
38
Operation, Safety
Safety Belts
Warning!
Always make sure your and your passenger’s
safety belts are properly fastened while
seated in the vehicle.
Failure to follow safety belt warnings may
result in serious personal injury or death.
fFor your and your passenger’s protection, use
safety belts at all times while the vehicle is in
motion.
fUse appropriate child restraint systems for all
small children.
Proper wearing of safety belts
fS a f e t y b e l t s m u s t b e p o s i t i o n e d o n t h e b o d y a s
to restrain the upper body and lap from sliding
forward. Improperly positioned safety belts
can cause serious personal injury or death in
case of an accident.
fThe shoulder belt should always rest on your
upper body. The shoulder belt should never be
worn behind your back or under your arm.
fFor maximum effectiveness, the lap belt
should be worn low across the hips.
fPregnant women should position the belt as
low as possible across the pelvis. Make sure it
is not pressing against the abdomen. fBelts should not be worn twisted.
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.
fSeveral layers of heavy clothing may interfere
with proper positioning of belts.
fBelts must not rub against sharp objects or
damage may occur to the belt.
fTwo occupants should never share the same
belt at the same time.
Care and maintenance
fKeep belt buckles free of any obstruction that
may prevent a secure locking.
fBelts that have been subjected to excessive
stretch forces in an accident must be
inspected or replaced to ensure their conti-
nued 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.
fIf safety belts do not work properly, see your
authorized Porsche dealer immediately.
fI f t h e b e l t s s h o w d a m a g e t o w e b b i n g , b i n d i n g s ,
buckles or retractors, they should be replaced
to ensure safe operation.
fDo not modify or disassemble the safety belts
in your vehicle. fThe belts must be kept clean or the retractors
may not work properly.
Please see the chapter “CAR CARE INSTRUC-
TIONS” on Page 174.
fNever bleach or dye safety belts.
fDo not allow safety belts to retract until they
are completely dry after cleaning or this may
cause damage to the belt.
Belt tensioner Depending on the force of an impact, fastened
safety belts are tightened in an accident.
The belt tensioners are triggered in:
– Front, side and rear impacts of sufficient
severity.
Note
The belt-tensioner system can be triggered only
once; the system must be replaced afterward.
If there is a fault in the belt-tensioner system, the
airbag 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.
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Operation, Safety
39
An audio-visual warning system is intercon-
nected 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 approx.
90 seconds if vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph/
24 km/h.
The safety belt warning lights in the instrument
panel and on-board computer will go off as soon
as the driver has buckled up.
Inertia reel retractor The combination lap/shoulder belt with inertia reel
locking mechanism adjusts automatically to your
size and movements as long as the pull on the belt
is slow.
Rapid deceleration during hard braking or a colli-
sion locks the belt. The belt will also lock when you
drive up or down a steep hill or in a sharp curve,
otherwise, the shoulder belt will not inhibit your
upper body movement.
Fastening the safety beltfAssume a comfortable sitting position.
Please see the chapter “SEAT POSITION” on
Page 33.
fThe shoulder belt should always rest on your
upper body. The shoulder belt should never be
worn behind your back or under your arm.
fGrasp belt and pull the belt in a continuous
slow motion across your chest and lap.
fInsert belt tongue into buckle on inboard side
of seat. Push down until it securely locks with
an audible click. Pull the belt to check.
fPull shoulder section to make sure belt fits
snugly across the pelvis.
fBelts should fit snugly across the pelvis and
chest. Make sure there is no slack in the belt. Releasing the safety beltfPush in release button (arrow) on buckle. Belt
tongue will spring out of buckle.
fTo release a latched belt, lean back to take the
body pressure off the belt.
fTo store lap/shoulder belt, allow the belt to
retract as you guide the latch to its stowed
position.
fPlease see the chapter “AUTOMATIC LOCKING
RETRACTOR” on Page 50.
Safety Belt Warning System
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50
Operation, Safety
Automatic locking retractorfDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be
equipped with the LATCH system.
The safety belt for the passenger is equipped with
an automatic locking retractor for securing the
child restraint system. When activated, this
retractor allows you to securely fasten the child
restraint system in place so that inadvertent
movements will not occur.
Before transporting a child on the passenger’s
seat:
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 47.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death to the
child, when excessive force is acting on the
passenger's seat due to the seat belt.
In such cases, the passenger's airbag can be
switched on unintentionally.
fAfter fastening the child restraint system, do
not adjust the seat.
fCheck the condition of the passenger’s airbag
shown by the indicator lamp in the central console.Activating the automatic locking retractor
1. If a child restraint system must be fastened to
the passenger's seat, adjust the passenger's
seat as far away from the airbag as possible.
2. Fasten child seat.
3. Pull the safety belt retractor completely out. At
this point the locking mechanism is activated.
4. Insert the safety belt tongue into the buckle
and make certain that it is properly latched.
Make no more adjustments to the seat.
5. Allow the safety belt to retract until it is tight on
the child restraint system. You may further
tighten the belt by pulling on it to allow more of
it to retract.
Make sure that excessive seat belt forces do
not occur by moving the seat with the child
seat installed.
Releasing the safety belt
1. Unbuckle the safety belt latch.
2. Then make certain that the belt has fully
retracted. At this point the automatic locking
feature will be disengaged.
Seek appropriate advice from your authorized
Porsche dealer about the possible installation
of a Porsche child restraint system.
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52
Operation, Safety
Child Restraint Anchorages fPlease see the chapter “AUTOMATIC LOCKING
RETRACTOR” 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.
If your child restraint seat requires the use of a
tether strap, you will want to use the anchor point
behind the passenger’s seat under the carpet.
To ensure proper installation, see your authorized
Porsche dealer.
Note
If a child seat with top tether is adapted for use on
the passenger’s seat, the anchor point must be
used for anchoring the top tether.
Warning!
The child restraint anchorage is designed to
withstand only the load imposed by a
correctly fitted child restraint. Under no
circumstances is the anchorage to be used
for adult safety belt or harness. Such use
could result in serious personal injury or
death.
fDo not misuse the child restraint anchorage.
This is not designed to withstand a load imposed by an adult.
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Operation, Safety
57
ABS Brake System
(Antilock Brake System)The ABS system represents a major contribution
to the enhancement of active safety in your
vehicle. This system prevents the wheels from
locking in a panic stop on almost all road
surfaces. With the ABS system in your vehicle, the
following areas are enhanced: Steering, vehicle remains steerable under all
braking forces when ABS is engaged.
Good directional control, no swerving caused
by locking of wheels under braking conditions.
Shorter stopping distance, stopping distances
are usually reduced because controlled braking is
maximized.
Prevention of wheel lock up, no brake-induced
sliding and thus no localized tire wear from
emergency braking.
The crucial advantage of the ABS system over a
conventional brake system is in the area of
maintaining directional control and maneuverabi-
lity of the car in emergency situations.
Warning!
The increased control that is provided should
not induce you to take greater risks with your
safety. The limits dictated by the laws of
physics cannot be overcome, even with ABS.
The risk of accidents due to inappropriate
speed cannot be reduced, even by the ABS.
The driver bears the responsibility for all
driving maneuvers.
fAdapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
fObey all traffic laws.
Other vehicles not equipped with the ABS
system may not be able to maintain control,
especially on wet or poor road surfaces and
thus may be more likely to impact you from
behind.
fTo minimize that risk, use your ABS system to
increase your ability to maneuver to avoid
dangerous situations and not merely to try to stop in the shortest distance possible.
Operation of the ABS systemA wheel speed sensor is mounted to each of the
four wheels. If wheel lock-up of either of the front
wheels or the rear wheels is sensed during
braking, the brake pressure is adjusted automati-
cally until the wheel no longer slips.
If braking forces approach the wheel lock-up point
for all wheels (panic braking) the ABS system will
intervene to provide a rapid rythmic braking. The
proper operation of ABS is perceived by the driver
as a pulsating brake pedal in conjunction with
audible noise and perhaps some vibration.
fIf you experience these sensations while
driving or a road surface with questionable
traction, reduce vehicle speed appropriate for
the prevailing road conditions.
fIf full braking should be necessary, press the
brake pedal all the way down throughout the
entire braking procedure, regardless of the
pulsating pedal. Do not ease up on pressure
applied to the pedal.
The functional readiness of all the main electrical
components of the ABS is checked by an
electronic monitoring system both before and
while you drive.
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66
Operation, Safety
A, C - Switch for reading light on driver/passenger side
B- Switch for interior light and footwell lights
D-Orientation lightInterior LightsfPlease see the chapter “LOAD SWITCH-OFF
AFTER 2 HOURS OR 7 DAYS” on Page 208.For vehicles with automatic anti-dazzle
mirrors
fSwitch off the automatic anti-dazzle operation
of the mirrors before you switch on the interior
light.
Otherwise the mirrors may accidentally swivel
into the anti-dazzle position.
Interior lights, reading lightsSwitching off
fPress left half of switch.
Switching to continuous illumination
fPress right half of switch.
Switching on and off automatically
fMove switch to center position.
The interior and footwell lights are switched
on when a door is unlocked or opened or when
the ignition key is withdrawn from the ignition
lock.
The lights are switched off with a delay of
approx. 2 minutes after the doors are closed.
The light goes out immediately as soon as the
ignition is switched on or the vehicle is locked.
Orientation lightA light-emitting diode at the bottom of the interior
mirror improves orientation in the passenger
compartment when it is dark.
Note on operation
On vehicles with the Sport Chrono Package Plus,
the brightness of the orientation light can be
changed in PCM.
fPlease see the chapter “Individual Memory” in
the separate PCM Owner’s Manual.
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Operation, Safety
67
O - Initial position
1 - Ignition on
2 - Start engine
3 - Ignition offIgnition/Starter Switch with
anti-theft Steering Lock
Caution!
Risk of damage. If extra weight has been
added to the inserted ignition key such as,
e. g. a heavy bunch of keys and/or a key
fob, the ignition lock may be damaged.
fDo not attach any extra weight to the inserted ignition key.The ignition lock has a total of four ignition lock
positions.
The ignition key rebounds to the initial position
from every ignition lock position.
fFor your safety, fasten safety belts.
fPlease see the chapter “IMMOBILIZER” on
Page 18.
fPlease see the chapter “KEY WITH RADIO
REMOTE CONTROL” on Page 19.
Before starting the enginefApply the footbrake.
fMove the gearshift lever into neutral.
The clutch pedal must be depressed fully
before the starter will engage.Switch position 0 Initial position
The ignition key cannot be withdrawn when the
ignition is switched on or when the engine has
been started.
To withdraw the ignition key:
fStop the vehicle.
fSwitch ignition off.
fRemove ignition key.
Switch position 1 Ignition on
fTurn ignition key to position 1.
Ignition is switched on.
Note on operation
All electrical equipment can be switched on.
fPlease see the chapter “WARNINGS ON THE
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-BOARD
COMPUTER” on Page 148.
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68
Operation, Safety
Switch position 2Start engine
fTurn ignition key to ignition lock position 2.
fPlease see the chapter “STARTING PROCE-
DURES” on Page 70.Switch position 3Ignition off
fTurn ignition key to ignition lock position 3.
Note on operation
The vehicle battery discharges if the ignition key is
left inserted.
If the vehicle battery is dead, the key can only be
pulled out of the ignition lock if the emergency
operation is performed:
fPlease see the chapter “EMERGENCY OPERA-
TION – PULLING OUT THE IGNITION KEY” on
Page 69.
Locking the steering columnAutomatic locking
The steering column is automatically locked when
the ignition key is withdrawn from the ignition lock.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
The steering wheel will lock and will cause
loss of steering.
fNever remove key from the ignition lock or turn
the key off while the vehicle is moving.
fAlways withdraw the ignition key when leaving the vehicle.Automatic unlocking
The steering column is unlocked when the vehicle
is unlocked with the radio remote control.
Note
fTo avoid discharging the battery, always
remove the ignition key from the ignition lock.
Please see the chapter “BATTERY” on
Page 211.
Gong If you leave the key in the ignition/steering lock, a
gong will sound when the driver’s door is opened.
This is a reminder to remove the key.
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