44
Operation, Safety
Airbag SystemsThe airbags in combination with the safety belts
make up a safety system which offers the driver
and the passenger the greatest known protection
from injuries in case of accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with a weight sensing sys-
tem for the front passenger's seat in accordance
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
208.
Even if your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the
safety belts must be worn at all times,
because the front airbag system is only deployed
by frontal collisions with an impact of sufficient se-
verity.
Below the deployment threshold of the airbag sys-
tem, and during types of collisions which do not
cause the actuation of the system, the safety belts
provide the primary protection to the occupants
when correctly worn.
Therefore, all persons within the vehicle
must wear safety belts at all times (in many
states, state law requires the use of safety belts).
fPlease see the chapter “SAFETY BELTS” on
Page 41.
The front airbags are located under the padded
steering wheel panel on the driver’s side and, on
the passenger's side, in the dashboard.
The side airbags for the front seats are installed
on the side in the seat backrests.
The head airbags are installed in the door linings.
Danger!
To provide optimal occupant protection, air-
bags must inflate at very high speed. If you
are not wearing your safety belt or are too
close to the airbag when it is deployed, inflat-
ing airbags can result in serious personal in-
jury or death.
fMake sure there are no people, animals or ob-
jects between the driver or passenger and the
area into which the airbag inflates.
fSit back as far from the dashboard or steering
wheel as is practical, while still maintaining full
vehicle control.
fAlways hold the steering wheel by the outer
rim. Never rest your hands on the airbag panel.
fAlways fasten seat belts because triggering
of the airbag system depends on the force and
angle of impact.
fDo not transport heavy objects on or in front of
the passenger’s seat. These could impair the
function of the airbag, the seat belts, and
weight sensing.
fDo not hang objects (e.g. jackets, coats, coat
hangers) over the backrest.fAlways keep the lid of the door storage com-
partment closed. Objects must not protrude
out of the door storage compartment.
fNo changes may be made to the wiring or
components of the airbag system.
fDo not add any additional coverings or stickers
to the steering wheel or in the area of the pas-
senger’s airbag, side airbags and head air-
bags. Doing so may adversely affect the func-
tioning of the airbag system or cause harm to
the occupants if the airbag system should de-
ploy.
Do not use protective seat covers.
fDo not modify the seat coverings. Do not at-
tach additional cushions, protective coverings,
or pillows to the passenger's seat. Do not affix
things to the passenger's seat or cover it with
other materials. Do not cover the back of the
backrest. Do not make changes to the passen-
ger's seat and to the seat base frame.
fDo not undertake any wiring for electrical ac-
cessory equipment in the vicinity of the airbag
wiring harnesses. Doing so may disable the air-
bag system or cause inadvertent inflation.
fIf the warning light comes on, the airbag sys-
tem should be repaired immediately by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
fAlways keep feet in the footwell while driving.
Do not put feet on the dashboard or the seat
area. Do not lean against the inside of the door
or outside the window while the vehicle is mov-
ing.
Operation, Safety
45
fUsing accessories not approved by Porsche
can cause the weight sensing system to be im-
paired.
fDo not squeeze objects, such as the fire extin-
guisher, or first aid kit under the seat.
fOnly have seats removed and installed by an
authorized Porsche dealer so that weight sens-
ing components will not be damaged.
fGive your passenger all of the information in
this chapter.
Note
Airbag components (e.g. steering wheel, door lin-
ing, seats) may be disassembled only by an autho-
rized Porsche dealer.
When disposing of a used airbag unit, our safety
instructions must be followed. These instructions
can be obtained at any authorized Porsche dealer.
Function of the airbag systemAirbags are a supplemental safety system. Your
primary protection comes from your safety belts.
The front airbags are triggered during a frontal col-
lision of sufficient force and direction.
In the event of a side impact of corresponding
force, the side airbag on the impact side is
triggered.
The inflation process generates the amount of gas
required to fill the airbags at the necessary pres-
sure in fractions of a second.Airbags help to protect the head and upper body,
while simultaneously damping the motion of the
driver and passenger in the impact direction in the
event of a frontal impact or side impact.
In order to help provide protection in severe colli-
sions which can cause death and serious injury,
airbags must inflate extremely rapidly. Such high
speed inflation has a negative but unavoidable
side effect, which is that it can and does cause in-
juries, including facial and arm abrasions, bruising
and broken bones. You can help minimize such in-
juries by always wearing your safety belts.
There are many types of accidents in which
airbags are not expected to deploy. These include
accidents where the airbags whould provide no
benefit, such as a rear impact against your vehi-
cle. Other accidents where the airbags are de-
signed not to deploy are those where the risk of
injury from the airbag deployment could exeed any
protective benefits, such as in low speed acci-
dents or higher speed accidents where the vehicle
decelerates over a longer time. Since airbag de-
ployment does not occur in all accidents, this fur-
ther emphasizes the need for you and your pas-
sengers to always wear safety belts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module. This module will record the
use of the seat belt restraint system by the driver
and front passenger when the airbags and/or belt
tensioner work.
Advanced AirbagYour vehicle is equipped with a weight sensing sys-
tem for the passenger's seat in accordance with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208.
Depending on the weight acting on the front pas-
senger's seat, the front passenger's airbag will au-
tomatically be switched on and off.
Depending on the angle and force of impact, the
front passenger's airbag which is activated will be
triggered during a collision.
Precondition for switching the front passenger's
airbag on and off, depending on weight:
– Vehicles equipped with key-operated airbag
deactivation device:
Switch position AUTO.
– Ignition key is inserted.
Improper handling of the weight sensing
system can unintentionally impair switching
the passenger's airbag off and on.
46
Operation, Safety Seat adjustment for the front passenger's
seat Danger!
Safety belts only offer protection when the
backrest is upright and the belts are properly
positioned on the body. Improperly posi-
tioned safety belts can cause serious person-
al injury or death in an accident.
fDo not operate the car with the driver or
passenger backrests excessively reclined.
fPorsche recommends the use of L.A.T.C.H.
(Lower Anchorage and Tether for Children)
equipped Porsche child seat.
Do not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped with the LATCH system.
If the seat is in an extreme position (e.g., the back-
rest is in contact with the rear seat), the backrest
can warp. Warping of the backrest can lead to mal-
functions.
fCorrect the seat adjustment.
Ensure that the seat is not jammed and is self-
supporting.
Ensure that the backrest is in the upright posi-
tion.
fDo not transport a load and objects in the rear
footwell and under the passenger's seat.
If the load or objects are under the seat, it can
cause malfunctions.If the weight on the passenger's seat is reduced
significantly, e.g., by supporting weight on the
armrest, the passenger's airbag can be switched
off.
fSelect an upright seat position, and do not sup-
port weight on the armrests or lean out of the
window.
Always keep feet in the footwell while driving.
Do not put feet on the dashboard or the seat
area. Do not lean against the inside of the door
or outside the window while the vehicle is mov-
ing.
If the passenger's seat is warped significantly, a
message is displayed on the on-board computer:
fCorrect the seat adjustment.
fPlease see the chapter “WARNINGS ON THE
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-BOARD
COMPUTER” on Page 158.
Vehicle modifications to accommodate
persons with disabilities
Because modifications to your vehicle could com-
promise your advanced airbag system, please call
1-800-PORSCHE prior to having your vehicle mod-
ified.Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger’s airbag.
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
front passenger’s seat can result in serious
personal injury or death to the child from an
airbag deployment.
fPlease see the chapter “PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR LAMP DOES NOT LIGHT UP”
on Page 47.
fBefore transporting a child on the passenger’s
seat:
Please see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 50.
fDo not install a child restraint system in the Sports bucket seat.
– When an up to one-year old child is seated
in the child restraint system, the front airbag is
automatically deactivated on the passenger’s
side.
– When an adult is seated in the front seat, the
front airbag remains active on the passenger‘s
side.
Operation, Safety
49
Key-operated airbag deactivation deviceIn case your vehicle is equipped with LATCH, you
can switch off (OFF) the passenger’s front airbag
manually. In the automatic mode (AUTO), the
airbag will be switched on or off automatically
depending on the weight on the passenger seat.
fSwitch off the passenger’s airbag on the key
switch using the vehicle key.
Switch position AUTO – passenger’s front airbag is
active
Switch position OFF – passenger’s front airbag is
switched off
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death for
passenger if passenger’s airbag remains
switched off after the child restraint system
is removed.
fMake sure that the key switch is switched to
AUTO once the child seat has been removed,
in order to provide protection to the adult occupants.Warning light “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF”
If the airbag on the passenger’s side is switched
off:
– Warning light “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” is
continuously lit when the ignition key is
inserted.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death from
the passenger’s airbag.
If the “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” warning
light is not lit when the ignition key is inserted
and the Airbag OFF switch is switched to the
OFF-Position, this could indicate a fault in the
system.
fDo not install a child restraint system on the
passenger’s seat.
fHave the fault remedied immediately. Please see your authorized Porsche dealer.
Note
fDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The key switch for switching off the passenger’s
airbag in combination with the LATCH attachment
bracket are not installed at the factory. They can
be retrofitted (not on vehicles with Sports bucket
seats).
fPlease see your authorized Porsche dealer.
50
Operation, Safety
Child Restraint SystemsfDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be
equipped with the LATCH system.
Porsche recommends that all infants and children
be restrained in child restraint systems at all times
while the vehicle is in motion in accordance with
applicable laws.
Use only child restraint systems with the LATCH-
system recommended by Porsche. These sys-
tems have been tested and adjusted to the interior
of your Porsche and the appropriate child weight
groups. Other systems have not been tested and
could entail an increased risk of injury or death.
You can obtain child seats that are LATCH compa-
tible at your authorized Porsche dealer.
fAlways observe the separate installation in-
structions for your child seat.
The use of infant or child restraints is required by
law in all 50 states of the U.S. and all Canadian
provinces. The child restraint system should be
one that complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards and should be secured by a lap
belt or lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt or for
child seats equipped with the LATCH sytem (Low-
er Anchorage and Tether for Children, also known
as ISOFIX) to the LATCH anchorages.
A statement by the seat manufacturer of compli-
ance with this standard can be found on the in-
struction label on the restraint and in the instruc-tion manual provided with the restraint.
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
front passenger’s seat can result in serious
personal injury or death to the child from an
airbag deployment.
To reduce risk of injury from an inflating air-
bag in an accident, Porsche strongly recom-
mends:
fPlease see the chapter “PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR LAMP DOES NOT LIGHT UP”
on Page 47.
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 50.
fDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped with the LATCH system.
Note
The key switch for switching off the passenger’s
airbag and the LATCH attachment bracket are not
installed at the factory. They can be retrofitted (not
on vehicles with Sports bucket seats).
fPlease see your authorized Porsche dealer.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death to the
child.
fFollow all child restraint instructions and warnings in this manual.
– When using an infant or child restraint system,
be sure to follow all manufacturer's instruc-
tions on installation and use.
– Infants and small children should never be held
on the lap, nor should they share a safety belt
with another occupant while the vehicle is in
motion.
– Children too big for child restraint systems
should use regular safety belts. A shoulder belt
can be used providing it does not cross the
face or the neck of the child.
– Choose a child restraint system according to
the weight of the child.
– Child restraint systems that are damaged or
h a v e b e e n h e a v i l y s t r e s s e d i n a n a c c i d e n t m u s t
be replaced immediately.
– Children could be endangered in a crash if their
child restrains are not properly secured in the
vehicle.
– Do not affix things to child restraint systems or
cover it with other materials.
Operation, Safety
51
– Your authorized Porsche dealer will be glad to
advise you about the installation possibility for
a Porsche child restraint system which allows
a key-operated airbag deactivation of the pas-
senger’s airbag.
– The key-operated airbag deactivation device
installation requires special programming
available only from your authorized Porsche
dealer.
fPlease see the chapter “KEY-OPERATED
AIRBAG DEACTIVATION DEVICE” on Page 49.
Direction of installation for child restraint
systemsAccording to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Under all normal circumstances, the forward
facing child seat must be placed in the rear.
Group 0 and 0+: Children up to 29 lbs (13 kg)
Children of this weight must be transported in a
restraint system which is installed on the
passenger’s seat facing rearward.
Group I: Children in between 20 lbs (9 kg)
and 40 lbs (18 kg)
Children of this weight are held in child restraint
systems facing forward.
Whenever possible, these child restraint systems
should be installed on the rear seats.
Group II: Children in between 33 lbs (15 kg)
and 55 lbs (25 kg)
Children of this weight are held in child restraint
systems facing forward.
Whenever possible, these child restraint systems
should be installed on the rear seats.Group III: Children in between 49 lbs (22 kg)
and 80 lbs (36 kg)
Children of this weight are held in child restraint
systems facing forward.
Whenever possible, these child restraint systems
should be installed on the rear seats.
If a child restraint system must be fastened to the
passenger’s seat, the passenger’s seat must be
adjusted to the lower rear position.
Note
If a child seat with top tether is adapted for use on
the front seat, the rear right (passenger’s side) an-
chor point must be used for anchoring the top
tether.
It is then not permitted for a passenger to use the
rear right (passenger’s side) seat.
It is then not permitted to install a child restraint
system on the rear right (passenger’s side) seat.
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
ANCHORAGES” on Page 55.
52
Operation, Safety
Using child restraint systems in the front
passenger seatfDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
front passenger seat can result in serious
personal injury or death to the child from an
airbag deployment.
To reduce risk of injury from an inflating air-
bag in an accident, Porsche strongly recom-
mends:
fPlease see the chapter “PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR LAMP DOES NOT LIGHT UP”
on Page 47.
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 50.
fDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped with the LATCH system. Child restraint system for up to one-year old
children
– Make sure that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp lights up.
– Adjust the passenger's seat as far away from
the airbag as possible.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death due
to the passenger’s airbag triggering uninten-
tionally.
When the ignition is on and the up to one-
year old child is seated in the child restraint
system on the passenger’s seat the indicator
lamp „PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF“ must be on.
If the “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” indicator
lamp does not light up, it could indicate a
fault in the system.
In this case:
fOn vehicles with key-operated airbag deactiva-
tion device: Switch to position OFF.
fOn vehicles without key-operated airbag deac-
tivation device: Do not use a child restraint sys-
tem in the front passenger’s seat.
fHave the fault remedied at your nearest autho-rized Porsche dealer.Child restraint system for children older than
one year
Your vehicle is equipped with a weight sensing sys-
tem for the passenger's seat in accordance with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208.
Depending on the weight acting on the passen-
ger's seat, the passenger's airbag will automati-
cally be switched on or off.
Small adult passengers
Make sure that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indi-
cator lamp does not light up.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death due
to the passenger’s airbag not triggering.
When the ignition key is inserted and the
small adult passenger is seated on the pas-
senger’s seat, the indicator lamp “PASSEN-
GER AIRBAG OFF” must be off.
If the “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” indicator
lamp lights up, it could indicate a fault in the
system.
In this case:
fThe passenger should sit in the rear seat until
the fault is repaired.
fHave the fault remedied at the nearest autho-rized Porsche dealer.
54
Operation, Safety
LATCH SystemChild seat bracket on the passenger’s
seatfDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be
equipped with the LATCH system.
The key switch for switching off the passenger’s
airbag and the LATCH attachment bracket are not
installed at the factory. They can be retrofitted
(not on vehicles with Sports bucket seats).
fPlease see your authorized Porsche dealer.
Porsche recommends the use of a Porsche Child
Seat with Lower Anchorage and Tether for Chil-
dren system (LATCH).
These systems have been tested and adjusted to
the interior of your Porsche and the appropriate
child weight groups. Other systems have not been
tested and could entail an increased risk of injury.
You can obtain child seats that are LATCH compat-
ible at your authorized Porsche dealer.
fAlways observe the separate installation in-
structions for your child seat.
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 50.
Installing a LATCH child seat system1. Secure the child seat to retaining lugs A as
outlined in the instruction manual for the child
seat.
2. Pull the child seat to check that both fastening
points are engaged correctly.
Note
fMake sure that the key switch is switched to
AUTO once the child seat has been removed,
in order to provide protection to the adult
occupants.