2009 PORSCHE PANAMERA maintenance

1
Dear Owner,We would like to thank you for your purchase of a
Porsche Panamera. Judging by the car you have
chosen, you are a motorist of a special breed, and
you are probably no novice when it comes to
automobiles.
Remember however, as with any vehicle, you
should take time to familiarize yourself with your
Porsche and its performance characteristics.
Always drive within your own unique capabilities as
a driver and your level of experience with your
Porsche. Ensure that anyone else driving your
Porsche does the same. To prevent or minimize
injury, always use your safety belts. Never
consume alcohol or drugs before or during the
operation of your vehicle.
This Owner’s Manual contains a host of useful
information. Please take the time to read this
manual before you drive your new Porsche.
Become familiar with the operation of your
Porsche car for maximum safety and operating
pleasure. The better you know your Porsche, the
more pleasure you will experience driving your
new car.
Always keep your Owner’s Manual in the car, and
give it to the new owner if you ever sell your
Porsche. A separate Maintenance Booklet
explains how
you can keep your Porsche in top driving condition
by having it serviced regularly.
A separate Warranty and Customer Informa-
tion Booklet contains detailed information about
the warranties covering your Porsche.
For U.S. only:
If you believe that your vehicle has a fault which
could cause a crash, injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
(Porsche Cars N.A.).
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
problem exists in a group of vehicles, it may order
a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA
cannot become involved in individual problems
between you and your dealer, or Porsche Cars
N.A..
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1–888–327–4236 (TTY:
1–800–424–9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Adminis-
trator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Your car has thousands of parts and components
which have been designed and manufactured in
accordance with Porsche’s high standards of
engineering quality and safety.
Warning!
Any alteration or misuse of the vehicle can
lead to accidents and serious or fatal
personal injuries.
Any alteration of the vehicle may negate or
interfere with those safety features built into
the vehicle. Modifications may be carried out
on your vehicle only if approved by Porsche.
Your Porsche is intended to be used in a safe
manner obeying the local laws and in the
light of driving conditions faced by you, and
in accordance with the instructions provided
in this Owner’s Manual.
f Do not misuse your Porsche by ignoring those
laws and driving conditions, or by ignoring the instructions in this manual.
Regularly check your vehicle for signs of
damage.
Damaged or missing aerodynamic compon-
ents such as spoilers or underside panels
affect the driving behavior and therefore
must be replaced immediately.
Your car may have all or some of the components
described in this manual.
Should you have difficulty understanding any of
the explanations of features or equipment installed
in your vehicle, contact your authorized Porsche
dealer. They will be glad to assist you. Also check
with your dealer on other available options or
equipment.

8
Contents
Check Engine (Emission
Control) .................. 114
Acoustic Signals ......... ................................ 114
Operating the Multi-Function Display in the
Instrument Panel ......... ................................ 115
Vehicle Settings on the Multi-Function
Display........................................... ............ 138
Overview of Warning Messages.................... 152
Driving and Driving Safety ................ 163Ignition Lock, Steering Lock ........................ 164
Starting and Stopping the Engine ................. 167
Auto Start Stop Functi on ............................. 169
Electric Parking Brak e ................................. 171
Brakes .............. ......................... ................ 172
Cruise Control ................................ ............ 176
Adaptive Cruise Contr ol ............................... 178
Car Audio Operation/Ti ps ............................ 189
Porsche Communication Management
(PCM) ............................ ............................ 191
iPod
®, USB and AUX ....... ............................ 192
Voice Control.............. ................................ 192
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) .................... 193
Selector-Lever Positions .................. ............ 195
Porsche Traction Management (PTM) ........... 202
Porsche Stability Management (PSM)............ 202
ABS Brake System (Anti-Lock Brake
System) ......................... ............................ 207
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM)....................................................... 208
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM) with Air Suspension and Level
Control ............. ......................... ................ 209
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) .... 211
“Sport” and “Sport Plus ” Mode .................... 212 Sports Exhaust System
............................... 214
Retractable Rear Spoi ler .............................. 214
Storage, Luggage Compartment
and Roof Transport System .............. 217Storage........................ .............................. 218
Drinks Holder/Cuphold er ............................. 221
Front Ashtray ................ .............................. 224
Rear Ashtray...................................... ......... 224
Cigarette Lighter....... .................................. 225
Refrigerated box in the re ar of the vehicle..... 226
Folding Rear Seats Forward and Returning
to Upright Position ......................... ............. 226
Luggage Compartment. ............................... 227
Stowing Loads .............. .............................. 228
Luggage Compartment Cover ...................... 229
Fixed Luggage Compartm ent Cover ............. 231
Ski Bag ........................ .............................. 231
Roof Transport System ............................... 232
Loading Information .. .................................. 236Parking .................... ....................... 238ParkAssist ......................................... ......... 239
Rearview Camera ...... .................................. 241
Swivelling Down Mirror Glass as
Parking Aid ............... .................................. 242
Garage Door Opener . .................................. 243Alarm System and Theft
Protection ....................................... 246Alarm System and Passenger
Compartment Monitori ng ............................. 247
Immobilizer............... .................................. 250 Locking the Steering Column .......................250
Theft Protection ..........
................................250
Maintenance and Car Care ............... 251Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your vehicle ....... ....................................252
Engine Oil ........................................ ...........254
Checking Engine-Oil Le vel ............................254
Topping Up Engine Oi l ................................ 255
Checking Coolant Level and Adding
Coolant ........................... ...........................257
Brake Fluid ................. ................................258
Washer Fluid .............. ................................259
Power Steering .......... ................................260
Changing Air Cleaner ...................................261
Changing Particle Filt er ................................261
Wiper Blades .............. ................................261
Emission Control Syst em .............................262
How Emission Control Works .......................263
Fuel Economy ............. ................................264
Operating Your Porsche in other Countries ....264
Fuel ............................................ ...............265
Fuel Can ..................... ................................267
Fuel Recommendations ................................268
Fuel Evaporation Control .................. ...........269
Car Care Instructions ...................................269Minor Repairs .................................. 277Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ....... ....................................278
Tires and Wheels......... ................................280
Wheel Bolts ............... ................................293
Flat Tire...................... ................................293
Electrical System ........ ................................296

Seats, Mirrors and Steering Wheel
45
fDo not wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as eye
glasses, pens, keys, etc. as these may cause
injury.
f Several layers of heavy clothing may interfere
with proper positioning of belts.
f Belts must not rub against sharp objects or
damage may occur to the belt.
f Two occupants should never share the same
belt at the same time.
Care and maintenance
f Keep belt buckles free of any obstruction that
may prevent a secure locking.
f Belts that have been subjected to excessive
stretch forces in an accident must be
inspected or replaced to ensure their
continued effectiveness in restraining you.
The same applies to belt tensioner systems
which have been triggered. In addition, the
anchor points of the belts should be checked.
f If safety belts do not work properly, see your
authorized Porsche dealer immediately.
f If the belts show damage to webbing, bindings,
buckles or retractors, they should be replaced
to ensure safe operation.
f Do not modify or disassemble the safety belts
in your vehicle. f
The belts must be kept clean or the retractors
may not work properly.
Please see the chapter “CAR CARE
INSTRUCTIONS” on page 269.
f Never bleach or dye safety belts.
f Do not allow safety belts to retract until they
are completely dry after cleaning or this may
cause damage to the belt.
Belt tensionerDepending on the force of a collision, fastened
seat belts are automatically tightened in an
accident.
The belt tensioners are triggered in:
– Front and rear impacts of sufficient severity
– Side impacts
– In cases of vehicle rollover
Maintenance notes
The belt tensioner system can be triggered only
once; the system must be replaced afterwards.
If there is a fault in the belt tensioner system, the
air bag warning light lights up.
Work may be performed on the belt tensioner
system only by an authorized Porsche dealer.
Smoke is released when the belt tensioners are
triggered.
This does not indicate a fire in the vehicle. An audio-visual warning
system is
interconnected with the driver’s safety belt.
Every time the ignition is turned on, the gong will
sound for about 6 seconds to remind driver and
passenger to buckle up.
In addition, the gong will sound for approximately
90 seconds if vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
(24 km/h).
The safety belt warning lights in the instrument
panel and multi-function display will go off as soon
as the driver has buckled up.
Safety Belt Warning System

102
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
Windshield Wiper/Washer Stalk
Caution!
Danger of injury if the windshield wipers
operate unintentionally.
Risk of damage to the engine compartment
lid, windshield and wiper system.
f Only wipe the windshield when sufficiently wet,
otherwise it could become scratched.
f Loosen frozen wiper blades before starting
to drive.
f Do not operate a frozen headlight washer
system.
f Always switch off windshield wipers in car
washes to prevent them wiping unintentionally
(rain sensor operation).
f Do not operate headlight washer system in
car washes.
f Always switch off windshield wipers before
cleaning the windshield to avoid unintentional
operation (rain sensor operation).
f Always hold the wiper arm securely when
replacing the wiper blade.
f Always switch off windshield wipers before
opening the engine compartment lid (wiper switch in position 0).
Front wiper and headlight washer system0 – Windshield wipers off
When the windshield wipers are switched off,
the wipers move up slightly from their rest
position so that the wiping edges are aligned
correctly.
1 – Rain sensor operation Front windshield wipers
Move wiper stalk upwards to the first click.
2 – Front windshield wipers – slow Move wiper stalk upwards to the second
click.
3 – Front windshield wipers – fast Move wiper stalk upwards to the third click. 4 – Front windshield wipers – one-touch
operation
Move wiper stalk downwards.
The front windshield wipers carry out one
wiping cycle.
5 – Front windshield wiper and washer system
Pull wiper stalk toward s the steering wheel.
The washer system wipes and sprays while
the stalk is pulled towards the steering
wheel.
When the wiper stalk is released, a few
drying wipes are performed.
After every 10 wipes on the windshield,
the headlights are cleaned automatically.
Maintenance notes
f If heavily soiled, repeat wash.
f Persistent dirt (e.g. insect remains) should
be removed regularly.
For information on car care:
f Please see the chapter “CAR CARE
INSTRUCTIONS” on page 269.
The front windshield washer nozzles are
heated when the ignition is on, as a precaution
against freezing. However, this does not replace
the use of antifreeze.

104
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
Rear window wiperSwitching on intermittent operation of rear
window wiper
fPush switch C upwards to detent position INT .
Switching off intermittent operation of rear
window wiper
f Push switch C downwards to detent
position OFF. Manual wiping
f
Push switch C on the wiper stalk all the way
down from detent position OFF or all the way
up from detent position INT.
The washer system wipes as long as the
switch is pressed down.
Switching on the rear window wiper when
reverse gear is engaged
In the multi-function display, you can configure the
rear wiper to automatically perform a series of
wipes when it rains or when the windshield wipers
are used while reverse gear is engaged.
For information on configuring the automatic
function for activating the rear wiper when reverse
gear is engaged:
f Please see the chapter “SETTING ACTIVATION
OF THE REAR WIPER WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS
ENGAGED” on page 143. Maintenance note
f
Clean the wiper blades with window cleaner at
regular intervals, especi ally after washing the
vehicle in a car wash.
We recommend Porsche window cleaner. If the
wiper blades are very dirty (e. g. soiled with
insect remains), they can be cleaned with
a sponge or cloth.
If the wiper blades rub or squeak, this may be due
to the following:
– If the vehicle is washed in an automatic car
wash, wax residues may adhere to the
windshield. These wax residues can be
removed only by using window cleaner
concentrate.
f Please see the chapter “WASHER FLUID” on
page 259.
Contact your authorized Porsche dealer for more
information.
– The wiper blades may be damaged or worn.
f Replace damaged wiper blades immediately.

Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
127
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM)Each tire should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by Porsche on the tire inflation
pressure label.
For information on the tire inflation pressure label:
fPlease see the chapter “TIRES AND WHEELS”
on page 280.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPM) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
(warning light) when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, an d inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces
fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
However, the tire pressure must still be set
manually on the wheel.
f Please see the chapter “TIRE PRESSURE FOR
COLD TIRES (68 °F/20 °C)” on page 326.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death.
Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure
increases the risk of a tire failure and
resulting loss of control. Furthermore, low
tire pressure increases rate of wear of the
affected tires.
Please note that the Tire Pressure Monitoring
is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
Tire Pressure Monitoring low tire pressure
telltale. Low tire pressure reduces the road
safety of the vehicle and destroys the tire and
wheel.
Tire Pressure Monitoring gives a warning
about tire damage caused by a natural loss
in pressure as well as about a gradual loss of
pressure caused by foreign objects.
Tire Pressure Monitoring cannot warn you
about tire damage that occurs suddenly (e.g.
flat tire due to abrupt external effects).
f When a red tire pressure warning appears,
stop immediately in a suitable place and check
the tires for damage. If necessary, remedy the
damage with a tire sealant.
f Do not by any means continue to drive with
defective tires. f
Sealing the tire with tire sealant is only an
emergency repair so you can drive to the
nearest specialist workshop.
The permitted top speed is 50 mph
(80 km/h) .
f Do not drive with tires in which the tire
pressure drops again very quickly. In case of
doubt, have tires checked by a specialist
workshop.
f Defective tires must be replaced immediately
at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Tires must never be repaired under any
circumstances.
f If Tire Pressure Monitoring is defective
(e.g. defective wheel transmitter), contact an
authorized Porsche dealer immediately and
have the damage repaired.
The tire pressure will not be monitored at all
or will be monitored only partially when Tire
Pressure Monitoring is defective.
For information on warning messages on the multi-
function display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
f Incomplete entries or selection of the wrong
tires on the multi-function display affect the
accuracy of warnings and messages.
The settings in the tire pressure menu must be
updated following a wheel change or changes
in vehicle loading.

162
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
* We recommend that you have an authorized Porsche
d e a l e r t o d o t h i s w o r k , a s t h e y h a v e t h e t r a i n e d w o r k s h o p
personnel and the necessary parts and tools for this type
of work.
Fault
ParkAssist sound Acoustic warning and distance signals for ParkAssist are not
available.
Please remember this
when parking. Have the fault corrected at
a qualified specialist workshop.*Limit 1 or 2 exceeded Preset speed limit 1 or 2 has been exceeded.
Warning light on
the coolant
temperature
gauge flashesCheck Engine Have the fault corrected at a qualified specialist workshop.*Example:
Full maintenance in XXX miles (km) Service reminder
Bring the vehicle in for service no
later than after the distance/
time shown has elapsed. The maintence intervals can be found
in the “Maintenance” booklet.
Light in
instrument
panel
Warning message on multi-function
display Meaning/Action required

174
Driving and Driving Safety
Brake boosterThe brake booster assists braking only when
the engine is running.
When the car is moving while the engine is not
running, or if the brake booster is defective, more
pressure on the brake pedal is required to bring
the car to a stop.
Moisture, road salt or grit on brakes affects
braking.
Brakes will dry after a few cautious brake
applications.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
Driving through water may reduce the
traction. Moisture on brakes from road
water, car wash, or a coating of road salt or
grit may affect braking efficiency.
f Cautiously apply brakes to test brakes after exposure to road water, etc.
Brake wearYour car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear
depends 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 (position 1) and verifying that the
warning light illuminates.
A warning message will be displayed on the multi-
function display of the instrument panel if 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.
For information on warning messages on the
multi-function display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
Brake pads and brake discsWear on the brake pads and brake discs depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the
conditions 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
temperatures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient
conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity) can
therefore cause the brakes to “squeal”.
New brake pads or linings
New brake pads have 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
compensated for by pressing the brake pedal
harder. This applies whenever the brake pads
and/or brake discs are replaced.
Brake wear warning message