transmission SUBARU FORESTER 2007 SG / 2.G Owners Manual

Instruments and controls 3-3
– CONTINUED –
Instrume nts an d c ontrolsIgnition switch
The ignition switch has four positions:
LOCK, ACC, ON and START.
NOTE
y Keep the ignition switch in the
“LOCK” position when the engine is
not running. y Using electrical accessories for a
long time with the ignition switch in the
“ON” or “ACC” position can cause the
battery to go dead.
If the ignition switch will not move from
the “LOCK” position to the “ACC” po-
sition, turn the steering wheel slightly
to the left and right as you turn the ig-
nition switch. y If the key is attached to a keyholder
or to a large bunch of other keys, cen-
trifugal force may act on it as the vehi-
cle moves, resulting in unwanted turn-
ing of the ignition switch. Also, if a
large keyholder is attached to the key, your knees or hands may accidentally
touch it in a way that turns the ignition
switch. „
LOCK
The key can only be inserted or removed
in this position. The ignition switch will lock
the steering wheel when you remove the
key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the right and left as
you turn the key. T Automatic transmission vehicles
yNever turn the ignition switch to
“LOCK” while the vehicle is being
driven or towed because that will
lock the steering wheel, prevent-
ing steering control. And when
the engine is turned off, it takes a
much greater effort than usual to
steer.
yBefore leaving the vehicle, always
remove the key from the ignition
switch for safety and never allow
an unattended child to remain in
the vehicle. Failure to follow this
procedure could result in injury to
a child or others. Children could
operate the power windows, the
sunroof or other controls or even
make the vehicle move.
300564
300565

3-4 Instruments and controls
The key can be turned from “ACC” to
“LOCK” only when the selector lever is in
the “P” position. TManual transmission vehicles
The key can be turned from “ACC” to “LOCK” only when the key is pushed in
while turning it.
„ ACC
In this position the electrical accessories
(radio, accessory power outlet, etc.) can
be used. „ ON
This is the normal operating position after
the engine is started. „ START
The engine is started in this position. The
starter cranks the engine to start it. When
the key is released (after the engine has
started), the key automatically returns to
the “ON” position. TFor models with immobilizer
If you fail to start your engine with your
registered key, once pull out the key (at
this time, the security indicator light
blinks), and then insert the key in the igni- tion switch and turn it to the “START” po-
sition and again try to start your engine.
NOTE
The engine may not start in the follow-
ing cases: y
The key grip is touching another key
or a metallic key holder.
300566
300115
Do not turn the ignition switch to the
“START” position while the engine
is running.300567

3-12 Instruments and controls
You should have your vehicle checked by
an authorized SUBARU dealer immedi-
ately.
NOTE
This light also comes on when the fuel
filler cap is not tightened until it clicks.
If you have recently refueled your vehicle,
the cause of the CHECK ENGINE warning
light/malfunction indicator lamp coming on
could be a loose or missing fuel filler cap.
Remove the cap and retighten it until it
clicks. Make sure nothing is interfering
with the sealing of the cap. Tightening the
cap will not make the CHECK ENGINE
warning light turn off immediately. It may
take several driving trips. If the light does
not go out, take your vehicle to your au-
thorized SUBARU dealer immediately. T If the light is blinking:
If the light is blinking while driving, an en-
gine misfire condition has been detected
which may damage the emission control
system.
To prevent serious damage to the emis-
sion control system, you should do the fol-
lowing. y Reduce vehicle speed.
y Avoid hard acceleration.
y Avoid steep uphill grades.
y Reduce the amount of cargo, if possi- ble.y
Stop towing a trailer as soon as possi-
ble.
The CHECK ENGINE warning light may
stop blinking and come on steadily after
several driving trips. You should have
your vehicle checked by an authorized
SUBARU dealer immediately.
„ Charge warning light
If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the charging
system is not working properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does
not go out after the engine starts, stop the
engine at the first safe opportunity and
check the alternator belt. If the belt is
loose, broken or if the belt is in good con-
dition but the light remains on, contact
your nearest SUBARU dealer immediate-
ly. „ Oil pressure warning
light
If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the engine oil
pressure is low and the lubricating system
is not working properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does
not go out after the engine starts, stop the
engine at the first safe opportunity and
check the engine oil level. If the oil level is
low, add oil immediately. If the engine oil
is at the proper level but the light remains
on, contact your nearest SUBARU dealer
immediately. „AT OIL TEMPerature
warning light (AT vehi-
cles)
The AT oil temperature warning light
comes on when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position and goes out
after the engine has started.
If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the automatic
transmission fluid temperature is too hot.
If the light comes on while driving, it is un-
necessary to stop the vehicle, but avoid
driving up steep grades or in stop and go
traffic. T Automatic transmission control
system warning
If the light flashes after the engine starts,
Do not operate the engine with the
oil pressure warning light on. This
may cause serious engine damage.

3-18 Instruments and controls
„Headlight flasher
To flash the headlights, pull the lever to-
ward you and then release it. The high
beam will stay on for as long as you hold
the lever. The headlight flasher works
even though the lighting switch is in the
“OFF” position.
When the headlights are on high beam,
the high beam indicator light “ ” on
the instrument panel also comes on.„ Daytime running light system
T Canada-spec. 2.5XT
The low beam headlights and tail lights
will automatically come on when the en-
gine has started, under the following con-
ditions: yThe parking brake is fully released.
y The light switch is in the “OFF” or
“ ” position.y The automatic transmission selector le-
ver is set at other than the “P” position. T
All models except Canada-spec.
2.5XT
The low beam headlights will automatical-
ly come on at reduced brightness when
the engine has started, under the follow-
ing conditions: yThe parking brake is fully released.
y The light switch is in the “OFF” or
“ ” position.y The automatic transmission selector le-
ver is set at other than the “P” position.
Do not hold the lever in the flashing
position for more than just a few
seconds.
300129
The parking lights, and side marker
lights are not turned on by the day-
time running light system. The light
switch must always be turned to the
“ ” position when it is dark out-
side.
The tail lights, parking lights, and
side marker lights are not turned on
by the daytime running light system.
The light switch must always be
turned to the “ ” position when
it is dark outside.

5-24 Audio
TTo insert a disc
1. Press one of the disc select buttons (3) (numbered from 1 to 6) for which the disc
indicator light (2) is “OFF”.
The disc indicator lights are located direct-
ly above the corresponding disc select
buttons.
2. The indicator will begin blinking. The
blinking will last for 15 seconds.
During this period, insert a desired disc,
and the disc will begin to play. (If any disc
is not inserted during this period, the “Disc
slot” (1) door will close. Repeat Step 1.)
Be sure to hold a disc with the label side
(the side where titles are printed) up.
3. To insert another disc, repeat Steps 1
and 2 choosing a different disc select but-
ton. T
To insert six discs at a time
1. Press and hold the disc select button
number 1 until all disc indicators begin
blinking (approximately 1.5 seconds).
2. The indicators will blink for 15 seconds.
During this period, insert desired six discs.
3. When all discs are loaded, the first disc
will begin to play. (If no disc is inserted
within this 15 seconds, the entire disc load
sequence will be canceled.) T To remove a disc
1. Press the desired one of the disc select
buttons (3) (numbered from 1 to 6) for
which the disc indicator light is on.
2. Press the eject button (4). The selected disc will be ejected and the indicator light
will begin blinking.
3. To remove another disc, repeat Steps
1 and 2 choosing a different disc select
button.
(To remove discs when the ignition switch
is in the “Lock” position, press the eject
button, and the first disc will be ejected.
Press the eject button again, and the next
disc will be ejected and so on. At this time,
the disc select buttons are disabled.) T
To remove all discs at one time
1. Press and hold the eject button (4) until
all “Disc” indicators begin blinking (ap-
proximately 1.5 seconds), and the first
disc will be ejected.
2. When the disc is removed, the next
one will be ejected, and so on. T To replace a playing disc with an-
other
Simply press the desired one of disc se-
lect buttons (3) (numbered from 1 to 6) or
press the disc select button on the radio
unit to select the desired disc, and the disc
will begin to play. T Disc indicators
Lit: when the corresponding storage tray
is occupied by a disc.
Blinking: Disc player is either in loading,
eject or changing mode.
y
Do not attempt to insert two or
more discs into the slot at a time.
Doing so can cause mechanical
damage to the CD changer.
y Use only music CDs identified by
a mark.
y Do not use CDs listed in the fol-
lowing which could cause dam-
age to the CD player.
– 3 inch (8 cm) compact disc
– Any disc with a peel-off or seal
on it
–Bent disc
– Cleaning disc
– CD accessory (E.g., 3 inch (8 cm) disc adapter)
y Do not insert or remove any disc
when the automatic transmission
selector lever is in the park posi-
tion; the selector lever in that po-
sition can interfere with disc in-
sertion or removal, causing
scratches on the disc surface (for
AT vehicles).

7
Starting and operating
Fuel ...................................................................... 7-2Fuel requirements .................................................. 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap .............................................. 7-3
State emission testing (U.S. only) .................... 7-5
Preparing to drive .............................................. 7-6
Starting the engine ............................................. 7-7 Manual transmission vehicle ................................. 7-7
Automatic transmission vehicle ............................ 7-7
Stopping the engine ........................................... 7-8
Manual transmission ......................................... 7-9 Shifting speeds ....................................................... 7-9
Driving tips .............................................................. 7-10
Automatic transmission .................................... 7-10 Selector lever for automatic transmission ........... 7-11
Shift lock release .................................................... 7-14
Rear viscous limited slip differential (LSD) (if equipped) ......................................................... 7-15
Power steering ................................................... 7-15
Braking ................................................................ 7-15 Braking tips ............................................................. 7-15
Brake system .......................................................... 7-16
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators .............. 7-16
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .......................... 7-16 ABS system self-check .......................................... 7-17
ABS warning light ................................................... 7-17
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ............................................................. 7-18 Steps to take if EBD system fails .......................... 7-18
Parking your vehicle .......................................... 7-19 Parking brake .......................................................... 7-20
Parking tips ............................................................. 7-20
Hill holder (Manual transmission – if equipped) ...................................................... 7-21
Cruise control ..................................................... 7-22 To set cruise control .............................................. 7-22
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ............. 7-23
To turn off the cruise control ................................. 7-23
To change the cruising speed ............................... 7-23
Self-leveling rear suspension (if equipped) ..... 7-25

7-6 Starting and operating
not damage an AWD SUBARU vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.
The EPA has issued regulations for in-
specting the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)
system as part of the state emissions in-
spection. The OBD system is designed to
detect engine and transmission problems
that might cause vehicle emissions to ex-
ceed allowable limits. These inspections
apply to all 1996 model year and newer
passenger cars and light trucks. Over 30
states plus the District of Columbia have
implemented the OBD system inspection. yThe inspection of the OBD system con-
sists of a visual operational check of the
“CHECK ENGINE” warning light/mal-
function indicator lamp (MIL) and an ex-
amination of the OBD system with an
electronic scan tool while the engine is
running y A vehicle passes
the OBD system in-
spection if proper the “CHECK ENGINE”
warning light/MIL illumination is observed,
there is no stored diagnostic trouble
codes, and the OBD system readiness
monitors are complete. y A vehicle fails
the OBD inspection if the “CHECK ENGINE”
warning light/MIL is
not properly operating or there is one or
more diagnostic trouble codes stored in
vehicle’s computer with the “CHECK EN-
GINE” warning light/MIL illuminated.
y A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBD system readiness monitors “Not
Ready” is greater than one. Under this
condition, the vehicle operator should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few
days to set the monitors and return for an
emission re-inspection. y Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their SUBARU Dealer for
service.
Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks
and adjustments every day before you
start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and
lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of
the tires. Also check tires for proper infla-
tion.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
4. Check that the hood and rear gate are
fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and
outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and
indicator lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops.

Starting and operating 7-7
– CONTINUED –
Starting the engine
„Manual transmission vehicle
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-
sories.
3. Press the clutch pedal to the floor and
shift the shift lever into neutral. Hold the
clutch pedal to the floor while starting the
engine.
The starter motor will only operate when
the clutch pedal is pressed fully to the
floor.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” po-
sition and check the operation of the warn-
ing and indicator lights. Refer to the
“Warning and indicator lights” section
(chapter 3).
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START”
position without depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. Release the key immediately af-
ter the engine has started. If the engine does not start, try the follow-
ing.
1) Turn the ignition switch to the “OFF”
position and wait for at least 10 sec-
onds. After checking that the parking
brake is firmly set, turn the ignition
switch to the “START” position while de-
pressing the accelerator pedal slightly
(about a quarter of the full stroke). Re-
lease the accelerator pedal as soon as
the engine starts.
2) If this fails to start the engine, turn the
ignition switch back to the “OFF” posi-
tion and wait for at least 10 seconds.
Then fully depress the accelerator ped-
al and turn the ignition switch to the
“START” position. If the engine starts,
quickly release the accelerator pedal.
3) If this fails to start the engine, turn the
ignition switch again to the “OFF” posi-
tion. After waiting for 10 seconds or
longer, turn the ignition switch to the
“START” position without depressing
the accelerator pedal.
4) If the engine still refuses to start, con-
tact your nearest SUBARU dealer for
assistance.
6. Confirm that all warning and indicator
lights have gone off after the engine has
started. The fuel injection system auto-
matically lowers the idle speed as the en-
gine warms up.
NOTE
The engine may be difficult to start
when the battery has been disconnect-
ed and reconnected (for maintenance
or other purposes). This difficulty is
caused by the electronically controlled
throttle’s self-diagnosis function. To
overcome it, keep the ignition switch in
the “ON” position for approximately 10
seconds before starting the engine. „ Automatic transmission vehi-
cle
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-
sories.
3. Shift the selector lever to the “P” or “N”
position (preferably “P” position).
The starter motor will only operate when
the select lever is at the “P” or “N” position.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” po-
sition and check the operation of the warn-
ing and indicator lights. Refer to the
“Warning and indicator lights” section
(chapter 3).
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START”
position without depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. Release the key immediately af-
ter the engine has started.
If the engine does not start, try the follow-
ing.
Do not operate the starter motor
continuously for more than ten sec-
onds. If the engine fails to start after
operating the starter for five to ten
seconds, wait for ten seconds or
more before trying again.

Starting and operating 7-9
– CONTINUED –
Manual transmission
The manual transmission is a fully syn-
chromeshed, 5-forward-speed and 1-re-
verse-speed transmission.The shift pattern is shown on the shift le-
ver knob. When shifting from 5th gear to
reverse gear, first return the shift lever to
the neutral position then shift into reverse
gear.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch
pedal, move the shift lever, and gradually
let up on the clutch pedal.
If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the
transmission in neutral, release the clutch
pedal momentarily, and then try again.
„ Shifting speeds
T Recommended shifting speeds
The best compromise between fuel econ-
omy and vehicle performance during nor-
mal driving is ensured by shifting up at the speeds listed in the following table. T
Maximum allowable speeds
The following table shows the maximum
Do not drive the vehicle with the
clutch disengaged (i.e., when the
clutch pedal is depressed) or with
the shift lever in the neutral posi-
tion. Engine braking has no effect in
either of these conditions and the
risk of an accident is consequently
increased.
Shift into reverse ONLY when the
vehicle has completely stopped. It
may cause damage to the transmis-
sion to try shifting into reverse
when the vehicle is moving.
700386
531
R42 Shift up mph (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40) 3rd to 4th 40 (65)
4th to 5th 45 (73)
When shifting down a gear, ensure
that the vehicle is not traveling at a
speed exceeding the Maximum Al-
lowable Speed for the gear which is
about to be selected. Failure to ob-
serve this precaution can lead to en-
gine over-revving and this in turn
can result in engine damage.
In addition, sudden application of
engine brakes when the vehicle is
travelling on a slippery surface can
lead to wheel locking; as a conse-
quence, control of the vehicle may
be lost and the risk of an accident in-
creased.

7-10 Starting and operating
speeds that are possible with each differ-
ent gear.
Never exceed the speed limit below for
each gear position except for brief accel-
eration in an emergency. The tachome-
ter’s needle will enter the red area if these
speeds are exceeded. Failure to observe
this precaution can lead to excessive en-
gine wear and poor fuel economy.mph (km/h)
„ Driving tips
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal and do not use the clutch to
hold your vehicle at a standstill on an up-
grade. Either of those actions may cause
clutch damage.
Do not drive with your hand resting on the
shift lever. This may cause wear on the
transmission components.
When it is necessary to reduce vehicle
speed due to slow traffic, turning corners, or driving up steep hills, downshift to a
lower gear before the engine starts to la- bor.
On steep downgrades, downshift the
transmission to 4th, 3rd or 2nd gear as
necessary; this helps to maintain a safe
speed and to extend brake pad life.
In this way, the engine provides a braking
effect. Remember, if you “ride” (over use)
the brakes while descending a hill, they
may overheat and not work properly.Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission is electroni-
cally controlled and provides 4 forward
speeds and 1 reverse speed.
Non-turbo
models Turbo models
1st 30 (49) 28 (46)
2nd 51 (82) 52 (83)
3rd 73 (117) 73 (118)
Do not shift from the “P” or “N” po-
sition into the “D”, “3”, “2”, “1” or
“R” position while depressing the
accelerator pedal. This may cause
the vehicle to jump forward or back-
ward. y Shift into the “P” or “R” position
only after the vehicle is complete-
ly stopped. Shifting while the ve-
hicle is moving may cause dam-
age to the transmission.
y Do not race the engine for more
than five seconds in any position
except the “N” or “P” position
when the brake is set or when
chocks are used in the wheels.
This may cause the automatic
transmission fluid to overheat.