153 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
WARNING
■When starting the vehicle (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
●Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine
running. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
●Firmly depress the brake pedal because engine speed may increase
immediately after starting the engine, when the air conditioning system is
operating, when turning the steering wheel, etc., thereby causing creeping
to become stronger. Apply the parking brake as necessary.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident
that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi-
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the
vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and acceler-
ator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot
parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
●On vehicles with an automatic transmission, do not let the vehicle roll
backward while the select lever is in a driving position, or roll forward while
the select lever is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering
performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
●If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the trunk lid is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehicle
can cause driver drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a seri-
ous health hazard. Have the vehicle inspected by your SUBARU dealer
immediately.
156 2-1. Driving procedures
WARNING
■If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have your SUBARU dealer check and replace the brake pads as soon as
possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads
and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded. ( oP. 151)
■Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings
A safe location and situation should be selected for break-in driving.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine.
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N (vehicles with an automatic
transmission only) or neutral (vehicles with a manual transmission), the
vehicle may accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
●Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
●On vehicles with an automatic transmission, in order to prevent accidents
due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing the brake pedal
while the engine is running, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.
157 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
WARNING
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a
fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and
plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehi-
cle's electrical components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach suction cups to the windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard.
Suction cups or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the select lever to P (vehicles with an
automatic transmission only), stop the engine and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the engine is running or immediately
after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
●Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it
is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is
running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle. This may lead
to death or a serious health hazard.
159 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
WARNING
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the power brake assist function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
●Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
●The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will
increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
CAUTION
■Pre-driving check
Trapping small animals in the cooling fan and belts of the engine may result
in a malfunction. Check that no small animal enters the engine compartment
and under the vehicle before starting the engine.
■When driving the vehicle
Vehicles with an automatic transmission
●If the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, driv-
ing torque may be restrained. This is not a malfunction.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
160 2-1. Driving procedures
CAUTION
Vehicles with a manual transmission
●If the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, driv-
ing torque may be restrained. This is not a malfunction.
●Do not shift gears unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed. After shifting,
do not release the clutch pedal abruptly. Doing so may damage the clutch,
transmission and gears.
●Observe the following to prevent the clutch from being damaged.
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving.
Doing so may cause clutch trouble.
• Do not use any gear other than the 1st gear when starting off and mov-
ing forward.
Doing so may damage the clutch.
• Do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle when stopping on an uphill
grade.
Doing so may damage the clutch.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R when the vehicle is still moving. Doing so
may damage the clutch, transmission and gears.
●Do not release the clutch pedal too quickly. Doing so may damage the
transmission.
■When parking the vehicle (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Always shift the select lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed. Also set the parking brake.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
●On vehicles with an automatic transmission, do not race the engine for
more than 5 seconds in any position except the N or P position when the
brake is applied or when chocks are used in the wheels. This may cause
the transmission fluid to overheat.
161 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
CAUTION
■Replacement of brake pad and lining
If you continue to drive despite the scraping noise from the audible brake
pad wear indicator, it will result in the need for costly brake rotor repair or
replacement.
■Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings
Pulling the parking brake lever too forcefully may cause the rear wheels to
lock. To avoid this, be certain to pull the lever up slowly and gently.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( oP. 382)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. Doing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be
sure to have your SUBARU dealer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, trans-
mission, differential, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller shaft, bearings and suspension joints
(where possible) and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
162
2-1. Driving procedures
Push-button ignition switch (vehicles with a keyless access with push button star t system)
Performing the following operations when carrying the access key
on your person starts the engine or changes push-button ignition
switch modes.
■Starting the engine
Vehicles with an automatic transmission
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the select lever is set in P.
If the select lever is not set in P, the engine may not be started.
( oP. 174)
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
The keyless access with push button start system indicator light
(green) will turn on. If the indicator light does not turn on, the
engine cannot be started.
Press the push-button ignition
switch.
The engine will crank until it
starts or for up to 10 seconds,
whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal until the engine is com-
pletely started.
The engine can be started
from any push-button ignition
switch mode.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
163 2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Vehicles with a manual transmission
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in neutral.
Firmly depress the clutch pedal.
The keyless access with push button start system indicator light
(green) will turn on. If the indicator light does not turn on, the
engine cannot be started.
Press the push-button ignition
switch.
The engine will crank until it
starts or for up to 10 seconds,
whichever is less.
Continue depressing the clutch
pedal until the engine is com-
pletely started.
The engine can be started
from any push-button ignition
switch mode.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4