2007 PORSCHE BOXSTER traction control

Breakinhintsfortherst2000
miles/3000kilometers
ThefollowingtipswillbehelpfulinobtainingoptimumperformancefromyournewPorsche.
Despitethemostmodern,high-precisionmanufac-turingmethods,themovingpartsmuststillwearinwitheachother.Thiswearing-inoccursmainlyinthefirst2000miles/3000kilometers.
Therefore:
Preferablytakelongertrips.
Avoidfrequentcoldstartswithshort-distancedrivingwheneverpossible.
Avoidfullthrottlestartsandabruptstops.
Donotexceedmaximumenginespeedof4200rpm(revolutionsperminute).
DonotrunacoldengineathighrpmeitherinNeutraloringear.
Donotlettheenginelabor,especiallywhendrivinguphill.Shifttothenextlowergearintime(usethemostfavorablerpmrange).
Neverlugtheengineinhighgearatlowspeeds.Thisruleappliesatalltimes,notjustduringthebreak-inperiod.
Donotparticipateinmotorracingevents,sportsdrivingschools,etc.duringthefirst2000miles/3000kilometers.
Theremaybeaslightstiffnessinthesteering,gear-shiftingorothercontrolsduringthebreak-inperiodwhichwillgraduallydisappear.
Breakinbrakepadsandbreakdiscs
Newbrakepadsanddiscshavetobe“brokenin”,andthereforeonlyattainoptimalfrictionwhenthecarhascoveredseveralhundredmilesorkm.Theslightlyreducedbrakingabilitymustbecompensatedforbypressingthebrakepedalharder.Thisalsoapplieswheneverthebrakepadsandbrakediscsarereplaced.
Newtires
Newtiresdonothavemaximumtraction.Theytendtobeslippery.
Breakinnewtiresbydrivingatmoder-atespeedsduringthefirst60milesto120miles/100kmto200km.Longerbrakingdistancesmustbeanticipated.
Engineoilandfuelconsumption
Duringthebreak-inperiodoilandfuelconsumptionmaybehigherthannormal.
Asalways,therateofoilconsumptiondependsonthequalityandviscosityofoil,thespeedatwhichtheengineisoperated,theclimateandroadconditions,aswellastheamountofdilutionandoxidationofthelubricant.
Makeahabitofcheckingengineoilwitheveryrefueling,addifnecessary.
Controls,Instruments19

Brakes
Generalinformation
Makeitahabittochecktheoperationofyourbrakesbeforedriving.
Keepinmindthatthebrakingdistanceincreasesveryrapidlyasthespeedincreases.At60mphor100km/h,forexample,itisnottwicebutfourtimeslongerthan30mphor50km/h.Tiretractionisalsolesseffectivewhentheroadsarewetorslippery.
Therefore,alwaysmaintainasafedistancefromthecarinfrontofyou.
VehicleswithoutPorscheCeramic
CompositeBrake(PCCB)
Eventhoughthebrakediscsconsistofalloyedgreycastiron,theywillunavoidablystarttocorrodeifyourcarisparkedforanextendedperiod.Thebrakeswilltendto“rub”asaresult.Thenature,extentandeffectsofcorrosiondependontheamountoftimethevehiclewasparked,whethergranularorliquidroadsaltwasspreadandwhethergrease-dissolvingagentswereusedincarwashes.Ifthebrakingcomfortisnoticeablyimpaired,werecommendhavingthebrakesystemcheckedbyexpertsatanauthorizedPorschedealer.
Brakesystemfunction
YourPorscheisequippedwithapowerassistedhydraulicdualcircuitbrakesystemwithdiscbrakesatthefrontandrear.Bothcircuitsfunctionindependently.Onebrakecircuitoperatesthefrontandtheotheroperatestherear.
Ifonebrakecircuithasfailed,theotherwillstilloperate.However,youwillnoticeanincreasedpedaltravelwhenyouapplythebrakes.Failureofonebrakecircuitwillcausethestoppingdistancetoincrease.
Warning!
Riskofanaccident,resultinginseriouspersonalinjuryordeath.Intheunlikelyeventofhydraulicfailureofonebrakecircuit:
Pushthebrakepedaldownfirmlyandholditinthatposition.Amechanicallinkageactivatesthesecondcircuit,andyouwillbeabletobringthevehicletoastop.
Afterbringingyourvehicletoacompletestop,avoiddrivingthevehicleandinsteadhaveittowedtothenearestauthorizedPorschedealerforrepair.
BrakewarninglightUSA
BrakewarninglightCanada
Ifthewarninglightsintheinstrumentpanelandon-boardcomputergoonwhiledriving,thebrakefluidlevelmaybetoolow,or(ifthebrakepedaltravelhasincreased)oneofthetwobrakecircuitsmayhavefailed.
Agreaterbrakingpressurewillberequired,stoppingdistanceswillbelongerandthebrakingbehaviorwillchange,particularlyincurves.
Withcorrectlyadjustedbrakes,andacorrectlyworkingbrakesystem,thepedaltraveltothepointofbrakeactuationshouldbe1-3/16"to1-9/16"or30to40mm.Wheneverthebrakepedaltravelexceedsthisdistance,havethebrakesystemchecked.
Brakepedal
Warning!
Riskofanaccident,resultinginseriouspersonalinjuryordeath.Anyobstructionofthebrakepedalcouldincreasethestoppingdistance.
Alwayscheckthemovementofthebrakepedalbeforedrivingandmakesurethatitisnotobstructedbyafloormatoranyotherobject.
64Controls,Instruments

Securethefloormattopreventitfromslidingintopositionsthatcouldinterferewiththesafeoperationofyourvehicle.YourPorschedealerwillbegladtoofferyounonskidfloormatsofthecorrectsize.
Note
Incaseoneofthetwobrakecircuitsfails,increasedpedaltravelisrequiredtobringyourvehicletoafullstop.
Warning!
Toavoidoverheatingandprematurewearofthebrakes:
Beforedescendingasteepgrade,reducespeedandshiftthetransmissionintoalowergearordrivingpositiontocontrolspeed.
Donot”ridethebrakes”byrestingyourfootonthepedalwhennotintendingtoapplybrakepressure.
Donotholdthepedaldowntoolongortoooften.Thiscouldcausethebrakestogethotandnotfunctionproperly.
Brakebooster
Thebrakeboosterassistsbrakingonlywhentheengineisrunning.
Whenthecarismovingwhiletheengineisnotrunning,orifthebrakeboosterisdefective,morepressureonthebrakepedalisrequiredtobringthecartoastop.Ifthishappens,ABSandPSMwillalsonotoperate.
Moistureorroadsaltonbrakesaffectsbraking.Whenthevehicleisdrivenonsaltedroadsforextendedperiods,thebrakesshouldbewasheddownthoroughlyaboutevery2weeks.Anauto-maticcarwashfacilitycannotdothisjobproperly.Brakeswilldryafterafewcautiousbrakeapplica-tions.
Warning!
Riskofanaccident,resultinginseriouspersonalinjuryordeath.Drivingthroughwatermayreducetraction.Moistureonbrakesfromroadwater,carwash,orcoatingofroadsaltmayaffectbrakingefciency.
Cautiouslyapplybrakestotestbrakesafterbeingexposed.
Brakewear
Yourcarhasexcellentbrakes,buttheyarestillsubjecttowear.Therateatwhichtheyweardependsonhowthebrakesareused.
HavethebrakesysteminspectedattheintervalsrecommendedinyourMaintenanceBooklet.
WarninglightUSA
WarninglightCanada
Ifthewarninglightsintheinstrumentpanelandon-boardcomputerstayonwhentheengineisrunningorcomeonwhiledriving,thebrakepadsareworn,excessively.
Donotcontinuetooperatethevehicle.HaveyourauthorizedPorschedealerinspectorreplacethebrakepads.
Controls,Instruments65

ABSBrakeSystem
(AntilockBrakeSystem)
TheABSsystemrepresentsamajorcontributiontotheenhancementofactivesafetyinyourvehicle.Thissystempreventsthewheelsfromlockinginapanicstoponalmostallroadsurfaces.
WiththeABSsysteminyourvehicle,the
followingareasareenhanced:
Steering,vehicleremainssteerableunderallbrakingforceswhenABSisengaged.
Gooddirectionalcontrol,noswervingcausedbylockingofwheelsunderbrakingconditions.
Shorterstoppingdistance,stoppingdistancesareusuallyreducedbecausecontrolledbrakingismaximized.
Preventionofwheellockup,nobrake-inducedslidingandthusnolocalizedtirewearfromemergencybraking.
ThecrucialadvantageoftheABSsystemoveraconventionalbrakesystemisintheareaofmaintainingdirectionalcontrolandmaneuverabilityofthecarinemergencysituations.
Warning!
Theincreasedcontrolthatisprovidedshouldnotinduceyoutotakegreaterriskswithyoursafety.Thelimitsdictatedbythelawsofphysicscannotbeovercome,evenwithABS.Theriskofaccidentsduetoinappropriatespeedcannotbereduced,evenbytheABS.Thedriverbearstheresponsibilityforalldrivingmaneuvers.
Adaptyourdrivingstyletotheprevailingroadandweatherconditions.
Obeyalltrafficlaws.
Warning!
OthervehiclesnotequippedwiththeABSsystemmaynotbeabletomaintaincontrol,especiallyonwetorpoorroadsurfacesandthusmaybemorelikelytoimpactyoufrombehind.
Tominimizethatrisk,useyourABSsystemtoincreaseyourabilitytomaneuvertoavoiddangeroussituationsandnotmerelytotrytostopintheshortestdistancepossible.
OperationoftheABSsystem
Awheelspeedsensorismountedtoeachofthefourwheels.Ifwheellock-upofeitherofthefrontwheelsortherearwheelsissensedduringbraking,thebrakepressureisadjustedautomaticallyuntilthewheelnolongerslips.
Ifbrakingforcesapproachthewheellock-uppointforallwheels(panicbraking)theABSsystemwillintervenetoprovidearapidrythmicbraking.TheproperoperationofABSisperceivedbythedriverasapulsatingbrakepedalinconjunctionwithaudiblenoiseandperhapssomevibration.
Ifyouexperiencethesesensationswhiledrivingoraroadsurfacewithquestionabletraction,reducevehiclespeedappropriatefortheprevailingroadconditions.
Iffullbrakingshouldbenecessary,pressthebrakepedalallthewaydownthroughouttheentirebrakingprocedure,regardlessofthepulsatingpedal.Donoteaseuponpressureappliedtothepedal.
ThefunctionalreadinessofallthemainelectricalcomponentsoftheABSischeckedbyanelectronicmonitoringsystembothbeforeandwhileyoudrive.
WarninglightUSA
WarninglightCanada
WhentheignitionisswitchedontheABSwarninglightwilllightupwhilethesystemiselectronically
Controls,Instruments67

PorscheStabilityManagement
(PSM)
GeneralinformationregardingPSM
PSMisanactivecontrolsystemforstabilizationofthevehicleduringextremedrivingmaneuvers.
Warning!
Riskofanaccident,resultinginseriouspersonalinjuryordeath.Theincreasedcontrolthatisprovidedshouldnotinduceyoutotakegreaterriskswithyoursafety.Thelimitsdictatedbythelawsofphysicscannotbeovercome,evenwithPSM.Theriskofaccidentsduetoinappropriatespeedcannotbereduced,evenbyPSM.Thedriverbearstheresponsibilityforalldrivingmaneuvers.
Adaptyourdrivingstyletotheprevailingroadandweatherconditions.
Obeyalltrafficlaws.
AdvantagesofPSM
–Superiortractionandlane-holdingabilityinalldrivingsituations-evenonroadsurfaceswithvaryingfriction.
–Thesystemcompensatesforundesiredvehi-clereactions(Ferrariaeffect)whenthedriverreleasestheacceleratorpedalorbrakeson
bends.Thiscompensationfunctionsuptothemaximumlateralacceleration.
–PSMactivelystabilizesthevehicleduringdynamicdrivingmaneuvers(e.g.rapidsteeringmovements,duringlanechangesoronalternatingcurves).
–Improvedbrakingstabilityincurvesandondifferentorvaryingroadsurfaces.
Readinessforoperation
PSMisswitchedonautomaticallyeverytimeyoustarttheengine.
Function
Sensorsatthewheels,brakes,steeringsystemandenginecontinuouslymeasure:
–Speed
–Directionoftravel(steeringangle)
–Lateralacceleration
–Rateofturnabouttheverticalaxis
PSMusesthesevaluestodeterminethedirectionoftraveldesiredbythedriver.PSMintervenesandcorrectsthecourseiftheactualdirectionofmotiondeviatesfromthedesiredcourse(steering-wheelposition):Itbrakesindividualwheelsasneeded.Inaddition,theenginepowermaybemanipulatedinordertostabilizethevehicle.
TheeventsbelowinformthedriverofPSMcontroloperationsandwarnhimtoadapther/hisdrivingstyletotheroadconditions:
–Themulti-functionalinformationlightontheinstrumentpanelflashes.
–Hydraulicnoisescanbeheard.
–Thevehicledeceleratesandsteering-wheelforcesarealteredasthePSMcontrolsthebrakes.
–Reducedenginepower.
–Thebrakepedalpulsatesanditspositionischangedduringbraking.Inordertoachievefullvehicledeceleration,footpressuremustbeincreasedafterbeginningofthebrakepedalpulsing.
ExamplesofPSMcontroloperations
–Ifthefrontwheelsofthevehicledriftonabend,therearwheelontheinsideofthebendisbrakedandtheenginepowerisreducedifnecessary.
–Iftherearofthevehicleswingsoutonabend,thefrontwheelontheoutsideofthebendisbraked.
Controls,Instruments71

PSMshouldalwaysbeswitchedonduring
“normal”driving.
However,itmaybeadvantageoustoswitchoffPSMtemporarilyinexceptionalsituations,forexample:
–Onaloosesurfaceorindeepsnow,
–When“rockingthevehiclefree”,or
–Whenusingsnowchains.
SwitchingoffPSM
PressthePSMOFFbutton.PSMisswitchedoffafterashortdelay.Thelight-emittingdiodeinthebuttonisilluminated.WhenthePSMisswitchedoff,themultifunctionalPSMlightontheinstrumentpanelislitandamessageisshownbytheon-boardcomputer.Anacousticsignalalsosounds.
Thefollowingfunctionsstabilizethevehicleinemergencysituations,evenwithPSMswitchedoff:
–WhenPSMisoff,thevehicleisstabilizedassoonasoneofthetwofrontwheelsenterstheABScontrolrange.
–WhenPSMisoffandSportmodeison,thevehicleisstabilizedassoonasbothfrontwheelsentertheABScontrolrange.
One-sidedspinningofthewheelsisreduced,evenwithPSMswitchedoff,toenableoptimumtractiononalldrivewheels.
SwitchingPSMbackon
PressPSMOFFbutton.PSMisswitchedonafterashortdelay.Thelight-emittingdiodeinthebuttonandthemultifunctionalPSMlightgoout.Theon-boardcomputershowsamessage.
Sportmode
Asportiercarset-upisobtainedwhenSportmodeisswitchedon.PSMinterventionsarelaterthaninNormalmode;thevehiclecanbemaneuveredwithgreateragilityatitsperformancelimits,withouttheneedtodispensewiththeassistanceofPSMinemergencysituations.Thishelpstoachieveoptimallaptimes,particularlyonracecircuitsandadryroadsurface.
MultifunctionalPSMlight
–Themultifunctionallightontheinstrumentpanellightsupforalampcheckwhentheignitionisswitchedon.
–Thelightindicatesacontroloperationbyflashing,includingwhenPSMisswitchedoff
72Controls,Instruments

RetractableRearSpoiler
Function
Therearspoilerimprovesdrivingstability,especial-lyathigherspeeds.
Warning!
Riskofaccident.Iftherearspoilercannotbeextended,drivingstabilitywillbeadverselyaffectedbyincreasedrearaxlelift,whichcouldleadtolossofcontrol.
Adaptyourdrivingstyleandspeedtothechangeddrivingbehavior.
HavethefaultremediedatanauthorizedPorschedealer.
Warning!
Riskofinjuryduringmanualretractionorextensionoftherearspoilerwiththevehiclestationary.
Makesurethatnopersonsorobjectsarewithintherangeofmovementoftherearspoiler.
Caution!
Riskofdamagefrompushingthevehiclebytherearspoiler.
Donotpushthevehicleattherearspoiler.
Warninglight
Thewarninglightintheon-boardcomputerlightsupwhentherearspoilerdoesnotextendover75mph(120km/h)oritsendpositionisnotreached.
Automaticcontrol
Therearspoilerextendsatapprox.75mph(120km/h)andretractsagainatapprox.50mph(80km/h).
Iftheautomaticcontrolfails,thewarninglightlightsupandtherearspoilermustbemanuallyextendedbeforedriving.
Manualcontrol
Manualextendingandretracting
Whentheignitionison,therearspoilercanbeextendedandretractedmanuallyusingthebuttoninthecenterconsole.
Note
Whentherearspoilerisextendedmanually,theautomaticcontroldoesnotoperateandtherearspoilermustbemanuallyretracted.
Controls,Instruments75

Exampleofatirepressureplate
Tirepressureplate
Informationonthetirepressureplate
ASeatingcapacityMaximumnumberofvehicleoccupants,includingthedriver.
BVehicleloadlimitIsthemaximumtotalweightlimitspecifiedoftheload(passengersandcargo)forthevehicle.Thisisthemaximumweightofpassengersandcargothatcanbeloadedintothevehicle.Pleaseobservethechapter”LOADINGINFORMATION”onpage254.
CTiresizeforthefrontaxleCheckwithyourauthorizedPorschedealeraboutthecurrentreleasestatus.
DRecommendedtirepressureforthefrontaxleThesevaluesareforcoldtires(68°F/20°C).
ETiresizefortherearaxleCheckwithyourauthorizedPorschedealeraboutthecurrentreleasestatus.
FRecommendedtirepressurefortherearaxleThesevaluesareforcoldtires(68°F/20°C).
GInvehicleswithcollapsiblesparewheel:Sizeandtirepressureofthesparewheel.
Tiretraction
Warning!
Whendrivingonwetorslushyroads,awedgeofwatermaybuildupbetweenthetiresandtheroad.Thisphenomenonisknownas“hydroplane”andmaycausepartialorcompletelossoftraction,vehiclecontrolorstoppingability.
Reducespeedonwetsurfacetopreventthis.
Tirelife
Tirelifedependsonvariousfactors,i.e.,roadsurfaces,trafficandweatherconditions,drivinghabits,typeoftiresandtirecare.
Inspectyourtiresforwearanddamagebeforedrivingoff.Ifyounoticeunevenorsubstantialwear,wheelsmightneedalignmentortiresshouldbebalancedorreplaced.
246PracticalTips,EmergencyService