2005 SUBARU BAJA flat tire

13-8
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
distributing to each axle its share of the curb
weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant
weight and dividing by two. „
Tire care – maintenance and safety
practices
y 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. y Inspect the tire tread regularly and replace the
tires before their tread wear indicators become
visible. When a tire’s tread wear indicator be-
comes visible, the tire is worn beyond the ac-
ceptable limit and must be replaced immediately.
With a tire in this condition, driving at even low
speeds in wet weather can cause the vehicle to
hydroplane. Possible resulting loss of vehicle
control can lead to an accident. y 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 switching 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 pres-
sures and make sure the wheel nuts are correct-
ly tightened. A tightening torque specification
and a tightening sequence specification for the
wheel nuts can be found “Flat tires” in Chapter 9. „
Vehicle load limit – how to determine
The load capacity of your vehicle is determined
by weight, not by available cargo space. The
load limit of your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side B-pillar. Lo-
cate the statement “The combined weight of oc-
cupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg
or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
The vehicle placard also shows seating capacity
of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the total weight
of driver and all passengers and their belong-
ings, any cargo, any optional equipment such as
a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier, etc., and
the tongue load of a trailer. Therefore cargo ca-

13-15
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
– CONTINUED –
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov- ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1-1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate. „Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
„ Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is es-
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated

13-16
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
and not overloaded. Excessive speed, un-
derinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Reporting safety defects (USA)
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause in-
jury or death, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin-
istration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying
Subaru of America, Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your
dealer, or Subaru of America, Inc. To con-
tact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393
(or 366-0123 in the Washington D.C. area)
or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

14-3
Index
Cargo
Bed ............................................................... 6-16
Lamp ............................................................. 6-20
Lamp indicator light ...................................... 3-16
Net hooks ..................................................... 6-13
Tie-down hooks ............................................ 6-17
Catalytic converter ............................................... 8-4
Center
Console .......................................................... 6-5
Ventilators ....................................................... 4-2
Changing Flat tire .......................................................... 9-12
Oil and oil filter ............................................ 11-12
Charge warning light ......................................... 3-11 CHECK ENGINE warning light/ Malfunction indicator lamp ............................. 3-10
Checking
Brake pedal free play .................................. 11-41
Brake pedal reserve distance ..................... 11-42
Clutch function ............................................ 11-42
Clutch pedal free play ................................. 11-43
Engine oil level ........................................... 11-10
Fluid level ................. 11-29, 11-36, 11-38, 11-39
Gear oil level .................................... 11-27, 11-33
Child restraint systems ...................................... 1-28
Installation with seatbelt ............................... 1-32
Lower and tether anchorages ....................... 1-40 Child safety ............................................................. 5
Locks ............................................................ 2-21
Chime Key ................................................................. 3-4
Seatbelt ................................................. 1-17, 3-9
Cigarette lighter socket ........................................ 6-9
Cleaning Aluminum wheels ......................................... 10-4
Fog light lens ................................................ 10-4
Interior .......................................................... 10-6
Ventilator grille .............................................. 4-11
Clock ................................................................. 3-17
Clutch fluid ....................................................... 11-39
Clutch pedal .................................................... 11-42
Coat hook .......................................................... 6-13
Coin compartment ............................................... 6-6
Convenience hook ............................................. 6-13
Cooling system ................................................ 11-17
Corrosion protection .......................................... 10-5 Cover Soft bed ........................................................ 6-21
Cruise control .................................................... 7-38
Set indicator light .......................................... 3-16
Cup holder ........................................................... 6-7 D
Daytime running light system ............................ 3-20

14-4
Index
Differential gear oil
Front ........................................................... 11-32
Rear ............................................................ 11-33
Dimensions ........................................................ 12-2
Disarming the system ............................... 2-17, 2-19
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ............ 7-33
Dome light ................................................ 6-2, 11-76
Door ajar warning lights ..................................... 3-14
Door locks ........................................................... 2-3
Drive belts ....................................................... 11-26
Driving
Car phone/mobile phone ................................... 8
Drinking ............................................................. 7
Drugs ................................................................. 7
Foreign countries ............................................ 8-6
Pets ................................................................... 8
Snowy and icy roads .................................... 8-13
Tips ..................................... 7-14, 7-19, 7-29, 8-7
Tired or sleepy ................................................... 8
E
Electrical system ............................................... 12-3
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ................. 1-16
Engine Compartment overview ................................. 11-8
Coolant ....................................................... 11-18
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .................... 8-3 Hood ............................................................. 11-5
Oil ............................................................... 11-10
Overheating .................................................. 9-21
Starting ........................................................... 7-9
Stopping ....................................................... 7-12
Exterior care ...................................................... 10-2 F
Flat tires ............................................................ 9-12
Floor mat ........................................................... 6-15
Fluid level Automatic transmission .............................. 11-29
Brake .......................................................... 11-38
Clutch ......................................................... 11-39
Power steering ........................................... 11-36
Fog light button ................................................. 3-23
Folding down the rear seat ................................ 1-10
Front Differential gear oil ..................................... 11-32
Fog light ...................................................... 11-68
Seatbelt pretensioners ................................. 1-24
Seats .............................................................. 1-2
Turn signal light, parking light and side marker light ....................................... 11-69
Fuel ..................................................................... 7-2 Economy hints ................................................ 8-2
Filler door and cap .......................................... 7-4

14-8
Index
Specifications .................................................... 12-2
Speedometer ....................................................... 3-6
Sport activity lights ................................. 6-30, 11-79
SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System airbag) .......................................... 4, 1-47
SRS airbag system monitors ............................. 1-60
SRS airbag system servicing ............................ 1-61
SRS airbag system warning light ...................... 3-10
SRS frontal airbag ............................................. 1-52
Starting the engine .............................................. 7-9
State emission testing (U.S. only) ....................... 7-7
Stopping the engine .......................................... 7-12
Storage compartments ........................................ 6-4
Sun shades ....................................................... 2-33
Sun visors ........................................................... 6-3
Supplemental Restraint System airbag (SRS) ......................................................... 4, 1-47
Switchback door ................................................ 2-27
Switchback door indicator light ................. 2-31, 3-14
Synthetic leather upholstery .............................. 10-7 T
Tachometer ......................................................... 3-7
Tail light ........................................................... 11-72
Tailgate ............................................................. 2-25
Temperature gauge ............................................. 3-8
Temporary spare tire ......................................... 9-10 Tie-down hooks ................................................. 9-23
Tilt steering wheel ............................................. 3-33Tire
Chains .......................................................... 8-15
Information ................................................... 13-2
Inspection ................................................... 11-46
Pressures and wear ................................... 11-46
Replacement .............................................. 11-50
Rotation ...................................................... 11-50
Tires .................................................................. 12-4
Types .......................................................... 11-45
Tires and wheels ............................................. 11-45
Top tether anchorages ...................................... 1-40
Towing ............................................................... 9-22
All wheels on the ground .............................. 9-27
Flat-bed truck ............................................... 9-27
Hooks ........................................................... 9-23
Trailer Hitch ............................................................. 8-20
Hitches ......................................................... 8-30
Towing .......................................................... 8-24
Towing tips ................................................... 8-33
Turn signal
Indicator lights .............................................. 3-16
Lever ............................................................ 3-20