2003 SUBARU FORESTER odometer

20

Combination meter
Overview
P
R N D3
2
1
FUEL DOORFUEL DOOR
H
MPH
EC
Fx1000r/minx1000r/min
km/hkm/h
23 4
1
5
6
7
HSF026BB
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-8)
3) Speedometer (page 3-5)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-5)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page
3-5)
7) Outside temperature indicator
(page 3-8)

3-1
3
Instruments and controls
Ignition switch ............................................. 3-2 LOCK ................................................................ 3-2
ACC .................................................................. 3-3
ON ..................................................................... 3-3
START .............................................................. 3-3
Key reminder chime ........................................ 3-3
Key interlock release (AT vehicles only) ...... 3-4
Hazard warning flasher ............................... 3-5
Meters and gauges ...................................... 3-5 Speedometer ................................................... 3-5
Odometer/Trip meter ...................................... 3-5
Tachometer ...................................................... 3-6
Fuel gauge ....................................................... 3-7
Temperature gauge ......................................... 3-8
Ambient temperature gauge .......................... 3-9
Warning and indicator lights ...................... 3-9 Seatbelt warning light and chime .................. 3-9
SRS airbag system warning light .................. 3-10
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator lamp ................................................. 3-10
Charge warning light ...................................... 3-11
Oil pressure warning light .............................. 3-11
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light
(for AT vehicles) .............................................. 3-12
ABS warning light ........................................... 3-12
Brake system warning light ........................... 3-13
Door open warning lights ............................... 3-14
Low fuel warning light .................................... 3-14
Front-wheel drive warning light
(for AT vehicles) .............................................. 3-15
Shift position indicator (AT vehicles) ........... 3-15 Turn signal indicator lights ............................ 3-15
High beam indicator light ............................... 3-15
Cruise control indicator light ......................... 3-15
Clock ............................................................. 3-16
Light control switch ..................................... 3-17 Headlights ....................................................... 3-17
High/low beam change (dimmer) .................. 3-18
Headlight flasher ............................................. 3-18
Daytime running light system ....................... 3-19
Turn signal lever .......................................... 3-19
Illumination brightness control .................. 3-20
Parking light switch ..................................... 3-21
Fog light switch (if equipped) ..................... 3-21
Wiper and washer ........................................ 3-22 Windshield wiper and washer switches ....... 3-23
Rear window wiper and washer switch ........ 3-25
Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped) ....... 3-26
Rear window defogger switch .................... 3-27
Mirrors ........................................................... 3-29 Inside mirror .................................................... 3-29
Outside mirrors ............................................... 3-31
Tilt steering wheel ........................................ 3-33
Horn ............................................................... 3-34

3-5
Instruments and controls
–CONTINUED –
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher is used to warn other driv-
ers when you have to park your vehicle under emer-
gency conditions. The hazard warning flasher works
with the ignition switch in any position.
To turn on the hazard warning flasher, push the haz-
ard warning button on the instrument panel. To turn off
the flasher, push the button again.
NOTE
When the hazard warning flasher is on, the turn
signals do not work.
Meters and gauges Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed. Odometer/Trip meter
1) Trip meter
2) Odometer
This meter displays the odometer and two trip meters
when the ignition switch is in the “LOCK”, “ACC” or
“ON” position.
HS3019BA
1
2
HS3020BB

3-6
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,
1
2
HS3021BB
A trip meter B trip meter

8-6
Driving tips
Driving tips for AWD vehicles
All wheel drive distributes the engine power to all four
wheels. AWD vehicles provide better traction when
driving on slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt and sand. By shifting
power between the front and rear wheels, SUBARU
AWD can also provide added traction during acceler-
ation and added engine braking force during deceler-
ation.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle may handle
differently than an ordinary two wheel drive vehicle
and it contains some features unique to AWD. For
safety purposes as well as to avoid damaging the
AWD system, you should keep the following tips inmind:
An AWD vehicle is better able to climb steeper
roads under snowy or slippery conditions than a two
wheel drive vehicle. There is little difference in han-
dling, however, during extremely sharp turns or sud-
den braking. Therefore, when driving down a slope or
turning corners, be sure to reduce your speed and
maintain an ample distance from other vehicles. When replacing a tire, make sure you use only the
same size, construction, brand, and load range as the
original tires listed on the tire placard. Using other siz-
es or construction may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your vehicle and may af-
fect ride, handling, braking, speedometer/odometer
calibration, and clearance between the body and tires.
It also may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control. Always check the cold tire pressure before starting
to drive. The recommended tire pressure is provided
on the tire placard, which is located under the door
latch on the driver’s side. Tire chains should always be placed on the front
wheels only. There are some precautions that you must observe
when towing your vehicle. For detail information, see
HS8003BA

8-12
Driving tips
rear window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts to stick on
the surface of the windshield despite wiper operation,
use the defroster with the airflow control button/dial in
“ ” and the temperature control dial set for maximum
warmth. After the windshield gets warmed enough to
melt the frozen snow on it, wash it away using the
windshield washer.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the wiper from
working effectively. If snow is stuck on the wiper arm,
pull off the road to a safe place, then remove it. If you
stop the car at road side, use the hazard warning
flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing type wiper blades
(winter blades) during the seasons you could have
snow and sub-zero temperatures. Blades of this type
give superior wiping performance in snowy conditions.
Be sure to use blades that are suitable for your vehi- cle.
Corrosion protection
Refer to the “Corrosion protection” section (chapter
10).
Snow tires
When replacing original tires with winter
(snow) tires, make sure you use only the same
size, construction and load range as the origi-
nal tires listed on the tire placard. Using other
sizes and construction may affect speedome-
ter/odometer calibration and clearance be-
tween the body and tires. It also may be
dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control. You must install four winter tires that are of
the same size, construction, brand, and load
range. Mixing other sizes or constructions may
result in severe mechanical damage to the drive
train of your vehicle and may affect ride, han-
dling, braking and speedometer/odometer cali-
bration. It also may be dangerous and lead to
loss of vehicle control. Do not use a combination of radial, belted
bias or bias tires since it may cause dangerous
handling characteristics and lead to an acci-
dent.
Your vehicle is equipped with “all season tires” as orig-
inal equipment, which are designed to provide an ad-

11 -4 3
Maintenance and service
–CONTINUED –
After driving approximately 600 miles (1,000 km),
check the wheel nuts again and retighten any nut that
has become loose. Tire replacement
The wheels and tires are important and integral parts
of your vehicle’s design; they cannot be changed arbi-
trarily. The tires fitted as standard equipment are opti-
mally matched to the characteristics of the vehicle and
were selected to give the best possible combination of
running performance, ride comfort, and service life. It
is essential for every tire to have a size and construc-
tion matching those shown on the tire placard and to
have a speed symbol and load index matching those
shown on the tire placard.
Using tires of a non-specified size detracts from con-
trollability, ride comfort, braking performance, speed-
ometer accuracy and odometer accuracy. It also
creates incorrect body-to-tire clearances and inappro-
priately changes the vehicle’s ground clearance.
All four tires must be the same in terms of manufactur-
er, brand (tread pattern), construction, and size. You
are advised to replace the tires with new ones that are
identical to those fitted as standard equipment.
For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU recommends re- placing all four tires at the same time.

All four tires must be the same in terms of
manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), construc-
tion, degree of wear, speed symbol, load index
and size. Mixing tires of different types, sizes or
degrees of wear can result in damage to vehi-
cle

14-5
Index
J
Jack and jack handle ...................................... 9-19
Jump starting .................................................. 9-9 K
Key interlock release (AT vehicles) ................ 3-4
Keys ............................................................... 2-2 Key
Number ...................................................... 2-2
Reminder chime ........................................ 3-3
L
Leather seat materials .................................... 10-5
Light control switch ......................................... 3-17
Limited slip differential (LSD) .......................... 7-20
Loading your vehicle ...................................... 8-14
Lower and tether anchorages ......................... 1-35
Low fuel warning light ..................................... 3-14
LSD (limited slip differential) ........................... 7-20
Lumbar support .............................................. 1-5 M
Main fuse ........................................................ 11-53
Maintenance Precautions ................................................ 11-3
Schedule .................................................... 11-3 Seatbelt ..................................................... 1-26
Tools .......................................................... 9-19
Malfunction indicator lamp .............................. 3-10
Manual climate control system ........................ 4-4
Manual transmission ...................................... 7-11 Oil .............................................................. 11-22
Map light ......................................................... 6-3
Maximum load limits ....................................... 8-25
Meters and gears ........................................... 3-5
Mirrors ............................................................ 3-29
Moonroof ................................................ 2-26, 9-18 N
New vehicle break-in driving .......................... 8-2 O
Odometer/Trip meter ...................................... 3-5
Off road driving ............................................... 8-7
Oil pressure warning light ............................... 3-11
Oil filter ........................................................... 11-10
Oil level
Engine ....................................................... 11-9
Manual transmission .................................. 11-22
Rear differential ......................................... 11-27
Outside mirrors ............................................... 3-31
Overhead console .......................................... 6-6