warning lights PORSCHE PANAMERA 2010 1.G Owner's Guide

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
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
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
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

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Driving and Driving Safety
HOLD function: Drive-Off Assistant and
standstill management The HOLD function assists the driver when
stopping and driving off on upward slopes.
The vehicle is automatically prevented from rolling
back away from the desired direction of travel.
When the HOLD function is active, the function
light on the instrument panel lights up.
When adaptive cruise control is operating
normally, the HOLD function holds the vehicle
following automatic braking until the vehicle is
actively held in a stationary position.
Notes on operation
The HOLD function is no t available if the PDK
selector lever is in position N.
If the PDK selector lever is moved while the
HOLD function is active, the HOLD function is
deactivated.
If the driver’s seat be lt is unbuckled and the
driver’s door is opened wh ile the HOLD function is
active, the electric park ing brake is activated
automatically.
For information on the electric parking brake:
f Please see the chapter “ELECTRIC PARKING
BRAKE” on page 171.
Warning!
In spite of the advantages of the HOLD function, it
is still the driver’s responsibility to adapt his
driving style and maneuvers in line with road and
weather conditions, as well as the traffic situation.
The increased safety that is provided should not
induce you to take greate r risks with your safety.
Caution!
If the vehicle comes to a stop on a steep
uphill gradient without operation of the
footbrake by the driver, this may result in a
certain roll-back before the vehicle is held by
the HOLD function. In this situation, the roll-
back can be reduced by operating the
footbrake.
f Assist holding of the vehi cle by increasing the
brake force with the footbrake.
Brake pedal feels different. When adaptive
cruise control is operating normally or when
the HOLD function is active, the brake pedal
may feel different and you may hear
hydraulic noises.
This behavior is no rmal for the system.
It is not a fault.
Danger!
Risk of accidents. The limits set by physics of
driving cannot be overcome, even with HOLD
function. The responsibi lity for stopping and
driving off on uphill gradients is still the
driver’s, despite the HOLD function.
Assistance by the HOLD function is not
always guaranteed when stopping and
driving off on a slippery surface (e.g. on icy
or loose surfaces). In this case, the vehicle
can slip.
f Always adjust your driving style to the driving
conditions and vehicle load. Use the footbrake
if necessary.
If the Drive-Off Assistant is not functioning,
the driver cannot be assisted when driving
off on hills.
f Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Porsche Active Suspension
Management (PASM)The PASM system actively adjusts the shock
absorbers. The adjustable damper system selects
the appropriate damping level for each wheel
according to the driving situation and driving
conditions. Driving safety, agility and comfort are
optimised.
Three different chassis setu ps can be selected at
the push of a button:
– “PASM Comfort”
– “PASM Sport”
– “PASM Sport Plus”
Comfort mode ensures comfortable chassis
tuning.
The “PASM Sport” chassis setup offers very
sporty shock absorber tuning.
“PASM Sport Plus” mode offers particularly
sporty shock absorber tuning (e.g. for driving on
the race circuit).
In addition to manual mode selection, PASM
also adjusts shock absorber tuning for either
sporty or comfort driving, depending on the
driving situation.
Selecting the PASM mode1. Switch on ignition.
2. Press button (repeatedly).
On the button:
– No indicator light comes on when you select “PASM Comfort” (default setting).
– One indicator light come s on when you select
“PASM Sport”.
– Two indicator lights come on when you select “PASM Sport Plus”.
In addition, the selected chassis setup is shown on
the multi-function display in the instrument panel
for approx. 4 seconds. Note on operation
The last selected chassis setup is stored in the
memory after the ignition is switched off.
Warning messageThe system automatically
detects PASM faults and
displays them 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 specialist 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.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Selecting High Level1. Switch on ignition.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press button .When High Level is selected, the indicator light
on the button lights up.
The message “High Level selected” appears
on the multi-function display.
Note on operation
The last selected level is stored in the memory
after the ignition is switched off. The level control
system automatically switches from High Level at
a speed of approx. 20 mph (30 km/h).
Switching level control on and offAutomatic level control must be switched off
when driving onto a lifting platform or when
raising one wheel.
For information on ja cking up the vehicle:
f Please see the chapter “RAISING VEHICLES
WITH A LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM” on
page 290.
Switching off level control
1. Switch on ignition.
2. Press and hold button for approximately 10 seconds.
The message “Control off” appears on the
multi-function display in the instrument panel.
Note
Level control can only be switched off when the
vehicle is stationary.
Switching on level control
1. Lower the vehicle.
2. Switch on ignition.
3. Press and hold button for approximately 10 seconds.
The message “Control on” appears on the
multi-function display in the instrument panel. Notes
Level control is switched on automatically at
a speed of more than approx. 4 mph (7 km/h).
Warning messageThe system automatically
detects PASM faults and
displays them 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 specialist 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.
Note
If vehicles with air suspension are left stationary
for several weeks, the ride height can be reduced.
The vehicle automatically re-adjusts to the correct
ride height when you start the engine. This can
take several minutes, depending on the operating
state. Ground clearance is reduced at this time.

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Driving and Driving Safety
Warning messages
The warning message “Sport mode error”
appears on the multi-f
unction display in the
instrument panel in the event of a fault.
For information on warning messages on the
multi-function display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
Note
After the ignition is switched off, Sport mode is
automatically reset to Normal mode.
f Please see the chapter “PORSCHE ACTIVE
SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT (PASM)” on
page 208.
f Please see the chapter “PORSCHE DYNAMIC
CHASSIS CONTROL (PDCC)” on page 211.
Sports Exhaust SystemSwitching on and offThe sports exhaust system can be switched to
a sound-optimised mode when the ignition is
switched on.
fPress button .
When the sports exhaust system is switched
on, the indicator light on the button lights up.
Retractable Rear SpoilerThe rear spoiler improves driving stability at high
speeds and reduces fuel consumption at low
speeds.
Vehicles with a turbo engine have an enhanced
rear spoiler with a larger aerodynamically
effective spoiler surface thanks to additional flaps.Automatic modeAutomatic extension and retraction of the rear
spoiler depends on various conditions.

Driving and Driving Safety
215
“Sport Plus” mode deactivated
The rear spoiler extends automatically:
– to position A at approx. 55 mph (90 km/h).
– to position B at approx. 130 mph (205 km/h).
The rear spoiler retracts automatically:
–from position B to position A at approx.
110 mph (180 km/h).
–from position A to the end position at
approx. 40 mph (60 km/h).
Additional rear spoiler position on vehicles
without a turbo engine
The rear spoiler also mo ves to an intermediate
position between A and B when extended at
speeds of between appr ox. 100 mph (160 km/h)
and 130 mph (205 km/h) and when retracted at
speeds of between appr ox. 110 mph (180 km/h)
and 90 mph (145 km/h).
“Sport Plus” mode activated
The rear spoiler extends straight to position B at
approx. 55 mph (90 km/h).
The rear spoiler retracts from position B straight
to the end position at approx. 40 mph (60 km/h). If the automatic control system fails, the warning
message “Spoiler failure”
appears on the multi-
function display.
For information on warning messages on the
multi-function display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 152.
Warning!
Risk of accidents if the “Spoiler failure”
warning appears. Driving stability will be
adversely affected if th e rear spoiler retracts
or fails to extend. This is due to increased
rear axle lift at higher speeds. The rear axle
will tend to lift, reducing the road holding
characteristics of the car in higher-speed
turns.
f Adapt your driving style and speed to the
changed driving behavior.
f Have the fault corrected.
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.
Manual modeWhen the ignition is on, the rear spoiler can be
extended and retracted manually using the button
in the center console.
When the rear spoiler is in manual mode,
the indicator light on the button lights up.
The rear spoiler does not retract fully in
manual mode.