2003 SUBARU IMPREZA automatic transmission

Instruments and controls
3-2
Ignition switch
The ignition switch has four positions: LOCK, ACC,
ON and START. LOCK
The key can only be inserted or removed in this position. The ignition switch will lock the steering
wheel when you remove the key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the steering wheel
slightly to the right and left as you turn the key.
Automatic transmission vehicles

Instruments and controls
3-13
– CONTINUED –
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the oil pres- sure warning light on. This may cause serious engine damage.
AT OIL TEMPerature warning
light (for AT vehicles)
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it may indicate that the automatic transmission fluid
temperature is too hot.
If the light comes on while driving, it is unnecessary
to stop the vehicle, but avoid driving up steep
grades or in stop and go traffic.
Automatic transmission control system warn- ing
If the light flashes after the engine starts, it may indi-
cate that the automatic transmission control system
is not working properly. Contact your nearest
SUBARU dealer for service immediately.
ABS warning light
The ABS warning light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes out after about two seconds.This is an indication that the ABS system is working
properly.
CAUTION
If the warning light behaves as follows, the
ABS system may not work properly. When the warning light is on, the ABS func-
tion shuts down; however, the conventional
brake system continues to operate normally.
The warning light does not come on when
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion. The warning light comes on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON” position, but
it does not go out even when the vehiclespeed exceeds approximately 8 mph (12km/h). The warning light comes on during driving.
If these occur, have the ABS system repaired at the first available opportunity by your
SUBARU dealer.
NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as shown below, the ABS system may be considered normal.
(U.S.) (Canada)

Instruments and controls
3-18
CAUTION
Do not hold the lever in the flashing position for more than just a few seconds.
Daytime running light system
The low beam headlights will automatically come on
at reduced brightness when the engine has started,
under the following conditions: The parking brake is fully released.
The light switch is in the “OFF” or “p ” position.
The automatic transmission selector lever is set at
other than the “P” position.
WARNING
The tail lights, parking lights, and side marker
lights are not turned on by the daytime run-ning light system. The light switch must al-ways be turned to the “a ” position when it
is dark outside. Turn signal lever
1) Right turn
2) Left turn
3) Lane change for right
4) Lane change for left
To activate the right turn signal, push the turn signal
lever up. To activate the left turn signal, push the
turn signal lever down. When the turn is finished, the
lever will return automatically. If the lever does not
return after cornering, return the lever to the neutralposition by hand.
To signal a lane change, push the turn signal lever

Audio
5-32
CAUTION
Do not attempt to insert two or more discs
into the slot at a time. Doing so can cause me-
chanical damage to the CD changer. Use only music CDs identified by a
mark. Do not use CDs listed below which could
cause damage to the CD player.
3-inch (8 cm) compact disc.
Any disc with a peel-off or seal on it.
Any disc with scratches and/or dust.
Bent disc.
Cleaning disc.
CD accessory. (E.g., 3-inch (8 cm) disc
adapter)
Do not insert or remove any disc when the
automatic transmission selector lever is in thepark position; the selector lever in that posi-tion can interfere with disc insertion or remov-al, causing scratches on the disc surface (for
AT vehicles).
To insert a disc
1. Press one of the “Disc select ” buttons (3) (num-
bered from 1 to 6) for which the disc indicator light(2) is “OFF”. The Disc indicator lights are located directly above
the corresponding
“Disc select ” buttons.
2. The indicator will begin blinking. The blinking willlast for 15 seconds.
During this period, insert a desired disc, and the
disc will begin to play. (If any disc is not inserted during this period, the “Disc slot ” (1) door will close.
Repeat step 1.)
Be sure to hold a disc with the label side (the side
where titles are printed) up.
3. To insert another disc, repeat step 1 and 2
choosing a different disc select button.
To insert six discs at a time
1. Press and hold the “Disc select ” button number 1
until all disc indicators begin blinking (about 1.5 se-conds).
2. The indicators will blink for 15 seconds. During
this period, insert desired six discs.
3. When all discs are loaded, the first disc will begin
to play. (If no disc is inserted within this 15 seconds,
the entire disc load sequence will be canceled.)
To remove a disc
1. Press the desired one of the “Disc select ” buttons
(3) (numbered from 1 to 6) for which the disc indica-tor light is on.
2. Press the “Eject button ” (4). The selected disc

7
7-1
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Fuel 7-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel requirements 7-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel filler lid and cap 7-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State emission testing (U.S. only) 7-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing to drive 7-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the engine 7-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission vehicle 7-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission vehicle 7-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the engine during cold weather
below –4 °F ( –20 °C) 7-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting a flooded engine 7-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stopping the engine 7-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission 7-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shifting speeds 7-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips 7-13
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Automatic transmission 7-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selector lever for automatic transmission 7-15 . . . .
Shift lock release 7-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear viscous limited slip differential
(LSD) (WRX) 7-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering 7-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Braking 7-22
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Braking tips 7-22
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Brake system 7-22
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Disc brake pad wear warning indicators 7-23 . . . . . .
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) 7-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABS system self-check 7-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABS warning light 7-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parking your vehicle 7-26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking brake 7-26
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Parking tips 7-26
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Cruise control (if equipped) 7-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To set cruise control 7-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To temporarily cancel the cruise control 7-30 . . . . . .
To turn off the cruise control 7-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To change the cruising speed 7-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting and operating

Starting and operating
7-9
– CONTINUED –
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-

Starting and operating
7-14
labor.
On steep downgrades, downshift the transmission
to 4th, 3rd or 2nd gear as necessary; this helps to
maintain a safe speed and to extend brake pad life.
In this way, the engine provides a braking effect. Re-
member, if you “ride” (over use) the brakes while de-
scending a hill, they may overheat and not work
properly.
The engine may, on rare occasions, knock when the
vehicle rapidly accelerates or rapidly pulls away
from a standstill. This phenomenon does not indi-
cate a fault. Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission is electronically con-
trolled with 4-forward speeds and 1-reverse speed. NOTE
Immediately after a disconnected battery is re-
connected or ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is replaced, you may feel that the automatic
transmission operation is somewhat unusual.
This results from erasure or invalidation of data
the on-board computer has collected and storedin memory to allow the transmission to shift at the most appropriate times for the current condi- tion of your vehicle. Optimized shifting will be re-stored as the vehicle continues to be driven for awhile.
WARNING
Do not shift from the
“P” or “N” position into
the “D”, “3”, “2”, “1” or “R” position while de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. This may
cause the vehicle to jump forward or back- ward.

Starting and operating
7-15
– CONTINUED –
CAUTION
Shift into the “P” or “R” position only after
the vehicle is completely stopped. Shifting while the vehicle is moving may cause dam- age to the transmission. Do not race the engine for more than five
seconds in any position except the “N” or “P”
position when the brake is set or the tires areon blocks. This may cause the automatic
transmission fluid to overheat. Avoid shifting from one of the forward driv-
ing positions into the “R” position or vice
versa until the vehicle has completelystopped. Such shifting may cause damage tothe transmission.
Selector lever for automatic transmis- sion