SUBARU OUTBACK 2006 Owners Manual

10-4 Appearance care
Corrosion protection Your SUBARU has been designed and
built to resist corrosi on. Special materials
and protective finishes have been used on
most parts of the vehi cle to help maintain
fine appearance, strength, and reliable
operation.
„ Most common causes of cor-
rosionThe most common ca uses of corrosion
are:
1. The accumulation of moisture retaining
dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective
coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor accidents.
Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle
when:
1. It is exposed to road salt or dust control
chemicals, or used in coastal areas where
there is more salt in the air, or in areas
where there is considerable industrial pol-
lution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity, es-
pecially when temperatures range just
above freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of the vehi-
cle remains for a long time, even though other parts of the vehicle may be dry.
4. High temperatures will cause corrosion
to parts of the vehicle which cannot dry
quickly due to lack of proper ventilation.
„ To help prevent corrosion Wash the vehicle regularly to prevent cor-
rosion of the body and suspension com-
ponents. Also, wash the vehicle promptly
after driving on any of the following surfac-
es:
y roads that have been salted to prevent
them from freezing in winter
y mud, sand, or gravel
y coastal roads
After the winter has ended, it is recom-
mended that the underbody be given a
very thorough washing.
Before the beginning of winter, check the
condition of underbody components, such
as the exhaust system, fuel and brake
lines, brake cables, suspension, steering
system, floor pan, and fenders. If any of
them are found to be rusted, they should
be given an appropriate rust prevention
treatment or should be replaced. Contact
your SUBARU dealer to perform this kind
of maintenance and treatment if you need
assistance.
Repair chips and scratches in the paint as soon as you find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for water
and dirt accumulation under the floor mats
because that could cause corrosion. Oc-
casionally check under the mats to make
sure the area is dry.
Keep your garage dry. Do not park your
vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated ga-
rage. In such a garage, corrosion can be
caused by dampness. If you wash the ve-
hicle in the garage or put the vehicle into
the garage when wet or covered with
snow, that can cause dampness.
If your vehicle is operated in cold weather
and/or in areas where road salts and other
corrosive materials are used, the door
hinges and locks, trunk lid lock, and hood
latch should be inspected and lubricated
periodically.

Appearance care
10-5
Cleaning the interior Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. (Do not use or-
ganic solvents.)
„ Seat fabricRemove loose dirt, dust or debris with a
vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the
fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum
cleaner, use a soft blush then vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly
wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric thor-
oughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe using
a solution of mild soap and lukewarm wa-
ter then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a com-
mercially-available fabric cleaner. Use the
cleaner on a hidden place and make sure
it does not affect the fabric adversely. Use
the cleaner according to its instructions.
NOTE When cleaning the seat, do not use
benzine, paint thinner, or any similar
materials.
„ Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high quality natural product which will retain its
distinctive appearance and feel for many
years with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the
surface can cause the material to become
brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular
cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber
cloth should be performed monthly, taking
care not to soak the leather or allow water
to penetrate the stitched seams.
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning
woolen fabrics may be used to remove dif-
ficult dirt spots, ru bbing with a soft, dry
cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If
your SUBARU is to be parked for a long
time in bright sunlight, it is recommended
that the seats and headrests be covered,
or the windows shaded, to prevent fading
or shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches
may be treated with a commercial leather
spray lacquer. You will discover that each
leather seat section will develop soft folds
or wrinkles, which is characteristic of gen-
uine leather.
„ Synthetic leather upholstery The synthetic leather material used on the
SUBARU may be cleaned using mild soap
or detergent and water, after first vacuum-
ing or brushing away loose dirt. Allow the
soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial
foam-type cleaners suitable for synthetic
leather materials may be used when nec-
essary.
NOTE Strong cleaning agents such as sol-
vents, paint thinners, window cleaner
or gasoline must never be used on
leather or synthetic interior materials.
„ Climate control panel, audio
panel, instrument panel, con-
sole panel, switches, combi-
nation meter, and other plas-
tic surface Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches.
NOTE Do not use organic solvents such as
paint thinners or gasoline, or strong
cleaning agents that contain those sol-
vents.

11Maintenance and serviceMaintenance schedule ....................................... 11-3
Maintenance precautions .................................. 11-3 Before checking or servicing in the engine
compartment ........................................................ 11-4
When you do checking or servicing in the engine
compartment while the engine is running ......... 11-4
Engine hood ....................................................... 11-4
Engine compartment overview ......................... 11-6 2.5-liter non-turbo models ..................................... 11-6
2.5-liter turbo models ............................................. 11-7
3.0-liter models ....................................................... 11-8
Engine oil ............................................................ 11-9 Checking the oil level ............................................. 11-9
Changing the oil and oil filter ................................ 11-10
Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-12
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe
driving conditions ................................................ 11-13
Cooling system .................................................. 11-13 Hose and connections ........................................... 11-14
Engine coolant ........................................................ 11-14
Air cleaner element ............................................ 11-17 Replacing the air cleaner element ......................... 11-17
Spark plugs ......................................................... 11-19
Recommended spark plugs ................................... 11-19
Drive belts ........................................................... 11-20
2.5-liter models ....................................................... 11-20
3.0-liter models ....................................................... 11-20
Manual transmission oil .................................... 11-20 Checking the oil level ............................................. 11-20
Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-21
Automatic transmission flui d ............................ 11-22Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-22
Recommended fluid ............................................... 11-23
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ............ 11-23 Checking the oil level ............................................. 11-23
Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-24
Rear differential gear oil .................................... 11-24 Checking the gear oil level .................................... 11-24
Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-26
Power steering fluid ........................................... 11-27 Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-27
Recommended fluid ............................................... 11-27
Brake fluid ........................................................... 11-28 Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-28
Recommended brake fluid ..................................... 11-28
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) .................................. 11-29 Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-29
Recommended clutch fluid .................................... 11-29
Brake booster ..................................................... 11-30
Brake pedal ......................................................... 11-30 Checking the brake pedal free play ...................... 11-30
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ......... 11-30
Clutch pedal (Man ual transmission
vehicles) ........................................................... 11-31
Checking the clutch function ................................ 11-31
Checking the clutch pedal free play ..................... 11-31

Maintenance and service
Replacement of brake pad and lining ............... 11-31Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ......... 11-32
Parking brake stroke .......................................... 11-32
Tires and wheels ................................................ 11-33 Types of tires .......................................................... 11-33
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
(if equipped) .......................................................... 11-33
Tire inspection ........................................................ 11-34
Tire pressures and wear ........................................ 11-35
Wheel balance ........................................................ 11-37
Wear indicators ....................................................... 11-37
Tire rotation ............................................................. 11-37
Tire replacement ..................................................... 11-38
Wheel replacement ................................................. 11-38
Aluminum wheels ............................................... 11-39
Windshield washer fluid .................................... 11-39
Replacement of wiper blades ............................ 11-41 Windshield wiper blade assembly ........................ 11-41
Windshield wiper blade rubber ............................. 11-42
Rear window wiper blade assembly ..................... 11-42
Rear window wiper blade rubber .......................... 11-43
Battery ................................................................. 11-44
Fuses ................................................................... 11-45
Main fuse ............................................................. 11-47
Installation of accessories ................................ 11-47
Replacing bulbs .................................................. 11-48
Headlight ................................................................. 11-49
Parking light ............................................................ 11-50
Front turn signal light ............................................ 11-50
Front fog light (if equipped) ................................... 11-50 Rear combination lights ......................................... 11-51
Backup light (Station wagon) ................................ 11-52
License plate light .................................................. 11-53
Dome light ............................................................... 11-53
Map light .................................................................. 11-54
Door step light ........................................................ 11-54
Cargo area light (Station wa gon) .......................... 11-55
Trunk light (Sedan) ................................................. 11-55
High mount stop light (Sedan) .............................. 11-56

Maintenance and service
11 - 3
– CONTINUED – Maintenance and service
Maintenance schedule The scheduled maintenance items re-
quired to be serviced at regular intervals
are shown in the “Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet”.
For details of your maintenance schedule,
read the separate “Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet”.
Maintenance precautions When maintenance and service are re-
quired, it is recommended that all work be
done by an authorized SUBARU dealer.
If you perform maintenance and service
by yourself, you should familiarize your-
self with the information provided in this
section on general maintenance and ser-
vice for your SUBARU.
Incorrect or incomplete service could
cause improper or unsafe vehicle opera-
tion. Any problems caused by improper
maintenance and service performed by
you are not eligible for warranty coverage.
y Testing of an All-Wheel Drive ve-
hicle must NEVER be performed
on a single two-wheel dynamome-
ter or similar apparatus. Attempt-
ing to do so will result in transmis-
sion damage and in uncontrolled
vehicle movement and may cause
an accident or injuries to persons
nearby.
y Always select a safe area when
performing maintenance on your
vehicle. y Always be very careful to avoid in-
jury when working on the vehicle.
Remember that some of the mate-
rials in the vehicle may be hazard-
ous if improperly used or handled,
for example, battery acid.
y Your vehicle should only be ser-
viced by persons fully competent
to do so. Serious personal injury
may result to persons not experi-
enced in servicing vehicles.
y Always use the proper tools and
make certain that they are well
maintained.
y Never get under the vehicle sup-
ported only by a jack. Always use
a safety stands to support the ve-
hicle.
y Never keep the engine running in
a poorly ventilated area, such as a
garage or other closed areas.
y Do not smoke or allow open
flames around the fuel or battery.
This will cause a fire.
y Because the fuel system is under
pressure, replacement of the fuel
filter should be performed only by
your SUBARU dealer.

11 - 4 Maintenance and service
„ Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment „ When you do checking or ser-
vicing in the engine compart-
ment while the engine is run-
ning Engine hood
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the
windshield, return them to their original
positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the
instrument panel.y Wear adequate eye protection to
guard against getting oil or fluids
in your eyes. If something does
get in your eyes, thoroughly wash
them out with clean water.
y Do not tamper wi th the wiring of
the SRS airbag system or seatbelt
pretensioner system, or attempt
to take its connectors apart, as
that may activate the system or it
can render it inoperative. The wir-
ing and connectors of these sys-
tems are yellow for easy identifi-
cation. NEVER use a circuit tester
for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pre-
tensioner needs service, consult
your nearest SUBARU dealer.
y Always stop the engine and set
the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving. y Always let the engine cool down.
Engine parts b ecome very hot
when the engine is running and
remain hot for some time after the
engine is stopped.
y Do not spill engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.
This may cause a fire.
y Always remove the key from the
ignition switch. When the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position, the
cooling fan may operate suddenly
even when the engine is stopped.
A running engine can be dangerous.
Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from the cooling
fan, belts and any other moving en-
gine parts. Removing rings, watch-
es and ties is advisable. B00099

Maintenance and service
11 - 5
3. Release the secondary hood release
located under the fr ont grille by moving
the lever toward the left.
4. Lift up the hood, release the hood prop
from its retainer and put the end of the hood prop into the slot in the hood.
To close the hood:
1. Lift the hood slightly and remove the
hood prop from the slot in the hood and re-
turn the prop to its retainer.
2. Lower the hood until it approaches ap-
proximately 12 in (30 cm) from the closed
position and let it drop.
3. After closing the hood, be sure the
hood is securely locked.
If this does not close the hood, release it
from a slightly higher position. Do not
push the hood forcibly to close it. It could
deform the metal. 200258
200259Always check that the hood is prop-
erly locked before you start driving.
If it is not, it might fly open while the
vehicle is moving and block your
view, which may cause an accident
and serious bodily injury.

11 - 6 Maintenance and service
Engine compartment overview „ 2.5-liter non-turbo models 12 3 4 56
7891011
13 12 B004141) Power steering fluid reservoir (page
11-27)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge
(MT) (page 11-20) or Differential gear
oil level gauge (AT) (page 11-23)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-29)
4) Automatic transmi ssion fluid level
gauge (page 11-22)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-28)
6) Fuse box (page 11-45)
7) Battery (page 11-44)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-39)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-9)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-
14)
11) Radiator cap (page 11-14)
12) Engine oil level gauge (page 11-9)
13) Air cleaner element (page 11-17)

Maintenance and service
11 - 7
– CONTINUED –„ 2.5-liter turbo models 12 4635
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 B004161) Power steering fluid reservoir (page
11-27)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge
(MT) (page 11-20) or Differential gear
oil level gauge (AT) (page 11-23)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-29)
4) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-28)
5) Automatic transmission fluid level
gauge (page 11-22)
6) Fuse box (page 11-45)
7) Battery (page 11-44)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-39)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-9)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-
14)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11-9)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-14)
13) Air cleaner element (page 11-17)