2006 PORSCHE BOXSTER ECU

Controls, Instruments
11 Controls, Instruments
Before driving off... ...................................... 12
Break in hints for the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers ...................... 14
Keys ........................................................... 17
Security Wheel Bolts.................................... 17
Central Locking in Cars without Alarm System 19
Doors ......................................................... 25
Alarm System,
Passenger Compartment Monitoring ............. 26
Power Windows ........................................... 28
Inside mirror ................................................ 30
Automatic Anti-Glare Interior Mirror
and Door Mirrors ......................................... 30
Door Mirrors................................................ 31
Seat Adjustment .......................................... 34
Seat Memory ............................................... 36
Heated Seats .............................................. 38
Steering Wheel Adjustment ........................... 39
Multi-functional steering wheel....................... 40
Sun Visors................................................... 41
Safety Belts.................................................. 42
Child Restraint Systems................................ 45
LATCH System
Child seat bracket on the passenger’s seat .... 49
Airbag Systems ........................................... 50
Clutch Pedal ................................................ 56
Parking Brake .............................................. 57
Brakes ........................................................ 58
ABS Brake System
(Antilock Brake System) ................................ 61
Sport Mode ................................................. 63
Porsche Stability Management (PSM)............. 64Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM) ........................................................ 67
Retractable Spoiler ...................................... 68
Parking Aids ................................................ 70
Operation, Instruments ................................. 72
Ignition/Starter Switch with anti-theft
Steering Lock .............................................. 74
Starting Procedures ..................................... 76
Stopping engine........................................... 77
Instrument Panel USA Models ....................... 79
Automatic Speed Control Indicator light ......... 82
Instrument Illumination.................................. 82
Trip Odometer ............................................. 83
Speedometer .............................................. 84
Changing over between
Miles / Kilometers........................................ 84
Tachometer ................................................. 85
Turn Signal Indicator Light ............................ 85
High Beam .................................................. 85
Cooling System ........................................... 86
Tiptronic...................................................... 87
Fuel ............................................................ 88
Clock .......................................................... 89
Outside temperature .................................... 89
Check Engine Warning Light.......................... 90
Central warning light .................................... 91
Brake warning light USA ............................... 91
Brake warning light Canada .......................... 91
On-Board Computer (BC) .............................. 92
Light Switch .............................................. 124
Welcome Home Lighting ............................. 124
Automatic Headlight Beam Adjustment ........ 125Turn Signal/ Headlight Dimmer/Parking light /
Flasher Lever............................................. 125
Windshield Wiper / Washer Lever ................ 126
Automatic Speed Control ............................ 128
Air conditioning .......................................... 130
Automatic air conditioning system ............... 133
Central and side vents................................ 136
Fresh-air intake .......................................... 136
Emergency Flasher Switch .......................... 137
Ashtray ..................................................... 138
Cigarette Lighter ........................................ 139
Sockets .................................................... 140
Interior lights ............................................. 141
Storage in the passenger compartment ....... 142
Cupholder
(holder for drinks cans and cups) ................ 144
Luggage Storage on
Engine Compartment Lid ............................ 146
Fire extinguisher ........................................ 147
Trunk Entrapment ...................................... 148
Luggage compartment lids ......................... 150
Luggage Compartment.............................. 152
Rear luggage compartment ........................ 153
Porsche Communication Management (PCM) 154
Car Audio Operation/Tips ........................... 155
HomeLink .................................................. 158
Manual Transmission, Clutch ....................... 162
Tiptronic S................................................. 163
Convertible Top.......................................... 170
Windstop ................................................... 177
Hardtop..................................................... 178

12
Controls, Instruments
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid
quality control and demanding inspections.
These engineering and safety features will be
enhanced by you... the safe driver... – who knows his car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely, and always
drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages.
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off... Check the following items first fTurn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
fBe sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
fSee that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
fCheck engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every fuel filling.
fCheck all fluid levels such as windshield was-
her and brake fluid levels.
fBe sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
fCheck all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
fCheck and if necessary replace worn or cra-
cked wiper blades.
fSee that all windows are clear and unobstruc-
ted.
fCheck air intake slots and area between front
lid and windshield are free of snow and ice, so
the heater and the windshield wipers work pro-
perly. fIf a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
fCheck all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
fCheck the headlights for proper aim, and if ne-
cessary, have them adjusted.
fCheck under the vehicle for leaks.
fBe sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are:
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.

Controls, Instruments
17
Keys fPlease observe the chapter “CENTRAL LO-
CKING IN CARS WITH ALARM SYSTEM” on
Page 21.
Two main keys and one spare key are supplied
with your Porsche.
These keys operate all the locks on your vehicle.
fBe careful with your car keys: do not part with
them except under exceptional circumstances.
fTo avoid battery run-down, always remove the
ignition key from the ignition lock.
Replacement keys Replacement car keys can be obtained only from
your authorized Porsche dealer, and this can so-
metimes be very time-consuming.
You should therefore always keep the spare key on
your person.
Keep it in a safe place (e.g. wallet), but under no
circumstances in or on the vehicle.
The key codes of new keys have to be “reported”
to the car control unit by your authorized Porsche
dealer.
A total of 6 car keys can be taught.
Disabling key codes
If a key is lost, the key codes can be disabled by
an authorized Porsche dealer.
All the remaining car keys are required for this pur-
pose.
Disabling the code ensures that the car can be
started only using authorized keys.
Note
fPlease note that the other locks can still be
opened with the disabled key.
Immobilizer There is a transponder (an electronic component)
in the key grip, containing a stored code.
When the ignition is switched on, the ignition lock
checks the code.
The immobilizer can be deactivated and the engi-
ne started only using an authorized ignition key.
Switching off the immobilizer
fInsert the ignition key into the ignition lock.
If the ignition is left on for more than 2 minutes
without starting the engine, the immobilizer is re-
activated.
fIf this happens, turn the ignition key back to the
3 position before starting the engine.
Please observe the chapter “IGNITION/STAR-
TER SWITCH WITH ANTI-THEFT STEERING
LOCK” on Page 74.
Switching off the immobilizer
fRemove ignition key.Security Wheel Bolts fIf wheels have to be removed during a repair-
shop visit, do not forget to hand over the so-
cket for the security wheel bolts along with the
car key.

Controls, Instruments
37
Operating with the remote control of the
vehicle keyEach remote control (up to six) can be assigned an
individual seat and door mirror position.
The stored seat and door mirror position is set au-
tomatically when the vehicle is unlocked using the
corresponding remote control.
Storing seat position
1. Switch the ignition on with the desired vehicle
key.
Reverse gear must not be engaged.
2. Set the desired seat and door-mirror positions.
3. Keep memory button M depressed and
additionally press key button 1.
The individual setting is now assigned to this
remote control and to the key button.Storing individual lowered position of the
passenger’s door mirror as a parking aid
Once the driver's seat setting has been stored, an
individual lowered position of the passenger's
door mirror may be stored for driving in reverse:
1. Apply the handbrake.
2. Switch the ignition on with the desired vehicle
key.
3. Engage reverse gear.
4. Select passenger side with mirror switch.
The passenger’s mirror swivels downwards.
5. Set passenger’s door mirror to desired final
position.
6. Keep memory button M depressed and
additionally press key button 1.
The individual setting is now assigned to this
remote control and to the key button.Recalling seat position
fUnlock the locked vehicle or the luggage
compartment with the remote control.
The stored seat position is automatically set.
The seat position assigned to a remote control
can also be recalled with the key button 1 if the
corresponding key was used to switch on the
ignition.
If no seat position has been assigned to a remote
control, the key button will not work.
Note on operation
Automatic seat adjustment can be interrupted
immediately:
– by switching on the ignition,
– by pressing the central locking button,
– by pressing any memory or seat adjustment
button.
Clearing the stored seat position
1. Switch the ignition on with the desired vehicle
key.
fPress memory button twice and key button 1
once consecutively.

42
Controls, Instruments
Safety Belts
Warning!
Always make sure your and your passenger’s
safety belts are properly fastened while the
vehicle is in motion.
Failure to follow safety belt warnings may re-
sult in serious personal injury or death.
fFor your and your passenger’s protection, use
safety belts at all times while the vehicle is in
motion.
fUse appropriate child restraint systems for all
small children.
Proper wearing of safety belts
fS a f e t y b e l t s m u s t b e p o s i t i o n e d o n t h e b o d y a s
to restrain the upper body and lap from sliding
forward. Improperly positioned safety belts
can cause serious personal injury or death in
case of an accident.
fThe shoulder belt should always rest on your
upper body. The shoulder belt should never be
worn behind your back or under your arm.
fFor maximum effectiveness, the lap belt
should be worn low across the hips.
fPregnant women should position the belt as
low as possible across the pelvis. Make sure it
is not pressing against the abdomen. fBelts should not be worn twisted.
fDo not wear belts over rigid or breakable ob-
jects in or on your clothing, such as eye glas-
ses, pens, keys, etc. as these may cause inju-
ry.
fSeveral layers of heavy clothing may interfere
with proper positioning of belts.
fBelts must not rub against sharp objects or da-
mage may occur to the belt.
fTwo occupants should never share the same
belt at the same time.
Care and maintenance
fKeep belt buckles free of any obstruction that
may prevent a secure locking.
fBelts that have been subjected to excesssive
stretch forces in an accident must be inspec-
ted or replaced to ensure their continued effec-
tiveness in restraining you.
The same applies to belt tensioner systems
which have been triggered.
In addition, the anchor points of the belts
should be checked.
fIf safety belts do not work properly, see your
authorized Porsche dealer immediately.
fI f t h e b e l t s s h o w d a m a g e t o w e b b i n g , b i n d i n g s ,
buckles or retractors, they should be replaced
to ensure safe operation.
fDo not modify or disassemble the safety belts
in your vehicle. fThe belts must be kept clean or the retractors
may not work properly.
Please observe the chapter “CAR CARE IN-
STRUCTIONS” on Page 209.
fNever bleach or dye safety belts.
fDo not allow safety belts to retract until they
are completely dry after cleaning or this may
cause damage to the belt.
Belt tensioner Depending on the force of an impact, fastened
safety belts are tightened in an accident.
The belt tensioners are triggered by:
– Front, side and rear impacts of sufficient
severity.
– Vehicle rollover.
Note
The belt tensioner system can be triggered only
once; the system must be replaced afterward.
If there is a fault in the belt-tensioner system, the
airbag warning light lights up.
Work may be performed on the belt-tensioner sys-
tem only by an authorized Porsche dealer.
Smoke is released when the belt tensioners are
triggered. This does not indicate a fire in the
vehicle.

Controls, Instruments
43
An audio-visual warning system is interconnec-
ted with the driver’s safety belt.
Every time the ignition is turned on, the gong will
sound for about 6 seconds to remind driver and
passenger to buckle up.
In addition, the gong will sound for approx. 90 se-
conds if the vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
(24 km/h).
The safety belt warning light in the instrument
panel and on-board computer will go off as soon
as the driver has buckled up.
Inertia reel retractor The combination lap/shoulder belt with inertia reel
locking mechanism adjusts automatically to your
size and movements as long as the pull on the belt
is slow.
Rapid deceleration during hard braking or a collisi-
on locks the belt. The belt will also lock when you
drive up or down a steep hill or in a sharp curve,
otherwise, the shoulder belt will not inhibit your
upper body movement.
Fastening the safety beltfAssume a comfortable sitting position.
The shoulder belt should always rest on your
upper body. The shoulder belt should never be
worn behind your back or under your arm.
fGrasp belt and pull the belt in a continuous
slow motion across your chest and lap.
fInsert belt tongue into buckle on inboard side
of seat. Push down until it securely locks with
an audible click. Pull the belt to check.
fPull shoulder section to make sure belt fits
snugly across the pelvis.
fBelts should fit snugly across the pelvis and
chest. Make sure there is no slack in the belt. Releasing the safety beltfPush in release button (arrow) on buckle. Belt
tongue will spring out of buckle.
fTo release a latched belt, lean back to take the
body pressure off the belt.
fTo store lap/shoulder belt, allow the belt to re-
tract as you guide the latch to its stowed posi-
tion.
fPlease observe the chapter “AUTOMATIC LO-
CKING RETRACTOR” on Page 54.
Safety Belt Warning System

54
Controls, Instruments
Automatic locking retractorThe safety belt for the passenger is equipped with
an automatic locking retractor for securing the
child restraint system. When activated, this retrac-
tor allows you to securely fasten the child restraint
system in place so that inadvertent movements
will not occur.
Before transporting a child on the passenger seat:
fPlease observe the chapter “CHILD RES-
TRAINT SYSTEMS” on Page 51.
A- PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death to the
child, when excessive force is acting on the
passenger's seat due to the seat belt.
In such cases, the passenger's airbag can be
switched on unintentionally.
fAfter fastening the child restraint system, do
not adjust the seat.
fCheck the condition of the passenger airbag
system shown by the indicator lamp A in the central console.Activating the automatic locking retractor
1. If a child restraint system must be fastened to
the passenger's seat, adjust the passenger's
seat as far away from the airbag as possible.
2. Fasten child seat.
3. Pull the safety belt retractor completely out. At
this point the locking mechanism is activated.
4. Insert the safety belt tongue into the buckle
and make certain that it is properly latched.
Make no more adjustments to the seat.
5. Allow the safety belt to retract until it is tight on
the child restraint system. You may further
tighten the belt by pulling on it to allow more of
it to retract.
Make sure that excessive seat belt forces do
not occur by moving the seat with the child
seat installed.
Releasing the safety belt
1. Unbuckle the safety belt latch.
2. Then make certain that the belt has fully retrac-
ted. At this point the automatic locking feature
will be disengaged.
Seek appropriate advice from your authorized
Porsche dealer about the possible installation
of a Porsche child restraint system.

Controls, Instruments
55
LATCH SystemChild seat bracket on the passenger’s
seatThe key switch for switching off the passenger’s
airbag and the LATCH attachment bracket are not
installed at the factory. They can be retrofitted.
fPlease see your authorized Porsche dealer.
Porsche recommends the use of a Porsche Child
Seat with Lower Anchorage and Tether for Chil-
dren system (LATCH).
These systems have been tested and adjusted to
the interior of your Porsche and the appropriate
child age groups. Other systems have not been
tested and could entail an increased risk of injury.
You can obtain child seats that are LATCH compat-
ible at your authorized Porsche dealer.
fAlways observe the separate installation in-
structions for your child seat.
fPlease observe the chapter “CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS” on Page 51.
Installing a LATCH child seat system1. Secure the child seat to retaining lugs A as
outlined in the instruction manual for the child
seat.
2. Pull the child seat to check that both fastening
points are engaged correctly.
Note
Make sure that the key switch is switched to AUTO
once the child seat has been removed, in order to
provide protection to the adult occupants.