
3-8 Instruments and controls
Fuel gauge
1) Low fuel warning light
The  fuel  gauge  shows  the  approximate 
amount of fuel remaining in the tank.
When the ignition switch is in the  LOCK 
or  ACC   position,  the  fuel  gauge  shows
 E  even if the fuel tank contains fuel.
The gauge may move slightly during brak-
ing, turning or acceleration due to fuel lev-
el movement in the tank.
NOTE
You will see the    sign in the fuel
gauge meter. 
This  indicates  that  the  fuel  filler  door 
(lid)  is  located  on  the  right  side  of  the 
vehicle.
Low fuel warning light
The low fuel warning light comes on when 
the  tank  is  nearly  empty  [Approximately
2.3 US gal (9.0 liters, 1.9 Imp gal)]. 
It only operates when the ignition switch is 
in the  ON  position.
NOTE
This  light  does  not  go  out  unless  the 
tank  is  replenished  up  to  an  internal
fuel  quantity  of  approximately  4.0  US
gal (15 liters, 3.3 Imp gal).
Temperature gauge
1) Normal operating range
The  temperature  gauge  shows  engine 
coolant  temperature  when  the  ignition 
switch is in the  ON  position.
The  coolant  temperature  will  vary  in  ac- 
cordance  with  the  outside  temperature 
and driving conditions.
1300615300310
Promptly  put  fuel  in  the  tank  when- 
ever  the  low  fuel  warning  light
comes  on.  Engine  misfires  as  a  re-
sult  of  an  empty  tank  could  cause
damage to the engine.
1
300616 

Instruments and controls 3-9
 CONTINUED  
We recommend that you drive moderately 
until the pointer of the temperature gauge
reaches near the middle of the range. En-
gine operation is optimum with the engine
coolant at this temperature range and high
revving  operation  when  the  engine  is  not
warmed up enough should be avoided.
Outside temperature indica- 
tor
1) U.S.-spec. models 
2) Canada-spec. models
The  outside  temperature  indicator  shows 
the outside temperature in a range from  
22 to 122 F ( 30 to 50 C).
The indicator can give a false reading un-
der any of the following conditions:
When there is too much sun.
During  idling;  while  running  at  low
speeds in a traffic jam; when the engine is 
restarted  immediately  following  a  shut-
down.
When  the  actual  outside  temperature
falls outside the specified indicator range.
REV indicator light and buzz-
er (WRX-STI)
The  REV  alarm  system  issues  a  warning 
using the REV indicator light (and a buzz-
er  if  additionally  selected)  when  the  en-
gine speed reaches a level previously set
using the REV setting knob.
If you press the trip knob when the ignition
switch  is  in  the  LOCK   position,  the  out-
side  temperature  indicator  will  show  the
engine speed that has already been set.
NOTE
Even  if  the  REV  alarm  system  is  not 
set,  the  REV  indicator  light  will  come
on  whenever  the  engine  speed  enters
the tachometer s red zone.
If  the  pointer  exceeds  the  normal
operating range, safely stop the ve-
hicle as soon as possible. 
See  the 
In  case  of  emergency   in
chapter 9.
1
2
300617
300239 

3-10 Instruments and controls
Setting the alarm-level en- 
gine speed
1. Turn the REV setting knob clockwise or 
counterclockwise, then release it and let it
return to its initial position. The buzzer will
sound.  The  REV  alarm  system  is  now
ready to be set. 
2. Turn the REV setting knob to select the 
desired alarm-level engine speed. 
At this time, the outside temperature indi- 
cator will show the engine-speed setting.
Counterclockwise ( ) for less than 0.5
second:  Speed  setting  changes  down- 
ward by 100 rpm.
Clockwise  (+)  for  less  than  0.5  sec-
ond: Speed setting changes upward by 
100 rpm.
Counterclockwise  ( )  for  0.5  second or longer: Speed setting changes down- 
ward by 1,000 rpm.
Clockwise (+) for 0.5 second or long-
er:  Speed  setting  changes  upward  by 
1,000 rpm.
The speed setting will stop changing if it
reaches 0 rpm or the maximum engine
speed.
The  alarm-level  engine  speed  can  be  set
(in  100  rpm  steps)  within  a  range  from
2,000 to 7,500 rpm.
The indicator shows the setting as follows: 
Approximately  three  seconds  after  you 
stop turning the knob, the REV alarm sys- 
tem will automatically enter its next setting 
mode (step 3 below), in which you can ac- 
tivate or deactivate the buzzer. 3. Activate  or  deactivate  the  buzzer  as
desired using the REV setting knob.Turn  the  knob  clockwise  (+)  to  acti-
vate the buzzer. The indicator will show  ON ,  and  the  buzzer  will  sound  three
times.  With  the  buzzer  activated,  en-
gine-speed warnings are given by both
the REV indicator light and the buzzer.
Turn the knob counterclockwise ( ) to
deactivate the buzzer. The indicator will 
show    ,  and  the  buzzer  will  not
sound. With the buzzer deactivated, en-
gine-speed  warnings  are  given  only  by
the REV indicator light.
Approximately  three  seconds  after  you
stop  turning  the  knob,  the  buzzer  will
sound once to indicate the end of the set-
ting procedure. The indicator will return to
showing the outside temperature.
Also, the tachometer needle will return to
approximately  0 .
NOTE
The  REV alarm system does not op-
erate while settings are being entered.
The  speed-setting  mode  terminates
if 0 rpm is selected.
The  speed-setting mode  is  canceled
if the ignition switch is turned to OFF or 
the  vehicle  starts  moving  before  the
setting procedure is finished.
Speed  setting  is  impossible  when
300618Speed (rpm) Indication
0 00
2,000 20 
2,100 21
7,400 74 
7,500 75 

Instruments and controls 3-11
 CONTINUED  
the vehicle is moving.
The set engine speed may differ from
the  engine  speed  shown  by  the  ta- 
chometer.  Use  the  engine  speed
shown  by  the  tachometer  as  a  rough
guide.
Deactivating the REV alarm  
system
To  deactivate  the  REV  alarm  system s
REV  indicator  light  and  buzzer  functions, 
set the alarm-level engine speed to 0 (ze- 
ro) rpm.
Meters and gauges (Except 
WRX-STI)
Speedometer
The  speedometer  shows  the  vehicle 
speed.
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.
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.
1
2
300614
300660
A trip meter B trip meter 

3-12 Instruments and controls
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.
Fuel gauge
1) Low fuel warning light
The  fuel  gauge  shows  the  approximate 
amount of fuel remaining in the tank. 
The  gauge  does  not  return  to  E   even
though the  ignition  switch is  in  the  ACC 
or  LOCK  position.
The gauge may move slightly during brak- 
ing, turning or acceleration due to fuel lev- 
el movement in the tank.
NOTE
You  will  see  the  FUEL  DOOR 
sign near the fuel gauge. 
This  indicates  that  the  fuel  filler  door 
(lid)  is  located  on  the  right  side  of  the 
vehicle.
Low fuel warning light
The low fuel warning light comes on when 
the  tank  is  nearly  empty  [approximately
2.3 US gal (9.0 liters, 1.9 Imp gal]. It only
operates when the ignition switch is in the ON  position.
NOTE
This  light  does  not  go  out  unless  the 
tank  is  replenished  up  to  an  internal
fuel  quantity  of  approximately  4.0  US
gal (15 liters, 3.3 Imp gal).
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.
1
300619300121 

Instruments and controls 3-13
Temperature gauge
1) Normal operating range
The  temperature  gauge  shows  engine 
coolant  temperature  when  the  ignition
switch is in the  ON  position.
The  coolant  temperature  will  vary  in  ac-
cordance  with  the  outside  temperature and driving conditions. 
We recommend that you drive moderately 
until the pointer of the temperature gauge 
reaches near the middle of the range. En- 
gine operation is optimum with the engine 
coolant at this temperature range and high
revving  operation  when  the  engine  is  not
warmed up enough should be avoided.
Outside temperature indica- 
tor
1) U.S.-spec. models 
2) Canada-spec. models
The  outside  temperature  indicator  shows 
the outside temperature in a range from  
22 to 122 F ( 30 to 50 C).
The indicator can give a false reading un-
der any of the following conditions:
When there is too much sun.
During  idling;  while  running  at  low
speeds in a traffic jam; when the engine is 
restarted  immediately  following  a  shut-
down.
When  the  actual  outside  temperature
falls outside the specified indicator range.
(Turbo model only) 
Promptly  put  fuel  in  the  tank  when- 
ever  the  low  fuel  warning  light 
comes  on.  Engine  misfires  as  a  re- 
sult  of  an  empty  tank  could  cause 
damage to the engine.
1
300620
If  the  pointer  exceeds  the  normal 
operating range, safely stop the ve-
hicle as soon as possible. 
See 
In case of emergency  in chap-
ter 9.
1
2
300621 

3-14 Instruments and controls
Warning and indicator lights
Several of the warning and indicator lights 
come  on  momentarily  and  then  go  out 
when  the  ignition  switch  is  initially  turned 
to  the  ON   position.  This  permits  check-
ing the operation of the bulbs. 
Apply the parking brake and turn the igni- 
tion  switch  to  the  ON   position.  The  fol-
lowing lights come on:
Seatbelt warning light
SRS airbag system warning light  
Front passenger s frontal airbag ON in-
dicator light 
Front  passenger s  frontal  airbag  OFF
indicator light
CHECK  ENGINE  warning  light/Mal-
function indicator lamp
Charge warning light
Oil pressure warning light
AT  OIL  temperature  warning  light  (AT
vehicles)
ABS warning light
Brake system warning light
All-Wheel Drive  warning light  (AT  vehi-
cles)
Cruise  control  indicator  light  (if
equipped)
Cruise  control  set  indicator  light  (if
equipped)
If any lights  fail to come on, it indicates a burned-out  bulb  or  a  malfunction  of  the
corresponding system.
Consult  your  authorized  SUBARU  dealer
for repair.
Seatbelt warning light  
and chime
Your  vehicle  is  equipped  with  a  seatbelt 
warning device at the driver
s seat, as re-
quired by current safety standards. There 
is a seatbelt warning light in the combina- 
tion meter. 
If the driver has not yet fastened the seat- 
belt  when  the  ignition  switch  is  turned  to 
the  ON   position,  the  seatbelt  warning
light  will  flash for  6  seconds,  to warn  that 
the  seatbelt  is  unfastened.  If  the  driver s
seatbelt is not fastened, a chime will also 
sound simultaneously. 
If the driver s  seatbelt  is still  not fastened
6  seconds  later,  the  warning  light  will  re- 
main lit for 15 seconds. If the driver s seat-
belt  is  still  not  fastened  even  15  seconds 
later (21 seconds after turning ON the ig- 
nition switch), the warning lights will alter- 
nate  between  flashing  and  steady  illumi- 
nation  at  15-second  intervals,  and  the 
chime will sound while the warning light is 
flashing.
Alternate  flashing and  steady illumination
of  the  warning  lights  and  sounding  of  the chime will continue until the driver fastens
the seatbelt.
NOTE
If the driver unfastens the seatbelt af-
ter  fastening,  the  seatbelt  warning  de- 
vice  operates  as  follows  according  to
the vehicle speed.
At speeds lower than approximate-
ly 9 mph (15 km/h) 
The  warning  light  will  alternate  be-
tween  flashing  and  steady  illumina-
tion  at  15-second  intervals.  The
chime will not sound.
At  speeds  higher  than  approxi-
mately 9 mph (15 km/h) 
The  warning  light  will  alternate  be-
tween  flashing  and  steady  illumina-
tion  at  15-second  intervals  and  the
chime  will  sound  while  the  warning
light is flashing.
It  is  possible  to  cancel  the  warning
operation  that  follows  the  6-second 
warning  after  turning  ON  the  ignition
switch by unfastening and refastening
the driver s seatbelt. When the ignition
switch  is turned ON next time,  howev- 
er, the complete sequence of the warn- 
ing operation resumes. For further de- 
tails about canceling the warning oper- 
ation,  please  contact  your  SUBARU 
dealer. 

3-16 Instruments and controls
CHECK ENGINE warn- 
ing light/Malfunction in- 
dicator lamp
If  this  light  comes  on  steadily  or  blinks 
while the engine is running, it may indicate
that  there  is  a  problem  or  potential  prob-
lem  somewhere  in  the  emission  control
system.
If the light comes on steadily:
If the light comes on steadily while driving 
or does not go out after the engine starts, 
an  emission  control  system  malfunction 
has been detected. 
You should have your vehicle checked by 
an  authorized  SUBARU  dealer  immedi- 
ately.
NOTE
This light also comes on when the fuel 
filler cap is not tightened until it clicks. 
If you have recently refueled your vehicle, 
the cause of the CHECK ENGINE warning 
light/malfunction indicator lamp coming on 
could be a loose or missing fuel filler cap. 
Remove  the  cap  and  retighten  it  until  it 
clicks.  Make  sure  nothing  is  interfering 
with the sealing of the cap. Tightening the 
cap  will  not  make  the  CHECK  ENGINE 
warning  light  turn  off  immediately.  It  may 
take several driving trips. If the light does 
not  go  out,  take  your  vehicle  to  your  au- 
thorized SUBARU dealer immediately.
If the light is blinking:
If the light is blinking while driving, an en- 
gine  misfire  condition  has  been  detected
which  may  damage  the  emission  control
system.
To  prevent  serious  damage  to  the  emis-
sion control system, you should do the fol-
lowing.
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard acceleration.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
Reduce the amount of cargo, if possi-
ble.
Stop towing a trailer as soon as pos-
sible. The  CHECK  ENGINE  warning  light  may 
stop  blinking  and  come  on  steadily  after
several  driving  trips.  You  should  have
your  vehicle  checked  by  an  authorized
SUBARU dealer immediately.
Charge warning light        
If  this  light  comes  on  when  the  engine  is 
running,  it  may  indicate  that  the  charging
system is not working properly. 
If the light comes on while driving or does 
not go out after the engine starts, stop the
engine  at  the  first  safe  opportunity  and
check  the  alternator  belt.  If  the  belt  is
loose, broken or if the belt is in good con-
dition  but  the  light  remains  on,  contact 
your nearest SUBARU dealer immediate- 
ly.
Oil pressure warning  
light
If  this  light  comes  on  when  the  engine  is 
running, it may indicate that the engine oil
pressure is low and the lubricating system
is not working properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does
not go out after the engine starts, stop the 
engine  at  the  first  safe  opportunity  and 
check the engine oil level. If the oil level is 
low,  add  oil  immediately.  If  the  engine  oil
If  the  CHECK  ENGINE  light  comes
on  while you are  driving, have your
vehicle  checked/repaired  by  your
SUBARU  dealer  as  soon  as  possi-
ble.  Continued  vehicle  operation
without having the emission control
system  checked  and  repaired  as
necessary  could  cause  serious
damage, which may not be covered
by your vehicle
s warranty.