check engine SUBARU LEGACY 2004 4.G Owner's Guide

9-20
In case of emergency
Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. If the fan is not
turning, immediately turn the engine off and contact
your authorized dealer for repair.
3. After the engine coolant temperature has dropped,
turn off the engine.
If the temperature gauge stays at the overheated
zone, turn the engine off.
4. After the engine has fully cooled down, check the
coolant level in the reserve tank.
If the coolant level is below the “MIN” mark, add cool-
ant up to the “MAX” mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reserve tank, add cool-
ant to the reserve tank. Then remove the radiator cap
and fill the radiator with coolant.
If you remove the radiator cap from a hot radiator, first
wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap, then turn
the cap counterclockwise slowly without pressing
down until it stops. Release the pressure from the ra-
diator. After the pressure has been fully released, re-
move the cap by pressing down and turning it.Towing
Never tow AWD vehicles (both AT and MT) with
the front wheels raised off the ground while the
rear wheels are on the ground, or with the rear
wheels raised off the ground while the front
wheels are on the ground. This will cause the
vehicle to spin away due to the operation or de-
terioration of the center differential.
If towing is necessary, it is best done by your SUBARU
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In case of emergency
„
Towing with all wheels on the ground
yNever turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position while the vehicle is being towed be-
cause the steering wheel and the direction of
the wheels will be locked.y Remember that the brake booster and power
steering do not function when the engine is not
running. Because the engine is turned off, it will
take greater effort to operate the brake pedal
and steering wheel.
y If transmission failure occurs, transport your
vehicle on a flat-bed truck. y Do not run the engine while being towed us-
ing this method. Transmission damage could
result if the vehicle is towed with the engine
running. y For vehicles with automatic transmission,
the traveling speed must be limited to less than
20 mph (30 km/h) and the traveling distance to
less than 31 miles (50 km). For greater speeds
and distances, transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.
1. Check the transmission and differential oil levels
and add oil to bring it to the upper level if necessary.
2. Release the parking brake and put the transmis-
sion in neutral.
3. The ignition switch should be in the “ACC” position
while the vehicle is being towed.
4. Take up slack in the towline slowly to prevent dam-
age to the vehicle.UB8010AA

10-4
Appearance care
„
Cleaning aluminum wheels
y Promptly wipe the aluminum wheels clean of any
kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left on too long, it may
be difficult to clean off.y Do not use soap containing grit to clean the wheels.
Be sure to use a neutral cleaning agent, and later rinse
thoroughly with water. Do not clean the wheels with a
stiff brush or expose them to a high-speed washing
device. y Clean the vehicle (including the aluminum wheels)
with water as soon as possible when it has been
splashed with sea water, exposed to sea breezes, or
driven on roads treated with salt or other agents. „
Cleaning fog light lens (for OUTBACK)
1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
2. Stop the engine and turn off the fog lights.
1) Counter-clockwise
2) Light lens horizontal center line
3. Check that the fog lights are not hot. Then, grasp
the protector and turn it approximately 10 ° counter-
clockwise.
4. Pull the protector off the fog light.
5. Wash the lens with water.
6. Apply the protector to the lens at an angle of ap-
proximately 10 ° from the fog light’s horizontal center
line. Then, turn the protector clockwise until it stops.
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11
Maintenance and service
Ma inte nan ce sche du le .. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 11-3
Ma in te nan ce precau tio ns ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 11-3
B ef ore checki ng o r servicing in th e e ngi ne
c o m part ment ..... ..................... ..................... ... 11-4
W hen y ou do c h ecking or servic ing in t h e
e ngi ne c omp artme nt while the engi ne is
r u nn ing ............... ..................... ..................... ... 11-5
En gine ho od .. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 11-5
Engine compartment overview ................... 11-8 2.5 liter models .................................................. 11-8
2.5 liter CALIFORNIA spec models ................. 11-9
3.0 liter models .................................................. 11-10
Engine oil ...................................................... 11-11 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-11
Changing the oil and oil filter .......................... 11-12
Recommended grade and viscosity ................ 11-15
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions .............................. 11-16
Cooling system ............................................. 11-17 Hose and connections ...................................... 11-18
Engine coolant .................................................. 11-18
Air cleaner element ...................................... 11-22 Replacing the air cleaner element ................... 11-22
Spark plugs ................................................... 11-25 Recommended spark plugs ............................. 11-25
Drive belts ..................................................... 11-26 2.5 liter models .................................................. 11-26
3.0 liter models .................................................. 11-26
Manual transmission oil ............................... 11-27 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-27 Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-27
Automatic transmission fluid ...................... 11-28 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-28
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-30
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ...... 11-30 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-30
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-31
Rear differential gear oil ............................... 11-32 Checking the gear oil level .............................. 11-32
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-34
Power steering fluid ...................................... 11-35 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-35
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-36
Brake fluid ..................................................... 11-36 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-36
Recommended brake fluid ............................... 11-37
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) ............................ 11-38 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-38
Recommended clutch fluid .............................. 11-38
Brake booster ................................................ 11-39
Brake pedal .................................................... 11-39 Checking the brake pedal free play ................ 11-39
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ... 11-40
Clutch pedal (Manual transmission vehicles) ............... 11-40Checking the clutch function .......................... 11-40
Checking the clutch pedal free play ............... 11-41
Replacement of brake pad and lining ......... 11-41 Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings .... 11-42

11 - 4
2Maintenance and service
the materials in the vehicle may be hazardous if
improperly used or handled, for example, bat-tery acid. y
Your vehicle should only be serviced by per-
sons fully competent to do so. Serious person-
al injury may result to persons not experienced
in servicing vehicles. y Always use the proper tools and make certain
that they are well maintained. y Never get under the vehicle supported only
by a jack. Always use a safety stands to sup-
port the vehicle. y Never keep the engine running in a poorly
ventilated area, such as a garage or other
closed areas. y Do not smoke or allow open flames around
the fuel or battery. This will cause a fire. y Because the fuel system is under pressure,
replacement of the fuel filter should be per-
formed only by your SUBARU dealer.y Wear adequate eye protection to guard
against getting oil or fluids in your eyes. If
something does get in your eyes, thoroughly
wash them out with clean water. y Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS air-
bag system or seatbelt pretensioner system, or
attempt to take its connectors apart, as that may activate the system or it can render it inop-
erative. The wiring and connectors of these
systems are yellow for easy identification. NEV-
ER use a circuit tester for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensioner
needs service, consult your nearest SUBARU
dealer.
„ Before checking or servicing in the en-
gine compartment
yAlways stop the engine and set the parking
brake firmly to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. y Always let the engine cool down. Engine
parts become very hot when the engine is run-
ning and remain hot for some time after the en-
gine is stopped.y Do not spill engine oil, engine coolant, brake
fluid or any other fluid on hot engine compo-
nents. This may cause a fire.y Always remove the key from the ignition
switch. When the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position, the cooling fan may operate suddenly

11 - 5
2Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
even when the engine is stopped.
„ When you do checking or servicing in
the engine compartment while the en-
gine is running
A running engine can be dangerous. Keep your
fingers, hands, clothing, hair and tools away
from the cooling fan, belts and any other mov-
ing engine parts. Removing rings, watches and
ties is advisable.
Engine hood
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the windshield, re-
turn them to their original positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the instrument
panel.
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2Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
Engine oil „Checking the oil level
Check the engine oil level at each fuel stop.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop the en-
gine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert it
again.
3. Be sure the dipstick is correctly inserted until it
stops with the graphic symbol on its top appear-
ing as shown in the illustration. 1) Notch (except 3.0L)
2) Upper level
3) Lower level
4. Pull out the dipstick again and check the oil level on
it. If it is below the lower level, add oil to bring the level
up to the upper level.
Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity.
If you check the oil level just after stopping the engine,
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11 - 1 2
2Maintenance and service
wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan before checking the level.
To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not add any
additional oil above the upper level when the engine is cold.
In 2.5-liter-engine models, the dipstick has a notch
above the upper level.
Just after driving or while the engine is warm, the en-
gine oil level reading may be in a range between the
upper level and the notch mark. This is caused by ther-
mal expansion of the engine oil. „
Changing the oil and oil filter
Change the oil and oil filter according to the mainte-
nance schedule in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”.
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed more fre-
quently than listed in the maintenance schedule when
driving on dusty roads, when short trips are frequently
made, or when driving in extremely cold whether.
1. Warm up the engine by letting the engine idle for
about 10 minutes to ease draining the engine oil.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop the en-
gine.
3. Remove the oil filler cap. 1) Drain plug
4. Drain out the engine oil by removing the drain plug
while the engine is still warm. The used oil should be
drained into an appropriate container and disposed of
properly.
Be careful not to burn yourself with hot engine
oil.
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11 - 1 4
2Maintenance and service
7. Slide the cover toward the vehicle front to remove it.
8. Remove the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
9. Before installing a new oil filter, apply a thin coat of
engine oil to the seal.
10.Clean the rubber seal seating area of the bottom of
engine and install the oil filter by hand turning. Be
careful not to twist or damage the seal.
11.Tighten it approximately two-thirds of a turn after
the seal makes contact with the bottom of engine.
Never over tighten the oil filter because that can
result in an oil leak.
12.Reinstall the cover under the oil filter.
13.Pour engine oil through the filler neck.
Oil capacity (Guideline): 2.5 liter models: 4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
3.0 liter models: 5.6 US qt (5.3 liters, 4.6 Imp qt)
The oil quantity indicated above is only a guideline.
The necessary quantity of oil depends on the quantity
of oil that has been drained. The quantity of drained oil
differs slightly depending on the temperature of the oil
and the time the oil is left flowing out. After refilling the
engine with oil, therefore, you must use the dipstick to
confirm that the level is correct.
14.Start the engine and make sure that no oil leaks ap-
pear around the filter’s rubber seal and drain plug.
15.Run the engine until it reaches the normal operat-
ing temperature. Then stop the engine and wait a few
minutes to allow the oil drain back. Check the oil level
again and if necessary, add more engine oil.
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2Maintenance and service
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the engine
coolant may damage the paint surface.
„ Hose and connections
Your vehicle employs an electric cooling fan which is
thermostatically controlled to operate when the engine
coolant reaches a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate even when
the engine coolant temperature gauge exceeds the
normal operating range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
If the fuse is not blown, have the cooling system
checked by your SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is necessary, there may
be a leak in the engine cooling system. It is recom-
mended that the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness. „
Engine coolant
T Checking the coolant level
1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level mark
Check the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside of the reser-
voir while the engine is cool.
2. If the level is close to or lower than the “LOW” level
mark, add coolant up to the “FULL” level mark. If the
reserve tank is empty, remove the radiator cap and re-
fill as required.
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