2003 SUBARU BAJA emergency towing

8-8
Make certain that you and all of your passengers are wearing seat
belts. Carry some emergency equipment, such as a towing rope or chain, a
shovel, wheel blocks, first aid kit and portable phone or citizens bandradio. Drive carefully. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous
areas or over rough terrain. Slow down and employ extra caution at all times. When driving off-
road, you will not have the benefit of marked traffic lanes, banked
curves, traffic signs and the like. Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead, drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. A vehicle can much more easily tip over side-
ways than it can end over end. Avoid driving straight up or down slopes
that are too steep. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, especially at higher speeds.
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive with your fin-gers and thumbs on the outside of the rim. If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first
check the depth of the water and the bottom of the stream bed for firm-
ness and ensure that the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly and com-
pletely through the stream. The water should be shallow enough that it
does not reach the vehicle ’s undercarriage. Water entering the engine air
intake or the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto electrical parts may
damage your vehicle and may cause it to stall. Never attempt to drive
through rushing water; regardless of its depth, it can wash away the
ground from under your tires, resulting in possible loss of traction and
even vehicle rollover. Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving
in sand, mud or water. Do this by driving slowly and stepping on the
brake pedal. Repeat that process several times to dry out the brakediscs and brake pads. Do not drive or park over or near flammable materials such as dry
grass or fallen leaves, as they may burn easily. The exhaust system is
very hot while the engine is running and right after engine stops. This
could create a fire hazard.

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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CONTINUED –
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.

In case of emergency9-23
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CONTINUED –
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.

In case of emergency9-25
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CONTINUED –
Using a flat-bed truck
HB9072AA
This is the best way to transport your vehicle. Use the following proce-
dures to ensure safe transportation.
1. Shift the selector lever into the “P” position for automatic transmis-
sion vehicles or “1st” for manual transmission vehicles.
2. Pull up the parking brake lever firmly.
3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier properly with safety chains.
Each safety chain should be equally tightened and care must be tak-en not to pull the chains so tightly that the suspension bottoms out. Towing with all wheels on the ground
WARNING
Never turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK” position while the
vehicle is being towed because the steering wheel and the direc- tion of the wheels will be locked. Remember that the brake booster and power steering do not
function when the engine is not running. Because the engine isturned off, it will take greater effort to operate the brake pedal andsteering wheel.