Didn't read the manual? Read this.

My personal favorite all purpose light is the SureFire G2. http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/carfnbr/0/prrfnbr/878 SureFire makes weapon lights. Yes, lights that go on weapons, but more specifically, lights that can be used as weapons (usually by police). Not to beat someone down with, but a light that is so incredibly bright that if you shine it in their eyes they will be temporarily blinded. A friend of mine is a Police Officer in Dortmund Germany. Before one of my visits to Germany, he asked me if I could buy a SureFire G2 and bring it to Germany for him. I guess among the Police it's known to be an awesome light. But in Germany they are very expensive. I agreed to help him 'import' one. Well, when the thing arrived I couldn't resist checking it out. It's a tiny little light, about the size of one of those mini Mag-lights. But don't be fooled. I tried it against my full sized 3-D Mag Light. I shone each light on the wall next to each other and my jaw dropped. The tiny SureFire is at least 3 to 4 time brighter and it's light pattern is perfectly diffused. The mag light is a joke in comparison. I have been using this light for everything ever since (a few years now). It uses two 3 volt lithium ion batteries that are a little pricey, but they last pretty long and I am pretty sure that they are the main contributor to its' amazing performance. Those batteries have a shelf life of 10 years, so this would be a great emergency light in the glove box of any car.

Anything that should be added to the first post?

Nothing to add but how about putting it up in the FAQ and just remove the sticky. If you want, I can do the HTML for you and send to Ken and you can be the author. Your call.

This is what I carry in my Cayman . I bought the package of 2 at Costco for under $20, they are self-powered by just winding them; never needs batteries and they light up super bright and have a warning flasher. http://www.amazon.com/MegaBRITE-Self-Powered-Super-bright-Flashlight-Emergency/dp/B0009X4BOE

Can we do both? I've had lots of e-mails suggesting the sticky is helpful however some folks see it as a flashlight thread now without reading the first post.

Sure we can do both. Let me know if you want it in the FAQ under Misc. and I will take care of it

How about using the orginal title wherever you think it goes. Thanks.

You might want to update the first message in this thread to include that the airbag light info can be found in the owner's manual and at the respective pages (I think it was 46-48).

Santa Fe (great town!!): maybe you can clear up something I cannot quite figure out. In the CS with the PCM and sport chrono package , there is an option for recording general overall trip information. One of the factors recorded and displayed is the average speed traveled. For some reason my average speed traveled is always very low, compared to what I think it should be. Say for instance that I take a drive lasting 50 minutes. During that time there is mostly highway or roads where I am averaging 60-70 mph. The display will tell me my average speed was 35 mph. Clearly not correct. I have tried a complete reset of the onboard trip computers, but it doesn't correct this problem. Any idea? Come to think of it, I noticed this after I removed my wheels to fix a flat and to clean and wax them. I recall that there is some sort of reset for new tyres. Could this be a factor? I also note that the manual says that the trip clock continues to count even when the car is off. Sounds funny to me. Second: I cannot seem to find a display, even in the sport chrono mode, that records the MAX speed obtained. Am I missing something?

I don't have those options but I'm betting someone here can answer your questions. It isn't the reset for new tires .

Didn't read the manual... are you a dumbas... As a pilot, I can tell you one of the most important things you should do with a car as sophisticated as a Cayman, an aircraft, etc is completely familiarize youself with the various systems and components before you have an emergency or question. There are two ways to go through life: the easy way (read and understand the manual) or the hard way (don't).:crazy:

Did anyone know that there were CD holders in the glovebox?

What???!!!

airbag warning The airbag deal happened to me today for the second time on my 07 CS. Both times the seat has been all the way back. Does not do this when my kid or wife have the seat moved foward. I was going to call Monday and a make an appointment with the dealer. I called them the first time it happened and they scheduled an appointment, WTF?? You would think that they would have mentioned this issue and saved me a trip, I cancelled my first appointment when it did not re- occur. THANKS- YOU SAVED ME A SERVICE VISIT.

Coolant Expansion Tank Window.....NOT! I have one that seems to be missing from here (or maybe it belongs somewhere else ) The owners manual informs me that there is a transparent window in the expansion tank that I can use to see if the coolant level is proper. I looked but there is no transparent window. Finally, I opened up the cap for the expansion tank and behold!! There were two lettered inserts at different levels in the filler neck. The top one said "MAX" and the bottom one said "MIN". My level was right between them so everything was okee-dokee. I have a 2006 Cayman S with Tiptronic. Are they all like this or did I get shorted a transparent window at the factory?

Where is the expansion tank?

The filler cap for it (blue) is next to the oil filler cap (black) behind the small door in the rear trunk area. Just be carefull to open it when the engine is totally cooled off as the contents may be hot and under pressure.

I knew the filler cap was there, but didn't know there was an expansion tank. Can you see the coolant level somewhere? Do you have to remove the blue cap to do so?

I think the blue cap is for the expansion tank. The only way that I can see the fluid level is to remove the blue cap . Even though the manual clearly indicates that there is a transparent window somewhere I can't find it.

Porky I live in the south of Germany where temperatures drop below minus 30 degrees centigrade,and many roads still have unrestricted speed limits.(Heaven!).After much testing tyre companies,car makers and insurance companies decided to make fitting winter tyres compulsery when the temp. drops below 7 degrees.

I have had my Cayman for six weeks now and I am not surprised when something new pops up while driving. The passenger side air bag warning light really worried me when my wife put the seat back to relax on the way home from a party last week. I still had 50 miles to drive and this really got me to thinking ...."what if"! I thought I read the manual pretty well, but it is worth reading it again at a slower pace I see. The smell of 'Popcorn" that sometimes occures while driving is interesting,but thanks to the first post I am not concerned anymore about something that is about to catch fire! I have this battery charger that I bought off the posche webb site for winter storage that might be worth using when I leave for vacation so I don't have to worry about " battery discharge". ( $150 with shipping) This thread is great!

I bought the little porsche light that fits in the cigarette lighter in teh console. It is very bright, and lasts a long time. When you're done with it, you just plug it back in and close the lid. Very cool

Cayman S Manual Favorates When I talk to new friends with American cars, I love to tell them about these 2 points in the Cayman S manual to illustrate the design difference between their car and a Porsche. The cruise control is automatically disengaged at speeds above 145mph. The rear window wiper is disengaged at 130mph and will automatically re-engage when speed drops below 118mph.

Obscure Idios I did read the manual, and I'm still glad to be reminded of some of this great cars odd features. Missed the clue on fixing the cup holders! Great, thanks!

Thank You!!! Santa Fe for your insightful post. The first time that puff of smoke happened at start up I freaked out.

Great Stuff!!! So what does a Maintainer usually cost?? Are they worth it? I know, I should be maintaining the charging system by being behind the wheel more.

Thats a good light

Good post, almost to 11 posts

Maintainers are like 20-30 at any local auto parts store. They will all do the job, provided the battery water levels are good. Don't store the battery on cement unless its a sealed battery .

I love info like this, especially prior to purchasing the car. Thx.

Thanks for the information. I'm off to the supply store first thing tomorrow.

Not in the manual There is nothing in the manual on how to remove the permanent smile offmy face since getting my first Porsche, a "CS" this weekend!!!!

great post santa fe... just got my cayman two days ago and i had the same question about the rear fog light. the dealer had no clue but assumed thats how it wwas supposed to be.

I dream of living in a place where I'd need snow tires . My 06 CS is used for fun only and gets driven maybe once per week. No flat battery yet but given the problems you highlighted if it happens, I think I'll get a trickle charger. Thanks for the great post.

I will try to remove key again tomorrow when i get back to my shop. I had battery disconnected while i installed a fabspeed cat back yesterday. I could not wait to hear the new sound. When i reconnected battery , turned key nothing!! I tried numerous times. then discoverd i could not remove key from the switch. Battery is fully charged. What's up!!! HELP!!!

Thanks for taking the time to clue in a new owner.

well, obviously i did not read either manual. I stored my Cayman for the winter and disconnected the battery cable. I tried to connect the doner battery but it is not working probably because I disconnected the cable. My ft hood is closed and i do not know how to open it and connect the cable. anyone out there who can help me by telling how to open the ft hood manually ?

Somewhere in the threads here there is a description of how to get to the access cable. I think it involves removing a wheel and a panel.

thx for the all the tips! Much appreciated.

Thanks for the information... Have any new idiosyncrasies been witnessed with the 2009's?

The Cayman has a few idiosyncrasies that might not be familiar to first time Porsche owners. Like them or not “they are what they are” and knowing about them in advance of a problem may help some of us out of a jam. Air Compressor - If you ever have to use the tire air compressor Porsche really means it when they tell us to plug it in cigarette lighter outlet. Otherwise plugging into the 12v outlet will blow the fuse. Battery – Due to the many electronics that draw on the battery it has a high probability of discharging if not driven for an extended period (or if a maintainer is not used). If the battery goes dead to gain access to the front compartment where the battery is you will need to use the procedures on page 234 of the manual “Emergency unlocking of the front luggage compartment lid” If the battery is discharged, the lid can be opened only with the aid of a donor battery or charger. Familiarizing yourself with this unusual method in advance is a good idea. Brake Noise / Sticking Brakes - If after washing or in wet humid weather the car is left overnight with the parking brake applied the pads may become stuck to the rotors. You may hear some scraping noises the first few times the brakes are applied and is the pads scrubbing off the rust on the rotors. This is normal but can be avoided by driving enough to heat up and dry the pads before parking overnight. Bulbs - The factory foglight bulbs are H11 (manual says H8) and an H6W (manual says W5W)for the "driving light" or "parking light". Cup Holders – To lock the cup holders into place and prevent unnecessary movement, return the center portion of the cup holder bar to a closed position after extending either or both cupholders Gas Filler Emergency Unlock - There is a manual release for the fuel door in the passenger door (in a left hand drive car) near the the hinge. Hood Alignment - On all Porsches, including the Cayman, the hood's leading edge is designed to be slightly lower than the bumper cover. Ignition key/ignition lock - Do not insert the ignition key into the ignition lock if the vehicle battery is discharged (look at the interior light for a clue). The ignition key can no longer be removed. The key cannot be removed until the vehicle electrical system is supplied with power again. Update: MY08 Owner's Manual emergency key removal procedure: 1. Open the fuse box and unclip a metal hook on the inside of the cover. 2. Use the hook to remove a plastic lid on the ignition lock to the right of the key. 3. Turn the ignition key counter-clockwise as far as it will go. 4. Press the metal hook into the opening and turn the key to its intial position and remove it. Lane Changer - To indicate your intention when changing lanes, slightly depress the signal lever to the resistance point. The lever will return to the OFF position after three blinks of the signal light which indicates your lane change direction. Noise when Reversing - If the steering wheel is close to or all the way to the steering lock the power steering pump may push against the lock and make a “clunking” noise which is normal. This can also be exacerbated by cold weather making the tires less pliable. Oil Level - There is no dip stick. Oil measurement is done via a computer reading. The best time to check oil levels is the first thing in the morning before the car has been run when the wait time is under six seconds. Be sure to check the measurement when the car is parked on a level surface. Parking Lights -Like other European cars the left and right parking lights can be turned on individually by moving the turn signal up or down and turning off the engine (page 124). This is sometimes done inadvertently. Passenger Air Bag warning – Not in the manual but a common problem at least on ’06 models due to moving the passenger seat too far to the rear (other airbag information is contained in pages 42-48 of the 2006 US owners' manual) Rear Fog Light - You only have one (on the left side). Some people think that the one on the right is malfunctioning. Remote Key - The remote-control standby function switches off after 7 days If the vehicle is not started or unlocked with the remote control within five days, the remote control standby function is switched off (to prevent discharging of the car battery). 1. In this case, unlock the driver’s door with the key at the door lock. Leave the door closed in order to prevent the alarm system from being triggered. 2. Press button 1 on the remote control. The remote control is now activated again. Smell - The cars are protected with Cosmoline for shipping and delivery. It will burn off over time but there will be a distinct smell that will be observed during that time. Smoke - A puff of smoke on start up is normal. Usually this occurs after a period of inactivity. The flat six in your car collects a little oil in the bottom of the cylinders when they sit, and this is what's blowing out when you first start the motor. Sockets -The sockets and thus the connected electrical accessories function even if the ignition is switched off or the ignition key is withdrawn. If the engine is not running and the accessories are switched on, the vehicle battery will be discharged. Do not operate additional accessories for more than 5 minutes when engine is off. (Page 140 of '06 manual) Stall/Start - After stalls turn the key all the way to the LEFT (counterclockwise) before restarting. Tires/Tyres – There is no spare. Reading the instructions that start on page 224 of the manual and locating the tire sealant and electric pump ahead of the need to use it will save you a lot of tears later. One mistake some make is to pull the offending object that caused the flat out of the tire and then attempting to seal it. You also don’t have a flashlight/torch so that means flats will occur at night unless you come prepared. Porsche says that "tire repairs are not permissible under any circumstances" (page 103). Tires/Tyres - Use only plastic valve caps per the manual (page 210 of the '06 version). Winter Tires/Tyres – Porsche recommends fitting winter tires where temperatures drop below 45 degrees (7C).

I wonder how many people have a spare battery lying around their house And if you not in the snow belt or going to drive on snow, how many people are going to spend money on snow tires?

Thank you Santa Fe for telling it like it is!

I had the passenger air bag warning deal happen the other day when my gf moved the seat around. Glad it isn't just my car! Fixed by moving it up a little. (I have an 07 CS)

Thanks very much for this, Santa Fe. Is this governed by a purely mechanical mechanism or by one that needs current to operate mechanically? I wonder if this behavior applies to the plastic spare key as well as the metal one. ??? Yes, I used to get this in my '06 987 Boxster. But I've yet to see it in my '06 CS. That settles it — I'm getting a flashlight (or two) for the CS, already. (I've been thinking about it, but you know how that goes.) Since I'm living in an area with 'marginal' temperatures, I wonder if I need to make the switch during winter. I think I don't. My recollection is that Porsche says something about the tires giving 'less than ideal traction' below 45 degrees F. I can settle for driving more conservatively if there's no snow or ice. Thanks again!

Ahh, so THAT's why I kept getting the airbag warning when my friend sat in the passenger seat! Thanks for the info.

Cool Stuff. As a new Porsche owner this is very useful.

Ignition key/ignition lock - Do not insert the ignition key into the ignition lock if the vehicle battery is discharged. The ignition key can no longer be removed. The key cannot be removed until the vehicle electrical system is supplied with power again. ____________ LOL, now you tell me. i had that exact prob 2 months ago. as i have no patience, i forced the key out. yes, it's possible, but dont do it. luckily i didn't damage anything.

SF...thx for the thoughtful post.

Yeah I read this thread, went down stairs and this exact thing happened to me! I haven't driven the car for a week ( bad weather down here) so just got off the phone with 24 hr roadside...sending me somebody out so I can take the car tomorrow. This would be something I think they would tell everyone. I'm not pissed I'm just disappointed I can't go play right now.

Thanx for thhe info Sant Fe. It is a good reminder for me as I ordered my base Cayman late August and I should get it early next week.

As already stated by another - the '07 Cayman S also has issue with the Passenger Side Airbag when the seat is pushed all the way back against the rear bulkhead/firewall. I'm guessing this mostly happens with power seats. The power seats do not have any sort of stop to keep the seat from continuing backward ... so, it just keeps going until it hits up against that rear firewall ... as the seat presses up against the engine compartment - the seat harness flexes a bit (I suppose more if the seat back is leaned back, thus affecting contact earlier) and the flexing in the seat causes the sensor for the air-bag to mis-cue. Had this all explained to me by one of the service writers at my dealer. Simple fix (again, as already stated): just move the seat up a bit.

I had that problem with mine the first day I got it. What I found is that when you lower the back of the seat down (powered even on the basic seats), it lifts of the back of the seat and causes the problem. You can put it all of the way back but when the seat uses its leverage to lift against the bottom, then it comes on. YMMV

I agree with your first point - clearly it's the tires, in particular the PS2s. We've discussed the tire/temp issue in another post and IMO if you are sensible in warming the tires before driving hard you will be OK. Maybe not in 10 degree temperatures, but certainly below 45. If I was regularly going to drive the car in temps below 45F I would strongly consider another set of tires, however. Your second point is just plain wrong, however (sorry). Do you think that people in Chicago are driving in the snow all the time? 99% of the driving I do with snow tires is on dry pavement and I generally get 4-5 years of service from a set. They are noisier than summer tires, but not bad if you buy quality tires. Not trying to pick a fight here, I just don't want people who legitimately need snow tires to be scared off.

Agreed. I've seen snows last several years. Just use them and dont abuse them. They're there to save your life and your car, not for you to try to make them break lap times in the snow. Another piece of advice I'd offer is to get the WINTER tires that fit your WINTER needs. I drive mostly in slush when it snows. So something like a LM-22/25 is better for me than say a WS-50 which does better in thick powder type snow.

Sanata Fe, All great comments. Re:snow tires the NO rated snowtires rcmd fm Porsche are Conti 810S I have them on the CS now and they are not noisy at all and are alot tackier on cold pavement than the PS2's. We do not get a lot of snow here in KC but cold temps are the norm from now until April. I also run Bridgestone Blizzaks on our mercedes and they are now into their fifth season and dry cold pavement has not torn them up at all. Check out the reports and product reviews on Tirerack .com they have terrific info worth reading. rick

Thanks for the very good summary. Sometimes we all ignore simple advice like having a flash light in the car, in the end it will come and bite us ;-) I will make sure to keep a light of some kind in the car. I recall Russ purchased a small one that fits somewhere in the car - I would think that something a bit bigger might be a good idea - should the light be self contained or plug into the 12V outlet - any pro and cons ?

My current favorite to keep in the car since it is hands free and can be postioned to light up your work area. http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-95-112M-MaxLife-Tripod-Flashlight/dp/B000CC2KP4

Great Find, Santa Fe! I specifically like the fact that it doesn't depend and put a drain on the car battery . I just ordered one.

Lmao if you only knew... I am ridiculously " Battery Challenged" it's embarrassing... It all stared when I unwittingly used a microfiber towel to wipe the dust off of my car near the headlights ... If you know what I'm referring to ( the issue of static build-up and discharge that cooks your front control unit) then you know how all of a sudden your car seems like maybe a really annoying ghost has taken over your electrical system. Never wipe your car down with the microfiber cloth near the headlights when it's dry... You will in time come to regret it. Anyway I wanted to share that because it was never shared with me. I hope it helps and be safe all l8tr