2003 SUBARU FORESTER maintenance

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Warranties Warranties for U.S.A.
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by Subaru of Ameri-
ca, Inc. and sold at retail by an authorized SUBARU
dealer in the United States come with the following
warranties: SUBARU Limited Warranty
Emission Control Systems Warranty
Emissions Performance Warranty
All warranty information, including details of coverage
and exclusions, is in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”. Please read these warranties carefully. Warranties for Canada
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by Subaru Canada,
Inc. and sold at retail by an authorized SUBARU deal-
er in Canada come with the following warranties: SUBARU Limited Warranty
Anti-Corrosion Warranty
Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, including details of coverage
and exclusions, is in the Warranty and Service Book-
let. Please read these w arranties carefully.
This vehicle does not contain mer-
cury devices or parts.

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Table of contentsSeat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control Audio
Interior equipment
Starting and operating
Driving tips
In case of emergency
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Index

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

Do not allow the retractor to roll up the seat-
belt too quickly. Otherwise, the metal tongue
plates may hit against the trim, resulting in
damaged trim. Have the seatbelt fully rolled up so that the
tongue plates are neatly stored. A hanging
tongue plate can swing and hit against the trim
during driving, causing damage to the trim.
Seatbelt maintenance
To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap and lukewarm
water. Never bleach or dye the belts because this
could seriously affect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the
webbing and all hardware periodically for cracks, cuts,
gashes, tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas. Re-
place the seatbelts even if only minor damage is
found.
Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemi-
cals and particularly battery acid. Never attempt to make modifications or
changes that will prevent the seatbelt from op-
erating properly.
HS1066BA

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Instruments and controls

Odometer
The odometer shows the total distance that the vehicle
has been driven. Double trip meter
1) A trip meter
2) B trip meter
The trip meter shows the distance that the vehicle has
been driven since you last set it to zero.
To change the mode indication, briefly push the knob.
Each press of the knob changes the function alter-
nately. To set the trip meter to zero, select the A trip or B trip
meter by pushing the knob and keep the knob pushed
for more than 2 seconds.
To ensure safety, do not attempt to change the
function of the indicator during driving, as an
accident could result.
NOTE
If the connection between the combination meter
and battery is broken for any reason such as vehi-
cle maintenance or fuse replacement, the data re-
corded on the trip meter will be lost.
Tachometer
The tachometer shows the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute.
Do not operate the engine with the pointer of
the tachometer in the red zone. In this range,
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HS3021BB
A trip meter B trip meter

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Instruments and controls
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4.0U.S.gal.(15liters,3.3Imp.gal.). Front-wheel drive warning light
(for AT vehicles)
This light comes on when All Wheel Drive is disen-
gaged and the drive mechanism is switched to Front
Wheel Drive for maintenance or similar purposes. Shift position indicator (AT vehicles)
This indicator shows the position of the shift lever. Turn signal indicator lights
These lights show the operation of the turn signal or
lane change signal.
If the indicator lights do not blink or blink rapidly, the
turn signal bulb may be burned out. Replace the bulb
as soon as possible. Refer to the “Replacing bulbs”
section in chapter 11. High beam indicator light
This light shows that the headlights are in the high
beam mode.
This indicator light also comes on when the headlight
flasher is operated.
Cruise control indicator light
This light comes on when the “CRUISE” main switch
is pressed.

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Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km) ................................. 8-2
Fuel economy hints ..................................... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .. 8-3
Catalytic converter ...................................... 8-4
Periodic inspections ................................... 8-5
Driving in foreign countries ........................ 8-5
Driving tips for AWD vehicles .................... 8-6
Off road driving ........................................... 8-7
Winter driving .............................................. 8-9 Operation during cold weather ...................... 8-9
Driving on snowy and icy roads .................... 8-11
Corrosion protection ...................................... 8-12
Snow tires ........................................................ 8-12
Tire chains ....................................................... 8-13
Rocking the vehicle ........................................ 8-13
Loading your vehicle .................................. 8-14 Vehicle capacity weight .................................. 8-15
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ......... 8-16
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ............. 8-17
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ........................... 8-22 Connecting a trailer ........................................ 8-22
When you do not tow a trailer ........................ 8-24
Trailer towing ............................................... 8-25 Warranties and maintenance ......................... 8-25
Maximum load limits ....................................... 8-25
Trailer hitches ................................................. 8-30
Connecting a trailer ........................................ 8-31 Trailer towing tips ........................................... 8-32

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Driving tips
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Periodic inspections
To keep your vehicle in the best condition at all times,
always have the recommended maintenance services
listed in the maintenance schedule in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet” performed at the specified
time or mileage intervals.Driving in foreign countries
When planning to use your vehicle in another country: Confirm the availability of the correct fuel. (Refer to
the “Fuel requirements” section in chapter 7.) Comply with all regulations and requirements of
each country.

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Driving tips
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cessitate more frequent replacement of engine oil,
brake fluid and transmission oil than that specified in
the maintenance schedule described in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to your Subaru while
operating it off-road and not using common sense pre-
cautions such as those listed above is not eligible for
warranty coverage.
Always maintain a safe driving speed accord-
ing to the road and weather conditions in order
to avoid having an accident on a sharp turn,
during sudden braking or under other similar
conditions. Always use the utmost care in driving – over-
confidence because you are driving an all
wheel drive vehicle could easily lead to a seri-
ous accident.
Winter driving Operation during cold weather
Carry some emergency equipment, such as tire
chains, a window scraper, a bag of sand, flares, a
small shovel, and jumper cables.
Check the battery and cables. Cold temperatures re-
duce battery capacity. The battery must be in good
condition to provide enough power for cold winterstarts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and viscosity for
cold weather. Heavy summer oil will cause harder
HS8004AA