2001 SUBARU OUTBACK air conditioning

Instruments and controls3-29
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CONTINUED –
Rear window defogger switch
CAUTION
Do not use sharp instruments or window cleaner containing
abrasives to clean the inner surface of the rear window. They may
damage the conductors printed on the window. To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not operate
the defogger continuously for any longer than necessary.
The rear wind ow d efog g er op erates only when the ig n ition switc h is in
the “ON ” p osition.
The rear wind ow d efog g er switc h is loc ated on the c limate c ontrol p anel.
The d efog g er will automatic ally shut off after ab ou t 15 minutes. If the win-
d ow c lears b efore that time, p ush the switc h to tur n it off. It also turns off
when the ig nition switc h is turned to the “ACC ” or “LOCK ” p osition. If
d efrosting or d efog g ing is d esired when you restart your vehic le, you
have to p ush the switc h to turn it on ag ain.
For vehicles with manual heating and air conditioning systems
HB5009BB
To turn on the d efog g er, p ush the switc h. To turn i t off, p ush the switc h
ag ain.
The ind ic ator lig ht loc ated on the switc h lig hts up while the rear win-
d ow d efog g er is op erating .

4
Climate control
Ventilator4-2
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Manual heating and air conditioning system 4-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heater operation 4-6
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Air conditioner operation 4-10
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Automatic climate control system (if equipped) 4-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner 4-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air filtration system (if equipped) 4-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-4
Manual heating and air conditioning system
Control panel
HB5004BC
1. Temp erature c ontrol d ial
2. Fan sp eed c ontrol d ial
3. Air flow c ontrol d ial
4. Air c ond itioner b utton (if eq uip p ed )
5. Air inlet selec tion b utton
6. Rear wind ow d efog g er b utton (Refer to “Rear wind ow d efog g er ” in
c hap ter 3.) n Temperature control dial
This d ial reg ulates the temp erature of air flow fro m the air outlets over
a rang e from the b lue area (c ool) to red area (warm ).
n Fan speed control dial
The fan op erates only when the ig nition switc h is t urned to the “ON ”
p osition. The fan sp eed c ontrol d ial is used to sel ec t four fan sp eed s.
n Air flow control dial
This d ial has the following five p ositions:
: Air flows throug h the instrument p anel outlets.
: Air flows throug h the instrument p anel outlets and the foot
outlets.

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.

4-20
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and low tempera- ture weather condition
Und er c ertain weather c ond itions (hig h relative hum id ity, low temp era-
tures, etc .) a small amount of water vap or emission from the air outlets
may b e notic ed . This c ond ition is normal and d oes n ot ind ic ate any
p rob lem with the air c ond itioning system. Air conditioner compressor shut-off when engine is heavily loaded
To imp rove ac c eleration and g as mileag e, the air c o nd itioner c om-
p ressor is d esig ned to temp orarily shut off d uring air c ond itioner op -
eration whenever the ac c elerator is fully d ep ressed suc h as d uring
rap id ac c erelation or when d riving on a steep up g ra d e.
Refrigerant for your climate control system
Your air c ond itioner uses ozone friend ly refrig eran t HFC134a. There-
fore, the method of ad d ing , c hang ing or c hec king th e refrig erant is
d ifferent from the method for CFC12 (freon). Consul t your SUBARU
d ealer for servic e. Rep airs need ed as a result of u sing the wrong
refrig erant are not c overed und er warranty.
Air filtration system (if equipped)
If your vehic le ’s air c ond itioning system is eq uip p ed with a op tion al air
filtration system, rep lac e the filter element ac c or d ing to the rep lac ement
sc hed ule shown b elow. This sc hed ule should b e follo wed to maintain the
filter ’s d ust c ollec tion ab ility. Und er extremely d usty c o nd itions, the filter
should b e rep lac ed more freq uently. Sinc e the filte r element is a visc ous
typ e, it is unnec essary to c lean or wash the elemen t. Have your filter
c hec ked or rep lac ed b y your SUBARU d ealer.
Replacement schedule: Every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000 km) whichever comes first
NOTE The filter can influence the air conditioning, heating and defroster performance.