light PORSCHE 911 GT3 2010 5.G Owner's Guide

Operation, Safety
49
Using child restraint systems in the
passenger seatfDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the
passenger seat can result in serious
personal injury or death to the child from an
airbag deployment.
To reduce risk of injury from an inflating
airbag in an accident, Porsche strongly
recommends:
fPlease see the chapter “PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR LAMP DOES NOT LIGHT UP”
on Page 44.
fPlease see the chapter “CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS” on Page 47.
fDo not install a child restraint system in
the Sports bucket seat.
The Sports bucket seat cannot be equipped with the LATCH system. Child restraint system for up to one-year old
children
– Make sure that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp lights up.
– Adjust the passenger's seat as far away from
the airbag as possible.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death due
to the passenger’s airbag triggering uninten-
tionally.
When the ignition is on 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 use a child
restraint system in the passenger’s seat.
fHave the fault remedied at your nearest autho-rized Porsche dealer.Child restraint system for children older than
one year
Your vehicle is equipped with a weight sensing
system for the passenger's seat in accordance
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
208. Depending on the weight acting on the
passenger's seat, the passenger's airbag will
automatically be switched on or off.
Small adult passengers
Make sure that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp does not light up.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death due
to the passenger’s airbag not triggering.
When the ignition key is inserted and the
small adult passenger is seated on the
passenger’s seat, the indicator lamp
“PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” must be off.
If the “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” indicator
lamp lights up, it could indicate a fault in the
system.
In this case:
fDo not carry a passenger in the passenger’s
seat.
fHave the fault remedied at the nearest autho-rized Porsche dealer.
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Operation, Safety
53
Clutch Pedal The clutch pedal must be depressed fully
before the starter will engage.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
fAlways check the movement of the clutch
pedal before driving and make sure that it is
not obstructed by a floor mat or any other
object.
fSecure the floor mat to prevent it from sliding
into positions that could interfere with the safe
operation of your vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you
nonskid floor mats of the correct size.
To avoid damage to the clutch and transmis-
sion:
fAlways depress the clutch pedal fully when
changing gears.
fDo not hold the car on a steep grade with the clutch pedal partially depressed.
Should the free travel of the clutch pedal suddenly
become larger, it could mean a malfunction of the
clutch.
fSee your Porsche dealer for correction.
Parking Brake Parking brake force is mechanically transferred to
the rear wheels by means of cables.
fUse the parking brake only after the vehicle
has come to a full stop.
Setting the parking brake fPull the lever all the way up (arrow).
With the ignition on, the parking brake warning
lights in the instrument panel and on-board
computer will come on if the lever is even
slightly raised. A firm pull upward is required to
properly engage the parking brake.
If the brake is not fully set, the vehicle may roll
without control.
fMove the gearshift lever to reverse or first
gear.
fBefore exiting the vehicle, make sure that the
parking brake is fully set and the vehicle is not
moving at all.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death. A
partially engaged parking brake may allow
the vehicle to roll, causing serious personal
injury or death to any person in its path.
fEngage the parking brake fully.Releasing the parking brakefPull the lever slightly up as you depress the
release button, and then push the lever all the
way down.
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54
Operation, Safety The warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer will go out after the parking brake
is fully released.
The warning lights are not an indicator that the
parking brake is fully set; it is only intended to be
a warning to release the parking brake before
driving the car. Caution!
A partially engaged brake will overheat the
rear brakes, reduce their effectiveness and
cause excessive wear.
fRelease the parking brake fully.
fWhen parking your car, always set the parking
brake by pulling all the way up on the lever.
fMove the gearshift lever to reverse or first
gear.
fOn hills also turn the front wheels towards the
curb.
Brakes fMake it a habit to check the operation of your
brakes before driving.
Keep in mind that the braking distance increases
very rapidly as the speed increases. At 60 mph or
100 km/h, for example, it is not twice but four
times longer than 30 mph or 50 km/h. Tire
traction is also less effective when the roads are
wet or slippery.
fTherefore, always maintain a safe distance
from the car in front of you.
Vehicles without Porsche Ceramic Compo-
site Brake (PCCB)
Even though the brake discs consist of alloyed
grey cast iron, they will unavoidably start to
corrode if your car is parked for an extended
period. The brakes will tend to “rub” as a result.
The nature, extent and effects of corrosion
depend on the amount of time the vehicle was
parked, whether granular or liquid road salt was
spread and whether grease-dissolving agents
were used in car washes.
If the braking comfort is noticeably impaired, we
recommend having the brake system checked by
experts at an authorized Porsche dealer.
Brake system function Your Porsche is equipped with a power assisted
hydraulic dual circuit brake system with disc
brakes at the front and rear.
Both circuits function independently. One brake
circuit operates the front and the other operates
the rear.
If one brake circuit has failed, the other will still
operate. However, you will notice an increased
pedal travel when you apply the brakes.
Failure of one brake circuit will cause the stopping
distance to increase.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
In the unlikely event of hydraulic failure of
one brake circuit:
fPush the brake pedal down firmly and hold it in
that position.
A mechanical linkage activates the second
circuit, and you will be able to bring the vehicle
to a stop.
fAfter bringing your vehicle to a complete stop,
avoid driving the vehicle and instead have it
towed to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer for repair.
Parking brake warning light USA
Parking brake warning light
Canada
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Operation, Safety
55
Brake system warning light
You can check the functionality of the brake
system warning light by switching the ignition to
the “On” position and verifying that the warning
light illuminates.
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer go on while driving, the brake
fluid level may be too low, or (if the brake pedal
travel has increased) one of the two brake circuits
may have failed.
A greater braking pressure will be required,
stopping distances will be longer and the braking
behavior will change, particularly in curves.
With correctly adjusted brakes, and a correctly
working brake system, the pedal travel to the
point of brake actuation should be 1-3/16 in. to
1-9/16 in. or 30 to 40 mm.
Whenever the brake pedal travel exceeds this
distance, have the brake system checked.
Brake pedal
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
Any obstruction of the brake pedal could
increase the stopping distance.
fAlways check the movement of the brake pedal
before driving and make sure that it is not
obstructed by a floor mat or any other object.
fSecure the floor mat to prevent it from sliding
into positions that could interfere with the safe
operation of your vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you nonskid floor mats of the correct size.
Note
In case one of the two brake circuits fails, incre-
ased pedal travel is required to bring your vehicle
to a full stop.
Warning!
To avoid overheating and premature wear of
the brakes:
fBefore descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and shift the transmission into a lower
gear to control speed.
fDo not “ride the brakes” by resting your foot on
the pedal when not intending to apply brake
pressure.
fDo not hold the pedal down too long or too
often.
This could cause the brakes to get hot and not function properly.
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light Canada
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56
Operation, Safety
Brake booster The brake booster assists braking only when
the engine is running.
When the car is moving while the engine is not
running, or if the brake booster is defective, more
pressure on the brake pedal is required to bring
the car to a stop.
If this happens, ABS and PSM will also not
operate.
Moisture or road salt on brakes affects braking.
Brakes will dry after a few cautious brake applica-
tions.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
Driving through water may reduce the
traction.
Moisture on brakes from road water, car
wash, or coating of road salt may affect
braking efficiency.
fCautiously apply brakes to test brakes after exposure to road water, etc.
Brake wear Your car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear
depends on how the brakes are used.
fHave the brake system inspected at the
intervals recommended in your Maintenance
Booklet.
Brake system warning light
You can check the functionality of the brake
system warning light by switching the ignition to
the “On” position and verifying that the warning
light illuminates.
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer stay on when the engine is
running or come on while driving, the brake pads
are worn excessively.
fDo not continue to operate the vehicle.
Have your authorized Porsche dealer inspect
or replace the brake pads.
Brake pads Wear on the brake pads and brake discs depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the condi-
tions of use and therefore cannot be expressed in
actual miles on the road.
The high-performance brake system is designed
for optimal braking effect at all speeds and tempe-
ratures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient
conditions (such as temperature and humidity)
therefore might cause “brake noises”. This also
applies after completion of the breaking-in period
required for the new brake components.
New brake pads or linings
New brake pads and brake discs have to be
“broken in”, and therefore only attain optimal
friction when the car has covered several hundred
miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be
compensated for by pressing the brake pedal
harder. This also applies whenever the brake pads
and brake discs are replaced.
Warning light USA
Warning light Canada
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58
Operation, Safety When the ignition is switched on the ABS warning
light will light up while the system is electronically
interrogated and goes out when the engine is
started if the check is not yet complete.
If the ABS warning lamp fails to go out, this
indicates that ABS has been deactivated due to a
fault. If the warning lights in the instrument panel
and on-board computer light up while you are
driving, this indicates that a fault has occurred. In
both cases, normal braking, as in vehicles without
ABS, is still retained.
The ABS system should, however, be examined at
an authorized Porsche dealer immediately to
prevent the occurrence of further faults.
fIf the ABS system becomes inoperative, take
your vehicle to your authorized Porsche dealer
immediately.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
The control unit of the ABS brake system is
set for standard tire size. If non-standard
tires are installed, the control unit may misin-
terpret the speed of the vehicle, because of
the variant data it receives from the sensors
on the axles.
fUse only tire makes and types tested by Porsche.
Warning light USA
Warning light Canada
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Operation, Safety
59
Porsche Stability Management
(PSM)PSM is an active control system for stabilization of
the vehicle during extreme driving maneuvers.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
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 PSM.
The risk of accidents due to inappropriate
speed cannot be reduced, even by PSM.
The driver bears the responsibility for all
driving maneuvers.
fAdapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
fObey all traffic laws.
Sensors at the wheels, brakes, steering system
and engine continuously measure:
–Speed
– Direction of travel (steering angle)
– Lateral acceleration
– Rate of turn about the vertical axis
– Longitudinal accelerationPSM uses these values to determine the direction
of travel indicated by the driver.
PSM intervenes and helps to correct the course if
the actual direction of motion deviates from the
chosen course (steering-wheel position):
It brakes individual wheels as needed. In addition,
the engine power may be manipulated in order to
stabilize the vehicle.
The events below inform the driver of PSM control
operations and warn him/her to adapt his/her
driving style to the road conditions:
– The multifunctional information light on the
instrument panel flashes.
– Hydraulic noises can be heard.
– The vehicle decelerates and steering-wheel
forces are altered as PSM controls the brakes.
– Reduced engine power.
– The brake pedal pulsates and its position is
changed during braking.
In order to achieve full vehicle deceleration,
foot pressure must be increased after the
brake pedal has begun vibrating.
Advantages of PSM– Improved traction and lane-holding ability in all
driving situations – even on road surfaces with
varying friction.
– The system compensates for undesired lateral
vehicle reactions when the driver releases the
accelerator pedal or brakes when cornering.
This compensation functions up to the
maximum lateral acceleration.
– PSM actively helps stabilize the vehicle as
required during dynamic driving maneuvers
(e.g. rapid steering movements, during lane
changes or on alternating bends).
– Improved braking stability in curves and on
different or varying road surfaces.
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60
Operation, Safety Readiness for operation
PSM is switched on automatically every time you
start the engine.
PSM should always be switched on during
“normal” driving.
However, it may make sense to switch off PSM
temporarily in exceptional situations, for example:
– On a loose surface or in deep snow,
– when “rocking the vehicle free” and
– when using snow chains.
Switching off PSMPSM can be switched off in 2 stages:
– Stage 1 SC OFF:
Switch off Stability Control (SC).
– Stage 2 SC+TC OFF:
Also switch off Traction Control (TC).
Danger!
There is a risk of accident due to loss of
control of the vehicle. There is no stabilizing
brake control in either switch-off stages
(even when the brakes are used).
fPSM should always be switched on during
“normal” driving. This particularly applies in wet conditions.
Switching off Stability Control (SC)Precondition:
The light-emitting diode in the SC+TC OFF button
must be off.
fPress SC OFF button.
Stability Control is switched off after a short
delay.
The light-emitting diode in the button is lit up.
When the system is switched off, the multi-
functional PSM light on the instrument panel
is lit and the message “SC OFF” appears
continuously on the on-board computer.
An acoustic signal also sounds.
– When Stability Control is switched off, sportier
Traction Control is activated.
– Brake control is deactivated.
– The ABS remains active.Switching Stability Control (SC) back onfPress SC OFF button.
Stability Control is switched on after a short
delay.
The light-emitting diode in the button and the
multi-functional PSM light on the instrument
panel go out.
The on-board computer shows a message.
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Operation, Safety
61
Switching off Stability Control (SC) and
Traction Control (TC)fPress SC+TC OFF button.
Stability Control and Traction Control switch off
completely after a short delay.
The light-emitting diode in the button is lit up.
When the system is switched off, the multifunc-
tional PSM light on the instrument panel is lit
and the message “SC+TC OFF” appears conti-
nuously on the on-board computer.
A gong signal also sounds.
fPush the on-board computer lever forward to
acknowledge the additional message under
the digital speedometer.– All PSM functions are deactivated.
– The ABS remains active.
Note
If the PSM is deactivated directly using the
SC+TC OFF button, the light-emitting diode of the
SC OFF button also lights up.
Switching Stability Control (SC) and
Traction Control (TC) back onfPress SC+TC OFF button.
PSM is switched on after a short delay.
The light-emitting diode in the button and the
multi-functional PSM light on the instrument
panel go out.
The on-board computer shows a message.
– The multifunctional light on the instrument
panel lights up for a lamp check when the
ignition is switched on.
– The light flashes to indicate PSM control
operations.
– In conjunction with a message on the on-board
computer, the light indicates that PSM is fully
or partially deactivated.
An acoustic signal also sounds.
– The light indicates a fault in conjunction with a
message on the on-board computer.
PSM is out of order.fHave the fault repaired at your authorized
Porsche dealer immediately.
fPlease see the chapter “PUTTING VEHICLE
INTO OPERATION” on Page 218.
TowingfPlease see the chapter “TOWING” on
Page 235.Checks on test standsBrake tests must be performed only on plate-
type test stands or roller test stands.
The ignition must be off.
The following limit values must not be exceeded
on roller test stands:
– Testing speed 5 mph (8 km/h)
– Test duration 20 seconds
Handbrake tests on the brake test stand must
only be carried out with the ignition switched
off.
Power measurement
Power measurements on roller test stands are not
approved by Porsche.
Multifunctional PSM light
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62
Operation, Safety
Sport modeWhen the Sport mode is switched on, the exhaust
gas back pressure in the lower and middle ranges
is reduced in the variable exhaust system. This
serves to produce a marked increase in torque in
the engine speed range from approx. 3000 rpm
and 4000 rpm. The best values for vehicle accele-
ration and low-end torque are achieved when
Sport mode is switched on.
Switching Sport mode on and off
fPress button in the centre console.
When Sport mode is switched on, the light-
emitting diode in the button is lit.
Note on operation
After the ignition is switched off, Sport mode is
automatically reset to Normal mode.10_GT3_21.book Seite 62 Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2009 12:48 12