2003 SUBARU FORESTER climate control

4-5
Climate control
– CONTINUED –
conditioner button will not come on. At the same
time, the air inlet selection is automatically set to
“outside air” mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recirculation”
mode by manually pressing the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air conditioner com-
pressor by pressing the air conditioner button. Air conditioner button (if equipped)
The air conditioner operates only when the engine is
running.
Push the air conditioner button while the fan is in op-
eration to turn on the air conditioner. The indicator light will come on.
Push it again to turn off the air conditioner.
Air inlet selection button
ON position (Recirculation): Interior air is recirculat-
ed inside the vehicle. Push the air inlet selection but-
ton to the ON position. The indicator light will come on.
OFF position (Outside air): Outside air is drawn into
the passenger compartment. Push the air inlet selec-
tion button again to the OFF position. The indicator
light will go off.
HS4012BA
HS4012CA

4-6
Climate control
Continued operation with the air inlet selection
button in the ON position may fog up the win-
dows. Switch to the OFF position as soon as
the outside dusty condition clears.
Heater operation
Defrosting or defogging the windshield
To direct warm air to the windshield and front door win-
dows: 1. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position.
2. Turn the temperature control dial all the way to the
right.
3. Set the fan speed control dial to the highest speed.
If your vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner,
when the “ ” or “ ” position is selected, the air
conditioner compressor automatically operates re-
gardless of the position of the air conditioner button to
defog the windshield quickly.
However, the air conditioner indicator light does not
come on at this time.
NOTE
Warm air also comes out from the right and left air
outlets. To stop warm air flow from these outlets,
turn the corresponding
thumb-wheel down.
HS4013AA

4-7
Climate control
– CONTINUED –
Heating and defrosting
To direct warm air toward the floor and the windshield:
1. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ”position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the most com-
fortable level.
3. Set the fan speed control dial to the desired speed.
If your vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner,
when the “ ” or “ ” position is selected, the air
conditioner compressor automatically operates re-
gardless of the position of the air conditioner button to
defog the windshield quickly.
However, the air conditioner indicator light does not
come on at this time.NOTE
Warm air also comes out from the right and left air
outlets. To stop warm air flow from these outlets,
turn the corresponding thumb-wheel down. Heating
To direct warm air toward the floor:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF position
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position.
3. Set the temperature control dial to the most com-
fortable level.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the desired speed.
HS4014AA
HS4015AA

4-8
Climate control
NOTE
Warm air also comes out from the right and left air
outlets. To stop warm air flow from these outlets,
turn the corresponding thumb-wheel down.
Bi-level heating
This setting allows you to direct air of different temper-
atures from the instrument panel and foot outlets. The
air from the foot outlets is slightly warmer than from the
instrument panel outlets.
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF posi- tion.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position.
3. Set the temperature control dial to the desired tem- perature level.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the desired speed.
Setting the temperature control dial fully turned to the
red area or blue area decreases the temperature dif-
ference between the air from the instrument panel out-
lets and the air from the foot outlets.
Ventilation
To force outside air through the instrument panel out-
lets:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF posi- tion.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position.
3. Set the temperature control dial all the way left.
HS4016AA
HS4017AA

4-9
Climate control
– CONTINUED –
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the desired speed.
When driving on a dusty road, set the air inlet selection
button to the “ON” position.
Continued operation with the air inlet selection
button in the ON position may fog up the win-
dows. Switch to the OFF position as soon as
the outside dusty condition clears.
Air conditioner operation (if equipped)
Cooling or dehumidifying
1) ON position
For cooling and dehumidification of the passenger
compartment, air flows through the instrument panel
outlets:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF posi-
tion.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position.
3. Set the air conditioner button to the “ON” position.
4. Set the temperature control dial to the blue side.
5. Set the fan speed control dial at the highest speed.
HS4018BB
1

4-10
Climate control

Defrosting or defogging
To direct warm air to the windshield and front door win-
dows:
1. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the red side.
3. Set the fan speed control dial at the highest speed.
The air conditioner compressor automatically oper-
ates when the air flow control dial set in the “ ” or
“ ” position to provide better defogging perfor-
mance.
However, the air conditioner indicator light does not
come on at this time. Automatic climate control system (if
equipped)
NOTE
Operate the automatic climate control system
when the engine is running. When the engine coolant is cold, the blower
does not run. In the “AUTO” mode, when the air temperature
in the passenger compartment is sufficiently cool,
the air conditioner compressor does not operate.
For efficient defogging or dehumidifying in cold
weather, press the “A/C” switch on. Even when cooling is not necessary, setting the
temperature much lower than the current outlet air
temperature turns on the air conditioner compres-
sor automatically and the “A/C” indicator light on
the control panel comes on.
The automatic climate control system automatically
controls outlet air temperature, fan speed, air flow dis-
tribution air-inlet control, and air conditioner compres-
sor operation. It activates when the “AUTO” switch is
pressed, and is used in conjunction with the Temper-
ature control dial to maintain a constant, comfortable
climate within the passenger compartment.
The temperature can be set within a range of 65 –
HS4013AA

4-11
Climate control
– CONTINUED –
85°F(18–32 °C).
NOTE
The temperature is shown in units of Fahrenheit
for the US model and in Centigrade for the Canadi-
an model. Control panel
1) Temperature control dial
2) AUTO switch
3) Fan speed control dial
4) Air conditioner switch
5) Air flow control dial
6) Defroster switch
7) Rear window defogger switch (Refer to the “Rear win- dow defogger switch” in chapter 3.)
8) Air inlet selection switch
9) OFF/BRIGHT switch
AUTO switch
AUTO mode operation:
When the “AUTO” switch is pressed, the indicator light
on the switch illuminates, indicating that the Automatic
Climate Control system is operating in the automatic
mode. In the automatic mode, the system maintains
the desired cabin air temperature (this is set using the
temperature control dial) by automatically controlling
the fan speed, air flow mode, air inlet selection, and air
conditioner compressor operation.
123456
7
8
9
HS4019BB
HS4023BA

4-12
Climate control
Manual mode operation:
If you operate any of the switches and dials on the
control panel other than the “OFF” switch and temper-
ature control dial during automatic mode operation,
the indicator light on the “AUTO” switch goes out. You
can then manually control the system as desired using
the switch or dial you operated.
To change the system back to the AUTO mode, press
the “AUTO” switch.
OFF switch
The Automatic Climate Control system turns off (the
air conditioner compressor and fan turn off) when the
“OFF” switch is pressed.
When the “OFF” switch is pressed, the outside air in-
troduction mode (air inlet selection OFF) is automati-
cally selected.
NOTE
Display illumination dimness cancellation (BRIGHT):
Setting the light switch to the “ ” or “ ”
position causes the illumination on the display
panel to dim. When traveling with the lights on in
gloomy daylight or in twilight, press the OFF
switch for 1 second or longer if you feel it is too
hard to identify the illumination clearly. The bright-
ness comes back to normal. If you wish to dim the illumination again, hold
down the OFF switch again or if you can safely do
so, turn the light switch OFF and then place it in
the “ ” or “ ” position.
Temperature control dial
This dial is used to set the desired interior tempera-
ture. With the dial is set your desired temperature, the
system automatically adjusts the temperature of air
supplied from the outlets such that the desired temper-
ature is achieved and maintained.
If the dial is turned fully counterclockwise, the system
gives maximum cooling performance. If the dial is
turned fully clockwise, the system gives maximum
heating performance.