Controls, Safety, Instruments
11 Controls, Safety, Instruments
Keys ............................................................ 17
Central Locking System ................................ 21
Porsche Entry & Drive ................................... 24
Doors .......................................................... 26
Alarm System, Ultrasound Passenger Compart-
ment Monitoring System, Inclination Sensor .... 27
Power Windows ............................................ 29
Front seats................................................... 32
Front seat with memory................................. 33
Easy Entry Function ...................................... 35
Headrests .................................................... 36
Rear Seats ................................................... 37
Heated Seats – Front and Rear ...................... 40
Safety Belts.................................................. 42
Child Restraint Anchorages ............................ 46
Child Restraint Systems ................................ 47
Airbag Systems ............................................ 49
Steering Wheel ............................................. 52
Multi-Functional Steering Wheel ...................... 54
Interior Mirror ............................................... 56
Door Mirrors................................................. 56
Automatic Anti-Dazzle Mirror .......................... 58
Ignition Lock/Steering Lock ........................... 59
Starting and Stopping the Engine ................... 61
Parking Brake ............................................... 64
Brakes ......................................................... 65
Instrument Panel USA Models ........................ 70
Instrument Panel Canada Models.................... 72
Oil Temperature Gauge ................................. 74
Cooling System ............................................ 75
Fuel ............................................................. 76
Odometer .................................................... 76Clock ........................................................... 77
Voltmeter ..................................................... 78
Emission Control........................................... 79
Multi-Purpose Display .................................... 80
Warning Lights and Warning Messages ......... 108
Light Switch ............................................... 116
Instrument Illumination ................................. 118
Automatic Headlight Beam Adjustment ......... 118
Turn signal/High Beam/
Headlight Flasher Stalk ................................ 119
Emergency flasher ...................................... 120
Windshield Wiper/Washer Stalk .................... 121
Cruise Control ............................................ 124
Vents ......................................................... 127
Fresh-air intake ........................................... 127
Heated Rear Window ................................... 128
Manual Air Conditioning ............................... 129
Automatically Controlled
Two-Zone Air Conditioning ........................... 132
Automatically Controlled
Four-Zone Air Conditioning ........................... 136
Parking Heater............................................ 142
Sun Visors .................................................. 147
Sun Blinds, Rear Side Windows .................... 148
Interior Lighting .......................................... 149
Door-Surrounding Lighting ........................... 151
Coming Home Function (Off Delay) ............... 151
Sliding/Lifting Roof ..................................... 152
Parking Aids ............................................... 162
Garage Door Opener ................................... 167
Ashtray ...................................................... 170
Cigarette Lighter......................................... 171Car Audio Operation/Tips ............................ 172
Porsche Communication
Management (PCM) ..................................... 174
Storage...................................................... 176
Cupholder .................................................. 180
Rear Lid ..................................................... 182
Rear Window .............................................. 184
Engine Compartment Lid ............................. 184
Loadspace ................................................. 186
Luggage Compartment Cover ...................... 187
Luggage Safety Net ....................................189
Ski Bag ...................................................... 191
Roof Transport System................................ 193
Trailer Coupling .......................................... 194
Loading Information ....................................195
Controls, Safety, Instruments
65
The warning lights will go out after the parking
brake is fully released.
The warning lights are not an indicator that the
parking brake is fully applied; it is only intended to
be a warning to release the parking brake before
driving the car.
Caution!
A partially engaged brake will overheat the
rear brakes, reduce their effectiveness and
cause excessive wear.
fRelease the parking brake fully.
fWhen parking your car, press down firmly on
the foot pedal.
fMove the selector lever to “P“ (Tiptronic) or
move the gearshift lever to reverse or first
gear (Manual transmission).
fOn hills also turn the front wheels towards the
curb.
BrakesfMake it a habit to check the operation of your
brakes before driving.
Keep in mind that the braking distance increases
very rapidly as the speed increases. At 60 mph
(100 km/h), for example, it is not twice but four
times longer than 30 mph (50 km/h). Tire traction
is also less effective when the roads are wet or
slippery.
fTherefore, always maintain a safe distance
from the car in front of you.Note
Even though the brake discs consist of alloyed
grey cast iron, they will unavoidably start to cor-
rode if your car is parked for an extended period.
The brakes will tend to “rub“ as a result.
The nature, extent and effects of corrosion de-
pend on the amount of time the vehicle was
parked, whether road salt or grit was spread and
whether grease-dissolving agents were used in
car washes.
If the braking comfort is noticeably impaired, we
recommend having the brake system checked by
experts at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Parking Brake warning
light USA
Parking Brake warning
light Canada
66
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Brake system functionYour Porsche is equipped with a power assisted
hydraulic dual circuit brake system with disc
brakes at the front and rear.
Both circuits function independently. One brake
circuit operates the front left and rear right wheel
and the other operates the front right and rear left
wheel.
If one brake circuit has failed, the other will still op-
erate. However, you will notice an increased pedal
travel when you apply the brakes.Failure of one
brake circuit will cause the stopping distance to in-
crease.
Warning!
Risk of an accident. In the unlikely event of
hydraulic failure of one brake circuit:
fPush the brake pedal down firmly and hold it in
that position. A mechanical linkage activates
the second circuit, and you will be able to bring
the vehicle to a stop.
fAfter bringing your vehicle to a complete stop,
avoid driving the vehicle and instead have it
towed to the nearest authorized Porsche deal-er for repair.The warning light in the instrument panel lights up.
A message will be displayed on the multi-purpose
display of the instrument panel if the brake fluid
level is too low, or (if the brake pedal travel has in-
creased) one of the two brake circuits has failed.
A greater braking pressure will be required, stop-
ping distances will be longer and the braking be-
havior will change, particularly in curves.
With correctly adjusted brakes and a correctly
working brake system, the pedal travel to the
point of brake application should be 1-3/16 in. to
1-9/16 in. (30 to 40 mm). Whenever the brake
pedal travel exceeds this value, have the brake
system checked.
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light
Canada
Controls, Safety, Instruments
67
Brake pedal
Warning!
Risk of an accident.
Any obstruction of the brake pedal could in-
crease the stopping distance.
fAlways check the movement of the brake pedal
before driving and make sure that it is not ob-
structed by a floor mat or any other object.
fSecure the floor mat to prevent it from sliding
into positions that could interfere with the safe
operation of your vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you
floor mats of the correct size including a secur-ing possibility.
Note
In case one of the two brake circuits fails, in-
creased pedal travel is required to bring your vehi-
cle to a full stop.
Warning!
To avoid overheating and premature wear of
the brakes:
fBefore descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and shift the transmission into a lower
driving position to control speed.
fDo not “ride the brakes“ by resting your foot on
the pedal when not intending to apply brake
pressure.
fDo not hold the pedal down too long or too of-
ten. This could cause the brakes to get hot and not function properly.
Brake boosterThe brake booster assists braking only when
the engine is running.
When the car is moving while the engine is not run-
ning, or if the brake booster is defective, more
pressure on the brake pedal is required to bring
the car to a stop.
Moisture, road salt or grit on brakes affects brak-
ing. When the vehicle is driven on salted or gritted
roads for extended periods, the brakes should be
washed down thoroughly about every 2 weeks. An
automatic carwash facility cannot do this job prop-
erly. Brakes will dry after a few cautious brake ap-
plications.
Warning!
Driving through water may reduce the trac-
tion. Moisture on brakes from road water, car
wash, or a coating of road salt or grit may af-
fect braking efficiency.
fCautiously apply brakes to test brakes after being exposed.
68
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Brake wearYour car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear de-
pends on how the brakes are used.
fHave the brake system inspected at the inter-
vals recommended in your Maintenance Book-
let.
The warning light in the instrument panel lights up.
A message will be displayed on the multi-purpose
display of the instrument panel if the brake pads
are worn, excessively.
fDo not continue to operate the vehicle.
Have your authorized Porsche dealer inspect
or replace the brake pads.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNING LIGHTS
AND WARNING MESSAGES” on Page 108.
Brake pads and brake discsWear on the brake pads and brake discs depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the con-
ditions of use and therefore cannot be expressed
in actual miles on the road.
The high-performance brake system is designed
for optimal braking effect at all speeds and tem-
peratures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient con-
ditions (such as temperature and humidity) there-
fore might cause the brakes to squeal.New brake pads or linings
New brake pads have to be “broken in“, and there-
fore only attain optimal friction when the car has
covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be com-
pensated for by pressing the brake pedal harder.
This also applies whenever the brake pads and
brake discs are replaced.
Brake wear warning light
USA
Brake wear warning light
Canada
Controls, Safety, Instruments
69
Warning!
fDo not obstruct the pedal travel with floor mats
or other objects.
The brake booster is ready for operation only
while the engine is running.
If the engine is switched off or there is a defect in
the brake booster, much greater force has to be
applied to the pedal when braking.
fPlease observe the chapter “TOWING” on
Page 350.
In heavy rain, while driving through water or after
leaving a car wash, the braking action may be de-
layed and increased pressure may be required.
fFor this reason, keep further back from the ve-
hicle in front and “dry” the brakes by applying
them at intervals. Make sure that following traf-
fic is not affected.
After a long drive over salted or gritted roads, a
coating may form on the brake discs and pads
that significantly reduces friction and thus braking
action.
fTherefore, clean the brake discs and pads ap-
prox. every 2 weeks with a strong jet of water.
The cleaning effect of automatic car washes is
insufficient.
To prevent corrosion of the brake discs, “brake
them dry” before parking the car.fEven though the brake discs consist of alloyed
grey cast iron, they will unavoidably start to
corrode if your car is parked for an extended
period. The brakes will tend to “rub” as a re-
sult.
The nature, extent and effects of corrosion de-
pend on the amount of time the vehicle was
parked, whether road salt or grit was spread
and whether grease-dissolving agents were
used in car washes.
If the braking comfort is noticeably impaired,
we recommend having the brake system
checked by experts at an authorized Porsche
dealer.
fTo relieve the braking system on downhill
stretches, change down to a lower gear in
good time to obtain engine braking.
If engine braking is insufficient on steep
stretches, operate the footbrake at intervals.
Continuous braking overheats the brakes and
reduces the braking effect.
fPlease observe the chapter “BRAKE-FLUID LE-
VEL” on Page 251.
Controls, Safety, Instruments
113
Sport shock absorber Current setting of Porsche Active Suspension Management.
Normal shock absorber Current setting of Porsche Active Suspension Management.
Comfort shock absorber Current setting of Porsche Active Suspension Management.
Warning – Air suspension Stop in a suitable place. Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Air suspension faulty – Workshop Drive carefully to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
Spare wheel filling Collapsible spare wheel being filled with level-control
compressor. Do not drive off!
Control off Level control has been switched off (to jack up the vehicle).
Not permissible The prerequisites for setting the desired level have not been
met.
Pressure accumulator charging Level control temporarily unavailable.
All-wheel drive system faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Shifting not possible,
Speed too highTiptronic S: When changing between Low Range and High
Range, the limit speed (Low Range program) must not be
exceeded.
Changing only possible
in NeutralTiptronic S: The selector lever must be in position Nwhen
changing between Low Range and High Range.
Possible only in neutral
with brake appliedManual transmission: The vehicle must be stationary,
the brakes must be applied, and the gearshift lever must
be in the Neutral position when changing between Low Range
and High Range.
Warning – Parking lock!
Operate footbrake.Do not continue driving. Apply the parking brake.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Instrument
panelMulti-purpose
displayText display Meaning/measures
Controls, Safety, Instruments
165
Limits of ultrasonic measurement
– ParkAssist cannot detect sound-absorbing ob-
stacles (e.g. powder snow),
– Sound-reflecting obstacles (e.g. glass surfac-
es, flat painted surfaces),
– And very thin obstacles.
Other ultrasound sources (e.g. pneumatic brakes
of other vehicles, jackhammers) can interfere with
detection of obstacles.
Fault indication without warning tone
All red light segments of the active warning indica-
tors light up when there is a temporary fault in
ParkAssist.
Note
Correct operation is no longer ensured if there is
a temporary fault (e.g. caused by ice formation or
heavy soiling on the sensors).
The system detects the temporary fault.
All light segments light up until a speed of
9 mph (14 km/h) is reached.
ParkAssist is ready for operation again when the
interference has been eliminated.Fault indication with warning tone
In the event of a long-lasting fault in ParkAssist,
the red light segments of the active warning indi-
cators light up and a continuous tone sounds for
three seconds after a transmission range has
been selected.
Possible causes
– Defect or system fault.
fSwitch ParkAssist off.
When ParkAssist is switched off, the indicator
light in the button lights up.
fPlease have the fault remedied at an autho-
rized Porsche dealer.Driving with a trailer
The ParkAssist rear monitoring area is switched
off when the trailer’s power supply is plugged in.