2001 SUBARU OUTBACK transmission

9-24CAUTION
If transmission failure occurs, transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck. For vehicles with automatic transmission, the traveling speed
must be limited to less than 20 mph (30 km/h) and the traveling
distance to less than 31 miles (50 km). For greater speeds and
distances, transport your vehicle on a flat-bed truck.
HB8010AA
1. Chec k the transmission and d ifferential oil level s and ad d oil to
b ring it to the up p er level if nec essary.
2. Release the p arking b rake and p ut the transmissio n in neutral.
3. The ig nition switc h should b e in the “ACC ” p osition while the ve-
hic le is b eing towed .
4. Take up slac k in the towline slowly to p revent d a mag e to the ve-
hic le.

11
Maintenance and service
Maintenance schedule11-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance precautions 11-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine hood 11-5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine compartment overview 11-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil 11-9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling system 11-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine coolant 11-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air cleaner element 11-18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spark plugs 11-20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drive belts 11-22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission oil 11-23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission fluid 11-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) 11-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear differential gear oil 11-27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering fluid 11-29
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid 11-30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) 11-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake booster 11-33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pedal 11-34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clutch pedal (Manual transmission vehicles) 11-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement of brake pad and lining 11-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake stroke 11-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires and wheels 11-38
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure 11-39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire rotation 11-39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel covers 11-40
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum wheels (If equipped) 11-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield washer fluid 11-42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement of windshield wiper blades 11-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery 11-45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuses 11-46
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Main fuse and fusible link 11-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation of accessories 11-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing bulbs 11-49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maintenance and service11-3
–
CONTINUED –
Maintenance schedule
The sc hed uled maintenanc e items req uired to b e serv
ic ed at reg ular in-
tervals are shown in the “Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”.
For d etails of your maintenanc e sc hed ule, read the sep arate “Warranty
and Maintenanc e Booklet ”.
Maintenance precautions
When maintenanc e and servic e are req uired , it is re c ommend ed that all
work b e d one b y an authorized SUBARU d ealer.
If you p erform maintenanc e and servic e b y yourself, you should familiar-
ize yourself with the information p rovid ed in this sec tion on g eneral main-
tenanc e and servic e for your SUBARU.
Inc orrec t or inc omp lete servic e c ould c ause imp rop e r or unsafe vehic le
op eration. Any p rob lems c aused b y imp rop er maintena nc e and servic e
p erformed b y you are not elig ib le for warranty c ove rag e.
WARNING
Testing of an All-Wheel Drive vehicle must NEVER be per-
formed on a single two-wheel dynamometer or similar apparatus. Attempting to do so will result in transmission damage and inuncontrolled vehicle movement and may cause an accident or
injuries to persons nearby. Always select a safe area when performing maintenance on
your vehicle. Always be very careful to avoid injury when working on the ve-
hicle. Remember that some of the materials in the vehicle may behazardous if improperly used or handled, for example, batteryacid. Your vehicle should only be serviced by persons fully compe-
tent to do so. Serious personal injury may result to persons not
experienced in servicing vehicles.

Maintenance and service11-7
–
CONTINUED –
Engine compartment overview
2.5 liter models
HBB036BB
1 Manual transmission oil level
g aug e (MT) (p ag e 11-23) or
Differential g ear oil level g aug e
(AT) (p ag e 11-26)
2 Air c leaner element
(p ag e 11-18)
3 Clutc h fluid reservoir
(p ag e 11-32)
4 Automatic transmission fluid
level g aug e (p ag e 11-24)
5 Brake fluid reservoir
(p ag e 11-30)
6 Fuel filter 7
Wind shield washer tank
(p ag e 11-42)
8 Fuse b ox (p ag e 11-46)
9 Battery (p ag e 11-45)
Q Eng ine oil filler c ap
(p ag e 11-9)
W Eng ine c oolant reservoir
(p ag e 11-15)
E Rad iator c ap (p ag e 11-15)
R Eng ine oil level g aug e
(p ag e 11-9)
T Power steering fluid reservoir
(p ag e 11-29)

11-8
3.0 liter models
HBB058BB
1 Air c leaner element
(p ag e 11-18)
2 Differential g ear oil level g aug e
(AT) (p ag e 11-26)
3 Automatic transmission fluid
level g aug e (p ag e 11-24)
4 Brake fluid reservoir
(p ag e 11-30)
5 Fuel filter
6 Wind shield washer tank
(p ag e 11-42) 7
Fuse b ox (p ag e 11-46)
8 Battery (p ag e 11-45)
9 Eng ine c oolant reservoir
(p ag e 11-15)
Q Eng ine oil filler c ap
(p ag e 11-9)
W Eng ine oil level g aug e
(p ag e 11-9)
E Rad iator c ap (p ag e 11-15)
R Power steering fluid reservoir
(p ag e 11-29)

Maintenance and service11-23
–
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

11-24SAE viscosity No. and Applicable Temperature
OM-H0205
Automatic transmission fluid
Checking the fluid level
The automatic transmission fluid exp and s larg ely as its temp erature
rises; the fluid level d iffers ac c ord ing to fluid t emp erature. Therefore,
there are two d ifferent sc ales for c hec king the lev el of hot fluid and
c old fluid on the d ip stic k.
Thoug h the fluid level c an b e c hec ked without warmi ng up the fluid
on the “COLD ” rang e, we rec ommend c hec king the fluid level when
the fluid is at op erating temp erature. n Checking the fluid level when the fluid is hot
Chec k the fluid level monthly.
1. Drive the vehic le several miles to raise the temp erature of the
transmission fluid up to normal op erating temp eratu re; 140 to 176F
(60 to 80 C) is normal.
2. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and set the p arking b rake.
3. First shift the selec tor lever in eac h p osition. Then shift it in the “P ”
p osition, and run the eng ine at id ling sp eed .

Maintenance and service11-25
–
CONTINUED –
HBA008BB
Upper level
Lower level Upper level
Lower level
HOT range
COLD range
HBB004CB
4. Pull out the d ip stic k and c hec k the fluid level o n the g aug e. If it is
b elow the lower level on the “HOT ” rang e, ad d the rec ommend ed au-
tomatic transmission fluid up to the up p er level. n Checking the fluid level when the fluid is cold
When the fluid level has to b e c hec ked without time to warm up the
automatic transmission, c hec k to see that the fluid level is b etween
the lower level and up p er level on the “COLD ” rang e. If it is b elow that
rang e, ad d fluid up to the up p er level. Be c areful not to overfill.
Recommended fluid
“ Dexron II ” or “Dexron III ” Type Automatic Transmission Fluid