SUBARU FORESTER 2003 SG / 2.G Owners Manual

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Instruments and controls
Wiper and washer
In freezing weather, do not use the windshield
washer until the windshield is sufficiently
warmed by the defroster.
Otherwise the washer fluid can freeze on the
windshield, blocking your view.

Do not operate the washer continuously for
more than ten seconds, or when the washer flu-
id tank is empty. This may cause overheating of
the washer motor. Check the washer fluid level
frequently, such as at fuel stops. Do not operate the wipers when the wind-
shield or rear window is dry. This may scratch
the glass, damage the wiper blades and cause
the wiper motor to b urn out. Before operating
the wiper on a dry windshield or rear window,
always use the windshield washer. In freezing weather, be sure that the wiper
blades are not frozen to the windshield or rear
window before switching on the wipers. At- tempting to operate the wiper with the blades
frozen to the window glass could cause not
only the wiper blades to be damaged but also
the wiper motor to burn out. If the wiper blade
is frozen to the window glass, be sure to oper-
ate the defroster, wind
shield wiper deicer (if
equipped) or rear window defogger before turn-
ingonthewiper. If the wipers stop during operation because
of ice or some other obstruction on the window,
the wiper motor could burn out even if the wiper
switch is turned off. If this occurs, promptly
stop the vehicle in a safe place, turn the ignition
switch to the “LOCK” position and clean the
window glass to allow p roper wiper operation.
Use clean water if windshield washer fluid is
unavailable. In areas where water freezes in
winter, use SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid
or the equivalent. (See the “Windshield washer
fluid” section in chapter 11.)
Also, when driving the vehicle when there are
freezing temperatures, use non-freezing type
wiper blades. Do not clean the wiper blades with gasoline
or a solvent, such as paint thinner or benzene.
This will cause deterioration of the wiper

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blades.
NOTE The wiper operates only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” or “ACC” position. Clean your wiper blades and window glass peri-
odically with a washer solution to prevent streak-
ing, and to remove accumulations of road salt or
road film. Keep the washer button depressed at
least for 1 second so that washer solution will be
sprinkled all over the windshield or rear window. Grease, wax, insects or other material on the
windshield or the wiper blade results in jerky wip-
er operation and streaking on the glass. If you can-
not remove those streaks after operating the
washer or if the wiper operation is jerky, clean the
outer surface of the windshield or rear window
and the wiper blades using a sponge or soft cloth
with a neutral detergent or mild-abrasive cleaner.
After cleaning, rinse the window glass and wiper
blades with clean water. The glass is clean if no
beads form on the glass when you rinse with wa-ter. If you cannot eliminate the streaking even after
following this procedure, replace the wiper blades
with new ones. Refer to the “Replacement of wind- shield wiper blades” section (chapter 11) for re-
placement instructions.
Windshield wiper and washer switches
Windshield wipers
1) OFF
2) : Intermittent
3) LO: Low speed
4) HI: High speed
To turn the wipers on, push the wiper control lever
down.
To turn the wipers off, return the lever to the “OFF” po-
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Instruments and controls
sition.
Wiper intermittent time control (if equipped)
When the wiper switch is in the “ ” position, turn
the dial to adjust the operating interval of the wiper.
The operating interval can be adjusted continuously
from the shortest interval to the longest.
Two click stop positions of the dial may help you to aim
at your desired interval.
Mist (for a single wipe)
For a single wipe of the wipers, pull the lever toward
you. The wipers operate until you release the lever.
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Washer
To wash the windshield, push the washer button at the
end of the wiper control lever. The washer fluid sprays
until you release the washer button. The wipers oper-
ate while you push the button.
Rear window wiper and washer switch
1) INT
2) ON
3) Washer
Rear wiper
Toturntherearwiperon,turntheknobontheendof
the wiper control lever upward.
INT: Intermittent
ON: Normal
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on the end of the
lever to the “OFF” position.
HS3033CA
REARREAR
ONON
OFFINTINT
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Instruments and controls

Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear wiper is oper-
ating, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control le-
ver counterclockwise to the “ ” position. The
washer fluid sprays until you release the knob.
To wash the rear window when the rear wiper is not in
use, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control lever
clockwise to the “ ” position. The washer fluid
sprays and the wiper operates until you release the
knob.Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped)
The windshield wiper deicer operates only when the
ignition switch is in the “ON” position.
Before turning on the windshield wiper deicer, remove
any snow from the windshield. To turn on the wind-
shield wiper deicer, push the switch. The indicator light
located on the switch lights up while the windshield
wiper deicer is operating.
The windshield wiper deicer will automatically shut off
after about 15 minutes. If the wiper blades have been
deiced completely before that time, push the switch to
turn it off. It also turns off when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. If deicing is
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not complete, you have to push the switch to turn the
deicer on again.
To prevent the battery from being discharged,
do not operate the windshield wiper deicer con-
tinuously for any longer than necessary.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equip ped with the outside mirror
defogger, the outside mirror defogger operates
while the windshield wiper deicer is operating.
Rear window defogger switch
Manual climate control system
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Instruments and controls
Automatic climate control system
The rear window defogger operates only when the ig-
nition switch is in the “ON” position.
The rear window defogger switch is located on the cli-
mate control panel.
The defogger will automatically shut off after about 15
minutes. If the window clears before that time, push
the switch to turn it off. It also turns off when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.
If defrosting or defogging is desired when you restart
your vehicle, you have to push the switch to turn it on
again.
To turn on the defogger, push the switch. To turn it off, push the switch again.
The indicator light located on the switch lights up while
the rear window defogger is operating.

Do not use sharp instruments or window
cleaner containing abrasives to clean the inner
surface of the rear window. They may damage
the conductors printed on the window. To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not operate the defogger continu-
ously for any longer than necessary.HS4021DA

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Instruments and controls
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Mirrors
Always check that the inside and outside mirrors are
properly adjusted before you start driving. Inside mirror
1) Tab
The inside mirror has a day and night position. Pull the
tab at the bottom of the mirror toward you for the night
position. Push it away for the day position. The night
position reduces glare from headlights.
Auto-dimming mirror/com pass (if equipped)
1) Left button
2) Auto dimming indicator
3) Photosensor
4) Right button
The inside electronic compass mirror has an anti-glare
feature which automatically reduces glare coming
from headlights of vehicles behind you. It also con-
tains a built-in compass. By pressing and releasing the left button, the auto-
matic dimming function is toggled on or off. When the
automatic dimming function is on, the auto dimming in-
dicator light (green) located to the right of the button
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Instruments and controls
will illuminate.
By pressing and releasing the right button, the com-
pass display is toggled on or off. When the compass is
on, an illuminated compass reading will appear in the
lower part of the mirror.
Even with the mirror in anti-glare mode, the mirror sur-
face turns bright if the transmission is shifted into re-
verse. This is to ensure good rearward visibility during reversing. Photosensors
The mirror has a photosensor attached on both the
front and back sides. If the glare from the headlights of
vehicles behind you strikes the mirror, these sensors detect it and make the reflection surface of the mirror
dimmer to help prevent you from being blinded. For
this reason, use care not to cover the sensors with
stickers, or other similar items. Periodically wipe the
sensors clean using a piece of dry soft cotton cloth or
an applicator.
Compass calibration
1. For optimum calibration, switch off all nonessential
electrical accessories (rear window defogger, heater/
air conditioning system, spotlight, etc.) and ensure all
doors are shut.
2. Drive to an open, level area away from large metal-
lic objects or structures and make certain the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position.
3. Press and hold the left button for 3 seconds then re-
lease, and the compass will enter the calibration
mode. “CAL” and direction will be displayed.
4. Drive slowly in a circle until “CAL” disappears from
the display (about two or three circles).
5. The compass is now calibrated. Further calibration
is not required. The compass will automatically cali-
brate from this point forward.
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Instruments and controls
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Compass zone adjustment
Compass calibration zones
1. The zone setting is factory preset to Zone 8. Refer
to the “Compass calibration zone” map shown above
or one attached to the end of this manual to verify that
the compass zone setting is correct for your geograph-
ical location.
2. Press and hold the right button for 3 seconds then
release, and the word “ZONE” will briefly appear and
then the zone number will be displayed.
3. Press the right hand button repeatedly to cycle the
display through all possible zone settings. Stop cycling
when the correct zone setting for your location is dis- played.
4. Releasing the button for 3 seconds will exit the
zone setting mode.
Outside mirrors
Convex mirror (passenger side)
Objects look smaller in a convex mirror and far-
ther away than when viewed in a flat mirror. Do
not use the convex mirror to judge the distance
of vehicles behind you when changing lanes.
Use the inside mirror (or glance backwards) to
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HS3040BA