2003 SUBARU BAJA Owners Manual

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If at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the
vehicle, have the problem checked and corrected as soon as pos-
sible. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with allwindows fully open.
DRINKING AND DRIVING WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Alcohol in the
bloodstream delays your reaction and impairs your perception,judgment and attentiveness. If you drive after drinking – even if
you drink just a little – it will increase the risk of being involved in
a serious or fatal accident, injuring or killing yourself, your pas-sengers and others. In addition, if you are injured in the accident,
alcohol may increase the severity of that injury. Please don ’t drink and drive.
Drunken driving is one of the most frequent causes of accidents. Since
alcohol affects all people differently, you may have consumed too much
alcohol to drive safely even if the level of alcohol in your blood is belowthe legal limit. The safest thing you can do is never drink and drive. How-ever if you have no choice but to drive, stop drinking and sober up com-
pletely before getting behind the wheel. DRUGS AND DRIVING
WARNING
There are some drugs (over the counter and prescription) that can delay your reaction time and impair your perception, judg-ment and attentiveness. If you drive after taking them, it may in-
crease your, your passengers ’ and other persons ’ risk of being
involved in a serious or fatal accident.

viii
If you are taking any drugs, check with your doctor or pharmacist or read
the literature that accompanies the medication to determine if the drug
you are taking can impair your driving ability. Do not drive after taking
any medications that can make you drowsy or otherwise affect your abil-
ity to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you have a medical condition that
requires you to take drugs, please consult with your doctor.
Never drive if you are under the influence of any illicit mind-altering drugs. For your own health and well-being, we urge you not to take ille-
gal drugs in the first place and to seek treatment if you are addicted tothose drugs. DRIVING WHEN TIRED OR SLEEPYWARNING
When you are tired or sleepy, your reaction will be delayed and your perception, judgment and attentiveness will be impaired. If
you drive when tired or sleepy, your, your passengers ’ and other
persons’ chances of being involved in a serious accident may in-
crease.
Please do not continue to drive but instead find a safe place to rest if you
are tired or sleepy. On long trips, you should make periodic rest stops to
refresh yourself before continuing on your journey. When possible, you
should share the driving with others. CAR/MOBILE PHONES AND DRIVING
CAUTION
Do not use a hand-held phone while driving; it may distract your attention from driving and can lead to an accident. If you use ahand-held phone, pull off the road and park in the safe place be-
fore using your phone. In some States/Provinces, only hands-freephones may legally be used while driving.

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MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
CAUTION
Your vehicle should not be modified. Modification could affect its
performance, safety or durability, and may even violate govern-mental regulations. In addition, damage or performance problemsresulting from modification may not be covered under warranties.
DRIVING WITH PETS
Unrestrained pets can interfere with your driving and distract your atten-
tion from driving. In a collision or sudden stop, unrestrained pets or
cages can be thrown around inside the vehicle and hurt you or your pas-
sengers. Besides, the pets can be hurt under these situations. It is also
for their own safety that pets should be properly restrained in your
vehicle. Restrain a pet with a special traveling harness which can be se-
cured to the rear seat with a seatbelt or use a pet carrier which can be
secured to the rear seat by routing a seatbelt through the carrier ’s han-
dle. Never restrain pets or pet carriers in the front passenger ’s seat. For
further information, consult your veterinarian, local animal protection so-ciety or pet shop. TIRE PRESSURES
WARNING
Driving at high speeds with excessively low tire pressures can
cause the tires to deform severely and to rapidly become hot. Asharp increase in temperature could cause tread separation, and
destruction of the tires. The resulting loss of vehicle controlcould lead to an accident.
Check and, if necessary, adjust the pressure of each tire (including the
spare) at least once a month and before any long journey.
Check the tire pressure when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to the values shown on
the tire placard.

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Refer to the “Tires and wheels ” section in chapter 11 for detailed
information.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to the State ofCalifornia to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductiveharm.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control
2
3
4
Audio
Interior and exterior equipments
Starting and operating
In case of emergency
5 67 9
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects13
Index14
10
11
12
1
Driving tips8
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Table of contents

xii
Illustrated index Exterior
HBF047BB
1 Hood lock release (page 11-5)
2 Headlight switch (page 3-17)
3 Bulb replacement (page 11-54)
4 Wiper switch (page 3-24)
5 Moonroof (page 2-30)
6 Roof rail (page 6-23) 7
Door locks (page 2-3)
8 Tire pressure (page 11-37)
9 Flat tires (page 9-11)
Q Tire chains (page 8-14)
W Fog light switch (page 3-22)
E Tie-down hooks (page 9-22)
R Towing hook (page 9-22)

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HBF048BB
1 Rear window defogger switch (page 3-26)
2 Fuel filler lid (page 7-4)
3 Child safety locks (page 2-20)
4 Towing hook (page 9-22)
5 Tailgate (page 2-23) 6
Tie-down hooks (page 9-22)
7 Bulb replacement (page 11-52)
8 Licence plate bracket (page2-24)

xiv
Interior Passenger compartment area
1 Lower anchorage for child
restraint system (page 2-20)
2 Seatbelt (page 1-14) 3
Parking brake lever (page 7-26)
4 Front seat (page 1-2)
5 Rear seat (page 1-8) HBF049BB