2003 SUBARU IMPREZA trailer

Driving tips
8-36
safety’s sake, you should employ extra cau-
tion when towing a trailer and you should
never speed. You should also keep the follow-ing tips in mind:
Before starting out on a trip
Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-hitch mount-
ing are in good condition. If any problems are
apparent, do not tow the trailer. Check that the vehicle sits horizontally with the
trailer attached. If the vehicle is tipped sharply up at
the front and down at the rear, check the total trailer
weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, then
confirm that the load and its distribution are accept-able. Check that the tire pressures are correct.
Check that the vehicle and trailer are connected
properly. Confirm that
–the trailer tongue is connected properly to the
hitch ball.– the trailer lights connector is connected prop-
erly and trailer ’s brake lights illuminate when the
vehicle’ s brake pedal is pressed, and that the trail-
er’ s turn signal lights flash when the vehicle ’s turn
signal lever is operated.– the safety chains are connected properly. –
all cargo in the trailer is secured safety in posi-
tion.– the side mirrors provide a good rearward field of
view without a significant blind spot.
Sufficient time should be taken to learn the “feel”
of the vehicle/trailer combination before starting out
on a trip. In an area free of traffic, practice turning, stopping and backing up.
Driving with a trailer
You should allow for considerably more stopping
distance when towing a trailer. Avoid sudden brak-
ing because it may result in skidding or jackknifing
and loss of control. Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accelerations. If
your vehicle has a manual transmission, always start
out in first gear and release the clutch at moderate
engine revolution. Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and rapid lane
changes. Slow down before turning. Make a longer than
normal turning radius because the trailer wheels will
be closer than the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. In a tight turn, the trailer could hit your vehicle. Crosswinds will adversely affect the handling of
your vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Crosswindscan be due to weather conditions or the passing of

Driving tips
8-37
– CONTINUED –
large trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and slow down immediately but
gradually.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
practice. When backing up with a trailer, never
accelerate or steer rapidly. When turning back, gripthe 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 dealer.
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
overheating of your vehicle ’s brakes. Do not make
sudden downshifts. When driving uphill in hot weather, the air condi-
tioner 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 rel-
atively prone to overheating under these conditions.
If the water temperature gauge pointer approaches
the OVERHEAT zone or the AT OIL TEMP warning
light illuminates, immediately switch off the air condi-
tioner and stop the vehicle at the nearest safe place.Refer to the “Engine overheat ” section in chapter 9,
and “Warning and indicator lights ” section in chap-
ter 3.

Driving tips
8-38
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission,
avoid using the accelerator pedal to stay stationary on an uphill slope instead of using the parking brakeor foot brake. That may cause the transmission fluid
to overheat. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic transmission, avoid driving with the gear selector lever in “D” when towing a heavy trailer to
prevent fluid overheating. A lower gear should be used.
Parking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
You should not park on a hill or slope. But if parking on a hill or slope cannot be avoided, you shouldtake the following steps:
1. Apply the brakes and hold the pedal down.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under boththe vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release the
regular brakes slowly until the blocks absorb theload.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then apply the
parking brake; slowly release the regular brakes.
5. Shift into 1st or reverse gear (manual transmis- sion) or “P” (automatic transmission) and shut off the
engine.

In case of emergency
9-4
1) Spare fuse
2) FWD connector
NOTE
(If your vehicle is AWD with automatic transmis-
sion, except Turbo models) Before driving your
vehicle with the temporary spare tire, put a spare fuse inside the FWD connector in the main fuse box located in the engine compartment and con-firm that the Front-wheel drive warning light
“FWD” in the combination meter comes on. The
all wheel drive capability of the vehicle has now
deactivated. After re-installing the conventional tire, remove the spare fuse from the FWD con- nector in order to reactivate all wheel drive.
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is used. The temporary spare tire is not
designed to sustain the towing load. Use ofthe temporary spare tire when towing can result in failure of the spare tire and/or less
stability of the vehicle and may lead to anaccident.
CAUTION
Never use any temporary spare tire other than the original. Using other sizes may result in
severe mechanical damage to the drive trainof your vehicle.

Maintenance and service
11-15
– CONTINUED –
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions
If the vehicle is used in desert areas, in areas with
very high temperatures, or used for heavy-duty ap-
plications such as towing a trailer, use of oil with the
following grade and viscosities is recommended.
API classification SL or SJ: SAE viscosity No.: 30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40,
20W-50
Synthetic oil
You can use synthetic engine oil that meets the
same requirements given for conventional engine
oil. When using synthetic oil, you must use oil of the
same classification, viscosity and grade shown inthis owner ’s manual, and must follow the oil and filter
changing intervals shown in the maintenance schedule. Cooling system
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radiator cap until the engine has been shut off and has cooled
down completely. Since the coolant is underpressure, you may suffer serious burns from a
spray of boiling hot coolant when the cap isremoved.
CAUTION

The cooling system has been filled at the
factory with a high quality, corrosion-inhibit-
ing, year-around coolant which provides protection against freezing down to –33°F
(–36 °C). For adding, use genuine SUBARU
coolant or an equivalent: a mixture of 50%
soft water and 50% ethylene-glycol basis cool-
ant. Use of improper coolants may result in
corrosion in the cooling system. It is impor- tant to maintain protection against freezing and corrosion, even if freezing temperaturesare not expected. Never mix different kinds ofcoolant.

Maintenance and service
11-44
Abnormally low tire pressure (tread worn at
shoulders)
Rolling resistance is high, so fuel consumption is
also higher.
Abnormally high tire pressure (tread worn in
center)Ride comfort is poor. Also, the tire magnifies the
effects of road-surface bumps and dips, possibly
resulting in vehicle damage.
If the tire placard shows tire pressures for the ve-
hicle when fully loaded and for the vehicle when
towing a trailer, adjust the tire pressures to the val-
ues that match current loading conditions.

Index
14-8
Storage compartments 6-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sun visors 6-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supplemental Restraint System airbag (SRS) 1-42
Synthetic leather upholstery 10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
T
Tachometer 3-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temperature gauge 3-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temporary spare tire 9-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tie-down hooks 9-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel 3-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Chains 8-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inspection 11-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressures and wear 11-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement 11-47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotation 11-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires 12-5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types 11-41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires and wheels 11-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Top tether anchorages 1-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 9-18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flat-bed truck 9-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All wheels on the ground 9-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer Hitch 8-23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hitches 8-32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Towing
8-27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing tips 8-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trunk lid 2-25
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Release handle 2-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trunk light 11-74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signal Indicator lights 3-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lever 3-18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U
Under-floor storage compartment 6-17 . . . . . . . . . . . .
V
Valet mode 2-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vanity mirror 6-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle Capacity weight 8-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identification 12-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symbols 4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ventilator 4-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W
Warning and indicator lights 3-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning lights ABS 3-13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti-lock Brake system 3-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .