2009 PORSCHE 911 convertible

Maintenance, Car Care
225
Washing The best method of protecting your car from the
damaging effects of the environment is frequent
washing and the application of a preservative. The
underside of your vehicle should also be thorough-
ly washed for cinders, salt or sanding at winter’s
end.
The longer salt, road dust and industrial dust,
dead insects, bird droppings or substances from
trees (resin, pollen) are allowed to remain on the
bodywork, the more serious is their harmful ef-
fect.
New cars should be washed carefully with plenty
of clear water to protect the new paint work. Dark
paint finishes show up the smallest of surface
damage (e.g., scratches) more readily than lighter
colors.
Dark colors are also more susceptible to scratch-
ing because of the composition of their pigments
and require particularly careful paint care.
fDo not wash your car in bright sunlight or while
the bodywork is still hot.
fWhen washing by hand, use abundant water, a
soft sponge or wash brush, and Porsche car
shampoo.
fBegin by spraying the body thoroughly with wa-
ter to rinse away loose dirt.fAfter washing, rinse the car with plenty of wa-
ter and then dry with a chamois leather.
Do not use the same chamois leather for dry-
ing as you use for cleaning the windshield and
windows.
Warning!
Moisture which gets on to the brakes during
a car wash can reduce braking efficiency or
make the brakes pull unevenly which could
increase the danger of an accident, causing
serious personal injuries or death.
fAfter washing the car, test the brakes and
steering and briefly brake the discs dry.
When doing this, take care not to hamper other
road users behind you (traffic conditions per-mitting).
Automatic car washes
fPlease see the chapter “WIPER BLADES” on
Page 223.
Optional add-on parts or parts which project be-
yond the contours of the vehicle may be damaged
by design features (e.g. brushes) of automatic car
washes.The following parts are particularly
susceptible to damage:
– Convertible top (hot wax treatment cannot be
used, as the wax attacks the convertible top
material)
– Windshield wipers (always switch them off to
prevent them wiping unintentionally in intermit-
tent or sensor operation)
– External antennas (always unscrew)
– Roof Transport System (always remove com-
pletely)
– Rear spoiler
– Wheels (the wider the rim and the lower the tire
height, the greater the risk of damage)
– High-gloss wheels (to prevent these from get-
ting scratched, do not clean with the wheel-
cleaning brushes of the car wash).
fPlease consult the operator before using auto-
matic car washes.
fWash and dry by hand all points not reached by
a car wash, such as door and lid seams or
door sills.
Note
Automatic car washes spray water at odd angles
and high pressures, which are not seen in normal
driving. Therefore, water can sometimes find its
way into the passengers compartment during or
shortly after the car wash.

226
Maintenance, Car Care Convertible top
fNever remove snow and ice using a sharp
edged object.
Incorrect care and treatment can damage the con-
vertible top and cause leaks. Any repair work can
be done by your authorized Porsche dealer.
Important note
No folding top is 100% leak proof.
Due to the constant changing of loads and strains
to which a car is subject to when driving on roads,
minor wind noise and seepage at joints between
the top, body and doors on convertible tops can-
not be completely sealed in certain areas. There-
fore small leaks are considered normal for these
models. In addition, your convertible top should
not be washed in a car wash. The top may experi-
ence damage by the brushes or may experience
leaks due to the high pressure water streams di-
rected in areas which would not encounter water
in normal driving conditions. Cleaning
Caution!
Risk of damage due to the cleaning jet of the
high-pressure cleaning equipment or hot wax
treatment.
fDo not clean the convertible top with high-
pressure cleaning equipment.
fDo not use the hot wax treatment.
Do not wash the convertible top each time the car
is washed.
It is usually sufficient to spray or wash it with clean
water.
fBrush dust off the convertible top in the direc-
tion of the weave using a soft brush.
fOnly if there is heavy dirt, wet the convertible
top with lukewarm water and the Porsche
Wash-Shampoo & convertible-top cleaner, us-
ing a sponge or soft brush, and rub gently.
Rinse Wash-Shampoo & convertible-top clean-
er thoroughly off the convertible top with clean
water.
fAfter washing it, treat the convertible-top cover
at least once a year with the special Porsche
convertible-top care product.
Do not allow the convertible-top care product
to come into contact with paint or windows. If
it does, remove immediately. fIf there is leakage in the convertible-top cover
or at its seams or folds, the special Porsche
convertible-top care product can be used.
fPlease note the information on the container.
fRemove bird droppings immediately since the
acid in them will make the rubber swell and the
convertible top will become leaky.
fOpen convertible top only when it is completely
dry, otherwise damp stains and scrub marks
may occur which cannot be removed.
fTry to remove spots from the convertible-top
cover by rubbing carefully with a soft rubber
sponge.
Door lock fTo prevent the door lock from freezing during
the cold season, the lock cylinder should be
covered during a wash.
fShould the lock freeze, use an ordinary de-icer.
In many cases, a well warmed key can help.
Never use excessive force.

Maintenance, Car Care
227
Paint To protect the paint on your vehicle in the best
possible way against mechanical and chemical
damage, you should
– preserve it regularly,
– polish it if necessary,
– remove spots and stains, and
– repair damaged paintwork.
fDo not apply care products containing silicone
to the convertible top and windows.
General information
fNever rub a dusty vehicle with a dry cloth,
because the grains of dirt will damage the
paintwork.
fDo not treat matt-painted components with
preservatives or polishes, otherwise the matt
effect will be lost.
Preservation
The paint surface becomes dull over time due to
weathering.
fPreserve paint regularly.
fApply paint preservative after washing the
vehicle and polish it smooth to preserve the
paintwork.This keeps the paint shiny and elastic. Dirt is
prevented from adhering to the paint surface and
industrial dust is prevented from penetrating the
paint.
Polishing
Do not resort to using Porsche polish until it be-
comes evident that the normal preservatives no
longer produce the desired finish.
Spots and stains
fRemove tar stains, grease, oil spots and dead
insects as soon as possible with Insect Remov-
er. They can cause discoloration if allowed to
remain on the paintwork.
fWash the affected area immediately after treat-
ing it.
Minor paint damage
fHave minor paint damage, such as scratches,
scores or chips caused by flying stones, re-
paired immediately by your authorized
Porsche dealer before corrosion sets in.
However, if there are already traces of corrosion,
they must first be removed carefully and thorough-
ly. Coat the area with a rust-proofing primer and
finish off with a top coat. The paint code and color
number are found on the data bank in the Mainte-
nance booklet.
fPlease see the chapter “VEHICLE DATA BANK”
on Page 284.
Engine compartment The engine compartment and the surface of the
engine are treated with a corrosion-inhibitor at the
factory.
If degreasing solvents are used to clean the en-
gine compartment or the engine is washed down,
the process almost invariably removes the corro-
sion-inhibiting coating. It is then absolutely neces-
sary to have a durable preservative applied to all
surfaces, body seams, joints and assemblies in
the engine compartment. This also applies when
corrosion-inhibitor parts are replaced.
Caution!
Risk of damage to the alternator.
fDo not point the cleaning jet directly at the al-ternator, or cover the alternator.
Effective rust-proofing is particularly important
during the cold weather season. If the vehicle is
driven frequently in areas where salt has been
spread on the roads, the engine compartment
should be cleaned thoroughly and subsequently
sealed after the cold weather season to prevent
salt from causing any lasting damage.

Maintenance, Car Care
229
fAlways apply a fresh coating of suitable pre-
servative to unprotected areas after cleaning
the underside of the body, the transmission,
the engine or carrying out repairs to under-
body, engine or transmission components.
Effective rust-proofing is particularly important
during the cold weather season. If your car is driv-
en frequently in areas where salt has been spread
on the roads, the whole engine compartment
should be cleaned thoroughly after the winter to
prevent salt from causing any lasting damage. A
full under-body wash should also be performed at
the same time.Stainless steel exhaust tailpipesStainless steel exhaust tailpipes can discolor due
to soiling, strong heat, and combustion residues.
The original polish can be achieved again using
commercially available metal polishing paste or
metal polish.Light alloy wheels fPlease see the chapter “WASHING” on
Page 225.
Warning!
Danger of accident resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death if cleaning agents (e.g.
wheel cleaning agents) come into contact
with the brake discs.The resulting film on the brake discs can im-
pair braking performance.
fMake sure that no cleaning agent comes into
contact with the brake discs.
fIf cleaning agent has come into contact with
the brake discs, thoroughly clean the brake
discs with a strong jet of water.
fPaying attention to any road users behind you,
dry the brake discs by applying the brakes at
short intervals.
Metal particles (such as brass or copper in brake
dust) must not remain too long on alloy wheels.
Contact corrosion can cause pitting.
Cleaners with an oxide-removing effect or the
wrong pH value, as are commonly used for other
metals, as well as mechanical tools and products,
will damage the oxide layer and are therefore
unsuitable.
fUse only cleaners for alloy wheels
(pH value 9.5). Products with the wrong
pH value can destroy the protective layer
on the wheels.
We recommend Porsche cleaner for alloy rims.
fIf possible, wash the wheels every two weeks
with a sponge or washing brush. If the wheels
are exposed to road salt, grit or industrial dust,
weekly cleaning is necessary.
Door, roof, lid and window seals
Caution!
The lubricant coating on the inner door
seals, convertible top and hardtop seals may
be damaged by unsuitable cleaning and care
agents.
fDo not use any chemical cleaning agents or
solvents.
fDo not use any preservative agents.
fWash dirt (e.g. abrasion, dust, road salt and
grit) from all seals regularly using warm soapy
water.
fIf there is a risk of frost, protect the outer door
seals and lid seals against freezing into place
with a suitable care product.Headlights, lights, interior and exterior
plastic parts, adhesive filmsUse only clean water and a little dishwashing
detergent to clean light lenses, plastic headlight
lenses, plastic parts and surfaces.
Do not clean when dry.
Use a soft sponge or a soft, lint-free cloth. Gently
wipe the surface without applying too much
pressure.
An interior window cleaner can also be used to
clean plastic surfaces (always read the cleaning
instructions on the container). We recommend
Porsche interior window cleaner.

230
Maintenance, Car Care fGently wipe the surface without applying too
much pressure.
fDo not clean when dry.
fNever use other chemical cleaners or
solvents.
fRinse cleaned surfaces with clear water.
Leather Characteristics and special features
The natural surface markings of leather, e.g.
creases, healed scars, insect sting marks, struc-
tural differences and slight variations in shade and
grain add to the attractiveness of the natural leath-
er product.
Observe the following care instructions:
Caution!
The leather will be damaged by the use of
unsuitable cleaning and care agents and by
incorrect treatment.
fDo not use caustic cleaners or hard cleaning
aids.
fPerforated leather must under no circumstances get wet on its reverse side.
fClean all types of leather regularly to remove
fine dust using a soft, damp, white woollen
cloth or a commercially available microfibre
cloth.fRemove heavy contamination with a leather
cleaner.
Always read the instructions for use given on
the containers.
We recommend Porsche leather cleaner.
Treat cleaned leather only with a leather care pro-
duct.
We recommend the Porsche leather care product.
Cleaning airbags covers
Danger!
There is a danger of serious personal injury
or death if the airbag system is impaired by
improper cleaning work.
fDo not make any modifications whatsoever on
individual components such as the padded
covers of the steering wheel, passenger side
instrument panel, the front seats and the door
linings.
fLet your authorized Porsche dealer clean these components.
Carpets and floor-mats fUse only a vacuum cleaner or a medium stiff
brush.
fRemove stains and spots with Porsche stain
remover.
To protect carpets, the Porsche range of accesso-
ries includes mats of the correct size and with the
appropriate fastening.
Warning!
Risk of an accident resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
fAlways check the movement of the pedals be-
fore driving and make sure that they are not ob-
structed by a floor-mat or any other object.
fSecure the floor-mat to prevent it from sliding
into positions that could interfere with the safe
operation of your vehicle - do not install them
loosely in the vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you nonskid floor-mats of the correct size.
Cleaning fabric liningsfFabric linings on pillars, convertible top liner
and sun blinds, etc. must be cleaned only
using suitable cleaning agents or a suitable dry
foam and a soft brush.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
261
Battery The battery is located in the luggage compart-
ment under a black plastic cover.
fPlease see the chapter “EMERGENCY OPERA-
TION – PULLING OUT THE IGNITION KEY” on
Page 76.
fPlease see the chapter “EMERGENCY UNLO-
CKING OF THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LID”
on Page 260.
Warning!
Risk of short circuit, fire and damage to al-
ternerator and electronic control units, re-
sulting in serious personal injury or death.
fObserve all warning notes on the battery.
fDisconnect the negative terminal on the bat-
tery during all work on the electrical system.
fDo not lay tools or other metal objects on the
battery as they could cause a short circuit
across the battery terminal.
Hydrogen gas generated by the battery
could cause an explosion, resulting in
serious personal injury or death.
fDo not expose the battery to an open flame,
electrical spark or a lit cigarette.
fDo not wipe battery with a dry cloth.
Risk of serious personal injury or death and
damage to the fabric, metal or paint. fWear eye protection.
fDo not allow battery acid to come in contact
with your skin, eyes, fabric or painted
surfaces.
fIf you get electrolyte, which is an acid, in your
eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with
cold water for several minutes and call a doc-
tor.
fSpilled electrolyte must be rinsed off at once
with a solution of baking soda and water to
neutralize the acid.
Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive harm.
fAlways protect your skin by washing thorough-
ly with soap and water.
Risk of explosion as a result of static charge,
resulting in serious personal injury or death.
fDo not wipe the battery with a dry cloth.
fEliminate potential electrostatic charge by
touching the vehicle before touching the bat-
tery.
Charge state A well-charged battery prevents starting problems
and has a longer service life.
Traffic density, requirements regarding noise, ex-
haust gas and fuel consumption reduce the engine
speed and, hence, the alternator output.
However, the large number of electrical loads has
markedly increased the demand for electrical
power.
In order to avoid discharging the battery
unintentionally:
fSwitch off unnecessary electrical loads in city
traffic, on short trips or in a line or traffic.
fAlways remove the ignition key from the igni-
tion switch when leaving the car.
fAvoid frequent operation of the convertible top
and operation of the Porsche Communication
Management system when the engine is not
running.
fIn the cold season in particular or if the vehicle
is used primarily for short journeys, it may be
necessary to recharge the battery from time to
time.

302
Index
CCabriolet .................................................... 181
Capacities .................................................. 290
Car care .................................................... 224
Car telephone ............................................. 100
Car washes ................................................ 225
Carpet ....................................................... 230
Catalytic converters .................................... 219
Cautions ............................................ 206, 234
Central locking ..................................... 19, 258
Automatic relocking.............................. 19
Emergency operation ............................ 20
Fault indication...................................... 21
Overload protection...................... 21, 258
Central locking button................................... 21
Central vents .............................................. 109
Central warning light................................... 125
Changing bulb ............................................ 277
Changing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) ........... 277
Changing wheels ........................................ 249
Check engine
Warning light ...................................... 125
Check engine warning light .......................... 125
Opening the oil filler cap ...................... 209
Checking pressure ...................................... 250
Child restraint systems.................................. 50
Anchorages .......................................... 55
Direction of installation .......................... 51
Child seat bracket......................................... 54
Chime .......................................................... 80
CHRONO Stopwatch.................................... 136
Cigarette lighter............................................ 90
Circulating-air button................................... 107
Clock ................................................. 123, 156Clothes hook ................................................ 91
Clutch .................................................. 62, 168
Clutch pedal ................................................. 62
Combination filter........................................ 222
Comfort seat ................................................ 31
Coming home mode ...................................... 81
Communication management ......................... 98
Compact disc
Player .................................................. 99
Storage ................................................ 92
Compartment monitoring ............................... 23
Compressor ................................................. 96
Convertible top ........................................... 181
Care .................................................. 226
Closing............................................... 182
Emergency operation .......................... 183
Opening ............................................. 182
Preconditions for operation .................. 182
Coolant .............................................. 120, 207
Checking ............................................ 207
Level .................................................. 207
Temperature gage .............................. 120
Topping off ......................................... 207
Warning light....................................... 120
Cooling system ................................... 120, 207
Warning light....................................... 120
Cornering light
Indicator light ...................................... 119
Crankcase ventilation.................................. 219
Cruise control ................................. 86, 87, 124
Cupholder .................................................... 88
DData bank ...................................................284
Daytime driving lights....................................80
Changing bulbs ...................................277
On-board computer .............................156
Defrosting windows ...............................29, 107
Diagnostic socket .........................................11
Dimensions.................................................298
Direction indicator light, front .......................277
Door ............................................................18
Handles ................................................18
Locks ...........................................18, 226
Mirror ...................................................28
Mirror heating .......................................29
Mirrors .................................................27
Windows .........................18, 26, 181, 228
Drive-Off Assistant .......................................169
Driving
Hints ......................................................8
Performance .......................................296
Winter ................................................175
Driving off
Drive-Off Assistant ...............................169
Launch Control....................................173
Drop-center rim...........................................245
Dynamometer testing ....................................63EElectrical system.........................................257
Emergency flasher switch ..............................79
Emergency operation
Central locking ......................................20
Convertible top ...................................183
Ignition key ...........................................76