
Before driving off...
11
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid
quality control and demanding inspections.
These engineering and safety features will be
enhanced by you... the safe driver... – who knows his/her car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always
drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages.
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your
authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off... Check the following items first fTurn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
fBe sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
fSee that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
fCheck engine oil level, add if necessary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with
every refueling.
fCheck all fluid levels such as windshield
washer and brake fluid levels.
fBe sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
fCheck all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
fCheck, and if necessary replace worn or
cracked wiper blades.
fSee that all windows are clear and
unobstructed.
fCheck air intake slots and area between
luggage compartment lid and windshield.
Ensure that these areas are free of snow and
ice, so the heater and the windshield wipers
work properly. fIf a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
fChild restraint systems will not fit into the
Sports bucket seat.
Do not install a child restraint system in the
Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped
with the LATCH system and thus the airbag
system cannot be manually deactivated.
fCheck all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
fCheck the headlights for proper aim, and if
necessary, have them adjusted.
fCheck under the vehicle for leaks.
fBe sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are:
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.
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Operation, Safety
35
E Lumbar support
(pelvis and spinal column support)
To permit a relaxed sitting posture, the backrest
curvature is continuously adjustable in vertical and
horizontal directions for individual pelvis and
spinal column support.
fPress the switch in the direction indicated by
the arrow until the desired backrest curvature
is reached.
F Adjusting the backrest side bolsters
fPush forward or pull backward switch F until
the side bolsters are adjusted to the shape of
the body.
G Adjusting the seat cushion side bolsters
fPush forward or pull backward switch G until
the side bolsters are adjusted to the shape of
the body.
HSeat backrest
fFolding forward: Pull up lever H in the side
part of the backrest and fold the backrest
forward.
fFolding back: Tilt back and engage the
backrest so that it cannot tip forward when the
car is braked.
Sports bucket seatChild restraint systems will not fit into the
Sports bucket seat.
fDo not install a child restraint system in the
Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped with
the LATCH system and thus the airbag system
cannot be manually deactivated.A Fore and aft adjustment
fRaise locking lever A.
Move seat to desired position and release
lever.
Ensure that the seat engages correctly.
B Backrest
fFolding forward: Pull loop B in the side part
of the backrest and fold the backrest forward.
fFolding back: Tilt back and engage the
backrest so that it cannot tip forward when the
car is braked.
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Operation, Safety
43
Seat adjustment for the passenger's seat
Danger!
Safety belts only offer protection when the
backrest is upright and the belts are properly
positioned on the body. Improperly positi-
oned safety belts can cause serious personal
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
backrest is in contact with the engine compart-
ment wall), the backrest can warp. Warping of the
backrest can lead to malfunctions.
fCorrect the seat adjustment.
Ensure that the seat is not jammed and is self-
supporting.
Ensure that the backrest is in the upright
position.fDo not transport a load and objects behind 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
support 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
moving.
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 148.
Vehicle modifications to accommodate
persons with disabilities
Because modifications to your vehicle could
compromise your advanced airbag system,
please call 1-800-PORSCHE prior to having your
vehicle modified.Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger’s airbags
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
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 44.
fBefore transporting a child on the passenger’s
seat:
Please see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 47.
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.
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44
Operation, Safety
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lampNote on operation
Although not desired, it can occur in the case of
heavier children that the passenger airbag remain
active or, in the case of very light adults or young
persons, that the passenger airbag is
deactivated.
The condition of the passenger airbag is shown by
the indicator lamp.
If in doubt:
fPlease see the chapter “PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR LAMP DOES NOT LIGHT UP”
on Page 44.fPlease see the chapter “KEY-OPERATED
AIRBAG DEACTIVATION DEVICE” on Page 46.
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 47.
fPlease see the chapter “LATCH SYSTEM
CHILD SEAT BRACKET ON THE PASSENGER’S
SEAT” on Page 51.
Note
fAfter inserting the ignition key, the
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning light lights
up for a few seconds as a bulb check.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up
– The passenger's airbag is switched off.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
does not light up
– The passenger's airbag is active and ready for
operation.
– If the passenger's seat is not occupied, the
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will
also not light up, even though the passenger's
airbag is switched off.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death due
to the passenger airbag triggering unintenti-
onally.
When the ignition key is inserted and an 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
deactivation device: Do not drive.
fHave the fault remedied at your nearest autho-rized Porsche dealer.
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