Keys and doors/Door locks
1) Unlock
2) Lock
To lock the door from the inside, rotate the
lock lever forward. To unlock the door from
the inside, rotate the lock lever rearward.
The red mark on the lock lever appears
when the door is unlocked.
Pull the inside door handle to open an
unlocked door.
Always make sure that all doors and the
rear gate (Outback) are closed before
starting to drive.
&Battery drainage prevention
function
If a door or the rear gate (Outback) is not
completely closed, the interior lights will
remain illuminated as a result. However,
several lights are automatically turned off
by the battery drainage prevention func-
tion to prevent the battery from going
dead. The following interior lights are
affected by this function.
ItemSwitch
positionAutomatically turning
off
Map lights OFF
*1Approximately 20
minutes later
Dome light DOORApproximately 20
minutes later
Ignition
switch light—Approximately 20
minutes later
Door step
lights—None
*2
Cargo area
lightDOORApproximately 20
minutes later
*1: The map lights can be controlled by the
battery drainage prevention function only when
the map light switches are in the OFF position
and the door interlock switch is in the DOOR
position. For the switch positions, refer to“Map
light”F6-2
.
*2: The door step lights are not affected by the
battery drainage prevention function, so thelights do not turn off automatically. To turn off
the lights, it is necessary that each door is
completely closed.
The operational/non-operational setting of
this function can be changed by a
SUBARU dealer. Contact the nearest
SUBARU dealer if you would like to
change the setting.
NOTE
.The factory setting (default setting)
for this function is set as“operational”.
.When leaving the vehicle, please
make sure that all doors and the rear
gate (Outback) are completely closed.
.The battery drainage prevention
function does not operate while the
key is in the ignition switch.
2-8
Ignition switch (models with-
out push-button start sys-
tem)
WARNING
.Never turn the ignition switch to
“LOCK”while the vehicle is
being driven or towed because
that will lock the steering wheel,
preventing steering control. And
when the engine is turned off, it
takes a much greater effort than
usual to steer.
.Before leaving the vehicle, al-
ways remove the key from the
ignition switch for safety and
never allow an unattended child
to remain in the vehicle. Failure
to follow this procedure could
result in injury to a child or
others. Children could operate
the power windows, the moon-
roof or other controls or even
make the vehicle move.
CAUTION
Do not attach a large key holder or
key case to either key. If it bangedagainst your knees or hands while
you are driving, it could turn the
ignition switch from the“ON”posi-
tion to the“ACC”or“LOCK”posi-
tion, thereby stopping the engine.
Also, if the key is attached to a
keyholder or to a large bunch of
other keys, centrifugal force may act
on it as the vehicle moves, resulting
in unwanted turning of the ignition
switch.
The ignition switch has four positions:
LOCK, ACC, ON and START.
NOTE
.Keep the ignition switch in the
“LOCK”position when the engine is
not running.
.Using electrical accessories for along time with the ignition switch in the
“ON”or“ACC”position can cause the
battery to go dead.
.If the ignition switch will not move
from the“LOCK”position to the“ACC”
position, turn the steering wheel
slightly to the left and right as you turn
the ignition switch.
&LOCK
The key can only be inserted or removed
in this position. The ignition switch will lock
the steering wheel when you remove the
key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the
steering wheel slightly to the right and left
as you turn the key.
The key can be turned from“ACC”to
“LOCK”only when the key is pushed in
Instruments and controls/Ignition switch (models without push–button start system)
–CONTINUED–3-3
left and right.
!Battery drainage prevention func-
tion
When the push-button ignition switch is
left in the“ACC”or“ON”position for
approximately 1 hour, the push-button
ignition switch will be automatically
switched to“OFF”to prevent the battery
from going dead. This function is activated
when the select lever is in the“P”position.
&When access key does not
operate properly
Refer to“Access key–if access key does
not operate properly”F9-18.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher is used to
warn other drivers when you have to park
your vehicle under emergency conditions.
The hazard warning flasher works with the
ignition switch in any position.
To turn on the hazard warning flasher,
press the hazard warning button on the
instrument panel. To turn off the flasher,
press the button again.
NOTE
When the hazard warning flasher is on,
the turn signals do not work.
Meters and gauges
NOTE
Liquid crystal displays are used in
some of the meters and gauges in the
combination meter. You will find their
indications hard to see if you wear
polarized glasses.
&Combination meter illumina-
tion
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON”position, the various parts of the
combination meter are illuminated in the
following sequence.
1. Warning lights, indicator lights, meter
needles, gauge needles and liquid crystal
display illuminate.
2. The meter and gauge needles sweep
one time.
3. Dials and indicators in meters and
gauges light up.
4. Regular illumination (for driving) be-
gins.
Instruments and controls/Hazard warning flasher
–CONTINUED–3-7
Continuously variable trans-
mission
The continuously variable transmission is
electronically controlled and provides an
infinite number of forward speeds and 1
reverse speed. It also has a manual mode.
WARNING
Do not shift from the“P”or“N”
position into the“D”or“R”position
while depressing the accelerator
pedal. This may cause the vehicle
to lurch forward or backward.
CAUTION
.Shift into the“P”or“R”position
only after the vehicle is comple-
tely stopped. Shifting while the
vehicle is moving may cause
damage to the 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.
.Do not shift from the“D”positioninto the“R”position or vice
versa until the vehicle has com-
pletely stopped. Such shifting
may cause damage to the trans-
mission.
.When parking the vehicle, first
securely apply the parking brake
and then place the select lever in
the“P”position. Do not park for
a long time with the select lever
in any other position as doing so
could result in a dead battery.
NOTE
.When the engine coolant tempera-
ture is still low, the transmission will
upshift to higher engine speeds than
when the coolant temperature is suffi-
ciently high in order to shorten the
warm-up time and improve driveability.
The gearshift timing will automatically
shift to the normal timing after the
engine has warmed up.
.Immediately after transmission fluid
is replaced, you may feel that the
transmission operation is somewhat
unusual. This results from invalidation
of data which the on-board computer
has collected and stored in memory to
allow the transmission to shift at the
most appropriate times for the currentcondition of your vehicle. Optimized
shifting will be restored as the vehicle
continues to be driven for a while.
.When driving under continuous hea-
vy load conditions such as towing a
camper or climbing a long, steep hill,
the engine speed or the vehicle speed
may automatically be reduced. This is
not a malfunction. This phenomenon
results from the engine control func-
tion maintaining the cooling perfor-
mance of the vehicle. The engine and
vehicle speed will return to a normal
speed when the engine is able to
maintain the optimum cooling perfor-
mance after the heavy load decreases.
Driving under a heavy load must be
performed with extreme care. Do not
try to pass a vehicle in front when
driving on an uphill slope while towing.
.The continuously variable transmis-
sion is a chain type system that
provides superior transmission effi-
ciency for maximum fuel economy. At
times, depending on varying driving
conditions, a chain operating noise
may be heard that is characteristic of
this type of system.
Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission
–CONTINUED–7-25
In case of emergency/If your vehicle is involved in an accident
!When the rear gate is stuck at the
fully open position or does not fully
close
If the rear gate cannot be closed due to a
dead battery, etc., while the rear gate is
stopped midway, it can be closed by hand.
1. Gently close the rear gate by hand
until it reaches the half-shut position.
2. Operate the power rear gate to confirm
it is recovered.
&When the rear gate cannot be
opened
Perform the procedure described in“Rear
gate (Outback)–if the rear gate cannot be
opened”F9-20.
&When the rear gate cannot be
closed
CAUTION
.On areas which are not flat, such
as hills, do not conduct any of
the following actions. The rear
gate may close suddenly and hit
someone’s head, face or catch
fingers and body parts in it,
resulting in injury.
.Even while conducting the fol-
lowing actions on a flat surface,be careful not to be injured by
getting caught in or hit by the
rear gate.
.When operating the power rear
gate manually, do not use exces-
sive force. Doing so may cause a
malfunction.
.After closing the rear gate by the
following methods, we recom-
mend that you have the vehicle
checked at a SUBARU dealer.
If the rear gate cannot be closed due to a
dead battery, etc., while the rear gate is
stopped midway, it can be closed by hand.
1. Gently close the rear gate by hand
until it reaches the half-shut position.
2. Operate the power rear gate to confirm
it is recovered.
If your vehicle is involved in
an accident
CAUTION
If your vehicle is involved in an
accident, be sure to inspect the
ground under the vehicle before
restarting the engine. If you find that
fuel has leaked on the ground, do
not try to restart the engine. The fuel
system has been damaged and is in
need of repair. Immediately contact
the nearest automotive service facil-
ity. We recommend that you consult
your SUBARU dealer.
Your vehicle has a fuel pump shut off
system. To minimize the risk of fire due to
fuel leakage when the engine stalls or an
airbag inflates upon collision, the system
stops supplying fuel to the engine.
Perform the following procedures to re-
start the engine after the system is
activated.
Models without“keyless access with
push-button start system”:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the“LOCK”
or“ACC”position.
2. Restart the engine.
9-22