Wiper and washer
WARNING
In freezing weather, do not use thewindshield washer until the wind-shield is sufficiently warmed by thedefroster.
Otherwise the washer fluid canfreeze on the windshield, blockingyour view.
CAUTION
.Do not operate the washer con-tinuously for more than 10 sec-onds, or when the washer fluidtank is empty. This may causeoverheating of the washer motor.Check the washer fluid levelfrequently, such as at fuel stops.
.Do not operate the wipers whenthe windshieldor rear window isdry. This may scratch the glass,damage the wiper blades andcause the wiper motor to burnout. Before operating the wiperon a dry windshield or rearwindow, always use the wind-shield washer.
.In freezing weather, be sure thatthe wiper blades are not frozen tothe windshield or rear windowbefore switching on the wipers.Attempting to operate the wiperwith the blades frozen to thewindow glass could cause notonly the wiper blades to bedamagedbut also the wiper mo-tor to burn out. If the wiperblades are frozen to the windowglass, be sure to operate thedefroster, wiper deicer (ifequipped) or rear window defog-ger before turning on the wiper.
.If the wipers stop during opera-tion because of ice or some otherobstruction on the window, thewiper motor could burn out evenif the wiper switch is turned off. Ifthis occurs, promptly stop thevehicle in a safe place, turn theignition switch to the“LOCK”position and clean the windowglass to allow proper wiper op-eration.
.Use clean water if windshieldwasher fluid is unavailable. Inareas where water freezes inwinter, use SUBARU WindshieldWasher Fluid or the equivalent.Refer to“Windshield washer
fluid”F11-28.
Also, when driving the vehiclewhen there are freezing tempera-tures, use non-freezing type wi-per blades.
.Do not clean the wiper bladeswith gasoline or a solvent, suchas paint thinner or benzine. Thiswill cause deterioration of thewiper blades.
NOTE
.The front wiper motor is protectedagainst overloads by a circuit breaker.The motor operates continuously un-der an unusually heavy load, the circuitbreaker may trip to stop the motortemporarily. If this happens, park yourvehicle in a safe place, turn off thewiper switch, and wait for approxi-mately 10 minutes. The circuit breakerwill reset itself, and the wipers willagain operate normally..Clean your wiper blades and win-dow glass periodically with a washersolution to prevent streaking, and toremove accumulations of road salt orroad film. Operate the windshieldwasher for at least 1 second so thatwasher solution will be sprinkled allover the windshield or rear window.
Instruments and controls3-33
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3-34Instruments and controls
.Grease, wax, insects or other mate-rial on the windshield or the wiperblades results in jerky wiper operationand streaking on the glass. If youcannot remove those streaks afteroperating the washer or if the wiperoperation is jerky, clean the outer sur-face of the windshield or rear windowand the wiper blades using a sponge orsoft cloth with a neutral detergent ormild abrasive cleaner. After cleaning,rinse the window glass and wiperblades with clean water. The glass iscleanif no beads form on the glasswhen you rinse with water..If you cannot eliminate the streakingeven after following this procedure,replace the wiper blades with newones. For replacement instructions,refer to“Replacementof wiper blades”F11-29.
&Windshield wiper and washer
switches
The wiper operates only when the ignitionswitch is in the“ON”or“Acc”position.
!Windshield wipers
OFF: Off: IntermittentLO: LowspeedHI: High speed
To turn the wipers on, push the wipercontrol lever down.
To turn the wipers off, return the lever tothe“OFF”position.
!Mist (for a single wipe)
For a single wipe of the wipers, pull thelever toward you. The wipers operate untilyou release the lever.
!Wiper intermittent time control
3-36Instruments and controls
speed is low; shorter when the vehiclespeed is high).
When you subsequently move the selectlever of the automatic transmission to the“R”position, the rear wiper will switch tocontinuous operation. When you move theselect lever from the“R”position to someother position, the rear wiper will return tointermittent operation.
!Washer
To wash the rear window while the rearwiperis operating, turn the knob on theend of the wiper control lever upward tothe“”position. The washer fluid spraysuntil you release the knob.
To wash the rear window when the rearwiper is not in use, turn the knob on theend of the wiper control lever downward tothe“”position. The washer fluid spraysand the wiper operates until you releasetheknob.
Windshield wiper deicer
The windshield wiper deicer operates onlywhen the ignition switch is in the“ON”position.
To turn on the windshield wiper deicer,push the control switch. The indicator lightlocated on the switch illuminates while thewindshield wiper deicer is operating.
To turn it off, push the control switch again.It also turns off when the ignition switch isturned to the“Acc”or“LOCK”position.
The windshield wiper deicer will automa-tically shut off after approximately 15minutes. If the windshield wiper bladeshave been deiced completely before thattime, push the control switch to turn it off. Ifdeicing is not complete, you have to push
the control switch to turn it on again.
Your SUBARU dealer can set your wind-shield wiper deicer to the continuousoperation mode. Contact your SUBARUdealer for details.
Once the windshield wiper deicer hasbeen set to the continuous operationmode, it should be in the continuousoperation mode at any time when thecontrol switch is pushed to the“ON”position.
If the battery voltage drops below thepermissible level, continuous operation ofthe windshield wiper deicer is canceledand the system stops operating.
CAUTION
To prevent the battery from beingdischarged, do not operate thewindshield wiper deicer continu-ously for any longer than necessary.
NOTE
.Turn on the windshield wiper deicerif the wipers are frozen to the wind-shield..If the windshield is covered withsnow, remove the snow so that thewindshield wiper deicer works effec-
8-8Driving tips
Winter driving
&Operation during cold
weather
Carry some emergency equipment, suchas a window scraper, a bag of sand,flares, a small shovel and jumper cables.
Check the battery and cables. Coldtemperatures reduce battery capacity.The battery must be in good condition toprovide enough power for cold winterstarts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade andviscosity for cold weather. Heavy summeroil will cause harder starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing bysquirting them with deicer or glycerin.
Forcing a frozen door open may damageor separate the rubber weather stripsaround the door. If the door is frozen,use hot water to melt the ice, and after-wards thoroughly wipe the water away.
Use a windshield washer fluid that con-tains an antifreeze solution. Do not useengine antifreeze or other substitutesbecause they may damage the paint ofthe vehicle.
SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-tains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-perature varies according to how much itis diluted, as indicated in the followingtable.
Washer Fluid Con-centrationFreezing Temperature
30% 10.48F(!128C)
50%!48F(!208C)
100%!498F(!458C)
In order to prevent freezing of washerfluid, check the freezing temperatures inthe table above when adjusting the fluidconcentration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid witha different concentration from the oneused previously, purge the old fluid fromthe piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washerfor a certain period of time. Otherwise, ifthe concentration of the fluid remaining inthe piping is too low for the outsidetemperature, it may freeze and block thenozzles.
CAUTION
.Adjust the washer fluid concen-tration appropriately for the out-side temperature. If the concen-tration is inappropriate, sprayedwasher fluid may freeze on thewindshield and obstruct yourview, and the fluid may freeze inthe reservoir tank.
.State or local regulations onvolatile organic compounds mayrestrict the use of methanol, acommon windshield washer anti-freeze additive. Washer fluidscontaining non-methanol anti-freeze agents should be usedonly if they provide cold weatherprotection without damagingyour vehicle’s paint, wiper bladesor washer system.
!Before driving your vehicle
Before entering the vehicle, remove anysnow or ice from your shoes because that
could make the pedals slippery anddriving dangerous.
While warming up the vehicle beforedriving, check that the accelerator pedal,brake pedal, and all other controls operatesmoothly.
Clear away ice and snow that hasaccumulated under the fenders to avoidmaking steering difficult. During severewinter driving, stop when and where it issafe to do so and check under the fendersperiodically.
!Parking in cold weather
WARNING
Snow can trap dangerous exhaustgases under your vehicle. Keepsnow clear of the exhaust pipe andfrom around your vehicle if you parkthe vehicle in snow with the enginerunning.
Do not use the parking brake whenparking for long periods in cold weathersince it could freeze in that position.Instead, you should observe the followingtips.
1. Place the select lever in“P”position.
2. Use tire stops under the tires toprevent the vehicle from moving.
When the vehicle is parked in snow orwhen it snows, raise the wiper blades offthe glass to prevent damage to them.
When the vehicle has been left parkedafter use on roads heavily covered withsnow, or has been left parked during asnowstorm, icing may develop on thebrake system, which could cause poorbraking action.Check for snow or icebuildup on the suspension, disc brakesand brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,being careful not to damage the discbrakes and brake hoses and ABS har-ness.
!Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming inthe fuel system and the risk of its freezing,use of an antifreeze additive in the fueltank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specificallydesigned for this purpose. When anantifreeze additive is used, its effect lastslonger if the tank is refilled whenever thefuel level reaches half empty.
If your SUBARU is not going to be usedfor an extended period, it is best to havethe fuel tank filled to capacity.
&Driving on snowy and icy
roads
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control onslippery roads such as snowy or icyroads. This may cause loss ofvehicle control.
CAUTION
Avoid prolonged continuous drivingin snowstorms. Snow will enter theengine’sintakesystemandmayhinder the airflow, which could re-sult in engine shutdown or evenbreakdown.
To prevent skidding and slipping, avoidsudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-speed driving, and sharp turning whendriving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance betweenyour vehicle and the vehicle ahead of youto avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use theengine brake effectively to control thevehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gearwhen necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-
Driving tips8-9
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8-10Driving tips
vior can cause the wheels to lock, possiblyleading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-hances your vehicle’sbrakingperfor-mance on snowy and icy roads. Forinformation about braking on slipperysurfaces, refer to“ABS (Anti-lock BrakeSystem)”F7-20 and“Vehicle DynamicsControl system”F7-23.
!Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make surethe wiper blades are not frozen to thewindshield or rear window. If the wiperblades are frozen to the windshield or rearwindow, use the defroster with the airflowcontrol button in the“”position and thetemperature control dial set for maximumwarmth until the wiper blades are com-pletely thawed out. The wiper deicer ishelpful to thaw the windshield wiperblades. To thaw out the rear wiper blade,use the rear window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow startsto stick on the surface of the windshielddespite wiper operation, use the defrosterwith the airflow control button in“”andthe temperature control dial set for max-imum warmth. After the windshield getswarmed enoughto melt the frozen snowon it, wash it away using the windshieldwasher.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents thewiper from working effectively. If snow isstuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road toa safe place, then remove it. If you stopthe vehicle at road side, use the hazardwarning flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing typewiper blades (winter blades) during theseasons in which you could have snowand freezing temperatures. Blades of thistype givesuperior wiping performance insnowy conditions. Be sure to use bladesthat are suitable for your vehicle.
CAUTION
During high-speed driving, non-freezing type wiper blades may notperformas well as standard wiperblades. If this happens, reduce thevehicle speed.
NOTE
When the season requiring non-freez-ing type wiper blades is over, replacethem with standard wiper blades.
&Corrosion protection
Refer to“Corrosion protection”F10-4.
&Snow tires
WARNING
.When replacing original tires withwinter (snow) tires, make sureyou use only tires of the samesize, circumference, speed sym-bol and load index as the originaltires listed on the tire placard.Using tires of other sizes orconstructions may affect speed-ometer/odometer calibration andclearance between the body andtires. It also may be dangerousand lead to loss of vehicle con-trol.
.You must install four winter tiresthat are of the same size, circum-ferences,construction, manufac-turer, brand (tread pattern), de-gree of wear, speed symbol andload index. Mixing tires of othersizes, circumferences or con-structions may result in severemechanical damage to the drivetrain of your vehicle and mayaffect ride, handling, braking andspeedometer/odometer calibra-tion. It also may be dangerousand lead to loss of vehicle con-trol.
Maintenance schedule....................................... 11-3
Maintenance precautions................................... 11-3Before checking or servicing in the enginecompartment.................................................... 11-4When you do checking or servicing in the enginecompartment while the engine is running.......... 11-4
Engine hood....................................................... 11-4
Engine compartment overview.......................... 11-6
Engine oil............................................................ 11-7Checking the oil level......................................... 11-7Changing the oil and oil filter.............................. 11-8Recommendedgrade and viscosity.................... 11-9Synthetic oil....................................................... 11-9
Cooling system................................................ 11-10Hose and connections...................................... 11-10Engine coolant................................................. 11-11
Air cleaner element.......................................... 11-12Replacing the air cleaner element..................... 11-12
Spark plugs...................................................... 11-13Recommended spark plugs.............................. 11-13
Drive belts........................................................ 11-13
Automatic transmission fluid.......................... 11-14Checking the fluid level.................................... 11-14Recommended fluid......................................... 11-15
Front differential gear oil................................. 11-15Checking the oil level....................................... 11-15Recommended grade and viscosity.................. 11-16
Rear differential gear oil.................................. 11-16Recommended grade and viscosity.................. 11-16
Power steering fluid........................................ 11-16Checking the fluid level.................................... 11-16Recommended fluid......................................... 11-17
Brake fluid........................................................ 11-17Checking the fluid level.................................... 11-17Recommended brake fluid............................... 11-18
Brakebooster.................................................. 11-18
Brake pedal...................................................... 11-19Checking the brake pedal free play.................. 11-19Checking the brake pedal reserve distance....... 11-19
Replacement of brake pad and lining............ 11-19Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings....... 11-20
Parking brake stroke....................................... 11-20
Tires and wheels.............................................. 11-21Types of tires................................................... 11-21Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).......... 11-21Tire inspection................................................. 11-22Tire pressuresand wear.................................. 11-23Wheel balance................................................. 11-25Wear indicators............................................... 11-25Tire rotation direction mark.............................. 11-25Tire rotation..................................................... 11-26Tire replacement.............................................. 11-26Wheel replacement.......................................... 11-27
Aluminum wheels............................................ 11-27
Windshield washer fluid.................................. 11-28
Replacement of wiper blades......................... 11-29Windshield wiper blade assembly..................... 11-30Windshield wiper blade rubber ......................... 11-30Rear window wiper blade assembly.................. 11-31
Maintenance and service
11
11-4Maintenance and service
guard against getting oil or fluidsin your eyes. If something doesget in your eyes, thoroughlywash them out with clean water.
.Do not tamper with the wiring ofthe SRS airbag system or seat-belt pretensioner system, or at-tempt to take its connectorsapart, as that may activate thesystem or it can render it inop-erative. NEVER use a circuittester for these wiring. If yourSRS airbag or seatbelt preten-sioner needs service, consultyour nearest SUBARU dealer.
&Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment
WARNING
.Always stop the engine and setthe parking brake firmly to pre-vent the vehicle from moving.
.Always let the engine cool down.Engine parts become very hotwhen the engine is running andremain hot for some time afterthe engine is stopped.
.Do not spill engine oil, enginecoolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.This may cause a fire.
.Always remove the key from theignition switch. When the ignitionswitch is in the“ON”position,the cooling fan may operatesuddenly even when the engineis 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 coolingfan, belts and any other movingengine parts. Removing rings,watches and ties is advisable.
Engine hood
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off thewindshield, return them to their originalpositions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under theinstrument panel.