3
Regularly check your vehicle for signs of
damage.
Damaged or missing aerodynamic compo-
nents such as spoilers or underside panels
affect the driving behavior and therefore
must be replaced immediately.
Your car may have all or some of the components
described in this manual.
Should you have difficulty understanding any of
the explanations of features or equipment installed
in your vehicle, contact your authorized Porsche
dealer. He/She will be glad to assist you. Also
check with your dealer on other available options
or equipment.
Throughout this booklet, left is designated as the
driver’s side of the vehicle, and right as the pas-
senger’s side of the vehicle.
Text, illustrations and specifications in this manual
are based on the information available at the time
of printing.
It has always been Porsche’s policy to continuous-
ly improve its products. Porsche, therefore, re-
serves the right to make changes in design and
specification, and to make additions or
improvements in its product without incurring any
obligation to install them on products previously
manufactured.
We wish you many miles of safe and pleasurable
driving in your Porsche.
Important
For your own protection and longer service life of
your car, please follow all operating instructions
and special warnings. These special warnings use
the safety alert symbol, followed by the words
Danger, Warning and Caution. These special
warnings contain important messages regarding
your safety and/or the potential for damage to
your Porsche. Ignoring them could result in seri-
ous mechanical failure or even physical injury.
fDo not alter your Porsche. Any alteration could
create dangerous conditions or defeat safety
engineering features built into your car.
fDo not misuse your Porsche. Use it safely, and
consistently with the law, according to the driv-
ing conditions, and the instructions in this man-
ual.
Alteration or misuse of your Porsche could
cause accidents and severe or fatal personal
injuries.
Note to owners In Canada, this manual is also available in French.
To obtain a copy contact your dealer or write to: Note aux proprietaires Au Canada, ce manuel est également disponible
en francais. Pour en obtenir un exemplaire, adres-
sez-vous à votre concessionnaire ou écrivez à
l’adresse ci-dessous.
Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd.
Automobiles Porsche Canada, LTEE
5045 Orbitor Drive
Building #8, Suite 200
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4W 4Y4
Telephone number for customer assistance:
1-800-PORSCHE / Option 3
Controls, Instruments
13
In the driver’s seat... fCheck operation of the horn.
fPosition seat for easy reach of foot pedals and
controls.
To reduce the possibility of injury from the air-
bag deployment, you should always sit back as
far from the steering wheel as is practical,
while still maintaining full vehicle control.
fAdjust the inside and outside rear view mirrors.
fBuckle your safety belts.
fCheck operation of the foot and parking brake.
fCheck all warning and indicator lights with
ignition on and engine not running.
fStart engine and check all warning displays for
warning symbols.
fNever leave an idling car unattended.
fLock doors from inside, especially with chil-
dren in the car to prevent inadvertent opening
of doors from inside or outside.
Drive with doors locked.
On the road... fNever drive after you have consumed alcohol
or drugs.
fAlways have your safety belt fastened.
fAlways drive defensively.
Expect the unexpected.
fUse signals to indicate turns and lane changes.
fTurn on headlights at dusk or when the driving
conditions warrant it.
fAlways keep a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you, depending on traffic, road and
weather conditions.
fReduce speed at night and during inclement
weather.
Driving in wet weather requires caution and re-
duced speeds, particularly on roads with
standing water, as the handling characteristics
of the vehicle may be impaired due to hydro-
planing of the tires.
fAlways observe speed limits and obey road
signs and traffic laws.
fWhen tired, get well off the road, stop and take
a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the ve-
hicle with engine idling.
fPlease observe the chapter “ENGINE EX-
HAUST” on Page 8.fWhen parked, always set the parking brake.
Move the Tiptronic selector lever to ”P“ or the
gearshift lever to reverse or first gear.
On hills also turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
fWhen emergency repairs become necessary,
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on the
emergency flasher and use other warning de-
vices to alert other motorists. Do not park or
operate the vehicle in areas where the hot ex-
haust system may come in contact with dry
grass, brush, fuel spill or other flammable ma-
terial.
fMake it a habit to have the engine oil checked
with every fuel filling.
Danger!
Danger of fire in engine compartment due to
burning cigars or cigarettes. Serious perso-
nal injury or death could result from fire in
the engine compartment.
fDo not throw any lit cigars or cigarettes out of
the vehicle.
They can be blown into the air inlets by the air
flow and cause a fire in the engine compart-
ment.
fPlease observe the chapter “ASHTRAY” on Page 138.
66
Controls, Instruments
Retractable Rear SpoilerThe rear spoiler improves driving stability,
especially at higher speeds.
Warning!
Risk of accident. If the rear spoiler cannot be
extended, driving stability will be adversely
affected by increased rear axle lift.
fAdapt your driving style and speed to the
changed driving conditions.
fHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Risk of injury during manual retraction or
extension of the rear spoiler with the vehicle
stationary.
fMake sure that no persons or objects are
within the range of movement of the rear
spoiler.
Risk of damage from pushing the vehicle by
the rear spoiler.
fDo not push the vehicle at the rear spoiler.The warning light in the on-board computer lights
up when the rear spoiler does not extend over
75 mph (120 km/h) or its end position is not
reached.
Automatic control The rear spoiler extends at approx. 75 mph
(120 km/h) and retracts again at approx. 50 mph
(80 km/h).
If the automatic control fails, the warning light
lights up and the rear spoiler must be manually
extended before driving.
Manual controlWhen the ignition is on, the rear spoiler can be
extended and retracted manually using the button.
Note
When the rear spoiler is extended manually, the
automatic control does not operate and the rear
spoiler must be manually retracted.
Warning light
Controls, Instruments
67
Extending
fPress button briefly.
The rear spoiler extends to its final position.
The light-emitting diode in the button lights up.
The rear spoiler remains extended even after
switching off the ignition.
Retracting
fat speeds between 0 and 20 mph
(0 and 30 km/h)
Press and hold button until the rear spoiler has
reached its final position.
The light-emitting diode in the button goes out.
The rear spoiler changes to automatic mode.
fat speeds between 20 and 60 mph
(30 and 100 km/h)
Press button briefly.
The rear spoiler retracts, the light-emitting
diode in the button goes out.
The rear spoiler changes to automatic mode.
fat speeds over 60 mph (100 km/h)
Press button briefly.
The rear spoiler remains extended, the light-
emitting diode in the button goes out.
The rear spoiler changes to automatic mode.Manually retracting an extended rear spoiler
after switching on the ignition again
1. Press button briefly.
The light-emitting diode in the button lights up.
The rear spoiler is now in manual mode.
2. Press and hold button until the rear spoiler has
reached its final position.
The light-emitting diode in the button goes out.
The rear spoiler changes to automatic mode.
Controls, Instruments
151
Rear Luggage CompartmentService flapfPress catch button on the service flap and
open flap.
A - Topping up engine oil.
B - Checking coolant level or topping up.
Luggage net, tie-down rings
Warning!
Danger of injury during braking, rapid direc-
tion changes or in an accident.
fDo not carry items of luggage or objects in the
passenger compartment unsecured.
Secure load against sliding.
fDo not transport heavy objects under the lug-gage net. fHang the luggage net on the 4 tie-down rings
around the engine cover or in the rear luggage
compartment.
174
Maintenance, Car Care
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.
178
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine Oil Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality
and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine
is operated, the climate, road conditions as well
as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the lubri-
cant.
If the vehicle is used for repeated short trips, and
consumes a normal amount of oil, the engine oil
measurement may not show any drop in the oil lev-
el at all, even after 600 miles (1000 km) or more.
This is because the oil is gradually becoming dilut-
ed with fuel or moisture, making it appear that the
oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the
vehicle is driven at high speeds, as on an express-
way, making it then appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
If the conditions you drive your vehicle in are
dusty, humid, or hot, the frequency of the oil
change intervals should be greater. If the vehicle is driven at a high rate of speed, cli-
matic conditions are warm, and the load is high,
the oil should be checked more frequently, as driv-
ing conditions will determine the rate of oil con-
sumption.
– The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to lu-
bricate and cool all of its moving parts.
Therefore, the engine oil should be checked
regularly and kept at the required level.
– Make it a habit to have the engine oil level
checked with every fuel filling.
– The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level
indicator.
The oil pressure warning light indicates serious
engine damage may be occurring when lit, if
engine rpm is above idle speed.
Engine Oil Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 172.
fRegularly check the oil level using the on-board
computer after the vehicle is refuelled.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 110.
The difference between the minimum and maxi-
mum marks on the segment display is approx.
1.2 liters.
Each segment of the display corresponds to
approx. 0.4 liter.
Maintenance, Car Care
181
Oil changeThe engine oil has to be changed at the intervals
listed in your Maintenance Schedule.
fPlease observe the chapter “CAPACITIES” on
Page 271.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed at your Porsche dealer, who has the re-
quired oils and the necessary filling equipment.
If you suspect an oil leak in the engine have your
dealer check it out immediately.
All current engine oils are compatible with each
other, i. e. when making an oil change it is not nec-
essary to flush the engine if you wish to use a dif-
ferent brand or grade of oil.
Since, however, each brand of oil has a special
composition, you should, if possible, use the
same oil brand if it becomes necessary to top up
between oil changes.
Porsche engines have long intervals between oil
changes. You can make best use of these long oil
change intervals by using multigrade oils since
these are largely independent of seasonal fluctua-
tions in temperature.If your vehicle is used frequently in stop-and-go
traffic in cold weather, the engine will not always
be completely warmed up.
Condensation from products of combustion may
accumulate in the oil. In this case, it is advisable
to change the oil more frequently so that your en-
gine once again has 100% efficient oil.
Engine oil performance classEngine oil is not only a lubricant, but also serves
to keep the engine clean, to neutralize the dirt
which penetrates into the engine through combus-
tion and to protect the engine against corrosion.
To perform these functions, the oil is provided with
additives which have been specially developed for
these functions.
The efficiency of an oil is expressed, for example,
by the API, ILSAC or ACEA classifications.
ViscosityLike all liquids, engine oil is viscous when cold,
and thin-bodied when warm. The viscosity of an oil
is expressed by its SAE class. For cold viscosity
(measured at temperatures below 32°F/0°C) the
SAE class is given as a number and the letter ”W“
(as in winter), for hot viscosity (measured at
212°F/100°C) the SAE class is given only as a
number.
The viscosity of an oil is, therefore, always the
same if it has the same number of an SAE class.
Oils with two viscosities are called multigrade oils;
oils with only one viscosity are termed single-
grade oils.
Single-grade oils can not be used in your engine.
The viscosity of the engine oil for your Porsche
has to be selected according to the ambient tem-
perature given in the engine oil recommendation
table.