Practical Tips, Emergency Service
263
Winter operation The capacity and ability of the battery to store 
power decreases at low outside temperatures.
Moreover, the battery is more heavily loaded in 
winter months, e.g. by the heated rear window, 
more frequent use of additional lights, the fans 
and the windshield wipers, etc.
fHave the battery checked before the start of 
winter.
Maintenance note
Keep the battery well charged to prevent it 
from freezing.
A discharged battery can freeze at 23 °F (--5 °C), 
but a fully charged battery only freezes at -- 40 °F 
(--40 °C).
A frozen battery must always be thawed before 
connecting jump leads.
Replacing battery The service life of the battery is subject to normal 
wear; it depends greatly on care, climatic condi-
tions, and driving conditions (distances, loads). 
fOnly use an original Porsche battery, with the 
correct part number, as a replacement. 
fPlease observe the disposal instructions for 
batteries.
Putting vehicle into operationAfter the battery is connected or after an exhaus-
tively discharged battery is charged, the multi-
functional PSM light lights up on the instrument 
panel and a message appears on the on-board 
computer to indicate a fault. 
This fault can be remedied with a few simple 
steps:
1. Start the engine.
2. With the vehicle stationary, perform a few 
steering movements to the left and right and 
then drive a short distance in a straight line 
until the multifunctinal PSM light goes out and 
the message on the on-board computer 
disappears.
3. If the warnings do not disappear, then:
Drive carefully to the nearest authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Have the fault remedied.
4. After the warnings disappear:
Stop the vehicle in a suitable place. 
fPerform adaptation of the power windows:
Please see the chapter “STORING END 
POSITION OF THE WINDOWS” on Page 26. 
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
267
Emergency Starting with Jumper 
Cables If the battery is discharged, e.g. in winter or after 
the car has been parked for a long time, the bat-
tery of another car can be used for starting with 
the help of jumper cables.
Make sure the voltage of both batteries is the 
same. Both batteries must be 12 volt types. 
The capacity (Ampere hours, Ah) of the booster 
battery must not be substantially less than that of 
the discharged battery.
The discharged battery must be correctly con-
nected to the vehicle’s electrical system. 
fPlease see the chapter “BATTERY” on 
Page 261.
fPlease see the chapter “EMERGENCY UNLO-
CKING OF THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LID” 
on Page 260.
Note
fDo not try to start the car by pushing or tow-
ing. Damage to the catalytic converters and 
other components of the car may result. 
 Warning!
Risk of short circuit, damage and explosion, 
resulting in serious personal injury or death. 
fUse only jumper cables of adequate diameter 
cross-section and fitted with completely insu-
lated alligator clips. 
fFollow all warnings and instructions of the 
jumper cable manufacturer. 
fWhen connecting jumper cables, make sure 
that they cannot get caught in any moving 
parts in the engine compartment.
The jumper cables must be long enough so 
that neither vehicles nor cables touch another. 
fThe vehicles must not be in contact, otherwise 
current might flow as soon as the positive ter-
minals are connected. 
fThe cable clamps must not be allowed to con-
tact each other when one end of the jumper ca-
bles are connected to a battery. 
fEnsure that tools or conductive jewelery (rings, 
chains, watch straps) do not come into contact 
with the positive jumper cable or the positive 
battery post. 
fImproper hook-up of jumper cables can ruin 
the alternator. Danger of caustic burns from escaping acid. 
fDo not lean over the battery.
Danger of gas explosion. 
fImproper use of booster battery to start a 
vehicle may cause an explosion, resulting in 
serious personal injury or death. 
fKeep sources of ignition away from the bat-
tery, e.g. open flame, burning cigarettes or 
sparking due to cable contact or welding work.
fA discharged battery can freeze even at 23 °F/
–5 °C. 
Before connecting jumper cables, a frozen 
battery must be thawed out.