2003 SUBARU OUTBACK air condition

and are registered trademarks of FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.

copyright 2002 FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
Foreword
Congratulations on choosing a SUBARU vehicle. This Owner’s
Manual has all the information necessary to keep your SUBARU in
excellent condition and to properly maintain the emission control
system for minimizing emission pollutants. We urge you to read thismanual carefully so that you may understand your vehicle and its
operation. For information not found in this Owner’s Manual, suchas details concerning repairs or adjustments, please contact thedealer from whom you purchased your SUBARU or the nearest
SUBARU dealer. The information, specifications and illustrations found in this manu-
al are those in effect at the time of printing. FUJI HEAVY INDUS-
TRIES LTD. reserves the right to change specifications and designs
at any time without prior notice and without incurring any obligationto make the same or similar changes on vehicles previously sold.
This Owner’s Manual applies to all models and covers all equip-ment, including factory installed options. Some explanations, there-fore may be for equipment not installed in your vehicle.
Please leave this manual in the vehicle at the time of resale. The next owner will need the information found herein.
FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD., TOKYO, JAPAN

vii
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Never run the engine in a closed space, such as a garage, ex-
cept for the brief time needed to drive the vehicle in or out of it. Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle for a lengthy time while
the engine is running. If that is unavoidable, then use the ventila-tion fan to force fresh air into the vehicle. Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille free from snow,
leaves or other obstructions to ensure that the ventilation system
always works properly. If at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the
vehicle, have the problem checked and corrected as soon as pos-
sible. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with allwindows fully open. Keep the trunk lid or rear gate closed while driving to prevent
exhaust gas from entering the vehicle.
DRINKING AND DRIVING WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Alcohol in the
bloodstream delays your reaction and impairs your perception,judgment and attentiveness. If you drive after drinking – even if
you drink just a little – it will increase the risk of being involved in
a serious or fatal accident, injuring or killing yourself, your pas-sengers and others. In addition, if you are injured in the accident,
alcohol may increase the severity of that injury. Please don ’t drink and drive.
Drunken driving is one of the most frequent causes of accidents. Since
alcohol affects all people differently, you may have consumed too much
alcohol to drive safely even if the level of alcohol in your blood is belowthe legal limit. The safest thing you can do is never drink and drive. How-ever if you have no choice but to drive, stop drinking and sober up com-
pletely before getting behind the wheel.

viii
DRUGS AND DRIVING
WARNING
There are some drugs (over the counter and prescription) that can delay your reaction time and impair your perception, judg-ment and attentiveness. If you drive after taking them, it may in-
crease your, your passengers ’ and other persons ’ risk of being
involved in a serious or fatal accident.
If you are taking any drugs, check with your doctor or pharmacist or read
the literature that accompanies the medication to determine if the drug
you are taking can impair your driving ability. Do not drive after taking
any medications that can make you drowsy or otherwise affect your abil-
ity to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you have a medical condition that
requires you to take drugs, please consult with your doctor.
Never drive if you are under the influence of any illicit mind-altering drugs. For your own health and well-being, we urge you not to take ille-
gal drugs in the first place and to seek treatment if you are addicted tothose drugs. DRIVING WHEN TIRED OR SLEEPY
WARNING
When you are tired or sleepy, your reaction will be delayed and your perception, judgment and attentiveness will be impaired. If
you drive when tired or sleepy, your, your passengers ’ and other
persons’ chances of being involved in a serious accident may in-
crease.
Please do not continue to drive but instead find a safe place to rest if you
are tired or sleepy. On long trips, you should make periodic rest stops to
refresh yourself before continuing on your journey. When possible, you
should share the driving with others.

3-12
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicator lamp
CAUTION
If the CHECK ENGINE light comes on while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked/repaired by your SUBARU dealer as soonas possible. Continued vehicle operation without having the
emission control system checked and repaired as necessarycould cause serious damage, which may not be covered by your
vehicle’ s warranty.
If this light comes on steadily or blinks while the engine is running, it may
indicate that there is a problem or potential problem somewhere in the
emission control system. If the light comes on steadily:
If the light comes on steadily while driving or does not go out after the
engine starts, an emission control system malfunction has been de-tected.
You should have your vehicle checked by an authorized SUBARU
dealer immediately. NOTE This light also comes on when the fuel filler cap is not tightened until it clicks.
If you have recently refueled your vehicle, the cause of the CHECK
ENGINE warning light/malfunction indicator lamp coming on could be a
loose or missing fuel filler cap. Remove the cap and retighten it until it
clicks. Make sure nothing is interfering with the sealing of the cap.
Tightening the cap will not make the CHECK ENGINE warning light
turn off immediately. It may take several driving trips. If the light does
not go out, take your vehicle to your authorized SUBARU dealer
immediately. If the light is blinking:
If the light is blinking while driving, an engine misfire condition has
been detected which may damage the emission control system.

3-16while driving with this condition, but you should have your vehicle checked at a SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as shown below, the VDC system may be considered normal.
The warning light comes on right after the engine is started but
goes out immediately, remaining off. The warning light remains on after the engine has been started,
but it goes out when the vehicle speed reaches 8 mph about (12km/h). The warning light comes on during driving, but it goes out im-
mediately and remains off. Brake system warning light
WARNING
Driving with the brake system warning light on is dangerous.
This indicates your brake system may not be working properly. If the light remains on, have the brakes inspected by a SUBARU
dealer immediately. If at all in doubt about whether the brakes are operating prop-
erly, do not drive the vehicle. Have your vehicle towed to the
nearest SUBARU dealer for repair.
This light has the following two functions: Parking brake warning
The light comes on with the parking brake applied while the ignition switch is in the “ON” position. It goes out when the parking brake is
fully released. Brake fluid level warning
This light comes on when the brake fluid level has dropped to near the “MIN” level of the brake fluid reservoir with the ignition switch in
the “ON” position and with the parking brake fully released.
If the brake system warning light should come on while driving (with
the parking brake fully released and with the ignition switch posi- (U.S.)
(Canada)

3
Instruments and controls3-29
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Rear window defogger switch
CAUTION
Do not use sharp instruments or window cleaner containing
abrasives to clean the inner surface of the rear window. They may
damage the conductors printed on the window. To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not operate
the defogger continuously for any longer than necessary.
The rear window defogger operates only when the ignition switch is inthe “ON” position.
The rear window defogger switch is located on the climate control panel.
The defogger will automatically shut off after about 15 minutes. If the win-
dow clears before that time, push the switch to turn it off. It also turns off
when the ignition switch is turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. If
defrosting or defogging is desired when you restart your vehicle, you
have to push the switch to turn it on again.
For vehicles with manual heating and air conditioning systems
HB5009BB
To turn on the defogger, push the switch. To turn it off, push the switch again.
The indicator light located on the switch lights up while the rear win-dow defogger is operating.

3
Instruments and controls3-33
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n
Photosensors
HB6020BA
The mirror has a photosensor attached on both the front and back
sides. If the glare from the headlights of vehicles behind you strikes
the mirror, these sensors detect it and make the reflection surface of
the mirror dimmer to help prevent you from being blinded. For this
reason, use care not to cover the sensors with stickers, or other simi-
lar items. Periodically wipe the sensors clean using a piece of dry soft
cotton cloth or an applicator. nCompass calibration
1. For optimum calibration, switch off all nonessential electrical ac-
cessories (rear window defogger, heater/air conditioning system,
spotlight, etc.) and ensure all doors are shut.
2. Drive to an open, level area away from large metallic objects or
structures and make certain the ignition switch is in the “ON” position.
3. Press and hold the left button for 3 seconds then release, and thecompass will enter the calibration mode. “CAL” and direction will be
displayed.
4. Drive slowly in a circle until “CAL” disappears from the display
(about two or three circles).
5. The compass is now calibrated. Further calibration is not required.
The compass will automatically calibrate from this point forward.

4
Climate control
Ventilator4-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual heating and air conditioning system 4-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heater operation 4-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air conditioner operation 4-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic climate control system (if equipped) 4-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner 4-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air filtration system (if equipped) 4-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .