2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX tire type

Driving tips
8-13
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WARNING
Do not use the cruise control on slippery roads such as snowy or icy roads. This may
cause loss of vehicle control.
Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure the wiper
blades are not frozen to the windshield or rear win-
dow. If the wiper blades are frozen to the windshield
or rear window, use the defroster with the airflow
control dial in the “t ” position and the temperature
control dial set for maximum warmth until the wiper
blades are completely thawed out. If your vehicle is
equipped with a wiper deicer, it is helpful to thaw the
windshield wiper blades. To thaw out the rear wiper
blade, use the 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 controldial in “t ” 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 perfor-
mance in snowy conditions. Be sure to use blades
that are suitable for your vehicle.
Corrosion protection
Refer to the “Corrosion protection ” section (chapter
10). Snow tires
WARNING
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 dan-

Driving tips
8-14
gerous and lead to loss of vehicle control. You must install four winter tires that are of
the same size, construction, brand, and loadrange. Mixing other sizes or constructions
may result in severe mechanical damage to
the drive train of your vehicle and may affect
ride, handling, braking and speedometer/ odometer calibration. It also may be danger-ous and lead to loss of vehicle control. Do not use a combination of radial, belted
bias or bias tires since it may cause danger-ous handling characteristics and lead to an accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with “all season tires ” as
original equipment, which are designed to provide
an adequate measure of traction, handling and
braking performance in year-round driving. In winter,
it may be possible to enhance performance through
use of tires designed specifically for winter drivingconditions.
The optional 17-inch tires for the WRX are summer
tires. Compared with winter and all-season tires,
summer tires give significantly less grip on snowy
and icy road surfaces. Therefore, use of winter tires
is strongly recommended when driving with such
road conditions. When you choose to install winter tires on your ve-
hicle, be sure to use the correct tire size and type.
You must install four winter tires that are of the samesize, construction, brand and load range and you
should never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires
since this may result in dangerous handling charac-
teristics. When you choose a tire, make sure that
there is enough clearance between the tire and ve-
hicle body.
Remember to drive with care at all times regardless
of the type of tires on your vehicle.
Tire chains
Driving on snowy grades or icy roads may require
the use of tire chains, in which case put the chains
on the front wheels only. Use only SAE class S type
chains that are of the correct size for your tires so asnot to damage the vehicle body or suspension.
When driving with tire chains, drive at speeds below 19 mph (30 km/h).
When a temporary spare tire is on a front wheel, re-
place the temporary spare tire with the rear tire onthe same side of the vehicle, and then fit chains on
the front tires.
Always use the utmost care when driving with tire

Driving tips
8-33
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CAUTION
Do not modify the vehicle exhaust system,
brake system, or other systems when instal- ling a hitch or other trailer towing equipment. Do not use axle-mounted hitches as they
can cause damage to the axle housing, wheelbearings, wheels or tires.
WAGON including OUTBACK SPORT
The use of a genuine SUBARU trailer hitch is recom-
mended. A genuine SUBARU hitch is available from
your SUBARU dealer.
If use of a non-genuine hitch is unavoidable, be sure
the hitch is suited to your vehicle and trailer. Consult
with a professional hitch supplier to assist you in
choosing an appropriate hitch for your vehicle. Be
sure to follow all of the hitch manufacturer ’s instruc-
tions for installation and use.
Never use a hitch that mounts only to the rear bum-
per. The bumper is not designed to handle that typeof load.
For all types of hitches, regularly check that the
hitch mounting bolts and nuts are tight.
SEDAN
SUBARU does not offer accessory trailer hitches. Consult with a professional hitch supplier to assist
you in choosing an appropriate hitch for your ve-
hicle. Be sure to follow all of the hitch manufacturer
’s
instructions for installation and use.
Never use a hitch that mounts only to the rear bum-
per. The bumper is not designed to handle that type of load. Regularly check that the hitch mounting bolts and
nuts are tight.
Connecting a trailer
Trailer brakes
If your trailer ’s total weight (trailer weight plus its
cargo weight) exceeds 1,000 lbs (453 kg), the trailer
is required to be equipped with its own brake sys-
tem. Electric brakes or surge brakes are recom-
mended, and must be installed properly. Check thatyour trailer ’s brakes conform with Federal, state/
province and/or other applicable regulations. Your
SUBARU’ s brake system is not designed to be
tapped into the trailer ’s hydraulic brake system.
Please ask your SUBARU dealer and professional
trailer supplier for more information about the trail-er’ s brake system.

11
11-1
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Maintenance schedule 11-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance precautions 11-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine hood 11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine compartment overview 11-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.5 liter model 11-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.0 liter (Turbo) model 11-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil 11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the oil level 11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the oil and oil filter 11-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended grade and viscosity 11-13 . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended grade and viscosity under
severe driving conditions 11-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Synthetic oil 11-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling system 11-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling fan, hose and connections 11-16 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine coolant 11-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air cleaner element 11-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing the air cleaner element 11-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spark plugs 11-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended spark plugs 11-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drive belts 11-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual transmission oil 11-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the oil level 11-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended grade and viscosity 11-26 . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission fluid 11-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the fluid level 11-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended fluid 11-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) 11-29
. . . . .
Checking the oil level 11-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended grade and viscosity 11-30 . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear differential gear oil 11-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the gear oil level 11-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended grade and viscosity 11-32 . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering fluid 11-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the fluid level 11-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended fluid 11-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid 11-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the fluid level 11-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended brake fluid 11-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) 11-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the fluid level 11-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommended clutch fluid 11-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake booster 11-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake pedal 11-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the brake pedal free play 11-37 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance 11-37 . .
Clutch pedal (MT vehicles) 11-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the clutch function 11-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the clutch pedal free play 11-38 . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement of brake pad and lining 11-39 . . . . . . . .
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings 11-39 . . .
Parking brake stroke 11-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires and wheels 11-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires 11-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance and service

Maintenance and service
11-41
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Tires and wheels Types of tires
You should be familiar with type of tires present on your vehicle.
All season tires
The factory-installed tires on your new vehicle are all
season tires.
All season tires are designed to provide an ade-
quate measure of traction, handling and braking
performance in year-round driving including snowy
and icy road conditions. However all season tires do
not offer as much traction performance as winter
(snow) tires in heavy or loose snow or on icy roads.
All season tires are identified by “ALL SEASON ”
and/or “M+S” (Mud & Snow) on the tire sidewall.
Summer tires
The optional, dealer-installed, 17-inch tires recom-
mended for the WRX are summer tires.
Summer tires are high-speed capability tires best
suited for highway driving under dry conditions.
Summer tires are inadequate for driving on slippery
roads such as on snow-covered or icy roads.
If you drive your vehicle on snow-covered or icy
roads, we strongly recommend the use of winter (snow) tires.
When installing winter tires, be sure to replace all
four tires.
Winter (snow) tires
Winter tires are best suited for driving on snow-cov-
ered and icy roads. However winter tires do not per-
form as well as summer tires and all season tires on
roads other than snow-covered and icy roads.
Tire inspection
Check on a daily basis that the tires are free from serious damage, nails, and stones. At the same
time, check the tires for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immediately if you find
any problem. NOTE When the wheels and tires strike curbs or are
subjected to harsh treatment as when the vehicle is driven on a rough surface, they can suffer
damage that cannot be seen with the naked eye.This type of damage does not become evident
until time has passed. Try not to drive over curbs, potholes or on other rough surfaces. If
doing so is unavoidable, keep the vehicle ’s
speed down to a walking pace or less, and ap-

Maintenance and service
11-47
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After driving approximately 600 miles (1,000 km),
check the wheel nuts again and retighten any nutthat has become loose. Tire replacement
The wheels and tires are important and integral
parts of your vehicle ’s design; they cannot be
changed arbitrarily. The tires fitted as standard
equipment are optimally matched to the characteris-
tics 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 tireto have a size and construction matching those
shown on the tire placard and to have a speed sym-
bol and load index matching those shown on the tire
placard.
Using tires of a non-specified size detracts from
controllability, ride comfort, braking performance,
speedometer accuracy and odometer accuracy. It
also creates incorrect body-to-tire clearances and
inappropriately changes the vehicle ’s ground clear-
ance.
All four tires must be the same in terms of manufac-
turer, brand (tread pattern), construction, and size.
You are advised to replace the tires with new ones
that are identical to those fitted as standard equip- ment.
For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU recommends
replacing all four tires at the same time. NOTE
Unidirectional tires: Some tires have a specified direction of rotation. A tire of this type has an ar-
row or other mark on its side wall to indicate thedirection of rotation. Install it so that the direc-tion of rotation is correct when the vehicle isdriven forward.

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
11-50
Aluminum wheels (If equipped)
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and damaged
easily. Handle them carefully to maintain their ap-
pearance, performance, and safety. When any of the wheels is removed and replaced
for tire rotation or to change a flat, always check the
tightness of the wheel nuts after driving approxi-mately 600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose,
tighten it to the specified torque. Never apply oil to the threaded parts, wheel nuts,
or tapered surface of the wheel. Never let the wheel rub against sharp protrusions
or curbs. Be sure to fit tire chains on uniformly and com-
pletely around the tire, otherwise the chains mayscratch the wheel. When wheel nuts, balance weights, or the center
cap is replaced, be sure to replace them with genu-
ine SUBARU parts designed for aluminum wheels. Windshield washer fluid
Check the level of the washer fluid at each fuel stop.
If the level is low, fill the fluid up to the neck of the
reservoir. Use windshield washer fluid. If windshield washer
fluid is unavailable use clean water.
In areas where water freezes in winter, use an anti-
freeze type windshield washer fluid. SUBARU Wind-
shield Washer Fluid contains 58.5% methyl alcohol
and 41.5% surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-
perature varies according to how much it is diluted,
as indicated below.