warning lights PORSCHE BOXSTER S 2010 2.G User Guide

56
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.
f Release the parking brake fully.
f When parking your car, always set the parking
brake by pulling all the way up on the lever.
f Move the selector lever to “P” (PDK) or move
the gearshift lever to reverse or first gear
(Manual transmission).
f On hills also turn the front wheels towards the
curb.
Brakes fMake it a habit to chec k 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 trac-
tion is also less effective when the roads are wet
or slippery.
f Therefore, always maintain a safe distance
from the car in front of you.
Vehicles without Porsche Ceramic Compos-
ite Brake (PCCB)
Even though the brake discs consist of alloyed
grey cast iron, they will unavoidably start to cor-
rode 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 de-
pend 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.
To prevent corrosion of the brake discs, ”brake
them dry“ before parking the car.
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 op-
erate. 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 per-
sonal injury or death.
In the unlikely event of hydraulic failure of
one brake circuit:
f Push the brake pedal down firmly and hold it in
that position.
A mechanical linkage activates the second cir-
cuit, and you will be able to bring the vehicle to
a stop.
f After bringing your vehicle to a complete stop,
avoid driving the vehicle and instead have it
towed to the nearest authorized Porsche deal-er for repair.
Parking brake warning light USA
Parking brake warning light
Canada

Operation, Safety
57
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 flu-
id 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, stop-
ping distances will be longer and the braking be-
havior 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 dis-
tance, have the brake system checked.
Brake pedal
Warning!
Risk of an accident, re sulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
Any obstruction of the brake pedal could
increase the stopping distance.
f Always check the movement of the brake pedal
before driving and make sure that it is not ob-
structed by a floor ma t or any other object.
f Secure 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, in-
creased pedal travel is required to bring your
vehicle to a full stop.
Warning!
To avoid overheating and premature wear of
the brakes:
f Before descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and shift the tran smission into a lower
gear or driving position to control speed.
f Do not “ride the brakes” by resting your foot on
the pedal when not intending to apply brake
pressure.
f Do not hold the pedal down too long or too
often.
This could cause the brakes to get hot and not function properly.
f Please see the chapter “DRIVE-OFF ASSIS-
TANT” on Page 173.
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light Canada

58
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 run-
ning, or if the brake boos ter 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 oper-
ate.
Moisture or road salt on brakes affects braking.
Brakes will dry after a fe w cautious brake applica-
tions.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
Driving through water may reduce the trac-
tion.
Moisture on brakes from road water, car
wash, or coating of road salt may affect
braking efficiency.
f Cautiously apply brakes to test brakes after ex-posure to road water, etc.
Brake wear Your car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear de-
pends on how the brakes are used.
f Have 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 run-
ning or come on while driv ing, the brake pads are
worn excessively.
f Do not continue to operate the vehicle.
Have your authorized Porsche dealer inspect
or replace the brake pads.
Brake pads and brake discsWear on the brake pads and brake discs depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the con-
ditions 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 tem-
peratures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient
conditions (such as temperature and humidity)
therefore might cause “brake noises”.
New brake pads or linings
New brake pads and brake discs have to be “bro-
ken in”, and therefore only attain optimal friction
when the car has covered several hundred miles
or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be com-
pensated 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

60
Operation, Safety
When the ignition is switched on the ABS warning
light will light up while the system is electronically
interrogated and goes o
ut when the engine is
started if the check is not yet complete.
If the ABS warning lamp fails to go out, this indi-
cates 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 driv-
ing, 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 pre-
vent the occurrence of further faults.
f If the ABS system becomes inoperative, take
your vehicle to your authorized Porsche dealer
immediately.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious per-
sonal 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 mis-
interpret the speed of th e vehicle, because of
the variant data it rece ives from the sensors
on the axles.
f Use only tire makes and types tested by Porsche.
Clutch Pedal The clutch pedal must be depressed fully
before the starter will engage.
Warning!
Risk of an accident, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
f Always check the movement of the clutch ped-
al before driving and make sure that it is not
obstructed by a floor mat or any other object.
f Secure 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:
f Always depress the clutch pedal fully when
changing gears.
f Do 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 me an a malfunction of the
clutch.
f See your Porsche dealer for correction.
Warning light USA
Warning light Canada

Operation, Safety
67
Retractable Spoiler The rear spoiler improves driving stability, espe-
cially at higher speeds.
Warning!
Risk of accident, resulting in serious perso-
nal injury or death.
If the spoiler cannot be extended, driving sta-
bility will be adversel y affected by increased
rear axle lift, which could lead to loss of con-
trol.
f Adapt your driving style and speed to the
changed driving conditions.
f Have the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Risk of injury during manual retraction or
extension of the spoiler with the vehicle
stationary.
f Make sure that no persons or objects are
within the range of movement of the rear
spoiler.
Risk of damage from pushing the vehicle by
the rear spoiler.
f Do not push the vehicle at the rear spoiler.
Automatic control
(automatic mode)The rear spoiler extends at approx. 75 mph
(120 km/h) and retracts again at approx. 50 mph
(80 km/h).
If the automatic control fails, the warning light
lights up.
The warning light in the on-board computer lights
up when the rear spoiler does not extend over
75 mph (120 km/h) or its end position is not
reached.
Manual control
(manual mode)When the ignition is on, the rear spoiler can be
extended and retracted manually using the button
in the center console.
Note
When the rear spoiler is extended manually, the au-
tomatic control does not operate and the rear
spoiler must be manually retracted.
Warning light

Operation, Safety
75
Starting Procedures fPlease see the chapter “IMMOBILIZER” on
Page 15.
f Please see the chapter “EMISSION CONTROL
SYSTEM” on Page 208.
Warning!
Serious injury or death may result if you are
involved in a collision without having fas-
tened the safety belts.
f Fasten safety belts before driving away. Before starting the engine fApply the footbrake.
f Manual transmission:
Fully depress the clutch pedal and put the gear-
shift lever into neutral.
The clutch pedal must be depressed fully
before the starter will engage.
f In vehicles with PDK transmission:
Move PDK selector lever to position P or N.
Temperature sensors on the engine automatically
provide the correct fuel/air mixture required for
starting.
Therefore, it is not necessary to depress the
accelerator pedal while starting a cold or a
warm engine.
Starting the enginef Turn ignition key to ignition lock position 2.
f As soon as the engine st arts, release the igni-
tion key.
The first operation of the starter is ended automat-
ically when the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, subsequent starter
operations will not be ended automatically.
If the engine fails to start after 10 or 15 seconds
of cranking:
f Wait about 10 seconds before engaging the
starter again.
f When starting the engine, be ready to drive
immediately.
Drive vehicle at moderate speeds and avoid
engine speeds above 4,200 rpm during the
first 5 minutes.
f Do not let the engine idle to warm up.
Danger!
Engine exhaust fumes have many compo-
nents which you can smell. They also contain
carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colorless
and odorless gas.
Carbon monoxide can cause unconscious-
ness and even death if inhaled.
f Never start or let the engine run in an
enclosed, unventilated area.
It is not recommended to sit in your car for prolonged periods with the engine on and the
car not moving.
An unattended vehicle with a running engine
is potentially hazardous.
If warning lights shoul d come on to indicate
improper operation, they would go unno-
ticed.
f Never leave the engine idling unattended.
Danger of fire.
f Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas
where the hot exhaust system may come in
contact with dry grass, brush, fuel spill or oth-
er flammable material.
f If your car catches on fire for any reason, call
the fire department.
Do not endanger your life by attempting to put
out the fire.
Risk of burn injury when standing near or coming
into contact with the exhaust pipe.
The exhaust pipe is hot when the vehicle is running
and remains hot for some time after the vehicle is
turned off.
f To prevent injury, make a point of noting where
your vehicle’s exhaust pipe is, avoid placing
your legs near the exhaust pipe, and closely
supervise children around the vehicle when the
exhaust pipe could be hot.
A hot exhaust pipe can cause serious burns.

78
Operation, SafetyWarning chime
If the ignition key is withdrawn and the door is
opened while the lights (not the Welcome Home
lighting) are on, a
chime warns of possible bat-
tery discharge.
In some countries, differences are possible
due to provisions of law.
Daytime driving lightsThe daytime driving lights are integrated in the
front auxiliary headlights. These lights are
switched on only when the engine is running and
with the light switch in the positions OFF or HOME.
Low beam headlights must be switched on when
driving through tunnels or at dusk, for example.
Operation of the daytime driving lights may vary
depending on country-specific regulations.
Canada only:
In addition to the auxiliary headlights the parking
lights are switched on.
USA only:
The daytime driving lights can be deactivated in
the on-board computer.
f Please see the chapter “ON-BOARD
COMPUTER (BC)” on Page 130.
Vehicles with the Sport Chrono Package Plus
Further individual light functions are available in ve-
hicles with the Sport Chrono Package Plus.
f Please observe the chapter “Individual Memo-
ry” in the separate PCM operating instructions.Cornering lightThe dynamic cornering light is activated above
speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h).
Light Switch on Vehicles with
Bi-Xenon HeadlightsLights switched off
Daytime driving lights are switched on
when the engine is running.
Welcome Home Function
Daytime driving lights are switched on
when the engine is running.
Parking lights , side marker lights,
license plate light, instrument illumina-
tion, daytime driving lights switched off
Canada: daytime driving lights switched
on
Low beam, high beam
Only with ignition on,
daytime driving lights switched off
Rear fog light
Pull switch to second click.
Indicator light on.

80
Operation, SafetyWarning chime
If the ignition key is withdrawn and the door is
opened while the lights (not the Welcome Home
lighting) are on, a
chime warns of possible bat-
tery discharge.
In some countries, differences are possible
due to provisions of law.
Vehicles with the Sport Chrono Package Plus
Further individual light functions are available in ve-
hicles with the Sport Chrono Package Plus.
f Please observe the chapter “Individual
Memory” in the separate PCM operating
instructions.
Daytime driving lightsUSA only:
The daytime driving lights can be activated/deacti-
vated in the on-board computer.
fPlease see the chapter “ON-BOARD
COMPUTER (BC)” on Page 130.Welcome Home LightingSwitching on
fMove light switch to the HOME position.
For improved visibility and security when you get
in and out of the car, the fog lights and the tail
lights remain on for a certain period of time:
– When you get out of the car , the lights are
turned on for approx. 30 seconds after the
door is opened. The off-delay time resumes
when the vehicle is locked.
On vehicles with the Sport Chrono Package
Plus, the PCM can be used to set the off-delay
time. This setting also changes the lighting
period for unlocking the vehicle.
Please observe the chapter “Individual
Memory” in the separate PCM operating
instructions.
– The lights are turned on for approx. 30 seconds when the vehicle is unlocked .
The lights go out if the ignition is switched on
or when leaving the Welcome Home lighting.
Light Switch on Vehicles with
Halogen HeadlightsLights switched off
Welcome Home Function
Parking lights , side marker lights,
license plate light, instrument illumination
Low beam, high beam
Only with ignition on
Fog light in addition to parking lights or
low beam
Pull switch to first click.
Indicator light on.
Rear fog light in addition to fog lights
Pull switch to second click.
Indicator light on.

82
Operation, Safety
Windshield Wiper/ Washer Lever
Warning!
Danger of injury when the windshield wipers
operate unintentionally, e.g. in intermittent
or rain sensor operation.
Risk of damage to the windshield, wiper sys-
tem and headlight washer.
f Avoid running the wiper blades over a dry
windshield to prevent scratching the glass.
Spray washer fluid on the windshield first.
A scratched windshield will reduce visibility.
f Always loosen wiper blades from frozen glass
before operating wipers to prevent damage to
the wiper motor or blades.
f Always switch off windshield wipers in car
wash to prevent them wiping unintentionally
(intermittent or sensor operation).
f Always switch off windshield wipers before
cleaning the windshield to avoid unintentional
operation (intermittent or sensor operation).
f Do not operate the headlight washer in car
washes.
f Do not operate headlight washer when it is frozen.
Wiper and headlight washer system0 – Windshield wipers off
1 – Intermittent/rain sensor operation for
front windshield wipers
f Move wiper lever upwards to the first click.
Please see the chapter “RAIN SENSOR” on
Page 83.
2 – Windshield wipers slow
f Move wiper lever upwards to the second click.
3 – Windshield wipers fast
f Move wiper lever upwards to the third click. 4 – Windshield wiper – one-touch operation:
f
Move wiper lever downwards. The windshield
wipers wipe once.
5 – Windshield wipers and washer system:
f Pull wiper lever towards the steering wheel.
The washer system sprays and wipes while the
lever is pulled towards the steering wheel.
When the wiper lever is released, a few drying
wipes are executed.
A - Headlight washer (Vehicles with Bi-Xenon
headlights):
The washer sprays only while low beam or high
beam is switched on.
f Briefly push button A to operate headlight
washer system.
f If heavily soiled, repeat wash.
The headlight washer system automatically sprays
once for every ten times the front windshield
washer system is operated.
Note
The windshield washer nozzles are heated
when the ignition is on, as a precaution against
freezing.

Operation, Safety
95
Front luggage compartment Trunk Entrapment Your vehicle is equipped with an internal front/rear
trunk release mechanism.
A person trapped in the luggage compartment
can release the lid from the inside using the unlo-
cking handle.
The handle is fluorescent and glows in the dark.
Rear luggage compartment Note
fWhen loading the luggage compartment, make
sure that items of luggage or other objects
cannot become caught on the handle.
This could cause the luggage compartment to
open unintentionally. A warning message in the on-board computer
lights up when unlocking handle
A is operated.
f Stop the vehicle immediately when the warning
message lights up.
f Check the luggage compartments.
f Close the lid.
Front luggage compartment lid Function with vehicle stationary
If the luggage compartment lid is unlocked with
unlocking the handle, the lid can be opened from
the inside immediately.
Function with vehicle in motion
If the luggage compartment lid is unlocked with
unlocking the handle when a speed of 2 mph
(3 km/h ) is exceeded, the warning message in the
on-board computer lights up.
At the same time, the lid is unlocked and the latch
striker pops into the catch-hook position.
Warning message