1-18Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
You should hold the webbing end and
guide it back into the retractor while it is
rolling up. Insert the connector (tongue)
into the belt holder.
CAUTION
. Do not allow the retractor to roll
up the seatbelt too quickly.
Otherwise, the metal tongue
plates may hit against the trim,
resulting in damaged trim.
. Have the seatbelt fully rolled up
so that the tongue plates are
neatly stored. A hanging tongue
plate can swing and hit against
the trim during driving, causing
damage to the trim. &
Seatbelt maintenance
To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap
and lukewarm water. Never bleach or dye
the belts because this could seriously
affect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments
including the webbing and all hardware
periodically for cracks, cuts, gashes,
tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas.
Replace the seatbelts even if only minor
damage is found.
CAUTION
. Keep the belts free of polishes,
oils, chemicals and particularly
battery acid.
. Never attempt to make modifica-
tions or changes that will prevent
the seatbelt from operating prop-
erly. Seatbelt extender
If the front seatbelts are not long enough
to permit the tongue plate to engage with
the seatbelt buckle, an optional seatbelt
extender is available from your SUBARU
dealer. When ordering an extender, only
order one particularly designed for your
vehicle. Several different types of exten-
ders are available to match various
varieties of front seatbelt designs. See
your SUBARU dealer for assistance.
The extender adds approximately 8
inches (200 mm) of length and it can be
used for either the driver or front passen-
ger seating position.
For the safety of others, the extender
should be removed after each use, espe-
cially if the next person using the seatbelt
does not need one.
Note that leaving the seatbelt extender
’s
tongue plate engaged with the seatbelt
buckle may prevent the Subaru advanced
frontal airbag system from functioning
correctly or cause the system to fail.
WARNING
Be sure to observe the following
when using the seatbelt extender.
Failure to follow these instructions
side of the power door locking switch,
close the driver’s door once within 10
seconds after Step 4.
6. The turn signal lights flash 3 times to
indicate completion of the setting. NOTE
If you do not close the driver ’s door
within 10 seconds after Step 4, a flash
of the turn signal lights will signal
timeout. If this happens, repeat the
whole procedure from Step 1.
You may have the above settings done by
your SUBARU dealer. & Replacing the battery
When the transmitter battery begins to get
weak, transmitter range will begin to
decrease. Replace the battery as soon
as possible. To replace the battery:
1. Open the transmitter case using a flat-
head screwdriver.
2. Remove the old battery from the
holder.
1) Negative (
) side facing up
3. Replace with a new battery (Type
CR2025 or equivalent) making sure to
install the new battery with the negative( ) side facing up.
4. Reinstall the back half of the transmit-
ter case by snapping it back on.
After the battery is replaced, the trans-
mitter must be synchronized with the
keyless entry system ’s control unit.
Press either the “
”or “”buttonsix
timesto synchronize the unit.
CAUTION
. Do not let dust, oil or water get on
or in the transmitter when repla-
cing battery. Keys and doors
2-9
– CONTINUED –
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 .............................. 11-9
Recommended grade and viscosity .................. 11-11
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions .......................................... 11-12
Synthetic oil ..................................................... 11-12
Cooling system ................................................ 11-12
Cooling fan, hose and connections ................... 11-12
Engine coolant ................................................. 11-13
Air cleaner element .......................................... 11-15
Replacing the air cleaner element ..................... 11-15
Spark plugs ...................................................... 11-17
Recommended spark plugs .............................. 11-18
Drive belts ........................................................ 11-18
Manual transmission oil .................................. 11-19
Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-19
Recommended grade and viscosity .................. 11-20
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 ........................................ 11-24
Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-24
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-25
Brake fluid ........................................................ 11-25
Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-25
Recommended brake fluid ............................... 11-26
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) ............................... 11-26
Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-26
Recommended clutch fluid ............................... 11-27
Brake booster .................................................. 11-27
Brake pedal ...................................................... 11-27
Checking the brake pedal free play .................. 11-27
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance....... 11-28
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 ............ 11-29
Breaking-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
Maintenance and service
11
11-12Maintenance and service
&Recommended grade and
viscosity under severe driv-
ing conditions
If the vehicle is used in desert areas, in
areas with very high temperatures, or
used for heavy-duty applications such as
towing a trailer, use of oil with the following
grade and viscosities is recommended.
API classification SM (or SL): SAE viscosity No.: 30, 40, 10W-50,
20W-40, 20W-50
& Synthetic oil
You can use synthetic engine oil that
meets the same requirements given for
conventional engine oil. When using
synthetic oil, you must use oil of the same
classification, viscosity and grade shown
in this Owner ’s Manual, and must follow
the oil and filter changing intervals shown
in the maintenance schedule. Cooling system
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has cooled down
completely. Since the coolant is
under pressure, you may suffer
serious burns from a spray of boil-
ing hot coolant when the cap isremoved.
CAUTION
. The cooling system has been
filled at the factory with a high
quality, corrosi on-inhibiting,
year-around coolant which pro-
vides protection against freezing
down to 33 8F( 36 8C). For add-
ing, use genuine SUBARU cool-
ant or an equivalent: a mixture of
50% soft water (or clear and
drinkable water) and 50% phos-
phate or non-amine type coolant.
Use of improper coolants may
result in corrosion in the cooling
system. It is important to main-
tain protection against freezing
and corrosion, even if freezing temperatures are not expected.
Never mix different kinds of cool-ant.
. Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
& Cooling fan, hose and con- nections
Your vehicle employs an electric cooling
fan which is thermostatically controlled to
operate when the engine coolant reaches
a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate
even when the engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge exceeds the normal operating
range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Check the fuse and replace it
if necessary. If the fuse is not blown, have
the cooling system checked by your
SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is neces-
sary, there may be a leak in the engine
cooling system. It is recommended that
the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
4. Pull out the dipstick and check the fluid
level on the gauge. If it is below the lower
level on the“HOT ”range, add the recom-
mended automatic transmission fluid up to
the upper level. ! Checking the fluid level when the
fluid is cold
When the fluid level has to be checked
without time to warm up the automatic
transmission, check to see that the fluid
level is between the lower level and upper
level on the “COLD ”range. If it is below
that range, add fluid up to the upper level.
Be careful not to overfill.
CAUTION
Be careful not to spill automatic
transmission fluid when adding it.
If automatic transmission fluid
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a
fire. If automatic transmission fluid
gets on the exhaust pipe, be sure to
wipe it off. &
Recommended fluid
Use one of the following types of auto-
matic transmission fluid. Genuine Subaru Automatic Transmis-
sion Fruid Type-HP
IDEMITSU ATF HP
Castrol Transmax J
Pennzoil ATF-J*
* Available only in the USA (except
Alaska and Hawaii)
NOTE
For optimum transmission perfor-
mance, only use the automatic trans-
mission fluid that is recommended and
provided by Subaru.
If the recommended automatic trans-
mission fluid is unavailable, Dexron III
may be temporarily used. If the Dexron
III is used continuously there will be a
noticeable increase in the vibration and
noise from the automatic transmission. Front differential gear oil (AT
vehicles) &
Checking the oil level
1) Yellow handle
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
insert it again. Maintenance and service
11-21
– CONTINUED –
recommends replacing all four tires at the
same time.
WARNING
. All four tires must be the same in
terms of manufacturer, brand
(tread pattern), construction, de-
gree of wear, speed symbol, load
index and size. Mixing tires of
different types, sizes or degrees
of wear can result in damage tovehicle ’s powertrain. Use of dif-
ferent types or sizes of tires can
also dangerously reduce con-
trollability and braking perfor-
mance and can lead to an acci- dent.
. Use only radial tires. Do not use
radial tires together with belted
bias tires and/or bias-ply tires.
Doing so can dangerously re-
duce controllability, resulting in
an accident.
& Wheel replacement
When replacing wheels due, for example,
to damage, make sure the replacement
wheels match the specifications of the
wheels that are fitted as standard equip-
ment. Replacement wheels are available from SUBARU dealers.WARNING
Use only those wheels that are
specified for your vehicle. Wheels
not meeting specifications could
interfere with brake caliper opera-
tion and may cause the tires to rub
against the wheel well housing dur-
ing turns. The resulting loss of
vehicle control could lead to anaccident.
NOTE
When any of the wheels are removed
and replaced for tire rotation or to
change a flat tire, always check the
tightness of the wheel nuts after driv-
ing approximately 600 miles (1,000 km).
If any nut is loose, tighten it to the
specified torque. Aluminum wheels
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and
damaged easily. Handle them carefully to
maintain their appearance, performance,
and safety. .
When any of the wheels are removed
and replaced for tire rotation or to change
a flat tire, always check the tightness of
the wheel nuts after driving approximately
600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose,
tighten it to the specified torque. . Never apply oil to the threaded parts,
wheel nuts, or tapered surface of the wheel. . Never let the wheel rub against sharp
protrusions or curbs.. Be sure to fit tire chains on uniformly
and completely around the tire, otherwise
the chains may scratch the wheel. . When wheel nuts, balance weights, or
the center cap is replaced, be sure to
replace them with genuine SUBARU parts
designed for aluminum wheels. Maintenance and service
11-35
Bulb chartDescription Wattage Bulb type Headlight WRX-STI version Low beam 12V-35W D2S
High beam 12V-60W 9005 (HB3)
Except WRX-STI version
Low beam 12V-55W H7
High beam 12V-60W 9005 (HB3)
Front fog light 12V-55W H3
Front turn signal light 12V-21W (Amber)
–
Parking light 12V-5W 168
Front side marker light 12V-5W 168
Rear combination light Brake/tail light 12V-21/5W 7443
Turn signal light 12V-21W (Amber) –
Backup light 12V-21W 7440
High mount stop light Sedan (in compartment) 12V-21W –
Sedan (in rear spoiler) 12V-1.2W –
Wagon 12V-13W 912
License plate light 12V-5W 168
Trunk room light 12V-5W
–
Cargo area light 12V-5W
– Specifications
12-9
– CONTINUED –
14-8Index
Specifications ............................................................ 12-2
Speedometer ....................................................... 3-7, 3-11
SRS
Frontal airbag ........................................................ 1-39
Side airbag ........................................................... 1-50
SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) ... 4, 1-35
SRS airbag system
Monitors. ............................................................... 1-55
Servicing ............................................................... 1-56
Warning light ......................................................... 3-14
Starting the engine ....................................................... 7-7
State emission testing (U.S. only) .................................. 7-5
Steering wheel
Power ................................................................... 7-20
Tilt ....................................................................... 3-35
STI front lip spoiler ..................................................... 8-28
Stopping the engine ..................................................... 7-8
Storage compartment ................................................... 6-4
Sun shade ................................................................ 2-26
Sun visors ................................................................... 6-3
Supplemental Restraint System airbag (SRS) ................ 1-35
Synthetic leather upholstery ........................................ 10-5
T
Tachometer ......................................................... 3-7, 3-12
Temperature gauge .............................................. 3-8, 3-13
Temperature warning light (AT OIL TEMP) ..................... 3-17
Temporary spare tire .................................................... 9-2
Tie-down hooks ......................................................... 9-12
Tilt steering wheel ...................................................... 3-35 Tire
Chains .................................................................. 8-11
Inspection ............................................................ 11-30
Pressures and wear .............................................. 11-31
Replacement. ....................................................... 11-34
Rotation .............................................................. 11-34
Tires ......................................................................... 12-5
Types .................................................................. 11-30
Tires and wheels ...................................................... 11-30
Top tether anchorages ................................................ 1-32
Towing ...................................................................... 9-11
All wheels on the ground ......................................... 9-14
Flat-bed truck ......................................................... 9-13
Tie-down hooks ...................................................... 9-12
Weight .................................................................. 8-20
Trailer
Hitch ..................................................................... 8-17
Hitches .................................................................. 8-23
Towing .................................................................. 8-20
Towing tips ............................................................ 8-25
Trunk lid .................................................................... 2-20
Release handle ...................................................... 2-21
Trunk light ............................................................... 11-52
Turn signal Indicator lights ........................................................ 3-20
Lever .................................................................... 3-24
U
Under-floor storage compartment .................................. 6-12