2006 SUBARU BAJA air suspension

1-27
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
The front sub sensors are located in both front
fenders and the airbag control module includ-
ing the impact sensors is located under the
center console. If you need service or repair in
those areas or near the front seatbelt retrac-
tors, have an authorized SUBARU dealer per-
form the work.
NOTE
If the front part of the vehicle is damaged in an ac-
cident to the extent that the seatbelt pretensioner
does not operate, cont act your SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible. „ Precautions against vehicle modifica- tion
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to in-
stall any accessory parts to your vehicle.
Do not perform any of the following modifica-
tions. Such modifications can interfere with
proper operation of the seatbelt pertensioners. y
Attachment of any equipment (bush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) other than
genuine SUBARU accessory parts to the front
end. y Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure. y Installation of a tire of different size and con-
struction from the tires specified on the vehicle
placard attached to the door pillar or specified
for individual vehicle mo dels in this Owner’s
Manual.

1-63
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
Do not perform any of the following modifica-
tions. Such modifications can interfere with
proper operation of the SRS airbag system. yAttachment of any equipment (brush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) other than
genuine SUBARU accessory parts to the front
end.y Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure.y Installation of a tire of different size and con-
struction from the tires specified on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s door pillar or
specified for individual vehicle models in this
Owner’s Manual.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to in-
stall any accessory parts on your vehicle.

10-2
Appearance care
Appearance careExterior care „
Washing
yWhen washing the vehicle, the brakes may
get wet. As a result, the brake stopping dis-
tance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the
vehicle at a safe speed while lightly pressing
the brake pedal to heat up the brakes. y Do not wash the engine compartment and ar-
eas adjacent to it. If water enters the engine air
intake, electrical parts or the power steering flu-
id reservoir, it will cause engine trouble or
faulty power steering respectively.
NOTE y Before having your vehicle washed in an auto-
matic car wash, retract the pillar mounted antenna
or remove the roof mounted antenna to prevent it
from being damaged.y When having your vehicle washed in an auto-
matic car wash, make sure beforehand that the car
wash is of suitable type.
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s beauty is fre- quent washing. Wash the vehicle at least once a
month to avoid contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of luke-
warm or cold water. Do not wash the vehicle with hot
water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree sap, and bird
droppings should be washed of
f by using a light deter-
gent, as required. If you use a light detergent, make
certain that it is a neutra l detergent. Do not use strong
soap or chemical detergents. All cleaning agents
should be promptly flushed from the surface and not
allowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water
off with a chamois or soft cloth. T Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road sur-
faces are extremely corrosive , accelerating the corro-
sion of underbody components, such as the exhaust
system, fuel and br ake lines, brake cables, floor pan
and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the
fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent inter-
vals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents.
Mud and sand adhering to the underbody components may accelerate their corrosion.

10-5
Appearance care
– CONTINUED –
Corrosion protection
Your SUBARU has been designed and built to resist
corrosion. Special materials and protective finishes
have been used on most parts of the vehicle to help
maintain fine appearance, strength, and reliable oper-
ation. „Most common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion are:
1. The accumulation of moisture retaining dirt and de-
bris in body panel sections, cavities, and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective coatings
caused by gravel and stone chips or minor accidents.
Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle when:
1. It is exposed to road salt or dust control chemicals,
or used in coastal areas where there is more salt in the
air, or in areas where ther e is considerable industrial
pollution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity, especially
when temperatures range just above freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of the vehicle remains
for a long time, even though other parts of the vehicle
may be dry.
4. High temperatures will cause corrosion to parts of
the vehicle which cannot dry quickly due to lack of proper ventilation. „
To help prevent corrosion
Wash the vehicle regularly to prevent corrosion of the
body and suspension components. Also, wash the ve-
hicle promptly after driving on any of the following sur- faces: y roads that have been salt ed to prevent them from
freezing in winter y mud, sand, or gravel
y coastal roads
After the winter has ended, it is recommended that the
underbody be given a very thorough washing.
Before the beginning of winter, check the condition of
underbody components, such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, suspension, steer-
ing system, floor pan, and fenders. If any of them are
found to be rusted, they should be given an appropri-
ate rust prevention treatment or should be replaced.
Contact your SUBARU dealer to perform this kind of
maintenance and treatment if you need assistance.
Repair chips and scratches in the paint as soon as you
find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for water and dirt ac-

11 - 5 0
Maintenance and service
of vehicle control could lead to an accident.
„ Wheel balance
„
Wheel
„ BalanceEach wheel was correctly bal anced when your vehicle
was new, but the wheels will become unbalanced as
the tires become worn during use. Wheel imbalance
causes the steering wheel to vibrate slightly at certain
vehicle speeds and detracts from the vehicle’s
straight-line stability. It can also cause steering and
suspension system problems and abnormal tire wear.
If you suspect that the wh eels are not correctly bal-
anced, have them checked and adjusted by your
SUBARU dealer. Also have them adjusted after tire re-
pairs and after tire rotation.
NOTE
Loss of correct wheel alignment* causes the tires
to wear on one side and reduces the vehicle’s run-
ning stability. Contact yo ur SUBARU dealer if you
notice abnormal tire wear.
*: The suspension system is designed to hold each wheel at
a certain alignment (relative to the other wheels and to the
road) for optimum straight-li ne stability and cornering perfor-
mance. „
Wear indicators
„
Wear indicators
A) New tread
B) Worn tread
1) Tread wear indicator
Each tire incorporates a tread wear indicator, which
becomes visible when the depth of the tread grooves
decreases to 0.063 in (1.6 mm). A tire must be re-
placed when the tread wear indicator appears as a
solid band across the tread.
When a tire’s tread wear indicator becomes vis-
A 1B
HSB055BB