
23
–
CONTINUED –
!Warning and indicator light
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-19
SRS airbag system warning light 3-20
CHECK ENGINE warning light/
Malfunction indicator lamp 3-20
Charge warning light 3-21
Oil pressure warning light 3-21
AT OIL temperature warning light (if equipped) 3-22
or ABS warning light 3-23
or Brake system warning light 3-24
Door open warning light 3-25
Front-wheel drive warning light
(if equipped) 3-25
Turn signal indicator lights 3-26
High beam indicator light 3-26
Security system indicator light (if equipped) 2-14
Intercooler water spray warn-
ing light (if equipped) 3-25
Light indicator light (if equipped) 3-27
Cruise control indicator light (if equipped) 3-26
Cruise control set indicator light 3-26
REV indicator light (if equipped) 3-27
Rear differential oil tempera-
ture warning light (if equipped) 3-22
Electronic driver’s control cen-
ter differential auto indicator (if equipped) 3-26
Mark Name Page

3-1
3
Instruments and controls
Ignition switch .............................................. 3-3 LOCK .................................................................. 3-3
ACC .................................................................... 3-4
ON ....................................................................... 3-4
START ................................................................ 3-4
Key reminder chime .......................................... 3-4
Ignition switch light (if equipped) .................... 3-5
Key interlock release (AT vehicles only) ........ 3-5
Hazard warning flasher ................................ 3-6
Meters and gauges (WRX-STi) .................... 3-7 Combination meter illumination ...................... 3-7
Cancelling sequential illumination of the combination meter ......................................... 3-7
Speedometer ..................................................... 3-7
Odometer/Trip meter ........................................ 3-8
Tachometer ........................................................ 3-9
Fuel gauge ......................................................... 3-9
Temperature gauge ........................................... 3-10
Ambient temperature gauge ............................ 3-11
REV indicator light and buzzer (WRX-STi) . 3-12 Setting the alarm-level engine speed .............. 3-13
Deactivating the REV alarm system ................ 3-14
Meters and gauges (Except WRX-STi) ........ 3-15 Speedometer ..................................................... 3-15
Odometer/Trip meter ........................................ 3-15
Tachometer ........................................................ 3-16
Fuel gauge ......................................................... 3-16
Temperature gauge ........................................... 3-17
Ambient temperature gauge (if equipped) ...... 3-18
Warning and indicator lights ....................... 3-19 Seatbelt warning light and chime .................... 3-19 SRS airbag system warning light .................... 3-20
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator lamp ................................................. 3-20
Charge warning light ........................................ 3-21
Oil pressure warning light ............................... 3-21
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light (for AT vehicles) ............................................. 3-22
Rear differential oil temperature warning light
(WRX-STi) ........................................................ 3-22
ABS warning light ............................................. 3-23
Brake system warning light ............................. 3-24
Door open warning lights ................................ 3-25
Front-wheel drive warning light (for AT vehicles – if equipped) ...................... 3-25
Intercooler water spray warning light
(WRX-STi) ........................................................ 3-25
Selector lever position indicator (AT vehicles) 3-26
Turn signal indicator lights .............................. 3-26
High beam indicator light ................................. 3-26
Cruise control indicator light ........................... 3-26
Cruise control set indicator light .................... 3-26
Driver’s control center differential auto indicator light (WRX-STi) ............................... 3-26
Driver’s control center differential indicator
lights (WRX-STi) ............................................. 3-27
Headlight indicator light (WRX-STi) ................ 3-27
REV indicator light (WRX-STi) ......................... 3-27
Clock .............................................................. 3-28
Light control switch ...................................... 3-29 Headlights ......................................................... 3-29
High/low beam change (dimmer) .................... 3-30
Headlight flasher ............................................... 3-30

3-22
Instruments and controls
Do not operate the engine with the oil pressure
warning light on. This may cause serious en-
gine 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 tem-
perature 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. !
Rear differential oil temperature
warning light (WRX-STi)
Reduce vehicle speed and park the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as possible if the R.DIFF
TEMP light comes on. Continued driving with
this light on can damage the rear differential
and other parts of the powertrain.
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it
may indicate that the rear differential oil temperature is
too hot.
At this time, the driver’s control center differential will
automatically cancel the current torque-distribution ra-
tio setting and adopts its minimum ratio.
If the light comes on while driving, reduce vehicle
speed and stop the vehicle at the nearest safe place.
Park the vehicle for several minutes. After the light
goes out, you can start driving.
If the light does not go out, contact the neares
SUBARU dealer for service.
NOTE " If the tire pressures are not correct and/or the

3-23
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
tires are not all the same size and brand, the rear
differential will be heavily loaded when the vehicle
is driven, resulting in an abnormally high oil tem-
perature. "The rear differential oil will deteriorate if its tem-
perature increases enough for the rear differential
oil temperature warning light to come on. It is ad-
visable to have the rear differential oil replaced as
soon as possible. ! 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.
If the warning light behaves as follows, the ABS
system may not work properly.
When the warning light is on, the ABS function
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” position." The warning light comes on when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, but it
does not go out even when the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 8 mph (12 km/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.
With a vehicle equipped with an EBD system, the ABS
warning light comes on together with the brake system
warning light if the EBD system becomes faulty. For
further details of the EBD system fault warning, refer to “Brake system warning light”.
NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as described be-
low, the ABS system may be considered normal." The warning light comes on right after the en-
gine is started but goes out immediately, remain-
ing off." The warning light remains on after the engine
has been started, but it goes out when the vehicle
speed reaches about 8 mph (12 km/h)." The warning light comes on during driving, but
it goes out immediately and remains off.
When driving with an insufficient battery voltage such
(U.S.) (Canada)

3-26
Instruments and controls
!
Selector lever position indicator (AT
vehicles)
This indicator shows the position of the selector lever. ! Turn signal indicator lights
These lights show the operation of the turn signal or
lane change signal.
If the indicator lights do not blink or blink rapidly, the
turn signal bulb may be burned out. Replace the bulb
as soon as possible. Refer to the “Replacing bulbs”
section in chapter 11. !
High beam indicator light
This light shows that the headlights are in the high
beam mode.
This indicator light also comes on when the headlight
flasher is operated. ! Cruise control indicator light
This light comes on when the “CRUISE” main switch
is pressed. ! Cruise control set indicator light
This light comes on when vehicle speed has been set.! Driver’s control center differen-
tial auto indicator light (WRX-STi)
This light functions while the ignition switch is ON.
When on, it indicates that the driver’s control center
differential is set to AUTO mode. It goes off when the
driver’s control center differential’s manual modeswitch is pressed. For details, refer to Chapter 7, “Driv-
er’s Control Center Differential (DCCD) (WRX-STi)”.
UG3030AA

3-27
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
!Driver’s control center differential indi-
cator lights (WRX-STi)
These indicator lights show the current differential-ac-
tion limiting factor (torque-distribution ratio between
the front and rear wheels) of the center differential.
The bottom indicator light “ ” flashes in the event of
failure of the driver’s control center differential. For de-
tails, refer to Chapter 7, “Driver’s Control Center Dif-
ferential (DCCD) (WRX-STi)”. ! Headlight indicator light (WRX-
STi)
This light comes on when the headlight switch is placed in the “ ” or “ ” position. !
REV indicator light (WRX-STi)
This light comes on when the engine speed reaches a
level set by the user and when the tachometer needle
enters the red zone.
UG3031AA

7-1
7
Starting and operating
F uel .. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 7-2
F uel re quire ments ..................... ..................... ... 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap ........................................ 7-4
State emission testing (U.S. only) ............... 7-7
Preparing to drive ......................................... 7-9
Starting the engine ....................................... 7-9 Manual transmission vehicle ........................... 7-9
Automatic transmission vehicle ...................... 7-10
Starting the engine during cold weather below −4 °F ( −20 °C) ......................................... 7-10
Starting a flooded engine ................................. 7-11
Stopping the engine ..................................... 7-11
Manual transmission – 6 speed (WRX-STi) 7-12 Selecting reverse gear ...................................... 7-12
Shifting speeds ................................................. 7-13
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-14
Manual transmission – 5 speed (except WRX-STi) ...................................... 7-15Shifting speeds ................................................. 7-15
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-17
Driver’s Control Center Differential (DCCD) (WRX-STi) ..................................... 7-18Auto mode ......................................................... 7-18
Manual mode ..................................................... 7-19
Temporary release ............................................ 7-21
Automatic transmission ............................... 7-21 Selector lever for automatic transmission ..... 7-22
Shift lock release .............................................. 7-26
Limited slip differential (LSD) (if equipped) 7-27 Power steering .............................................. 7-28
Braking ........................................................... 7-28
Braking tips ....................................................... 7-28
Brake system .................................................... 7-29
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ........ 7-29
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ..................... 7-30 ABS system self-check .................................... 7-30
ABS warning light ............................................. 7-31
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ........................................................ 7-32Steps to take if EBD system fails .................... 7-33
Parking your vehicle ..................................... 7-34 Parking brake .................................................... 7-34
Parking tips ....................................................... 7-35
Cruise control ................................................ 7-37 To set cruise control ........................................ 7-37
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ....... 7-39
To turn off the cruise control ........................... 7-40
To change the cruising speed ......................... 7-40

7-18
Starting and operating
Driver’s Control Center Differential
(DCCD) (WRX-STi)
Always use the utmost care when driving. Be-
ing overconfident because you are driving a ve-
hicle with a driver’s control center differential
could easily lead to a serious accident.
In the event of failure of the driver’s control
center differential, the “ ” indicator light will
flash and the auto mode and manual mode will
both stop functioning. Have the vehicle in-
spected by your Subaru dealer.
! Auto mode
This system automatically adjusts the differential-ac-
tion limiting factor (torque-distribution ratio between
the front and rear wheels) of the center differential to
UG3031AAUGB079CA