SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 2011 4.G Owners Manual

7-18Starting and operating
Non-turbo models
mph (km/h)
1st 32 (51)
2nd 53 (86)
3rd 76 (122)
Turbo models mph (km/h)
1st 35 (56)
2nd 58 (94)
3rd 85 (137)
WARNING
When shifting down a gear, ensure
that the vehicle is not travelling at a
speed exceeding the Maximum Al-
lowable Speed for the gear which is
about to be selected. Failure to
observe this precaution can lead to
engine 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 increased. NOTE
Never exceed the posted speed limit. &
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
upgrade. 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
labor.
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.
The engine may, on rare occasions, knock
when the vehicle rapidly accelerates or
rapidly pulls away from a standstill. This
phenomenon is not an indication of a
problem in your vehicle. Driver
’s Control Center Dif-
ferential (DCCD) (STI)
WARNING
Always use the utmost care when
driving. Being overconfident be-
cause you are driving a vehicle with
a driver ’s control center differential
could easily lead to a serious acci-dent.
CAUTION
All the indicator lights will flash in
the event that the driver ’s control
center differential has a malfunc-
tion. Have the vehicle inspected by
your SUBARU dealer.
The driver ’s control center differential
allows you to freely change the degree
of limitation of the d ifferential action
(limited slip differential (LSD) torque) of
your vehicle ’s center differential.
By using the center differential control
switch, you can set an initial LSD torque to
match the road surface conditions, driving
conditions and your driving style.

1) LSD torque
2) Traction torque
3) Initial LSD torque (maximum)
4) Initial LSD torque (minimum)
A) Initial LSD torque (adjustable)
B) Mechanical LSD torque
The driver ’s control center differential has
an auto mode and a manual mode. In the
auto mode, the system automatically
adjusts the initial LSD torque. In the
manual mode, you can change to the
desired mode manually by using the
center differential control switch. NOTE
If you rapidly depress and release the
accelerator pedal while driving at low
speed, you may hear a knocking sound
from the vicinity of the center differen- tial and rear differential. This sound
occurs because of the structure of the
center differential. It does not indicate aproblem.
& To change mode of driver ’s
control center differential
Press the “AUTO-MANU ”switch on the
center console to switch from auto mode
to manual mode or vice versa. When you
select the auto mode, the “AUTO ”indica-
tor light illuminates. When you select the
manual mode, the “AUTO ”indicator light
turns off. &
Auto mode
In the auto mode, the system estimates
the driving and road conditions using
signals from the wheel speed sensor,
throttle position sensor, steering angle
sensor and brake switch, etc. According
to the result, it electronically and auto-
matically controls the degree of limitation
of the differential action (LSD torque) to
optimize the differential action of the
center differential. When the ignition
switch is turned ON, the “AUTO ”indicator
light on the combination meter illuminates. Starting and operating
7-19
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7-20Starting and operating
The auto mode has 3 modes as follows.
Mode Operation
AUTO [+] This mode emphasizes traction control and strengthens the
limitation of differential action
that is suitable for driving on
slippery roads for vehicle stabi-
lity.
AUTO This mode is suitable for most driving situations.
AUTO [ ] This mode is suitable when you
seek quick response from the
steering wheel and smooth
driving.
! Mode setting method
In most situations, it is recommended that the “AUTO ”mode is selected.
Push the control switch forward to select the
“AUTO [+] ”mode. After setting the
mode, “
”on the combination meter
illuminates.
Pull the control switch rearward to select the “AUTO [ ]” mode. After setting the
mode, “
”on the combination meter
illuminates.
When the “AUTO [+] ”mode is selected,
pull the control switch rearward to change
to the “AUTO ”mode. When the “AUTO
[ ]” mode is set, push the control switch
forward to change to the “AUTO ”mode. &
Manual mode
In the manual mode, you can use the
center differential control switch to adjust
the initial LSD torque as desired. When
this mode is selected, the “AUTO ”indica-
tor light on the combination meter turnsoff.

!Center differential control switch
and indicator light
The control switch is located beside the
parking brake lever. By pushing the
control switch forward or pulling it rear-
ward, it is possible to change the initial
LSD torque.
The center differential indicator lights on
the combination meter give six levels of
indication. The indicator lights and control
switch are linked; when the switch is
pushed or pulled to change the initial
LSD torque, the illumination position of the
indicator lights changes accordingly.
Push the switch forward to increase the
initial LSD torque; when the “LOCK ”
indicator light illuminates, the initial LSD
torque setting is maximum. The center
differential will then be almost completelylocked.Pull the switch rearward to reduce the
initial LSD torque. When the lowest posi-
tion of the driver ’s control center differen-
tial indicator light illuminates, the initial
LSD torque will be minimum. Under this
condition, only the Mechanical LSD torque
will limit the differential action.
CAUTION
. Do not operate the control switch
when a wheel slippage occurs.
Wait until the wheelspin has been
brought under control.
. Under any of the following con-
ditions after setting to the man-
ual mode, pull the center differ-
ential control switch to minimize
the initial LSD torque: Starting and operating
7-21
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7-22Starting and operating
.When a temporary spare tire is
installed
. When your vehicle is towed
. When the vehicle is stopped
with the manual mode se- lected
NOTE . A higher initial LSD torque setting
gives the vehicle greater traction when
driving straight ahead but makes cor-
nering more difficult. Remember this
when adjusting the initial LSD torque.
In general, higher initial LSD torque
settings assist driving on slippery
roads and lower settings for non-slip-
pery roads. When the vehicle is stuck
in snow or mud, setting the initial LSD
torque to the maximum will help to free
the vehicle.. The setting of the initial LSD torque
will remain even when the auto mode is
selected or the ignition switch is turned
to the “OFF ”position. However, the
initial LSD torque will be minimized
when the battery is disconnected andreconnected.. During cornering or when making
turns (especially when going into the
garage), the rotational difference be-
tween the front and rear wheels may cause a braking effect accompanied by
vibration and noise. This does not
indicate a problem. The phenomenon
will disappear when setting the initial
LSD torque to the minimum.
In the auto mode, it controls the initial
LSD torque automatically. While in the
auto mode, this phenomenon some-
times occurs depending on the driving
condition, however, it does not indicate
a problem..
Use the center differential indicator
light only as a rough indication of the
initial LSD torque.. If you operate the center differential
control switch while quickly accelerat-
ing or turning a tight corner, you may
feel slight shocks. This is due to
differential action by the center differ-
ential and does not indicate a problem.
& Temporary release
When the driver stops the vehicle and
pulls the parking brake lever after manu-
ally setting the initial LSD torque, the LSD
torque is temporarily minimized. However
the indicator on the combination meter
continues to show the driver ’s selected
initial LSD torque. When the driver re-
leases the parking brake lever, the initial
LSD torque set by the driver is restored. Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission is electroni-
cally controlled and provides 4 forward
speeds and 1 reverse speed. Also, it has a
manual mode and a SPORT mode.
WARNING
Do not shift from the “P ” or “N ”
position into the “D ” or “R ” position
while depressing the accelerator
pedal. This may cause the vehicle
to jump forward or backward.
CAUTION
. Shift into the “P ” or “R ” position
only after the vehicle is comple-
tely stopped. Shifting while the
vehicle is moving may cause
damage to the transmission.
. Do not race the engine for more
than 5 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.
. Avoid shifting from one of the
forward driving positions into the

“R ” position or vice versa until
the vehicle has completely
stopped. Such shifting may
cause damage to the transmis-sion.
. When parking the vehicle, first
securely apply the parking brake
and then place the select lever inthe “P ” position. Avoid parking
for a long time with the select
lever in any other position as
doing so could result in a dead
battery.
NOTE . When the engine coolant tempera-
ture is still low, the automatic transmis-
sion will upshift to higher engine
speeds than when the coolant tempera-
ture is sufficiently high in order to
shorten the warm-up time and improve
driveability. The gearshift timing will
automatically shift to the normal timing
after the engine has warmed up.. Immediately after ATF (automatic
transmission fluid) is replaced, you
may feel that the automatic transmis-
sion operation is somewhat unusual.
This results from invalidation of data
which the on-board computer has
collected and stored in memory to allow the transmission to shift at the
most appropriate times for the current
condition of your vehicle. Optimized
shifting will be restored as the vehicle
continues to be driven for a while.
& Select lever
: Shifting is possible with the brake pedal
depressed.
: Shifting is possible whether the brakepedal is depressed or not. However,
while the ignition switch is in the “LOCK ”
or “Acc ”position, shifting is not possible
if the brake pedal is not depressed.
Depress the brake pedal and move the
select lever.
: Shifting is possible whether the brake pedal is depressed or not.
The select lever has four positions, “P ”,
“ R ”, “N ”, “D ”and also has manual gate for using
“SPORT ”mode or manual mode.
! P (Park)
This position is for parking the vehicle and
starting the engine.
In this position, the transmission is me-
chanically locked to prevent the vehicle
from rolling freely.
When you park the vehicle, first set the
parking brake fully, then shift into the “P ”
position. Do not hold the vehicle with only
the transmission.
To shift the select lever from the “P ”to any
other position, you should depress the
brake pedal fully then move the select
lever. This prevents the vehicle from
lurching when it is started. ! R (Reverse)
This position is for backing the vehicle.
To shift from the “N ”to “R ”position, stop
the vehicle completely then move the
lever to the “R ”position.
! N (Neutral)
This position is for restarting a stalledengine.
In this position the wheels and transmis-
sion are not locked. In this position, the
transmission is neutral; the vehicle will roll
freely, even on the slightest incline unless Starting and operating
7-23
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7-24Starting and operating
the parking brake or foot brake is applied.
Avoid coasting with the transmission in neutral.
During coasting, there is no engine brak-
ing effect.
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the
select lever in the “N ” (neutral)
position. Engine braking has no
effect in this condition and the risk
of an accident is consequently in-creased.
NOTE
If the select lever is in the “N ” position
when you stop the engine for parking,
you may not subsequently be able to
move it to the “R ” or “P ” position. If
this happens, turn the ignition switch tothe “ON ”position. You will then be able
to move the select lever to the “P ”
position. For details, refer to “Shift lock
function ”F 7-24.
! D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving.
The transmission automatically shifts into
a suitable gear from 1st to 4th according to
the vehicle speed and the acceleration
you require. When more acceleration is required in this
position, depress the accelerator pedal
fully to the floor and hold that position. The
transmission will automatically downshift
to 3rd, 2nd or 1st gear. When you release
the pedal, the transmission will return to
the original gear position.
To use the
“SPORT ”mode, move the lever
from this position into the manual gate. To
use the manual mode, move the lever
from this position into the manual gate
then move it toward the “+ ” and “ ” ends.
! While climbing a grade
When driving up a hill, undesired upshift to
4th gear is prevented from taking place
when the accelerator is released. This
minimizes the chance of subsequent
downshifting to a lower gear when accel-
erating again. This prevents repeated
upshifting and downshifting resulting in a
smoother operation of the vehicle.
NOTE
The transmission may downshift to 2nd
or 1st gear, depending on the way the
accelerator pedal is depressed to ac-
celerate the vehicle again. ! While going down a hill
When you are descending a hill or any
other slope while braking with the“ SPORT ”mode selected, the transmission may downshift to 3rd or 2nd gear depend-
ing on how hard you depress the brake
pedal, causing engine braking to work.
Reacceleration for a short time will cause
the transmission to upshift normally.
NOTE . A 4th-to-3rd automatic downshift
will not occur at speeds above 50
mph (80 km/h) and a 3rd-to-2nd auto-
matic downshift will not occur at
speeds above 24 mph (38 km/h).. Automatic downshifts to 3rd or 2nd
may occur even when driving on a level
road depending on conditions, such as
how hard you depress the brake pedal. & Shift lock function
The shift lock function helps prevent the
improper operation of the select lever. . The select lever cannot be operated
unless the ignition switch is turned to the “ ON ”position and the brake pedal is
depressed. . The select lever cannot be moved from
the “P ” position to any other position
before the brake pedal is depressed.
Depress the brake pedal first, and then
operate the select lever. . Only the “P ”position allows you to turn
the key from the “Acc ”position to the

“LOCK ”position and remove the key from
the ignition key cylinder. . If the ignition switch is turned to the
“ LOCK ”position while the select lever is in
the “N ”position, the select lever may not
be moved to the “P ”position after a period
of time. Therefore, move the select lever
to the “P ” position with the brake pedal
depressed soon after the ignition switch is
turned to the “LOCK ”position.
! Shift lock release
If the select lever cannot be operated, turn
the ignition switch back to the “ON ”
position then move the select lever to the“ P ” position with the brake pedal de-
pressed.
If the select lever does not move after
performing the above procedure, perform
the following steps. . When the select lever cannot be
shifted from “P ” to “N ”:
Refer to “Shift lock release using the shift
lock release button ”F 7-25.
. When the select lever cannot be
shifted from “N ” to “R ”, “P ”:
Within 60 seconds after placing the igni-
tion switch in the “Acc ”position, move the
select lever to the “R ”or “P ” position with
the brake pedal depressed. If you must perform the above procedure,
the shift lock system (or the vehicle control
system) may be malfunctioning. Contact a
SUBARU dealer for an inspection as soon
as possible.
If the select lever does not move after
performing the above procedure, refer to“
Shift lock release using the shift lock
release button ”F 7-25.
! Shift lock release using the shift
lock release button
Perform the following procedure to release
the shift lock.
1. Apply the parking brake and stop the engine.
2. Remove the shift lock cover using a
flat-head screwdriver. The shift lock re-
lease button is located under the shift lock cover. NOTE
To prevent damage to the shift lock
cover, cover the tip of the flat-head
screwdriver with vinyl tape or a cloth
before removing the cover.
3. While depressing the brake pedal,
insert a screwdriver into the hole, press
the shift lock release button using a
screwdriver, and then move the select
lever.
If the select lever does not move after
performing the above procedure, the shift
lock system may be malfunctioning. Con-
tact a SUBARU dealer for an inspection
as soon as possible.Starting and operating
7-25
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7-26Starting and operating
& Selection of manual mode
NOTE
Please read the following points care-
fully and bear them in mind when using
the manual mode. . If you attempt to shift down when
the engine speed is too high, i.e., when
a downshift would push the tachometer
needle beyond the red zone, beeps will
be emitted to warn you that the down-
shift is not possible.. If you attempt to shift up when the
vehicle speed is too low, the transmis-
sion will not respond.. You can perform a skip-shift (for
example, from 4th to 2nd) by operating
the select lever twice in rapid succes-sion.. The transmission automatically se-
lects 1st gear when the vehicle stopsmoving.. If the temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid becomes too high,the “AT OIL TEMP ”warning light will
illuminate and upshifts to 4th gear will
not be possible. Immediately stop the
vehicle in a safe place and let the
engine idle until the warning light turnsoff.
With the vehicle either moving or station-
ary, move the select lever from the “D ”
position to the manual gate then move it tothe “+ ” end or “ ” end of the manual gate
to select manual mode.1) Upshift indicator
2) Downshift indicator
3) Gear position indicator
When the manual mode is selected, the
gear position indicator and upshift indica-
tor and/or downshift indicator on the
combination meter illuminate. The gear
position indicator shows the currently
selected gear in the 1st-to-4th-gear range.
The upshift and downshift indicators show
when a gear shift is possible. When the
upshift indicator “
”is illuminated, up-
shifting is possible. When the downshift indicator “
”is illuminated, downshifting
is possible. When both indicators are
illuminated, upshifting and downshifting
are both possible. When the vehicle stops
(for example, at traffic signals), the down-
shift indicator turns off.

Gear shifts can be performed by using the
select lever (all models) or the paddle shift
switch behind the steering wheel (ifequipped). !Using the select lever
Shift to the next-higher gear by briefly
pushing the select lever toward the “+ ”
end of the manual gate.
Shift to the next-lower gear by briefly
pulling the select lever toward the “ ”
end of the manual gate. !
Using the paddle shift (if equipped)
Pull the “+ ” of the paddle shift to upshift
one level. Pull the “ ” of the paddle shift to
downshift one level.
To deselect the manual mode, return the
select lever to the “D ” position from the
manual gate.
While driving, if you change the gear by
paddle shifting, the gear position indicator
illuminates and shows the current gear
condition. At this time, the normal mode
temporarily changes to the manual mode,
and after driving for a short period of time,
the transmission mode returns to the
normal mode. (The timing of the gear
change and return is different, depending
on the driving condition when paddleshifting.) Also, if you subsequently ease off the
accelerator pedal and then accelerate
again, the transmission will automatically
switch back from manual mode to normalmode.
CAUTION
The paddle shift lever could be
accidentally changed if accessories
or other materials are placed on the
paddle shift. Do not place acces-
sories and other materials on the
paddle shift lever.
& Driving tips
. On a road surface where there is a risk
of wheelspin (for example, a snow- or
gravel-covered road), you can pull away
from a standstill (safely and easily) by first
selecting the 2nd gear of the manualmode. . Always apply the foot or parking brake
when the vehicle is stopped in the “D ”or
“ R ”position.
. Always set the parking brake when
parking your vehicle. Do not hold the
vehicle with only the transmission. . Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary
position on an uphill grade by using the “ D ”position. Use the brake instead. Starting and operating
7-27
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