automatic transmission SUBARU OUTBACK 2005 4.G Owners Manual

3-4
Instruments and controls
holder is attached to the key, your knees or hands
may accidentally touch it in a way that turns the ig-
nition switch. !
LOCK
The key can only be inserted or removed in this posi-
tion. The ignition switch will lock the steering wheel when you remove the key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the steering wheel
slightly to the right and left as you turn the key. ! Automatic transmission vehicles
The key can be turned from “ACC” to “LOCK” only
when the selector lever is in the “P” position. !
Manual transmission vehicles
The key can be turned from “ACC” to “LOCK” only
when the key is pushed in while turning it. ! ACC
In this position the electrical accessories (radio, ac-
cessory power outlet, etc.) can be used. ! ON
This is the normal operating position after the engine
is started.
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Instruments and controls
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lubricating system is not working properly.
If the light comes on while driving or does not go out
after the engine starts, stop the engine at the first safe
opportunity and check the engine oil level. If the oil lev-
el is low, add oil immediately. If the engine oil is at the
proper level but the light remains on, contact your
nearest SUBARU dealer immediately. !AT OIL TEMPerature warning
light (AT vehicles)
The AT oil temperature warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and
goes out after about two seconds.
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it
may indicate that the automatic transmission fluid tem-
perature is too hot.
If the light comes on while driving, it is unnecessary to
stop the vehicle, but avoid driving up steep grades or
in stop and go traffic. ! Automatic transmission control system warn- ing
If the light flashes after the engine starts, it may indi-cate that the automatic transmission control system is
not working properly. Contact your nearest SUBARU
dealer for service immediately. !
Low tire pressure warning light (if
equipped)
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position,
the low tire pressure warning light will come on for
about 2 seconds to check that the tire pressure moni-
toring system (TPMS) is functioning properly. If there
is no problem and all tires are properly inflated, the
light will go out.
When the tire pressure monitoring system warning
light is lit, one or more of your tires is significantly un-
der-inflated. You should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure as indicated on the vehicle’s tire information plac- ard.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-in-
flation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability. Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and set to the recom-
mended inflation pressure as specified in the vehicle
placard and owner’s manual.
If this light does not come on briefly after the ig-
nition switch is turned ON or the light is flash-

3-31
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
NOTE
This light does not go out unless the tank is re-
plenished up to an internal fuel quantity of about
3.7 US gal (14 liters, 3.1 Imp gal). !Door open warning light
When any of the doors or the rear gate (Station wag-
on) or trunk lid (Sedan) is not fully closed, it is indicat-
ed by the corresponding part of the door warning light.
Always make sure this light is out before you start to
drive. ! All-wheel drive warning light
(AT vehicles)
Continued driving with the AWD warning light
flashing can lead to powertrain damage. If the
AWD warning light flashes, promptly park in a
safe place then check whether all four tires are
the same diameter and whether any of the tires
has a puncture or has lost air pressure for
some other reason. The all-wheel drive warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position and goes
out after the engine has started. !
For 5 speed automatic transmission vehicles
This light flashes if the vehicle is driven with tires of dif-
ferent diameters fitted on its wheels or with the air
pressure excessively low in any of its tires. ! For 4 speed automatic transmission vehicles
This light comes on when All Wheel Drive is disen-
gaged and the drive mechanism is switched to Front
Wheel Drive for maintenance or similar purposes.
This light flashes if the vehicle is driven with tires of dif-
ferent diameters fitted on its wheels or with the air
pressure excessively low in any of its tires. ! Vehicle Dynamics Control opera-
tion indicator light (if equipped)
This light comes on when the ignition switch is ON and
goes out about 2 seconds later.
It blinks when the skid suppression function is activat-
ed. It illuminates when only the traction control func-
tion is operating.
The Vehicle Dynamics Control system is probably
faulty under any of the following conditions. Have your

3-34
Instruments and controls
!
SPORT mode indicator light (AT
vehicles)
This light comes on when the ignition switch is turned
to the “ON” position and goes out after the engine has
started. When the selector lever is moved to the man-
ual gate, the SPORT mode is selected and the indica-
tor light comes on. (Refer to the “Automatic transmis-
sion – 4 speed” or “Automatic transmission – 5 speed”
section in chapter 7.) ! Selector lever position indicator (AT
vehicles)
This indicator shows the position of the selector lever. !
Gear position indicator (AT vehicles)
When the manual mode is selected, the gear position
indicator (which shows the current gear selection) and
the upshift/downshift indicator light up. (Refer to the
“Automatic transmission – 4 speed” or “Automatic
transmission – 5 speed” section in chapter 7.) ! Turn signal indicator lights
These lights show the operation of the turn signal or
lane change signal.
If the indicator lights do not blink or blink rapidly, the
turn signal bulb may be burned out. Replace the bulb
as soon as possible. Refer to the “Replacing bulbs”
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Instruments and controls
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!Rear window wiper and washer switch
(Station wagon)
: Washer (accompanied by wiper operation)
ON: Continuous
INT: Intermittent
OFF: Park : Washer
! Rear wiper
To turn the rear wiper on, turn the knob on the end of
the wiper control lever upward to the “INT” or “ON” po- sition.
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on the end of the
lever to the “OFF” position. With the switch turned to the “INT” position, the rear
wiper will operate intermittently at intervals corre-
sponding to the vehicle speed (shorter when the vehi-
cle speed is low; longer when the vehicle speed is
high).
When you subsequently move the selector lever of the
automatic transmission to the “R” position, the rear
wiper will switch to continuous operation. When you
move the selector lever from the “R” position to some
other position, the rear wiper will return to intermittent
operation. !
Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear wiper is oper-
ating, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control le-
ver upward to the “ ” position. The washer fluid
sprays until you release the knob.
To wash the rear window when the rear wiper is not in
use, turn the knob on the end of the wiper control lever
downward to the “ ” position. The washer fluid
sprays and the wiper operates until you release the
knob.
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7-1
7
Starting and operating
Fuel ................................................................ 7-2 Fuel requirements ............................................. 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap ........................................ 7-4
State emission testing (U.S. only) ............... 7-8
Preparing to drive ......................................... 7-10
Starting the engine ....................................... 7-10 Manual transmission vehicle ........................... 7-10
Automatic transmission vehicle ...................... 7-11
Stopping the engine ..................................... 7-12
Manual transmission .................................... 7-13 Shifting speeds ................................................. 7-14
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-15
Automatic transmission – 4 speed ............. 7-16 Selector lever .................................................... 7-17
Selector lever reverse inhibiting function ...... 7-19
Selection of manual mode ............................... 7-20
Maximum speeds .............................................. 7-21
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-23
SPORT mode ..................................................... 7-23
Shift lock release .............................................. 7-24
Automatic transmission – 5 speed ............. 7-25 Selector lever .................................................... 7-26
Selector lever reverse inhibiting function ...... 7-28
Selection of manual mode ............................... 7-30
Maximum speeds .............................................. 7-32
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-33
SPORT mode ..................................................... 7-34
Shift lock release .............................................. 7-35
Rear viscous limited slip differential (LSD) (if equipped) .............................................. 7-36 Power steering .............................................. 7-36
Braking ........................................................... 7-37
Braking tips ....................................................... 7-37
Brake system .................................................... 7-37
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ........ 7-38
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ..................... 7-38 ABS system self-check .................................... 7-39
ABS warning light ............................................. 7-39
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ........................................................ 7-41Steps to take if EBD system fails .................... 7-41
Vehicle Dynamics Control system (if equipped) ............................................... 7-43Vehicle Dynamics Control system monitor .... 7-45
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch ........... 7-48
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (if equipped) ............................................... 7-49
Parking your vehicle ..................................... 7-51
Cruise control ................................................ 7-53 To set cruise control ........................................ 7-53
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ....... 7-55
To turn off the cruise control ........................... 7-56
To change the cruising speed ......................... 7-56
Cruise control indicator light ........................... 7-57
Cruise control set indicator light .................... 7-58

7-11
Starting and operating
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If the engine does not start, try the following:
1) Turn the ignition switch to the “OFF” position and
wait for at least 10 seconds. After checking that the
parking brake is firmly set, turn the ignition switch to
the “START” position while depressing the acceler-
ator pedal slightly (about a quarter of the full stroke).
Release the accelerator pedal as soon as the en-
gine starts.
2) If this fails to start the engine, turn the ignition
switch back to the “OFF” position and wait for at
least 10 seconds. Then fully depress the accelerator
pedal and turn the ignition switch to the “START”
position. If the engine starts, quickly release the ac-
celerator pedal.
3) If this fails to start the engine, turn the ignition
switch again to the “OFF” position. After waiting for
10 seconds or longer, turn the ignition switch to the
“START” position without depressing the accelera-
tor pedal.
4) If the engine still refuses to start, contact your
nearest SUBARU dealer for assistance.
6. Confirm that all warning and indicator lights have
gone off after the engine has started. The fuel injection
system automatically lowers the idle speed as the en-
gine warms up. !
Automatic transmission vehicle
If you restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift the selector lever into the “N” po-
sition. Do not attempt to place the selector lever
of a moving vehicle into the “P” position.
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Shift the selector lever to the “P” or “N” position
(preferably “P” position). The starter will only operate
when the select lever is at the “P” or “N” position.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position and
check the operation of the warning and indicator lights.
Refer to the “Warning and indicator lights” section (chapter 3).
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START” position
without depressing the accelerator pedal. Release
the key immediately after the engine has started.
If the engine does not start, try the following: 1) Turn the ignition switch to the “OFF” position and
wait for at least 10 seconds. After checking that the
parking brake is firmly set, turn the ignition switch to
the “START” position while depressing the acceler-
ator pedal slightly (about a quarter of the full stroke).

7-16
Starting and operating
Automatic transmission – 4 speed
The automatic transmission is electronically controlled
and provides 4 forward speeds and 1 reverse speed.
Also, it has a manual mode and a SPORT mode.
Do not shift from the “P” or “N” position into
the “D” or “R” position while depressing the ac-
celerator pedal. This may cause the vehicle to
jump forward or backward.
"
Shift into the “P” or “R” position only after
the vehicle is completely stopped. Shifting
while the vehicle is moving may cause damage
to the transmission. " Do not race the engine for more than five sec-
onds in any position except the “N” or “P” po-
sition when the brake is set or when wheels are
used blocks. This may cause the automatic
transmission fluid to overheat." Avoid shifting from one of the forward driving
positions into the “R” position or vice versa un- til the vehicle has completely stopped. Such
shifting may cause damage to the transmis-
sion.
NOTE
Immediately after ATF (automatic transmission
fluid) is replaced, you may feel that the automatic
transmission operation is somewhat unusual.
This results from invalidation of data which the
on-board computer has collected and stored inmemory to allow the transmission to shift at the
most appropriate times for the current condition
of your vehicle. Optimized shifting will be restored
as the vehicle continues to be driven for a while.

7-18
Starting and operating
the selector lever to the “P” position.
Do not drive the vehicle with the selector lever
in the “N” (neutral) position. Engine braking
has no effect in this condition and the risk of an
accident is consequently increased.
! 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 the original
gear position.
To use the “SPORT” mode, move the lever from this
position into the manual gate.
To use the manual mode, move the lever from this po-
sition into the manual gate then move it toward the “+”
and “–” ends. "
While climbing a grade
When driving up a hill, undesired upshift to 4th gear is
prevented from taking place when the accelerator is
released. This minimizes the chance of subsequent
downshifting to a lower gear when accelerating again.
This prevents repeated upshifting and downshifting re-
sulting in a smoother operation of the vehicle.
NOTE
The transmission may downshift to 2nd or 1st
gear, depending on the way the accelerator pedal
is pressed to accelerate the vehicle again. " While going down a hill
When descending a steep hill, depressing the brake
pedal will cause the transmission to downshift to 3rd or
2nd gear, thus applying engine braking. Reaccelera-
tion for a short time will cause the transmission to up-shift normally.
NOTE
In some cases, depressing the brake pedal on a
downhill grade does not result in an automatic
downshift to 3rd or 2nd gear. This can happen
when the automatic transmission fluid tempera-
ture is very low, for example, during driving short-
ly after the vehicle has been parked for an extend-
ed period of time. When the ATF temperature has

7-21
Starting and operating
– CONTINUED –
goes off.
Gearshifts can be performed using the selector lever.
Using the selector lever
Shift to the next-higher gear by briefly pushing the se-
lector lever toward the “+” end of the manual gate.
Shift to the next-lower gear by briefly pulling the selec-
tor lever toward the “–” end of the manual gate.
NOTE
Please read the following points carefully and bear
them in mind when using the manual mode. "Automatic gearshifts do not take place in the
manual mode. Perform gearshifts in accordance
with road conditions so that the tachometer nee- dle does not enter the red zone. If the engine
speed reaches a predetermined level, a fuel-cut
function will operate. Shift up if this happens. "
If you attempt to shift down when the engine
speed is too high, i.e., when a downshift would
push the tachometer needle beyond the red zone,
beeps will be emitted to warn you that the down-
shift is not possible." If you attempt to shift up when the vehicle speed
is too low, the transmission will not respond." You can perform a skip-shift (for example, from
4th to 2nd) by operating the selector lever twice in
rapid succession. " The transmission automatically selects 1st gear
when the vehicle stops moving. " If the temperature of the automatic transmission
fluid becomes too high, the “AT OIL TEMP” warn-
ing light will come on and upshifts to 4th gear will
not be possible. Immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and let the engine idle until the warning
light goes off. ! Maximum speeds
When down shifting, ensure that the vehicle is
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