2006 SUBARU IMPREZA steering

8-8 Driving tips
Winter driving
Operation during cold weath-
er
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 tem-
peratures reduce battery capacity. The
battery must be in good condition to pro-
vide enough power for cold winter starts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and vis-
cosity for cold weather. Heavy summer oil
will cause harder starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing by squirting them with deicer or glycerin.
Forcing a frozen door open may damage
or separate the rubber weather strips
around the door. If the door is frozen, use
hot water to melt the ice, and afterwards
thoroughly wipe the water away.
Use a windshield washer fluid that con-
tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use
engine antifreeze or other substitutes be-
cause they may damage the paint of the
vehicle.
SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-
tains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%
surfactant, by volume. Its freezing temper-
ature varies according to how much it is di-
luted, as indicated in the following table.
In order to prevent freezing of washer flu-
id, check the freezing temperatures in the
table above when adjusting the fluid con-
centration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with
a different concentration from the one
used previously, purge the old fluid fromthe piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washer
for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if
the concentration of the fluid remaining in
the piping is too low for the outside tem-
perature, it may freeze and block the noz-
zles.
Before driving your vehicle
Before entering the vehicle, remove any
snow or ice from your shoes because that
could make the pedals slippery and dan-
gerous.
While warming up the vehicle before driv-
ing, check that the accelerator pedal,
brake pedal, and all other controls operate
smoothly.
Clear away ice and snow that has accu-
mulated under the fenders to avoid mak-
ing steering difficult. During severe winter
driving, stop when and where it is safe to
800259
Washer Fluid
Concentration Freezing
Temperature
30% 10.4 F ( –12 C)
50% –4F ( –20 C)
100% –49 F ( –45 C)
Adjust the washer fluid concentra-
tion appropriately for the outside
temperature. If the concentration is
inappropriate, sprayed washer fluid
may freeze on the windshield and
obstruct your view, and the fluid
may freeze in the reservoir tank.

Driving tips 8-25
– CONTINUED –
Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle,
check that the standard side mirrors pro-
vide a good rearward field of view without
significant blind spots. If significant blind
spots occur with the vehicle ’s standard
side mirrors, use towing mirrors that con-
form with Federal, state/province and/or
other applicable regulations.
Trailer lights
Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-
cle ’s electrical system requires modifica-
tions to the vehicle ’s lighting circuit to in-
crease its capacity and accommodate wir-
ing changes. To ensure the trailer lights
are connected properly, please consult
your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper
operation of the turn signals, the brake lights and parking lights each time you
hitch up.
Tires
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle
are properly inflated to the pressure spec-
ified on the tire placard located on the left
center pillar of your vehicle.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in ac-
cordance with the trailer manufacturer ’s
specifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire
when towing a trailer, ask a commercial
road service to repair the flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your
vehicle or trailer as a precaution against
getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare
tire is firmly secured.Trailer towing tips
Before starting out on a trip
Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-
hitch mounting are in good condition. If
any problems are apparent, do not tow the
800026
Direct splicing or other improper
connection of trailer lights may
damage your vehicle ’s electrical
system and cause a malfunction of
your vehicle ’s lighting system.
Never tow a trailer when the tempo-
rary spare tire is used. The tempo-
rary spare tire is not designed to
sustain the towing load. Use of the
temporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tire
and/or less stability of the vehicle.
Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h)
when towing a trailer in hilly coun-
try on hot days.
When towing a trailer, steering,
stability, stopping distance and
braking performance will be dif-
ferent from normal operation. For
safety ’s sake, you should employ
extra caution when towing a trail-
er and you should never speed.
You should also keep the follow-
ing tips in mind:

8-26 Driving tips
trailer.
Check that the vehicle sits horizontally
with the trailer attached. If the vehicle is
tipped sharply up at the front and down at
the rear, check the total trailer weight,
GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, then
confirm that the load and its distribution
are acceptable.
Check that the tire pressures are cor-
rect.
Check that the vehicle and trailer are
connected properly. Confirm that – the trailer tongue is connected prop-
erly to the hitch ball. – the trailer lights connector is connect-
ed properly and trailer ’s brake lights illu-
minate when the vehicle ’s brake pedal
is pressed, and that the trailer ’s turn sig-
nal lights flash when the vehicle ’s turn
signal lever is operated.– the safety chains are connected prop-
erly.– all cargo in the trailer is secured safe-
ty in position.– the side mirrors provide a good rear-
ward field of view without a significant
blind spot.
Sufficient time should be taken to learn
the “feel ” of the vehicle/trailer combination
before starting out on a trip. In an area free
of traffic, practice turning, stopping and
backing up.
Driving with a trailer
You should allow for considerably more
stopping distance when towing a trailer.
Avoid sudden braking because it may re-
sult in skidding or jackknifing and loss of
control.
Avoid abrupt starts and sudden acceler-
ations. If your vehicle has a manual trans-
mission, always start out in first gear and
release the clutch at moderate engine rev-
olution.
Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and
rapid lane changes.
Slow down before turning. Make a long-
er than normal turning radius because the
trailer wheels will be closer than the vehi-
cle wheels to the inside of the turn. In a
tight turn, the trailer could hit your vehicle.
Crosswinds will adversely affect the
handling of your vehicle and trailer, caus-
ing sway. Crosswinds can be due to
weather conditions or the passing of large
tracks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly
grip the steering wheel and slow down im-
mediately but gradually.
When passing other vehicles, consider-
able distance is required because of the
added weight and length caused by at-
taching the trailer to your vehicle.
1) Left turn
2) Right turn
Backing up with a trailer is difficult and
takes practice. When backing up with a
trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly.
When turning back, grip the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand and turn it to
the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right
for a right turn.
If the ABS warning light illuminates
while the vehicle is in motion, stop towing
the trailer and have repairs performed im-
mediately by the nearest SUBARU dealer.
Driving on grades
Before going down a steep hill, slow
down and shift into lower gear (if neces-
sary, use 1st gear) in order to utilize the
engine braking effect and prevent over-
1 2
800231

9-14 In case of emergency
or “1st ” for manual transmission vehicles.
2. Pull up the parking brake lever firmly.
3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier
properly with safety chains. Each safety
chain should be equally tightened and
care must be taken not to pull the chains
so tightly that the suspension bottoms out.
Towing with all wheels on the
ground
1. Check the transmission and differential
oil levels and add oil to bring it to the upper
level if necessary.
2. Release the parking brake and put the
transmission in neutral.
3. The ignition switch should be in the“ ACC ” position while the vehicle is being
towed.
4. Take up slack in the towline slowly to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
If your vehicle has a front under-
spoiler and rear underspoiler (both
optional), be careful not to scrape
them when placing the vehicle on
the carrier and when removing the
vehicle from the carrier.
900065
Never turn the ignition switch to
the “LOCK ” position while the ve-
hicle is being towed because the
steering wheel and the direction
of the wheels will be locked.
Remember that the brake booster
and power steering do not func-
tion when the engine is not run-
ning. Because the engine is
turned off, it will take greater ef-
fort to operate the brake pedal and
steering wheel.
If transmission failure occurs,
transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.
Do not run the engine while being
towed using this method. Trans-
mission damage could result if
the vehicle is towed with the en-
gine running.
For vehicles with automatic trans-
mission, the traveling speed must
be limited to less than 20 mph (30
km/h) and the traveling distance
to less than 31 miles (50 km). For
greater speeds and distances,
transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.

10-4 Appearance care
brush or expose them to a high-speed
washing device.
Clean the vehicle (including the alumi-
num wheels) with water as soon as possi-
ble when it has been splashed with sea
water, exposed to sea breezes, or driven
on roads treated with salt or other agents.
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
operation.
Most common causes of cor-
rosion
The most common causes of corrosion
are:
1. The accumulation of moisture retaining
dirt and debris 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 there is considerable industrial pol-
lution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity, es-
pecially when temperatures range just
above freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of the vehi-
cle 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 cor-
rosion of the body and suspension com-
ponents. Also, wash the vehicle promptly
after driving on any of the following surfac-
es:
roads that have been salted to prevent
them from freezing in winter
mud, sand, or gravel
coastal roads
After the winter has ended, it is recom-
mended 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, steering
system, floor pan, and fenders. If any of
them are found to be rusted, they should
be given an appropriate 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

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 -4
Engine hood ....................................... ................ 11-4
Engine compartment overview ....................... .. 11-6
Non-turbo models .................................. ................. 11-6
Turbo models ...................................... .................... 11-7
Engine oil ........................................ .................... 11-8
Checking the oil level ............................ ................. 11-8
Changing the oil and oil filter ................... ............. 11-8
Recommended grade and viscosity ................... .. 11-10
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions ......................... ........... 11-11
Synthetic oil ..................................... ....................... 11-11
Cooling system .................................... .............. 11-12
Cooling fan, hose and connections ................. ..... 11-12
Engine coolant .................................... .................... 11-12
Air cleaner element ............................... ............. 11-15
Replacing the air cleaner element ................. ........ 11-15
Spark plugs ....................................... .................. 11-17
Recommended spark plugs ........................... ........ 11-17
Drive belts ....................................... .................... 11-18
Manual transmission oil ........................... ......... 11-18
Checking the oil level ............................ ................. 11-18
Recommended grade and viscosity ................... .. 11-19Automatic transmission fluid ......................
...... 11-20
Checking the fluid level .......................... ................ 11-20
Recommended fluid ................................. .............. 11-21
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ......... ... 11-21
Checking the oil level ............................ ................. 11-21
Recommended grade and viscosity ................... .. 11-22
Rear differential gear oil ........................ ............ 11-22
Checking the gear oil level ....................... ............. 11-22
Recommended grade and viscosity ................... .. 11-23
Power steering fluid .............................. ............. 11-24
Checking the fluid level .......................... ................ 11-24
Recommended fluid ................................. .............. 11-24
Brake fluid ....................................... .................... 11-25
Checking the fluid level .......................... ................ 11-25
Recommended brake fluid ........................... .......... 11-25
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) ........................ .......... 11-26
Checking the fluid level .......................... ................ 11-26
Recommended clutch fluid .......................... .......... 11-26
Brake booster ..................................... ................ 11-27
Brake pedal ....................................... .................. 11-27
Checking the brake pedal free play ................ ...... 11-27
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ......... 11-27
Clutch pedal (MT vehicles) ........................ ........ 11-28
Checking the clutch function ...................... .......... 11-28
Checking the clutch pedal free play ............... ...... 11-28
Replacement of brake pad and lining ............... 11-28
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ......... . 11-29
Parking brake stroke .............................. ............ 11-29

11-6 Maintenance and service
Engine compartment overview
Non-turbo models
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
8
9
10
11
13 12
B00464
1) Air cleaner element (page 11-15)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge
(MT) (page 11-18) or Differential gear
oil level gauge (AT) (page 11-21)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-26)
4) Automatic transmission fluid level gauge (page 11-20)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-25)
6) Fuse box (page 11-41)
7) Battery (page 11-40)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-36)
9) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-
12)
10) Engine oil level gauge (page 11-8)
11) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-8)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-12)
13) Power steering fluid reservoir (page
11-24)

Maintenance and service 11-7
Turbo models
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
B00466
1) Air cleaner element (page 11-15)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge
(MT) (page 11-18) or Differential gear
oil level gauge (AT) (page 11-21)
3) Automatic transmission fluid level gauge (page 11-20)
4) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-26)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-25)
6) Fuse box (page 11-41)
7) Battery (page 11-40)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-36)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-8)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11- 12)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11-8)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-12)
13) Power steering fluid reservoir (page
11-24)