2008 SUBARU TRIBECA ABS

and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-
ness.
!Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in
the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,
use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel
tank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specifically
designed for this purpose. When an
antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty.
If your SUBARU is not going to be used
for an extended period, it is best to have
the fuel tank filled to capacity.& Driving on snowy and icy
roads
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads such as snowy or icy
roads. This may cause loss of
vehicle control.
CAUTION
Avoid prolonged continuous driving
in snowstorms. Snow will enter the
engine ’sintakesystemandmay
hinder the air flow, which could
result in engine shutdown or even
breakdown.
To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid
sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-
speed driving, and sharp turning when
driving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
to avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use the
engine brake effectively to control the
vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear
when necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-
vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly
leading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-
hances your vehicle ’s braking perfor-
mance on snowy and icy roads. Refer to
the “ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ”and
“Vehicle Dynamics Control system ”sec-
tion in chapter 7 for information on braking
on slippery surfaces. !
Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure
the wiper blades are not frozen to the
windshield or rear window. If the wiper
blades are frozen to the windshield or rear
window, use the defroster with the airflow
control button in the “
”position and the
temperature control dial set for maximum
warmth until the wiper blades are com-
pletely thawed out. If your vehicle is
equipped with a wiper deicer, it is helpful
to thaw the windshield wiper blades. To
thaw out the rear wiper blade, use the rear
window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts
to stick on the surface of the windshield
despite wiper operation, use the defroster
with the airflow control button in “
”and
the temperature control dial set for max-
imum warmth. After the windshield gets
warmed enough to melt the frozen snow
on it, wash it away using the windshield
washer.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the
wiper from working effectively. If snow is
stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to
a safe place, then remove it. If you stop
the vehicle at road side, use the hazard
warning flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing type
Driving tips
8-9
– CONTINUED –
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.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
immediately 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-
heating of your vehicle’ s brakes. Do not
make sudden downshifts.
. When driving uphill in hot weather, the
air conditioner may turn off automatically
to protect the engine from overheating.
. When driving uphill in hot weather, pay
attention to the water temperature gauge
pointer and AT OIL TEMP warning light
since the engine and transmission are
relatively prone to overheating under
these conditions. If the water temperature
gauge pointer approaches the OVER-
HEAT zone or the AT OIL TEMP warning
light illuminates, immediately switch off the air conditioner and stop the vehicle at the
nearest safe place. Refer to the
“Engine
overheating ”section in chapter 9, and
“Warning and indicator lights ”section in
chapter 3.
NOTEThe temperature of engine coolant is
less likely to rise to the OVERHEAT
zone in the “D ” position than in the
manual mode position.
. Avoid using the accelerator pedal to
stay stationary on an uphill slope instead
of using the parking brake or foot brake.
That may cause the transmission fluid to
overheat.
! Parking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both
vehicle 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
under both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place,
release the regular brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then apply the parking brake; slowly release
the regular brakes.
5. Shift into
“P”and shut off the engine.
Driving tips
8-27
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11-20
Maintenance and service
mended fluid as necessary to bring the
level between the“MIN”and “MAX ”line.
If the fluid level is extreme low, it may
indicate possible leakage. Consult your
SUBARU dealer for inspection.& Recommended fluidUse one of the following types of auto-
matic transmission fluid.
Genuine Subaru Automatic Transmis-
sion Fluid Type-HP
“Dexron III ”Type Automatic Transmis-
sion Fluid
Brake fluid& Checking the fluid level
WARNING
. Never let brake fluid contact your
eyes because brake fluid can be
harmful to your eyes. If brake
fluid gets in your eyes, immedi-
ately flush them thoroughly with
clean water. For safety, when
performing this work, wearing
eye protection is advisable.
. Brake fluid absorbs moisture
from the air. Any absorbed moist-
ure can cause a dangerous loss
of braking performance.
. If the vehicle requires frequent
refilling, there may be a leak. If
you suspect a problem, have the
vehicle checked at your SUBARU
dealer.
CAUTION
. Never use different brands of
brake fluid together. Also, avoid
mixing DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake
fluids even if they are of the same
brand. .
When adding brake fluid, be care-
ful not to allow any dirt into the
reservoir.
. Never splash the brake fluid over
painted surfaces or rubber parts.
Alcohol contained in the brake
fluid may damage them.
. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
when adding it. If brake fluid
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If brake fluid gets on the
exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe it
off.
Check the fluid level monthly.
Check the fluid level on the outside of the
reservoir. If the level is below “MIN”, add
the recommended brake fluid to “MAX”.
ProCarManuals.com

14-2
Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)..................................... 7-20
Warning light ................................................. 3-15, 7-21
Accessories ....................................................... 5-4, 11-40
Accessory power outlet ................................................ 6-9
Active head restraint .................................................... 1-5
Air cleaner element .................................................. 11-14
Air filtration system ..................................................... 4-11
Air flow ...................................................................... 4-2
Air flow mode selection ................................................ 4-3
Alarm system ............................................................ 2-15
All-Wheel Drive warning light ....................................... 3-18
Aluminum wheel cleaning ............................................ 10-3
Aluminum wheels ..................................................... 11-30
Antenna system .......................................................... 5-2
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................... 7-20
Arming the system ..................................................... 2-15
Armrest ..................................................................... 1-12
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light ............................... 3-13
Audio control button ................................................... 5-27
Audio input terminal ................................................... 5-29
Audio set ................................................................... 5-4
Auto-dimming mirror/compass ...................................... 3-38
Automatic climate control system .................................. 4-5
Automatic transmission ............................................... 7-12
Capacities ............................................................. 12-3
Fluid ................................................................... 11-15
MANUAL mode ..................................................... 7-15
Selector lever ........................................................ 7-13
Shift lock release ................................................... 7-17
Temperature warning light (AT OIL TEMP) ................. 3-13Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)
.......... 1-17
B
Battery .................................................................... 11-37
Jump starting ........................................................ 9-11
Replacement (Remote keyless entry system) .............. 2-7
Booster seat ............................................................. 1-36
Brake Assist ................................................................... 7-19
Booster ....................................................... 7-19, 11-21
Fluid ................................................................... 11-20
Pad and lining ...................................................... 11-22
Parking ....................................................... 7-29, 11-23
Pedal .................................................................. 11-21
System ................................................................. 7-19
Brake pedal Free play ............................................................. 11-21
Reserve distance .................................................. 11-22
Brake system ............................................................ 7-19
Warning light ......................................................... 3-16
Braking .................................................................... 7-18
Tips ..................................................................... 7-18
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ................... 11-22
Bulb
Chart ...................................................................

12-8
Replacing ............................................................ 11-41
C
Capacities ................................................................ 12-3
Cargo area Cover ................................................................... 6-13
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V
Valet mode................................................................ 2-17
Vanity mirror ............................................................... 6-4
Vehicle Capacity weight ..................................................... 8-12
Identification .......................................................... 12-9
Symbols ................................................................... 3
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF indicator light .................................................. 3-18
Operation indicator light .......................................... 3-18
System ................................................................. 7-23
Warning light ......................................................... 3-18
Ventilator ................................................................... 4-2
W
Warning and indicator lights ......................................... 3-9
Warning light
ABS ..................................................................... 3-15
All-Wheel Drive ...................................................... 3-18
Anti-lock Brake System ........................................... 3-15
AT OIL TEMPerature .............................................. 3-13
Brake system ........................................................ 3-16
Charge ................................................................. 3-13
CHECK ENGINE ................................................... 3-12
Door open ............................................................. 3-17
Low fuel ......................................................... 3-8, 3-17
Low tire pressure ................................................... 3-14
Oil pressure .......................................................... 3-13
Rear differential oil temperature ............................... 3-14
Seatbelt ................................................................ 3-10
SRS airbag system ................................................ 3-11 Vehicle Dynamics Control
....................................... 3-18
Windshield washer fluid .......................................... 3-18
Warranties ..................................................................... 1
Warranties and maintenance ....................................... 8-20
Washing ................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing ................................................. 10-3
Wear indicators ........................................................ 11-28
Wheel Alignment ............................................................. 12-4
Aluminum ............................................................ 11-30
Balance ............................................................... 11-27
Replacement. ....................................................... 11-29
Windows .................................................................. 2-19
Windshield Washer fluid. ........................................................ 11-32
Wiper and washer switches .................................... 3-34
Wiper blades ........................................................ 11-33
Wiper deicer ......................................................... 3-36
Winter driving .............................................................. 8-7
Wiper and washer ..................................................... 3-33
Index
14-9
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