2007 SUBARU FORESTER wiper fluid

Instruments and controls 3-21
– CONTINUED –
Wiper and washer
NOTE
y The wiper operates only when the ig-
nition switch is in the “ON” or “ACC”
position. y Clean your wiper blades and window
glass periodically with a washer solu-
tion to prevent streaking, and to re-
move accumulations of road salt or
road film. Keep the washer button de-
pressed at least for 1 second so that
washer solution will be sprinkled all
over the windshield or rear window. y Grease, wax, insects or other materi-
al on the windshield or the wiper blade
results in jerky wiper operation and
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. y 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.
y 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.
y 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.
y 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.yUse clean water if windshield
washer fluid is unavailable. In ar-
eas where water freezes in winter,
use SUBARU Windshield Washer
Fluid or the equivalent. (See the
“Windshield washer fluid” section
in chapter 11.)
Also, when driving the vehicle
when there are freezing tempera-
tures, use non-freezing type wiper
blades.
y Do not clean the wiper blades with
gasoline or a solvent, such as
paint thinner or benzene. This will
cause deterioration of the wiper
blades.

Instruments and controls 3-23
TMist (for a single wipe)
For a single wipe of the wipers, pull the le-
ver toward you. The wipers operate until
you release the lever. T Washer To wash the windshield, push the washer
button at the end of the wiper control le-
ver. The washer fluid sprays until you re-
lease the washer button. The wipers oper-
ate while you push the button.
„ Rear window wiper and wash-
er switch
: Washer (accompanied by wiper operation)
ON : Normal
INT : Intermittent
OFF : Park : Washer
T Rear wiper
To turn the rear wiper on, turn the knob on
the end of the wiper control lever upward. INT: Intermittent
ON: Normal
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on
the end of the lever to the “OFF” position. T
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.
300796
300797
REARREAR
ON
OFFINT
ON
INTOFF
300141

8-8 Driving tips
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.
T
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 do so and check under the fenders period-
ically. T
Parking in cold weather
Do not use the parking brake when park-
ing for long periods in cold weather since
it could freeze in that position. Instead, ob-
serve the following.
1. Place the shift lever in “1” or “R” for
manual transmission vehicles, and in “P”
for automatic transmission vehicles.
2. Use tire stops under the tires to prevent
the vehicle from moving.
When the vehicle is parked in snow or
when it snows, raise the wiper blades off
the glass to prevent damage to them.
When the vehicle has been left parked af-
ter use on roads heavily covered with
snow, or has been left parked during a
snowstorm, icing may develop on the
brake system, which could cause poor
braking action. Check for snow or ice
Washer Fluid Con-
centration Freezing Tempera-
ture
30% 10.4 qF (–12 qC)
50% –4 qF (–20 qC)
100% –49 qF (–45 qC)
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.
Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep
snow clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around your vehicle if you park
the vehicle in snow with the engine
running.

10-2 Appearance care
Appe arance ca reExterior care „WashingNOTE
When having your vehicle washed in
an automatic car wash, make sure be-
forehand that the car wash is of suit-
able type.
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s
beauty is frequent washing. Wash the ve-
hicle at least once a month to avoid con-
tamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of lukewarm or cold water. Do not wash
the vehicle with hot water and in direct
sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree sap
and bird droppings should be washed off
by using a light detergent, as required. If
you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use
strong soap or chemical detergents. All
cleaning agents should be promptly
flushed from the surface and not allowed
to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly
with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the
remaining water off with a chamois or soft
cloth. TWashing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deic-
ing road surfaces are extremely corrosive,
accelerating the corrosion of underbody components, such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor
pan and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and in-
side of the fenders with lukewarm or cold
water at frequent intervals to reduce the
harmful effects of such agents.
Mud and sand adhering to the underbody
components may accelerate their corro-
sion.
After driving off-road or muddy or sandy
roads, wash the mud and sand off the un-
derbody.
Carefully flush the suspension and axle
parts, as they are particularly prone to
mud and sand buildup. Do not use a
sharp-edged tool to remove caked mud.
NOTE
Be careful not to damage brake hoses,
sensor harnesses, and other parts
when washing suspension compo-
nents. T
Using a warm water washer
y Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm)
or more between the washer nozzle and
the vehicle. y Do not wash the same area continuous-
ly. y If a stain will not come out easily, wash
by hand. Some warm water washers are
y
When washing the vehicle, the
brakes may get wet. As a result,
the brake stopping distance will
be longer. To dry the brakes, drive
the vehicle at a safe speed while
lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat up the brakes.
y Do not wash the engine compart-
ment and area adjacent to it. If wa-
ter enters the engine air intake,
electrical parts or the power steer-
ing fluid reservoir, it will cause en-
gine trouble or faulty power steer-
ing respectively.
y Since your vehicle is equipped
with a rear wiper, automatic car-
wash brushes could become tan-
gled around it, damaging the wip-
er arm and other components.
Ask the automatic car-wash oper-
ator not to let the brushes touch
the wiper arm or to fix the wiper
arm on the rear window glass with
adhesive tape before operating
the machine.

Maintenance and service
Replacement of brake pad and lining ............... 11-29Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ......... 11-29
Parking brake stroke .......................................... 11-30
Tires and wheels ................................................ 11-30 Types of tires .......................................................... 11-30
Tire inspection ........................................................ 11-30
Tire pressures and wear ........................................ 11-31
Wheel balance ........................................................ 11-32
Wear indicators ....................................................... 11-33
Tire rotation direction mark ................................... 11-33
Tire rotation ............................................................. 11-33
Tire replacement ..................................................... 11-34
Wheel replacement ................................................. 11-35
Aluminum wheels (if equipped) ........................ 11-35
Windshield washer fluid .................................... 11-35
Replacement of wiper blades ............................ 11-37 Windshield wiper blades ........................................ 11-37
Rear window wiper blade ....................................... 11-38
Battery ................................................................. 11-40
Fuses ................................................................... 11-41
Main fuse ............................................................. 11-42
Installation of accessories ................................ 11-43
Replacing bulbs .................................................. 11-44 Headlights (Canada-spec. 2.5XT) .......................... 11-45
Headlights (Except Canada-spec. 2.5XT) ............. 11-46
Rear combination lights ......................................... 11-47
License plate light .................................................. 11-48
Dome light and map light ....................................... 11-48
High mount stop light ............................................ 11-49

11 - 4 Maintenance and service
„Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment
„When you do checking or ser-
vicing in the engine compart-
ment while the engine is run-ning
Engine hood
0
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the
windshield, return them to their original
positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the
instrument panel.
yWear adequate eye protection to
guard against getting oil or fluids
in your eyes. If something does
get in your eyes, thoroughly wash
them out with clean water.
yDo not tamper with the wiring of
the SRS airbag system or seatbelt
pretensioner system, or attempt
to take its connectors apart, as
that may activate the system or it
can render it inoperative. The wir-
ing and connectors of these sys-
tems are yellow for easy identifi-
cation. NEVER use a circuit tester
for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pre-
tensioner needs service, consult
your nearest SUBARU dealer.
yAlways stop the engine and set
the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving.
yAlways let the engine cool down.
Engine parts become very hot
when the engine is running and
remain hot for some time after the
engine is stopped.
yDo not spill engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.
This may cause a fire.
yAlways remove the key from the
ignition switch. When the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position, the
cooling fan may operate suddenly
even when the engine is stopped.
A running engine can be dangerous.
Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from the cooling
fan, belts and any other moving en-
gine parts. Removing rings, watch-
es and ties is advisable.
B00002

11 - 4 0 Maintenance and service
ber is not retained properly, the wiper may
scratch the rear window glass.
8. Install the wiper blade assembly to the
wiper arm. Make sure that it locks in place.
9. Lower the wiper arm.Battery
yBefore beginning work on or near
any battery, be sure to extinguish
all cigarettes, matches, and light-
ers. Never expose a battery to an
open flame or electric sparks. Bat-
teries give off a gas which is high-
ly flammable and explosive.
yFor safety, in case an explosion
does occur, wear eye protection
or shield your eyes when working
near any battery. Never lean over
a battery.
yDo not let battery fluid contact
eyes, skin, fabrics, or paint be-
cause battery fluid is a corrosive
acid. If battery fluid gets on your
skin or in your eyes, immediately
flush the area with water thor-
oughly. Seek medical help imme-
diately if acid has entered the
eyes.
If battery fluid is accidentally
swallowed, immediately drink a
large amount of milk or water, and
seek medical attention immediate-
ly.
yTo lessen the risk of sparks, re-
move rings, metal watchbands,
and other metal jewelry. Never al-
low metal tools to contact the pos-
itive battery terminal and anything
connected to it WHILE you are at
the same time in contact with any
other metallic portion of the vehi-
cle because a short circuit will re-
sult.
yKeep everyone including children
away from the battery.
yCharge the battery in a well-venti-
lated area.
yBattery posts, terminals and relat-
ed accessories contain lead and
lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Batteries also contain other
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer. Wash
hands after handling.
Never use more than 10 amperes
when charging the battery because
it will shorten battery life.

Index 14-5
M
Main fuse ........................................................................ 11-42
MaintenancePrecautions .................................................................. 11-3
Schedule ...................................................................... 11-3
Seatbelt ....................................................................... 1-19
Tools ............................................................................ 9-14
Malfunction indicator lamp ................................................ 3-11
Manual
Climate control system .................................................. 4-3
Seat ............................................................................... 1-3
Transmission ................................................................. 7-9
Transmission oil ......................................................... 11-18
Map lights ........................................................................... 6-3
Maximum load limits ......................................................... 8-18
Meters and gauges ............................................................. 3-6
Mirrors .............................................................................. 3-25
Moonroof ................................................................. 2-21, 9-13 N
New vehicle break-in driving ............................................... 8-2 O
Odometer/Trip meter .......................................................... 3-6
Off road driving ................................................................... 8-6
Oil filter ............................................................................. 11-8
Oil level
Engine ......................................................................... 11-8
Manual transmission .................................................. 11-18
Rear differential ......................................................... 11-22
Oil pressure warning light ................................................. 3-12 Outside mirrors ................................................................. 3-27
Outside temperature indicator ............................................ 3-8
Overhead console ............................................................... 6-6 P
Parking brake ......................................................... 7-20, 11-30
Stroke ......................................................................... 11-30
Parking light switch ........................................................... 3-20
Parking your vehicle ......................................................... 7-19
Periodic inspections ............................................................ 8-4
Pocket ................................................................................. 6-7 Power
Door locking switches .................................................... 2-6
Seat ................................................................................ 1-4
Steering ........................................................................ 7-15
Steering fluid level ...................................................... 11-23
Windows ...................................................................... 2-18
R
Rear Combination lights ..................................................... 11-47
Differential gear oil level ............................................. 11-22
Gate .................................................................... 2-20, 9-13
Seats .............................................................................. 1-7
Viscous limited slip differential (LSD) ........................... 7-15
Rear window
Defogger button ........................................................... 3-24
Wiper and washer switch ............................................. 3-23
Wiper blade ................................................................ 11-38
Remote keyless entry system ............................................. 2-6