2009 PORSCHE BOXSTER engine

Instruments, On-Board Computer, Warnings
157
OIL
Display and measurement of the engine
oil level
Caution!
Risk of engine damage.
f Regularly check the oil level each time before
refueling.
f Do not allow the oil level to fall below the minimum mark.
Conditions for measuring the oil level
1. Vehicle stationary.
2. It is important to ensure that the vehicle is horizontal for correct oil level measurement
to occur.
3. Engine must be at operating temperature (at least 140 °F/60 °C).
4. Engine must be idling. Initiating oil level measurement
1. Push operating lever forward in order to switch
on the selection field.
2. Select “OIL” with the operating lever.
3. Push operating lever forward. Measurement is started. 4. Allow waiting time to elapse.
5. Once the measurement has been completed,
you can read off the engine oil level on the
segment display.

158
Instruments, On-Board Computer, Warnings
6. If the segments are fille
d in up to the top line,
the oil level has reached the maximum mark.
Under no circumstances add engine oil. 7. If the bottom segment is filled in, the oil level
has reached the minimum mark.
Add engine oil immediately.
8. If the bottom segment fl ashes, the oil level has
dropped to below the minimum mark.
Add engine oil immediately.
The difference between the minimum and
maximum marks on the segment display is
approx. 1.3 quarts (1.25 litres).
One segment of the display corresponds to a
top-up quantity of approx. 0.42 quarts (0.4 litre).
f Add engine oil if necessary.
Switch off ignition before adding engine oil. f
Please see the chapter “ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 199.
f Never add more engine oil than required
to reach the maximum mark.
Failure
A failure of the oil level display is indicated by a
warning message on the on-board computer.
“Check engine oil level” display
The on-board computer display “Check engine oil
level” is an additional measurement that takes
place in the background while driving.
The display depends on the distance travelled.
This display appears if th e oil level has reached the
minimum mark or if the o il level is well above the
maximum mark.
This message must be acknowledged by measu-
ring the engine oil leve l manually using the on-
board computer.
f Please see the chapter “INITIATING OIL LEVEL
MEASUREMENT” on Page 157.
If an oil level measurement was initiated manually
on the on-board computer and no oil was topped
up, the message “Check engine oil level” is
displayed again when the vehicle is driven.

164
Warnings
LIMIT
30Selected speed limit (e.g. 30 mph) for the
acoustic warning signal has been exceeded.
Adjust your speed if necessary.
Fuel gage warning
light Consider remaining range Refuel at next opportunity.
Check engine oil level Start engi
ne oil level measurement in the
on-board computer.
Engine oil pressure too low Stop immediately at a suitable place, measure oil level with the on-board computer and, if nec-
essary, add engine oil.
Warning light
Temperature gage Engine temperature too high Switch
engine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level and, if necessary,
add coolant.
Temperature gage
warning light flash-
es Check coolant level Switch en
gine off and let it cool.
Check coolant level and, if necessary, add cool-
ant.
Engine diagnostics – workshop Stop imme diately at a suitale place and check
tank cap for proper fastening. If the tank cap
was fastened correctly, consult your authorized
Porsche dealer.
Reduced engine power Consult yo ur authorized Porsche dealer.
Temperature gage
warning light flash-
es Failure of
engine compartment blower
Consult your authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning Battery/generator Stop at a safe place and switch the engine off.
Do not continue driving.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Instrument
panel On-board
computerText display on on-board
computer Meaning/measure

Warnings
165
Oil pressure gage faultyHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil level display faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil temperature gage faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Oil temperature
too high Switch engine off and let
it cool. Check oil level
and, if necessary, add oil.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL“.
Indicator faulty Coolant indicator failed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Brake pad wear Have the brake pads changed immediately at an
authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning – Brake fluid level Stop immediately in a suitable place.
Do not continue driving. Have the fault remedied
at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning – Brake circuit division Stop immediately in a suitable place. Do not continue driving. Have the fault remedied
at an authorized Porsche dealer.
ABS failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
PSM off Porsche Stability Management has been
switched off.
Instrument
panel On-board
computerText display on on-board
computer Meaning/measure

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

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.