2000 SUBARU IMPREZA engine

Starting and operating7-7
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CONTINUED –
EXEMPTED
SUBARU AWD vehic les from the p ortion of the testin g p ro-
g ram that involves a two-wheel d ynamometer.
There are some states that use four-wheel d ynamomet ers in their testing
p rog rams. When p rop erly used , that eq uip ment will n ot d amag e an AWD
SUBARU vehic le.
Und er no c irc umstanc es should the rear wheels b e ja c ked off the
g round , nor should the d riveshaft b e d isc onnec ted f or state emission
testing .
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.

7-8
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.
Catalytic converter
WARNING
Avoid fire hazards. Do not drive or park the vehicle anywhere
near flammable materials (e.g. grass, paper, rags or leaves), be-
cause the catalytic converter operates at very high temperatures. Keep everyone and flammable materials away from the ex-
haust pipe while the engine is running. The exhaust gas is veryhot.
HB3003BA
The c atalytic c onverter is installed in the exhaust system. It serves as a
c atalyst to red uc e HC, CO and NOx in exhaust g ases, thus p rovid ing
c leaner exhaust.
To avoid d amag e to the c atalytic c onverter: Use only unlead ed fuel. Even a small amount of lead ed fuel will d am-
ag e the c atalytic c onverter. Never start the eng ine b y p ushing or p ulling the ve hic le.

7-10Preparing to drive
You should p erform the following c hec ks and ad justm
ents every d ay b e-
fore you start d riving .
1. Chec k that all wind ows, mirrors, and lig hts are c lean and unob -
struc ted .
2. Chec k the ap p earanc e and c ond ition of the tires. Also c hec k tires for
p rop er inflation. 3. Look und er the vehic le for any sig n of leaks.
4. Chec k that the hood , trunk and rear g ate are full y c losed .
5. Chec k the ad justment of the seat.
6. Chec k the ad justment of the insid e and outsid e mi rrors.
7. Fasten your seat b elt. Chec k that your p asseng ers have fastened
their seat b elts.
8. Chec k the op eration of the warning and ind ic ator lig hts when the ig ni-
tion switc h is turned to the “ON ” p osition.
9. Chec k the g aug es, ind ic ator and warning lig hts af ter starting the en-
g ine. NOTE Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid and other fluid
levels should be checked daily, weekly or at fuel stops.
Driving in foreign countries
When p lanning to use your vehic le in another c ountr y:
Confirm the availab ility of the c orrec t fuel. (Refe r to the “Fuel req uire-
ment ” sec tion in this c hap ter.)
Comp ly with all reg ulations and req uirements of eac h c ountry.
Periodic inspections
To keep your vehic le in the b est c ond ition at all t imes, always have the
rec ommend ed maintenanc e servic es listed in the main tenanc e sc hed ule
in the “Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ” p erformed at the sp ec ified
time or mileag e intervals.

Starting and operating7-11
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CONTINUED –
Ignition switch
WARNING
Never turn the ignition switch to “LOCK” while the vehicle is be-
ing driven or towed because that will lock the steering wheel, pre- venting steering control. And when the engine is turned off, it
takes a much greater effort than usual to steer.
The ig nition switc h has four p ositions: LOCK, ACC, ON and START.
HS0122
LOCK
The key c an only b e inserted or removed in this p os ition. The ig nition
switc h will loc k the steering wheel when you remove the key.
If turning the key is d iffic ult, turn the steering wheel slig htly to the rig ht
and left as you turn the key.

Starting and operating7-13
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CONTINUED –

START CAUTION
Do not turn the ignition switch to the “START” position while the
engine is running.
The eng ine is started in this p osition. The starter c ranks the eng ine to
start it. When the key is released (after the eng in e has started ), the
key automatic ally returns to the “ON ” p osition.
Key reminder chime
The remind er c hime sound s when the d river ’s d oor op ens and the key is
in the “LOCK ” or “ACC ” p ositions. The c hime stop s when the key is re-
moved from the ig nition switc h.
Key interlock release (AT vehicles only)
If the key c an not b e turned to the “LOCK ” p osition even when the selec -
tor lever is in the “P ” p osition:
HS0127
HS0126
Vehicle front
Release lever
1. Take out the sc rewd river from the tool b ag .
2. Remove three sc rews sec uring the und erc over of th e steering c ol-
umn.
3. Remove the und erc over of the steering c olumn.
4. Turn the ig nition key while p ressing the key inte rloc k release lever.
Take your vehic le to the nearest SUBARU d ealer imme d iately to have the
key interloc k system rep aired .

7-14Starting the engine
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter motor continuously for more than ten
seconds. If the engine fails to start after operating the starter forfive to ten seconds, wait for ten seconds or more before tryingagain.
Manual transmission vehicles
1. Ap p ly the p arking b rake.
2. Turn off unnec essary lig hts and ac c essories.
3. Press the c lutc h p ed al to the floor and shift the shift lever into neu-
tral. Hold the c lutc h p ed al to the floor while star ting the eng ine. The
starter motor will only op erate when the c lutc h p ed al is p ressed fully
to the floor.
4. Turn the ig nition switc h to the “ON ” p osition and c hec k the op era-
tion of the warning and ind ic ator lig hts. Refer to “Warning and ind ic a-
tor lig hts ” sec tion (c hap ter 3).
5. Turn the ig nition switc h to the “START ” p osition without d ep ressing
the ac c elerator p ed al. Release the key immed iately after the eng ine
has started .
If the eng ine d oes not start within ten sec ond s, wa it a while and then
turn the ig nition switc h to the “START ” p osition ag ain while d ep ressing
the ac c elerator p ed al half way d own.
6. Confirm that all warning and ind ic ator lig hts hav e g one off after the
eng ine has started . The fuel injec tion system autom atic ally lowers the
id le sp eed as the eng ine warms up . Automatic transmission vehicles CAUTION
If you restart the engine while the vehicle is moving, shift the se- lector lever into the “N” position. Do not attempt to place the se-
lector lever of a moving vehicle into the “P” position.

Starting and operating7-15
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CONTINUED –
1. Ap p ly the p arking b rake.
2. Turn off unnec essary lig hts and ac c essories.
3. Shift the selec tor lever to the
“P ” or “N ” p osition (p referab ly “P ”
p osition).
The starter will only op erate when the selec t lever is at the “P ” or “N ”
p osition.
4. Turn the ig nition switc h to the “ON ” p osition and c hec k the op era-
tion of the warning and ind ic ator lig hts. Refer to “Warning and ind ic a-
tor lig hts ” sec tion (c hap ter 3).
5. Turn the ig nition switc h to the “START ” p osition without depress-
ing the accelerator pedal . Release the key immed iately after the en-
g ine has started .
If the eng ine d oes not start within ten sec ond s, wa it a while and then
turn the ig nition switc h to the “START ” p osition ag ain while d ep ressing
the ac c elerator p ed al half way d own.
6. Confirm that all warning and ind ic ator lig hts hav e g one out after
the eng ine has started . The fuel injec tion system a utomatic ally lowers
the id le sp eed as the eng ine warms up .
While the eng ine is warming up , make sure that the selec tor lever is at
the “P ” or “N ” p osition and that the p arking b rake is ap p lied .
During cold weather below – 4F ( – 20 C)
If the eng ine is d iffic ult to start using the norma l method (without d e-
p ressing the ac c elerator p ed al), turn the ig nition switc h to the
“ START ” p osition while slig htly d ep ressing the ac c elerator p ed al.
Flooded engine
If the eng ine d oes not start, it may b e flood ed (ex c essive fuel in the
eng ine).
In c ase of a flood ed eng ine, turn the starter motor for five sec ond s
with the ac c elerator p ed al fully d ep ressed . Rep eat this two or three
times until the eng ine starts. Release the ig nition switc h and ac c elera-
tor p ed al as soon as the eng ine starts.

7-16Stopping the engine
WARNING
Do not stop the engine when the vehicle is moving. This will
cause loss of power to the power steering and the brake booster,making steering and braking more difficult. It could also result in
accidental activation of the “LOCK” position on the ignition
switch, causing the steering wheel to lock.
The ig nition switc h should b e turned off only when the eng ine is id ling .
Manual transmission
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the clutch disengaged (i.e., when theclutch pedal is depressed) or with the shift lever in the neutralposition. Engine braking has no effect in either of these condi-tions and the risk of an accident is consequently increased.
CAUTION
Shift into reverse ONLY when the vehicle has completelystopped. It may cause damage to the transmission to try shiftinginto reverse when the vehicle is moving.
The manual transmission is a fully sync hromeshed 5- forward and 1-re-
verse sp eed transmission.