2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER check engine

102
Controls, Instruments
Warnings on the instrument panel and the on-board computerIf a warning message appears, always refer to the corresponding chapters in the Owner’s Manual.
Warning messages are issued only if all measurement preconditions are met. Therefore, check all fluid levels regularly –
in particular, always check the engine oil level after refuelling.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure
Seat belt Driver and passengers must fasten their seat
belts.
Handbrake Handbrake is still on.
Ignition key
not removed
Replace battery
in the ignition keyReplace the remote-control battery.
Ignition lock faulty,
please go to workshopHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Ignition lock faulty,
go to workshop immediatelyHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Relieve steering Relieve the steering l o c k b y m o v i n g t h e s t e e r i n g
wheel to the left or right.
Steering locked The steering wheel lock remains engaged.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Lights on

Controls, Instruments
103
Check left/right dipped beam (low
beam)
also applies to:
front side lights, direction indicator,
high beam, fog lights, side indicator
light, brake light, tail light, rear fog
light, reversing light, raised brake
light, side markerThe reported light is faulty. Check bulb.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Daytime
driving lights offDaytime driving lights switch off when the engi-
ne is shut off. Switch on lights if necessary.
Headlight beam
adjustment faultyHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Front lid not closed Close luggage compartment lid properly.
Rear lid not closed Close engine compartment lid properly.
Front lid release
faultyLuggage compartment lid release is faulty.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Rain sensor faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Top up washer fluid
LIMIT
Cannot be accepted
with vehicle stoppedThe current speed can only be accepted for the
acoustic warning signal when the vehicle is in
motion.
LIMIT
30Selected speed limit (e.g. 30 mph) for the
acoustic warning signal has been exceeded.
Adjust your speed if necessary.
Fuel gauge war-
ning lightPlease observe range
on remaining fuelRefuel at next opportunity.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure

104
Controls, Instruments
Check the oil level Start engine oil level measurement in the
on-board computer.
The vehicle must be horizontal and the ignition
must be switched on.
Oil pressure too low Stop immediately at a suitable place, measure
oil level with the on-board computer and, if ne-
cessary, add engine oil.
Warning light
Temperature gau-
geEngine temperature too high Switch engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level and, if necessary,
add coolant.
Temperature gau-
ge warning light
flashesCheck coolant level Switch engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level and, if necessary, add
coolant.
Engine diagnostics – workshop Consult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Reduced engine performance Consult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Temperature gau-
ge warning light
flashesFailure of
engine-compartment blowerConsult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Battery/generator warning Stop at a safe place and switch the engine off.
Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil pressure gauge faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil level display faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil temperature gauge faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computerMeaning/measure

Controls, Instruments
141
Car Telephone and
Aftermarket Alarms Important legal and safety information
regarding the use of cellular telephones:
Some states may prohibit the use of cellular tele-
phones while driving a vehicle. Check the laws and
regulations on the use of cellular telephones in the
areas where you drive.
Danger!
Risk of an accident.
Severe personal injury or death can result in
the event of an accident.
Looking away from the road or turning your
attention away from your driving can cause
an accident and serious or fatal injury.
When using your cellular telephone, you should al-
ways:
fGive full attention to your driving - pull off the
road and park before making or answering a
call if traffic conditions so require; and
fKeep both hands on the steering wheel - use
hands-free operation (if available) - pull off the
road and park before using a hand-held tele-phone. It is essential to observe the instructions of
the telephone manufacturer before putting
the telephone into operation.
Any portable telephone or radio transmitter which
is used in a Porsche must be properly installed in
accordance with the technical requirements of
Porsche.
The transmission power must not exceed
10 W.
The devices must possess a type approval for
your vehicle and have an “e” symbol.
If you should require equipment with transmission
power values greater than 10 W, please consult
your authorized Porsche dealer for this purpose.
He is familiar with the technical requirements for
installing devices of this kind.
The antennas for all radios and telephones with a
transmitting antenna must be externally mounted.
The improper installation of radios or telephones
or use of a radio or telephone with a transmitting
antenna inside the car may cause the warning
lights to come on.
Improper installation of such equipment can crea-
te a discharged battery or excessive current draw
from added equipment. If aftermarket systems are installed by non-dealer-
ship technicians or outside the selling dealer, pro-
blems may result. Installation of aftermarket
equipment is not covered under the New Car War-
ranty.
fConsult your authorized Porsche dealer about
the installation of non Porsche approved equip-
ment.
Reception quality
The reception quality of your car telephone will
change constantly when you are driving. Interfe-
rence caused by buildings, landscape and
weather is unavoidable. It may become particular-
ly difficult to hear when using the hands-free func-
tion due to external noise such as engine and wind
noise.
Automatic car-wash
fUnscrew the external antenna before using an
automatic car-wash.

170
Maintenance, Car Care
A - Coolant expansion tank cap
B - Coolant level Coolant Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 168.
The cooling system is filled at the factory with a
permanent coolant.
It provides year-round protection from corrosion
and freezing down to –31°F/–35°C.
Only use antifreeze authorized by Porsche.
Checking coolant level The expansion tank with its filler orifice is in the
rear luggage compartment.
fCheck the coolant level regularly at the trans-
parent window of the expansion tank.
When the engine is cold and the car is level the flu-
id level must lie between the “Min.” and “Max.”
markings.
Topping off coolant
Warning!
Danger of serious personal injury from scal-
ding. Coolant is hazardous to your health,
and may be fatal if swallowed.
fDo not open the cap of the expansion tank
while the engine is hot.
fAllow the engine to cool down before opening
the cap and protect your hands, arms and face
from any possible escape of hot coolant.
fKeep coolant out of children’s reach.
fAlso, keep coolant away from your pets.
They can be attracted to it should there be a
spill, or to used coolant left in an open contai-
ner. Coolant can be deadly to pets if consu-
med.
Risk of damage from overflowing coolant.
fTake care while topping off coolant not to soil the luggage compartment or items of luggage.

172
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine Oil Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality
and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine
is operated, the climate, road conditions as well
as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the lub-
ricant.
If the vehicle is used for repeated short trips, and
consumes a normal amount of oil, the engine oil
measurement may not show any drop in the oil le-
vel at all, even after 600 miles (1000 km) or more.
This is because the oil is gradually becoming dilut-
ed with fuel or moisture, making it appear that the
oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the
vehicle is driven at high speeds, as on an express-
way, making it then appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
If the conditions you drive your vehicle in are dus-
ty, humid, or hot, the frequency of the oil change
intervals should be greater. If the vehicle is driven at a high rate of speed, cli-
matic conditions are warm, and the load is high,
the oil should be checked more frequently, as dri-
ving conditions will determine the rate of oil con-
sumption.
– The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to lu-
bricate and cool all of its moving parts.
Therefore, the engine oil should be checked re-
gularly and kept at the required level.
– Make it a habit to have the engine oil level che-
cked with every fuel filling.
– The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level
indicator.
The oil pressure warning light indicates serious
engine damage may be occuring when lit, if en-
gine rpm is above idle speed.

Maintenance, Car Care
173
Engine Oil Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 168.
fRegularly check the oil level using the on-board
computer after the vehicle is refuelled.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 97.
fThe oil inlet opening is in the rear luggage com-
partment.
Topping off engine oil
Warning!
Engine oil is hazardous to your health and
may be fatal if swallowed.
fKeep engine oil out of children’s reach.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals.
fAlways protect your skin by washing thorough-ly with soap and water. Caution!
Risk of damage from overflowing engine oil.
fTake care while checking and topping up en-
gine oil not to soil the luggage compartment or items of luggage. 1. The on-board computer indicates how much oil
must be added.
2. Unscrew cap of the oil filler opening and pull
out filling aid.
3. Add at most half a liter of engine oil at a time.
4. Measure oil level again with the on-board
computer.
5. Add more engine oil if necessary. Never add
more engine oil than required to reach the
max. mark.
6. Push filling aid in with the cap and close cap
carefully.

178
Maintenance, Car Care
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 vapors.
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.
fPlease observe the chapter “FUEL ECONOMY”
on Page 177.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMISSION CONT-
ROL SYSTEM” on Page 182.
fPlease observe the chapter “FUEL” on Page
82.
Check engine warning light
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer come on and remain on while
driving, it suggests:
– an improperly fastened tank cap or
– refuelling with engine running.
Opening the filler flap The filler opening is under the filler flap in the front
right fender.
fWith the vehicle unlocked, press on the front
part of the filler flap (arrow) to open the flap.
The filler flap is centrally locked along with the
other locks. If there is a defect in the automatic unlocking
system:
fOpen the passenger door.
fPull the ring in the right-hand door aperture
(arrow).