2009 PORSCHE BOXSTER Owners Manual

Warnings
167
Move selector lever to PPorsche Doppelkupplung:
Move selector lever to position P before with-
drawing key from ignition lock.
Apply brake Porsche Doppelkupplung:
Apply the brake when starting.
Depress clutch pedal Manual transmission:
Depress clutch pedal when starting.
Move selector lever
to position P or N Porsche Doppelkupplung:
The vehicle can be started only in the selector
lever position P or N.
Text display in white:
Transmission
emergency run Restricted gearshift comfort,
failure of reverse gear.
Have the fault remedied
at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Text display in red:
Transmission
emergency run No selector lever positi
on is displayed on the
instrument cluster.
Vehicle can be driven only until it comes to a
stop.
It is not possible to continue driving. Immedi-
ately stop the vehicle in a suitable place. Have
the vehicle towed to an authorized Porsche
dealer.
Transmission
temperature
too high Jerking can be felt when driving off, and the
engine power may be restricted.
Do not hold the vehicle
with the accelerator on
a hill, for example. Hold the vehicle with the
brake. Reduce engine load. If possible, stop the
vehicle in a suitable place. Allow the engine to
run in selector lever position P or N until the
warning disappears.
Instrument
panel On-board
computerText display on on-board
computer Meaning/measure

168
Warnings
System fault
Go to workshopSeveral systems may have
failed. Adjust your
driving style. Reduce speed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Failure of fuel level indicator
Workshop Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Service in mls/days Service indicator
Bring the vehicle in for service no later than af-
ter the distance/time shown has elapsed.
Please observe the additional information in the
“Maintenance” booklet.
Service now Service indicator
Have your vehicle serviced at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Failure
Convertible-top control Activate convertible top
in opposite direction.
If there is a failure:
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
Convertible top not in limit position Fully open or close convertible top
Opening convertible top Message goes out in final position
Closing convertible top Message goes out in final position
Rear lid
not closed The convertible top cannot
be operated with the
rear lid open.
Flat tyre! Tire Pressure Monitoring has detected a serious
pressure loss.
Stop at a suitable plac e and check tires for dam-
age. Fill in tire sealant if necessary.
Instrument
panel On-board
computerText display on on-board
computer Meaning/measure

Warnings
169
Add airThe Tire Pressure Monitoring has detected a
gradual pressure loss. Correct tire pressure at
the next opportunity.
TPM is learning
monitoring
not act. The Tire Pressure Monitoring is learning the
wheels on the vehicle. The Tire Pressure Moni-
toring is searching for the tires and their posi-
tion. During this period the current pressure
specifications are not av
ailable on the on-board
computer.
TPM inactive The Tire Pressure Monitoring is faulty.
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
TPM partial monitoring 1 or 2 wheel transmitters are faulty. The tyre
pressures of these wheels are not monitored.
The other wheels are still monitored.
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
TPM inactive
Brief disturbance
TPM inactive
Too many wheel transmitters The Tire Pressure Monitoring is temporarily de-
activated by excessive tire temperatures (ap-
prox. 248 °F (120 °C)) or external interference
(e.g. from other wheel transmitters inside the
car). Once the source of
the interference is re-
moved, the system is automatically reactivated.
Wheel change?
Input new
TPM settings! Update the settings in the TPM menu of the
on-board computer at the next opportunity.
Wrong entries will affect
the correct pressure in-
formation in the menu. The safety of your vehi-
cle is at risk.
TPM
Indicator faulty The display of the Tire Pressure Monitoring is
faulty.
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
Instrument
panelOn-board
computerText display on on-board
computer Meaning/measure

170
Warnings
Acknowledging warning messagesWarning messages can be deleted from the on-board computer display.
fPush the on-board computer operating lever forward.
You can recall erased warning messages in the “INFO” menu.

Shifting Gears
171
Shifting Gears
Manual Transmission,
Clutch ...................... 172
Drive-Off Assistant .. ................................... 173
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) .................. 174

172
Shifting Gears
Manual Transmission, ClutchThe positions of the gears are shown on the shift
diagram on the gearshift lever.
Warning!
Risk of accident, resulting in serious person-
al injury or death.
f Do not obstruct the pedal travel with floor mats
or other objects.
Nonskid floor mats of the correct size are
available at your authorized Porsche dealer. To avoid damage to the clutch and transmis-
sion:
f
Always depress the clutch pedal fully when
changing gears. Make sure that the gearshift
lever is completely engaged.
f Only shift into reverse when the car has come
to a complete stop.
f When shifting gears, always ensure that the
clutch pedal is fully depressed and the gear
has fully engaged.
f Select reverse only when vehicle is stationary.
Reverse gear can be enga ged after shifting the
gearshift lever as far as possible to the left.
f Select an appropriately low gear on upward
and downward slopes.
This will ensure optimum use of engine power
and engine braking.
When reverse gear is sele cted and the ignition is
on, the backup lights are illuminated.
Permitted engine speedf You should change into a higher gear before
the needle reaches the red mark on the
tachometer, or ease off the accelerator.
If the red zone is reached during acceleration, fuel
feed is interrupted.
Caution!
Risk of engine damage (overrevving) when
shifting down to a lower gear.
f Take care not to exceed the maximum permitted engine speed when shifting down.

Shifting Gears
173
Drive-Off AssistantThe Drive-Off Assistant assists the driver when
moving off on hills.
The vehicle must have sufficient road contact.
The Drive-Off Assistant is available on gradients as
from around 5%.
Danger!
Risk of accident.
Assistance by the Drive-Off Assistant is not
guaranteed when moving off on a slippery
surface (e.g. on icy or loose surfaces). In this
case, the vehicle could slip.
The limits dictated by the laws of physics
cannot be overcome, even with the Drive-Off
Assistant. The responsi bility for moving off
on upward slopes is still the driver’s, despite
the Drive-Off Assistant.
f Always adjust your driving style to the driving
conditions and vehicle load, use the brake
pedal if necessary.
Risk of accident.
If the Drive-Off Assistant is not functioning,
the driver cannot be assisted when moving
off on hills.
f Hold the vehicle with the brake pedal. Driving off with the Drive-Off Assistant
(vehicles with manual transmission)
1. Hold the vehicle secure
ly on the slope with the
brake pedal.
The engine must be running.
2. Fully depress the clutch pedal.
3. Engage a gear corresponding to the direction of travel up the slope (1st gear or reverse
gear).
4. Fully release the parking brake.
5. While keeping the clutch pedal depressed, release the brake pedal.
The vehicle is held on the slope for a short time
in order to allow driving off directly after the
brake is released.
6. Move off as usual.
Note on operation
The Drive-Off Assistant is not active:
– If the clutch is not depressed.
– If the vehicle is not stationary.
– If the engine is not running.
– On gradients of less than 5%.
– If the pressure on the brake pedal is too low. Driving off with the Drive-Off Assistant
(vehicles with PDK transmission)
1. Hold the vehicle securely on the slope with the
brake pedal.
The engine must be running.
2. Select a gear corresponding to the direction of travel up the slope (selector lever position
Dor R).
3. Fully release the parking brake.
4. Release the brake pedal. The vehicle is held on the slope for a short time
in order to allow driving off directly after the
brake is released.
5. Move off as usual.
Note on operation
The Drive-Off Assistant is not active:
– In the event of shift to neutral.
– If the vehicle is not stationary.
– If the engine is not running.
– On gradients of less than 5%.
– If the pressure on the brake pedal is too low.

174
Shifting Gears
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) is a seven-
speed transmission with an “automatic” and a
“manual” selection mode.
In automatic selection mode (selector lever
position D), gear changing is automatic.
You can change temporarily from automatic to
manual mode using the shift buttons on the
steering wheel.
In manual selection mode (selector lever
position M), you change gear using the shift
buttons on the steering wheel or with the PDK
selector lever.
You can change between se lector lever position D
and M as you wish while driving.
Note
f Take care not to operat e the shift buttons on
the steering wheel in advertently in either
automatic or manual mode, thereby triggering
undesired gear changes.
Changing the selector lever positionThe selector lever is locked when the ignition is
switched off.
When the ignition is switched on, the selector lever
can be moved from position P and N only when
the release button is pressed, and when the brake
pedal is pressed.
Release button
The release button ( arrow) in the selector lever
prevents the gear from being changed unintention-
ally.
The release button must be pressed when shifting
to position R or P.
StartingThe engine can be started only if the brake
pedal is depressed and the selector lever is in
position P or N.Driving offf Only select the desired position for driving off
( D, M or R ) when the engine is idling and the
brake pedal is depressed.
f Since the vehicle creeps when in gear, do not
release the brake until you want to move off.
f After selecting a gear, do not accelerate until
you can feel that the gear is engaged.
Driving off on hills
The Drive-Off Assistant assists the driver when
moving off on hills. The vehicle is held on the slope
for a short time during the change from the brake
pedal to the accelerator in order to allow driving
off directly after the brake is released.
f Please see the chapter “DRIVE-OFF ASSIS-
TANT” on Page 173.