2017 SUBARU FORESTER warning light

&Abbreviation list
You may find several abbreviations in this
manual. The meanings of the abbrevia-
tions are shown in the following list.
Abbreviation Meaning
A/C Air conditioner
ALR/ELR Automatic locking retractor/
Emergency locking retractor
ABS Anti-lock brake system
AKI Anti knock index
ALR Automatic locking retractor
AWD All-wheel drive
BSD/RCTA Blind Spot Detection/Rear
Cross Traffic Alert
CVT Continuously variable trans-
mission
DRL Daytime running light
EBD Electronic brake force distri-
bution
ELR Emergency locking retractor
GAW Gross axle weight
GAWR Gross axle weight rating
GPS Global positioning system
GVW Gross vehicle weight
GVWR Gross vehicle weight rating
INT Intermittent Abbreviation
Meaning
LATCH Lower anchors and tethers for
children
LED Light emitting diode
MIL Malfunction indicator light
MMT Methylcyclopentadienyl man-
ganese tricarbonyl
MT Manual transmission
OBD On-board diagnostics
RAB Reverse Automatic Braking
RON Research octane number
SI-DRIVE SUBARU Intelligent Drive
SRF Steering responsive fog lights
system
SRH Steering Responsive Head-
light
SRS Supplemental restraint sys-
tem
TIN Tire identification number
TPMS Tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem
Vehicle symbols
There are some of the symbols you may
see on your vehicle.
For warning and indicator lights, refer to
“
Warning and indicator lights ”F 23.
Mark Name
WARNING
CAUTION
3

with considerable speed and
force and can injure or even kill
children, especially if they are
not restrained or improperly re-
strained. Because children are
lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk of being injured from
deployment is greater.
. NEVER INSTALL A FORWARD
OR REARWARD FACING CHILD
S E AT I N T H E F R O N T S E AT.
DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS IN-
JURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD
BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD
TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIR-
BAG.
. Always turn the child safety locks
to the “LOCK” position when
children sit in the rear seat.
Serious injury could result if a
child accidentally opens the door
and falls out. Refer to “Child
safety locks ”F 2-32.
. Always lock the passenger ’s win-
dows using the lock switch when
children are riding in the vehicle.
Failure to follow this procedure
could result in injury to a child
operating the power window. Re-
fer to “Windows ”F 2-32.
. Never leave unattended children, adults or animals in the vehicle.
They could accidentally injure
themselves or others through
inadvertent operation of the ve-
hicle. Also, on hot or sunny days,
temperature in a closed vehicle
could quickly become high en-
ough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to them.
. When leaving the vehicle, close
all windows and lock all doors.
. In models with power rear gate,
when it operates, the rear gate
moves with remarkable force. It
is possible to be injured if any-
one is caught in or hit by the rear
gate so be sure to obey the
following cautions.
– Check that there are no chil-
dren around the rear gate
before operating the power
rear gate.
– Do not allow children to oper-
ate the power rear gate.
For instructions and precautions, carefully
read the following sections.
. For the seatbelt system, refer to “Seat-
belts ”F 1-16. .
For the child restraint system, refer to
“Child restraint systems ”F 1-29.
. For the SRS airbag system, refer to
“ *SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System airbag) ”F 1-42.
& Engine exhaust gas (carbon
monoxide)
WARNING
. Never inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide, a colorless
and odorless gas which is dan-
gerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
. Always properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent
engine exhaust gas from enter-
ing the vehicle.
. Never run the engine in a closed
space, such as a garage, except
for the brief time needed to drive
the vehicle in or out of it.
. Avoid remaining in a parked
vehicle for a lengthy time while
the engine is running. If that is
unavoidable, then use the venti-
lation fan to force fresh air into
the vehicle.
. Always keep the front ventilator
–CONTINUED –
5

&Instrument panel1) Outside mirror switch (page 3-115)
2) Seat position memory switch (page 1-5)
3) Steering Responsive Headlight OFF
switch (models with Steering Respon-
sive Headlight) (page 3-99)/Steering re-
sponsive fog light off switch (if equipped)
(page 3-103)
4) Illumination brightness control (page 3-101)
5) BSD/RCTA OFF switch (page 7-58)
6) Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch (models without power rear gate)
(page 7-41)/Memory switch (models with
power rear gate) (page 2-42)
7) Combination meter (page 3-9)
8) Information display (page 3-34)/Multi function display (page 3-44)
9) Hazard warning flasher switch (models with multi function display) (page 3-8)
10) Hazard warning flasher switch (models without multi function display) (page 3-8)
11) Multi function display control switch (page 3-44)
12) Audio (page 5-1)
13) Climate control (page 4-1)
14) Power rear gate switch (page 2-39)
15) Fuse box (page 11-37)
16) Hood lock release (page 11-7)
17) Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch (models with power rear gate)
(page 7-41)
16

&Warning and indicator lights
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-14
Front passenger’s
seatbelt warning light 3-14
SRS airbag system
warning light3-15
/Front passenger
’s
frontal airbag ON indi-
cator 3-16
/Front passenger
’s
frontal airbag OFF in-
dicator 3-16
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunc-
tion indicator light3-16
Coolant temperature
low indicator light/
Coolant temperature
high warning light3-17
Charge warning light 3-18
Oil pressure warning
light
3-18
Engine low oil level
warning light3-18Mark Name Page
AT OIL TEMP warning
light (CVT models)
3-19
ABS warning light 3-21
Brake system warning
light
3-21
Door open warning
light3-23
AWD warning light
(CVT models)
3-23
Power steering warn-
ing light3-23
Hill start assist warn-
ing light/Hill start assist
OFF indicator light3-23
Vehicle Dynamics
Control warning light/
Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation indi-
cator light3-24
Vehicle Dynamics
Control OFF indicator
light
3-25
Turn signal indicator
lights
3-32Mark Name Page
High beam indicator
light
3-32
High beam assist indi-
cator light (if equipped)3-32
Automatic headlight
beam leveler warning
light (if equipped)3-32
Steering Responsive
Headlight warning
light/Steering Respon-
sive Headlight OFF
indicator light (if
equipped)3-99
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)
3-33
Access key warning
light (if equipped)3-25
Security indicator light 3-30
Headlight indicator
light (if equipped)
3-33
Cruise control indica-
tor light3-32
Cruise control set in-
dicator light3-32
– CONTINUED –
23

MarkName Page
X-mode indicator light
(if equipped) 3-33
Hill descent control in-
dicator light (if
equipped)3-33
Low fuel warning light 3-22
Low tire pressure
warning light
(U.S.-spec. models)3-19
Windshield washer
fluid warning light
3-19
Sport (S) mode indi-
cator light (if equipped)3-31
Intelligent (I) mode in-
dicator light (if
equipped)3-31
Sport Sharp (S#)
mode indicator light (if
equipped)3-31
Steering responsive
fog lights warning in-
dicator/Steering re-
sponsive fog lights
OFF indicator (if
equipped)3-33
BSD/RCTA warning
indicator (if equipped)
3-33Mark Name Page
BSD/RCTA OFF indi-
cator (if equipped)
3-34
RAB warning light (if
equipped)3-34
RAB OFF indicator (if
equipped)3-34
24

Function settings
A SUBARU dealer can change the settings of the functions shown in the following table to meet your personal requirements. Contact
the nearest SUBARU dealer for details. If your vehicle is equipped with a multi function display, the settings for some of these functions
can be changed using the display. For details, refer to“Multi function display”F 3-44.
Item Function Possible settingsDefault setting
Alarm system Alarm system Operation/Non-operation Operation
Monitoring start delay time (after closure of doors) 0 seconds/30 seconds 30 seconds
Impact sensor operation (only models with shock
sensors (dealer option)) Operation/Non-operation Non-operation
Passive arming (models without “keyless access with
push-button start system ”) Operation/Non-operation Non-operation
Dome light and map lights illumination ON/OFFOFF
Keyless access (if equipped) Hazard warning flasher Operation/Non-operation Operation
Audible signal Operation/Non-operation Operation
Audible signal volume Level 1 to 7Level 5
Door unlock selection function (driver ’s door unlock) Driver ’s door only/All doors Driver ’s door only
Door unlock selection function (rear gate unlock) Rear gate only/All doors Rear gate only
Remote keyless entry system Hazard warning flasher Operation/Non-operation Operation
Audible signal Operation/Non-operation Operation
Audible signal volume Level 1 to 7Level 5
Key lock-in prevention Key lock-in prevention Operation/Non-operation Operation
Defogger and deicer system for models
with the automatic climate control system Rear window defogger, outside mirror defogger and
windshield wiper deicer Operation for 15 minutes/
Continuous operationOperation for 15
minutes
– CONTINUED –
25

ItemFunction Possible settingsDefault setting
Dome light Operation of dome light/map light/cargo area light OFF
delay timer OFF/10 seconds/20 sec-
onds/30 seconds30 seconds
Map light
Cargo area light
Battery drainage prevention function Battery drainage prevention function Operation/Non-operation Operation
Seatbelt warning Sounds a chime while driving Operation/Non-operation Operation
Auto on/off headlights (if equipped) Sensitivity of the operation of the auto on/off headlights Low/Mid/High/Max Mid
Reverse gear interlocked rear wiper Reverse gear interlocked rear wiper operation Operation/Non-operation Non-operation*
1
One-touch lane changer Operation of the one-touch lane changer Operation/Non-operation Operation
High beam assist function (if equipped) High beam assist function Operation/Non-operation Operation
Welcome lighting function (if equipped) Welcome lighting function (when approaching) OFF/30 seconds/60 sec- onds/90 seconds30 seconds
Welcome lighting function (when exiting) OFF/30 seconds/60 sec-
onds/90 seconds30 seconds
*1: Except for U.S. model, the default setting will be
“Operation ”.
26

Front seats........................................................... 1-2Manual seat ........................................................ 1-4
Power seat (driver ’s seat —if equipped) .. ............ 1-5
Head restraint adjustment .................................... 1-8
Seat heater (if equipped).................................... 1-9Front seat heater (if equipped) ............................. 1-9
Rear seat heater (if equipped) ............................. 1-10
Rear seats........................................................... 1-11Armrest (if equipped) .......................................... 1-11
Head restraint adjustment ................................... 1-12
Folding down the rear seatback .......................... 1-13
Reclining the seatback (if equipped) ................... 1-15
Seatbelts............................................................. 1-16Seatbelt safety tips ............................................. 1-16
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ................... 1-17
Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) ......................................... 1-17
Seatbelt warning light and chime ........................ 1-18
Fastening the seatbelt ........................................ 1-18
Seatbelt maintenance ......................................... 1-24
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-25Seatbelt with shoulder belt pretensioner .. ........... 1-25Seatbelt with shoulder belt and lap belt
pretensioners .................................................. 1-26
System monitors ............................................... 1-28
System servicing ............................................... 1-28
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-29
Child restraint systems..................................... 1-29Where to place a child restraint system .............. 1-30
Choosing a child restraint system ...................... 1-32
Installing child restraint systems with ALR/ELR seatbelt ........................................................... 1-32
Installing a booster seat ..................................... 1-36
Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) .............. 1-37
Top tether anchorages ....................................... 1-40
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System airbag) ................................................ 1-42
General precautions regarding SRS airbag
system ............................................................ 1-42
Components ...................................................... 1-49
SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system ........... 1-51
SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag ............. 1-61
SRS airbag system monitors .............................. 1-69
SRS airbag system servicing ... .......................... 1-71
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-72
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1