Page 49 of 387
Controls, Safety, Instruments
49
Safety belt height adjustmentThe heights of the belt deflectors for the driver’s
seat, passenger’s seat and the outer rear seats
can be adjusted.
Adjust the height of the safety belt so that it runs
across the middle of the shoulder, not against the
neck.
Adjusting belt height manually
fUpward – push belt deflector up.
fDownward – press button A and move belt de-
flector.Adjusting belt height electrically
fOperate rocker switch B in the desired
direction until the optimal belt adjustment is
reached.
On vehicles with comfort memory, seat belt height
adjustment can be stored on the person buttons
and vehicle keys and recalled with these.
fPlease observe the chapter “FRONT SEAT
WITH MEMORY” on Page 37.
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50
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Airbag SystemsThe airbags in combination with the safety belts
make up a safety system which offers the driver
and the passenger the greatest known protection
from injuries in case of accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with weight sensing for
the passenger's seat in accordance with U.S. Fed-
eral/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
208.
Even if your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the
safety belts must be worn at all times,
because the front airbag system is only actuated
by frontal collisions with an impact of sufficient se-
verity.
Seatbelts always provide the primary protection to
occupants in the event of collision, when correctly
worn. This is particularly the case in collisions be-
low airbag actuation thresholds.
Therefore, all persons within the vehicle
must wear safety belts at all times (in many
states, state law requires the use of safety belts).
fPlease observe the chapter “SAFETY BELTS”
on Page 46.
The front airbags are located under the padded
steering wheel panel on the driver’s side and, on
the passenger's side, in the dashboard.
The side airbags for the front seats are installed
on the side in the seat backrests.
The head airbags are installed above the doors
in the roof area.
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Controls, Safety, Instruments
51
Danger!
To provide optimal occupant protection, air-
bags must inflate at very high speed. If you
are not wearing your safety belt or are too
close to the airbag when it is deployed, inflat-
ing airbags can result in serious personal in-
jury or death.
Improper handling of weight sensing can un-
intentionally impair switching the passen-
ger's airbag off and on.
fMake sure there are no people, animals or ob-
jects between the driver or passenger and the
area into which the airbag inflates.
fSit back as far from the dashboard or steering
wheel as is practical, while still maintaining full
vehicle control.
fAlways hold the steering wheel by the outer
rim. Never rest your hands on the airbag panel.
fAlways fasten seat belts because triggering
of the airbag system depends on the force and
angle of impact.
fDo not transport heavy objects on or in front of
the passenger seat. These could impair the
function of the airbag, the seat belts, and
weight sensing.
fDo not hang objects (e.g., jackets, coats, coat
hangers) over the backrest.fAlways keep the lid of the door storage com-
partment closed. Objects must not protrude
out of the door storage compartment.
fNo changes must be made to the wiring or
components of the airbag system.
fDo not add any additional coverings or stickers
to the steering wheel or in the area of the pas-
senger airbag and side airbags. Doing so may
adversely affect the functioning of the airbag
system or cause harm to the occupants if the
airbag system should deploy.
fDo not modify the seat coverings. Do not at-
tach additional cushions, protective coverings,
or pillows to the passenger's seat. Do not affix
things to the passenger's seat or cover it with
other materials. Do not cover the back of the
backrest. Do not make changes to the passen-
ger's seat and to the seat base frame.
fDo not undertake any wiring for electrical ac-
cessory equipment in the vicinity of the airbag
wiring harnesses. Doing so may disable the air-
bag system or cause inadvertent inflation.
fIf the warning light comes on, the airbag sys-
tem should be repaired immediately by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
fAlways keep feet in the footwell while driving.
Do not put feet on the dashboard or the seat
area. Do not lean against the inside of the door
or outside the window while the vehicle is mov-
ing.fUsing accessories not approved by Porsche
can cause the weight sensing to be impaired.
fDo not squeeze objects, such as the fire extin-
guisher, or first aid kit under the seat.
fOnly have seats removed and installed by an
authorized Porsche dealer so that weight sens-
ing components will not be damaged.
fGive your passenger all of the information in
this chapter.
Note
Airbag components (e.g. steering wheel, seats)
may be disassembled only by an authorized
Porsche dealer.
When disposing of a used airbag unit, our safety
instructions must be followed. These instructions
can be obtained at any authorized Porsche dealer.
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52
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Function of the airbag systemThe front airbags are triggered during a frontal col-
lision of sufficient force and direction.
In the event of a side impact of corresponding
force, the side airbag on the impact side is
triggered.
The inflation process generates the amount of gas
required to fill the airbags at the necessary pres-
sure in fractions of a second.
Airbags help to protect the head and upper body,
while simultaneously damping the motion of the
driver and passenger in the impact direction in the
event of a frontal impact or side impact.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module. This module will record the
use of the seat belt restraint system by the driver
and front passenger when the airbags and/or belt
tentioner are triggered.
Precondition for activating the restraint systems:
– Ignition is switched on.-Advanced Airbag
Your vehicle is equipped with weight sensing for
the passenger's seat in accordance with U.S. Fed-
eral/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
208.
Depending on the weight acting on the passen-
ger's seat, the passenger's airbag will automati-
cally be switched on and off.
Depending on the angle and force of impact, the
passenger's airbag which is switched-on will be
triggered during a collision.
Precondition for switching the passenger's airbag
on and off, depending on weight:
– Ignition is switched on.Seat adjustment for the passenger's seat
If the seat is in an extreme position (e.g., the back-
rest is in contact with the rear seat bench), the
backrest can warp. Warping of the backrest can
lead to malfunctions.
fCorrect the seat adjustment.
The seat is not jammed and is self-supporting.
The backrest is in the upright position.
fDo not transport a load and objects in the rear
footwell or under the passenger's seat.
If the load or objects are under the seat, they
can cause malfunctions.
If the weight on the passenger's seat is reduced
significantly, e.g., by supporting weight on the
armrest, the passenger's airbag can be switched
off.
fSelect an upright seat position, and do not sup-
port weight on the armrests or lean out of the
window.
Always keep feet in the footwell while driving.
Do not put feet on the dashboard or the seat
area. Do not lean against the inside of the door
or outside the window while the vehicle is mov-
ing.
If the passenger's seat is warped significantly, a
message is displayed in the multi-purpose display
in the instrument panel:
fCorrect the seat adjustment.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNING LIGHTS
AND WARNING MESSAGES” on Page 122.
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53
Automatic deactivation of the passenger
airbags
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
front passenger seat can result in serious
personal injury or death to the child from an
airbag deployment.
To reduce risk of injury from an inflating air-
bag in an accident, Porsche strongly recom-
mends:
fUnder all normal circumstances, the child seat
must be placed in the rear.
Do not use a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.
Before transporting a child on the passenger seat:
fPlease observe the chapter “CHILD RES-
TRAINT SYSTEMS” on Page 55.
– When an up to one-year old child is seated
in the child restraint system, the front airbag is
automatically deactivated on the passenger
side.
– When an adult is seated in the front seat the
front airbag remains active on the passenger‘s
side.
A- PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lampNote on operation
Although not desired, it can occur in the case of
heavier children that the passenger airbags re-
main active or, in the case of very light adults or
young persons, that the passenger airbag is deac-
tivated.
The condition of the passenger airbag system is
shown by the indicator lamp A in the central con-
sole.
fIf in doubt, fasten the child restraint system on
the rear bench or transport the passenger on
the rear bench.Note
fAfter switching on the ignition, the PASSEN-
GER AIRBAG OFF warning light lights up for a
few seconds as a check.
If there is a change in status in the PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp, a message is dis-
played in the multi-purpose display in the instru-
ment panel:
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNING LIGHTS
AND WARNING MESSAGES” on Page 122.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up
– The passenger's airbag is switched off.
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54
Controls, Safety, Instruments PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
does not light up
– The passenger's airbag is active and ready for
operation.
– If the passenger's seat is not occupied, the
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will
also not light up, even though the passenger's
airbag is switched off. Danger!
Risk of serious or mortal injury due to the
passenger airbag triggering unintentionally.
When the ignition is on and the up to one-
year old child is seated in the child restraint
system on the passenger seat the indicator
lamp „PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF“ must be on.
If the “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” indicator
lamp does not light up, it could indicate a
fault in the system.
In this case:
fFasten the child restraint system on the rear
bench immediately.
fHave the fault remedied at your nearest author-ized Porsche dealer.Faults are indicated by a warning light on the ta-
chometer and a message on the instrument
panel’s multi-purpose display.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNING LIGHTS
AND WARNING MESSAGES” on Page 122.
fIn the following cases you should immedi-
ately consult an authorized Porsche
dealer in order to assure the airbag sys-
tem is functioning properly:
– If the warning light does not light up when the
ignition is switched on or
– If the warning light does not go out once the
engine is running or
– If the warning light appears while driving.
Airbag maintenanceIn order to ensure long-term functioning, the air-
bag system must be inspected by an authorized
Porsche dealer at the intervals recommended in
your Maintenance Booklet.
Important information
If you sell your Porsche, notify the purchaser that
the vehicle is equipped with airbags, and refer
them to the chapter, “Airbag Systems“, in the
owner's manual (safety and disposal rules).
Further information on the airbag system can be
found on stickers attached to the sun visors, as
well as on all airbag components.
For special recommendations on the use of child
restraints:
fPlease observe the chapter “CHILD RES-
TRAINT SYSTEMS” on Page 55.
Warning lights and warning
messages
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Controls, Safety, Instruments
55
Child Restraint SystemsPorsche recommends that all infants and children
be restrained in child restraint systems at all times
while the vehicle is in motion in accordance with
applicable laws.
Use only child restraint systems with the LATCH-
system recommended by Porsche. These sys-
tems 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.
The use of infant or child restraints is required by
law in all 50 US states and the Canadian provinc-
es. The child restraint system should be one that
complies with U.S. Federal/Canadian Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standards and should be secured by a
lap belt or lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt or
for child seats equipped with the LATCH sytem
(Lower Anchorage and Tether for Children, also
known as ISOFIX) to the LATCH anchorages.
A statement by the seat manufacturer of compli-
ance with this standard can be found on the in-
struction label on the restraint and in the instruc-
tion manual provided with the restraint.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death to the
child.
fFollow all child restraint instructions and warnings in this manual.
– When using an infant or child restraint system,
be sure to follow all manufacturer's instruc-
tions on installation and use.
– Infants and small children should neither be
held on the lap, nor should they share a safety
belt with another occupant while the vehicle is
in motion.
– Children too big for child restraint systems
should use regular safety belts. A shoulder belt
can be used providing it does not cross the
face or the neck of the child.
– Choose a child restraint system according to
the age and size of the child.
– Child restraint systems that are damaged or
have been heavily stressed in an accident must
be replaced immediately.
– Do not affix objects to child restraint systems
or cover them with other materials.
– For maximum safety and protection, do not
use a child restraint system in the front passen-
ger seat.
Direction of installation for child restraint
systemsUnder all normal circumstances, the child seat
must be placed in the rear.
fDo not use a child restraint system in the front
passenger seat.
Children up to an age of 9 months old
Children of this age must be carried in a restraint
system which is fitted facing backwards.
Children in ages between an age of 9 months
up to 3 years
Children of this age are transported in child re-
straint systems facing forward.
Children in ages from 3 to 6 years
Children of this age are transported in child re-
straint systems facing forward.
Children in ages from 6 to 12 years
Children of this age are transported in child re-
straint systems facing forward.
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56
Controls, Safety, Instruments
Using child restraint systems in the front
passenger seat
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
front passenger seat can result in serious
personal injury or death to the child from an
airbag deployment.
To reduce risk of injury from an inflating air-
bag in an accident, Porsche strongly recom-
mends:
fUnder all normal circumstances, the child seat
must be placed in the rear.
Do not use a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.However, there may be serious situations where it
might be necessary to place a child in the front
seat so that he/she can be kept under direct ob-
servation to prevent an immediate risk to the child
(for example, while driving to the doctor or hospi-
tal). The following instructions are provided to you
solely for that purpose.
fSeek appropriate advice from your authorized
Porsche dealer about the possible installation
of a Porsche child restraint system.
fIf 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.
fIf emergency or other serious conditions re-
quire a child to be placed in the front seat, ex-
ercise extreme caution and defensive driving
of your vehicle. You must recognize that any
substantial frontal impact could result in the
deployment of the passenger airbag, which
could lead to serious injury or death of the
child.Child restraint system for up to one-year old
children
If the child restraint system must be fastened to
the passenger's seat in exceptional cases:
– make sure that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp lights up.
– adjust the passenger's seat as far away from
the airbag as possible
Danger!
Risk of serious or personal injury or death
due to the passenger airbag triggering unin-
tentionally.
When the ignition is on and the up to one-
year old child is seated in the child restraint
system on the passenger seat the indicator
lamp „PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF“ must be on.
If the “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” indicator
lamp does not light up, it could indicate a
fault in the system.
In this case:
fFasten the child restraint system on the rear
bench immediately.
fHave the fault remedied at your nearest author-ized Porsche dealer.