2003 SUBARU IMPREZA Owners Manual

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covered under the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
CAUTION
Do not let fuel spill on the exterior surfaces of the vehicle. Fuels containing alcohol may
cause paint damage, which is not covered un-
der the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
Fuel filler lid and cap
Refueling
1. To open the fuel filler lid, pull the lid release lever up.

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1) Open 2) Close
2. Remove the fuel filler cap by turning it slowly
counterclockwise.
WARNING
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. Before
refueling, always first stop the engine and
make sure that there are no lighted cigarettes,open flames or electrical sparks in the adja-cent area. When opening the cap, do not remove the
cap quickly. Fuel may be under pressure and spray out of the fuel filler neck especially in
hot weather, which may cause injury.
3. Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler pump auto-
matically stops. Do not add any more fuel.
4. Put the cap back on, turn it clockwise until you
hear a clicking noise. Be certain not to catch the
tether under the cap while tightening.
5. Close the fuel filler lid completely.
If you spill any fuel on the painted surface, rinse it
off immediately. Otherwise, the painted surface
could be damaged. NOTE If the fuel filler cap is not tightened until it clicks or if the tether is caught under the cap, the
CHECK ENGINE warning light may come on. Re-fer to the “Warning and indicator lights ” section
located in chapter 3.CAUTION
Never add any cleaning agents to the fuel
tank. The addition of a cleaning agent may
cause damage to the fuel system. Make sure that the cap is tightened until it
clicks to prevent fuel spillage in the event of an accident.

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Do not let fuel spill on the exterior surfaces
of the vehicle. Fuels may cause paint damage, which is not
covered under the SUBARU Limited Warranty. Always use a genuine SUBARU fuel filler
cap. If you use the wrong cap, it may not fit or have proper venting, and your fuel tank and
emission control system might be damaged. State emission testing (U.S. only) At state inspection time, remember to tell your inspection or service station in advance not to
place your Subaru AWD vehicle on a two-wheel
dynamometer. Otherwise, serious transmission
damage will result.
Some states have started using dynamometers in
their state inspection programs in order to meet their
obligation under federal law to implement stricter
vehicle emission standards to reduce air pollution
from cars. A dynamometer is a treadmill or roller-like testing device that allows your car
’s wheels to turn
while the car remains in one place. Depending onthe severity of a state ’s air pollution problems, the
states must adopt either a “basic” or “enhanced”
vehicle emission inspection test. Normally, a portion of the basic emission test consists of an emission
inspector inserting an analyzer probe into the
exhaust pipe of an idling vehicle for a short period
of time. States with more severe air pollution prob-
lems are required to adopt an enhanced vehicleemission test. This test simulates actual driving
conditions on a dynamometer and permits more
accurate measurement of tailpipe emitted pollution
than the basic emission test.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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and states using two-wheel dynamometers in their
emission testing programs have EXEMPTED
Subaru AWD vehicles from the portion of the testing
program that involves a two-wheel dynamometer.
There are some states that use four-wheel
dynamometers in their testing programs. When
properly used, that equipment will not damage an
AWD Subaru vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear wheels be
jacked off the ground, nor should the driveshaft be
disconnected for state emission testing.
WARNING
Testing of an All-Wheel Drive vehicle must
NEVER be performed on a single two-wheel
dynamometer. Attempting to do so will result in uncontrolled vehicle movement and may
cause an accident or injuries to persons
nearby.
CAUTION
Resultant vehicle damage due to improper testing is not covered under the SUBARU Lim-
ited Warranty and is the responsibility of the state inspection program or its contractors orlicensees.
The EPA has issued regulations for inspecting the
On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system as part of the state emissions inspection. The OBD system is de-
signed to detect engine and transmission problemsthat might cause vehicle emissions to exceed allow-able limits. These inspections apply to all 1996 mod-el year and newer passenger cars and light trucks.
Several states plus the District of Columbia have
opted to start the OBD system inspection prior to
the required EPA regulation effective date of January1, 2002. Other states will add OBD system inspec-
tion in 2002. The inspection of the OBD system consists of a
visual operational check of the “CHECK ENGINE ”
warning light/malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and
an examination of the OBD system with an electron-ic scan tool while the engine is running. A vehicle passes
the OBD system inspection if
proper the “CHECK ENGINE ” warning light/MIL illu-

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mination is observed, there is no stored diagnostic
trouble codes, and the OBD system readiness moni-
tors are complete. A vehicle fails
the OBD inspection if the “CHECK
ENGINE ” warning light/MIL is not properly operating
or there is one or more diagnostic trouble codes
stored in vehicle ’s computer with the “CHECK
ENGINE ” warning light/MIL illuminated.
A state emission inspection may reject (not pass
or fail) a vehicle if the number of OBD system readi- ness monitors “Not Ready ” is greater than three.
Under this condition, the vehicle operator should be instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few days to
set the monitors and return for an emission re-in-spection. Owners of rejected or failing vehicles should con-
tact their Subaru Dealer for service. Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks and adjust-
ments every day before you start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and lights are
clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of the tires.
Also check tires for proper inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk and rear gate are fullyclosed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside
mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your passen-gers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and indicator
lights when the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON”
position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warning lights
after starting the engine. NOTE Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer
fluid and other fluid levels should be checked
daily, weekly or at fuel stops.

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Starting the engine
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter motor continuously
for more than ten seconds. If the engine fails to start after operating the starter for five to ten seconds, wait for ten seconds or more be-fore trying again.
Manual transmission vehicle
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Press the clutch pedal to the floor and shift the
shift lever into neutral. Hold the clutch pedal to the
floor while starting the engine.
The starter motor will only operate when the clutch
pedal is pressed fully to the floor.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position and
check the operation of the warning and indicatorlights. Refer to the “Warning and indicator light ” sec-
tion (chapter 3).
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START” position
without depressing the accelerator pedal. Release
the key immediately after the engine has started. If the engine does not start within ten seconds, wait
a while and then turn the ignition switch to the
“START”
position again while depressing the accel-
erator pedal half way down.
6. Confirm that all warning and indicator lights have
gone off after the engine has started. The fuel injec-
tion system automatically lowers the idle speed as
the engine warms up. Automatic transmission vehicle
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Shift the selector lever to the “P” or “N” position
(preferably “P” position).
The starter motor will only operate when the selectlever is at the “P” or “N” position.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position and
check the operation of the warning and indicatorlights. Refer to the “Warning and indicator lights ”
section (chapter 3).
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START” position
without depressing the accelerator pedal. Release
the key immediately after the engine has started.
If the engine does not start within ten seconds, wait
a while and then turn the ignition switch to the
“START” position again while depressing the accel-

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erator pedal half way down.
6. Confirm that all warning and indicator lights have
gone out after the engine has started. The fuel injec-
tion system automatically lowers the idle speed as
the engine warms up.
While the engine is warming up, make sure that the selector lever is at the “P” or “N” position and that
the parking brake is applied.
CAUTION
If you restart the engine while the vehicle is moving, shift the selector lever into the “N”
position. Do not attempt to place the selectorlever of a moving vehicle into the “P” posi-
tion.
Starting the engine during cold weather below –4°F ( –20 °C)
If the engine is difficult to start using the normal
method (without depressing the accelerator pedal),
turn the ignition switch to the “START” position while
slightly depressing the accelerator pedal.
Starting a flooded engine
If the engine does not start, it may be flooded (ex-
cessive fuel in the engine).
In case of a flooded engine, turn the starter motorfor five seconds with the accelerator pedal fully de-
pressed. Repeat this two or three times until the en-
gine starts. Release the ignition switch and acceler-
ator pedal as soon as the engine starts.

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Stopping the engine
The ignition switch should be turned off only when the engine is idling.
WARNING
Do not stop the engine when the vehicle is moving. This will cause loss of power to the
power steering and the brake booster, makingsteering and braking more difficult. It could also result in accidental activation of the
“LOCK” position on the ignition switch, caus-
ing the steering wheel to lock. Manual transmission
The manual transmission is a fully synchromeshed
5-forward and 1-reverse speed transmission.
The shift pattern is shown on the shift lever knob.
When shifting from 5th gear to reverse gear, first re-
turn the shift lever to the neutral position then shift
into reverse gear.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch pedal,
move the shift lever, and gradually let up on the
clutch pedal.
If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the transmission