2006 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA steering wheel

Controls, Instruments
45
Airbag SystemsThe airbags in combination with the safety belts
make up a safety system which offers the driver
and the passenger the greatest known protection
from injuries in case of accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with a weight sensing sys-
tem for the front passenger's seat in accordance
with U.S. Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 208.
Even if your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the
safety belts must be worn at all times,
because the front airbag system is only deployed
by frontal collisions with an impact of sufficient se-
verity.
Below the deployment threshold of the airbag sys-
tem, and during types of collisions which do not
cause the actuation of the system, the safety belts
provide the primary protection to the occupants
when correctly worn.
Therefore, all persons within the vehicle
must wear safety belts at all times (in many
states, state law requires the use of safety belts).
fPlease observe the chapter “SAFETY BELTS”
on Page 42.
The front airbags are located under the padded
steering wheel panel on the driver’s side and, on
the passenger's side, in the dashboard.
The side airbags for the front seats are installed
on the side in the seat backrests.
The head airbags are installed in the door linings.
Danger!
To provide optimal occupant protection, air-
bags must inflate at very high speed. If you
are not wearing your safety belt or are too
close to the airbag when it is deployed, inflat-
ing airbags can result in serious personal in-
jury or death.
Improper handling of the weight sensing sys-
tem can unintentionally impair switching the
passenger's airbag off and on.
fMake sure there are no people, animals or ob-
jects between the driver or passenger and the
area into which the airbag inflates.
fSit back as far from the dashboard or steering
wheel as is practical, while still maintaining full
vehicle control.
fAlways hold the steering wheel by the outer
rim. Never rest your hands on the airbag panel.
fAlways fasten seat belts because triggering
of the airbag system depends on the force and
angle of impact.
fDo not transport heavy objects on or in front of
the passenger’s seat. These could impair the
function of the airbag, the seat belts, and
weight sensing.
fDo not hang objects (e.g. jackets, coats, coat
hangers) over the backrest.fAlways keep the lid of the door storage com-
partment closed. Objects must not protrude
out of the door storage compartment.
fNo changes may be made to the wiring or
components of the airbag system.
fDo not add any additional coverings or stickers
to the steering wheel or in the area of the pas-
senger’s airbag, side airbags and head air-
bags. Doing so may adversely affect the func-
tioning of the airbag system or cause harm to
the occupants if the airbag system should de-
ploy.
fDo not modify the seat coverings. Do not at-
tach additional cushions, protective coverings,
or pillows to the passenger's seat. Do not affix
things to the passenger's seat or cover it with
other materials. Do not cover the back of the
backrest. Do not make changes to the passen-
ger's seat and to the seat base frame.
fDo not undertake any wiring for electrical ac-
cessory equipment in the vicinity of the airbag
wiring harnesses. Doing so may disable the air-
bag system or cause inadvertent inflation.
fIf the warning light comes on, the airbag sys-
tem should be repaired immediately by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
fAlways keep feet in the footwell while driving.
Do not put feet on the dashboard or the seat
area. Do not lean against the inside of the door
or outside the window while the vehicle is mov-
ing.

46
Controls, Instruments fUsing accessories not approved by Porsche
can cause the weight sensing system to be im-
paired.
fDo not squeeze objects, such as the fire extin-
guisher, or first aid kit under the seat.
fOnly have seats removed and installed by an
authorized Porsche dealer so that weight sens-
ing components will not be damaged.
fGive your passenger all of the information in
this chapter.
Note
Airbag components (e.g. steering wheel, door lin-
ing, seats) may be disassembled only by an autho-
rized Porsche dealer.
When disposing of a used airbag unit, our safety
instructions must be followed. These instructions
can be obtained at any authorized Porsche dealer.
Function of the airbag systemThe front airbags are triggered during a frontal col-
lision of sufficient force and direction.
In the event of a side impact of corresponding
force, the side airbag on the impact side is
triggered.
The inflation process generates the amount of gas
required to fill the airbags at the necessary pres-
sure in fractions of a second.
Airbags protect the head and upper body, while si-
multaneously damping the motion of the driver
and passenger in the impact direction in the event
of a frontal impact or side impact.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module. This module will record the
use of the seat belt restraint system by the driver
and front passenger when the airbags and/or belt
tensioner work.Advanced Airbag
Your vehicle is equipped with a weight sensing sys-
tem for the passenger's seat in accordance with
U.S. Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard 208.
Depending on the weight acting on the front pas-
senger's seat, the front passenger's airbag will au-
tomatically be switched on and off.
Depending on the angle and force of impact, the
front passenger's airbag which is activated will be
triggered during a collision.
Precondition for switching the front passenger's
airbag on and off, depending on weight:
– Vehicles equipped with key-operated airbag
deactivation device:
Switch position AUTO.
– Ignition key is inserted.

Controls, Instruments
69
ABS Brake System
(Antilock Brake System)The ABS system represents a major contribution
to the enhancement of active safety in your vehi-
cle. This system prevents the wheels from locking
in a panic stop on almost all road surfaces. With the ABS system in your vehicle, the
following areas are enhanced:
Steering, vehicle remains steerable under all
braking forces when ABS is engaged.
Good directional control, no swerving caused
by locking of wheels under braking conditions.
Shorter stopping distance, stopping distances
are usually reduced because controlled braking is
maximized.
Prevention of wheel lock up, no brake- induced
sliding and thus no localized tire wear from emer-
gency braking.
The crucial advantage of the ABS system over a
conventional brake system is in the area of main-
taining directional control and maneuverability of
the car in emergency situations during normal driv-
ing, including panic braking in turns.
Warning!
The increased control that is provided should
not induce you to take greater risks with your
safety. The limits dictated by the laws of
physics cannot be overcome, even with ABS.
The risk of accidents due to inappropriate
speed cannot be reduced, even by the ABS.
The driver bears the responsibility for all
driving maneuvers.
fAdapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
fObey all traffic laws.
Other vehicles not equipped with the ABS
system may not be able to maintain control,
especially on wet or poor road surfaces and
thus may be more likely to impact you from
behind.
fTo minimize that risk, use your ABS system to
increase your ability to maneuver to avoid dan-
gerous situations and not merely to try to stop in the shortest distance possible.

72
Controls, Instruments
Porsche Stability Management
(PSM)PSM is an active control system for stabilization of
the vehicle during extreme driving manoeuvres.
The most recent version of PSM (only on vehicles
with four-wheel drive) improves the brake system
functionality.
Warning!
The increased control that is provided should
not induce you to take greater risks with your
safety. The limits dictated by the laws of
physics cannot be overcome, even with PSM.
The risk of accidents due to inappropriate
speed cannot be reduced, even by PSM.
The driver bears the responsibility for all
driving maneuvers.
fAdapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
fObey all traffic laws. Advantages of PSM – Superior traction and lane-holding ability in all
driving situations – even on road surfaces with
varying friction.
– PSM actively stabilizes the vehicle during dy-
namic driving maneuvers (e.g. rapid steering
movements, during lane changes or on alter-
nating curves). – Improved braking stability in curves and on dif-
ferent or varying road surfaces.
– It improves the braking functions and shortens
the stopping distance if emergency braking is
needed (only vehicles with four-wheel drive).
Readiness for operationPSM is switched on automatically every time you
start the engine.FunctionSensors at the wheels, brakes, steering system
and engine continuously measure:
– Speed
– Steering angle
– Lateral acceleration
– Rate of turn about the vertical axis
– Brake pressure
PSM uses these values to determine the direction
of travel desired by the driver.
PSM intervenes and corrects the course if the
actual direction of motion deviates from the
desired course (steering-wheel position):
It brakes individual wheels as needed. In addition,
the engine power may be manipulated in order to
stabilize the vehicle.The events below inform the driver of PSM control
operations and warn him to adapt his driving style
to the road conditions:
– The multi-functional information light on the
instrument panel lights up.
– Hydraulic noises can be heard.
– The vehicle decelerates and steering-wheel
forces are altered as the PSM controls the
brakes.
– Reduced engine power.
– The brake pedal pulsates and its position is
changed during braking.
In order to achieve full vehicle deceleration,
foot pressure must be increased after begin-
ning of the brake pedal pulsing.

78
Controls, Instruments
Operation, Instruments 1. Ignition lock/steering lock
2. Turn signals/high beam/headlight flasher stalk
3. Hands-free microphone for telephone
4. Horn
5. Wiper/washer stalk, rear window wiper
6. Button for seat heating, left
7. Interior temperature sensor/GPS antenna
8. Stopwatch
9. Emergency flasher switch
10.Central locking button, readiness display for
alarm system
11.Porsche Communication Management (PCM)12.Button for seat heating, right
13.Cupholder
14.Light switch
15.Operating lever for on-board computer
16.Locking lever for steering-wheel adjustment
17.Operating lever for automatic speed control
18.Operating panel for air conditioning
19 Buttons for rear spoiler,
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM),
Sport mode, Porsche Stability Management
(PSM)

Controls, Instruments
81
Switch position 2Start engine
fTurn ignition key to ignition lock position 2.
fPlease observe the chapter “STARTING PRO-
CEDURES” on Page 82.Switch position 3Ignition off
fTurn ignition key to ignition lock position 3.
Locking the steering columnAutomatic locking
The steering column is automatically locked when
the ignition key is withdrawn from the ignition lock.
Warning!
Risk of an accident.
The steering wheel will lock and will cause
loss of steering.
fNever remove key from the ignition lock or turn
the key off while the vehicle is moving.
fAlways withdraw the ignition key when leav-ing the vehicle.Automatic unlocking
The steering column is automatically unlocked
when the ignition key is inserted into the ignition
lock.
Note
fTo avoid battery run-down, always remove the
ignition key from the ignition lock.
Please observe the chapter “BATTERY” on
Page 258.
Gong If you leave the key in the ignition/steering lock, a
gong will sound when the driver’s door is opened.
This is a reminder to remove the key.

Controls, Instruments
83
Stopping Engine fTurn key back to position 3.
fDo not stop engine immediately after hard or
extended driving.
Keep engine running at increased idle for
about two minutes to prevent excessive heat
build-up before turning off engine.
fTo avoid battery run-down, always remove the
ignition key from the ignition lock.
fMake sure that when you leave the car, even
briefly, you have withdrawn the ignition key.
fEngage the steering lock by moving the steer-
ing wheel to the left or right.
Turn the steering wheel to the locking position
before you switch off the engine so that you
don’t have to exert yourself when locking or
unlocking the steering.
Warning!
Danger of injury. Hot engine compartment
components can burn skin on contact.
fBefore working on any part in the engine com-
partment, turn the engine off and let it cool down sufficiently.
Engine-compartment blower,
radiator fan The radiator and radiator fans are in the front of
the car.
The engine-compartment blower is mounted on
the engine compartment lid.
Warning!
Risk of injury.
After the engine is switched off, the engine-
compartment temperature is monitored for
approx. 30 minutes.
During this period, and depending on tem-
perature, the engine-compartment blower
may continue to run or start to run.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-
gine off, the ignition off, and exercise extreme
caution.
Risk of injury. The radiator fans in the front
end of the car may be operating or
unexpectedly start operating when the
engine is switched on.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-gine switched off.
Automatic garage door The ignition system in your Porsche may interfere
with your electronically operated garage door.
fTo check this, drive your Porsche close to the
garage door. Make sure not to interfere with
the operating range of the door.
fRun the engine at different speeds.
If the garage door opens or closes without you op-
erating the garage door unit in your car, contact
the dealer who installed the automatic garage
door to have the frequency and/or coding of the
garage door signal changed or modified.

88
Controls, Instruments The engine oil temperature is indicated in the left
instrument.
A- Adjustment button for instrument illumination and
trip counter Indicates automatic speed control readiness.
Instrument Illumination The illumination is automatically adjusted to the
ambient brightness by the light sensor in the
tachometer.
In addition, when the car lights are switched on,
the instrument and switch symbol brightness can
be manually adjusted.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, personal injury and loss
of control.
fDo not reach through the steering-wheel spokes while driving.
Note
When the car lights are switched on, the instru-
ment lighting for light dials switches on and off
automatically depending on the ambient bright-
ness.
Engine oil temperature
Automatic Speed Control
Indicator light