2000 SUBARU FORESTER controls

ii
How to use this owner’s manual
Using your Owner’s manual
Before you op erate your vehic le, c arefully read thi s manual. To p rotec t
yourself and extend the servic e life of your vehic l e, follow the instruc tions
in this manual. Failure to ob serve these instruc tio ns may result in serious
injury and d amag e to your vehic le.
This manual is c omp osed of thirteen c hap ters. Eac h c hap ter b eg ins with
a b rief tab le of c ontents, so you c an usually tell at a g lanc e if that c hap -
ter c ontains the information you want. Chapter 1: Doors and Locks
This c hap ter informs you how to op erate the keys, l oc ks and wind ows.
Chapter 2: Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag
This c hap ter informs you how to use the seat and se at b elt and c ontains
p rec autions for the SRS airb ag .Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This c hap ter informs you ab out the op eration of ins trument p anel ind ic a-
tors and how to use the instruments and other switc hes.
Chapter 4: Climate Control
This c hap ter informs you how to op erate the c limate c ontrol.
Chapter 5: Audio
This c hap ter informs you how to op erate your aud io system.
Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This c hap ter informs you how to op erate interior eq uip ment.
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This c hap ter informs you how to start and op erate y our SUBARU.
Chapter 8: In case of emergency
This c hap ter informs you what to d o if you have a p rob lem while d riving ,
suc h as a flat tire or eng ine overheating .Chapter 9: Appearance care
This c hap ter informs you how to keep your SUBARU lo oking g ood .
Chapter 10: Maintenance and service
This c hap ter informs you how to keep your SUBARU ru nning p rop erly.

Doors and locks
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbag
Instruments and controls
Climate control
2
3
4
Audio
Interior equipment
Starting and operating
In case of emergency
5 67 8
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects12
Index139
10
11
1
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Table of contents

3
Instruments and controls Gauges3-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Speedometer 3-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Odometer/Trip meter 3-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tachometer 3-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel gauge 3-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temperature gauge 3-4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning and indicator lights 3-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belt warning light and chime 3-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system warning light 3-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charge warning light 3-6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil pressure warning light 3-6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system warning light 3-6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicator lamp 3-7 . . . . . .
ABS warning light (for vehicles with ABS) 3-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light (for AT vehicles) 3-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Door open warning lights 3-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front-wheel drive warning light (for AT vehicles) 3-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signal indicator lights 3-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
High beam indicator 3-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hazard warning flasher 3-11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Light control switch 3-11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signals lever 3-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Illumination brightness control 3-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking light switch 3-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fog light switch (if equipped) 3-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wiper and washer 3-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper and washer switches 3-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window wiper and washer switch (if equipped) 3-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped) 3-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear window defogger switch 3-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Horn 3-22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mirrors 3-23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inside mirror 3-23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside mirrors 3-23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Instruments and controls3-3
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p ushing the knob and keep the knob p ushed for more
than 2 sec ond s.
NOTE If the connection between the combination meter and battery is bro-
ken for any reason such as vehicle maintenance or fuse replace-ment, the data recorded on the trip meter will be lost. Tachometer
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the pointer of the tachometer in
the red zone. In this range, fuel injection will be cut by the enginecontrol module to protect the engine from overrevving. The en-gine will resume running normally after the engine speed is re-duced below the red zone.
The tac hometer shows the eng ine sp eed in thousand s of revolutions p er
minute. Fuel gauge
HS0155Low fuel warning light
The fuel g aug e shows the ap p roximate amount of fuel remaining in the
tank.
The g aug e d oes not return to “E ” even thoug h the ig nition switc h is in the
“ ACC ” or “LOCK ” p osition.

Instruments and controls3-5
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Warning and indicator lights
Several of the warning and ind ic ator lig hts c ome on
momentarily and
then g o out when the ig nition switc h is initially t urned to the “ON ” p osi-
tion. This p ermits c hec king the op eration of the b u lb s.
Ap p ly the p arking b rake and turn the ig nition switc h to the “ON ” p osition.
The following lig hts c ome on:
Seat b elt warning lig ht
SRS airb ag system warning lig ht
Charg e warning lig ht
Oil p ressure warning lig ht
Brake system warning lig ht
CHECK ENGINE warning lig ht/Malfunc tion ind ic ator la mp
ABS warning lig ht (if eq uip p ed )
AT OIL TEMP warning lig ht (automatic transmission v ehic les)
If any lig hts fail to c ome on, it ind ic ates a b urne d -out b ulb or a malfunc -
tion of the c orresp ond ing system.
Consult your authorized SUBARU d ealer for rep air. Seat belt warning light and chime
When the ig nition switc h is turned to the “ON ” p osition, the seat b elt
warning lig ht will c ome on and the remind er c hime will sound to remind
d river to fasten the seat b elt.
The seat b elt warning lig ht remains on for ab out si x sec ond s and turns
off automatic ally after six sec ond s.
The seat b elt remind er c hime will turn off when the d river’s sid e seat b elt
is b uc kled or it will turn off automatic ally after ab out six sec ond s.
SRS airbag system warning light AIRBAG
When the ig nition switc h is turned to the “ON ” p osition, the SRS airb ag
system warning lig ht will c ome on for ab out six sec ond s and g o out. This
shows the SRS airb ag system is in normal op eration.
If this lig ht c omes on while d riving or d oes not g o out after the eng ine
starts, it may ind ic ate that the SRS airb ag system is not working p rop erly.
Contac t your nearest SUBARU d ealer immed iately.

Instruments and controls3-7
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Parking brake warning
The lig ht c omes on with the p arking b rake ap p lied w hile the ig nition
switc h is in the “ON ” p osition. It g oes out when the p arking b rake is
fully released . Brake fluid level warning
This lig ht c omes on when the b rake fluid level has d rop p ed to near
the “MIN ” level of the b rake fluid reservoir with the ig niti on switc h in
the “ON ” p osition and with the p arking b rake fully released .
If the b rake system warning lig ht should c ome on wh ile d riving (with
the p arking b rake fully released and with the ig nit ion switc h p osi-
tioned in “ON ”), it c ould b e an ind ic ation of leaking of b rake fl uid or
worn b rake p ad s. Have your vehic le c hec ked b y a SUB ARU d ealer
immed iately.
CHECK ENGINE warning light/ Malfunction indicator lamp
CAUTION
If the CHECK ENGINE light comes on while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked/repaired by your SUBARU dealer as soonas possible. Continued vehicle operation without having the
emission control system checked and repaired as necessarycould cause serious damage, which may not be covered by your
vehicle’ s warranty.
If this lig ht c omes on stead ily or b links while the eng ine is running , it may
ind ic ate that there is a p rob lem or p otential p rob l em somewhere in the
emission c ontrol system.
If the light comes on steadily:
If the lig ht c omes on stead ily while d riving or d oe s not g o out after the
eng ine starts, an emission c ontrol system malfunc ti on has b een d e-
tec ted .
You should have your vehic le c hec ked b y an authoriz ed SUBARU
d ealer immed iately.

Instruments and controls3-9
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CONTINUED –

The warning lig ht c omes on when the ig nition switc h is turned to the
“ ON ” p osition, b ut it d oes not g o out even when the veh ic le sp eed
exc eed s ap p roximately 8 mp h (12 km/h). The warning lig ht c omes on d uring d riving .
When the warning lig ht is on, the ABS func tion shut s d own; however, the
c onventional b rake system c ontinues to op erate norm ally. If this oc c urs,
have the ABS system rep aired at the first availab le op p ortunity b y your
SUBARU d ealer. NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as shown below, the ABS system may be considered normal. The warning light comes on right after the engine is started but
goes out immediately, remaining off. The warning light remains on after the engine has been started,
but it goes out when the vehicle speed reaches about 8 mph (12km/h). The warning light comes on during driving, but it goes out
immediately and remains off.When driving with an insufficient battery voltage such as when theengine is jump started, the ABS warning light may come on. This isdue to the low battery voltage and does not indicate a malfunction.When the battery becomes fully charged, the light will go out. AT OIL TEMPerature warning light
(for AT vehicles)
If this lig ht c omes on when the eng ine is running , it may ind ic ate that the
automatic transmission fluid temp erature is too hot .
If the lig ht c omes on while d riving , it is unnec ess ary to stop the vehic le,
b ut avoid d riving up steep g rad es or in stop and g o traffic .
Automatic transmission control system warning
If the lig ht flashes after the eng ine starts, it ma y ind ic ate that the auto-
matic transmission c ontrol system is not working p r op erly. Contac t
your nearest SUBARU d ealer for servic e immed iately.

Instruments and controls3-11
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Hazard warning flasher
HS0053
The hazard warning flasher is used to warn other d r
ivers when you have
to p ark your vehic le und er emerg enc y c ond itions. Th e hazard warning
flasher works with the ig nition switc h in any p osit ion.
When you have to p ark your vehic le und er emerg enc y c ond itions, p ull off
the road s safely and p ark away from the traffic if it is p ossib le.
To turn on the hazard warning flasher, p ush the haz ard warning b utton
on the instrument p anel. To turn off the flasher, p ush the b utton ag ain.
NOTE When the hazard warning flasher is on, the turn signals do not work.
Light control switch
WARNING
To prevent battery discharge resulting from accidentally leaving your lights on when your vehicle is parked, the light switch oper-ates only when the ignition switch is in the “ON” position. In any
other position, the vehicle ’s lights will be out. If you park your ve-
hicle on a roadside at night, use the hazard warning flasher toalert the other drivers.