2Dear Owner, We would like to thank you for your purchase of a
Porsche Sports car.
Judging by the car you have chosen, you are a mo-
torist of a special breed, and you are probably no
novice when it comes to automobiles.
Remember however, as with any vehicle, you
should take time to familiarize yourself with your
Porsche and its performance characteristics. Al-
ways drive within your own unique capabilities as
a driver and your level of experience with your
Porsche. Ensure that anyone else driving your
Porsche does the same. To prevent or minimize in-
jury, always use your safety belts. Never consume
alcohol or drugs before or during the operation of
your vehicle.
This Owner’s Manual contains a host of useful in-
formation. Please take the time to read this manu-
al before you drive your new Porsche. Become fa-
miliar with the operation of your Porsche car for
maximum safety and operating pleasure. The bet-
ter you know your Porsche, the more pleasure you
will experience driving your new car.
Always keep your Owner’s Manual in the car, and
give it to the new owner if you ever sell your
Porsche. A separate Maintenance Booklet explains how
you can keep your Porsche in top driving condition
by having it serviced regularly.
A separate Warranty and Customer Informa-
tion Booklet contains detailed information about
the warranties covering your Porsche.
For U.S. only:
If you believe that your vehicle has a fault which
could cause a crash, injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
(Porsche Cars N.A.).
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it finds that a safety prob-
lem exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a re-
call and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA can-
not become involved in individual problems be-
tween you and your dealer, or Porsche Cars N.A..
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-(800)-424-9393
(or
366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) or write
to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain oth-
er information about motor vehicle safety from the
Hotline. Your car has thousands of parts and components
which have been designed and manufactured in
accordance with Porsche’s high standards of engi-
neering quality and safety.
Any alteration of the vehicle may negate or
interfere with those safety features built into
the vehicle.
Your Porsche is intended to be used in a safe man-
ner obeying the local laws and in the light of driv-
ing conditions faced by you, and in accordance
with the instructions provided in this Owner’s Man-
ual.
Do not misuse your Porsche by ignoring
those laws and driving conditions, or by
ignoring the instructions in this manual.
Any alteration or misuse of the vehicle can
lead to accidents and severe or fatal
personal injuries.
The fitting of racing tires (e.g. slicks) for sporting
events is not approved by Porsche. Very high cor-
nering speeds can be achieved with racing tires.
However, the resulting transverse acceleration
values would jeopardize the adequate supply of oil
to the engine.
Porsche therefore will not accept any warranty or
accept any liability for damage occurring as a re-
sult of non-compliance with this provision.
3
Regularly check your vehicle for signs of
damage.
Damaged or missing aerodynamic compo-
nents such as spoilers or underside panels
affect the driving behavior and therefore
must be replaced immediately.
Your car may have all or some of the components
described in this manual.
Should you have difficulty understanding any of
the explanations of features or equipment installed
in your vehicle, contact your authorized Porsche
dealer. He/She will be glad to assist you. Also
check with your dealer on other available options
or equipment.
Throughout this booklet, left is designated as the
driver’s side of the vehicle, and right as the pas-
senger’s side of the vehicle.
Text, illustrations and specifications in this manual
are based on the information available at the time
of printing.
It has always been Porsche’s policy to continuous-
ly improve its products. Porsche, therefore, re-
serves the right to make changes in design and
specification, and to make additions or
improvements in its product without incurring any
obligation to install them on products previously
manufactured.
We wish you many miles of safe and pleasurable
driving in your Porsche.
Important
For your own protection and longer service life of
your car, please follow all operating instructions
and special warnings. These special warnings use
the safety alert symbol, followed by the words
Danger, Warning and Caution. These special
warnings contain important messages regarding
your safety and/or the potential for damage to
your Porsche. Ignoring them could result in seri-
ous mechanical failure or even physical injury.
fDo not alter your Porsche. Any alteration could
create dangerous conditions or defeat safety
engineering features built into your car.
fDo not misuse your Porsche. Use it safely, and
consistently with the law, according to the driv-
ing conditions, and the instructions in this man-
ual.
Alteration or misuse of your Porsche could
cause accidents and severe or fatal personal
injuries.
Note to owners In Canada, this manual is also available in French.
To obtain a copy contact your dealer or write to: Note aux proprietaires Au Canada on peut se procurer un exemplaire de
ce Manuel en français auprès du concessionaire
ou du:
Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd.
Automobiles Porsche Canada, LTEE
5045 Orbitor Drive
Building #8, Suite 200
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4W 4Y4
Telephone number for customer assistance:
1-800-PORSCHE / Option 3
4Fuel QualityYour engine is designed to provide optimum performance and fuel economy using
unleaded premium fuel with an octane rating of 98 RON (93 CLC or AKI).
Porsche therefore recommends the use of these fuels in your vehicle.
Porsche also recognizes that these fuels may not always be available. Be assured that your vehicle will operate
properly on unleaded premium fuels with octane numbers of at least 95 RON (90 CLC or AKI),
since the engine’s ”Electronic Oktane™ knock control“ will adapt the ignition timing, if necessary.Fuels containing alcohol and etherSome areas of the U.S. require oxygenated fuels during certain portions of the year.
Oxygenated fuels are fuels which contain alcohols (such as methanol or ethanol) or ether (such as MTBE).
Under normal conditions, the amount of these compounds in the fuel will not affect driveability.
You may use oxygenated fuels in your Porsche, provided the octane requirements for your vehicle are met.
We recommend, however, to change to a different fuel or station if any of the following problems occur with your vehicle:
– Deterioration of driveability and performance.
– Substantially reduced fuel economy.
– Vapor lock and non-start problems, especially at high altitude or at high temperature.
– Engine malfunction or stalling.Fuels containing MMTSome North American fuels contain an octane enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
If such fuels are used, your emission control system performance may be negatively affected.
The check engine warning lights on your instrument panel may turn on.
If this occurs, Porsche recommends you stop using fuels containing MMT.
6Porsche and the Environment Environmental guidelinesWe develop and produce exclusive sports cars
with advanced environmental and safety technolo-
gy and a great ability to fascinate.
Our environmental policy is based on the
following principles:
– The maximum possible use of environmental
and safety technology that is economically jus-
tifiable.
– Economical usage of energy and resources.
– Involvement of our business partners and con-
tractors in our efforts to protect the environ-
ment.
– Open dialogue with all social groups. California Proposition 65 Warning
Warning!
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and cer-
tain vehicle components contain or emit chemi-
cals known to the State of California to cause can-
cer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of Ca lifornia to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproduc-
tive harm.
ProductionWhether in production or repair, Porsche always
relies on environmentally friendly technology.
An example of this is the water-based paint used
in our painting installations.
Water-base paints and new painting methods re-
duce solvent emissions by 70 per cent.
The water used in the painting installation is re-cir-
culated. Waste water leaves the Porsche factory
only after being appropriately treated.
A waste-management system has been introduced
to reduce the amount of waste while simultaneous-
ly increasing the recycling rate.
7
Environmentally friendly vehiclesModern environmental technology ensures compli-
ance with all emission laws applicable worldwide.
These have the following advantages:
– Rapid operational readiness of the catalytic
converters ensures low emissions, even in
short-trip operation.
– Reliable operation and good emission control
over a long useful life.
fPlease refer to the chapter “FUEL ECONOMY”
on page 187.
Recycling – for a Porsche, this is virtually
an academic question More than two-thirds of all Porsches ever built are
still running.
Just in case recycling is ever necessary, we
take the following precautionary measures:
– Identification of all materials.
– Use of recyclable materials.
– Reusable components designed for simple
removal.
– These reasons result in a further increase in
the recycling rate which is currently 80 per
cent.
Emission control is built inInnovative engine technology combines high en-
gine performance and environmental compati-
bility.
The engine diagnosis system electronically moni-
tors the components and systems that affect ex-
haust gases.
This continuous monitoring and fault storage ena-
bles swift, reliable diagnosis and fault detection.
Any fault messages are indicated to the driver by
the ”Check Engine“ warning light and the on-board
computer.
fPlease refer to the chapter “WARNINGS ON
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-
BOARD COMPUTER” on page 105.
9
Engine Exhaust
Danger!
Engine exhaust is dangerous if inhaled.
Engine exhaust fumes have many compo-
nents which you can smell. They also contain
carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colorless
and odorless gas.
Carbon monoxide can cause unconscious-
ness and even death if inhaled.
fNever start or let the engine run in an en-
closed, unventilated area.
It is not recommended to sit in your car for pro-
longed periods with the engine on and the car not moving.
Ground ClearancePlease bear in mind the limited ground clearance
of your car on uneven surfaces, when parking
(curbs), on ramps, lifting platforms, towing etc.
Controls, Instruments
13 Controls, Instruments
Before driving off ......................................... 14
Break in hints .............................................. 16
Keys ........................................................... 19
Security Wheel Bolts.................................... 19
Doors ......................................................... 21
Central Lockin ............................................. 22
Alarm System,
Passenger Compartment Monitorin ............... 26
Power Windows ........................................... 28
Inside mirror ................................................ 30
Door Mirrors................................................ 30
Rear Window Defogger,
Door Mirror Heating ..................................... 33
Seat Adjustment .......................................... 34
Seat Memory ............................................... 36
Heated Seats .............................................. 38
Rear Seat Backrests.................................... 39
Steering Wheel Adjustment ........................... 39
Multi-Functional Steering Wheel ..................... 40
Sun Visors................................................... 41
Safety Belts................................................. 42
Child Restraint Anchorages ........................... 45
Child Restraint Systems ............................... 46
LATCH System
Child seat bracket on the passenger’s seat .... 48
Key-operated airbag deactivation device ........ 49
Airbag Systems ........................................... 50
Rollover Protection System........................... 52
Parking Aids ................................................ 53
Retractable Rear Spoiler............................... 56
Clutch Pedal ................................................ 58
Parking Brake .............................................. 58Brakes ........................................................ 59
ABS Brake System
(Antilock Brake System)................................ 62
Sport Mode ................................................. 64
Porsche Stability Management (PSM)............. 65
Porsche Active Suspension
Management (PASM) .................................... 68
Interior Lights .............................................. 69
Operation, Instruments ................................. 70
Ignition/Starter Switch with anti-theft
Steering Lock .............................................. 72
Starting Procedures ..................................... 74
Stopping Engine .......................................... 75
Instrument Panel USA Models ....................... 76
Instrument Panel Canada Models................... 78
Engine oil temperature ................................. 80
Automatic Speed Control Indicator light ......... 80
Instrument Illumination.................................. 80
Trip Odometer ............................................. 81
Speedometer .............................................. 82
Changing over between
Miles / Kilometers........................................ 82
Tachometer................................................. 83
Turn Signal Indicator Light ............................ 83
High Beam .................................................. 83
Cooling System ........................................... 84
Tiptronic ..................................................... 85
Fuel ............................................................ 86
Clock .......................................................... 87
Outside temperature .................................... 87
Engine Oil Pressure ...................................... 88
Check Engine Warning Light.......................... 89On-Board Computer (BC).............................. 90
Emergency Flasher Switch .......................... 112
Light Switch .............................................. 113
Welcome Home Lighting............................. 113
Automatic Headlight Beam Adjustment......... 114
Turn Signal / Headlight Dimmer /
Parking light / Flasher Lever ....................... 114
Windshield Wiper / Washer Lever ................ 115
Automatic Speed Control ............................ 118
Automatic Air Conditioning System .............. 120
Central and Side Vents ............................... 123
Fresh-air Intake .......................................... 123
Ashtray ..................................................... 124
Cigarette Lighter ........................................ 125
Cupholder ................................................. 126
Storage in the Passenger Compartment ...... 128
Luggage Compartment Lid and
Engine Compartment Lid ............................ 130
Luggage Compartment............................... 132
Trunk Entrapment ....................................... 133
Fire Extinguisher ........................................ 135
HomeLink .................................................. 136
Porsche Communication
Management (PCM) .................................... 139
Car Telephone and Aftermarket Alarms........ 142
14
Controls, Instruments
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, 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 the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always
drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages.
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off... Check the following items first fTurn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
fBe sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
fSee that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
fCheck engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every fuel filling.
fCheck all fluid levels such as windshield
washer and brake fluid levels.
fBe sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
fCheck all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
fCheck, and if necessary replace worn or
cracked wiper blades.
fSee that all windows are clear and unob-
structed.
fCheck air intake slots and area between lug-
gage compartment lid and windshield are free
of snow and ice, so the heater and the wind-
shield wipers work properly. fIf a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
fCheck all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
fCheck the headlights for proper aim, and if
necessary, have them adjusted.
fCheck under the vehicle for leaks.
fBe sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are:
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.