2012 SUBARU FORESTER door lock

WARNING
. When refueling, insert the fuel
nozzle securely into the fuel filler
pipe. If the nozzle is lifted or not
fully inserted, its automatic stop-
ping mechanism may not func-
tion, causing fuel to overflow the
tank and creating a fire hazard.
. Stop refueling when the auto-
matic stop mechanism on the
fuel nozzle activates. If you con-
tinue to add fuel, temperature
changes or other conditions
may cause fuel to overflow from
the tank and create a fire hazard.
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler
pump automatically stops. Do not add any
more fuel.
5. Put the cap back on, turn it clockwise
until you hear a clicking noise. Be certain
not to catch the tether under the cap whiletightening.
6. Close the fuel filler lid completely.
If you spill any fuel on the painted surface,
rinse it off immediately. Otherwise, the
painted surface could be damaged.CAUTION
. Never add any cleaning agents to
the fuel tank. The addition of a
cleaning agent may cause da-
mage to the fuel system.
. After refueling, turn the cap
clockwise until it clicks to ensure
that it is fully tightened. If the cap
is not securely tightened, fuel
may leak out while the vehicle is
being driven or fuel spillage
could occur in the event of an
accident, creating a fire hazard.
. Do not let fuel spill on the exterior
surfaces of the vehicle. Because
fuel may damage the paint, be
sure to wipe off any spilled fuel
quickly. Paint damage caused by
spilled fuel is not covered under
the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
. Always use a genuine SUBARU
fuel filler cap. If you use the
wrong cap, it may not fit or have
proper venting and your fuel tank
and emission control system
may be damaged. It could also
lead to fuel spillage and a fire.
. Immediately put fuel in the tank
whenever the low fuel warning
light illuminates. Engine misfires as a result of an empty tank
could cause damage to the en-gine.
NOTE . You will see the “
”sign in the fuel
gauge. This indicates that the fuel filler
door (lid) is located on the right side of
the vehicle.. If the fuel filler cap is not tightened
until it clicks or if the tether is caught
under the cap, the CHECK ENGINE
warning light/malfunction indicator
light may illuminate. Refer to “CHECK
ENGINE warning light/Malfunction in-
dicator light ”F 3-16.
Starting and operating
7-5

7-10Starting and operating
&Starting your vehicle
The remote control start system is acti-
vated by pressing the “
”button twice
within 3 seconds on your remote control
transmitter. The system will check certain
pre-conditions before starting, and if all
safety parameters are correct, the engine
will start within 5 seconds. While the
vehicle is operating via remote engine
start, the vehicle ’s power window features
will be disabled. Also, the system has a
timer and will shut down after 15 minutes if
you do not operate the vehicle. Press and
hold the “
”button for 2 seconds again to
turn the vehicle off. If the vehicle ’s starter
cranks but does not start or starts and
stalls, the remote engine start system will
power off then attempt to start the vehicle an additional four times. If the vehicle fails
to start after the additional attempts, the
remote engine start system will abort and
return to a non-activated state. &
Remote start safety features
For safety and security reasons, the
system will fail to start and beep the horn
twice or shut down the engine during
remote start operation if any of the
following conditions occur. . The brake pedal is pressed before the
vehicle ignition switch is turned “on ”.
. The key was already in the ignition
switch.. The engine hood is opened.
. The vehicle ’s engine idle speed has
reached a level over 3,000 rpm.. The alarm is triggered by opening a
door or the rear gate. NOTE . The security indicator light on the
dashboard will stop flashing while
under remote engine start operation,
but the vehicle is still protected.. If the vehicle is entered during
remote engine start operation, the
security system will not record the
entry in the alarm history. &
Entering the vehicle while it
is running via remote start
1. Unlock the vehicle doors using the
keyless entry system. If the vehicle ’s
doors are unlocked manually using the
key, the vehicle ’s alarm system will trigger
and the remote engine start system will
turn off. Inserting the key into the ignition
switch and turning it to the “ON ”position or
pressing the unlock button “
”on the
remote keyless entry transmitter will dis-
arm the alarm system. Refer to “Alarm
system ”F 2-14.
2. Enter the vehicle. Do not depress the
brake pedal.
3. Insert the key into the ignition switch
and turn to the “ON ”position. If the ignition
switch is accidentally turned to the“ START ”position, the system ’s “starter
anti-grind ”feature will prevent the starter
from re-cranking.
4. Depress the brake pedal. The remote
starter disengages, the vehicle ’s power
window features are re-enabled and the
vehicle will operate normally. & Entering the vehicle follow-
ing remote engine start shut-down
An alarm trigger may occur if the vehicle is
opened by the remote keyless entry

8-8Driving tips
.Frequent driving of an AWD model
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 weather
Carry some emergency equipment, such
as 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 winterstarts.
It normally takes longer to start the engine
in very cold weather conditions. Use an
engine oil of a suitable grade and viscosity
for cold weather. Heavy summer oil will
cause harder starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing by squirting them with deicer or glycerin.
Forcing a frozen door open may damage
or separate the rubber weather strips
around the door. If the door is frozen,
use hot water to melt the ice, and after-
wards thoroughly wipe the water away.
Use a windshield washer fluid that con-
tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use
engine antifreeze or other substitutes
because they may damage the paint of
the vehicle.
SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-
tains 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 Con- centration Freezing Temperature
30% 10.4 8F( 12 8C)
50% 48F( 20 8C)
100%
49 8F( 45 8C)
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 washer tank with a fluid with a
different concentration from the one used

9-18In case of emergency
distances, transport your vehicle
on a flat-bed truck. Rear gate
–if the rear gate
cannot be opened
In the event that you cannot open the rear
gate by operating the power door locking
switches or the remote keyless entry
system, you can open it from inside the
cargo area.
1. Remove the access cover at the
bottom-center of the rear gate trim.
2. Locate the rear gate lock release lever
behind the rear gate trim panel.
CAUTION
Never operate the rear gate lock
release lever with fingers because
doing so may cause an injury. Al-
ways use a screwdriver or a similartool.
3. Slide the lever to the right using a
screwdriver to unlock the rear gate.
4. Open the rear gate from outside by
holding the rear gate with your hands.

10-4Appearance care
Corrosion protection
Your 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 reliableoperation. &Most common causes of corrosion
The 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 corrosion
Wash 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, and hood latch should
be inspected and lubricated periodically.

Fuses and circuits &Fuse panel located in the passenger compartmentFuse
panel Fuse
rating Circuit
1 20A .Trailer
2 Empty
3 15A .Door locking
4 10A .Front wiper deicer relay
5 10A .Combination meter
6 7.5A .Remote control rear
view mirrors
. Seat heater relay
7 15A .Combination meter
. Integrated unit
8 20A .Stop light
9 15A .Front wiper deicer
10 7.5A .Power supply (battery)
11 7.5A .Turn signal unit
. Clock
12 15A .Automatic transmission
unit
. Engine control unit
. Integrated unit
13 20A .Accessory power outlet
(center console)
14 15A .Position light
. Tail light
. Rear combination light
15 Empty (FWD connector for AWD AT models)
Specifications
12-11
– CONTINUED –

14-4Index
Manual ................................................................... 4-8
Clock ........................................................................ 3-25
Clutch
Fluid ............................................................ 11-24, 12-9
Pedal .................................................................. 11-27
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 ........................................................... 11-21, 12-8
Rear ............................................................ 11-22, 12-8
Dimensions ............................................................... 12-2
Disarming the alarm system ........................................ 2-17 Disc brake pad wear warning indicators
........................ 7-23
Dome light ......................................................... 6-2, 11-50
Door
Locks ..................................................................... 2-4
Open warning light. ................................................. 3-21
Step light ............................................................. 11-50
Drive belts ............................................................... 11-18
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 .............................................. 8-10
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

Rear combination.................................................. 11-48
Turn signal ................................................... 3-31, 11-48
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 Maintenance Precautions ........................................................... 11-3
Schedule .............................................................. 11-3
Seatbelt ................................................................ 1-20
Tools ...................................................................... 9-4
Malfunction indicator light (check engine warning light) ... 3-16Manual Climate control system ............................................. 4-8
Seat ....................................................................... 1-3
Transmission ......................................................... 7-13
Transmission oil ............................................ 11-19, 12-8
Map light ........................................................... 6-3, 11-50
Maximum load limits ................................................... 8-18
Meters and gauges ...................................................... 3-6
Mirror defogger .......................................................... 3-45
Mirrors ...................................................................... 3-36
Moonroof .......................................................... 2-24, 9-19
N
New vehicle break-in driving .......................................... 8-2
O
Odometer/Trip meter .................................................... 3-8 Oil filter
................................................................... 11-11
Oil level Engine .................................................................. 11-9
Front differential gear ............................................ 11-21
Manual transmission ............................................. 11-19
Rear differential gear ............................................ 11-22
Oil pressure warning light ............................................ 3-17
On-road and off-road driving ...................................... 9, 8-6
Outside
Mirror defogger ...................................................... 3-45
Mirrors .................................................................. 3-44
Temperature indicator .............................................. 3-27
Overhead console ....................................................... 6-6
Overheating engine .................................................... 9-13
PParking Brake .................................................................... 7-29
Brake stroke ........................................................ 11-29
Tips ...................................................................... 7-29
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 ................................................ 11-22, 12-9
Precautions against vehicle modification ................ 1-22, 1-60
Preparing to drive ........................................................ 7-7 Index
14-7