ABS SUBARU TRIBECA 2007 1.G User Guide

7-22 Starting and operating
ing that the Traction Control system is not
operating. It comes on in the event of a
malfunction in the system and is illuminat-
ed whenever the system is not operating. VVehicle Dynamics Control warning
The warning light comes on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON” position
and goes off several seconds after engine
startup. This lighting pattern indicates that
the Vehicle Dynamics Control system is
operating normally.
The following situations could indicate a
malfunction of the Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol system; if any should occur, we rec-
ommend that you have an authorized
SUBARU dealer carry out an inspection of
the system at the first available opportuni-ty. y The warning light does not turn on when
the ignition key is turned to the ON posi- tion. y The warning light turns on while the ve-
hicle is being driven. y When a malfunction has occurred in the
Vehicle Dynamics Control electrical sys-
tem, only the warning light will turn on. In
such an event, the ABS will still be operat-
ing normally. y The warning light will also turn on when
a problem occurs with the ABS or Vehicle
Dynamics Control electronic control sys- tems.
Because the Vehicle Dynamics Control
system controls each brake through the
ABS, whenever the ABS stops operating
due to a malfunction in that electrical sys-
tem, the Vehicle Dynamics Control will
also become unable to control all four
brakes. Thus Vehicle Dynamics Control
system operation halts and the warning
light turns on. Although both the Vehicle
Dynamics Control system and the ABS
will be inoperable in this situation, it will
still be possible to stop the vehicle using
normal braking. The Vehicle Dynamics
Control system and the ABS do not ad-
versely affect operation of the vehicle in
any way when they are inoperable; how-
ever should such a situation occur, drive
with care and have an authorized
SUBARU dealer carry out an inspection of
those systems at the first available oppor-
tunity.
NOTE
When the warning light turns on and
off in the following way, it indicates
that the Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-
tem is operating normally. y
Although turning on after the engine
has been started, the warning light
quickly turns off and stays off. y The warning light turns on when the vehicle is being driven; it then turns off
and stays off. V
Traction Control system OFF indica- tor light
This light comes on to indicate that the
Traction Control system is in non-opera-
tion mode. This does not constitute failure
of the Vehicle Dynamics Control system.
NOTE y The indicator light may stay on for a
while after the engine has been started,
especially in cold weather. This occurs
because the engine has not yet
warmed up and is completely normal.
The light will turn off when the engine
has reached a suitable operating tem-
perature. y When an engine problem occurs and
the malfunction indicator lamp turns
on, the indicator light will also come
on.
The following two situations could indicate
malfunction of the Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol system; if either should occur, have an
authorized SUBARU dealer carry out an
inspection of that system at the first avail-
able opportunity. y The indicator light does not turn on
when the ignition key is turned to the ON
position.

Starting and operating 7-23
yThe indicator light fails to turn off after
the engine is started, even when several
minutes have passed to allow the engine
to heat up sufficiently. „ Traction Control system OFF
switch
Pressing the switch to deactivate the
Traction Control system can facilitate the
following operations:y a standing start on a steeply sloping
road with a snowy, gravel-covered, or oth-
erwise slippery surfacey extrication of the vehicle when its
wheels are stuck in mud or deep snow
When the switch is pressed during engine
operation, the indicator light illuminates.
The Traction Control system will be deac- tivated and the vehicle will behave like a
model not equipped with the Traction
Control system. When the switch is
pressed again to reactivate the Traction
Control system, the indicator light goes
off.With the Traction Control system deacti-
vated, traction enhancement offered by
Traction Control system is unavailable.
Therefore you should not deactivate the
Traction Control system except under
above-mentioned situations.
NOTE y
When the switch has been pressed
to deactivate the Traction Control sys-
tem, the Traction Control system auto-
matically reactivates itself the next
time the ignition key is turned to the
OFF position and the engine is restart-
ed. y If the switch is held down for 10 sec-
onds or longer, the indicator light goes
off, the Traction Control system is acti-
vated, and the system ignores any fur-
ther pressing of the switch. To make
the switch usable again, turn the igni-
tion key to the OFF position and restart
the engine.y When the switch is pressed to deac-
tivate the Traction Control system, the
vehicle’s running performance is com- parable with that of a vehicle that does
not have a Traction Control system. Do
not deactivate the Traction Control
system except when absolutely neces-
sary.
700114

Driving tips 8-5
– CONTINUED –
provide better traction when driving on
slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt and sand. By
shifting power between the front and rear
wheels, SUBARU AWD can also provide
added traction during acceleration, and
added engine braking force during decel-
eration.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle
may handle differently than an ordinary
two wheel drive vehicle and it contains
some features unique to AWD. For safety
purposes as well as to avoid damaging
the AWD system, you should keep the fol-
lowing tips in mind: y
An AWD vehicle is better able to climb
steeper roads under snowy or slippery
conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.
There is little difference in handling, how-
ever, during extremely sharp turns or sud-
den braking. Therefore, when driving
down a slope or turning corners, be sure
to reduce your speed and maintain an am-
ple distance from other vehicles. y When replacing a tire, make sure you
use only the same size, circumference,
construction, brand, and load range as the
original tires listed on the tire placard. Us-
ing other sizes, circumferences or con- struction may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your vehicle
and may affect ride, handling, braking, speedometer/odometer calibration, and
clearance between the body and tires. It
also may be dangerous and lead to loss ofvehicle control. y
If you use a temporary spare tire to re-
place a flat tire, be sure to use the original
temporary spare tire stored in the vehicle.
Using other sizes may result in severe
mechanical damage to the drive train ofyour vehicle. y Always check the cold tire pressure be-
fore starting to drive. The recommended
tire pressure is provided on the tire plac-
ard, which is located under the door latch
on the driver’s side.y Tire chains should always be placed on
the front wheels only.y There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detail information, see “Towing” sec-
tion in chapter 9. On-pavement and off road
driving
y
In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a
seat belt. You the driver and all
your passengers should fasten
the seatbelts before starting to
drive in order to minimize the
chance of serious injury or death.
yDo not make sharp turns and
quick maneuvers unless abso-
lutely unavoidable. Such actions
are dangerous as you may lose
control, possibly resulting in a
rollover which could cause death
or serious injury.
yAlways maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden braking
or under other similar conditions.

Driving tips 8-9
– CONTINUED –
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-ness. T
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 weath- er.
Use only additives that are specifically de-
signed for this purpose. When an anti-
freeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty.
If your SUBARU is not going to be used for
an extended period, it is best to have the
fuel tank filled to capacity. „ Driving on snowy and icy
roads
To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid
sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-
speed driving, and sharp turning when
driving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
to avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use the en-
gine brake effectively to control the vehi-
cle speed. (Shift into a lower gear when necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such behav-
ior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly
leading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) enhanc-
es your vehicle’s braking performance on
snowy and icy roads. Refer to the “ABS
(Anti-lock Brake System)” and “Vehicle
Dynamics Control system” section in
chapter 7 for information on braking on
slippery surfaces. T
Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure
the wiper blades are not frozen to the
windshield or rear window. If the wiper
blades are frozen to the windshield or rear
window, use the defroster with the airflow
control button in the “ ” position and
the temperature control dial set for maxi-
mum warmth until the wiper blades are
completely thawed out. If your vehicle is
equipped with a wiper deicer, it is helpful
to thaw the windshield wiper blades. To
thaw out the rear wiper blade, use the rear
window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow
starts to stick on the surface of the wind-
shield despite wiper operation, use the de-
froster with the airflow control button in
“ ” and the temperature control dial
set for maximum warmth. After the wind-
shield gets warmed enough to melt the
frozen snow on it, wash it away using the
windshield washer.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the
wiper from working effectively. If snow is
stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to
a safe place, then remove it. If you stop
the vehicle at road side, use the hazard
warning flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing type
Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads such as snowy or icy
roads. This may cause loss of vehi-
cle control.
Avoid prolonged continuous driving
in snowstorms. Snow will enter the
engine’s intake system and may
hinder the air flow, which could re-
sult in engine shutdown or even
breakdown.

8-24 Driving tips
TBefore starting out on a trip
y Check that the vehicle and vehicle-to-
hitch mounting are in good condition. If
any problems are apparent, do not tow the
trailer. y Check that the vehicle sits horizontally
with the trailer attached. If the vehicle is
tipped sharply up at the front and down at
the rear, check the total trailer weight,
GVW, GAWs and tongue load again, then
confirm that the load and its distribution
are acceptable. y Check that the tire pressures are cor-
rect. y Check that the vehicle and trailer are
connected properly. Confirm that – the trailer tongue is connected prop-
erly to the hitch ball.
– the trailer lights connector is connect-
ed properly and trailer’s brake lights illu-
minate when the vehicle’s brake pedal
is pressed, and that the trailer’s turn sig-
nal lights flash when the vehicle’s turn
signal lever is operated.
– the safety chains are connected prop- erly.
– all cargo in the trailer is secured safe- ty in position.
– the side mirrors provide a good rear-
ward field of view without a significant
blind spot.
y Sufficient time should be taken to learn the “feel” of the vehicle/trailer combination
before starting out on a trip. In an area free
of traffic, practice turning, stopping and
backing up. T
Driving with a trailer
y You should allow for considerably more
stopping distance when towing a trailer.
Avoid sudden braking because it may re-
sult in skidding or jackknifing and loss of control.y Avoid uneven steering, sharp turns and
rapid lane changes.y Slow down before turning. Make a long-
er than normal turning radius because the
trailer wheels will be closer than the vehi-
cle wheels to the inside of the turn. In a
tight turn, the trailer could hit your vehicle.y Crosswinds will adversely affect the
handling of your vehicle and trailer, caus-
ing sway. Crosswinds can be due to
weather conditions or the passing of large
trucks or buses. If swaying occurs, firmly
grip the steering wheel and slow down im-
mediately but gradually. y When passing other vehicles, consider-
able distance is required because of the
added weight and length caused by at-
taching the trailer to your vehicle. 1) Left turn
2) Right turn
y Backing up with a trailer is difficult and
takes practice. When backing up with a
trailer, never accelerate or steer rapidly.
When turning back, grip the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand and turn it to
the left for a left turn, and turn it to the right
for a right turn. y If the ABS warning light illuminates
while the vehicle is in motion, stop towing
the trailer and have repairs performed im-
mediately by the nearest SUBARU dealer. T Driving on grades
y Before going down a steep hill, slow
down and shift into lower gear (if neces-
sary, use 1st gear) in order to utilize the
engine braking effect and prevent over-12
800217

Driving tips 8-25
heating of your vehicle’s brakes. Do not
make sudden downshifts. yWhen driving uphill in hot weather, the
air conditioner may turn off automatically
to protect the engine from overheating. y When driving uphill in hot weather, pay
attention to the water temperature gauge
pointer and AT OIL TEMP warning light
since the engine and transmission are rel-
atively prone to overheating under these
conditions. If the water temperature gauge
pointer approaches the OVERHEAT zone
or the AT OIL TEMP warning light illumi-
nates, immediately switch off the air con-
ditioner and stop the vehicle at the nearest
safe place. Refer to the “Engine overheat-
ing” section in chapter 9, and “Warning
and indicator lights” section in chapter 3.
NOTE
The temperature of engine coolant is
less likely to rise to the OVERHEAT
zone in the “D” position than in the
manual mode position. y Avoid using the accelerator pedal to
stay stationary on an uphill slope instead
of using the parking brake or foot brake.
That may cause the transmission fluid to
overheat. T Parking on a grade
Always block the wheels under both vehi- cle and trailer when parking. Apply the
parking brake firmly. You should not park
on a hill or slope. But if parking on a hill or
slope cannot be avoided, you should take
the following steps:
1. Apply the brakes and hold the pedal
down.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-
der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, re-
lease the regular brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the regular brakes and then ap-
ply the parking brake; slowly release the
regular brakes.
5. Shift into “P” and shut off the engine.

11 - 2 0 Maintenance and service
Brake fluid „Checking the fluid level
Check the fluid level monthly.
Check the fluid level on the outside of the
reservoir. If the level is below “MIN”, add
the recommended brake fluid to “MAX”. Use only brake fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. „
Recommended brake fluid
FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake flu-idyNever let brake fluid contact your
eyes because brake fluid can be
harmful to your eyes. If brake fluid
gets in your eyes, immediately
flush them thoroughly with clean
water. For safety, when perform-
ing this work, wearing eye protec-
tion is advisable.
yBrake fluid absorbs moisture from
the air. Any absorbed moisture
can cause a dangerous loss of
braking performance.
yIf the vehicle requires frequent re-
filling, there may be a leak. If you
suspect a problem, have the vehi-
cle checked at your SUBARU
dealer.
y Never use different brands of
brake fluid together. Also, avoid
mixing DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake flu-
ids even if they are of the same
brand.
yWhen adding brake fluid, be care-
ful not to allow any dirt into the
reservoir.
y Never splash the brake fluid over
painted surfaces or rubber parts.
Alcohol contained in the brake flu-
id may damage them.
y Be careful not to spill brake fluid
when adding it. If brake fluid
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If brake fluid gets on the ex-
haust pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
B00322

14-2 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .......................................... 7-16 Warning light ....................................................... 3-15, 7-17
Accessories .................................................................... 11-38
Accessory power outlet ...................................................... 6-8
Active head restraint ........................................................... 1-5
Air cleaner element ........................................................ 11-13
Air filtration system ........................................................... 4-11
Air flow ............................................................................... 4-2
Alarm system .................................................................... 2-14
All-Wheel Drive warning light ........................................... 3-17
Aluminum wheels ........................................................... 11-29
Antenna system ................................................................. 5-2
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) .......................................... 7-16
Arming the system ............................................................ 2-15
Armrest ............................................................................. 1-11
AT OIL TEMPerature warning light .................................. 3-13
Audio control buttons ....................................................... 5-22
Audio set ............................................................................ 5-3
Auto-dimming mirror/compass ......................................... 3-34
Automatic climate control system ....................................... 4-5
Automatic transmission ...................................................... 7-8 Capacities .................................................................... 12-3
Fluid ........................................................................... 11-15
Manual mode ............................................................... 7-11
Selector lever ................................................................. 7-9
Shift lock release ......................................................... 7-14
Temperature warning light (AT OIL TEMP) ................. 3-13
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ........... 1-16 B
Battery ............................................................................ 11-35 Jump starting ............................................................... 9-11
Replacement (Remote keyless entry system) ............. 2-10
Brake
Booster ...................................................................... 11-21
Fluid ........................................................................... 11-20
Pad and lining ............................................................ 11-22
Pedal .......................................................................... 11-21
Brake pedal
Free play .................................................................... 11-21
Reserve distance ....................................................... 11-21
Brake system .................................................................... 7-15
Warning light ................................................................ 3-16
Braking ............................................................................. 7-15 Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ................ 11-22
Tips .............................................................................. 7-15
Bulb Chart ............................................................................ 12-8
Replacing ................................................................... 11-39
C
Capacities ......................................................................... 12-3
Cargo area Light ............................................................................... 6-2
Tie-down hooks ........................................................... 6-12
Catalytic converter .............................................................. 8-3
Center Console .......................................................................... 6-5
Ventilators ...................................................................... 4-4
Changing
Flat tire ........................................................................... 9-7
Oil and oil filter ............................................................. 11-7
Charge warning light ......................................................... 3-13

14-8 Index
V
Valet mode ....................................................................... 2-17
Vanity mirror ....................................................................... 6-4
Vehicle Capacity weight ........................................................... 8-12
Identification ................................................................ 12-9
Vehicle Dynamics Control
Operation indicator light ............................................... 3-18
System ........................................................................ 7-19
Warning light ................................................................ 3-18
Ventilator ............................................................................ 4-2 W
Warning and indicator lights ............................................... 3-9
Warning lights ABS ............................................................................. 3-15
All-Wheel Drive ............................................................ 3-17
Anti-lock Brake System ............................................... 3-15
AT OIL TEMPerature ................................................... 3-13
Brake system ............................................................... 3-16
Charge ......................................................................... 3-13
CHECK ENGINE ......................................................... 3-12
Door open .................................................................... 3-17
Low fuel ................................................................ 3-8, 3-17
Low tire pressure ......................................................... 3-14
Oil pressure ................................................................. 3-13
Rear differential oil temperature .................................. 3-14
Seatbelt ....................................................................... 3-10
SRS airbag system ...................................................... 3-11
Vehicle Dynamics Control .................................. 3-18, 7-21
Windshield washer fluid ............................................... 3-17
Warranties and maintenance ........................................... 8-17 Washing ............................................................................ 10-2
Waxing and polishing ....................................................... 10-3
Wear indicators ............................................................... 11-27
Wheel
Alignment ..................................................................... 12-4
Balance ...................................................................... 11-27
Replacement .............................................................. 11-29
Windows ........................................................................... 2-19
Windshield
Washer fluid ............................................................... 11-30
Wiper and washer switches ......................................... 3-30
Wiper deicer ................................................................. 3-32
Winter driving ...................................................................... 8-7
Wiper and washer ............................................................. 3-29