Porsche 928 1979 User manual

4683.21 2.2 M 5/78 Model 1979
© Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche
Aktiengesellschaf t
Al l right s reserved.
Printed in Germany U.S.-Order-No. W 42-608-174-1
Canada-Order-No. W 42-608-174-101
Your car may have
al l or some of the components
described in thi s manual. Shoul d you fin d explana•
tions of a feature or equipment not installe d in your
car, your Porsche dealer wil l be gla d to assist you .
Also check wit h your dealer on other availabl e op•
tions or equipment .
NOTE TO
OWNER S
In Canada, this manual is also availabl e in French. Volkswage n Canada Ltd.
To obtain a copy contact your dealer or writ e to : Porsche Customer Assistance /
Assistance a 1a Clientel e Porsche
NOTE AUX PROPRIETAIRES
192 0 E g l i n t o n A v e . E a s t
Au Canada on peut se procurer un exemplair e de ce Scarborough
Manuel en francais aupres au conccscionnair e ou du: Ontari o M1L 2M2
Text, illustration s and specification s in thi s manual
are based on the information availabl e at the time
of printing .
It has always been Porsche's
polic y to continuousl y
make technical improvements at any tim e during the
model year and specification s are subject to change
without notice .

Judging by the car
yo u have chosen,
you are a motoris t of a special
breed, and yo u are probabl y no nov•
ice whe n it come s to automobiles .
You r Owner's Manual contain s a
host of useful information . Please
read this manual befor e yo u driv e
your new Porsche. Acquain t your •
self wit h you r car' s feature s and
know ho w to operat e you r Porsche
more safely. The better yo u kno w
your Porsche, the more pleasure
you wil l experienc e drivin g you r
new car.
Alway s carr y you r Warranty & Main•
tenance bookle t wit h yo u whe n yo u
take you r Porsche to an authorize d
dealer for service . It provide s you r
Service Advise r wit h the informa •
tion he needs and enables him to
record each service .
The Owner's Manual and the War•
ranty & Maintenance recor d belon g
with the car. They should be left in
the vehicl e whe n sold , t o make all
operating, safety and maintenanc e
service informatio n available t o the
new owner.
For your own protection and longer
service life of you r car, please heed
all operatin g instruction s and spe•
cial cautions . Ignorin g them coul d
result in seriou s mechanical failure
or even physica l injury.

-pads 41 E
-pedal 34 Electrical
syste m
HAZAR D warnin g ligh t
29
Headlight s
63, 67, 68
60-6 8
Headligh t dimmer/flashe r
19
- syste m
77
Emergenc y flashe r (HAZARD )
2 9
Headligh t washe r lever/reservoi r
... . 20, 5 1
- warnin g lights
23-2 5
Emergenc y servic e
47
Headligh t switc h
19
Brake-in-hint s
41
Emergenc y startin g
39, 69
Heater/ventilatio n control s
30-3 2
Bulb s - replacin g
63-6 7
Emergenc y towin g
69
Highbeam/lowbea m lever/ligh t
19,2 2
Buzzers
9, 14
Emission contro l syste m
71-7 3
Hoo d release
36
Index
A
Acceleratio n kick-dow n
Accelerator pedal
Adjusting headlight s
Ai r compresso r
c
Capacitie s
78
Engine - compartmen t
- hoo d release
- numbe r
46
36
6
0, 42, 48, 49, 78
74-7 8
Cassett e radio
35
-oil 4
Catalyti c converte r
53, 70-7 2
- specification s
Caution s
Cente r consol e
Centra l doo r lockin g
46
17
11
F
Centra l warnin g light syste m
2 5
Fan - radiato r
23
39
Changin g a whee l
58-5 9
Fan switc h
31
39
Chassi s numbe r
6
Filling capacitie s
78
67
Cigarett e lighte r
29
Flasher - emergenc y
29
57
Cleanin g
44, 45
Fog lights
26, 64, 67
Ai r conditionin g
30-3 2
Clutc h
37
Fuel - econom y
40
Ai r cleane r
55
Collapsibl e spar e tir e
57
- fille r ca p
54
Alternato r warnin g ligh t
24
Coolan t temperatur e gaug e
2 3
- gaug e
23
Antenn a
35
Coolin g syste m
51 , 52, 79
- recommendation s
43, 54
Antifreez e
42, 51 , 79
Corrosio n preventio n
4 2
-tank
54, 78
Anti-thef t alarm
10
Fuse panel
62
Ashtrays/light s
29, 66
Fuses and relays
61
Automati c garag e doo r
41
Automati c spee d contro l
Automati c transmissio n
21
38, 39
D
G
Automati c transmissio n f
lu
i d (ATF) 50
Dashboar d
17
Gas statio n informatio n
84-8 7
Defogging/defrostin g
17,26,27,30-3 2
Gasolin e - octan e rating s
43, 54, 74
Dimension s
79
Gear ratio s
75
Directiona l signal s
19, 22
Gearshiftin g
37
B
Door s locks
9-11 , 4 3
Glov e boxe s
9, 28, 29
Drivin g hints
8
Batter y
42, 60
Brak e - booste r
34
H
- flui d
53
-
parkin g 34, 39
4

w
Warning/indicato r lights
22-2 5
Washe r syste m
20, 51 , 5 5
Weight s
76
Wheel s
42, 56, 76
Whee l changing
58, 59
Windo w switche s
11,1 7
Windshiel d washe r reservoi r
51
Windshield/wipe r washe r lever
20
Winte r operatio n
32, 42, 43
l/J
Identificatio n plates 6
Ignition/steerin g lock 14
Instrument cluste r 12, 18
Instrument illuminatio n 18, 19
Intensive windshiel d washer /
switch/reservoi r 20, 55
Interior lights
11 , 60
Intermittent wipe r interva l
20
Jack
47
Jack lifting point s
58, 59
K/L
Key s 9, 10
Kickdow n - acceleratio n 39
Lane changer 19
Lights - ashtray s 66
- fo g 26, 64, 67
- interio r 11 , 65
-license plate 65
- parkin g 19, 64
-switch 19
-tail 66
-turn signal 22, 64, 65
- vanit y mirro r 28
- warning/indicato r 22-2 5
Locks 9-14,4 3
Loudspeake r balance contro l 34
Luggage compartmen t 12, 36
M/O
Maintenanc e 47
Manual transmissio n 37, 81
Mechanical fan 23
Mirror s 27, 28
Octan e rating s 43, 54, 74, 78
Odomete r 26
Oi l changing/checkin g 48, 49
- filte r 49
- grade s 43, 78
- pressur e gauge/warnin g light s . . 24
- transmissio n 50
P
Paint numbe r 7
Parking brak e lever 34
Parking lights/leve r 19, 64
Performanc e 77
Polishin g 44, 45
Power antenna 35
Powe r steerin g flui d 55
Power window s 10,1 7
Pressur e - tire s 56, 76
R
Radiato r fan 23, 46, 51
Radio 35
Rear seats 12
Rear windo w defogger/defroste r 26
Rear windo w wipe r switc h 26
Rear vie w mirror s 27
s
Saf e drivin g hints 7, 8
Safet y belt s 15, 16
Safet y bel t warnin g light 29
Seats , front/rear/electri c 12, 13
Selecto r lever 38, 39
Shif t point s 37
Slidin g roo f - electri c 33
Spar e tire - collapsibl e 57
Specification s - engin e 74-7 7
Spee d contro l - automati c 21
Speedomete r 22
Startin g hints/engin e 14, 40
Steerin g lock 9, 12-1 4
Su n visor s 28
T
Tachomete r 22
Technical data 74-8 3
Tire s 41,4 2
Tire size/pressur e 56, 76
Tool kit 4 7
Towin g 39, 69
Transmissio n 37-39 , 50, 75
Tri p odomete r 2 6
Turn signa l lights/leve r 19, 22, 64, 65
U
Undercoatin g 4 2
Unleade d fuel 43, 54, 70
Upholstery , car e of 43, 44
V
Vanit y mirro r 28
Vehicl e identificatio n 6
Ventilation/heate r control s 30-3 1
Voltmete r 24
5

Locatio n o f Chassi s Seria l
Number , Paint and Engine Numbe r
When ordering spare parts or submitting
inquiries, always quote chassis and engine
number to ensure correct and prompt ser•
vice.
Chassis number
In accordance with Federal Safety Regula•
tions, the chassis number of your car is lo•
cated on the left windshield post and can be
seen from the outside.
6
Engine number Paint number
The engine number is stamped on the front The paint number is on the doorjamb on the
reinforcing rib in the top half of the crank- driver's side.
case.

Dear Porsche Owner
A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering
techniques, rigid quality control and de•
manding 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.
Safety Compliance Sticker
The Safety Compliance Sticker is your assur•
ance 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 door-
sill on the driver's side.
The sticker also shows the month and year
of production and the chassis number of your
car (perforations) as well as the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross Axle
Weight Rating.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on
how to perform most of the checks listed on
the following page. If in doubt, have these
checks performed by your Porsche dealer.
7

Before going on a trip . . . In the drivers
sea t. . . On the highway . ..
1 - Be sure
tire s are inflate d correctly . Loo k
for bruise s and tir e wear .
2 -
Se e that whee l bolt s or nuts are not
loose o r missing .
3 -
Chec k engin e oil level , add if neces •
sary. Mak e it a habi t to have engin e oil
checked wit h ever y secon d fuel filling .
4 -
Chec k coolan t level to assure sufficien t
engine cooling .
5 - Be
sur e yo u have a wel l charge d bat•
tery. Each cel l shoul d be fille d to level
with distille d water .
6 -
Chec k brak e flui d level . If to o low , have
brake syste m checked .
7 - Replenis h windshiel d washe r fluid .
8 - Replace
wor n or cracke d wipe r blades.
9 - See that all
window s are clea r and un •
obstructed .
10-Chec k whethe r headligh t and tail light
lenses are clean .
11 -
Chec k under car fo r leaks .
12 - Be sure all
light s are workin g and head •
lights are aimed correctly .
8
1 - Depres s plate in cente r of steerin g whee l
to check whethe r hor n i s working .
2 - Positio n seat fo r eas y reach of controls .
3 - Adjus t inside and outsid e rear vie w mir•
rors .
4 - Us e safet y belts .
5 - Chec k operatio n of foo t and parkin g
brakes.
6 - Chec k all
warnin g und indicato r lights
whe n startin g the engine .
7 - DO
NO T leave ca r idlin g unattended .
8 - Lock
door s fro m inside , especiall y wit h
children in the car.
Have the
engin e oil , the coolan t level and the
ATF (in car s wit h automati c transmission )
checked regularly , even inbetwee n the re •
commended maintenanc e intervals .
1 - Alway s driv e defensively . Expect the un •
expected .
2 - Use signal s to indicat e turn s and lane
changes.
3 - Turn on headlight s at dusk .
4 - Alway s kee p a safe distanc e fro m the car
in fron t of you , dependin g on traffic , road
and weathe r conditions .
5 - Reduce
spee d durin g night hour s and in •
clemen t weather .
6 - Observ e spee d limit s an d obe y highwa y
signs.
7 -
Whe n tired , ge t off th e highway , sto p
and tak e a rest. Turn the engin e off. DO
NOT sit in the ca r wit h engin e idling .
See warnin g on Engine Exhaust.
8 -
Whe n stoppe d or parked , alway s se t the
parking brake .
9 -
Whe n stalle d or stoppe d fo r repairs ,
move the car wel l off the road . Se t the
emergency flashe r and us e roa d flare s o r
other warnin g device s t o war n othe r mo •
torists.
Turn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the car.

Do not invite car
theft !
A n unlocke d car wit h th e ke y i n th e ignitio n
switch invites car theft .
A
steerin g whee l lock and a buzzer alarm
are standar d equipmen t in you r Porsche. The
buzzer wil l soun d if yo u ope n the driver' s
door whil e the ke y is stil l in the ignitio n lock.
It is you r reminde r to pull th e ke y out of the
ignition lock and lock the doors .
D o not remov e th e ke y fro m th e steerin g
lock whil e yo u are drivin g or as the car is
rolling to a stop . The steerin g colum n is lock•
ed whe n yo u remov e th e key , an d yo u wil l
not be able to steer the car.
The
ne w forma t o f th e maste r an d auxiliar y
keys makes unauthorize d duplicatio n of the
keys virtuall y impossible . This means , how •
ever, that yo u yoursel f wil l not b e able t o get
replacement key s cut, unless ordere d fro m
the manufacturer .
Shoul d yo u need ne w keys , yo u must give
the key number. This numbe r is note d on th e
plastic tag on the keys . Kee p this ta g in a
safe place - not in th e vehicle .
a Master key
b Auxiliar y key
c Rear seat glov e box key
Keys
A set of thre e key s com e wit h you r Porsche
(see illustration) .
a - maste r key fo r ignitio n lock, doo r locks,
luggage compartmen t lock and glov e com •
partment lock
b -auxiliar y ke y fo r ignitio n lock, doo r locks
and luggag e compartmen t lock
c - ke y fo r rear seat glove bo x lock
Key light
The master ke y has a built-i n flashligh t in the
key head . The beam fro m a small bulb in the
key head illuminate s the lowe r part of the ke y
stem.
The flashligh t is on as long as th e contac t
button is depressed .
The flashligh t is powere d by a 1.5 Vol t butto n
battery. Whe n the beam begin s t o fade , re•
place the battery , becaus e an old battery may
leak and damage your clothes.
9