2002 SUBARU IMPREZA Owners Manual

In case of emergency
9-20
CAUTION
If transmission failure occurs, transport
your vehicle on a flat-bed truck. Do not run the engine while being towed in
this method. Transmission damage could re- sult if the vehicle is towed with engine run-ning. For vehicles with automatic transmission,
the traveling speed must be limited to less than 20 mph (30 km/h) and the traveling dis- tance to less than 31 miles (50 km). Forgreater speeds and distances, transport your
vehicle on a flat-bed truck. Maintenance tools
HG9010AA
Your vehicle is equipped with the following mainte-
nance tools:
Wheel cover remover (vehicles with wheel covers)
Screwdriver
Towing eye
Wheel nut wrench

In case of emergency
9-21
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Jack and jack handle
HGS042BA
The jack is stored on the left side of the trunk or
cargo area.
To take out the jack, turn the jackscrew counter-
clockwise to loosen it, then remove the jack.
HGF014BB
Sedan
1) Jack
2) Jack handle 3) Spare tire

In case of emergency
9-22
HGF020BB
Wagon
1) Jack
2) Jack handle3) Spare tire
The jack handle is stored under the spare tire cover.
For how to use the jack, refer to “Flat tires ”.

10
10-1
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Exterior care 10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing 10-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Waxing and polishing 10-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleaning aluminum wheels 10-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corrosion protection 10-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Most common causes of corrosion 10-4 . . . . . . . . . . . .
To help prevent corrosion 10-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleaning the interior 10-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat fabric 10-5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leather seat materials 10-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Synthetic leather upholstery 10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appearance care

Appearance care
10-2
Exterior care Washing
The best way to preserve your vehicle ’s beauty is
frequent washing. Wash the vehicle at least once a
month to avoid contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of luke-
warm or cold water. Do not wash the vehicle with hot
water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot and bird droppings
should be washed off by using a light detergent, as
required. If you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use strong soap or chemical detergents. All cleaning agents should
be promptly flushed from the surface and not al-
lowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water
off with a chamois or soft cloth. NOTE When having your vehicle washed in an auto- matic car wash, make sure beforehand that thecar wash is of suitable type. If the vehicle is
equipped with a rear/roof spoiler, it may be dam-aged by car wash brushes or other equipment.CAUTION
When washing the vehicle, the brakes may
get wet. As a result, the brake stopping dis-
tance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly press-ing the brake pedal to heat up the brakes. Do not wash the engine compartment and
area adjacent to it. If water enters the engineair intake, electrical parts or the power steer-
ing fluid reservoir, it will cause engine trouble
or faulty power steering respectively.
Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road
surfaces are extremely corrosive, accelerating the
corrosion of underbody components, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the
fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent in-
tervals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents.
Using a warm water washer
Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm) or more
between the washer nozzle and the vehicle. Do not wash the same area continuously.

Appearance care
10-3
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If a stain will not come out easily, wash by hand.
Some warm water washers are of the high tempera-
ture, high pressure type, and they can damage or
deform the resin parts such as mouldings, or causewater to leak into the vehicle. Waxing and polishing
Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing and polishing. Use a good quality polish and wax and apply them
according to the manufacturer ’s instructions. Wax or
polish when the painted surface is cool.
Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim, as well
as the painted surfaces. Loss of wax on a painted
surface leads to loss of the original luster and also
quickens the deterioration of the surface. It is rec-
ommended that a coat of wax be applied at least
once a month, or whenever the surface no longer re-
pels water. If the appearance of the paint has diminished to the
point where the luster or tone cannot be restored,
lightly polish the surface with a fine-grained com-
pound. Never polish just the affected area, but in-
clude the surrounding area as well. Always polish in
only one direction. A No. 2000 grain compound is
recommended. Never use a coarse-grained com- pound. Coarser grained compounds have a smaller grain-size number and could damage the paint. Af-
ter polishing with a compound, coat with wax to re-
store the original luster. Frequent polishing with a
compound or an incorrect polishing technique will
result in removing the paint layer and exposing the
undercoat. When in doubt, it is always best to con- tact your SUBARU dealer or an auto paint specialist.
Cleaning aluminum wheels
Promptly wipe the aluminum wheels clean of any
kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left on too long, it
may be difficult to clean off. Do not use soap containing grit to clean the
wheels. Be sure to use a neutral cleaning agent, and
later rinse thoroughly with water. Do not clean the
wheels with a stiff brush or expose them to a high-speed washing device. Clean the vehicle (including the aluminum wheels)
with water as soon as possible when it has been
splashed with sea water, exposed to sea breezes, or
driven on roads treated with salt or other agents.

Appearance care
10-4
Corrosion protection
Your SUBARU has been designed and built to resist
corrosion. Special materials and protective finishes
have been used on most parts of the vehicle to help
maintain fine appearance, strength, and reliable op- eration. Most common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion are:
1. The accumulation of moisture retaining dirt and
debris in body panel sections, cavities, and other
areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective coatings caused by gravel and stone chips or minor acci- dents.
Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle when:
1. It is exposed to road salt or dust control chemi-
cals, or used in coastal areas where there is more
salt in the air, or in areas where there is considerable industrial pollution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity, especially
when temperatures range just above freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of the vehicle remains
for a long time, even though other parts of the ve-
hicle may be dry. 4. High temperatures will cause corrosion to parts
of the vehicle which cannot dry quickly due to lack
of proper ventilation.
To help prevent corrosion
Wash the vehicle frequently. If you drive on salted
roads in the winter or if you live in a coastal area,
you should flush the underbody with fresh water fre-
quently.
After the winter has ended, it is recommended that
the underbody be given a very thorough washing.
Before the beginning of winter, check the condition of underbody components, such as the exhaust sys- tem, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, suspension, steering system, floor pan, and fenders. If any of
them are found to be rusted, they should be given
an appropriate rust prevention treatment or should
be replaced. Contact your SUBARU dealer to per-
form this kind of maintenance and treatment if you need assistance. Repair chips and scratches in the paint as soon as you find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for water and dirt
accumulation under the floor mats because that
could cause corrosion. Occasionally check under

Appearance care
10-5
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the mats to make sure the area is dry.
Keep your garage dry. Do not park your vehicle in adamp, poorly ventilated garage. In such a garage,
corrosion can be caused by dampness. If you washthe vehicle in the garage or put the vehicle into the
garage when wet or covered with snow, that can cause dampness.
If your vehicle is operated in cold weather and/or in
areas where road salts and other corrosive materials
are used, the door hinges and locks, trunk lid lock,
and hood latch should be inspected and lubricated
periodically. Cleaning the interior
Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dust and dirt.
Wipe the vinyl areas with a clean, damp cloth.
Seat fabric
Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with a vacuum
cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the fabric or hard to
remove with a vacuum cleaner, use a soft blush then vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly wrung cloth
and dry the seat fabric thoroughly. If the fabric is still
dirty, wipe using a solution of mild soap and luke-
warm water then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a commercially-
available fabric cleaner. Use the cleaner on a hid-
den place and make sure it does not affect the fab-
ric adversely. Use the cleaner according to itsinstructions. Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high quality natu-
ral product which will retain its distinctive appear-
ance and feel for many years with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the surfacecan cause the material to become brittle and to