
3-20
Instruments and controls
We recommend that you drive moderately until the
pointer of the temperature gauge reaches near the
middle of the range. Engine operation is optimum with
the engine coolant at this temperature range and high
revving operation when the engine is not warmed up
enough should be avoided.
If the pointer exceeds the normal operating
range, safely stop the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble.
See the “In case of emergency” in chapter 9.
Warning and indicator lights
Several of the warning and indicator lights come on
momentarily and then go out when the ignition switch
is initially turned to the “ON” position. This permits
checking the operation of the bulbs.
Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition switch to
the “ON” position. The following lights come on:
: Seatbelt warning light
(The seatbelt warning light goes out only when you
fasten the seatbelt.)
: SRS airbag system warning light
: CHECK ENGINE warning light / Malfunction in-
dicator lamp
: Charge warning light: Oil pressure warning light
: AT OIL temperature warning light (AT vehicles)
/ : ABS warning light

3-29
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
"The warning light does not come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position. " 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). " The warning light comes on during driving.
If these occur, have the ABS system repaired at
the first available opportunity by your SUBARU
dealer.
The ABS warning light comes on together with the
brake system warning light if the EBD system be-
comes 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." The warning light comes on right after the en-
gine is started but goes out immediately, remain-
ing off." 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)." The warning light comes on during driving, but
it goes out immediately and remains off. When driving with an insufficient battery voltage suchas 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
"Driving 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 SUB-
ARU dealer immediately." If at all in doubt about whether the brakes are
operating properly, do not drive the vehicle.
Have your vehicle towed to the nearest SUBA-
RU dealer for repair.
This light has the following two functions: ! 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.
(U.S.) (Canada)

3-30
Instruments and controls
!
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. ! Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) sys-
tem warning
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 faulty if the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light illuminate simulta-
neously 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 inspected.
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.
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. !
Low fuel warning light
The low fuel warning light comes on when the tank is
nearly empty about 2.6 US gal (10.0 liters, or 2.2 Imp
gal). It only operates when the ignition switch is in the“ON” position.

3-31
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
NOTE
This light does not go out unless the tank is re-
plenished up to an internal fuel quantity of about
3.7 US gal (14 liters, 3.1 Imp gal). !Door open warning light
When any of the doors or the rear gate (Station wag-
on) or trunk lid (Sedan) is not fully closed, it is indicat-
ed by the corresponding part of the door warning light.
Always make sure this light is out before you start to
drive. ! All-wheel drive warning light
(AT vehicles)
Continued driving with the AWD warning light
flashing can lead to powertrain damage. If the
AWD warning light flashes, promptly park in a
safe place then check whether all four tires are
the same diameter and whether any of the tires
has a puncture or has lost air pressure for
some other reason. The all-wheel drive warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes
out after the engine has started. !
For 5 speed automatic transmission vehicles
This light flashes if the vehicle is driven with tires of dif-
ferent diameters fitted on its wheels or with the air
pressure excessively low in any of its tires. ! For 4 speed automatic transmission vehicles
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.
This light flashes if the vehicle is driven with tires of dif-
ferent diameters fitted on its wheels or with the air
pressure excessively low in any of its tires. ! Vehicle Dynamics Control opera-
tion indicator light (if equipped)
This light comes on when the ignition switch is ON and
goes out about 2 seconds later.
It blinks when the skid suppression function is activat-
ed. It illuminates when only the traction control func-
tion is operating.
The Vehicle Dynamics Control system is probably
faulty under any of the following conditions. Have your

3-35
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
section in chapter 11. !High beam indicator light
This light shows that the headlights are in the high
beam mode.
This indicator light also comes on when the headlight
flasher is operated. ! Cruise control indicator light
The cruise control indicator light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes
out after about three seconds.
This light comes on when the “CRUISE” main switch
is pressed.
If you move the cruise control lever while turning the
ignition switch “ON”, the cruise control function is de-
activated and the “CRUISE” indicator light flashes. To
reactivate the cruise control function, turn the ignition
switch back to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position, and then
turn it again to the “ON” position. ! Cruise control set indicator light
The cruise control set indicator light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and
goes out after about three seconds.
This light comes on when vehicle speed has been set. !
Headlight indicator light
This indicator light comes on when the light switch is
turned to the “ ” position (to turn on the parking
lights) or to the “ ” position (to turn on the head-
lights). ! Front fog light indicator light
This indicator light is on while the front fog lights are on.

3-44
Instruments and controls
The journey time indication flashes each time a com-
plete hour has elapsed. If the display is giving an indi-
cation other than the journey time, the display switch-
es to the journey time, flashes for five seconds, and re-
turns to its original indication each time a complete
hour has elapsed.
NOTE
The journey time is reset when the ignition switch
is turned to the “OFF” position. It is also reset if
the ignition switch is turned to the “LOCK” or
“ACC” position prior to restarting of the engine.
Light control switch
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.
The light switch operates only when the ignition switch
is in the “ON” position.UB3540AA

3-45
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
!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. !
High/low beam change (dimmer)
To change from low beam to high beam, push the turn
signal lever forward. When the headlights are on high
beam, the high beam indicator light “ ” on the in-
strument panel is also on.
To switch back to low beam, pull the lever back to the
detent position.
UB3204BAUB3205BA

3-46
Instruments and controls
!
Headlight flasher
Do not hold the lever in the flashing position for
more than just a few seconds.
To flash the headlights, pull the lever toward you and
then release it. The high beam will stay on for as long
as you hold the lever. The headlight flasher works
even though the lighting switch is in the “OFF” posi-tion.
When the headlights are on high beam, the high beam indicator light “ ” on the instrument panel also
comes on. !
Daytime running light system
The tail lights, parking lights, and side marker
lights are not turned on by the daytime running
light system. The light switch must always be
turned to the “ ” position when it is dark
outside.
The low beam headlights will automatically come on at
reduced brightness when the engine has started, un-
der the following conditions:" The parking brake is fully released.
" The light switch is in the “OFF” or “ ” position.
UB3205CA