Page 355 of 568

355
4
Maintenance and care
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
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 ( →P. 368) •Warm water
• Baking soda
• Grease
• Conventional wrench
(for terminal clamp bolts)
• Distilled water
Brake fluid level ( →P. 366) • 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 ( →P. 364) • 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 ( →P. 361) • SUBARU approved engine oil or
equivalent
• Rag or paper towel, funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( →P. 397) • Fuse with same amperage rating
as original
Page 360 of 568
360
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
Engine compartment
Battery (→P. 368)
Engine oil level dipstick (→ P. 361)
Brake fluid reservoir (→ P. 366)
Engine oil filler cap (→ P. 362)Washer fluid tank
(→ P. 372)
Electric cooling fans
Condenser ( →P. 366)
Radiator ( →P. 366)
Engine coolant reservoir (→ P. 364)
Fuse box ( →P. 397)
Page 366 of 568
366 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
Radiator and condenserCheck the radiator and condenser and clear away any foreign
objects.
If either of the above parts are extremely dirty or you are not sure of
their condition, have your vehicle checked by your SUBARU dealer.
Brake fluid■ Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.
“MAX”
“MIN”
WARNING
■When the engine is hot
Do not touch the radiator or condenser as they may be hot and cause seri-
ous injuries, such as burns.
Page 367 of 568
367
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
■
Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid type and prepare the necessary items.
Fluid type
FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid
ItemsClean funnel
■ Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the fluid can cause a dangerous loss of braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care because brake fluid can harm your hands or eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets in your eyes, flush your eyes with clean water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.
CAUTION
■ If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads
wear or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it may indicate a serious problem.
Page 419 of 568

5
When trouble arises
419
5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Emergency towingIf a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelet to move the vehicle to a safe location or to free a stuck
vehicle from sand or snow. This should only be attempted on hard
surfaced roads for short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle's wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
For vehicles with an automatic transmission, only the front towing
eyelet may be used. Towing eyelet
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
your SUBARU dealer or a comme rcial towing service, using a flat
bed truck.
The vehicle must be secured properly with safety chains. Each
safety chain should be equally tightened and care must be taken not
to pull the chains so tightly that the suspension bottoms out.
Page 420 of 568

420 5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
■Before emergency towing
Release the parking brake.
Shift the select lever to N (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
or shift lever to neutral (vehicles with a manual transmission).
Vehicles without a keyless access with push button start system:
Turn the engine switch to the “A CC” (engine off) or “ON” (engine
running) position.
Vehicles with a keyless access with push button start system: Turn
the push-button ignition switch to “ACC” (engine off) or “ON”
(engine running) mode.
■ If towing a vehicle
Do not tow another vehicle. If towing a vehicle that has broken down is
unavoidable, avoid towing a vehicle that is heavier than your vehicle. Also,
do not pull out a vehicle that has fallen into a ditch.
WARNING
■Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive
stress on the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains. Always
be cautious of the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
● If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
Page 421 of 568

5
When trouble arises
421
5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
Installing towing eyelet
Remove the eyelet cover using a flathead screwdriver.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, cover the tip of the screwdriver
with a rag.
Front
CAUTION
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission in emergency
towing (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Never tow a vehicle from the rear with four wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to the transmission.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle
● When towing this vehicle, make sure to observe the following:
• Do not use a wire rope
• Keep vehicle speed below 20 mph (30 km/h) and do not tow for dis-
tances over 19 miles (30 km)
• Tow the vehicle in the forward direction
• Do not apply rope to the vehicle's suspension and so forth
● Do not tow another vehicle, boat (trailer) and so forth, that is heavier than
this vehicle.
■ When towing down a long slope
Use a wheel lift-type or flat bed truck. ( →P. 424, 425)
If a wheel lift-type or flat bed truck is not used, the brakes may overheat,
leading to poor brake performance.
STEP 1
Page 426 of 568

426
5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as
possible.
■Visible symptoms
● Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Vehicles with a monochrome multi-information display: The
engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
● Vehicles with a color multi-information display: The high
engine coolant temperature warning light flashes or illumi-
nates
■ Audible symptoms
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
■ Operational symptoms
● Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor