warning light PORSCHE PANAMERA 2009 1.G Information Manual

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Driving and Driving Safety
If the electric parking brake could not be applied
fully when the vehicle is stopped, the brake
warning light on the instrument panel starts to
flash.
For information on warning messages on the
multi-function display:
f
Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
BrakesfMake 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
(100 km/h), for example, it is not twice but four
times longer than 30 mph (50 km/h). Tire traction
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
Composite 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 road salt or grit 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 functionYour 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 left and rear right wheel
and the other operates the front right and rear left
wheel.
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:
f Push 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.
f After bringing your vehicle to a complete stop,
avoid driving the vehicle and instead have it
towed to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer for repair.
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light Canada

Driving and Driving Safety
173
Brake system warning light
You can check the functionality of the brake
system warning light by switching the ignition to
the “On” position (position 1) and verifying that the
warning light illuminates.
The warning light in the instrument panel lights up.
A message will be displayed on the multi-function
display of the instrument panel if the brake fluid
level is too low, or (if the brake pedal travel has
increased) one of the two brake circuits has 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 application should be 1-3/16 in. to
1-9/16 in. (30 to 40 mm). Whenever the brake
pedal travel exceeds this value, 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.
f Always 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.
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
floor mats of the correct size including a securing possibility.
Note
In case one of the two brake circuits fails,
increased 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 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 overheat and not function properly.
Brake warning light USA
Brake warning light Canada

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Driving and Driving Safety
Brake boosterThe 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.
Moisture, road salt or grit on brakes affects
braking.
Brakes will dry after a few cautious brake
applications.
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 a coating of road salt or
grit may affect braking efficiency.
f Cautiously apply brakes to test brakes after exposure to road water, etc.
Brake wearYour car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear
depends 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 (position 1) and verifying that the
warning light illuminates.
A warning message will be displayed on the multi-
function display of the instrument panel if 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.
For information on warning messages on the
multi-function display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
Brake pads and brake discsWear on the brake pads and brake discs depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the
conditions 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
temperatures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient
conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity) can
therefore cause the brakes to “squeal”.
New brake pads or linings
New brake pads 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 applies whenever the brake pads
and/or brake discs are replaced.
Brake wear warning message

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Driving and Driving Safety
Compact disc player
Caution!
To avoid damage to compact disc player and
discs.
f Use only compact discs labeled as shown,
having no dirt, damage or warpage.
f Never attempt to disassemble or oil any part
of the player unit. Do not insert any object
other than a disc into the slot.Remember there
are no user-serviceable parts inside the
compact disc player.
f Do not allow the disc to sustain any
fingerprints, scrapes or stickers on the
surfaces. This may cause poor sound quality.
Hold the disc only on the edge or center hole.
f When not in use, take the disc out of the player,
put the disc back into its case and store it
away from dust, heat, damp and direct
sunlight.
Leaving the disc on the dashboard in the sun
can damage the disc. f
If the disc gets dirty, clean the disc by wiping
the surfaces from the center to the outside in
a radial direction with a soft cloth.
Do not use a conventional record cleaner or
anti-static record preservative.
Disc cleaners are available in audio stores.
Car Telephone and Aftermarket Alarms Important legal and safety information
regarding the use of cellular telephones
Some states may prohibit the use of cellular
telephones while driving a vehicle. Check the laws
and regulations on the use of cellular telephones
in the areas where you drive.
Danger!
Risk of an accident.
Severe personal injury or death can result in
the event of an accident.
Looking away from the road or turning your
attention away from your driving can cause
an accident and lead to serious personal
injury or death.
When using your cellular telephone, you should
always:
f Give full attention to your driving – pull off the
road and park before making or answering a
call if traffic conditions so require, and f
Keep both hands on the steering wheel – use
hands-free operation (if available) – pull off the
road and park before using a hand-held
telephone.
It is essential to observe the telephone
manufacturer’s instructions before operating
the telephone.
Any portable telephone or radio transmitter which
is used in a Porsche must be properly installed in
accordance with the technical requirements of
Porsche.
The transmission power must not exceed
10 W.
The devices must possess a type approval for
your vehicle and have an “e” symbol.
If you should require equipment with transmission
power values greater than 10 W, please consult
your authorized Porsche dealer for this purpose.
They are familiar with the technical requirements
for installing devices of this kind.
The antennas for all radios and telephones with a
transmitting antenna must be externally mounted.
The improper installation of radios or telephones
or use of a radio or tele phone with a transmitting
antenna inside the car may cause the warning
lights to come on.
Improper installation of such equipment can
create a discharged battery or excessive current
draw from added equipment.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Driving off with Launch Control
Launch Control allows you to achieve maximum
acceleration from standstill.
Warning!
There is a risk of endangering other road
users if you use this Control in an improper
location or in a situation where other persons
might need to take evas ive action due to the
rapid acceleration that this technology
permits.
Launch Control is designed to be used in a
controlled environment on closed circuit driving
courses where no vehicle cross traffic or
pedestrian traffic is present.
f Use Launch Control only if conditions permit it
to be applied in a safe manner.
f Do not use Launch Control if there is a
possibility it could endanger other persons.
Such a possibility exists if you cannot see that
you have a clear road with no possibility of
cross traffic in your intended direction of driving.
Caution!
Stress on components increases
dramatically when starting with maximum
acceleration in comparison with “normal”
driving off. Use of Launch Control will
inevitably reduce the life of the engaged
engine and transmission components.
Preconditions:
– Launch Control should on ly be used when the
engine has reached operating temperature.
– “Sport Plus” mode must be switched on (indicator light on the button comes on and
“SPORT PLUS” appears on the multi-function
display).
1. Press the brake with your left foot.
2. Quickly press the accelerator down fully (kickdown activated) and hold it.
The engine speed will level off at
around 5,000 rpm on the Panamera S,
around 5,500 rpm on the Panamera 4S,
around 4,550 rpm on the Panamera Turbo.
“Launch Control active” appears on the
multi-function display.
3. Release the brake within a few seconds. Remaining stationary for a long time with
“Launch Control active” can lead to
overloading of the transmission.
To protect the transmi ssion, the engine power
is then reduced and the “Launch Control
active” process is cancelled. Shifting gears on the steering wheel
With the shift buttons on the steering wheel, you
can change temporarily from automatic selection
mode D to manual mode
M.
For example:
– Shifting down before bends and on entering built-up areas.
– Shifting down on downward slopes (engine braking).
– Shifting down for brief spurts of acceleration.
The manual selection mode remains engaged:
– For cornering (depending on the lateral acceleration) and overrunning.
– When the vehicle is stationary (e.g. at a junction).
The system leaves manual selection mode:
– automatically after around 8 seconds (unless cornering or overrunning),
– after driving off.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Upshift prompt for fuel-economy-optimised
driving
The consumption-oriente
d upshift indicator A in
the tachometer at the ri ght beside the digital
speed display helps you to develop a fuel-saving
driving style.
The upshift indicator lights up - prompting you to
shift up to the next-higher gear - depending on the
selected gear, engine speed and accelerator
pedal position.
The upshift indicator is only active when “Sport” or
“Sport Plus” mode is switched off.
f Change to the next-higher gear when the
upshift indicator lights up. Shifting down –
f
Pull the PDK selector lever or shift button on
the steering wheel back.
You can shift up or down by the corresponding
number of gears by quickly pressing or pulling the
shift buttons or selector lever several times in
succession.
The transmission can be shifted up or down by
several gears in succession by continuously
operating the selector lever or shift buttons.
You can shift up or down at any time depending
on driving speed and engine speed.
Gear changes that would exceed the upper or
lower engine-speed limit are not executed by the
control unit.
There is no automatic upshift at the upper engine-
speed limit in selector-lever position M. Upshift
suppression can be cancelled by kickdown
operation. If, for example, the engine-speed limit
is reached during overtaking and an automatic
upshift does not occur, the transmission shifts up
in this case as a result of kickdown operation.
f Select an appropriately low gear on upward
and downward slopes.
This will ensure optimum use of engine power
and engine braking. To shift up automatically
at the upper engine-
speed limit:
f Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle point (kickdown).
Failure of the selector lever display on the
instrument panel
The warning “Gearbox emergency operation”
appears in red on the multi-function display.
Effect:
– No selector-lever position is displayed on the instrument panel.
Vehicle can be driven only until it comes to
astop.
Action required:
f It is not possible to continue driving. Stop the
vehicle immediately in a suitable place. Have
the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist
workshop.
f Please see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.

Driving and Driving Safety
199
StoppingfFor a brief stop, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the
selector lever in drive position and hold the
vehicle with the brake pedal.
f Do not hold the vehicle on a slope using the
accelerator. Use the brake pedal or the
electric parking brake instead.
f Before leaving the vehicle, always apply the
electric parking brake and move the selector
lever to position P.Parkingf Go easy on the accelerator!
f When parking or maneuvering in a small
space, control the speed by careful use of
the footbrake.Driving in winterIn wintry road conditions, it is advisable to take
steep inclines in manual mode. This prevents gear
changes occurring that could cause wheel spin.Tow-starting, towingfPlease see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.
Reduced driving programIf there is a fault in the transmission
– Depending on priority, either the “Gearbox
emergency operation” warning in yellow or red
or the warning “Gearbox temperature too high”
will appear on the multi-function display.
“Gearbox emergency operation” warning in
yellow
Effects:
– Restricted gearshift comfort, reverse gear may not function.
Action required:
f Have the fault corrected immediately.
Please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
We recommend that you have an authorized
Porsche dealer to do this work as they have
trained workshop personnel and the necessary
parts and tools. “Gearbox emergency operation” warning in red
Effect:
– Vehicle can be driven
only until it comes to
astop.
Action required:
f It is not possible to continue driving. Stop the
vehicle immediately in a suitable place. Have
the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist
workshop.
f Please see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.
Warning “Gearbox temperature too high”
–Effects: “Warning jerks” can be fe lt when driving off and
the engine power may be restricted.
Action required:
Do not hold the vehicle with the accelerator on
a hill, for example. Hold the vehicle with the
brake. Reduce engine load. Stop the vehicle in
a suitable place if possib le. Allow the engine to
run in selector-lever position P or N until the
warning disappears.

Driving and Driving Safety
203
Advantages of PSM
– Best possible traction and lane-holding ability
in all driving situations – even on road surfaces
with varying friction.
– The system compensates for undesired vehicle reactions (Ferraria effect) when the
driver releases the accelerator pedal or brakes
on bends. This compensation functions up to
the maximum lateral acceleration.
– PSM actively stabilises the vehicle if necessary during dynamic driving maneuvers (e.g. rapid
steering movements, during lane changes, or
on alternating bends).
– Improved braking stability on bends and on different or varying road surfaces.
– Improved brake function and shorter stopping distance in the event of emergency braking. Readiness for operation
PSM is switched on automatically every time you
start the engine.
Function
Sensors at the wheels, brakes, steering system
and engine continuously measure:
–Speed
– Direction of travel (steering angle)
– Lateral acceleration
– Axial acceleration
– Rate of turn about the vertical axis
PSM uses these values to determine the direction
of travel desired by the driver.
PSM intervenes and corrects the course if the
actual direction of motion deviates from the
desired course (steering-wheel position):
It brakes individual wheels as required.
If necessary, PSM also influences the engine
power or the gear-changing characteristic of
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) in order to
stabilise the vehicle. The events below inform the driver of PSM control
operations and warn him to adapt his driving style
to the road conditions:
– PSM warning 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.
Examples of PSM control operations
– If the “front wheels of the vehicle drift” on
a bend, the engine power is reduced and the
rear wheel on the inside of the bend is braked
if necessary.
– If the rear of the vehicle swings out on a bend, the front wheel on the outside of the bend is
braked.

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Driving and Driving Safety
– Brake system prefilling:
The brake system is prepared for possible
subsequent emergency braking if the
accelerator pedal is released suddenly and
quickly. The brake system is prefilled and the
brake pads are already applied gently to the
brake discs.
– Brake booster (Hydraulic Brake Assist): In the event of an emergency braking operation
where the pedal force is insufficient, a brake
booster provides the braking pressure
necessary for maximum deceleration at all
4wheels.
Combined operation of PSM and PTM
In order to ensure optimum stabilisation of the
vehicle, torque distribution between the front and
rear wheels is adapted and the rear differential
lock is controlled on vehicles with PDCC.
In the event of a PTM fault, PSM cannot be
switched off.
If PSM is switched off, it is switched on again
automatically. Automatic brake differential (ABD)
The ABD system controls the front and rear axles
separately. If one wheel of an axle starts to spin,
it is braked so that the other wheel on the same
axle can be driven.
ABD recognizes different driving states, and it
features control strategies adapted to these
states. In situations in which little propulsive power
is required, such as when the vehicle moves off on
a level gravel surface, traction control already
becomes active at low engine speeds. If a large
amount of propulsive power is required, e.g. when
driving off on an uph
ill slope or for rapid
acceleration, the ABD system is adapted
accordingly.
Anti-slip control (ASR)
The anti-slip control system prevents the wheels
from spinning by adjusting the engine power,
thereby ensuring good lane-holding ability and
stable handling.
Engine drag torque control (MSR)
In conditions of excessive slip, the engine
drag torque control system prevents all driven
wheels from locking up when the vehicle is
overrunning. This is also the case for downshifts
on a slippery road.
Switching off PSMf Press button for at least 1 second.
PSM is switched off after a short delay.
The indicator light on the button and the
PSM OFF warning light on the instrument
panel light up.
The warning “PSM off” appears on the
multi-function display in the instrument panel.

Driving and Driving Safety
205
When you brake in the ABS control range,
the vehicle is stabilised even when PSM is
switched off.
One-sided spinning of the wheels is prevented,
even with PSM switched off.
PSM should always be switched on during
“normal” driving.
H o w e v e r, i t m a y b e a g o o d i d e a to s w it c h o f f P S M
temporarily in exceptional situations:
– On a loose surface and in deep snow.
– When “rocking the vehicle free”.
– When using snow chains.
Tip on driving
The vehicle retains its enhanced braking readiness
through prefilling of the br ake system even when
PSM is switched off.
When PSM is switched off, wheel-specific brake
interventions and the anti-slip control system (ASR)
are also switched off.
The automatic brake differential (ABD) remains on.
Adaptive cruise control is deactivated when PSM
is switched off.
When PSM is switched off, the slip monitoring
function of Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) is also
deactivated.
Switching PSM back onf Press button .
PSM is active immediately.
The indicator light on the button and the
PSM OFF warning light on the instrument
panel go out.
The message “PSM switched on” appears on
the multi-function disp lay in the instrument
panel.“Sport Plus” modeA sportier setup is obtained when “Sport Plus”
mode is switched on.
PSM interventions occur later than in Normal
mode. The vehicle can be maneuvered with
greater agility at its pe rformance limits, without
having to dispense with th e assistance of PSM in
emergency situations. This helps to achieve
optimal lap times, particular ly on race circuits and
on a dry road surface. – The PSM warning light on the instrument panel
lights up for a lamp check when the ignition is
switched on.
– The light indicates a control operation, even when PSM is switched off, e.g. brake control in
the event of one-sided wheel spin.
– The light - in conjunction with the multi-function display - indicates a fault.
The warning message “PSM failure” appears
on the multi-function display in the instrument
panel.
For information on warning messages on the multi-
function display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
f Adapt your driving style according to the
changed conditions.
f Contact a qualified spec ialist workshop in
order to correct the fault. We recommend that
you have an authorized Porsche dealer to do
this work, as they have the trained workshop
personnel and the necessary parts and tools
for this type of work.
To w i n g
For information on towing:
f Please see the chapter “TOWING” on
page 316.
PSM warning light