2002 SUBARU IMPREZA Owners Manual

Maintenance and service
11-32
HGB001KB
1) “MAX” level mark
2) “MIN” level mark
Check the fluid level on the outside of the reservoir. If
the level is below “MIN ” level mark, add the recom-
mended clutch fluid to “MAX ” level mark.
Use only clutch fluid from a sealed container.
CAUTION
Clutch fluid absorbs moisture from the air.
Any absorbed moisture can cause improper clutch operation. If the vehicle requires frequent refilling,
there may be a leak. If you suspect a problem,
have the vehicle checked at your SUBARU dealer.
Never use different brands of clutch fluid to-
gether. When clutch fluid is added, be careful not to
allow any dirt into the tank.
Recommended clutch fluid
FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid

Maintenance and service
11-33
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Brake booster If the brake booster does not operate as described
below, have it checked by your SUBARU dealer.
1. With the engine off, depress the brake pedal sev-
eral times, applying the same pedal force each time.
The distance the pedal travels should not vary.
2. With the brake pedal depressed, start the en-
gine. The pedal should move slightly down to the
floor.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the engine
and keep the pedal depressed for 30 seconds. The pedal height should not change.
4. Start the engine again and run for about one min-
ute then turn it off. Depress the brake pedal several
times to check the brake booster. Brake booster op-
erates properly if the pedal stroke decreases with
each depression. Brake pedal
Check the brake pedal free play and reserve dis-
tance according to the maintenance schedule in the“
Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”).
Checking the brake pedal free play
OM-H0224
1) 0.04 – 0.12 in (1.0 – 3.0 mm)
Stop the engine and firmly depress the brake pedal
several times. Lightly press the brake pedal down
with one finger to check the free play with a force ofless than 2 lb (10 N, 1 kg).
If the free play is not within proper specification,
contact your SUBARU dealer.

Maintenance and service
11-34
Checking the brake pedal reserve dis- tance
OM-H0225
1) Left hand drive vehicles:
More than 2.56 in (65 mm)
Right hand drive vehicles:
More than 3.35 in (85 mm)
Depress the pedal with a force of approximately 66
lb (294 N, 30 kg) and measure the distance be-
tween the upper surface of the pedal pad and the
floor.
When the measurement is smaller than the specifi-
cation, or when the pedal does not operate smooth-
ly, contact with your SUBARU dealer. Clutch pedal (MT vehicles)
Check the clutch pedal free play and reserve dis-
tance according to the maintenance schedule in the“
Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”.
Checking the clutch function
Check the clutch engagement and disengagement.
1. With the engine idling, check that there are no
abnormal noises when the clutch pedal is de-
pressed, and that shifting into 1st or reverse feelssmooth.
2. Start the vehicle by releasing the pedal slowly tocheck that the engine and transmission smoothly
couple without any sign of slippage.

Maintenance and service
11-35
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Checking the clutch pedal free play
OM-H0224
1) 0.16 – 0.51 in (4.0 –13.0 mm)
Lightly press the clutch pedal down with your finger
until you feel resistance, and check the free play.
If the free play is not within proper specification,
contact your SUBARU dealer. Replacement of brake pad and liningOM-H0163
The front disc brakes and the right rear disc brake have an audible wear indicators on the brake pads.If the brake pads wear close to their service limit,
the wear indicator makes a very audible scrapingnoise when the brake pedal is applied.
If you hear this scraping noise each time you apply the brake pedal, have the brake pads serviced byyour SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

Maintenance and service
11-36
CAUTION
If you continue to drive despite the scraping noise from the audible brake pad wear indica-
tor, it will result in the need for costly brake rotor repair or replacement.
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings
When replacing the brake pad or lining, use only
genuine SUBARU parts. After replacement, the new
parts must be broken in as follows:
Brake pad and lining
While maintaining a speed of 30 to 40 mph (50 to 65
km/h), step on the brake pedal lightly. Repeat this
five or more times.
Parking brake lining
1. Drive the vehicle at a speed of about 22 mph (35km/h).
2. With the parking brake release button pushed in,
pull the parking brake lever SLOWLY and GENTLY.
(Pulling with a force of approximately 33 lb [147 N,15 kg].)
3. Drive the vehicle for about 220 yards (200 me- ters) in this condition. 4. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the parking brake to cool
down. Repeat this procedure.
5. Check the parking brake stroke. If the parking
brake stroke is out of the specified range, adjust it
by turning the adjusting nut located on the parking
brake lever.
Parking brake stroke: 7 – 8 notches / 44 lb (196 N, 20 kg)
WARNING
A safe location and situation should be se- lected for break-in driving.
CAUTION
Pulling the parking brake lever too forcefully
may cause the rear wheels to lock. To avoid
this, be certain to pull the lever up slowly and
gently.

Maintenance and service
11-37
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Parking brake stroke
HB4001CA
Check the parking brake stroke according to the
maintenance schedule in the “Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet ”. When the parking brake is properly
adjusted, braking power is fully applied by pulling
the lever up seven to eight notches gently but firmly(about 44 lb, 196 N, 20 kg). If the parking brake le-
ver stroke is not within the specified range, have the brake system checked and adjusted at your
SUBARU dealer. Tires and wheels
Types of tires
All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide an ade-
quate measure of traction, handling and braking
performance in year-round driving including snowy
and icy road conditions. However all season tires do
not have adequate traction performance compared
with winter (snow) tires in heavy or loose snow or on
icy road.
All season tires are identified by “ALL SEASON ”
and/or “M+S” (Mud & Snow) on the tire sidewall.
Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed capability tires best
suited for highway driving under dry conditions.
Summer tires are inadequate for driving on slippery
roads such as on snow-covered or icy roads.
If you drive your vehicle on snow-covered or icy
roads, we strongly recommend the use of winter
(snow) tires.
When installing winter tires, be sure to replace all
four tires.
Winter (snow) tires
Winter tires are best suited for driving on snow-cov-

Maintenance and service
11-38
ered and icy roads. However winter tires do not
have adequate performance compared with sum-
mer tires and all season tires on roads other than
snow-covered and icy roads. Tire inspection
Check on a daily basis that the tires are free from serious damage, nails, and stones. At the same
time, check the tires for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immediately if you find
any problem. NOTE When the wheels and tires strike curbs or are
subjected to harsh treatment as when the vehicle is driven on a rough surface, they can suffer
damage that cannot be seen with the naked eye.This type of damage does not become evident
until time has passed. Try not to drive over
curbs, potholes or other rough surface. If doingso is unavoidable, keep the vehicle ’s speed
down to a walking pace or less, and approach
the curbs as squarely as possible. Also, makesure the tires are not pressed against the curbswhen you park the vehicle. If you feel unusual vibration while driving or
find it difficult to steer the vehicle in a straight line, one of the tires and/or wheels may be dam-aged. Drive slowly to the nearest authorized
SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle inspected.
Tire pressures and wear
Maintaining the correct tire pressures helps to maxi-
mize the tires ’ service lives and is essential for good
running performance. Check and, if necessary, ad-
just the pressure of each tire (including the spare) at least once a month (for example, during a fuel stop)
and before any long journey.
Check the tire pressures when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to
the values shown on the tire placard. The tire plac-
ard is located on the door pillar on the driver ’s side.
HB0382

Maintenance and service
11-39
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Driving even a short distance warms up the tires
and increases the tire pressures. Also, the tire pres-
sures are affected by the ambient temperature. It is
best to check tire pressure outdoors before drivingthe vehicle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside it ex-
pands, causing the tire pressure to increase. Be
careful not to mistakenly release air from a warm tire
to reduce its pressure. NOTE The air pressure in a tire increases by approxi-
mately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kg/cm 2
) when the tire
becomes warm. The tires are considered cold when the vehicle
has been parked for at least three hours or hasbeen driven less than one mile (1.6 km).
WARNING
Do not let air out of warm tires to adjust
pressrue. Doing so will result in low tire pres-sure.
Incorrect tire pressures detract from controllability
and ride comfort, and they cause the tires to wear
abnormally.
Correct tire pressure (tread worn evenly)
HGB033AA
Roadholding is good, and steering is responsive.
Rolling resistance is low, so fuel consumption is
also lower.