2000 SUBARU FORESTER warning

Instruments and controls3-23
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CONTINUED –
Mirrors
Always c hec k that the insid e and outsid e mirrors ar
e p rop erly ad justed
b efore you start d riving . Inside mirror
HB4003BB
The insid e mirror has a d ay and nig ht p osition. Pul l the tab at the b ottom
of the mirror toward you for the nig ht p osition. Pu sh it away for the d ay
p osition. The nig ht p osition red uc es g lare from hea d lig hts.
Outside mirrors
WARNING
Objects look smaller in a convex mirror (passenger side) and far-
ther away than when viewed in a flat mirror. Do not use the con-vex mirror to judge the distances of vehicles behind you whenchanging lanes. Use the inside mirror (or glance backwards) todetermine the actual size and distance of objects that you view in
the convex mirror.

4-4
Air inlet selection lever
WARNING
Continued operaton in the “
” position may fog up the win-
dows. Switch to the “
” position as soon as the outside
dusty condition clears.
: Interior air is rec irc ulated insid e the p asseng er c omp arment.
: Outsid e air is d rawn into the p asseng er c omp artme nt.
Air conditioner button (if equipped)
The air c ond itioner op erates only when the eng ine i s running .
Push the air c ond itioner b utton while the fan is in op eration to turn on
the air c ond itioner. The ind ic ator lig ht will c ome on.
Push it ag ain to turn off the air c ond itioner.
Heater operation Defrosting or defogging the windshield
HS0073
HS0072
To d irec t warm air to the wind shield and front d oor wind ows:
1. Set the air inlet selec tion lever to the “
” p osition.
2. Set the air outlet c ontrol d ial to the “
” p osition.
3. Turn the temp erature c ontrol d ial all the way rig ht.
4. Set the fan sp eed c ontrol lever to the hig hest sp eed .

Climate control4-7
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CONTINUED –
warmer than from the instrument p anel outlet.
1. Set the air inlet selec tion lever to the
“
” p osition.
2. Set the air outlet c ontrol d ial to the “
” p osition.
3. Set the temp erature c ontrol d ial to the d esired t emp erature level.
4. Set the fan sp eed c ontrol lever to the d esired sp eed .
Setting the temp erature c ontrol d ial fully turned t o the red area or b lue
area d ec reases the temp erature d ifferenc e b etween t he air from the
instrument p anel outlets and the air from the foot outlets.
Ventilation
WARNING
Continued operaton in the “
” position may fog up the win-
dows. Switch to the “
” position as soon as the outside
dusty condition clears.
HS0081
HS0080
To forc e outsid e air throug h the instrument p anel o utlets:
1. Set the air inlet selec tion lever to the “
” p osition.
2. Set the air outlet c ontrol d ial to the “
” p osition.
3. Set the temp erature c ontrol d ial all the way left .
4. Set the fan sp eed c ontrol lever to the d esired sp eed .
When d riving on a d usty road , set the air inlet c on trol lever to the
“
” p osition.

6-20Cigarette lighter (if equipped)
CAUTION
The electrical power socket located on the lower part of the instrument panel is designed to use only a SUBARU genuine cig-arette lighter plug. Do not use non-genuine cigarette lighter plugsor any “plug-in” type electrical accessories in the socket. Doing
so may cause a short-circuit and overheating, resulting in a fire.
HS0378
The elec tric al p ower soc ket loc ated on the lower p a rt of the instrument
p anel c an only b e used as c ig arette lig hter soc ket. A c ig arette lig hter
p lug is an op tional ac c essory. It is availab le from your SUBARU d ealer.
If smoking is not d esired , always p ut the c ap on th e soc ket to p revent
any foreig n ob jec t from entering it.
Cigarette lighter (if equipped)
WARNING
To avoid being burned, never grasp the lighter by the end with the heating element. Doing so could result in injury and couldalso damage the heating element.

Interior equipment6-25
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CONTINUED –
Cargo area light
HS0112
DOOR
OFF
ON
The c arg o area lig ht switc h has three p ositions: ON : The lig ht stays on c ontinuously.
DOOR: The lig ht c omes on only when the rear g ate is op en ed .
OFF: The lig ht stays off.
When leaving your vehic le, make sure the lig ht is t urned off to avoid b at-
tery d isc harg e.
Luggage cover (if equipped)
WARNING
Do not place anything on the extended cover. Putting excessive weight on the extended cover can break it and an object on the
cover could tumble forward in the event of a sudden stop or colli-
sion. This could cause serious injury.
The lug g ag e c over is p rovid ed for c overing the c arg o area and to p ro-
tec t its c ontents from d irec t sunlig ht. This c over is d etac hab le to make
room for ad d itional c arg o.

7
Starting and operating New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) 7-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel requirements 7-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State emission testing (U.S. only) 7-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) 7-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Catalytic converter 7-8
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel economy hints 7-9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing to drive 7-9
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Driving in foreign countries 7-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Periodic inspections 7-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ignition switch 7-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Key reminder chime 7-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Key interlock release (AT vehicles only) 7-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the engine 7-13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stopping the engine 7-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission 7-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission 7-19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selector lever 7-20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shift lock release 7-24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear viscous limited slip differential (for S models) 7-26 . . . . . . . . . .
Steering 7-26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel 7-26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering 7-27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise control (if equipped) 7-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking your vehicle 7-30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Braking 7-32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Braking tips 7-32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake system 7-33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators 7-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) (if equipped) 7-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips for AWD vehicles 7-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Off road driving 7-38
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving 7-41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow tires 7-44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire chains 7-45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocking the vehicle 7-45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Starting and operating7-5
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CONTINUED –
If you are not sure what the fuel c ontains, you sho
uld ask your servic e
station op erators if their g asolines c ontain d eterg ents and oxyg enates
and if they have b een reformulated to red uc e vehic l e emissions.
As ad d itional g uid anc e, only use fuels suited for y our vehic le as ex-
p lained b elow.
Fuel should b e unlead ed and have an oc tane rating n o lower
than that sp ec ified in this manual. Methanol (methyl or wood alc ohol) is sometimes mixe d with un-
lead ed g asoline. Methanol c an b e used in your vehic le ONLY if it
d oes not exc eed 5% of the fuel mixture AND if it is ac c omp anied
b y suffic ient q uantities of the p rop er c osolvents a nd c orrosion in-
hib itors req uired to p revent d amag e to the fuel sys tem. Do not use
fuel c ontaining methanol EXCEPT und er these c ond itions.
If und esirab le d riveab ility p rob lems are exp erienc e d and you
susp ec t they may b e fuel related , try a d ifferent b rand of g asoline
b efore seeking servic e at your SUBARU d ealer. Fuel system d amag e or d riveab ility p rob lems whic h r esult from
the use of imp rop er fuel are not c overed und er the SUBARU Lim-
ited Warranty.
State emission testing (U.S. only)
WARNING
Testing of an All-Wheel Drive vehicle must NEVER be performed
on a single two-wheel dynamometer. Attempting to do so willresult in uncontrolled vehicle movement and may cause an acci-
dent or injuries to persons nearby.
CAUTION
Resultant vehicle damage due to improper testing is not covered
under the SUBARU Limited Warranty and is the responsibility ofthe state inspection program or its contractors or licensees.

Starting and operating7-7
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CONTINUED –
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)
WARNING
Never inhale engine exhaust gas. Engine exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas which is danger- ous, or even lethal, if inhaled. Always properly maintain the engine exhaust system to pre-
vent engine exhaust gas from entering the vehicle. Never run the engine in a closed space, such as a garage, ex-
cept for the brief time needed to drive the vehicle in or out of it. Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle for a lengthy time while
the engine is running. If that is unavoidable, then use the ventila-tion fan to force fresh air into the vehicle. Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille free from snow,
leaves or other obstructions to ensure that the ventilation system
always works properly. If at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the
vehicle, have the problem checked and corrected as soon as pos-
sible. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with allwindows fully open. Keep the trunk lid or rear gate closed while driving to prevent
exhaust gas from entering the vehicle.
NOTE Due to the expansion and contraction of the metals used in the
manufacture of the exhaust system, you may hear a crackling soundcoming from the exhaust system for a short time after the enginehas been shut off. This sound is normal.