2012 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI four wheel drive

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Getting
Started Instrument
Panel Gauges
Personalize Controls While
OperatingSafety / In Case
of Emergency Additional
Information
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GetGttintigStartedInsItrument PanelGauGgesPerPsonalilizeConCtrotlslWhile OperatingSafSfetyt / /In ICasCe of EmergencyAddAdditiiional lInformation
While
Operating
Front Hood and Hood ScoopDue to the lightweight material, a slight vibration
is normal at higher speeds and will not affect the
durability of the hood. To avoid deforming the
front hood when closing, do not press down
on the hood with your hands. You can release
your hold on the front hood approximately
12 inches above the closing position and its
weight should cause it to close securely.

Driver Control Center
Differential (DCCD)
(Impreza WRX STI only)This system adjusts the torque-distribution
ratio between the front and rear wheels
of the center differential to suit driving and
road surface conditions. The DCCD can be
operated automatically or manually. When
the system is in the automatic mode, the
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make a vibration or noise when the vehicle is in
tight turns at slow speeds (torque binding). In addition, if the rear differential oil
exceeds a certain temperature, the DCCD will automatically cancel the current
torque-distribution ratio setting and adopt its minimum ratio.

Front Fender VentsThe front fender has functional side vents that increase
air flow through the engine compartment. This provides
additional cooling for the intercooler and engine.

Limited Slip Differential
(Impreza WRX STI only)The Limited Slip Differential (LSD) provides optimum distribution of power according to
the difference in revolution between the right and left rear wheels that may be caused
by certain driving conditions, thereby improving driving stability on snow-covered,
muddy or other slippery roads or during high speed driving. Due to the nature of this
mechanical Limited Slip Differential, the rear differential gears may make a vibration
and/or noise when making turns. When servicing the LSD, use only specified gear oil.
TiresThe factory-fitted tires on your vehicle are summer
tires. Summer tires are high-speed capability tires
best suited for highway driving under dry conditions.
Summer tires are inadequate for driving on slippery
roads, such as on snow-covered or icy roads. If you drive your vehicle on
snow-covered or icy roads, we
strongly recommend the use
of winter (snow) tires for all four
wheels. Please note that these
originally equipped summer
tires offer advanced grip
performance and will wear out
quicker than ordinary tires.
WRX STI
WRX

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Getting
Started Instrument
Panel Gauges
Personalize Controls While
OperatingSafety / In Case
of Emergency Additional
Information
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GetGttintigStartedInsItrument PanelGauGgesPerPsonalilizeConCtrotlslWhiWhile lOperatingSafety / In Cassse e eee e of EmergencycycyyAddAdditiiional lInformation
Safety /
In Case of
Emergency
30Safety / In Case of EmergencyChild Restraint System

For maximum safety, first carefully read the LATCH system instructions from the device
manufacturer, as well as the installation instructions in your Owner’s Manual, to properly
install the LATCH compatible restraint system. Use the appropriate seatbelts or anchorages
provided in your vehicle. Children age 12 and under must properly occupy the rear seat at
all times.
Location of Spare Tire and Jack

A jack and other maintenance tools are stored
in the tool bucket in the center of the spare
tire, located in the trunk or cargo area.
Internal Child Safety
Trunk Release with
Self-Illuminating Handle (4-Door only)

In the event that children or adults become
locked inside the trunk, this luminescent
handle allows them to open the lid from inside
the trunk. To open, simply pull the yellow
handle downward as indicated by the arrow
on the handle, and then push up on the lid.
Towing Your All-Wheel Drive Vehicle

Since all-wheel drive distributes engine power to all four wheels, improper
towing will severely damage your AWD system. A flatbed truck is the only
recommended way to properly transport your AWD vehicle. If towing is
necessary, it is best done by your Subaru dealer or a commercial towing service.
Subaru Roadside Assistance

Subaru Roadside Assistance is free and standard on every 2011 Subaru vehicle.
Coverage is automatic; there are no forms to complete. Subaru Roadside
Assistance is available anytime during the 3-year/36,000-mile Subaru Lim\
ited
Warranty, whichever comes first.* A Subaru Roadside Assistance decal has
been affixed to the driver’s door window.
Subaru Roadside Assistance: 1-800-261-2155
Exclusions
Specifically excluded from Subaru Roadside Assistance coverage are service
requests or claims resulting from: accidents, vandalism, acts of God, violation of
any laws, or vehicle modifications not recommended by the manufacturer.
*See your dealer for details.
Child Safety Locks

The child safety locks are
located on the inside edges of
the rear doors. In the locked
position, the rear doors can only
be opened from the outside.

Black plate (121,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
Ignition switch
WARNING
. Never turn the ignition switch to
“ LOCK” while the vehicle is
being driven or towed because
that will lock the steering wheel,
preventing steering control. And
when the engine is turned off, it
takes a much greater effort than
usual to steer.
. Before leaving the vehicle, al-
ways remove the key from the
ignition switch for safety and
never allow an unattended child
to remain in the vehicle. Failure
to follow this procedure could
result in injury to a child or
others. Children could operate
the power windows, the moon-
roof or other controls or even
make the vehicle move.
CAUTION
Do not attach a large key holder or
key case to either key. If it banged
against your knees or hands while
you are driving, it could turn the
ignition switch from the “ON ”posi- tion to the
“Acc ”or “LOCK ”posi-
tion, thereby stopping the engine.
Also, if the key is attached to a
keyholder or to a large bunch of
other keys, centrifugal force may act
on it as the vehicle moves, resulting
in unwanted turning of the ignition
switch.
The ignition switch has four positions:
LOCK, Acc, ON and START.NOTE. Keep the ignition switch in the
“ LOCK ”position when the engine is
not running.
. Using electrical accessories for a
long time with the ignition switch in the
“ ON ”or “Acc ”position can cause the battery to go dead.
.
If the ignition switch will not move
from the “LOCK ”position to the “Acc ”
position, turn the steering wheel
slightly to the left and right as you turn
the ignition switch.
& LOCKThe key can only be inserted or removed
in this position. The ignition switch will lock
the steering wheel when you remove the
key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the
steering wheel slightly to the right and left
as you turn the key.The key can be turned from “Acc”to
“LOCK ”only when the key is pushed in
while turning it.
Instruments and controls
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Black plate (136,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
3-18
Instruments and controls
steadily after blinking for approxi-
mately one minute. This indicates
the TPMS is unable to monitor all
four road wheels. Contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible
for tire and sensor replacement and/
or system resetting.
If the light illuminates steadily after
blinking for approximately one min-
ute, promptly contact a SUBARU
dealer to have the system inspected.
CAUTION
The tire pressure monitoring system
is NOT a substitute for manually
checking tire pressure. The tire
pressure should be checked peri-
odically (at least monthly) using a
tire gauge. After any change to tire
pressure(s), the tire pressure mon-
itoring system will not re-check tire
inflation pressures until the vehicle
is first driven more than 20 mph (32
km/h). After adjusting the tire pres-
sures, increase the vehicle speed to
at least 20 mph (32 km/h) to start the
TPMS re-checking of the tire infla-
tion pressures. If the tire pressures
are now above the severe low
pressure threshold, the low tire
pressure warning light should turn off a few minutes later. Therefore, be
sure to install the specified size for
the front and rear tires.
&
ABS warning light
CAUTION
.
If any of the following conditions
occur, we recommend that you
have the ABS system repaired at
the first available opportunity by
your SUBARU dealer.
– The warning light does not
illuminate when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON ”
position.
– The warning light illuminates
when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON ”position,
but it does not turn off even
when the vehicle speed ex-
ceeds approximately 8 mph
(12 km/h).
– The warning light illuminates
during driving.
. When the warning light is on (and
the brake system warning light is
off), the ABS function shuts
down. However, the conventional
brake system continues to oper- ate normally.
With a vehicle equipped with an EBD
system, the ABS warning light illuminates
together with the brake system warning
light if the EBD system malfunctions. For
further details of the EBD system mal-
function warning, refer to “Electronic
Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system
warning ”F 3-19.
NOTEIf the warning light behavior is as
described in the following conditions,
the ABS system may be considered
normal.
. The warning light illuminates right
after the engine is started but turns off
immediately, remaining off.
. The warning light remains illumi-
nated after the engine has been started,
but it turns off when the vehicle speed
reaches approximately 8 mph (12
km/h).
. The warning light illuminates during
driving, but it turns off immediately and
remains off.
When driving with an insufficient battery
voltage such as when the engine is jump
started, the ABS warning light may illumi-
nate. This is due to the low battery voltage
and does not indicate a malfunction.

Black plate (258,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
7-8
Starting and operating
. A vehicle
fails the OBDII inspection if
the “CHECK ENGINE ”warning light is not
properly operating (light is illuminated or is
not working due to a burned out bulb) or
there is one or more diagnostic trouble
codes stored in the vehicle’ s computer.
. A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBDII system readiness monitors “NOT
READY ”is greater than one. If the
vehicle’ s battery has been recently re-
placed or disconnected, the OBDII system
inspection may indicate that the vehicle is
not ready for the emission test. Under this
condition, the vehicle driver should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few
days to reset the readiness monitors and
return for an emission re-inspection.
. Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their SUBARU Dealer for
service.
Some states still use dynamometers in
their emission inspection program. A
dynamometer is a treadmill or roller-like
testing device that allows your vehicle ’s
wheels to turn while the vehicle remains in
one place. Prior to your vehicle being put
on a dynamometer, tell your emission
inspector
not to place your SUBARU
AWD vehicle on a two-wheel dynam-
ometer. Otherwise, serious transmis-
sion damage will result. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and states using two-wheel
dynamometers in their emission testing
program have EXEMPTED SUBARU
AWD vehicles from the portion of the
testing program that involves a two-wheel
dynamometer. There are some states that
use four-wheel dynamometers in their
testing program. When properly used, this
equipment should not damage a SUBARU
AWD vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.
Preparing to driveYou should perform the following checks
and adjustments every day before you
start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and
lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition
of the tires. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk (4-door)
and rear gate (5-door) are fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside
and outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning
and indicator lights when the ignition
switch is turned to the
“ON”position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.NOTEEngine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops.

Black plate (278,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
7-28
Starting and operating
Vehicle Dynamics Control
system
WARNING
Always use the utmost care in
driving –overconfidence because
you are driving with a Vehicle Dy-
namics Control system equipped
vehicle could easily lead to a ser-
ious accident.
CAUTION
. Even if your vehicle is equipped
with Vehicle Dynamics Control
system, winter tires should be
used when driving on snow-cov-
ered or icy roads; in addition,
vehicle speed should be reduced
considerably. Simply having a
Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-
tem does not guarantee that the
vehicle will be able to avoid
accidents in any situation.
. Activation of the Vehicle Dy-
namics Control system is an
indication that the road being
travelled on has a slippery sur-
face; since having Vehicle Dy-
namics Control is no guarantee that full vehicle control will be
maintained at all times and under
all conditions, its activation
should be seen as a sign that
the speed of the vehicle should
be reduced considerably.
. Whenever suspension compo-
nents, steering components, or
an axle are removed from a
vehicle, have an inspection of
that system performed by an
authorized SUBARU dealer.
. The following precautions should
be observed in order to ensure
that the Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol system is operating properly:
– All four wheels should be
fitted with tires of the same
size, type, and brand. Further-
more, the amount of wear
should be the same for all
four tires.
– Keep the tire pressure at the
proper level as shown on the
vehicle placard attached to
the driver ’s side door pillar.
– Use only the specified tem-
porary spare tire to replace a
flat tire. With a temporary
spare tire, the effectiveness
of the Vehicle Dynamics Con- trol system is reduced and
this should be taken into ac-
count when driving the vehi-
cle in such a condition.
. If non-matching tires are used,
the Vehicle Dynamics Control
system may not operate cor-
rectly.
. The Vehicle Dynamics Control
system helps prevent unstable
vehicle motion such as skidding
using control of the brakes and
engine power. Do not turn off the
Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-
tem unless it is absolutely ne-
cessary. If you must turn off the
Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-
tem, drive very carefully based
on the road surface condition.
In the event of wheelspin and/or skidding
on a slippery road surface and/or during
cornering and/or an evasive maneuver,
the Vehicle Dynamics Control system
adjusts the engine ’s output and the
wheels ’respective braking forces to help
maintain traction and directional control.
. Traction Control Function
The traction control function is designed to
prevent spinning of the driving wheels on
slippery road surfaces, thereby helping to
maintain traction and directional control.

Black plate (282,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
7-32
Starting and operating
Tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) (U.S.-spec.
models)The tire pressure monitoring system pro-
vides the driver with a warning message
by sending a signal from a sensor that is
installed in each wheel when tire pressure
is severely low.
The tire pressure monitoring system will
activate only when the vehicle is driven at
speeds above 20 mph (32 km/h). Also,
this system may not react immediately to a
sudden drop in tire pressure (for example,
a blow-out caused by running over a
sharp object).
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, never
brake suddenly and keep driving
straight ahead while gradually redu-
cing speed. Then slowly pull off the
road to a safe place. Otherwise an
accident involving serious vehicle
damage and serious personal injury
could occur.
Check the pressure for all four tires
and adjust the pressure to the COLD
tire pressure shown on the tire
placard on the door pillar on the
driver ’s side.
Even when the vehicle is driven a
very short distance, the tires get
warm and their pressures increase
accordingly. Be sure to let the tires
cool thoroughly before adjusting
their pressures to the standard
values shown on the tire placard.
Refer to “Tires and wheels” F11-23.
The tire pressure monitoring system
does not function when the vehicle
is stationary. After adjusting the tire
pressures, increase the vehicle
speed to at least 20 mph (32 km/h)
to start the TPMS re-checking of the
tire inflation pressures. If the tire
pressures are now above the severe low pressure threshold, the low tire
pressure warning light should turn
off a few minutes later.
If this light still illuminates while
driving after adjusting the tire pres-
sure, a tire may have significant
damage and a fast leak that causes
the tire to lose air rapidly. If you have
a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire
as soon as possible.
When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel rim is replaced without the
original pressure sensor/transmitter
being transferred, the low tire pres-
sure warning light will illuminate
steadily after blinking for approxi-
mately one minute. This indicates
the TPMS is unable to monitor all
four road wheels. Contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible
for tire and sensor replacement and/
or system resetting.
Do not inject any tire liquid or
aerosol tire sealant into the tires,
as this may cause a malfunction of
the tire pressure sensors. If the light
illuminates steadily after blinking for
approximately one minute, promptly
contact a SUBARU dealer to have
the system inspected.

Black plate (297,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
lead to loss of vehicle control.
. You must install four tires that are
of the same size, circumferences,
construction, manufacturer,
brand (tread pattern), degree of
wear, speed symbol and load
index. Mixing tires of other sizes,
circumferences or constructions
may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your
vehicle and may affect ride,
handling, braking and speed-
ometer/odometer calibration. It
also may be dangerous and lead
to loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
If you use a temporary spare tire to
replace a flat tire, be sure to use the
original temporary spare tire stored
in the vehicle. Using other sizes may
result in severe mechanical damage
to the drive train of your vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive distributes the engine
power to all four wheels. AWD models
provide better traction when driving on
slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt and sand.
By shifting power between the front and
rear wheels, SUBARU AWD can also
provide added traction during acceleration
and added engine braking force during
deceleration.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle
may handle differently than an ordinary
two wheel drive vehicle and it contains
some features unique to AWD. For safety
purposes as well as to avoid damaging
the AWD system, you should keep the
following tips in mind.
. An AWD model is better able to climb
steeper roads under snowy or slippery conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.
There is little difference in handling,
however, during extremely sharp turns or
sudden braking. Therefore, when driving
down a slope or turning corners, be sure
to reduce your speed and maintain an
ample distance from other vehicles.
.
Always check the cold tire pressure
before starting to drive. The recom-
mended tire pressure is provided on the
tire placard, which is located under the
door latch on the driver ’s side.
. Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle in
hard driving conditions such as steep hills
or dusty roads will necessitate more
frequent replacement of engine oil, brake
fluid and transmission oil than that speci-
fied in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet ”.
. There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detailed information, refer to “Towing”
F 9-12.
Driving tips
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