2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX warning

Maintenance and service
11-34
Brake fluid Checking the fluid level
1) “MAX” level mark
2) “MIN” level mark
Check the fluid level monthly.
Check the fluid level on the outside of the reservoir.If the level is below “MIN”, add the recommended
brake fluid to “MAX”.
Use only brake fluid from a sealed container.
WARNING
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air.
Any absorbed moisture can cause a danger- ous loss of braking performance. If the vehicle requires frequent refilling,
there may be a leak. If you suspect a problem,
have the vehicle checked at your SUBARU
dealer.
CAUTION
Never use different brands of brake fluid to-
gether. When adding brake fluid, be careful not to
allow any dirt into the reservoir. Never splash the brake fluid over painted
surfaces or rubber parts. Alcohol contained inthe brake fluid may damage them.
Recommended brake fluid
FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid

Maintenance and service
11-40
4. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the parking brake to cool
down. Repeat this procedure.
5. Check the parking brake stroke. If the parking
brake stroke is out of the specified range, adjust it
by turning the adjusting nut located on the parking
brake lever.Parking brake stroke: 7 – 8 notches / 44 lb (196 N, 20 kg)
WARNING
A safe location and situation should be se- lected for break-in driving.
CAUTION
Pulling the parking brake lever too forcefully
may cause the rear wheels to lock. To avoid
this, be certain to pull the lever up slowly and
gently. Parking brake stroke
Check the parking brake stroke according to the
maintenance schedule in the
“Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet ”. When the parking brake is properly
adjusted, braking power is fully applied by pulling
the lever up seven to eight notches gently but firmly(about 44 lb, 196 N, 20 kg). If the parking brake le-
ver stroke is not within the specified range, have thebrake system checked and adjusted at your
SUBARU dealer.

Maintenance and service
11-43
– CONTINUED –
NOTE The air pressure in a tire increases by approxi-
mately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kg/cm 2
) when the tire
becomes warm. The tires are considered cold when the vehicle
has been parked for at least three hours or hasbeen driven less than one mile (1.6 km).
WARNING
Do not let air out of warm tires to adjust
pressrue. Doing so will result in low tire pres- sure.
Incorrect tire pressures detract from controllability
and ride comfort, and they cause the tires to wear
abnormally.
Correct tire pressure (tread worn evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is responsive.
Rolling resistance is low, so fuel consumption is
also lower.

Maintenance and service
11-45
– CONTINUED –
WARNING
Driving at high speeds with excessively low tire pressures can cause the tires to deform
severely and to rapidly become hot. A sharp
increase in temperature could cause tread
separation, and destruction of the tires. The resulting loss of vehicle control could lead toan accident.
Wheel balance
Each wheel was correctly balanced when your ve-
hicle was new, but the wheels will become unbal-
anced as the tires become worn during use. Wheel
imbalance causes the steering wheel to vibrate
slightly at certain vehicle speeds and detracts fromthe vehicle ’s straight-line stability. It can also cause
steering and suspension system problems and ab-
normal tire wear. If you suspect that the wheels are
not correctly balanced, have them checked and ad-
justed by your SUBARU dealer. Also have them ad-
justed after tire repairs and after tire rotation. NOTE Loss of correct wheel alignment* causes the tires to wear on one side and reduces the ve-
hicle’ s running stability. Contact your SUBARU dealer if you notice abnormal tire wear.
* : The suspension system is designed to hold each wheel
at a certain alignment (relative to the other wheels and to
the road) for optimum straight-line stability and cornering
performance.
Wear indicators
A) New tread
B) Worn tread
1) Tread wear indicator
Each tire incorporates a tread wear indicator, which
becomes visible when the depth of the tread
grooves decreases to 0.063 in. (1.6 mm). A tire must

Maintenance and service
11-46
be replaced when the tread wear indicator appears
as a solid band across the tread.
WARNING
When a tire’s tread wear indicator becomes
visible, the tire is worn beyond the acceptable
limit and must be replaced immediately. With atire in this condition, driving at high speeds inwet weather can cause the vehicle to hydro-plane. The resulting loss of vehicle control can lead to an accident.
NOTE
For safety, inspect tire tread regularly and re-
place the tires before their tread wear indicators
become visible.
Tire rotation
Tire wear varies from wheel to wheel. To maximize
the life of each tire and ensure that the tires wear
uniformly, it is best to rotate the tires every 7,500
miles (12,500 km). Rotating the tires involves switch-
ing the front and rear tires on the right-hand side of
the vehicle and similarly switching the front and rear
tires on the left-hand side of the vehicle. (Each tire must be kept on its original side of the vehicle.)
Replace any damaged or unevenly worn tire at the
time of rotation. After tire rotation, adjust the tire
pressures and make sure the wheel nuts are cor-
rectly tightened.

Maintenance and service
11-48
WARNING
All four tires must be the same in terms of
manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), construc-
tion, degree of wear, speed symbol, load indexand size. Mixing tires of different types, sizes or degrees of wear can result in damage to ve-
hicle’ s power train. Use of different types or
sizes of tires can also dangerously reduce
controllability and braking performance andcan lead to an accident. Use only radial tires. Do not use radial tires
together with belted bias tires and/or bias-plytires. Doing so can dangerously reduce con-
trollability, resulting in an accident.
Wheel replacement
When replacing wheels due, for example, to dam-
age, make sure the replacement wheels match the
specifications of the wheels that are fitted as stan-
dard equipment. Replacement wheels are available
from SUBARU dealers.
WARNING
Use only those wheels that are specified for your vehicle. Wheels not meeting specifica-tions could interfere with brake caliper opera-tion and may cause the tires to rub against the wheel well housing during turns. The resulting loss of vehicle control could lead to an acci-dent.

Maintenance and service
11-54
1) Stopper
Be sure to position the claws at the end of the metal
support between the stoppers on the rubber as
shown. If the rubber is not retained properly, thewiper blade may scratch the windshield.
6. Install the wiper blade assembly to the wiper
arm. Make sure that it locks in place.
7. Slowly lower the arm in position. Battery
WARNING

Before beginning work on or near any bat-
tery, be sure to extinguish all cigarettes,
matches, and lighters. Never expose a batteryto an open flame or electric sparks. Batteriesgive off a gas which is highly flammable andexplosive. For safety, in case an explosion does occur,
wear eye protection or shield your eyes when
working near any battery. Never lean over a
battery. Do not let battery fluid contact eyes, skin,
fabrics, or paint because battery fluid is a cor- rosive acid. If battery fluid gets on your skin or in your eyes, immediately flush the area
with water thoroughly. Seek medical help im-
mediately if acid has entered the eyes.If battery fluid is accidentally swallowed,
immediately drink a large amount of milk or
water, and seek medical attention immediately. To lessen the risk of sparks, remove rings,
metal watchbands, and other metal jewelry.
Never allow metal tools to contact the positive

Specifications
12-8
Fuse panel located in the engine compartment
A) FWD socket (AT models except Turbo)
B) Main fuse Fuse panel
Fuse ratingCircuit
120A
Radiator cooling fan (Main)
220ARadiator cooling fan (Sub)
330AABS motor
420ARear window defog- ger
515AHazard warning flasher
Horn
615ATurn signal lights
710AAutomatic transmis- sion control unit
810AAlternator
915AHeadlight (right side)
1015AHeadlight (left side)
1120ALighting switch
1215AClock
Interior light