2010 PORSCHE CAYMAN Owners Manual

Shifting Gears
175
Shifting Gears
Manual Transmission, Clutch ...................... 176
Drive-Off Assistant ...
................................... 177
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) ................... 178

176
Shifting Gears
Manual Transmission, ClutchThe positions of the gears are shown on the shift
diagram on the gearshift lever.
Warning!
Risk of accident, resulting in serious person-
al injury or death.
f Do not obstruct the pedal travel with floor mats
or other objects.
Nonskid floor mats of the correct size are
available at your authorized Porsche dealer. To avoid damage to the clutch and transmis-
sion:
f
Always depress the clutch pedal fully when
changing gears. Make sure that the gearshift
lever is completely engaged.
f Only shift into reverse when the car has come
to a complete stop.
f When shifting gears, always ensure that the
clutch pedal is fully depressed and the gear
has fully engaged.
f Select reverse only when vehicle is stationary.
Reverse gear can be enga ged after shifting the
gearshift lever as far as possible to the left.
f Select an appropriately low gear on upward
and downward slopes.
This will ensure optimum use of engine power
and engine braking.
When reverse gear is sele cted and the ignition is
on, the backup lights are illuminated.
Permitted engine speedf You should change into a higher gear before
the needle reaches the red mark on the
tachometer, or ease off the accelerator.
If the red zone is reached during acceleration, fuel
feed is interrupted.
Caution!
Risk of engine damage (overrevving) when
shifting down to a lower gear.
f Take care not to exceed the maximum permitted engine speed when shifting down.

Shifting Gears
177
Drive-Off AssistantThe Drive-Off Assistant assists the driver when
moving off on hills.
The vehicle must have sufficient road contact.
The Drive-Off Assistant is available on gradients as
from around 5%.
Danger!
Risk of accident.
Assistance by the Drive-Off Assistant is not
guaranteed when moving off on a slippery
surface (e.g. on icy or loose surfaces). In this
case, the vehicle could slip.
The limits dictated by the laws of physics
cannot be overcome, even with the Drive-Off
Assistant. The responsi bility for moving off
on upward slopes is still the driver’s, despite
the Drive-Off Assistant.
f Always adjust your driving style to the driving
conditions and vehicle load, use the brake
pedal if necessary.
Risk of accident.
If the Drive-Off Assistant is not functioning,
the driver cannot be assisted when moving
off on hills.
f Hold the vehicle with the brake pedal. Driving off with the Drive-Off Assistant
(vehicles with manual transmission)
1. Hold the vehicle secure
ly on the slope with the
brake pedal.
The engine must be running.
2. Fully depress the clutch pedal.
3. Engage a gear corresponding to the direction of travel up the slope (1st gear or reverse
gear).
4. Fully release the parking brake.
5. While keeping the clutch pedal depressed, release the brake pedal.
The vehicle is held on the slope for a short time
in order to allow driving off directly after the
brake is released.
6. Move off as usual.
Note on operation
The Drive-Off Assistant is not active:
– If the clutch is not depressed.
– If the vehicle is not stationary.
– If the engine is not running.
– On gradients of less than 5%.
– If the pressure on the brake pedal is too low. Driving off with the Drive-Off Assistant
(vehicles with PDK transmission)
1. Hold the vehicle securely on the slope with the
brake pedal.
The engine must be running.
2. Select a gear corresponding to the direction of travel up the slope (selector lever position
Dor R).
3. Fully release the parking brake.
4. Release the brake pedal. The vehicle is held on the slope for a short time
in order to allow driving off directly after the
brake is released.
5. Move off as usual.
Note on operation
The Drive-Off Assistant is not active:
– In the event of shift to neutral.
– If the vehicle is not stationary.
– If the engine is not running.
– On gradients of less than 5%.
– If the pressure on the brake pedal is too low.

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Shifting Gears
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) is a seven-
speed transmission with an “automatic” and a
“manual” selection mode.
In automatic selection mode (selector lever
position D), gear changing is automatic.
You can change temporarily from automatic to
manual mode using the shift buttons on the
steering wheel.
In manual selection mode (selector lever
position M), you change gear using the shift
buttons on the steering wheel or with the PDK
selector lever.
You can change between se lector lever position D
and M as you wish while driving.
Note
f Take care not to operat e the shift buttons on
the steering wheel in advertently in either
automatic or manual mode, thereby triggering
undesired gear changes.
Changing the selector lever positionThe selector lever is locked when the ignition is
switched off.
When the ignition is switched on, the selector lever
can be moved from position P and N only when
the release button is pressed, and when the brake
pedal is pressed.
Release button
The release button ( arrow) in the selector lever
prevents the gear from being changed unintention-
ally.
The release button must be pressed when shifting
to position R or P.
StartingThe engine can be started only if the brake
pedal is depressed and the selector lever is in
position P or N.Driving offf Only select the desired position for driving off
( D, M or R ) when the engine is idling and the
brake pedal is depressed.
f Since the vehicle creeps when in gear, do not
release the brake until you want to move off.
f After selecting a gear, do not accelerate until
you can feel that the gear is engaged.
Driving off on hills
The Drive-Off Assistant assists the driver when
moving off on hills. The vehicle is held on the slope
for a short time during the change from the brake
pedal to the accelerator in order to allow driving
off directly after the brake is released.
f Please see the chapter “DRIVE-OFF ASSIS-
TANT” on Page 177.

Shifting Gears
179
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 in
the instrument panel flashes and the warning
“Actuate brake” or “Selector lever not
engaged” appears on the on-board computer.
f Action required:
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. To 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
f 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.
Action 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:
Please see the chapter “REDUCED DRIVING
PROGRAM” on Page 184. 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 184.
f Have the fault repaired immediately at an
authorized Porsche dealer.

180
Shifting Gears
Selector lever positionsP – Parking lockfEngage parking lock only when vehicle is
stationary.
If selector-lever position P is flashing in the
instrument cluster, the parking brake is not
engaged. The vehicle can roll away.
Engage selector-lever position P again by
moving the selector lever out of R.
f Engage parking lock after applying the
handbrake and release it before releasing the
handbrake.
The ignition key can be withdrawn only in
selector lever position P.R – Reverse gearf Select only if car is stationary and the brake is
applied.N – NeutralSelector lever position N must be selected for
towing or in car washes, for example.
f Only select the desired position for driving off
(D, M or R) when the engine is idling and the
brake pedal is depressed.
D - Automatic selection modeSelect position D for “normal” driving. The gears
are shifted automatically according to the acceler-
ator position and speed.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven
(economical, comfortable or sporty driving style)
and on the resistance (e.g. uphill), the gear-
changing points are shifted towards higher or
lower engine-speed ranges.
The accelerator position, driving speed, engine
speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration and
the road profile all have an influence on the gear-
changing characteristic.
Unwanted upward shifts, e.g. before bends, are
prevented by swiftly releasing the accelerator
pedal.
Depending on lateral acceleration, upward
changes on bends are not made until the engine-
speed limit is reached.
Under braking, and depending on the amount of
deceleration, the PDK transmission changes down
earlier.
For subsequent cornering, the right gear is
engaged when pressure is applied to the brakes
before the bend. The bend is taken in the right
gear, and when you accelera te out of the bend you
do not have to change down. With a sporty driving style, downshifts are already
initiated when the brake pedal is touched lightly.
This further enhances
a dynamic driving style.
The PDK transmission temporarily changes to the
sportiest gear-changing map, i.e. to the highest
possible gear-changing poin ts, if the accelerator
pedal is pressed quickly. The transmission accord-
ingly shifts down immediately by one or two gears
(temporary change-down).
The transmission no longer selects 7th gear at
high driving speeds.
Sport mode
(“Sport” and “Sport Plus” modes)
“Sport” mode activated:
The PDK transmission switches to a sporty gear-
changing map and shortens the gear shifting
times.
A sporty driving style is recognised more quickly
and the gear-changing speeds are adapted to
driving performance.
Deceleration downshifts are commenced earlier.
Downshifts are already carried out in the case of
slight decelerations, even at higher engine
speeds.

Shifting Gears
181
“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 61.
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 evas ive action due to the
rapid acceleration that this technology
permits.
f Launch 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.
f Use Launch Control only if conditions permit it
to be applied in a safe manner. f
Do 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 an d 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 fr om 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.

182
Shifting Gears
Kickdown
The kickdown function is active in selector lever
positions
D and M.
f For optimum acceleration, e.g. when
overtaking, depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the full-throttle point (kickdown).
The transmission shifts down depending on the
speed of travel and engine speed.
Upward shifts occur at the highest possible engine
speeds.
M – Manual selection modeThe currently selected gear is retained when you
change from D to M.
If you change from M to D, the gear-changing map
suitable for your current driving style is selected
and the appropriate gear is selected.
The selector lever and the two shift buttons in the
top steering wheel spokes allow you to comfort-
ably and reliably select the seven forward gears. Shifting up +
f
Press the PDK selector lever or shift button on
the steering wheel forward.
Shifting down –
f Pull the PDK selector leve r or shift button on
the steering wheel back.
You can shift up or down by the corresponding
number of gears by quickly pressing or pulling the
shift buttons or selector lever several times in
succession.
The transmission can be shifted up or down by
several gears in succe ssion by continuously
operating the selector lever or shift buttons.