2005 SUBARU IMPREZA window

8-14
Driving tips
T
Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure the wiper
blades are not frozen to the windshield or rear window.
If the wiper blades are frozen to the windshield or rear
window, use the defroster with the airflow control dial
in the “ ” position and the temperature control dial
set for maximum warmth until the wiper blades are
completely thawed out. If your vehicle is equipped with
a wiper deicer, it is helpful to thaw the windshield wiper
blades. To thaw out the rear wiper blade, use the rear
window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts to stick on
the surface of the windshield despite wiper operation,
use the defroster with the airflow control dial in “ ”
and the temperature control dial set for maximum
warmth. After the windshield gets warmed enough to
melt the frozen snow on it, wash it away using the
windshield washer.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the wiper from
working effectively. If snow is stuck on the wiper arm,
pull off the road to a safe place, then remove it. If you
stop the vehicle at road side, use the hazard warning
flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing type wiper blades
(winter blades) during the seasons you could have snow and sub-zero temperatures. Blades of this type
give superior wiping performance in snowy conditions.
Be sure to use blades that are suitable for your vehi- cle. „
Corrosion protection
Refer to the “Corrosion protection” section (chapter
10). „ Snow tires
T All models except WRX-STi
yWhen replacing original tires with winter
(snow) tires, make sure you use only the same
size, construction and load range as the origi-
nal tires listed on the tire placard. Using other
sizes and construction may affect speedome-
ter/odometer calibration and clearance be-
tween the body and tires. It also may be danger-
ous and lead to loss of vehicle control.y You must install four winter tires that are of
the same size, construction, brand, and load
range. Mixing other sizes or constructions may
result in severe mechanical damage to the drive

10-6
Appearance care
Cleaning the interior
Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dust and dirt.
Wipe the vinyl areas with a clean, damp cloth. „
Seat fabric
Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with a vacuum
cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the fabric or hard to re-
move with a vacuum cleaner, use a soft blush then
vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly wrung cloth and
dry the seat fabric thoroughly. If the fabric is still dirty,
wipe using a solution of mild soap and lukewarm water
then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a commercially-
available fabric cleaner. Use the cleaner on a hidden
place and make sure it does not affect the fabric ad-
versely. Use the cleaner according to its instructions. „ Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high quality natural
product which will retain its distinctive appearance and
feel for many years with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the surface can
cause the material to become brittle and to wear pre- maturely. Regular cleaning with a soft, moist, natural
fiber cloth should be performed monthly, taking care
not to soak the leather or allow water to penetrate the
stitched seams.
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning woolen fabrics
may be used to remove difficult dirt spots, rubbing with
a soft, dry cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If your
SUBARU is to be parked for a long time in bright sun-
light, it is recommended that the seats and headrests
be covered, or the windows shaded, to prevent fading
or shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches may be treat-
ed with a commercial leather spray lacquer. You will discover that each leather seat section will develop
soft folds or wrinkles, which is characteristic of genu-
ine leather. „
Synthetic leather upholstery
The synthetic leather material used on the SUBARU
may be cleaned using mild soap or detergent and wa-
ter, after first vacuuming or brushing away loose dirt.
Allow the soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe
off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial foam-type
cleaners suitable for synthetic leather materials may
be used when necessary.

10-7
Appearance care
– CONTINUED –
NOTE
Strong cleaning agents such as solvents, paint
thinners, window cleaner or gasoline must never
be used on leather or synthetic interior materials. „Climate control panel, audio panel, in-
strument panel, console panel, and
switches
Gently wipe away contamination using a clean, soft
cloth moistened with cold or lukewarm water.
NOTE
Do not use organic solvents such as paint thin-
ners or gasoline, or strong cleaning agents that
contain those solvents.

11 - 2
Maintenance and service
Types of tires .................................................... 11-47
Tire inspection .................................................. 11-47
Tire pressures and wear .................................. 11-48
Wheel balance ................................................... 11-51
Wear indicators ................................................. 11-51
Tire rotation ....................................................... 11-52
Tire replacement ............................................... 11-53
Wheel replacement ........................................... 11-53
Aluminum wheels ......................................... 11-54
Intercooler water spray (WRX-STi) ............. 11-55
Windshield washer fluid .............................. 11-56
Replacement of wiper blades ...................... 11-57 Windshield wiper blades assembly ................ 11-57
Windshield wiper blade rubber ....................... 11-58
Rear window wiper blade assembly ............... 11-59
Rear window wiper blade rubber .................... 11-60
Battery ........................................................... 11-63
Fuses ............................................................. 11-65
Main fuse ....................................................... 11-68
Installation of accessories .......................... 11-68
Replacing bulbs ............................................ 11-69 Headlights (U.S.-spec. WRX-STi) .................... 11-70
Headlights (Except U.S.-spec. WRX-STi) ....... 11-71
Front turn signal light bulbs ............................ 11-73
Parking light ...................................................... 11-74
Front fog light ................................................... 11-78
Rear combination lights ................................... 11-78
License plate light ............................................ 11-81
Dome light, map light and cargo area light .... 11-81
Trunk light ......................................................... 11-82
High mount stop light ...................................... 11-83

11 -5 7
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
Replacement of wiper blades
Grease, wax, insects, or other material on the wind-
shield or the wiper blade results in jerky wiper opera-
tion and streaking on the glass. If you cannot remove
the streaks after operating the windshield 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 wind-
shield and wiper blades with clean water. The wind-
shield is clean if beads do not form when you rinse the
windshield with water.
Do not clean the wiper blades with gasoline or
a solvent, such as paint thinner or benzene.
This will cause deterioration of the wiper
blades.
If you cannot eliminate the streaking even after follow-
ing this method, replace the wiper blades using the fol-
lowing procedures: „
Windshield wiper blades assembly
1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield.
1) Stopper
2. Remove the wiper blade assembly by holding its
pivot area and pushing it in the direction shown by the
arrow while depressing the wiper blade stopper.
3. Install the wiper blade assembly to the wiper arm.
Make sure that it locks in place.
4. Hold the wiper arm by hand and slowly lower it in
position.
1
UGB133BB

11 -5 9
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
3. Align the claws of the metal support with the
grooves in the rubber and slide the blade rubber as-
sembly into the metal support until it locks. 1) Stopper 2)
4. Be sure to position the claws at the end of the metal
support between the stoppers on the rubber as shown.
If the rubber is not retained properly, the wiper blade
may scratch the windshield. „ Rear window wiper blade assembly
1. Raise the wiper arm off the rear window.
HSB061BA
1
HSB062BB

11 - 6 0
Maintenance and service
2. Turn the wiper blade assembly counterclockwise.
3. Pull the wiper blade assembly toward you to re-
move it from the wiper arm. „
Rear window wiper blade rubber
1. Pull out the end of the blade rubber assembly to un-
lock it from the plastic support.
UBB554BA
UBB555BA
UBB523BA

12-8
Specifications
1210Ay
Illumination brightness control
1310AyCombination meter
y SRS lamp
1410AyRear window wiper and washer
1530AyWindshield wiper and washer
1620AyBrake light
1715AyAir conditioner
1815AyBackup light
y Cruise control
1920AyMirror heater
20Empty
21Empty
2210AyABS ignition
Fuse panelFuse ratingCircuit
2320AyAccessory power outlet
(cargo)
y Seat heater
Fuse panelFuse ratingCircuit