Maintenance, Car Care
187
Fuel Economy Fuel economy will vary depending on where,
when and how you drive, optional equipment
installed, and the general condition of your
car.
A car tuned to specifications and correctly
maintained, will help you to achieve optimal
fuel economy.
fHave your vehicle tuned to specifications.
Air cleaner should be dirt free to allow proper
engine “breathing”.
Battery should be fully charged.
Wheels should be properly aligned.
Tires should be inflated at correct pressure.
fAlways monitor your fuel consumption.
fDrive smoothly, avoid abrupt changes in speed
as much as possible.
fAvoid jack rabbit starts and sudden stops.
fDo not drive longer than necessary in the lower
gears. Shifting into a higher gear early without
lugging the engine will help save fuel.
fProlonged “warm up” idling wastes gas. Start
the vehicle just before you are ready to drive.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
fSwitch off the engine if stationary for longer
periods. fAny additional weight carried in the vehicle re-
duces fuel economy. Always keep cargo to a
minimum and remove all unnecessary items.
fOrganize your trips to take in several errands
in one trip.
fAll electrical accessories contribute to in-
creased fuel consumption.
fOnly switch on the air conditioning when neces-
sary.
fDo not drive with the Roof Transport System
mounted unless you need it.
The EPA estimated m.p.g. is to be used for
comparison purposes, actual mileage may
be different from the estimated m.p.g.,
depending on your driving speed, weather
conditions and trip length. Your actual
highway mileage will probably be less than
the estimated m.p.g.
fPlease observe all local and national speed
limits.
Operating Your Porsche in other
Countries Government 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 se-
rious damage to both engine and catalytic con-
verters could result;
– service may be inadequate due to lack of prop-
er service facilities, tools or diagnostic equip-
ment;
– 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 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 cur-
rent import and customs regulations.
206
Maintenance, Car Care
Alcantara fDo not use a leather care product to clean
Alcantara.
For regular care it is sufficient to clean the cover
with a soft brush.
Cleaning when lightly soiled
fWet a soft cloth with water or a neutral soap
solution and wipe off the dirt.
Cleaning when heavily soiled
fWet a soft cloth with lukewarm water or
thinned white spirit and dab the dirt from the
outside in. Safety belts If it becomes necessary to clean the belts, you
can use any mild washing agent.
Allow the belts to dry prior to retracting, but avoid
direct sunlight.
fOnly use suitable cleaners.
If unsuitable cleaners are used or any attempt
is made to dye or bleach the belts, the web-
bing may be weakened and thus constitute a
safety risk.
Storing your Porsche If you intend to store your Porsche for a prolonged
period, please consult your authorized Porsche
dealer. The staff will be glad to advise you on the
most suitable and necessary methods.
fClean your vehicle thoroughly inside and out-
side.
Clean the engine compartment.
The under carriage and chassis components
should be free of dirt and salt deposits.
fFill up the fuel tank.
fChange the oil and oil filter, and run the engine
for several minutes.
fIncrease the tire pressure to 58 psi (4 bar).
It is not recommended to lift the vehicle, due to
the possibility of corrosion on shock absorber
piston shafts.
The vehicle should be moved slightly, approxi-
mately every four weeks, to prevent flat spot
on the tires. Climate control
The air conditioning system should be in good
working condition and fully charged.
Windshield/Headlight washer
fCheck and correct antifreeze/cleaning solution
level as necessary.
Electrical system
fRemove the battery from the vehicle and store
it in a cool dry place, not on a cement floor.
When the battery is disconnected, the
alarm system is deactivated.
fRecharge the battery every 3 months. If the
battery remains in the vehicle with the cables
connected, it is necessary to check, remove
and recharge the battery every 2-3 weeks.
Do not fast charge the battery.
fPlease observe the chapter “BATTERY” on
Page 236.
Vehicle interior
The interior must be dry, especially in the area of
the floor carpets. The use of drying agents (Silica-
Gel) is recommended in vehicles with leather inte-
rior and in areas with high humidity. The recom-
mended amount is 3 fabric bags of 1.1 lbs.
(500 grams) each placed on the floor carpets.
Windows, doors and lids must be closed. The air
vents should be opened.
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
207 Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Exercise Extreme Caution
when Working on your Vehicle .................... 208
Tires/Wheels ............................................ 209
Loading Information................................... 222
Lifting the Vehicle with a Lifting Platform
or Garage Lift ........................................... 224
Flat Tire .................................................... 225
Wheel Bolts .............................................. 228
Electrical System ...................................... 232
Battery ..................................................... 236
Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables ..... 242
Lights, Replacing Bulbs.............................. 244
Headlights ................................................ 246
Tail Light .................................................. 254
License Plate Light .................................... 255
Luggage Compartment/
Engine Compartment/Footwell Light ........... 255
Door Guard/Curb Light .............................. 255
Interior Light, Reading Lights...................... 256
Adjusting Headlights .................................. 257
Towing ..................................................... 259
208
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Exercise Extreme Caution when
Working on your Vehicle
Danger!
Ignoring the following instructions may
cause serious personal injury or death.
fThe engine compartment of any motor vehicle
is a potentially hazardous area. If you are not
fully familiar with proper repair procedures, do
not attempt the adjustments described on the
following pages.
This caution also applies to the entire vehicle.
fO n l y w o r k o n y o u r v e h i c l e o u t d o o r s o r i n a w e l l
ventilated area.
fEnsure that there are no open flames in the
area of your vehicle at any time when fuel
fumes might be present. Be especially cau-
tious of such devices such as hot water heat-
ers which ignite a flame intermittently.
fBefore working on any part in the engine com-
partment, turn the engine off and let it cool
down sufficiently. Hot engine compartment
components can burn skin on contact.
fBe alert and cautious around engine at all
times while the engine is running.
If work has to be performed with the engine
running, always set the parking brake, and
make sure the shift lever is in neutral position
or the selector lever in position P.fIn particular, be very careful to ensure that
items of clothing (ties, shirt, sleeves etc.), jew-
elry, long hair, hand or fingers cannot get
caught in the engine-compartment blower, fan,
belts or other moving parts.
The radiator and radiator fans are in the front
of the car.
The engine-compartment blower is mounted
on the engine-compartment lid.
The engine-compartment blower can start or
continue running as a function of temperature,
even with the engine switched off.
Carry out work in these areas only with the en-
gine off, the ignition switched off, and exercise
extreme caution.
fYour Porsche is equipped with an electronic ig-
nition system. When the ignition is on, high volt-
age is present in all wires connected with the
ignition system; therefore, exercise extreme
caution when working on any part of the engine
while the ignition is on or the engine is running.
fAlways support your car with safety stands if it
is necessary to work under the car.
fWhen working under the car without safety
stands but with the wheels on the ground,
make sure the car is on level ground, the
wheels are blocked, and that the engine
cannot be started.
Remove the ignition key.fDo not smoke or allow an open flame around
the battery or fuel.
Keep a fire extinguisher in close reach.
fIncomplete or improper servicing may cause
problems in the operation of the car. If in doubt
about any servicing, have it done by your au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
Improper maintenance during the warranty pe-
riod may affect your Porsche warranty cover-
age.
fSupplies of fluids, e.g. engine oil, brake fluid or
coolant, are hazardous to your health.
Keep these fluids out of children’s reach and
dispose of them in accordance with the appro-
priate regulations.
fSome countries require additional tools and
special spare parts to be carried.
Please make enquiries before driving abroad.
232
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Electrical System In order to avoid damage and faults in electrical or
electronic systems, electrical accessories should
be installed at your authorized Porsche dealer.
fOnly use accessories authorized by Porsche.
Warning!
Risk of short circuit and fire.
Replacing fuses or relays with the engine
running or the ignition on could cause elec-
trical shock.
fDisconnected the battery during all work on
the electrical system.
Please observe the chapter “BATTERY” on Page 236.
Relays Defective relays should be changed only by an
authorized workshop.
In storage tray between the front seatsSocketsElectrical accessories should preferably be
connected to the 12 V sockets.
fPlease observe the maximum power
consumption.
Note on operation
The tire filling compressor must be connected to
the cigarette lighter.
In the passenger’s footwellNote on operation
The sockets and thus the connected electrical
accessories function even if the ignition is
switched off or the ignition key is withdrawn.
If the engine is not running and the accessories
are switched on, the vehicle battery will be
discharged.
Do not operate additional accessories for more
than 5 minutes when engine is off.
Maximum power consumption for both
sockets together: 70 W.
fPlease observe the power specifications from
the accessory manufacturer.
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
233
Alarm system, central lockingThe status of the central locking and alarm system
is not changed by disconnecting the battery.
When the battery is disconnected, the alarm sys-
tem ceases to function. Overload protectionIf the central locking system is operated more
than ten times within a minute, further operation is
blocked for 30 seconds.
Load switch-off after 2 hours or 7 daysIf the ignition key is removed, loads which are
switched on or are in standby mode (such as the
luggage compartment light, interior light and
radio) are automatically switched off after approx.
2hours.
If the vehicle is not started or unlocked with the
remote control within 7days, the remote control
standby function is switched off (to save the
vehicle battery).
1. In this case, unlock the driver's door with the
key at the door lock.
Leave the door closed in order to prevent the
alarm system from being triggered.
2. Press button 1 on the remote control.
The remote control is now activated again.
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
235
Emergency unlocking of the luggage
compartment lidIf the battery is discharged, the lid can be opened
only with the aid of a donor battery.
Unlocking lid
1. Use the key to unlock the vehicle at the door
lock.
2. Remove plastic cover over the fuse box.
3. Pull out positive terminal A in the fuse box.
4. Use a jumper cable to connect the positive
terminal of the donor battery with positive
terminal A in the fuse box.
Note
If the vehicle was locked, the alarm horn will sound
when the negative cable is connected.
5. Use the second jumper cable to connect the
negative terminal of the donor battery with
latch striker B.
6. Unlock the luggage compartment lid with the
remote control.
The alarm system is switched off.7. Disconnect the negative cable first, then the
positive cable.
8. Push the positive terminal A into the fuse box
and push on the plastic fuse box cover.
Note
The engine cannot be started with this method.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMERGENCY
STARTING WITH JUMPER CABLES” on
Page 242.
236
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Battery
Warning!
Risk of short circuit and fire.
fObserve all warning notes on the battery.
fDisconnect the battery during all work on the
electrical system.
fDo not lay tools or other metal objects on the
battery as they could cause a short circuit
across the battery terminal.
Hydrogen gas generated by the battery
could cause an explosion, resulting in severe
personal injuries.
fDo not expose the battery to an open flame,
electrical spark or a lit cigarette.
fDo not wipe battery with a dry cloth.
Risk of severe personal injury and damage to
the fabric, metal or paint.
fWear eye protection.
fDo not allow battery acid to come in contact
with your skin, eyes, fabric or painted surfac-
es. fIf you get electrolyte, which is an acid, in your
eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with
cold water for several minutes and call a doc-
tor.
fSpilled electrolyte must be rinsed off at once
with a solution of baking soda and water to
neutralize the acid.
Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive harm.
fAlways protect your skin by washing thorough-
ly with soap and water.
Risk of explosion as a result of static charge.
fDo not wipe the battery with a dry cloth.
fEliminate potential electrostatic charge by
touching the vehicle before touching the bat-
tery.
Charge state A well charged battery will not only prevent start-
ing problems but will also last longer.
In order to avoid discharging the battery
unintentionally:
fSwitch off unnecessary electrical loads in city
traffic, on short trips or in a line or traffic.
fAlways remove the ignition key from the igni-
tion switch when leaving the car.
fAvoid frequent operation of the convertible top
and operation of the Porsche Communication
Management system when the engine is not
running.