2005 PORSCHE CAYENNE S ground clearance

Controls, Safety, Instruments
85
Example: Brake pad warning messageWarningsMAIN MENU > VEHICLE INFO > WARNINGS
NO WARNING is displayed if the vehicle is in
perfect condition.
Any warning messages are displayed.
fSelect warnings one after the other with the
rocker switch.
Example: Front side light warning messageReturning to the VEHICLE INFO menu
fPress RESET switch.
Caution!
Warning messages indicate possible faults.
fGo to an authorized Porsche dealer immediately.
LevelMAIN MENU > VEHICLE INFO > LEVEL
The ground clearance of vehicles equipped with
level control is shown in the LEVEL menu.
Note on operation
fThe level is set using the rocker switch behind
the selector lever in the center console.
fPlease observe the chapter “AIR SUSPENSION
WITH LEVEL CONTROL AND HEIGHT ADJUST-
MENT” on Page 236.
Returning to the VEHICLE INFO menu
fPress RESET switch.

Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
227
Off-Road DrivingPlease read this chapter carefully before driving
off road with your Porsche.
The information provided will familiarise you with
the special advantages of your vehicle, allowing
you to arrive at your destination safely every time.
We recommend practicing on less rugged terrain.
Vehicles with SportDesign package
Warning!
Risk of damage. On vehicles with Sport-
Design package, front, rear, and side
member trim are painted and pulled down
lower. Off-road driving can seriously damage
these trim parts.
fWhen driving off-road, make sure these parts
are not damaged.
fMake sure there is sufficient clearance
between obstacles and the underside of the
vehicle.
fAvoid driving through water.
fDo not use side member trim as a running board.Maintenance note
Please bear in mind that off-road driving subjects
all vehicle components to considerably more wear
than normal use, making professional inspection
and maintenance after each use a vital precondi-
tion for functioning and safety.
Grains of sand, dirt particles and other abrasive
materials entering the brakes can cause exces-
sive wear or unpredictable braking action.
Rules for off-road drivingfEnsure vehicle is equipped with approved all-
terrain tires.
fPlease observe the chapter “GROUND CLEA-
RANCE” on Page 366.
fActivate Low Range.
fStow or fasten luggage and loads securely.
Please observe the chapter “LOADING INFOR-
MATION” on Page 195.
fIf unknown terrain is obscured from view, ex-
amine it on foot first and traverse it with ex-
treme caution.
This way, obstacles are easier to recognise
and damage to the vehicle is avoided.
fAlways drive with the engine running.
Steering assistance is provided only with the
engine running.
fDrive slowly and uniformly.fAlways make sure that the wheels touch the
ground.
fBefore driving through water, check the water
depth, the condition of the surface beneath it
and the speed of the water.
fLook out for obstacles such as boulders,
holes, tree stumps or ruts.
fAlways keep the sliding/lifting roof or
Panorama roof system and the side windows
closed while driving.
fDo not depart from marked routes or paths.
fRespect Nature.
Always obey off-limits signs.

234
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Crossing obstacles
Caution!
Risk of damage to the underbody and chas-
sis components if obstacles are traversed
improperly.
fAlways bear in mind the ground clearance of
your vehicle.
fSlowly drive over the middle of tree trunks,
boulders or other obstacles with one of the
front wheels.
fCross the obstacle with the rear wheel in the same way.
Note on operation
fActivate Low Range.
Tips on driving
fHave your passenger direct you if necessary.
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
fDrive slowly.
Driving on sandNote on operation
fActivate Low Range and engage differential
locks if necessary.
Tips on driving
Loose sand is an especially tricky surface for off-
road driving.
You can often become stuck in sand within
minutes if you do not drive correctly in such
situations.
fDrive at brisk pace and do not stop under any
circumstances. This will reduce the chance of
the car becoming bogged down.
fFollow existing tracks – provided that they
have not been covered by blown sand, are not
too deep and the car's ground clearance is
sufficient.
Please observe the chapter “GROUND CLEA-
RANCE” on Page 366.
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).

236
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Air Suspension with Level Control
and Height AdjustmentOn vehicles with air suspension, the driver can set
five different level steps manually.
The preselected level is automatically adjusted to
suit the vehicle speed.
The height of the car is automatically kept
constant when the car is loaded.
Tip on driving
It is not permissible to drive on public roads with
the car in the terrain or special terrain setting.Note on operation
Frequent level changes can cause the compressor
to overheat. In this case, the compressor must
cool for several minutes before the level adjust-
ment is fully functional again.
Normal levelThe ground clearance at normal level is around
8.5 in. (217 mm).Terrain levelThis setting is intended for off-road driving, field
paths and forest paths, etc.
The vehicle is raised by around 1 in. (26 mm) com-
pared to normal level.
Terrain level can be selected only manually at
speeds below around 50 mph (80 km/h).
The car is automatically lowered to normal level at
speeds exeeding around 50 mph (80 km/h).
The car is automatically raised to terrain level
when Low Range is activated.
Special terrain levelThis setting is intended only for extremely chal-
lenging terrain requiring maximum ground clear-
ance. The vehicle is raised by 2.2 in. (56 mm)
compared to normal level.
Special terrain level can be selected only at
speeds below around 19 mph (30 km/h).
The car is automatically lowered to terrain level at
speeds exeeding around 9 mph (30 km/h).Low levelThis level is intended for high-speed driving. Above
speeds of around 78 mph (125 km/h), the car is
lowered by around 1 in. (27 mm) compared to nor-
mal level.
When the speed drops to below around 25 mph
(40 km/h), the car is automatically raised to nor-
mal level.Special low levelAt extremely high speeds, for example when oper-
ated on a race track, the car is lowered 0.4 in.
(11 mm) compared to the low level.

Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
237
Loading level
Caution!
Risk of damage to running-gear parts, units
and the vehicle underbody.
If the car is driven off a curb when at loading level,
for example, insufficent ground clearance can
cause it to bottom out.
fAlways switch to normal level before moving off.
This setting makes it easier for you to load the lug-
gage compartment.
The vehicle is lowered by around 2.4 in. (60 mm)
compared to normal level.
The car is automatically raised to normal level at
speeds exceeding around 3 mph (5 km/h).
Setting level manuallyPreconditions
–Ignition on.
– Doors are closed.
Setting
fMove rocker switch in the appropriate direc-
tion.
This sets the next possible height.
Indication of selected level
The corresponding light-emitting diode beside the
rocker switch flashes during the control process.
The light-emitting diode is continuously lit after the
control process.
The level change is also indicated on the multi-pur-
pose display of the instrument panel.
Exceptions
Automatic changes from normal level to low level
and back are not indicated on the multi-purpose
display of the instrument panel.
Note on operation
The level selected last is stored in memory after
the ignition is switched off.Raising the vehicle
1st actuation: Terrain level
2nd actuation: Special terrain level
f f f

Vehicle Identification, Technical Data
353 Vehicle Identification, Technical Data
Vehicle Identification ................................... 354
Engine Data ............................................... 356
Transmission ............................................. 357
Tires, Rims, Tracks .................................... 358
Tire Pressures, Cold ................................... 361
Capacities ................................................. 362
Weights ..................................................... 363
Driving Performance ................................... 364
Dimensions ................................................ 365
Ground Clearance ...................................... 366

366
Vehicle Identification, Technical Data
Ground Clearance
Cayenne S Cayenne
Steel suspensionRamp angle 20.4° 20.4°Overhang angle, front
29.1°
29.1°
Overhang angle, rear 25.7° 25.7°
Ground clearance (center of axles)
8.5 in. (217 mm)
8.5 in. (217 mm)
Air suspension – normal level
Ramp angle
20.4°
20.4°
Overhang angle, front 29.1° 29.1°
Overhang angle, rear
25.7°
25.7°
Ground clearance (center of axles) 8.5 in. (217 mm) 8.5 in. (217 mm)
Air suspension – low levelRamp angle 17.7° 17.7°Overhang angle, front
27.3°
27.3°
Overhang angle, rear 23.7° 23.7°
Ground clearance (center of axles)
7.5 in. (190 mm)
7.5 in. (190 mm)
Air suspension – loading level
Ramp angle
14.9°
14.9°
Overhang angle, front 24° 24°
Overhang angle, rear
21.7°
21.7°
Ground clearance (center of axles) 6.2 in. (157 mm) 6.2 in. (157 mm)
Air suspension – terrain levelRamp angle 22.2° 22.2°Overhang angle, front
30.7°
30.7°
Overhang angle, rear 26.6° 26.6°
Ground clearance (center of axles)
9.6 in. (243 mm)
9.6 in. (243 mm)

Vehicle Identification, Technical Data
367
Cayenne S Cayenne
Air suspension – special terrain levelRamp angle 24.7° 24.7°Overhang angle, front
32.4°
32.4°
Overhang angle, rear 28.3° 28.3°
Ground clearance (center of axles)
10.7 in. (273 mm)
10.7 in. (273 mm)