2003 SUBARU BAJA tow

Driving tips8-33
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nBefore starting out on a trip
Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-hitch mounting are in good
condition. If any problems are apparent, do not tow the trailer. Check that the vehicle sits horizontally with the trailer attached. If
the vehicle is tipped sharply up at the front and down at the rear,
check the total trailer weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load again,
then confirm that the load and its distribution are acceptable. Check that the tire pressures are correct.
Check that the vehicle and trailer are connected properly. Confirm
that. – the trailer tongue is connected properly to the hitch ball.
– the trailer lights connector is connected properly and trailer ’s
brake lights illuminate when the vehicle ’s brake pedal is pressed,
and that the trailer ’s turn signal lights flash when the vehicle ’s turn
signal lever is operated.– the safety chains are connected properly.
– all cargo in the trailer is secured safety in position.
– the side mirrors provide a good rearward field of view without a
significant blind spot.
Sufficient time should be taken to learn the “feel” of the vehicle/
trailer combination before starting out on a trip. In an area free of traf-
fic, practice turning, stopping and backing up. n Driving with a trailer
You should allow for considerably more stopping distance when
towing a trailer. Avoid sudden braking because it may result in skid-
ding or jackknifing and loss of control. Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accelerations. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, always start out in first gear and release the
clutch at moderate engine revolution. Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and rapid lane changes.
Slow down before turning. Make a longer than normal turning
radius because the trailer wheels will be closer than the vehicle
wheels to the inside of the turn. In a tight turn, the trailer could hit yourvehicle. Crosswinds will adversely affect the handling of your vehicle and

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trailer, causing sway. Crosswinds can be due to weather conditions or
the passing of large trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the
steering wheel and slow down immediately but gradually.When passing other vehicles, considerable distance is required
because of the added weight and length caused by attaching the
trailer to your vehicle. Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes practice. When back-
ing up with a trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly. When turning
back, grip the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand and turn it
to the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right for a right turn.
Left turn Right turn
OM-H2791
If the ABS warning light illuminates while the vehicle is in motion,
stop towing the trailer and have repairs performed immediately by the
nearest SUBARU dealer. n Driving on grades
Before going down a steep hill, slow down and shift into lower gear
(if necessary, use 1st gear) in order to utilize the engine braking effect
and prevent overheating of your vehicle ’s brakes. Do not make sud-
den downshifts. When driving uphill in hot weather, the air conditioner may turn off
automatically to protect the engine from overheating. When driving uphill in hot weather, pay attention to the water tem-
perature gauge pointer (for all vehicles) and AT OIL TEMP warning
light (for AT vehicles) since the engine and transmission are relatively
prone to overheating under these conditions. If the water temperature

Driving tips8-35
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gauge pointer approaches the OVERHEAT zone or the AT OIL TEMP
warning light illuminates, immediately switch off the air conditioner
and stop the vehicle at the nearest safe place. Refer to the “Engine
overheat” section in Chapter 9, and “Warning and indicator lights ”
section in Chapter 3. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, avoid using the
accelerator pedal to stay stationary on an uphill slope instead of usingthe parking brake or foot brake. That may cause the transmission fluidto overheat. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic trans-mission, avoid driving with the gear selector lever in “D” when towing
a heavy trailer to prevent fluid overheating. A lower gear should beused. n Parking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both vehicle and trailer when parking.
Apply the parking brake firmly. You should not park on a hill or slope.But if parking on a hill or slope cannot be avoided, you should takethe following steps:
1. Apply the brakes and hold the pedal down.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release the regular brakes
slowly until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then apply the parking brake; slowly
release the regular brakes.
5. Shift into 1st or reverse gear (manual transmission) or “P” (auto-
matic transmission) and shut off the engine.

9
In case of emergency
If you park your vehicle in an emergency 9-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jack and tools 9-3
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Spare tire 9-6
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Temporary spare tire 9-9
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Using the temporary spare tire 9-9
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Flat tires 9-11
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Changing a flat tire 9-11
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Jump starting 9-18
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Engine overheating 9-21
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Towing 9-22
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Moonroof — if the moonroof cannot be closed 9-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In case of emergency9-9
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Re-storage of spare tire
1. Turn the spare tire hoist shaft end counterclockwise with the wheel
nut wrench to loosen the cable sufficiently enough to allow the cable
end retainer go through center hole of the temporary spare tire.
2. Insert the retainer through the center hole of the temporary tire
(with the outside of the tire facing up).
3. Turn the hoist shaft end clockwise with the wheel nut wrench towind the cable up completely until you hear a few clicking sounds.
Confirm that the temporary spare tire holding cable has been wound
up completely by shaking the temporary tire.
CAUTION
If the temporary spare tire is not stored securely, it could damage
adjacent areas of the vehicle and make an abnormal noise.
4. Put the rubber cap on the hoist shaft end hole.
5. Place the wheel nut wrench back into the tool bag and store thejack and tool bag in their storage locations.
Temporary spare tire Using the temporary spare tire
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is used. The temporary spare tire is not designed to sustain the towing load.
Use of the temporary spare tire when towing can result in failureof the spare tire and/or less stability of the vehicle and may leadto an accident.
CAUTION
Never use any temporary spare tire other than the original. Usingother sizes may result in severe mechanical damage to the drivetrain of your vehicle.

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the radiator. After the pressure has been fully released, remove the
cap by pressing down and turning it.
Towing
WARNING
Never tow AWD vehicles (both AT and MT) with the front wheelsraised off the ground while the rear wheels are on the ground, orwith the rear wheels raised off the ground while the front wheelsare on the ground. This will cause the vehicle to spin away due tothe operation or deterioration of the center differential.
HB9064BA
If towing is necessary, it is best done by your SUBARU dealer or a com-
mercial towing service. Observe the following procedures for safety.
Towing and tie-down hooks
CAUTION
Use only specified towing hooks and tie-down hooks. Never
use suspension parts or other body parts for towing or tie-downpurposes. Never use the tie-down hook closest to the muffler under the
vehicle for towing purposes. Do not apply excessive lateral load to the towing hooks.

In case of emergency9-23
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HB9065BB
HB9066BB
HB9066CBHB9070BB
The towing hooks should be used only in an emergency (e.g., to free
a stuck vehicle from mud, sand or snow).
The front towing hook is located on the inside of the towing hook cov- er below the right-hand headlight.

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nTowing hook cover removal procedure
HB9067BBHB9068BB
The towing hook cover is secured by tabs that fit into corresponding
slots in the vehicle body.
To remove the cover:
1. Push on the position A while pulling the portion B toward you.
2. Push on the portion C and pull the cover.
n Towing hook cover installation procedure
hB9069BA
To reinstall the towing hook cover, push it in on both sides while push-
ing it back to its original position. Make certain that the tabs at the
end of the cover are securely inserted into the corresponding slots inthe vehicle ’s body.