2009 PORSCHE PANAMERA transmission

Driving and Driving Safety
193
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)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 selector-lever
positions D and M as you wish while driving.
Note
f Take care not to operate 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 blocked when the ignition is
switched off.
When the ignition is switch ed 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
unintentionally.
The release button must be pressed when shifting
to position R or P.
StartingThe engine can only be started using the car key
if the brake pedal is pressed 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 pressed.
f Since the vehicle crawls when in gear,
do not release the brake until you are ready
to drive off.
Driving off on hills
The Drive-Off Assistant assists the driver when
driving off on hills. The vehicle is held on the slope
when the driver changes from the brake pedal to
the accelerator to facilitate driving off immediately
after the brake is released.
f Please see the chapter “HOLD FUNCTION:
DRIVE-OFF ASSISTANT AND STANDSTILL
MANAGEMENT” on page 206.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Display for selector-lever position and
engaged gearWhen the engine is running, the display shows the
selector-lever position and engaged gear.
If the selector lever is between two positions
Effects:
– The corresponding selector-lever position on the instrument panel flashes and the warning
“Press brake” or “Selector not engaged”
appears on the multi-function display. Action required:
f
Operate the footbrake and engage the
selector lever properly.
If the selector lever is inadvertently changed
from P or N into a gear (due to a fault or improper
use) without pressing the brake, this gear will also
"flash" on the display and no power transmission
will occur. To drive off, press the brake and move
the selector lever from P or N into the required
gear again.
Selector-lever position R or D flashes in the
instrument panel
Effects:
– No power transmission occurs. The selector lever was engaged without
pressing the footbrake or only the reduced
driving program is available when the message
“Gearbox emergency operation” appears.
Action required:
f Press the footbrake and engage the required
selector-lever position again from P or N.
If reverse gear fails:
f Please see the chapter “REDUCED DRIVING
PROGRAM” on page 199. If there is a fault in the transmission:
The “Gearbox emergency operation” warning in
yellow or red or the warning “Gearbox
temperature too high” appears on the multi-
function display.
f
Please see the chapter “REDUCED DRIVING
PROGRAM” on page 199.
f Have the fault corrected immediately.
Please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
We recommend that you have an authorized
Porsche dealer to do this work as they have
trained workshop personnel and the necessary
parts and tools.

Driving and Driving Safety
195
Selector-Lever PositionsP – Parking lockfEngage parking lock only when the vehicle is
stationary.
If selector-lever position P is flashing in the
instrument panel, the parking lock is not
engaged. The vehicle can roll away.
Shift again from selector-lever position R to P.
f Activate the electric parking brake and then
engage the parking lock.
If selector-lever position P is flashing in the
instrument panel, the parking lock is not
engaged. The vehicle can roll away.
Shift again from selector-lever position R to P.
The ignition key can be removed only in selector-
lever position P.R – Reverse gearf Select only if the vehicl e is stationary and the
brake is applied.N – Neutral (idling)Selector-lever position N must be selected for
towing or in car washes, for example.
f Only select the desired position for driving off
(D , M or R) when the engine is idling and the
brake pedal is pressed.
D – Automatic selection modeSelect position D for “normal” driving. The gears
are shifted automatically according to the
accelerator position and speed.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven
(economical, comfortable or sporty driving style)
and on the resistance (e.g. uphill), the gear-
changing points are shifted towards higher or
lower engine-speed ranges.
The accelerator position, driving speed, engine
speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration and
the road profile all have an influence on the gear-
changing characteristic.
Unwanted upshifts, e.g. when entering
bends, are prevented by swiftly releasing the
accelerator pedal.
Depending on lateral acceleration, upshifts on
bends are not made until the engine-speed limit
is reached.
When you brake, and depending on the amount of
deceleration, the PDK transmission changes down
earlier.
For subsequent cornering, the right gear is
engaged when pressure is applied to the brakes
before the bend. The bend is taken in the right
gear, and when you accelerate out of the bend you
do not have to change down.
With a sporty driving style, downshifts are already
initiated when the brake pedal is touched lightly.
This further enhances a dynamic driving style. The PDK transmission temporarily changes to the
sportiest gear-changing map, i.e. to the highest
possible gear-changing points, if the accelerator
pedal is pressed quickly. The transmission
accordingly shifts down
immediately by one or
two gears (temporary change-down).
The transmission no longer selects 7th gear
at high driving speeds.
“Sport” and “Sport Plus” Mode “Sport” mode activated:
The PDK transmission switches to a sporty gear-
changing map and shortens the shifting times.
A sporty driving style is recognized more quickly
and the gear-changing speeds are adapted to
driving performance.
Deceleration downshifts are initiated earlier.
Downshifts occur for small decelerations,
even at higher revs.
“Sport Plus” mode activated:
In “Sport Plus” mode, the PDK transmission
changes to a shift program designed for driving
on race circuits. 7th gear is not selected.
The gear-changing performance is enhanced
significantly again compared with “Sport” mode.
f Please see the chapter ““SPORT” AND “SPORT
PLUS” MODE” on page 212.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Driving off with Launch Control
Launch Control allows you to achieve maximum
acceleration from standstill.
Warning!
There is a risk of endangering other road
users if you use this Control in an improper
location or in a situation where other persons
might need to take evas ive action due to the
rapid acceleration that this technology
permits.
Launch Control is designed to be used in a
controlled environment on closed circuit driving
courses where no vehicle cross traffic or
pedestrian traffic is present.
f Use Launch Control only if conditions permit it
to be applied in a safe manner.
f Do not use Launch Control if there is a
possibility it could endanger other persons.
Such a possibility exists if you cannot see that
you have a clear road with no possibility of
cross traffic in your intended direction of driving.
Caution!
Stress on components increases
dramatically when starting with maximum
acceleration in comparison with “normal”
driving off. Use of Launch Control will
inevitably reduce the life of the engaged
engine and transmission components.
Preconditions:
– Launch Control should on ly be used when the
engine has reached operating temperature.
– “Sport Plus” mode must be switched on (indicator light on the button comes on and
“SPORT PLUS” appears on the multi-function
display).
1. Press the brake with your left foot.
2. Quickly press the accelerator down fully (kickdown activated) and hold it.
The engine speed will level off at
around 5,000 rpm on the Panamera S,
around 5,500 rpm on the Panamera 4S,
around 4,550 rpm on the Panamera Turbo.
“Launch Control active” appears on the
multi-function display.
3. Release the brake within a few seconds. Remaining stationary for a long time with
“Launch Control active” can lead to
overloading of the transmission.
To protect the transmi ssion, the engine power
is then reduced and the “Launch Control
active” process is cancelled. Shifting gears on the steering wheel
With the shift buttons on the steering wheel, you
can change temporarily from automatic selection
mode D to manual mode
M.
For example:
– Shifting down before bends and on entering built-up areas.
– Shifting down on downward slopes (engine braking).
– Shifting down for brief spurts of acceleration.
The manual selection mode remains engaged:
– For cornering (depending on the lateral acceleration) and overrunning.
– When the vehicle is stationary (e.g. at a junction).
The system leaves manual selection mode:
– automatically after around 8 seconds (unless cornering or overrunning),
– after driving off.

Driving and Driving Safety
197
Kickdown
The kickdown function is active in selector-lever
positions D and M.
f For optimum acceleration, e.g. when
overtaking, press the accelerator pedal
beyond the full-throttle point (kickdown).
The transmission shifts down depending on
the speed of travel and engine speed.
Upshifts occur at the highest possible engine
speeds.
M – Manual selection modeThe currently engaged gear is retained when you
change from D to M.
If you change from M to D, the gear-changing map
suitable for your current driving style is selected
and the appropriate gear is selected.
The selector lever and the two shift buttons in the
upper steering-wheel spokes let you select the
seven forward gears comfortably and reliably. Shifting up +
f
Press the PDK selector lever or shift button on
the steering wheel forward.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Upshift prompt for fuel-economy-optimised
driving
The consumption-oriente
d upshift indicator A in
the tachometer at the ri ght beside the digital
speed display helps you to develop a fuel-saving
driving style.
The upshift indicator lights up - prompting you to
shift up to the next-higher gear - depending on the
selected gear, engine speed and accelerator
pedal position.
The upshift indicator is only active when “Sport” or
“Sport Plus” mode is switched off.
f Change to the next-higher gear when the
upshift indicator lights up. Shifting down –
f
Pull the PDK selector lever or shift button on
the steering wheel back.
You can shift up or down by the corresponding
number of gears by quickly pressing or pulling the
shift buttons or selector lever several times in
succession.
The transmission can be shifted up or down by
several gears in succession by continuously
operating the selector lever or shift buttons.
You can shift up or down at any time depending
on driving speed and engine speed.
Gear changes that would exceed the upper or
lower engine-speed limit are not executed by the
control unit.
There is no automatic upshift at the upper engine-
speed limit in selector-lever position M. Upshift
suppression can be cancelled by kickdown
operation. If, for example, the engine-speed limit
is reached during overtaking and an automatic
upshift does not occur, the transmission shifts up
in this case as a result of kickdown operation.
f Select an appropriately low gear on upward
and downward slopes.
This will ensure optimum use of engine power
and engine braking. To shift up automatically
at the upper engine-
speed limit:
f Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle point (kickdown).
Failure of the selector lever display on the
instrument panel
The warning “Gearbox emergency operation”
appears in red on the multi-function display.
Effect:
– No selector-lever position is displayed on the instrument panel.
Vehicle can be driven only until it comes to
astop.
Action required:
f It is not possible to continue driving. Stop the
vehicle immediately in a suitable place. Have
the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist
workshop.
f Please see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.

Driving and Driving Safety
199
StoppingfFor a brief stop, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the
selector lever in drive position and hold the
vehicle with the brake pedal.
f Do not hold the vehicle on a slope using the
accelerator. Use the brake pedal or the
electric parking brake instead.
f Before leaving the vehicle, always apply the
electric parking brake and move the selector
lever to position P.Parkingf Go easy on the accelerator!
f When parking or maneuvering in a small
space, control the speed by careful use of
the footbrake.Driving in winterIn wintry road conditions, it is advisable to take
steep inclines in manual mode. This prevents gear
changes occurring that could cause wheel spin.Tow-starting, towingfPlease see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.
Reduced driving programIf there is a fault in the transmission
– Depending on priority, either the “Gearbox
emergency operation” warning in yellow or red
or the warning “Gearbox temperature too high”
will appear on the multi-function display.
“Gearbox emergency operation” warning in
yellow
Effects:
– Restricted gearshift comfort, reverse gear may not function.
Action required:
f Have the fault corrected immediately.
Please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
We recommend that you have an authorized
Porsche dealer to do this work as they have
trained workshop personnel and the necessary
parts and tools. “Gearbox emergency operation” warning in red
Effect:
– Vehicle can be driven
only until it comes to
astop.
Action required:
f It is not possible to continue driving. Stop the
vehicle immediately in a suitable place. Have
the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist
workshop.
f Please see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.
Warning “Gearbox temperature too high”
–Effects: “Warning jerks” can be fe lt when driving off and
the engine power may be restricted.
Action required:
Do not hold the vehicle with the accelerator on
a hill, for example. Hold the vehicle with the
brake. Reduce engine load. Stop the vehicle in
a suitable place if possib le. Allow the engine to
run in selector-lever position P or N until the
warning disappears.

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201
Transmission and Chassis Control SystemsYour Porsche features a complex integrated system made up of all control systems acting in power transmission and in the chassis.
All control systems are networked with the aim of combining the best possible driving performance with maximum safety.
The following systems are invo lved, depending on equipment:
System/designation Scope
PTM
Porsche Traction Management – Active all-wheel drive with electronically
regulated map-controlled multiple-disc clutch
PSM
Porsche Stability Management – Driving stability control
– Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
– Brake system prefilling
– Brake booster (Hydraulic Brake Assist)
– Automatic brake differential (ABD)
– Anti-slip control (ASR)
– Engine drag torque control (MSR)
– HOLD function: standstill management
Air suspension
with level control and height adjustment – Full load-bearing air-spring stru
ts with integrated shock absorbers
– Height adjustment with Low Level setting in “S port Plus” mode and High Level setting for
maneuvering
PAS M
Porsche Active Suspension Management – Shock absorber system with adaptive, continuous shock absorber control
PDCC
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control – Active chassis control system to stabilise
roll tendency of vehicle body when driving
– Controlled rear differential lock