maintenance SUBARU OUTBACK 2005 4.G Owners Manual

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Warranties !Warranties for U.S.A.
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by Subaru of Ameri-
ca, Inc. and sold at retail by an authorized SUBARU
dealer in the United States come with the following
warranties: " SUBARU Limited Warranty
" Emission Control Systems Warranty
" Emissions Performance Warranty
All warranty information, including details of coverage
and exclusions, is in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”. Please read these warranties carefully. ! Warranties for Canada
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by Subaru Canada,
Inc. and sold at retail by an authorized SUBARU deal-
er in Canada come with the following warranties: " SUBARU Limited Warranty
" Anti-Corrosion Warranty
" Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, including details of coverage
and exclusions, is in the “Warranty and Service Book-
let”. Please read these warranties carefully.
This vehicle does not contain mer-
cury devices or parts.

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How to use this owner’s manual !Using your Owner’s manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully read this
manual. To protect yourself and extend the service life
of your vehicle, follow the instructions in this manual.
Failure to observe these instructions may result in se-
rious injury and damage to your vehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen chapters. Each
chapter begins with a brief table of contents, so you
can usually tell at a glance if that chapter contains the
information you want.
Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This chapter informs you how to use the seat and seat-
belt and contains precautions for the SRS airbags.
Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate the keys,
locks and windows.
Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the operation of instru-
ment panel indicators and how to use the instruments
and other switches.
Chapter 4: Climate control
This chapter informs you how to operate the climate
control.
Chapter 5: Audio This chapter informs you how to operate your audiosystem.
Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This chapter informs you how to operate interior
equipment.
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and operate your SUBARU.
Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your SUBARU
in various conditions and explains some safety tips on
driving.
Chapter 9: In case of emergency
This chapter informs you what to do if you have a prob-
lem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine over-
heating.
Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your SUBARU
looking good.
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This chapter informs you when you need to take your
SUBARU to the dealer for scheduled maintenance
and informs you how to keep your SUBARU running
properly.
Chapter 12: Specifications
This chapter informs you about dimension and capac-
ities of your SUBARU.

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Table of contentsSeat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control Audio
Interior equipment
Starting and operating
Driving tips
In case of emergency
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Index

1-1
1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats .................................................... 1-2 Manual seat ....................................................... 1-3
Power seat (if equipped) .................................. 1-5
Reclining the seatback ..................................... 1-6
Head restraint adjustment ................................ 1-8
Active head restraint ........................................ 1-8
Lumbar support (if equipped) .......................... 1-9
Seat heater (if equipped) .............................. 1-10
Rear seats ..................................................... 1-11 Folding down the rear seat – Station wagon .. 1-12
Head restraint adjustment ................................ 1-12
Armrest (if equipped) ................................... 1-14 Loading long objects (Sedan) .......................... 1-15
Seatbelts ....................................................... 1-16 Seatbelt safety tips ........................................... 1-16
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) .............. 1-18
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ............................................................ 1-18
Seatbelt warning light and chime .................... 1-19
Fastening the seatbelt ...................................... 1-21
Seatbelt maintenance ....................................... 1-33
Front seatbelt pretensioners ....................... 1-33 System monitors ............................................... 1-35
System servicing .............................................. 1-36
Precautions against vehicle modification ...... 1-37
Child restraint systems ................................ 1-38 Where to place a child restraint system ......... 1-40
Choosing a child restraint system .................. 1-41
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt ............................................................ 1-42 Installing a booster seat ................................... 1-47
Installation of child restraint systems by use
of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) .... 1-49
Top tether anchorages ..................................... 1-55
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) ........................................... 1-59Vehicle with SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints for driver, front passenger, and
window-side rear passengers ....................... 1-59
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system ........ 1-65
SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag ........ 1-80
SRS airbag system monitors ........................... 1-89
SRS airbag system servicing .......................... 1-91
Precautions against vehicle modification ...... 1-92

1-33
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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!Seatbelt maintenance
To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap and lukewarm
water. Never bleach or dye the belts because this
could seriously affect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the
webbing and all hardware periodically for cracks, cuts,
gashes, tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas. Re-
place the seatbelts even if only minor damage is
found.
" Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemi-
cals and particularly battery acid. " Never attempt to make modifications or
changes that will prevent the seatbelt from op-
erating properly.
Front seatbelt pretensioners
The driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelts have a
seatbelt pretensioner. The seatbelt pretensioners are
designed to be activated in the event of an accident in-
volving a moderate to severe frontal collision.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as a SRS frontal
airbag sensor. If the sensor detects a certain predeter-
mined amount of force during a frontal collision, the
front seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by the retractor
to take up the slack so that the belt more effectively re-
strains the front seat occupant.
When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an operat-
HS1067BA

3-11
Instruments and controls
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NOTE
If the connection between the combination meter
and battery is broken for any reason such as vehi-
cle maintenance or fuse replacement, the data re-
corded on the trip meter will be lost. !Vehicle communication system fault indication
The vehicle communication system carries various
types of information (vehicle speed, running condi-
tions, etc.) to control modules. In the event of a fault in
this communication system, the trip meter will show“” .
If the trip meter shows “ ”, immediately contact
the nearest SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle
communication system inspected.
NOTE
If you press the trip knob while the trip meter is
showing “ ”, the trip meter indication will
appear for 10 seconds. ! Tachometer
The tachometer shows the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute.
Do not operate the engine with the pointer of
the tachometer in the red zone. In this range,
fuel injection will be cut by the engine control
module to protect the engine from overrevving.
The engine will resume running normally after
the engine speed is reduced below the red
zone.
! Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge shows the approximate amount of fuel
UB3211AA

3-17
Instruments and controls
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To set the trip meter to zero, select the A trip or B trip
meter by pushing the knob and keep the knob pushed for more than 2 seconds.
If you press the trip knob when the ignition switch is in
the “LOCK” position, the odometer/trip meter will light
up. It is possible switch between the A trip meter and
B trip meter indications while the odometer/trip meter
is lit up. If you do not press the trip knob within 10 sec-
onds of illumination of the odometer/trip meter, the
odometer/trip meter will go off.
Also, if you open and close the driver’s door within 10
seconds of illumination of the odometer/trip meter, the
odometer/trip meter will go off.
To ensure safety, do not attempt to change the
function of the indicator during driving, as an
accident could result.
NOTE
If the connection between the combination meter
and battery is broken for any reason such as vehi-
cle maintenance or fuse replacement, the data re-
corded on the trip meter will be lost. !Vehicle communication system fault indication
The vehicle communication system carries various
types of information (vehicle speed, running condi-
tions, etc.) to control modules. In the event of a fault in
this communication system, the trip meter will show“” .
If the trip meter shows “ ”, immediately contact the
nearest SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle com-
munication system inspected.
NOTE
If you press the trip knob while the trip meter is
showing “ ”, the trip meter indication will ap-
pear for 10 seconds. ! Tachometer
The tachometer shows the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute.
A trip meter
B trip meter

3-31
Instruments and controls
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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

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Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) ................ 8-2
Fuel economy hints ...................................... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .... 8-3
Catalytic converter ....................................... 8-4
Periodic inspections .................................... 8-6
Driving in foreign countries ......................... 8-7
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ..................... 8-7
Off road driving ............................................ 8-9
Winter driving ............................................... 8-12 Operation during cold weather ........................ 8-12
Driving on snowy and icy roads ...................... 8-13
Corrosion protection ........................................ 8-14
Snow tires .......................................................... 8-15
Tire chains ......................................................... 8-17
Rocking the vehicle .......................................... 8-17
Loading your vehicle ................................... 8-18 Vehicle capacity weight .................................... 8-19
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........ 8-20
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ............... 8-21
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ............................ 8-27 Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-27
When you do not tow a trailer .......................... 8-30
Trailer towing ................................................ 8-31 Warranties and maintenance ........................... 8-31
Maximum load limits ......................................... 8-31
Trailer hitches ................................................... 8-37
Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-38 Trailer towing tips ............................................. 8-40

8-6
Driving tips
"
Keep your engine tuned-up. If you feel the engine
running rough (misfiring, backfiring or incomplete
combustion), have your vehicle checked and repaired
by an authorized SUBARU dealer. " Do not apply undercoating or rust prevention treat-
ment to the heat shield of catalytic converter and the exhaust system.Periodic inspections
To keep your vehicle in the best condition at all times,
always have the recommended maintenance services
listed in the maintenance schedule in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet” performed at the specified
time or mileage intervals.