SUBARU TRIBECA 2007 1.G Owners Manual

9-20 In case of emergency
the cargo area.
For how to use the jack, refer to the “Flat
tires” section in this chapter.

10
Appearance care
Exterior care ....................................................... 10-2 Washing ................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing ............................................. 10-3
Cleaning aluminum wheels .................................... 10-3
Corrosion protection .......................................... 10-3 Most common causes of corrosion ...................... 10-3
To help prevent corrosion ..................................... 10-4
Cleaning the interior .......................................... 10-4 Seat fabric ............................................................... 10-4
Leather seat materials ............................................ 10-4
Synthetic leather upholstery ................................. 10-5
Climate control panel, audio panel, instrument panel, console panel, switches, combination
meter, and other plastic surfaces ....................... 10-5

10-2 Appearance care
Appearance careExterior care „WashingNOTE
When having your vehicle washed in
an automatic car wash, make sure be-
forehand that the car wash is of suit-
able type.
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s
beauty is frequent washing. Wash the ve-
hicle at least once a month to avoid con-
tamination 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 direct
sunlight.
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 soft cloth. TWashing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deic-
ing road surfaces are extremely corrosive,
accelerating the corrosion of underbody components, such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor
pan and fenders, and suspension.
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 muddy or sandy
roads, wash the mud and sand off the un-
derbody.
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.
NOTE
Be careful not to damage brake hoses,
sensor harnesses, and other parts
when washing suspension compo-
nents. T
Using a warm water washer
y Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm)
or more between the washer nozzle and
the vehicle. y Do not wash the same area continuous-
ly. y If a stain will not come out easily, wash
by hand. Some warm water washers are
y
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.
y Do not wash the engine compart-
ment and areas adjacent to it. If
water enters the engine air intake,
electrical parts or the power steer-
ing fluid reservoir, it will cause en-
gine trouble or faulty power steer-
ing respectively.
y Since your vehicle is equipped
with a rear wiper, automatic car-
wash brushes could become tan-
gled around it, damaging the wip-
er arm and other components.
Ask the automatic car-wash oper-
ator 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.

Appearance care 10-3
– CONTINUED –
of the high temperature, high pressure
type, and they can damage or deform the
resin parts such as mouldings, or cause
water to leak into the vehicle. „
Waxing and polishing
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing and polishing.
Use a good quality polish and wax and ap-
ply them according to the manufacturer’s
instructions. Wax or polish when the paint-
ed surface is cool.
Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim,
as well as the painted surfaces. Loss of
wax on a painted surface leads to loss of
the original luster and also quickens the
deterioration of the surface. It is recom-
mended that a coat of wax be applied at
least once a month, or whenever the sur-
face no longer repels water.
If the appearance of the paint has dimin-
ished to the point where the luster or tone
cannot be restored, lightly polish the sur-
face with a fine-grained compound. Never
polish just the affected area, but include
the surrounding area as well. Always pol-
ish in only one direction. A No. 2000 grain
compound is recommended. Never use a
coarse-grained compound. Coarser
grained compounds have a smaller grain- size number and could damage the paint.
After polishing with a compound, coat with
wax to restore the original luster. Frequent
polishing with a compound or an incorrect
polishing technique will result in removing
the paint layer and exposing the under-
coat. When in doubt, it is always best to
contact your SUBARU dealer or an auto
paint specialist.
NOTE
Be careful not to block the windshield
washer nozzles with wax when waxing
the vehicle. „
Cleaning aluminum wheels
y Promptly wipe the aluminum wheels
clean of any kind of grime or agent. If dirt
is left on too long, it may be difficult to
clean off. y Do not use soap containing grit to clean
the wheels. Be sure to use a neutral clean-
ing agent, and later rinse thoroughly with
water. Do not clean the wheels with a stiff
brush or expose them to a high-speedwashing device. y Clean the vehicle (including the alumi-
num wheels) with water as soon as possi-
ble when it has been splashed with sea
water, exposed to sea breezes, or driven
on roads treated with salt or other agents.
Corrosion protection
Your SUBARU has been designed and
built to resist corrosion. Special materials
and protective finishes have been used on
most parts of the vehicle to help maintain
fine appearance, strength, and reliable
operation. „ Most common causes of cor- rosion
The most common causes 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

10-4 Appearance care
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 needassistance.
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.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 fabric
Remove 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

Appearance care 10-5
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, rubbing 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 surfaces
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.

11
Maintenance and service
Maintenance 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
Engine oil ............................................................ 11-7 Checking the oil level ............................................. 11-7
Changing the oil and oil filter ................................ 11-7
Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-9
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions .................................... 11-10
Cooling system .................................................. 11-10 Hose and connections ........................................... 11-11
Engine coolant ........................................................ 11-11
Air cleaner element ............................................ 11-13 Replacing the air cleaner element ......................... 11-13
Spark plugs ......................................................... 11-14 Recommended spark plugs ................................... 11-14
Drive belts ........................................................... 11-15
Automatic transmission fluid ............................ 11-15 Checking the fluid level ......................................... 11-15
Recommended fluid ............................................... 11-16
Front differential gear oil ................................... 11-16 Checking the oil level ............................................. 11-16 Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-17
Rear differential gear oil .................................... 11-17 Checking the gear oil level .................................... 11-17
Recommended grade and viscosity ..................... 11-18
Power steering fluid ........................................... 11-19 Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-19
Recommended fluid ............................................... 11-19
Brake fluid ........................................................... 11-20 Checking the fluid level .......................................... 11-20
Recommended brake fluid ..................................... 11-20
Brake booster ..................................................... 11-21
Brake pedal ......................................................... 11-21 Checking the brake pedal free play ...................... 11-21
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ......... 11-21
Replacement of brake pad and lining ............... 11-22 Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings .......... 11-22
Parking brake stroke .......................................... 11-23
Tires and wheels ................................................ 11-23 Types of tires .......................................................... 11-23
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ............ 11-23
Tire inspection ........................................................ 11-25
Tire pressures and wear ........................................ 11-25
Wheel balance ......................................................... 11-27
Wear indicators ....................................................... 11-27
Tire rotation ............................................................. 11-28
Tire replacement ..................................................... 11-28
Wheel replacement ................................................. 11-29
Aluminum wheels ............................................... 11-29

Maintenance and service
Windshield washer fluid .................................... 11-30
Replacement of wiper blades ............................ 11-31
Windshield wiper blade assembly ........................ 11-31
Windshield wiper blade rubber ............................. 11-32
Rear window wiper blade assembly ..................... 11-33
Rear window wiper blade rubber .......................... 11-33
Battery ................................................................. 11-35
Fuses ................................................................... 11-36
Main fuse ............................................................. 11-37
Installation of accessories ................................ 11-38
Replacing bulbs .................................................. 11-39 Headlight ................................................................. 11-40
Parking light ............................................................ 11-41
Front turn signal light ............................................ 11-42
Front fog light ......................................................... 11-42
Rear combination lights ......................................... 11-42
Backup light/Tail light ............................................ 11-43
Rear gate light ......................................................... 11-43
License plate light .................................................. 11-44
Dome light ............................................................... 11-44
Map light .................................................................. 11-45
Door step light ........................................................ 11-45
Cargo area light ...................................................... 11-46

Maintenance and service 11 - 3
– CONTINUED –
Maintenance and serviceMaintenance 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.
yTesting 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.
yAlways select a safe area when
performing maintenance on yourvehicle.
yAlways 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.
yYour 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.
yAlways use the proper tools and
make certain that they are well
maintained.
yNever get under the vehicle sup-
ported only by a jack. Always use
a safety stands to support the ve- hicle.
yNever keep the engine running in
a poorly ventilated area, such as a
garage or other closed areas.
yDo not smoke or allow open
flames around the fuel or battery.
This will cause a fire.
yBecause the fuel system is under
pressure, replacement of the fuel
filter should be performed only by
your SUBARU dealer.