2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX ECU

Driving tips
8-18
bly) plus the vehicle capacity weight. In addition, the total weight applied to each axle
(GAW) must never exceed the GAWR. The front and
rear GAWs can be adjusted by relocating luggageinside the vehicle.Even if the total weight of your luggage is lower than
the vehicle capacity weight, either front or rear GAW
may exceed the GAWR, depending on the distribu-
tion of the luggage.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you should
confirm that GVW and front and rear GAWs are with-
in the GVWR and GAWR by putting your vehicle on
a vehicle scale, found at a commercial weighing sta-tion.
Do not use replacement tires with a lower load range than the originals because they may lower the
GVWR and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher load range than the originals do not in-
crease the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped)
HB8016BC
1) Crossbar kit
The roof rail is not designed to carry cargo by itself.
Cargo can be carried after securing the roof cross-
bar kit to the roof rail and installing the appropriate
carrying attachment. When installing the roof cross-
bar kit, follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
When you carry cargo on the roof using the roof
crossbar kit and a carrying attachment, never ex-
ceed the maximum load limit explained below. You
should also be careful that your vehicle does not ex-
ceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and
front and rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). See the “Loading your vehicle ” section in this chap-

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8-19
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ter for information on loading cargo into or onto your
vehicle. The maximum load limit of the cargo, cross-
bars and carrying attachment must not exceed 100
lb. (45 kg). Place the heaviest load at the bottom,
nearest the roof, and evenly distribute the cargo. Al-
ways properly secure all cargo.
CAUTION
For cargo carrying purposes, the roof rail
must be used together with a roof crossbar kit and the appropriate carrying attachment. Theroof rail must never be used alone to carry cargo. Otherwise, damage to the roof or paint
or a dangerous road hazard due to loss of car-go could result. When using the roof crossbar kit, make sure
that the total weight of the crossbars, carryingattachment and cargo does not exceed the
maximum load limit. Overloading may cause
damage to the vehicle and create a safety haz-ard.
Installing carrying attachments on the cross-bars
When installing any carrying attachment such as a
bike carrier, ski carrier, kayak carrier, cargo basket, etc. on the crossbars, follow the manufacturer
’s
instructions and make sure that the attachment is
securely fixed to the crossbars. Use only attach-
ments designed specifically for the crossbars. A set
of the crossbars is designed to carry loads (cargo
and attachment) of not more than 100 lb. (45 kg).
Before operating the vehicle, make sure that the car-
go is properly secured on the attachment.
NOTE Remember that the vehicle ’s center of gravity is
altered with the weight of the load on the roof, thus affecting the driving characteristics.
Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, hard cornering and abrupt stops. Crosswind effects will beincreased.
Removal and installation of the crossbars
The crossbars can be removed when you do not
use the roof to carry cargo.
n To remove the crossbar
1. Loosen and remove the T –30 torx head screw
from the top of each crossbar end support.
2. Rotate the lower clamp on the bottom of each
end support downward approximately 90 °.
3. Carefully raise the crossbar from roof rails.

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8-21
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F) Front of vehicle
1) T30 torx head screw
2) Front arrow label
3) Front crossbar
4) 100LBS load label
5) Lower clamp
6) Roof rail end support
7) Joint line
8) 3 inches (76 mm)
9) Front arrow label
1. Before placing the crossbar on the roof rails,
make sure that the T-30 torx head screw is
removed from the top of each crossbar end support.
2. Rotate the lower clamp on the bottom of each
end support downward approximately 90 °.
3. With the front direction arrow label on the top
right side of the crossbar pointing toward the front of
the vehicle, carefully place the crossbar across the
top of the vehicle so that the crossbar end supports
rest on the top of the roof rails approximately 3
inches (76 mm) rearward from the seam (joint)
between the front roof rail support and the roof rail.
4. Rotate (raise) the lower clamp up to the bottom of
the roof rail and loosely tighten the T-30 torx head
screw with the torx wrench provided, through the
top of the end support and into the threaded insert
in the lower clamp on each end of the crossbar. NOTE It may be necessary to squeeze the lower clamp and the end support together to compress thepads and gain a better alignment of the pieces
while trying to start the screw. Use care not tocrossthread the screw in the insert.
5. Adjust the alignment of the crossbar on the roof
rails, and if available, use a T-30 torx
bit and
torque wrench and tighten the T-30 torx head
screws to 30 to 35 inch lbs. (3.4 to 4.0 N-m, 0.35 to
0.41 kg-m) of torque (or tighten securely with thetorx wrench provided).

Driving tips
8-24
for positive locking placement before towing a
trailer. If the ball mount comes off the hitch re-
ceiver, the trailer could get loose and create atraffic safety hazard.Use only the ball mount supplied with this
hitch. Use the hitch only as a weight carrying
hitch. Do not use with any type of weight dis- tributing hitch.
Connecting a trailer
1. Remove the receiver cover from the hitch receiv-
er tube. Then insert the ball mount into the hitch re- ceiver tube.
2. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the hitch re-
ceiver tube so that the pin passes through the ballmount.
HB8018BA
3. Insert the safety pin into the hitch pin securely.
HB8019BA

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8-25
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4. Pull the ball mount to make sure it does not come
off the hitch receiver.
HB8020AA
5. Use only a hitch ball that is appropriate for the
ball mount and your trailer. The hitch ball must be
securely installed on the ball mount.
6. Connect your trailer to the hitch ball.
7. Connect the trailer and the hitch with safetychains that will hold the trailer ’s maximum gross
weight. The chains should cross under the trailer
tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping onto the
ground in case it should disconnect from the hitch
ball. Allow sufficient slack in the chains taking tight –
turn situations into account; however, be careful not
to let them drag on the ground.
HB8020BC
1) Hitch ball installation point
2) Hooks for safety chains
WARNING
Do not connect safety chains to improper positions such as those shown in the follow- ing picture.

Driving tips
8-30
HGS028CA
Certification label
To check both GVWR and GAWR and to confirm that
the total weight and weight distribution are within safe driving limits, you should have your vehicle and
trailer weighed at a commercial weighing station.
Be sure that all cargo is firmly secured to prevent a
change in weight distribution while driving. Tongue load
Ensure that the trailer tongue load is from 8 to 11
percent of the total trailer weight and does not exceed the maximum value of 200 lbs (90 kg).
The tongue load can be weighed with a bathroom
scale as shown in the illustration below. When
weighing the tongue load, be sure to position the towing coupler at the height at which it would beduring actual towing, using a jack as shown.OM-H2785
Tongue load

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8-31
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HG8009BB
1) Jack
2) Bathroom scale
The tongue load can be adjusted by proper distribu-
tion of the load in the trailer. Never load the trailer
with more weight in the back than in the front;
approximately 60 percent of the trailer load should
be in the front and approximately 40 percent in the
rear. Also, distribute the load as evenly as possible on both the left and right sides.
Be sure that all cargo is firmly secured to prevent a
change in weight distribution while driving.
OM-H2787
F) Front of vehicle
WARNING
If the trailer is loaded with more weight in the back of trailer ’s axle than in the front, the load
is taken off the rear axle of the towing vehicle.This may cause the rear wheels to skid, espe-
cially during braking or when vehicle speed is reduced during cornering, resulting in over-
steer, spin out and/or jackknifing.

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8-34
Side mirrors
HB0085
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle, check that the
standard side mirrors provide a good rearward field of view without significant blind spots. If significant blind spots occur with the vehicle ’s standard side
mirrors, use towing mirrors that conform with Fed-
eral, state/province and/or other applicable regula-tions.
Trailer lights
Connection of trailer lights to your vehicle ’s electrical
system requires modifications to the vehicle ’s light-
ing circuit to increase its capacity and accommo-
date wiring changes. To ensure the trailer lights are
connected properly, please consult your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper operation of the turn sig-nals, the brake lights and parking lights each timeyou hitch up.
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improper connection
of trailer lights may damage your vehicle
’s
electrical system and cause a malfunction of your vehicle ’s lighting system.
Tires
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle are prop-
erly inflated to the pressure specified on the tire
placard located on the left center pillar of your ve-hicle.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and proper
inflation pressure should be in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer ’s specifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire when towing
a trailer, ask a commercial road service to repair the
flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your vehicle
or trailer as a precaution against getting a flat tire,
be sure that the spare tire is firmly secured.