2012 SUBARU TRIBECA power steering

&Instrument panel1) Door locks (page 2-5)
2) Illumination brightness control
(page 3-29)
3) Remote control mirror switch (page 3-42)
Power folding mirror switch (if equipped)
(page 3-43)
4) Windshield wiper deicer (page 3-36)
5) Traction Control system OFF switch (page 7-25)
6) Headlight beam leveler (if equipped) (page 3-30)
7) Light control switch (page 3-27)
8) Combination meter (page 3-5)
9) Wiper control lever (page 3-33)
10) Cruise control (page 7-29)
11) Horn (page 3-44)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-45)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-44)
14) Hood lock release knob (page 11-4)
15) Fuse box (page 11-34)
16) Power windows (page 2-21) 17
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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 were 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 ignitionswitch.
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. & LOCK
The 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 select lever is in the
“ P ”position. Instruments and controls
3-3
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Fuel...................................................................... 7-2
Fuel requirements ............................................... 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap ........................................... 7-3
State emission testing (U.S. only) ...................... 7-5
Preparing to drive ............................................... 7-7
Starting the engine .............................................. 7-7
Stopping the engine ............................................ 7-8
Remote engine start system (dealer option) ..... 7-8
Starting your vehicle ........................................... 7-9
Remote start safety features ................................ 7-9
Entering the vehicle while it is running via remote start .................................................................. 7-9
Entering the vehicle following remote engine start shutdown .......................................................... 7-9
Pre-heating or pre-cooling the interior of the vehicle ............................................................. 7-10
Service mode ..................................................... 7-10
Remote engine start transmitter programming and programmable feature option ..................... 7-10
System maintenance .......................................... 7-11
Automatic transmission ..................................... 7-12
Select lever ........................................................ 7-13
Shift lock function .............................................. 7-14
Selection of manual mode .................................. 7-16
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-17
SPORT mode ..................................................... 7-18 Power steering
................................................... 7-18
Braking ............................................................... 7-19
Braking tips ....................................................... 7-19
Brake system .................................................... 7-19
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ............. 7-20
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .......................... 7-20
ABS system self-check ...................................... 7-21
ABS warning light .............................................. 7-21
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ............................................................. 7-22
Steps to take if EBD system malfunctions ..... ..... 7-22
Vehicle Dynamics Control system .................... 7-23
Vehicle Dynamics Control system monitor..... ..... 7-25
Traction Control system OFF switch ................... 7-25
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ........ 7-27
Parking your vehicle ......................................... 7-28
Parking brake .................................................... 7-28
Parking tips ....................................................... 7-29
Cruise control .................................................... 7-29
To set cruise control .......................................... 7-30
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ............. 7-30
To turn off the cruise control .............................. 7-31
To change the cruising speed .. .......................... 7-31
Cruise control indicator light .............................. 7-32
Cruise control set indicator light ........................ 7-32
Starting and operating
7

7-8Starting and operating
started. The fuel injection system auto-
matically lowers the idle speed as the
engine warms up.
While the engine is warming up, make
sure that the select lever is at the “P ” or
“ N ”position and that the parking brake is
applied. NOTE . The engine may be difficult to start
when the battery has been discon-
nected and reconnected (for mainte-
nance or other purposes). This diffi-
culty is caused by the electronically
controlled throttle ’s self-diagnosis
function. To overcome it, keep the
ignition switch in the “ON ”position
for approximately 10 seconds before
starting the engine.. To protect the engine while the
select lever is in the “P ” or “N ”
position, the engine is controlled so
that the engine speed may not become
too high even if the accelerator pedal is
depressed hard. Stopping the engine
WARNING
Do not stop the engine when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause
loss of power to the power steering
and the brake booster, making steer-
ing and braking more difficult. It
could also result in accidental acti-
vation of the “LOCK ”position on the
ignition switch, causing the steering
wheel to lock.
The ignition switch should be turned off
only when the vehicle is stopped and the
engine is idling. Remote engine start system
(dealer option)
WARNING
. Do not start the engine using the
remote start system in an en-
closed environment (e.g. closed
garage). Prolonged operation of
a motor vehicle in an enclosed
environment can cause a harmful
build-up of Carbon Monoxide.
Carbon Monoxide is harmful to
your health. Exposure to high
levels of Carbon Monoxide can
cause headaches, dizziness or in
extreme cases unconsciousness
and/or death.
. Before performing any servicing
of the vehicle, temporarily place
the remote engine start system in
service mode to prevent the
system from unexpectedly start-
ing the engine.

7-18Starting and operating
&SPORT mode
SPORT mode is used when power is
needed for rapid acceleration or for uphill
driving. To select this mode, move the
select lever from the “D ” position to the
manual gate.
When selected, the SPORT mode indica-
tor light on the combination meter willilluminate.
To deselect SPORT mode, move the
select lever to the “D ” position or select
manual mode. To subsequently reselect
SPORT mode, move the select lever tothe “D ” position and from there to the
manual gate.
In this mode, the transmission shifts up at
higher vehicle speeds and shifts down
more responsively than in normal mode. Power steering
CAUTION
Do not hold the steering wheel at the
fully locked position left or right for
more than 5 seconds. This may
damage the power steering pump.
The power steering system operates only
when the engine is running.
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system fails to
function, you can steer but it will take
much more effort. NOTE
Right after the engine has been started
and before it has warmed up, you may
hear a noise coming from areas adja-
cent to the power steering pump which
is located at the right-front area of the
engine compartment. This noise is
normal. It does not indicate power
steering system trouble.

The front tie-down hooks are located
between each of the front tires and the
front bumper.
Rear tie-down hooks:
The rear tie-down hooks are located near
each of the jack-up reinforcements.
WARNING
Use the rear tie-down hooks only for
downward anchoring. If they are
used to anchor the vehicle in any
other direction, cables may slip off
the hooks, possibly causing a dan-
gerous situation. &
Using a flat-bed truck
This is the best way to transport your
vehicle. Use the following procedures to
ensure safe transportation.
1. Shift the select lever into the “P ”
position.
2. Press the parking brake pedal firmly.
3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier
properly with safety chains. Each safety
chain should be equally tightened and
care must be taken not to pull the chains
so tightly that the suspension bottoms out. &
Towing with all wheels on the ground
WARNING
. Never turn the ignition switch to
the “LOCK ”position while the
vehicle is being towed because
the steering wheel and the direc-
tion of the wheels will be locked.
. Remember that the brake booster
and power steering do not func-
tion when the engine is not
running. Because the engine is
turned off, it will take greater
effort to operate the brake pedal
and steering wheel. In case of emergency
9-17
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10-2Appearance care
Exterior care &Washing
CAUTION
. When washing the vehicle, the
brakes may get wet. As a result,
the brake stopping distance will
be longer. To dry the brakes,
drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly pressing the brake
pedal to heat up the brakes.
. Do not wash the engine compart-
ment and areas adjacent to it. If
water enters the engine air in-
take, electrical parts or the power
steering fluid reservoir, it will
cause engine trouble or a mal-
function of the power steering.
. Do not use any organic solvents
when washing the surface of the
bulb assembly cover. However, if
a detergent with organic solvents
is used to wash the cover sur-
face, completely rinse off the
detergent with water. Otherwise,
the cover surface may be da-maged.
. Since your vehicle is equipped
with a rear wiper, automatic car-
wash brushes could become tangled around it, damaging the
wiper arm and other compo-
nents. Ask the automatic car-
wash operator not to let the
brushes touch the wiper arm or
to fix the wiper arm on the rear
window glass with adhesive tape
before operating the machine.
NOTE
When having your vehicle washed in
an automatic car wash, make sure
beforehand that the car wash is of
suitable type.
The best way to preserve your vehicle ’s
beauty is frequent washing. Wash the
vehicle at least once a month to avoid
contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of lukewarm or cold water. Do not wash
the vehicle with hot water and in directsunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree
sap, and bird droppings should be washed
off by using a light detergent, as required.
If you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use
strong soap or chemical detergents. All
cleaning agents should be promptly
flushed from the surface and not allowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly
with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the
remaining water off with a chamois or softcloth. !
Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for
deicing road surfaces are extremely cor-
rosive, accelerating the corrosion of un-
derbody components, such as the exhaust
system, fuel and brake lines, brake
cables, floor pan and fenders, and sus-pension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and in-
side of the fenders with lukewarm or cold
water at frequent intervals to reduce the
harmful effects of such agents.
Mud and sand adhering to the underbody
components may accelerate their corro-sion.
After driving off-road or muddy or sandy
roads, wash the mud and sand off the
underbody.
Carefully flush the suspension and axle
parts, as they are particularly prone to
mud and sand buildup. Do not use a
sharp-edged tool to remove caked mud. NOTE
Be careful not to damage brake hoses,
sensor harnesses, and other parts
when washing suspension compo-

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