2008 SUBARU TRIBECA maintenance

8-4
Driving tips
Periodic inspectionsTo keep your vehicle in the best condition
at all times, always have the recom-
mended maintenance services listed in
the maintenance schedule in the“War-
ranty and Maintenance Booklet ”per-
formed at the specified time or mileage
intervals.
Driving in foreign countriesWhen planning to use your vehicle in
another country:
. Confirm the availability of the correct
fuel. Refer to the “Fuel requirements ”
section in chapter 7.
. Comply with all regulations and re-
quirements of each country.
Driving tips for AWD vehicles
WARNING
. Always maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden brak-
ing or under other similar condi-
tions.
. Always use the utmost care in
driving –overconfidence be-
cause you are driving an All-
Wheel Drive vehicle could easily
lead to a serious accident.All-Wheel Drive distributes the engine
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underbody. Clear off any such matter from
the underbody. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering to the
underbody, a mechanical breakdown or
fire could occur.
.Secure all cargo carried inside the
vehicle and make certain that it is not
piled higher than the seatbacks. During
sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo
could be thrown around in the vehicle and
cause injury. Do not pile heavy loads on
the roof. Those loads raise the vehicle ’s
center of gravity and make it more prone
to tip over.
. If you must rock the vehicle to free it
from sand or mud, depress the accelerator
pedal slightly and move the selector lever
back and forth between “D ” and “R ”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
. When the road surface is extremely
slippery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st.
. Never equip your vehicle with tires
larger than those specified in this manual.
. Wash the vehicle ’s underbody after off-
road driving. Suspension components are
particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they
need to be washed thoroughly.
. Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle under hard-driving conditions such as
rough roads or off roads will necessitate
more frequent replacement of engine oil,
brake fluid and transmission oil than that
specified in the maintenance schedule
described in the
“Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet ”.
Remember that damage done to your
SUBARU while operating it off-road and
not using common sense precautions
such as those listed above is not eligible
for warranty coverage.
Winter driving& Operation during cold
weatherCarry 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
temperatures reduce battery capacity.
The battery must be in good condition to
provide enough power for cold winter
starts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and
viscosity for cold weather. Heavy summer
oil will cause harder starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing by
Driving tips
8-7
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8-20
Driving tips
watercraft.&When you do not tow a trailer. Remove the ball mount from the hitch
receiver tube and insert the receiver cover
onto the hitch receiver tube.
. Place the dust cap over the four-pin
connector of the hitch wire harness to
protect against possible damage.
. Occasionally lubricate terminals of the
four-pin connector using the terminal
grease.
Trailer towingYour vehicle is designed and intended to
be used primarily as a passenger-carrying
vehicle. Towing a trailer puts additional
loads on your vehicle ’s engine, drivetrain,
brakes, tires and suspension and has an
adverse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety
and satisfaction depend upon proper use
of correct equipment and cautious opera-
tion of your vehicle. Seek the advice of
your SUBARU dealer to assist you in
purchasing a hitch and other necessary
towing equipment appropriate for your
vehicle. In addition, be sure to follow the
instructions on correct installation and use
provided by the trailer and other towing
equipment manufacturers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for
injuries or vehicle damage that result from
trailer towing equipment, or from any
errors or omissions in the instructions
accompanying such equipment or for your
failure to follow the proper instructions.& Warranties and maintenanceSUBARU warranties do not apply to
vehicle damage or malfunction caused
by trailer towing. If you use your vehicle to
tow a trailer, more frequent maintenance
will be required due to the additional load. (Refer to
“Maintenance schedule under
severe driving conditions ”in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet ”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer
be towed with a new vehicle or a vehicle
with any new powertrain component (en-
gine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) of driving.
& Maximum load limits
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum load
limits explained in the following.
Exceeding the maximum load limits
could cause personal injury and/or
vehicle damage.
CAUTION
. Adequate size trailer brakes are
required when the trailer and its
cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg)
total weight.
. Before towing a trailer, check the
trailer total weight, GVW, GAWs
and tongue load. Make sure the
load and its distribution in your
vehicle and trailer are accepta-
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If you park your vehicle in an emergency...... 9-2
Spare tire .......................................................... 9-2
Removing the spare tire ................................... 9-3
Re-storage of spare tire .................................... 9-4
Temporary spare tire........................................ 9-5
Flat tires ............................................................ 9-6
Changing a flat tire ........................................... 9-6
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ........ 9-10
Jump starting................................................. 9-11
How to jump start ........................................... 9-12
Engine overheating ....................................... 9-14
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment ................................................ 9-14
If no steam is coming from the engine compartment ................................................ 9-14
Towing............................................................ 9-15
Towing and tie-down hooks. ............................ 9-15
Using a flat-bed truck. ..................................... 9-17
Towing with all wheels on the ground .............. 9-18
Rear gate–if the rear gate cannot be
unlocked ...................................................... 9-18
Maintenance tools ......................................... 9-19
Jack and jack handle ...................................... 9-19
In case of emergency
9
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the“Temporary spare tire ”section in this
chapter for instructions and precautions.& Removing the spare tire1. Take the wheel nut wrench and exten-
sion out of the tool bag. Refer to the
“Maintenance tools ”section in this chap-
ter.2. Remove the subfloor storage lid in the
cargo area.
3. Take out the jack.
4. Locate the hex-headed hoist shaft end
inside the hole.
5. Fit the extension onto the hex-headed
hoist shaft end.6. Fit the wheel nut wrench onto the
extension.
7. Turn the hoist shaft end counterclock-
wise with the wheel nut wrench until the temporary spare tire is on the ground with
enough cable slack to allow you to pull it
out from under the vehicle.
CAUTION
.
Be sure to remove (not simply
keep it open) the subfloor sto-
rage lid before turning the wheel
nut wrench, otherwise the lid
may be damaged.
. Do not put your fingers into the
center hole of the temporary
spare tire while you pulling it
out, because they might be
pinched in between the wheel
and the retainer.8. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable
In case of emergency
9-3
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WARNING
Do not use oil or grease on the
wheel studs or nuts when the spare
tire is installed. This could cause the
nuts to become loose and lead to an
accident.
15. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
to lower the vehicle.
CAUTION
There are 2 types of wheel nut
wrenches that apply to different
lengths.
For an aluminum wheel vehicle, the
11.2-inch (285 mm) wheel nut
wrench is equipped as a mainte-
nance tool. And for a chrome plated
wheel vehicle, the 13.2-inch (335
mm) wheel nut wrench is equipped
as well. Confirm the equipped wheel
nut wrench type when you replace a
tire. If the wheel nut wrench is the
different type, it cannot be tightened
to the specified torque.
1) The length of the wheel nut wrench16. Confirm the length of the equipped
wheel nut wrench.
For an aluminum wheel vehicle, the 11.2-
inch (285 mm) wheel nut wrench is
equipped as a maintenance tool. And for
a chrome plated wheel vehicle, the 13.2-
inch (335 mm) wheel nut wrench is
equipped as well.
17. Use the wheel nut wrench to securely
tighten the wheel nuts to the specified
torque, following the tightening order in the
illustration.
Wheel nuts tightening torque for tem-
porary spare tire:
74 to 89 lbf·ft (100 to 120 N·m, 10 to 12
kgf·m)
This torque is equivalent to applying the
following load on the edge of the wheel
nut wrench.
When you use a wheel nut wrench of
the 11.2-inch (285 mm) length:
Approximately 88 to 110 lbs (40 to 50
kg)
When you use a wheel nut wrench of
the 13.2-inch (335 mm) length:
In case of emergency
9-9
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3. Unlock the rear gate by moving the
lever to the right.
4. Open the rear gate from outside by
raising the rear gate handle.
Maintenance toolsYour vehicle is equipped with the following
maintenance tools:Screwdriver
Towing hook (eye bolt)
Wheel nut wrench
Extension
&Jack and jack handle7 seater models5 seater modelsThe jack and jack handle is stored under
the cargo area.
In case of emergency
9-19
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10-4
Appearance care
Corrosion protectionYour 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
corrosionThe most common causes of corrosion
are:
1. The accumulation of moisture retain-
ing 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 pollution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity,
especially when temperatures range just
above freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of the
vehicle remains for a long time, even though other parts of the vehicle may be
dry.
4. High temperatures will cause corro-
sion to parts of the vehicle which cannot
dry quickly due to lack of proper ventila-
tion.
&
To help prevent corrosionWash the vehicle regularly to prevent
corrosion of the body and suspension
components. Also, wash the vehicle
promptly after driving on any of the
following surfaces:
. 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
soon as you find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for water
and dirt accumulation under the floor mats
because that could cause corrosion.
Occasionally check under the mats to
make sure the area is dry.
Keep your garage dry. Do not park your
vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated
garage. In such a garage, corrosion can
be caused by dampness. If you wash the
vehicle in the garage or put the vehicle
into the garage when wet or covered with
snow, that can cause dampness.
If your vehicle is operated in cold weather
and/or in areas where road salts and other
corrosive materials are used, the door
hinges and locks, trunk lid lock, and hood
latch should be inspected and lubricated
periodically.
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