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4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
General maintenance
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
Battery Check the connections. 
 (→ P. 302)
Brake fluid At the correct level?  ( →P. 300)
Engine coolant At the correct level? ( →P. 298)
Engine oil At the correct level? ( →P. 295)
Exhaust system No fumes or strange sounds? 
Radiator/condenser/hoses Not blocked with foreign matter?  (
→P. 300)
Washer fluid At the correct level? ( →P. 306)
Listed below are the general maintenance items that should be per- 
formed at the intervals specified  in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”. It is recommended that  any problem you notice should be
brought to the attention of your  SUBARU dealer or qualified service
shop for advice. 
         
        
        
     
        
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288
4-2. Maintenance
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs
Some states have vehicle emission inspection programs which
include OBD (On Board Diagnostics) checks. The OBD system moni- 
tors the operation of the emission control system.
■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on 
The OBD system determines that a problem exists somewhere 
in the emission control system. Your vehicle may not pass the I/ 
M test and may need to be repaired. Contact your SUBARU
dealer to service the vehicle.
■Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test: ● When the battery is disconnected or discharged 
Readiness codes that are set during ordinary driving are 
erased. 
Also, depending on your driving habits, the readiness codes
may not be completely set.
● When the fuel tank cap is loose 
The malfunction indicator lamp comes on as a temporary mal- 
function and your vehicle may not pass the I/M test.
■When the malfunction indicator lamp goes off after several 
driving trips 
The error code in the OBD system will not be cleared unless the 
vehicle is driven 40 or more times.
■If your vehicle does not pass the I/M test 
Contact your SUBARU dealer to prepare the vehicle for re-test- 
ing. 
         
        
        
     
        
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297
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■Engine oil consumption
●The amount of engine oil consumed depends on the oil viscosity, the 
quality of the oil and the way the vehicle is driven.
●More oil is consumed under driving conditions such as high speeds and 
frequent acceleration and deceleration.
●A new engine consumes more oil.
●When judging the amount of oil consumption, keep in mind that the oil 
may have become diluted, making it difficult to judge the true level accu-
rately.
●If your vehicle consumes more than 1.1 qt. (1.0 L, 0.9 Imp. qt.) every 600 
miles (1000 km), contact your SUBARU dealer.
WARNING
■Used engine oil
●Used engine oil contains potentially harmful contaminants which may 
cause skin disorders such as inflammation or skin cancer, so care should
be taken to avoid prolonged and repeated contact. To remove used engine
oil from your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
●Dispose of used oil and filters only in a safe and acceptable manner. Do 
not dispose of used oil and filters in household trash, in sewers or onto the
ground. 
Call your SUBARU dealer, service station or auto parts store for informa-
tion concerning recycling or disposal.
●Do not leave used engine oil within the reach of children. 
         
        
        
     
        
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314
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmit- 
ters (vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring system) 
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning 
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is
used, contact your SUBARU dealer or other qualified service shop as
soon as possible. Make sure to replace the tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter when replacing the tire. (→P. 309)
■Driving on rough roads 
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot 
holes. 
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing
the cushioning ability of the tires. In addition, driving on rough roads may
cause damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels
and body.
■Low profile tires and wheels (vehicles with 17-inch tires) 
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the wheel 
when receiving impact from the road surface. Therefore pay attention to
the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated, 
they may be damaged more severely.
●Avoid pot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards.  
Failure to do so may lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressures become low while driving 
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined. 
         
        
        
     
        
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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■Replacing tire inflation pressure warning valves and transmitters 
(vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring system)
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warn- 
ing valves and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your
SUBARU dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure
to purchase your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at your
SUBARU dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine SUBARU wheels are used on your vehicle.  
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly
with non-genuine wheels.  
         
        
        
     
        
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5
When trouble arises
355
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Emergency towingIf a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be 
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelet to move the vehicle to a safe location or to free a stuck 
vehicle from sand or snow. This should only be attempted on hard 
surfaced roads for short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The 
vehicle's wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in 
good condition.
For vehicles with an automatic transmission, only the front towing 
eyelet may be used. Towing eyelet
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by 
your SUBARU dealer or a commercial towing service, using a flat
bed truck. 
The vehicle must be secured 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. 
         
        
        
     
        
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388
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■Do not drive the vehicle with a flat tire. 
Do not continue driving with a flat tire.  
Driving even a short distance with a flat tire can damage the tire and the
wheel beyond repair.
■Be careful when driving over bumps with the compact spare tire 
installed on the vehicle. 
The vehicle becomes lower when driving with the compact spare tire 
compared to when driving with standard tires. Be careful when driving
over uneven road surfaces.
■Driving with tire chains and the compact spare tire 
Do not fit tire chains to the compact spare tire.  
Tire chains may damage the vehicle body and adversely affect driving
performance.
■When replacing the tires (vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring 
system) 
When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning 
valve and transmitter, contact your SUBARU dealer as the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmit- 
ters (vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring system) 
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning 
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is
used, contact your SUBARU dealer or other qualified service shop as
soon as possible. Make sure to replace the tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter when replacing the tire. (→P. 309)
■Stowing the jack 
When stowing the jack in the jack holder, make sure that the part that the 
jack handle attaches to is pointing towards the inside of the trunk. Failure
to do so may damage the vehicle body. 
         
        
        
     
        
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423
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
■Gasoline for California-certified LEV 
If your vehicle was certified to California’s low emission vehicle (LEV) stan- 
dards as indicated on the underhood tune-up label, it is designed to optimize
engine and emission performance with gasoline that meets the clean burn-
ing low-sulfur California gasoline specifications. If you live in any other state
than California, your vehicle will operate on gasoline meeting Federal speci-
fications. Gasoline sold outside California is permitted to have higher sulfur
levels, which may affect the performance of your vehicle’s catalytic converter
and may produce a sulfur exhaust odor or smell. SUBARU recommends that
you try a different brand of unleaded gasoline having lower sulfur to deter-
mine if the problem is fuel related before returning your vehicle to an autho-
rized dealer for service.
■SUBARU recommends the use of gasoline containing detergent addi- 
tives
●SUBARU recommends the use of gasoline that contains detergent addi- 
tives to avoid build-up of engine deposits.
●All gasoline sold in the US contains detergent additives to clean and/or 
keep clean intake systems.
■SUBARU recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline 
Cleaner burning gasoline, including reformulated gasoline that contains oxy- 
genates such as ethanol or MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) is available in
many areas. 
SUBARU recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline and appropri- 
ately blended reformulated gasoline. These types of gasoline provide excel-
lent vehicle performance, reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.