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.
126
Controls, Instruments
Windshield Wiper / Washer Lever
Warning!
Danger of injury when the windshield wipers
operate unintentionally.
Risk of damage to the windshield and wiper
system.
fAvoid running the wiper blades over a dry wind-
shield to prevent scratching the glass. Spray
washer fluid on the windshield first.
A scratched windshield will reduce visibility.
fAlways loosen wiper blades from frozen glass
before operating wipers to prevent damage to
the wiper motor or blades. fAlways switch off windshield wipers in car
wash to prevent them wiping unintentionally
(intermittent or sensor operation).
fAlways switch off windshield wipers before
cleaning the windshield to avoid unintentional
operation (intermittent or sensor operation).
fDo not operate the headlight washer in car
washes.
fDo not operate headlight washer when it is
frozen.
Wiper and headlight washer system0 – Windshield wipers off
1 – Rain sensor operation for front
windshield wipers
fMove wiper lever upwards to the first click.
Please observe the chapter “RAIN SENSOR” on
Page 127.
2 – Windshield wipers slow
fMove wiper lever upwards to the second click.
3 – Windshield wipers fast
fMove wiper lever upwards to the third click.
4 – Front windshield wiper – one-touch oper-
ation:
fMove wiper lever downwards. The windshield
wipers wipe once.5 – Windshield wipers and washer system:
fPull wiper lever towards the steering wheel.
The washer system sprays and wipes while the
lever is pulled towards the steering wheel.
When the wiper lever is released, a few drying
wipes are executed.
A - Headlight washer (Vehicles with Bi-Xenon
headlights):
The washer sprays only while low beam or high
beam is switched on.
fBriefly push button A to operate headlight
washer system.
fIf heavily soiled, repeat wash.
The headlight washer system automatically sprays
once for every ten times the front windshield
washer system is operated.
Note
The windshield washer nozzles are heated
when the ignition is on, as a precaution against
freezing.
Controls, Instruments
151
Opening front luggage compartment lid
Caution!
Risk of damage to luggage compartment lid
or windshield wipers.
fMake sure that the windshield wipers are not
folded out forwards when opening the luggage compartment lid.
fRaise lid slightly and unlatch the safety catch
with the lever (arrow).
Closing front and rear luggage
compartment lid fLower the lid and close it.
fPush the lid closed with the palm of your hand
in the area of the lock.
Check that the lid has correctly engaged in the
lock.
Warning!
Risk of loss of control or an accident, result-
ing in serious personal injury or death.
fShould you notice at any time while driving that
one of the lids is not secured properly, please
stop immediately in a suitable place and close
it. The front lid may fly up impairing vision.
Maintenance, Car Care
185
Wiper BladesfWhen wiper performance deteriorates, replace
the wipers.
fPlease observe the chapter “CAR CARE IN-
STRUCTIONS” on Page 209.
Caution!
Risk of damage if the wiper arm accidentally
falls back on to the window.
fAlways hold the wiper arm securely when re-
placing the wiper blade.
Risk of damage if wiper blades that are fro-
zen in place are loosened improperly.
fThaw the wiper blades before loosening them.
Maintenance note
If the wiper blades rub or squeak, this can be as a
result of the following:
– If the vehicle is washed in an automatic car
wash, residues may adhere to the windshield.
These residues can only be removed using a
special cleaning solution.
Please contact your authorized Porsche dealer
for further information.
– The wiper blades may be damaged.
fReplace damaged wiper blades as soon as
possible.
Changing windshield wiper blades
Caution!
Risk of damage.
If a wiper blade is not changed properly, it
can come loose when the car is moving.
fCheck whether the wiper blade is seated
securely.
The wiper blade must engage the wiper arm properly.
1. Apply the handbrake.
2. Switch the wipers off (position 0) and remove
the ignition key.
3. Fold windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
A- Passenger’s side, curved wiper blade
B- Driver’s side, wiper blade with spoiler4. Press together the plastic spring of the wiper
blade (right arrow).
Pull wiper blade out of wiper arm.
5. Insert new wiper blade until you feel it engage.
Ensure that the new wiper blade is inserted
into the wiper arm in the same position:
– direction of the spoiler on the driver side,
– curvature on the passenger side.
6. Carefully fold wiper arm back onto the wind-
shield.
212
Maintenance, Car Care Automatic car washes
Optional add-on parts or parts which project
beyond the contours of the vehicle may be
damaged by design features (e.g. brushes) of au-
tomatic car washes.
The following parts are particularly suscep-
tible to damage:
– Convertible top (hot wax treatment cannot be
used, as the wax attacks the convertible top
material),
– Windshield wipers (always switch them off to
prevent them wiping unintentionally in intermit-
tent or sensor operation)
– External telephone antenna (always unscrew)
– Fixed rear spoiler or extended rear spoiler
– Wheels (the wider the rim and the lower the tire
height, the greater the risk of damage)
– High-gloss wheels (to prevent these from get-
ting scratched, do not clean with the wheel-
cleaning brushes of the car wash).
fPlease consult the operator before using auto-
matic car washes.
fWash and dry by hand all points not reached by
a car wash, such as door and lid seams or
door sills. Note
Automatic car washes spray water at odd angles
and high pressures, which are not seen in normal
driving. Therefore, water can sometimes find its
way into the passengers compartment during or
shortly after the car wash.
Door locks fTo prevent the door locks from freezing during
the cold season, the lock cylinders should be
covered during a wash.
fShould the locks freeze, use an ordinary de-
icer. In many cases, a well warmed key can
help.
Never use excessive force.
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
251
Winter drivingThe capacity and ability of the battery to store
power decreases at low outside temperatures.
Moreover, the battery is more heavily loaded in the
winter months, e.g. by the heated rear window,
the more frequent use of additional lights, the
blower and the windshield wipers, etc.
fHave the battery checked before winter
begins.
Keep the battery well charged to prevent it from
freezing.
A discharged battery can freeze even at
23°F/-5 °
C, but a fully charged one only freezes at
-40°F/-40 °C.
Laying up the vehicleIf the vehicle stands for long periods in the garage
or workshop, the doors and lids should be closed.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMERGENCY
UNLOCKING OF THE FRONT LUGGAGE
COMPARTMENT LID” on Page 248.
fWithdraw the ignition key and, if necessary,
disconnect the battery.
When the battery is disconnected, the
alarm system ceases to function!
Even if you put your vehicle out of operation, the
battery still discharges.
fThe battery must be charged, i.e. connected
to a charger, approximately every 6 weeks in
order to preserve functioning.
Always observe the instructions of the charger
manufacturer.
fStore a battery that has been removed in a
dark, cool place, but not subject to frost.
Replacing the batteryThe battery is subject to normal wear: its service
life depends heavily on the care you give it,
climatic conditions and the conditions of use
(distances, loads).
It is not possible to use the details on the battery
case to determine a comparable battery that
meets all the specific requirements of Porsche.
fUse only a battery that meets the specific
requirements of your vehicle as a replacement.
We recommend that you use an Orignal
Porsche battery.
fPlease observe the disposal instructions for
batteries!
296UUndercoating ............................. 200
, 214
, 215
VValves ........................................................ 229
Vanity mirror................................................. 41
Vehicle
Care .................................................. 209
Data bank........................................... 278
Identifikation number ........................... 278
Laying up the car................................ 251
Putting into operation .......................... 252
Washing ............................................. 209
Ventilation .................................................. 133
Vents .................................................130
, 133
Viscosity, engine oil.................................... 190
WWarning messages ..................................... 116
Washer fluid .......................................202
, 286
Washer lever .............................................. 126
Washing ..................................................... 209
Weights...................................................... 287
Welcome Home Function............................. 124
Wheel ............................... 216
, 221
, 282
, 283
Bolts ............................................17, 241
Changing............................................ 242
Checking pressure..........................5, 241
Inscription .......................................... 233
Loading information............................ 235
Pressure plate .................................... 279
Sidewall ............................................. 233Size ................................................... 233
Tire pressure ................................. 5
, 224
Tire sealant ........................................ 239
Windows ............................... 25
, 28, 170
, 214
Washer nozzles................................... 126
Washer system .......................... 202, 286
Windshield wipers .............................. 126, 185
Replacing ........................................... 185
Windstop .................................................... 177
Winter driving
Battery ............................................... 250
Jump lead starting.............................. 256
Winter operation
Coolant .............................................. 186
Seals ................................................. 215
Snow chains ....................................... 232
Tires .................................................. 231
Washer fluid........................................ 202
Wiper blades....................................... 185