
.In freezing weather, be sure that
the wiper blades are not frozen to 
the windshield or rear window
before switching on the wipers.
Attempting to operate the wiper
with the blades frozen to the
window glass could cause not
only the wiper blades to be
damaged but also the wiper mo-
tor to burn out. If the wiper
blades are frozen to the window
glass, be sure to operate the
defroster, wiper deicer (if
equipped) or rear window defog-
ger before turning on the wiper.
. If the wipers stop during opera-
tion because of ice or some other
obstruction on the window, the
wiper motor could burn out even
if the wiper switch is turned off. If
this occurs, promptly stop the
vehicle in a safe place, turn the
ignition switch to the “LOCK ”
position and clean the window
glass to allow proper wiper op-eration.
. Use clean water if windshield
washer fluid is unavailable. In
areas where water freezes in
winter, use SUBARU Windshield
Washer Fluid or the equivalent.
Refer to “Windshield washer fluid
”F 11-37.
Also, when driving the vehicle
when there are freezing tempera-
tures, use non-freezing type wi-
per blades.
. 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.
NOTE . The front wiper motor is protected
against overloads by a circuit breaker. 
If the motor operates continuously
under an unusually heavy load, the
circuit breaker may trip to stop the
motor temporarily. If this happens, park
your vehicle in a safe place, turn off the 
wiper switch, and wait for approxi- 
mately 10 minutes. The circuit breaker
will reset itself, and the wipers will
again operate normally.. Clean your wiper blades and win-
dow glass periodically with a washer
solution to prevent streaking, and to
remove accumulations of road salt or
road film. Keep the washer button
depressed at least for 1 second so that
washer solution will be sprinkled all
over the windshield or rear window. .
Grease, wax, insects or other mate-
rial on the windshield or the wiper
blades results in jerky wiper operation
and streaking on the glass. If you
cannot remove those streaks after
operating the washer or if the wiper
operation is jerky, clean the outer sur-
face 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 window glass and wiper
blades with clean water. The glass is
clean if no beads form on the glass
when you rinse with water.. If you cannot eliminate the streaking
even after following this procedure,
replace the wiper blades with new
ones. For replacement instructions,
refer to “Replacement of wiper blades ”
F 11-39. Instruments and controls
3-31
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caused by the type of fuel used, repairs 
may not be covered by your warranty. !MMT
Some gasoline contains an octane-en- 
hancing additive called MMT (Methylcy-
clopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). If
you use such fuels, your emission control
system performance may deteriorate and
the CHECK ENGINE warning light/mal-
function indicator light may turn on. If this
happens, return to your authorized
SUBARU Dealer for service. If it is
determined that the condition is caused
by the type of fuel used, repairs may not
be covered by your warranty. ! Gasoline for cleaner air
CAUTION
Do not let fuel spill on the exterior 
surfaces of the vehicle. Fuels con-
taining alcohol may cause paint
damage, which is not covered under
the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
Your use of gasoline with detergent
additives will help prevent deposits from
forming in your engine and fuel system.
This helps keep your engine in tune and 
your emission control system working 
properly, and is a way of doing your part
for cleaner air. If you continuously use a high quality fuel with the proper detergent
and other additives, you should never
need to add any fuel system cleaning
agents to your fuel tank. 
Many gasolines are now blended with 
materials called oxygenates. Use of these 
fuels can also help keep the air cleaner.
Oxygenated blend fuels, such as MTBE
(Methyl Tertiary Butyl ether) or ethanol
(ethyl or grain alcohol) may be used in
your vehicle, but should contain no more
than 15% MTBE or 10% ethanol for the
proper operation of your SUBARU. 
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are 
now producing reformulated gasolines,
which are designed to reduce vehicle
emissions. SUBARU approves the use of
reformulated gasoline. 
If you are not sure what the fuel contains, 
you should ask your service station
operators if their gasolines contain deter-
gents and oxygenates and if they have
been reformulated to reduce vehicle emis-sions. 
As additional guidance, only use fuels 
suited for your vehicle as explained in thefollowing. .
Fuel should be unleaded and have an
octane rating no lower than that specified 
in this manual. .
Methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) is
sometimes mixed with unleaded gasoline.
Methanol can be used in your vehicle
ONLY if it does not exceed 5% of the fuel
mixture ANDif it is accompanied by
sufficient quantities of the proper cosol-
vents and corrosion inhibitors required to
prevent damage to the fuel system. Do not
use fuel containing methanol EXCEPT
under these conditions. . If undesirable driveability problems are
experienced and you suspect they may be 
fuel related, try a different brand of gaso-
line before seeking service at your
SUBARU dealer. . Fuel system damage or driveability
problems which result from the use of 
improper fuel are not covered under the
SUBARU Limited Warranty.
& Fuel filler lid and cap
! Refueling
Only one person should be involved in
refueling. Do not allow others to approach
the area of the vehicle near the fuel filler
pipe while refueling is in progress. 
Be sure to observe any other precautions 
that are posted at the service station. Starting and operating
7-3
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Cleaning the interior 
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate 
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. (Do not use
organic solvents.) &Seat fabric
Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with a 
vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the
fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum
cleaner, use a soft brush then vacuum it. 
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly 
wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric
thoroughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe
using a solution of mild soap and luke-
warm water then dry thoroughly. 
If the stain does not come out, try a 
commercially available fabric cleaner. Use
the cleaner on a hidden place and make
sure it does not affect the fabric adversely.
Use the cleaner according to its instruc-tions. NOTE 
When cleaning the seat, do not use 
benzine, paint thinner, or any similarmaterials. &
Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high
quality natural product which will retain its
distinctive appearance and feel for many
years with proper care. 
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the 
surface can cause the material to become
brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular
cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber
cloth should be performed monthly, taking
care not to soak the leather or allow water 
to penetrate the stitched seams. 
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning 
woolen fabrics may be used to remove
difficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, dry
cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If
your SUBARU is to be parked for a long
time in bright sunlight, it is recommended
that the seats and headrests be covered,
or the windows shaded, to prevent fading
or shrinkage. 
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches 
may be treated with a commercial leather
spray lacquer. You will discover that each
leather seat section will develop soft folds
or wrinkles, which is characteristic of
genuine leather. & Synthetic leather upholstery
The synthetic leather material used on the 
SUBARU may be cleaned using mild soap or detergent and water, after first vacuum-
ing or brushing away loose dirt. Allow the
soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe
off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial
foam-type cleaners suitable for synthetic
leather materials may be used when
necessary. NOTE 
Strong cleaning agents such as sol- 
vents, paint thinners, window cleaner
or gasoline must never be used on
leather or synthetic interior materials. &
Climate control panel, audio 
panel, instrument panel,
console panel, switches, 
combination meter, and other 
plastic surface
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate 
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. NOTE 
Do not use organic solvents such as 
paint thinners or gasoline, or strong
cleaning agents that contain thosesolvents. Appearance care
10-5
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&Engine
Engine model EJ253
(2.5 L, SOHC, non-turbo) EJ255
(2.5 L, DOHC, turbo) EZ36D
(3.6 L, DOHC, non-turbo)
Engine type Horizontally opposed, liquid cooled 4 cylinder,
4 stroke gasoline engine Horizontally opposed, liquid cooled 6 cylinder,
4 stroke gasoline engine
Displacement cu-in (cc) 149.9 (2,457) 221.5 (3,630)
Bore 6Stroke in (mm) 3.92 63.11 (99.5 679.0) 3.62 63.58 (92.0 691.0)
Compression ratio 10.0 : 1 8.4 : 1 10.5 : 1 
Firing order 1– 3–2 – 4 1
–6– 3–2– 5–4
& Fuel
Vehicle model Fuel requirementFuel tank capacity
Non-turbo models Unleaded gasoline with 87 AKI (90 RON) or higher
18.5 US gal (70 liters, 15.4 Imp gal)
Turbo models Premium unleaded gasoline with 93 AKI (98 RON) or higher*
1
*1: If 93 AKI (98 RON) fuel is not available, refer to “Fuel requirements ”F 7-2. Specifications
12-3
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sidewall, or innerliner that extends 
to cord material..Outer diameter
The overall diameter of an inflated
new tire.. Overall width
The linear distance between the
exteriors of the sidewalls of an
inflated tire, including elevations
due to labeling, decorations, or 
protective bands or ribs. . Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passen- 
ger cars, multipurpose passenger
vehicles, and trucks, that have a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
of 10,000 lbs (4,535 kg) or less. . Ply
A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.. Ply separation
A parting of rubber compound
between adjacent plies.. Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rub- 
ber, chemicals, fabric and steel or 
other materials, that, when mounted on an automotive wheel,
provides the traction and contains 
the gas or fluid that sustains the load.
. Production options weight
The combined weight of those
installed regular production options
weighing over 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) in
excess of those standard items 
which they replace, not previously 
considered in curb weight or acces-
sory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack,
heavy duty battery, and specialtrim. . Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply 
cords that extend to the beads are
laid at substantially 90 degrees to
the centerline of the tread.. Recommended inflation pres-
sure 
The cold inflation pressure recom- 
mended by a vehicle manufacturer.. Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher
loads and at higher inflation pres- sures than the corresponding stan-
dard tire. .
Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire 
and tube assembly upon which the
tire beads are seated.. Rim diameter
Nominal diameter of the bead seat.. Rim size designation
Rim diameter and width.. Rim type designation
The industry of manufacturer ’s des-
ignation for a rim by style or code. . Rim width
Nominal distance between rim flanges.. Section width
The linear distance between the
exteriors of the sidewalls of an 
inflated tire, excluding elevations 
due to labeling, decoration, or
protective bands. . Sidewall
That portion of a tire between the 
tread and bead.. Sidewall separation
The parting of the rubber com-
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
13-7
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