2005 SUBARU OUTBACK roof

3-3
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
Instruments and controlsIgnition switch
"Never turn the ignition switch to “LOCK”
while the vehicle is being driven or towed be-
cause that will lock the steering wheel, prevent-
ing steering control. And when the engine is
turned off, it takes a much greater effort than
usual to steer. " Before leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key from the ignition switch for safety and
never allow an unattended child to remains in
the vehicle. Failure to follow this procedure
could result in injury to a child or others. They
could operate the power windows, the sunroof
or other controls or even make the vehicle
move.
The ignition switch has four positions: LOCK, ACC,
ON and START.
NOTE " Keep the ignition switch in the “LOCK” position
when the engine is not running. " Using electrical accessories for a long time with
the ignition switch in the “ON” or “ACC” position
can cause the battery to go dead.
If the ignition switch will not move from the“LOCK” position to the “ACC” position, turn the
steering wheel slightly to the left and right as you turn the ignition switch." If the key is attached to a keyholder or to a large
bunch of other keys, centrifugal force may act on
it as the vehicle moves, resulting in unwanted
turning of the ignition switch. Also, if a large key-
UB3546BA

6-3
Interior equipment
– CONTINUED –
!Cargo area light (Station wagon)
The cargo area light switch has three positions:
DOOR: The light comes on only when the rear gate is
opened.
Middle position: The light stays off.
: The light stays on continuously.Map light
Vehicle with moonroof (Sedan)
UB6234BB
PASSENGER
UB6200BA

6-4
Interior equipment
Vehicle with moonroof (Station wagon) Vehicle without moonroof
To turn on the map light, push the switch. To turn it off,
push the switch again.
When leaving the vehicle, make sure the light is turned
off to avoid battery discharge.
PASSENGER
UB6201BA
PASSENGER
UB6202BA

6-26
Interior equipment
2. To keep the lid open, hang the hook (provided on
the back of the lid) on the rear edge of the roof.
3. Remove the left and right parts of the cargo floor lid.
4. Stow the cover housing and rear gate board in the
cargo area end.
!
To install the cover housing
To install the cover housing, insert both ends of the
cover housing into the retainers.
UB6524BA
UB6240BA

6-31
Interior equipment
– CONTINUED –
!Station wagon
Hang the hook provided on the underside of the lid on
the rear edge of the roof to keep the lid open. HomeLink® Wireless Control System
(if equipped)
A) HomeLink® buttons
B) Indicator light
C) Hand-held transmitter* * Not part of your vehicle’s keyless entry system but of
a HomeLink®-compatible device.
The HomeLink® Wireless Control System, located on
the driver’s sun visor, is a handy way to operate, from
inside of your vehicle, up to three remote-controlled in-
door and outdoor devices, such as garage door open-
ers, entrance gates, door locks, home lighting, and se-
UB6531BA
A
B
C
UB6219BB

8-1
8
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) ................ 8-2
Fuel economy hints ...................................... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .... 8-3
Catalytic converter ....................................... 8-4
Periodic inspections .................................... 8-6
Driving in foreign countries ......................... 8-7
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ..................... 8-7
Off road driving ............................................ 8-9
Winter driving ............................................... 8-12 Operation during cold weather ........................ 8-12
Driving on snowy and icy roads ...................... 8-13
Corrosion protection ........................................ 8-14
Snow tires .......................................................... 8-15
Tire chains ......................................................... 8-17
Rocking the vehicle .......................................... 8-17
Loading your vehicle ................................... 8-18 Vehicle capacity weight .................................... 8-19
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........ 8-20
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ............... 8-21
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ............................ 8-27 Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-27
When you do not tow a trailer .......................... 8-30
Trailer towing ................................................ 8-31 Warranties and maintenance ........................... 8-31
Maximum load limits ......................................... 8-31
Trailer hitches ................................................... 8-37
Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-38 Trailer towing tips ............................................. 8-40

8-11
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
"Always check your brakes for effectiveness immedi-
ately after driving in sand, mud or water. Do this by
driving slowly and stepping on the brake pedal. Re-
peat that process several times to dry out the brake
discs and brake pads." Do not drive or park over or near flammable materi-
als such as dry grass or fallen leaves, as they may
burn easily. The exhaust system is very hot while the
engine is running and right after engine stops. This
could create a fire hazard. " After driving through tall grass, mud, rocks, sand,
rivers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stones, sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the under-
body. If the vehicle is used with these materials
trapped or adhering to the underbody, a mechanical
breakdown or fire could occur." Secure all cargo carried inside the vehicle and make
certain that it is not piled higher than the seatbacks.
During sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo could
be thrown around in the vehicle and cause injury. Do
not pile heavy loads on the roof. Those loads raise the
vehicle’s center of gravity and make it more prone to
tip over. " If you must rock the vehicle to free it from sand or
mud, depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move
the selector lever back and forth between “D” and “R” repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For the best pos-
sible traction, avoid spinning the wheels when trying to
free the vehicle. "
When the road surface is extremely slippery, you
can obtain better traction by starting the vehicle with
the transmission in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT). " Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those
specified in this manual. " Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-road driving.
Suspension components are particularly prone to dirt
buildup, so they need to be washed thoroughly." Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle under hard-driv-
ing conditions such as rough roads or off roads will ne-
cessitate more frequent replacement of engine oil,
brake fluid and transmission oil than that specified in
the maintenance schedule described in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to your SUBARU while
operating it off-road and not using common sense pre-
cautions such as those listed above is not eligible forwarranty coverage.

8-18
Driving tips
Loading your vehicle
Never allow passengers to ride on the folded
rear seatback, in the trunk or in the cargo area.
Doing so may result in serious injury.
"
Never stack luggage or other cargo higher
than the top of the seatback because it could
tumble forward and injure passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident. Keep lug-
gage or cargo low, as close to the floor as pos-
sible. "
When you carry something inside the vehicle,
secure it whenever you can to prevent it from
being thrown around inside the vehicle during
sudden stops, sharp turns or in an accident. " Do not pile heavy loads on the roof. These
loads raise the vehicle’s center of gravity and
make it more prone to tip over. " Secure lengthy items properly to prevent
them from shooting forward and causing seri-
ous injury during a sudden stop. " Never exceed the maximum load limit. If you
do, some parts on your vehicle can break, or it
can change the way your vehicle handles. This
could result in loss of control and cause per-
sonal injury. Also, overloading can shorten the
life of your vehicle. " Do not place anything on the rear shelf be-
hind the rear seatback (for Sedan) or the ex-
tended luggage cover (for Station wagon). Such
items could tumble forward in the event of a
sudden stop or a collision. This could cause se-rious injury.
HS8005BA