cooling SUBARU FORESTER 2011 SH / 3.G Owners Manual

Ventilator.............................................................. 4-2
Airflow selection ................................................. 4-2
Center and side ventilators .................................. 4-3
Manual climate control system (if equipped) ..................................................... 4-3
Control panel ...................................................... 4-3
Heater operation ................................................. 4-5
Air conditioner operation ..................................... 4-7
Automatic climate control system (if equipped) ..................................................... 4-8
Type A ................................................................ 4-8
Type B ............................................................... 4-13
Temperature sensors .......................................... 4-17 Operating tips for heater and air
conditioner ...................................................... 4-17
Cleaning ventilation grille ................................... 4-17
Efficient cooling after parking in direct sunlight ........................................................... 4-17
Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant circuit .............................................................. 4-18
Checking air conditioning system before summer season ............................................................ 4-18
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and low temperature weather conditions ................. 4-18
Air conditioner compressor shut-off when engine is heavily loaded .............................................. 4-18
Refrigerant for your climate control system ... ..... 4-18
Air filtration system ........................................... 4-18
Replacing an air filter ......................................... 4-19Climate control
4

4-4Climate control
! Fan speed control dial
The fan operates only when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON ”position. The
fan speed control dial is used to select
four fan speeds. ! Airflow control dial
Each dial position activates the following
air outlets.
(Ventilation): Instrument panel outlets
(Bi-level): Instrument panel outlets and
foot outlets
(Heat): Foot outlets, both side outlets of
the instrument panel and some through
windshield defroster outlets (A small
amount of air flows to the windshield and
both side windows to prevent fogging.)
(Heat-def): Windshield defroster out-
lets, foot outlets and both side outlets of
the instrument panel
: Windshield defroster outlets and both
side outlets of the instrument panel
For details, refer to “Airflow selection ”F 4-
2. NOTE
When the dial is placed in the “
”or
“” position, the air conditioner com-
pressor operates automatically regard- less of the position of the air condi-
tioner button to defog the windshield
more quickly. However the indicator on
the air conditioner button will not
illuminate. At the same time, the air
inlet selection is automatically set to“
outside air ”mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation ”mode by manually pressing
the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button. ! Air conditioner button
The air conditioner operates only when
the engine is running.
Push the air conditioner button while the
fan is in operation to turn on the air conditioner. The indicator light will illumi-nate.
Push it again to turn off the air conditioner. !
Air inlet selection button
ON position (Recirculation): Interior air
is recirculated inside the vehicle. Push the
air inlet selection button to the ON posi-
tion. The indicator light will illuminate.
Place the air inlet selection button to the
ON position for fast cooling with the air
conditioner or when driving on a dustyroad.
OFF position (Outside air): Outside air is
drawn into the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet selection button again to
the OFF position. The indicator light will
turn off.

WARNING
Continued operation with the air
inletselectionbuttonintheON
position may fog up the windows.
Switch to the OFF position as soon
as the outside dusty conditionclears.
& Air conditioner operation
! 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 airflow 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. ! Defrosting or defogging
To direct warm air to the windshield and
front door windows:
1. Set the airflow 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 airflow control dial
is set in the
“
”or “”position to provide
better defogging performance. Climate control
4-7

!Air inlet selection button
Select airflow by pressing the air inlet
selection button.
The selected air inlet setting is shown on
the control panel.
(Recirculation) : Interior air recircu-
lates inside the passenger compartment.
Use this position when quickly cooling
down the passenger compartment or to
prevent outside air from entering the
passenger compartment. When the recir-
culation mode is selected, a “
”indica-
tor light appears on the display.
(Outside air) : Outside air is drawn
into the passenger compartment. When
the climate control system is operated inthe “AUTO ”mode, this position is selected
automatically. (There is one exception:
When the temperature control dial is turned fully counterclockwise, the recircu-
lation mode is automatically selected.)
When the outside air mode is selected, a“
”
indicator light appears on the dis-
play.
WARNING
Continued operation in the “
”
position may fog up the windows.
Switch to the “
”position as soon
as the outside dusty condition clears.
NOTE
When driving on a dusty road or behind
a vehicle that emits unpleasant exhaust
gases, set the air inlet selection button
to the “
”position. From time to
time, return the air inlet selection
button to the “
”position to draw
outside air into the passenger compart- ment. &
Type B
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, airflow distribution, air inlet
control, and air conditioner compressor
operation are all automatically controlled
to maintain a constant, comfortable tem-
perature inside the vehicle. NOTE . When the engine coolant is cold, the
blower does not run. . 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. Climate control
4-13
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!Temperature control dial
This dial is used to set the desired interior
temperature. With the dial set to your
desired temperature, the system automa-
tically adjusts the temperature of air
supplied from the outlets such that the
desired temperature is achieved andmaintained.
If the dial is turned fully counterclockwise,
the system gives maximum cooling per-
formance. If the dial is turned fully clock-
wise, the system gives maximum heatingperformance. !
Airflow control dialEach dial position activates the following
air outlets. AUTO: The airflow control is adjusted
automatically in accordance with the air
temperature inside and outside the pas-
senger compartment, the intensity of sun-
light, and other factors. SUBARU recom-
mends using the AUTO position.
(Ventilation): Instrument panel outlets
(Bi-level): Instrument panel outlets and
foot outlets
(Heat): Foot outlets, both side outlets of
the instrument panel and some through
windshield defroster outlets (A small
amount of air flows to the windshield and
both side windows to prevent fogging.)
(Heat-def): Windshield defroster out-
lets, foot outlets and both side outlets of
the instrument panel
: Windshield defroster outlets and both
side outlets of the instrument panel
For details, refer to “Airflow selection ”F 4-
2.
NOTE
When the dial is placed in the “
”or
“” position, the air inlet selection is
automatically 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 Climate control
4-15
– CONTINUED –

4-16Climate control
for fast cooling with the air conditioner or
when driving on a dusty road. The
indicator light will illuminate.
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
turn off. AUTO: Turn the fan speed control dial and
airflow control dial to the AUTO position.
The air inlet control is then adjusted
automatically in accordance with the air
temperature inside and outside the pas-
senger compartment, the intensity of sun-
light, and other factors. Pressing the air
inlet selection button cancels the “AUTO ”
mode. To return to “AUTO ”mode, turn the
fan speed control dial or airflow control
dial to a position other than the AUTO
position. Then turn to “AUTO ”mode.
SUBARU recommends using the AUTOposition.
WARNING
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. !
Air conditioner button
The button 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 illuminate. OFF: The air conditioner does not oper-
ate.
Push the button again to select this
position. The indicator light will turn off. AUTO: Turn the fan speed control dial and
airflow control dial to the AUTO position.
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.
Pressing the button cancels the “AUTO ”mode. To return to
“AUTO ”mode, turn the
fan speed control dial or airflow control
dial to a position other than the AUTO
position. Then turn to “AUTO ”mode.
SUBARU recommends using the AUTOposition.
NOTE
The air conditioner ’s compressor does
not operate with an outside tempera-
ture of 32 8F(0 8C) or lower.

&Temperature sensors
1) Interior air temperature sensor
2) Solar sensor
The automatic climate control system
employs several sensors. These sensors
are delicate. If they are not treated properly and become damaged, the sys-
tem may not be able to control the interior
temperature correctly. To avoid damaging
the sensors, observe the following pre-cautions. –
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
defroster 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 obstructions
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
allow outside air to circulate into the Climate control
4-17
– CONTINUED –

4-18Climate control
heated interior. This results in quicker
cooling by the air conditioner. Keep the
windows closed during the operation of
the air conditioner 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
operation each spring. Have the air con-
ditioning system checked by your
SUBARU dealer. & 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 system.
& Air conditioner compressor
shut-off when engine is
heavily loaded
To improve acceleration and gas mileage,
the air conditioner compressor is designed
to temporarily shut off during air condi-
tioner operation whenever the accelerator
is fully depressed such as during rapid
acceleration or when driving on a steepupgrade. & Refrigerant for your climate
control system
Your air conditioner uses ozone friendly
refrigerant HFC134a. Therefore, the meth-
od 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
Replace the filter element according to the
replacement schedule as follows. This
schedule should be followed to maintain
the filter
’s dust collection ability. Under
extremely dusty conditions, the filter
should be replaced more frequently. It is
recommended that you have your filter
checked or replaced by your SUBARU
dealer. For replacement, use only a
genuine SUBARU air filter kit.
Replacement schedule: Every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000
km) whichever comes first
CAUTION
Contact your SUBARU dealer if the
following occurs, even if it is not yet
time to change the filter. – Reduction of the airflow through
the vents.
– Windshield gets easily fogged ormisted.
NOTE
The filter can influence the air condi-
tioning, heating and defroster perfor-

Fuel...................................................................... 7-2
Fuel requirements ............................................... 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap ........................................... 7-3
State emission testing (U.S. only) ...................... 7-6
Preparing to drive ............................................... 7-7
Starting the engine .............................................. 7-7
MT models .......................................................... 7-7
AT models ........................................................... 7-8
Stopping the engine ............................................ 7-9
Remote engine start system (dealer option) ..... 7-9
Starting your vehicle .......................................... 7-10
Remote start safety features ............................... 7-10
Entering the vehicle while it is running via remote start ................................................................. 7-10
Entering the vehicle following remote engine start shutdown ......................................................... 7-10
Pre-heating or pre-cooling the interior of the vehicle ............................................................. 7-11
Service mode ..................................................... 7-11
Remote transmitter programming and programmable feature option ............................ 7-11
System maintenance .......................................... 7-12
Manual transmission .......................................... 7-13
Shifting speeds .................................................. 7-14
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-14
Automatic transmission ..................................... 7-15
Select lever ........................................................ 7-16
Shift lock function .............................................. 7-17
Selection of manual mode .................................. 7-19
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-20 SPORT mode
..................................................... 7-20
Power steering ................................................... 7-21
Braking ............................................................... 7-22
Braking tips ....................................................... 7-22
Brake system .................................................... 7-22
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ............. 7-23
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .......................... 7-23
ABS system self-check ...................................... 7-23
ABS warning light .............................................. 7-23
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ............................................................. 7-24
Steps to take if EBD system malfunctions ..... ..... 7-24
Vehicle Dynamics Control system .................... 7-25
Vehicle Dynamics Control system monitor..... ..... 7-26
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch ................ 7-27
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (U.S.-spec. models). ........................................ 7-28
Parking your vehicle ......................................... 7-29
Parking brake .................................................... 7-29
Parking tips ....................................................... 7-30
Hill start assist system (MT models) ................ 7-31
Hill start assist warning light .............................. 7-32
Cruise control .................................................... 7-32
To set cruise control .......................................... 7-33
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ............. 7-34
To turn off the cruise control .............................. 7-34
To change the cruising speed .. .......................... 7-35
Cruise control indicator light .............................. 7-36
Cruise control set indicator light ........................ 7-36
Starting and operating
7

transmitter within a few seconds immedi-
ately following remote engine start shut-down. &Pre-heating or pre-cooling
the interior of the vehicle
Before exiting the vehicle, set the tem-
perature controls to the desired setting
and operation. After the system starts the
vehicle, the heater or air-conditioning will
activate and heat or cool the interior to
your setting. & Service mode
In service mode, the remote start function
is temporarily disabled to prevent the
system from unexpectedly starting the
engine while being serviced. ! To engage the service mode
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON ”
position, depress and hold the brake
pedal, then press and release the “
”
button on the remote control transmitter
three times. The system will pause for 1
second and then flash the turn signal
lights and honk the horn three times
indicating that the system is in service
mode. When attempting to activate the
remote start system while in service
mode, the turn signal lights will flash and
the horn will honk two times and will not start. !
To disengage the service mode
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON ”
position, depress and hold the brake
pedal, then press and release the “
”
button on the remote control transmitter
three times. The system will pause for 1
second and flash the turn signal lights 1
time indicating that the system has exited
service mode. NOTE
When taking your vehicle in for service,
it is recommended that you inform the
service personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with a remote control startsystem. & Remote transmitter program-
ming and programmable fea-
ture option
New transmitters can be programmed to
the engine starter system in the event that
remote transmitters are lost, stolen or
damaged. The remote engine start system
also has one programmable feature that
can be adjusted for user preference.
The remote engine starter system can be
programmed to either make an audible
horn chirp upon remote start activation or
not. Remote transmitter programming and feature programming can be adjusted
using the following procedure.
1. Open the driver
’s door (the driver ’s
door must remain opened throughout the
entire process).
2. Insert the key into the vehicle ’s ignition
switch and turn to the “ON ”position.
3. Locate the small black programming
button behind the fuse box cover, on the
driver ’s side left under the dashboard
panel.
4. Press and hold the black programming
button for 10 to 15 seconds. The horn will
honk and the turn signal lights will flash
three times to indicate that the system has
entered programming mode. At this point
you can proceed to either step 5 or step 6.
5. To program a remote transmitter:
press and release the “
”button on each
transmitter. The horn will honk and the
turn signal lights will flash one time to
indicate a successful transmitter learn
each time the “
”button is pressed. You
can program up to eight transmitters.
6. To toggle the Horn Confirmation chirps
ON/OFF: press and release the brake to
toggle the feature. The horn will chirp and
the turn signal lights will flash one time to
indicate Confirmation Horn Chirps are“ OFF ”. The horn will honk and the turn
signal lights will flash 2 times to indicate
Confirmation Horn Chirps are “ON ”.
Starting and operating
7-11
– CONTINUED –