78
Controls, Safety, Instruments The voltmeter indicates the battery voltage.
Normal range: 12 to 16 volts.
The voltage may drop considerably when the
vehicle is being started.
If the indicator is continually below 12 volts
when the engine is running:
fPlease have the battery charging system
checked at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Battery/alternatorA warning message will appear on the multi-pur-
pose display of the instrument panel if the voltage
drops significantly.
fStop in a safe place and switch off the engine.
Possible causes
– Defect in the battery charging system
– Broken drive belt
Warning!
Risk of accident and risk of engine damage.
A broken drive belt means there is no power
assistance to the steering (more effort is re-
quired to steer) and engine cooling fails.
fDo not continue driving.
fHave the fault remedied at your nearest autho-
rized Porsche dealer.
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.
Voltmeter
Controls, Safety, Instruments
79
Emission ControlThe emission control system detects malfunctions
early that could, for example, cause increased pol-
lutant emissions or consequential damage.
Faults are indicated by the warning light in the in-
strument panel by being continuously lit or flash-
ing.
The faults are recorded in the control unit's fault
memory.
The warning light in the instrument panel lights up
when the ignition is switched on as a lamp check
and goes out approx. 4 seconds after the engine
starts.The warning light in the instrument panel flashes to
indicate operating states (e.g. engine misfiring)
which might cause damage to certain parts of the
emission control system.
fIn this case, immediately reduce the engine
load by easing off the accelerator.
The warning light in the instrument panel is lit
continuously after the critical range is left.
fIn order to avoid consequential damage to the
engine or emission control system (e.g. cata-
lytic converter) go immediately to the nearest
authorized Porsche dealer to have the fault
diagnosed and rectified.
Caution!
Risk of damage. If the warning light in the in-
strument panel continues flashing even when
you have eased off the accelerator pedal,
the emission control system may overheat.
fStop as soon as possible in a safe place.
Make sure that combustible materials, such as
dry grass or leaves, cannot come into contact
with the hot exhaust system.
fSwitch off the engine.
fContact your nearest authorized Porsche deal-er to have the fault rectified.
Check engine warning light
Controls, Safety, Instruments
111
When vehicle stops: Hit selection Displayed after a flat tire if the system was not informed about
the work performed.
Make a selection on the multi-purpose display when the vehicle
is stationary.
Monitoring off Tire pressure monitoring was intentionally deactivated.
Tire pressure monitoring can be switched on or off on the
multi-purpose display.
Engine temperature too high Switch engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level. Add coolant if necessary.
Check coolant level Switch engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level. Add coolant if necessary.
Battery/generator warning Stop in a suitable place and switch engine off. Do not continue
driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Starting engine The battery discharges if the engine is not running and loads are
switched on.
Start the vehicle or switch the loads off.
Electrics – Loads – Switch-off Vehicle electrical system is overloaded. Certain loads (e.g.
heated rear window, seat heating) will be switched off.
Please refuel
Topping up washer fluid
Oil level monitoring – Failure – Workshop Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Checking the oil level
Instrument
panelMulti-purpose
displayText display Meaning/measures
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
225
Porsche Drive-Off Assistant –
Moving-off assistant on vehicles with
manual transmissionThe Porsche Drive-Off Assistant enables the driver
to move off on upward slopes. The vehicle must
have sufficient road contact to use this feature.
The Porsche Drive-Off Assistant is available for
slopes starting at approximately 5%.
fPlease observe the chapter “TRAILER
COUPLING” on Page 194.
Danger!
Risk of accident.
When moving off on a slippery surface (e.g.,
on icy or loose surfaces), assistance by the
Porsche Drive-Off Assistant is no longer
assured. In this case, the vehicle could slip.
The limits set by the physics of driving cannot
be overcome, even with the Porsche Drive-
Off Assistant. The responsibility for moving
off on upward slopes is still the driver's,
despite the Porsche Drive-Off Assistant.
fAlways adjust your driving style to the driving
conditions and vehicle load, use the footbrake if necessary.Moving off with Porsche Drive-Off Assistant
1. Hold the vehicle securely with footbrake or
parking brake on the slope.
The engine must be running.
2. Fully depress the clutch pedal.
3. Engage one of the gears used to ascend in the
direction of travel (1st gear or reverse).
4. While keeping the clutch pedal depressed,
release the footbrake or foot-operated parking
brake.
The vehicle is held on the slope.
5. Move off as usual.Note on operation
The Porsche Drive-Off Assistant ceases to
function:
– by shifting to neutral.
– when changing gears.
– by stopping or “stalling” the engine.
Danger!
Risk of accident.
If the Porsche Drive-Off Assistant ceases to
function, the vehicle will no longer be held on
a slope.
fHold the vehicle with the footbrake.
230
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Uphill driving
Danger!
Danger of serious personal injury or death
and risk of damage if the vehicle should
overturn.
fDo not turn around when driving uphill.
fIf it is not possible to climb a gradient, the car
must be backed down in reverse gear.
fDo not drive over embankments or slopes at
an angle to the line of maximum gradient.
fIf the vehicle starts to tilt, immediately steer in
the direction of the tilt (line of slope).
fWhen driving uphill, never let the vehicle roll
backward when in idle or not in gear.
Exclusive use of the footbrake is too risky in such situations.Note on operation
fActivate Low Range before taking extreme up-
ward or downward gradients.
Tips on driving
fDo not perform manual gear changes when
driving, and try to avoid stopping.
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
Traction on uphill slopesNote on operation
fActivate Low Range and engage differential
locks if necessary.
Tips on driving
fWhen driving uphill, go easy on the accelerator
and make sure that wheels have sufficient trac-
tion (don't spin).
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
fDrive slowly.
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
231
Driving downhill
Danger!
There is a danger of serious personal injury
or death and risk of damage if the vehicle
should overturn.
fDo not drive over slopes at an angle to the line
of maximum gradient.
fDrive downhill slowly, with the wheels pointing
straight ahead.
fIf the vehicle starts to tilt, immediately steer in
the direction of the tilt (line of slope).
fWhen driving downhill, never let the vehicle roll
when in idle.
fUse engine braking effect.
If the engine braking effect is not adequate, gently apply the foot brake.Note on operation
fActivate Low Range. The off-road ABS is
switched on automatically.
Tips on driving
The same general principle as for uphill driving ap-
plies to downhill driving.
fDo not perform manual gear changes when
driving, and try to avoid stopping.
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
A special circuit of the off-road ABS permits con-
trolled brief lock-up of the front wheels so that they
can dig into the loose surface more effectively.
Locked wheels slip and can no longer be steered.
fWhen driving down steep hills on unpaved sur-
faces, brake carefully and do not start to slide.
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
233
Tips on driving
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
fDo not perform manual gear changes when
driving, and try to avoid stopping.
Moving off in the water can be difficult due to
the high resistance and the loose surface in-
volved.
fStart the water crossing at a shallow place at
walking speed.
fAfter checking the body of water, take the
shortest path through it.
fNever drive into the water at high speed. The
resulting “bow wave” could damage the engine
and its accessories.
fAdjust your driving style to the unfamiliar sur-
roundings.
fCross the body of water slowly and at a con-
stant speed.
fNever turn around when crossing a body of wa-
ter.
fIf it is not possible to cross the body of water,
the car must be backed out of it in reverse
gear.
The servo pump and alternator can fail if the car is
driven through water for an extended period.
fIf the servo pump fails, substantially more
force will have to be exerted in order to steer. Maintenance note
The car requires a special check after the water
crossing.
fRemove mud from the tire tread.
fBriefly brake the brakes dry after driving
through the water.
HumpsfPlease observe the chapter “GROUND CLEA-
RANCE” on Page 366.
Note on operation
fActivate Low Range and engage differential
locks if necessary.
Tips on driving
fJust before reaching the hump, ease off the ac-
celerator slightly and use the car's momentum
to cross the hump. This will prevent the car
from jumping over the hump and landing on the
following downward slope at an excessive
speed.
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
244
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine Oil LevelfPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE
EXTREME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR
VEHICLE” on Page 242.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNING LIGHTS
AND WARNING MESSAGES” on Page 108.
fCheck the oil level regularly. It is best to do this
when refuelling and before extended journeys.
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.If the oil level is too low, this is indicated by the oil-
level warning light lighting up on the multi-purpose
display.
fCheck the oil level using the oil dipstick as
soon as possible and add engine oil if neces-
sary.
Note on operation
fIf the engine compartment lid is opened and oil
is not added, the warning message appears
again after approximately 100 km.
Checking the oil level
Warning!
Danger of injury. The radiator fans can start
running as a function of temperature, even
with the engine switched off.
Risk of burning from hot parts in engine com-
partment.
fExercise extreme caution when working on the engine compartment.Conditions for measuring the oil level
correctly
– Vehicle must be level.
– Engine must be switched off and at operating
temperature.
– Before the oil-level measurement, allow the en-
gine oil to flow back into the oil pan for around
3 minutes.
Checking oil level with the oil dipstick
1. Withdraw oil dipstick and wipe it with a clean,
lint-free cloth.
2. Push oil dipstick fully home, withdraw again
and read off the oil level.
The oil level must never fall below or ex-
ceed the “Min.” and “Max.” marks on the
dipstick.
The difference between the marks is approx.
1.6 qt. (1.5 liters).
3. Push oil dipstick in as far as the stop.
Oil-level warning