PORSCHE CAYMAN 2009 1.G Owners Manual
Page 171 of 284
Warnings
169
Oil pressure gage faultyHave the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Oil level display faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Oil temperature gage faulty Have the  fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Oil temperature
too high Switch engine off and let 
it cool. Check oil level 
and, if necessary, add oil.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND 
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL“.
Indicator faulty Coolant indicator failed.
Have the fault remedied  at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Brake  pad  wear Have the brake pads changed immediately at an 
authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning – Brake fluid level Stop immediately in a suitable place.
Do not continue driving. Have the fault remedied 
at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning – Brake circuit division Stop immediately in a suitable place.  Do not continue driving. Have the fault remedied 
at an authorized Porsche dealer.
ABS failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
PSM off Porsche Stability Management has been 
switched off.
Instrument 
panel On-board 
computerText display on on-board 
computer Meaning/measure 
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170
Warnings
PSM onPorsche Stability Management has been 
switched on.
PSM failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
PSM
initialisation Please observe the chapter “PUTTING VEHICLE 
INTO OPERATION“.
PASM Normal/Sport Indicator for selected PASM mode
PASM failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
PASM indicator faulty Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Sport mode failure Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Airbag system fault Airbag is faulty.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Check passenger’s seat setting Weight sensing is impaired on the front  passenger's seat (Advanced Airbag). 
Correct the seating position, set the backrest 
upright, do not support weight on the armrests, 
or lift on the handles.
Failure spoiler control Driving stability is impaired.
Adjust your driving style. Reduce speed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Display of 
selector lever posi-
tion flashes Selector lever is not engaged Porsche Doppelkupplung:
Selector lever can be between two positions.
Engage the selector lever correctly.
Instrument 
panel On-board 
computerText display on on-board 
computer Meaning/measure 
Page 173 of 284
Warnings
171
Move selector lever to PPorsche Doppelkupplung:
Move selector lever to position P before with-
drawing key from ignition lock.
Apply brake Porsche Doppelkupplung:
Apply the brake when starting.
Depress clutch pedal Manual transmission:
Depress clutch pedal when starting.
Move selector lever 
to position P or N Porsche Doppelkupplung:
The vehicle can be started only in the selector 
lever position P or N.
Text display in white:
Transmission 
emergency run Restricted gearshift comfort,
failure of reverse gear.
Have the fault remedied
 at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Text display in red:
Transmission 
emergency run No selector lever positi
on is displayed on the 
instrument cluster.
Vehicle can be driven only until it comes to a 
stop. 
It is not possible to continue driving. Immedi-
ately stop the vehicle in  a suitable place. Have 
the vehicle towed to an authorized Porsche 
dealer.
Transmission
temperature
too high Jerking can be felt when driving off, and the 
engine power may be restricted.
Do not hold the vehicle 
with the accelerator on 
a hill, for example. Hold the vehicle with the 
brake. Reduce engine load. If possible, stop the 
vehicle in a suitable place. Allow the engine to 
run in selector lever position  P or  N until the 
warning disappears.
Instrument 
panel On-board 
computerText display on on-board 
computer Meaning/measure 
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172
Warnings
System fault
Go to workshopSeveral systems may have
 failed. Adjust your 
driving style. Reduce speed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Failure of fuel level indicator
Workshop Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Service in mls/days Service indicator
Bring the vehicle in for service no later than af-
ter the distance/time shown has elapsed.
Please observe the additional information in the 
“Maintenance” booklet.
Service now Service indicator
Have your vehicle serviced at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Flat tyre! Tire Pressure Monitoring has detected a serious 
pressure loss.
Stop at a suitable plac e and check tires for dam-
age. Fill in tire sealant if necessary.
Add air The Tire Pressure Monitoring has detected a 
gradual pressure loss. Correct tire pressure at 
the next opportunity. 
TPM is learning
monitoring
not act. The Tire Pressure Monitoring is learning the 
wheels on the vehicle. The Tire Pressure Moni-
toring is searching for the tires and their posi-
tion. During this period
 the current pressure 
specifications are not av ailable on the on-board 
computer.
TPM inactive The Tire Pressure Monitoring is faulty.
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
Instrument 
panel On-board 
computerText display on on-board 
computer Meaning/measure 
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Warnings
173
Acknowledging warning messagesWarning messages can be deleted from the on-board computer display.
f Push the on-board computer operating lever forward.
You can recall erased warning messages in the “INFO” menu.
TPM partial monitoring 1 or 2 wheel transmitters are faulty. The tyre 
pressures of these wheels are not monitored.
The other wheels are still monitored.
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
TPM inactive
Brief disturbance
TPM inactive
Too many wheel transmitters The Tire Pressure Monitoring is temporarily de-
activated by excessive tire temperatures (ap-
prox. 248 °F (120 °C)) or external interference 
(e.g. from other wheel transmitters inside the 
car). Once the source of 
the interference is re-
moved, the system is automatically reactivated.
Wheel change?
Input new
TPM settings! Update the settings in the TPM menu of the 
on-board computer at the next opportunity. 
Wrong entries will affect 
the correct pressure in-
formation in the menu. The safety of your vehi-
cle is at risk.
TPM
Indicator faulty The display of the Tire Pressure Monitoring is 
faulty.
Consult an authorized Porsche dealer.
Instrument 
panelOn-board 
computerText display on on-board 
computer Meaning/measure 
Page 176 of 284
174
Warnings 
Page 177 of 284
Shifting Gears
175
Shifting Gears
Manual Transmission, Clutch  ...................... 176
Drive-Off Assistant ...
................................... 177
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) ................... 178 
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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. 
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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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178
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.