tailgate SUBARU BAJA 2005 1.G User Guide

8-21
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
The license plate bracket will hit the hitch ball
and may be damaged if the tailgate is opened
and the license plate bracket is at the lowered/ open position. Close the tailgate and return the
license plate bracket to its normal position
flush against the tailgate itself whenever you
tow a trailer or whenever a trailer is hitched to
the vehicle.
1. Before connecting the ball mount to the hitch re-
ceiver, close the tailgate and return the license plate
bracket to its normal retracted position up against the
tailgate. Refer to “License plate bracket” under the
heading “Tailgate” in chapter 2 for more information on
the function of the license plate bracket.
2. Remove the receiver cover from the hitch receiver
tube. Then insert the ball mount into the hitch receivertube. 3. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the hitch receiv-
er tube so that the pin passes through the ball mount.
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8-24
Driving tips
„
When you do not tow a trailer
Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver
tube when the tailgate is open and the bed ex-
tender is used. The rear license plate will not be
visible because the license plate bracket can
not be used at the lowered/open position when
the ball mount is connected.
In addition, the license plate bracket will hit the
hitch ball and may be damaged if the tailgate is
opened and the license plate bracket is at the
lowered/open position.
y Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver tube
and insert the receiver cover onto the hitch receiver tube.y Place the dust cap over the four-pin connector of the
hitch wire harness to protect against possible damage.y Occasionally lubricate terminals of the four-pin con-
nector using the terminal grease, and cover with the
attached rubber cap.
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed and intended to be used pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo. Towing a trailer
puts additional loads on your vehicle’s engine, driv-
etrain, brakes, tires and suspension and has an ad-
verse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety and satis-
faction depend upon proper use of correct equipment
and cautious operation of your vehicle. Seek the ad-
vice of your SUBARU dealer to assist you in purchas-
ing a hitch and other necessary towing equipment ap-
propriate for your vehicle. In addition, be sure to follow
the instructions on correct installation and use provid-
ed by the trailer and other towing equipment manufac- turers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for injuries or ve-
hicle damage that result from trailer towing equipment,
or from any errors or omissions in the instructions ac-
companying such equipment or for your failure to fol-
low the proper instructions. „ Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties do not apply to vehicle damage
or malfunction caused by trailer towing. If you use your
vehicle to tow a trailer, more frequent maintenance will
be required due to the additional load. (Refer to “Main-

9-7
In case of emergency
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Spare tire
The spare tire is stored in the spare tire holder located
under the rear of the cargo bed.
The spare tire holder has a hoist mechanism that can
lower and raise the spare tire easily. The spare tire
holder is designed to carry only the temporary spare
tire that comes with your vehicle.
Before using the temporary spare tire, see the “Tem-
porary spare tire” section in this chapter for instruc-
tions and precautions. „
Removing the spare tire
1. Take the wheel nut wrench out of the tool bag. Re-
fer to the “Jack and tools” section in this chapter for its
storage location.
2. Open the tailgate and remove the rubber cap from
the cargo bed. Pull up the “RELEASE” portion of the
cap when removing it.
3. Locate the hex-headed hoist shaft end inside the
hole.
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11 - 2
Maintenance and service
Types of tires .................................................... 11-45
Tire inspection .................................................. 11-46
Tire pressures and wear .................................. 11-46
Wheel balance ................................................... 11-49
Wear indicators ................................................. 11-49
Tire rotation ....................................................... 11-50
Tire replacement ............................................... 11-50
Wheel replacement ........................................... 11-51
Aluminum wheels ......................................... 11-52
Windshield washer fluid .............................. 11-52
Replacement of windshield wiper blades .. 11-53
Battery ........................................................... 11-56
Fuses ............................................................. 11-57
Main fuse ....................................................... 11-60
Installation of accessories .......................... 11-60
Replacing bulbs ............................................ 11-61 Headlight ........................................................... 11-64
Front fog light ................................................... 11-68
Front turn signal light, parking light and side marker light .................................................... 11-69
Rear combination lights ................................... 11-70
Tail light (on the tailgate) ................................. 11-72
License plate light ............................................ 11-74
Map light, dome light and door step light ...... 11-76
High mount stop and cargo light assembly ... 11-77
Sport activity lights (if equipped) .................... 11-79

11 - 7 0
Maintenance and service
4. Remove the bulb from the socket by pushing it and
turning counterclockwise. Install a new bulb in the socket.
5. Set the bulb socket into the headlight assembly and
turn it clockwise until it locks.
6. Set the headlight assembly into the vehicle body.
Tighten the mounting screws. „
Rear combination lights
Rear combination lights are composed of the rear turn
signal/brake/tail light and back up lights. T Rear turn signal/Brake/Tail and Back up lights
The rear turn signal/brake/tail light is one bulb with two filament types.
If any one of them malfunctions, replace the bulb with
a new one.
1. Open the tailgate.
2. Pry the cover from the side of the rear combination
light.
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11 - 7 2
Maintenance and service
„
Tail light (on the tailgate)
1. Open the tailgate.
2. Remove the tailgate trim by loosening the installa- tion screws. 3. Remove the tail light cover by loosening the instal-
lation screws.
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11 -7 3
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
4. Remove the bulb socket from the tail light by turn-
ing it counterclockwise. 5. Remove the bulb from the socket by pulling it.
6. Install a new bulb into the socket by pushing it.
7. Install the bulb socket into the tail light by turning it
clockwise until it stops.
8. Install the tail light cover and the tailgate trim.
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14-8
Index
Specifications .................................................... 12-2
Speedometer ....................................................... 3-6
Sport activity lights ................................. 6-30, 11-79
SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System airbag) .......................................... 4, 1-47
SRS airbag system monitors ............................. 1-60
SRS airbag system servicing ............................ 1-61
SRS airbag system warning light ...................... 3-10
SRS frontal airbag ............................................. 1-52
Starting the engine .............................................. 7-9
State emission testing (U.S. only) ....................... 7-7
Stopping the engine .......................................... 7-12
Storage compartments ........................................ 6-4
Sun shades ....................................................... 2-33
Sun visors ........................................................... 6-3
Supplemental Restraint System airbag (SRS) ......................................................... 4, 1-47
Switchback door ................................................ 2-27
Switchback door indicator light ................. 2-31, 3-14
Synthetic leather upholstery .............................. 10-7 T
Tachometer ......................................................... 3-7
Tail light ........................................................... 11-72
Tailgate ............................................................. 2-25
Temperature gauge ............................................. 3-8
Temporary spare tire ......................................... 9-10 Tie-down hooks ................................................. 9-23
Tilt steering wheel ............................................. 3-33Tire
Chains .......................................................... 8-15
Information ................................................... 13-2
Inspection ................................................... 11-46
Pressures and wear ................................... 11-46
Replacement .............................................. 11-50
Rotation ...................................................... 11-50
Tires .................................................................. 12-4
Types .......................................................... 11-45
Tires and wheels ............................................. 11-45
Top tether anchorages ...................................... 1-40
Towing ............................................................... 9-22
All wheels on the ground .............................. 9-27
Flat-bed truck ............................................... 9-27
Hooks ........................................................... 9-23
Trailer Hitch ............................................................. 8-20
Hitches ......................................................... 8-30
Towing .......................................................... 8-24
Towing tips ................................................... 8-33
Turn signal
Indicator lights .............................................. 3-16
Lever ............................................................ 3-20