manual 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.
UB2215DA
UB2215EA

3-27
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
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-

3-34
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”
UB3532AA
UB7527CA

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

7-10
Starting and operating
Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks and adjust-
ments every day before you start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and lights are
clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of the tires.
Also check tires for proper inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk and rear gate are fullyclosed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mir-rors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your passengers
have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and indicator
lights when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” po- sition.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warning lights af-
ter starting the engine.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer flu-
id and other fluid levels should be checked daily,
weekly or at fuel stops.
Starting the engine
Do not operate the starter motor continuously
for more than ten seconds. If the engine fails to
start after operating the starter for five to ten
seconds, wait for ten seconds or more before
trying again.
! Manual transmission vehicle
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and accessories.
3. Press the clutch pedal to the floor and shift the shift
lever into neutral.
Hold the clutch pedal to the floor while starting the en-
gine. The starter motor will only operate when the
clutch pedal is pressed fully to the floor.
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.

7-13
Starting and operating
– CONTINUED –
Manual transmission
Do not drive the vehicle with the clutch disen-
gaged (i.e., when the clutch pedal is depressed)
or with the shift lever in the neutral position.
Engine braking has no effect in either of these
conditions and the risk of an accident is conse-
quently increased.
Shift into reverse ONLY when the vehicle has
completely stopped. It may cause damage to
the transmission to try shifting into reverse
when the vehicle is moving.
The manual transmission is a fully synchromeshed, 5-
forward-speed and 1-reverse-speed transmission. The shift pattern is shown on the shift lever knob.
When shifting from 5th gear to reverse gear, first re-
turn the shift lever to the neutral position then shift intoreverse gear.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch pedal, move
the shift lever, and gradually let up on the clutch pedal.
If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the transmission in
neutral, release the clutch pedal momentarily, and
then try again.
UB7521BA

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.

7-17
Starting and operating
– CONTINUED –
!Selector lever
: Shift possible with brake pedal depressed
: Shift possible with brake pedal not depressed
The selector lever has four positions, “P”, “R”, “N”, “D”
and also has manual gate for using “SPORT” mode or
manual mode. ! P (Park)
This position is for parking the vehicle and starting the
engine.
In this position, the transmission is mechanically
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 ve-
hicle with only the transmission.
To shift the selector lever from the “P” to any other po-
sition, you should depress the brake pedal fully then
move the selector lever. This prevents the vehicle
from lurching when it is started. !
R (Reverse)
This position is for backing the vehicle.
To shift from the “N” to “R” position, stop the vehicle
completely then move the lever to the “R” position. ! N (Neutral)
This position is for restarting a stalled engine.
In this position the wheels and transmission are not
locked. In this position, the transmission is neutral; the
vehicle will roll freely, even on the slightest incline un-
less the parking brake or foot brake is on.
Avoid coasting with the transmission neutral.
During coasting, there is no engine braking effect.
NOTE
If the selector lever is in the “N” position when you
stop the engine for parking, you may not subse-
quently be able to move it to the “R” and “P” posi-tions. If this happens, turn the ignition switch to
the “ON” position. You will then be able to move
UB7522BA

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
UB7206BA