wiper fluid SUBARU OUTBACK 2012 5.G Owners Manual

3-30Instruments and controls
Front fog light switch
(if equipped)
The front fog lights operate under the
following conditions. .when the light switch is in the “
”
position . when the light switch is in the “AUTO ”
position and the headlights turn on auto- matically
However, the front fog lights turn off when
the headlights are switched to high beam.
To turn on the front fog lights, turn the front
fog light switch on the turn signal lever
upward to the “
”position. To turn off the
front fog lights, turn the switch back down
to the “OFF ”position.
The indicator light located on the combi-
nation meter will illuminate when the front
fog lights are on. Wiper and washer
WARNING
In freezing weather, do not use the
windshield washer until the wind-
shield is sufficiently warmed by the
defroster.
Otherwise the washer fluid can
freeze on the windshield, blocking
your view.
CAUTION
. Do not operate the washer con-
tinuously for more than 10 sec-
onds, or when the washer fluid
tank is empty. This may cause
overheating of the washer motor.
Check the washer fluid level
frequently, such as at fuel stops.
. Do not operate the wipers when
the windshield or rear window is
dry. This may scratch the glass,
damage the wiper blades and
cause the wiper motor to burn
out. Before operating the wiper
on a dry windshield or rear
window, always use the wind-
shield washer.

.In freezing weather, be sure that
the wiper blades are not frozen to
the windshield or rear window
before switching on the wipers.
Attempting to operate the wiper
with the blades frozen to the
window glass could cause not
only the wiper blades to be
damaged but also the wiper mo-
tor to burn out. If the wiper
blades are frozen to the window
glass, be sure to operate the
defroster, wiper deicer (if
equipped) or rear window defog-
ger before turning on the wiper.
. If the wipers stop during opera-
tion because of ice or some other
obstruction on the window, the
wiper motor could burn out even
if the wiper switch is turned off. If
this occurs, promptly stop the
vehicle in a safe place, turn the
ignition switch to the “LOCK ”
position and clean the window
glass to allow proper wiper op-eration.
. Use clean water if windshield
washer fluid is unavailable. In
areas where water freezes in
winter, use SUBARU Windshield
Washer Fluid or the equivalent.
Refer to “Windshield washer fluid
”F 11-37.
Also, when driving the vehicle
when there are freezing tempera-
tures, use non-freezing type wi-
per blades.
. Do not clean the wiper blades
with gasoline or a solvent, such
as paint thinner or benzine. This
will cause deterioration of the
wiper blades.
NOTE . The front wiper motor is protected
against overloads by a circuit breaker.
If the motor operates continuously
under an unusually heavy load, the
circuit breaker may trip to stop the
motor temporarily. If this happens, park
your vehicle in a safe place, turn off the
wiper switch, and wait for approxi-
mately 10 minutes. The circuit breaker
will reset itself, and the wipers will
again operate normally.. Clean your wiper blades and win-
dow glass periodically with a washer
solution to prevent streaking, and to
remove accumulations of road salt or
road film. Keep the washer button
depressed at least for 1 second so that
washer solution will be sprinkled all
over the windshield or rear window. .
Grease, wax, insects or other mate-
rial on the windshield or the wiper
blades results in jerky wiper operation
and streaking on the glass. If you
cannot remove those streaks after
operating the washer or if the wiper
operation is jerky, clean the outer sur-
face of the windshield or rear window
and the wiper blades using a sponge or
soft cloth with a neutral detergent or
mild abrasive cleaner. After cleaning,
rinse the window glass and wiper
blades with clean water. The glass is
clean if no beads form on the glass
when you rinse with water.. If you cannot eliminate the streaking
even after following this procedure,
replace the wiper blades with new
ones. For replacement instructions,
refer to “Replacement of wiper blades ”
F 11-39. Instruments and controls
3-31
– CONTINUED –

3-32Instruments and controls
& Windshield wiper and washer switches
The wiper operates only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON ”position.
! Windshield wipers
MIST : Mist (for a single wipe)
OFF : Off
INT: Intermittent
LO: Low speed
HI: High speed
To turn the wipers on, push the wiper
control lever down.
To turn the wipers off, return the lever to the “OFF ”position.
For a single wipe of the wipers, push the
lever up. The wipers operate until you
release the lever. !
Wiper intermittent time control
When the wiper switch is in the “INT ”
position, turn the dial to adjust the operat-
ing interval of the wiper. The operating
interval can be adjusted in five steps from
the shortest interval to the longest. !
Windshield washerTo wash the windshield, pull the wiper
control lever toward you. The washer fluid
sprays until you release the lever. The
wipers operate while you pull the lever.

NOTE
The windshield washer fluid warning
light illuminates when the washer fluid
level in the tank has dropped to the
lower limit. If the warning light illumi-
nates, refill the tank with fluid. For the
tank refilling method, refer to“Wind-
shield washer fluid ”F 11-37. &
Rear window wiper and
washer switch (Outback): Washer (accompanied by wiper operation)
ON: Continuous
INT: Intermittent
OFF: Off
: Washer (accompanied by wiper operation)
! 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 ”position.
To turn the wiper off, return the knob on
the end of the lever to the “OFF ”position.
Withtheswitchturnedtothe “INT ”
position, the rear wiper will operate inter-
mittently at intervals corresponding to the
vehicle speed.
When you subsequently move the select lever to the
“R ” position (AT and CVT
models) or the shift lever to the reverse
position (MT models), the rear wiper will
switch to continuous operation. When you
move the select lever/shift lever from the“ R ”(reverse) position to another position,
the rear wiper will return to intermittentoperation. ! Washer
To wash the rear window while the rear
wiper is operating, turn the knob on the
end of the wiper control lever upward tothe “
”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 tothe “
”position. The washer fluid sprays
and the wiper operates until you release
the knob. Instruments and controls
3-33

a different concentration from the one
used previously, purge the old fluid from
the piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washer
for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if
the concentration of the fluid remaining in
thepipingistoolowfortheoutside
temperature, it may freeze and block thenozzles.
CAUTION
. Adjust the washer fluid concen-
tration appropriately for the out-
side temperature. If the concen-
tration is inappropriate, sprayed
washer fluid may freeze on the
windshield and obstruct your
view, and the fluid may freeze in
the reservoir tank.
. State or local regulations on
volatile organic compounds may
restrict the use of methanol, a
common windshield washer anti-
freeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol anti-
freeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather
protection without damaging
your vehicle ’s paint, wiper blades
or washer system. !
Before driving your vehicle
Before entering the vehicle, remove any
snow or ice from your shoes because that
could make the pedals slippery and
driving dangerous.
While warming up the vehicle before
driving, check that the accelerator pedal,
brake pedal, and all other controls operate
smoothly.
Clear away ice and snow that has
accumulated under the fenders to avoid
making steering difficult. During severe
winter driving, stop when and where it is
safe to do so and check under the fenders
periodically. ! Parking in cold weather
WARNING
Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep
snow clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around your vehicle if you park
the vehicle in snow with the enginerunning.
Do not use the parking brake when
parking for long periods in cold weather
since it could freeze in that position.
Instead, you should observe the followingtips. 1. Place the shift lever in
“1 ” or “R ”for MT
models, or the select lever in “P ” for AT
models and CVT models.
2. Use tire stops under the tires to
prevent the vehicle from moving.
When the vehicle is parked in snow or
when it snows, raise the wiper blades off
the glass to prevent damage to them.
When the vehicle has been left parked
after use on roads heavily covered with
snow, or has been left parked during a
snowstorm, icing may develop on the
brake system, which could cause poor
braking action. Check for snow or ice
buildup on the suspension, disc brakes
and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-ness. ! Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in
the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,
use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel
tank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specifically
designed for this purpose. When an
antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty. Driving tips
8-9
– CONTINUED –

10-2Appearance care
Exterior care &Washing
CAUTION
. When washing the vehicle, the
brakes may get wet. As a result,
the brake stopping distance will
be longer. To dry the brakes,
drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly pressing the brake
pedal to heat up the brakes.
. Do not wash the engine compart-
ment and areas adjacent to it. If
water enters the engine air in-
take, electrical parts or the power
steering fluid reservoir, it will
cause engine trouble or a mal-
function of the power steering.
. Do not use any organic solvents
when washing the surface of the
bulb assembly cover. However, if
a detergent with organic solvents
is used to wash the cover sur-
face, completely rinse off the
detergent with water. Otherwise,
the cover surface may be da-maged.
. Outback: Since your vehicle is
equipped with a rear wiper, auto-
matic car-wash brushes could become tangled around it, dama-
ging the wiper arm and other
components. Ask the automatic
car-wash operator not to let the
brushes touch the wiper arm or
to fix the wiper arm on the rear
window glass with adhesive tape
before operating the machine.
NOTE
When having your vehicle washed in
an automatic car wash, make sure
beforehand that the car wash is of
suitable type.
The best way to preserve your vehicle ’s
beauty is frequent washing. Wash the
vehicle at least once a month to avoid
contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of lukewarm or cold water. Do not wash
the vehicle with hot water and in directsunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree
sap, and bird droppings should be washed
off by using a light detergent, as required.
If you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use
strong soap or chemical detergents. All
cleaning agents should be promptly
flushed from the surface and not allowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly
with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the
remaining water off with a chamois or softcloth. !
Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for
deicing road surfaces are extremely cor-
rosive, accelerating the corrosion of un-
derbody components, such as the exhaust
system, fuel and brake lines, brake
cables, floor pan and fenders, and sus-pension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and in-
side of the fenders with lukewarm or cold
water at frequent intervals to reduce the
harmful effects of such agents.
Mud and sand adhering to the underbody
components may accelerate their corro-sion.
After driving off-road or on muddy or
sandy roads, wash the mud and sand off
the underbody.
Carefully flush the suspension and axle
parts, as they are particularly prone to
mud and sand buildup. Do not use a
sharp-edged tool to remove caked mud.
CAUTION
. Be careful not to damage brake
hoses, sensor harnesses, and

Maintenance and serviceTires and wheels .............................................. 11-30
Types of tires ................................................... 11-30
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (if equipped) ................................................... 11-30
Tire inspection ................................................. 11-32
Tire pressures and wear ................................... 11-32
Wheel balance .................................................. 11-34
Wear indicators ................................................ 11-35
Tire rotation direction mark .............................. 11-35
Tire rotation ..................................................... 11-35
Tire replacement .............................................. 11-36
Wheel replacement ........................................... 11-37
Aluminum wheels ............................................. 11-37
Windshield washer fluid .................................. 11-37
Replacement of wiper blades .......................... 11-39
Windshield wiper blade assembly ..................... 11-39
Windshield wiper blade rubber ......................... 11-40
Rear window wiper blade assembly (Outback) ....................................................... 11-41
Rear window wiper blade rubber (Outback) ... .... 11-41Battery
.............................................................. 11-43
Fuses ................................................................ 11-44
Installation of accessories .............................. 11-45
Replacing bulbs ............................................... 11-45
Headlight ......................................................... 11-45
Front turn signal light ...................................... 11-48
Front position light .......................................... 11-48
Front fog light (if equipped) .............................. 11-48
Rear combination lights ................................... 11-49
Tail/Back-up light (Outback) ............................. 11-51
License plate light ........................................... 11-52
Dome light ....................................................... 11-53
Map light ......................................................... 11-54
Vanity mirror light ............................................ 11-54
Door step light ................................................. 11-55
Cargo area light (Outback) ............................... 11-55
Trunk light (Legacy) ......................................... 11-55
Other bulbs ..................................................... 11-55

11-38Maintenance and service
Remove the washer tank filler cap, then
add fluid until it reaches the “FULL ”mark
on the tank.
Use windshield washer fluid. If windshield
washer fluid is unavailable use clean
water. In areas where water freezes in winter,
use an anti-freeze type windshield washer
fluid. SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid
contains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%
surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-
perature varies according to how much it
is diluted, as indicated in the followingtable.
Washer Fluid
Concentration Freezing
Temperature
30% 10.48F( 12 8C)
50% 48F( 20 8C)
100% 49 8F( 45 8C)
CAUTION
Never use engine coolant as washer
fluid because it could cause paintdamage.
In order to prevent freezing of washer
fluid, check the freezing temperatures in
the table above when adjusting the fluid
concentration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with
a different concentration from the one
used previously, purge the old fluid from
the piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washer
for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if the concentration of the fluid remaining in
the piping is too low for the outside
temperature, it may freeze and block thenozzles.
CAUTION
. Adjust the washer fluid concen-
tration appropriately for the out-
side temperature. If the concen-
tration is inappropriate, sprayed
washer fluid may freeze on the
windshield and obstruct your
view, and the fluid may freeze in
the reservoir tank.
. State or local regulations on
volatile organic compounds may
restrict the use of methanol, a
common windshield washer anti-
freeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol anti-
freeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather
protection without damaging
your vehicle ’s paint, wiper blades
or washer system.

14-2Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) ..................................... 7-24
Warning light ......................................................... 3-16
Accessories ....................................................... 5-3, 11-45
Accessory power outlet ............................................... 6-10
Air cleaner element ................................................... 11-18
Air conditioner Manual climate control system ................................... 4-6
Air filtration system ....................................................... 4-9
Airflow selection Automatic climate control system ............................... 4-5
Manual climate control system ................................... 4-6
Alarm system ............................................................ 2-15
All-Wheel Drive warning light ....................................... 3-20
Aluminum wheel ....................................................... 11-37
Cleaning ............................................................... 10-3
Antenna system ........................................................... 5-3
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................... 7-24
Arming the system ..................................................... 2-16
Armrest ..................................................................... 1-12
Ashtray ..................................................................... 6-12
AT OIL TEMP warning light ......................................... 3-14
Audio Antenna system ....................................................... 5-3
Auxiliary input jack ................................................. 5-30
Bluetooth
®audio .................................................... 5-43
CD player operation ............................................... 5-23
Control button ........................................................ 5-41
FM/AM radio operation ........................................... 5-12
iPod
®operations .................................................... 5-33
Satellite radio operations ......................................... 5-19 Set ........................................................................ 5-4
USB storage device operations
................................ 5-33
Auto on/off headlights ................................................. 3-27
Sensor .................................................................. 3-27
Auto-dimming mirror/compass ..................... 3-36, 3-43, 3-45
Automatic climate control system ................................... 4-5
Automatic rain sensing windshield wipers ...................... 3-32
Automatic transmission ............................................... 7-17
Fluid ........................................................... 11-21, 12-8
Manual mode ......................................................... 7-21
Oil temperature warning light (AT OIL TEMP) ............. 3-14
Select lever ........................................................... 7-18
Shift lock function ................................................... 7-20
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ........... 1-13
Auxiliary input jack ...................................................... 5-30
B Battery .................................................................... 11-43
Drainage prevention function ..................................... 2-6
Jump starting ......................................................... 9-10
Replacement (remote engine start transmitter) ........... 7-14
Replacement (remote keyless entry system) .............. 2-10
Bluetooth
®audio ........................................................ 5-43
Booster seat .............................................................. 1-29
Bottle holder ............................................................... 6-9
Brake Assist .................................................................... 7-24
Booster ....................................................... 7-23, 11-27
Fluid ........................................................... 11-25, 12-8
Pad and lining ...................................................... 11-30
Parking ................................................................. 7-31

14-8Index
Oil pressure warning light ............................................ 3-14
Outside Mirror defogger ...................................................... 3-34
Mirrors .................................................................. 3-50
Overhead console ........................................................ 6-8
Overheating engine .................................................... 9-13
P Parking ..................................................................... 7-30
Brake ................................................................... 7-31
Tips...................................................................... 7-34
Periodic inspections ..................................................... 8-4
Petrol fuel ................................................................... 7-2
Pocket ........................................................................ 6-8
Power Door locking switch .................................................. 2-6
Outside mirrors .............................................. 3-51, 3-51
Seat ....................................................................... 1-4
Steering ................................................................ 7-23
Steering fluid ................................................ 11-24, 12-8
Windows ............................................................... 2-20
Precautions against vehicle modification ............... 1-22, 1-64
Preparing to drive ........................................................ 7-7
Printed antenna ........................................................... 5-3
R Rear Combination lights ................................................. 11-49
Differential gear oil ........................................ 11-24, 12-7
Gate ............................................................. 2-26, 9-20
Turn signal light .................................................... 11-49 Rear seat
................................................................... 1-7
Armrest ................................................................. 1-12
Folding down .......................................................... 1-9
Head restraint adjustment ........................................ 1-10
Reclining ................................................................ 1-8
Rear view camera ...................................................... 6-19
Rear window
Defogger ............................................................... 3-34
Wiper and washer switch ......................................... 3-33
Wiper blades ........................................................ 11-41
Recommended Automatic transmission fluid ..................................... 12-8
Brake fluid ............................................................. 12-8
Clutch fluid ............................................................ 12-8
Continuously variable transmission fluid .................... 12-8
Engine oil .............................................................. 12-4
Front differential gear oil .......................................... 12-7
Manual transmission oil ........................................... 12-7
Power steering fluid ................................................ 12-8
Rear differential gear oil .......................................... 12-7
Spark plugs ........................................................... 12-9
Refueling .................................................................... 7-3
Remote engine start system ........................................ 7-10
Remote keyless entry system ....................................... 2-7
Replacement Brake pad and lining ............................................. 11-29
Wiper blades ........................................................ 11-39
Replacing
Air cleaner element ............................................... 11-18
Battery (remote engine start transmitter) .................... 7-14
Battery (remote keyless entry system) ....................... 2-10