instrument panel SUBARU OUTBACK 2006 User Guide

4-4 Climate control
T Temperature control dial
This dial regulates the temperature of air
flow from the air outlets over a range from
the blue side (cool) to red side (warm).
T Fan speed control dial The fan operates only when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position. The
fan speed control dial is used to select four
fan speeds.
T Air flow control dial
This dial has the following five positions:
: Air flows through the instrument pan-
el outlets.
: Air flows through the instrument pan-
el outlets and the foot outlets.
: Air flows through the instrument pan-
el outlets, the foot outlets, and some
through the windshield defroster outlets. : Air flows through the instrument pan-
el outlets, the windshi eld defroster outlets,
and the foot outlets.
: Air flows through the instrument
panel outlets and the windshield defroster
outlets.
NOTE In a vehicle equipped with an air condi-
tioner, when the dial is placed in the
“ ” position or “ ” position the
air conditioner compressor automati-
cally operates to quickly defog the
windshield. However the indicator on
the air conditioner button will not come
on. At the same time, the air inlet selec-
tion is automatically set to “outside
air” mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation” mode by manually pressing
the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button.400346
400347 400348

4-6 Climate control
tion is automaticall y set to “outside
air” mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation” mode by manually pressing
the air inlet sel ection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button.
y Warm air also comes out from the
right and left air outlets. To stop warm
air flow from these outlets, turn the
corresponding wheel to the “ ” po-
sition.
T Heating and defrosting
To direct warm air toward the floor and the
windshield:
1. Set the air inlet selection lever to the
“OFF” position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the
“ ”position.
3. Set the temperature control dial to the
most comfortable level.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the de-
sired speed.
NOTE y In a vehicle equipped with an air con-
ditioner, when the dial is placed in the
“ ” position or “ ” position the
air conditioner comp ressor automati-
cally operates to quickly defog the
windshield. However the indicator on the air conditioner button will not come
on. At the same time, the air inlet selec-
tion is automatically set to “outside
air” mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation” mode by manually pressing
the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button.
y Warm air also comes out from the
right and left air outlets. To stop warm
air flow from these outlets, turn the
corresponding wheel to the “ ” po-
sition.
T Heating
To direct warm ai r toward the floor:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the
“ ” position.
3. Set the temperature control dial to the
most comfortable level.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the de-
sired speed.
NOTE Warm air also comes out from the right
and left air outlets. To stop warm air
flow from these outl ets, turn the corre-
sponding wheel to the “ ” position. T Bi-level heating
This setting allows you to direct air of dif-
ferent temperatures from the instrument
panel and foot outlets. The air from the
foot outlets is slightly warmer than from
the instrument panel outlets.
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the
“ ” position.
3. Set the temperature control dial to the
desired temperature level.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the de-
sired speed.
Setting the temperature control dial fully
turned to the red area or blue area de-
creases the temperature difference be-
tween the air from the instrument panel
outlets and the air from the foot outlets.
T Ventilation
To force outside air through the instru-
ment panel outlets:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ”
position.
3. Set the temperature control dial all the
way left.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the de-
sired speed.

Climate control
4-7
– CONTINUED –When driving on a dusty road, set the air
inlet control button to the ON position.
„ Air conditioner operationT Cooling or dehumidifying
For cooling and dehumidification of the
passenger compartment, air flows through
the instrument panel outlets:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ”
position.
3. Set the air conditioner button to the
“ON” position.
4. Set the temperature control dial to the
blue side.
5. Set the fan speed control dial at the de-
sired speed.
T Defrosting or defogging
To direct warm air to the windshield and
front door windows:
1. Set the air outlet control dial to the “ ” position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the
red side.
3. Set the fan speed control dial at the
highest speed.
NOTE In a vehicle equipped with an air condi-
tioner, when the dial is placed in the
“ ” position or “ ” position the
air conditioner compressor automati-
cally operates to quickly defog the
windshield. However the indicator on
the air conditioner button will not come
on. At the same time, the air inlet selec-
tion is automatically set to “outside
air” mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation” mode by manually pressing
the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button. Automatic climate control
system (if equipped) NOTE y Operate the automatic climate con-
trol system when the engine is run-
ning.
y The blower fan rotates at a low speed
when the engine coolant temperature
is low.
For efficient defogging or dehumidify-
ing in cold weather, press the “A/C”
button.
y Even when cooling is not necessary,
setting the temperature much lower
than the current outlet air temperature
turns on the air c onditioner compres-
sor automatically and the “A/C” indica-
tor light on the control panel comes on.
The automatic climate control system au-
tomatically controls outlet air temperature,
fan speed, air flow distribution air-inlet
control, and air conditioner compressor
operation. It activates when the “AUTO”
button is pressed, and is used to maintain
a constant, comfortabl e climate within the
passenger compartment.
The temperature can be set within a range
of 65 to 85 ° F (18 to 32 ° C).Continued operation in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty condition
clears.

7-16 Starting and operating
mph (km/h)
Never exceed posted speed limits.
„ Driving tipsy 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 manual
mode.
y Always apply the foot or parking brake
when the vehicle is stopped in the “D” or
“R” position.
y Always set the parking brake when
parking your vehicle. Do not hold the vehi-
cle with only the transmission.
y Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary
position on an uphill grade by using the
“D” position. Use the brake instead.
y The engine may, on rare occasions,
knock when the vehicle rapidly acceler-
ates or rapidly pulls away from a standstill.
This phenomenon does not indicate a
fault. „ SPORT mode
SPORT mode is used when power is
needed for rapid acceleration or for uphill
driving. To select this mode, move the se-
lector lever from the “D” position to the
manual gate. When selected, the SPORT mode indica-
tor light on the instrument panel will turn
on.
To deselect SPORT mode, move the se-
lector lever to the “D” position or select
manual mode.
To subsequently reselect SPORT mode,
move the selector lever to the “D” position
and from there to the manual gate.
In this mode, the transmission shifts up at
higher vehicle speeds and shifts down
more responsively than in normal mode.
„ Shift lock release If the selector lever does not move from
the “P” position with the brake pedal de-
pressed and the ignition switch in the “ON”
position, perform the following steps:Position 2.5-liter non-turbo models
1 34 (55)
2 64 (103)
3 99 (160) 700112 700113

Starting and operating
7-23
– CONTINUED –mph (km/h)
Never exceed posted speed limits.
„ Driving tipsy 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 manual
mode.
y Always apply the foot or parking brake
when the vehicle is stopped in the “D” or
“R” position.
y Always set the parking brake when
parking your vehicle. Do not hold the vehi-
cle with only the transmission.
y Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary
position on an uphill grade by using the
“D” position. Use the brake instead.
y The engine may, on rare occasions,
knock when the vehicle rapidly acceler-
ates or rapidly pulls away from a standstill.
This phenomenon does not indicate a fault.
y A slight reduction in output torque may
occur in the models with a 3.0-liter or 2.5-
liter turbo engine before the engine warms
up.
„ SPORT mode
SPORT mode is used when power is
needed for rapid acceleration or for uphill
driving. To select this mode, move the se-
lector lever from the “D” position to the
manual gate. When selected, the SPORT mode indica-
tor light on the instrument panel will turn
on.
To deselect SPORT mode, move the se-
lector lever to the “D ” position or select
manual mode. To subsequently reselect
SPORT mode, move the selector lever to
the “D” position and from there to the man-
ual gate.
In this mode, the transmission shifts up at
higher vehicle speeds and shifts down
more responsively t han in normal mode.
„ Shift lock release If the selector lever does not move from
the “P” position with the brake pedal de-
pressed and the ignition switch in the “ON”
position, perform the following steps:Position 2.5-liter turbo
models 3.0-liter models
1 35 (57) 27 (43)
2 59 (95) 61 (98)
3 94 (151) 96 (154)
700112 700113

10Appearance care Exterior care ....................................................... 10-2 Washing ................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing ............................................. 10-3
Cleaning aluminum wheels .................................... 10-3
Corrosion protection ......... ................................. 10-4Most common causes of corrosion ...................... 10-4
To help prevent corrosion ..................................... 10-4
Cleaning the interior .......................................... 10-5 Seat fabric ............................................................... 10-5
Leather seat materials ............................................ 10-5
Synthetic leather upholstery ................................. 10-5
Climate control panel, audio panel, instrument
panel, console panel, switches, combination
meter, and other plastic surface ......................... 10-5

Appearance care
10-5
Cleaning the interior Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. (Do not use or-
ganic solvents.)
„ Seat fabricRemove loose dirt, dust or debris with a
vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the
fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum
cleaner, use a soft blush then vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly
wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric thor-
oughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe using
a solution of mild soap and lukewarm wa-
ter then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a com-
mercially-available fabric cleaner. Use the
cleaner on a hidden place and make sure
it does not affect the fabric adversely. Use
the cleaner according to its instructions.
NOTE When cleaning the seat, do not use
benzine, paint thinner, or any similar
materials.
„ Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high quality natural product which will retain its
distinctive appearance and feel for many
years with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the
surface can cause the material to become
brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular
cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber
cloth should be performed monthly, taking
care not to soak the leather or allow water
to penetrate the stitched seams.
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning
woolen fabrics may be used to remove dif-
ficult dirt spots, ru bbing with a soft, dry
cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If
your SUBARU is to be parked for a long
time in bright sunlight, it is recommended
that the seats and headrests be covered,
or the windows shaded, to prevent fading
or shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches
may be treated with a commercial leather
spray lacquer. You will discover that each
leather seat section will develop soft folds
or wrinkles, which is characteristic of gen-
uine leather.
„ Synthetic leather upholstery The synthetic leather material used on the
SUBARU may be cleaned using mild soap
or detergent and water, after first vacuum-
ing or brushing away loose dirt. Allow the
soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial
foam-type cleaners suitable for synthetic
leather materials may be used when nec-
essary.
NOTE Strong cleaning agents such as sol-
vents, paint thinners, window cleaner
or gasoline must never be used on
leather or synthetic interior materials.
„ Climate control panel, audio
panel, instrument panel, con-
sole panel, switches, combi-
nation meter, and other plas-
tic surface Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches.
NOTE Do not use organic solvents such as
paint thinners or gasoline, or strong
cleaning agents that contain those sol-
vents.

11 - 4 Maintenance and service
„ Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment „ When you do checking or ser-
vicing in the engine compart-
ment while the engine is run-
ning Engine hood
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the
windshield, return them to their original
positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the
instrument panel.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 wi th the wiring of
the SRS airbag system or seatbelt
pretensioner system, or attempt
to take its connectors apart, as
that may activate the system or it
can render it inoperative. The wir-
ing and connectors of these sys-
tems are yellow for easy identifi-
cation. NEVER use a circuit tester
for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pre-
tensioner needs service, consult
your nearest SUBARU dealer.
y Always stop the engine and set
the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving. y Always let the engine cool down.
Engine parts b ecome very hot
when the engine is running and
remain hot for some time after the
engine is stopped.
y Do not spill engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.
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
even when the engine is stopped.
A running engine can be dangerous.
Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from the cooling
fan, belts and any other moving en-
gine parts. Removing rings, watch-
es and ties is advisable. B00099

11 - 3 4 Maintenance and service
goes off a few minutes later. If the low tire
pressure warning light does not go off, the
tire pressure monitoring system may not
be functioning normally. In this event, go
to a SUBARU dealer to have the system
inspected as soon as possible.
While the vehicle is driven, friction be-
tween tires and the road surface causes
the tires to warm up. After illumination of
the low tire pressure warning light, any in-
crease in the tire pressures caused by an
increase in the outside air temperature or
by an increase in the temperature in the
tires can cause the low tire pressure warn-
ing light to go off.
System resetting is necessary when the
wheels are changed (for example, a
switch to snow tires) and new TPMS
valves are installed on the newly fitted
wheels. Have this work performed by a
SUBARU dealer following wheel replace-
ment.
It may not be possible to install TPMS
valves on certain wheels that are on the
market. Therefore, if you change the
wheels (for example, a switch to snow
tires), use wheels that have the same part
number as the standard-equipment
wheels. Without four operational TPMS
valve/sensors on the wheels, the TPMS will not fully function and the warning light
in the instrument panel will flash.
When a tire is replaced, adjustments are
necessary to ensure continued normal op-
eration of the tire pr essure monitoring sys-
tem. As with wheel replacement, there-
fore, you should have the work performed
by a SUBARU dealer.
„ Tire inspection Check on a daily basis that the tires are
free from serious damage, nails, and
stones. At the same time, check the tires
for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immediate-
ly if you find any problem.
NOTE y When the wheels and tires strikeIf the low tire pressure warning light
does not come on br iefly after the ig-
nition switch is turned ON or the
light is flashing, you should have
your Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem checked at a SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible.
If this light comes on while driving,
never brake suddenly and keep driv-
ing straight ahead while gradually
reducing speed. Then slowly pull off
the road to a safe place. Otherwise
an accident involving serious vehi-
cle damage and serious personal in-
jury could occur. If this light still comes on while driv-
ing after adjusting the tire pressure,
a tire may have significant damage
and a fast leak that causes the tire to
lose air rapidly. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a spare tire as soon
as possible.
When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel rim is replaced without the
original pressure sensor/transmitter
being transferred, the low tire pres-
sure warning light will flash. This in-
dicates the TPMS is unable to moni-
tor all four road wheels. Contact
your SUBARU dealer as soon as
possible for tire and sensor replace-
ment and/or system resetting. If the
light flashes, promptly contact a
SUBARU dealer to have the system
inspected.

Maintenance and service
11 - 4 5
– CONTINUED –It is unnecessary to periodically check the battery fluid level or periodically refill with
distilled water.
Fuses
The fuses are designed to melt during an
overload to prevent damage to the wiring
harness and electrical equipment. The
fuses are located in two fuse boxes. One
is located under the instrument panel be-
hind the fuse box cover on the driver’s
seat side. y To lessen the risk of sparks, re-
move rings, metal watchbands,
and other metal jewelry. Never al-
low metal tools to contact the pos-
itive battery terminal and anything
connected to it WHILE you are at
the same time in contact with any
other metallic portion of the vehi-
cle because a short circuit will re-
sult.
y Keep everyone including children
away from the battery.
y Charge the battery in a well-venti-
lated area.
y Battery posts, terminals, and re-
lated accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Batteries also contain other
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer. Wash
hands after handling.
Never use more than 10 amperes
when charging the battery because
it will shorten battery life. Never replace a fuse with one hav-
ing a higher rating or with material
other than a fuse because serious
damage or a fire could result.
B00130