2011 SUBARU FORESTER Owners Manual

13-16Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Building, Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other informa-
tion about motor vehicle safety
from http://www.safercar.gov.

Index
14

14-2Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ..................................... 7-23
Warning light ......................................................... 3-19
Accessories ....................................................... 5-4, 11-46
Accessory power outlet ................................................. 6-9
Active head restraint ..................................................... 1-6
Air cleaner element ................................................... 11-16
Air conditioner Manual climate control system ................................... 4-7
Air filtration system ..................................................... 4-18
Airflow selection Automatic climate control system ............................... 4-2
Manual climate control system ............................. 4-2, 4-4
Alarm system ............................................................ 2-15
All-Wheel Drive warning light ....................................... 3-21
Aluminum wheel ....................................................... 11-38
Cleaning ............................................................... 10-4
Antenna system ........................................................... 5-3
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................... 7-23
Arming the system ..................................................... 2-16
Armrest ....................................................................... 1-8
Ashtray ..................................................................... 6-11
AT OIL TEMP warning light ......................................... 3-18
Audio Antenna system ....................................................... 5-3
Auxiliary input jack ................................................. 5-30
Bluetooth
®audio .................................................... 5-41
CD player operation ............................................... 5-22
Control button ........................................................ 5-38
FM/AM radio operation ........................................... 5-13
iPod
®operations .................................................... 5-33 Satellite radio operations
......................................... 5-18
Set ........................................................................ 5-4
USB storage device operations ................................ 5-33
Auto-dimming mirror/compass .............................. 3-37, 3-38
Automatic climate control system ................................... 4-8
Automatic headlight beam leveler ................................. 3-31
Warning light .......................................................... 3-22
Automatic transmission ............................................... 7-15
Fluid ........................................................... 11-21, 12-9
MANUAL mode ...................................................... 7-19
Oil temperature warning light (AT OIL TEMP) ............. 3-18
Select lever ........................................................... 7-16
Shift lock function ................................................... 7-17
SPORT mode ........................................................ 7-20
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ........... 1-13
Auxiliary input jack ...................................................... 5-30
BBattery .................................................................... 11-44
Drainage prevention function ..................................... 2-5
Jump starting ......................................................... 9-10
Replacement (remote engine start transmitter) ........... 7-12
Replacement (remote keyless entry system) .............. 2-10
Bluetooth
®audio ........................................................ 5-41
Booster seat .............................................................. 1-27
Bottle holder ............................................................... 6-9
Brake
Assist .................................................................... 7-22
Booster ....................................................... 7-22, 11-27
Fluid ........................................................... 11-25, 12-9
Pad and lining ...................................................... 11-29

Parking........................................................ 7-29, 11-30
Pedal .................................................................. 11-27
System ................................................................. 7-22
Brake pedal Free play ............................................................. 11-27
Reserve distance .................................................. 11-28
Brake system ............................................................ 7-22
Warning light ......................................................... 3-20
Braking ..................................................................... 7-22
Tips...................................................................... 7-22
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ................... 11-29
Bulb Chart .................................................................. 12-15
Replacing ............................................................. 11-47
C
Cargo area Cover ................................................................... 6-13
Light ............................................................. 6-3, 11-51
Tie-down hooks ..................................................... 6-15
Cargo tray ................................................................. 10-6
Catalytic converter ....................................................... 8-3
Center
Console .................................................................. 6-5
Ventilators ............................................................... 4-3
Center and side ventilators ............................................ 4-3
Changing Coolant ................................................................ 11-14
Flat tire ................................................................... 9-6
Oil and oil filter ..................................................... 11-10
Charge warning light .................................................. 3-17 CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicator
lamp ...................................................................... 3-16
Checking
Brake pedal free play ............................................ 11-27
Brake pedal reserve distance ................................. 11-28
Clutch function ..................................................... 11-28
Clutch pedal free play ........................................... 11-28
Coolant level ........................................................ 11-14
Fluid level (automatic transmission fluid) .................. 11-21
Fluid level (brake fluid) .......................................... 11-25
Fluid level (clutch fluid) .......................................... 11-26
Fluid level (power steering fluid) .. ........................... 11-24
Fluid level (washer fluid) ........................................ 11-38
Oil level (engine oil) ................................................ 11-9
Oil level (front differential gear oil) .......................... 11-22
Oil level (manual transmission oil) .......................... 11-20
Child restraint systems ................................................ 1-22
Installation of a booster seat .................................... 1-27
Installation with A/ELR seatbelt ... ............................. 1-24
Lower and tether anchorages ................................... 1-29
Top tether anchorages ............................................ 1-31
Child safety ................................................................... 5
Locks .................................................................... 2-20
Chime Key........................................................................ 3-5Light ..................................................................... 3-29
Seatbelt. ................................................................ 3-13
Cleaning Aluminum wheels ................................................... 10-4
Interior .................................................................. 10-5
Ventilation grille ...................................................... 4-17 Index
14-3

14-4Index
Climate control system Automatic ................................................................ 4-8
Manual ................................................................... 4-3
Clock ........................................................................ 3-25
Clutch Fluid ............................................................ 11-26, 12-9
Pedal .................................................................. 11-28
Coat hook ................................................................. 6-13
Coin tray ..................................................................... 6-7
Compass .......................................................... 3-37, 3-38
Continuously variable transmission Fluid ..................................................................... 12-9
Coolant ............................................................ 11-14, 12-9
Temperature high warning light ................................ 3-16
Temperature low indicator light. ................................ 3-16
Cooling system ......................................................... 11-13
Corrosion protection ................................................... 10-4
Cruise control ............................................................ 7-32
Indicator light ......................................................... 3-25
Set indicator light ................................................... 3-25
Cup holder .................................................................. 6-8
Front passenger ’s .................................................... 6-8
Rear passenger ’s..................................................... 6-8
D
Daytime running light system ....................................... 3-31
Defogger ................................................................... 3-45
Deicer ...................................................................... 3-45
Differential gear oil Front ........................................................... 11-22, 12-8
Rear ............................................................ 11-23, 12-8 Dimensions
................................................................ 12-2
Disarming the alarm system ......................................... 2-17
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ........................ 7-23
Dome light ......................................................... 6-2, 11-51
Door Locks ..................................................................... 2-4
Open warning light. ................................................. 3-21
Step light ............................................................. 11-51
Drive belts ............................................................... 11-19
Driving All-Wheel Drive warning light ................................... 3-21
AWD models ........................................................... 8-5
Car phone/cell phone .................................................. 8
Drinking. .................................................................... 7
Drugs ........................................................................ 7
Foreign countries ..................................................... 8-4
Pets .......................................................................... 8
Snowy and icy roads ............................................... 8-9
Tips ......................................................... 7-14, 8-2, 8-5
Tired or sleepy ........................................................... 7
Winter .................................................................... 8-8
E
ECO gauge ............................................................... 3-12
Electrical system ........................................................ 12-3
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system... 3-20, 7-24
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ............................. 1-13
Engine Compartment overview ............................................ 11-7
Coolant ....................................................... 11-14, 12-9
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............................. 6, 8-2

Hood.................................................................... 11-5
Oil................................................................ 11-9, 12-5 Overheating .......................................................... 9-13
Starting ................................................................... 7-7
Stopping ................................................................. 7-9
Exterior care .............................................................. 10-2
F
Flat tires ..................................................................... 9-6
Floor mat .................................................................. 6-12
Fluid level
Automatic transmission .......................................... 11-21
Brake .................................................................. 11-25
Clutch .................................................................. 11-26
Power steering ..................................................... 11-24
Fog light Indicator light ......................................................... 3-25
Switch .................................................................. 3-32
Folding mirror switch .................................................. 3-44
Front Differential gear oil ........................................ 11-22, 12-8
Fog light ............................................................... 3-32
Fog light indicator light ............................................ 3-25
Seatbelt pretensioners ............................................ 1-20
Turn signal light .................................................... 11-50
Front seats .................................................................. 1-2
Forward and backward adjustment ............................. 1-3
Head restraint adjustment ......................................... 1-5
Power seat .............................................................. 1-4
Reclining ................................................................. 1-3
Seat height adjustment (driver ’s seat) ......................... 1-4 Fuel
........................................................................... 7-2
Consumption indicator ............................................. 3-26
Economy hints ........................................................ 8-2
Filler lid and cap ...................................................... 7-3
Gauge ................................................................... 3-10
Requirements ................................................. 7-2, 12-4
Fuses ..................................................................... 11-45
Main fuse ............................................................ 11-46
Fuses and circuits .................................................... 12-11
G
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) .. ............................. 8-13
Glove box ................................................................... 6-5
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) ........................... 8-13
H
Hands-free system. ..................................................... 5-43
Hazard warning flasher .......................................... 3-5, 9-2
Head restraint adjustment
Front seat ............................................................... 1-5
Rear seat ............................................................... 1-8
Headlight Beam lever ............................................................ 3-31
Bulb replacing ...................................................... 11-47
Bulb wattage ........................................................ 12-15
Control switch ........................................................ 3-29
Flasher .................................................................. 3-30
Indicator light ......................................................... 3-25
Heater operation (manual climate control system) ... ......... 4-5
High beam indicator light ............................................. 3-25
High/low beam change (dimmer) .................................. 3-30Index
14-5

14-6Index
Hill start assist (MT models) ............................... 7-31, 11-29
Warning light ......................................................... 3-21
HomeLink
®................................................................ 3-38
Hook Cargo tie-down ...................................................... 6-15
Coat ..................................................................... 6-13
Shopping bag ........................................................ 6-13
Towing and tie-down ............................................... 9-14
Horn ......................................................................... 3-47
Hose and connections ............................................... 11-13
I
Ignition switch .............................................................. 3-3
Light ....................................................................... 3-5
Illuminated entry .......................................................... 2-9
Illumination brightness control ...................................... 3-32
Immobilizer. ................................................................. 2-2
Indicator light (security indicator light) ....................... 3-23
Indicator light Coolant temperature low ......................................... 3-16
Cruise control ........................................................ 3-25
Cruise control set ................................................... 3-25
Front fog light ........................................................ 3-25
Headlight .............................................................. 3-25
High beam ............................................................ 3-25
Immobilizer. ........................................................... 3-23
Security ................................................................ 3-23
Select lever/Gear position ....................................... 3-24
SPORT mode ........................................................ 3-24
Turn signal ............................................................ 3-25
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF ................................ 3-23 Vehicle Dynamics Control operation ..
........................ 3-23
Information display ...................................................... 3-26
Inside mirror .............................................................. 3-36
Interior lights ............................................................... 6-2
iPod
®operations ........................................................ 5-33
J
Jack and jack handle ................................................... 9-5
Jack-up point .............................................................. 9-6
Jump starting ............................................................. 9-10
K
Key............................................................................ 2-2 Number .................................................................. 2-2
Reminder chime ...................................................... 3-5
Replacement. .......................................................... 2-3
Keyless entry system ................................................... 2-7
L
Leather seat materials ................................................. 10-5
License plate light ..................................................... 11-51
Light Cargo area .................................................... 6-3, 11-51
Control switch ........................................................ 3-29
Dome ............................................................ 6-2, 11-51
Door step ............................................................ 11-51
Front fog ............................................................... 3-32
Front position ......................................................... 3-30
Ignition switch ......................................................... 3-5
License plate ....................................................... 11-51
Map .............................................................. 6-3, 11-51

Rear combination.................................................. 11-50
Turn signal ................................................... 3-31, 11-50
Loading your vehicle .................................................. 8-12
Low fuel warning light ......................................... 3-11, 3-21
Low tire pressure warning light .................................... 3-18
Lower and tether anchorage ........................................ 1-29
M
Main fuse ................................................................. 11-46
Maintenance
Precautions ........................................................... 11-3
Schedule .............................................................. 11-3
Seatbelt ................................................................ 1-19
Tools ...................................................................... 9-4
Malfunction indicator lamp (check engine warning light) ...................................................................... 3-16
Manual
Climate control system ............................................. 4-3
Seat ....................................................................... 1-3
Transmission ......................................................... 7-13
Transmission oil ............................................ 11-20, 12-8
Map light ........................................................... 6-3, 11-51
Maximum load limits ................................................... 8-18
Meters and gauges ...................................................... 3-6
Mirror defogger .......................................................... 3-45
Mirrors ...................................................................... 3-36
Moonroof .......................................................... 2-25, 9-19
N
New vehicle break-in driving .......................................... 8-2 O
Odometer/Trip meter
.................................................... 3-8
Oil filter ................................................................... 11-10
Oil level Engine .................................................................. 11-9
Front differential gear ............................................ 11-22
Manual transmission ............................................. 11-20
Rear differential gear ............................................ 11-23
Oil pressure warning light ............................................ 3-17
On-road and off-road driving ......................................... 8-6
Outside Mirror defogger ...................................................... 3-45
Mirrors .................................................................. 3-44
Temperature indicator .............................................. 3-27
Overhead console ....................................................... 6-7
Overheating engine .................................................... 9-13
PParking Brake .................................................................... 7-29
Brake stroke ........................................................ 11-30
Tips ...................................................................... 7-30
Periodic inspections ..................................................... 8-4
Petrol fuel ................................................................... 7-2
Power Door locking switch .................................................. 2-6
Outside mirrors ...................................................... 3-44
Seat ....................................................................... 1-4
Steering ................................................................ 7-21
Steering fluid ................................................ 11-24, 12-9
Precautions against vehicle modification ................ 1-21, 1-59Index
14-7