manual transmission SUBARU BRZ 2023 Owners Manual

How to Use This Owner’s Manual
4■Safety SymbolYou will find a circle with a slash through it
in this manual. This symbol means “Do
not”, “Do not do this”, or “Do not let this
happen”, depending upon the context.
■ Abbreviation ListYou may find several abbreviations in this
manual. The meanings of the abbrevia-
tions are shown in the following list.
000013
Abbreviation Meaning
ABS Anti-lock brake system
A/C Air conditioner
AKI Anti knock index
ALR Automatic locking retractor
ALR/ELR Automatic locking retractor/
Emergency locking retractor
AT Automatic transmission
BSD Blind Spot Detection
DRL Daytime running light
EBD Electronic brake
force distri-
bution
ELR Emergency locking retractor
GAW Gross axle weight
GAWR Gross axle weight rating
GPS Global positioning system
GVW Gross vehicle weight
GVWR Gross vehicl e weight rating
INT Intermittent
LATCHLower anchors and tethers
for children
LCA Lane Change Assist
LED Light emitting diode
LHD Left-hand drive
LSD Limited Slip Differential
MIL Malfunction indicator light
MT Manual transmission
OBD On-board diagnostics
RAB Reverse Automatic Braking
system
RCTA Rear Cross Traffic Alert
RON Research octane number
SRH Steering Responsive Head-
light
SRS Supplemental restraint sys-
tem
TFT Thin Film Transistor
TIN Tire identification number
TPMS Tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem
TRAC Traction Control Abbreviation
Meaning
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Starting and Operating7
Starting and Operating
7-1. Fuel.......................................................................223
Fuel Requirements .......................................................223
Fuel Filler Lid and Cap .................................................224
7-2. State Emission Testing (U.S. Only) ...................227
7-3. Preparing to Drive ...............................................228
7-4. Starting and Stopping Engine ...........................229
Safety Precautions ............................................ ...........229
Operating Range for Push-Button Start System .......229
General Precautions When St arting Engine ..............229
Starting Engine .............................................................230
Stopping Engine ...........................................................232
When Access Key Fob Does Not Operate 
Properly.......................................................................232
Steering Lock ................................................................232
7-5. Manual Transmission .........................................233
Shifting Speeds ............................................................234
Driving Tips ...................................................................235
7-6. Automatic Transmission ....................................235
Select Lever ..... .......................................... ...................236
Adaptive Control...........................................................237
Shift Lock Function ......................................................238
Selection of Manual Mode ...........................................239
Driving Tips ...................................................................240
7-7. Driving Mode Select Switch (If Equipped) ........241
Normal Mode .................................................................241
Sport Mode ....................................................................241
Snow Mode....................................................................241
Driving Mode Select Switch.........................................241
7-8. Active Sound Control .........................................242
7-9. Power Steering ....................................................242
7-10. Braking...............................................................243
Braking Tips ..................................................................243 Brake System ............................................................... 244
Disc Brake Pad Wear Warning Indicators ................. 245
7-11. ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) ........................245
ABS Self-Check............................................................ 245
ABS Warning Light ...................................................... 245
7-12. Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
System ...............................................................246
EBD System Malfunctions .......................................... 246
7-13. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)/TRAC 
System ...............................................................247
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) System ..................... 247
TRAC System ............................................................... 247
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) System Monitor....... 248
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) OFF Switch .............. 248
7-14. TRACK Mode .....................................................250
TRACK Mode ................................................................ 250
Selecting TRAC Mode and Ve hicle Stability Control
(VSC) Mode ............................................................... 251
7-15. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 
(If Equipped) ......................................................251
Certification for the Transmitter ................................. 253
Certification for the Receiver...................................... 253
TPMS Screen ................................................................ 254
Initializing the Tire Pressure Monitoring System ..... 254
How to Initialize the Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System (If Equipped) ................................................. 254
If You Press the Tire Pressure Monitoring Reset 
Switch Accidentally................................................... 254
Initialization Procedure ............................................... 254
When Initialization of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System has Failed ..................................................... 255
Registering ID Codes .................................................. 255
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Manual Transmission
233
Starting and Operating7
– CONTINUED –
▼When the steering lock cannot be
released1) Push-button ignition switchWhen you cannot restart the engine due
to the steering lock, check the status of
operation indicator and perform the
following steps.
▽How to released steering lock
1. Check that the shift lever is set in
neutral (MT models) or select lever is set
in the “P” position (AT models).
2. Depress the brake pedal and keep it.
3. Press the push-button ignition switch
while turning the steering wheel left and
right. ▽
When the display of warning
messages
There may be a malfunction in the
steering lock function. Immediately
contact your nearest SUBARU dealer.
7-5. Manual TransmissionThis manual transmission is a completely
synchromesh, 6-forward-speed and 1-
reverse-speed transmission.
The shift pattern is shown on the shift
lever knob.
To change the shift lever position:
1. Depress the clutch pedal.
2. To shift into all positions other than
“R”, move the shi ft lever accordingly.
1
702836
702834
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Manual Transmission
2341) Slider3. To shift into the “R” position, hold up
the slider, move the lever to the “R” posi-
tion, then release the slider.
4. Gradually release the clutch pedal.
If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the
transmission in neutral, release the clutch
pedal momentarily, and then try again.
■ Shifting Speeds▼ Recommended shifting speeds
The best compromise between fuel
economy and vehicle performance during
normal driving is ensured by shifting up at
the speeds listed in the following table. ▼
Gear shift indicator
1) Upshift indicator
2) Gear position indicatorThe gear position indicator shows the
position of the shift lever.
When shifting up is recommended for
good fuel economy, the upshift indicator
blinks.
The gear shift indicator can be activated
or deactivated. The default setting is
deactivated. For details, refer to "Settings
Display" P157.
WARNING
 Do not drive the vehicle with the
clutch disengaged (i.e., when the
clutch pedal is depressed) or with
the shift lever in the neutral posi-
tion. Engine braking has no effect
in either of these conditions and
the risk of an accident is conse-
quently increased.
1702835
 Do not engage the clutch (i.e.,
release the clutch pedal)
suddenly when starting the
vehicle. By doin g so the vehicle
might unexpectedly accelerate or
the transmission could malfunc-
tion.
CAUTION
 Shift into reverse ONLY when the
vehicle has completely stopped.
It may cause damage to the trans-
mission to try shifting into
reverse when the vehicle is
moving. Do not shift the shift lever without
depressing the clutch pedal.
Shift up mph (km/h)
1st to 2nd 12 (19) to 14 (22)
2nd to 3rd 18 (29) to 23 (37) 3rd to 4th 22 (35) to 34 (54)
4th to 5th 27 (43) to 43 (69)
5th to 6th 35 (56) to 52 (83) Shift up
mph (km/h)
1
2
702767
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Automatic Transmission
235
Starting and Operating7
– CONTINUED –
■Driving TipsNOTEIf the accelerator and brake pedals are
depressed at the same time, driving
torque may be restrained. This is not a
malfunction.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal and do not use the clutch to
hold your vehicle at a standstill on an
upgrade. Either of those actions may
cause clutch damage.
Do not drive with your hand resting on the
shift lever. This may cause wear on the
transmission components. When it is necessary to reduce vehicle

speed due to slow traffic, turning corners,
or driving up steep hills, downshift to a
lower gear before the engine starts to
labor.
On steep downgrades, downshift the
transmission to 5th, 4th, 3rd or 2nd gear
as necessary; this helps to maintain a safe
speed and to extend brake pad life.
In this way, the engine provides a braking
effect. Remember, if you “ride” (over use)
the brakes while descending a hill, they
may overheat and not work properly.
The engine may, on rare occasions, knock
when the vehicle rapidly accelerates or
rapidly pulls away from a standstill. This
phenomenon is not an indication of a
problem in your vehicle.
With the exception of cases where sudden
acceleration is required, do not drive the
vehicle with the pointer of the tachometer
inside the red area. Failure to observe this
precaution can lead to excessive engine
wear and poor fuel economy.
7-6. Automatic TransmissionThe automatic transmission is electroni-
cally controlled and provides 6 forward
speeds and 1 reverse speed. It also has a
manual mode.
WARNING
When shifting down a gear, ensure
that the engine speed does not
enter the red zone. Failure to
observe this precaution can lead to
engine over-revving and this in turn
can result in engine damage.In addition, sudden application of
engine brakes when the vehicle is
travelling on a slippery surface can
lead to wheel locking; as a conse-
quence, control of the vehicle may
be lost and the risk of an accident
increased.
WARNING
Do not shift from the “P” or “N”
position into the “D” or “R” position
while depressing the accelerator
pedal. This may cause the vehicle to
lurch forward or backward.
CAUTION
 Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to observe these
precautions could cause damage
to the transmission.
- Shift into the “P” or “R” posi- tion only after the vehicle has
completely stopped.- Do not shift from the “D” posi- tion into the “R” position or
vice versa until the vehicle
has completely stopped.
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Automatic Transmission
236NOTEWhen the engine coolant tempera-
ture is still low, the transmission will
shift at higher engine speeds than
when the coolant temperature is suffi-
ciently high in order to shorten the
warm-up time and improve driveability.
The gearshift timing will automatically shift to the normal
timing after the
engine has warmed up.
 Immediately after transmission fluid
is replaced, you may feel that the trans-
mission operation is somewhat
unusual. This results from invalidation
of data which the on-board computer
has collected and stored in memory to
allow the transmission to shift at the
most appropriate times for the current
condition of your vehicle. Optimized
shifting will be restored as the vehicle
continues to be driven for a while.
 Place the shift boot to the original
position after it is lifted. If the shift lever
is operated with the shift boot in the
rolled up position, the shift boot may
have tension and it may disturb the
shift lever operation.
 When the vehicle is idling at high
rpm in order to warm up, and the
vehicle is on a slippery road, the trans-
mission may automatically shift to 2nd
gear for stopping and starting off.
■ Select Lever
: Shift with the brake pedal depressed
and push-button ignition switch in the “ON”
position. When shifting between “P” and “D”,
depress the brake pedal and securely stop
the vehicle before shifting.
The select lever has four positions, “P”,
“R”, “N”, “D” and also has a manual gate
for using the manual mode.NOTETo protect the engine while the select
lever is in the “P” or “N” position, the
engine is controlled so that the engine
speed may not become too high even
if the accelerator pedal is depressed
hard.
 Do not race the engine for more
than 5 seconds in any position
except the “N” or “P” position
when the brake is applied or when
chocks are used in the wheels.
This may cause the transmission
fluid to overheat. Never move the vehicle rearward
by inertia with the select lever set
in a forward driving position or
move the vehicle forward by
inertia with the select lever set in
the “R” position. Doing so may
result in an unexpected accident
or malfunction. When parking the vehicle, first
securely apply the parking brake
and then place the select lever in
the “P” position. Do not park for a
long time with the select lever in
any other position as doing so
could result in a dead battery.
702768
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Automatic Transmission
237
Starting and Operating7
– CONTINUED –
▼P (Park)
This position is for parking the vehicle and
starting the engine. In this position, the
transmission is mechanically locked to
prevent the vehicle from rolling freely.
When you park the vehicle, first apply the
parking brake, then shift into the “P” posi-
tion. Do not hold the vehicle with only the
mechanical friction of the transmission.
To shift the select lever from the “P” to any
other position, you should depress the
brake pedal fully then move the select
lever. This prevents the vehicle from
lurching when it is started.
▼ R (Reverse)
This position is for backing the vehicle. To
shift from the “N” to “R” position, stop the
vehicle completely th en move the lever to
the “R” position.
▼ N (Neutral)
This position is for restarting a stalled
engine. In this position, the transmission is
neutral, meaning that the wheels and
transmission are not locked. Therefore,
the vehicle will roll freely, even on the
slightest incline unless the parking brake
or foot brake is applied. ▼
D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving. The
transmission shifts automatically into a
suitable gear according to the vehicle
speed and the acceleration you require.
Also, while driving up and down a hill, the
transmission assists and controls the
driving performance and engine braking
while corresponding to the road grade.
When more acceleration is required in “D”
position, depress the accelerator pedal
fully to the floor and hold that position. The
transmission will auto matically downshift.
When you release the pedal, the transmis-
sion will return to the original gear posi-
tion.
To use the manual mode, move the lever
from this position into the manual gate.
If one of the shift paddles behind the
steering wheel is operated while driving in
the “D” position, the transmission will
temporarily switch to the manual mode. In
this mode, you can shift into any gear position using the shift paddles. For

details about the manual mode, refer to
"Selection of Manual Mode" P239.
Once the vehicle speed stabilizes, the
transmission will switch from the manual
mode back to the “D” position for normal
driving.
▽ While climbing a grade
When driving up a hill, undesired upshift is
prevented from taking place when the
accelerator is releas ed. This minimizes
the chance of subsequent downshifting to
a lower gear when accelerating again.
This prevents repeated upshifting and
downshifting resulting in a smoother oper-
ation of the vehicle.
NOTEThe transmission may downshift,
depending on the way the accelerator
pedal is depressed to accelerate the
vehicle again.■ Adaptive ControlIn order to realize smoother driving while
driving in “D” position, an appropriate gear
is automatically selected by limiting
upshifting and performing downshifting
operations according to driver operations
and driving conditions.
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the
select lever in the “N” (neutral)
position. Engine braking has no
effect in this co ndition and the risk
of an accident is consequently
increased.
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Automatic Transmission
239
Starting and Operating7
– CONTINUED –
3. While depressing the brake pedal,
insert the screwdriver into the hole, press
the shift lock release portion using the
screwdriver, and then move the select
lever.
If the select lever does not move after
performing the above procedure, the shift
lock system may be malfunctioning.
Contact a SUBARU dealer for an inspec-
tion as soon as possible.■ Selection of Manual Mode▼ Selecting gears in manual modeShift the select lever to the “M” position to
change to manual mode.
When the upshift/downshift indicators are
illuminated, the vehicle can be driven in a
selected gear by shifti ng the select lever toward “-” or “+” or operating the “-” or “+”

shift paddle.
1) Upshift indicator
2) Downshift indicator
3) Upshift
4) Downshift
The gear changes once each time the
select lever or a shift paddle is operated.
The selected gear, from “M1” to “M6”, will
be displayed on the combination meter.
When in manual mode, the gear will not
change unless the select lever or a shift
paddle is operated, except in the following
situations.
 When the vehicle speed drops
(downshift only)
 When the engine oil temperature is
high and the engine speed approaches
close to the red zone
If an upshift is atte mpted while the vehicle
speed is low, the gear will not be changed.NOTE If a downshift is attempted at a
vehicle speed where a downshift is not
possible (when the engine speed
would enter the red zone if a downshift
is performed), the downshift warning
buzzer will sound to inform the driver
that a downshift cannot be performed.
 You can perform a skip-shift (for
example, from 4th to 2nd) by operating
702770
13
4
2
3
4702773
CAUTION
Do not place or hang anything on
the shift paddles. Doing so may
result in accidental gear shifting.
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Automatic Transmission
240the shift paddle twice in rapid succes-
sion.
If the temperature of the transmis-
sion fluid becomes too high, the “AT
OIL TEMP” warning light will illumi-
nate. Immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and let the engine idle until
the warning light turns off.▼ Temporary manual mode driving
While driving with the select lever in “D”, if
a shift paddle is operated, the gear can
temporarily be selected. In this case, “M”
and the selected gear number will be
displayed on the combination meter. (If
the engine speed approaches close to the
red zone, an upshift will automatically be
performed.)1) Upshift
2) Downshift
The selected gear, from “M1” to “M6”, will
be displayed on the combination meter.NOTE In the following situations, tempo-
rary manual mode will be cancelled. - When the vehicle speed is low
- When the accelerator pedal is
depressed continuously for a
certain amount of time or more
- When the accelerator pedal is
depressed heavily
- When the select lever is shifted
to a position other than “D”
- When the “+” shift paddle switch
is held down for a period of time
When a downshift is attempted at a
vehicle speed where a downshift is not
possible (when the engine speed
would enter the red zone if a downshift
is performed), the downshift warning
buzzer will sound to inform the driver
that a downshift cannot be performed.■ Driving TipsNOTEIf the accelerator and brake pedals are
depressed at the same time, driving
torque may be restrained. This is not a
malfunction.
 On a road surface where there is a risk
of wheelspin (for example, a snow- or gravel covered road), you can start off

from a standstill safely and easily by first
selecting Snow mode.
 Always apply the foot or parking brake
when the vehicle is stopped in the “D” or
“R” position.
 Make sure to apply the parking brake
when parking your vehicle. Do not hold
the vehicle with only the transmission.
 Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary
position on an uphill grade by using the
“D” position. Use the brake instead.
 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
malfunction.
1
2702766
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Maintenance and Service11
Maintenance and Service
11-1. Maintenance Schedule .....................................339
11-2. Maintenance Precautions.................................339
Before Checking or Servicing in the Engine
Compartment ..............................................................340
When Checking or Servicing in the Engine Compartment ..............................................................340
When Checking or Servicing in the Engine Compartment While the Engine Is Running ............341
11-3. Maintenance Tips ..............................................341
Removing and Reinstalling Clips................................341
11-4. Engine Hood ......................................................343
11-5. Engine Compartment Overview.......................345
11-6. Engine Oil ..........................................................346
Engine Oil Consumption..............................................346
Checking the Oil Level .................................................346
Changing the Oil and Oil Filter ....................................347
Recommended Grade and Viscosity ..........................347
Synthetic Oil..................................................................348
11-7. Cooling System .................................................348
Cooling Fan, Hose and Connections ..........................348
Engine Coolant .............................................................349
11-8. Air Cleaner Element ..........................................350
Replacing the Air Cleaner Element .............................350
11-9. Spark Plugs .......................................................352
Recommended Spark Plugs ........................................352
11-10. Drive Belt .........................................................352
11-11. Automatic Transmission Fluid ......................352
Recommended Grade and Viscosity ..........................352
11-12. Differential Gear Oil ........................................353
Recommended Grade and Viscosity ..........................353
11-13. Manual Transmission Oil ...............................353
Recommended Grade and Viscosity ..........................353
11-14. Brake Fluid ......................................................353
Checking the Fluid Level ............................................ 353
Recommended Brake Fluid ........................................ 354
11-15. Clutch Fluid (MT models) ...............................354
Checking the Fluid Level ............................................ 354
Recommended Clutch Fluid ....................................... 355
11-16. Brake Booster .................................................355
11-17. Brake Pedal .....................................................356
11-18. Clutch Pedal (MT models) ..............................356
11-19. Replacement of Brake Pad and Lining..........356
Breaking-in of New Brake Pads and Linings ............ 357
11-20. Parking Brake Stroke ......................................357
11-21. Tires and Wheels ............................................358
Types of Tires .............................................................. 358
Tire Pressure Monito ring System (TPMS) 
(If Equipped)............................................................... 358
Tire Inspection ............................................................. 360
Tire Pressures and Wear............................................. 361
Wheel Balance ............................................................. 363
Wear Indicators ............................................................ 363
Rotational Direction of Tires....................................... 364
Tire Rotation................................................................. 364
Tire Replacement ...... ............................. ...................... 365
Wheel Replacement ..................................................... 365
11-22. Alloy Wheels ....................................................366
11-23. Windshield Washer Fluid ...............................366
11-24. Replacement of Wiper Blades........................367
Windshield Wiper Blade Assembly ............................ 368
Windshield Wiper Blade Rubber ................................ 369
11-25. Battery ..............................................................370
11-26. Fuses ................................................................371
11-27. Installation of Acce ssories ............................373
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