2002 SUBARU IMPREZA suspension

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-27
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sioner does not operate, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. Precautions against vehicle modifica- tion
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifica- tions. Such modifications can interfere with proper operation of the seatbelt pretension- ers.Attachment of any equipment (bush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) otherthan SUBARU genuine accessory parts to thefront end. Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure. Installation of a tire of different size and
construction from the tires specified on thetire placard attached to the door jamb.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to
install any accessory parts to your vehicle. Child restraint systems
Infants and small children should always be placed
in an infant or child restraint system in the rear seat
while riding in the vehicle. You should use an infant
or child restraint system that meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards, is compatible with your vehicle
and is appropriate for the child
’s age and size. All
child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of
a lap/shoulder belt (except those covered under the section in this manual, entitled “Installation of child
restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchor-
ages”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their
child restraints are not properly secured in the ve-
hicle. When installing the child restraint system,
carefully follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating posi-
tions than in the front seating positions.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-62
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifica- tions. Such modifications can interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag system. Attachment of any equipment (brush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) otherthan SUBARU genuine accessory parts to thefront end. Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure. Installation of a tire of different size and
construction from the tires specified on thetire placard attached to the door jamb. Attachment of any equipment (side steps or
side sill protectors, etc.) other than SUBARU genuine accessory parts to the side body (for
vehicles with side airbags only).
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to
install any accessory parts to your vehicle.

Driving tips
8-14
gerous and lead to loss of vehicle control. You must install four winter tires that are of
the same size, construction, brand, and loadrange. Mixing other sizes or constructions
may result in severe mechanical damage to
the drive train of your vehicle and may affect
ride, handling, braking and speedometer/ odometer calibration. It also may be danger-ous and lead to loss of vehicle control. Do not use a combination of radial, belted
bias or bias tires since it may cause danger-ous handling characteristics and lead to an accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with “all season tires ” as
original equipment, which are designed to provide
an adequate measure of traction, handling and
braking performance in year-round driving. In winter,
it may be possible to enhance performance through
use of tires designed specifically for winter drivingconditions.
The optional 17-inch tires for the WRX are summer
tires. Compared with winter and all-season tires,
summer tires give significantly less grip on snowy
and icy road surfaces. Therefore, use of winter tires
is strongly recommended when driving with such
road conditions. When you choose to install winter tires on your ve-
hicle, be sure to use the correct tire size and type.
You must install four winter tires that are of the samesize, construction, brand and load range and you
should never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires
since this may result in dangerous handling charac-
teristics. When you choose a tire, make sure that
there is enough clearance between the tire and ve-
hicle body.
Remember to drive with care at all times regardless
of the type of tires on your vehicle.
Tire chains
Driving on snowy grades or icy roads may require
the use of tire chains, in which case put the chains
on the front wheels only. Use only SAE class S type
chains that are of the correct size for your tires so asnot to damage the vehicle body or suspension.
When driving with tire chains, drive at speeds below 19 mph (30 km/h).
When a temporary spare tire is on a front wheel, re-
place the temporary spare tire with the rear tire onthe same side of the vehicle, and then fit chains on
the front tires.
Always use the utmost care when driving with tire

Driving tips
8-27
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Trailer towing
Your car is designed and intended to be used pri-
marily as a passenger-carrying vehicle. Towing a
trailer puts additional loads on your car ’s engine, dri-
vetrain, brakes, tires and suspension and has an
adverse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety and sat-
isfaction depend upon proper use of correct equip-
ment and cautious operation of your vehicle. Seekthe advice of your SUBARU dealer to assist you in
purchasing a hitch and other necessary towing
equipment appropriate for your vehicle. In addition,
be sure to follow the instructions on correct installa-
tion and use provided by the trailer and other towing
equipment manufacturers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for injuries or
vehicle damage that result from trailer towing equip-
ment, or from any errors or omissions in the instruc- tions accompanying such equipment or for your fail-
ure to follow the proper instructions. Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties do not apply to vehicle damage or malfunction caused by trailer towing. If you use
your vehicle to tow a trailer, more frequent mainte-
nance will be required due to the additional load. (Refer to
“Maintenance schedule under severe driv-
ing conditions ” in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer be towedwith a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new power-
train component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of driving. Maximum load limits
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum load limits ex-
plained below. Exceeding the maximum loadlimits could cause personal injury and/or ve-hicle damage.
CAUTION
Adequate size trailer brakes are required
when the trailer and its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg) total weight. Before towing a trailer, check the trailer total
weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load. Make sure the load and its distribution in your
vehicle and trailer are acceptable.

In case of emergency
9-19
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3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier properly with safety chains. Each of safety chain should be
equally tightened and care must be taken not to pull
the chains so tightly that the suspension bottomsout.
CAUTION
If your vehicle has a front underspoiler and rear underspoiler (both optional), be carefulnot to scrape them when placing the vehicleon the carrier and when removing the vehicle
from the carrier.
Towing with all wheels on the ground
HG9001AA
1. Check the transmission and differential oil levels
and add oil to bring it to the upper level if necessary.
2. Release the parking brake and put the transmis-sion in neutral.
3. The ignition switch should be in the “ACC” posi-
tion while the vehicle is being towed.
4. Take up slack in the towline slowly to prevent
damage to the vehicle.
WARNING
Never turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position while the vehicle is being towed be-
cause the steering wheel and the direction ofthe wheels will be locked. Remember that the brake booster and pow-
er steering do not function when the engine is not running. Because the engine is turned off,
it will take greater effort to operate the brakepedal and steering wheel.

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
10-4
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

Maintenance and service
11-41
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increase in temperature could cause tread
separation, and destruction of the tires. Theresulting loss of vehicle control could lead toan accident.
Wheel balance
Each wheel was correctly balanced when your ve-
hicle was new, but the wheels will become unbal-
anced as the tires become worn during use. Wheel
imbalance causes the steering wheel to vibrate
slightly at certain vehicle speeds and detracts from the vehicle ’s straight-line stability. It can also cause
steering and suspension systems problems and ab-
normal tire wear. If you suspect that the wheels are
not correctly balanced, have them checked and ad-
justed by your SUBARU dealer. Also have them ad-
justed after tire repairs and after tire rotation. NOTE Loss of correct wheel alignment* causes the tires to wear on one side and reduces the ve-
hicle’ s running stability. Contact your SUBARU
dealer if you notice abnormal tire wear.
* : The suspension system is designed to hold each wheel
at a certain alignment (relative to the other wheels and to
the road) for optimum straight-line stability and cornering performance.
Wear indicators
Each tire incorporates a tread wear indicator, which
becomes visible when the depth of the tread
grooves decreases to 0.063 in. (1.6 mm). A tire must
be replaced when the tread wear indicator appears
as a solid band across the tread.
OM-H0231
A) New tread
B) Worn tread
1) Tread wear indicator