal travel could
indicate a braking-circuit failure.
Note on operation
If the warning lights should light up while driving:
fStop immediately in a suitable place.
fDo not continue driving.
Please have the fault remedied at your nearest
authorized Porsche dealer.
Washer FluidWarning message on the multi-purpose
displayA message is shown on the multi-purpose display
of the instrument panel if the washer-fluid level is
too low.
In this case, the residual quantity is only around
0.85 quarts (0.8 liter).
fAdd washer fluid at the next opportunity.
The capacity is approx. 7.9 quarts (7.5 liters).
The washer-fluid reservoir for windshield, rear
window and headlights is located in the engine
compartment.fSummer filling with water + window cleaner
concentrate in the mixture ratio specified on
the container.
Winter filling with water + antifreeze +
window cleaner concentrate in the mixture
ratio specified on the container.
Always follow all the instructions on the
containers of the additives used.
fOnly use window cleaner concentrate which
meets the following requirements:
– Dilutability 1:100,
– phosphate-free,
– suitable for plastic headlights.
We recommend window cleaner concentrates
approved by Porsche. Your authorized Porsche
dealer will be pleased to advise you.
fDo not use engine coolant anti-freeze or any
other solution that can damage the car’s paint,
in the washer reservoir.
The washer fluid reservoir for windshield, rear
window and headlights is located in the engine
compartment.
1. Open cap of washer fluid reservoir.
2. Add washer fluid.
3. Close cap carefully.
Brake fluid warning light
USA
Brake fluid warning light
Canada
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266
Maintenance and Car Care
Operating Your Porsche in other
CountriesGovernment regulations in the United States and
Canada require that automobiles meet specific
emission regulations and safety standards. There-
fore, cars built for the U.S. and Canada differ from
vehicles sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your Porsche outside the conti-
nental 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
converters 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 me-
chanical damage that could result because
of inadequate fuel, service or parts availabi-
lity.
If you purchased your Porsche abroad and want to
bring it back home, be sure to find out about ship-
ping and forwarding requirements, as well as
current import and customs regulations.
Fuel
Warning!
Fuel is highly flammable and harmful to
health.
fFire, open flame and smoking are prohibited
when handling fuel.
fAvoid contact with skin or clothing.
fDo not inhale fuel vapours.
To prevent damage to the emission control
system and engine:
fNever drive the tank completely out of fuel.
fAvoid high cornering speeds after the warning lights have come on.
To avoid permanent damage to the functionality of
the catalytic converters and oxygen sensors, use
only unleaded fuel.
The engine is designed to provide optimum
performance and fuel consumption if unleaded
premium fuel with 98 RON/88 MON is used.
If unleaded premium fuels with octane numbers of
at least 95 RON/85 MON are used, the
engine's knock control automatically adapts the
ignition timing.The emission control system can be damaged in
various ways (e.g. fueling incorrectly, shortage of
fuel, tow-starting).
fPlease see the chapter “HOW EMISSION
CONTROL WORKS” on Page 264.
fPlease see the chapter “DISPLAYING STATUS
OF LEVEL CONTROL” on Page 131.
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272
Maintenance and Car Care
Warning!
Moisture which gets on the brakes during a
car wash can reduce braking efficiency or
make the brake pull unevenly which could
increase the danger of an accident, causing
serious personal injuries or death.
fAfter washing the vehicle, test the brakes and
steering and briefly brake the discs dry.
When doing so, make sure that vehicles travel-ling behind you are not affected.
Automatic car washes
fPlease see the chapter “WIPER BLADES” on
Page 261.
Optional add-on parts or parts which project be-
yond the contours of the vehicle may be damaged
by design features (e.g. brushes) of automatic car
washes.The following parts are particularly
susceptible to damage:
– Windshield wipers and rear wiper (always
switch them off – wiper stalk in position0 – to
prevent them wiping unintentionally in intermit-
tent or sensor operation).
– Door mirrors (always fold in).
– External antennas (always unscrew).
– Roof Transport System (always remove com-
pletely).
– Off-road roof-mounted headlights (always
remove completely).
– Spoiler.
– Wheels (the wider the rim and the lower the tire
height, the greater the risk of damage).
fPlease consult the operator before using
automatic car washes.
fWash and dry by hand all points not reached by
a car wash, such as door and lid seams or
door sills.
Note
Automatic car washes spray water at odd angles
and high pressures, which are not seen in normal
driving. Therefore, water can sometimes find its
way into the passengers compartment during or
shortly after the car wash.
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Maintenance and Car Care
275
UndercoatingThe underside of your car is durably protected
against chemical and mechanical influences.
As it is not possible to exclude the risk of damage
to this protective coating in day to day driving, it
is advisable to have the underside of the car
inspected at certain intervals - preferably before
the start of winter and again in spring - and the
undercoating restored as necessary.
Your authorized Porsche dealer is familiar with the
bodyseal treatment procedures and has the ne-
cessary equipment for applying factory approved
materials. We recommend that you entrust them
with such work and inspections.
Unlike conventional spray oils, undercoating and
rust-proofing compounds based on bitumen or
wax do not attack the sound-proofing materials
applied at the factory.
Warning!
Danger of fire resulting in serious personal
injury or death.
fDo not apply additional undercoating or rust-
proofing on or near the exhaust manifold,
exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat
shields. During driving the substance used for undercoating could overheat and ignite.fBefore applying fresh underseal, carefully re-
move deposits or dirt and grease. Once it has
dried, the new undercoating compound forms
a tough protective coating which provides effi-
cient rust-proofing of the floor panels and com-
ponents.
fAlways apply a fresh coating of suitable pre-
servative to unprotect areas after cleaning the
underside of the body, the transmission, the
engine or carrying out repairs to underbody,
engine or transmission components.
Effective rust-proofing is particularly important
during the cold weather season. If your car is
driven frequently in areas where salt has been
spread on the roads, the whole engine compart-
ment should be cleaned thoroughly after the
winter to prevent salt from causing any lasting
damage. A full under-body wash should also be
performed at the same time.
Cleaning headlights, lights, interior and
exterior plastic parts, adhesive filmsObserve the following points:
fUse only clean water and a little dishwashing
detergent or interior window cleaner to clean
headlights, lights, plastic parts, adhesive films
and surfaces.
Use a soft sponge or a soft, lint-free cloth.
Note
An interior window cleaner can also be used to
clean plastic surfaces (observe cleaning instruc-
tions on the container!).
We recommend the Porsche interior window
cleaner.
fGently wipe the surface without applying too
much pressure.
fDo not clean when dry.
fNever use other chemical cleaners or
solvents.
Rinse cleaned surfaces with clear water.
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Minor Repairs
279 Minor Repairs
Exercise Extreme Caution
when Working on your Vehicle ..................... 280
Tires/Wheels ............................................. 281
Jack .......................................................... 291
Tool Kit ..................................................... 292
Compressor .............................................. 292
Spacers .................................................... 293
Wheel Bolts ............................................... 293
Changing Wheels........................................ 294
Flat Tire ..................................................... 295
Lifting the Vehicle
with a Lifting Platform or Garage lift ............. 298
Electrical System ....................................... 312
Battery ...................................................... 320
Replacing the remote control battery ........... 322
Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables ...... 323
Replacing Bulbs ......................................... 326
Headlights ................................................. 327
Tail light .................................................... 336
License Plate Lights................................... 338
Headlight Adjustment.................................. 339
Changing headlights
from left to right-hand traffic ....................... 340
Bulb Chart ................................................. 342
Towing ...................................................... 342
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Minor Repairs
315
Fuse assignment – fuse box in left side of dashboardNo. Designation Rating in A No. Designation Rating in A1
Cockpit socket at front centre, centre console sockets
at rear right and rear left
20
24
Tire Pressure Monitoring
5
2 Parking heater radio receiver 5 26Engine control unit (engine management, radiator fans,
airbag, clutch switch, instrument panel)10
3
Socket in passenger footwell
20
30
Off-road roof-mounted headlights
15
4 Parking heater 20 31
Off-road roof-mounted headlights15
5
Sockets in luggage compartment
20
33
Steering column module
15
7 Diagnostic socket, rain sensor 5 34 Passenger compartment monitoring 5
8
Wiper motor for windshield
30
35
Vehicle electrical system control unit (right fog light,
right additional high beam, interior light)
30
9Vehicle electrical system control unit
(pump for washer fluid)15 36 Control unit for power seat controls, left 30
10
Power window and central locking, rear left door
30
39
Heated rear window relay (control)
5
14 Power window and central locking, front left door 30 40 Instrument panel, diagnosis 5
15
Tail light, right
15
41
Kessy control unit (steering column lock, ignition lock,
Porsche Entry & Drive, clutch switch)
15
16 Vehicle electrical system control unit (horn) 20 42Sliding/lifting roof or Panorama roof system 30
17
Vehicle electrical system control unit (left turn signal
light, right side marker light, left low beam)
30
43
Subwoofer
30
18 Headlight washer system 25 44
Electrical seat adjustment, left30
19
Vehicle electrical system control unit (interior light)
5
45
Seat heating, rear
25
20Vehicle electrical system control unit (instrument
lighting, fog light left, left additional high beam)30 47 Rear differential lock 10
22
Rear differential lock, automatic rear lid
30
49
Servotronic
5
23 Differential lock 10 51 Air-quality sensor, diagnostic socket, parking brake 5
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Minor Repairs
321
Battery carefEnsure that battery is securely mounted.
fKeep terminals and connections clean and
properly tightened. Corrosion can be preven-
ted by coating the terminals and connections
with petroleum jelly or silicone spray.
fEnsure that vent caps are securely tightened to
prevent spillage.
Checking the electrolyte fluid level
(only on low-maintenance batteries)
Generally, the electrolyte level must be checked
more often in summer than in the winter, and more
often when driving long distances.
fWhen adding water, use only clean containers.
In no case may alcohol (e.g. window cleaner
residues) be permitted to enter the battery.
fUnscrew and open the filler vent caps of each
cell.
With the car on a level surface, the fluid level
should meet the indicator mark in each cell.
fIf necessary, top up with distilled water. Do not
use acid. Only fill up to the mark, otherwise the
electrolyte will overflow when the battery is
being charged and cause damage.
Winter operationDuring the winter months, battery capacity tends
to decrease as temperatures drop. Additionally,
more power is consumed while starting, and the
headlights, heater, rear window defogger, etc.,
are used more frequently.
Let your Porsche dealer test the battery's capaci-
ty before winter sets in.Vehicle storageIf the car stands for long periods in the garage or
workshop, the doors and lids should be closed.
fRemove the ignition key and, if necessary, dis-
connect the battery.
Notes on operation
fWhen the battery is disconnected, the alarm
system ceases to function.
If the vehicle was locked before the battery
was disconnected, the alarm will be triggered
when the battery is reconnected.
To deactivate the alarm system:
fLock the vehicle and unlock it again.
Alarm system, central locking
The status of the central locking and alarm system
is not changed by disconnecting the battery.Maintenance Notes
Even if you put your vehicle out of operation, the
battery still discharges.
The battery will discharge more quickly if your ve-
hicle is not driven on a daily basis over a distance
of several miles. The more often you drive your ve-
hicle, and the longer the distance driven on each
trip, the more opportunity the vehicle‘s charging
system will have to recharge the batteries.
fTo preserve its efficiency, charge the battery
about every 6 weeks.
fCheck the battery acid level and top off with
distilled water if necessary.
fStore a battery that has been removed in a
dark, cool place, but not subject to freezing.
Replacing the batteryThe service life of the battery is subject to normal
wear; it depends greatly on care, climatic conditi-
ons, and driving conditions (distances, loads).
fOnly use an original Porsche battery, with the
correct part number, as a replacement. Only
this battery meets the specific requirements of
the vehicle.
fPlease observe the disposal instructions for
batteries.
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322
Minor Repairs
Putting vehicle into operationAfter the battery is connected or after a
completely discharged batterie is charged, the
PSM warning light lights up on the instrument
panel and a message appears on the multi-
purpose display of the instrument panel to indicate
a fault.
This fault can be remedied with a few simple
steps:
1. Start the engine.
To do this, turn the ignition key or the control
unit (on vehicles that have Porsche Entry &
Drive) to ignition lock position 2 twice.
2. Perform a few steering movements and drive
a short distance in a straight line until the PSM
warning light goes out and the message is
erased from the memory of the multi-purpose
display of the instrument panel.
3. If the warnings does not go out, then:
Drive carefully to the nearest authorized
Porsche dealer.
Have the fault remedied by an authorized
Porsche dealer.
4. After the warnings disappear:
Stop the vehicle in a suitable place.
5. Perform adaptation of the power windows:
Please see the chapter “STORING FINAL POSI-
TION OF THE DOOR WINDOWS” on Page 90.6. On vehicles with tire pressure monitoring:
Please see the chapter “SETTING THE TIRE
TYPE AND SIZE” on Page 134.
7. On vehicles with Panorama roof system:
Please see the chapter “SAVE FINAL POSITION
OF THE PANORAMA ROOF SYSTEM” on
Page 99.
Replacing the remote control
batteryNote
fPlease dispose of batteries in compliance with
any and all government regulations.Car keyIf the battery in the remote control becomes too
weak, a warning will appear on the multi-purpose
display in the instrument panel. The battery should
be changed in this case.Changing the battery
1. Carefully pry out the lid on the back of the key
housing with a small screwdriver.
2. Replace battery (observe polarity).
A replacement battery is available from your
authorized Porsche dealer.
3. Replace cover and press together firmly.
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