2012 SUBARU OUTBACK hill

!Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle,
check that the standard side mirrors
provide a good rearward field of view
without significant blind spots. If significant
blind spots occur with the vehicle ’s stan-
dard side mirrors, use towing mirrors that
conform with Federal, state/province and/
or other applicable regulations. ! Trailer lights
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improper
connection of trailer lights may
damage your vehicle ’s electrical
system and cause a malfunction of
your vehicle ’s lighting system. Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-cle
’s electrical system requires modifica-
tions to the vehicle ’s lighting circuit to
increase its capacity and accommodate
wiring changes. To ensure the trailer lights
are connected properly, please consult
your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper
operation of the turn signals and the brake
lights each time you hitch up. ! Tires
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the tem-
porary spare tire is used. The tem-
porary spare tire is not designed to
sustain the towing load. Use of the
temporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tire
and/or less stability of the vehicle.
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle
are properly inflated. Refer to “Tires ”F 12-
9 and in “GAS STATION REFERENCE ”at
the end of this manual.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in
accordance with the trailer manufacturer ’s
specifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire
when towing a trailer, ask a commercial road service to repair the flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your
vehicle or trailer as a precaution against
getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare
tire is firmly secured.
& Trailer towing tips
CAUTION
. Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h)
when towing a trailer in hilly
country on hot days.
. When towing a trailer, steering,
stability, stopping distance and
braking performance will be dif-
ferent from normal operation. Forsafety ’s sake, you should employ
extra caution when towing a
trailer and you should never
speed. You should also keep the
following tips in mind:
! Before starting out on a trip
. Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-
hitch mounting are in good condition. If
any problems are apparent, do not tow the
trailer. . Check that the vehicle sits horizontally
with the trailer attached. If the vehicle is
tipped sharply up at the front and down at Driving tips
8-25
– CONTINUED –

8-26Driving tips
the rear, check the total trailer weight,
GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, then
confirm that the load and its distribution
are acceptable. . Check that the tire pressures are
correct.. Check that the vehicle and trailer are
connected properly. Confirm that
–the trailer tongue is connected
properly to the hitch ball. – the trailer lights connector is con-
nected properly and trailer ’s brake
lights illuminate when the vehicle ’s
brake pedal is pressed, and that the trailer ’s turn signal lights flash when
the vehicle ’s turn signal lever is oper-
ated. – the safety chains are connected
properly.– all cargo in the trailer is secured
safety in position.– the side mirrors provide a good
rearward field of view without a sig-
nificant blind spot.
. Sufficient time should be taken to learn
the “feel ”of the vehicle/trailer combination
before starting out on a trip. In an area free
of traffic, practice turning, stopping and
backing up. !
Driving with a trailer
. You should allow for considerably more
stopping distance when towing a trailer.
Avoid sudden braking because it may
result in skidding or jackknifing and loss ofcontrol. . Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accel-
erations. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, always start out in first gear
and release the clutch at moderate enginerevolution. . Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and
rapid lane changes.. Slow down before turning. Make a
longer than normal turning radius because
the trailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. In
a tight turn, the trailer could hit yourvehicle. . Crosswinds will adversely affect the
handling of your vehicle and trailer, caus-
ing sway. Crosswinds can be due to
weather conditions or the passing of large
trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly
grip the steering wheel and slow down
immediately but gradually. . When passing other vehicles, consid-
erable distance is required because of the
added weight and length caused by
attaching the trailer to your vehicle.
1) Left turn
2) Right turn
. Backing up with a trailer is difficult and
takes practice. When backing up with a
trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly.
When turning back, grip the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand and turn it to
the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right
for a right turn. . If the ABS warning light illuminates
while the vehicle is in motion, stop towing
the trailer and have repairs performed
immediately by the nearest SUBARU
dealer. ! Driving on grades
. Before going down a steep hill, slow
down and shift into lower gear (if neces-
sary, use 1st gear) in order to utilize the

engine braking effect and prevent over-
heating of your vehicle’s brakes. Do not
make sudden downshifts. . When driving uphill in hot weather, the
air conditioner may turn off automatically
to protect the engine from overheating. . When driving uphill in hot weather, pay
attention to the coolant temperature high
warning light (for all models) and AT OIL
TEMP warning light (for AT and CVT
models) because the engine and trans-
mission are relatively prone to overheating
under these conditions. If the coolant
temperature high warning light and/or the
AT OIL TEMP warning light illuminates,
immediately turn off the air conditioner and
stop the vehicle in the nearest safe
location. For further instructions and addi-
tional information, refer to the followingsections.
–“If you park your vehicle in an
emergency ”F 9-2
–“ Engine overheating ”F 9-13
–“ Coolant temperature low indicator
light/Coolant temperature high warn-
ing light ”F 3-13 –“
AT OIL TEMP warning light (AT and
CVT models) ”F 3-14
. For AT and CVT models, avoid using
the accelerator pedal to stay stationary on
an uphill slope instead of using the
parking brake or foot brake. That may
cause the transmission fluid to overheat. ! Parking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both
vehicle and trailer when parking. Apply
the parking brake. You should not park on
a hill or slope. But if parking on a hill or
slope cannot be avoided, you should take
the following steps:
1. Apply the brakes and hold the pedal down.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks
under both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place,
release the regular brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then
apply the parking brake; slowly release
the regular brakes.
5. Shift into 1st or reverse gear (MT
models) or “P ” (AT and CVT models) and
shut off the engine. Driving tips
8-27

11-6Maintenance and service
! Type C clips
1. Turn the clip counterclockwise using a
Phillips screwdriver until the center portion
of the clip is raised.
2. Remove the entire clip by pulling it up. !
Reinstalling clipsType A clips
Type B clips
Type C clips
Insert the clip without the center portion
first and then push the center portion of
the clip into the hole.

!Outback
1. Remove the mounting screws using a
Phillips screwdriver.
2. Remove the lens.
3. Pull the bulb out of the socket. 4. Install a new bulb.
5. Reinstall the lens.
6. Tighten the mounting screws.
& Dome light
1. Remove the lens by prying the edge of
the lens with a flat-head screwdriver.
2. Turn the bulb until the flat surfaces at
its ends are aligned vertically.
3. Pull the bulb straight downward to
remove it.
4. Install a new bulb.
5. Reinstall the lens. Maintenance and service
11-53
– CONTINUED –

Fuse
panel Fuse
rating Circuit
13 20A .Socket
14 Empty
15 20A .Rear power window
(right side)
16 Empty
17 15A .Front wiper deicer
18 7.5A .Back-up light
19 7.5A .Electronic parking
brake unit
. Hill Holder system unit
20 10A .Accessory power outlet
21 7.5A .Starter relay
22 15A .Air conditioner
23 Empty
24 15A .Audio
. Navigation system
25 15A .SRS airbag system
26 7.5A .Main fan
27 30A .Power window relay Fuse
panel Fuse
rating Circuit
28 Empty
29 20A .Power window
(passenger ’s side)
30 Empty
31 7.5A .Automatic air condi-
tioner unit
32 Empty
33 7.5A .ABS/Vehicle dynamics
control unit
. Power steering Specifications
12-11
– CONTINUED –

14-4Index
Clutch Fluid ............................................................ 11-26, 12-8
Pedal .................................................................. 11-29
Coat hook ................................................................. 6-13
Compass .................................................. 3-36, 3-43, 3-45
Continuously variable transmission ............................... 7-17
Fluid ............................................................ 11-23, 12-8
Manual mode ........................................................ 7-21
Oil temperature warning light (AT OIL TEMP) ............ 3-14
Select lever ........................................................... 7-18
Shift lock function ................................................... 7-20
Coolant ............................................................ 11-17, 12-8
Temperature high warning light ................................ 3-13
Temperature low indicator light. ................................ 3-13
Cooling system ......................................................... 11-16
Corrosion protection ................................................... 10-4
Crossbars ................................................................. 8-14
Cruise control ............................................................ 7-35
Indicator light ......................................................... 3-23
Set indicator light ................................................... 3-23
Cup holder .................................................................. 6-8
Front passenger ’s .................................................... 6-9
Rear passenger ’s..................................................... 6-9
D
Daytime running light system ....................................... 3-28
Defogger ................................................................... 3-34
Deicer ...................................................................... 3-34
Differential gear oil Front ........................................................... 11-23, 12-7
Rear ............................................................ 11-24, 12-7 Dimensions
................................................................ 12-2
Disarming the alarm system ......................................... 2-17
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ........................ 7-24
Dome light ......................................................... 6-2, 11-53
Door Locks ..................................................................... 2-4
Open indicator light ................................................. 3-19
Step light ............................................................. 11-55
Double trip meter ......................................................... 3-6
Drive belts ............................................................... 11-21
Driving
All-Wheel Drive warning light ................................... 3-20
AWD vehicles ......................................................... 8-5
Car phone/cell phone .................................................. 7
Drinking. .................................................................... 6
Drugs ........................................................................ 7
Foreign countries ..................................................... 8-4
Off road .................................................................. 8-6
Pets .......................................................................... 8
Snowy and icy roads .............................................. 8-10
Tips ................................................. 7-17, 7-22, 8-2, 8-5
Tired or sleepy ........................................................... 7
Winter .................................................................... 8-8
E
ECO gauge ................................................................ 3-8
Electrical system ........................................................ 12-9
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system... 3-18, 7-25
Electronic parking brake .............................................. 7-31
Automatic release function by accelerator pedal ......... 7-32
Hill Holder ............................................................. 7-32

14-6Index
Control switch ........................................................ 3-27
Flasher ................................................................. 3-28
Indicator light ......................................................... 3-23
High beam indicator light ............................................ 3-22
High/low beam change (dimmer) .................................. 3-28
Hill Holder ................................................................. 7-32
Indicator light ......................................................... 3-19
Switch .................................................................. 7-32
HomeLink
®........................................................ 3-36, 3-45
Hook Coat ..................................................................... 6-13
Convenient tie-down ............................................... 6-17
Shopping bag ........................................................ 6-13
Towing and tie-down ............................................... 9-14
Horn ......................................................................... 3-52
Hose and connections ............................................... 11-17
I
Ignition switch .............................................................. 3-3
Light ....................................................................... 3-4
Illumination brightness control ...................................... 3-29
Immobilizer. ................................................................. 2-3
Indicator light (security indicator light) ....................... 3-21
Indicator light
Coolant temperature low ......................................... 3-13
Cruise control ........................................................ 3-23
Cruise control set ................................................... 3-23
Door open ............................................................. 3-19
Front fog light ........................................................ 3-23
Headlight .............................................................. 3-23
High beam ............................................................ 3-22 Hill Holder
............................................................. 3-19
Immobilizer ............................................................ 3-21
Security ................................................................. 3-21
Select lever/Gear position ........................................ 3-22
Turn signal ............................................................ 3-22
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF ................................. 3-21
Vehicle Dynamics Control operation .. ........................ 3-21
Inside mirror ..................................... 3-35, 3-36, 3-43, 3-45
Interior lights ............................................................... 6-2
Internal trunk lid release handle .................................... 2-24
iiPod
®operations ........................................................ 5-33
J
Jack-up point .............................................................. 9-6
Jump starting ............................................................. 9-10
K
Key............................................................................ 2-2 Number .................................................................. 2-2
Reminder chime ...................................................... 3-4
Replacement. .......................................................... 2-4
Keyless entry system ................................................... 2-7
L
Leather seat materials ................................................. 10-5
License plate light ..................................................... 11-52
Light
Back-up (Legacy) ................................................. 11-49