
2-2 Keys and doors
Keys and doorsKeys
Turbo models 
1) Master key (Black)
2) Submaster key (Black) 
3) Valet key (Gray) 
4) Key number plate
5) Security ID plate Non-turbo models 
1) Master key 
2) Submaster key
3) Valet key
4) Key number plate
Three types of keys are provided for your 
vehicle:
Master key, submaster key and valet key. 
The  master  key  and  submaster  key  fit  all 
locks on your vehicle.
Ignition switch
Doors
Trunk (Sedan)
Glove box
The  valet  key  fits  only  the  ignition  switch 
and  driver s  door  lock.  You  can  keep  the
trunk  and  glove  box  locked  when  you leave your vehicle and valet key at a park-
ing facility.
Key number
The key number is stamped on the metal 
plate attached to the key set. Write down
the  key  number  and  keep  it  in  another
safe place, not in the vehicle. This number
is  needed  to  make  a  replacement  key  if
you lose your key or lock it inside the vehi-
cle.
1 2 3
4 5
200801
12
3
4
200802
Do  not  attach  a  large  key  holder  or 
key  case  to  either  key.  If  it  bangs
against  your  knees  while  you  are
driving,  it  could  turn  the  ignition
switch  from  the  ON  position  to  the
ACC  or  OFF position, thereby stop-
ping the engine. 

Keys and doors 2-3
 CONTINUED  
Immobilizer (Turbo models)
The  immobilizer  system  is  designed  to 
prevent  an  unauthorized  person  from 
starting  the  engine.  Only  keys  registered 
with  your  vehicle s  immobilizer  system
can be used to operate your vehicle. Even 
if an unregistered key fits into the ignition 
switch and can be turned to the  START 
position, the engine will automatically stop
after several seconds. 
Each  immobilizer  key  contains  a  tran- 
sponder  in  which  the  key s  ID  code  is
stored. When a key is inserted into the ig- 
nition switch and turned to the  ON  posi-
tion,  the  transponder  transmits  the  key s
ID  code  to  the  immobilizer  system s  re-
ceiver. If the transmitted ID code matches
the  ID  code  registered  in  the  immobilizer
system,  the  system  allows  the  engine  to
be started. Since the ID code is transmit-
ted  and  acted  upon  almost  instantly,  the
immobilizer system does not impede nor-
mal starting of the engine.
If the engine fails to start, pull out the key
once before trying again. (Refer to the  Ig-
nition switch  section [chapter 3].)
This  device  complies  with  Part  15  of
the FCC Rules and with RSS-210 of In-
dustry Canada. Operation is subject to
the  following  two  conditions:  (1)  This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence,  and  (2)  this  device  must  accept
any interference received, including in-
terference  that  may  cause  undesired
operation.
Changes or modifications not express-
ly  approved  by  the  party  responsible
for  compliance  could  void  the  user
s
authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE
To  protect  your  vehicle  from  theft, 
please  pay  close  attention  to  the  fol-
lowing security precautions:
Never leave your vehicle unattended
with its keys inside.
Before leaving your vehicle, close all
windows  and  lock  the  doors  and  rear 
gate.
Do  not  leave  spare  keys  or  any
record of your key number in the vehi- 
cle.
Security ID plate
1) Key number plate 
2) Security ID plate
The  security  ID  is  stamped  on  the  metal 
plate attached to the  key set. Write down 
the security ID and keep it in another safe 
place,  not  in  the  vehicle.  This  number  is 
needed to make a replacement key if you 
lose your key or lock it inside the vehicle.
This  number  is  also  needed  for  replace-
ment  or  repair  of  the  engine  control  unit,
immobilizer control unit.
Security indicator light     
The security indicator light deters potential 
thieves  by  indicating  that  the  vehicle  is
equipped  with  an  immobilizer  system.  It
Do not place the key under direct 
sunlight  or  anywhere  it  may  be- 
come hot.
Do  not  get  the  key  wet.  If  the  key 
gets  wet,  wipe  it  dry  with  a  cloth
immediately.
1 2
200803 

2-14 Keys and doors
cating that the system is now deactivated. 
If the system was previously deactivated: 
The  odometer/trip  meter  screen  displays AL  on   and  the  horn  sounds  once,  indi-
cating that the system is now activated.
NOTE
You  may  have  the  above  setting 
change done by your SUBARU dealer.
If you have accidentally trig- 
gered the alarm system
To stop the alarm
Do any of the following operations:
Press  any  button  on  the  remote  trans-
mitter.
Cycle  the  ignition  switch  from  the
 LOCK  to  ON  position three times within
5 seconds.
Arming the system
To arm the system using remote  
transmitter
1. Close all windows and the moonroof (if 
so equipped). 
2. Remove  the  key  from  the  ignition 
switch. 
3. Open the doors and get out of the vehi- 
cle. 4. Make  sure  that  the  engine  hood  (and 
the trunk lid) are locked.
5. Close  all  doors  (and  the  rear  gate  on
the Wagon).
: Press to Arm the system. 
: Press to Disarm the system.
Security indicator light
6. Briefly  press  the 
   button  (for  less
than two seconds). All doors (and the rear 
gate on the Wagon) will lock, an electronic
chirp will sound once, the turn signal lights
will flash once, and the indicator lights will
start  flashing  rapidly.  After  rapid  flashing 
for 30 seconds (standby time), the indica- 
tor  lights  will  then  flash  slowly  (twice  ap- 
proximately  every  two  seconds),  indicat- 
ing  that  the  system  has  been  armed  for 
surveillance. 
If any of the doors, (rear gate or trunk lid) 
is  not  fully  closed,  an  electronic  chirp
sounds  five  times,  the  turn  signal  lights
flash five times to alert you that the doors 
(or the rear gate) are not properly closed. 
When you close the door, the system will200808
200873 

Keys and doors 2-15
 CONTINUED  
automatically arm and doors will automat- 
ically lock.
To arm the system using power  
door locking switches
1. Close all windows. 
2. Remove  the  key  from  the  ignition 
switch. 
3. Open the doors and get out of the vehi- 
cle. 
4. Make  sure  that  the  engine  hood  is 
locked. 
5. Close  the  doors  (and  the  rear  gate  on 
the  Wagon)  but  leave  only  the  driver s
door or the front passenger s door open.
6. Push  the  front  side  ( LOCK   side)  of
the  power  door  locking  switch  to  set  the
door locks.
7. Close the door. An electronic chirp will sound once, the turn signal lights will flash
once,  and  the  indicator  lights  will  start
flashing rapidly. After rapid flashing for 30
seconds  (standby  time),  the  indicator
lights will then flash slowly (twice approxi-
mately every two seconds), indicating that
the  system  has  been  armed  for  surveil-
lance.
NOTE
The system can be armed even if the
engine  hood,  the  windows  and/or 
moonroofs  are  opened.  Always  make 
sure  that  they  are  fully  closed  before 
arming the system.
The  30-second  standby  time  can  be
eliminated  if  you  prefer.  Have  it  per- 
formed by your SUBARU dealer.
The  system  is  in  the  standby  mode
for a 30-second period after locking the 
doors with the remote transmitter. The
security  indicator  light  will  flash  at
short intervals during this period.
If any of the following actions is done
during  the  standby period,  the  system 
will not switch to the surveillance state.
Doors  are  unlocked  using  the  re-
mote transmitter.
Any  door  (including  the  rear  gate
of  a  Wagon  or  the  trunk  of  a  Sedan) 
is opened.
Ignition  switch  is  turned  to  the 
ON  position.
The engine does not start even when
the  ignition  switch  is  turned  to  the  START   position  once the  alarm sys-
tem has been triggered.
Disarming the system
Briefly  press  the     button  (for  less
than two seconds) on the remote transmit- 
ter. The driver s door will unlock, an elec-
tronic  chirp  will  sound  twice,  the  turn  sig-
nal lights will flash twice and the indicator
light will go off.
NOTE  (Models  with  immobiliz- 
er)
If your vehicle is equipped with an im- 
mobilizer,  the  immobilizer s  function
will cause the security indicator light to 
flash  (approximately  once  every  three 
seconds) even  after  the system is dis- 
armed.
NOTE
The system can be disarmed by the fol- 
lowing method, too.
Cycle  the  ignition  switch  from  the
 LOCK   to  the  ON   position  three
times within 5 seconds.
Emergency disarming
If you cannot disarm the system using the 

3
Instruments and controls
Ignition switch  .................................................... 3-3
LOCK  .............................................. ......................... 3-3
ACC  ............................................... ........................... 3-4
ON  ................................................ ............................ 3-4
START ............................................. ......................... 3-4
Key reminder chime  ................................ ............... 3-5
Ignition switch light  ............................. ................... 3-5
Key interlock release (AT vehicles only)  .......... .... 3-5
Hazard warning flasher ............................ .......... 3-6
Meters and gauges (WRX-STI)  ....................... ... 3-6
Combination meter illumination  .................... ........ 3-6
Cancelling sequential illumination of the  combination meter  ................................. .............. 3-6
Speedometer  ....................................... .................... 3-6
Odometer/Trip meter  ............................... ............... 3-7
Tachometer  ........................................ ..................... 3-7
Fuel gauge ........................................ ....................... 3-8
Temperature gauge  ................................. ............... 3-8
Outside temperature indicator  ..................... ......... 3-9
REV indicator light and buzzer (WRX-STI) ....... 3-9 Setting the alarm-level engine speed  .............. ..... 3-10
Deactivating the REV alarm system ................. ..... 3-11
Meters and gauges (Except WRX-STI)  ............. 3-1 1
Speedometer  ....................................... .................... 3-11
Odometer/Trip meter  ............................... ............... 3-11
Tachometer  ........................................ ..................... 3-12
Fuel gauge ........................................ ....................... 3-12
Temperature gauge  ................................. ............... 3-13
Outside temperature indicator  ..................... ......... 3-13Warning and indicator lights  ......................
....... 3-14
Seatbelt warning light and chime .................. ........ 3-14
SRS airbag system warning light  ................... ....... 3-15
Front passenger s frontal airbag ON and OFF 
indicators  ........................................ ...................... 3-15
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction  indicator lamp  .................................... ................... 3-16
Charge warning light  .............................. ................ 3-16
Oil pressure warning light  ........................ ............. 3-16
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light  (AT vehicles)  ..................................... .................... 3-17
Rear differential oil temperature warning light  (WRX-STI)  ......................................... ..................... 3-17
ABS warning light  ................................. .................. 3-17
Brake system warning light  ........................ ........... 3-18
Door open warning light  ........................... ............. 3-19
All-Wheel Drive warning light (AWD AT vehicles 
 if equipped)  ..................................... ................... 3-19
Intercooler water spray warning light  (WRX-STI)  ......................................... ..................... 3-19
Selector lever position indicator (AT vehicles) ... . 3-20
Turn signal indicator lights ...................... .............. 3-20
High beam indicator light ......................... .............. 3-20
Cruise control indicator light .................... ............. 3-20
Cruise control set indicator light  ................ .......... 3-20
Driver s control center differential auto indicator 
light (WRX-STI)  ................................... .................. 3-20
Driver s control center differential indicator and 
warning lights (WRX-STI)  .......................... .......... 3-21
Headlight indicator light (WRX-STI)  ............... ....... 3-21
REV indicator light (WRX-STI)  ..................... .......... 3-21 

Instruments and controls 3-3
 CONTINUED  
Instrum ents and controlsIgnition switch
The  ignition  switch  has  four  positions: 
LOCK, ACC, ON and START.
LOCK
The key can only be inserted or removed 
in this position. The ignition switch will lock
the  steering  wheel  when  you  remove  the 
key. 
If turning the key is difficult, turn the steer- 
ing  wheel  slightly  to  the  right  and  left  as 
you turn the key.
Automatic transmission vehicles
The  key  can  be  turned  from  ACC   to
 LOCK  only when the selector lever is in
the  P  position.Manual transmission vehicles
The  key  can  be  turned  from  ACC   to
 LOCK   only  when  the  key  is  pushed  in
while turning it.
300564
300565
300566
Never  turn  the  ignition  switch  to  LOCK  while the vehicle is being
driven  or  towed  because  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.
300115 

3-4 Instruments and controls
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   po-
sition,  turn  the  steering  wheel  slightly
to the left and right as you turn the ig-
nition switch.
If  the  key  is  attached  to  a  keyholder
or to a large bunch of other keys, cen- 
trifugal force may act on it as the vehi-
cle moves, resulting in unwanted turn- 
ing  of  the  ignition  switch.  Also,  if  a 
large keyholder is attached to the key, 
your  knees  or  hands  may  accidentally 
touch it in a way that turns the ignition switch.
ACC
In  this  position  the  electrical  accessories 
(radio, cigarette lighter, etc.) can be used.
ON
This is the normal operating position after 
the engine is started.
START
The engine is started in this position. The 
starter cranks the engine to start it. When 
the  key  is  released  (after  the  engine  has 
started),  the  key  automatically  returns  to 
the 
ON  position.
For vehicle with immobilizer
If your registered key fails to start the en- 
gine, pull out the key once (the security in-
dicator light will blink), and then insert the
key in the ignition switch and turn it to the START  position and again try to start the
engine.
NOTE
The engine may not start in the follow- 
ing cases:
The key grip is touching another key
or a metallic key holder.
Before leaving the vehicle, always 
remove  the  key  from  the  ignition
switch  for  safety  and  never  allow
an  unattended  child  to  remain  in
the  vehicle.  Failure  to  follow  this
procedure could result in injury to
a  child  or  others.  Children  could 
operate  the  power  windows,  the 
sunroof or other controls or even 
make the vehicle move.
Do not turn the ignition switch to the  START   position  while  the  engine
is running.
300567
300568 

Instruments and controls 3-7
 CONTINUED  
Odometer/Trip meter
1) Trip meter 
2) Odometer
This meter displays the odometer and two 
trip  meters  when  the  ignition  switch  is  in 
the  LOCK ,  ACC  or  ON  position.
If you press the trip knob when the ignition 
switch  is  in  the  LOCK   position,  the
odometer/trip meter will light up. It is pos- 
sible switch between the A trip meter and 
B  trip  meter indications  while  the  odome- 
ter/trip  meter  is  lit  up.  If  you  do  not  press 
the trip knob within 10 seconds of illumina- 
tion of the odometer/trip meter, the odom- 
eter/trip meter will go off.
Odometer
The  odometer  shows  the  total  distance that the vehicle has been driven.
Double trip meter
The trip meter shows the distance that the 
vehicle has been driven since you last set
it to zero.
To  change  the  mode  indication,  briefly
push the knob.
Each press of the knob changes the func-
tion alternately. 
To set the trip meter to zero, select the A 
trip  or  B  trip  meter  by  pushing  the  knob
and  keep  the  knob  pushed  for  more than 
2 seconds.
NOTE
If  the  connection  between  the  combi- 
nation  meter  and  battery  is  broken  for
any  reason  such  as  vehicle  mainte-
nance or fuse replacement, the data re-
corded on the trip meter will be lost.
Tachometer
The  tachometer  shows  the  engine  speed 
in thousands of revolutions per minute.
1
2
300614
300258
A trip meter B trip meter
To  ensure  safety,  do  not  attempt  to 
change the function of the indicator
during driving, as an accident could
result. 
Do  not  operate  the  engine  with  the 
pointer of the tachometer in the red
zone. In this range, fuel injection will
be cut by the engine control module
to  protect  the  engine  from  overrev-
ving.  The  engine  will  resume  run-
ning  normally  after  the  engine
speed  is  reduced  below  the  red
zone.