2009 PORSCHE BOXSTER check engine light

Table of Contents
7
Trip Odometer ........................................... 121
Speedometer ................ ............................ 122
Changing over between Miles / Kilometers .. 122
Tachometer ............... ................................ 123
Turn Signal Indicator Light .......................... 123
High Beam Indicator Li ght ........................... 123
Gear Shift Indicator
(in vehicles with manual transmission) .......... 123
Cooling System ......... ................................ 124
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) ................... 125
Fuel .......................... ................................ 126
Clock ............................ ............................ 127
Outside Temperature ................................. 127
Check Engine (Emission Control) ................. 129
On-Board Computer (B C) ............................ 130
Warnings on the instrument panel and the on-
board computer ............. ............................ 162Shifting Gears.................................. 171Manual Transmission, Cl utch ....................... 172
Drive-Off Assistant ..... ................................ 173
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) ................... 174Mobile Roofs ................................... 181Convertible Top ......... ................................ 182
Windstop ................... ................................ 189
Hardtop ........................ ............................ 190Maintenance, Car Care .................... 195Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle .......................................... 196
Coolant Level ............ ................................ 197
Engine Oil ................. ................................ 199 Engine Oil Level ..
......................................199
Engine Oil Recommendat ion ........................200
Brake Fluid Level ...... ..................................202
Fuel Economy .......... ..................................204
Operating your Porsche in other Countries ...204
Fuel Recommendation s ..............................206
Portable Fuel Containers ............................207
Fuel Evaporation Control ............................207
Emission Control Syst em ............................208
How Emission Control Works ......................209
Washer Fluid ............ ..................................210
Power Steering ........ ..................................211
Air Filter .................. ..................................211
Combination Filter .... ..................................211
Fluids/Oils for Manual Transmission
and Porsche Doppelkuppl ung (PDK) .............211
Wiper Blades .......... ..................................212
Car Care Instructions ................................213
Practical Tips, Emergency Service .... 221Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ............................ .............222
Tires/Wheels ............... ............................. 223
Loading Information ...................... .............234
Wheel Bolts ................................. .............236
Changing a wheel .......................... .............237
Flat Tire........................ ............................. 239
Lifting the Vehicle with a Lifting Platform
or Garage Lift ...... ......................................242
Spacers ...................... ..............................243
Electrical System ......................................245
Battery ................... ..................................249
Replacing the remote-control battery ..........254
Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables ......255 Bulb chart ..............
................................... 257
Lights, Replacing Bulb s ............................. 257
Headlights ............. ................................... 258
Number Plate Light . ................................... 266
Changing Light-Emitting Diodes and Long-Life
Bulbs ......................... .............................. 266
Adjusting Headlights .................................. 267
Towing ....................... .............................. 269
Vehicle Identification,
Technical Data ......... ....................... 273Vehicle Identification .................................. 274
Technical Data ....... ................................... 276
Tire Pressure for Cold Tires ....................... 277
Tires, Rims, Tracks .................................. 278
Driving Performance* ................. .............. 280
Capacities ............. ................................... 281
Weights ..................... .............................. 282
Dimensions ........... ................................... 282
Diagrams ................... .............................. 283

8
Before driving off...
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid
quality control and demanding inspections.
These engineering and safety features will be
enhanced by you... the safe driver... – who knows his/her car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages.
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off... Check the following items first f Turn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
f Be sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
f See that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
f Check engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every fuel filling.
f Check all fluid levels such as windshield
washer and brake fluid levels.
f Be sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
f Check all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
f Check, and if necessary replace worn or
cracked wiper blades.
f See that all windows are clear and unob-
structed.
f Check air intake slots and area between lug-
gage compartment lid and windshield. Ensure
that these areas are free of snow and ice, so
the heater and the windshield wipers work
properly. f
If a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
f Child restraint systems will not fit into the
Sports bucket seat.
Do not install a child restraint system in the
Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped
with the LATCH system and thus the airbag
system cannot be manually deactivated.
f Check all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
f Check the headlights for proper aim, and if
necessary, have them adjusted.
f Check under the vehicle for leaks.
f Be sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are:
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.

Before driving off...
9
In the driver’s seat... fCheck operation of the horn.
f Position seat for easy reach of foot pedals and
controls.
To reduce the possibility of injury from the
airbag deployment, you should always sit back
as far from the steering wheel as is practical,
while still maintaining full vehicle control.
f Adjust the inside and outside rear view mirrors.
f Buckle your safety belts.
f Check operation of the foot and parking brake.
f Check all warning and indicator lights with
ignition on and engine not running.
f Start engine and check all warning displays for
warning symbols.
f Never leave an idling car unattended.
f Lock 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.
f Always have your safety belt fastened.
f Always drive defensively.
Expect the unexpected.
f Use signals to indicate turns and lane changes.
f Turn on headlights at dusk or when the driving
conditions warrant it.
f Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you, depending on traffic, road and
weather conditions.
f Reduce 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.
f Always observe speed limits and obey road
signs and traffic laws.
f When 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.
Please see the chapter “ENGINE EXHAUST” on
Page 5. f
When parked, always set the parking brake.
Move the PDK selector le ver to ”P“ or the gear-
shift lever to reverse or first gear.
On hills also turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
f When 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.
f Make it a habit to have the engine oil checked
with every refueling.

10
Before driving off...
Break in hints for the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers The following tips will be helpful in obtaining opti-
mum performance from your new Porsche.
Despite the most modern, high-precision manufac-
turing methods, the moving parts must still wear
in with each other. This we aring-in occurs mainly in
the first 2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.Therefore: f Preferably take longer trips.
f Avoid frequent cold starts with short-distance
driving whenever possible.
f Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
f Do not exceed maximum engine speed of
4,200 rpm (revolutions per minute).
f Do not run a cold engine at high rpm either in
Neutral or in gear.
f Do not let the engine labor, especially when
driving uphill. Shift to the next lower gear in
time (use the most favorable rpm range).
f Never lug the engine in high gear at low
speeds. This rule applies at all times, not just
during the break-in period. f
Do not participate in motor racing events,
sports driving schools, etc. during the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.
There may be a slight stiffness in the steering,
gear-shifting or other controls during the break-in
period which will gradually disappear.
Break in brake pads and brake discsNew brake pads and discs ha ve to be “broken in”,
and therefore only attain optimal friction when the
car has covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be com-
pensated for by pressing the brake pedal harder.
This also applies whenev er the brake pads and
brake discs are replaced. New tires New tires do not have maximum traction. They
tend to be slippery.
f Break in new tires by driving at moderate
speeds during the first 60 to 120 miles/100 to
200 km. Longer braking distances must be an-
ticipated.
Engine oil and fuel consumption During the break-in peri od oil and fuel consump-
tion may be higher than normal.
As always, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which
the engine is operated, the climate and road con-
ditions, as well as the amount of dilution and oxi-
dation of the lubricant.
f Make a habit of checking engine oil with every
refueling, add if necessary.

58
Operation, Safety
Brake booster The brake booster assists braking only when
the engine is running.
When the car is moving while the engine is not run-
ning, or if the brake boos ter is defective, more
pressure on the brake pedal is required to bring
the car to a stop.
If this happens, ABS and PSM will also not oper-
ate.
Moisture or road salt on brakes affects braking.
Brakes will dry after a fe w cautious brake applica-
tions.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
Driving through water may reduce the trac-
tion.
Moisture on brakes from road water, car
wash, or coating of road salt may affect
braking efficiency.
f Cautiously apply brakes to test brakes after ex-posure to road water, etc.
Brake wear Your car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear de-
pends on how the brakes are used.
f Have the brake system inspected at the
intervals recommended in your Maintenance
Booklet.
Brake system warning light
You can check the functionality of the brake
system warning light by switching the ignition to
the "On" position and verifying that the warning
light illuminates.
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer stay on when the engine is run-
ning or come on while driv ing, the brake pads are
worn excessively.
f Do not continue to operate the vehicle.
Have your authorized Porsche dealer inspect
or replace the brake pads.
Brake pads and brake discsWear on the brake pads and brake discs depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the con-
ditions of use and therefore cannot be expressed
in actual miles on the road.
The high-performance brake system is designed
for optimal braking effect at all speeds and tem-
peratures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient
conditions (such as temperature and humidity)
therefore might cause “brake noises”.
New brake pads or linings
New brake pads and brake discs have to be “bro-
ken in”, and therefore only attain optimal friction
when the car has covered several hundred miles
or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be com-
pensated for by pressing the brake pedal harder.
This also applies whenever the brake pads and
brake discs are replaced.
Warning light USA
Warning light Canada

60
Operation, Safety
When the ignition is switched on the ABS warning
light will light up while the system is electronically
interrogated and goes o
ut when the engine is
started if the check is not yet complete.
If the ABS warning lamp fails to go out, this indi-
cates that ABS has been deactivated due to a
fault. If the warning lights in the instrument panel
and on-board computer light up while you are driv-
ing, this indicates that a fault has occurred. In both
cases, normal braking, as in vehicles without ABS,
is still retained.
The ABS system should, however, be examined at
an authorized Porsche dealer immediately to pre-
vent the occurrence of further faults.
f If the ABS system becomes inoperative, take
your vehicle to your authorized Porsche dealer
immediately.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
The control unit of the ABS brake system is
set for standard tire size. If non-standard
tires are installed, the control unit may mis-
interpret the speed of th e vehicle, because of
the variant data it rece ives from the sensors
on the axles.
f Use only tire makes and types tested by Porsche.
Clutch Pedal The clutch pedal must be depressed fully
before the starter will engage.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
f Always check the movement of the clutch ped-
al before driving and make sure that it is not
obstructed by a floor mat or any other object.
f Secure the floor mat to prevent it from sliding
into positions that could interfere with the safe
operation of your vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you
nonskid floor mats of the correct size.
To avoid damage to the clutch and transmis-
sion:
f Always depress the clutch pedal fully when
changing gears.
f Do not hold the car on a steep grade with the clutch pedal partially depressed.
Should the free travel of the clutch pedal suddenly
become larger, it could me an a malfunction of the
clutch.
f See your Porsche dealer for correction.
Warning light USA
Warning light Canada

Operation, Safety
99
Car Telephone and
Aftermarket Alarms Important legal and safety information
regarding the use of cellular telephones
Some states may prohibit the use of cellular tele-
phones while driving a vehicle. Check the laws and
regulations on the use of cellular telephones in the
areas where you drive.
Danger!
Risk of an accident.
Severe personal injury or death can result in
the event of an accident.
Looking away from the road or turning your
attention away from your driving can cause
an accident and seri ous or fatal injury.
When using your cellular telephone, you should al-
ways:
f Give full attention to your driving - pull off the
road and park before making or answering a
call if traffic conditions so require; and
f Keep both hands on the steering wheel - use
hands-free operation (if available) - pull off the
road and park before using a hand-held tele-phone. It is essential to observe the telephone
manufacturer's instructions before operating
the telephone.
Any portable telephone or radio transmitter which
is used in a Porsche must
be properly installed in
accordance with the technical requirements of
Porsche.
The transmission power must not exceed
10 W.
The devices must possess a type approval for
your vehicle and have an “e” symbol.
If you should require equipment with transmission
power values greater than 10 W, please consult
your authorized Porsche dealer for this purpose.
The dealer is familiar with the technical require-
ments for installing devices of this kind.
The antennas for all radios and telephones with a
transmitting antenna must be externally mounted.
The improper installation of radios or telephones
or use of a radio or tele phone with a transmitting
antenna inside the car may cause the warning
lights to come on.
Improper installation of such equipment can cre-
ate a discharged battery or excessive current
draw from added equipment. If aftermarket systems are
installed by non-dealer-
ship technicians or outside the selling dealer,
problems may result. Installation of aftermarket
equipment is not covered under the New Car War-
ranty.
f Consult your authorized Porsche dealer about
the installation of non Porsche approved equip-
ment.
Reception quality
The reception quality of your car telephone will
change constantly when you are driving. Interfer-
ence caused by buildings, landscape and weather
is unavoidable. It may become particularly difficult
to hear when using the hands-free function due to
external noise such as engine and wind noise.
Automatic car-wash
f Unscrew external antennas before using an au-
tomatic car-wash.

Instruments, On-Board Computer, Warnings
115
Instruments, On-Board Computer, Warnings
Instrument Panel USA Models ..................... 116
Instrument Panel Canada Models ................ 118
Automatic Speed Control Indicator light ...... 120
Instrument Illumination
............................... 120
Trip Odometer ....... ................................... 121
Speedometer .............. .............................. 122
Changing over between Miles / Kilometers .. 122
Tachometer ................ .............................. 123
Turn Signal Indicator Light ......................... 123
High Beam Indicator Light .......................... 123
Gear Shift Indicator
(in vehicles with manual transmission) ......... 123
Cooling System ...... ................................... 124
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) .................. 125
Fuel ............... ......................... .................. 126
Clock ............ ......................... .................. 127
Outside Temperature ................................. 127
Check Engine (Emission Control) ................ 129
On-Board Computer (BC) ............................ 130
Warnings on the instrument panel and the on-
board computer .......... .............................. 162