2007 SUBARU FORESTER hold

Driving tips 8-17
not come off the hitch receiver.1) Hitch ball installation point
2) Hooks for safety chains
5. Use only a hitch ball that is appropriate
for the ball mount and your trailer. The
hitch ball must be securely installed on the
ball mount.
6. Connect your trailer to the hitch ball.
7. Connect the trailer and the hitch with
safety chains that will hold the trailer’s
maximum gross weight. The chains
should cross under the trailer tongue to
prevent the tongue from dropping onto the
ground in case it should disconnect from
the hitch ball. Allow sufficient slack in the
chains taking tight-turn situations into ac-
count; however, be careful not to let them
drag on the ground.
Hitch harness connector
8. Connect the hitch wire harness’s black
four-pin wire connector to the towing trail-
er’s wire harness
9. Confirm proper function of the hitch
wire harness by individually activating the
brake, right turn signal, left turn signal,
stop, and parking lights on the trailer.
NOTE
Always disconnect the trailer wire har-
ness before launching or retrieving a
watercraft. „
When you do not tow a trailer
y Remove the ball mount from the hitch
receiver tube and insert the receiver cover
onto the hitch receiver tube. y Place the dust cap over the fou-pin con-
nector of the hitch wire harness to protect
against possible damage. y Occasionally lubricate terminals of the
four-pin connector using terminal grease.
1 2
800228
Do not connect safety chains to part
of the vehicle other than the safety
chain hooks.
800210

Driving tips 8-25
TParking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both vehi-
cle and trailer when parking. Apply the
parking brake firmly. You should not park
on a hill or slope. But if parking on a hill or
slope cannot be avoided, you should take
the following steps:
1. Apply the brakes and hold the pedal
down.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-
der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, re-
lease the regular brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then ap-
ply the parking brake; slowly release the
regular brakes.
5. Shift into 1st or reverse gear (manual
transmission) or “P” (automatic transmis-
sion) and shut off the engine.

11
Maintenance and service
Maintenance schedule ....................................... 11-3
Maintenance precautions .................................. 11-3Before 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 .................................................. 11-11 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 ..................... 11-19
Automatic 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 ........................................... 11-23 Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-23
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
Hill holder (MT vehicles – if equipped) ............. 11-28

Maintenance and service 11 - 15
– CONTINUED –
Air cleaner element
The air cleaner element functions as a fil-
ter screen. When the element is perforat-
ed or removed, engine wear will be exces-
sive and engine life shortened.
The air cleaner element has a viscous
type and a dry type.
Be sure to use the appropriate type of air
cleaner element, which depends on the
vehicle type.
If there is the embossed requirement "Use
of genuine dry air cleaner element is re-
quired" on the air cleaner case cover,
which is shown in the following figure, use
the dry type air cleaner element.
For vehicles without the requirement on
the air cleaner case cover, use the vis-
cous type air cleaner element.1) Embossed requirement
„ Replacing the air cleaner ele- ment
Replace the air cleaner element according
to the maintenance schedule in the “War-
ranty and Maintenance Booklet”. Under
extremely dusty conditions, replace it
more frequently. It is recommended that
you always use genuine SUBARU parts. T
Non-turbo models
1. Unsnap the two clamps holding the air
cleaner case cover.
2. Push the air cleaner case cover in the
direction of the arrow shown in the draw-
Do not operate the engine with the
air cleaner element removed. The air
cleaner element not only filters in-
take air but also stops flames if the
engine backfires. If the air cleaner
element is not installed when the en-
gine backfires, you could be burned.
B00548
1
B00361
B00362

11 - 1 6 Maintenance and service
ing.1) Air cleaner case cover
2) Viscous air cleaner element Dry air cleaner element (if required)
3. Open the air cleaner case cover and
remove the air cleaner element.
4. Clean the inside of the air cleaner cov-
er and case with a damp cloth and install
a new air cleaner element. 5. To install the air cleaner case cover, in-
sert the three projections on the air clean-
er case into the slits on the air cleaner
case cover and then snap the two clamps
on the air cleaner case cover. T
Turbo models
1. Unsnap the two clamps holding the air
cleaner case cover.
2. Open the air cleaner case cover and
remove the air cleaner element.
1 2
B00363
B00364
B00024
B00025

11 - 2 8 Maintenance and service
Clutch pedal (MT vehicles)
Check the clutch pedal free play and re-
serve distance according to the mainte-
nance schedule in the “Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet”. „Checking the clutch function
Check the clutch engagement and disen-
gagement.
1. With the engine idling, check that there
are no abnormal noises when the clutch
pedal is depressed, and that shifting into
1st or reverse feels smooth.
2. Start the vehicle by releasing the pedal
slowly to check that the engine and trans-
mission smoothly couple without any sign
of slippage. „
Checking the clutch pedal
free play
1) 0.15 – 0.44 in (4 – 11 mm)
Lightly press the clutch pedal down with
your finger until you feel resistance, and
check the free play.
If the free play is not within proper specifi-
cation, contact your SUBARU dealer. Hill holder (MT vehicles – if
equipped)
Ensure that the hill holder operates prop-
erly under the following circumstances:
1. Stop the vehicle on an uphill grade by
depressing the brake pedal and clutch
pedal, with the engine running.
2. Make sure that the vehicle does not
move backward even after the brake ped-
al is released.
3. Then make sure the vehicle starts
climbing the grade by following the normal
starting procedures.
If the hill holder does not operate as de-
scribed above, contact with your SUBARU
dealer.
1
B00377

Maintenance and service 11 - 31
– CONTINUED –
park the vehicle. y
If you feel unusual vibration while
driving or find it difficult to steer the ve-
hicle in a straight line, one of the tires
and/or wheels may be damaged. Drive
slowly to the nearest authorized SUBA-
RU dealer and have the vehicle in-
spected. „ Tire pressures and wear
Maintaining the correct tire pressures
helps to maximize the tires’ service lives
and is essential for good running perfor-
mance. Check and, if necessary, adjust
the pressure of each tire (including the
spare) at least once a month (for example,
during a fuel stop) and before any long
journey. Check the tire pressures when the tires
are cold. Use a pressure gauge to adjust
the tire pressures to the values shown on
the tire placard. The tire placard is located
on the door pillar on the driver’s side.
Driving even a short distance warms up
the tires and increases the tire pressures.
Also, the tire pressures are affected by the
outside temperature. It is best to check tire
pressure outdoors before driving the vehi-
cle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside
it expands, causing the tire pressure to in-
crease. Be careful not to mistakenly re-
lease air from a warm tire to reduce its
pressure.
NOTE
y The air pressure in a tire increases
by approximately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3
kgf/cm 2
) when the tire becomes warm.
y The tires are considered cold when
the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours or has been driven less
than one mile (1.6 km).
Incorrect tire pressures detract from con-
trollability and ride comfort, and they
cause the tires to wear abnormally. y Correct tire pressure (tread worn
evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is re-
sponsive. Rolling resistance is low, so fuel
consumption is also lower.
800221
Do not let air out of warm tires to ad-
just pressure. Doing so will result in
low tire pressure.
B00050

Maintenance and service 11 - 33
– CONTINUED –
Contact your SUBARU dealer if you no-
tice 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-line stability and cornering perfor-
mance. „
Wear indicators
1) New tread
2) Worn tread
3) Tread wear indicator
Each tire incorporates a tread wear indica-
tor, which becomes visible when the depth
of the tread grooves decreases to 0.063 in
(1.6 mm). A tire must be replaced when
the tread wear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
NOTE
For safety, inspect tire tread regularly
and replace the tires before their tread
wear indicators become visible. „
Tire rotation direction mark
Example of tire rotation direction mark
1) Front
If the tire has the rotation direction specifi-
cation, the tire rotation direction mark is
placed on its sidewall.
When you install a tire that has the tire ro-
tation direction mark, install the tire with
the direction mark facing forward.12 3
B00327
When a tire’s tread wear indicator
becomes visible, the tire is worn be-
yond the acceptable limit and must
be replaced immediately. With a tire
in this condition, driving at high
speeds in wet weather can cause
the vehicle to hydroplane. The re-
sulting loss of vehicle control can
lead to an accident.
ROTATION
1
B00550