ignition SUBARU IMPREZA 2006 2.G Repair Manual

Starting and operating 7-13
– CONTINUED –
The driver’s control center differential al-
lows you to freely change the degree of
limitation of the differential action (limited
slip differential (LSD) torque) of your vehi-
cle ’s center differential.
By using the center differential control di-
al, you can set an initial LSD torque to
match the road surface conditions, driving
conditions and your driving style.
1) LSD torque
2) Traction torque
A) Initial LSD torque (adjustable)
B) Mechanical LSD torque
NOTE
If you rapidly depress and release the
accelerator pedal while driving at low
speed, you may hear a knocking sound
from the vicinity of the center differen-
tial and rear differential. This sound oc-
curs because of the structure of the
center differential. It does not indicate
a problem.
Auto mode
In the auto mode, the system estimates
the driving and road conditions using sig-
nals from the wheel speed sensor, throttle
position sensor, steering angle sensor
and brake switch, etc. According to the re-
sult, it electronically and automatically
controls the degree of limitation of the dif-
ferential action (LSD torque) to optimize
the differential action of the center differ-
ential. When the ignition switch is turned
ON, the “AUTO ” indicator light in the com-
bination meter comes on. The system can
be switched to a manual mode.
Manual mode
In the manual mode, you can use the cen-
ter differential control dial to adjust the ini-
In the event of failure of the driver
’s
control center differential, the “ ”
indicator light will flash. Have the
vehicle inspected by your SUBARU
dealer.
700378
LOCK1
2A
B
700123

Starting and operating 7-17
– CONTINUED –
: With the brake pedal depressed,
move the lever along the gate.
: Move the lever along the gate.
The selector lever has seven positions.
P (Park)
This position is for parking the vehicle and
starting the engine.
In this position, the transmission is me-
chanically locked to prevent the vehicle
from rolling freely.
When you park the vehicle, first set the
parking brake fully, then shift into the “P ”
position. Do not hold the vehicle with only
the transmission.
A shift interlock function is employed in
the automatic transmission system to en- sure safe starting of the vehicle.
To shift the selector lever from the
“P ” to
the any other position, you have to de-
press the brake pedal fully when the igni-
tion switch is in the “ON ” position. This
prevents the vehicle from lurching when it
is started.
If the shift lever does not move from the “ P ” position with the brake pedal de-
pressed, refer to the “Shift lock release ”
section in this chapter.
R (Reverse)
This position is for backing the vehicle.
To shift from the “N ” to “R ” position, first
stop the vehicle completely then move the
lever to the “R ” position.
N (Neutral)
This position is for restarting a stalled en-
gine.
In this position the wheels and transmis-
sion are not locked. In this position, the
transmission is neutral; the vehicle will roll
freely, even on the slightest incline unless
the parking brake or foot brake is on.
Avoid coasting with the transmission neu-
tral.
During coasting, there is no engine brak-
ing effect.
NOTE
If you stop the engine with the selector
lever in the “N ” position, move the se-
lector lever to the “P ” position immedi-
ately. Otherwise, you may find that the
selector lever soon cannot be moved
to the “P ” position. If you find that the
selector lever cannot be moved from
the “N ” position to the “P ” position,
turn the ignition switch to the “ON ” po-
sition and try again.
D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving.
The transmission automatically shifts into
a suitable gear from 1st to 4th according to
the vehicle speed and the acceleration
you require.
When more acceleration is required in this
position, press the accelerator pedal fully
to the floor and hold that position. The
transmission will automatically downshift
to 3rd, 2nd or 1st gear. When you release
the pedal, the transmission will return to
700332
Do not drive the vehicle with the se-
lector lever in the “N ” (neutral) posi-
tion. Engine braking has no effect in
this condition and the risk of an ac-
cident is consequently increased.

Starting and operating 7-19
– CONTINUED –
NOTE
In order to prevent over-revving during
deceleration of the vehicle, the trans-
mission will remain in the current gear
if the speed of the vehicle is in excess
of the Maximum Allowable Speed for
the gear to which the selector lever has
been moved.
Driving tips
Always apply the foot or parking brake
when the vehicle is stopped in the “D ”, “3 ”,
“ 2 ”, “1 ” or “R ” position.
Always set the parking brake when parking your vehicle. Do not hold the vehi-
cle with only the transmission.
Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary
position on an uphill grade by using the “ D ”, “3 ”, “2 ”, or “1 ” position. Use the brake
instead.
The engine may, on rare occasions, knock
when the vehicle rapidly accelerates or
rapidly pulls away from a standstill. This
phenomenon is not an indication of a
problem in your vehicle.
Shift lock release
If the selector lever does not move from
the “P ” position with the brake pedal de-
pressed and the ignition switch in the “ON ”
position, perform the following steps:
To override the shift lock:
1. Set the parking brake and stop the en-
gine.
2. Take out the screwdriver from the tool
bag.
3. Remove the cover by prying on the
edge with the screwdriver.
4. Insert the screwdriver into the hole.
5. Push down on the screwdriver and
move the selector lever from the “P ” to the
“ N ” position.
6. Remove the screwdriver from the hole.
Depress the brake pedal and start the en-
When shifting down a gear, ensure
that the vehicle is not travelling at a
speed exceeding the Maximum Al-
lowable Speed for the gear which is
about to be selected. Failure to ob-
serve this precaution can lead to en-
gine over-revving and this in turn
can result in engine damage.
In addition, sudden application of
engine brakes when the vehicle is
travelling on a slippery surface can
lead to wheel locking; as a conse-
quence, control of the vehicle may
be lost and the risk of an accident in-
creased.
700059
700060

Starting and operating 7-23
does not indicate any abnormal condition.
ABS warning light
The ABS warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON ” posi-
tion and goes out after approximately two
seconds.
This is an indication that the ABS system
is working properly.
When driving with an insufficient battery
voltage such as when the engine is jump
started, the ABS warning light may come
on. This is due to the low battery voltage
and does not indicate a malfunction.
When the battery becomes fully charged,
the light will go out.
NOTE
If the warning light behavior is as de-
scribed in the following, the ABS sys-
tem may be considered normal.
The warning light comes on right af-
ter the engine is started but goes out immediately, remaining off.
The warning light remains on after
the engine has been started, but it goes
out when the vehicle speed reaches
approximately 8 mph (12 km/h).
The warning light comes on during
driving, but it goes out immediately
and remains off.
700359
If the warning light behaves as fol-
lows, the ABS system may not be
working properly.
When the warning light is on, the
ABS function shuts down; however,
the conventional brake system con-
tinues to operate normally.
The warning light does not come
on when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON ” position.
The warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the “ ON ” position, but it does not go
out even when the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 8 mph (12
km/h).
The warning light comes on dur-
ing driving.
If these occur, have the ABS system
repaired at the first available oppor-
tunity by your SUBARU dealer.

Starting and operating 7-27
– CONTINUED –
Cruise control
Cruise control enables you to maintain a
constant vehicle speed without holding
your foot on the accelerator pedal and it is
operative when the vehicle speed is 25
mph (40 km/h) or more. Make sure the
main switch is turned “OFF ” when the
cruise control is not in use to avoid unin-
tentionally setting the cruise control.
NOTE
If you move the cruise control lever or
press the main switch button while
turning the ignition switch “ON ”, the
cruise control function is deactivated
and the “CRUISE ” indicator light flash-
es. To reactivate the cruise control
function, turn the ignition switch back
to the “ACC ” or “LOCK ” position, and
then turn it again to the “ON ” position.
To set cruise control0
1. Push the main switch button.
The “ ” indicator light on the com-
bination meter will come on.
2. Depress the accelerator pedal until the vehicle reaches the desired speed.
3. Push the control lever downward in the “
SET/COAST ” direction and release it.
Then release the accelerator pedal.
At this time, the “ ” indicator light is
illuminated in the combination meter.
Do not use the cruise control under
any of the following conditions. This
may cause loss of vehicle control:
driving up or down a steep grade
driving on slippery or winding
roads
driving in heavy traffic
300332
700361
300333
700362

7-28 Starting and operating
The vehicle will maintain the desired
speed.
Vehicle speed can be temporarily in-
creased while driving with the cruise con-
trol activated. Simply depress the acceler-
ator pedal to accelerate the vehicle. When
the accelerator pedal is released, the ve-
hicle will return to and maintain the previ-
ous cruising speed.
To temporarily cancel the
cruise control
There are five ways to cancel the cruise
control temporarily:
Pull the control lever in the “CANCEL ”
direction.
Depress the brake pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal (manual trans-
mission vehicles only).
Shift the selector lever into the “N ” posi-
tion (automatic transmission vehicles
only).
Shift the shift lever into neutral position
(manual transmission vehicles only).
The “ ” indicator light in the combi-
nation meter goes off when the cruise
control is cancelled.
To resume the cruise control after it has
been temporarily canceled and with vehi-
cle speed of approximately 20 mph (32
km/h) or more, push the control lever up-
ward in the “RES/ACC ” direction to return
to the original cruising speed automatical-
ly.
The “ ” indicator light in the combi-
nation meter will automatically come on at
this time.
To turn off the cruise control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise
control:
Push the main switch again.
Turn the ignition switch to the “ACC ” or
“ LOCK ” position (but only when the vehi-
cle is completely stopped).
To change the cruising speed
To increase the speed (by control le-
ver)
Push the control lever upward in the “ RES/ACC ” direction and hold it until the
vehicle reaches the desired speed. Then,
release the control lever. The vehicle
speed at that moment will be memorized
and treated as the new set speed.
When the difference between the actual
vehicle speed and the set speed is less
than 4 mph (6.8 km/h), the set speed can
be increased 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time
by pressing the control lever upward in the “ RES/ACC ” direction quickly.
700161
300334

Driving tips 8-3
– CONTINUED –
NOTE
Due to the expansion and contraction
of the metals used in the manufacture
of the exhaust system, you may hear a
crackling sound coming from the ex-
haust system for a short time after the
engine has been shut off. This sound is
normal.
Catalytic converter
Turbo models
Non-turbo modelsThe catalytic converter is installed in the
exhaust system. It serves as catalyst to
reduce HC, CO and NOx in exhaust gas-
es, thus providing cleaner exhaust.
To avoid damage to the catalytic convert-
er:
Use only unleaded fuel. Even a small
amount of leaded fuel will damage the cat-
alytic converter.
Never start the engine by pushing or
pulling the vehicle.
Avoid racing the engine.
Never turn off the ignition switch while
the vehicle is moving.
Keep your engine tuned-up. If you feel
the engine running rough (misfiring, back-
firing or incomplete combustion), have
your vehicle checked and repaired by an
authorized SUBARU dealer.
Do not apply undercoating or rust pre-
vention treatment to the heat shield of cat-
alytic converter and the exhaust system.
If 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.
Keep the trunk lid (Sedan) or rear
gate (Wagon) closed while driving
to prevent exhaust gas from en-
tering the vehicle.
800232
800218
Avoid fire hazards. Do not drive or
park the vehicle anywhere near
flammable materials (e.g. grass,
paper, rags or leaves), because
the catalytic converter operates at
very high temperatures.

9-2 In case of emergency
In case of emergencyIf you park your vehicle in
case of an emergency
The hazard warning flasher should be
used in day or night to warn other drivers
when you have to park your vehicle under
emergency conditions.
Avoid stopping on the road. It is best to
safely pull off the road if a problem occurs.
The hazard warning flasher can be acti-
vated regardless of the ignition switch po-
sition.
Turn on the hazard warning by pushing
the hazard warning flasher switch. Turn it
off by pushing the switch again.
NOTE
When the hazard warning flasher is on, the turn signals do not work.
Temporary spare tire
The temporary spare tire is smaller and
lighter than a conventional tire and is de-
signed for emergency use only. Remove
the temporary spare tire and re-install the
conventional tire as soon as possible be-
cause the spare tire is designed only for
temporary use.
Check the inflation pressure of the tempo-
rary spare tire periodically to keep the tire
ready for use. The correct pressure is
60
psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kg/cm
2) .
When using the temporary spare tire, note
the following.
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
Do not put a tire chain on the temporary
spare tire. Because of the smaller tire
size, a tire chain will not fit properly.
Do not use two or more temporary
spare tires at the same time.
Do not drive over obstacles. This tire
has a smaller diameter, so road clearance
is reduced.
300117

9-14 In case of emergency
or “1st ” for manual transmission vehicles.
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.
Towing with all wheels on the
ground
1. Check the transmission and differential
oil levels and add oil to bring it to the upper
level if necessary.
2. Release the parking brake and put the
transmission in neutral.
3. The ignition switch should be in the“ ACC ” position while the vehicle is being
towed.
4. Take up slack in the towline slowly to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
If your vehicle has a front under-
spoiler and rear underspoiler (both
optional), be careful not to scrape
them when placing the vehicle on
the carrier and when removing the
vehicle from the carrier.
900065
Never turn the ignition switch to
the “LOCK ” position while the ve-
hicle is being towed because the
steering wheel and the direction
of the wheels will be locked.
Remember that the brake booster
and power steering do not func-
tion when the engine is not run-
ning. Because the engine is
turned off, it will take greater ef-
fort to operate the brake pedal and
steering wheel.
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 en-
gine running.
For vehicles 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 distances,
transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.

11-4 Maintenance and service
Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment
When you do checking or ser-
vicing in the engine compart-
ment while the engine is run-
ning
Engine hood
0
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the
windshield, return them to their original
positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the
instrument panel.
Wear adequate eye protection to
guard against getting oil or fluids
in your eyes. If something does
get in your eyes, thoroughly wash
them out with clean water.
Do not tamper with the wiring of
the SRS airbag system or seatbelt
pretensioner system, or attempt
to take its connectors apart, as
that may activate the system or it
can render it inoperative. The wir-
ing and connectors of these sys-
tems are yellow for easy identifi-
cation. NEVER use a circuit tester
for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pre-
tensioner needs service, consult
your nearest SUBARU dealer.
Always stop the engine and set
the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving.
Always let the engine cool down.
Engine parts become very hot
when the engine is running and
remain hot for some time after the
engine is stopped.
Do not spill engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.
This may cause a fire.
Always remove the key from the
ignition switch. When the ignition
switch is in the “ON ” position, the
cooling fan may operate suddenly
even when the engine is stopped.
A running engine can be dangerous.
Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from the cooling
fan, belts and any other moving en-
gine parts. Removing rings, watch-
es and ties is advisable.
B00002