2001 SUBARU LEGACY check oil

3
Instruments and controls Ignition switch3-3
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Key reminder chime 3-5
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Key interlock release (AT vehicles only) 3-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hazard warning flasher 3-6
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Meters and gauges 3-7
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Speedometer 3-7
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Odometer/Trip meter 3-7
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Tachometer (if equipped) 3-8
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Outside temperature indicator (if equipped) 3-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel gauge 3-9
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Temperature gauge 3-9
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Warning and indicator lights 3-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 3-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system warning light 3-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator lamp 3-11
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Charge warning light 3-12
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Oil pressure warning light 3-13
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AT OIL TEMPerature warning light (for AT vehicles) 3-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABS warning light 3-13
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VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) warning light (if equipped) 3-15
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Brake system warning light 3-16
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Door open warning lights 3-16
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Low fuel warning light 3-16
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Front-wheel drive warning light (for AT vehicles) 3-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) operation indicator
light (if equipped) 3-17
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VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) OFF indicator light
(if equipped) 3-17
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Security system status indicator light (if equipped) 3-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shift position indicator (for AT vehicles) 3-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signal indicator lights 3-18
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High beam indicator light 3-18
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Clock 3-19
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Light control switch 3-19
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Daytime running light system 3-21
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Turn signal lever 3-21
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Illumination brightness control 3-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking light switch 3-23
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3-10We rec ommend that you d rive mod erately until the p o
inter of the temp er-
ature g aug e reac hes near the mid d le of the rang e. E ng ine op eration is
op timum with the eng ine c oolant at this temp erature rang e and hig h rev-
ving op eration when eng ine is not warmed up enoug h should b e
avoid ed .
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:
Seatb elt warning lig ht
SRS airb ag system warning lig ht
CHECK ENGINE warning lig ht / Malfunc tion ind ic ator lamp
Charg e warning lig ht
Oil p ressure warning lig ht
AT OIL temp erature warning lig ht (AT vehic les)
ABS warning lig ht
VDC warning lig ht (if eq uip p ed )
VDC op eration ind ic ator lig ht (if eq uip p ed )
VDC OFF ind ic ator lig ht (if eq uip p ed )
Brake system warning lig ht
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. Seatbelt warning light and chime
When the ig nition switc h is turned to the “ON ” p osition, the seatb elt
warning lig ht will c ome on and the remind er c hime w ill sound for ab out
six sec ond s to remind the d river to fasten the seat b elt.
The seatb elt warning lig ht remains on for ab out six sec ond s and turns off
automatic ally after six sec ond s.

Climate control4-19
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CONTINUED –
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner
Cleaning ventilator grille
HB5019BC
Always keep the front ventilator inlet g rille free of snow, leaves, or oth-
er ob struc tions to ensure effic ient heating and d ef rosting . Sinc e the
c ond enser is loc ated in front of the rad iator, this area should b e kep t
c lean b ec ause c ooling p erformanc e is imp aired b y an y ac c umulation
of insec ts and leaves on the c ond enser. Efficient cooling after parking in direct sunlight
After p arking in d irec t sunlig ht, d rive with the wi nd ows op en for a few
minutes to allow outsid e air to c irc ulate into the heated interior. This
results in q uic ker c ooling b y the air c ond itioner. Keep the wind ows
c losed d uring the op eration of the air c ond itioner for maximum c ool-
ing effic ienc y. Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant circuit
Op erate the air c ond itioner c omp ressor at a low eng ine sp eed (at id le
or low d riving sp eed s) a few minutes eac h month d ur ing the off-sea-
son to c irc ulate its oil. Checking air conditioning system before summer season
Chec k the air c ond itioner unit for refrig erant leak s, hose c ond itions,
and p rop er op eration eac h sp ring . This c hec k is b es t p erformed b y
your SUBARU d ealer.

7-8
Preparing 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 seatb elt. Chec k that your p asseng ers have fastened their
seatb 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.
Starting 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.
Starting the engine for a manual transmission vehicle
1. Ap p ly the p arking b rake.
2. Turn off unnec essary lig hts and ac c essories.

11-4
Always use the proper tools and make certain that they are
well maintained. Never get under the vehicle supported only by a jack. Always
use a safety stands to support the vehicle. Never keep the engine running in a poorly ventilated area,
such as a garage or other closed areas. Do not smoke or allow open flames around the fuel or battery.
This will cause a fire. Because the fuel system is under pressure, replacement of the
fuel filter should be performed only by your SUBARU dealer. Wear adequate eye protection to guard against getting oil or
fluids in your eyes. If something does get in your eyes, thorough-
ly wash it out with clean water. Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS airbag system or
seatbelt pretensioner system, or attempt to take its connectorsapart, as that may activate the system or it can render it inopera-tive. The wiring and connectors of these systems are yellow for
easy identification. NEVER use a circuit tester for these wiring. If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensioner needs service, con-
sult your nearest SUBARU dealer. Before checking or servicing in the engine compart- ment
Always stop the engine and set the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving. Always let the engine cool down. Engine parts become very
hot when the engine is running and remain hot for some time af-ter the engine is stopped. Do not spill engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components. This may cause a fire. Always remove the key from the ignition switch. When the
ignition switch is in the “ON” position, the cooling fan may oper-
ate suddenly even when the engine is stopped.

Maintenance and service11-9
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CONTINUED –
Engine oil
Checking the oil level
Chec k the eng ine oil level at eac h fuel stop .
HSB008BB
HBB004BA
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the eng ine.
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Be sure the d ip stic k is c orrec tly inserted until it stop s with the
g rap hic symb ol
on its top ap p earing as shown in the illustra-
tion.
4. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil to b ring the level up to t he up p er level.
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the recommended grade and viscosity.
If you c hec k the oil level just after stop p ing the eng ine, wait a few min-
utes for the oil to d rain b ac k into the oil p an b ef ore c hec king the level.
Just after d riving or while the eng ine is warm, the eng ine oil level
read ing may b e in a rang e b etween the up p er level a nd the notc h
mark. This is c aused b y thermal exp ansion of the en g ine oil.
To p revent overfilling the eng ine oil, d o not ad d a ny ad d itional oil
ab ove the up p er level when the eng ine is c old .

Maintenance and service11-23
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CONTINUED –
sc hed ule in the
“Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”. Consult your
SUBARU d ealer for rep lac ement.
If a b elt is loose, c rac ked , or worn, c ontac t your SUBARU d ealer.
Manual transmission oil Checking the oil level
Chec k the oil level monthly.
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the eng ine.
OM-H0210
Upper level Lower level
HBB004DB
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil throug h the d ip stic k hole to b ring the level up
to the up p er level. Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5

11-26Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles)
Checking the oil level
Chec k the d ifferential oil level monthly.
HBA010BB
Lower level Upper levelHBB004EB
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the
eng ine.
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil to b ring the level up to t he up p er level.
Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5