2005 SUBARU FORESTER Owners Manual

3-28
Instruments and controls
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- 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, windshield wiper deicer (if
equipped) or rear window defogger before turn-
ing on the wiper.y
If 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 the “Windshield washer
fluid” 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 wiper

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Instruments and controls
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blades.
NOTE yThe 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 blade 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 blades” section (chapter 11) for replacement in-
structions. „
Windshield wiper and washer switches
T Windshield wipers
A) OFF
B) : Intermittent
C) LO: Low speed
D) HI: High speed
To turn the wipers on, push the wiper control lever
down.
To turn the wipers off, return the lever to the “OFF” po-
A
B
C
D
HS3031BC

3-30
Instruments and controls
sition. 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. 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.
HS3032BA
HS3033BA

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Instruments and controls
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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
A) INT
B) ON
C) Washer
T Rear wiper
To turn the rear wiper on, turn the knob on the end of
the wiper control lever upward.
INT: Intermittent
ON: Normal
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on the end of the
lever to the “OFF” position.
HS3033CA
REAR
ON
OFFINT
C
B A
C
HS3034BC

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Instruments and controls
T
Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear wiper is oper-
ating, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control le-
ver counterclockwise 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
clockwise to the “ ” position. The washer fluid
sprays and the wiper operates until you release the
knob.Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped)
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 button. The indicator light
located on the button 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 button to
turn it off. It also turns off when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. If deicing is
HS3045AA

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Instruments and controls
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not complete, you have to push the button to turn the
deicer on again.
To prevent the battery from being discharged,
do not operate the windshield wiper deicer con-
tinuously for any longer than necessary.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the outside mirror
defogger, the outside mirror defogger operates
while the windshield wiper deicer is operating.
Rear window defogger button
Manual climate control system
HS4012DA

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Instruments and controls
Automatic climate control system
The rear window defogger operates only when the ig-
nition switch is in the “ON” position.
The rear window defogger button 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 button 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 button to turn it on
again.
To turn on the defogger, push the button. To turn it off, push the button again.
The indicator light located on the button lights up while
the rear window defogger is operating.
Turn on the rear window defogger if the wiper is frozen
to the glass.
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.
US3057BA

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Instruments and controls
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Mirrors
Always check that the inside and outside mirrors are
properly adjusted before you start driving. „Inside mirror
A) Tab
The inside mirror has a day and night position. Pull the
tab at the bottom of the mirror toward you for the night
position. Push it away for the day position. The night
position reduces glare from headlights. T
Auto-dimming mirror/compass (if equipped)
A) Left button
B) Auto dimming indicator
C) Photosensor
D) Right button
The inside electronic compass mirror has an anti-glare
feature which automatically reduces glare coming
from headlights of vehicles behind you. It also con-
tains a built-in compass. y By pressing and releasing the left button, the auto-
matic dimming function is toggled on or off. When the
automatic dimming function is on, the auto dimming in-
dicator light (green) located to the right of the button
AHS3036BC
A
BC D
HS3037BC