2004 SUBARU OUTBACK instruments

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Instruments and controls
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Parking light switch
The parking light switch operates regardless of the ig-
nition switch position.
By pushing the front end of this switch, following lights
will come on.
– Parking lights
– Front and rear side marker lights
– Tail lights
– License plate lights
To turn off, push the rear end of the parking light switch.
Avoid leaving these lights on for a long time because that will run down the battery.
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Instruments and controls
Fog light switch (if equipped)
The fog lights operate only when the headlights are on
low beam. Push the fog light switch to turn the fog
lights on.
Press the switch again to turn them off.
The indicator light located on the switch will illuminate
when the fog lights are on.Wiper and washer
In freezing weather, do not use the windshield
washer until the windshield is sufficiently
warmed by the defroster.
Otherwise the washer fluid can freeze on the
windshield, blocking your view.
y
Do not operate the washer continuously for
more than ten seconds, or when the washer flu-
id tank is empty. This may cause overheating of
the washer motor. Check the washer fluid level
frequently, such as at fuel stops. y Do not operate the wipers when the wind-
shield or rear window is dry. This may scratch
the glass, damage the wiper blades and cause
the wiper motor to burn out. Before operating
the wiper on a dry windshield or rear window,
always use the windshield washer.y In freezing weather, be sure that the wiper
blades are not frozen to the windshield or rear
window before switching on the wipers. At-
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Instruments and controls
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tempting to operate the wiper with the blades
frozen to the window glass could cause not
only the wiper blades to be damaged but also
the wiper motor to burn out. If the wiper blade
is frozen to the window glass, be sure to oper-ate the defroster, wiper deicer (if equipped) or
rear window defogger before turning on the
wiper.yIf the wipers stop during operation because
of ice or some other obstruction on the window,
the wiper motor could burn out even if the wiper
switch is turned off. If this occurs, promptly
stop the vehicle in a safe place, turn the ignition
switch to the “LOCK” position and clean the
window glass to allow proper wiper operation. y Use clean water if windshield washer fluid is
unavailable. In areas where water freezes in
winter, use SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid
or the equivalent. (See “Windshield washer flu-
id” section in chapter 11.)
Also, when driving the vehicle when there are
freezing temperatures, use non-freezing type
wiper blades.y Do not clean the wiper blades with gasoline
or a solvent, such as paint thinner or benzene.
This will cause deterioration of the wiperblades.
NOTE y The wiper operates only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” or “ACC” position. y Clean your wiper blades and window glass peri-
odically with a washer solution to prevent streak-
ing, and to remove accumulations of road salt or
road film. Keep the washer button depressed at
least for 1 second so that washer solution will be
sprinkled all over the windshield or rear window. y Grease, wax, insects or other material on the
windshield or the wiper blades results in jerky wip-
er operation and streaking on the glass. If you can-
not remove those streaks after operating the
washer or if the wiper operation is jerky, clean the
outer surface of the windshield or rear window
and the wiper blades using a sponge or soft cloth
with a neutral detergent or mild-abrasive cleaner.
After cleaning, rinse the window glass and wiper
blades with clean water. The glass is clean if no
beads form on the glass when you rinse with wa-ter. y If you cannot eliminate the streaking even after
following this procedure, replace the wiper blades
with new ones. Refer to the “Replacement of wiper

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Instruments and controls
blades” section (chapter 11) for replacement in-
structions. „
Windshield wiper and washer switches
T Windshield wipers
1) MIST
To turn the wipers on, push the wiper control lever
down. : Intermittent
LO: Low speed
HI: High speed
To turn the wipers off, return the lever to the “OFF” po- sition.T
Mist (for a single wipe)
For a single wipe of the wipers, pull the lever toward
you. The wipers operate until you release the lever. T Wiper intermittent time control (if equipped)
When the wiper switch is in the “ ” position, turn
the dial to adjust the operating interval of the wiper.
The operating interval can be adjusted continuously
from the shortest interval to the longest.
Two click stop positions of the dial may help you to aim
at your desired interval.
OFF INT
LO
HI
1
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TWasher
To wash the windshield, push the washer button at the
end of the wiper control lever. The washer fluid sprays
until you release the washer button. The wipers oper-
ate while you push the button. „
Rear window wiper and washer switch
(if equipped)
1) ON
2) WASH
T Rear wiper
The rear wiper offers intermittent operation only.
To turn the rear wiper on, turn the knob on the end of
the wiper control lever upward.
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on the end of the
lever to the “OFF” position. T Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear wiper is oper-
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Instruments and controls
ating, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control le-
ver upward to the “ ” position. The washer fluid
sprays until you release the knob.
To wash the rear window when the rear wiper is not in
use, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control lever
downward to the “ ” position. The washer fluid
sprays and the wiper operates until you release the
knob.Rear window defogger switch
y
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. y To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not operate the defogger continu-
ously for any longer than necessary.
The rear window defogger operates only when the ig-
nition switch is in the “ON” position.
The rear window defogger switch is located on the cli-
mate control panel.
The defogger will automatically shut off after about 15
minutes. If the window clears before that time, push
the switch to turn it off. It also turns off when the igni-
tion 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.

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Instruments and controls
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„For vehicles with manual heating and
air conditioning systems
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 window defogger is operating. „
For vehicles with automatic climate
control
1) Rear window defogger switch
To turn on the defogger, push the switch. To turn it off,
push the switch again.
The indicator light “ ” lights up on the climate con-
trol display panel while the rear window defogger is
operating.
UG3508BA
Rear window defogger switch1
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Instruments and controls
Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped)
To prevent the battery from being discharged,
do not operate the windshield wiper deicer con-
tinuously for any longer than necessary.
The windshield wiper deicer operates only when the
ignition switch is in the “ON” position.
Before turning on the windshield wiper deicer, remove
any snow from the windshield. To turn on the wind- shield wiper deicer, push the switch. The indicator light
located on the switch lights up while the windshield
wiper deicer is operating.
The windshield wiper deicer will automatically shut off
after about 15 minutes. If the wiper blades have been
deiced completely 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 deicing is
not complete when you restart your vehicle, you have
to push the switch to turn the deicer on again.
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