Porsche 928 1987 User Manual

IMPORTANT

For your own protection and longer
service life of your car, please heed
all operating instructions and spe-

cial warnings. Ignoring them could
result in serious mechanical failure
or even physical injury.

N O T E TO OWNERS

In Canada, this manual is also available in
French. To obtain a copy contact your dealer
or write to:

NOTE AUX PROPRIETAIRES

Au C a n a d a on peut se procurer un exemplaire
de ce M a n u e l en francais aupres concession­naireou du:

Volkswagen Canada Inc.
Porsche Customer Assistance/
Assistance a la Clientele Porsche
1940 Eglinton Ave. East
Scarborough
Ontario M1L2M2

WKD 92802187 3.2 M
© D r . Ing. h. c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft

All rights reserved. Printed in Germany

8/86

Your car may have all or some of the com­ponents described i n this m a n u a l . S h o u l d y o u
find explanations of a feature or equipment
not installed in your car, your Porsche dealer
will be glad to assist you. Also check with your
dealer on other available o p t i o n s or equipment.

Text, illustrations and specifications in this
manual are based on the information available
at the time of printing.

It has always been Porsche's policy to continu­ously improve its products. Porsche, therefore,
reserves the right to make changes in design
and specifications, and to make additions or
improvements in its product, without incurring
any obligation to install them on products pre­viously manufactured.

Judging by the car you have chosen, you are les", "Warranty for new Porsche vehicle emis- For your own protection and longer service
a motorist of a special breed, and you are pro- sion control system", "Emissions performance life of your car, please heed all operating
bably no novice when it comes to automo- warranty" (USA only), and "California emission instructions and special warnings. Ignoring
biles. control system warranty" (California USA only). them could result in serious mechanical

Remember however that, as with any ve- In order to keep your warranty in effect, you
hicle, you should take time to familiarize must have the vehicle maintained and ser-
yourself with your Porsche and its perfor- viced a s prescribed i n t h e W a r r a n t y a n d Main-
mance characteristics. Always drive within tenance Booklet provided to you at the time of
your own unique capabilities as a driver sale.
and your level of experience with your

Porsche. Ensure that anyone else driving Always carry your Warranty & Maintenance

your Porsche does the same. To prevent or booklet with you when you take your Porsche

minimize injury, always use your safety to an authorized dealer for service. It provides
belts. Never drink alcohol before or while your Service Adviser with the information he
driving. needs and enables him to record each ser-

vice.
This Owner's Manual contains a host of useful
information. Please read this manual before If you sell your Porsche, the Owner's Manual
you drive your new Porsche. Acquaint your- and the Warranty & Maintenance booklet
self with your car's features and know how to should be left in the vehicle to make all ope­operate your Porsche more safely. The better rating safety and maintenance information
you know your Porsche, the more pleasure available to the next owner.
you will experience driving your new car.

I f you change your address o r i f y o u b o u g h t

A separate Warranty and Maintenance book- this Porsche used, be sure to send in a
let explains how you can keep your Porsche "Notice of Address Change"/"Notice of Used
in top driving condition by having it serviced Car Purchase" post card. This card can be
regularly. found in the Warranty & Maintenance booklet

or obtained from your Porsche dealer.

It also contains detailed information about the
warranties c o v e r i n g y o u r P o r s c h e . These war- It is in your own interest that we can contact W e wish you m a n y miles o f s a f e and pleasur-

ranties are: you, should the need arise, in case any able driving in your
"Warranty for new Porsche vehicles", "War- adjustments or modifications need to be
r a n t y against corrosion for n e w Porsche vehic- m a d e to your P o r s c h e to maintain its safety.

failure or even physical injury.

Index

A

ABS 26,35
Acceleration kick-down 56
Accelerator pedal 56
Adjusting headlights 95
Air compressor 81

- conditioning 44-46

- cleaner 76
Alternator warning light 35
Anti-freeze 71,105
Antilock brake system 26,35

Anti-theft alarm 12
Ashtray/light 47,94
Automatic garage door 29

- speed control 38

- transmission 54-56

- transmission fluid (ATF) 68

B

Battery 86-87
Brake booster 25

- fluid 75

- pads 57

- parking 24,55

- pedal 25

- system 24-26

- warning light 24,35

Break-in-hints 57
Bulbs - replacing 90-94

c

Capacities 105
Car care instructions 61 -65

Catalytic converter 98
Cautions 66

Center console 40
Central door locking 13,41

- warning light system 40
Changing a wheel 82-84
Cigarette lighter 47
Cleaning 61-65
Climate control system 44-46

Clock 47

Clutch 27
Collapsible spare tire 81
Coolant temperature gauge 33
Cooling system 71-73

- airflaps 73
Corrosion prevention 61-65

D

Dashboard 40
Defogging/defrosting 36
Dimensions 103
Directional signals 32,34,37
Doors locks 12-13
Driving hints 8-9

E

Electrical system 85-96
Emergency flasher 36

- starting 55,88-89
Emission control system 97-98
Engine compartment 65

- exhaust 57

- hood release 51

- number 6

- oil 68-69,105,106
Engine specifications 101-102

- speed, maximum 53, 57,101

F

Fan - radiator 33,73

Fan switch 45
Filling capacities 105
Flasher - emergency 36
Fog lights 30,91
Fuel economy 58

- evaporation control 99

- filler cap 59

- gauge 34

- recommendations 59

- tank 59,105

Fuses and relays 85

G

Gasohol 60
Gas station information 111-113

Gasoline - octane ratings ....58-59,101,105

Gear ratios 102
Gearshifting 53
Glove compartment 50
Gong 10,22,28,30

H

Hatchback 52

- release 24
Headlights 30,37,90-91,95-96
Headlight dimmer/flasher 37

- washer lever/reservoir 39,74

- switch 30
Heater/ventilation controls 42-44
High beam/low beam lever/light 32,37
Hood release 24,51-52

I/J

Identification plates 6-7
Ignition/steering lock 28
Instrument cluster 28

- illumination 30

4

Intensive windshield cleaning/

switch/reservoir 39,74

Interior lights 14,94

Intermittent wiper interval 39

Jack 67,81,84

- lifting points 83-84

K/L

Keys 10-12,82

Kickdown - acceleration 56
Lane changer 37
Leather 64
Lights - ashtray 94

- fog 30,91,95

- interior 14,94

- license plate 94

- parking 37,93

- stop 92,93

- switch 30

- tail 92

- turn signal 37,93

- vanity mirror 49

- warning indicator 32-35,40
Lockable wheel nuts 82
Locks - doors, wheels 12-13,82
Luggage compartment 52

- light 14
Lumbar support 17

M/O

Manual transmission 53
Mirrors 20,49
Octane ratings 58-59,101,105
Odometer 30,32
Oil changing/checking 68-70

- filter 69

- grades 105-106

- pressure gauge/warning light 35

- transmission 70

Oxygen sensor 98

P

Paint number 7
Paint damage 62
Parking brake lever 24

- lights/lever 37,93
Performance 104
Polishing 61-65
Power steering fluid 76,105

- windows 15
Pressure - tires 77,81,103

R

Radiator fan 33
Rear seats 19

- window defogger/defroster 36

- window wiper switch 49

- view mirrors 20

Refrigerant 46,105
Roof rack 52,103

s

Safe driving hints 8-9
Safety belts 21-23
Seats, front/rear/electric 16-19

- heating 17

- position regulation 18

Selector lever 54
Shift points 53

Sliding roof - electric 48
Snow chains 79,103
Spare tire - collapsible 81
Specifications - engine 101-102
Speed control - automatic 38
Speedometer 32
Starting hints/engine 29,97
Steering lock 28

Sunroof

T

Tachometer 31
Technical data 101-105
Tires 77-80
Tire size/pressure 77,81,103
Tool kit 67
Transmission 53-56,70,102
Trip odometer 30,32
Turn signal lights/lever 34,37,93

u

Undercoating 65,97
Unleaded fuel 59,101,105
Upholstery, care of 64

V

Vanity mirror 49
Vehicle care 61-65
Vehicle identification 6-7

- label 7
Ventilation/heater controls 42-45
Voltmeter 35

W

Warning indicator lights 32-35,40
Washer system 39,74
Washing the car 61-62
Weights 103
Wheels 63-64,77-80,103
Wheel changing 82-84

- nuts, lockable 82
Window switches 15,40
Windshield washer reservoir 74

5

Vehicle Identification

When ordering spare parts or submitting

inquiries, always quote vehicle identifica­tion and engine number to assure correct
and prompt service*.

By law, labels are attached to some vehic­le parts, which also bear the vehicle identi-

fication number.

Do not remove the labels.

Vehicle identification number

Engine number

In accordance with Federal Safety Regula­tions, the v e h i c l e identification n u m b e r o f y o u r
car is located on the left* windshield post and
can be seen from the outside.

The engine number is stamped on the front

reinforcing rib in the top half of the crankcase.

* Throughout this booklet and other P o r s c h e publications applicable to U S A vehicles, left is designated as the driver's side of the vehicle, and right as the passenger's s i d e of the v e h i c l e .

6

Safety Compliance Sticker

Vehicle Identification Label

The Safety Compliance Sticker is your assur­ance that your Porsche complies with all Fe­deral Motor Vehicle Safety Standards which
were in effect at the time the vehicle was ma­nufactured. It is located on the doorsill on the
driver's side.

Paint number

This sticker also shows the m o n t h and year of
production a n d the vehicle identification num-

ber of your car (perforations) as well as the
The paint number sticker is on the doorjamb Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross
on the driver's side. Axle Weight Rating.

The vehicle identification label is located un­derneath the luggage compartment floor co­ver, next to the spare wheel well.

This label contains the following information:

1. Vehicle Identification Number

2. Vehicle Code

3. Engine and Transmission Code

4. Paint and Interior Code

5. Option Codes
A duplicate of this label is in your Warranty and

Maintenance booklet.

7

Dear Porsche-Owner

Before going on a t r i p . . .

A lot has gone into the manufacture of your

Porsche, including advanced engineering,
techniques, rigid quality control and demand­ing inspections. These engineering and safety
features will be enhanced by you...

the safe driver...

who knows his car and all controls,
who maintains his vehicle properly,
who uses his driving skills wisely, and always
drives within his own capabilities and his level
of familiarity with his vehicle.

Y o u will find helpful hints in this manual on how
to perform most of the checks listed on these

pages. If in doubt, have these checks per-

formed by your Porsche dealer.

8

First things first

• Turn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs of the vehicle.

• Be sure tires are inflated correctly. Check

for damage and tire wear.

• See that wheel bolts are properly tightened

and not loose or missing.

• Check engine oil level, add if necessary.

Make it a habit to have engine oil checked
with every fuel filling.

• Check coolant level to assure sufficient en-

gine cooling.

• Be sure you have a well charged battery.

• Check brake fluid level. If too low, have

brake system checked.

• Replenish windshield washer fluid.

• Check if engine hood is latched safely.

• Replace worn or cracked wiper blades.

• See that all windows are clear and unob-

structed.

K e e p a i r intake slots and area between en­gine hood and windshield free of snow and
ice, so that the heater and the windshield

wipers work properly.
Check whether all light lenses are clean.
Be sure all lights are working and head-

lights are aimed correctly.
Check under vehicle for leaks.
Be sure all luggage is stowed securely.

Emergency equipment

It is good practice to carry emergency equip­ment in your vehicle. Some of the things you
should have are: window scraper, snow brush,
container or bag of sand or salt, emergency
light, small shovel, first-aid kit, etc.

In the drivers seat...

On the road...

• Check operation of horn.

• Position seat for easy reach of controls.

• Adjust inside and outside rear view mirrors.

• Attach your safety belts.

• Check operation of foot and parking brakes.

• Check all warning and indicator lights with
ignition on and engine stationary.

• Never leave car idling unattended.

• Lock doors from inside, especially with
children in the car.

• To prevent inadvertent opening of doors
from inside or outside, drive with locked
doors.

• Never drive after you have consumed alco­hol.

• Always have your safety belt attached.

• Always drive defensively. Expect the unex­pected.

• Use signals to indicate turns and lane
changes.

• Turn on headlights at dusk.

• Always keep a safe distance from the ve­hicle in front of you, depending on traffic,
road and weather conditions.

• Reduce speed at night and during incle­ment weather.

• Observe speed limits and obey road signs.

• When tired, get well off the road, stop and

take a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in
the vehicle with engine idling. See WAR­NINGS on "Engine Exhaust".

• When parked, always set the parking brake.

Move the selector lever to "P" (Automatic
transmission) or move the gearshift lever
to reverse or first gear (Manual transmis­sion). On hills also turn the wheels toward
the curb.

• When emergency repairs become neces­sary, move the vehicle well off the road. Turn
on emergency flasher a n d u s e other warning
devices to alert other motorists. 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 other flam­mable material.

• Make it a habit to have the engine oil check­ed with every fuel filling.

9

NEVER invite car theft!

An unlocked car with the key in the
ignition switch invites car theft.

A steering wheel lock and a gong
alarm are standard equipment in your
Porsche. The gong will sound if you
open the driver's door while the key
is still in the ignition lock . It is your re­minder to pull the key out of the igni­tion lock and to lock the doors.

WARNING
Always remove the ignition key,

especially if children are left unat-

tendedin the vehicle. Unsupervised

use of any vehicle key may cause
serious personal injury.

NEVER leave your vehicle unat-

tended with the key in the ignition

lock. Take the key and lock the
doors.

a Key with built-in flashlight
b Flat key
c Rear glove compartment key
d Key for lockable wheel nuts

Keys

Three keys are supplied with the vehicle. Each
fits the ignition lock, door locks, hatchback lock,
fuel filler cap lock and glove compartment lock.
There is one flat key which you can keep in
your purse or wallet, for instance, as an "emer­gency key". If you remove the plastic head of
the flat key, you can clip on an illuminated pla­stic handle (available from your Porsche dea­ler). Vehicles with a rear seat clove compart­ment receive two additional keys for the
compartment lock.

WARNING
NEVER remove the key from the steering

lock while you are driving or as the car is
rolling to a stop. The steering column will
lock when you remove the key, and you
will not be able to steer the car. This may
result in a serious accident.

Because of the symmetrical shape of the key
shaft, there is no "wrong" way of inserting the
key in the locks.

The new format of the keys makes unautho­rized duplication of the keys virtually impos­sible. This means, however, that you your­self will not be able to get replacement keys
cut, unless ordered from the manufacturer.

F o r vehicles equipped with lockable wheel nuts,
three identical keys, plus four wheel nuts with
lock sleeve, are included. When taking the
vehicle to your Porsche dealer or to a work­shop for wheel or tire service, remember to
leave one key with the service attendant.

In case of loss, duplicate wheel look keys
cannot be furnished by your Porsche dealer.
Do not leave these keys in the vehicle. Keep
them in a safe place.

See "Lockable wheel nuts" for details.

NOTE: It is a good idea to also keep a re­cord of your key numbers in your wallet
together with your license.

10

Key number

The key number of the ignition key is im-

pressed on a plastic tag which comes with the
keys. Detach this tag a n d keep it in a safe place.

For your protection against theft:

• Record the key numbers and keep them in
a safe place, such as your wallet. Do not
keep them in the vehicle.

• If you should lose a key, provide your

Porsche dealer with the key number and
the vehicle identification number to obtain
a duplicate key. •

Key light

Two of the keys have a built-in flashlight in the
key head. The beam from a small bulb in the
key head illuminates the lower part of the key
stem.

The flashlight is on as long as the contact but­ton is depressed.

The flashlight is powered by a 1 . 5 Volt button
battery. When the beam begins to fade, re-

place the battery, because an old battery

may leak and damage your clothes.

1.

U s e your finger nail or a small screw driver

to carefully lift the key handle cover.

2. Insert a new, commercial available battery
(1.5 V) in the contact button.

3. Assemble key top as shown in the figure.

11

S-key

(illuminated)

Doors

Luggage compartment Activate alarm by closing rear lid, then turn

Ignition/steering Lockable
Glove compartment Lockable
Fuel filler cap Lockable

Anti-theft alarm

The 3 keys supplied with vehicles equipped
with an anti-theft alarm system are longer.

The alarm system is activated automati­cally when the doors are locked with one
of these keys. When the hatchback is

closed, the alarm system is not activated
until the key is turned further to the left.

Activate alarm by locking.
Deactivate alarm by unlocking.

key counter-clockwise.
Deactivate alarm by unlocking rear lid.

The alarm system is switched off automati- or if the ignition is switched on while the alarm
cally when a door or the hatchback is opened is activated a specially protected siren will
with the S-key. If the hatchback is opened sound for about 30 seconds. The engine can­while the alarm system is switched on, the not be started.
key must be turned to the left to reactivate the
alarm system.

If the driver's or passenger side door, engine Keep plastic tag with key number in a safe
compartment hood or the hatchback is opened, place. Do not leave it in the vehicle.

12

Doors

Central door locking system

The central door locking system enables you
to lock or unlock both doors simultaneously
by operating one door lock.

The central door locking system functions

only when both doors are fully closed. If one
door is "centrally" locked before the other
door is fully closed, the "centrally" locked door
will unlock automatically.

The car is safely locked when locking knob "A"
is fully down on both doors. If locking knob "A"
is not fully down on one door, open that door
again, close it firmly and repeat the locking
operation.

On a centrally locked vehicle, the passenger
door can also be unlocked and locked from
inside by turning locking knob "B". Locking
knob "B" is operational only with door fully
closed.

With the ignition key in Pos. "1" or "2" both
doors can be locked or unlocked by pres­sing the central locking button in the center
console. The button is illuminated when the

doors are locked.

With the ignition key in Pos. " 0 " the central
locking system is operational by turning knob

"B".

To open doors from outside, pull the recessed
door handle.

To open doors from inside, pull recessed
handle "C" above armrest.

The armrests have a built-in storage com­partment. T o open, press knob in hand cutout
and tilt armrest outward. To close, tilt compart­ment toward door panel.

The courtesy light in the lower door panel
"D" will come on when a door or the hatch­back is opened. The light can also be turned
on or off with the switch on the light housing.

13

Interior light in headlining Footwell light in lower part of door trim

Interior lights

Luggage compartment light in hatchback

The interior lights, which are independent from
one another, come on, with the switch in the
appropriate position, as soon as a door or the
hatchback is opened.

The interior lights go out after approx. 30
seconds after the doors or the hatchback are

closed. The lights go out immediately if the
ignition is switched on or the vehicle locked
with the key.

14

The interior lights have the following switch
positions:

a-light comes on only when a door or the

hatchback is opened
b -light switched off permanently
c -light switched on permanently

The interior light in the headlining and the
luggage compartment light are switched on
and off by tilting the lamp glass. The footwell
lights are operated by the switch integrated
in the light.

Power windows

WARNING

Door warning lights

The red spot lights in the rear doorjambs will
come on when a door or the hatchback is
opened.

T o open o r close, depress the rocker switches
in the center console in front of the shift lever.

The power windows are operational when the
ignition is turned on.

When the ignition is turned off or the ignition

key removed, the power windows can be

operated until one door is opened.

Do not put anything on or near the win­dows that may interfere with the driver's
vision.

Remove the ignition key to shut off power
to the window switches when the vehicle
is not attended by a responsible person.

Remember, power is still supplied to the
window switches until one door is opened.

15

Front seat adjustments

The correct seating position is all-important
for safe and fatigue-free driving. In order to
satisfy individual requirements, the seat has

infinitely variable adjustment.

We recommend the following procedure for
finding the correct position for the driver's seat:

16

1. Operate longitudinal adjustment until your
leg is fully stretched with the clutch pedal
depressed while your foot is bent.

2. Adjust desired fore/aft height.

3. Clasp upper portion of steering wheel. Then
adjust backrest inclination so that both
shoulders remain in contact with the back­rest even with your arms fully stretched.

4.

If necessary, correct the longitudinal adjust-

ment.

Steering wheel adjustment

For maximum legroom and unobstructed view
of the instruments, the height of the steering
wheel, together with the instrument cluster
unit, can be adjusted.

Release locking lever under instrument cluster
for desired positioning (arrow), then lock se­curely.

Lumbar support (B)

The lumbar support, which supports the
spine, can be adjusted continuously with
switch (B).

Lumbar support extend/retract
Lumbar support raise/lower

Front seats

Two multi-function switches control the electric
motors for longitudinal adjustment, seat height
and angle of backrest tilt.

Seat heating system (A)

The heating system in the seat cushion and

backrest is switched on and off by pressing
the rocker switch. If the heating system is not
switched off manually, a timer deactivates the

circuit after approx. 15 minutes.

Press upper half of switch - heating on

Press lower half of switch - heating off

Manual operation

Should the electrical seat adjustment fail, you
can use the h e x a g o n socket-screw in the tool­kit for longitudinal seat adjustment by turning
the servo-motor below the front of the seat.

17

Selecting a position

Pilot lamp

Seat position regulation

The seat position memory can store up to
three different sitting positions for the driver's
and passenger seats. Each position stored
in the memory comprises longitudinal adjust­ment, seat height, backrest angle, position
and size of lumbar support and the position
of the outside mirrors. The positions can be
adjusted, stored or called up regardless of
whether the engine is on or off.

Adjust the seat and the two outside mirrors
to the desired position by operating the
switches for seat and mirror adjustment.

Storing a position

To store a position in the memory, press the
memory button (arrowed) and the approp­riate position button (button 1, 2 or 3). The
memory button must be pressed before the
position button.

Calling up a position

To set the seat to the position stored in the
memory , the appropriate position button m u s t
be depressed until the seat reaches its final
position. The procedure is curtailed as soon
as the button is released. The buttons are
illuminated for ease location.

Once the seat reaches its end position the
mirrors are set automatically to the positions
stored in the memory.

The seat switches always take priority

over automatic adjustment. If a seat switch

is operated, automatic adjustment is im­mediately interrupted.

A red pilot lamp is set in the memory button.

If adjustment is initiated, the pilot lamp lights
up until the adjustment is completed. If the
procedure is interrupted, the lamp remains
lit and goes out only some 60 seconds after
the ignition is switched off.

18

In order to adjust the backrest, pull the inside

locking lever at the front of the seat upwards,
set seat to desired position and release the
lever.

When there is no load on the backrest, it will
always be pushed forwards by spring force
when the lever is pulled.

Sports seat

Longitudinal adjustment and backrest adjust­ment are carried out manually on sports
seats.

To move the seat backwards and forwards,
pull the outside locking lever at the front of
the seat upwards, move seat into desired po­sition, release lever and ensure that the seat
engages securely.

Never unlock the driver's seat while the
vehicle is in motion: the seat may move
suddenly, causing you to loose control

over the vehicle.

Backrest release

The backrest can be folded forward for easy

access to the rear seats. To release, pull the
lever on the side of the backrest up (arrow)
and, at the same time, tilt the backrest forward.
When the backrest is tilted back, the lock will
engage automatically.

WARNING
Front seat passengers should not ride in a

moving vehicle with the backrest reclined.
Safety belts only offer protection when the
backrest is upright and the belts are prop-

erly positioned on the body. Improperly

positioned safety belts can cause serious
personal injury in an accident.

Rear seats-luggage compartment

The backrests of the rear seats can be tilted
forward to provide additional luggage space.

Unsnap the luggage compartment cover from
the upright rear seat backrests and the rear
cross wall.

To release backrest, pull the lever on side of
the backrest up and, at the same time, tilt the
backrest forward.

19

Heated outside mirrors with r e m o t e control

When the rear window defogger/defroster is
switched on, the outside mirrors are also heat­ed electrically. T h e outside m i r r o r s are adjust ­able from inside of the vehicle by a four direc­tion switch and a rocker switch located on the
left door next to the side window vents in the
armrest. The rocker switch selects either the
left or right mirror for adjustment. Press the
rocker switch into the appropriate position.
Then the four direction switch will adjust the
selected mirror in any of the four directions.

The mirror housing is hinged and can be
folded flat against the car in either direction to
prevent damage in tight parking spots.

If necessary, the outside mirrors can also be
adjusted manually.

Rear view mirrors

Adjust the outside and inside mirrors be­fore driving. It is important for safe driving
that you have good vision to the rear.

20

Inside day-night mirror

You can adjust the day-night mirror from clear
daylight visibility to non-glare visibility at night,
by moving the lever at the bottom of the mirror
forward or rearward.

Do not put decals or other signs on the win­dows that may interfere with the driver's
vision.

Safety belts

WARNING
Failure to follow safety belt instruc-

tions may result in serious personal
injury.

INSTRUCTIONS

• For your and your passengers' protec­tion, use safety belts at all times while
the vehicle is in motion. U s e child safety
seats for all small children.

• Safety belts must be properly positioned
on the body. Improperly positioned safe­ty belts can cause serious personal in­jury in case of an accident.

• A combination lap-shoulder belt should
not be worn by a person less than 4' 11"

or 1 . 5 m in height, because it would not

be in its most protective position and,
therefore, may increase the possibility
of injury in an accident.

• Persons smaller than 4' 11" or 1 . 5 m in
height and children who are able to sit
upright by themselves should use one
of the rear seating positions and the lap
belt provided.

• For maximum safety and protection, we
r e c o m m e n d that s m a l l children travel i n

the r e a r seats. Regardless of where small

children sit, remember that every state
in US now requires small children to ride
in child safety seats.

• When driving in some states and many

foreign countries, remember that they
require the wearing of safety belts by law .

• Do not strap in more than one person

with each belt.

• For maximum effectiveness, the lap belt
should be worn low across the pelvic
crest.

• Do not wear shoulder part of belt under

your arm or otherwise out of position.

This would increase the possibility of
serious injury in case of an accident.

• Belts should not be worn twisted.

• Do not wear belts over rigid or breakable

objects in or on your clothing, such as
eye glasses, pens, keys, etc. as these
may cause injury.

• Several layers of heavy clothing may in-

terfere with proper positioning of belts.

• Belts must not rub against sharp objects.

• Keep belt buckles free of any obstruc­tion that may prevent secure locking.

• Make sure that belt of the unoccupied
passenger seat is fully wound up on its
retractor so that the belt tongue is in its
stowed position. This r e d u c e s the possi­bility of the tongue hitting a vehicle occu­pant in case of a sudden stop.

• Belts that have been subjected to ex­cessive stretch forces in an accident
must be replaced.

• If belts show damage to webbing, bind­ings, buckles or retractors, they should
be replaced.

• If belts do not work properly, see your
authorized Porsche dealer.

• Do not modify or disassemble the safety
belts in your vehicle.

• The belts must be kept clean as other­wise the retractors may not work pro­perly (see also "Car care instructions").

• Never bleach or dye safety belts.

• Do not allow safety belts to retract until
they are completely dry.

21

Safety belt warning system

An audiovisual warning system is inter­connected with the driver's safety belt.

Every time the ignition is turned on, the seat

belts warning light in the center console will

come on for about 6 seconds as a reminder to
buckle up. If the driver does not fasten the
safety belt, the gong will continue for the dura­tion of this 6 second period. The gong will go

off as soon as the driver has buckled up.

22

Inertia reel retractor

The combination lap/shoulder belt with inertia
reel locking mechanism adjusts automatically

to your size and movements as long as the pull

on the belt is slow.
Rapid deceleration during hard braking or a

collision locks the belt. The belt will also lock
when you drive up or down a steep hill or in a
sharp curve otherwise the shoulder belt will
not inhibit your upper body movement.

• To fasten, grasp belt and pull belt in contin­uous slow motion across your chest and lap.

• Insert belt tongue into buckle on inboard side
of seat. Push down until it securely locks
with an audible click. Pull belt to check.

• Pull shoulder section to make sure belt fits
snugly across the hips.

• Belts should fit snugly across the pelvis and
chest. Make sure any slack is wound on the
retractor.

• To unfasten belt, push in release button on
buckle. Belt tongue will spring out of buckle.

• To release a locked belt, lean back to take
the body pressure off the belt.

• To store lap/shoulder belt, allow belt to wind
up on retractor as you guide latch to its

stowed position on doorpost.

Lap belts for rear seats

The belt with inertia reel locking mechanism
adjusts automatically to your size and move­ments as long as the pull on the belt is slow.

Rapid deceleration during hard braking or a
collision locks the belt. The belt will also lock
when you drive up or down a steep hill or in a
sharp curve.

• To fasten lap belt, grasp latch on outboard
side of seat and slowly pull across the pel-

vis. Insert belt tongue into buckle on inboard

side of seat and push down until it securely
locks with an audible click. Pull belt to
check. To unfasten belt, push in release
button on the buckle.

• To store belt, allow belt to wind up as you
guide latch to retractor.

23

Parking brake lever (arrows)

Brakes

Hatchback release (A)

With one or both doors open, you can release
the hatchback by pulling either the button on
the left of the driver's seat or the respective

button on the right of the passenger's seat.

The hatchback will open automatically.

Also see "Hatchback".

Parking brake force is mechanically trans-

ferred to the rear wheels by means of cables.

Use the parking brake only after the vehic­le has come to a full stop.

To set the parking brake

Press in the release button (arrow) at the end
of the lever as you pull the lever up. The park­ing brake engages as soon as you release the
button in the raised lever.

To release the parking brake

Pull the lever slightly up as you depress the
release button. Keep the button depressed
as you lower the lever.

WARNING

• Release the parking brake fully. A par­tially engaged brake will overheat the
rear brakes, reduce their effectiveness
and cause excessive wear.

• Always set the parking brake when park­ing your car. Move the selector lever to
"P" (Automatic transmission) or move
the gearshift lever to reverse or first gear
(Manual transmission). On hills also turn
the wheels toward the curb.

The central warning light and the parking brake
light will go out after the engine is started and
the parking brake is fully released (see "Cen­tral warning light system").

Functioning of brake system

Your Porsche is equipped with a power as­sisted hydraulic dual circuit brake system with
disc brakes at the front and at the rear. Both
circuits function independently.

In the unlikely event of hydraulic failure of
one circuit, push the brake pedal down

firmly and hold it in that position. A me-

chanical linkage activates the second cir­cuit, and you will be able to bring the

vehicle to a stop.

WARNING

Failure of one brake circuit will impair the
braking capability resulting in an increas­ed stopping distance.

If one brake circuit has failed, the other will
still operate. However, you will notice an in­creased pedal travel when you step on the
brake. Should you encounter such experience,
bring your vehicle safely to a full stop.

Avoid driving the vehicle and instead have
it towed to the nearest authorized Porsche
dealer.

24

Brake pedal

Brake operation and brake warning fight

WARNING

WARNING

• The movement of the brake pedal must
never be obstructed by a floor mat or
any other object. In case one of the two

brake circuits fails, increased pedal tra­vel is required to bring your vehicle to a
full stop.

• Make sure that the size of your floor mat
does not hamper the movements of ei­ther brake, clutch or accelerator pedals
in any way.

• Secure the floor mat against sliding into
positions that could interfere with the
safe operation of your vehicle.

• Do not "ride the brakes" by resting your

foot on the pedal when not intending to

brake. Overheating and premature wear

of the brakes will result.

i Before descending a steep grade, re-

duce speed and shift transmission into

a lower gear or driving position to con­trol speed. Do not ride the brakes or
hold pedal down too long or too often.
This could cause the brakes to get hot
and not function properly.

Make it a habit to check the operation of your
brakes before driving.

The central warning light and the brake fluid
warning light in the combination instrument
will flash when the level in the brake fluid re­servoir is too low (see "Central warning light
system").

With correctly adjusted brakes, and a cor-

rectly working brake system, the pedal travel
to the point of brake actuation should be
1-3/16" to 1-9/16" or 30 to 40 mm. Whenever
the brake pedal travel exceeds this distance,
have the brake system checked.

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 at 30 mph or
50 km/h. Tire traction is also less effective
when the roads are wet or slippery. Therefore,
always maintain a safe distance from the car
in front of you.

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 halt.

Moisture or road salt on brakes affects
braking

Driving through water may reduce the trac­tion. Moisture on brakes from road water,
car wash, or coating of road salt may af­fect braking efficiency. Cautiously apply
brakes to test them after being exposed to
such conditions. W h e n the vehicle is driven
on salted roads for extended periods, the
brakes should be hosed down thoroughly
about every 2 weeks. An automatic car­wash facility cannot do this job properly.
Brakes will dry after a few cautious brake
applications.

Brake wear

Our automobiles have excellent brakes, but
they are still subject to wear, depending on
how the brakes are used. Have the brake
system inspected at the intervals recom­mended in your Warranty & Maintenance
booklet.

New brake pads or linings

Brake pads or linings may not have the
highest possible braking efficiency when new.
There-fore, allow for longer braking distance
during the initial 1 0 0 to 1 5 0 miles or 150 to
250 kilometers of normal city driving if fewer
stops are realized.

25

ABS Brake System

(Antilock brake system)

The ABS system represents a major contri­bution to the enhancement of active safety in
your vehicle. This system prevents the wheels
from locking in a panic stop on almost all road
surfaces.

With ABS system in your vehicle, the fol­lowing areas are enhanced:

Full steerability, vehicle remains steer-

able under all braking forces.

Good directional control, no swerving
caused by locking of wheels under brak­ing conditions.

Excellent stopping distance, stopping
distances are usually reduced because
controlled braking is maximized.

Prevention of wheel lock up, no brake­induced sliding and thus no localized tire
wear from emergency braking.

The crucial advantage of ABS system over a
conventional brake system is in the area of
maintaining directional control and maneuv­erability of the car in emergency situations,
including panic braking in turns.

WARNING:
In spite of the improved handling afforded

by the ABS system, it still remains the re­sponsibility of the driver to adapt the dri­ving style to the prevailing road and wea­ther conditions, as well as, obeying traffic
laws. In no case, should the higher degree
of safety offered by ABS be regarded as a
justification for taking greater risks. Other
vehicles not equipped with the ABS sys­tem may not be able to maintain control,
especially on wet or poor road surfaces
and thus may be more likely to impact you
in the rear. To minimize that risk, use your
ABS system to increase your ability to
maneuver to avoid dangerous situations
and not merely to try to stop in the shortest
distance possible.

Driving with the ABS System

A wheel speed sensor is fitted to each of the
four wheels. If wheel slippage of either of the
front wheels or the rear wheels is sensed
during braking, the brake pressure is adjusted
automatically until the wheel no longer slips.
The brake pressure is regulated for each front
wheel individually and for both rear wheels
together.

On a road surface which is slippery on only
one side, the rear wheel which is braking on
the slippery surface determines the brake

pressure which will be applied equally to both

r e a r wheels. This e n s u r e s t h a t directional sta-

bility is maintained. However, if braking force

approaches the wheel locking-up point for all

wheels (panic braking) the ABS system will

intervene in a way comparable with rapid

rythmic braking. The proper operation of ABS

i s perceived by the driver as a pulsating brake

pedal in conjunction with audible noise and

perhaps some vibration. The driver is thereby
warned to reduce vehicle speed appropriate
for the prevailing road conditions.

If your ABS system should ever malfunction,
the ABS system is automatically switched off,

but the normal brake system, without ABS,
would remain fully operational. Such a mal­function would be indicated by the illumination

of the central warning light, as well as the

"ANTILOCK" light on the right hand side of
the instrument cluster.

If the ABS system becomes inoperative,
take your vehicle to your authorized dea-

ler immediately.

26

Clutch

Due to the hydraulic operation of the clutch, a

free travel of the clutch pedal of 0,1" or 2.5 mm

is necessary.

Should this free travel suddenly become big­ger, it could m e a n a malfunction of the clutch.
See your Porsche dealer for rectification.

Always depress the clutch pedal fully when
changing gears. Do not hold the car on a
steep hill with the clutch pedal partially de­pressed. This will cause premature wear or
damage.

27

Instrument cluster

1 Odometer reset switch
2 Light switch
3 Fog light switch
4 Left combination instrument
5 Speedometer
6 Turn signal indicator light
7 Central warning light
8 Tachometer

9 High beam indicator light 16
10 Right combination instrument
11 Emergency flasher switch 17
12 Rear window defogger switch 18
13 Ignition/starter switch with steering lock
14 Instrument illumination control 19
15 Turn signal/headlight dimmer flasher/ 20

parking light switch lever

Locking lever for steering wheel/

instrument cluster height adjustment
Automatic speed control lever
Windshield wiper and windshield/head­light washer switch lever

Intensive washer system switch

Intermittent wiper interval control

Ignition/Starter Switch with
Steering Lock

The steering is equipped with an anti-theft
ignition lock.

There are 4 switch positions:

0 Steering locked. All electric circuits wired

through the ignition switch are turned off.
The ignition key can only be withdrawn in
the "0" position. The parking lights can be
operated in this position by pushing the turn
signal indicator lever up and down (also see

"Parking lights").

1 Steering unlocked. In this position all elec-

tric circuits are operational except for the
following: turn signals, back-up lights, out­side mirror remote control, rear window de­fogger/defroster and fresh air ventilation.

2

Ignition on, steering unlocked. All electric

circuits are operational. With the engine
stationary, the central warning light and all

individual warning lights located in both
combination instruments will light up for a
bulb check. If the engine oil level is too low
the central warning light will flash. (Lack of
engine oil can only be checked with the
dipstick, with the engine turned off and with
the vehicle on level ground.)

3 The starter is operated by turning the ig-

nition key to the right. As soon as the engine
starts, release the key. It will spring back to
position "2". With the engine running, the
central and individual warning lights should
go out. The STOP LAMP will go out after
depressing the brake pedal and the P A R K
B R A K E light after fully releasing the parking
brake ( s e e "Central warning l i g h t system").

To conserve battery power, the electric cir­cuits for headlights, rear window defogger/
defroster and wiper/washer system are
temporarily interrupted during the starting
process.

The starter should not be operated for more
than 10 to 15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start the first time or stalls at any time,
the ignition key must be returned to the "0"

position. The non-repeat lock in the switch

prevents the starter from being operated when
the engine is running and thus from being
damaged.

To remove the key and to lock the steering,

turn the key back to position " 0 " and pull it out.
Turn the steering wheel until it locks.

WARNING
Never remove key from ignition lock or turn

key off while vehicle is moving. The steering
wheel will lock, causing loss of control.

Gong

If you leave the key in the ignition/steering
lock, the gong will sound when the driver's door
is opened. This is a reminder to remove the
key.

For further details see "Starting Procedures"
on the following page.

28