2012 SUBARU TRIBECA checking oil

Ventilator.............................................................. 4-2
Airflow ................................................................ 4-2
Ventilator ............................................................ 4-4
Automatic climate control system ..................... 4-5
Control panel ...................................................... 4-5
Rear air conditioner ............................................. 4-9
Temperature sensors ........................................... 4-9
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner ....................................................... 4-10
Cleaning ventilator grille ..................................... 4-10
Efficient cooling after parking in direct sunlight ........................................................... 4-10 Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant
circuit .............................................................. 4-10
Checking air conditioning system before summer season ............................................................ 4-10
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and low temperature weather conditions ................. 4-10
Air conditioner compressor shut-off when engine is heavily loaded .............................................. 4-11
Refrigerant for your climate control system ... ..... 4-11
Air filtration system ........................................... 4-11
Replacing the air filter ........................................ 4-11Climate control
4

4-10Climate control
–Do not cover the sensors.
The sensors are located as follows. – Solar sensor: beside windshield
defroster grille– Interior air temperature sensor: on the
side of the driver-side part of the center panel – Outside temperature sensor: behind
front grille Operating tips for heater and
air conditioner &
Cleaning ventilator grille
Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free of snow, leaves, or other obstructions
to ensure efficient heating and defrosting.
Since the condenser is located in front of
the radiator, this area should be kept clean
because cooling performance is impaired
by any accumulation of insects and leaves
on the condenser. &Efficient cooling after parking
in direct sunlight
After parking in direct sunlight, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes to
allow outside air to circulate into the heated interior. This results in quicker
cooling by the air conditioner. Keep the
windows closed during the operation of
the air conditioner for maximum cooling
efficiency. &
Lubrication oil circulation in
the refrigerant circuit
Operate the air conditioner compressor at
a low engine speed (at idle or low driving
speeds) a few minutes each month during
the off-season to circulate its oil. & Checking air conditioning
system before summer sea-son
Check the air conditioner unit for refriger-
ant leaks, hose conditions, and proper
operation each spring. Have the air con-
ditioning system checked by your
SUBARU dealer. & Cooling and dehumidifying in
high humidity and low tem-
perature weather conditions
Under certain weather conditions (high
relative humidity, low temperatures, etc.) a
small amount of water vapor emission
from the air outlets may be noticed. This
condition is normal and does not indicate
any problem with the air conditioning

Preparing to drive
You 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 properinflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
4. Check that the hood and rear gate 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.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops. Starting the engine
CAUTION
. Do not operate the starter motor
continuously for more than 10
seconds. If the engine fails to
start after operating the starter
for 5 to 10 seconds, wait for 10
seconds or more before tryingagain.
. If you restart the engine while the
vehicle is moving, shift the select
lever into the “N ” position. Do
not attempt to place the select
lever of a moving vehicle into the“ P ” position.
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and ac- cessories.
3. Shift the select lever to the “P ” or “N ”
position (preferably “P ” position). The
starter will only operate when the select
lever is at the “P ”or “N ”position.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON ”
position and check the operation of the
warning and indicator lights. Refer to“ Warning and indicator lights ”F 3-9.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START ”
position without depressing the accelera- tor pedal. Release the key immediately
after the engine has started.
If the engine does not start, try the following.
(1) Turn the ignition switch to the“LOCK ”position and wait for at least
10 seconds. After checking that the
parking brake is firmly set, turn the
ignition switch to the “START ”position
while depressing the accelerator pedal
slightly (approximately a quarter of the
full stroke). Release the accelerator
pedal as soon as the engine starts.
(2) If this fails to start the engine, turn
the ignition switch back to the “LOCK ”
position and wait for at least 10
seconds. Then fully depress the accel-
erator pedal and turn the ignition
switch to the “START ”position. If the
engine starts, quickly release the
accelerator pedal.
(3) If this fails to start the engine, turn
the ignition switch again to the “LOCK ”
position. After waiting for 10 seconds
or longer, turn the ignition switch to the“ START ”position without depressing
the accelerator pedal.
(4) If the engine still refuses to start,
contact your nearest SUBARU dealer
for assistance.
6. Confirm that all warning and indicator
lights have turned off after the engine has Starting and operating
7-7
– CONTINUED –

Maintenance schedule....................................... 11-3
Maintenance precautions ................................... 11-3
Before checking or servicing in the engine compartment .................................................... 11-4
When you do checking or servicing in the engine compartment while the engine is running .......... 11-4
Engine hood ....................................................... 11-4
Engine compartment overview .......................... 11-6
Engine oil ............................................................ 11-7
Checking the oil level ......................................... 11-7
Changing the oil and oil filter .............................. 11-8
Recommended grade and viscosity .................... 11-9
Synthetic oil ....................................................... 11-9
Cooling system ................................................ 11-10
Hose and connections ...................................... 11-10
Engine coolant ................................................. 11-11
Air cleaner element .......................................... 11-12
Replacing the air cleaner element ..................... 11-12
Spark plugs ...................................................... 11-13
Recommended spark plugs .............................. 11-13
Drive belts ........................................................ 11-13
Automatic transmission fluid .......................... 11-14
Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-14
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-15
Front differential gear oil ................................. 11-15
Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-15
Recommended grade and viscosity .................. 11-16
Rear differential gear oil .................................. 11-16
Recommended grade and viscosity .................. 11-16Power steering fluid
........................................ 11-16
Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-16
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-17
Brake fluid ........................................................ 11-17
Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-17
Recommended brake fluid ............................... 11-18
Brake booster .................................................. 11-18
Brake pedal ...................................................... 11-19
Checking the brake pedal free play .................. 11-19
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance....... 11-19
Replacement of brake pad and lining ............ 11-19
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ....... 11-20
Parking brake stroke ....................................... 11-20
Tires and wheels .............................................. 11-21
Types of tires ................................................... 11-21
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) .......... 11-21
Tire inspection ................................................. 11-22
Tire pressures and wear .................................. 11-23
Wheel balance ................................................. 11-25
Wear indicators ............................................... 11-25
Tire rotation direction mark .............................. 11-25
Tire rotation ..................................................... 11-26
Tire replacement .............................................. 11-26
Wheel replacement .......................................... 11-27
Aluminum wheels ............................................ 11-27
Windshield washer fluid .................................. 11-28
Replacement of wiper blades ......................... 11-29
Windshield wiper blade assembly ..................... 11-30
Windshield wiper blade rubber . ........................ 11-30
Rear window wiper blade assembly .................. 11-31
Maintenance and service
11

11-4Maintenance and service
guard against getting oil or fluids
in your eyes. If something does
get in your eyes, thoroughly
wash them out with clean water.
. Do not tamper with the wiring of
the SRS airbag system or seat-
belt pretensioner system, or at-
tempt to take its connectors
apart, as that may activate the
system or it can render it inop-
erative. NEVER use a circuit
tester for these wiring. If your
SRS airbag or seatbelt preten-
sioner needs service, consult
your nearest SUBARU dealer.
& Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment
WARNING
. Always stop the engine and set
the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving.
. Always let the engine cool down.
Engine parts become very hot
when the engine is running and
remain hot for some time after
the engine is stopped.
. Do not spill engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid or any other fluid on hot engine components.
This may cause a fire.
. Always remove the key from the
ignition switch. When the ignition
switch is in the “ON ”position,
thecoolingfanmayoperate
suddenly even when the engine
is stopped.
& When you do checking or
servicing in the engine com-
partment while the engine is running
WARNING
A running engine can be dangerous.
Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from the cooling
fan, belts and any other moving
engine parts. Removing rings,
watches and ties is advisable. Engine hoodTo open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the
windshield, return them to their originalpositions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the
instrument panel.

Engine oil NOTE .The engine oil consumption rate is
not stabilized, and therefore cannot be
determined until the vehicle has tra-
veled at least several thousand miles
(kilometers). Even after break-in, when
the vehicle is used under severe driv-
ing conditions such as those men-
tioned in the “Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet ”, engine oil is con-
sumed or deteriorated more quickly
than under normal driving conditions.
If you drive your vehicle under these
severe conditions, you should check
the oil level at least at every second
fuel fill-up time, and change the oil
more frequently. Please refer to the“ Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”
for more details.. If the oil consumption rate seems
abnormally high after the break-in
period, for example more than 1 quart
per 1,200 miles or 1 liter per 2,000
kilometers, we recommend that you
contact your SUBARU dealer. &
Checking the oil level
Check the engine oil level at each fuelstop.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
2. Pull out the level gauge, wipe it clean,
and insert it again.
3. Be sure the level gauge is correctly
inserted until it stops with the graphic
symbol “
”on its top appearing as
shown in the illustration.
1) Full level
2) Low level
3) Approximately 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter, 0.9 Imp qt) from the low level to the full level
4. Pull out the level gauge again and
check the oil level on it. If it is below the
low level (L), add oil to bring the level up to
the full level (F).
CAUTION
. Use only engine oil with the
recommended grade and vis-
cosity. Maintenance and service
11-7
– CONTINUED –

11-8Maintenance and service
.Be careful not to spill engine oil
when adding it. If oil touches the
exhaust pipe, it may cause a bad
smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If
engine oil gets on the exhaust
pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
If you check the oil level just after stopping
the engine, wait a few minutes for the oil to
drain back into the oil pan before checking
the level.
To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not
add any additional oil above the full level
when the engine is cold. & Changing the oil and oil filter
CAUTION
. If you change your own oil, be
sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal.
. Do not dispose of used engine oil
by placing it in the trash, or by
pouring it onto the ground, into
sewers, or into any body of water.
Check with your local govern-
ment office for the proper dis-
posal options available to you.
Change the oil and oil filter according to
the maintenance schedule in the “War- ranty and Maintenance Booklet
”.
The engine oil and oil filter must be
changed more frequently than listed in
the maintenance schedule when driving
on dusty roads, when short trips are
frequently made, or when driving in
extremely cold weather.
1. Warm up the engine by letting the
engine idle for approximately 10 minutes
to ease draining the engine oil.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
3. Remove the oil filler cap.
4. Drain out the engine oil by removing
the drain plug while the engine is still
warm. The used oil should be drained into
an appropriate container and disposed of
properly.
WARNING
Be careful not to burn yourself with
hot engine oil.
5. Wipe the seating surface of the drain
plug with a clean cloth and tighten it
securely with a new sealing washer after
the oil has completely drained out.
6. Open the access cover by removing
the five clips and turning the access cover
counterclockwise. The oil filter will beexposed.

&Recommended fluid
Refer to “Fluids ”F 12-7.
NOTE
Using any non-specified type of auto-
matic transmission fluid could result in
damage inside the transmission. When
replacing the automatic transmission
fluid, be sure to use the specified type. Front differential gear oil &
Checking the oil level
1) Yellow handle
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
2. Pull out the level gauge, wipe it clean,
and insert it again.
1) Upper level
2) Lower level
3. Pull out the level gauge again and
check the oil level on it. If it is below the
lower level, add oil to bring the level up to
the upper level.
CAUTION
Be careful not to spill front differ-
ential gear oil when adding it. If oil
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a
fire. If oil gets on the exhaust pipe,
be sure to wipe it off. Maintenance and service
11-15
– CONTINUED –