exhaust fumes are entering the
vehicle, have the problem
checked and corrected as soon
as possible. If you must drive
under these conditions, drive
only with all windows fully open.
. Keep the trunk lid (Legacy) or
rear gate (Outback) closed while
driving to prevent exhaust gas
from entering the vehicle.
NOTE
Due to the expansion and contraction
of the metals used in the manufacture
of the exhaust system, you may hear a
crackling sound coming from the ex-
haust system for a short time after the
engine has been shut off. This sound is
normal.
Catalytic converter
WARNING
. Avoid fire hazards. Do not drive
or park the vehicle anywhere
near flammable materials (e.g.
grass, paper, rags or leaves),
because the catalytic converter
operates at very high tempera-
tures.
. Keep everyone and flammable
materials away from the exhaust
pipe while the engine is running.
The exhaust gas is very hot.
2.5 L models
3.6 L models
The catalytic converter is installed in the
exhaust system. It serves as catalyst to
reduce HC, CO and NOx in exhaust
gases, thus providing cleaner exhaust.
To avoid damage to the catalytic conver-
ter:
. Use only unleaded gasoline. Even a
small amount of leaded gasoline will
damage the catalytic converter.
. Never start the engine by pushing or
pulling the vehicle.
. Avoid racing the engine.
. Never turn off the ignition switch while
the vehicle is moving.
. Keep your engine tuned-up. If you feel
the engine running rough (misfiring, back-
firing or incomplete combustion), have
Driving tips/Catalytic converter
–CONTINUED –8-3
Loading your vehicle
WARNING
Never allow passengers to ride on a
folded rear seatback, in the trunk or
in the cargo area. Doing so may
result in serious injury.
WARNING
.Never stack luggage or other
cargo higher than the top of the
seatback because it could tumble
forward and injure passengers in
the event of a sudden stop or
accident. Keep luggage or cargo
low, as close to the floor as possible.
. When you carry something inside
the vehicle, secure it whenever
you can to prevent it from being
thrown around inside the vehicle
during sudden stops, sharp turns
or in an accident.
. Do not pile heavy loads on the
roof. These loads raise the vehi-
cle ’s center of gravity and make it
more prone to tip over.
. Secure long items properly to
prevent them from shooting for-
ward and causing serious injury
during a sudden stop.
. Never exceed the maximum load
limit. If you do, some parts on
your vehicle can break, or it can
change the way your vehicle
handles. This could result in loss
of control and cause personal
injury. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle. .
Do not place anything on the rear
shelf behind the rear seatback
(Legacy) or the extended cargo
area cover (Outback –if
equipped). Such items could
tumble forward in the event of a
sudden stop or a collision. This
could cause serious injury.
CAUTION
Do not carry spray cans, containers
with flammable or corrosive liquids
or any other dangerous items inside
the vehicle.
NOTE
For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded cargo.
Driving tips/Loading your vehicle
–CONTINUED –8-13
If you park your vehicle in an emergency......... 9-2
Temporary spare tire ........................................... 9-2
Maintenance tools ............................................... 9-3
Legacy................................................................ 9-4
Outback .............................................................. 9-5
Flat tires ............................................................... 9-5Changing a flat tire .............................................. 9-5
Storing a flat tire ................................................. 9-8
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (if equipped) ......................................................... 9-10
Jump starting ..................................................... 9-11How to jump start ............................................... 9-11
Engine overheating ............................................ 9-13
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment .................................................... 9-13
If no steam is coming from the engine compartment .................................................... 9-13
Towing................................................................. 9-13Towing hook and tie-down hooks/holes .. ............ 9-14
Using a flat-bed truck ......................................... 9-16 Towing with all wheels on the ground
................. 9-17
Electronic parking brake–if the electronic
parking brake cannot be released ................. 9-17
Access key –if access key does not
operate properly ............................................. 9-18
Locking and unlocking ....................................... 9-18
Switching power status ...................................... 9-18
Starting engine .................................................. 9-19
Trunk lid (Legacy) –if the trunk lid cannot
be opened ....................................................... 9-19
Rear gate (Outback) –if the rear gate
cannot be opened ........................................... 9-20
Power rear gate - if power rear gate does not operate properly ....................................... 9-21
When the power rear gate is deactivated ............ 9-21
When the rear gate cannot be opened ................ 9-22
When the rear gate cannot be closed ................. 9-22
If your vehicle is involved in an accident ........ 9-22
In case of emergency
9
In case of emergency/Flat tires
.Always turn off the engine before
raising the flat tire off the ground
using the jack. Never swing or
push the vehicle supported with
the jack. The jack can come out
of the jacking point due to a jolt
and this can result in a serious
accident.
1. Park on a hard, level surface, when-
ever possible, then stop the engine.
2. Apply the parking brake and shift the
shift lever in reverse (MT models) or the
select lever in the “P”(Park) position (CVT
models).
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher
and unload all occupants and luggage
from the vehicle.
4. Put wheel blocks at the front and rear of the tire diagonally opposite the flat tire.
5. Take out the jack, jack handle and
wheel nut wrench.
The tools and the spare tire are stored
under the floor of the trunk (Legacy) or the
cargo area (Outback). Refer to
“Mainte-
nance tools ”F 9-3.
NOTE
Make sure that the jack is well lubri-
cated before using it.
6. Take out the under-floor storage com-
partment and turn the attaching bolt
counterclockwise, then take the spare tire
out.
NOTE
Carefully read “Temporary spare tire ”
F 9-2 and strictly follow the instruc- tions.
1) Notch
2) Valve hole
7. If your vehicle has wheel covers, insert
a flat-head screwdriver into the notch on
the opposite side of the valve hole and pry
the wheel cover to remove it.
9-6
to“ON ”.
NOTE
If the power does not switch even
though the above procedure was fol-
lowed precisely, contact your SUBARU
dealer.
&Starting engine
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the select lever into the “P ”
position.
3. Depress the brake pedal.
4. Hold the access key with the buttons
facing you, and touch the push-button
ignition switch with it.
When the communication between the
access key and the vehicle is completed, a chime (ding) will sound. At the same
time, the push-button ignition switch turns
to the
“ACC”or “ON ”position.
5. After the push-button ignition switch
turns to the “ACC”or “ON ”position, while
depressing the brake pedal, press the
push-button ignition switch.
NOTE
If the engine does not start even
though the above procedure was fol-
lowed precisely, contact your SUBARU
dealer.
Trunk lid (Legacy) –if the
trunk lid cannot be opened
NOTE
If you open the trunk lid with a key
while the alarm system is armed, the
alarm system is triggered and the
vehicle ’s horn sounds. In this case,
perform any of the following opera-
tions.
. Press any button on the remote
transmitter.
. Insert the key into the ignition
switch and turn the ignition switch to
the “ON ”position.
For details about the alarm system,
refer to “Alarm system ”F 2-28.
The trunk lid can also be opened using the
key.
In case of emergency/Trunk lid (Legacy) –if the trunk lid cannot be opened
–CONTINUED –9-19
In case of emergency/Rear gate (Outback)–if the rear gate cannot be opened
To open the trunk lid, insert the key into
the key cylinder and turn it clockwise.
NOTE
For models with “keyless access with
push-button start system ”:
The mechanical key is directional. If the
key cannot be inserted, change the
direction that the grooved side is
facing and insert it again.
Rear gate (Outback) –if the
rear gate cannot be opened
In the event that you cannot open the rear
gate by pressing the rear gate opener
button (all models) or using the power rear
gate (if equipped), you can open it from
inside the cargo area.
1. Remove the access cover at the
bottom-center of the rear gate trim using
flat-head screwdriver.
2. Locate the rear gate lock release lever
behind the rear gate trim panel.
CAUTION
Never operate the rear gate lock
release lever with your fingers be-
cause doing so may cause an injury. Always use a flat-head screwdriver
or a similar tool.
Models without power rear gate
Models with power rear gate
3. Turn the lever to the right position
9-20
assistance.
Repair chips and scratches in the paint as
soon as you find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for water
and dirt accumulation under the floor mats
because that could cause corrosion.
Occasionally check under the mats to
make sure the area is dry.
Keep your garage dry. Do not park your
vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated
garage. In such a garage, corrosion can
be caused by dampness. If you wash the
vehicle in the garage or put the vehicle
into the garage when wet or covered with
snow, that can cause dampness.
If your vehicle is operated in cold weather
and/or in areas where road salts and other
corrosive materials are used, the door
hinges and locks, trunk lid lock, and hood
latch should be inspected and lubricated
periodically.Cleaning the interior
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. (Do not use
organic solvents.)
&Seat fabric
Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with a
vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the
fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum
cleaner, use a soft brush then vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly
wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric
thoroughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe
using a solution of mild soap and luke-
warm water then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a
commercially available fabric cleaner. Use
the cleaner on a hidden place and make
sure it does not affect the fabric adversely.
Use the cleaner according to its instruc-
tions.
CAUTION
When cleaning the seat, do not use
benzine, paint thinner, or any similar
materials. Doing so could damage
the surface and cause the color to
deteriorate.
&Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high
quality natural product which will retain its
distinctive appearance and feel for many
years with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the
surface can cause the material to become
brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular
cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber
cloth should be performed monthly, taking
care not to soak the leather or allow water
to penetrate the stitched seams.
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning
woolen fabrics may be used to remove
difficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, dry
cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If
your SUBARU is to be parked for a long
time in bright sunlight, it is recommended
that the seats and headrests be covered,
or the windows shaded, to prevent fading
or shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches
may be treated with a commercial leather
Appearance care/Cleaning the interior
–CONTINUED –10-5
Maintenance and service
Wheel replacement........................................... 11-31
Aluminum wheels............................................. 11-32
Windshield washer fluid .................................. 11-32
Replacement of wiper blades .......................... 11-33
Windshield wiper blade assembly ..................... 11-34
Windshield wiper blade rubber ......................... 11-34
Rear window wiper blade assembly (Outback) ....................................................... 11-35
Rear window wiper blade rubber (Outback) ... .... 11-36
Battery............................................................... 11-37
Fuses ................................................................ 11-38
Installation of accessories ............................... 11-40
Replacing bulbs ............................................... 11-40
HID headlights (if equipped) ............................. 11-40
Halogen headlights .......................................... 11-41 Front turn signal light
...................................... 11-42
Front side marker light ..................................... 11-42
Front fog light (if equipped) .............................. 11-42
Rear combination lights ................................... 11-44
Backup light .................................................... 11-46
License plate light ........................................... 11-47
Dome light ....................................................... 11-48
Map light ......................................................... 11-48
Door step light ................................................. 11-49
Cargo area light (Outback) ............................... 11-49
Trunk light (Legacy) ......................................... 11-49
Other bulbs ..................................................... 11-49
Replacing battery ............................................. 11-50Replacing battery of access key ....................... 11-50
Replacing battery of transmitter ....................... 11-51