2003 SUBARU FORESTER GAUGE

8-34
Driving tips
ally.
When passing other vehicles, considerable dis-
tance is required because of the added weight and
length caused by attaching the trailer to your vehicle.
1) Left turn
2) Right turn
Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes prac-
tice. When backing 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. 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 deal- er.
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 overheat-
ing of your vehicle’s brakes. Do not make sudden
downshifts. When driving uphill in hot weather, the air condition-
er may turn off automatically to protect the engine from
overheating. When driving uphill in hot weather, pay attention to
the water temperature 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 tem-
perature 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
overheating” 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 using the parking brake or foot
brake. That may cause the transmission fluid to over-
heat. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with an automat-
1 2
HS8023BB

9-12
In case of emergency
Engine overheating
Never attempt to remove the radiator cap until
the engine has been shut off and has fully
cooled down. When the engine is hot, the cool-
ant is under pressure. Removing the cap while
the engine is still hot could release a spray of
boiling hot coolant, which could burn you very
seriously.
If the engine overheats, safely pull off the road and
stopthevehicleinasafeplace. If steam is coming from the engine compartment
Turn the engine off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. If no steam is coming from the engine compartment
1. Keep the engine running at idling speed.
2. Open the hood to ventilate the engine compart- ment. Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. If the fan is not
turning, immediately turn the engine off and contact
your authorized dealer for repair.
3. After the engine coolant temperature has dropped,
turn off the engine.
If the temperature gauge stays at the overheated
zone, turn the engine off.
4. After the engine has fully cooled down, check the
coolant level in the reserve tank.
If the coolant level is below the “LOW” mark, add cool-
ant up to the “FULL” mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reserve tank, add cool-
ant to the reserve tank. Then remove the radiator cap
and fill the radiator with coolant.
If you remove the radiator cap from a hot radiator, first
wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap, then turn
the cap counterclockwise slowly without pressing
down until it stops. Release the pressure from the ra-
diator. After the pressure has been fully released, re-
move the cap by pressing down and turning it.

11 - 8
Maintenance and service
Engine compartment overview
1
23
4 5 67
8
9
10
11
12
13
HSB017BB
1) Manual transmission oil level
gauge (MT) (page 11-22) or Dif-
ferential gear oil level gauge
(AT) (page 11-26)
2) Air cleaner element (page 11- 19)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-
31)
4) Automatic transmission fluid lev-
el gauge (page 11-24)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11- 30)
6) Windshield washer tank (page
11-45)
7) Fuse box (page 11-50)
8) Battery (page 11-49)
9) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-14)
10) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-9)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 9)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-14)
13) Power steering fluid reservoir (page 11-29)

11 -1 5
Maintenance and service
–CONTINUED –
Cooling fan, hose and connections
Your vehicle employs an electric cooling fan which is
thermostatically controlled to operate when the engine
coolant reaches a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate even when
the engine coolant temperature gauge exceeds the
normal operating range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
If the fuse is not blown, have the cooling system
checked by your SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is necessary, there may
be a leak in the engine cooling system. It is recom-
mended that the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
Engine coolant
Checking the coolant level
1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level mark
Check the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside of the reser-
voir while the engine is cool.
2. If the level is close to or lower than the “LOW” level
mark, add coolant up to the “FULL” level mark. If the
reserve tank is empty, remove the radiator cap and re-
fill as required.
HSB018CB
1
2

11 -2 5
Maintenance and service
–CONTINUED –
A) HOT range
B) COLD range
1) Upper level
2) Lower level
4. Pull out the dipstick and check the fluid level on the
gauge. If it is below the lower level on the “HOT”
range, add the recommended automatic transmission
fluid up to the upper level. Checking the fluid level when the fluid is cold
When the fluid level has to be checked without time to
warm up the automatic transmission, check to see that
the fluid level is between the lower level and upper lev-
el on the “COLD” range. If it is below that range, add fluid up to the upper level. Be careful not to overfill.
Recommended fluid
“Dexron III” Type Automatic Transmission Fluid
1
2 B A
1
2
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11 -3 9
Maintenance and service
–CONTINUED –
a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to the
values shown on the tire placard. The tire placard is lo-
cated on the door pillar on the driver’s side.
Driving even a short distance warms up the tires and
increases the tire pressures. Also, the tire pressures
are affected by the ambient temperature. It is best to
check tire pressure outdoors before driving the vehi- cle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside it expands,
causing the tire pressure to increase. Be careful not to
mistakenly release air from a warm tire to reduce itspressure.
NOTE The air pressure in a tire increases by approxi-
mately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kg/cm 2
)whenthetire
becomes warm. The tires are considered cold when the vehicle
has been parked for at least three hours or has
been driven less than one mile (1.6 km).
Do not let air out of warm tires to adjust press-
rue. Doing so will result in low tire pressure. Incorrect tire pressures detract from controllability and
ride comfort, and they cause the tires to wear abnor-mally.
Correct tire pressure (tread worn evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is responsive. Roll-
ing resistance is low, so fuel consumption is also low-er.
HSB052AA

14-2
Index
A
ABS ................................................................ 7-22
Warning light ...................................... 3-12, 7-23
Accessory power outlet .................................. 6-9
Active head restraint ....................................... 1-7
Air cleaner element ........................................ 11-19
Air filtration system ......................................... 4-18
Aluminum wheel ............................................. 11-44
Aluminum wheel Cleaning .............................. 10-3
Ambient temperature gauge ........................... 3-9
Antenna system ............................................. 5-2
Anti-lock brake warning light (ABS) ........ 3-12, 7-23
Arming the system .......................................... 2-14
Ashtray ........................................................... 6-14
Audio set ........................................................ 5-3
Auto-dimming mirror/compass ....................... 3-29
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor
(A/ELR) ....................................................... 1-14
Automatic climate control system .................... 4-10
Automatic transmission .................................. 7-14 Capacities .................................................. 12-4
Fluid ........................................................... 11-24
Selector lever ............................................. 7-15
Shift lock release ....................................... 7-18
Temperature warning (AT OIL TEMP) ....... 3-12 B
Battery ............................................................. 11-49
Jump starting .............................................. 9-9
Replacing (remote keyless entry) . .............. 2-9
Brake
Booster ....................................................... 11-32
Fluid ............................................................ 11-30
Pad and lining ............................................. 11-36
Parking ....................................................... 11-37
Pedal .......................................................... 11-33
System ....................................................... 7-21
Warning light .............................................. 3-13
Braking ............................................................ 7-21
Braking tips ..................................................... 7-21
Brake pedal ..................................................... 11-33 Free play .................................................... 11-33
Reserve distance ........................................ 11-33
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ..... 11-36 Bulb Chart ........................................................... 12-9
Replacing ................................................... 11-54
C
Capacities ....................................................... 12-4
Cargo area cover (if equipped) ....................... 6-16
Cargo area light ............................................... 6-2
Cargo tie-down hooks ..................................... 6-18

14-4
Index
Stopping .................................................... 7-11
Exterior care ................................................... 10-2 F
Flat tires ................................................. 9-3, 9-5
Floor mat ........................................................ 6-15
Fluid level Automatic transmission ............................. 11-24
Brake ......................................................... 11-30
Clutch (MT vehicles) .................................. 11-31
Power steering ........................................... 11-29
Fog light switch ............................................... 3-21
Front differential gear oi l (AT vehicles) ........... 11-26
Front seatbelt pretensioners ........................... 1-27
Front seats ..................................................... 1-2 Fore and aft adjustment ............................. 1-3
Reclining .................................................... 1-4
Front-wheel drive warning light (AT vehicles) . 3-15
Fuel ................................................................ 7-2
Economy hints ........................................... 8-2
Filler lid and cap ........................................ 7-4
Gauge ........................................................ 3-7
Requirements ............................................ 7-2
Fuses ............................................................. 11-50
Fuses and circuits .......................................... 12-6 G
GAWR ............................................................. 8-16
Glove box ........................................................ 6-5
Gross axle weight rating .................................. 8-16
Gross vehicle weight rating ............................. 8-16
GVWR ............................................................. 8-16 H
Hazard warning flasher ................................... 3-5
Headlights ....................................................... 3-17
Headrest adjustment ....................................... 1-10
Headlight flasher ............................................. 3-18
Heater operation ............................................. 4-6
High beam indicator light ................................. 3-15
Hill holder ................................................ 7-29, 11-35
Horn ................................................................ 3-34 I
Ignition switch .................................................. 3-2
Illuminated entry .............................................. 2-8
Illumination brightness control ......................... 3-20
Indicator light ................................................... 3-9
Inside mirror .................................................... 3-29
Interior lights .................................................... 6-2