AirbagSystems
Generalinformation
Theairbagsincombinationwiththesafetybeltsmakeupasafetysystemwhichoffersthedriverandthepassengerthegreatestknownprotectionfrominjuriesincaseofaccident.Yourvehicleisequippedwithaweightsensingsystemforthepassenger’sseatinaccordancewithU.S.Federal/CanadianMotorVehicleSafetyStandard208.
Evenifyourvehicleisequippedwithairbags,thesafetybeltsmustbewornatalltimes,becausethefrontairbagsystemisonlydeployedbyfrontalcollisionswithanimpactofsufficientseverity.
Belowthedeploymentthresholdoftheairbagsystem,andduringtypesofcollisionswhichdonotcausetheactuationofthesystem,thesafetybeltsprovidetheprimaryprotectiontotheoccupantswhencorrectlyworn.Therefore,allpersonswithinthevehiclemustwearsafetybeltsatalltimes(inmanystates,statelawrequirestheuseofsafetybelts).
Pleaseobservethechapter”SAFETYBELTS”onpage49.
Thefrontairbagsarelocatedunderthepaddedsteeringwheelpanelonthedriver’ssideand,onthepassenger’sside,inthedashboard.Thesideairbagsforthefrontseatsareinstalledonthesideintheseatbackrests.Theheadairbagsareinstalledinthedoorlinings.
Danger!
Toprovideoptimaloccupantprotection,air-bagsmustinateatveryhighspeed.Ifyouarenotwearingyoursafetybeltoraretooclosetotheairbagwhenitisdeployed,inat-ingairbagscanresultinseriouspersonalinju-ryordeath.Improperhandlingoftheweightsensingsystemcanunintentionallyimpairswitchingthepassenger’sairbagoffandon.
Makesuretherearenopeople,animalsorobjectsbetweenthedriverorpassengerandtheareaintowhichtheairbaginflates.
Sitbackasfarfromthedashboardorsteeringwheelasispractical,whilestillmaintainingfullvehiclecontrol.
Alwaysholdthesteeringwheelbytheouterrim.Neverrestyourhandsontheairbagpanel.
Alwaysfastenseatbeltsbecausetriggeringoftheairbagsystemdependsontheforceandangleofimpact.
Donottransportheavyobjectsonorinfrontofthepassenger’sseat.Thesecouldimpairthefunctionoftheairbag,theseatbelts,andweightsensing.
Donothangobjects(e.g.jackets,coats,coathangers)overthebackrest.
Alwayskeepthelidofthedoorstoragecom-partmentclosed.Objectsmustnotprotrudeoutofthedoorstoragecompartment.
Nochangesmaybemadetothewiringorcomponentsoftheairbagsystem.
Donotaddanyadditionalcoveringsorstickerstothesteeringwheelorintheareaofthepassengerairbag,sideairbagsandheadairbags.Doingsomayadverselyaffectthefunctioningoftheairbagsystemorcauseharmtotheoccupantsiftheairbagsystemshoulddeploy.
Donotmodifytheseatcoverings.Donotattachadditionalcushions,protectivecover-ings,orpillowstothepassenger’sseat.Donotaffixthingstothepassenger’sseatorcov-eritwithothermaterials.Donotcoverthebackofthebackrest.Donotmakechangestothepassenger’sseatandtotheseatbaseframe.
Donotundertakeanywiringforelectricalaccessoryequipmentinthevicinityoftheairbagwiringharnesses.Doingsomaydisabletheairbagsystemorcauseinadvertentinflation.
Ifthewarninglightcomeson,theairbagsystemshouldberepairedimmediatelybyyourauthorizedPorschedealer.
52Controls,Instruments
Correcttheseatadjustment.Ensurethattheseatisnotjammedandisself-supporting.Ensurethatthebackrestisintheuprightposition.
Donottransportaloadandobjectsbehindandunderthepassenger’sseat.Iftheloadorobjectsareundertheseat,itcancausemalfunctions.
Iftheweightonthepassenger’sseatisreducedsignificantly,e.g.,bysupportingweightonthearmrest,thepassenger’sairbagcanbeswitchedoff.
Selectanuprightseatposition,anddonotsupportweightonthearmrestsorleanoutofthewindow.Alwayskeepfeetinthefootwellwhiledriving.Donotputfeetonthedashboardortheseatarea.Donotleanagainsttheinsideofthedoororoutsidethewindowwhilethevehicleismoving.
Ifthepassenger’sseatiswarpedsignificantly,amessageisdisplayedontheon-boardcomputer:
Correcttheseatadjustment.
Pleaseobservethechapter”WARNINGSONTHEINSTRUMENTPANELANDTHEON-BOARDCOMPUTER”onpage138.
Automaticdeactivationofthepassenger’s
airbags
Danger!
Theuseofachildrestraintsysteminthepassengerseatcanresultinseriouspersonalinjuryordeathtothechildfromanairbagdeployment.
Pleaseobservethechapter”PASSENGERAIRBAGOFFINDICATORLAMPDOESNOTLIGHTUP”onpage55.
Beforetransportingachildonthepassenger’sseat:
Pleaseobservethechapter”CHILDRESTRAINTSYSTEMS”onpage58.
–Whenanuptoone-yearoldchildisseatedinthechildrestraintsystem,thefrontairbagisautomaticallydeactivatedonthepassengerside.
–Whenanadultisseatedinthefrontseatthefrontairbagremainsactiveonthepassenger‘sside.
Noteonoperation
Althoughnotdesired,itcanoccurinthecaseofheavierchildrenthatthepassengerairbagsremainactiveor,inthecaseofverylightadultsoryoungpersons,thatthepassengerairbagisdeactivated.
Theconditionofthepassenger’sairbagsystemisshownbytheindicatorlamp.
Ifindoubt:
Pleaseobservethechapter”PASSENGERAIRBAGOFFINDICATORLAMPDOESNOTLIGHTUP”onpage55.
Pleaseobservethechapter”KEY-OPERATEDAIRBAGDEACTIVATIONDEVICE”onpage56.
54Controls,Instruments
Pleaseobservethechapter”CHILDRESTRAINTSYSTEMS”onpage58.
Pleaseobservethechapter”LATCHSYSTEM”onpage62.
Note
Afterinsertingtheignitionkey,thePASSEN-GERAIRBAGOFFwarninglightlightsupforafewsecondsasabulbcheck.
PASSENGERAIRBAGOFFindicatorlamp
lightsup
–Thepassenger’sairbagisswitchedoff.
PASSENGERAIRBAGOFFindicatorlamp
doesnotlightup
–Thepassenger’sairbagisactiveandreadyforoperation.
–Ifthepassenger’sseatisnotoccupied,thePASSENGERAIRBAGOFFindicatorlampwillalsonotlightup,eventhoughthepassenger’sairbagisswitchedoff.
Danger!
Riskofseriouspersonalinjuryordeathduetothepassengerairbagtriggeringunintentionally.Whentheignitionisonandtheuptoone-yearoldchildisseatedinthechildrestraintsystemonthepassenger’sseat,theindicatorlamp„PASSENGERAIRBAGOFF“mustbeon.Ifthe“PASSENGERAIRBAGOFF”indicatorlampdoesnotlightup,itcouldindicateafaultinthesystem.Inthiscase:
Onvehicleswithkey-operatedairbagdeactiva-tiondevice:SwitchtopositionOFF.
Onvehicleswithoutkey-operatedairbagdeactivationdevice:Donotdrive.
HavethefaultremediedatyournearestauthorizedPorschedealer.
Note
Thekeyswitchforswitchingoffthepassenger’sairbagincombinationwiththeLATCHattachmentbracketarenotinstalledatthefactory.Theycanberetrofitted.
PleaseseeyourauthorizedPorschedealer.
Warninglightandwarning
message
Faultsareindicatedbyawarninglightintheinstrumentpanelandamessageontheon-boardcomputer.
Pleaseobservethechapter”WARNINGSONTHEINSTRUMENTPANELANDTHEON-BOARDCOMPUTER”onpage138.
Inthefollowingcasesyoushouldimme-diatelyconsultanauthorizedPorschedealerinordertoassuretheairbagsys-temisfunctioningproperly:
–Ifthewarninglightdoesnotlightupwhentheignitionkeyisinsertedor
–Ifthewarninglightdoesnotgooutoncetheengineisrunningor
–Ifthewarninglightappearswhiledriving.
Airbagmaintenance
Inordertoensurelong-termfunctioning,theairbagsystemmustbeinspectedbyanauthorizedPorschedealerattheintervalsrecommendedinyourMaintenanceBooklet.
Note
IfyousellyourPorsche,notifythepurchaserthatthevehicleisequippedwithairbags,andreferthemtothechapter,“AirbagSystems“,intheOwner’sManual(safetyanddisposalrules).
Controls,Instruments55
Furtherinformationontheairbagsystemcanbefoundonstickersattachedtothesunvisors.
Forspecialrecommendationsontheuseofchildrestraints:
Pleaseobservethechapter”CHILDRESTRAINTSYSTEMS”onpage58.
Key-operatedairbagdeactivationdevice
Ifindoubtaboutthestatusoftheairbag,youcanswitchoffthepassenger’sairbagonthekeyswitch.
Switchoffthepassenger’sairbagonthekeyswitchusingthevehiclekey.
SwitchpositionAUTO-passenger’sairbagsystemisactive
SwitchpositionOFF-passenger’sairbagsystemisswitchedoff
Danger!
Riskofseriouspersonalinjuryordeathforpassengerifpassenger’sairbagremainsswitchedoffafterthechildrestraintsystemisremoved.
MakesurethatthekeyswitchisswitchedtoAUTOoncethechildseathasbeenremoved,inordertoprovideprotectiontotheadultoccupants.
Warninglight“PASSENGERAIRBAGOFF”
Iftheairbagonthepassenger’ssideisswitchedoff:
–Warninglight“PASSENGERAIRBAGOFF”iscontinuouslylitwhentheignitionkeyisinserted.
Danger!
Riskofseriouspersonalinjuryordeathfromthepassenger’sairbag.Ifthe“PASSENGERAIRBAGOFF”warninglightisnotlitwhentheignitionkeyisinsertedandtheAirbagOFFswitchisswitchedtotheOFF-Position,thiscouldindicateafaultinthesystem.
Donotinstallachildrestraintsystemonthepassenger’sseat.
56Controls,Instruments
ChildRestraintSystems
Porscherecommendsthatallinfantsandchildrenberestrainedinchildrestraintsystemsatalltimeswhilethevehicleisinmotioninaccordancewithapplicablelaws.
UseonlychildrestraintsystemswiththeLATCH-systemrecommendedbyPorsche.ThesesystemshavebeentestedandadjustedtotheinteriorofyourPorscheandtheappropriatechildagegroups.Othersystemshavenotbeentestedandcouldentailanincreasedriskofinjuryordeath.
YoucanobtainchildseatsthatareLATCHcompati-bleatyourauthorizedPorschedealer.
Alwaysobservetheseparateinstallationinstructionsforyourchildseat.
Theuseofinfantorchildrestraintsisrequiredbylawinall50statesoftheU.S.andallCanadianprovinces.ThechildrestraintsystemshouldbeonethatcomplieswithU.S.Federal/CanadianMotorVehicleSafetyStandardsandshouldbesecuredbyalapbeltorlapbeltportionofalap-shoulderbeltorforchildseatsequippedwiththeLATCHsytem(LowerAnchorageandTetherforChildren,alsoknownasISOFIX)totheLATCHanchorages.Astatementbytheseatmanufacturerofcompliancewiththisstandardcanbefoundontheinstructionlabelontherestraintandintheinstructionmanualprovidedwiththerestraint.
Danger!
Theuseofachildrestraintsysteminthepassengerseatcanresultinseriouspersonalinjuryordeathtothechildfromanairbagdeployment.Toreduceriskofinjuryfromaninatingairbaginanaccident,Porschestronglyrecommends:
Pleaseobservethechapter”PASSENGERAIRBAGOFFINDICATORLAMPDOESNOTLIGHTUP”onpage55.
Pleaseobservethechapter”CHILDRESTRAINTSYSTEMS”onpage58.
Note
Thekeyswitchforswitchingoffthepassenger’sairbagandtheLATCHattachmentbracketarenotinstalledatthefactory.Theycanberetrofitted.
PleaseseeyourauthorizedPorschedealer.
Danger!
Riskofseriouspersonalinjuryordeathtothechild.
Followallchildrestraintinstructionsandwarningsinthismanual.
–Whenusinganinfantorchildrestraintsystem,besuretofollowallmanufacturer’sinstruc-tionsoninstallationanduse.
–Infantsandsmallchildrenshouldneverbeheldonthelap,norshouldtheyshareasafetybeltwithanotheroccupantwhilethevehicleisinmotion.
–Childrentoobigforchildrestraintsystemsshoulduseregularsafetybelts.Ashoulderbeltcanbeusedprovidingitdoesnotcrossthefaceortheneckofthechild.
–Chooseachildrestraintsystemaccordingtotheageandsizeofthechild.
–Childrestraintsystemsthataredamagedorhavebeenheavilystressedinanaccidentmustbereplacedimmediately.
–Donotaffixthingstochildrestraintsystemsorcoveritwithothermaterials.
–YourauthorizedPorschedealerwillbegladtoadviseyouabouttheinstallationpossibilityforaPorschechildrestraintsystemwhichallowsakey-operatedairbagdeactivationofthepassenger’sairbag.
–Thekey-operatedairbagdeactivationdeviceinstallationrequiresspecialprogrammingavailableonlyfromyourauthorizedPorschedealer.
Pleaseobservethechapter”KEY-OPERATEDAIRBAGDEACTIVATIONDEVICE”onpage56.
58Controls,Instruments
ParkingBrake
Functionoftheparkingbrake
Parkingbrakeforceismechanicallytransferredtotherearwheelsbymeansofcables.
Usetheparkingbrakeonlyafterthevehiclehascometoafullstop.
Settingtheparkingbrake
Pulltheleverallthewayup(seearrow).Withtheignitionon,theparkingbrakewarninglightsintheinstrumentpanelandon-boardcomputerwillcomeoniftheleverisevenslightlyraised.Afirmpullupwardisrequiredtoproperlyengagetheparkingbrake.Ifthebrakeisnotfullyset,thevehiclemayrollwithoutcontrol.
Movetheselectorleverto“P”(Tiptronic)ormovethegearshiftlevertoreverseorfirstgear(Manualtransmission).
Beforeexitingthevehicle,makesurethattheparkingbrakeisfullysetandthevehicleisnotmovingatall.
Danger!
Riskofseriouspersonalinjuryordeath.Apartiallyengagedparkingbrakemayallowthevehicletoroll,causingseriouspersonalinjuryordeathtoanypersoninitspath.
Engagetheparkingbrakefully.
Releasingtheparkingbrake
Pulltheleverslightlyupasyoudepressthereleasebutton,andthenpushtheleverallthewaydown.
Warninglights
ParkingbrakewarninglightUSA
ParkingbrakewarninglightCanada
Thewarninglightsintheinstrumentpanelandon-boardcomputerwillgooutaftertheparkingbrakeisfullyreleased.Thewarninglightsarenotanindicatorthattheparkingbrakeisfullyset;itisonlyintendedtobeawarningtoreleasetheparkingbrakebeforedrivingthecar.
Caution!
Apartiallyengagedbrakewilloverheattherearbrakes,reducetheireffectivenessandcauseexcessivewear.
Releasetheparkingbrakefully.
Whenparkingyourcar,alwayssettheparkingbrakebypullingallthewayuponthelever.
Movetheselectorleverto“P”(Tiptronic)ormovethegearshiftlevertoreverseorfirstgear(Manualtransmission).
Onhillsalsoturnthefrontwheelstowardsthecurb.
Controls,Instruments65
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.
66Controls,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,orcoatingofroadsaltmayaffectbrakingefciency.
Cautiouslyapplybrakestotestbrakesafterbeingexposed.
Brakewear
Yourcarhasexcellentbrakes,buttheyarestillsubjecttowear.Therateatwhichtheyweardependsonhowthebrakesareused.
HavethebrakesysteminspectedattheintervalsrecommendedinyourMaintenanceBooklet.
WarninglightUSA
WarninglightCanada
Ifthewarninglightsintheinstrumentpanelandon-boardcomputerstayonwhentheengineisrunningorcomeonwhiledriving,thebrakepadsareworn,excessively.
Donotcontinuetooperatethevehicle.HaveyourauthorizedPorschedealerinspectorreplacethebrakepads.
Controls,Instruments67