276
Maintenance, Car Care
Fuel EconomyFuel economy will vary depending on where,
when and how you drive, optional equipment
installed, and the general condition of your
car.
A car tuned to specifications and correctly
maintained, will help you to achieve optimal
fuel economy.
fHave your vehicle tuned to specifications. Air
cleaner should be dirt free to allow proper en-
gine “breathing“.
Battery should be fully charged.
Wheels should be properly aligned.
Tires should be inflated at correct pressure.
fAlways monitor your fuel consumption.
fDrive smoothly, avoid abrupt changes in speed
as much as possible.
fAvoid jack rabbit starts and sudden stops.
fDo not drive longer than necessary in the lower
gears. Shifting into a higher gear early without
lugging the engine will help save fuel.
fProlonged “warm up“ idling wastes gas. Start
the vehicle just before you are ready to drive.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.fSwitch off the engine if stationary for longer
periods.
fAny additional weight carried in the vehicle re-
duces fuel economy. Always keep cargo to a
minimum and remove all unnecessary items.
fOrganize your trips to take in several errands
in one trip.
fAll electrical accessories contribute to in-
creased fuel consumption.
fOnly switch on the air conditioning when neces-
sary.
fDo not drive with the Roof Transport System
mounted unless you need it.
The EPA estimated m.p.g. is to be used for
comparison purposes, actual mileage may
be different from the estimated m.p.g., de-
pending on your driving speed, weather con-
ditions and trip length. Your actual highway
mileage will probably be less than the esti-
mated m.p.g.
fPlease observe all local and national speed lim-
its.
Operating Your Porsche in other
CountriesGovernment regulations in the United States and
Canada require that automobiles meet specific
emission regulations and safety standards. There-
fore, cars built for the U.S. and Canada differ from
vehicles sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your Porsche outside the conti-
nental limits of the United States or Canada, there
is the possibility that
– unleaded fuel may not be available;
– unleaded fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Excessive engine knock and se-
rious damage to both engine and catalytic con-
verters could result;
– se rvice ma y be inade qua te due to lack of prop-
er service facilities, tools or diagnostic equip-
ment;
– replacement parts may not be available or very
difficult to get.
Porsche cannot be responsible for the me-
chanical damage that could result because
of inadequate fuel, service or parts availabil-
ity.
If you purchased your Porsche abroad and want to
bring it back home, be sure to find out about ship-
ping and forwarding requirements, as well as cur-
rent import and customs regulations.
292
Maintenance, Car Care
Airbags
Danger!
There is a danger of serious personal injury
or death if the airbag system is impaired by
improper cleaning work.
fDo not make any modifications whatsoever on
individual components such as the padded
covers of the steering wheel, the front seats,
the roof pillars and the rooflinings.
fLet your authorized Porsche dealer clean these components.
Fabric liningsFabric linings on pillars, headliner and sun visors,
etc., must be treated only using suitable cleaning
agents or a suitable dry foam and a soft brush.
AlcantarafDo not use a leather care product to clean Al-
cantara.
For regular care it is sufficient to clean the cover
with a soft brush. Strong abrasion or rubbing when
cleaning will permanently change the surface.
Cleaning when lightly soiled
fWet a soft cloth with water or a neutral soap
solution and wipe off the dirt.
Cleaning when heavily soiled
fWet a soft cloth with lukewarm water or
thinned white spirit and dab the dirt from the
outside in.
Safety beltsfUse a mild detergent to clean soiled belts.
fWhen drying, avoid direct sunlight.
fOnly use suitable cleaning agents.
fDo not tint or bleach the belts.
The belt fabric could be weakened, thus affect-
ing safety.
304
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Tire replacementsfUse only tire makes and types tested by
Porsche.
Only tires with the same manufacturer and
with the same specification code (e.g. “N0“,
“N1“...) should be mounted on the vehicle.
Tires should be replaced no less than on one axle
at the time. Only tires of the same make and type
must be used. Mixed tires are not permissible and
will affect vehicle performance, safety, and can
affect vehicle warranty.
Porsche dealers can recommend the most current
replacement tire options for your vehicle.
Initially, new tires do not have their full traction.
You should therefore drive at moderate speeds
during the first 60 - 120 miles (100 - 200 km).If new tires are installed only on one axle, a notice-
able change in handling occurs due to the different
tread depth of the other tires. This happens espe-
cially if only rear tires are replaced. However, this
condition disappears as the new tires are broken
in.
fPlease adjust your driving style accordingly.
Installation of new tires should only be done by a
qualified tire technician.
Valves
fUse only plastic valve caps.
fThe rubber valves must be replaced whenever
the tires are changed.
fThe fitting and replacement specifications
must be observed for metal valves.
fOnly use Original Porsche metal valves.
fProtect the valve inserts against soiling with
valve caps.
Soiled valve inserts can cause a gradual loss
of air.
Parking at the curb
Danger!
Hard impacts against curbs (or traffic
islands) are dangerous and may cause hid-
den tire damage which is not noticeable until
later. Such damage can result in accidents at
high speeds causing severe personal injury.
Depending on the force of impact, the edge
of the rim can also be damaged.
fIf you are in doubt, have the wheel checked by
an expert, particularly if you suspect damage
on the inside.
fIf you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle. Exercise care when parking along curbs.
Maintenance note
Tire repairs are not permissible under any circum-
stances.
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
307
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death.
Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure
increases increases risk of a tire failure and
resulting loss of control. Furthermore, low
tire pressure increases rate of wear of the
affected tires and cause damage.
Tires with badly worn treads and studs are
very dangerous and could cause accidents
resulting in serious personal injuries or
death.
fMake sure they are replaced immediately.
fDo not exceed the winter tire speed rating.
Snow tires do not have the same degree of trac-
tion on dry, wet or snowfree roads as normal tires.
Furthermore, snow tires wear rapidly under these
conditions.
Winter tires do not fulfill their purpose if the tread
depth is less than 5/32 in. (4 mm).
Comply with all state and local laws govern-
ing snow tire and tread depth requirements.
Danger!
Risk of accident and serious personal injury
or death due to excessive speed.
fAlways check the maximum speed rating on
the tire sidewall on any tire on the vehicle.
fNever exceed the maximum speed rating of the tires.
Wheel change
fWhen wheels are removed, mark the direction
of rotation and position of each wheel.
Example: FR (front right), FL, RR and RL.
fAlways fit the wheels in accordance with the
markings.
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
315
Changing Wheels
Warning!
Failure to follow these instructions may result
in serious personal injuries to you or to
bystanders.
Before changing the wheel
fIf you have a flat tire, move a safe distance off
the road. Turn the emergency flasher on and
use other warning devices to alert other motor-
ists.
fDo not park your vehicle where it may contact
dry grass, brush or other flammable materials.
The hot parts of the exhaust system could set
such materials on fire, thereby causing both
property damage and severe or fatal physical
injury.
fPassengers must not be in the vehicle when it
is jacked up.
fBefore you change a wheel, be sure the ground
is level and firm. If necessary, use a board
under the jack to ensure that the jack does not
sink into the ground.
fSet the parking brake and block the wheels
opposite the flat tire on the other side of the
vehicle.While operating the jack
fThe jack is only to be used for changing a
wheel. Do not use it as a support to work under
the car.
fThe car must be jacked up only at the illus-
trated jacking points.Lifting at any other place
may damage the vehicle or may result in per-
sonal injury. Never jack the car up by the body
or the bumpers.
fFor safety reasons do not use tire inflating bot-
tles. Do not use commercially available sealant
bottles. Use only the tire inflating bottle
located in the luggage compartment.
Sequence of operation
Warning!
The jack must be used only to raise the car
for wheel changing.The jack must never be
used as a support to work underneath the
vehicle. If the jack is accidentally dislodged,
you or bystanders could suffer severe per-
sonal injury.
fNever jack up other vehicles or other loads
with the jack.
fAlways place the car on stable supports if you
have to work under it. When working under the
vehicle, always use safety stands specifically designed for this purpose.
fPlease use a suitable knee rest to protect your
clothing against soiling.
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
319
Lifting the vehicle with a jack
Warning!
Danger of injury. The car may slip off the
jack.
fMake sure that no one is in the vehicle when
jacking up and changing a wheel.
fNever jack up the vehicle when it is parked on
a surface that slopes up, down or to the side.
fUse the jack only to raise the car for wheel
changing.
fAlways place the car on stable supports if work
has to be carried out under the car.
The car jack is not suitable for this.
Danger of injury if the level-control system
operates during the wheel change.
fSet the car to jacking mode before raising the
car.
Please observe the chapter “AIR SUSPENSION
WITH LEVEL CONTROL AND HEIGHT ADJUST-
MENT” on Page 254.
Risk of injury and damage if the vehicle is not
secured.
fSecure the vehicle against rolling.
fPlease observe the chapter “SECURING THE VEHICLE AGAINST ROLLING” on Page 316.Maintenance note
The jacking point on the vehicle must be free of
dirt.
1. Slightly loosen the wheel bolts of the wheel to
be changed.
2. Only set up the jack at the rear jacking point
designed for the purpose. The jack foot must
be in contact over its whole area and must be
positioned directly below the head piece.
Use a suitable support if necessary.
3. Hold jack still and wind it up until its head
enters the jacking point on the vehicle.
Only jack vehicle up until the wheel to be
changed is completely off the ground.
4. After lowering the vehicle, remove the jack.
Front jacking pointJacking points
fSet up jack only at the points provided A or B.
322
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Wheel change1. Remove the top wheel bolt with the wheel bolt
wrench from the tool kit.
Screwing in assembly aid 2. Remove assembly aid from the tool kit and
screw in instead of the wheel bolt.
3. Remove the remaining wheel bolts.
Please observe the chapter “WHEEL BOLTS”
on Page 313.
4. Change wheel.5. Insert wheel bolts and tighten by hand.
Remove assembly aid and screw in remaining
wheel bolt.
Initially tighten bolts in diagonally opposite
sequence so that the wheel is centered.
6. Inflate the tire if necessary.
Please observe the chapter “TIRE PRES-
SURES, COLD” on Page 385.
In vehicles with tire pressure monitoring:
Please observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSURE
MENU” on Page 104.
7. Lower car and remove jack.
8. Tighten wheel bolts in diagonally opposite
sequence.
Maintenance note
fImmediately after changing a wheel, use
a torque wrench to check the prescribed
tightening torque of the wheel bolts
(118 ftlb./160 Nm).
340
Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Fuse assignment – fuse box in right side of dashboard
No. Designation Rating in A1
Towing attachment
15
2 ParkAssist5
3
Towing attachment
15
4 Telephone/telematics control unit5
5
Towing attachment
15
6 Porsche Stability Management (PSM)30
7
Transfer box (center differential lock), telephone preparation
5
8 Additional high beam, vehicle electrical system control unit 20
9
CD changer, DVD navigation
5
10 TV tuner, satellite receiver5
11
Radio or Porsche Communication System (PCM)
10
12 Radio booster30
1314 Tail light, left; central locking system, power windows, mirrors 1515
Power window, rear right
25
16
17
Low beam, right; high beam, right; vehicle electrical system control unit
15
18 Heated rear window relay30
19
Brake booster, towing attachment
30/25
20
21
Hood open switch, spare wheel release
10