towing SUBARU FORESTER 2012 SH / 3.G Owner's Manual

&Using a flat-bed truck
This is the best way to transport your
vehicle. Use the following procedures to
ensure safe transportation.
1. Shift the select lever into the “P ”
position for automatic transmission mod-
els or “1st ”for manual transmission
models.
2. Pull up the parking brake lever firmly.
3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier
properly with safety chains. Each safety
chain should be equally tightened and
care must be taken not to pull the chains
so tightly that the suspension bottoms out.
CAUTION
If your vehicle has a front under-
spoiler and rear underspoiler (if
equipped), be careful not to scrape
them when placing the vehicle on
the carrier and when removing the
vehicle from the carrier.
& Towing with all wheels on the ground
1. Release the parking brake and put the
transmission in neutral.
2. The ignition switch should be in the “Acc ”position while the vehicle is being
towed.
3. Take up slack in the towline slowly to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
WARNING
. Never turn the ignition switch to
the “LOCK ”position while the
vehicle is being towed because
the steering wheel and the direc-
tion of the wheels will be locked.
. Remember that the brake booster
and power steering do not func-
tion when the engine is not
running. Because the engine is
turned off, it will take greater
effort to operate the brake pedal
and steering wheel.
CAUTION
. If transmission failure occurs,
transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.
. Do not run the engine while being
towed using this method. Trans-
mission damage could result if
the vehicle is towed with the
engine running.
. For models with automatic trans-
mission, the traveling speed
must be limited to less than 20
mph (30 km/h) and the traveling
distance to less than 31 miles (50
km). For greater speeds and In case of emergency
9-17
– CONTINUED –

13-10Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Replace any damaged or un-
evenly worn tires at the time of
rotation. After tire rotation, adjust
the tire pressures and make sure
the wheel nuts are correctly tigh-
tened. For information about the
tightening torque and tightening
sequence for the wheel nuts, referto “Flat tires ”F 9-6 .
& Vehicle load limit –how to
determine
The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of
your vehicle is shown on the
vehicle placard attached to the
driver ’s side B-pillar. Locate the
statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs ”
on your vehicle ’s placard.
The vehicle placard also shows
seating capacity of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the
total weight of driver and all pas-
sengers and their belongings, any cargo, any optional equipment such
as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike
carrier, etc., and the tongue load of
a trailer. Therefore cargo capacity
can be calculated by the followingmethod.
Cargo capacity = Load limit
(total
weight of occupants + total weight
of optional equipment + tongue
load of a trailer (if applicable))
For information about vehicle load-
ing, refer to “Loading your vehicle ”
F 8-12 .
For information about towing capa-
city and weight limits, refer to“ Trailer towing ”F 8-18 .
! Calculating total and load ca-
pacities varying seating con-
figurations
Calculate the available load capa-
city as shown in the following
examples: Example 1A
Vehicle capacity weight of the
vehicle is 900 lbs (408 kg), which
is indicated on the vehicle placard
with the statement
“The combined
weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed 900 lbs or
408 kg ”.
For example, if the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 154 lbs (70 kg)
plus cargo weighing 662 lbs (300kg).

13-14Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capa-
city is 650 lbs. (1,400 750 (5 6
150) = 650 lbs)
5. Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in step 4. 6. If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your ve-hicle. Uniform tire quality grading standards
This information indicates the rela-
tive performance of passenger car
tires in the area of treadwear,
traction, and temperature resis-
tance. This is to aid the consumer
in making an informed choice in the
purchase of tires.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall be-
tween tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tem-
perature A
The quality grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on passen-
ger cars. However, they do not
apply to deep tread, winter type
snow tires, space-saver or tempor-
ary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 12 inches
or less, or to some limited produc-
tion tires.
All passenger car tires must con-form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. &
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1-
1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate. & Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire ’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spe-

14-6Index
Hook Cargo tie-down ...................................................... 6-15
Coat ..................................................................... 6-13
Shopping bag ........................................................ 6-13
Towing and tie-down ............................................... 9-14
Horn ......................................................................... 3-47
Hose and connections ............................................... 11-14
I
Ignition switch .............................................................. 3-3
Light ....................................................................... 3-5
Illuminated entry .......................................................... 2-9
Illumination brightness control ...................................... 3-32
Immobilizer. ................................................................. 2-3
Indicator light (security indicator light) ....................... 3-23
Indicator light Coolant temperature low ......................................... 3-16
Cruise control ........................................................ 3-25
Cruise control set ................................................... 3-25
Front fog light ........................................................ 3-25
Headlight .............................................................. 3-25
High beam ............................................................ 3-25
Immobilizer. ........................................................... 3-23
Security ................................................................ 3-23
Select lever/Gear position ....................................... 3-24
SPORT mode ........................................................ 3-24
Turn signal ............................................................ 3-24
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF ................................ 3-23
Vehicle Dynamics Control operation ......................... 3-23
Information display ..................................................... 3-26
Inside mirror .............................................................. 3-36 Interior lights
............................................................... 6-2
iiPod
®operations ........................................................ 5-32
J
Jack and jack handle ................................................... 9-5
Jack-up point .............................................................. 9-6
Jump starting ............................................................. 9-10
K
Key............................................................................ 2-2 Number .................................................................. 2-2
Reminder chime ...................................................... 3-5
Replacement. .......................................................... 2-3
Keyless entry system ................................................... 2-7
L
Leather seat materials ................................................. 10-5
License plate light ..................................................... 11-49
Light Cargo area .................................................... 6-3, 11-50
Control switch ........................................................ 3-29
Dome ............................................................ 6-2, 11-50
Door step ............................................................ 11-50
Front fog ............................................................... 3-32
Front position ......................................................... 3-30
Ignition switch ......................................................... 3-5
License plate ....................................................... 11-49
Map .............................................................. 6-3, 11-50

14-10Index
Size and pressure ................................................ 12-10
Types .................................................................. 11-29
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). ...... 7-27, 9-9, 11-29
Warning light ......................................................... 3-18
Tires and wheels. ...................................................... 11-29
Tools .......................................................................... 9-4
Top tether anchorages ........................................ 1-29, 1-32
Towing ...................................................................... 9-14
All wheels on the ground ........................................ 9-17
Flat-bed truck ........................................................ 9-17
Hooks ................................................................... 9-14
Weight.................................................................. 8-18
Trailer
Connecting ............................................................ 8-16
Hitch ............................................................ 8-16, 8-21
Towing .................................................................. 8-18
Towing tips ............................................................ 8-23
Trip meter ................................................................... 3-8
Turn signal Indicator lights ....................................................... 3-24
Lever .................................................................... 3-31
U
Under-floor storage compartment ................................. 6-16
USB storage device operations .................................... 5-32
V
Valet mode ................................................................ 2-17
Vanity mirror ................................................................ 6-4
Vehicle
Capacity weight ..................................................... 8-13 Identification
........................................................ 12-18
Symbols .................................................................... 3
Vehicle Dynamics Control
OFF indicator light .................................................. 3-23
OFF switch ............................................................ 7-27
Operation indicator light ........................................... 3-23
System .................................................................. 7-25
Warning light .......................................................... 3-22
W
Warning and indicator lights ......................................... 3-12
Warning chimes Seatbelt. ................................................................ 3-13
Warning light ABS...................................................................... 3-19
All-Wheel Drive ...................................................... 3-21
AT OIL TEMP ......................................................... 3-18
Automatic headlight beam leveler ............................. 3-22
Brake system ......................................................... 3-20
Charge .................................................................. 3-17
CHECK ENGINE .................................................... 3-16
Coolant temperature high ........................................ 3-16
Door open ............................................................. 3-21
Hill start assist ....................................................... 3-21
Low fuel ........................................................ 3-11, 3-21
Low tire pressure .................................................... 3-18
Oil pressure ........................................................... 3-17
Seatbelt. ................................................................ 3-13
SRS airbag system ................................................. 3-15
Vehicle Dynamics Control ........................................ 3-22
Warranties ..................................................................... 1