check oil SUBARU OUTBACK 2006 Owners Manual

19
– CONTINUED –„ Warning and indicator light Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-14
Front passenger’s
seatbelt warning light 3-14
SRS airbag system
warning light 3-16
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunc-
tion indicator lamp 3-17
Charge warning light 3-18
Oil pressure warning
light 3-18
AT OIL temperature
warning light (if
equipped) 3-18
or
ABS warning light 3-20
or
Brake system warning
light 3-20
Door open warning
light 3-22 Low fuel warning light 3-21
All-Wheel Drive warn-
ing light (if equipped) 3-22
Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation indi-
cator light (if equipped) 3-22
Vehicle Dynamics
Control warning light/
Vehicle Dynamics
Control OFF indicator
light (if equipped) 3-22
Security indicator light 3-23
Turn signal indicator
lights 3-24
High beam indicator
light 3-25
Cruise control indica-
tor light (if equipped) 3-25
Cruise control set indi-
cator light (if equipped) 3-25
Light indicator light 3-25Mark Name Page
Low tire pressure
warning light (if
equipped) 3-18
or Passenger airbag ON
indicator light 3-17
or Passenger airbag OFF
indicator light 3-17
SPORT mode indica-
tor light (if equipped) 3-24Mark Name Page

3
Instruments and controlsIgnition switch .................................................... 3-3 LOCK ....................................................................... 3-3
ACC .......................................................................... 3-4
ON ............................................................................ 3-4
START ...................................................................... 3-4
Key reminder chime ............................................... 3-5
Ignition switch light ................................................ 3-5
Hazard warning flasher ...................................... 3-5
Meters and gauges (Tur bo models) ................. 3-5Combination meter illumination ............................ 3-5
Canceling the function for meter/gauge needle
movement and combination meter sequential
illumination upon turning on the ignition
switch .................................................................... 3-6
Speedometer ........................................................... 3-6
Odometer ................................................................. 3-7
Double trip meter .................................................... 3-7
Tachometer ............................................................. 3-8
Fuel gauge ............................................................... 3-8
Temperature gauge ................................................ 3-9
Meters and gauges (Non-turbo models) .......... 3-10 Combination meter illumination ............................ 3-10
Canceling the function for meter/gauge needle
movement upon turning on the ignition
switch .................................................................... 3-10
Speedometer ........................................................... 3-10
Odometer ................................................................. 3-11
Double trip meter .................................................... 3-11
Tachometer ............................................................. 3-12
Fuel gauge ............................................................... 3-12 Temperature gauge ................................................ 3-13
Warning and indicator lights ............................. 3-14 Seatbelt warning light and chime .......................... 3-14
SRS airbag system warning lig ht ............. ............. 3-16
Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF
indicators .............................................................. 3-17
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator lamp ....................................................... 3-17
Charge warning light .............................................. 3-18
Oil pressure warning light ..................................... 3-18
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light (AT
vehicles) ................................................................ 3-18
Low tire pressure warning light (if equipped) ...... 3-18
ABS warning light ................................................... 3-20
Brake system warning light ................................... 3-20
Low fuel warning light ............................................ 3-21
Door open warning light ........................................ 3-22
All-Wheel Drive warning light (AT vehicles) ......... 3-22
Vehicle Dynamics Contro l operation indicator
light (if equipped) ................................................. 3-22
Vehicle Dynamics Control warning light (if
equipped)/Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF
indicator light (if equipped) ................................. 3-22
Security indicator light ........................................... 3-23
SPORT mode indicator light (AT vehicles) ........... 3-24
Selector lever position indicator (AT vehicles) .... 3-24
Gear position indicator (AT vehicles) ................... 3-24
Turn signal indicator lights .................................... 3-24
High beam indicator light ....................................... 3-25
Cruise control indicator light ................................. 3-25

3-14 Instruments and controls
Warning and indicator lights Several of the warning and indicator lights
come on momentarily and then go out
when the ignition switch is initially turned
to the “ON” position. This permits check-
ing the operation of the bulbs.
Apply the parking brake and turn the igni-
tion switch to the “ON” position. The fol-
lowing lights come on:
: Seatbelt warning light
(The seatbelt warning light goes out only
when the driver fastens the seatbelt.)
: Front passenger’s seatbelt warning
light
(The seatbelt warning light goes out only
when the front seat passenger fastens the
seatbelt.)
: SRS airbag system warning light
: CHECK ENGINE warning light /
Malfunction indicator lamp
: Charge warning light
: Oil pressure warning light
: AT OIL temperature warning light
(AT vehicles) / : ABS warning light
: Vehicle Dynamics Control operation
indicator light (if equipped)
: Vehicle Dynamics Control warning
light (if equipped)/Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol OFF indicator light (if equipped)
/ : Brake system warning light
: AWD warning light (AT vehicles)
: Low tire pressure warning light (if
equipped)
: SPORT mode indicator light (AT
vehicles)
/ : Front passenger’s frontal airbag
ON indicator light
/ : Front passenger’s frontal airbag
OFF indicator light
: Low fuel warning light
: Door open warning light
: Cruise control indicator light (if equipped)
: Cruise control set indicator light (if
equipped)
If any lights fail to co me on, it indicates a
burned-out bulb or a malfunction of the
corresponding system.
Consult your authorized SUBARU dealer
for repair.
„ Seatbelt warning light
and chime Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt
warning device at the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat, as required by current
safety standards.
With the ignition switch turned to the “ON”
position, this device reminds the driver
and front passenger to fasten their seat-
belts by illuminating the warning lights in
the locations indicated in the following il-
lustration and sounding a chime.

3-18 Instruments and controls
NOTE This light also comes on when the fuel
filler cap is not tightened until it clicks.
If you have recently refueled your vehicle,
the cause of the CHECK ENGINE warning
light/malfunction indicator lamp coming on
could be a loose or missing fuel filler cap.
Remove the cap and retighten it until it
clicks. Make sure no thing is interfering
with the sealing of the cap. Tightening the
cap will not make the CHECK ENGINE
warning light turn off immediately. It may
take several driving trips. If the light does
not go out, take your vehicle to your au-
thorized SUBARU dealer immediately.
T If the light is blinking:
If the light is blinking while driving, an en-
gine misfire condition has been detected
which may damage the emission control
system.
To prevent serious damage to the emis-
sion control system, you should do the fol-
lowing.
y Reduce vehicle speed.
y Avoid hard acceleration.
y Avoid steep uphill grades.
y Reduce the amount of cargo, if possi-
ble.
y Stop towing a trailer as soon as possi-
ble. The CHECK ENGINE warning light may
stop blinking and come on steadily after
several driving trips. You should have
your vehicle checked by an authorized
SUBARU dealer immediately.
„ Charge warning light If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the charging
system is not working properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does
not go out after the e ngine starts, stop the
engine at the first safe opportunity and
check the alternator belt. If the belt is
loose, broken or if the belt is in good con-
dition but the light remains on, contact
your nearest SUBARU dealer immediate-
ly.
„ Oil pressure warning
light
If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the engine oil
pressure is low and the lubricating system is not working properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does
not go out after the engine starts, stop the
engine at the first safe opportunity and
check the engine oil level. If the oil level is
low, add oil immediately. If the engine oil
is at the proper level but the light remains
on, contact your nearest SUBARU dealer
immediately.
„ AT OIL TEMPerature
warning light (AT vehi-
cles) The AT oil temperature warning light
comes on when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position and goes out
after approximately two seconds.
If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the automatic
transmission fluid temperature is too hot.
If the light comes on while driving, it is un-
necessary to stop the vehicle, but avoid
driving up steep grades or in stop and go
traffic.
„ Low tire pressure warn-
ing light (if equipped) When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the low tire pressure warn-
ing light will come on for approximately 2Do not operate the engine with the
oil pressure warning light on. This
may cause serious engine damage.

4
Climate control Ventilator ............................................................. 4-2 Air flow selection .................................................... 4-2
Center and side ventilators .................................... 4-3
Manual climate control system (if equipped) ... 4-3 Control panel ........................................................... 4-3
Heater operation ..................................................... 4-5
Air conditioner operation ....................................... 4-7
Automatic climate control system (if
equipped) ......................................................... 4-7 Control panel ........................................................... 4-8
Temperature sensors ............................................. 4-11
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner .. 4-12 Cleaning ventilator grille ........................................ 4-12
Efficient cooling after parking in direct
sunlight ................................................................. 4-12
Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant
circuit ..................................................................... 4-12
Checking air conditioni ng system before summer
season ................................................................... 4-12
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and
low temperature weather condition .................... 4-12
Air conditioner compressor shut-off when engine
is heavily loaded ................................................... 4-12
Refrigerant for your climate control system ........ 4-12
Air filtration system (if equipped) ..................... 4-13

4-12 Climate control
Operating tips for heater and
air conditioner „ Cleaning ventilator grille
Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free of snow, leaves, or other obstructions
to ensure efficient heating and defrosting.
Since the condenser is located in front of
the radiator, this area should be kept
clean because cooling performance is im-
paired by any accumulation of insects and
leaves on the condenser.
„ Efficient cooling after parking
in direct sunlight
After parking in direct sunlight, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes to al- low outside air to circulate into the heated
interior. This results in quicker cooling by
the air conditioner. Keep the windows
closed during the operation of the air con-
ditioner for maximum cooling efficiency.
„ Lubrication oil circulation in
the refrigerant circuit Operate the air conditioner compressor at
a low engine speed (at idle or low driving
speeds) a few minutes each month during
the off-season to circulate its oil.
„ Checking air conditioning
system before summer sea-
son Check the air conditioner unit for refriger-
ant leaks, hose conditions, and proper op-
eration each spring. Have your SUBARU
dealer perform this check.
„ Cooling and dehumidifying in
high humidity and low tem-
perature weather condition Under certain weather conditions (high
relative humidity, low temperatures, etc.)
a small amount of water vapor emission
from the air outlets may be noticed. This
condition is normal and does not indicate any problem with the air conditioning sys-
tem.
„ Air conditioner compressor
shut-off when engine is
heavily loaded To improve acceleration and gas mileage,
the air conditioner compressor is de-
signed to temporarily shut off during air
conditioner operation whenever the accel-
erator is fully depressed such as during
rapid acceleration or when driving on a
steep upgrade.
„ Refrigerant for your climate
control system Your air conditioner uses ozone friendly
refrigerant HFC134a. Therefore, the
method of adding, changing or checking
the refrigerant is diffe rent from the method
for CFC12 (freon). Consult your SUBARU
dealer for service. Repairs needed as a
result of using the wrong refrigerant are
not covered under warranty.400590

Starting and operating
7-7Under no circumstances should the rear
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.
The EPA has issued regulations for in-
specting the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)
system as part of the state emissions in-
spection. The OBD system is designed to
detect engine and transmission problems
that might cause vehicle emissions to ex-
ceed allowable limits. These inspections
apply to all 1996 model year and newer
passenger cars and li ght trucks. Over 30
states plus the Distr ict of Columbia have
implemented the OBD system inspection.
y The inspection of the OBD system con-
sists of a visual operational check of the
“ CHECK ENGINE ” warning light/malfunc-
tion indicator lamp (MIL) and an examina-
tion of the OBD system with an electronic
scan tool while the engine is running.
y A vehicle passes
the OBD system in-
spection if proper the “ CHECK ENGINE ”
warning light/MIL illumination is observed,
there is no stored diagnostic trouble
codes, and the OBD system readiness
monitors are complete.
y A vehicle fails
the OBD inspection if the
“ CHECK ENGINE ” warning light/MIL is
not properly operating or there is one or
more diagnostic trouble codes stored in vehicle’s computer with the “ CHECK EN-
GINE ” warning light/MIL illuminated.
y A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBD system readiness monitors “ Not
Ready ” is greater than one. Under this
condition, the vehicle operator should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few
days to set the monitors and return for an
emission re-inspection.
y Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their SUBARU Dealer for
service. Preparing to drive You should perform the following checks
and adjustments every day before you
start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and
lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of
the tires. Also check tires for proper infla-
tion.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk (Sedan)
and rear gate (Station wagon) are fully
closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and
outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and
indicator lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.
NOTE Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops.

Driving tips
8-7
– CONTINUED –ground from under your tires, resulting in
possible loss of traction and even vehicle
rollover.
y Always check your brakes for effective-
ness immediately after driving in sand,
mud or water. Do this by driving slowly
and stepping on the brake pedal. Repeat
that process several times to dry out the
brake discs and brake pads.
y Do not drive or park over or near flam-
mable materials such as dry grass or fall-
en leaves, as they may burn easily. The
exhaust system is very hot while the en-
gine is running and right after engine
stops. This could create a fire hazard.
y After driving through tall grass, mud,
rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that there
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones,
sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from
the underbody. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering to the
underbody, a mechanical breakdown or
fire could occur.
y Secure all cargo carried inside the vehi-
cle and make certain that it is not piled
higher than the seatbacks. During sudden
stops or jolts, unsecured cargo could be
thrown around in the vehicle and cause in-
jury. Do not pile heavy loads on the roof.
Those loads raise the vehicle’s center of
gravity and make it more prone to tip over. y If you must rock the vehicle to free it
from sand or mud, depress the accelera-
tor pedal slightly and move the selector le-
ver back and forth between “D” and “R” re-
peatedly. Do not race the engine. For the
best possible traction, avoid spinning the
wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
y When the road surface is extremely
slippery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT).
y Never equip your vehi cle with tires larg-
er than those specified in this manual.
y Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-
road driving. Suspension components are
particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they
need to be washed thoroughly.
y Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle un-
der hard-driving condit ions such as rough
roads or off roads will necessitate more
frequent replacement of engine oil, brake
fluid and transmission oil than that speci-
fied in the maintenance schedule de-
scribed in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to your
SUBARU while operating it off-road and
not using common sense precautions
such as those listed above is not eligible
for warranty coverage. Winter driving
„ Operation during cold weath-
er Carry some emergency equipment, such
as tire chains, a window scraper, a bag of
sand, flares, a small shovel, and jumper
cables.
Check the battery and cables. Cold tem-
peratures reduce battery capacity. The
battery must be in good condition to pro-
vide enough power for cold winter starts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and vis-
cosity for cold weather. Heavy summer oil
will cause harder starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing by 800015

9-8 In case of emergency
10.Remove the wheel nuts and the flat
tire.
11.Before putting the spare tire on, clean
the mounting surface of the wheel and
hub with a cloth.
12.Put on the spare tire. Replace the wheel nuts. Tighten them by hand.
13.Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
to lower the vehicle.
14.Use the wheel nut wrench to securely
tighten the wheel nut s to the specified
torque, following the tightening order in
the illustration.
The torque for tightening the nuts is 74 to
89 lbf·ft (100 to 120 N·m, 10 to 12 kgf·m).
This torque is equivalent to applying ap- proximately 88 to 110 lbs (40 to 50 kg) at
the top of the wheel nut wrench. Never
use your foot on the wheel nut wrench or
a pipe extension on the wrench because
you may exceed the specified torque.
Have the wheel nut torque checked at the
nearest automotive service facility.
15.Store the flat tire in the spare tire com-
partment.
Put the spacer and tighten the attaching
bolt firmly.
Also store the jack and jack handle in their
storage locations.900009
600162Do not use oil or grease on the
wheel studs or nuts when the spare
tire is installed. This could cause the
nuts to become loose and lead to an
accident.
 1 4
2
5
3
600192 600126

9-12 In case of emergency
5. Start the engine of the vehicle with the
booster battery and run it at moderate
speed. Then start the engine of the vehi-
cle that has the discharged battery.
6. When finished, carefully disconnect the
cables in exactly the reverse order.
Engine overheating
If the engine overheats, pull off the road
safely and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
„ If steam is coming from the
engine compartment Turn off the engine and get everyone
away from the vehicle until it cools down.
„ If no steam is coming from
the engine compartment 1. Keep the engine running at idling
speed.
2. Open the hood to ventilate the engine
compartment.
Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. If
the fan is not turning, immediately turn off the engine 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 off the engine.
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 coolant up to the “MAX” mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reserve
tank, add coolant 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 counter-
clockwise slowly without pressing down
until it stops. Release the pressure from
the radiator. After the pressure has been
fully released, remove the cap by pressing
down and turning it.Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has fully cooled down.
When the engine is hot, the coolant
is under pressure. Removing the
cap while the engine is still hot
could release a spray of boiling hot
coolant, which could burn you very
seriously.