2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER brakes

Maintenance, Car Care
191
Car Care Instructions fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 168.
Regular and correct care helps to maintain
the value of your car and is also a precondi-
tion for the New Vehicle Warranty and the
Anti Corrosion Warranty.
Your authorized Porsche dealer has specially
developed car-care products from the
Porsche program available either singly or
as complete car-care sets. They will be ple-
ased to help you select suitable products.
Whether you use Porsche products or other
commercially available cleaning agents first
make sure of their correct application.
A Porsche that is well-cared for can look like new
for years. It all depends on the amount of care the
owner is willing to give the car.
Warning!
Risk of serious personal injury or damage to
the vehicle or property.
Cleaning agents may be hazardous to your
health.
Most chemical cleaners are concentrates
which require dilution. High concentrations
might cause problems ranging from irritation
to serious injury as well as damage to your
vehicle.
fKeep cleaning agents out of reach from child-
ren.
fObserve all caution labels.
fAlways read directions on the container before
using any product. These directions may con-
tain information necessary to avoid personal
injury.
fDo not use fuel, kerosene, naphtha, nail polish
remover or other volatile cleaning fluids. They
may be toxic, flammable or hazardous in other
ways. Only use spot removing fluids in a well
vented area.
fDo not clean the underside of chassis, fen-
ders, wheel covers, etc., without protecting
your hands and arms as you may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Moisture and road salt on brakes may affect bra-
king efficiency.
fTest the brakes after each vehicle washing.

192
Maintenance, Car Care
Washing The best method of protecting your car from the
damaging effects of the environment is frequent
washing and the application of a preservative. The
underside of your vehicle should also be tho-
roughly washed for cinders, salt or sanding at win-
ter’s end.
The longer salt, road dust and industrial dust,
dead insects, bird droppings or substances from
trees (resin, pollen) are allowed to remain on the
bodywork, the more serious is their harmful ef-
fect.
New cars should be washed carefully with plenty
of clear water to protect the new paint work. Dark
paint finishes show up the smallest of surface da-
mage (e.g., scratches) more readily than lighter
colors.
Dark colors are also more susceptible to scrat-
ching because of the composition of their pig-
ments and require particularly careful paint care.
fDo not wash your car in bright sunlight or while
the bodywork is still hot.
fWhen washing by hand, use abundant water, a
soft sponge or wash brush, and Porsche car
shampoo.
fBegin by spraying the body thoroughly with wa-
ter to rinse away loose dirt. fAfter washing, rinse the car with plenty of wa-
ter and then dry with a chamois leather.
Do not use the same chamois leather for
drying as you use for cleaning the windshield
and windows.
Warning!
Moisture which gets on to the brakes during
a car wash can reduce braking efficiency or
make the brakes pull unevenly which could
increase the danger of an accident, causing
serious personal injuries or death.
fAlways apply the brakes a few times after was-
hing the car to test braking efficiency and dry
the brake discs.
When doing this, take care not to hamper other
road users behind you (traffic conditions per-mitting).

198
Maintenance, Car Care
Light alloy wheels fPlease observe the chapter “WASHING” on
Page 192.
Warning!
Danger of accident if cleaning agents (e.g.
wheel cleaning agents) come into contact
with the brake discs. The resulting film on the
brake discs can impair braking perfor-
mance.
fMake sure that no cleaning agent comes into
contact with the brake discs.
fIf cleaning agent has come into contact with
the brake discs, thoroughly clean the brake
discs with a strong jet of water.
fPaying attention to any road users behind you,
dry the brake discs by applying the brakes at short intervals.
Pitting may occur if metallic particles which cause
contact corrosion (e.g. brass or copper in brake
dust) are allowed to remain on the aluminum for
too long.
fIf possible, wash the wheels with a sponge or
wash brush about every two weeks. In areas
where salt is spread on winter roads or there is
a lot of airborne industrial dust, it is best to
clean the wheels weekly.
The Porsche Light Alloy Wheel Cleaner
(ph-value 9.5) can be used for this purpo-
se.If the ph-value of the detergent is incor-
rect, the protective coating on the wheels
will be destroyed.
Polishes which dissolve oxides, such as
those frequently used for other metals, or
abrasive tools or agents are unsuitable
because they break down the oxide film of
the protective coating and will cause dis-
coloration of the wheel.
fEvery three months, after cleaning, coat the
wheels with a car wax or non-corrosive grease
(vaseline).
Using a clean cloth thoroughly rub the grease
into the surface.
Leather Characteristics and special features
The natural surface markings of leather, e.g. cre-
ases, healed scars, insect sting marks, structural
differences and slight variations in shade and
grain add to the attractiveness of the natural lea-
ther product.
A special mention must be made here of natural le-
ather.
For natural leather, carefully selected hides of the
highest quality are used. It is not covered comple-
tely with dye on production.
“Nature’s signature” is therefore easily recogniz-
able.
This fine material is distinguished by an outstan-
ding seating comfort, special suppleness and a ty-
pical patina. Leather care and treatment
fClean all types of leather regularly to remove
fine dust using a soft, damp, white woollen
cloth or a commercially available microfibre
cloth.
fRemove heavy contamination with Porsche le-
ather cleaner.
Please always follow the instructions for use gi-
ven on the containers.
Caustic cleaners and hard cleaning objects
must not be used.
Perforated leather must under no circum-
stances get wet on its reverse side.
Once cleaned, leather (particularly the heavily
stressed leather seats) must be treated only with
Porsche leather care liquid.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
203
Tires/Wheels The original equipment tires and wheel rims on
your Porsche comply with all applicable Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
For your safety remember the following:
– Wheel rims and wheel bolts are matched to fit
your Porsche.
– If you intend to use other than original equip-
ment wheels, be sure that they conform to
Porsche specifications for your model.
Only tires with the same make and with the
same specification code (e.g. “N0”, “N1”...)
can be mounted.
– The use of wheel rims and wheel bolts that do
not meet specifications of the original factory
installed equipment will affect the safe opera-
tion of your vehicle.
– Before you plan on exchanging wheels, or
snow tires already mounted on the wheel rims,
consult your authorized Porsche dealer. Your
dealer has the technical information necessary
to advise you which wheel rims and wheel bolts
are compatible with the original factory instal-
lations.
Danger!
Risk of loss of control and serious personal
injury or death.
fIf while driving, your vehicle experiences a sud-
den vibration or ride disturbance, and/or you
suspect that possible damage to your tires or
vehicle has occurred, you should immediately
reduce your speed without excessive use of
the brakes.
fStop the vehicle as soon as possible, and in-
spect the tires.
If you cannot determine the cause for the dis-
turbance, have your vehicle towed to the near-
est Porsche or tire dealer to have your vehicle
or tire(s) inspected.
fContinuing to operate the vehicle without cor-
rection could result in a loss of control and se-rious personal injury.

272
Index
IndexAABS (antilock brake system) .......................... 55
Air conditioning ...................................114
, 117
Air distribution ....................................114, 117
Air filter ...................................................... 190
Airbag system .............................................. 49
Disposal ............................................... 50
Switching passenger’s airbag on and off . 48
Air-conditioning compressor ................116, 119
Alarm system ............................................. 141
Alcantara ................................................... 199
Antenna .............................................141, 194
Antilock brake system................................... 55
Warning light ........................................ 56
Ashtray ...................................................... 122
Assembly aids for wheel changes................. 224
Assistant ...................................................... 64
Audio operation .......................................... 139
Auto-button air conditioning ......................... 117
Automatic
Anti-glare mirrors .................................. 30
Car washes ........................................ 192
Door locking ......................................... 24
Headlight beam adjustment.................. 109
Speed control ....................................... 76
Automatic air conditioning system ................ 117
Average consumption............................87, 100
Average speed .....................................87, 100
BBackrest
Adjustment ........................................... 34
Release ................................................ 34
Battery....................................................... 229
Care .................................................. 230
Charge state....................................... 230
Putting vehicle into operation ............... 232
Remote control ................................... 235
Removing ........................................... 233
Warning light......................................... 84
Winter driving...................................... 231
Before driving off ....................................12
, 13
Blower adjustment..............................114, 117
Brake light..........................................249, 250
Brakes
Brake pad warning light ......................... 85
Fluid ...........................................175, 266
Fluid warning light ............................... 175
Pads ..............................................14, 54
Test stand ............................................ 60
Break in hints................................................ 14
Bulbs
Chart ................................................. 239
Replacing ........................................... 239
CCabriolet .................................................... 154
Canholder .................................................. 128
Capacities, overview ................................... 266Car care ..................................................... 168
Car telephone ............................................. 141
Car washes ................................................ 192
Catalytic converters ....................................183
Cautions............................................ 168
, 202
Central locking....................................... 19, 21
Emergency operation ..................... 19, 22
Central vents .............................................. 120
Central warning light..................................... 85
Changing wheels ......................................... 224
Check engine
Warning light......................................... 84
Checking pressure ...................................... 223
Chield retraint system.................................... 45
Child restraint system
Switching passenger’s airbag on and off . 48
Chime ........................................................ 108
CHRONO stopwatch ......................................92
Circulating-air button .......................... 114, 117
Clock .................................................. 83, 100
Clutch ........................................................ 146
Clutch pedal ................................................. 51
Combination filter ........................................190
Comfort seat ................................................ 34
Coming Home mode ................................... 108
Compact disc
holder ................................................ 127
Player ................................................ 140
Storage .............................................. 136
Convertible top ........................................... 154
Care................................................... 193
Coolant ....................................... 80
, 170
, 266