2012 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX warning light

&Abbreviation list
You will find several abbreviations in this
manual. The meanings of the abbrevia-
tions are shown in the following list.
Abbreviation Meaning
A/C Air conditioner A/ELR Automatic/Emergency locking retractor
ABS Anti-lock brake system
AKI Anti knock index
ALR Automatic locking retractor
AT Automatic transmission
ATF Automatic transmission fluid
AWD All-wheel drive DCCD Driver
’s control center differ-
ential
DRL Daytime running lightEBD Electronic brake force distri- bution
ELR Emergency locking retractor
FWD Front-wheel drive
GAW Gross axle weight
GAWR Gross axle weight rating
GVW Gross vehicle weight
GVWR Gross vehicle weight rating
HID High intensity discharge Abbreviation Meaning
INT Intermittent
LATCH Lower anchors and tethers for
children
LED Light emitting diode
LSD Limited slip differential
MIL Malfunction indicator light MMT Methylcyclopentadienyl man-
ganese tricarbonyl
MT Manual transmission
OBD On-board diagnostics
RON Research octane number
SI-DRIVE SUBARU Intelligent Drive SRS Supplemental restraint sys- tem
TIN Tire identification number TPMS Tire pressure monitoring sys- tem
VDC Vehicle dynamics control Vehicle symbols
There are some of the symbols you may
see on your vehicle.
For warning and indicator lights, refer to “
Warning and indicator lights ”F 22.
Mark Name
WARNING
CAUTION
Power door lock
Power door unlock
Power window with automatic
open and close function
Passengers ’windows lock
and unlock
Fuel
Front fog lights 3
– CONTINUED –

4
Mark Name
Hazard warning flasher
Engine hood
Trunk lid (4-door)
Seat heater
Child restraint top tether an- chorages
Child restraint lower an- chorages
Horn
Wiper intermittent
Windshield washer
Windshield wiper mist (for
single wipe)
Rear window wiperMark Name
Rear window washer
Lights
Tail lights, license plate light
and instrument panel illumi- nation
Headlights
Turn signal
Illumination brightness
Fan speed
Instrument panel outlets
Instrument panel outlets and
foot outlets
Foot outlets
Windshield defroster and foot outletsMark Name
Windshield defroster
Rear window defogger/Out-
side mirror defogger/Wind-
shield wiper deicer
Air recirculation
Engine oil
Washer
Door lock (transmitter)
Door unlock (transmitter)
Trunk lid open (4-door) or rear
gate unlock (5-door) (trans- mitter)

6
The SRS airbag deploys with
considerable speed and force
and can injure or even kill chil-
dren, especially if they are 12
years of age and under and are
not restrained or improperly re-
strained. Because children are
lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk of being injured from
deployment is greater.
. NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD
FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THECHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.
. Always turn the child safety locks
to the “LOCK ”position when
children sit in the rear seat.
Serious injury could result if a
child accidentally opens the door
and falls out. Refer to “Child
safety locks ”F 2-20.
. Always lock the passenger ’s win-
dows using the lock switch when
children are riding in the vehicle.
Failure to follow this procedure
could result in injury to a child
operating the power window. Re-
fer to “Windows ”F 2-20. .
Never leave unattended children,
adults or animals in the vehicle.
They could accidentally injure
themselves or others through
inadvertent operation of the ve-
hicle. Also, on hot or sunny days,
temperature in a closed vehicle
could quickly become high en-
ough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to them.
. Help prevent children, adults or
animals from locking themselves
in the trunk. On hot or sunny
days, the temperature in the
trunk could quickly become high
enough to cause death or serious
heat-related injuries including
brain damage to anyone locked
inside, particularly for small chil-dren.
. When leaving the vehicle, either
close all windows and lock all
doors. Also make certain that the
trunk is closed.
For instructions and precautions, carefully
read the following sections. . For the seatbelt system, refer to “Seat-
belts ”F 1-11.
. For the child restraint system, refer to
“ Child restraint systems ”F 1-21. .
For the SRS airbag system, refer to
“ *SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System airbag) ”F 1-34.
& Engine exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
. Never inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide, a colorless
and odorless gas which is dan-
gerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
. Always properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent
engine exhaust gas from enter-
ing the vehicle.
. Never run the engine in a closed
space, such as a garage, except
for the brief time needed to drive
the vehicle in or out of it.
. Avoid remaining in a parked
vehicle for a lengthy time while
the engine is running. If that is
unavoidable, then use the venti-
lation fan to force fresh air into
the vehicle.
. Always keep the front ventilator
inlet grille free from snow, leaves
or other obstructions to ensure

16 &Instrument panel
1) Door locks (page 2-4)
2) Outside mirror switch (page 3-44)
3) Illumination brightness control
(page 3-31)
4) Headlight beam leveler (page 3-31)
5) Light control switch (page 3-29)
6) Combination meter (page 3-5)
7) Wiper control lever (page 3-33)
8) Hazard warning flasher switch (page 3-5)
9) Audio (page 5-1)
10) Shift lever (page 7-14/page 7-16)
11) Climate control (page 4-1)
12) Cruise control (page 7-37)
13) Horn (page 3-48)
14) SRS airbag (page 1-34)
15) Tilt/telescopic steering (page 3-47)
16) Hands-free switches (page 5-35)
17) Audio control buttons (page 5-31)
18) Fuse box (page 11-37)
19) Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch (page 7-30)/Vehicle Dynamics Control
mode switch (page 7-29)
20) Hood lock release knob (page 11-5)
21) Power windows (page 2-20)

22
&Warning and indicator lights
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-13
Front passenger ’s
seatbelt warning light 3-13
SRS airbag system
warning light3-14
/Front passenger
’s
frontal airbag ON indi- cator 3-14
/Front passenger
’s
frontal airbag OFF in- dicator 3-14
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunc-
tion indicator light3-15
Charge warning light 3-16
Oil pressure warning light
3-16
Rear differential oil
temperature warning
light (STI)3-16
ABS warning light 3-18 Mark Name Page
Brake system warning light
3-19
Door open warning light3-20
Hill start assist warn-
ing light/Hill start assist
OFF indicator light (STI)3-20
Vehicle Dynamics
Control warning light/
Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation indi-
cator light3-20
Vehicle Dynamics
Control OFF indicator
light/Traction Control
OFF indicator light (STI)3-21
Turn signal indicator lights
3-24
High beam indicator light3-24
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)
3-24
Security indicator light 3-23
Headlight indicator light
3-24Mark Name Page
Cruise control indica-
tor light
3-24
Cruise control set in-
dicator light3-24
Low fuel warning light 3-20
Low tire pressure
warning light
(U.S.-spec. models)3-16
Shift-up indicator light (STI)
3-23
Driver
’s control center
differential auto indi-
cator light (STI) 3-24
Auto [+] mode indica-
tor light (STI)
3-24
Auto [
] mode indica-
tor light (STI) 3-25
Driver
’s control center
differential indicator
and warning lights (STI) 3-25
REV indicator light (STI)
3-25
Sport (S) mode indi-
cator light (STI)3-23

24
Function settings
A SUBARU dealer can change the settings of the functions shown in the following table to meet your personal requirements. Contact
the nearest SUBARU dealer for details. If your vehicle is equipped with the genuine SUBARU navigation system, the settings for some
of these functions can be changed using the navigation monitor. For details, please refer to the Owner’s Manual supplement for the
navigation system.
Item Function Possible settings Default setting Page
Alarm system Alarm system Operation/Non-operation Operation 2-15 Monitoring start delay time (after closure of doors) 0 second/30 seconds 30 seconds 2-16
Impact sensor operation (only models with
shock sensors (dealer option)) Operation/Non-operation Non-operation 2-19
Passive arming Operation/Non-operation Non-operation 2-18
Dome light and map lights illumination
(models with moonroof) ON/OFF OFF 2-15
Dome light illumination
(models without moonroof)
Remote keyless entry system Hazard warning flasher Operation/Non-operation Operation 2-7 Audible signal Operation/Non-operation Operation 2-10
Key lock-in prevention Key lock-in prevention Operation/Non-operation Operation 2-7
Remote engine start system
(dealer option) Horn chirp confirmation ON/OFF ON 7-12
Defogger and deicer system for
models with the automatic climate
control system Rear window defogger, outside mirror
defogger and windshield wiper deicer
Operation for 15 minutes/
Continuous operationOperation for 15 minutes 3-45
Dome light Operation of dome light/map light OFF delay timer OFF/Short/Normal/Long Long 6-2, 6-3
Map light for models with a moonroof
Battery drainage prevention function Battery drainage prevention function Operation/Non-operation Operation 2-5

Front seats........................................................... 1-2
Forward and backward adjustment ...................... 1-3
Reclining the seatback ........................................ 1-3
Seat cushion height adjustment (driver ’s seat) ..... 1-4
Head restraint adjustment (if equipped) ................ 1-4
Active head restraint (if equipped) ....................... 1-5
Seat heater (if equipped) .................................... 1-6
Type A seat heater .............................................. 1-6
Type B seat heater .............................................. 1-6
Rear seats ............................................................ 1-7
Armrest (if equipped) ........................................... 1-8
Head restraint adjustment .................................... 1-8
Folding down the rear seatback ........................... 1-9
Seatbelts ............................................................. 1-11
Seatbelt safety tips ............................................. 1-11
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ................... 1-12
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ............................................................ 1-12
Seatbelt warning light and chime ........................ 1-12
Fastening the seatbelt ........................................ 1-12
Seatbelt maintenance ......................................... 1-19
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-19
System monitors ................................................ 1-20 System servicing
............................................... 1-20
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-21
Child restraint systems ..................................... 1-21
Where to place a child restraint system .............. 1-22
Choosing a child restraint system ...................... 1-24
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt ........................................................... 1-24
Installing a booster seat ..................................... 1-27
Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) .............. 1-29
Top tether anchorages ....................................... 1-31
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) ................................................ 1-34
General precautions regarding SRS airbag system ............................................................ 1-34
Components ...................................................... 1-41
SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system, SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag .................. 1-43
System operation ............................................... 1-47
SRS airbag system monitors .............................. 1-55
SRS airbag system servicing ... .......................... 1-56
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-57
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1

1-2Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats
WARNING
. Never adjust the seat while driv-
ing to avoid loss of vehicle con-
trol and personal injury.
. Before adjusting the seat, make
sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers and cargo are
clear of the adjusting mechan-ism.
. After adjusting the seat, push it
slightly to make sure it is se-
curely locked. If the seat is not
securely locked, it may move or
the seatbelt may not operate
properly.
. Do not put objects under the front
seats. They may interfere with
front seat locking and cause anaccident.
. Seatbelts provide maximum re-
straint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat.
To reduce the risk of sliding
under the seatbelt in a collision,
the front seatbacks should be
always used in the upright posi-
tion while the vehicle is running.
If the front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a
collision, the risk of sliding under
the lap belt and of the lap belt
sliding up over the abdomen will
increase, and both can result in
serious internal injury or death.
. The SRS airbags deploy with
considerable speed and force.
Occupants who are out of proper
position when the SRS airbag
deploys could suffer very serious
injuries. Because the SRS airbag
needs enough space for deploy-
ment, the driver should always
sit upright and well back in the
seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still
maintaining full vehicle control
and the front passenger should
move the seat as far back as
possible and sit upright and well
back in the seat.
WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under in
the rear seat properly restrained at
all times. The SRS airbag deploys
with considerable speed and force
and can injure or even kill children,
especially if they are 12 years of age
and under and are not restrained or
improperly restrained. Because chil-
dren are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured
from deployment is greater. For that
reason, we strongly recommend
that ALL children (including those
in child seats and those that have
outgrown child restraint devices) sit
in the REAR seat properly re-
strained at all times in a child