air SUBARU FORESTER 2007 SG / 2.G Owners Manual

Foreword
Congratulations on choosing a SUBARU vehicle. This Owner’s
Manual has all the information necessary to keep your SUBARU in
excellent condition and to properly maintain the emission control
system for minimizing emission pollutants. We urge you to read
this manual carefully so that you may understand your vehicle and
its operation. For information not found in this Owner’s Manual,
such as details concerning repairs or adjustments, please contact
the dealer from whom you purchased your SUBARU or the nearest
SUBARU dealer.
The information, specifications and illustrations found in this man-
ual are those in effect at the time of printing. FUJI HEAVY INDUS-
TRIES LTD. reserves the right to change specifications and de-
signs at any time without prior notice and without incurring any ob-
ligation to make the same or similar changes on vehicles previous-
ly sold. This Owner’s Manual applies to all models and covers all
equipment, including factory installed options. Some explanations,
therefore may be for equipment not installed in your vehicle.
Please leave this manual in the vehicle at the time of resale. The
next owner will need the information found herein.FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD., TOKYO, JAPAN
is a registered trademark of FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
© copyright 2006 FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.

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Warranties „Warranties for U.S.A.
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by
Subaru of America, Inc. and sold at retail
by an authorized SUBARU dealer in the
United States come with the following
warranties: y SUBARU Limited Warranty
y Emission Control Systems Warranty
y Emissions Performance Warranty
All warranty information, including details
of coverage and exclusions, is in the
“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.
Please read these warranties carefully. „ Warranties for Canada
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by
Subaru Canada, Inc. and sold at retail by
an authorized SUBARU dealer in Canada
come with the following warranties: y SUBARU Limited Warranty
y Anti-Corrosion Warranty
y Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, including details
of coverage and exclusions, is in the War-
ranty and Service Booklet. Please read
these warranties carefully. T
2.5XT (Canada model only)
TAll models except Canada model
2.5XT
How to use this Owner’s
Manual „ Using your Owner’s Manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully
read this manual. To protect yourself and
extend the service life of your vehicle, fol-
low the instructions in this manual. Failure
to observe these instructions may result in
serious injury and damage to your vehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen
chapters. Each chapter begins with a brief
table of contents, so you can usually tell at
a glance if that chapter contains the infor-
mation you want.
Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS air-
bags
This chapter informs you how to use the
seat and seatbelt and contains precau-
tions for the SRS airbags.
Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate
the keys, locks and windows.
Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the opera-
tion of instrument panel indicators and
how to use the instruments and other
switches.
Chapter 4: Climate Control
This chapter informs you how to operate
2.5XT models are equipped with
High Intensity Discharge (HID) head-
lights that contain mercury. For that
reason, it is necessary to remove
HID headlights before vehicle dis-
posal. Once removed, please reuse,
recycle or dispose of the HID head-
lights as hazardous waste.
This vehicle does not contain mer-
cury devices or parts.

4
Safety precautions when
driving „Seatbelt and SRS airbag
Carefully read the sections “Seatbelts”
and “*SRS airbag (Supplemental Re-
straint System airbag)” in chapter 1 of this
Owner’s Manual for instructions and pre-
cautions concerning the seatbelt system
and SRS airbag system.
Rear window defogger
Air recirculation
Engine oil
Washer
Door lock (Transmitter)
Door unlock (Transmitter)
Mark Name
y
All persons in the vehicle should
fasten their seatbelts BEFORE the
vehicle starts to move. Otherwise,
the possibility of serious injury
becomes greater in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.
yTo obtain maximum protection in
the event of an accident, the driv-
er and all passengers in the vehi-
cle should always wear seatbelts
when the vehicle is moving. The
SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem) airbag does not do away with
the need to fasten seatbelts. In
combination with the seatbelts, it
offers the best combined protec-
tion in case of a serious accident.
Not wearing a seatbelt increases
the chance of severe injury or
death in a crash even when the ve-
hicle has the SRS airbag.
yThe SRS airbags deploy with con-
siderable speed and force. Occu-
pants who are out of proper posi-
tion when the SRS airbag deploys
could suffer very serious injuries.
Because the SRS airbag needs
enough space for deployment, the
driver should always sit upright
and well back in the seat as far
from the steering wheel as practi-
cal while still maintaining full ve-
hicle control and the front passen-
ger should move the seat as far
back as possible and sit upright
and well back in the seat.

5
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„
Child safety
Carefully read the sections “Child restraint
systems”,“*SRS airbag (Supplemental
Restraint System airbag)”, and “Seatbelts”
in chapter 1 of this Owner’s Manual for in-
structions and precautions concerning the
child restraint system, seatbelt system
and SRS airbag system.
yNever hold a child on your lap or
in your arms while the vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a
collision, because the child will be
caught between the passenger
and objects inside the vehicle.
yWhile riding in the vehicle, infants
and small children should always
be placed in the REAR seat in an
infant or child restraint system
which is appropriate for the
child’s age, height and weight. If a
child is too big for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the
REAR seat and be restrained us-
ing the seatbelts. According to ac-
cident statistics, children are saf-
er when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the
front seating positions. Never al-
low a child to stand up or kneel on
the seat.
y Put children aged 12 and under in
the REAR seat properly restrained
at all times in a child restraint de-
vice or in a seatbelt. The SRS air-
bag deploys with considerable
speed and force and can injure or
even kill children, especially if
they are 12 years of age and under
and are not restrained or improp-
erly restrained. Because children
are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk being injured
from deployment is greater.
yNEVER INSTALL A REARWARD
FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
yAlways use the child safety locks
whenever a child rides in the rear
seat. Serious injury could result if
a child accidentally opened the
door and fell out. Refer to the
“Child safety locks” section in
chapter 2.
yAlways lock the passenger’s win-
dows using the lock switch when
children are riding in the vehicle.
Failure to follow this procedure
could result in injury to a child op-
erating the power window. Refer
to the “Windows” section in chap-
ter 2.
yNever leave unattended children
in the vehicle. They could acci-
dentally injure themselves or oth-
ers through inadvertent operation
of the vehicle. Also, on hot or sun-
ny days, temperature in a closed
vehicle could quickly become
high enough to cause severe or
possibly fatal injuries to them.

6
„Engine exhaust gas (carbon
monoxide)
„Drinking and driving
Drunken driving is one of the most fre- quent causes of accidents. Since alcohol
affects all people differently, you may
have consumed too much alcohol to drive
safely even if the level of alcohol in your
blood is below the legal limit. The safest
thing you can do is never drink and drive.
However if you have no choice but to
drive, stop drinking and sober up com-
pletely before getting behind the wheel.
„ Drugs and driving
If you are taking any drugs, check with
your doctor or pharmacist or read the liter-
ature that accompanies the medication to
determine if the drug you are taking can
impair your driving ability. Do not drive af-
ter taking any medications that can make
you drowsy or otherwise affect your ability
to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you
yNever inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains car-
bon monoxide, a colorless and
odorless gas which is dangerous,
or even lethal, if inhaled.
yAlways properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent
engine exhaust gas from entering
the vehicle.
yNever run the engine in a closed
space, such as a garage, except
for the brief time needed to drive
the vehicle in or out of it.
yAvoid remaining in a parked vehi-
cle for a lengthy time while the en-
gine is running. If that is unavoid-
able, then use the ventilation fan
to force fresh air into the vehicle.
yAlways keep the front ventilator
inlet grille free from snow, leaves
or other obstructions to ensure
that the ventilation system always
works properly.
yIf at any time you suspect that ex-
haust fumes are entering the vehi-
cle, have the problem checked
and corrected as soon as possi-
ble. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with all win-
dows fully open.
yKeep the rear gate closed while
driving to prevent exhaust gas
from entering the vehicle.
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Alcohol in the blood-
stream delays your reaction and im-
pairs your perception, judgment and
attentiveness. If you drive after
drinking – even if you drink just a lit-
tle – it will increase the risk of being
involved in a serious or fatal acci-
dent, injuring or killing yourself,
your passengers and others. In ad-
dition, if you are injured in the acci-
dent, alcohol may increase the se-
verity of that injury.
Please don’t drink and drive.
There are some drugs (over the
counter and prescription) that can
delay your reaction time and impair
your perception, judgment and at-
tentiveness. If you drive after taking
them, it may increase your, your
passengers’ and other persons’ risk
of being involved in a serious or fa-
tal accident.

7
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have a medical condition that requires you
to take drugs, please consult with your
doctor.
Never drive if you are under the influence
of any illicit mind-altering drugs. For your
own health and well-being, we urge you
not to take illegal drugs in the first place
and to seek treatment if you are addicted
to those drugs. „
Driving when tired or sleepy
Please do not continue to drive but in-
stead find a safe place to rest if you are
tired or sleepy. On long trips, you should
make periodic rest stops to refresh your-
self before continuing on your journey.
When possible, you should share the driv-
ing with others. „
Modification of your vehicle
„Car phone/cell phone and
driving
„ Driving with pets
Unrestrained pets can interfere with your
driving and distract your attention from
driving. In a collision or sudden stop, unre-
strained pets or cages can be thrown
around inside the vehicle and hurt you or
your passengers. Besides, the pets can
be hurt under these situations. It is also for
their own safety that pets should be prop-
erly restrained in your vehicle. Restrain a
pet with a special traveling harness which
can be secured to the rear seat with a
seatbelt or use a pet carrier which can be
secured to the rear seat by routing a seat-
belt through the carrier’s handle. Never re-
strain pets or pet carriers in the front pas-
senger’s seat. For further information,
consult your veterinarian, local animal
protection society or pet shop. „ Tire pressures
Check and, if necessary, adjust the pres-
sure of each tire (including the spare) at
least once a month and before any long
journey.
Check the tire pressure when the tires are
cold. Use a pressure gauge to adjust the
tire pressures to the values shown on the
tire placard.
Refer to the “Tires and wheels” section in
When you are tired or sleepy, your
reaction will be delayed and your
perception, judgment and attentive-
ness will be impaired. If you drive
when tired or sleepy, your, your pas-
sengers’ and other persons’ chanc-
es of being involved in a serious ac-
cident may increase.
Your vehicle should not be modified
other than with genuine Subaru
parts and accessories. Other types
of modifications could affect its per-
formance, safety or durability, and
may even violate governmental reg-
ulations. In addition, damage or per-
formance problems resulting from
modification may not be covered
under warranties.
Do not use a car phone/cell phone
while driving; it may distract your at-
tention from driving and can lead to
an accident. If you use a car phone/
cell phone, pull off the road and park
in a safe place before using your
phone. In some States/Provinces,
only hands-free phones may legally
be used while driving.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Table of contents
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbagsKeys and doors
Instruments and controlsClimate control Audio
Interior equipmentStarting and operatingDriving tips
In case of emergencyAppearance care
Maintenance and service
SpecificationsConsumer information and Reporting safety defects Index

14 „Instrument panel
000223
12 3 4 5 67
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16 13
1) Door locks (page 2-4)
2) Outside mirror switch (page 3-27)
3) Light control lever (page 3-17)
4) Combination meter (page 3-6)
5) Wiper control lever (page 3-21)
6) Hazard warning flasher switch (page
3-6)
7) Audio (page 5-1)
8) Gear shift lever (MT) (page 7-9) Selector lever (AT) (page 7-10)
9) Climate control (page 4-1)
10) Cruise control (page 7-22)
11) Horn (page 3-29)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-36)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-28)
14) Fuse (page 11-41)
15) Hood lock release knob (page 11-4)
16) Power windows (page 2-18)

24
TWarning and indicator light
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-9
SRS airbag system
warning light 3-10
or Front passenger’s
frontal airbag ON indi-
cator light
3-11
or Front passenger’s
frontal airbag OFF in-
dicator light
3-11
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunc-
tion indicator lamp 3-11
Charge warning light 3-12
Oil pressure warning light 3-12
AT OIL temperature
warning light (AT vehi-cles) 3-12
or ABS warning light 3-13
or Brake system warning light 3-13
Door open warning light 3-14
All-Wheel Drive warn-
ing light (AT vehicles) 3-15
Low fuel warning light 3-14
Turn signal indicator
lights 3-15
High beam indicator light 3-15
Security indicator light
(if equipped) 2-3
Cruise control indica-
tor light (if equipped) 3-15
Cruise control set indi-
cator light (if equipped) 3-16
Mark Name Page

1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats .......................................................... 1-2Manual seat ............................................................. 1-3
Power seat (if equipped) ........................................ 1-4
Lumbar support (Driver’s seat only) ..................... 1-5
Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-6
Active head restraint .............................................. 1-6
Seat heater (if equipped) ................................... 1-7
Rear seats ........................................................... 1-7 Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-8
Folding down the rear seatback ............................ 1-9
Armrest (if equipped) ......................................... 1-10
Seatbelts ............................................................. 1-10 Seatbelt safety tips ................................................. 1-10
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) .................... 1-11
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) .................................................................. 1-12
Seatbelt warning light and chime .......................... 1-12
Fastening the seatbelt ............................................ 1-13
Seatbelt maintenance ............................................. 1-19
Seatbelt extender ............................................... 1-20
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-21 System monitors .................................................... 1-22
System servicing .................................................... 1-23
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-23
Child restraint systems ..................................... 1-24 Where to place a child restraint system ............... 1-25
Choosing a child restraint system ........................ 1-26
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt .................................................................. 1-27 Installing a booster seat ......................................... 1-30
Installation of child restraint systems by use of
lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) ............... 1-32
Top tether anchorages ........................................... 1-34
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) .............................................................. 1-36Vehicle with driver’s and front passenger’s SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints ........... 1-36
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system .............. 1-40
SRS side airbag (if equipped) ................................ 1-52
SRS airbag system monitors ................................. 1-57
SRS airbag system servicing ................................ 1-58
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-59