inflation pressure PORSCHE 944 1987 1.G Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: PORSCHE, Model Year: 1987, Model line: 944, Model: PORSCHE 944 1987 1.GPages: 66, PDF Size: 3.3 MB
Page 11 of 66

Air Bag System
The "Air Bag" in combination with the safety
belt makes up a passive safety system which
offers the driver and front seat passenger the
greatest known protection from injuries in
case of accident.
The air bag system is composed of the
following 3 major groups:
Air bag with gas generator and ignition unit Control electronics Collision sensors
In case of frontal collision greater than a
certain severity, the collision sensors send a
signal via the control electronics to the igni- tion mechanism. In the ignition process, a
solid propellant in the gas generator is
combusted in a fraction of a second. This
combustion generates the gas quantity and
pressure necessary to fill the air bag.
The air bag is located behind the steering
wheel center pad on the driver's side, and on the passenger side behind the padding above
the glove compartment. Due to the rapid
deflation of the air bag after use, there is little
danger of obstructed vision. Likewise, the
noise of the inflation of the air bag generally
goes unnoticed because of the collision noise. The air bag protects the face and upper body,
and at the same time dampens the forward
motion of the driver and passenger.
Range of Effectiveness Even if your vehicle is equipped with an air bag, the safety belt must be worn, since the air bag system is only actuated by frontal collisions and at speeds of more than 13 to 19 mph (depending on collision angle). See
figure for range of effectiveness.
Below the actuation threshold of the air bag
system, and during types of collisions which
do not cause the actuation of the system, the
seat belts provide the primary protection to the occupants when correctly worn. Therefore, all persons within the vehicle should always
wear safety belts (in many states, state law
requires the use of safety belts). See also the
chapter "Safety Belts".
20
Maintenance / Monitor Lights
The air bag system monitors the operational
readiness of the igniter, sensors, warning
lamp, and control electronics itself.
Any malfunctions which may arise are announced by the monitor lights in the right
instrument cluster. Upon activation of the
vehicle ignition circuit, the "Air Bag" notation in
the instrument cluster lights up for
approximately 5 seconds and then goes out
again, indicating system readiness.
In the following cases you should immediately
consult an authorized Porsche dealer in order
to assure the air bag system is functioning
properly:
Illumination of the "Air Bag" light during travel
or repeated illumination longer than 5
seconds after the ignition circuit is turned on.
Illumination fails to light up during ignition
circuit activation.
In order to ensure long-
term functioning, the air bag system must be inspected by an
authorized Porsche dealer after 4, 8 and 10
years from the date of manufacture shown on
the safety compliance sticker, and then every 2 years.
WARNING
No changes must be made to the wiring or components of the air bag system. Do not
add any additional coverings or stickers to the steering wheel or in the area of the
passenger side air bag. Doing so may
adversely affect the functioning of the air
bag system.
Do not undertake any wiring for electrical accessory equipment in the vicinity of the air bag wiring harness. Doing so may
disable the air bag system.
The actuation of the air bag requires the immediate inspection of the system and
replacement of some parts of the system.
See your authorized Porsche dealer.
Defects should be repaired immediately. See your authorized Porsche dealer. When disposing of a used air bag unit, our safety instructions must be followed. These instructions can be obtained at any authorized Porsche dealer.
Important:
If you sell your Porsche, notify the
purchaser that the vehicle is equipped
with an air bag, and refer him or her to the
chapter, "Air Bag System", in the owner's
manual (safety and disposal rules).
Further information on the air bag system can
be found on stickers in the glove
compartment, at the interior light, as well as
on all air bag components.
Horn Button
In vehicles equipped with an AIR BAG, the
horn buttons are mounted in the two upper
spokes of the steering wheel (arrow).
21
Page 42 of 66

944
5. Press together the housing cover with the air intake funnel (944 Turbo) and carefully
place in position. Tighten fastening screws,
connect hose and screw down hose clamp.
944 S
1. Unscrew the retaining screws and remove
the filter cover.
2.
Remove the filter element.
3. Clean the inside of the filter housing with a
lightly oiled lint-free cloth.
4.
Fit a replacement filter element. Carefully
place the housing cover in position and
tighten the retaining screws.
Reservoir for Windshield and Headlight
Washer System
The transparent reservoir is in the engine
compartment. As clear water is usually
inadequate for cleaning windshield or
headlights, add a cleaning solution, such as
windshield washer solvent and antifreeze offered by your dealer. To assure that the
system also functions at freezing
temperatures, antifreeze must be added to the water beforehand. Follow the instructions on the can for the right amount to be used (also
see "Filling Capacities"). Do not use engine
coolant anti-freeze or any other solution
that can damage the car paint.
81
Tires/Wheels
The original equipment tires and wheel rims
on your Porsche comply with all applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
For your driving safety remember the
following:
Wheel rims and wheel bolts are matched to
fit your Porsche.
If you intend to use other than original equipment wheels, be sure that they conform to Porsche specifications for your model. The use of wheel rims and wheel bolts that
do not meet specifications of the original
factory installed equipment will affect the safe operation of your vehicle. Before you plan on exchanging wheels, or winter tires already mounted on wheel rims, consult your Porsche dealer. He has the
technical information necessary to advise
you which wheel rims and wheel bolts are
compatible with the original factory
installations.
Tire pressures
WARNING
Incorrect tire pressures cause increased
tire wear and adversely affect road holding of the vehicle, leading to loss of control.
Always use an accurate tire pressure
gauge when checking inflation pressures.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure listed on the tire sidewall. (Also
refer to "Technical data"). Cold tire infla-
tion pressure means: when a car has not been driven for at least 3 hours or less
than 1 mile. Never let any air out of warm
tires to meet cold tire pressure
specifications.
Tire traction
WARNING
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a
wedge of water may build up between the
tires and the road. This phenomenon is
known as aquaplaning and may cause
partial or com
plete loss of traction, vehicle control or stopping ability. Reduce speed
on wet surface.
Tire Life
Tire life depends on various factors, i.e.,
roads, traffic and weather conditions, driving
habits, type of tires and tire care.
Inspect your tires at least
every 2.000 miles or 3.000 km for wear and damage. If you notice
uneven or substantial wear, wheels might
need alignment or tires should be balanced or
replaced.
Tires must always remain on same side of
vehicle.
After changing, adjust tire pressure and torque wheel nuts diagonally to 94 ft Ibs (130 Nm) (see "Changing wheels").
The supposition that tire durability and
performance are immune to the effects of
storage and age is unfounded. Chemical
additives, which make the rubber elastic, lose
their effectiveness in the course of time and
the rubber becomes brittle and cracks.
Therefore, the tires, especially the collapsible
spare tire, should from time to time undergo a
visual check. To accomplish this,
pump up the collapsible spare tire.
Under no circumstances should tires older
than 6 years be used on your Porsche. The
age of the tire can be obtained from the "DOT" code number. If, for example, the last three
numbers read 125, then the tire was produced in the 12th week of 1985.
Tire wear
The original equipment tires on your Porsche
have built-
in wear indicators. They are molded into the bottom of the tread grooves and will
appear as approximately 1/2 in (12 mm)
bands when the tire tread depth is down to
1/2 of an in (1.6 mm).
When the indicators appear in two or more
adjacent grooves, it is time to replace the
tires. We recommend, however, that you do
not let the tires wear down to this extent. Worn tires cannot grip the road surface properly,
and are even less effective on wet roads.
In the United States, state laws may govern
the minimum tread depth permissible. Follow
all such laws.
WARNING
Do not drive with worn tires or tires
showing cuts or bruises as they may lead
to sudden deflation.
If you notice that tires are wearing unevenly,
consult your Porsche dealer. Uneven wear
82
Page 43 of 66

may not always be due to improper wheel
alignment. It can be the result of individual
driving habits such as cornering at high
speeds. If the tire pressure is not checked and adjusted regularly, abnormal tire wear can
also occur.
Tire care
WARNING
Avoid damaging tires and wheel rims. If you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle.
Frequently check tires for uneven wear and
damage.
Remove imbedded material. Replace worn or damaged tires immediately. Replace missing valve dust caps. Keep oil, fuel, brake fluid, etc. away from
tires.
Keep tires inflated correctly.
Tire replacement
In the interest of maximum safety and best
all-around car handling, always buy
replacement tires that have the same
specifications with regard to tire size,
design, load carrying capacity, tread
pattern, tread depth etc. This also applies
to Porsche recommended alternate
replacement tires. If you do not use a
Porsche recommended replacement tire,
make sure that you purchase your new
tires from a reputable
tire specially dealer and that the dealer complies with all manufacturers warnings
for those tires.
In case of tire damage where it is uncertain
whether there is a break in the ply with all its consequences or, tire damage caused by
thermal or mechanical overloading due to a
loss of pressure or any other prior damage,
we recommend that the tire be replaced for safety reasons.
If one faulty tire on an axle is replaced it
should be noted that the difference in tread
depth on one axle must not be more than
30%.
Tire specifications are imprinted on the
sidewall of the tires. If in doubt, check with
your Porsche dealer.
When replacing tubeless tires, always install
new valve stems. When replacing tires
requiring an inner tube, always install new
tubes.
New tires do not possess maximum
traction. They tend to be slippery. Break
new tires in by driving at moderate speed
for the first 60-120 miles or 100-200
kilometers.
Wheel balancing
A wheel should always be balanced after a tire repair. Even with regular use a wheel can
get out of balance, and should therefore be
balanced from time to time. Unbalanced
wheels may affect car handling and tire life.
When balancing light alloy wheels, use only
adhesive balancing weights supplied through
the Porsche parts service.
Wheels
If you intend to use other than original
equipment wheels, be sure that they conform
to Porsche specifications for your model.
Check with your Porsche dealer regarding the
correct wheel specifications for type and
model year.
Removing and storing tires
The driving direction should be clearly marked on all tires before removing them for storage,
to make sure they are mounted and run in the
same direction as before. Store tires in a cool
and dry place. Tires without rims upright!
Avoid contact with oil, grease or gasoline. When remounting, put tires with the most
tread depth at the front.
Snow tires
For a better grip on snow and ice use radial M + S tires or snow tires with studs. Check with
your local Motor Vehicle Bureau for possible
restrictions.
Radial ply M+S tires should be inflated with
the same cold tire inflation pressures required
for the regular radial ply tires. However, do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure
listed on the tire sidewall.
Snow tires should have the same load
capacity as original equipment tires and
should be mounted on all four wheels. Snow
tires with studs should be run at moderate
speeds when new in order to give the studs
time to settle.
83
WARNING
Tires with badly worn treads and studs are
very dangerous. Make sure they are replaced
immediately.
Do not drive a vehicle equipped with snow
tires at prolonged high speed. Snow tires do
not have the same degree of traction on dry,
wet or snow free roads as a normal tire. Furthermore, snow tires wear rapidly under
these conditions.
Snow tires do not fulfill their purpose if the
tread depth is less than 5/32 in. / 4 mm.
Comply with all state and local laws
governing snow tire and tread depth
requirements.
Snow chains Should snow chains be necessary, they
must be mounted on the drive wheels
only.
Check with local authorities for possible
restrictions.
Use only Porsche-approved snow chains with
fine pitch links, so that enough
space remains between the chains and the inside of the wheel arches.
Drive wheels must rotate freely with chains
mounted to prevent damage to body, axle or
brake components. Follow instructions issued
by the supplier of the chains. Remove chains
as soon as roads are free of ice and snow.
New Tire Identifications
The European tire manufacturers have
changed their tire identification system for SR
and HR-tires pertaining to maximum
permissible speed and maximum load carrying capacity for belted tires. The following is an
example only.
During the transition period some tires might
show both old and new identification codes,
such as: 215/60 SR 15 M+S 80 Q. In this
instance, the new codes apply.
The identification codes for VR tires
remain unchanged; for example: 205/55 VR
16. (V = maximum permissible speed for radial tires, i.e. over 130 mph or 210 km/h).
84