SUBARU FORESTER 2003 SG / 2.G Owners Manual

8-32
Driving tips

Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle, check that the
standard side mirrors provide a good rearward field of
view without significant blind spots. If significant blind
spots occur with the vehicle’s standard side mirrors,
use towing mirrors that conform with Federal, state/
province and/or other applicable regulations. Trailer lights
Connection of trailer lights to your vehicle’s electrical
system requires modifications to the vehicle’s lighting
circuit to increase its capacity and accommodate wir-
ing changes. To ensure the trailer lights are connected
properly, please consult your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper operation of the turn signals, the brake
lights and parking lights each time you hitch up.
Direct splicing or other improper connection of
trailer lights may damage your vehicle

8-33
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
will be different from normal operation. For
safety

8-34
Driving tips
ally.
When passing other vehicles, considerable dis-
tance is required because of the added weight and
length caused by attaching the trailer to your vehicle.
1) Left turn
2) Right turn
Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes prac-
tice. When backing up with a trailer, never accelerate
or steer rapidly. When turning back, grip the bottom of
the steering wheel with one hand and turn it to the left
for a left turn, and turn it to the right for a right turn. If the ABS warning light illuminates while the vehicle
is in motion, stop towing the trailer and have repairs performed immediately by the nearest SUBARU deal- er.
Driving on grades
Before going down a steep hill, slow down and shift
into lower gear (if necessary, use 1st gear) in order to
utilize the engine braking effect and prevent overheat-
ing of your vehicle’s brakes. Do not make sudden
downshifts. When driving uphill in hot weather, the air condition-
er may turn off automatically to protect the engine from
overheating. When driving uphill in hot weather, pay attention to
the water temperature gauge pointer (for all vehicles)
and AT OIL TEMP warning light (for AT vehicles) since
the engine and transmission are relatively prone to
overheating under these conditions. If the water tem-
perature gauge pointer approaches the OVERHEAT
zone or the AT OIL TEMP warning light illuminates,
immediately switch off the air conditioner and stop the
vehicle at the nearest safe place. Refer to the “Engine
overheating” section in chapter 9, and “Warning and
indicator lights” section in chapter 3. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, avoid
using the accelerator pedal to stay stationary on an
uphill slope instead of using the parking brake or foot
brake. That may cause the transmission fluid to over-
heat. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with an automat-
1 2
HS8023BB

8-35
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
ic transmission, avoid driving with the gear selector
lever in “D” when towing a heavy trailer to prevent fluid
overheating. A lower gear should be used. Parking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both vehicle and trailer
when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly. You
should not park on a hill or slope. But if parking on a
hill or slope cannot be avoided, you should take the
following steps:
1. Apply the brakes and hold the pedal down.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the
vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release the
regular brakes slowly until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then apply the park-
ing brake; slowly release the regular brakes.
5. Shift into 1st or reverse gear (manual transmission)
or “P” (automatic transmi ssion) and shut off the en-
gine.

9-1
9
In case of emergency
If you park your vehicle in case of an
emergency .................................................... 9-2
Flat tires ........................................................ 9-3 Changing a flat tire ......................................... 9-3
Jump starting ............................................... 9-9 How to jump start ........................................... 9-10
Engine overheating ...................................... 9-12 If steam is coming from the engine
compartment ................................................... 9-12
If no steam is coming from the engine
compartment ................................................... 9-12
Towing .......................................................... 9-13 Towing and tie-down hooks .......................... 9-13
Using a flat-bed truck ..................................... 9-15
Towing with all wheels on the ground .......... 9-15
Rear gate — if the rear gate cannot be
unlocked ....................................................... 9-17
Moonroof – if the moonroof cannot be
closed ............................................................ 9-18
Maintenance tools ........................................ 9-19 Jack and jack handle ...................................... 9-19

9-2
In case of emergency
In case of emergency
If you park your vehicle in case of an
emergency
The hazard warning flasher should be used in day or
night to warn other drivers when you have to park your
vehicle under emergency conditions.
Avoid stopping on the road. It is best to safely pull off
the road if a problem occurs.
The hazard warning flasher can be activated regard-
less of the ignition switch position.
Turn on the hazard warning by pushing the hazard
warning flasher switch. Turn it off by pushing the
switch again.
NOTE
When the hazard warning flasher is on, the turn
signals do not work.
HS3019AA

9-3
In case of emergency
–CONTINUED –
Flat tires
If you have a flat tire while driving, never brake sud-
denly; keep driving straight ahead while gradually re-
ducing speed. Then slowly pull off the road to a safe
place. Changing a flat tire
Do not jack up the vehicle on an incline or a
loose road surface. The jack can come out of
the jacking point or sink into the ground and
this can result in a severe accident. Use only the jack provided with your vehicle.
The jack supplied with the vehicle is designed
only for changing a tire. Never get under the ve-
hicle while supporting the vehicle with this jack. Always turn the engine off 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 severe acci-
dent. 1. Park on a hard, level surface, whenever possible,
then stop the engine.
2. Set the parking brake securely and shift a manual
transmission vehicle in reverse or an automatic trans-
mission vehicle in the “P” (Park) position.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher and have ev-
eryone get out of the vehicle.
4. Put wheel blocks at the front and rear of the tire di-
agonally opposite the flat tire.
HS9003BA

9-4
In case of emergency
1) Jack
2) Jack handle
3) Spare tire
5. Take out the spare tire, jack, and wheel nut wrench.
The spare tire is stored under the floor of the cargo ar-
ea.
To remove the spare tire:
Open the lid and hang the hook provided on the under
side of the lid on the rear edge of the roof to keep the
lid open.
Remove the storage bucket. Turn the attaching bolt
counterclockwise, then take spare tire out. 1) Storage bucket
2) Attaching bolt
3) Spare tire
The jack is stored under the left side of the cargo floor.
1
3
2
HS9005BB
1
23
HS9004BB

9-5
In case of emergency
–CONTINUED –
To take out the jack:
First raise the cargo tie-down hook on the rear-left side
of the cargo area and pull the tab to open the lid, turn
the jack screw counterclockwise to loosen it, then re-
move the jack. To take out the jack handle:
Open the rear-left and center lids in the cargo area by
pulling their tabs.
HS9006BAHS9007BA