tow SUBARU OUTBACK 2000 3.G User Guide

3-12
If the light is blinking:
If the lig ht is b linking while d riving , an eng ine m isfire c ond ition has
b een d etec ted whic h may d amag e the emission c ontrol system.
To p revent serious d amag e to the emission c ontrol s ystem, you
should d o the following : Red uc e vehic le sp eed .
Avoid hard ac c eleration.
Avoid steep up hill g rad es.
Red uc e the amount of c arg o, if p ossib le.
Stop towing a trailer as soon as p ossib le.
The CHECK ENGINE warning lig ht may stop b linking an d c ome on
stead ily after several d riving trip s. You should ha ve your vehic le
c hec ked b y an authorized SUBARU d ealer immed iately.
Charge warning light
If this lig ht c omes on when the eng ine is running , it may ind ic ate that the
c harg ing system is not working p rop erly.
If the lig ht c omes on while d riving or d oes not g o out after the eng ine
starts, stop the eng ine at the first safe op p ortuni ty and c hec k the alterna-
tor b elt. If the b elt is loose, b roken or if the b e lt is in g ood c ond ition b ut
the lig ht remains on, c ontac t your nearest SUBARU d ealer immed iately.
Oil pressure warning light
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the oil pressure warning light on. This may cause serious engine damage.
If this lig ht c omes on when the eng ine is running , it may ind ic ate that the
eng ine oil p ressure is low and the lub ric ating syst em is not working p rop -
erly.
If the lig ht c omes on while d riving or d oes not g o out after the eng ine
starts, stop the eng ine at the first safe op p ortuni ty and c hec k the eng ine
oil level. If the oil level is low, ad d oil immed ia tely. If the eng ine oil is at

3-14NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as shown below, the ABS system may be considered normal.
The warning light comes on right after the engine is started but
goes out immediately, remaining off. The warning light remains on after the engine has been started,
but it goes out when the vehicle speed reaches about 8 mph (12km/h). The warning light comes on during driving, but it goes out
immediately and remains off.
When d riving with an insuffic ient b attery voltag e s uc h as when the en-
g ine is jump started , the ABS warning lig ht may c om e on. This is d ue to
the low b attery voltag e and d oes not ind ic ate a mal func tion. When the
b attery b ec omes fully c harg ed , the lig ht will g o ou t.
Brake system warning light
WARNING
Driving with the brake system warning light on is dangerous.
This indicates your brake system may not be working properly. If the light remains on, have the brakes inspected by a SUBARU
dealer immediately. If at all in doubt about whether the brakes are operating prop-
erly, do not drive the vehicle. Have your vehicle towed to the
nearest SUBARU dealer for repair.
This lig ht has the following two func tions: Parking brake warning
The lig ht c omes on with the p arking b rake ap p lied w hile the ig nition
switc h is in the “ON ” p osition. It g oes out when the p arking b rake is
fully released . Brake fluid level warning
This lig ht c omes on when the b rake fluid level has d rop p ed to near
the “MIN ” level of the b rake fluid reservoir with the ig niti on switc h in(U.S.)
(Canada)

3-18
High/low beam change (dimmer)
To c hang e from low b eam to hig h b eam, p ush the turn sig nal lever
forward . When the head lig hts are on hig h b eam, the hig h b eam ind i-
c ator lig ht “a ” on the instrument p anel is also on.
To switc h b ac k to low b eam, p ull the lever b ac k to the d etent p osition.
Headlight flasher CAUTION
Do not hold the lever in the flashing position for more than just a few seconds.
To flash the head lig hts, p ull the lever toward you and then release it.
The hig h b eam will stay on for as long as you hold the lever. The
head lig ht flasher works even thoug h the lig hting sw itc h is in the “OFF ”
p osition.
When the head lig hts are on hig h b eam, the hig h b eam ind ic ator lig ht
“ a ” on the instrument p anel also c omes on.
Daytime running light system
WARNING
The tail lights, parking lights, and side marker lights are not turned on by the daytime running light system. The light switchmust always be turned to the “a ” position when it is dark out-
side.
The low b eam head lig hts will automatic ally c ome on at red uc ed b rig ht-
ness when the eng ine has started , und er the followi ng c ond itions:
The p arking b rake is fully released .
The lig ht switc h is in the “OFF ” or “p ” p osition.

3-24
Wiper intermittent time control (if equipped)
HB2023BA
When the wip er switc h is in the “” p osition, turn the d ial to ad just
the op erating interval of the wip er. Mist (for a single wipe)
For a sing le wip e of the wip ers, p ull the lever tow ard you. The wip ers
op erate until you release the lever. Washer
HB2020BA
To wash the wind shield , p ush the washer b utton at t he end of the wip -
er c ontrol lever. The washer fluid sp rays until you release the washer
b utton. The wip ers op erate while you p ush the b utto n.

3-28Mirrors
Always c hec k that the insid e and outsid e mirrors ar
e p rop erly ad justed
b efore you start d riving . Inside mirror
HB4003BB
The insid e mirror has a d ay and nig ht p osition. Pul l the tab at the b ottom
of the mirror toward you for the nig ht p osition. Pu sh it away for the d ay
p osition. The nig ht p osition red uc es g lare from hea d lig hts.
Compass mirror (if equipped)
HB6019BB
The insid e elec tronic c omp ass mirror has an anti-g l are feature whic h
automatic ally red uc es g lare c oming from head lig hts of vehic les b e-
hind you. It also c ontains a b uilt-in c omp ass.

4-2
Ventilator
Center and side ventilators
HB5001BB
Adjustable side defroster grille (for driver ’s side only)
HB5003BB
HB5002BB
Normal position
Side defroster grilleFin
Windshield defrost assist position
The d river ’s sid e d efroster g rille is ad justab le. The normal p osition as
shown in the d iag ram d irec ts warm air to the sid e g lass. When more
rap id d efrosting of the wind shield is d esired , the air flow c an b e
d irec ted temp orarily toward the wind shield to assis t the wind shield
d efroster. If this is d one, the d river ’s sid e g rille should always b e
returned to its normal p osition so that the warm ai r flow c an then b e
used to d efrost the d river ’s sid e wind ow.

Climate control4-7
–
CONTINUED –
4. Set the fan sp eed c ontrol d ial to the hig hest sp e
ed .
NOTE
Warm air also comes out from the right and left air outlets. To
stop warm air flow from these outlets, turn the correspondingthumb-wheel to the “
” position.
Heating and defrosting
HB5012AA
To d irec t warm air toward the floor and the wind shi eld :
1. Set the air inlet selec tion b utton to the “OFF ” p osition.
2. Set the air flow c ontrol d ial to the “
” p osition.
3. Set the temp erature c ontrol d ial to the most c omf ortab le level.
4. Set the fan sp eed c ontrol d ial to the d esired sp e ed .
NOTE
Warm air also comes out from the right and left air outlets. To
stop warm air flow from these outlets, turn the correspondingthumb-wheel to the “
” position.

4-8
Heating
HB5013AA
To d irec t warm air toward the floor:
1. Set the air inlet selec tion b utton to the “OFF ” p osition
2 Set the air flow c ontrol d ial to the “
” p osition.
3. Set the temp erature c ontrol d ial to the most c omf ortab le level.
4. Set the fan sp eed c ontrol d ial to the d esired sp e ed .
NOTE
Warm air also comes out from the right and left air outlets. To
stop warm air flow from these outlets, turn the correspondingthumb-wheel to the “
” position.
Bi-level heating
HB5014AA
This setting allows you to d irec t air of d ifferent temp eratures from the

8
Driving tips New vehicle break-in driving –
the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) 8-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel economy hints 8-3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) 8-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Catalytic converter 8-4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Periodic inspections 8-5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving in foreign countries 8-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving tips for AWD vehicles 8-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Off road driving 8-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving 8-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow tires 8-13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire chains 8-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocking the vehicle 8-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loading your vehicle 8-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle capacity weight 8-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) 8-17
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) 8-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer hitch (if equipped) 8-22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer towing 8-26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Driving tips8-7
–
CONTINUED –
ing . Therefore, when d riving d own a slop e or turnin
g c orners, b e sure to
red uc e your sp eed and maintain an amp le d istanc e fr om other vehic les.
When rep lac ing a tire, make sure you use only the s ame size, c irc um-
ferenc e, c onstruc tion, b rand , and load rang e as the orig inal tires listed on
the tire p lac ard . Using other sizes, c irc umferenc es or c onstruc tion may re-
sult in severe mec hanic al d amag e to the d rive train of your vehic le and
may affec t rid e, hand ling , b raking , sp eed ometer/od o meter c alib ration, and
c learanc e b etween the b od y and tires. It also may b e d ang erous and lead
to loss of vehic le c ontrol. If you use a temp orary sp are tire to rep lac e a flat tire, b e sure to use
the orig inal temp orary sp are tire stored in the veh ic le. Using other sizes
may result in severe mec hanic al d amag e to the d rive train of your vehic le.
Always c hec k the c old tire p ressure b efore starting to d rive. The rec -
ommend ed tire p ressure is p rovid ed on the tire p lac ard , whic h is loc ated
und er the d oor latc h on the d river ’s sid e.
Tire c hains should always b e p lac ed on the front wh eels only.
There are some p rec autions that you must ob serve wh en towing your
vehic le. For d etail information, see “Towing ” sec tion in c hap ter 9.
Off road driving
WARNING
Always maintain a safe driving speed according to the road
and weather conditions in order to avoid having an accident on asharp turn, during sudden braking or under other similar condi-tions. Always use the utmost care in driving – overconfidence
because you are driving an all wheel drive vehicle could easilylead to a serious accident.
All AWD models except OUTBACK
Your AWD vehic le is neither a c onventional off-road vehic le nor an all
terrain vehic le. It is a p asseng er c ar d esig ned p ri marily for on-road
use. The AWD feature g ives it some limited off-road c ap ab ilities in sit-
uations in whic h d riving surfac es a relatively leve l, ob struc tion-free