SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 2004 2.G Owners Manual

9-20
In case of emergency
"
Use only the specified towing hook and tie-
down hook. Never use suspension parts or oth-
er body parts for towing or tie-down purposes." Never use the tie-down hook on the under-
side of the vehicle closest to the muffler for
towing purposes.
! 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 selector lever into the “P” position for au-
tomatic transmission vehicles 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.
If your vehicle has a front underspoiler 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.
HG9023AA

9-21
In case of emergency
– CONTINUED –
!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 transmis-
sion 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 dam-
age to the vehicle.
" Never turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position while the vehicle is being towed be- cause the steering wheel and the direction of
the wheels will be locked. "
Remember that the brake booster and power
steering do not function 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.
" If transmission failure occurs, transport your
vehicle on a flat-bed truck. " Do not run the engine while being towed us-
ing this method. Transmission damage could
result if the vehicle is towed with the engine
running. " For vehicles with automatic transmission,
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.
HG9024AA

9-22
In case of emergency
Rear gate – if the rear gate cannot be
unlocked
In the event that you cannot unlock the rear gate by
operating the power door locking switches or the re-
mote keyless entry system, you can unlock it from in-
side the cargo area.
0
1. Remove the access cover at the bottom-center of
the rear gate trim.
2. Locate the rear gate lock release lever behind the
rear gate trim panel.
3. Unlock the rear gate by pressing the lever inside
the trim to the left.
4. Open the rear gate from outside by raising the rear
gate handle.
UG9522BA
UG9523BA

9-23
In case of emergency
– CONTINUED –
Moonroof – if the moonroof cannot be
closed
If the moonroof cannot be closed with the moonroof
switch, you can close the moonroof manually.
1. Take out the hex-headed wrench from the glove
compartment and screwdriver from the tool bag.
2. Remove the map light lens by prying the edge of
the lens using a flat-bladed screwdriver.
3. Remove the two screws that retain the moonroof
switch body. Then, remove the moonroof switch. 4. Insert the wrench in the end of the motor shaft.
To lower the moonroof, turn the wrench clockwise.
To close the moonroof, turn the wrench counterclock- wise.
Have your vehicle checked and repaired by an autho-
rized SUBARU dealer.
UG9519BA
UG9520BA

9-24
In case of emergency
Maintenance tools
Your vehicle is equipped with the following mainte-
nance tools:
Wheel cover remover (vehicles with wheel covers)
Screwdriver
Towing hook (eye bolt)
Wheel nut wrench
Hex-headed wrench (vehicles with moonroof) !
Jack and jack handle
The jack is stored on the left side of the trunk or cargo
area.
To take out the jack, turn the jackscrew counterclock-
UG9521AA
UG9505BA

9-25
In case of emergency
– CONTINUED –
wise to loosen it, then remove the jack.
Sedan
1) Jack
2) Jack handle
3) Spare tire Wagon
1) Jack
2) Jack handle
3) Spare tire
The jack handle is stored under the spare tire cover.
For how to use the jack, refer to “Flat tires”.
1
2 3
UG9501BB
3
1
2
UG9502BB

10-1
10
Appearance care
Exterior care .................................................. 10-2 Washing ............................................................. 10-2
Waxing and polishing ....................................... 10-3
Cleaning aluminum wheels .............................. 10-3
Corrosion protection .................................... 10-4 Most common causes of corrosion ................ 10-4
To help prevent corrosion ............................... 10-5
Cleaning the interior ..................................... 10-6 Seat fabric ......................................................... 10-6
Leather seat materials ...................................... 10-6
Synthetic leather upholstery ........................... 10-6
Climate control panel, audio panel, instrument panel, console panel, and switches ............. 10-7

10-2
Appearance care
Appearance careExterior care !
Washing
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s beauty is fre-
quent washing. Wash the vehicle at least once a
month to avoid contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of luke-
warm or cold water. Do not wash the vehicle with hot
water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot and bird droppings
should be washed off by using a light detergent, as re-
quired. If you use a light detergent, make certain that
it is a neutral detergent. Do not use strong soap or
chemical detergents. All cleaning agents should be
promptly flushed from the surface and not allowed to
dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water off with a
chamois or soft cloth.
NOTE
When having your vehicle washed in an automatic
car wash, make sure beforehand that the car wash
is of suitable type. Automatic car wash brushes or
other equipment may damage the rear wiper and
rear/roof spoiler (if equipped).
" When washing the vehicle, the brakes may
get wet. As a result, the brake stopping dis-
tance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the
vehicle at a safe speed while lightly pressing
the brake pedal to heat up the brakes. " Do not wash the engine compartment and
area adjacent to it. If water enters the engine air
intake, electrical parts or the power steering flu-
id reservoir, it will cause engine trouble or
faulty power steering respectively.
! Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road sur-
faces are extremely corrosive, accelerating the corro-
sion of underbody components, such as the exhaust
system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor pan
and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the
fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent inter-
vals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents.
Mud and sand adhering to the underbody components may accelerate their corrosion.
After driving off-road or on muddy or sandy roads,
wash the mud and sand off the underbody. Carefully

10-3
Appearance care
– CONTINUED –
flush the suspension and axle parts, as they are par-
ticularly prone to mud and sand buildup. Do not use a
sharp-edged tool to remove caked mud.
NOTE
Be careful not to damage brake hoses, sensor har-
nesses, and other parts when washing suspen-
sion components. !Using a warm water washer
" Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm) or more be-
tween the washer nozzle and the vehicle. " Do not wash the same area continuously.
" If a stain will not come out easily, wash by hand.
Some warm water washers are of the high tempera-
ture, high pressure type, and they can damage or de-
form the resin parts such as mouldings, or cause wa-
ter to leak into the vehicle. ! Waxing and polishing
Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing and
polishing.
Use a good quality polish and wax and apply them ac-
cording to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wax or pol-
ish when the painted surface is cool.
Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim, as well as
the painted surfaces. Loss of wax on a painted surface leads to loss of the original luster and also quickens
the deterioration of the surface. It is recommended
that a coat of wax be applied at least once a month, or
whenever the surface no longer repels water.
If the appearance of the paint has diminished to the
point where the luster or tone cannot be restored,
lightly polish the surface with a fine-grained com-
pound. Never polish just the affected area, but include
the surrounding area as well. Always polish in only
one direction. A No. 2000 grain compound is recom-
mended. Never use a coarse-grained compound.
Coarser grained compounds have a smaller grain-size
number and could damage the paint. After polishing
with a compound, coat with wax to restore the original
luster. Frequent polishing with a compound or an in-
correct polishing technique will result in removing the
paint layer and exposing the undercoat. When in
doubt, it is always best to contact your SUBARU deal-
er or an auto paint specialist.
NOTE
Be careful not to block the windshield washer noz-
zles with wax when waxing the vehicle. !
Cleaning aluminum wheels
" Promptly wipe the aluminum wheels clean of any
kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left on too long, it may