2009 SUBARU FORESTER wiper fluid

3-28Instruments and controls
Wiper and washer
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
. Do not operate the washer con-
tinuously for more than 10 sec-
onds, or when the washer fluid
tank is empty. This may cause
overheating of the washer motor.
Check the washer fluid level
frequently, such as at fuel stops.
. 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, always use the wind-
shield washer. .
In freezing weather, be sure that
the wiper blades are not frozen to
the windshield or rear window
before switching on the wipers.
Attempting 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 mo-
tor to burn out. If the wiper
blades are frozen to the window
glass, be sure to operate the
defroster, windshield wiper dei-
cer (if equipped) or rear window
defogger before turning on the
wiper.
. 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
vehicle in a safe place, turn the
ignition switch to the “LOCK ”
position and clean the window
glass to allow proper wiper op-eration.
. Use clean water if windshield
washer fluid is unavailable. In
areas where water freezes in
winter, use SUBARU Windshield
Washer Fluid or the equivalent. Refer to the
“Windshield washer
fluid ”section in chapter 11.
Also, when driving the vehicle
when there are freezing tempera-
tures, use non-freezing type wi-
per blades.
. Do not clean the wiper blades
with gasoline or a solvent, such
as paint thinner or benzine. This
will cause deterioration of the
wiper blades.
NOTE . The wiper operates only when the
ignition switch is in the “ON ”or “Acc ”
position. . The front wiper motor is protected
against overloads by a circuit breaker.
If the motor operates continuously
under an unusually heavy load, the
circuit breaker may trip to stop the
motor temporarily. If this happens, park
your vehicle in a safe place, turn off the
wiper switch, and wait for approxi-
mately 10 minutes. The circuit breaker
will reset itself, and the wipers will
again operate normally.. Clean your wiper blades and win-
dow glass periodically with a washer
solution to prevent streaking, and to
remove accumulations of road salt or

3-30Instruments and controls
! Mist (for a single wipe)
For a single wipe of the wipers, pull the
lever toward you. The wipers operate until
you release the lever. !
WasherTo wash the windshield, push the washer
button at the end of the wiper control lever.
The washer fluid sprays until you release
the washer button. The wipers operate
while you push the button. &
Rear window wiper and
washer switch
: Washer (accompanied by wiper operation)
ON: Normal
INT: Intermittent
OFF: Park
: Washer
! Rear wiper
To turn the rear wiper on, turn the knob on
the end of the wiper control lever upward
to the “INT ”or “ON ”position.
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on
the end of the lever to the “OFF ”position.
With the switch turned to the “INT ”
position, the rear wiper will operate inter-
mittently at intervals corresponding to the
vehicle speed (longer when the vehicle
speed is low; shorter when the vehicle

speed is high).
When the transmission is shifted into
reverse, the rear wiper will switch to
continuous operation. When the transmis-
sion is shifted to a position other than
reverse, the rear wiper will return to
intermittent operation. !Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear
wiper is operating, turn the knob 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 counter-
clockwise to the “
”position. The washer
fluid sprays, and 2 seconds later the rear
wiper operates. Releasing the knob stops
the washer fluid spray, and 3 seconds
later the rear wiper stops. Rear window defogger but- ton
Manual climate control system
Automatic climate control systemThe rear window defogger operates only
when the ignition switch is in the
“ON ”
position.
The rear window defogger button is
located on the climate control panel.
To turn on the defogger, push the button.
To turn it off, push the button again.
The indicator light located on the button
lights up while the rear window defogger isoperating.
The defogger will automatically shut off
after approximately 15 minutes. If the
window clears before that time, push the
button to turn it off. It also turns off when
the ignition switch is turned to the “Acc ”or
“ LOCK ”position. If defrosting or defogging
is desired when you restart your vehicle,
you have to push the button to turn it onagain.
Your SUBARU dealer can set your rear
window defogger for continuous opera-
tion. Contact your SUBARU dealer fordetails.
Once the rear window defogger has been
set for continuous operation, the rear
window defogger repeatedly operates for
15 minutes, stops for 2 minutes, and again
operates for 15 minutes. If the battery
voltage drops below the permissible level,
continuous operation is canceled and
operation stops as described in the Instruments and controls
3-31
– CONTINUED –

10-2Appearance care
Exterior care &Washing
CAUTION
. 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.
. Do not wash the engine compart-
ment and area adjacent to it. If
water enters the engine air in-
take, electrical parts or the power
steering fluid reservoir, it will
cause engine trouble or faulty
power steering respectively.
. Since your vehicle is equipped
with a rear wiper, automatic car-
wash brushes could become
tangled around it, damaging the
wiper arm and other compo-
nents. Ask the automatic car-
wash operator 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. NOTE
When having your vehicle washed in
an automatic car wash, make sure
beforehand that the car wash is of
suitable type.
The best way to preserve your vehicle
’s
beauty is frequent washing. Wash the
vehicle at least once a month to avoid
contamination 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 softcloth. ! Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for
deicing road surfaces are extremely cor-
rosive, accelerating the corrosion of un-
derbody components, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake
cables, floor pan and fenders, and sus-pension.
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 on muddy or
sandy roads, wash the mud and sand off
the underbody. Carefully flush the suspen-
sion and axle parts, as they are particu-
larly 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. !
Using a warm water washer
. Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm)
or more between the washer nozzle and
the vehicle. . Do not wash the same area continu-
ously.. If a stain will not come out easily, wash

Maintenance and serviceTire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)(U.S.-spec. models) ........................................ 11-31
Tire inspection ................................................. 11-33
Tire pressures and wear ................................... 11-33
Wheel balance .................................................. 11-35
Wear indicators ................................................ 11-35
Tire rotation direction mark .............................. 11-36
Tire rotation ..................................................... 11-36
Tire replacement .............................................. 11-37
Wheel replacement ........................................... 11-37
Aluminum wheels ............................................. 11-38
Windshield washer fluid .................................. 11-38
Replacement of wiper blades .......................... 11-39
Windshield wiper blade assembly ..................... 11-40
Windshield wiper blade rubber ......................... 11-40
Rear window wiper blade assembly .................. 11-41
Rear window wiper blade rubber ....................... 11-41Battery
.............................................................. 11-43
Fuses ................................................................ 11-44
Main fuse .......................................................... 11-45
Installation of accessories .............................. 11-45
Replacing bulbs ............................................... 11-46
Headlights (vehicles with HID headlights) ......... 11-47
Headlights (vehicles without HID headlights) .................................................... 11-48
Position light ................................................... 11-50
Front turn signal light ...................................... 11-50
Rear combination lights ................................... 11-50
License plate light ........................................... 11-51
Dome light, map light, cargo area light and door step light ....................................................... 11-51
Other bulbs ..................................................... 11-52

level gauge or the“FULL ”mark on the
tank.
Use windshield washer fluid. If windshield
washer fluid is unavailable use clean
water.
In areas where water freezes in winter,
use an anti-freeze type windshield washer
fluid. SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid
contains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%
surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-
perature varies according to how much it
is diluted, as indicated in the followingtable.
Washer Fluid
Concentration Freezing
Temperature
30% 10.48F( 12 8C)
50% 48F( 20 8C)
100% 49 8F( 45 8C)
CAUTION
Never use engine coolant as washer
fluid because it could cause paintdamage.
In order to prevent freezing of washer
fluid, check the freezing temperatures in
the table above when adjusting the fluid
concentration 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 from
the 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
temperature, it may freeze and block thenozzles.
CAUTION
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. Replacement of wiper blades
Grease, wax, insects, or other material on
the windshield or the wiper blade results in
jerky wiper operation and streaking on the
glass. If you cannot remove the streaks
after operating the windshield washer or if
the wiper operation is jerky, clean the
outer surface of the windshield (or rear
window) and the wiper blades using a
sponge or soft cloth with a neutral
detergent or mild-abrasive cleaner. After
cleaning, rinse the windshield and wiper
blades with clean water. The windshield is
clean if beads do not form when you rinse
the windshield with water.
CAUTION
Do not clean the wiper blades with
gasoline or a solvent, such as paint
thinner or benzine. This will cause
deterioration of the wiper blades.
If you cannot eliminate the streaking even
after following this method, replace the
wiper blades using the following proce-dures: Maintenance and service
11-39
– CONTINUED –

P ParkingBrake ................................................................... 7-31
Brake stroke ......................................................... 11-30
Tips...................................................................... 7-32
Parking your vehicle ................................................... 7-31
Periodic inspections ..................................................... 8-4
Petrol fuel ................................................................... 7-2
Power
Door locking switch .................................................. 2-6
Seat ....................................................................... 1-4
Steering ................................................................ 7-21
Steering fluid ........................................................ 11-24
Windows ............................................................... 2-19
Precautions against vehicle modification ............... 1-22, 1-60
Preparing to drive ........................................................ 7-7
RRear Combination lights ................................................. 11-50
Gate ............................................................. 2-21, 9-16
Seats ..................................................................... 1-6
Rear differential Gear oil ............................................................... 11-22
Rear seat Center table ............................................................ 6-6
Folding down ........................................................... 1-9
Reclining ................................................................. 1-9
Rear turn signal ........................................................ 11-50
Rear window
Defogger button ..................................................... 3-31 Wiper and washer switch
......................................... 3-30
Wiper blades ........................................................ 11-41
Recommended
Automatic transmission fluid ................................... 11-21
Brake fluid ........................................................... 11-26
Clutch fluid .......................................................... 11-27
OIL grade and viscosity ... 11-11, 11-12, 11-20, 11-22, 11-23
Power steering fluid .............................................. 11-25
Spark plugs ......................................................... 11-18
Refueling .................................................................... 7-3
Remote engine start system ......................................... 7-9
Remote keyless entry system ........................................ 2-7
Replacement Brake pad and lining ............................................. 11-29
Wiper blades ........................................................ 11-39
Replacing
Air cleaner element ............................................... 11-16
Battery (remote keyless entry system) ....................... 2-10
Lost transmitters (remote keyless entry system) . ........ 2-10
Replacing bulbs ....................................................... 11-46
Cargo area light ................................................... 11-51
Dome light ........................................................... 11-51
Door step light ..................................................... 11-51
Front turn signal light ............................................ 11-50
Headlight ............................................................. 11-47
License plate light ................................................. 11-51
Map light ............................................................. 11-51
Position light ........................................................ 11-50
Rear combination light .......................................... 11-50
Rocking the vehicle .................................................... 8-11
Roof rail .................................................................... 8-13 Index
14-7

14-10Index
Low fuel .......................................................... 3-8, 3-17
Low tire pressure ................................................... 3-14
Oil pressure .......................................................... 3-13
Seatbelt .......................................................... 1-12, 3-9
SRS airbag system ................................................ 3-11
Vehicle Dynamics Control ............................... 3-18, 7-28
Warranties ..................................................................... 1
Warranties and maintenance ....................................... 8-16
Washing ................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing ................................................. 10-3
Wear indicators ......................................................... 11-35
Wheel Alignment .............................................................. 12-5
Aluminum ............................................................. 11-38
Balance ............................................................... 11-35
Replacement ........................................................ 11-37
Windows ................................................................... 2-19
Windshield Washer fluid ......................................................... 11-38
Wiper and washer switches ..................................... 3-29
Wiper blades ........................................................ 11-40
Wiper deicer .......................................................... 3-32
Winter Driving .................................................................... 8-8
Tires ............................................................ 8-10, 11-31
Winter tire ........................................................ 8-10, 11-31
Wiper and washer ...................................................... 3-28