2005 SUBARU IMPREZA warning light

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Instruments and controls
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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. TAutomatic 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 nearest
SUBARU dealer for service.
NOTE y
If the tire pressures are not correct and/or the
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.y 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.
(U.S.) (Canada)

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Instruments and controls
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. y
The warning light does not come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position. y 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). y 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. y
The warning light comes on right after the en-
gine is started but goes out immediately, remain-
ing off. y 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). y The warning light comes on during driving, but
it goes out immediately and remains off.
When driving with an insufficient battery voltage such
as when the engine is jump started, the ABS warning
light may come on. This is due to the low battery volt-
age and does not indicate a malfunction. When the
battery becomes fully charged, the light will go out. „ Brake system warning light
yDriving with the brake system warning light
on is dangerous. This indicates your brake sys-
tem may not be working properly. If the light re-
mains on, have the brakes inspected by a
SUBARU dealer immediately. y If at all in doubt about whether the brakes are
operating properly, do not drive the vehicle.
Have your vehicle towed to the nearest
(U.S.) (Canada)

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Instruments and controls
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SUBARU dealer for repair.
This light has the following three functions: T 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. T Brake fluid level warning
This light comes on when the brake fluid level has
dropped to near the “MIN” level of the brake fluid res-
ervoir 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 positioned in “ON”), it could be an
indication of leaking of brake fluid or worn brake pads.
If this occurs, immediately stop the vehicle at the near-
est safe place and check the brake fluid level. If the flu-
id level is below the “MIN” mark in the reservoir, do not
drive the vehicle. Have the vehicle towed to the near-
est SUBARU dealer for repair. T Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) sys-
tem warning (for vehicles with ABS)
The brake system warning light also illuminates if a malfunction occurs in the EBD system. In that event, it
comes on together with the ABS warning light.
The EBD system may be malfunctioning if the brake
system warning light and ABS warning light illuminate
simultaneously during driving.
Even if the EBD system fails, the conventional braking
system will still function. However, the rear wheels will
be more prone to locking when the brakes are applied
harder than usual and the vehicle’s motion may there-
fore become somewhat harder to control.
If the brake system warning light and ABS warning
light illuminate simultaneously, take the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle in the nearest safe, flat place.
2. Shut down the engine, then restart it.
3. Release the parking brake. If both warning lights go
out, the EBD system may be faulty. Drive carefully to
the nearest SUBARU dealer and have the system in- spected.
4. If both warning lights come on again and stay illu-
minated after the engine has been restarted, shut
down the engine again, apply the parking brake, and
check the brake fluid level.
5. If the brake fluid level is not below the “MIN” mark,
the EBD system may be faulty. Drive carefully to the
nearest SUBARU dealer and have the system inspect-ed.

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Instruments and controls
6. If the brake fluid level is below the “MIN” mark, DO
NOT drive the vehicle. Instead, have the vehicle towed
to the nearest SUBARU dealer for repair. „
Door open warning light
The door open warning light comes on if any door or
the rear gate is not fully closed.
Always make sure this light is out before you start to
drive. „ All-wheel drive warning light
(for AWD AT vehicles – if
equipped)
The all-wheel drive warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes
out after about two seconds.
This light comes on when All Wheel Drive is disen-
gaged and the drive mechanism is switched to Front
Wheel Drive for maintenance or similar purposes
(Non-turbo vehicles).
It flashes if the vehicle is driven with tires of differing
diameters fitted on the wheels or with an excessively
low air pressure in any of the tires.
Continuing to drive with the AWD warning light
flashing can damage the powertrain. If the AWD
warning light starts to flash, promptly park in a
safe place and check whether the tires have dif-
fering diameters and whether any of the tires
has an excessively low inflation pressure.
„ Intercooler water spray warning
l i g h t ( W R X - S T i )
This light comes on when the water level in the inter-
cooler water spray tank falls to the lower limit (about
0.4 US qt, 0.4 liter, 0.4 Imp qt).

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Instruments and controls
Light control switch
The light switch operates only when the ignition switch
is in the “ON” position.
To prevent battery discharge resulting from ac-
cidentally leaving your lights on when your ve-
hicle is parked, the light switch operates only
when the ignition switch is in the “ON” posi-
tion. In any other position, the vehicle’s lights
will be out.
If you park your vehicle on a roadside at night,
use the hazard warning flasher to alert the other
drivers.
„
Headlights
To turn on the headlights, turn the knob on the end of
the turn signal lever. first position
Parking lights, instrument panel illumination, tail lights
and license plate light are on.
second position
Headlights, parking lights, instrument panel illumina-
tion, tail lights, and license plate light are on.
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Instruments and controls
Intercooler water spray switch (WRX-
STi)
Pressing this switch causes water to be sprayed into
the intercooler. It can be used to help maintain ade-
quate intercooler performance when the outside tem-
perature is high.
Water is sprayed for approximately two seconds every
time the switch is pressed and then released.
NOTE y
The intercooler water spray warning light comes
on when the water level in the tank has dropped to
the lower limit. If the warning light illuminates, re-fill the tank with water. The tank is located on the
right hand side of the trunk. For the tank refilling
method, refer to the “Intercooler water spray
(WRX-STi)” section in Chapter 11. y In cold weather (when you do not use the inter-
cooler water spray), keep the tank half-empty or
below in case the water freezes. A larger amount
of water could break the tank if it froze.
I/C
WATER SPRAY
UG3509BA
UGB079BA

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Instruments and controls
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Do not press the switch when the warning light
is illuminated. If the switch is kept pressed
when the tank is short of water, the water pump
motor could overheat.
Mirrors
Always check that the inside and outside mirrors are
properly adjusted before you start driving. „Inside mirror
1) 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.
1HS3036BB

7-1
7
Starting and operating
Fuel ................................................................ 7-2 Fuel requirements ............................................. 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
Stopping the engine ..................................... 7-11
Manual transmission – 6 speeds (WRX-STi) .................................................. 7-12Selecting reverse gear ...................................... 7-12
Shifting speeds ................................................. 7-13
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-14
Manual transmission – 5 speeds (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 ............................... 7-22 Selector lever for automatic transmission ..... 7-23
Shift lock release .............................................. 7-27
Limited slip differential (LSD) (if equipped) .............................................. 7-28
Power steering .............................................. 7-29 Braking ........................................................... 7-30
Braking tips ....................................................... 7-30
Brake system .................................................... 7-30
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ........ 7-31
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ..................... 7-31 ABS system self-check .................................... 7-32
ABS warning light ............................................. 7-32
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ........................................................ 7-34Steps to take if EBD system fails .................... 7-34
Parking your vehicle ..................................... 7-36 Parking brake .................................................... 7-36
Parking tips ....................................................... 7-36
Cruise control ................................................ 7-38 To set cruise control ........................................ 7-39
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ....... 7-40
To turn off the cruise control ........................... 7-41
To change the cruising speed ......................... 7-42