Shifting Gears
171
Indicator for selector lever position and
engaged gearWhen the engine is running, the selector lever
position and engaged gear are indicated.
If the selector lever is between two positions
–Effects:
The corresponding selector lever position
flashes on the instrument cluster and the
warning “Apply brake“ or “Selector lever not
engaged” appears on the on-board computer.
fRemedy:
Operate the footbrake and engage the
selector lever properly.If the selector lever is inadvertently (due to a
defect or incorrect operation) moved out of P or
N into gear without pressing the brake, this gear
will start to “flash” and no power transmission is
built up.
fTo 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 is flashing in
the instrument cluster
–Effects:
There is no power transmission.
The selector lever was engaged without
pressing the footbrake or only the restricted
driving programme is available when the
“Transmission emergency run” message is
displayed.
fAction required:
Press the footbrake and engage the required
selector lever position again by moving the
selector lever from P or N.
If reverse gear fails:
fPlease see the chapter “REDUCED DRIVING
PROGRAM” on Page 176.If there is a fault in the transmission:
– The warning “Transmission emergency run” in
white or red lettering or the warning “Transmis-
sion temperature too high” is displayed on the
on-board computer.
Please see the chapter “REDUCED DRIVING
PROGRAM” on Page 176.
fHave the fault repaired immediately at an
authorized Porsche dealer.
Shifting Gears
173
“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.
fPlease see the chapter “SPORT MODE” on
Page 64.
Driving with Launch Control
Driving with Launch Control allows you to achieve
maximum acceleration from a standing start. It is
intended to provide you with a unique enjoyment of
your vehicle under controlled circumstances and
is not intended to be used in any location where it
could be a nuisance to other persons.
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 evasive action due to the
rapid acceleration that this technology
permits.
fLaunch 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.
fUse Launch Control only if conditions permit it
to be applied in a safe manner. fDo not use Launch Control if there is a possibi-
lity 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 only be used when the
engine has reached operating temperature.
– “Sport Plus” mode must be switched on (light-
emitting diode in button is on and “SPORT
PLUS” is displayed on the on-board computer).
1. Press the brake with your left foot.
2. Quickly press down the accelerator fully
(kickdown activated) and hold.
The engine speed will flatten out at around
6500 rpm.
“Launch Control active” is displayed on the
on-board computer.3. Release the brake within a few seconds.
Remaining stationary for a long time with
“Launch Control active” can lead to overload-
ing of the transmission.
In order to protect the transmission, 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.
Manual selection mode remains engaged:
– for cornering (depending on the lateral acceler-
ation) and overrunning,
– when the vehicle is stationary (e.g. at a
junction).
The system leaves manual selection mode:
– automatically after approx. 8 seconds (unless
cornering or overrunning),
– after driving off.
Shifting Gears
175
Depending on driving speed and engine speed,
you can shift up or down at any time.
Gear changes which would exceed the upper or
lower engine speed limit are not executed by the
controller.
There is no automatic upshift at the upper engine
speed limit in selector lever position M. Upshift
suppression can be cancelled by kickdown opera-
tion. If, for example, the engine speed limit is
reached during overtaking and the automatic
upshift does not occur, the transmission in this
case shifts up as a result of kickdown operation.
fSelect an appropriately low gear on upward
and downward slopes.
This will ensure optimum use of engine power
and engine braking.
In order to shift up automatically at the upper
engine speed limit:
fDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle point (kickdown).Failure of the selector lever display on the
instrument cluster
The warning “Transmission emergency run” is
displayed in red on the on-board computer.
–Effect:
No selector lever position is displayed on the
instrument cluster.
Vehicle can be driven only until it comes to a
stop.
Remedy:
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.
StoppingfFor a brief stop (e.g. at a traffic light), leave the
selector lever in drive position and hold the
vehicle with the brake pedal.
fDo not hold the car on a slope using the
accelerator. Use the brake pedal or the
handbrake instead.
fBefore leaving the vehicle, always apply the
handbrake and move the selector lever to
position P.ParkingfGo easy on the accelerator!
fWhen parking or manoeuvring 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 wheelspin.Tow-starting, towingfPlease see the chapter “TOWING” on
Page 280.
176
Shifting Gears
Reduced driving programIf there is a fault in the transmission
– Depending on priority, the warning “Transmis-
sion emergency run” in white or red lettering or
the warning “Transmission temperature too
high” is displayed on the on-board computer.
Warning “Transmission emergency run” white
– Effects:
Restricted gearshift comfort,
Reverse gear may not function.
Remedy:
Have the fault repaired immediately at an
authorized Porsche dealer.Warning “Transmission emergency run” red
– Effect:
Vehicle can be driven only until it comes to a
stop.
Remedy:
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.
Warning “Transmission temperature too high”
–Effects:
“Warning jerks” can be felt when driving off and
the engine power may be restricted.
Remedy:
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.
208
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine-compartment blower,
radiator fan The radiator and radiator fans are in the front of
the car.
The engine-compartment blower is mounted on
the engine compartment lid.
Warning!
Risk of injury.
After the engine is switched off, the engine-
compartment temperature is monitored for
approx. 30 minutes.
During this period, and depending on tem-
perature, the engine-compartment blower
may continue to run or start to run.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-
gine off, the ignition off, and exercise extreme
caution.
Risk of injury. The radiator fans in the front
end of the car may be operating or
unexpectedly start operating when the
engine is switched on.
fCarry out work in these areas only with the en-gine switched off.
Engine Oil It is important to perform oil changes regularly in
accordance with the intervals specified in the
“Maintenance” booklet.
Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality
and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine
is operated, the climate, road conditions as well
as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the
lubricant.
If the vehicle is used for repeated short trips, and
consumes a normal amount of oil, the engine oil
measurement may not show any drop in the oil
level at all, even after 600 miles (1,000 km) or
more. This is because the oil is gradually becom-
ing diluted with fuel or moisture, making it appear
that the oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the
vehicle is driven at high speeds, as on an express-
way, making it then appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
If the conditions you drive your vehicle in are
dusty, humid, or hot, the frequency of the oil
change intervals should be greater. If the vehicle is driven at a high rate of speed,
climatic conditions are warm, and the load is high,
the oil should be checked more frequently, as
driving conditions will determine the rate of oil
consumption.
– The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to
lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
Therefore, the engine oil should be checked
regularly and kept at the required level.
– Make it a habit to have the engine oil level
checked at every fuel filling.
– The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level
indicator.
The oil pressure warning light indicates serious
engine damage may be occuring when lit, if en-
gine rpm is above idle speed.
Engine Oil Level fPlease see the chapter “EXERCISE EXTREME
CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VEHICLE”
on Page 206.
fRegularly check the oil level using the on-board
computer after the vehicle is refuelled.
Please see the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 153.
The difference between the minimum and maxi-
mum marks on the segment display is approx.
1.3 quarts (1.25 liters).
Each segment of the display corresponds to ap-
prox. 0.42 quart (0.4 liter).
210
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine Oil RecommendationPorsche recommends .
The right oil for your vehicle.1) Generally, you can find details of the
manufacturer approvals on the oil containers or as
a notice displayed by the retailer.
The current approval status is also available from
your Porsche partner.2) SAE viscosity class - Example: SAE 0W - 40
Specification 0W = Viscosity specification for
low temperatures (winter).
Specification 40 = Viscosity specification for
high temperatures.3) For all temperature ranges.4) For the temperature range over --13 °F (--25 °C).Always observe the following points:
– Use engine oils approved by Porsche only. This
is a precondition for optimum and problem-free
operation of your vehicle.
– Regular oil changes are part of servicing.
It is important that the service intervals,
particularly the oil change intervals, are
observed in accordance with the specifications
in the “Maintenance” booklet.
– Oils approved by Porsche can be mixed with
each other.
– Porsche engines are designed so that no oil
additives may be used.
– A label is located in the engine compartment,
which provides you with information on suitable
oil for your engine.
Your Porsche partner will be pleased to advise
you.
Oil changeThe engine oil has to be changed regularly at the
intervals listed in your Maintenance Schedule.
fPlease see the chapter “CAPACITIES” on
Page 290.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed at your Porsche dealer, who has the re-
quired oils and the necessary filling equipment.
If you suspect an oil leak in the engine have your
dealer check it out immediately.
All current engine oils are compatible with each
other, i.e. when making an oil change it is not nec-
essary to flush the engine if you wish to use a dif-
ferent brand or grade of oil.
Since, however, each brand of oil has a special
composition, you should, if possible, use the
same oil brand if it becomes necessary to top up
between oil changes.
Porsche engines have long intervals between oil
changes. You can make best use of these long oil
change intervals by using multigrade oils since
these are largely independent of seasonal fluctua-
tions in temperature. Complies with
approval
1)
Viscosity class
2)
Porsche A40 SAE 0W - 40
3)
SAE 5W - 40
4)
SAE 5W - 50
4)
Maintenance, Car Care
217
Unleaded fuels may not be available outside the
continental U.S. and Canada. Therefore, we rec-
ommend you do not take your car to areas or
countries where unleaded fuel may not be availa-
ble. Octane ratings Octane rating indicates a fuel’s ability to resist det-
onation. Therefore, buying the correct octane gas
is important to prevent engine “damage”.
The RON octane rating is based on the research
method. The CLC (U.S. Cost of Living Council oc-
tane rating) or AKI (antiknock index) octane rating
usually displayed on U.S. fuel pumps is calculated
as research octane number plus motor octane
number, divided by 2, that is written as:
The CLC or AKI octane rating is usually lower than
the RON rating:
For example: 95 RON equals 90 CLC or AKI
Fuels containing ethanolDo not use any fuels containing more than 10 per-
cent ethanol by volume.
We recommend, however, to change to a different
fuel or station if any of the following problems oc-
cur with your vehicle:
– Deterioration of driveability and performance.
– Substantially reduced fuel economy.
– Vapor lock and non-start problems, especially
at high altitude or at high temperature.
– Engine malfunction or stalling. Portable Fuel Containers
Danger!
Portable fuel containers, full or partially
empty, may leak causing an explosion, or re-
sult in fire in case of an accident.
fNever carry additional fuel in portable contain-ers in your vehicle.
Fuel Evaporation Control Fuel tank venting The evaporation chamber and the carbon canister
prevent fuel from escaping to the atmosphere at
extreme high outside temperatures, when driving
abruptly around curves and when the car is parked
at an incline or in any other nonlevel position. Vapor control system and storage When the fuel tank is filled, vapors are collected in
the evaporation chamber by a vent line leading the
vapors to the carbon canister where they are
stored as long as the engine does not run. Purge system When the engine is running, the fuel vapors from
the canister will be mixed with fresh air from the
ambient air of the canister. This mixture will be
directed to the intake air housing by the tank vent
line, mixed with the intake air and burned during
normal combustion. RON+MON
2R+M
2 or
Index
303
Lids ................................................... 260
Lifting/Sliding roof.............................. 179
Tank flap ............................................ 215
Emergency service ..................................... 234
Emergency starting with
jumper cables..................................... 267, 268
Emission control system ............. 125, 218, 219
Engine
Checking the oil level........................... 153
Diagram ............................................. 299
Exhaust .................................................. 5
Number .............................................. 285
Oil consumption ............................ 10, 208
Oil level .............................................. 208
Oil level indicator................................ 153
Oil pressure ........................................ 124
Oil temperature................................... 116
Oils ............................................ 208, 290
Speeds ................................................ 10
Starting ................................................ 77
Stopping .............................................. 78
Engine compartment
Blower ......................................... 78, 120
Blower fan .......................................... 120
Care .................................................. 227
Lid ................................................. 93, 94
Lid warning light.................................... 93
Engine oil
Change .............................................. 210
Consumption ........................................ 10
Performance class .............................. 211
Recommendation ................................ 210
Topping off ......................................... 209
Viscosity ............................................ 211Exhaust
Pipes .....................................................5
System.................................................57
Tailpipes, stainless steel ......................229
External antenna .........................................100
FFabric linings ..............................................230
Filler flap ....................................................215
Filling pressure, tire.....................................289
Fire extinguisher .........................................102
Flat tire ......................................................251
Floor mats ..................................................230
Fluids .........................................................222
Fluids and fuels ...........................................290
FM reception ................................................98
Fog light, rear ...............................................80
Footbrake.....................................................58
Four-wheel drive ............................................63
Fresh air intake ...........................................109
Front lid .................................................93, 94
Fuel ................................................... 122, 215
Containers ......................................5, 217
Economy ............................................214
Evaporation control.............................217
Fuels containing ethanol.......................217
Level gage .........................................122
Level warning light..............................122
Recommendation ........................216, 217
Recommendations ..............................216
Tank ..................................................216
Function keys ...............................................39
Fuses, replacing .........................................259
GGarage
Door ................................................... 78
Door opener ...................................... 103
Lift .................................................... 254
Gear display ...................................... 112, 114
Gear shift indicator ..................................... 119
Glass rear hatch......................................... 200
Glass rear hatch (Targa)
Unlocking ............................................ 16
Glass roof.................................................. 200
Glove compartment ...................................... 92
Gong ....................................... 14, 75, 80, 129
Ground clearance ........................................... 5HHandbrake ................................................... 57
Hardtop ..................................................... 194
Putting on .......................................... 196
Removing .......................................... 194
Head restraints ............................................ 30
Headlights ................................................. 270
Adjusting ................................... 278, 279
Beam adjustment ................................. 81
Cleaning system ........................... 83, 220
Flasher ................................................ 82
Heated rear window..................................... 29
Heated rear window/Door mirror heating ..... 110
Heater ....................................................... 106
High beam
Indicator light ..................................... 119
Lever................................................... 80
High-pressure cleaning units........................ 224
Home mode................................................. 81