232
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Water crossingfPlease observe the chapter “GROUND CLEA-
RANCE” on Page 366.
Danger!
Danger of drowning if water enters the vehi-
cle. Risk of damage to the engine and acces-
sories if water penetrates.
fBefore driving through water, check the water
depthA, water speed and the condition of the
surface beneath it.
The water must not be deeper than 20 in./
50 cm (22 in./55.5 cm for vehicles with level
control and height adjustment).
fCheck the door sills and rubber seals before
starting to drive.
fDo not drive through deep or rapidly flowing
water.
Deep or rapidly flowing water, e.g. mountain
streams, can cause the car to deviate from the
desired path.
fAvoid a "bow wave" by driving at an appropriate
speed.
fNever open the doors when driving through wa-
ter.Soiling can impair the braking action.
fCheck and clean the brakes if they have been
soiled.
Danger of steering assistance failing during
a long journey in the water if the drive belt
slips.
fIf the steering assistance fails, more effort will
be required to steer.
Danger of damaging electrical systems
fAvoid driving through salt water.
Notes on operation
fActivate Low Range.
fSwitch the air conditioner off.
fSwitch the headlights off.
252
Maintenance, Car Care
Changing the brake fluidBrake fluid absorbs moisture from the air over
time. This accumulation of water lowers the boil-
ing point and, under certain operating conditions,
can affect the braking action.
fTherefore, have the brake fluid changed in ac-
cordance with the change intervals stated in
the booklet “Guarantee and Maintenance”.
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 in-
dicate 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 FluidThe washer-fluid reservoir for windshield, rear win-
dow and headlights is located in the engine com-
partment.Warning 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.
Topping off washer fluidThe capacity is approx. 7.9 quarts (7.5 liters).
Clean water is generally not enough to clean the
windows and headlights.
It is advantageous to add a winter cleaner giving
antifreeze protection or a suitable summer clean-
er, depending on the season. Follow the instruc-
tions for the mixture ratio.
fUse only cleaner authorised by Porsche.
1. Please note all the information on the refill
container of the cleaning agent.
2. Open cap of the washer-fluid reservoir.
3. Top up washer fluid and close cap properly.
fDo not use engine coolant anti-freeze or any
other solution that can damage the car’s paint,
in the washer reservoir.
Brake fluid warning light
USA
Brake fluid warning light
Canada
Maintenance, Car Care
271
Headlights, lights, interior and exterior
plastic partsfUseonlyclean water and a little dishwashing
detergent to clean headlights, lights, plastic
parts and surfaces.
Do not clean when dry.
Use a soft sponge or a soft, lint-free cloth.
Gently wipe the surface without applying too
much pressure.
The Porsche inside window cleaner is also
suitable for cleaning plastic surfaces.
Follow the cleaning instructions on the
container.
Never use other chemical cleaners or
solvents.
fRinse cleaned surfaces with clear water.
Door, roof, lid and window sealsfWash dirt (e.g. abrasion, dust, road salt or grit)
from all seals regularly using warm soapy wa-
ter. Do not use any chemical cleaning agents
or solvents.
When there is a frost hazard, the outer door seals
and the lid seals can be protected against freezing
into place by a suitable care product.
In order to prevent damage to the anti-fric-
tion coating, the inner door seals must not be
treated with care products.
Light alloy wheelsfPlease observe the chapter “AUTOMATIC CAR
WASHES” on Page 267.
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 too
long.
fIf possible, wash the wheels with a sponge or
wash brush about every two weeks. In areas
where road salt or grit 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 pur-
pose.
If the ph-value of the detergent is in-
corect, 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 discoloration of the
wheel.
fEvery three months, after cleaning, coat the
wheels with a car wax or non-corrosive grease
(e.g. vaseline).
Using a clean cloth thoroughly rub the grease
into the surface.
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
275 Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Exercise Extreme Caution
when Working on your Vehicle ..................... 276
Notes on Minor Repairs .............................. 276
Tires/Wheels ............................................. 277
Jack .......................................................... 291
Tool Kit ..................................................... 291
Lifting the Vehicle with a
Lifting Platform or Garage lift ...................... 292
Compressor .............................................. 293
Wheel Bolts ............................................... 293
Changing Wheels........................................ 294
Flat Tire ..................................................... 295
Electrical System ....................................... 310
Battery ...................................................... 320
Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables ...... 331
Replacing the remote control battery ........... 334
Bulb Chart ................................................. 335
Replacing Bulbs ......................................... 336
Headlights ................................................. 337
Tail Light ................................................... 345
License Plate Lights ................................... 347
Headlight Adjustment.................................. 348
Changing Headlights from
Left to Right-Hand Traffic ............................ 349
Towing ...................................................... 350
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
321
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.Maintenance note
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.
Putting vehicle into operationAfter the battery is connected or charged, the
PSM warning light lights up on the instrument pan-
el 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 observe the chapter “STORING FINAL
POSITION OF THE DOOR WINDOWS” on
Page 31.
6. On vehicles with tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem:
Please observe the chapter “SYSTEM LEAR-
NING PHASE” on Page 89.
f f f
336
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Replacing Bulbs
Warning!
Danger of short circuit.
fAlways switch off the relevant consumer when
changing bulbs.
Danger of injury. The headlights are under
high voltage when installed.
fExercise extreme caution when working in the
area of the headlights.
Risk of damage. Bulbs of a higher wattage
can damage the light housing.
fOnly use the bulbs specified in the bulb chart.
fBulbs must be clean and free from oil, grease
or fingerprints.
fNever touch bulbs with your bare hands.
Use a cloth or soft paper when replacing bulbs.
fAlways carry spare bulbs with you.
In certain countries, the carrying of spare
bulbs is mandatory.
Caution!
Risk of damage to headlights due to exces-
sive temperatures and abrasion.
fAttach no coverings (e.g. films, “stone
guards”) in the area of the headlights.
fUse soapy water only to clean light lenses and
plastic headlight lenses. In no case may chem-
ical cleaners or other volatile cleaning fluids be
used.
fTo prevent scratches, do not rub with a dry or merely moist cloth, tissue or insect sponges.
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
337
Headlights
Caution!
Risk of damage to headlights due to abrasion
and excessive temperatures.
fDo not affix any coverings (e.g. “stone guards” or films) in the area of the headlights.
Removing headlights1. Switch off ignition and withdraw the ignition
key.
2. Push down cover A in the direction of the arrow
and remove.
B- Headlight release
C-Wing
D- Socket wrench3. Take socket wrench D out of the tool kit.
4. Push socket wrench D onto the release B and
turn in the direction of the arrow.
The headlight holder has now been unlocked.
5. Pull headlight forward out of the fender.
f f f
338
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
B- Headlight release
C-Wing
D- Socket wrenchB- Headlight release
C-Wing
D-Socket wrench
Installing headlight1. Insert headlight into the guide rails and push
fully into the fender.
2. Push headlight to the rear and simultaneously
turn socket wrench D in the direction of the ar-
row.
The headlight locking device must perceptibly
and audibly engage.
B- Headlight release
C-Wing
D-Socket wrench3. Check whether the headlights are seated se-
curely.
4. Fit cover A and fold it down.