
Instruments and controls 3-25
Illumination brightness con-
trol
When the headlight switch is in the
or position, you can ad-
just brightness of the instrument panel illu-
mination for better visibility.
To brighten, turn the control dial upward.
To darken, turn the control dial downward.
Headlight beam leveler (U.S.-
spec. WRX-STI)
The WRX-STI version has High-Intensity
Discharge (HID) headlights on the low
beam setting. The HID headlights gener-
ate more light than conventional halogen
headlights. Therefore a driver of an on-
coming vehicle may experience too much
glare when your headlight beam height
adjustment is high due to the vehicle car-
rying heavy load.
The headlight beam leveler can be used
to adjust beam height to avoid such a con-
dition.
The higher the number the knob is turned
to, the lower the beam becomes.
Parking light switch
The parking light switch operates regard-
less of the ignition switch position.
By pushing the front end of this switch, fol-
lowing lights will come on. Parking lights
Front side marker lights
Tail lights
License plate lights
To turn off, push the rear end of the park-
ing light switch.
Avoid leaving these lights on for a long
time because that will run down the bat-
tery.300131300623
300134

3-26 Instruments and controls
Front fog light button (if
equipped)
The front fog lights operate only when the
headlights are on low beam. Push the
front fog light button to turn the front fog
lights on.
Press the button again to turn them off.
The indicator light located on the button
will illuminate when the front fog lights are
on.
Wiper and washer
300322
In freezing weather, do not use the
windshield washer until the wind-
shield is sufficiently warmed by the
defroster.
Otherwise the washer fluid can
freeze on the windshield, blocking
your view.
Do not operate the washer contin-
uously for more than ten seconds,
or when the washer fluid tank is
empty. This may cause overheat-
ing of the washer motor. Check
the washer fluid level frequently,
such as at fuel stops.
Do not operate the wipers when
the windshield or rear window is
dry. This may scratch the glass,
damage the wiper blades and
cause the wiper motor to burn out.
Before operating the wiper on a
dry windshield or rear window, al-
ways use the windshield washer.
In freezing weather, be sure that
the wiper blades are not frozen to
the windshield or rear window be-
fore switching on the wipers. At-
tempting to operate the wiper with
the blades frozen to the window
glass could cause not only the
wiper blades to be damaged but
also the wiper motor to burn out. If
the wiper blades are frozen to the
window glass, be sure to operate
the defroster, windshield wiper
deicer (if equipped) or rear win-
dow defogger before turning on
the wiper.
If the wipers stop during opera-
tion because of ice or some other
obstruction on the window, the
wiper motor could burn out even if
the wiper switch is turned off. If
this occurs, promptly stop the ve-
hicle in a safe place, turn the igni-
tion switch to the LOCK posi-
tion and clean the window glass
to allow proper wiper operation.

Instruments and controls 3-29
CONTINUED
ON position.
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on
the end of the lever to the OFF position.
Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear
wiper is operating, turn the knob on the
end of the wiper control lever counter-
clockwise to the position. The
washer fluid sprays until you release the
knob.
To wash the rear window when the rear
wiper is not in use, turn the knob on the
end of the wiper control lever clockwise to
the position. The washer fluid
sprays and the wiper operates until you
release the knob.
Rear window defogger but-
ton
The rear window defogger operates only
when the ignition switch is in the ON po-
sition.
The rear window defogger button is locat-
ed on the climate control panel.
To turn on the defogger, push the button.
To turn it off, push the button again.
The indicator light located on the button
lights up while the rear window defogger is
operating.
The defogger will automatically shut off af-
ter approximately 15 minutes. If the win-
dow clears before that time, push the but-
ton to turn it off. It also turns off when the
ignition switch is turned to the ACC or
LOCK position. If defrosting or defogging
is desired when you restart your vehicle,
you have to push the button to turn it on
again.
Manual climate control system
Automatic climate control system
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the
300230
300326

3-30 Instruments and controls
outside mirror defogger, the outside
mirror defogger operates while the rear
window defogger is operating.
Turn on the rear window defogger if
the wiper is frozen to the glass.
Windshield wiper deicer (if
equipped)
The windshield wiper deicer operates only
when the ignition switch is in the ON po-
sition.
Before turning on the windshield wiper de-
icer, remove any snow from the wind-
shield. To turn on the windshield wiper de-
icer, push the button. The indicator light
located on the button lights up while the
windshield wiper deicer is operating.
The windshield wiper deicer will automati-
cally shut off after approximately 15 min-
utes. If the windshield wiper blades have
been deiced completely before that time,
push the button to turn it off. It also turns
off when the ignition switch is turned to the
ACC or LOCK position. If deicing is not
complete when you restart your vehicle,
you have to push the button to turn the de-
icer on again.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the out-
side mirror defogger, the outside mir-
ror defogger operates while the rear
window defogger is operating.
Do not use sharp instruments or
window cleaner containing abra-
sives to clean the inner surface of
the rear window. They may dam-
age the conductors printed on the
window.
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not operate the de-
fogger continuously for any long-
er than necessary.
300143
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not operate the
windshield wiper deicer continuous-
ly for any longer than necessary.

Instruments and controls 3-31
Intercooler water spray
switch (WRX-STI)
Pressing this switch causes water to be
sprayed into the intercooler. It can be
used to help maintain adequate intercool-
er performance when the outside temper-
ature is high.
Water is sprayed for approximately two
seconds every time the switch is pressed
and then released.
NOTE
The intercooler water spray warning
light comes on when the water level in
the tank has dropped to the lower limit.
If the warning light illuminates, refill
the tank with water. The tank is located
on the right-hand side of the trunk. For
the tank refilling method, refer to the Intercooler water spray (WRX-STI)
section in chapter 11.
In cold weather (when you do not use
the intercooler water spray), keep the
tank half-empty or below in case the
water freezes. A larger amount of water
could break the tank if it froze.
300325
B00462
Do not press the switch when the
warning light is illuminated. If the
switch is kept pressed when the
tank is short of water, the water
pump motor could overheat.

3-32 Instruments and controls
Mirrors
Always check that the inside and outside
mirrors are properly adjusted before you
start driving.
Inside mirror
The inside mirror has a day and night po-
sition. Pull the tab at the bottom of the mir-
ror toward you for the night position. Push
it away for the day position. The night po-
sition reduces glare from headlights.
Auto-dimming mirror/compass (if
equipped)
1) Left button
2) Auto dimming indicator
3) Photosensor
4) Right button
The inside electronic compass mirror has
an anti-glare feature which automatically
reduces glare coming from headlights of
vehicles behind you. It also contains a
built-in compass.
By pressing and releasing the left but-
ton, the automatic dimming function is tog-
gled on or off. When the automatic dim-
ming function is on, the auto dimming indi-
cator light (green) located to the right of
the button will illuminate.
By pressing and releasing the right but- ton, the compass display is toggled on or
off. When the compass is on, an illuminat-
ed compass reading will appear in the
lower part of the mirror.
Even with the mirror in anti-glare mode,
the mirror surface turns bright if the trans-
mission is shifted into reverse. This is to
ensure good rearward visibility during re-
versing.
Photosensors
The mirror has a photosensor attached on
both the front and back sides. If the glare
from the headlights of vehicles behind you
strikes the mirror, these sensors detect it
and make the reflection surface of the mir-
ror dimmer to help prevent you from being
blinded. For this reason, use care not to
300145
1 2 3 4
300517
300518

Instruments and controls 3-33
CONTINUED
cover the sensors with stickers, or other
similar items. Periodically wipe the sen-
sors clean using a piece of dry soft cotton
cloth or an applicator.
Compass calibration
1. For optimum calibration, switch off all
nonessential electrical accessories (rear
window defogger, heater/air conditioning
system, spotlight, etc.) and ensure all
doors are shut.
2. Drive to an open, level area away from
large metallic objects or structures and
make certain the ignition switch is in the ON position.
3. Press and hold the left button for 3 sec-
onds then release, and the compass will
enter the calibration mode. CAL and di-
rection will be displayed.
4. Drive slowly in a circle until CAL dis-
appears from the display (approximately
two or three circles). The compass is now
calibrated.
5. Further calibration may be necessary
should outside. Influences cause the mir-
ror to read inaccurately. You will know that
this has occurred if your compass begins
to read in only limited directions. Should
you encounter this situation, return to step
one of the above procedure and recali-
brate the mirror.
Compass zone adjustment
Compass calibration zones
1. The zone setting is factory preset to
Zone 8. Refer to the Compass calibration
zone map shown above or one attached
to the end of this manual to verify that the
compass zone setting is correct for your
geographical location.
2. Press and hold the right button for 3
seconds then release, and the word ZONE will briefly appear and then the
zone number will be displayed.
3. Press the right-hand button repeatedly
to cycle the display through all possible
zone settings. Stop cycling when the cor-
rect zone setting for your location is dis-
played.
4. Releasing the button for 3 seconds will exit the zone setting mode.
Outside mirrors
Convex mirror (passenger side)
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
1112
13
300580
Objects look smaller in a convex
mirror and farther away than when
viewed in a flat mirror. Do not use
the convex mirror to judge the dis-
tance of vehicles behind you when
changing lanes. Use the inside mir-
ror (or glance backwards) to deter-
mine the actual size and distance of
objects that you view in convex mir-
ror.
300146

3-34 Instruments and controls
Remote control mirror switch
1) Selection switch
2) Direction control switch
The remote control mirrors operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
ACC position.
1. Press either end of the selection
switch, L for the left, R for the right.
2. Move the direction control switch in the
direction you want to move the mirror.
3. Return the selection switch to the neu-
tral position to prevent unintentional oper-
ation.
The mirrors can also be adjusted manual-
ly.
Outside mirror defogger (if
equipped)
Manual climate control system
Automatic climate control system
The outside mirror defogger shares the
button with rear window defogger.
The outside mirror defogger operates only
when the ignition switch is in the ON po-
sition.
To turn on the outside mirror defogger,
push the button. To turn it off, push the
button again. The indicator light located
on the button lights up while the outside
mirror defogger is operating.
The defogger will automatically shut off af-
ter approximately 15 minutes. If the mirror
clears before that time, push the button to
turn it off. It also turns off when the ignition
switch is turned to the ACC or LOCK
position. If defrosting or defogging is de-
sired when you restart your vehicle, you
have to push the button to turn it on again.
NOTE
While the outside mirror defogger is
operating, the rear window defogger
also operates.
1
2
300625
300230
300326
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not operate the de-
fogger continuously for any longer
than necessary.