roof SUBARU FORESTER 2006 User Guide

Instruments and controls
3-3
– CONTINUED –
Instruments and controls
Ignition switchThe ignition switch has four positions:
LOCK, ACC, ON and START.
NOTEyKeep the ignition switch in the
“LOCK” position when the engine is
not running.
y Using electrical accessories for a
long time with the ignition switch in the
“ON” or “ACC” position can cause the
battery to go dead.
If the ignition switch will not move from
the “LOCK” position to the “ACC” po-
sition, turn the steering wheel slightly
to the left and right as you turn the ig-
nition switch.
y If the key is attached to a keyholder
or to a large bunch of other keys, cen-
trifugal force may act on it as the vehi-
cle moves, resulting in unwanted turn-
ing of the ignition switch. Also, if a
large keyholder is attached to the key, your knees or hands may accidentally
touch it in a way that turns the ignition
switch.
„
LOCKThe key can only be inserted or removed
in this position. The ignition switch will lock
the steering wheel when you remove the
key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the right and left as
you turn the key.
T Automatic transmission vehicles
yNever turn the ignition switch to
“LOCK” while the vehicle is being
driven or towed because that will
lock the steering wheel, prevent-
ing steering control. And when
the engine is turned off, it takes a
much greater effort than usual to
steer.yBefore leaving the vehicle, always
remove the key from the ignition
switch for safety and never allow
an unattended child to remain in
the vehicle. Failure to follow this
procedure could result in injury to
a child or others. Children could
operate the power windows, the
sunroof or other controls or even
make the vehicle move.
300564
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6-16
Interior equipment
edge of the roof.
Canada-spec. non-turbo models:
The storage bucket is put on the spare
tire.
Except Canada-spec. non-turbo mod-
els:
Storage tray is placed on the spare tire.NOTEWhen storing a flat tire, put the storage
tray in the luggage compartment (Ex-
cept Canada-spec. non-turbo models).
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8
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) .............................................. 8-2
Fuel economy hints ........................................... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ........ 8-2
Catalytic converter ............................................. 8-3
Periodic inspections .......................................... 8-4
Driving in foreign countries .............................. 8-4
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ........................... 8-5
Off road driving .................................................. 8-6
Winter driving ..................................................... 8-7
Operation during cold weather .............................. 8-7
Driving on snowy and icy roads ............................ 8-9
Corrosion protection .............................................. 8-10
Snow tires ............................................................... 8-10
Tire chains ............................................................... 8-10
Rocking the vehicle ................................................ 8-11
Loading your vehicle ......................................... 8-11
Vehicle capacity weight ......................................... 8-12
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........................... 8-12
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ..................... 8-13
Trailer hitch (if equipped) .................................. 8-16
Connecting a trailer ................................................ 8-16
When you do not tow a trailer ............................... 8-17
Trailer towing ...................................................... 8-18
Warranties and maintenance ................................. 8-18
Maximum load limits .............................................. 8-18 Trailer hitches ......................................................... 8-21
Connecting a trailer ................................................ 8-22
Trailer towing tips ................................................... 8-23
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8-6
Driving tips
Off road drivingBecause of the AWD feature and higher
ground clearance, your SUBARU can be
driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But
please keep in mind that an AWD
SUBARU is a passenger car and is nei-
ther a conventional off-road vehicle nor an
all-terrain vehicle. If you do take your
SUBARU off-road, certain common sense
precautions such as the following should
be taken:
yMake certain that you and all of your
passengers are wearing seatbelts.
y Carry some emergency equipment,
such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel,
wheel blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or
citizens band radio.
y Drive carefully. Do not take unneces-
sary risks by driving in dangerous areas or
over rough terrain.
y Slow down and employ extra caution at
all times. When driving off-road, you will
not have the benefit of marked traffic
lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and the
like.
y Do not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead, drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. A vehicle can much
more easily tip over sideways than it can
end over end. Avoid driving straight up or down slopes that are too steep.
y
Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, espe-
cially at higher speeds.
y Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk the
wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the out-
side of the rim.
y If driving through water, such as when
crossing shallow streams, first check the
depth of the water and the bottom of the
stream bed for firmness and ensure that
the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly
and completely through the stream. The
water should be shallow enough that it
does not reach the vehicle’s undercar-
riage. Water entering the engine air intake
or the exhaust pipe or water splashing
onto electrical parts may damage your ve-
hicle and may cause it to stall. Never at-
tempt to drive through rushing water; re-
gardless of its depth, it can wash away the
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 the 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.
When the road surface is extremely slip-
pery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
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Driving tips
8-11
– CONTINUED –
speeds below 19 mph (30 km/h).
Always use the utmost care when driving
with tire chains – overconfidence because
you are driving with tire chains could eas-
ily lead to a serious accident.„Rocking the vehicleIf you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the acceler-
ator pedal slightly and move the selector
lever back and forth between “D” and “R”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
When the road surface is extremely slip-
pery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT).
Refer to the “Automatic transmission” sec-
tion in chapter 7 for information on holding
the transmission in 2nd position.
Loading your vehicleyNever allow passengers to ride on
a folded rear seatback or in the
cargo area. Doing so may result in
serious injury.yNever stack luggage or other car-
go higher than the top of the seat-
back because it could tumble for-
ward and injure passengers in the
event of a sudden stop or acci-
dent. Keep luggage or cargo low,
as close to the floor as possible.
100094
yWhen you carry something inside
the vehicle, secure it whenever
you can to prevent it from being
thrown around inside the vehicle
during sudden stops, sharp turns
or in an accident.yDo not pile heavy loads on the
roof. These loads raise the vehi-
cle’s center of gravity and make it
more prone to tip over.ySecure lengthy items properly to
prevent them from shooting for-
ward and causing serious injury
during a sudden stop.yNever exceed the maximum load
limit. If you do, some parts on
your vehicle can break, or it can
change the way your vehicle han-
dles. This could result in loss of
control and cause personal injury.
Also, overloading can shorten the
life of your vehicle.yDo not place anything on the ex-
tended cargo area cover. Such
items could tumble forward in the
event of a sudden stop or a colli-
sion. This could cause serious in-
jury.
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8-12
Driving tips
NOTEFor better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded cargo.„Vehicle capacity weight
The load capacity of your vehicle is deter-
mined by weight, not by available cargo
space. The maximum load you can carry
in your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side door
pillar. It includes the total weight of the
driver and all passengers and their be-
longings, any optional equipment such as
a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,
etc., and the tongue load of a trailer.
„GVWR and GAWR (Gross Ve-
hicle Weight Rating and
Gross Axle Weight Rating)The certification plate attached to the driv-
er’s side door jamb shows GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must
never exceed the GVWR. GVW is the
combined total of weight of the vehicle, fu-
el, driver, all passengers, luggage, any
optional equipment and trailer tongue
load. Therefore, the GVW changes de-
pending on the situation. The GVWR
equals Curb Weight (actual weight of your
vehicle – including standard equipment,
fluids, emergency tools and spare tire as-
sembly) plus the vehicle capacity weight.
Do not carry spray cans, containers
with flammable or corrosive liquids
or any other dangerous items inside
the vehicle.
800220
800221
D00000
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Driving tips
8-13
– CONTINUED –
In addition, the total weight applied to
each axle (GAW) must never exceed the
GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be
adjusted by relocating luggage inside the
vehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is
lower than the vehicle capacity weight, ei-
ther front or rear GAW may exceed the
GAWR, depending on the distribution of
the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly
distributed throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you
should confirm that GVW and front and
rear GAWs are within the GVWR and
GAWR by putting your vehicle on a vehi-
cle scale, found at a commercial weighing
station.
Do not use replacement tires with a lower
load range than the originals because
they may lower the GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a high-
er load range than the originals do not in-
crease the GVWR and GAWR limitations.„Roof rail and crossbar (if
equipped)The roof rail is not designed to carry cargo
by itself. Cargo can be carried after secur-
ing the roof crossbar kit to the roof rail and
installing the appropriate carrying attach- ment. When installing the roof crossbar
kit, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
When you carry cargo on the roof using
the roof crossbar kit and a carrying attach-
ment, never exceed the maximum load
limit explained in the following. You should
also be careful that your vehicle does not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) and front and rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). See the “Loading
your vehicle” section in this chapter for in-
formation on loading cargo into or onto
your vehicle. The maximum load limit of
the cargo, crossbars and carrying attach-
ment must not exceed
150 lbs (68 kg).
Place the heaviest load at the bottom,
nearest the roof, and evenly distribute the
cargo. Always properly secure all cargo.
T Installing carrying attachments on
the crossbars
When installing any carrying attachment
such as a bike carrier, ski carrier, kayak
carrier, cargo basket, etc. on the cross-
bars, follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions and make sure that the attachment is
securely fixed to the crossbars. Use only
attachments designed specifically for the
crossbars. A set of crossbars is designed
to carry loads (cargo and attachment) of
not more than 150 lbs (68 kg) . Before op-
erating the vehicle, make sure that the
cargo is properly secured on the attach-
ment.NOTERemember that the vehicle’s center of
gravity is altered with the weight of the
load on the roof, thus affecting the
driving characteristics.
Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, hard
cornering and abrupt stops. Crosswind
effects will be increased.
y
For cargo carrying purposes, the
roof rail must be used together
with a roof crossbar kit and the
appropriate carrying attachment.
The roof rail must never be used
alone to carry cargo. Otherwise,
damage to the roof or paint or a
dangerous road hazard due to
loss of cargo could result.yWhen using the roof crossbar kit,
make sure that the total weight of
the crossbars, carrying attach-
ment and cargo does not exceed
the maximum load limit. Overload-
ing may cause damage to the ve-
hicle and create a safety hazard.
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8-14
Driving tips
TRemoval and installation of the
crossbars
The crossbars can be removed when you
do not use the roof to carry cargo.
V To remove the crossbar
0
1) Crossbar end support
2) T-30 torx® head screw1. Loosen and remove the T-30 torx®
head screw from the top of each crossbar
end support.
2. Move the end support and inner clamp
to unhook each side of the crossbar from
the roof rail. 3. Carefully raise the crossbar from roof
rails.
NOTEIt may be necessary to move the Front
crossbar rearward, near the center of
the roof rail for easier removal. Use
care not to cross-thread the screw in
the insert if it has been removed.
V
To install the crossbar
Front crossbar:
Front crossbar has 150 LBS. Load Label
on right-hand side.
1) Crossbar end support
2) T-30 torx® head screw1. Before placing the crossbar on the roof
rails, make sure that the T-30 torx® head
screw is fully loosened from each end
support.
2. Spread the inner clamp and the end
support as far apart as possible.
1
2
800222
800223
12
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Driving tips
8-15
1) Load label
2) Direction arrow label
3) 6 in (150 mm)3. With the front direction arrow label on
the top right side of the crossbar pointing
toward the front of the vehicle, carefully
place the crossbar across the top of the
vehicle so that the crossbar end supports
rest on the top of the roof rails approxi-
mately 6 inches (150 mm) rearward in the
front radius of the roof rail.
4. Move the end support and inner clamp
to hook under the end of the roof rail on
both sides and loosely assemble the T-30
torx® head screw with the tool provided
into the threaded insert in the inner clamp
on each end of the crossbar.
NOTEIt may be necessary to start the inner
clamp and end support at the center of
the roof rail for easier installation, then
move the crossbar forward. Use care
not to cross-thread the screw in the in-
sert if it has been removed.
5. Adjust the alignment of the crossbar on
the roof rails, and if available, use a T-30
torx® bit and torque wrench and tighten
the T-30 torx® head screws to 30 to 35
lbf·in (3.4 to 4.0 N·m, 0.35 to 0.41 kgf·m)
of torque (or tighten securely with the
torx® wrench provided).
Rear crossbar:1) T-30 torx® head screw
2) Front arrow label
3) 6 in (150 mm)
Install the rear crossbar in the same man-
ner as the front crossbar.NOTEThe rear crossbar should be posi-
tioned 6 inches (150 mm) forward of
the rear radius in the roof rail.NOTEBefore each use of the roof crossbar,
make sure the four T-30 crossbar
clamp screws have been checked, and
retightened if necessary to 30 to 35
lbf·in (3.4 to 4.0 N·m, 0.35 to 0.41 kgf·m),
as outlined in Step #5 above.
FRONTMAXIMUM LOAD100 LBS. EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
31
2
800224
FRONT
1
2
3
800225
Do not carry cargo on the roof when
the crossbars are removed. Lug-
gage on the roof will be thrown for-
ward or backward in sudden stops
or rapid accelerations, resulting in a
dangerous road hazard.
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9
In case of emergency
If you park your vehicle in case of an emergency ....................................................... 9-2
Temporary spare tire (if equipped) ................... 9-2
Flat tires .............................................................. 9-3
Changing a flat tire ................................................. 9-3
Jump starting ...................................................... 9-7
How to jump start ................................................... 9-8
Engine overheating ............................................ 9-10
If steam is coming from the engine compartment ......................................................... 9-10
If no steam is coming from the engine compartment ......................................................... 9-10
Towing ................................................................. 9-10
Towing and tie-down hooks .................................. 9-11
Using a flat-bed truck ............................................. 9-12
Towing with all wheels on the ground .................. 9-12
Rear gate – if the rear gate cannot be unlocked .......................................................... 9-13
Moonroof – if the moonroof cannot be closed ............................................................... 9-14
Maintenance tools .............................................. 9-14
Jack and jack handle .............................................. 9-15
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