2001 SUBARU FORESTER trailer

3-12been detected which may damage the emission control system.
To prevent serious damage to the emission control system, youshould do the following:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard acceleration.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
Reduce the amount of cargo, if possible.
Stop towing a trailer as soon as possible.
The CHECK ENGINE warning light may stop blinking and come on
steadily after several driving trips. You should have your vehicle
checked by an authorized SUBARU dealer immediately.
Charge warning light
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it may indicate that the
charging system is not working properly. If the light comes on while driving or does not go out after the engine
starts, stop the engine at the first safe opportunity and check the alterna-
tor belt. If the belt is loose, broken or if the belt is in good condition but
the light remains on, contact your nearest SUBARU dealer immediately. Oil pressure warning light
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the oil pressure warning light on. This may cause serious engine damage.
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it may indicate that the
engine oil pressure is low and the lubricating system is not working prop-
erly.If the light comes on while driving or does not go out after the engine
starts, stop the engine at the first safe opportunity and check the engine
oil level. If the oil level is low, add oil immediately. If the engine oil is at
the proper level but the light remains on, contact your nearest SUBARU
dealer immediately.

8
Driving tips New vehicle break-in driving –
the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) 8-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel economy hints 8-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) 8-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Catalytic converter 8-4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Periodic inspections 8-5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving in foreign countries 8-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips for AWD vehicles 8-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Off road driving 8-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving 8-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow tires 8-13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire chains 8-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocking the vehicle 8-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corrosion protection 8-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loading your vehicle 8-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle capacity weight 8-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) 8-17
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) 8-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer towing 8-22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8-16
Vehicle capacity weight
HS0251
HS0250
Tire information label
The load c ap ac ity of your vehic le is d etermined b y weig ht, not b y avail-
ab le c arg o sp ac e. The maximum load you c an c arry in your vehic le is
shown as the Vehic le Cap ac ity Weig ht on the tire in formation lab el
attac hed to the d river ’s sid e d oor jamb . It inc lud es the total weig ht of
d river and all p asseng ers and their b elong ing s, any op tional eq uip ment
suc h as a trailer hitc h, roof rac k or b ike c arrier, etc ., and the tong ue load
of a trailer.
The tire information lab el also shows rec ommend ed t ire inflation p ressure
und er full load ing and trailer towing c ond itions. A d just tire inflation p res-
sures ac c ord ing to the load ing c ond itions. For the tire inflation p ressures,
refer to the “Tires and wheel ” sec tion in Chap ter 11.

Starting and operating8-17
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CONTINUED –

GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and
Gross Axle Weight Rating)
HS0143
Certification plate
The c ertific ation p late attac hed to the d river ’s sid e d oor jamb shows
GVWR (Gross Vehic le Weig ht Rating ) and GAWR (Gross Axle Weig ht
Rating ).
The GVW (Gross Vehic le Weig ht) must never exc eed th e GVWR. GVW is
the c omb ined total of weig ht of the vehic le, fuel, d river, all p asseng ers,
lug g ag e, any op tional eq uip ment and trailer tong ue load . Therefore, the
GVW c hang es d ep end ing on the situation. The GVWR eq uals Curb
Weig ht (ac tual weig ht of your vehic le – inc lud ing stand ard eq uip ment,
fluid s, emerg enc y tools and sp are tire assemb ly) p l us the vehic le c ap ac -
ity weig ht.
In ad d ition, the total weig ht ap p lied to eac h axle (GAW) must never
exc eed the GAWR. The front and rear GAWs c an b e ad j usted b y reloc at-
ing lug g ag e insid e the vehic le.
Even if the total weig ht of your lug g ag e is lower t han the vehic le c ap ac ity
weig ht, either front or rear GAW may exc eed the GAW R, d ep end ing on
the d istrib ution of the lug g ag e.
If you c arry heavy load s in the vehic le, you should c onfirm that GVW and
front and rear GAWs are within the GVWR and GAWR b y p utting your
vehic le on a vehic le sc ale, found at a c ommerc ial w eig hing station.
Do not use rep lac ement tires with a lower load rang e than the orig inals
b ec ause they may lower the GVWR and GAWR limitation s. Rep lac ement

8-22Trailer towing
Your c ar is d esig ned and intend ed to b e used p rimar
ily as a p asseng er-
c arrying vehic le. Towing a trailer p uts ad d itional load s on your c ar’s
eng ine, d rivetrain, b rakes, tires and susp ension an d has an ad verse
effec t on fuel ec onomy.
If you d o d ec id e to tow a trailer, your safety and satisfac tion d ep end
up on p rop er use of c orrec t eq uip ment and c autious o p eration of your
vehic le. Seek the ad vic e of your SUBARU d ealer to a ssist you in p ur-
c hasing a hitc h and other nec essary towing eq uip men t ap p rop riate for
your vehic le. In ad d ition, b e sure to follow the in struc tions on c orrec t
installation and use p rovid ed b y the trailer and ot her towing eq uip ment
manufac turers.
SUBARU assumes no resp onsib ility for injuries or ve hic le d amag e that
result from trailer towing eq uip ment, or from any e rrors or omissions in
the instruc tions ac c omp anying suc h eq uip ment or for your failure to fol-
low the p rop er instruc tions.
Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties d o not ap p ly to vehic le d amag e or malfunc tion
c aused b y trailer towing . If you use your vehic le t o tow a trailer, more
freq uent maintenanc e will b e req uired d ue to the ad d itional load .
(Refer to “Maintenanc e sc hed ule und er severe d riving c ond ition s” in
the “Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”.)
Und er no c irc umstanc es should a trailer b e towed wi th a new vehic le
or a vehic le with any new p owertrain c omp onent (eng ine, transmis-
sion, d ifferential, wheel b earing s, etc .) for the f irst 1,000 miles (1,600
km) of d riving . Maximum load limits
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum load limits explained below. Exceed- ing the maximum load limits could cause personal injury and/or
vehicle damage.

Starting and operating8-23
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CONTINUED –
CAUTION
Adequate size trailer brakes are required when the trailer and
its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg) total weight. Before towing a trailer, check the trailer total weight, GVW,
GAWs and tongue load. Make sure the load and its distribution inyour vehicle and trailer are acceptable.
n Total trailer weight
The total trailer weig ht (trailer weig ht p lus its c arg o load ) must never
exc eed the maximum weig ht shown b elow.
Model
ConditionsMaximum total trailer weight
MT modelsWhen towing a trailer without brakes.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
When towing a trailer with brakes.2,000 lbs (906 kg)
AT modelsWhen towing a trailer without brakes.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
When towing a trailer with brakes.2,000 lbs (906 kg)
When towing a trailer on a long uphill grade continuously for over 5 miles (8 km) with an outside temperature of104 °F (40 °C) or above.1,000 lbs (453 kg)
OM-H2781
Total trailer weight

8-24n
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The Gross Vehic le Weig ht (GVW) must never exc eed th e Gross
Vehic le Weig ht Rating (GVWR).
Gross Vehic le Weig ht (GVW) is the c omb ined total of the weig ht of the
vehic le, d river, p asseng ers, lug g ag e, trailer hitc h , trailer tong ue load
and any other op tional eq uip ment installed on your vehic le. Therefore,
the GVW c hang es d ep end ing on the situation. Determi ne the GVW
eac h time b efore g oing on a trip b y p utting your ve hic le and trailer on
a vehic le sc ale.
GVWR is shown on the c ertific ation p late loc ated on the d river’s d oor
jamb of your vehic le.
HS0143
Gross Vehicle Weight Certification plate
HS0142
nGross Axle Weight (GAW) and Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR)
The total weig ht ap p lied to eac h axle (GAW) must ne ver exc eed the
Gross Axle Weig ht Rating (GAWR). The front and rear GAWs c an b e
ad justed b y reloc ating p asseng ers and lug g ag e insid e the vehic le.
The front and rear GAWR are also shown on the c erti fic ation p late.

Starting and operating8-25
–
CONTINUED –
HS0143
Gross Axle Weight Certification plate
HS0144
To c hec k b oth GVWR and GAWR and to c onfirm that the total weig ht
and weig ht d istrib ution are within safe d riving lim its, you should have
your vehic le and trailer weig hed at a c ommerc ial we ig hing station.
Be sure that all c arg o is firmly sec ured to p revent a c hang e in weig ht
d istrib ution while d riving . n Tongue load
WARNING
If the trailer is loaded with more weight in the back of trailer ’s
axle than in the front, the load is taken off the rear axle of the tow- ing vehicle. This may cause the rear wheels to skid, especiallyduring braking or when vehicle speed is reduced during corner-
ing, resulting in over-steer, spin out and/or jackknifing.
Ensure that the trailer tong ue load is from 8 to 11 p erc ent of the total
trailer weig ht and d oes not exc eed the maximum valu e of 200 lb s (90
kg ).
The tong ue load c an b e weig hed with a b athroom sc al e as shown in
the illustration b elow. When weig hing the tong ue lo ad , b e sure to p osi-
tion the towing c oup ler at the heig ht at whic h it w ould b e d uring
ac tual towing , using a jac k as shown.