2006 SUBARU BAJA maintenance schedule

2
How to use this owner’s manual „Using your Owner’s manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully read this
manual. To protect yourself and extend the service life
of your vehicle, follow the instructions in this manual.
Failure to observe these inst ructions may result in se-
rious injury and damage to your vehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen chapters. Each
chapter begins with a brief t able of contents, so you
can usually tell at a glance if that chapter contains the
information you want.
Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This chapter informs you how to use the seat and seat-
belt and contains precautions for the SRS airbags.
Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate the keys,
locks and windows.
Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the operation of instru-
ment panel indicators and how to use the instruments
and other switches.
Chapter 4: Climate control
This chapter informs you ho w to operate the climate
control.
Chapter 5: Audio This chapter informs you how to operate your audiosystem.
Chapter 6: Interior and exterior equipments
This chapter informs you how to operate interior and
exterior equipments.
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and operate your SUBARU.
Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your SUBARU
in various conditions and explains some safety tips on
driving.
Chapter 9: In case of emergency
This chapter informs you what to do if you have a prob-
lem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine over-
heating.
Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your SUBARU
looking good.
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This chapter informs you when you need to take your
SUBARU to the dealer for scheduled maintenance
and informs you how to keep your SUBARU running
properly.
Chapter 12: Specifications
This chapter informs you about dimension and capac-
ities of your SUBARU.

8-6
Driving tips
Periodic inspections
To keep your vehicle in the best condition at all times,
always have the recommended maintenance services
listed in the maintenance schedule in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet”
performed at the specified
time or mileage intervals.Driving in foreign countries
When planning to use your vehicle in another country: y Confirm the availability of the correct fuel. (Refer to
the “Fuel requirements” section in chapter 7.) y Comply with all regulations and requirements of
each country.

8-11
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
yFrequent 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 for
warranty coverage.Winter driving „ Operation during cold weather
Carry some emergency equipment, such as tire
chains, a window scraper, a bag of sand, flares, a
small shovel, and jumper cables.
Check the battery and cables. Cold temperatures re-
duce battery capacity. The battery must be in good
condition to provide enough power for cold winterstarts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and viscosity for
cold weather. Heavy summer oil will cause harder
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8-25
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed and intended to be used pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo. Towing a trailer
puts additional loads on your vehicle’s engine, driv-
etrain, brakes, tires and suspension and has an ad-
verse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety and satis-
faction depend upon proper use of correct equipment
and cautious operation of yo ur vehicle. Seek the ad-
vice of your SUBARU dealer to assist you in purchas-
ing a hitch and other necessary towing equipment ap-
propriate for your vehicle. In addition, be sure to follow
the instructions on correct installation and use provid-
ed by the trailer and other towing equipment manufac-
turers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibi lity for injuries or ve-
hicle damage that result from trailer towing equipment,
or from any errors or omissions in the instructions ac-
companying such equipment or for your failure to fol-
low the proper instructions. „ Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties do not apply to vehicle damage
or malfunction caused by trailer towing. If you use your
vehicle to tow a trailer, more frequent maintenance will
be required due to the additional load. (Refer to “Main- tenance schedule under severe driving conditions” in
the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer be towed with
a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new powertrain
component (engine, transmis
sion, differential, wheel
bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of
driving. „ Maximum load limits
Never exceed the maximum load limits ex-
plained in the following. Exceeding the maxi-
mum load limits could cause personal injury
and/or vehicle damage.
yAdequate size trailer brakes are required
when the trailer and its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs
(453 kg) total weight. y Before towing a tr ailer, check the trailer total
weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load. Make
sure the load and its dist ribution in your vehicle

11 - 1
11
Maintenance and service
Maintenance schedule ................................. 11-3
Maintenance precautions ............................ 11-3 Before checking or servicing in the engine compartment .................................................. 11-4
When you do checking or servicing in the engine compartment while the engine is
running ............................................................ 11-5
Engine hood .................................................. 11-5
Engine compartment overview ................... 11-8 Non-turbo models ............................................. 11-8
Turbo models .................................................... 11-9
Engine oil ...................................................... 11-10 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-10
Changing the oil and oil filter .......................... 11-12
Recommended grade and viscosity ................ 11-15
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions .............................. 11-16
Cooling system .... ....................................... .. 11-17
Hose and connections ...................................... 11-18
Engine coolant .................................................. 11-18
Air cleaner element ...................................... 11-23 Replacing the air cleaner element ................... 11-23
Spark plugs ................................................... 11-25 Recommended spark plugs ............................. 11-26
Drive belts ..................................................... 11-26
Manual transmission oil ............................... 11-27 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-27
Recommended grade and viscosity ................ 11-29
Automatic transmission fluid ...................... 11-29 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-29
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-31
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ...... 11-32
Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-32
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-33
Rear differential gear oil . .............................. 11-33
Checking the gear oil level .............................. 11-33
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-35
Power steering fluid ...................................... 11-36 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-36
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-38
Brake fluid ..................................................... 11-38 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-38
Recommended brake fluid ............................... 11-39
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) ............................ 11-40 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-40
Recommended clutch fluid .............................. 11-41
Brake booster ................................................ 11-42
Brake pedal .................................................... 11-42 Checking the brake pedal free play ................ 11-42
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ... 11-43
Clutch pedal (Manual transmission vehicles) ..................................................... 11-43Checking the clutch function .......................... 11-43
Checking the clutch pedal free play ............... 11-44
Replacement of brake pad and lining ......... 11-44 Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings .... 11-45
Parking brake stroke ......... ........................... 11-46
Tires and wheels ............. .............................. 11-46

11 - 3
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
Maintenance and serviceMaintenance scheduleMaintenance
Schedule
The scheduled maintenance items required to be ser-
viced at regular intervals are shown in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet”.
For details of your maintenance schedule, read the
separate “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.
Maintenance precautionsMaintenance
Precautions
When maintenance and service are required, it is rec-
ommended that all work be done by an authorized
SUBARU dealer.
If you perform maintenance and service by yourself,
you should familiarize yourself with the information
provided in this section on general maintenance and
service for your SUBARU.
Incorrect or incomplete service could cause improper
or unsafe vehicle operation. Any problems caused by
improper maintenance and service performed by you
are not eligible for warranty coverage.
y Testing of an All-Wh eel Drive vehicle must
NEVER be performed on a single two-wheel dy-
namometer or similar apparatus. Attempting to
do so will result in transmission damage and in
uncontrolled vehicle movement and may cause
an accident or injuries to persons nearby.y Always select a safe area when performing
maintenance on your vehicle.y Always be very careful to avoid injury when
working on the vehicle. Remember that some of

11 - 1 2
Maintenance and service
a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If engine oil
gets on the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
If you check the oil level just after stopping the engine,
wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan before checking the level.
To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not add any
additional oil above the upper level when the engine is cold.
The dipstick has a notch above the upper level.
Just after driving or while the engine is warm, the en-
gine oil level reading may be in a range between the
upper level and the notch mark. This is caused by ther-
mal expansion of the engine oil. „ Changing the oil and oil filter
„
Changing
„ Oil and oil filterChange the oil and oil filter according to the mainte-
nance schedule in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”.
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed more fre-
quently than listed in the maintenance schedule when
driving on dusty roads, when short trips are frequently
made, or when driving in extremely cold whether.
1. Warm up the engine by letting the engine idle for
approximately 10 minutes to ease draining the engine oil.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop the en-
gine.
3. Remove the oil filler cap.
1) Drain plug
4. Drain out the engine oil by removing the drain plug
while the engine is still warm. The used oil should be
drained into an appropriate container and disposed of
properly.
Be careful not to burn yourself with hot engine
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11 -1 9
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
1) Rubber gaskets
3. After refilling the reserve tank and the radiator, re-
install the caps and check that the rubber gaskets in-
side the radiator cap are in the proper position.
y Be careful not to spill engine coolant when
adding it. If coolant touches the exhaust pipe, it
may cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If
engine coolant gets on the exhaust pipe, be
sure to wipe it off.y Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the engine
coolant may damage the paint surface.
T Changing the coolant
Always add genuine SUBARU cooling system condi-
tioner whenever the coolant is replaced.
Change the engine coolant and add genuine SUBARU cooling system cond itioner using the following proce-
dures according to the maintenance schedule in the
“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.
1. Remove the under cover.
Non-turbo models
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