light SUBARU OUTBACK 2003 3.G Owners Manual

8-38n
Driving with a trailer
You should allow for considerably more stopping distance when
towing a trailer. Avoid sudden braking because it may result in skid-
ding or jackknifing and loss of control. Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accelerations. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, always start out in first gear and release the
clutch at moderate engine revolution. Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and rapid lane changes.
Slow down before turning. Make a longer than normal turning
radius because the trailer wheels will be closer than the vehicle
wheels to the inside of the turn. In a tight turn, the trailer could hit yourvehicle. Crosswinds will adversely affect the handling of your vehicle and
trailer, causing sway. Crosswinds can be due to weather conditions or
the passing of large trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the
steering wheel and slow down immediately but gradually. When passing other vehicles, considerable distance is required
because of the added weight and length caused by attaching the
trailer to your vehicle. Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes practice. When back-
ing 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.
Left turn Right turn
OM-H2791
If the ABS warning light illuminates while the vehicle is in motion,
stop towing the trailer and have repairs performed immediately by the

8
Driving tips8-39
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nearest SUBARU dealer. n
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 overheating of your vehicle ’s brakes. Do not make sud-
den downshifts. When driving uphill in hot weather, the air conditioner may turn off
automatically to protect the engine from overheating. When driving uphill in hot weather, pay attention to the water tem-
perature 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 temperature
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
overheat” 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 usingthe parking brake or foot brake. That may cause the transmission fluidto overheat. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic trans-mission, avoid driving with the gear selector lever in “D” when towing
a heavy trailer to prevent fluid overheating. A lower gear should beused. n 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 takethe 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 parking brake; slowly

9
In case of emergency9-3
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Temporary spare tire
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the temporary spare tire is used. The temporary spare tire is not designed to sustain the towing load.
Use of the temporary spare tire when towing can result in failureof the spare tire and/or less stability of the vehicle and may leadto an accident.
CAUTION
Never use any temporary spare tire other than the original. Usingother sizes may result in severe mechanical damage to the drivetrain of your vehicle.
The temporary spare tire is smaller and lighter than a conventional tire
and is designed for emergency use only. Remove the temporary spare
tire and re-install the conventional tire as soon as possible because the
spare tire is designed only for temporary use.
Check the inflation pressure of the temporary spare tire periodically to
keep the tire ready for use. The correct pressure is 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2
kg/cm 2
).
When using the temporary spare tire, note the following: Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
Do not put a tire chain on the temporary spare tire. Because of the
smaller tire size, a tire chain will not fit properly. Do not use two or more temporary spare tires at the same time.
Do not drive over obstacles. This tire has a smaller diameter, so
road clearance is reduced. When the wear indicator appears on the tread, replace the tire.

9-4
HB8003BB
HG0106
Indicator location mark
Tread wear indicator bar
NOTE
[Automatic transmission vehicle not equipped with VDC (Vehicle Dy-
namics Control) and not equipped with SPORTSHIFT] Before drivingyour vehicle with the temporary spare tire, put a spare fuse insidethe FWD connector located in the engine compartment and confirm
that the Front-wheel drive warning light comes on. The all wheeldrive capability of the vehicle has now been deactivated. After re-
installing the conventional tire, remove the spare fuse from the FWDconnector in order to reactivate all wheel drive.
Flat tires
WARNING
Do not jack up the vehicle on an incline or a loose road sur-
face. 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 sup-
plied with the vehicle is designed only for changing a tire. Neverget under the vehicle 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 sup-ported with the jack. The jack can come out of the jacking pointdue to a jolt and this can result in a severe accident.

9-12Jump starting
WARNING
Battery fluid is SULFURIC ACID. Do not let it come in contact
with the eyes, skin, clothing or the vehicle. If battery fluid gets on you, thoroughly flush the exposed area
with water immediately. Get medical help if the fluid has enteredyour eyes. If battery fluid is accidentally swallowed, immediately drink a
large amount of milk or water, and obtain immediate medicalhelp.
Keep everyone including children away from the battery. The gas generated by a battery explodes if a flame or spark is
brought near it. Do not smoke or light a match while jump start-ing. Never attempt jump starting if the discharged battery is frozen.
It could cause the battery to burst or explode. Whenever working on or around a battery, always wear suit-
able eye protectors, and remove metal objects such as rings,
bands or other metal jewelry. Be sure the jumper cables and clamps on them do not have
loose or missing insulation.Do not jump start unless cables in suitable condition are avail-able. A running engine can be dangerous. Keep your fingers, hands,
clothing, hair and tools away from the cooling fan, belts and anyother moving engine parts. Removing rings, watches and ties isadvisable.
When your vehicle does not start due to a run down (discharged) bat-
tery, the vehicle may be jump started by connecting your battery to
another battery (called the booster battery) with jumper cables.
Jump starting is dangerous if it done incorrectly. If you are unsure about
the proper procedure for jump starting, consult a competent mechanic.

9
In case of emergency9-13
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How to jump start
1. Make sure the booster battery is 12 volts and the negative terminal
is grounded.
2. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, do not let the two ve-hicles touch.
3. Turn off all unnecessary lights and accessories.
4. Connect the jumper cables exactly in the sequence illustrated.
HB8007BC

9-18
HB9010BB
The towing hooks should be used only in an emergency (e.g., to free
a stuck vehicle from mud, sand or snow).
The front towing hook is located on the inside of the towing hook cov- er below the right-hand headlight. nTowing hook cover removal procedure
For except OUTBACK models:
HB9049BA
To use the towing hook, insert the top end of the flat tip screwdriver in
a slot on the upper part of the cover, and remove the cover while pry-
ing it off.
Remove the towing hook cover by pulling it toward the side of the ve-
hicle and toward you.

9-24Moonroof —
if the moonroof cannot be closed
If the moonroof cannot be closed with the moonroof switch, you can
close the moonroof manually. Sedan
1. Take out the hex-headed wrench from the glove box and screw-
driver from the tool bag.
HB9007BB
HB9006BA
2. Remove the map light lens by prying the edge of the lens with a
regular screwdriver, then remove the switch body retaining screws
and take off the moonroof switch.
HB9008BA
3. Insert the wrench in the end of the motor shaft.
To lower the moonroof, turn the wrench clockwise.
To close the moonroof, turn the wrench counterclockwise.
Have your vehicle checked by an authorized SUBARU dealer.

10
Appearance care Exterior care10-2
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Washing 10-2
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Waxing and polishing 10-3
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Cleaning aluminum wheels 10-4
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Cleaning fog light lens (for OUTBACK) 10-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corrosion protection 10-5
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Cleaning the interior 10-6
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10-2Exterior care
Washing
CAUTION
When washing the vehicle, the brakes may get wet. As a result,
the brake stopping distance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly pressing the brakepedal to heat up the brakes. Do not wash the engine compartment and areas adjacent to it.
If water enters the engine air intake, electrical parts or the power
steering fluid reservoir, it will cause engine trouble or faulty
power steering respectively.
The best way to preserve your vehicle ’s beauty is frequent washing.
Wash the vehicle at least once a month to avoid contamination by roadgrime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of lukewarm or cold water. Do
not wash the vehicle with hot water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot and bird droppings should be washed
off by using a light detergent, as required. If you use a light detergent,
make certain that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use strong soap or
chemical detergents. All cleaning agents should be promptly flushed
from the surface and not allowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thor-
oughly with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water off with a
chamois or soft cloth. NOTE When having your vehicle washed in an automatic car wash, make
sure beforehand that the car wash is of suitable type. If the vehicle
is equipped with a rear/roof spoiler, it may be damaged by car washbrushes or other equipment.