fuel SUBARU FORESTER 2006 Service Manual

11 - 1 2
Maintenance and service
„Cooling fan, hose and con-
nectionsYour vehicle employs an electric cooling
fan which is thermostatically controlled to
operate when the engine coolant reaches
a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate
even when the engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge exceeds the normal operating
range, the cooling fan circuit may be de-
fective. Check the fuse and replace it if
necessary. If the fuse is not blown, have
the cooling system checked by your
SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is neces-
sary, there may be a leak in the engine
cooling system. It is recommended that
the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
„Engine coolantT Checking the coolant level1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level markCheck the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside
of the reservoir while the engine is cool.
2. If the level is close to or lower than the
“LOW” level mark, add coolant up to the
“FULL” level mark. If the reserve tank is
empty, remove the radiator cap and refill
as required. 3. After refilling the reserve tank and the
radiator, reinstall the caps and check that
the rubber gaskets inside the radiator cap
are in the proper position.
FULL
LOW
1 2
600442
y Be careful not to spill engine cool-
ant when adding it. If coolant
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If engine coolant gets on the
exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe it
off.
y Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
B00018
ProCarManuals.com

11 - 3 0
Maintenance and service
place all four tires.
TWinter (snow) tires
Winter tires are best suited for driving on
snow-covered and icy roads. However
winter tires do not perform as well as sum-
mer tires and all season tires on roads oth-
er than snow-covered and icy roads. „ Tire inspectionCheck on a daily basis that the tires are
free from serious damage, nails, and
stones. At the same time, check the tires
for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immediate-
ly if you find any problem.NOTEyWhen the wheels and tires strike
curbs or are subjected to harsh treat-
ment as when the vehicle is driven on a
rough surface, they can suffer damage
that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
This type of damage does not become
evident until time has passed. Try not
to drive over curbs, potholes or on oth-
er rough surfaces. If doing so is un-
avoidable, keep the vehicle’s speed
down to a walking pace or less, and ap-
proach the curbs as squarely as possi-
ble. Also, make sure the tires are not
pressed against the curb when you park the vehicle.
y
If you feel unusual vibration while
driving or find it difficult to steer the ve-
hicle in a straight line, one of the tires
and/or wheels may be damaged. Drive
slowly to the nearest authorized
SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle
inspected.
„ Tire pressures and wearMaintaining the correct tire pressures
helps to maximize the tires’ service lives
and is essential for good running perfor-
mance. Check and, if necessary, adjust
the pressure of each tire (including the
spare) at least once a month (for example,
during a fuel stop) and before any long
journey. Check the tire pressures when the tires
are cold. Use a pressure gauge to adjust
the tire pressures to the values shown on
the tire placard. The tire placard is located
on the door pillar on the driver’s side.
Driving even a short distance warms up
the tires and increases the tire pressures.
Also, the tire pressures are affected by the
outside temperature. It is best to check tire
pressure outdoors before driving the vehi-
cle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside
it expands, causing the tire pressure to in-
crease. Be careful not to mistakenly re-
lease air from a warm tire to reduce its
pressure.
NOTEy
The air pressure in a tire increases
by approximately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3
kgf/cm
2) when the tire becomes warm.
y The tires are considered cold when
the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours or has been driven less
than one mile (1.6 km).
800221
Do not let air out of warm tires to ad-
just pressure. Doing so will result in
low tire pressure.
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance and service
11 - 3 1
– CONTINUED –
Incorrect tire pressures detract from con-
trollability and ride comfort, and they
cause the tires to wear abnormally.
yCorrect tire pressure (tread worn
evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is re-
sponsive. Rolling resistance is low, so fuel
consumption is also lower. y
Abnormally low tire pressure (tread
worn at shoulders)
Rolling resistance is high, so fuel con-
sumption is also higher. y
Abnormally high tire pressure (tread
worn in center)
Ride comfort is poor. Also, the tire magni-
fies the effects of road-surface bumps and
dips, possibly resulting in vehicle damage.
If the tire placard shows tire pressures for
the vehicle when fully loaded and for the
vehicle when towing a trailer, adjust the
tire pressures to the values that match
current loading conditions.
B00050
B00051
B00052
ProCarManuals.com

12-4
Specifications
„CapacitiesAT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmissionFuel tank
15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)
Engine oil
4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
Transmission oil
MT
3.7 US qt (3.5 liters, 3.1 Imp qt)
AT
9.8 US qt (9.3 liters, 8.2 Imp qt)
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles)
1.3 US qt (1.2 liter, 1.1 Imp qt)
Rear differential gear oil
0.8 US qt (0.8 liter, 0.7 Imp qt)
Power steering fluid
0.7 US qt (0.7 liter, 0.6 Imp qt)
Engine coolant
2.5-liter non-turbo models
MT
7.3 US qt (6.9 liters, 6.1 Imp qt)
AT
7.2 US qt (6.8 liters, 6.0 Imp qt)
2.5-liter turbo models
MT
7.8 US qt (7.4 liters, 6.5 Imp qt)
AT
7.7 US qt (7.3 liters, 6.4 Imp qt)
ProCarManuals.com

12-10
Specifications
Vehicle identification
12
3 4
56
9 8
7
C00112
1) Vehicle identification number
2) Emission control label
3) Vehicle identification number plate
4) Tire inflation pressure plate
5) Certification plate
6) Bar cord label (U.S. only)
7) Model number plate
8) Radio noise label (Canada only)
9) Fuel label
ProCarManuals.com

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
13-7
– CONTINUED –
asymmetrical tire that has a particu-
lar side that must always face out-
ward when mounting on a vehicle.yAccessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of
those standard items which may be
replaced) of floor mats, leather seats
and cross bars to the extent that these
items are available as factory-in-
stalled equipment (whether installed
or not). yCurb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with
standard equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and
coolant and air conditioning.yMaximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory
weight, vehicle capacity weight and
production options weight.yNormal occupant weight
150 lbs (68 kg) times the number of
occupants (3 occupants). yOccupant distribution
Distribution of occupants in a vehicle,
2 in front, 1 in rear seat.yProduction options weight
The combined weight of those in-
stalled regular production options weighing over 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) in ex-
cess of those standards items which
they replace, not previously consid-
ered in curb weight or accessory
weight.
yVehicle capacity weight
The total weight of cargo, luggage
and occupants that can be added to
the vehicle. yVehicle maximum load on a tire
Load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing by two.yVehicle normal load on a tire
Load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its
share of the curb weight, accessory
weight, and normal occupant weight
and dividing by two.„ Tire care – maintenance and
safety practicesyCheck on a daily basis that the tires
are free from serious damage, nails,
and stones. At the same time, check
the tires for abnormal wear.y Inspect the tire tread regularly and
replace the tires before their tread wear indicators become visible. When
a tire’s tread wear indicator becomes
visible, the tire is worn beyond the ac-
ceptable limit and must be replaced
immediately. With a tire in this condi-
tion, driving at even low speeds in wet
weather can cause the vehicle to hy-
droplane. Possible resulting loss of
vehicle control can lead to an acci-
dent.
yTo maximize the life of each tire and
ensure that the tires wear uniformly, it
is best to rotate the tires every 7,500
miles (12,500 km). Rotating the tires
involves switching the front and rear
tires on the right-hand side of the ve-
hicle and similarly switching the front
and rear tires on the left-hand side of
the vehicle. (Each tire must be kept on
its original side of the vehicle.) Re-
place any damaged or unevenly worn
tire at the time of rotation. After tire ro-
tation, adjust the tire pressures and
make sure the wheel nuts are correct-
ly tightened. A tightening torque spec-
ification and a tightening sequence
specification for the wheel nuts can be
found “Flat tires” in Chapter 9.
ProCarManuals.com

14-4
Index
Front fog light button ........................................................ 3-21
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................................. 1-20
Front seats ......................................................................... 1-2Fore and aft adjustment .......................................... 1-3, 1-4
Reclining ................................................................. 1-3, 1-5
Fuel .................................................................................... 7-2 Economy hints ............................................................... 8-2
Filler lid and cap ............................................................ 7-3
Requirements ................................................................ 7-2
Fuses ............................................................................. 11-40
Fuses and circuits ............................................................ 12-6
G
GAWR .............................................................................. 8-12
Glove box ........................................................................... 6-4
Gross Axle Weight Rating ................................................ 8-12
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ........................................... 8-12
GVWR .............................................................................. 8-12
H
Hazard warning flasher ...................................................... 3-6
Head restraint adjustment .................................................. 1-5
Headlight
Beam leveler ................................................................ 3-21
Flasher ........................................................................ 3-19
Headlights .............................................................\
........... 3-18
Heater operation ................................................................ 4-5
High beam indicator light .................................................. 3-16
Hill holder .............................................................. 7-25, 11-28
Horn ................................................................................. 3-30 I
Ignition switch ..................................................................... 3-3
Illuminated entry ................................................................. 2-8
Illumination brightness control .......................................... 3-20
Immobilizer indicator light ................................................... 2-3
Indicator light ...................................................................... 3-9
Inside mirror ...................................................................... 3-26
Interior lights ....................................................................... 6-2
J
Jack and jack handle ........................................................ 9-15
Jump starting ...................................................................... 9-7
K
Key
Number .......................................................................... 2-2
Reminder chime ............................................................. 3-5
Key interlock release (AT vehicles) .................................... 3-5
Keys .................................................................................... 2-2
L
Leather seat materials ...................................................... 10-5
Light control switch ........................................................... 3-18
Limited slip differential (LSD) ............................................ 7-14
Loading your vehicle ......................................................... 8-11
Low fuel warning light ....................................................... 3-15
Lower and tether anchorages ........................................... 1-31
LSD (Limited slip differential) ............................................ 7-14
Lumbar support (Drivers seat only) .................................... 1-5
ProCarManuals.com

Index
14-7
Hitch ................................................................... 8-16, 8-21
Towing ......................................................................... 8-18
Towing tips .................................................................. 8-23
Turn signal indicator lights ................................................ 3-16
Turn signal lever ............................................................... 3-20
U
Under-floor storage compartment ..................................... 6-14
V
Valet mode ....................................................................... 2-15
Vanity mirror ....................................................................... 6-3
Vehicle Capacity weight ........................................................... 8-12
Identification .............................................................. 12-10
Symbols ............................................................................ 3
Vehicle Dynamics Control ................................................ 7-19
Ventilator ............................................................................ 4-2
W
Warning and indicator lights ............................................... 3-9
Warning lights
ABS ............................................................................. 3-12
All-Wheel Drive ............................................................ 3-15
Anti-lock Brake system ................................................ 3-12
AT OIL TEMPerature ................................................... 3-12
Brake system ............................................................... 3-14
Charge ......................................................................... 3-12
CHECK ENGINE ......................................................... 3-11
Door open .................................................................... 3-15
Low fuel ....................................................................... 3-15 Oil pressure .................................................................. 3-12
Seatbelt ................................................................. 1-12, 3-9
SRS airbag system ...................................................... 3-10
Vehicle Dynamics Control ............................................ 3-16
Warranties and maintenance ............................................ 8-18
Washing ............................................................................ 10-2
Waxing and polishing ........................................................ 10-3
Wear indicators ............................................................... 11-32
Wheel Alignment ..................................................................... 12-5
Aluminum ................................................................... 11-34
Balance ...................................................................... 11-32
Replacement .............................................................. 11-33
Windows ........................................................................... 2-18
Windshield Washer fluid ............................................................... 11-34
Wiper and washer switches ......................................... 3-23
Wiper deicer ................................................................. 3-25
Windshield wiper blades
Replacement .............................................................. 11-36
Winter driving ...................................................................... 8-7
Wiper and washer ............................................................. 3-22
ProCarManuals.com

GAS STATION REFERENCE
Fuel:TNon-turbo models
Use only unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or
higher.
T Turbo models
Use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or
higher. If premium unleaded gasoline is not available, regular un-
leaded gasoline with octane rating of 87 AKI or higher may be tem-
porarily used. For optimum engine performance and driveability, it
is required that you use premium grade unleaded gasoline.„ Fuel octane ratingThis octane rating is the average of the Research Octane and Mo-
tor numbers and is commonly referred to as the Anti Knock Index (AKI). Refer to “Fuel” section in this manual.
Fuel capacity:15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)Engine oil:Use only API classification SM with the words “ENERGY CON-
SERVING” and the ILSAC certification mark (starburst mark) dis-
played on the container (ILSAC GF-4).Engine oil capacity:4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
Cold tire pressure:Tire size
P215/60R16 94H
P215/55R17 93H
Wheel size
16
× 6
1/2 JJ
17 × 7 JJ
Pressure
Front
Light load
29 psi (200 kPa, 2.0 kgf/cm
2)
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2)
Full load
29 psi (200 kPa, 2.0 kgf/cm
2)
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2)
Rear
Light load
28 psi (190 kPa, 1.9 kgf/cm
2)
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2)
Full load
36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm
2)
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2)
Trailer towing
41 psi (280 kPa, 2.8 kgf/cm
2)
36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm
2)
Temporary
spare tire
Size
T135/80 D16
T135/90 D16
Pressure
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2)
ProCarManuals.com