122
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Warning Lights and Warning MessagesIf a warning message appears, always refer to the corresponding chapters in this Owner's Manual.
Warning messages are issued only if all measurement preconditions are met.
Therefore, check all fluid levels regularly – in particular, always check the engine oil level after refuelling.
Instrument
panelMulti-purpose
displayText display Meaning/measures
Steering faulty Steering lock engaged.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Ignition lock faulty Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
System fault – Workshop Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Key not recognised in vehicle Make sure that you have the remote control with you.
Turn ignition key to left for
2 secondsEngage the steering lock.
Key: replace battery Replace the remote-control battery.
Move the steering wheel Turn the steering wheel so that the steering wheel lock can
engage/disengage.
Key not found Make sure that you have the remote control with you.
Switch selector lever to position “P”.The vehicle could roll away. The ignition key can be withdrawn
only in selector lever position P.
Apply the brake Apply the brake when starting.
Move selector lever to position
“P” or “N”The vehicle can be started only in position P or N.
Immobiliser active Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Controls, Safety, Instruments
123
Check left cornering light Check bulb.
Check right cornering light Check bulb.
Check low beam Check bulb.
Check trailer lights Check bulb.
Check direction indicatorsCheck turn signal bulb.
Check brake lights Check bulb.
Check high beam Check bulb.
Check number plate light Check bulb.
Check fog lights Check bulb.
Check reversing lights Check bulb.
Check tail lights Check bulb.
Check front side lights Check bulb.
Check headlight beam adjustment Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Daytime driving lights off Daytime driving lights switch off when the engine is shut off.
Switch on lights if necessary.
Airbag faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Passenger airbag switched onAdvanced Airbag - displays when the passenger's airbag
switches on or displays for approx. 10 seconds with the passen-
ger's airbag switched on after switching on the ignition
Instrument
panelMulti-purpose
displayText display Meaning/measures
126
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Oil level monitoring – Failure – Workshop Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Checking the oil level
Oil pressure too low Immediately stop in a suitable place and switch engine off.
Do not continue driving.
Check engine oil level. Add oil if necessary.
Do not continue driving if the warning light comes on even when
the oil level is correct. Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Service in 1864 mls (3000 km)Service indicator
Bring the vehicle in for service no later than after the distance
shown has been covered. However, it is the intervals in the
„Maintenance” booklet that are decisive.
Service nowService indicator
Have your vehicle serviced at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Brake pads – Workshop Have the brake pads replaced at an authorized Porsche dealer
without delay.
Warning – Brake circuit division Stop immediately in a suitable place. Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
ABS failure – WorkshopDrive carefully. Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
PSM failure – WorkshopDrive carefully. Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Warning – Brake fluid level Stop immediately in a suitable place. Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Parking brake Parking brake not released.
PSM onPorsche Stability Management was switched on.
Instrument
panelMulti-purpose
displayText display Meaning/measures
Controls, Safety, Instruments
185
Car Telephone and Aftermarket Alarms Important legal and safety information re-
garding the use of cellular telephones
Some states may prohibit the use of cellular tele-
phones while driving a vehicle. Check the laws and
regulations on the use of cellular telephones in the
areas where you drive.
Danger!
Risk of an accident.
Severe personal injury or death can result in
the event of an accident.
Looking away from the road or turning your
attention away from your driving can cause
an accident and serious personal injury or
death.
When using your cellular telephone, you should al-
ways:
fGive full attention to your driving - pull off the
road and park before making or answering a
call if traffic conditions so require; and
fKeep both hands on the steering wheel - use
hands-free operation (if available) - pull off the
road and park before using a hand-held tele-phone.It is essential to observe the instructions of
the telephone manufacturer before putting
the telephone into operation.
Any portable telephone or radio transmitter which
is used in a Porsche must be properly installed in
accordance with the technical requirements of
Porsche.
The transmission power must not exceed
10 W.
The devices must possess a type approval for
your vehicle and have an “e“ symbol.
If you should require equipment with transmission
power values greater than 10 W, please consult
your authorized Porsche dealer for this purpose.
He is familiar with the technical requirements for
installing devices of this kind.
The antennas for all radios and telephones with a
transmitting antenna must be externally mounted.
The improper installation of radios or telephones
or use of a radio or telephone with a transmitting
antenna inside the car may cause the warning
lights to come on.
Improper installation of such equipment can cre-
ate a discharged battery or excessive current
draw from added equipment.If aftermarket systems are installed by non-dealer-
ship technicians or outside the selling dealer,
problems may result. Installation of aftermarket
equipment is not covered under the New Car War-
ranty.
fConsult your authorized Porsche dealer about
the installation of non Porsche approved equip-
ment.
Reception quality
The reception quality of your car telephone will
change constantly when you are driving. Interfer-
ence caused by buildings, landscape and weather
is unavoidable. It may become particularly difficult
to hear when using the hands-free function due to
external noise such as engine and wind noise.
Automatic car-wash
fUnscrew external antennas before using an au-
tomatic car-wash.
210
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Towing a trailer
Warning!
Driving with a trailer
fAlways observe the permissible towing capac-
ity, vertical coupling load and rear-axle load.
Please observe the chapter “WEIGHTS” on
Page 372.
fWhen connected, the trailer must always be
horizontal behind the towing vehicle. If neces-
sary, use a trailer with an adjustable drawbar.
fWhen the vehicle is driven in the mountains, the
engine output decreases as altitude increases.
The maximum weights stated are the values at
sea level. The total weight of the car-trailer
combination must therefore be reduced by
10% for each increment of 3,280 ft.
(1,000 meters) altitude. A fractional increment
counts as the full 3,280 ft (1,000 meters).
Please take this into consideration when plan-
ning your route.Distributing the load
fDistribute the load in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as close to the axle as possible.
Always safeguard all objects against slipping
and tie them down securely.
fYou should make the best possible use of the
trailer coupling's rated vertical coupling load
when loading the trailer, but never exceed it.
Tire pressure
fSelect the vehicle tire pressure for full load
when towing a trailer.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSU-
RES, COLD” on Page 370.
fCheck the tire pressure of the trailer's wheels
according to the manufacturer's instructions.Door mirrors
fIf the width of the trailer obstructs your view of
the traffic behind the trailer, you must have ad-
ditional door mirrors fitted.
Headlights, lights
fCheck whether the plug of the trailer is
plugged into the towing vehicle and whether all
lights function.
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
233
ABS
(Anti-lock Brake System)
Warning!
In spite of the advantages of ABS, it is still the driv-
er’s responsibility to adapt his driving style and
maneuvres in line with road and weather condi-
tions, as well as the traffic situation.
The increased safety that is provided should not in-
duce you to take greater risks with your safety.
The limits set by the physics of driving cannot be
overcome, even with ABS.
Risks of accident due to inappropriate speed can-
not be reduced by ABS.
ABS ensures
–Full steering control
The vehicle remains steerable
–Good driving stability
No skidding due to locked wheels
–Optimum braking distance
Shorter stopping distances in most cases
–Lock prevention
No flat spots on the tiresFunction
The decisive advantage of ABS is in the driving
stability and maneuvrability of the vehicle in
hazardous situations, even during heavy braking
while cornering.
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during full
braking, on almost all road surfaces, until shortly
before the vehicle stops.
The ABS begins to control the braking process as
soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock.
This controlled braking process is comparable to
extremely rapid cadence braking.
The pulsating brake pedal and a “rattling noise”
warn the driver to adapt his driving speed to the
road conditions.Warning light
If the ABS warning lights light up in the instrument
panel and on the multi-purpose display of the in-
strument panel while the engine is running, the
ABS has switched off because of a fault.
In this event, the braking system will operate with-
out lock prevention,as in cars without ABS.
fAdapt your driving style to the changed brak-
ing behavior.
fThe ABS must be checked immediately at an
authorized Porsche dealer. This is necessary
in order to prevent the occurrence of further
faults whose effects cannot be defined.
The ABS control unit is adjusted for the approved
tire dimensions.
The use of tires with non-approved dimensions can
lead to different wheel speeds, causing the ABS to
switch off.
f f f
240
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
Water crossingfPlease observe the chapter “GROUND CLEA-
RANCE” on Page 375.
Danger!
Danger of drowning if water enters the vehi-
cle. Risk of damage to the engine and acces-
sories if water penetrates.
fBefore driving through water, check the water
depth A, water speed and the condition of the
surface beneath it.
The water must not be deeper than 20 in.
(50 cm). The water must not be deeper than
22 in. (55.5 cm) for vehicles with level control
and height adjustment.
fCheck the door sills and rubber seals before
starting to drive.
fDo not drive through deep or rapidly flowing
water.
Deep or rapidly flowing water, e.g. mountain
streams, can cause the car to deviate from the
intended path.
fAvoid a "bow wave" by driving at an appropriate
speed.
fNever open the doors when driving through wa-
ter.Soiling can impair the braking action.
fCheck and clean the brakes if they have been
soiled.
Danger of steering assistance failing during
a long journey in the water if the drive belt
slips.
fIf the steering assistance fails, more effort will
be required to steer.
Danger of damaging electrical systems
fAvoid driving through salt water.
Notes on operation
fActivate Low Range.
fSwitch the air conditioner off.
fSwitch the headlights off.
Shifting Gear, Traction Systems
241
Tips on driving
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).
fDo not perform manual gear changes when
driving, and try to avoid stopping.
Moving off in the water can be difficult due to
the high resistance and the loose surface in-
volved.
fStart the water crossing at a shallow place at
walking speed.
fAfter checking the body of water, take the
shortest path through it.
fNever drive into the water at high speed. The
resulting “bow wave” could damage the engine
and its accessories.
fAdjust your driving style to the unfamiliar sur-
roundings.
fCross the body of water slowly and at a con-
stant speed.
fNever turn around when crossing a body of wa-
ter.
fIf it is not possible to cross the body of water,
the car must be backed out of it in reverse
gear.
The servo pump and alternator can fail if the car is
driven through water for an extended period.
fIf the servo pump fails, substantially more
force will have to be exerted in order to steer. Maintenance note
The car requires a special check after the water
crossing.
fRemove mud from the tire tread.
fBriefly apply the brakes in order to dry them af-
ter driving through the water.
ObstaclesfPlease observe the chapter “GROUND CLEA-
RANCE” on Page 375.
Note on operation
fActivate Low Range and engage differential
locks if necessary.
Tips on driving
fJust before reaching the obstacle, ease off the
accelerator slightly and use the car's momen-
tum to cross the obstacle. This will prevent the
car from jumping over the hump and landing on
the following downward slope at an excessive
speed.
fAvoid high engine speeds (max. 2,500 rpm).