mirror SUBARU FORESTER 2012 SH / 3.G User Guide

Defogger and deicer
1) Rear window defogger
2) Outside mirror defogger (if equipped)
3) Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped)
The vehicle is equipped with a rear window defogger. For some models, the
outside mirror defogger and/or windshield
wiper deicer are/is also equipped. The
defogger and deicer system is activated
only when the ignition switch is in the
“ON ”
position.
Type A climate control system
Type B climate control system
Type C climate control system
To activate the defogger and deicer
system, push the control switch that is
located on the climate control panel. The
rear window defogger, outside mirror Instruments and controls
3-45
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3-46Instruments and controls
defogger and windshield wiper deicer are
activated simultaneously. The indicator
light on the control switch illuminates while
the defogger and deicer system is acti-vated.
To turn them off, push the control switch
again. They also turn off when the ignition
switch is turned to the “Acc ”or “LOCK ”
position.
The defogger and deicer system will
automatically shut off after approximately
15 minutes. If the rear window and the
outside mirrors have been cleared and the
windshield wiper blades have been deiced
completely before that time, push the
control switch to turn them off. If defrost-
ing, defogging or deicing is not complete,
you have to push the control switch to turn
them on again.
For models with the automatic climate
control system, it is possible to custo-
mize the defogger and deicer system
operation mode by a SUBARU dealer.
Contact your SUBARU dealer for details.
CAUTION
. To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not operate the
defogger and deicer system con-
tinuously for any longer than necessary.
. Do not use sharp instruments or
window cleaner containing abra-
sives to clean the inner surface
of the rear window. They may
damage the conductors printed
on the window.
NOTE . Turn on the defogger and deicer
system if the wipers are frozen to the windshield.. If the windshield is covered with
snow, remove the snow so that the
windshield wiper deicer works effec-
tively.. While the defogger and deicer sys-
tem is in the continuous operation
mode, if the vehicle speed remains at
9 mph (15 km/h) or less for 15 minutes,
the windshield wiper deicer automati-
cally stops operating, though the rear
window defogger and outside mirror
defogger maintain continuous opera-
tion in this condition.. While the defogger and deicer sys-
tem is in the continuous operation
mode, if the battery voltage drops
below the permissible level, continu-
ous operation of the defogger and
deicer system is canceled and the system stops operating.

Interior lights....................................................... 6-2
Dome light .......................................................... 6-2
Cargo area light .................................................. 6-3
Map light ............................................................. 6-3
Sun visors ........................................................... 6-4
Vanity mirror ....................................................... 6-4
Storage compartment ......................................... 6-5
Glove box ........................................................... 6-5
Center console .................................................... 6-5
Overhead console ............................................... 6-6
Rear seat center table (if equipped) ..................... 6-7
Coin tray ............................................................. 6-7
Cup holders ......................................................... 6-8
Front passenger ’s cup holder .............................. 6-8
Rear passenger ’s cup holder (if equipped) ........... 6-8
Bottle holders ...................................................... 6-9
Accessory power outlets .................................... 6-9
Cigarette lighter (dealer option) .......................... 6-10Ashtray (if equipped)
......................................... 6-11
Floor mat ............................................................ 6-12
Shopping bag hook ........................................... 6-13
Coat hook ........................................................... 6-13
Cargo area cover (dealer option) ...................... 6-14
Using the cover ................................................. 6-14
To remove the cover .......................................... 6-14
To install the cover ............................................ 6-15
Cargo tie-down hooks ....................................... 6-15
Under-floor storage compartment (if equipped) ........................................................ 6-16
Rear view camera (if equipped) ........................ 6-17
How to use the rear view camera ....................... 6-18
Viewing range on the screen .............................. 6-18
Help line ............................................................ 6-19 Interior equipment
6

6-4Interior equipment
illuminate when only the rear gate is opened.) .The doors are unlocked using the
remote keyless entry transmitter.. The ignition switch is turned from the
“ Acc ”position to the “LOCK ”position.
The automatically illuminated map lights
remain on for several seconds and then
gradually turn off after all doors are
closed. While the lights are on, if any of
the following operations are performed,
the map lights turn off immediately. . The ignition switch is turned from the
“ LOCK ”position to the “Acc ”or “ON ”
position.. All doors and the rear gate are locked
using the remote keyless entry transmitter.
The setting of the period for which the
lights remain on (OFF delay timer) can be
changed by a SUBARU dealer. Contact
your SUBARU dealer for details. 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
CAUTION
Keep the vanity mirror cover closed
while the car is being driven to avoidglare.
To use the vanity mirror, swing down the
sun visor and open the vanity mirror cover.

Rear view camera (if equipped)
A rear view camera is attached to the rear
gate. When the ignition switch is“ON ”and
the shift lever (MT models) or select lever
(AT models) is set to “R ”, the rear view
camera automatically displays the rear
view image behind the vehicle on the
navigation monitor or the display of the
type D audio (if equipped).
WARNING
. Since the rear view camera uses
a wide-angle lens, the image on
the monitor is different from the
actual view in terms of distance.
. Since the range of the image on the monitor is limited, you should
always check the rear view and
the surrounding area with your
eyes and mirrors, and move
backward at a slow speed. Mov-
ing backward only by checking
the rear view image from the
camera could cause an accident.
. Do not disassemble or modify the
camera, switch or wiring. If
smoke comes out or you smell
a strange odor, stop using the
rear view camera immediately.
Contact your SUBARU dealer
for an inspection. Continued use
may result in accident, fire or
electric shock.
CAUTION
. If your vehicle is washed with a
high-pressure washer, do not
allow water to contact the camera
directly. Entry of water in the
camera lens may result in con-
densation, malfunction, fire or
electric shock.
. Since the camera is a precision
device, do not subject it to strong
impacts. Otherwise, malfunction,
fire or electric shock may occur. .
If mud or snow sticks to or is
frozen on the camera, you must
be very careful removing it.
Otherwise, damage to the camera
may cause a fire or electric
shock. Pour water or lukewarm
water over the camera to remove
mud and ice, and wipe it with a
soft, dry cloth.
. Do not put a flame close to the
camera or wiring. Otherwise, da-
mage or fire may occur.
. When replacing the fuse, be sure
to use a fuse with the specified
rating. Use of a fuse with a
different rating may result in amalfunction.
. If the rear view camera is used for
a long time while the engine is
not operated, the battery may
become completely discharged.
NOTE . Do not wipe the camera with alcohol,
benzine or paint thinner. Otherwise,
discoloration may occur. To remove
contamination, wipe the camera with a
cloth moistened with a diluted neutral
detergent and then wipe it with a soft,
dry cloth.. When waxing the vehicle, be careful Interior equipment
6-17
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6-18Interior equipment
not to apply the wax to the camera. If it
comes in contact with the camera,
moisten a clean cloth with a diluted
neutral detergent to remove the wax..The camera lens has hard coating to
help prevent scratches. However, when
washing the vehicle or cleaning the
camera lens, be careful not to scratch
the camera lens. Do not use a washing
brush directly on the camera lens. The
image quality of the rear view camera
may deteriorate.. Strong light shined on the camera
lens may develop vertical lines around
the light source. This is not a malfunc-tion. . Under fluorescent light, the display
may flicker. However, this is not a malfunction.. The image of the rear view camera
may be slightly different from the
actual color of the objects. & How to use the rear view camera
When the shift lever or select lever is set to “R ”, the rear view camera automatically
displays the rear view image from the
vehicle. When the lever is set to other
positions, the image before setting to “R ”
is displayed.
1. Set the ignition switch to “ON ”. 2. Set the shift lever or select lever to
“R ”.
NOTE . For models with the genuine
SUBARU navigation system, the image
of the rear view camera has priority
over other screen displays. Therefore,
while the rear view camera is in opera-
tion, the operations of other screens
are disabled. To operate other screens,
set the shift lever or select lever to a
position other than “R ”.
. The image of the rear view camera is
horizontally reversed as is the case
with the vehicle rearview mirror or the
side view mirror.. It may be difficult to see the image of
the rearview camera in the following
cases. This is not a malfunction of thecamera.
–The vehicle is in a dark place (at
night, in a tunnel, etc.). – The vehicle is in an extremely hot
or cold place.– An object (such as raindrops,
snow, dirt, etc.) that disturbs the
view of the rear view camera sticks
to the lens of the camera. – Strong light shined directly on
the camera lens (occasionally, there
are vertical lines on the screen). &
Viewing range on the screen
CAUTION
The range that can be viewed with
the rear view camera is limited.
Always be sure to check with your
eyes when moving backward and
proceed slowly.
Range of view

The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and states using two-wheel
dynamometers in their emission testing
program have EXEMPTED SUBARU
AWD vehicles from the portion of the
testing program that involves a two-wheel
dynamometer. There are some states that
use four-wheel dynamometers in their
testing program. When properly used, this
equipment should not damage a SUBARU
AWD vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.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 properinflation.
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. Starting the engine
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter motor
continuously for more than 10 sec-
onds. If the engine fails to start after
operating the starter for 5 to 10
seconds, wait for 10 seconds or
more before trying again.
NOTE
It may be difficult to start the engine
when the battery has been discon-
nected and reconnected (for mainte-
nance or other purposes). This diffi-
culty is caused by the electronically
controlled throttle ’s self-diagnosis
function. To overcome it, keep the
ignition switch in the “ON ”position
for approximately 10 seconds before
starting the engine. & MT models
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and ac- cessories.
3. Depress the clutch pedal to the floor
and shift the shift lever into neutral. Hold
the clutch pedal to the floor while starting Starting and operating
7-7
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!Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle,
check that the standard side mirrors
provide a good rearward field of view
without significant blind spots. If significant
blind spots occur with the vehicle ’s stan-
dard side mirrors, use towing mirrors that
conform with Federal, state/province and/
or other applicable regulations. ! Trailer lights
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improper
connection of trailer lights may
damage your vehicle ’s electrical
system and cause a malfunction of
your vehicle ’s lighting system. Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-cle
’s electrical system requires modifica-
tions to the vehicle ’s lighting circuit to
increase its capacity and accommodate
wiring changes. To ensure the trailer lights
are connected properly, please consult
your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper
operation of the brake lights and turn
signal lights each time you hitch up. ! Tires
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the tem-
porary spare tire is used. The tem-
porary spare tire is not designed to
sustain the towing load. Use of the
temporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tire
and/or less stability of the vehicle.
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle
are properly inflated.
The recommended cold tire pressure
under trailer towing conditions is shownin “Tires ”F12-10. Adjust the rear tire
pressure to the recommended pressure
when the tires are cold. Normal pressure
should be maintained in the front tires.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in accordance with the trailer manufacturer
’s
specifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire
when towing a trailer, ask a commercial
road service to repair the flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your
vehicle or trailer as a precaution against
getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare
tire is firmly secured. & Trailer towing tips
WARNING
. Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h)
when towing a trailer in hilly
country on hot days.
. When towing a trailer, steering,
stability, stopping distance and
braking performance will be dif-
ferent from normal operation. Forsafety ’s sake, you should employ
extra caution when towing a
trailer and you should never
drive at excessive speeds. You
should also keep the following
tips in mind: Driving tips
8-23
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8-24Driving tips
! Before starting out on a trip
. Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-
hitch mounting are in good condition. If
any problems are apparent, do not tow the
trailer. . Check that the vehicle sits horizontally
with the trailer attached. If the vehicle is
tipped sharply up at the front and down at
the rear, check the total trailer weight,
GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, then
confirm that the load and its distribution
are acceptable. . Check that the tire pressures are
correct.. Check that the vehicle and trailer are
connected properly. Confirm that:
–The trailer tongue is connected
properly to the hitch ball. – The trailer lights connector is con-
nected properly and trailer ’s brake
lights illuminate when the vehicle ’s
brake pedal is pressed, and that the trailer ’s turn signal lights flash when
the vehicle ’s turn signal lever is oper-
ated. – The safety chains are connected
properly.– All cargo in the trailer is secured
safely in position.– The side mirrors provide a good
rearward field of view without a sig- nificant blind spot.
. Sufficient time should be taken to learn
the “feel ”of the vehicle/trailer combination
before starting out on a trip. In an area free
of traffic, practice turning, stopping and
backing up. ! Driving with a trailer
. You should allow for considerably more
stopping distance when towing a trailer.
Avoid sudden braking because it may
result in skidding or jackknifing and loss ofcontrol. . Avoid abrupt starts and sudden accel-
erations. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, always start out in first gear
and release the clutch at moderate enginerevolution. . Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and
rapid lane changes.. Slow down before turning. Make a
longer than normal turning radius because
the trailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. In
a tight turn, the trailer could hit yourvehicle. . Crosswinds will adversely affect the
handling of your vehicle and trailer, caus-
ing sway. Crosswinds can be due to
weather conditions or the passing of large
trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly
grip the steering wheel and slow down immediately but gradually. .
When passing other vehicles, consid-
erable distance is required because of the
added weight and length caused by
attaching the trailer to your vehicle.
1) Left turn
2) Right turn
. Backing up with a trailer is difficult and
takes practice. When backing up with a
trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly.
When turning back, grip the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand and turn it to
the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right
for a right turn. . If the ABS warning light illuminates
while the vehicle is in motion, stop towing
the trailer and have repairs performed
immediately by the nearest SUBARU
dealer.

Fuses and circuits &Fuse panel located in the passenger compartmentFuse
panel Fuse
rating Circuit
1 20A .Trailer
2 Empty
3 15A .Door locking
4 10A .Front wiper deicer relay
5 10A .Combination meter
6 7.5A .Remote control rear
view mirrors
. Seat heater relay
7 15A .Combination meter
. Integrated unit
8 20A .Stop light
9 15A .Front wiper deicer
10 7.5A .Power supply (battery)
11 7.5A .Turn signal unit
. Clock
12 15A .Automatic transmission
unit
. Engine control unit
. Integrated unit
13 20A .Accessory power outlet
(center console)
14 15A .Position light
. Tail light
. Rear combination light
15 Empty (FWD connector for AWD AT models)
Specifications
12-11
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