2012 SUBARU FORESTER maintenance

&Tire rotation
Models equipped with 4 non-unidirectional tires
1) Front
Models equipped with unidirectional tires
1) Front Tire wear varies from wheel to wheel. To
maximize the life of each tire and ensure
that the tires wear uniformly, it is best to
rotate the tires every 7,500 miles (12,000
km). Move the tires to the positions shown
in the illustration each time they arerotated.
Replace any damaged or unevenly worn
tires at the time of rotation. After tire
rotation, adjust the tire pressures and
make sure the wheel nuts are correctlytightened.
After driving approximately 600 miles
(1,000 km), check the wheel nuts again
and retighten any nut that has becomeloose. &
Tire replacement
The wheels and tires are important and
integral parts of your vehicle ’s design;
they cannot be changed arbitrarily. The
tires fitted as standard equipment are
optimally matched to the characteristics
of the vehicle and were selected to give
the best possible combination of running
performance, ride comfort, and service
life. It is essential for every tire to have a
size and construction matching those
shown on the tire placard and to have a
speed symbol and load index matching
those shown on the tire placard. Using tires of a non-specified size detracts
from controllability, ride comfort, braking
performance, speedometer accuracy and
odometer accuracy. It also creates incor-
rect body-to-tire clearances and inappro-
priately changes the vehicle
’s ground
clearance.
All four tires must be the same in terms of
size, circumference, construction, manu-
facturer, brand (tread pattern), degree of
wear, speed symbol and load index. You
are advised to replace the tires with new
ones that are identical to those fitted as
standard equipment.
For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU
recommends replacing all four tires at
the same time.
WARNING
. When replacing a tire, you must
use a tire that is of the same size,
circumference, construction,
brand (tread pattern), speed sym-
bol and load index as the original
tires listed on the tire placard.
Using tires of other sizes, cir-
cumferences or constructions
may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your
vehicle and may affect ride,
handling, braking, speedometer/ Maintenance and service
11-35
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11-36Maintenance and service
odometer calibration, and clear-
ance between the body and tires.
It also may be dangerous and
lead to loss of vehicle control.
. You must install four tires that are
of the same size, circumference,
construction, manufacturer,
brand (tread pattern), degree of
wear, speed symbol and load
index. Mixing tires of different
types, sizes or degrees of wear
can result in damage to the
vehicle ’s power train. Use of
different types or sizes of tires
can also dangerously reduce
controllability and braking per-
formance and can lead to anaccident.
. Use only radial tires. Do not use
radial tires together with belted
bias tires and/or bias-ply tires.
Doing so can dangerously re-
duce controllability, resulting in
an accident.
& Wheel replacement
When replacing wheels due to damage,
for example, make sure the replacement
wheels match the specifications of the
wheels that are fitted as standard equip- ment. Replacement wheels are available
from SUBARU dealers.
WARNING
Use only those wheels that are
specified for your vehicle. Wheels
not meeting specifications could
interfere with brake caliper opera-
tion and may cause the tires to rub
against the wheel well housing dur-
ing turns. The resulting loss of
vehicle control could lead to anaccident.
NOTE
When any of the wheels are removed
and replaced for tire rotation or to
change a flat tire, always check the
tightness of the wheel nuts after driv-
ing approximately 600 miles (1,000 km).
If any nut is loose, tighten it to the
specified torque. &
Wheel covers (if equipped)
! Removing the wheel cover
1) Notch
2) Valve hole
Insert a wheel cover remover into the
notch part on the opposite side of the
valve hole and pry the wheel cover to
remove it.

!Installing the wheel cover
Align the valve with the valve hole in the
cover, then fit the cover on the wheel by
tapping your hand evenly around the
circumference of the cover. Aluminum wheels
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and
damaged easily. Handle them carefully to
maintain their appearance, performance,
and safety. .
When any of the wheels are removed
and replaced for tire rotation or to change
a flat tire, always check the tightness of
the wheel nuts after driving approximately
600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose,
tighten it to the specified torque. . Never apply oil to the threaded parts,
wheel nuts, or tapered surface of the wheel. . Never let the wheel rub against sharp
protrusions or curbs.. When wheel nuts, balance weights, or
the center cap is replaced, be sure to
replace them with genuine SUBARU parts
designed for aluminum wheels. Windshield washer fluidIf you spray washer fluid on the windshield
but the supply of washer fluid appears to
diminish, check the level of washer fluid in
the tank.Maintenance and service
11-37
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11-38Maintenance and service
Washer fluid level gauge
Remove the washer tank filler cap, then
check the fluid level indicated by the level
gauge (attached to the inside of the cap).
If the level is near the “Low ”mark, add
fluid until it reaches the “Hi ”level on the 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)
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
previously, purge the old fluid from the
piping between the washer 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 concen-
tration appropriately for the out-
side temperature. If the concen-
tration is inappropriate, sprayed
washer fluid may freeze on the
windshield and obstruct your
view, and the fluid may freeze in
the washer tank.
. State or local regulations on
volatile organic compounds may
restrict the use of methanol, a
common windshield washer anti-
freeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol anti-
freeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather
protection without damaging
your vehicle ’s paint, wiper blades
or washer system.
. Never use engine coolant as
washer fluid because it could
cause paint damage.

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.
. While removing the wiper blades
from the wiper arms, do not
return the wiper arms to the
original positions. Otherwise,
the windshield surface may bescratched.
. When returning the raised wiper
arms to the original positions, carefully return the wiper arms
on the windshield while support-
ing them with your hands. You
should not return the wiper arms
to the windshield only by the
return spring. Otherwise, the wi-
per arms may be deformed and/
or the windshield surface may bescratched.
If you cannot eliminate the streaking even
after following this method, replace the
wiper blades using the following proce-dures. &
Windshield wiper blade as- sembly
1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield.1) Open the cover
2) Pull down the wiper blade
2. Remove the wiper blade assembly by
opening the cover and pulling it down in
the direction shown in the illustration.
3. Install the wiper blade assembly to the
wiper arm. Make sure that it locks in place.
4. Hold the wiper arm by hand and slowly
lower it in position. Maintenance and service
11-39
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11-40Maintenance and service
& Windshield wiper blade rub- ber
1) Support
1. Grasp the locked end of the blade
rubber assembly and pull it firmly to
release the claws of the support from the
stoppers on the rubber. Pull and remove
the blade rubber completely.
1) Metal spines
2. If the new blade rubber is not provided
with two metal spines, remove the metal
spines from the old blade rubber and
install them in the new blade rubber.
3. Align the claws of the support with the grooves in the rubber and slide the blade
rubber assembly into the support until it islocked.
1) Claw
2) Stopper
4. Make sure the stoppers on the blade
rubber are engaged and locked into the
claws. If the rubber is not retained
properly, the wiper blade may scratch thewindshield.

&Rear window wiper blade assembly
1. Raise the wiper arm off the rear
window.
2. Turn the wiper blade assembly coun- terclockwise.
3. Pull the wiper blade assembly toward
you to remove it from the wiper arm.
4. Install the wiper blade assembly to the
wiper arm. Make sure that it locks in place.
5. Hold the wiper arm by hand and slowly
lower it in position. &
Rear window wiper blade rubber
1. Pull out the end of the blade rubber
assembly to unlock it from the plasticsupport.
Maintenance and service 11-41
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11-42Maintenance and service
2. Pull the blade rubber assembly out of
the plastic support.
1) Metal spines
3. If the new blade rubber is not provided
with two metal spines, remove the metal
spines from the old blade rubber and
install them in the new blade rubber.
4. Align the claws of the plastic support
with the grooves in the blade rubber
assembly, then slide the blade rubber
assembly into place.
5. Securely retain both ends of the
rubber with the stoppers on the plastic support ends. If the rubber is not retained
properly, the wiper may scratch the rear
window glass.