PORSCHE PANAMERA 2009 1.G Information Manual
Page 101 of 343
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
99
Switching automatic interior lighting on 
and off fPress button  A.
When the automatic interior lighting is switched 
off, the indicator light in the button lights up.
When the automatic interior lighting is switched 
on, in darkness the interior lighting is
– switched on  when a door is unlocked or 
opened, when the ignition key is removed from 
the ignition lock or when the steering wheel is 
locked on vehicles with Porsche Entry & Drive. –
switched off  when the door is closed, after 
a delay of approx. 120 seconds. The off delay 
time can be preset on the multi-function 
display.
The interior lighting goes out as soon as the 
ignition is switched on or the vehicle is locked.
For information on setting  the off delay for the 
interior light:
f Please see the chapter “SETTING INTERIOR 
LIGHTING OFF DELAY” on page 143.
Orientation lightingLights in the front operating console, the inner 
door handles, the storage trays and the rear light 
units help vehicle occupa nts to locate important 
controls in the vehicle in darkness and ensure 
better overall orientation. The lights are switched 
on when the vehicle is unlocked and switched off 
again automatically when  the vehicle is locked.
Dimming (brightness adjustment)
The brightness of the orientation lighting is 
adjusted on the multi-function display.
For information on adjusting the brightness 
of the orientation lighting:
f Please see the chapter “ADJUSTING 
BRIGHTNESS OF ORIENTATION LIGHTING” on 
page 143. 
Page 102 of 343
100
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
Ambient lightingIf the vehicle is driven at night, a discreet light 
provides subtle illumination for the passenger 
compartment. The ambient lighting is switched off 
automatically when the vehicle is locked.
Switching ambient lighting on and off
fPress button  B.
Dimming (brightness adjustment)
f Press button  B for dimming the ambient 
lighting and hold for at least 1 second until the 
desired level of brightness is reached.
Automatic interior light switch-off 
functionIn darkness, the interior lighting is switched off 
16 minutes after the engine  stops to preserve the 
vehicle battery.
In daylight conditions, interior lights that 
were switched on manually are switched off 
automatically after 1 minute. 
Page 103 of 343
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
101
Brief Overview – Windshield 
WipersThis brief overview does not replace the 
information provided under “WINDSHIELD WIPER/
WASHER STALK”.
Warnings, in particular, are not replaced by this 
brief overview.
Windshield wiper stalkSwitches for wiping interval ( A) and rear wiper ( B)
What do I want to do?
What do I have to do?
Wipe automatically at front 
(rain sensor/intermittent operation)Press the stalk to detent position 1 .
Adjust the rain sensor/wipe interval
Adjust switch A on the right of the stalk upwards (wipe mo re often) or downwards (wipe less often).
Wipe at front
Slow: Press the stalk to detent position 2.
Fast: Press the stalk to detent position 3 .
Once: Briefly move stalk to position  4 (holding stalk in position  4 accelerates wiping action).
Spray and wipe at front
Pull stalk to position  5 and hold.
Wipe at rear (intermittent wiping)
Push switch B upwards to detent position  INT.
Wipe at rear (wipe once)
Push switch B all the way up or down. 
Page 104 of 343
102
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
Windshield Wiper/Washer Stalk
 Caution!
Danger of injury if  the windshield wipers 
operate unintentionally.
Risk of damage to the engine compartment 
lid, windshield and wiper system.
f Only wipe the windshield when sufficiently wet, 
otherwise it could become scratched.
f Loosen frozen wiper blades before starting 
to drive.
f Do not operate a frozen headlight washer 
system. 
f Always switch off windshield wipers in car 
washes to prevent them wiping unintentionally 
(rain sensor operation).
f Do not operate headlight washer system in 
car washes.
f Always switch off windshield wipers before 
cleaning the windshield to avoid unintentional 
operation (rain sensor operation).
f Always hold the wiper arm securely when 
replacing the wiper blade.
f Always switch off windshield wipers before 
opening the engine compartment lid (wiper switch in position  0).
Front wiper and headlight washer system0 – Windshield wipers off
When the windshield wipers are switched off, 
the wipers move up slightly from their rest 
position so that the wiping edges are aligned 
correctly.
1 – Rain sensor operation Front windshield wipers
Move wiper stalk upwards to the first click.
2 – Front windshield wipers – slow Move wiper stalk upwards to the second 
click.
3 – Front windshield wipers – fast Move wiper stalk upwards to the third click. 4 – Front windshield wipers – one-touch 
operation
Move wiper stalk downwards.
The front windshield wipers carry out one 
wiping cycle.
5 – Front windshield wiper and washer  system
Pull wiper stalk toward s the steering wheel.
The washer system wipes and sprays while 
the stalk is pulled towards the steering 
wheel.
When the wiper stalk is released, a few 
drying wipes are performed.
After every 10 wipes on the windshield, 
the headlights are cleaned automatically.
Maintenance notes
f If heavily soiled, repeat wash. 
f Persistent dirt (e.g. insect remains) should 
be removed regularly.
For information on car care:
f Please see the chapter “CAR CARE 
INSTRUCTIONS” on page 269.
The  front windshield washer nozzles are 
heated when the ignition is on, as a precaution 
against freezing. However, this does not replace 
the use of antifreeze. 
Page 105 of 343
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
103
Rain sensor operation, front windshield 
wipers
In rain sensor mode, the amount of rain on the 
windshield is measured. Wiper speed is 
automatically adjusted accordingly.
At a speed of less than approx. 2 mph (4 km/h), 
rain sensor operation is automatically activated if 
the windshield wiper is switched on. If you exceed 
a speed of approx. 5 mph (8 km/h), the system 
changes to the preselected wiper speed.
The rain sensor remains switched off if the wiper 
stalk is already in position 1 when the ignition is 
switched on. To switch the rain sensor on again:
f
Move wiper stalk to position 0  and then to 
position 1
Switch-on is confirmed  by one wipe of the 
windshield.
or
Operate windshield washer system  5.
Switch-on is confirmed by three wipes 
of the windshield.
or
Change the sensitivity of the rain sensor 
using switch A .
Note on operation
In the multi-function display on the instrument 
panel, you can configur e the rain sensor to 
activate automatically when the ignition is 
switched on and the wiper stalk is set to 
position 1.
For information on adjusting rain sensor activation 
when the ignition is switched on:
f Please see the chapter “SETTING RAIN 
SENSOR ACTIVATION” on page 143.
Adjusting the rain sensor sensitivity
f Move switch  A upwards – 
high sensitivity.
The setting is confirmed by one wipe of 
the windshield.
f Move switch  A downwards – 
low sensitivity. Headlight washer system 
The washer sprays only while low beam or 
high beam is activated. 
f
Press button  B under the wiper stalk.
After every 10 wipes on the windshield, the 
headlights are cleaned automatically as well. 
The wipe count starts from zero again when the 
low beam is switched off. 
Page 106 of 343
104
Lights, Turn Signals and Windshield Wipers
Rear window wiperSwitching on intermittent operation of rear 
window wiper
fPush switch C  upwards to detent position INT .
Switching off intermittent operation of rear 
window wiper
f Push switch C downwards to detent 
position OFF. Manual wiping
f
Push switch C  on the wiper stalk all the way 
down from detent position  OFF or all the way 
up from detent position  INT.
The washer system wipes as long as the 
switch is pressed down.
Switching on the rear window wiper when 
reverse gear is engaged
In the multi-function display, you can configure the 
rear wiper to automatically perform a series of 
wipes when it rains or when the windshield wipers 
are used while reverse gear is engaged.
For information on configuring the automatic 
function for activating the rear wiper when reverse 
gear is engaged:
f Please see the chapter “SETTING ACTIVATION 
OF THE REAR WIPER WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS 
ENGAGED” on page 143. Maintenance note
f
Clean the wiper blades with window cleaner at 
regular intervals, especi ally after washing the 
vehicle in a car wash.
We recommend Porsche window cleaner. If the 
wiper blades are very dirty (e. g. soiled with 
insect remains), they can be cleaned with 
a sponge or cloth.
If the wiper blades rub or squeak, this may be due 
to the following:
– If the vehicle is washed  in an automatic car 
wash, wax residues may adhere to the 
windshield. These wax residues can be 
removed only by using window cleaner 
concentrate.
f Please see the chapter “WASHER FLUID” on 
page 259.
Contact your authorized Porsche dealer for more 
information.
– The wiper blades may be damaged or worn.
f Replace damaged wiper blades immediately. 
Page 107 of 343
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
105
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
Instrument Panel USA 
Models...................... 107
Instrument Panel Canada Models ................. 109
Tachometer ................. .............................. 110
Speedometer ............... .............................. 110
Multi-Function Displa y ................................. 110
Engine Oil Temperatur e Gauge .................... 110
Coolant Temperature  Gauge ....................... 110
Engine Oil Pressure  Gauge.......................... 111
Fuel Gauge .................. .............................. 111
Digital Speedometer ................................... 112
Upshift Prompt Indica tor ............................. 112
Odometer .................... .............................. 112
Reset Button for Trip Counter Display/
Brightness Setting for Instrument Lighting ...  112
PDK Display for Selector-Lever Position/
Engaged Gear.............. .............................. 112
Battery/Alternator ... ................................... 113
Check Engine (Emission Control) ................. 114
Acoustic Signals ..... ................................... 114
Operating the Multi-Function Display in the
Instrument Panel .......... .............................. 115
Vehicle Settings on the Multi-Function
Display ............................................ .......... 138
Overview of Warning Messages ................... 152 
Page 108 of 343
106
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display 
Page 109 of 343
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
107
ATa c h o m e t e r
B Speedometer
C Multi-function display
D Engine oil temperature gauge
E Coolant temperature gauge
F Engine oil pressure gauge
G Fuel gauge
H Digital speedometer
I Upshift prompt indicator
J Odometer
K Reset button for trip counter display/
Brightness setting for instrument panel
L PDK indicator for selector-lever position/
engaged gear
Instrument Panel USA ModelsWarning and indicator lights on the 
tachometer Warning and indicator lights on the 
speedometer
Emission control warning light
(Check Engine)
Air bag warning light
Seat belt warning light
PSM warning light
PSM OFF warning light
ABS warning light
Turn signal, left
Turn signal, right
Brake warning light
High beam indicator light
Electric parking brake warning light
Rear fog light indicator light
HOLD function indicator light
Low beam indicator light
Adaptive light system warning light
Tire pressure warning light 
Page 110 of 343
108
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display