ground SUBARU FORESTER 2017 SJ / 4.G Owners Manual

&On-road and off-road driving
This vehicle is classified as a utility
vehicle. Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of
vehicles. Your vehicle has a higher ground
clearance and higher center of gravity,
making it more likely to roll over than
ordinary passenger cars. It also handles
and maneuvers differently from other
passenger cars. For this reason, please
read carefully the following section and
follow the instructions and precautions in
order to prevent serious injury or death
due to loss of control, rollover and other
accidents. Refer to “On-road and off-road
driving ”F 8-6.
& Attaching accessories
WARNING
. Do not attach any accessories,
labels or stickers (other than
properly placed inspection stick-
ers) to the windshield. Such
items may obstruct your view.
. If it is necessary to attach an
accessory (such as an electronic
toll collection (ETC) device or
security pass) to the windshield,
consult your SUBARU dealer for
details on the proper location.
General information
& California proposition 65
warning
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its consti-
tuents, and certain vehicle compo-
nents contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. In addi-
tion, certain fluids in vehicles and
certain components of product wear
contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
&California Perchlorate Advi-
sory
Certain vehicle components such as air-
bag modules, seatbelt pretensioners and
keyless entry transmitter batteries may
contain perchlorate material. Special
handling may apply for service or vehicle
end of life disposal. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/
hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
8

&Locking and unlocking with
“keyless access ”entry func-
tion
! Operating ranges
1) Antenna
2) Operating range
The operating ranges of the door and rear
gate locking/unlocking functions are ap-
proximately 16 to 32 in (40 to 80 cm) from
the respective door handles and the rear
gate ornament.
1) LED indicator
When the access key is within either of the
operating ranges of the front doors, the
LED indicator on the access key flashes.
When the keyless access functions are
disabled, the LED indicator does not flash
unless a button on the access key is
pressed.
!Operating range tips
. Locking by using the keyless access
function can be operated only by the door
lock sensor in the operating range in
which the access key is detected.
. Unlocking by using the keyless access
function can be operated only by the door
handle in the operating range in which the
access key is detected.
. If the access key is placed too close to the vehicle body, the keyless access
function may not operate properly. If they
do not operate properly, repeat the opera-
tion from further away.
.
If the access key is placed near the
ground or in an elevated location from the
ground, even if it is in the indicated
operating range, the keyless access func-
tion may not operate properly.
. When the access key is within the
operating range, it is possible for anyone,
even someone who is not carrying the
access key, to operate the keyless access
function. Note that locking and unlocking
can be operated only by the door handle,
door lock sensor, rear gate opener button
or rear lock button in the operating range
in which the access key is detected.
. It is not possible to lock the doors and
rear gate using the keyless access func-
tion when the access key is inside the
vehicle. However, depending on the status
of the access key and the environmental
conditions, the access key may be locked
inside the vehicle. Before locking, make
sure that you have the access key.
. When the battery of the access key is
discharged, or when operating it in a
location with strong radio waves or noise
(e.g., near a radio tower, power plant,
broadcast station or an area where wire-
less equipment is used), or while talking
Keys and doors/Keyless access with push –button start system
–CONTINUED –2-13

Audio panel
No. Function
&1Turn to adjust volume.
Press to turn the audio system on/off.
&2Press to display the sound setting
screen. Refer to“Unit settings ”F 5-18.
&3Press to display the station operation
screen.
Press to select an audio mode.
&4
Turn to display the next/previous con-
tent item.
Press to select an audio source. Refer
to “Selecting an audio source ”F 5-17.
&5Press to display the next/previous con-
tent item.
NOTE
. For safety reasons, certain func-
tions are not available while your
vehicle is in motion.
. In order to maximize signal recep-
tion, performance and precision of the
smartphone, please ensure the smart-
phone is placed as close to the system
as possible, while ensuring it is stowed
and secure while driving.
. When the ignition switch is in the
“ ACC ”or “ON ”position, the battery of
the connected iPhone/iPod touch is
charged.
. iPhone/iPod touch may not be re-
cognized when the ignition switch is in
the “ACC ”or “ON ”position. In this
case, remove the iPhone/iPod touch
and reconnect it.
. The accuracy of the displayed in-
formation or the signal reception per-
formance depends on the smartphone
or the connected device, and it ’s wire-
less connection.
. Since the aha application uses sig-
nals from GPS satellites and wireless
communication lines, it may not work
properly in the following locations.
–In a tunnel
– In underground parking lots
Audio/Audio set
–CONTINUED –5-45

&Using the voice command
system
! Steering switch
1) Talk switch
Action Function
Press Start the voice com-
mand system.
Press and hold Cancel voice recogni-
tion.
!
Microphone
1) Models without SUBARU STARLINK
2) Models with SUBARU STARLINK
(U.S.-spec. models only)
It is unnecessary to speak directly into the
microphone when giving a command.
NOTE
.Wait for the confirmation beep be-
fore speaking a command.
. Voice commands may not be recog-
nized if:
–Spoken too quickly.
– Spoken at a low or high volume.
– The moonroof or windows are
open.
– Passengers are talking while
voice commands are spoken.
– The air conditioning speed is set high.
–
The air conditioning vents are
turned towards the microphone.
. In the following conditions, the sys-
tem may not recognize the command
properly and using voice commands
may not be possible:
–The command is incorrect or
unclear. Note that certain words,
accents or speech patterns may be
difficult for the system to recognize.
– There is excessive background
noise, such as wind noise.
Audio/Voice command system
–CONTINUED –5-81

Starting and operating/Preparing to drive
.A vehiclefails the OBDII inspection if
the “CHECK ENGINE ”warning light is not
properly operating (light is illuminated or is
not working due to a burned out bulb) or
there is one or more diagnostic trouble
codes stored in the vehicle’ s computer.
. A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBDII system readiness monitors “NOT
READY ”is greater than one. If the
vehicle’ s battery has been recently re-
placed or disconnected, the OBDII system
inspection may indicate that the vehicle is
not ready for the emission test. Under this
condition, the vehicle driver should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few
days to reset the readiness monitors and
return for an emission re-inspection.
. Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their SUBARU Dealer for
service.
Some states still use dynamometers in
their emission inspection program. A
dynamometer is a treadmill or roller-like
testing device that allows your vehicle ’s
wheels to turn while the vehicle remains in
one place. Prior to your vehicle being put
on a dynamometer, tell your emission
inspector
not to place your SUBARU
AWD vehicle on a two-wheel dynam-
ometer. Otherwise, serious transmis-
sion damage will result. 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 proper
inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks and check that no small animal is
under the vehicle.
4. Check that no small animal enters the
engine compartment.
5. Check that the hood and rear gate are
fully closed.
6. Check the adjustment of the seat.
7. Check the adjustment of the inside
and outside mirrors.
8. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
9. Check the operation of the warning
and indicator lights when the ignition
switch is turned to the
“ON ”position.
10. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.
7-8

and other obstructions on the
ground when parking. The under-
spoilers could be damaged by con-
tact with them.Hill start assist system
WARNING
.The Hill start assist system is a
device only for helping the driver
to START the vehicle on an uphill
grade. To prevent accidents
when the vehicle is parked on a
slope, be sure to firmly set the
parking brake. When setting the
parking brake, make sure that the
vehicle remains stationary when
the clutch pedal (MT models) and
brake pedal (both MT and CVT
models) are released.
. Do not turn the ignition switch to
the “LOCK ”/“ OFF ”position while
the Hill start assist system is
operating. The Hill start assist
system will be deactivated and
may lead to an accident.
The Hill start assist system is a device to
make the following vehicle operations
easier.
1) Starting forward facing uphill
2) Starting backward facing downhill
A) Brake pedal (both MT models and CVT models)
B) Clutch pedal (MT models only)
In both these cases, the Hill start assist
system operates under the following con-
Starting and operating/Hill start assist system
–CONTINUED –7-49

Starting and operating/Reverse Automatic Braking System
nated, the Reverse Automatic Braking
system cannot be operated.
.In the following cases, the system
may not be able to properly detect an
obstacle. Promptly contact a SUBARU
dealer to have the system inspected.
–A sticker, paint, or a chemical is
applied to the rear bumper near the
sonar sensor
– The rear bumper is modified
– The rear bumper has been re-
moved and reattached
– The ground clearance is changed
due to the vehicle ’s loading condi-
tion or modification
– Ice, snow or mud is adhered to
the rear bumper near the sonar
sensor
– The rear bumper is exposed to
strong impact, or the rear bumper is
deformed
. On a steep hill, the system ’s auto-
matic braking ability will be reduced.
. The system is designed to avoid
collisions by automatic hard braking
when the vehicle ’s reversing speed is
less than approximately 3 mph (5
km/h). However, the system does not
guarantee that the vehicle will be able
to avoid collisions in any situation.
. If the vehicle is reversed at an
extremely slow speed, the driver ’s operation may be prioritized. In this
case, automatic braking will not oper-
ate.
.
The system may not be able to
detect the following objects
–Sharp or thin objects such as
poles, fences and ropes which may
not reflect the sound wave emitted
from the sonar sensor
– Objects that are too close to the
rear bumper when the select lever is
set to the “R ” position
– Objects with a surface which may
not reflect the sound wave emitted
from the sonar sensor such as a
chain link fence.
. Objects the system is not designed
to detect
–Pedestrians
– Moving objects including moving
vehicles
– Objects which absorb sound
waves such as cloth or snow
– Objects whose surface has a
diagonal angle
– Objects that are low to the
ground such as parking blocks
– Objects that are high above the
ground such as objects hanging
from above
. The system may not be able to
properly detect objects or may cause a system malfunction when the follow-
ing conditions exist
High frequency sound from other
sources are nearby– Horn sound from another vehicle
– Engine sound from other vehi-
cles
– Sound of an air brake
– Vehicle detection equipment or a
sonar from another vehicle
– A sound wave with a frequency
similar to the vehicle ’s system is
transmitted nearby
– A
vehicle equipped with the same
system is reversing toward your
reversing direction
Weather conditions – Extremely high or extremely low
temperatures in which the area near
the sonar sensor becomes too hot
or too cold to operate
– The rear bumper near the sonar
sensors is exposed to heavy rain or
a significant amount of water
– Fog, snow or sandstorm, etc.
– Air is moving rapidly such as
when a strong wind is blowing
7-68

Parts attached to the rear bumper
near the sonar sensor– Commercial electronic parts (fog
light, fender pole, radio antenna) or
commercial attachment parts (trai-
ler hitch, bicycle carrier, bumper
guard) are attached
– Parts that emit high frequency
sound, such as a horn or speaker,
are attached
Vehicle conditions – The vehicle is significantly in-
clined
– The ground clearance is signifi-
cantly reduced due to the vehicle ’s
loading condition, etc.
– When the sonar sensor is mis-
aligned due to a collision or an
accident
Surrounding environment – A cloth banner, flag, hanging
branch or railroad crossing bars
are present in the reversing direc-
tion
– When reversing on a gravel or
grassy area
– When reversing in an area where
objects or walls are adjacent to the
vehicle such as narrow tunnels,
narrow bridges, narrow roads or narrow garages
–
Wheel tracks or a hole is present
in the ground of the reversing
direction
– When reversing over a drainage
cover (grate cover)
– The path of the reversing direc-
tion is inclined such as on a steep
uphill
– A curb is present in the reversing
direction
– When reversing downhill
& Reverse Automatic Braking
System operation
When the Reverse Automatic Braking
System is in operation, the range between
the vehicle and the detected object will be
indicated on the multi function display.
Also, warning sounds will activate in 3
levels to warn the driver of a potential
collision.
Starting and operating/Reverse Automatic Braking System
–CONTINUED –7-69

Driving tips/On–road and off –road driving
conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.
There is little difference in handling,
however, during extremely sharp turns or
sudden braking. Therefore, when driving
down a slope or turning corners, be sure
to reduce your speed and maintain an
ample distance from other vehicles.
. Always check the cold tire pressure
before starting to drive. The recom-
mended tire pressure is provided on the
tire placard, which is located under the
door latch on the driver ’s side.
. Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle
under hard-driving conditions such as
steep hills or dusty roads will necessitate
more frequent replacement of the follow-
ing items than that specified in the
“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”.
– Engine oil
– Brake fluid
– Rear differential gear oil
– Manual transmission oil (MT mod-
els)
– Continuously variable transmission
fluid (CVT models)
– Front differential gear oil (CVT
models)
. There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detailed information, refer to “Towing ”
F 9-13.On-road and off-road driving
WARNING
. In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more
likely to die than a person wear-
ing a seat belt. You the driver and
all your passengers should fas-
ten the seatbelts before starting
to drive in order to minimize the
chance of serious injury or death.
. Do not make sharp turns and
quick maneuvers unless abso-
lutely unavoidable. Such actions
are dangerous as you may lose
control, possibly resulting in a
rollover which could cause death
or serious injury.
. Always maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden brak-
ing or under other similar condi-
tions.
. Whenever strong crosswinds are
present, slow down sufficiently
to maintain control of your vehi-
cle. Remember that your vehicle,
with its higher profile and center of gravity, is more likely to be
affected by crosswinds than or-
dinary passenger cars.
. Always use the utmost care in
driving –overconfidence be-
cause you are driving an All-
Wheel Drive model could easily
lead to a serious accident.
Your vehicle is classified as a utility
vehicle. Utility vehicles feature a higher
ground clearance which enables them to
be used for wide applications including off-
road driving. But please keep in mind that
your vehicle is neither a conventional off-
road vehicle nor an all-terrain vehicle. A
higher center of gravity in relation to the
tread width as compared with ordinary
passenger cars makes vehicles of this
type more likely to roll over. In reality, utility
vehicles have a significantly higher roll-
over rate than other types of vehicles. The
high ground clearance of this vehicle is a
real advantage, giving you a better view of
the road and allowing you to anticipate
problems earlier. However, remember that
your utility vehicle is not designed for high-
speed cornering comparable to ordinary
passenger cars and that your vehicle
could roll over if you make a sharp turn
at high speed.
If you take your SUBARU off-road, certain
8-6

common sense precautions such as those
in the following list should be taken.
.Make certain that you and all of your
passengers are wearing seatbelts.
. Carry some emergency equipment,
such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel,
wheel blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or
citizens band radio.
. Drive carefully. Do not take unneces-
sary risks by driving in dangerous areas or
over rough terrain.
. Slow down and employ extra caution at
all times. When driving off-road, you will
not have the benefit of marked traffic
lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and
the like.
. Do not drive across steep slopes.
Instead, drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. A vehicle can much
more easily tip over sideways than it can
end over end. Avoid driving straight up or
down slopes that are too steep.
. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, espe-
cially at higher speeds.
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk the
wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
. If driving through water, such as when
crossing shallow streams, first check the depth of the water and the bottom of the
stream bed for firmness and ensure that
the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly
and cross the stream without stopping.
The water should be shallow enough that
it does not reach the vehicle’
s under-
carriage. Water entering the engine air
intake or the exhaust pipe or water
splashing onto electrical parts may da-
mage your vehicle and may cause it to
stall. Never attempt to drive through
rushing water; regardless of its depth, it
can wash away the ground from under
your tires, resulting in possible loss of
traction and even vehicle rollover.
. Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in sand,
mud or water. Do this by driving slowly
and stepping on the brake pedal. Repeat
that process several times to dry out the
brake discs and brake pads.
. Do not drive or park over or near
flammable materials such as dry grass or
fallen leaves, as they may burn easily. The
exhaust system is very hot while the
engine is running and right after engine
stops. This could create a fire hazard.
. After driving through tall grass, mud,
rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that there
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones,
sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering to the
underbody, a mechanical breakdown or
fire could occur.
.
Secure all cargo carried inside the
vehicle and make certain that it is not
piled higher than the seatbacks. During
sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo
could be thrown around in the vehicle and
cause injury. 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.
. If you must rock the vehicle to free it
from sand or mud, depress the accelerator
pedal slightly and move the shift lever/
select lever back and forth between “1”/
“D ”and “R”repeatedly. 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
slippery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st. For CVT models with
manual mode, refer to “Selection of
manual mode ”F 7-27.
. Never equip your vehicle with tires
larger than those specified in this manual.
. Wash the vehicle’ s underbody after off-
road driving. Suspension components are
particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they
Driving tips/On –road and off –road driving
–CONTINUED –8-7