2003 SUBARU BAJA Owners Manual

Appearance care10-3
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CONTINUED –
Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road surfaces are ex-
tremely corrosive, accelerating the corrosion of underbody compo-nents, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brakecables, floor pan and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the fenders with luke-
warm or cold water at frequent intervals to reduce the harmful effectsof such agents. Using a warm water washer
Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm) or more between the wash-
er nozzle and the vehicle. Do not wash the same area continuously.
If a stain will not come out easily, wash by hand. Some warm water
washers are of the high temperature, 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 sur-
faces. Loss of wax on a painted surface leads to loss of the original lus-
ter and also quickens the deterioration of the surface. It is recommendedthat a coat of wax be applied at least once a month, or whenever the
surface no longer repels water.
If the appearance of the paint has diminished to the point where the lus-
ter or tone cannot be restored, lightly polish the surface with a fine-
grained compound. Never polish just the affected area, but include 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 numberand could damage the paint. After polishing with a compound, coat with

10-4
wax to restore 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 contactyour 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 wash-ing 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. Cleaning fog light lens
HBA017BB
1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
2. Stop the engine and turn off the fog lights.
3. Check that the fog lights are not hot. Then, grasp the protector and
turn it approximately 10 ° counter-clockwise.
4. Pull the protector off the fog light.
5. Wash the lens with water.
6. Apply the protector to the lens at an angle of approximately 10 ° from

Appearance care10-5
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CONTINUED –
the fog light’s horizontal center line. Then, turn the protector clockwise
until it stops. Finally, check that the protector ’s horizontal bars are parallel
with the fog light ’s horizontal center line.
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 opera-tion. 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 graveland stone chips or minor accidents.
Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle when:
1. It is exposed to road salt or dust control chemicals, 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 vehicle 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 frequently.
After the winter has ended, it is recommended that the underbody be
given a very thorough washing.

10-6
Before the beginning of winter, check the condition of underbody
components, such as the exhaust system, 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 perform this kind of maintenance and treatment if you needassistance. 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 the mats to make sure the area is dry.
Keep your garage dry. Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly
ventilated garage. In such a garage, corrosion can be caused by
dampness. If you wash the vehicle in the garage or put the vehicle
into the garage when wet or covered with snow, that can causedampness.
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 lubri-
cated 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 asoft 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 lukewarm water then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a commercially-available fabric

Appearance care10-7
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CONTINUED –
cleaner. Use the cleaner on a hidden place and make sure it does not
affect the fabric adversely. Use the cleaner according to its instruc-tions. Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high quality natural product which
will retain its distinctive appearance and feel for many years with
proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the surface can cause the
material to become brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular cleaning
with a soft, moist, natural fiber cloth should be performed monthly,
taking care not to soak the leather or allow water to penetrate thestitched seams.A mild detergent suitable for cleaning woolen fabrics may be used to
remove difficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, dry cloth afterwards to
restore the luster. If your SUBARU is to be parked for a long time in
bright sunlight, it is recommended that the seats and headrests be
covered, or the windows shaded, to prevent fading or shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches may be treated with a com-
mercial leather spray lacquer. You will discover that each leather seatsection will develop soft folds or wrinkles, which is characteristic of
genuine leather. Synthetic leather upholstery
The synthetic leather material used on the SUBARU may be cleaned
using mild soap or detergent and water, after first vacuuming or
brushing away loose dirt. Allow the soap to soak in for a few minutes
and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial foam-type clean-ers suitable for synthetic leather materials may be used when neces-
sary. NOTE Strong cleaning agents such as solvents, paint thinners, window
cleaner or gasoline or benzine or alkaline or alcohol or acid solu-tion must never be used on leather or synthetic interior materials.

10-8

11
Maintenance and service
Maintenance schedule11-3
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Maintenance precautions 11-3
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Engine hood 11-5
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Engine compartment overview 11-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil 11-8
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Cooling system 11-13
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Engine coolant 11-14
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Air cleaner element 11-17
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Spark plugs 11-19
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Drive belts 11-20
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Manual transmission oil 11-21
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Automatic transmission fluid 11-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) 11-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear differential gear oil 11-25
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Power steering fluid 11-27
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Brake fluid 11-28
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Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) 11-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake booster 11-31
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Brake pedal 11-32
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Clutch pedal (Manual transmission vehicles) 11-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement of brake pad and lining 11-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake stroke 11-35
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Tires and wheels 11-36
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Types of tires 11-36
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Tire inspection 11-37
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Tire pressures and wear 11-37
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Wheel balance 11-40
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Wear indicators 11-41
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Tire rotation 11-42
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Tire replacement 11-42
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Wheel replacement 11-43
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Aluminum wheels 11-44
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Windshield washer fluid 11-44
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Replacement of windshield wiper blades 11-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery 11-48
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11-2Fuses
11-49
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Main fuse 11-51
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Installation of accessories 11-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing bulbs 11-52
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Headlight 11-54
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Front fog light 11-56
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Front turn signal light, parking light and side marker light 11-56 . . . . . .
Rear combination lights 11-57
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Tail light (on the tailgate) 11-59
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License plate light 11-60
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Map light, dome light and door step light 11-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
High mount stop light assembly 11-63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sport activity lights (if equipped) 11-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .