
Ventilator........................................................... 4-2
Air flow............................................................ 4-2
Ventilator ......................................................... 4-4
Automatic climate control system .................. 4-5
Control panel................................................... 4-5
Rear air conditioner (if equipped) ...................... 4-8
Temperature sensors ........................................ 4-9
Operating tips for heater and air
conditioner ................................................... 4-10
Cleaning ventilator grille ................................. 4-10
Efficient cooling after parking in direct sunlight ....................................................... 4-10 Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant
circuit ........................................................... 4-10
Checking air conditioning system before summer season ......................................................... 4-10
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and low temperature weather conditions .............. 4-10
Air conditioner compressor shut-off when engine is heavily loaded ........................................... 4-10
Refrigerant for your climate control system ......................................................... 4-10
Air filtration system ........................................ 4-11
Replacing the air filter ..................................... 4-11
Climate control
4
ProCarManuals.com 

Automatic climate control
systemNOTE.Operate the automatic climate con-
trol system when the engine is running.
. The blower fan rotates at a low
speed when the engine coolant tem-
perature is low.
For efficient defogging or dehumidify-
ing in cold weather, press the “A/C ”
button.
. Even when cooling is not necessary,
setting the temperature much lower
than the current outlet air temperature
turns on the air conditioner compres-
sor automatically and the “A/C ”indi-
cator light on the control panel comes
on.
. Seven-seater models each have a
rear air conditioner. The fan speed of
the rear air conditioner can be ad-
justed, but other adjustments (outlet
air temperature, air distribution, etc.)
are not possible for the rear air condi-
tioner. For details, refer to “Rear air
conditioner ”in this section.
The automatic climate control system
automatically controls outlet air tempera-
ture, fan speed, air flow distribution air-
inlet control, and air conditioner compres- sor operation. It activates when the
“AUTO
”button is pressed, and is used to
maintain a constant, comfortable climate
within the passenger compartment.
The temperature can be set within a range
of 65 to 85 8F (18 to 32 8C).
& Control panel1) Temperature control dial (driver ’s side)
2) Defroster button
3) Fan speed control dial
4) Rear window defogger button (Refer to the“Rear window defogger button ”in
chapter 3.)
5) Temperature control dial (passenger ’s
side)
6) Air conditioner button
7) Air flow mode selection button
8) Air inlet selection button
9) OFF button 10) AUTO button
!
AUTO button
AUTO mode operation:When the “AUTO”button is pressed, the
indicator light on the button comes on. In
this state, fan speed, air flow distribution,
air-inlet control, and air conditioner com-
pressor operation are automatically con-
trolled.
Manual mode operation:
If you operate any of the buttons on the
control panel other than the “OFF”button
and temperature control dial during auto-
matic mode operation, the indicator light
will go out. You can then manually control
the system as desired using the button
you operated.
Climate control
4-5
– CONTINUED –
ProCarManuals.com 

4-6
Climate control
To change the system back to the AUTO
mode, press the“AUTO”button.
! OFF buttonThe Automatic Climate Control system
turns off (the air conditioner compressor
and fan turn off) when the “OFF”button is
pressed.
When the “OFF”button is pressed, the
outside air introduction mode (air inlet
selection OFF) is automatically selected. !
Temperature control dial
Driver ’s sidePassenger ’s sideIt is possible to make separate tempera-
ture settings for the driver ’ssideand passenger
’s side. Each temperature
setting is shown on the display. With the
dial set at your desired temperature, the
system automatically adjusts the tempera-
ture of air supplied from the outlets such
that the desired temperature is achieved
and maintained.
Turning the dial counterclockwise and
releasing it reduces the temperature by
1 8F (0.5 8C). Turning the dial clockwise
and releasing it increases the temperature
by 1 8F (0.5 8C). Holding the dial in either
turned position causes the temperature to
change continuously.
With the minimum temperature set, the
system gives maximum cooling perfor-
mance. With the maximum temperature
set, the system gives maximum heating
performance.
ProCarManuals.com 

4-8
Climate control
!Air flow mode selection buttonSelect the desired air flow mode by
pushing the air flow mode selection
button. The selected air flow mode is
shown on the center of the dial.
(Ventilation): Air flows through the
instrument panel outlets.(Bi-level): Air flows through the
instrument panel outlets and the foot
outlets.(Heat): Air flows through the instru-
ment panel outlets, the foot outlets, and
some through the windshield defroster
outlets.(Heat-def): Air flows through the
instrument panel outlets, the windshield
defroster outlets, and the foot outlets. !
Air inlet selection button
ON position (Recirculation): Interior air
is recirculated inside the vehicle. Push the
air inlet selection button to the ON position
for fast cooling with the air conditioner or
when driving on a dusty road. The
indicator light will come on.
OFF position (Outside Air): Outside air
is drawn into the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position when the interior has cooled
to a comfortable temperature and the road
is no longer dusty. The indicator light will
go off.
WARNING
Continued operation in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows. Switch
to the OFF position as soon as the outside dusty condition clears.
NOTEWhen driving on a dusty road or behind
a vehicle that emits unpleasant exhaust
gases, set the air inlet selection button
to the ON position.
From time to time, return the air inlet
selection button to the OFF position to
draw outside air into the passenger
compartment.&
Rear air conditioner (if
equipped)The rear air conditioner blows cool air out
of the rear ventilators while the “A/C”
button on the control panel is in the “ON”
ProCarManuals.com 

4-10
Climate control
Operating tips for heater and
air conditioner&Cleaning ventilator grilleAlways keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free of snow, leaves, or other obstructions
to ensure efficient heating and defrosting.
Since the condenser is located in front of
the radiator, this area should be kept clean
because cooling performance is impaired
by any accumulation of insects and leaves
on the condenser.&Efficient cooling after parking
in direct sunlightAfter parking in direct sunlight, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes to
allow outside air to circulate into the heated interior. This results in quicker
cooling by the air conditioner. Keep the
windows closed during the operation of
the air conditioner for maximum cooling
efficiency.
&
Lubrication oil circulation in
the refrigerant circuitOperate the air conditioner compressor at
a low engine speed (at idle or low driving
speeds) a few minutes each month during
the off-season to circulate its oil.&Checking air conditioning
system before summer sea-
sonCheck the air conditioner unit for refriger-
ant leaks, hose conditions, and proper
operation each spring. Have your
SUBARU dealer perform this check.&Cooling and dehumidifying in
high humidity and low tem-
perature weather conditionsUnder certain weather conditions (high
relative humidity, low temperatures, etc.) a
small amount of water vapor emission
from the air outlets may be noticed. This
condition is normal and does not indicate
any problem with the air conditioning
system.
&Air conditioner compressor
shut-off when engine is
heavily loadedTo improve acceleration and gas mileage,
the air conditioner compressor is designed
to temporarily shut off during air condi-
tioner operation whenever the accelerator
is fully depressed such as during rapid
acceleration or when driving on a steep
upgrade.&Refrigerant for your climate
control systemYour air conditioner uses ozone friendly
refrigerant HFC134a. Therefore, the meth-
od of adding, changing or checking the
refrigerant is different from the method for
CFC12 (freon). Consult your SUBARU
dealer for service. Repairs needed as a
result of using the wrong refrigerant are
not covered under warranty.
ProCarManuals.com 

Fuel................................................................... 7-2
Fuel requirements ............................................ 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap ........................................ 7-3
State emission testing (U.S. only) ................... 7-5
Preparing to drive ............................................ 7-7
Starting the engine ........................................... 7-7
Stopping the engine ......................................... 7-8
Remote engine start system (dealer option) ............................................... 7-8
Starting your vehicle ........................................ 7-9
Remote start safety features ............................. 7-9
Entering the vehicle while it is running via remote start ............................................................... 7-9
Entering the vehicle following remote engine start shutdown ....................................................... 7-9
Pre-heating or pre-cooling the interior of the vehicle ......................................................... 7-10
Service mode ................................................. 7-10
Remote transmitter programming and programmable feature option ........................ 7-10
System maintenance ....................................... 7-11
Automatic transmission ................................. 7-12
Selector lever................................................. 7-13
Selector lever reverse inhibiting function . ....... 7-14
Selection of manual mode .............................. 7-15
Maximum speeds ........................................... 7-16
Driving tips .................................................... 7-16
SPORT mode ................................................. 7-17 Shift lock release
............................................ 7-17
Power steering............................................... 7-18
Braking ........................................................... 7-18
Braking tips .................................................... 7-18
Brake system ................................................. 7-19
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators .......... 7-19
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)...................... 7-20
ABS system self-check................................... 7-20
ABS warning light ........................................... 7-21
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
system ......................................................... 7-22
Steps to take if EBD system fails .................... 7-22
Vehicle Dynamics Control system ................ 7-23
Vehicle Dynamics Control system monitor....... 7-25
Traction Control system OFF switch ................ 7-26
Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) ......................................................... 7-27
Parking your vehicle ..................................... 7-29
Parking brake................................................. 7-29
Parking tips .................................................... 7-29
Cruise control ................................................ 7-30
To set cruise control ....................................... 7-30
To temporarily cancel the cruise control .......... 7-31
To turn off the cruise control ........................... 7-31
To change the cruising speed .. ....................... 7-32
Cruise control indicator light ........................... 7-33
Cruise control set indicator light ..................... 7-33
Starting and operating
7
ProCarManuals.com 

7-10
Starting and operating
transmitter within a few seconds immedi-
ately following remote engine start shut-
down.&Pre-heating or pre-cooling
the interior of the vehicleBefore exiting the vehicle, set the tem-
perature controls to the desired setting
and operation. After the system starts the
vehicle, the heater or air-conditioning will
activate and heat or cool the interior to
your setting.&Service modeIn service mode, the remote start function
is temporarily disabled to prevent the
system from unexpectedly starting the
engine while being serviced.
! To engage the service mode
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON ”
position, depress and hold the brake pedal
then, press and release the “
”button on
the remote control transmitter three times.
The system will pause for 1 second and
then flash the parking lights and honk the
horn three times indicating that the system
is in service mode. When attempting to
activate the remote start system while in
service mode, the parking lights will flash
and the horn will honk two times and will
not start. !
To disengage the service mode
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON ”
position, depress and hold the brake
pedal, then press and release the “
”
button on the remote control transmitter
three times. The system will pause for 1
second and flash the parking lights one
time indicating that the system has exited
service mode.
NOTEWhen taking your vehicle in for service,
it is recommended that you inform the
service personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with a remote control start
system.& Remote transmitter program-
ming and programmable fea-
ture optionNew transmitters can be programmed to
the engine starter system in the event that
remote transmitters are lost, stolen or
damaged. The remote engine start system
also has one programmable feature that
can be adjusted for user preference.
The remote engine starter system can be
programmed to either make an audible
horn chirp upon remote start activation or
not. Remote transmitter programming and
feature programming can be adjusted
using the following procedure. 1. Open the driver
’s door (the driver ’s
door must remain opened throughout the
entire process).
2. Insert the key into the vehicle’ s ignition
switch and turn to the “ON”position.
3. Locate the small black programming
button behind the fuse box cover, on the
driver ’s side left under the dashboard
panel.
4. Press and hold the black programming
button for 10 to 15 seconds. The horn will
honk and the parking lights will flash three
times to indicate that the system has
entered programming mode. At this point
you can perform either action (Step 5 or
Step 6).
5. To program a remote transmitter:
press and release the “
”button on each
transmitter. The horn will honk and the
parking lights will flash one time to indicate
a successful transmitter learn each time
the “
”button is pressed. You can
program up to eight transmitters.
6. To toggle the Horn Confirmation chirps
ON/OFF: press and release the brake to
toggle the feature. The horn will chirp and
the parking lights will flash one time to
indicate Confirmation Horn Chirps are
“OFF ”. The horn will honk and the parking
lights will flash 2 times to indicate Con-
firmation Horn Chirps are “ON”. Pressing
the brake pedal repeatedly will toggle the
ProCarManuals.com 

8-18
Driving tips
Trailer hitch (if equipped)1) Trailer hitch
WARNING
.Never exceed the maximum
weight specified for the trailer
hitch. Exceeding the maximum
weight could cause an accident
resulting in serious personal in-
juries. Permissible trailer weight
changes depending on the situa-
tion. Refer to the next section
“ Trailer towing” for possible re-
commendations and limitations.
. Trailer brakes are required when
the towing load exceeds 1,000
lbs (453 kg). Be sure your trailer has safety chains and that each
chain will hold the trailer
’s max-
imum gross weight. Towing trai-
lers without safety chains could
create a traffic safety hazard if
the trailer separates from the
hitch due to coupling damage or
hitch ball damage.
. Be sure to check the hitch pin
and safety pin for positive lock-
ing placement before towing a
trailer. If the ball mount comes off
the hitch receiver, the trailer
could get loose and create a
traffic safety hazard.
. Use only the ball mount supplied
with this hitch. Use the hitch only
as a weight carrying hitch. Do not
use with any type of weight
distributing hitch.
The maximum gross trailer weight and
maximum gross tongue weight are indi-
cated in the following table.
Maximum
gross trailer
weight Maximum
gross tongue
weight
vehicle with-
out cooling kit 2,000 lbs
(906 kg) 200 lbs
(90 kg)
vehicle with
cooling kit 3,500 lbs
(1,587 kg) 350 lbs
(158 kg)
When you tow a trailer, follow the instruc-
tions in the next section “Trailer towing”.& Connecting a trailer1. Remove the receiver cover from the
hitch receiver tube. Then insert the ball
mount into the hitch receiver tube.2. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the
hitch receiver tube so that the pin passes
through the ball mount.
ProCarManuals.com