ABS SUBARU FORESTER 2003 SG / 2.G Owners Manual

21
–
CONTINUED –
Warning and indicator light
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-9
SRS airbag system warning light 3-10
CHECK ENGINE warning
light/Malfunction indicatorlamp 3-10
Charge warning light 3-11
Oil pressure warning light 3-11
AT OIL temperature warning
light (if equipped) 3-12
or ABS warning light 3-12
or Brake system warning light 3-13
Door open warning light 3-14
Front-wheel drive warning
light (if equipped) 3-15
Low fuel warning light 3-14
Turn signal indicator lights 3-15
High beam indicator light 3-15
Security system indicator
light (if equipped) 2-14
Cruise control indicator light
(if equipped) 3-15
Mark Name Page

3-1
3
Instruments and controls
Ignition switch ............................................. 3-2 LOCK ................................................................ 3-2
ACC .................................................................. 3-3
ON ..................................................................... 3-3
START .............................................................. 3-3
Key reminder chime ........................................ 3-3
Key interlock release (AT vehicles only) ...... 3-4
Hazard warning flasher ............................... 3-5
Meters and gauges ...................................... 3-5 Speedometer ................................................... 3-5
Odometer/Trip meter ...................................... 3-5
Tachometer ...................................................... 3-6
Fuel gauge ....................................................... 3-7
Temperature gauge ......................................... 3-8
Ambient temperature gauge .......................... 3-9
Warning and indicator lights ...................... 3-9 Seatbelt warning light and chime .................. 3-9
SRS airbag system warning light .................. 3-10
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator lamp ................................................. 3-10
Charge warning light ...................................... 3-11
Oil pressure warning light .............................. 3-11
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light
(for AT vehicles) .............................................. 3-12
ABS warning light ........................................... 3-12
Brake system warning light ........................... 3-13
Door open warning lights ............................... 3-14
Low fuel warning light .................................... 3-14
Front-wheel drive warning light
(for AT vehicles) .............................................. 3-15
Shift position indicator (AT vehicles) ........... 3-15 Turn signal indicator lights ............................ 3-15
High beam indicator light ............................... 3-15
Cruise control indicator light ......................... 3-15
Clock ............................................................. 3-16
Light control switch ..................................... 3-17 Headlights ....................................................... 3-17
High/low beam change (dimmer) .................. 3-18
Headlight flasher ............................................. 3-18
Daytime running light system ....................... 3-19
Turn signal lever .......................................... 3-19
Illumination brightness control .................. 3-20
Parking light switch ..................................... 3-21
Fog light switch (if equipped) ..................... 3-21
Wiper and washer ........................................ 3-22 Windshield wiper and washer switches ....... 3-23
Rear window wiper and washer switch ........ 3-25
Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped) ....... 3-26
Rear window defogger switch .................... 3-27
Mirrors ........................................................... 3-29 Inside mirror .................................................... 3-29
Outside mirrors ............................................... 3-31
Tilt steering wheel ........................................ 3-33
Horn ............................................................... 3-34

3-9
Instruments and controls
–CONTINUED –
Ambient temperature gauge
The ambient temperature gauge shows the ambient
temperature in a range from –22 °Fto122 °F(–30 °Cto
50 °C).
The gauge can give a false reading under any of the
following conditions: When there is too much sun.
During idling; while running at low speeds in a traffic
jam; when the engine is restarted immediately follow-
ing a shutdown. When the actual ambient temperature falls outside
the specified indicator range.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
checking the operation of the bulbs.
Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition switch to
the “ON” position. The following lights come on:
Seatbelt warning light
SRS airbag system warning light
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indica-
tor lamp
Charge warning light
Oil pressure warning light
AT OIL temperature warning light (AT vehicles)
ABS warning light
Brake system warning light
If any lights fail to come 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
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position,
the seatbelt warning light will come on and the remind-
er chime will sound for about six seconds to remind the
HS3047BA

3-12
Instruments and controls
Do not operate the engine with the oil pressure
warning light on. This may cause serious en-
gine damage.
AT OIL TEMPerature warning
light (for AT vehicles)
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it
may indicate that the automatic transmission fluid tem-
perature is too hot.
If the light comes on while driving, it is unnecessary to
stop the vehicle, but avoid driving up steep grades or
in stop and go traffic. Automatic transmission control system warn-
ing
If the light flashes after the engine starts, it may indi-
cate that the automatic transmission control system is
not working properly. Contact your nearest SUBARU
dealer for service immediately. ABS warning light
The ABS warning light comes on when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes out after
about two seconds.
This is an indication that the ABS system is working
properly.
If the warning light behaves as follows, the ABS
system may not work properly.
When the warning light is on, the ABS function
shuts down; however, the conventional brake
system continues to operate normally.
The warning light does not come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position. The warning light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position, but it
does not go out even when the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 8 mph (12 km/h). The warning light comes on during driving.
If these occur, have the ABS system repaired at
the first available opportunity by your SUBARU
dealer.
With a vehicle equipped with an EBD system, the ABS
warning light comes on together with the brake system
warning light if the EBD system becomes faulty. For
(U.S.) (Canada)

3-13
Instruments and controls
–CONTINUED –
further details of the EBD system fault warning, refer
to “Brake system warning light”.
NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as shown below,
the ABS system may be considered normal.The warning light comes on right after the en-
gine is started but goes out immediately, remain-
ing off. The warning light remains on after the engine
has been started, but it goes out when the vehicle
speed reaches about 8 mph (12 km/h). The warning light comes on during driving, but
it goes out immediately and remains off.
When driving with an insufficient battery voltage such
as when the engine is jump started, the ABS warning
light may come on. This is due to the low battery volt-
age and does not indicate a malfunction. When the
battery becomes fully charged, the light will go out. Brake system warning light
Driving with the brake system warning light
on is dangerous. This indicates your brake sys- tem may not be working properly. If the light re-
mains on, have the brakes inspected by a
SUBARU dealer immediately.
If at all in doubt about whether the brakes are
operating properly, do not drive the vehicle.
Have your vehicle towed to the nearest
SUBARU dealer for repair.
This light has the following three functions: Parking brake warning
The light comes on with the parking brake applied
while the ignition switch is in the “ON” position. It goes
out when the parking brake is fully released. Brake fluid level warning
This light comes on when the brake fluid level has
dropped to near the “MIN” level of the brake fluid res-
ervoir with the ignition switch in the “ON” position and
with the parking brake fully released.
If the brake system warning light should come on while
driving (with the parking brake fully released and with
the ignition switch positioned in “ON”), it could be an
indication of leaking of brake fluid or worn brake pads.
If this occurs, immediately stop the vehicle at the near-
est safe place and check the brake fluid level. If the flu-
(U.S.) (Canada)

3-14
Instruments and controls
id level is below the “MIN” mark in the reservoir, do not
drive the vehicle. Have the vehicle towed to the near-
est SUBARU dealer for repair.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) sys-
tem warning (for vehicles with EBD)
The brake system warning light also illuminates if a
malfanction occurs in the EBD system. In that event, it
comes on together with the ABS warning light.
The EBD system may be faulty if the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light illuminate simulta-
neously during driving.
Even if the EBD system fails, the conventional braking
system will still function. However, the rear wheels will
be more prone to locking when the brakes are applied
harder than usual and the vehicle’s motion may there-
fore become somewhat harder to control.
If the brake system warning light and ABS warning
light illuminate simultaneously, take the followingsteps:
1. Stop the vehicle in the nearest safe, flat place. If
you cannot avoid parking the vehicle on a slope, use
chocks to prevent the vehicle from moving.
2. Shut down the engine, then restart it.
3. Release the parking brake. If both warning lights go
out, the system is normal and no further action is nec- essary.
4. If both warning lights come on again and stay illu- minated after the engine has been restarted, shut
down the engine again, apply the parking brake, and
check the brake fluid level.
5. If the brake fluid level is not below the “MIN” mark,
the EBD system may be faulty. Drive carefully to the
nearest SUBARU dealer and have the system inspect-
ed.
6. If the brake fluid level is below the “MIN” mark, DO
NOT drive the vehicle. Instead, have the vehicle towed
to the nearest SUBARU dealer for repair.
Door open warning lights
The door open warning light comes on if any door or
the rear gate is not fully closed.
Always make sure this light is out before you start to drive. Low fuel warning light
The low fuel warning light comes on when the tank is
nearly empty about 2.3 U.S. gal. (9.0 liters, or 1.9 Imp.
gal.). It only operates when the ignition switch is in the
“ON” position.
NOTE
This light does not go out unless the tank is re-
plenished up to an internal fuel quantity of about

7-1
7
Starting and operating
Fuel ............................................................... 7-2 Fuel requirements ........................................... 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap ...................................... 7-4
State emission testing (U.S. only) .............. 7-6
Preparing to drive ........................................ 7-8
Starting the engine ...................................... 7-9 Manual transmission vehicle ......................... 7-9
Automatic transmission vehicle .................... 7-9
Starting the engine during cold weather below –4°F (–20 °C) .................................................... 7-10
Starting a flooded engine ............................... 7-10
Stopping the engine .................................... 7-11
Manual transmission ................................... 7-11 Shifting speeds ............................................... 7-12
Driving tips ...................................................... 7-13
Automatic transmission .............................. 7-14 Selector lever for automatic transmission ... 7-15
Shift lock release ............................................ 7-18
Rear viscous limited slip differential (LSD)
(if equipped) ................................................. 7-20
Power steering ............................................. 7-20
Braking ......................................................... 7-21 Braking tips ..................................................... 7-21
Brake system ................................................... 7-21
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ...... 7-22
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ................... 7-22 ABS system self-check .................................. 7-23
ABS warning light ........................................... 7-23 Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
system (if equipped) .................................... 7-25
Steps to take if EBD system fails .................. 7-25
Parking your vehicle .................................... 7-27 Parking brake .................................................. 7-27
Parking tips ..................................................... 7-27
Hill holder (for manual transmission — if equipped) .................................................. 7-29
Cruise control (if equipped) ........................ 7-31 To set cruise control ...................................... 7-31
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ..... 7-32
To turn off the cruise control ......................... 7-32
To change the cruising speed ....................... 7-32
Self-leveling rear suspension (if equipped) 7-34

7-22
Starting and operating
than normal and the braking distance will increase.
Disc brake pad wear warning indica- tors
The disc brake pad wear warning indicators on the
disc brakes give a warning noise when the brake pads
are worn.
If a squeaking or scraping noise is heard from the disc
brakes while braking, immediately have your vehicle
checked by your SUBARU dealer.ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
The ABS system prevents the lock-up of wheels which
may occur during sudden braking or braking on slip-
pery road surfaces. This helps prevent the loss of
steering control and directional stability caused by
wheel lock-up.
When the ABS system is operating, you may hear a
chattering noise or feel a slight vibration in the brake
pedal. This is normal when the ABS operates.
The ABS system will not operate when the vehicle
speed is below approximately 6 mph (10 km/h).
Always use the utmost care in driving – over-
confidence because you are driving with an
ABS equipped vehicle could easily lead to a se-
rious accident.
The ABS system does not always decrease
stopping distance. You should always main-
tain a safe following distance from other vehi-
HS7012BA

7-23
Starting and operating
–CONTINUED –
cles. When driving on badly surfaced roads, gravel
roads, icy roads, or over deep newly fallen
snow, stopping distances may be longer for a
vehicle with the ABS system than one without.
When driving under these conditions, there-
fore, reduce your speed and leave ample dis-
tance from other vehicles. When you feel the ABS system operating,
you should maintain constant brake pedal pres-
sure. Do not pump the brake pedal since doing
so may defeat the operation of the ABS system.
ABS system self-check
You may feel a slight shock in the brake pedal and
hear the operating sound of ABS from the engine com-
partment just after the vehicle is started. This is
caused by an automatic functional test of the ABS sys-
tem being carried out and does not indicate any abnor-
mal condition.
ABS warning light
The ABS warning light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes out after
about two seconds.
This is an indication that the ABS system is working
properly.
When driving with an insufficient battery voltage such
as when the engine is jump started, the ABS warning
light may come on. This is due to the low battery volt-
age and does not indicate a malfunction. When the
battery becomes fully charged, the light will go out.
HS1103CA

7-24
Starting and operating
If the warning light behaves as follows, the ABS
system may not be working properly.
When the warning light is on, the ABS function
shuts down; however, th
e conventional brake
system continues to operate normally. The warning light does not come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position. The warning light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position, but it
does not go out even when the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 8 mph (12 km/h). The warning light comes on during driving.
If these occur, have the ABS system repaired at
the first available opportunity by your SUBARU
dealer.
NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as described be-
low, the ABS system may be considered normal. The warning light comes on right after the en-
gine is started but goes out immediately, remain-
ing off. The warning light remains on after the engine
has been started, but it goes out when the vehicle speed reaches about 8 mph (12 km/h).
The warning light comes on during driving, but
it goes out immediately and remains off.