
76
Controls, Instruments
Starting Procedures fPlease observe the chapter “IMMOBILIZER” on
Page 17.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMISSION CONT-
ROL SYSTEM” on Page 200.
Warning!
Serious injury may result if you are involved
in a collision without having fastened the
safety belts.
fFasten safety belts before driving away. Before starting the engine fApply the handbrake.
fManual transmission:
Move the gearshift lever into neutral.
The clutch pedal must be depressed fully
before the starter will engage.
fTiptronic:
Move the selector lever to P or N.
Temperature sensors on the engine automatically
provide the correct fuel/air mixture required for
starting.
Therefore, it is not necessary to depress the
accelerator pedal while starting a cold or a
warm engine.
Starting the enginefTurn ignition key to ignition lock position 2.
fAs soon as the engine starts, release the igni-
tion key.
The first operation of the starter is ended auto-
matically when the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, subsequent starter
operations will not be ended automatically.
If the engine fails to start after 10 or 15 seconds
of cranking:
fWait about 10 seconds before engaging the
starter again.
fWhen starting the engine, be ready to drive im-
mediately.
Drive vehicle at moderate speeds and avoid
engine speeds above 4,200 rpm during the
first 5 minutes.
fDo not let the engine idle to warm up.
Danger!
Engine exhaust fumes have many compon-
ents which you can smell. They also contain
carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colorless
and odorless gas.
Carbon monoxide can cause unconscious-
ness and even death if inhaled.
fNever start or let the engine run in an enc-
losed, unventilated area.
It is not recommended to sit in your car for pro-
longed periods with the engine on and the car
not moving.
An unattended vehicle with a running engine
is potentially hazardous.
If warning lights should come on to indicate
improper operation, they would go un-
noticed.
fNever leave the engine idling unattended.
Danger of fire.
fDo not park or operate the vehicle in areas
where the hot exhaust system may come in
contact with dry grass, brush, fuel spill or
other flammable material.
fIf your car catches on fire for any reason, call
the fire department.
Do not endanger your life by attempting to put out the fire.

Controls, Instruments
77
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 stee-
ring 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 un-
locking 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 in the
engine compartment.
Warning!
Risk of injury.
After the engine is switched off, the engine-
compartment temperatures is monitored for
approx. 30 minutes.
During this period, and depending on tempe-
rature, the engine-compartment blower may
continue to run or start to run.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-
gine 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
operating 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.

Controls, Instruments
79
Instrument Panel USA Models Also refer to the corresponding chapter in
the Owner’s Manual.
1 Speedometer with analogue display
2 Tire pressure warning light
3 Turn signal indicator light left/right
4 Tachometer
5 High beam indicator light
6 ABS warning light
7 Cooling system
Temperature gauge, warning light
8Fuel
Level gauge, warning light
9 Adjusting button for instrument illumination
and trip counter
10 Odometer and daily trip mileage display
11 Automatic speed control indicator light
12 Light sensor for instrument illumination13 Airbag warning light
14 Emission control warning light (Check Engine)
15 Central warning light
16 On-board computer display
17 Porsche Stability Management
Multifunctional PSM light
18 Brake warning light
19 Safety belt warning light
20 Tiptronic indicator
21 Clock and outside temperature display
22 Adjustment button for clockWhen the ignition is switched on, the warning
lights light up for a lamp check.
Note
Warnings that have been given are stored in the
appropriate control unit memory and can be read
out at an authorized Porsche dealer.
This information can help to warn you about situa-
tions which may be hazardous to you or your car.

Controls, Instruments
81
Instrument Panel Canada Models Also refer to the corresponding chapter in
the Owner’s Manual.
1 Speedometer with analogue display
2 Tire pressure warning light
3 Turn signal indicator light left/right
4 Tachometer
5 High beam indicator light
6 ABS warning light
7 Cooling system
Temperature gauge, warning light
8Fuel
Level gauge, warning light
9 Adjusting button for instrument illumination
and trip counter
10 Odometer and daily trip mileage display
11 Automatic speed control indicator light
12 Light sensor for instrument illumination13 Airbag warning light
14 Emission control warning light (Check Engine)
15 Central warning light
16 On-board computer display
17 Porsche Stability Management
Multifunctional PSM light
18 Brake warning light
19 Safety belt warning light
20 Tiptronic indicator
21 Clock and outside temperature display
22 Adjustment button for clockWhen the ignition is switched on, the warning
lights light up for a lamp check.
Note
Warnings that have been given are stored in the
appropriate control unit memory and can be read
out at an authorized Porsche dealer.
This information can help to warn you about situa-
tions which may be hazardous to you or your car.

Controls, Instruments
85
Tachometer The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolu-
tions per minute (rpm).
The beginning of the red marks at the right end of
the scale indicates the maximum permissible en-
gine rpm.
A speed limiter prevents the engine from being
overrevved during acceleration. Before reaching
this area, the next higher gear should be select-
ed.
Shift to the next lower gear when the engine rpm
drops below 1,500 rpm.
Caution!
To avoid severe engine damage.
fAlways observe the engine rpm before down-
shifting to a lower gear, so you do not exceed the maximum engine rpm. Flashes in synchronism with the turn signals.
Left arrow – left turn signals
Right arrow – right turn signals
fIf the frequency of the display becomes notice-
ably faster, check the operation of the turn sig-
nals.
Indicator light Lights when high beam or headlight flasher is
switched on.
The indicator light goes out when the high beams
are switched off.
Turn Signal Indicator Light
High Beam

86
Controls, Instruments
Temperature gauge (ignition on) USA: Display in °F
Canada: Display in °C
Pointer to the left – engine cold
fAvoid high engine speeds and heavy engine
loading. Pointer in the middle – normal operating tem-
perature
The pointer may move up to the red area when en-
gine is heavily loaded and outside temperature is
high, but should return to “normal” when engine
load is reduced.
Warning light “A” If the coolant temperature is too high, the warn-
ing light comes on.
Additionally, a warning is displayed in the on-board
computer.
fPull off the road, turn off the engine and allow
to cool.
fCheck radiator and air passages in front end of
car for obstructions.
fCheck coolant level.
If necessary, add coolant and have fault reme-
died at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Please observe the chapter “COOLANT LEVEL”
on Page 186.
Note
To prevent excessive temperatures, the cooling-
air passages must not be restricted by coverings
(e.g. films, “stone guards”). If the coolant level is too low, the warning light
flashes.
Additionally, a warning is displayed in the on-board
computer.
fSwitch engine off and allow to cool.
fAdd coolant.
fHave the cause of the fault remedied at an au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
Please observe the chapter “COOLANT LEVEL”
on Page 186.
Caution!
Risk of engine damage.
fIf the warning lights come on even though cool-
ant level is correct, do not continue driving.
fHave the fault remedied at the nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
Engine compartment blower fan In addition, this warning light flashes to indicate a
fault in the engine compartment blower fan.
fHave the cause of the fault remedied at an
authorized Porsche dealer.
Cooling System

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87
TiptronicIndicator for selector lever position and
engaged gearWhen the engine is running, the selector lever
position and engaged gear are indicated.If the selector lever is between two positions:
– The corresponding selector lever position in
the instrument cluster flashes and
– The warning “Selector lever not engaged”
appears on the display of the on-board
computer.
fEngage the selector lever correctly.
If there is a fault in the transmission:
–The 4th gear display flashes.
– The warning “Tiptronic emergency run”
appears on the on-board computer.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMERGENCY
PROGRAM” on Page 168.
fHave the fault repaired immediately at an
authorized Porsche dealer.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIPTRONIC S” on
Page 163.

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Controls, Instruments
Level gauge
When the ignition is on the fuel level is displayed.
fPlease observe the chapter “CAPACITIES” on
Page 286.
If the vehicle’s inclination changes (e.g. going up
or downhill), minor deviations in the indication may
occur. Note
If the tank is near empty and you top up with only
a small quantity of fuel, this cannot be registered
by the level gauge and calculation of the range re-
maining is impossible.
Warning light “A” When the engine is running, the warning light
of the level gauge lights up if less than approx.
2.6 U.S. gallons (10
liters) of fuel remains in the
tank or the range on remaining fuel falls below ap-
prox. 30 miles (50 km).
Additionally, a warning is displayed in the on-board
computer.
fFill up at the next opportunity.
Caution!
To prevent damage to the emission control
system and engine.
fNever drive the tank completely out of fuel.
fAvoid high cornering speeds after the warning lights have come on.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMISSION CONT-
ROL SYSTEM” on Page 200.If the level gauge warning light flashes, there
has been a system fault.
Additionally, a warning is displayed in the on-board
computer.
There will then be no reserve warning.
fTo remedy the fault, go to an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Fuel