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291 4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Door/trunk lid • Operate smoothly?
Engine hood • The lock system works properly?
Fluid leaks• Is there any leakage after park-
ing?
Ti re• Inflation pressure is correct?
• Tire surfaces not worn or dam-
aged?
• Tires rotated according to the
maintenance schedule?
• Wheel nuts are not loose?
Windshield wipers
•The wiper blades should not show
any signs of cracking, splitting,
wear, contamination or deforma-
tion.
•The wiper blades should clear the
windshield without streaking or
skipping.
WARNING
■If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.
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293
4
Maintenance and care
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself ser vice precautions
If you perform maintenance yourself, be sure to follow the correct
procedure as given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition ( oP. 306)•Warm water
• Baking soda
• Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
• Distilled water
Brake fluid level ( oP. 304)• FMVSS No.116 fresh DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding
brake fluid)
Engine coolant level ( oP. 302)• SUBARU Super Coolant or simi-
lar high-quality ethylene glycol-
based non-silicate, non-amine,
non-nitrite and non-borate coolant
with long-life hybrid organic acid
technology.
SUBARU Super Coolant is pre-
mixed with 50% coolant and
50% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding
engine coolant)
Engine oil level ( oP. 299)• SUBARU approved engine oil or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel, funnel (used
only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( oP. 334)• Fuse with same amperage rating
as original
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295 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
WARNING
The engine compartment contains many mechanisms and fluids that may
move suddenly, become hot, or become electrically energized. To avoid death
or serious injury, observe the following precautions.
■When working in the engine compartment
●Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from the moving fan and engine
drive belt.
●Be careful not to touch the engine, radiator, exhaust manifold, etc. right
after driving as they may be hot. Oil and other fluids may also be hot.
●Do not leave anything that may burn easily, such as paper or rags, in the
engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or expose an open flame to fuel or the bat-
tery. Fuel and battery fumes are flammable.
●Be extremely cautious when working on the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulfuric acid.
■When working near the electric cooling fans or radiator grille
Vehicles without a keyless access with push button start system: Be sure the
engine switch is off. With the engine switch in the “ON” position, the electric
cooling fans may automatically start to run if the air conditioning is on and/or
the coolant temperature is high. ( oP. 304)
Vehicles with a keyless access with push button start system: Be sure the
push-button ignition switch is off. With the push-button ignition switch in
“ON” mode, the electric cooling fans may automatically start to run if the air
conditioning is on and/or the coolant temperature is high. ( oP. 304)
■Safety glasses
Wear safety glasses to prevent flying or falling material, fluid spray, etc. from
getting in the eyes.
CAUTION
■If you remove the air cleaner filter
Driving with the air cleaner filter removed may cause excessive engine wear
due to dirt in the air. Also a backfire could cause a fire in the engine compart-
ment.
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296
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Engine hood
Release the lock from the inside of the vehicle to open the engine
hood.
Pull the engine hood release
lever.
The engine hood will pop up
slightly.
Push the auxiliary catch lever
to the left and lift the engine
hood.
Hold the engine hood open by
inserting the supporting rod
into the slot.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
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297 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■Pre-driving check
Check that the engine hood is fully closed and locked.
If the engine hood is not locked properly it may open while the vehicle is in
motion and cause an accident, which may result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION
■When opening the engine hood
●Do not lift up or operate the wipers. Doing so may cause the engine hood
and wipers to contact, scratching the engine hood.
●Use caution when opening the engine hood in windy weather as it may
close suddenly in strong wind.
●Do not attach any accessories other than genuine SUBARU products to
the engine hood. Such additional weight on the engine hood may cause it
to be too heavy to be supported by the supporting rod when opened.
■When closing the engine hood
Do not apply excessive weight or force when closing the engine hood as
doing so may result in damage.
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