
1-28Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
4. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
5. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the
retractor to change the retractor over from
the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
function. Then, allow the belt to rewind
into the retractor. As the belt is rewinding,
clicks will be heard which indicate the
retractor functions as ALR.6. Before seating a child in the child
restraint system, try to move it back and
forth and left and right to verify that it is
firmly secured in the center of the seat.
Sometimes a child restraint can be more
firmly secured by pushing it down into the
seat cushion and then tightening theseatbelt.
7. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt
to confirm that it cannot be pulled out (ALR
properly functioning).Legacy
Outback
8. If the child restraint system requires a
top tether, latch the hook onto the top
tether anchor and tighten the top tether.
For additional instructions, refer to “To p

tically lock. !To arm the system using power
door locking switch
1. Close all windows.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Open the doors and get out of the vehicle.
4. Make sure that the engine hood is locked.
5. Close the doors (and the rear gate
(Outback)) but leave only the driver ’s door
or the front passenger ’s door open.
6. Press the front side ( “LOCK ”side) of
the power door locking switch to set the
door locks.
7. Close the door. An electronic chirp will
sound once, the turn signal lights will flash once and the security indicator light will
start flashing rapidly. After rapid flashing
for 30 seconds (standby time), the security
indicator light will then flash slowly (twice
approximately every 2 seconds), indicat-
ing that the system has been armed forsurveillance.
NOTE . The system can be armed even if the
engine hood, the windows and/or
moonroof are open. Always make sure
that they are fully closed before arming
the system.. The 30-second standby time can be
eliminated if you prefer. Have it per-
formed by your SUBARU dealer.. If your vehicle is a Legacy and you
open the trunk using the remote trans-mitter ’s “
”button with the alarm
system armed, the system will be
temporarily placed in a standby state.
The system will go back to the surveil-
lance state upon locking the trunk.. The system is in the standby mode
for a 30-second period after locking the
doors with the remote transmitter. The
security indicator light will flash at
short intervals during this period.. If any of the following actions is
done during the standby period, the
system will not switch to the surveil- lance state.
–Doors are unlocked using the
remote transmitter. – Any door (including the rear gate
(Outback) or the trunk (Legacy)) is opened. – Ignition switch is turned to the
“ ON ”position.
& Disarming the system
Briefly press the “
”button (for less than
2 seconds) on the remote transmitter. The
driver ’s door will unlock, an electronic
chirp will sound twice, the turn signal
lights will flash twice and the security
indicator light will turn off.
To unlock all other doors and the rear gate
(Outback), briefly press the “
”button a
second time within 5 seconds. ! Emergency disarming
If you cannot disarm the system using the
transmitter (i.e. the transmitter is lost,
broken or the transmitter battery is too
weak), you can disarm the system without
using the transmitter.
The system can be disarmed if you turn
the ignition switch from the “LOCK ”to the
“ ON ”position with a registered key. Keys and doors
2-17
– CONTINUED –

Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher is used to
warn other drivers when you have to park
your vehicle under emergency conditions.
The hazard warning flasher works with the
ignition switch in any position.
To turn on the hazard warning flasher,
press the hazard warning button on the
instrument panel. To turn off the flasher,
press the button again. NOTE
When the hazard warning flasher is on,
the turn signals do not work.Meters and gauges NOTE
Liquid crystal displays are used in
some of the meters and gauges in the
combination meter. You will find their
indications hard to see if you wear
polarized glasses. &
Combination meter illumina- tion
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ ON ”position, the various parts of the
combination meter are illuminated in the
following sequence.
1. Warning lights, indicator lights, meter
needles, gauge needles, odometer and
trip meter back light illuminate.
2. Meter needles and gauge needles
each show MAX position.
3. Meter needles and gauge needles
each show MIN position.
4. Dials and indicators in meters and
gauges light up.
5. Regular illumination (for driving) be- gins. NOTE
The above sequence of operations may
not take place if you quickly turn the
ignition switch to start the engine. This
is not a malfunction. &
Canceling the function for
meter/gauge needle move-
ment upon turning on the
ignition switch
It is possible to activate or deactivate the
movement of the meter needles and
gauge needles that takes place when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON ”
position.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK ”
or “Acc ”position.
2. Press the trip knob to show “
”or
“” on the trip meter display. Instruments and controls
3-5
– CONTINUED –

&Coolant temperature
low indicator light/Cool-
ant temperature high
warning light
CAUTION
. After turning the ignition switch
to the “ON ”position, if this
indicator light/warning light be-
haves under any of the following
conditions, the electrical system
may be malfunctioning. Contact
your SUBARU dealer immedi-
ately for an inspection. – It remains blinking in RED.
– It remains illuminated in RED
for more than 2 seconds.
– It remains blinking in RED and
BLUE alternately.
. While driving, if this indicator
light/warning light behaves under
any of the following conditions,
take the specified appropriate
measure listed below. – Blinking in RED:
Decelerate the vehicle. After
the blinking RED light turns
off, you can drive the vehicle
normally.
– Illuminated in RED: Safely stop the vehicle as
soon as possible, and refer
to the emergency steps for the
case of engine overheating.
After that, have the system
checked by your nearest
SUBARU dealer. Refer to
“En-
gine overheating ”F 9-13.
– Blinking in RED and BLUE
alternately:
The electrical system may be
malfunctioning. Contact your
SUBARU dealer for an inspec-tion.
This coolant temperature low indicator
light/coolant temperature high warning
light has the following three functions. . Illumination in BLUEindicates insuffi-
cient warming up of the engine. Blinking in REDindicates that the
engine is close to overheating. Illumination in REDindicates overheat-
ing condition of the engine
For the system check, this indicator light/
warning light illuminates in REDfor
approximately 2 seconds when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON ”position.
After that, this indicator light/warning light
changes to BLUEand maintains illumina-
tion in BLUE. This BLUE illuminated light turns off when the engine is warmed up
sufficiently.
If the engine coolant temperature in-
creases over the specified range, the
indicator light/warning light blinks in RED
. At this time, decelerate the vehicle.
After the blinking REDlight turns off, you
can drive the vehicle normally. However, if
the indicator light/warning light often blinksin RED , the electrical system may be
malfunctioning. Contact your SUBARU
dealer for an inspection.
If the engine coolant temperature in-
creases further, the indicator light/warning
light illuminates in REDcontinuously. At
this time, the engine may be overheating.
Safely stop the vehicle as soon as
possible, and refer to the emergency
steps for the case of engine overheating.
Refer to “Engine overheating ”F9-13.
After that, have the system checked by
your nearest SUBARU dealer.
NOTE
If the engine is restarted after a certain
driving condition, this indicator light/
warning light may illuminate in RED.
However, this is not a malfunction if the
indicator light/warning light turns off
after a short time. Instruments and controls
3-13
– CONTINUED –

be applied. !Frequent operation warning
The brake system warning light flashes for
20 seconds and a chirp sound will be
heard if the parking brake switch is
operated too frequently. In this case, the
operation of the parking brake switch is
restricted to protect the electronic parking
brake system. NOTE
Wait until the warning light turns off. ! Emergency released warning
The brake system warning light flashes
when the parking brake is automatically
released in case of an emergency. & Hill Holder indicator light
WARNING
If the Hill Holder indicator light does
not illuminate even when the Hill
Holder switch is pressed to activate
the Hill Holder function, the electro-
nic parking brake system may be
malfunctioning. Immediately stop
the vehicle in a safe location and
contact your SUBARU dealer. The light illuminates when the Hill Holder
switch is pressed to activate the Hill
Holder function. For details about the Hill
Holder function,
“Hill Holder function ”F 7-
32.
& Low fuel warning light
The low fuel warning light illuminates
when the tank is nearly empty approxi-
mately 2.6 US gal (10.0 liters, or 2.2 Imp
gal). It only operates when the ignition
switch is in the “ON ”position.
NOTE
This light does not turn off unless the
tank is replenished up to an internal
fuel quantity of approximately 3.7 US
gal (14 liters, 3.1 Imp gal).
CAUTION
Promptly put fuel in the tank when-
ever the low fuel warning light
illuminates. Engine misfires as a
result of an empty tank could cause
damage to the engine. &
Door open indicator light
When any of the doors, the rear gate
(Outback) or the trunk lid (Legacy) is not
fully closed, the door open indicator light
illuminates. This function is effective even
if the ignition switch is in the “LOCK ”or
“ Acc ”position or the key is removed from
the ignition switch.
The open door is indicated by the corre-
sponding part of the door open warninglight.
Always make sure this light is not illumi-
nated before you start to drive. & Windshield washer
fluid warning light
This light illuminates when the fluid level in
the windshield washer fluid tank de-
creases to the lower limit (approximately
0.6 US qt, 0.6 liter, 0.5 Imp qt). Instruments and controls
3-19
– CONTINUED –

the brake system warning light has
illuminated. Otherwise, the Hill
Holder function may not operate
properly and an accident may occur.
1) Parking brake switch
2) Hill Holder switch
3) Indicator light
You can activate/deactivate the Hill Holder
function by pressing the Hill Holder switch.
To activate: Press the Hill Holder switch.
To deactivate: Press the Hill Holder
switch again.
Deactivate the Hill Holder function under
the following conditions. . When towing a trailer
. When carrying a heavy load .
When you do not frequently use the
parking brake when stopping on an uphill slope NOTE . If the Hill Holder switch is pressed
for more than 30 seconds, the Hill
Holder indicator light turns off, the
brake system warning light flashes
and the system ignores any further
pressing of the switch. To activate the
switch again, turn the ignition switch tothe “LOCK ”position and restart the
engine.. When the Hill Holder function is
deactivated while the Hill Holder func-
tion has a malfunction, if you press the
Hill Holder switch, a chirp sounds. ! Hill Holder indicator light
When the Hill Holder function is activated,
the Hill Holder indicator light illuminates.
Refer to “Hill Holder indicator light ”F 3-19.
! Emergency brake
CAUTION
Use the emergency brake only in
case of an emergency. If the emer-
gency brake is excessively used,
the brake parts will wear down
faster or the brake may not work
sufficiently due to rear wheel brakeoverheating.
NOTE
While using the emergency brake, the
brake system warning light and the
indicator light on the parking brake
switch illuminate and a chirp sounds.
If the foot brake has a malfunction, you
canstopthevehiclebypressingthe
parking brake switch continuously.
While applying the emergency brake, the
brake system warning light and the in-
dicator light on the parking brake switch
illuminate and a chirp sounds. Starting and operating
7-33
– CONTINUED –

8-2Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving –the first 1,000 miles (1,600
km)
The performance and long life of your
vehicle are dependent on how you handle
and care for your vehicle while it is new.
Follow these instructions during the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km): . Do not race the engine. And do not
allow engine speed to exceed 4,000 rpm
except in an emergency. . Do not drive at one constant engine or
vehicle speed for a long time, either fast or
slow. . Avoid starting suddenly and rapid
acceleration, except in an emergency.. Avoid hard braking, except in an
emergency.
The same break-in procedures should be
applied to a newly installed or overhauled
engine or when brake pads or brake
linings are replaced with new ones. Fuel economy hints
The following suggestions will help to save
your fuel. .
Select the proper gear position for the
speed and road conditions.. Avoid sudden acceleration or decelera-
tion. Always accelerate gently until you
reach the desired speed. Then try to
maintain that speed for as long aspossible. . Do not pump the accelerator and avoid
racing the engine.. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep the engine properly tuned.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the tire placard, which
is located under the door latch on thedriver ’s side. Low pressure will increase
tire wear and fuel consumption. . Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.. Keep the front and rear wheels in
proper alignment.. Avoid carrying unnecessary luggage or
cargo.. The indication of the ECO gauge
shows a reference for saving fuel. For
details, refer to “ECO gauge ”F 3-8. 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 long 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
that the ventilation system al-
ways works properly.
. If at any time you suspect that

8-6Driving tips
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 on the door
pillar on the driver ’s side.
. There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detailed information, refer to “Towing ”
F 9-13. Off road driving
WARNING
. Always maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden brak-
ing or under other similar condi-tions.
. Always use the utmost care in
driving –overconfidence be-
cause you are driving an All-
Wheel Drive vehicle could easily
lead to a serious accident.
& Legacy
Your AWD vehicle is neither a conven-
tional off-road vehicle nor an all terrain
vehicle. It is a passenger car designed
primarily for on-road use. The AWD
feature gives it some limited off-road
capabilities in situations in which the
driving surface is relatively level, obstruc-
tion-free and otherwise similar to on-road
driving conditions. Operating it under other
than those conditions could subject the
vehicle to excessive stress which might
result in damage not eligible for repair under warranty. If you do take your
SUBARU off road, you should review the
common sense precautions in the next
section (applicable to the Outback) for
general guidance. But please keep in
mind that your vehicle
’s off-road capabil-
ities are more limited than those of theOutback.
Never attempt to drive through pools and
puddles, or roads flooded with water.
Water entering the engine air intake or
the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto
electrical parts may damage your vehicle
and may cause it to stall. & Outback
Because of the AWD feature and higher
ground clearance, your SUBARU can be
driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But
please keep in mind that an AWD
SUBARU is a passenger car and is
neither a conventional off-road vehicle
nor an all-terrain vehicle. If you do take
your SUBARU off-road, certain common
sense precautions such as those in the
following list should be taken: . Make certain that you and all of your
passengers are wearing seatbelts. . Carry some emergency equipment,
such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel,
wheel blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or
citizens band radio.