engine SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 2012 4.G Owner's Guide

Light control switch
The light control switch operates when the
key is inserted into the ignition switch.
Regardless of the position of the light
control switch, the illuminated lights are
turned off when the key is removed from
the ignition switch. NOTE
Even if the key is removed from the
ignition switch, the lights can be illu-
minated by operating the light control
switch from“OFF ”to the “
”or “”
position. In this case, if the driver ’s
door is opened, a chirp sound will
inform the driver that the lights are illuminated.
CAUTION
. Use of any lights for a long period
of time while the engine is not
running can cause the battery todischarge.
. Before leaving the vehicle, make
sure that the light control switch
is turned to the “OFF ”position. If
the vehicle is left unattended for
a long time with the light control
switch set to a position otherthan “OFF ”, the battery may be discharged.
& Headlights
To turn on the headlights, turn the knob on
the end of the turn signal lever.
first position
Instrument panel illumination, tail lights,
front side marker lights and license plate
lights are on.
second position
Headlights, instrument panel illumination,
tail lights, front side marker lights, and
license plate lights are on. &
High/low beam change (dim- mer)
To change from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal lever forward. When
the headlights are on high beam, the high
beam indicator light “
”on the combina-
tion meter also illuminates.
To switch back to low beam, pull the lever
back to the detent position. Instruments and controls
3-29
– CONTINUED –

3-30Instruments and controls
&Headlight flasher
To flash the headlights, pull the lever
toward you and then release it. The high
beam will remain on for as long as you
hold the lever. The headlight flasher works
even though the light switch is in the“OFF ”position.
When the headlights are on high beam,
the high beam indicator light “
”on the
combination meter also illuminates.
CAUTION
Do not hold the lever in the flashing
position for more than just a fewseconds. &
Daytime running light system
WARNING
The brightness of the illumination of
the high beam headlights is reduced
by the daytime running light system.
The light switch must always be
turned to the “
”position when it
is dark outside.
The high beam headlights will automati-
cally illuminate at reduced brightness
when the engine has started, under the
following conditions: . The parking brake is fully released.
. The light switch is in the “OFF ”or “
”
position. NOTE
When the light switch is in the “
”
position, the front side marker lights,
tail lights and license plate lights areilluminated. Turn signal lever
To activate the right turn signal, push the
turn signal lever up. To activate the left
turn signal, push the turn signal lever
down. When the turn is finished, the lever
will return automatically. If the lever does
not return after cornering, return the lever
to the neutral position by hand.
To signal a lane change, push the turn
signal lever up or down slightly and hold it
during the lane change. The turn signal
indicator lights will flash in the direction of
the turn or lane change. The lever will
return automatically to the neutral position
when you release it.

Ventilator.............................................................. 4-2
Airflow selection ................................................. 4-2
Center and side ventilators .................................. 4-3
Manual climate control system (if equipped) .......................................................... 4-3
Control panel ...................................................... 4-3
Heater operation ................................................. 4-5
Air conditioner operation ..................................... 4-7
Automatic climate control system (if equipped) .......................................................... 4-8
Control panel ...................................................... 4-8
To use as full-automatic climate control system .............................................................. 4-8
To use as semi-automatic climate control system .............................................................. 4-8
Fan speed control dial ......................................... 4-9
Temperature control dial ...................................... 4-9
Airflow control dial .............................................. 4-9
Air inlet selection button .................................... 4-10 Air conditioner button
........................................ 4-11
Temperature sensors ......................................... 4-11
Operating tips for heater and air conditioner ...................................................... 4-12
Cleaning ventilation grille ................................... 4-12
Efficient cooling after parking in direct sunlight ........................................................... 4-12
Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant circuit .............................................................. 4-12
Checking air conditioning system before summer season ............................................................ 4-12
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity and low temperature weather conditions ................. 4-12
Air conditioner compressor shut-off when engine is heavily loaded .............................................. 4-13
Refrigerant for your climate control system ... ..... 4-13
Air filtration system ........................................... 4-13
Replacing an air filter ......................................... 4-13Climate control
4

4-4Climate control
! Fan speed control dial
The fan operates only when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON ”position. The
fan speed control dial is used to select
four fan speeds. ! Airflow control dial
Each dial position activates the following
air outlets.
(Ventilation): Instrument panel outlets
(Bi-level): Instrument panel outlets and
foot outlets
(Heat): Foot outlets, both side outlets of
the instrument panel and some through
windshield defroster outlets (A small
amount of air flows to the windshield and
both side windows to prevent fogging.)
(Heat-def): Windshield defroster out-
lets, foot outlets and both side outlets of
the instrument panel
: Windshield defroster outlets and both
side outlets of the instrument panel
For details, refer to “Airflow selection ”F 4-
2. NOTE
When the dial is placed in the “
”or
“” position, the air conditioner com-
pressor operates automatically regard- less of the position of the air condi-
tioner button to defog the windshield
more quickly. However the indicator on
the air conditioner button will not
illuminate. At the same time, the air
inlet selection is automatically set to“
outside air ”mode.
In this state, you cannot select “recir-
culation ”mode by manually pressing
the air inlet selection button.
Also, you cannot stop the air condi-
tioner compressor by pressing the air
conditioner button. ! Air conditioner button
The air conditioner operates only when
the engine is running.
Push the air conditioner button while the
fan is in operation to turn on the air conditioner. The indicator light will illumi-nate.
Push it again to turn off the air conditioner. !
Air inlet selection button
ON position (recirculation): Interior air is
recirculated inside the vehicle. Push the
air inlet selection button to the ON posi-
tion. The indicator light will illuminate.
Place the air inlet selection button to the
ON position for fast cooling with the air
conditioner or when driving on a dustyroad.
OFF position (outside air): Outside air is
drawn into the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet selection button again to
the OFF position. The indicator light will
turn off.

4-8Climate control
Automatic climate control
system (if equipped)
Although this climate control system can
be used as a full-automatic climate control
system, it can also, if desired, be used as
a semi-automatic climate control system.
When it is used as a full-automatic climate
control system, the outlet air temperature,
fan speed, airflow distribution, air inlet
control, and air conditioner compressor
operation are all automatically controlled
to maintain a constant, comfortable tem-
perature inside the vehicle. NOTE .Operate the automatic climate con-
trol system when the engine is running. . When the engine coolant is cold, the
blower does not run.. In the “AUTO ”mode, when the air
temperature in the passenger compart-
ment is sufficiently cool, the air condi-
tioner compressor does not operate.
For efficient defogging or dehumidify-
ing in cold weather, press the “A/C ”
button to operate the air conditioner
compressor. &
Control panel
1) Temperature control dial
2) Fan speed control dial
3) Airflow control dial
4) Control switch of the defogger and deicer
system (Refer to “Defogger and deicer ”
F 3-45.)
5) Air inlet selection button
6) Air conditioner button &
To use as full-automatic cli-
mate control system
Place the temperature control dial in the
position for your desired temperature, then
set the other dials and buttons as de-
scribed in the following. The system ’s
functions will then switch to AUTO mode
and be controlled automatically. . Airflow control dial: AUTO position
. Fan speed control dial: AUTO position
& To use as semi-automatic
climate control system
Each function can be individually set to
AUTO mode independently of the others.
Any function set to AUTO mode is con-
trolled automatically. Any function not set
to AUTO mode can be manually adjusted
as desired.
The temperature can be set within a range
of 65 to 85 8F (20 to 30 8C).

&Fan speed control dial
The fan operates only with the ignition
switch in the ON position. The fan speed
control dial is used to select the AUTO
(automatic control) mode or to select the
desired fan speed. The dial ’s positions
and their functions are as follows. OFF: The fan does not operate.
AUTO: The fan speed is adjusted auto-
maticallyinaccordancewiththeair
temperature inside and outside the pas-
senger compartment, the intensity of sun-
light, and other factors. SUBARU recom-
mends using the AUTO position.
Other positions: The fan speed can be
adjusted in 7 steps. NOTE
With the fan speed control dial in the
AUTO position and the airflow control
dial in the
“
”, “”,or “”position,
the fan does not operate during engine
warm-up until the engine coolant tem-
perature exceeds approximately 122 8F
(50 8C).
& Temperature control dial
This dial is used to set the desired interior
temperature. With the dial set to your
desired temperature, the system automa-
tically adjusts the temperature of air
supplied from the outlets such that the
desired temperature is achieved andmaintained.
If the dial is turned fully counterclockwise, the system gives maximum cooling per-
formance. If the dial is turned fully clock-
wise, the system gives maximum heatingperformance. &
Airflow control dial
Each dial position activates the following
air outlets. AUTO: The airflow control is adjusted
automatically in accordance with the air
temperature inside and outside the pas-
senger compartment, the intensity of sun-
light, and other factors. SUBARU recom-
mends using the AUTO position.
(Ventilation): Instrument panel outlets
(Bi-level): Instrument panel outlets and
foot outlets
(Heat): Foot outlets, both side outlets of Climate control
4-9
– CONTINUED –

4-12Climate control
properly and become damaged, the sys-
tem may not be able to control the interior
temperature correctly. To avoid damaging
the sensors, observe the following pre-cautions. –Do not subject the sensors to impact.
– Keep water away from the sensors.
– Do not cover the sensors.
The sensors are located as follows.– Solar sensor: beside the windshield
defroster grille.– Interior air temperature sensor: near
the ignition switch.– Outside temperature sensor: behind
the front grille. Operating tips for heater and
air conditioner &
Cleaning ventilation grille
Always keep the front ventilation inlet grille
free of snow, leaves, or other obstructions
to ensure efficient heating and defrosting.
Since the condenser is located in front of
the radiator, this area should be kept clean
because cooling performance is impaired
by any accumulation of insects and leaves
on the condenser. &Efficient cooling after parking
in direct sunlight
After parking in direct sunlight, drive with
the windows open for a few minutes to
allow outside air to circulate into the heated interior. This results in quicker
cooling by the air conditioner. Keep the
windows closed during the operation of
the air conditioner for maximum cooling
efficiency. &
Lubrication oil circulation in
the refrigerant circuit
Operate the air conditioner compressor at
a low engine speed (at idle or low driving
speeds) a few minutes each month during
the off-season to circulate its oil. & Checking air conditioning
system before summer sea-son
Check the air conditioner unit for refriger-
ant leaks, hose conditions, and proper
operation each spring. Have the air con-
ditioning system checked by your
SUBARU dealer. & Cooling and dehumidifying in
high humidity and low tem-
perature weather conditions
Under certain weather conditions (high
relative humidity, low temperatures, etc.) a
small amount of water vapor emission
from the air outlets may be noticed. This
condition is normal and does not indicate
any problem with the air conditioning

system. &Air conditioner compressor
shut-off when engine is
heavily loaded
To improve acceleration and gas mileage,
the air conditioner compressor is designed
to temporarily shut off during air condi-
tioner operation whenever the accelerator
is fully depressed such as during rapid
acceleration or when driving on a steepupgrade. & Refrigerant for your climate
control system
Your air conditioner uses ozone friendly
refrigerant HFC134a. Therefore, the meth-
od of adding, changing or checking the
refrigerant is different from the method for
CFC12 (freon). Consult your SUBARU
dealer for service. Repairs needed as a
result of using the wrong refrigerant are
not covered under warranty. Air filtration system
Replace the filter element according to the
replacement schedule as follows. This
schedule should be followed to maintain
the filter
’s dust collection ability. Under
extremely dusty conditions, the filter
should be replaced more frequently. It is
recommended that you have your filter
checked or replaced by your SUBARU
dealer. For replacement, use only a
genuine SUBARU air filter kit.
Replacement schedule: Every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000
km) whichever comes first
CAUTION
Contact your SUBARU dealer if the
following occurs, even if it is not yet
time to change the filter: . Reduction of the airflow through
the vents.
. Windshield gets easily fogged or
misted.
NOTE
The filter can influence the air condi-
tioning, heating and defroster perfor- mance if not properly maintained. &
Replacing an air filter
1. Remove the glove box. (1) Open the glove box.(2) Remove the damper shaft from the
glove box. Climate control
4-13
– CONTINUED –

tight for the accessory power
outlet, this can result in a poor
contact or cause the plug to get
stuck. Only use plugs that fit
properly.
. Use of an electric appliance in the
accessory power outlet for a long
period of time while the engine is
not running can cause batterydischarge.
. Before driving your vehicle, make
sure that the plug and the cord
on your electrical appliance will
not interfere with your shifting
gears and operating the accel-
erator and brake pedals. If they
do, do not use the electrical
appliance while driving. &
Use with a cigarette lighter (if equipped)
To use the accessory power outlet below
the climate control as a cigarette lighter
socket, purchase the cigarette lighter plug,
which is an optional accessory. A cigarette
lighter plug is available from your
SUBARU dealer.
The cigarette lighter operates only when
the ignition switch is in the “ON ”or “Acc ”
position.
To use the cigarette lighter, push in the
knob and wait a few moments. It will
automatically spring up when ready foruse.
WARNING
To avoid being burned, never grasp
the lighter by the end with the
heating element. Doing so could
result in injury and could also
damage the heating element.
CAUTION
. Do not hold the lighter pushed in,
because it will overheat.
. The electrical power socket lo-
cated in the center console is
originally designed to use a gen- uine SUBARU cigarette lighter
plug. Do not use a non-genuine
cigarette lighter plug in the sock-
et. Doing so may cause a short-
circuit and overheating, resulting
in a fire.
. If the socket is ever used for a
plug-in accessory such as a cell
phone, that may damage the
portion of the socket ’s internal
mechanism that causes a cigar-
ette lighter plug to “pop out ”
after its lighter element is heated.
Therefore, do not place a cigar-
ette lighter plug in a socket that
has been used, even once, to
power a plug-in accessory. Doing
so may cause the plug to stick
and overheat, creating a potential
fire hazard. Interior equipment
6-9

Fuel...................................................................... 7-3
Fuel requirements ............................................... 7-3
Fuel filler lid and cap ........................................... 7-4
State emission testing (U.S. only) ...................... 7-7
Preparing to drive ............................................... 7-8
Starting the engine .............................................. 7-9
Stopping the engine ........................................... 7-10
Remote engine start system (dealer option) .............................................................. 7-10
Starting your vehicle .......................................... 7-10
Remote start safety features ............................... 7-11
Entering the vehicle while it is running via remote start ................................................................. 7-11
Entering the vehicle following remote engine start shutdown ......................................................... 7-11
Pre-heating or pre-cooling the interior of the vehicle ............................................................. 7-11
Service mode ..................................................... 7-11
Remote engine start transmitter programming and programmable feature option ..................... 7-12
System maintenance .......................................... 7-12
Manual transmission –6 speeds (STI) ............. 7-14
Selecting reverse gear ........................................ 7-15
Shifting speeds .................................................. 7-15
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-16
Manual transmission –5 speeds (except
STI) ................................................................... 7-16
Shifting speeds .................................................. 7-17
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-17
Driver ’s Control Center Differential (DCCD)
(STI) .................................................................. 7-18 To change mode of driver
’s control center
differential ....................................................... 7-18
Auto mode ........................................................ 7-19
Manual mode ..................................................... 7-20
Temporary release ............................................. 7-21
SI-DRIVE (STI) .................................................... 7-22
Intelligent (I) mode ............................................. 7-22
Sport (S) mode .................................................. 7-22
Sport Sharp (S#) mode. ...................................... 7-23
SI-DRIVE selector .............................................. 7-23
Limited slip differential (LSD) (STI) .................. 7-24
Power steering ................................................... 7-24
Braking ............................................................... 7-24
Braking tips ....................................................... 7-24
Brake system .................................................... 7-25
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ............. 7-25
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .......................... 7-26
ABS system self-check ...................................... 7-26
ABS warning light .............................................. 7-26
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ............................................................. 7-26
Steps to take if EBD system malfunctions ..... ..... 7-27
Vehicle Dynamics Control system .................... 7-28
Vehicle Dynamics Control system monitor..... ..... 7-29
Vehicle Dynamics Control mode switch (STI) . ..... 7-29
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch (except STI) ................................................................. 7-30
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (U.S.-spec. models). ........................................ 7-32
Parking your vehicle ......................................... 7-33
Starting and operating
7