window SUBARU FORESTER 2007 SG / 2.G Owner's Guide

Climate control 4-7
„Air conditioner operation
T Cooling or dehumidifying
1) ON position
For cooling and dehumidification of the
passenger compartment, performing the
following steps will allow air to flow
through the instrument panel outlets:
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF position.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ”
position.
3. Set the air conditioner button to the
“ON” position.
4. Set the temperature control dial to the
blue side.
5. Set the fan speed control dial at the
highest speed. T
Defrosting or defogging
To direct warm air to the windshield and
front door windows:
1. Set the air flow control dial to the
“ ” position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the
red side.
3. Set the fan speed control dial at the
highest speed. The air conditioner compressor automati-
cally operates when the air flow control
dial set in the “ ” or “ ” position to
provide better defogging performance.
However, the air conditioner indicator light
does not come on at this time.
Continued operation with the air in-
let selection button in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty condition
clears.
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4-8 Climate control
Automatic climate control
system (if equipped)
Although this climate control system can
be used as a full-automatic climate control
system, it can also, if desired, be used as
a semi-automatic climate control system.
When it is used as a full-automatic climate
control system, the outlet air temperature,
fan speed, air flow distribution, air inlet
control, and air conditioner compressor
operation are all automatically controlled
to maintain a constant, comfortable tem-
perature inside the vehicle.
NOTE yOperate the automatic climate con-
trol system when the engine is run-
ning. y When the engine coolant is cold, the
blower does not run. y In the “AUTO” mode, when the air
temperature in the passenger compart-
ment is sufficiently cool, the air condi-
tioner compressor does not operate.
For efficient defogging or dehumidify-
ing in cold weather, press the “A/C”
button to operate the air conditioner
compressor. y Even when cooling is not necessary,
setting the temperature much lower
than the current outlet air temperature turns on the air conditioner compres-
sor automatically and the “A/C” indica-
tor light on the control panel comes on.
„ Control panel
1) Temperature control dial
2) Fan speed control dial
3) Air flow control dial
4) Rear window defogger button (Refer to the “Rear window defogger button” in
chapter 3.)
5) Air inlet selection button
6) Air conditioner button
„ To use as full-automatic cli-
mate control system
Place the temperature control dial in the
position for your desired temperature, then set the other dials and buttons as de-
scribed in the following. The system’s
functions will then switch to AUTO mode
and be controlled automatically. y
Air flow control dial: AUTO position
y Fan speed control dial: AUTO position
y Air inlet selection button: Press for at
least 1 second. (Indicator will flash twice.) y Air conditioner button: Press for at least
1 second. (Indicator will flash twice.)
„ To use as semi-automatic cli-
mate control system
Each function can be individually set to
AUTO mode independently of the others.
Any function set to AUTO mode is con-
trolled automatically. Any function not set
to AUTO mode can be manually adjusted
as desired.
The temperature can be set within a range
of 65 to 85 qF (20 to 30 qC).
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5 4
6 2
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4-10 Climate control
defroster outlets): Windshield defroster outlets and foot
outlets
: Windshield defroster outlets
NOTE
When the dial is placed in the “ ”
or “ ” position, the air conditioner
compressor operates automatically to
defog the windshield quickly. At the
same time, the air inlet selection is au-
tomatically set to “outside air” mode. „Air inlet selection button
ON position (Recirculation): Interior air
is recirculated inside the vehicle. Push the
air inlet selection button to the ON position
for fast cooling with the air conditioner or when driving on a dusty road. The indica-
tor light will come on.
OFF position (Outside Air):
Outside air
is drawn into the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet selection button to the
OFF position when the interior has cooled
to a comfortable temperature and the road
is no longer dusty. The indicator light will go off.AUTO: When the air inlet selection button
is pressed for at least 1 second, the indi-
cator flashes twice. The air inlet control is
then adjusted automatically in accordance
with the air temperature inside and out-
side the passenger compartment, the in-
tensity of sunlight, and other factors.
Pressing the air inlet selection button can-
cels the “AUTO” mode. SUBARU recom-
mends using the AUTO position.
„ Air conditioner button
The button’s positions and their functions
are as follows:
ON: The air conditioner operates while the
fan is running.
Push the button to select this position. The
indicator light will come on.
OFF: The air conditioner does not oper-
ate.
Push the button again to select this posi-
tion. The indicator light will go off. AUTO: When the button is pressed for at
least 1 second, the indicator flashes twice.
The air conditioner compressor operation
is then adjusted automatically in accor-
dance with the air temperature inside and
outside the passenger compartment, the
intensity of sunlight, and other factors.
400157
Continued operation in the ON posi-
tion may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty condition
clears.
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Climate control 4-11
– CONTINUED –
Pressing the button cancels the “AUTO”
mode. SUBARU recommends using the
AUTO position.
NOTE
The air conditioner’s compressor does
not operate with an outside tempera-
ture of 32 qF (0 qC) or lower.
„ Temperature sensors
1) Interior air temperature sensor
2) Solar sensor
The automatic climate control system em-
ploys several sensors. These sensors are
delicate. If they are not treated properly
and become damaged, the system may
not be able to control the interior tempera-
ture correctly. To avoid damaging the sen- sors, observe the following precautions:
– Do not subject the sensors to impact.
– Keep water away from the sensors.
– Do not cover the sensors.
The sensors are located as follows:
– Solar sensor: beside the windshield de-
froster grille.
– Interior air temperature sensor: near the
ignition switch.
– Outside temperature sensor: behind the
front grille.
Operating tips for heater and
air conditioner „
Cleaning ventilation grille
Always keep the front ventilation inlet
grille free of snow, leaves, or other ob-
structions to ensure efficient heating and
defrosting. Since the condenser is located
in front of the radiator, this area should be
kept clean because cooling performance
is impaired by any accumulation of insects
and leaves on the condenser. „ Efficient cooling after parking
in direct sunlight
After parking in direct sunlight, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes to al-
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4-12 Climate control
low outside air to circulate into the heated
interior. This results in quicker cooling by
the air conditioner. Keep the windows
closed during the operation of the air con-
ditioner for maximum cooling efficiency. „Lubrication oil circulation in
the refrigerant circuit
Operate the air conditioner compressor at
a low engine speed (at idle or low driving
speeds) a few minutes each month during
the off-season to circulate its oil. „ Checking air conditioning
system before summer sea-son
Check the air conditioner unit for refriger-
ant leaks, hose conditions, and proper op-
eration each spring. Have your SUBARU
dealer perform this check. „ Cooling and dehumidifying in
high humidity and low tem-
perature weather conditions
Under certain weather conditions (high
relative humidity, low temperatures, etc.)
a small amount of water vapor emission
from the air outlets may be noticed. This
condition is normal and does not indicate any problem with the air conditioning sys-
tem.
„ Air conditioner compressor
shut-off when engine is
heavily loaded
To improve acceleration and gas mileage,
the air conditioner compressor is de-
signed to temporarily shut off during air
conditioner operation whenever the accel-
erator is fully depressed such as during
rapid acceleration or when driving on a
steep upgrade. „ Refrigerant for your climate
control system
Your air conditioner uses ozone friendly
refrigerant HFC134a. Therefore, the
method of adding, changing or checking
the refrigerant is different from the method
for CFC12 (freon). Consult your SUBARU
dealer for service. Repairs needed as a
result of using the wrong refrigerant are
not covered under warranty. Air filtration system (if
equipped)
If your vehicle’s air conditioning system is
equipped with an air filtration system, re-
place the filter element according to the
replacement schedule shown in the fol-
lowing. This schedule should be followed
to maintain the filter’s dust collection abili-
ty. Under extremely dusty conditions, the
filter should be replaced more frequently.
It is recommended that you have your fil-
ter checked or replaced by your SUBARU
dealer. For replacement, use only a genu-
ine SUBARU air filter kit.
Replacement schedule:
Every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000
km) whichever comes first
Contact your SUBARU dealer if the
following occurs, even if it is not yet
time to change the filter:
– Reduction of the air flow throughthe vents.
– Windshield gets easily fogged or misted.

5-2 Audio
AudioAntenna system
The antenna is printed on the inner sur-
face of the left side rear quarter window
glass.
„FM reception
Although FM is normally static free, recep-
tion can be affected by the surrounding ar- ea, atmospheric conditions, station
strength and transmitter distance. Build-
ings or other obstructions may cause mo-
mentary static, flutter or station interfer-
ence. If reception continues to be unsatis-
factory, switch to a stronger station.
Installation of accessories
Always consult your SUBARU dealer be-
fore installing a citizen band radio or other
transmitting device in your vehicle. Such
devices may cause the electronic control
system to malfunction if they are incorrect-
ly installed or if they are not suited for the
vehicle.
Do not use sharp instruments or
window cleaner containing abra-
sives to clean the inner surface of
the window on which the antenna is
printed. Doing so may damage the
antenna printed on the window.
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Interior equipment 6-3
Map lights
To turn on the map light, push the switch.
To turn it off, push the switch again.
When leaving the vehicle, make sure the
light is turned off to avoid battery dis-
charge.Sun visors
To block out glare, swing down the visors.
To use the sun visor at a side window,
swing it down and move it sideways.„
Vanity mirror
To use the vanity mirror, swing down the
sun visor and open the vanity mirror cov- er.
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7-6 Starting and operating
not damage an AWD SUBARU vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.
The EPA has issued regulations for in-
specting the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)
system as part of the state emissions in-
spection. The OBD system is designed to
detect engine and transmission problems
that might cause vehicle emissions to ex-
ceed allowable limits. These inspections
apply to all 1996 model year and newer
passenger cars and light trucks. Over 30
states plus the District of Columbia have
implemented the OBD system inspection. yThe inspection of the OBD system con-
sists of a visual operational check of the
“CHECK ENGINE” warning light/mal-
function indicator lamp (MIL) and an ex-
amination of the OBD system with an
electronic scan tool while the engine is
running y A vehicle passes
the OBD system in-
spection if proper the “CHECK ENGINE”
warning light/MIL illumination is observed,
there is no stored diagnostic trouble
codes, and the OBD system readiness
monitors are complete. y A vehicle fails
the OBD inspection if the “CHECK ENGINE”
warning light/MIL is
not properly operating or there is one or
more diagnostic trouble codes stored in
vehicle’s computer with the “CHECK EN-
GINE” warning light/MIL illuminated.
y A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBD system readiness monitors “Not
Ready” is greater than one. Under this
condition, the vehicle operator should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few
days to set the monitors and return for an
emission re-inspection. y Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their SUBARU Dealer for
service.
Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks
and adjustments every day before you
start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and
lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of
the tires. Also check tires for proper infla-
tion.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
4. Check that the hood and rear gate are
fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and
outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and
indicator lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops.

Driving tips 8-7
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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
in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT). y Never equip your vehicle with tires larg-
er than those specified in this manual.y Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle un-
der hard-driving conditions such as rough
roads or off roads will necessitate more
frequent replacement of engine oil, brake
fluid and transmission oil than that speci-
fied in the maintenance schedule de-
scribed in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to your
SUBARU while operating it off-road and
not using common sense precautions
such as those listed above is not eligible
for warranty coverage.y Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-
road driving. Suspension components are particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they
need to be washed thoroughly.
Winter driving „
Operation during cold weath- er
Carry some emergency equipment, such
as tire chains, a window scraper, a bag of
sand, flares, a small shovel, and jumper
cables.
Check the battery and cables. Cold tem-
peratures reduce battery capacity. The
battery must be in good condition to pro-
vide enough power for cold winter starts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and vis-
cosity for cold weather. Heavy summer oil
will cause harder starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing by
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Driving tips 8-9
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buildup on the suspension, disc brakes
and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-
ness. T
Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in
the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,
use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel
tank is recommended during cold weath- er.
Use only additives that are specifically de-
signed for this purpose. When an anti-
freeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty.
If your SUBARU is not going to be used for
an extended period, it is best to have the
fuel tank filled to capacity. „ Driving on snowy and icy roads
To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid
sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-
speed driving, and sharp turning when
driving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
to avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use the en-
gine brake effectively to control the vehi-
cle speed. (Shift into a lower gear when
necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such behav-
ior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly
leading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) enhanc-
es your vehicle’s braking performance on
snowy and icy roads. Refer to the “ABS
(Anti-lock Brake System)” section in chap-
ter 7 for information on braking on slippery
surfaces. TWiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure the wiper blades are not frozen to the
windshield or rear window. If the wiper
blades are frozen to the windshield or rear
window, use the defroster with the airflow
control button/dial in the “ ” position
and the temperature control dial set for
maximum warmth until the wiper blades
are completely thawed out. If your vehicle
is equipped with a wiper deicer, it is helpful
to thaw the windshield wiper blades. To
thaw out the rear wiper blade, use the rear
window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow
starts to stick on the surface of the wind-
shield despite wiper operation, use the de-
froster with the airflow control button/dial
in “ ” and the temperature control dial
set for maximum warmth. After the wind-
shield gets warmed enough to melt the
frozen snow on it, wash it away using the
windshield washer.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the
wiper from working effectively. If snow is
stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to
a safe place, then remove it. If you stop
the vehicle at road side, use the hazard
warning flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing type
wiper blades (winter blades) during the
seasons you could have snow and sub-
Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads such as snowy or icy
roads. This may cause loss of vehi-
cle control.
Avoid prolonged continuous driving
in snowstorms. Snow will enter the
engine’s intake system and may
hinder the air flow, which could re-
sult in engine shutdown or even
breakdown.