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7-42Starting and operating
Hill start assist system (MT models –if equipped)
CAUTION
The Hill start assist system is a
device only for helping the driver
to START the vehicle on an uphill
grade. To prevent accidents when
the vehicle is parked on a slope, be
sure to firmly set the parking brake.
When setting the parking brake,
make sure that the vehicle remains
stationary when the clutch pedal isreleased.
The Hill start assist system is a device to
make starting on an uphill grade easier.
On an uphill grade, when the clutch pedal
is depressed while the brake pedal is also
depressed, braking power is maintained
temporarily by the Hill start assist system
when the brake pedal is released. The
driver is therefore able to start the vehicle
the same way as on a level grade, just
using the clutch and accelerator pedal.
The Hill start assist system does not
operate when the vehicle is facing down-
hill. And the Hill start assist system may
not operate on slight grades.
When starting in reverse and using the Hill
start assist system, a braking effect may
be felt even after the brake pedal has
been released. However, this braking
effect should disappear once the clutch
pedal is released. A slight jolt may be felt when the vehicle
begins to move forward after being re-versed.
If the braking power of the Hill start assist
system is insufficient after the brake pedal
is released, apply more braking power by
depressing the brake pedal again. &
To activate/deactivate the Hill
start assist system (STI)
CAUTION
While the Hill start assist system is
deactivated, when starting on an
uphill grade, braking power is not
maintained if the brake pedal is
released. Start on an uphill grade
by using the parking brake.
You can activate/deactivate the Hill start
assist system according to the followingprocedure. ! To deactivate
1. Stop your vehicle in a flat and safe
place and apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off the engine.
3. Restart the engine.
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4. Confirm the following items..The ABS warning light turns off.
. The Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF
indicator light turns off. . The Brake system warning light
illuminates.5. Press the Vehicle Dynamics Control
mode switch and hold it until the Vehicle
Dynamics Control OFF indicator light
turns off. The Vehicle Dynamics Control
OFF indicator light will illuminate in green,
change to yellow, remain illuminated in
yellow for several seconds and then turn
off.
6. Within 5 seconds after the Vehicle
Dynamics Control OFF indicator light
turns off, release the Vehicle Dynamics
Control mode switch.7. Within 2 seconds after releasing the
Vehicle Dynamics Control mode switch,
press the Vehicle Dynamics Control mode
switch once again. Then the Hill start
assist OFF indicator light illuminates.
8. Turn off the engine.
9. Restart the engine.
While the Hill start assist system is
deactivated, the Hill start assist OFF
indicator light illuminates continuously. ! To activate
When the procedure to deactivate the Hill
start assist system is performed again, the
system is activated. When the Hill start
assist system is activated, the Hill start
assist OFF indicator light turns off. Starting and operating
7-43
– CONTINUED –
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7-44Starting and operating
&Hill start assist warning light/
Hill start assist OFF indicator light
Refer to “Hill start assist warning light (MT
models –if equipped)/Hill start assist OFF
indicator light (STI) ”F 3-22. Cruise control
Cruise control enables you to maintain a
constant vehicle speed without holding
your foot on the accelerator pedal and it is
operative when the vehicle speed is 25
mph (40 km/h) or more.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control under
any of the following conditions.
These may cause loss of vehiclecontrol. . driving up or down a steep grade
. driving on slippery or winding
roads
. driving in heavy traffic
NOTE . If you press the “CRUISE ”main
switch button while turning the ignition switch “ON ”, the cruise control func-
tion is deactivated and the cruise
control indicator light flashes. To re-
activate the cruise control function,
turn the ignition switch back to the“ Acc ”or “LOCK ”position, and then
turn it again to the “ON ”position.
. Make sure the “CRUISE ”main
switch is turned off when the cruise control is not in use to avoid uninten-
tionally setting of the cruise control.
& To set cruise control
1. Push the “CRUISE ”main switch but-
ton.
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Turbo models
Non-turbo models
The cruise control indicator light on the
combination meter will illuminate.
2. Depress the accelerator pedal until the
vehicle reaches the desired speed.
3. Push the “SET/COAST ”button and
release it. Then release the accelerator pedal.
Turbo models
Non-turbo models
At this time, the cruise control set indicator
light is illuminated on the combination
meter.
The vehicle will maintain the desired speed.
Vehicle speed can be temporarily in-
creased while driving with the cruise
control activated. Simply depress the
accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehi-
cle. When the accelerator pedal is re-
leased, the vehicle will return to and
maintain the previous cruising speed. Starting and operating
7-45
– CONTINUED –
Page 309 of 458

7-46Starting and operating
& To temporarily cancel the
cruise control
The cruise control can be temporarily
canceled in the following ways.
. Push the “CANCEL ”button.
. Depress the brake pedal.
. Depress the clutch pedal (MT models
only). . Shift the select lever into the “N ”
position (AT models only).. Shift the shift lever into the neutral
position (MT models only).
The cruise control set indicator light on the
combination meter turns off when the
cruise control is canceled.
To resume the cruise control after it has
been temporarily canceled and with vehi-
cle speed of approximately 20 mph (32
km/h)ormore,pushthe “RES/ACC ”
button to return to the original cruising
speed automatically.
The cruise control set indicator light on the
combination meter will automatically illu-
minate at this time. & To turn off the cruise control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control: . Push the “CRUISE ”main switch button
again.. Turn the ignition switch to the “Acc ”or
“ LOCK ”position (but only when the
vehicle is completely stopped). &
To change the cruising speed
! To increase the speed (by button)
Push the “RES/ACC ”button and hold it
until the vehicle reaches the desired
speed. Then, release the button. The
vehicle speed at that moment will be
memorized and treated as the new setspeed.
When the difference between the actual
vehicle speed and the set speed is less
than 4 mph (6.8 km/h), the set speed can
be increased 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time
by pressing the “RES/ACC ”button quickly.
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!To increase the speed (by accel-
erator pedal)
1. Depress the accelerator pedal to
accelerate the vehicle to the desiredspeed.
2. Push the “SET/COAST ”button once.
Now the desired speed is set and the
vehicle will keep running at that speed
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTE
If the difference between the actual
vehicle speed when the button is
pushed and the speed last time you
set is less than 4 mph (6.8 km/h), the
vehicle speed will be lowered by 1 mph
(1.6 km/h). This occurs because the
cruise control system unit regards this
operation as that intended to decrease
the vehicle speed. !
To decrease the speed (by button)
Push the “SET/COAST ”button and hold it
until the vehicle reaches the desired
speed. Then, release the button. The
vehicle speed at that moment will be
memorized and treated as the new setspeed.
When the difference between the actual
vehicle speed and the set speed is less
than 4 mph (6.8 km/h), the set speed can
be lowered 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time by
pressing the “SET/COAST ”button quickly.
! To decrease the speed (by brakepedal)
1. Depress the brake pedal to release
cruise control temporarily.
2. When the speed decreases to the
desired speed, press the “SET/COAST ”button once. Now the desired speed is set
and the vehicle will keep running at that
speed without depressing the acceleratorpedal.
& Cruise control indicator light
Refer to “Cruise control indicator light ”
F 3-26.
& Cruise control set indicator light
Refer to “Cruise control set indicator light ”
F 3-27. Starting and operating
7-47
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Page 312 of 458

New vehicle break-in driving–the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km) ..................................... 8-2
Fuel economy hints ............................................ 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............ 8-2
Catalytic converter .............................................. 8-3
Periodic inspections ........................................... 8-4
Driving in foreign countries ............................... 8-4
Driving tips for AWD models .............................. 8-5
Off road driving ................................................... 8-6
All AWD models except OUTBACK ...................... 8-6
OUTBACK ........................................................... 8-6 Winter driving
...................................................... 8-8
Operation during cold weather . ............................ 8-8
Driving on snowy and icy roads ........................... 8-9
Corrosion protection .......................................... 8-10
Snow tires ......................................................... 8-10
Tire chains ........................................................ 8-11
Rocking the vehicle ........................................... 8-11
Loading your vehicle ......................................... 8-12
Vehicle capacity weight ...................................... 8-12
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........................ 8-13
Roof molding and crossbar (if equipped) ............ 8-14
Trailer towing ..................................................... 8-15 Driving tips
8