2014 SUBARU TRIBECA towing

SUBARU dealer.
If use of a non-genuine hitch is unavoid-able, be sure the hitch is suited to yourvehicle and trailer. Consult with a profes-sional hitch supplier to assist you inchoosing an appropriate hitch for yourvehicle. Be sure to follow all of the hitchmanufacturer’s instructions for installationand use.
Never use a hitch that mounts only to therear bumper. The bumper is not designedto handle that type of load.
For all types of hitches, regularly checkthat the hitch mounting bolts and nuts aretight.
&Connecting a trailer
!Trailer brakes
WARNING
.Adequate size trailer brakes arerequired when the trailer and itscargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg)total weight.
.Do not directly connect yourtrailer’s hydraulic brake systemto the hydraulic brake system inyour vehicle. Direct connectionwouldcause the vehicle’s brakeperformance to deteriorate and
could lead to an accident.
If your trailer’s total weight (trailer weightplus its cargo weight) exceeds 1,000 lbs(453 kg), the trailer is required to beequipped with its own brake system.Electric brakes or surge brakes arerecommended, and must be installedproperly. Check that your trailer’s brakesconform with Federal, state/province and/or other applicable regulations. YourSUBARU’s brake system is not designedto be tapped into the trailer’s hydraulicbrake system. Please ask your SUBARUdealer and professional trailer supplier formore information about the trailer’s brakesystem.
!Trailer safety chains
WARNING
Always use safety chains betweenyour vehicle and the trailer. Towingtrailer without safety chains couldcreate a traffic safety hazard if thetrailer separates from the hitch dueto coupling damage or hitch balldamage.
In case the trailer hitch connector or hitchball should break or become discon-nected, the trailer could get loose and
create a traffic safety hazard.
For safety, always connect the towingvehicle and trailer with trailer safetychains. Pass the chains crossing eachother under the trailer tongue to preventthe trailer from dropping onto the groundin case the trailer tongue should discon-nect from the hitch ball. Allow sufficientslack in the chains taking tight turnsituations into account; however, be care-ful not to let them drag on the ground.
For more information about the safetychain connection, refer to the instructionsfor your hitch and trailer.
!Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle,check that the standard side mirrorsprovide a good rearward field of viewwithout significant blind spots. If significant
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8-26Driving tips
blind spots occur with the vehicle’s stan-dard side mirrors, use towing mirrors thatconform with Federal, state/province and/or other applicable regulations.
!Trailer lights
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improperconnection of trailer lights maydamage your vehicle’selectricalsystem and cause a malfunction ofyour vehicle’s lighting system.
Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-cle’s electrical system requires modifica-tions to the vehicle’s lighting circuit toincrease its capacity and accommodatewiring changes. To ensure the trailer lightsare connected properly, please consultyour SUBARU dealer. Check for properoperation of the turn signals, stop lightsand parking 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 tosustain the towing load. Use of thetemporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tireand/or less stability of the vehicle.
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicleare properly inflated. Refer to“Tires”F12-8.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating andproper inflation pressure should be inaccordance with the trailer manufacturer’sspecifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tirewhen towing a trailer, ask a commercialroad service to repair the flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in yourvehicle or trailer as a precaution againstgetting a flat tire, be sure that the sparetire is firmly secured.
&Trailer towing tips
CAUTION
.Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h)when towing a trailer in hillycountry on hot days.
.When towing a trailer, steering,stability, stopping distance andbraking performance will be dif-ferent from normal operation. Forsafety’s sake, you should employ
extra caution when towing atrailer and you should neverspeed. You should also keep thefollowing tips in mind:
!Before starting out on a trip
.Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-hitch mounting are in good condition. Ifany problems are apparent, do not tow thetrailer.
.Check that the vehicle sits horizontallywith the trailer attached. If the vehicle istippedsharply up at the front and down atthe rear, check the total trailer weight,GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, thenconfirm that the load and its distributionare acceptable.
.Check that the tire pressures arecorrect.
.Checkthat the vehicle and trailer areconnected properly. Confirm that–the trailer tongue is connectedproperly to the hitch ball.–the trailer lights connector is con-nected properly and trailer’s stop lightsilluminate when the vehicle’s brakepedal is pressed, and that the trailer’sturn signal lights flash when thevehicle’s turn signal lever is operated.–the safety chains are connectedproperly.

–all cargo in the trailer is securedsafely in position.–the side mirrors provide a goodrearward field of view without a sig-nificant blind spot..Sufficient time should be taken to learnthe“feel”of the vehicle/trailer combinationbefore starting out on a trip. In an area freeof traffic, practice turning, stopping andbacking up.
!Driving with a trailer
.You should allow for considerably morestopping distance when towing a trailer.Avoid sudden braking because it mayresult in skidding or jackknifing and loss ofcontrol.
.Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns andrapid lane changes.
.Slow down before turning. Make alonger than normal turning radius becausethe trailer wheels will be closer than thevehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Ina tight turn, the trailer could hit yourvehicle.
.Crosswinds will adversely affect thehandling of your vehicle and trailer, caus-ing sway. Crosswinds can be due toweather conditions or the passing of largetrucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmlygrip the steering wheel and slow downimmediately but gradually.
.When passing other vehicles, consid-erable distance is required because of theadded weight and length caused byattaching the trailer to your vehicle.
1) Left turn2) Right turn
.Backing up with a trailer is difficult andtakes practice. When backing up with atrailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly.When turning back, grip the bottom of thesteering wheel with one hand and turn it tothe left for a left turn, and turn it to the rightfor a right turn.
.If the ABS warning light illuminateswhile the vehicle is in motion, stop towingthe trailer and have repairs performedimmediately by the nearest SUBARUdealer.
!Driving on grades
.Before going down a steep hill, slowdown and shift into lower gear (if neces-sary, use 1st gear) in order to utilize theengine braking effect and prevent over-heating of your vehicle’s brakes. Do notmake sudden downshifts.
.When driving uphill in hot weather, theair conditioner may turn off automaticallyto protect the engine from overheating.
.When driving uphill in hot weather, payattention to the water temperature gaugepointer and AT OIL TEMP warning lightbecause the engine and transmission arerelatively prone to overheating underthese conditions. If the water temperaturegauge pointer approaches the OVER-HEAT zone or the AT OIL TEMP warninglight illuminates, immediately turn off theair conditioner and stop the vehicle in thenearest safe location. For further instruc-tions and additional information, refer tothe following sections.–“If you park your vehicle in anemergency”F9-2–“Engine overheating”F9-14–“Temperature gauge”F3-8–“AT OIL TEMP warning light”F3-13
NOTE
The temperature of engine coolant isless likely to rise to the OVERHEAT
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If you park your vehicle in an emergency......... 9-2
Spare tire............................................................. 9-2Removing the spare tire...................................... 9-3Re-storage of spare tire....................................... 9-4
Temporary spare tire........................................... 9-5
Flat tires............................................................... 9-6Changing a flat tire.............................................. 9-6Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ............ 9-10
Jump starting..................................................... 9-11How to jump start............................................... 9-12
Engine overheating........................................... 9-14If steam is coming from the enginecompartment................................................... 9-14If no steam is coming from the enginecompartment................................................... 9-14
Towing................................................................ 9-14Towing and tie-down hooks................................ 9-15Using a flat-bed truck......................................... 9-17Towing with all wheels on the ground................. 9-17
Reargate–if the rear gate cannot beunlocked.......................................................... 9-18
Maintenance tools............................................. 9-19Jack and jack handle......................................... 9-19
In case of emergency
9

of the tire facing up).
3. Turn the hoist shaft end clockwise withthe wheel nut wrench to wind the cable upcompletely until you hear a few clickingsounds.Confirm that the temporary sparetire holding cable has been wound upcompletely by shaking the temporary tire.
CAUTION
If the temporary spare tire is notstored securely, it could damageadjacent areas of the vehicle andmake an abnormal noise.
4. Place the wheel nut wrench andextension back into the tool bag and storethe jackand tool bag in their storagelocations.
5. Fit the lid of the cargo area.
CAUTION
.When stowing a flat tire in thespare tire holder, turn the hoistshaft end only slowly. If it isturned quickly, the wheel disc ofthe flat tire could be damaged.
.Afull-sizeflattireshouldbestowed in the spare tire holderin an emergency only. After hav-ingthe flat tire repaired, immedi-ately swap it with the temporaryspare tire.
.Remember that the tread width ofa flat tire is wider than that of thetemporary spare tire. When car-rying a flat tire stowed in thespare tire holder, make sure thetiredoes not touch any obsta-cles.
Temporary spare tire
WARNING
.Never tow a trailer when thetemporary spare tire is used.The temporary spare tire is notdesigned to sustain the towingload. Use of the temporary sparetire when towing can result infailure of the spare tire and/orless stability of the vehicle andmay lead to an accident.
.When a spare tire is mounted or awheel rim is replaced without theoriginal pressure sensor/trans-mitter being transferred, the lowtire pressure warning light willilluminate steadily after blinkingfor approximately one minute.This indicates the tire pressuremonitoring system (TPMS) is un-able to monitor all four roadwheels. Contact your SUBARUdealer as soon as possible fortire and sensor replacement and/or system resetting.
In case of emergency9-5
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9-10In case of emergency
holder.
Refer to“Spare tire”F9-2 for its location,instructions and precautions.
CAUTION
.When stowing a flat tire in thespare tire holder, turn the hoistshaft end only slowly. If it isturned quickly, the wheel disc ofthe flat tire could be damaged.
.Afull-sizeflattireshouldbestowed in the spare tire holderin an emergency only. After hav-ing the flat tire repaired, immedi-ately swap it with the temporaryspare tire.
.Remember that the tread width ofa flat tire is wider than that of thetemporary spare tire. When car-rying a flat tire stowed in thespare tire holder, make sure thetire does not touch any obsta-cles.
WARNING
Never place a tire or tire changingtools in the passenger compartmentafter changing wheels. In a suddenstop or collisions, loose equipment
could strike occupants and causeinjury. Store the tire and all tools inthe proper place.
&Tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS)
The tire pressure monitoring system pro-vides the driver with the warning messageindicated by sending a signal from asensor that is installed in each wheelwhen tire pressure is severely low.
The tire pressure monitoring system willactivate only when the vehicle is driven.Also, this system may not react immedi-ately to a sudden drop in tire pressure (forexample, a blow-out caused running overa sharp object).
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning lightilluminates while driving, neverbrake suddenly and keep drivingstraight ahead while gradually redu-cing speed. Then slowly pull off theroad to a safe place. Otherwise anaccident involving serious vehicledamageand serious personal injurycould occur.
Check the pressure for all four tiresand adjust the pressure to the COLDtire pressure shown on the vehicleplacard on the door pillar on thedriver’s side. If this light still illumi-nates while driving after adjustingthe tire pressure, a tire may havesignificant damage and a fast leakthat causes the tire to lose airrapidly. If you have a flat tire, replaceit with a spare tire as soon aspossible.
When a spare tire is mounted or awheel rim is replaced without theoriginal pressure sensor/transmitterbeing transferred, the low tire pres-sure warning light will illuminatesteadily afterblinking for approxi-mately one minute. This indicatesthe TPMS is unable to monitor allfour road wheels. Contact your

9-14In case of emergency
Engine overheating
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-tor cap until the engine has beenshut off and has fully cooled down.When theengine is hot, the coolantis under pressure. Removing thecap while the engine is still hotcould release a spray of boiling hotcoolant, which could burn you veryseriously.
If the engine overheats, safely pull off theroad and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
&If steam is coming from the
engine compartment
Turn off the engine and get everyoneaway from the vehicle until it cools down.
&If no steam is coming from
the engine compartment
NOTE
For details about how to check thecoolant level or how to add coolant,refer to“Engine coolant”F11-11.
1. Keep the engine running at idlingspeed.
2. Open the hood to ventilate the enginecompartment. Refer to“Engine hood”F11-4.
Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. Ifthe fan is not turning, immediately turn offthe engine and contact your authorizeddealer for repair.
3. After the engine coolant temperaturehas dropped, turn off the engine.
If the temperature gauge stays at theoverheated zone, turn off the engine.
4. After the engine has fully cooled down,check the coolant level in the reservetank.
If the coolant level is below the“LOW”mark, add coolant up to the“FULL”mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reservetank, add coolant to the reserve tank.Then remove the radiator cap and fill theradiator with coolant.
If you remove the radiator cap from a hotradiator, first wrap a thick cloth around theradiator cap, then turn the cap counter-clockwise slowly without pressing downuntil it stops. Release the pressure fromthe radiator. After the pressure has beenfully released, remove the cap by pressingdown and turning it.
Towing
WARNING
Never tow AWD models with thefront wheels raised off the groundwhile the rear wheels are on theground, or with the rear wheelsraised off the ground while the frontwheels are on the ground. This willcause the vehicle to spin away dueto the operation or deterioration ofthe centerdifferential.
If towing is necessary, it is best done byyour SUBARU dealer or a commercialtowing service. Observe the followingprocedures for safety.

&Towing and tie-down hooks
The towing hooks should be used only inan emergency (e.g., to free a stuck vehiclefrom mud, sand or snow).
CAUTION
.Use only the specified towinghooks and tie-down hooks. Neveruse suspension parts or otherparts of the body for towing ortie-down purposes.
.Never use the tie-down hookclosest to the muffler under thevehicle for towing purposes.
.To prevent deformation to thebumperand the towing hook, donot apply excessive lateral loadto the towing hooks.
Front towing hook:
1. Take out the towing hook and screw-driver from the tool bag. Take out the jackhandle from the cargo area.
2. Wrap a flat-head screwdriver in vinyltape or cloth, insert it into the gap betweenthe cover and the front bumper, and use itto pry the cover open.
NOTE
.The cover is attached to the frontbumper with five lugs..Do not remove the cover whileholding the slit.
3. Screw the towing hook into the threadhole until the threads can no longer beseen.
4. Tighten the towing hook securelyusing a jack handle.
In case of emergency9-15
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